Calcineurin activity in children with Mental handicap.

Calcineurin, a Ca(2+)-Calmodulin dependent protein phosphatase, is important for Ca(2+) mediated signal transduction. The main objective of this study was to examine the potential role of calcineurin in idiopathic mental handicap. Calcineurin levels were estimated in 20 children in the age group of 5-16 years with idiopathic mental handicap attending the Special.

Comparative study of transperineal and transabdominal sonography in the diagnosis of placenta previa.

Aim: To assess the role of transperineal sonography (TPS) in the diagnosis of placenta previa in the third trimester and to compare it with transabdominal sonography (TAS).

Methods: Seventy-five suspected cases of placenta previa were subjected to TAS with half full bladder and to the TPS with empty bladder to visualize the inner surface of the cervix and inferior edge of the placenta. The presence or absence of placenta previa was confirmed at delivery.

Patient satisfaction levels during teleophthalmology consultation in rural South India.

The application of new technologies for analysis of retinal images, neural networks for automated retinopathy grading, and teleophthalmology have been shown to have great value in ophthalmology. India has only one ophthalmic surgeon for every 107,000 population. Given this situation, teleophthalmology can play a vital role in addressing to the eye care needs of the country.

Preferential involvement of CX chemokine receptor 4 and CX chemokine ligand 12 in T-cell migration toward melanoma cells.

Our previous analysis of the role of chemokines in T lymphocyte trafficking toward human tumor cells revealed the migration of a melanoma patient's cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) toward autologous tumor cells, resulting in tumor cell apoptosis, in an organotypic melanoma culture. CTL migration was mediated by CX chemokine receptor (CXCR) 4 expressed by the CTL and CX chemokine ligand (CXCL) 12 secreted by the tumor cells, as evidenced by blockage of CTL migration by antibodies to CXCL12 or CXCR4, high concentrations of CXCL12 or small molecule CXCR4 antagonist. Here, we present the results of T cell migration in one additional melanoma patient and T cell and tumor cell analyses for CXCR4 and CXCL12 expression, respectively, in 12 additional melanoma patients, indicating the preferential role of CXCR4 and CXCL12 in CTL migration toward melanoma cells.

Impact of malathion on the biochemical parameters of gobiid fish, Glossogobius giuris (Ham).

There is a dearth of information regarding the changes in heart muscle metabolites induced by pesticides. In the present study, the gobiid fish, Glossogobius giuris, was exposed to sub lethal concentrations of (0.05, 0.

Colon carcinoma cells induce CXCL11-dependent migration of CXCR3-expressing cytotoxic T lymphocytes in organotypic culture.

Adoptive immunotherapy of cancer patients with cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) has been hampered by the inability of the CTL to home into tumors in vivo. Chemokines can attract T lymphocytes to the tumor site, as demonstrated in animal models, but the role of chemokines in T-lymphocyte trafficking toward human tumor cells is relatively unexplored. In the present study, the role of chemokines and their receptors in the migration of a colon carcinoma (CC) patient's CTL toward autologous tumor cells has been studied in a novel three-dimensional organotypic CC culture.

Immunological studies in children with hearing impairment.

An immunological study was carried out on 58 children below 14 years of age with sensorineural hearing loss of unknown aetiology. The observed elevated levels of IgE in 25.86% (n = 15) children and antinuclear antibodies in 10.

Migration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes toward melanoma cells in three-dimensional organotypic culture is dependent on CCL2 and CCR4.

Studies in experimental animal models have demonstrated that chemokines produced by tumor cells attract chemokine receptor-positive T lymphocytes into the tumor area. However, in cancer patients, the role of chemokines in T lymphocyte trafficking toward human tumor cells is relatively unexplored. In the present study, the migration of a melanoma patient's CTL toward autologous tumor cells has been studied in a novel three-dimensional organotypic melanoma culture.

Selective iNOS inhibitor, ONO1714 successfully retards the development of high-cholesterol diet induced atherosclerosis by novel mechanism.

Objective: We have reported that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is present only in deep areas of plaque in atherosclerosis. However, the role of iNOS in the development of atherosclerosis is not well known. We therefore investigated the relevance of iNOS inhibition.

How high is the non-response rate of patients referred for eye examination from diabetic screening camps?

Aim: To elucidate the rate of non-response among diabetics (recently diagnosed in rural diabetic screening camps) who were referred for eye examination to detect diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: At diabetic retinopathy screening camps, all patients underwent dilated fundus examination using binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Results: Of the 4,111 known diabetics, only 2231(55%) patients attended the diabetic retinopathy screening camps.

Diabetic retinopathy screening model for rural population: awareness and screening methodology.

Context: Worldwide, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is increasing at an alarming rate. WHO has predicted that in India the number of adults with diabetes will be the highest in the world: from 19 million in 1995 to 80 million in 2030. Although originally thought to be a disease of an urban population, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing in rural areas as well.

A randomised, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of MF 5232 (Mucotrol), a concentrated oral gel wafer, in the treatment of oral mucositis.

