Association of homocysteine and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) gene polymorphism with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the population of North India.

The implications of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and the level of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) have been extensively studied in various ethnic groups. Our aim was to discover the association of MTHFR (C677T) polymorphism and homocysteine level with CAD in north Indian subjects. The study group consisted of 329 angiographically proven CAD patients, and 331 age and sex matched healthy individuals as controls.

Evaluation of comparative effect of pre- and posttreatment of selenium on mercury-induced oxidative stress, histological alterations, and metallothionein mRNA expression in rats.

To evaluate the effect of pre- or posttreatment of selenium (6 micromol/kg b.w., single intraperitoneal injection) in mercury intoxication, rats were exposed to mercury (12 micromol/kg b.

Study of genetic polymorphism in solvent exposed population and its correlation to in vitro effect of trichloroethylene on lymphocytes.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is major industrial pollutant that contaminate environment. Its exposure may lead to hepato-renal toxicity along with the cancer progression. Although extensive research is done on its toxicity still not much is known about its genotoxic potential on humans in relation to genetic polymorphism.

In vivo imaging of obesity-induced inflammation in adipose tissue.

Obesity is associated with low-grade inflammation in adipose tissue, which contributes to the development of obesity-related diseases such as insulin resistance, hypertension and arteriosclerosis. Here we developed an animal model that non-invasively monitors inflammation in adipose tissue using in vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI) technique. In vitro, stimulation with TNFalpha or co-culture with RAW264 macrophages increased bioluminescence in 3T3-L1 adipocytes expressing NF-kappaB-mediated luciferase gene (3T3-L1/NF-kappaB-re-luc2P).

Genetic predisposition of E-selectin gene (S128R) polymorphism in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Background & Objectives: A surface glycoprotein molecule, E-selectin is involved in adhesion of circulating leukocyte to the activated endothelium and plays a fundamental role in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The present study was undertaken to document the status of S128R polymorphism of E-selectin gene in angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) patients from Uttar Pradesh.

Methods: Genotype of the S128R polymorphism was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 329 angiographically proven CAD patients [n=83 acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and n= 246 AMI-free] and 331 age and sex matched control individuals (angiographically proven not to have CAD).

Biologic lung volume reduction therapy for advanced homogeneous emphysema.

This report summarises phase 2 trial results of biologic lung volume reduction (BioLVR) for treatment of advanced homogeneous emphysema. BioLVR therapy was administered bronchoscopically to 25 patients with homogeneous emphysema in an open-labelled study. Eight patients received low dose (LD) treatment with 10 mL per site at eight subsegments; 17 received high dose (HD) treatment with 20 mL per site at eight subsegments.

Augmented nitric oxide generation in neutrophils: oxidative and pro-inflammatory implications in hypertension.

The present study explores expression of NOS and pro-inflammatory cytokines, NOS catalysis and NO mediated modulation of oxidative response and apoptosis in neutrophils from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Neutrophils from SHR showed approximately 3-fold increments in iNOS expression, 1.5-fold increments in nOS expression and calcium independent NOS catalysis, whereas GTPCH expression was unaltered.

Presence and prevalence of viruses in local and migratory honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Massachusetts.

Migratory and local bees in Massachusetts were analyzed for seven viruses. Three were detected: black queen cell virus (BQCV), deformed wing virus (DWV), and sacbrood virus (SBV). DWV was most common, followed closely by BQCV and then by SBV.

Effect of placement agitation and drying time on dentin shear bond strength: an in vivo study.

The current study measured the bond strength of a self-etch system to dentin with and without agitation and with varying drying times of primer in vital dentin. The null hypotheses tested were that primer agitation and primer drying time did not affect the dentin shear bond strength. Sixty human maxillary and mandibular premolars scheduled to be extracted for orthodontic reasons were selected.

Effects of quasiparticle ambipolarity on the nernst effect in underdoped cuprate superconductors.

We consider the Nernst effect in the normal state of the underdoped cuprate superconductors, where recent quantum oscillation experiments have indicated the existence of Fermi surface pockets and quasiparticle ambipolarity in the excitation spectrum. Using an ambipolar d-density-wave model for the pseudogap, we predict a peak in the Nernst coefficient with decreasing temperature below the pseudogap temperature. The existence of the peak and its sign, which we predict to be the same as that due to mobile vortices in a superconductor, result from the dominance of the electron pocket at low temperatures, as has been observed in recent Hall experiments.

Necrotizing stomatitis: a possible periodontal manifestation of deferiprone-induced agranulocytosis.

Thalassemia major is a rare inherited anemia, and affected children require blood transfusions every 2-4 weeks to survive. Repeated blood transfusions lead to a build-up of toxic levels of iron in the body, causing organ damage and premature death, primarily due to iron-induced heart disease. Deferiprone is one of a few drugs that are routinely used in medicine for the treatment of iron overload in thalassemic patients.

The morphology of the apical foramen in posterior teeth in a North Indian population.

Aim: To determine the position and shape of the apical foramina in posterior teeth derived from an Indian population.

Methodology: A total of 800 freshly extracted maxillary and mandibular premolar and molar teeth from a native Haryana population were collected. Apices of teeth were stained with methylene blue and then examined stereomicroscopically (40x).

Smear layer removal with passive ultrasonic irrigation and the NaviTip FX: a scanning electron microscopic study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of continuous, intermittent passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) and active scrubbing of irrigants with NaviTip FX (Ultradent, South Jordan, UT) in removing smear layer.

