The IDeaS initiative: pilot study to assess the impact of rare diseases on patients and healthcare systems.

Background: Rare diseases (RD) are a diverse collection of more than 7-10,000 different disorders, most of which affect a small number of people per disease. Because of their rarity and fragmentation of patients across thousands of different disorders, the medical needs of RD patients are not well recognized or quantified in healthcare systems (HCS).

Methodology: We performed a pilot IDeaS study, where we attempted to quantify the number of RD patients and the direct medical costs of 14 representative RD within 4 different HCS databases and performed a preliminary analysis of the diagnostic journey for selected RD patients.

Current and Future Projections of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in the United States Using Administrative Claims Data.

Background: Various methodologies have been reported to assess the real-world epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the United States. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, incidence, and geographical distribution of ALS using administrative claims data and to model future trends in ALS epidemiology.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of deidentified administrative claims data for >100 million patients, using 2 separate databases (IBM MarketScan Research Databases and Symphony Health Integrated DataVerse [IDV]), to identify patients with ALS.

Impact of socio-demographic variables on antenatal services in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.

We investigated the impact of socio-demographic variables on antenatal care (ANC) utilization and the low birth weight of a child. Data were collected from 300 pregnant females. Only 22.

Use of machine learning techniques in the development and refinement of a predictive model for early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To develop a predictive mathematical model for the early identification of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) based on the medical and pharmacy claims history of patients with and without AS.

Methods: This retrospective study used claims data from Truven databases from January 2006 to September 2015 (Segment 1) and October 2015 to February 2018 (Segment 2). Machine learning identified features differentiating patients with AS from matched controls; selected features were used as inputs in developing Model A/B to identify patients likely to have AS.

Impact of phosphorous on biochemical changes in Hordeum vulgare L. in mixed cropping with chickpea.

Multiple cropping (i.e. intercropping or mixed cropping) plays an important role in agriculture because of the effective utilization of resources, significantly enhancing crop productivity compared with that of monocultured crops.

Growth responses and metal accumulation capabilities of woody plants during the phytoremediation of tannery sludge.

Five woody plants species (i.e. Terminalia arjuna, Prosopis juliflora, Populus alba, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Dendrocalamus strictus) were selected for phytoremediation and grow on tannery sludge dumps of Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Unnao (Uttar Pradesh), India.

Responses of cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum during nickel stress.

Growth and biochemical responses of heterocystous nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria Anabaena doliolum were studied upon exposure to various concentrations of nickel (0.1 to 100 microM) for duration of up to 4 days, in view of its tolerance. The growth of the cyanobacterium was increased in terms of cell density (O.

Involvement and interaction of microbial communities in the transformation and stabilization of chromium during the composting of tannery effluent treated biomass of Vallisneria spiralis L.

Tannery effluent treated with aquatic macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis L. for 14 d showed significant improvement in physico-chemical properties and reduction in Cr concentration. Accumulation of Cr was found maximum in roots (358 microg g(-1)dw) as compared to shoot (62 microg g(-1)dw) of the plant.

Screening and identification of early warning algal species for metal contamination in fresh water bodies polluted from point and non-point sources.

The water bodies of Lucknow, Unnao and Kanpur (U.P.), India polluted through various point and non point sources were found to be either eutrophic or oligotrophic in nature.

Isolation and characterization of chromate resistant bacteria from tannery effluent.

The tannery effluent emanating from Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Unnao (U.P, India) was found toxic in nature, having high BOD, COD, TDS and Cr content (5.88 mg l(-1)), which supported growth of chromate tolerant bacteria.

Morphology and cultural behavior of Botryococcus protuberans with notes on the genus.

The green alga Botryococcus protuberans was isolated from its natural environment and its morphology under different cultural conditions was examined. The alga was characterized by a high starch content and reddish oil drops as the assimilatory products. Photosynthetic pigments, Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids and xanthophylls are present.

Haem polymerase as a novel target of antimalarial action of cyproheptadine.

An antihistaminic drug, cyproheptadine (20-25mg/kg x 4 days), showed significant schizontocidal activity in the blood against a lethal multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (highly resistant to chloroquine, mefloquine, and quinine); the protection of mice ranged between 75 and 100%. A combination of cyproheptadine (15 mg/kg) and chloroquine improved antimalarial activity compared to treatment with either drug alone, whereas a combination of cyproheptadine with quinine or mefloquine did not improve its antimalarial activity. Chloroquine and cyproheptadine inhibited haem polymerization activity in cell-free extracts and in in vivo experiments with MDR P.

Methaemoglobinaemia in epidemic proportions.

Five cases of methaemoglobinaemia, following exposure to industrial waste, are examined, investigated and managed successfully. The condition is discussed in detail.

Filarial DNA and its interaction with polyamines and antifilarial drugs.

The interaction of DNA from filarial parasite Setaria cervi with polyamines was monitored by melting temperature (Tm) profile, condensation and B to Z DNA transition and compared with DNA of Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and calf thymus having different GC content. Polyamines, viz. spermine and spermidine, stabilized the secondary structure of all DNAs as indicated by increase in Tm value.

Studies of the hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal mixed-function oxidase system during Plasmodium yoelii infection and inducer treatment in Swiss albino mice.

Plasmodium yoelii infection resulted in depression of hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal mixed-function oxidase system indices, e.g. cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5 and phase II detoxification enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, while heam and haemozoin registered a marked increase in Swiss albino mice.

New objective classification system for nuclear opacification.

We have developed an autonomous objective classification scheme for degree of nuclear opacification. The algorithm was developed by using a series of color 35-mm slides acquired with a Topcon photo slit-lamp microscope and use of standard camera settings. The photographs were digitized, and first, and second-order gray-level statistics were extracted from within circular regions of the nucleus.

Identification of the polyamine N8-acetyltransferase involved in the pathway of 1,3-diaminopropane production in Acanthamoeba culbertsoni.

A cytosolic polyamine N-acetyltransferase that preferentially catalyzes the acetylation of spermidine in the N8-position was identified in the free-living pathogenic amoeba Acanthamoeba culbertsoni. In addition to spermidine, the enzyme also catalyzed the acetylation of spermine and putrescine with Michaelis constants (Km values) of 97, 12, and 10 microM, respectively. The Km value for acetylcoenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) was estimated to be 11 microM, whereas CoA had an inhibitory constant of 6 microM.

In vitro susceptibility of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni to inhibitors of folate biosynthesis.

The effects of different sulphonamides, dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and other inhibitors of folate metabolism on growth of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni in a chemically defined medium are reported. Among the sulphonamides, sulphamethoxazole and sulphadiazine were most effective followed by sulphanilamide and sulphaguanidine. Inhibition by each sulphonamide was reversed by p-aminobenzoic acid as well as folic acid.

Polyamine metabolism in Acanthamoeba culbertsoni.

1,3-Diaminopropane has been identified as the major polyamine of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni. N-acetylputrescine and spermidine were present in appreciable amounts and putrescine as well as N-acetylspermidine were also detected, but spermine was absent. Changes in polyamine levels were observed during the growth of amoebae.