Objective: Oral mucositis is a major complication of cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy associated with significant morbidity, pain, odynophagia, dysgeusia and subsequent dehydration and malnutrition, and effective prophylaxis and/or treatment of this condition is essential. The currently available palliative treatment shows improvement only in patients with mild to moderate mucositis. The primary aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of MF 5232 (Mucotrol), a concentrated oral polyherbal gel wafer formulation, with placebo in the management of chemoradiation-induced mucositis in cancer patients.

Validity and reproducibility of arterial pulse wave velocity measurement using new device with oscillometric technique: a pilot study.

Background: Availability of a range of techniques and devices allow measurement of many variables related to the stiffness of large or medium sized arteries. There is good evidence that, pulse wave velocity is a relatively simple measurement and is a good indicator of changes in arterial properties. The pulse wave velocity calculated from pulse wave recording by other methods like doppler or tonometry is tedious, time-consuming and above all their reproducibility depends on the operator skills.

Sankara Nethralaya-Diabetic Retinopathy Epidemiology and Molecular Genetic Study (SN-DREAMS 1): study design and research methodology.

Purpose: To describe the methodology of the Sankara Nethralaya-Diabetic Retinopathy Epidemiology and Molecular Genetic Study (SN-DREAMS 1), an ongoing population-based study to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in urban Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India, and also to elucidate the clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and genetic risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: In this ongoing study, we anticipate recruiting a total of 5830 participants. Eligible patients, over the age of 40 years, are enumerated using the multistage random sampling method.

CXC chemokine ligand 12 (stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha) and CXCR4-dependent migration of CTLs toward melanoma cells in organotypic culture.

Studies in experimental animal models have demonstrated that chemokines produced by tumor cells attract chemokine receptor-positive T lymphocytes into the tumor area, which may lead to tumor growth inhibition in vitro and in vivo. However, in cancer patients, the role of chemokines in T lymphocyte trafficking toward human tumor cells is relatively unexplored. In the present study, the role of chemokines and their receptors in the migration of a melanoma patient's CTL toward autologous tumor cells has been studied in a novel organotypic melanoma culture, consisting of a bottom layer of collagen type I with embedded fibroblasts followed successively by a tumor cell layer, collagen/fibroblast separating layer, and, finally, a top layer of collagen with embedded fibroblasts and T cells.

Urological injuries during hysterectomies: a 6-year review.

Aim: Urological injuries that occur during hysterectomy are a rare but important cause of morbidity. An understanding of the risk factors can help us to reduce their incidence and studying their management and outcome could help us to evolve optimal management strategies. The aim of the present study was to examine the incidence of urological injuries that occur during hysterectomy and to determine the risk factors, management and outcome of such injuries.

Chemotherapy-induced and/or radiation therapy-induced oral mucositis--complicating the treatment of cancer.

The term mucositis is coined to describe the adverse effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Mucositis is one of the most common adverse reactions encountered in radiation therapy for head and neck cancers, as well as in chemotherapy, in particular with drugs affecting DNA synthesis (S-phase-specific agents such as fluorouracil, methotrexate, and cytarabine). Mucositis may limit the patient's ability to tolerate chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and nutritional status is compromised.

Antimicrobial evaluation of some medicinal plants for their anti-enteric potential against multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi.

Screening was done of some plants of importance in the Ayurvedic system of traditional medicine used in India to treat enteric diseases. Fifty four plant extracts (methanol and aqueous) were assayed for their activity against multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi. Strong antibacterial activity was shown by the methanol extracts of Aegle marmelos, Salmalia malabarica, Punica granatum, Myristica fragrans, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Terminalia arjuna and Triphal (mixture of Emblica of fi cinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia belerica).

Peristaltic transport of a Casson fluid in an asymmetric channel.

The peristaltic transport of a Casson fluid in a two-dimensional asymmetric channel is studied under long- wavelength and low-Reynolds number assumption. The asymmetry in the channel is created by considering the peristaltic waves imposed on the boundary walls to possess different amplitude and phase. The analysis of the flow is carried out in a wave frame of reference moving with the velocity of the wave.

A new HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, pitavastatin remarkably retards the progression of high cholesterol induced atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Background: The remarkable anti-atherosclerotic effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor have not been demonstrated in diet induced severe hyperlipidemia in rabbit model.

Objective: We have investigated the effect of pitavastatin, a newly developed statin, on atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Methods And Results: Oophorectomized female NZW rabbits were fed 0.

Acute toxicity of lake water to fishes.

The present study investigates the acute toxicity of Hussainsagar lake water to fishes. In this context, experiments were conducted on three species of fishes (Cyprinus carpio, Tilapia mozambica and Lebistus reticularis), using 5, 10 and 20% volume of Jeedimetla nallah wastewater and were observed for the signs of survival within the specified period of time. The TLm value for 96 hours test period was found to be 17%.

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in selected Piper species.

Piper species, commonly used in diet and traditional medicine were assessed for their antioxidant potential. Catalase activity was predominated in Piper longum, followed by Piper cubeba, green pepper, Piper brachystachyum and Piper nigrum. P.