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The Idiopathic Inflammatory Myositis (IIM) are heterogenous with distinct clinical phenotypes associated with specific myositis specific antibodies (MSA) and myositis associated antibodies (MAA). To evaluate the frequency, pattern and associations of MSA/MAA in a large Indian cohort of IIM. Adult and juvenile IIM (2017 ACR/EULAR criteria), were recruited in the MyoCite cohort between 2017and 2020 at a tertiary center in Northern India. Standardized clinical and laboratory variables were extracted from the database archive. Serum samples were evaluated for the presence of MSAs/MAAs by Line immunoassay and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) by Immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The prevalence and clinical associations of different MSA/MAAs were assessed. MSA and MAAs were tested in 250 IIM patients (214 adults, 36 children) of age [40 (30–49), 13 (7.5–16) years] and disease duration [ 7 (3–17), 6 (2–17) months] comprising predominantly of Dermatomyositis (DM) followed by Overlap myositis (OM). MSAs/MAAs were found in 148 (59.2%, 60.7% adults and 50% JIIM), of which two-thirds were MSA (95, 64% overall). Two cases (0.8%) had more than one MSA. In adult IIM, the most common MSA was anti-Jo-1 (10%), whereas it was anti-MDA5 and anti-NXP2 4 (11%) each in Juvenile IIM (JIIM). 76.0% (172/226) were ANA positive, with speckled pattern being the most common (37%,). Nearly two-thirds (54, 61%) of those with negative ANA had MSA/ MAA. Nearly half (18/54, 54.6%) had MSA associated with cytoplasmic patterns. ARS (anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase) were associated with mechanic's hands (OR-7.06), ILD (OR-4.4), and arthritis (OR-2.23). Clinical associations of anti-Jo-1 and non-Jo-1 Anti synthetase syndrome (ASS) did not differ. Anti-MDA-5 associated with oral ulcers (OR-8.3), fever (OR-8.6) and weight loss (OR-7.35) in adults, and arthritis (OR-11.5), and periungual rash (OR-9.6) in children. Anti-TIF-1γ associated with photosensitivity (OR-10.44) and malignancy (OR-34) in adults, and cuticular overgrowth (OR-11.2) in children. Myositis autoantibodies are seen in two-thirds IIMs and are associated with distinct clinical subsets. Jo-1 and non-Jo-1 ASS exhibit similar characteristics. The association of anti-TIF1 γ with malignancy was confirmed in adults. MSA/MAA were present in two-thirds of those with negative ANA and MSA were nearly always mutually exclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Systemic inflammation and oxidant/antioxidant imbalance has been seen to play a key role in pathogenesis of COPD. The present study investigated the levels of inflammatory and antioxidant/oxidative stress biomarker in COPD patients and healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: The present study enrolled seventy COPD patients and seventy healthy controls from Department of Respiratory Medicine at a tertiary care hospital. Vitamin D, C-reactive protein (CRP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in both cases and control. GraphPad PRISM version 6.01 was used for analysis of data. Results: The levels of Vitamin D, SOD, Catalase, were found to be significantly lower among the COPD patients in comparison to healthy controls while levels of MDA and CRP were significantly higher (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: The results showed oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and Vitamin D deficiency in COPD patients. Higher levels of CRP and oxidative stress markers were observed in COPD patients in comparison to healthy controls. A biomarker based study testing the efficacy of novel antioxidant or other agents will be helpful that can modify the course of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradable waste generated from food processing industries has immense potential for producing valuable products. Apples constitute among the most widely consumed fruits in the food processing industry, but their peels remain unutilized. We explored the possibility of using apple peel as feedstock for production of alpha-amylase- a commercially important enzyme with role in food industry and bio-ethanol production that is critical to support nutrition and energy security. The utilization of locally sourced apple peel as feedstock, optimization of the conditions for the production of alpha-amylase through solid-state fermentation and comparison with potato peel-another widely available feedstock option is done. The Bacillus subtilis BS1934 strain was identified as a promising strain that could produce alpha-amylase efficiently at 50 0C. The obtained values i.e., 17468 and 5229 U/L of alpha-amylase from apple and potato peel, respectively through solid state fermentation in eight days were considered as optimum. The enzyme titres were 3-fold higher with apple peel as compared to potato peel in the medium, indicating superior quality of apple peel feedstock as compared to potato for amylase production. The production of amylase using agro-industrial residues, as apple peel may emerge as a cost-effective alternative to amylase from microbial sources for industrial purpose. [Display omitted] • Alpha-amylase production from apple and potato peel is compared. • Three cultures of Bacillus subtilis were screened for Alpha-amylase production. • Strain NAIMCC-B-01934 performed best for both apple and potato peel. • The enzyme titres were 3-fold higher with apple peel as compared to potato peel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the genetic characterization of Kadaknath native chicken using microsatellite makers in India. The researchers observed 30 Kadaknath birds that were randomly selected for genetic characterization. They subjected the satisfactory samples to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and used microsatellite to analyze the genome of Kadaknath chickens. They found that the MCW305 microsatellite marker is the most informative marker in the population of Kadaknath chickens.