Study Design: Forty single-rooted teeth were randomly divided into 5 test groups and subjected to final irrigation with 17% EDTA followed by 2.5% NaOCl for 1 minute each using different activation methods: no activation (control), brushing with NaviTip FX, continuous PUI with irrigant delivered at pulp chamber, continuous PUI with irrigant delivered through the ultrasonic unit, and intermittent PUI.

Metals sorption from aqueous solutions by Kluyveromyces marxianus: process optimization, equilibrium modeling and chemical characterization.

The dead Kluyveromyces marxianus biomass, a fermentation industry waste, was used to explore its sorption potential for lead, mercury, arsenic, cobalt, and cadmium as a function of pH, biosorbent dosage, contact time, agitation speed, and initial metal concentration. The equilibrium data fitted the Langmuir model better for cobalt and cadmium, but Freundlich isotherm for all metals tested. At equilibrium, the maximum uptake capacity (Qmax) was highest for lead followed by mercury, arsenic, cobalt, and cadmium.

A study on chikungunya outbreak during 2007 in Kerala, south India.

Background & Objective: The first chikungunya outbreak occurred in Kerala during 2006 affecting 14 districts, followed by another during May 2007 affecting almost whole of the State. Four of the worst affected districts viz, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and Thrissur were surveyed during 2007 to understand the magnitude of the problem of chikungunya fever, particularly clinical signs and symptoms.

Methods: A total of 1265 persons from 310 houses were surveyed door-to-door in 20 different localities representing four affected districts.

Expression of estrogen receptor co-regulators SRC-1, RIP140 and NCoR and their interaction with estrogen receptor in rat uterus, under the influence of ormeloxifene.

Ormeloxifene binds competitively to ERs and antagonizes estrogen-induced gene expression in the uterus. However its detailed molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Present study was aimed to examine the changes in expression pattern of co-regulatory proteins SRC-1 (co-activator), RIP140 and NCoR (co-repressors) and their interaction with ERalpha in rat uterus under the influence of ormeloxifene (Orm) and tamoxifen (Tam).

Understanding women's experiences with medical abortion: In-depth interviews with women in two Indian clinics.

We explored women's perspectives on using medical abortion, including their reasons for selecting the method, their experiences with it and their thoughts regarding demedicalisation of part or all of the process. Sixty-three women from two urban clinics in India were interviewed within four weeks of abortion completion using a semi-structured in-depth interview guide. While women appreciated the non-invasiveness of medical abortion, other factors influencing method selection were family support and distance from the facility.

Growing length scale in gravity-driven dense granular flow.

We report simulations of a two-dimensional, dense, bidisperse system of inelastic hard disks falling down a vertical tube under the influence of gravity. We examine the approach to jamming as the average flow of particles down the tube is slowed by making the outlet narrower. Defining coarse-grained velocity and stress fields, we study two-point temporal and spatial correlation functions of these fields in a region of the tube where the time-averaged velocity is spatially uniform.

Lipohypertrophy: does it matter in daily life? A study using a continuous glucose monitoring system.

Aims: To use continuous glucose monitoring (CGMS) to compare glucose profiles in people with type 1 diabetes following injection of insulin into an area affected by lipohypertrophy vs. an area not affected by lipohypertrophy.

Methods: Eight patients with type 1 diabetes underwent 72 h of CGMS while following a standardized diet and injecting all insulin either into an area with or without lipohypertrophy.

Biologic lung volume reduction in advanced upper lobe emphysema: phase 2 results.

Rationale: Biologic lung volume reduction (BioLVR) is a new endobronchial treatment for advanced emphysema that reduces lung volume through tissue remodeling.

Objectives: Assess the safety and therapeutic dose of BioLVR hydrogel in upper lobe predominant emphysema.

Methods: Open-labeled, multicenter phase 2 dose-ranging studies were performed with BioLVR hydrogel administered to eight subsegmental sites (four in each upper lobe) involving: (1) low-dose treatment (n = 28) with 10 ml per site (LD); and (2) high-dose treatment (n = 22) with 20 ml per site (HD).

Ex vivo evaluation of dye penetration associated with various dentine bonding agents in conjunction with different irrigation solutions used within the pulp chamber.

Aim: To compare the effect of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), chlorhexidine, povidone iodine and sodium ascorbate on dye penetration associated with various dentine adhesives used within the pulp chamber.

Methodology: One hundred and sixteen mandibular molar teeth were divided into eight groups of 12 teeth each by irrigation regimen and adhesive system. The roof of pulp chambers and roots were removed under water cooling.

Association of coronary artery disease with polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene.

Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme plays an important role in maintaining blood pressure, while methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is involved in homocysteine metabolism. As hypertension and elevated homocysteine levels are among the various risk factors for coronary artery disease, the two polypeptides might need to be considered while determining the risk. Our study aimed to assess the association between common polymorphisms in these genes and susceptibility to coronary artery disease.

px+ipy superfluid from s-wave interactions of fermionic cold atoms.

Two-dimensional (p(x)+ip(y)) superfluids or superconductors offer a playground for studying intriguing physics such as quantum teleportation, non-Abelian statistics, and topological quantum computation. Creating such a superfluid in cold fermionic atom optical traps using p-wave Feshbach resonance is turning out to be challenging. Here we propose a method to create a p(x)+ip(y) superfluid directly from an s-wave interaction making use of a topological Berry phase, which can be artificially generated.

Realizing the strongly correlated d-wave Mott-insulator state in a fermionic cold-atom optical lattice.

We show that a new state of matter, the d-wave Mott-insulator state (d-Mott state) (introduced recently by [H. Yao, W. F.