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Usage of phthalates as plasticizers has resulted in worldwide occurrence and is becoming a serious concern to human health and environment. However, studies on phthalates in Indian atmosphere are lacking. Therefore, we studied the spatio-temporal trends of six major phthalates in Tamil Nadu, southern India, using passive air samplers. Phthalates were ubiquitously detected in all the samples and the average total phthalates found in decreasing order is pre-monsoon (61 ng m −3 ) > summer (52 ng m −3 ) > monsoon (17 ng m −3 ). Largely used phthalates, dibutylphthalate (DBP) and diethylhexlphthalate (DEHP) were predominantly found in all the seasons with contribution of 11–31% and 59–68%, respectively. The highest total phthalates was observed in summer at an urban location (836 ng m −3 ). Furthermore, through principal component analysis, potential sources were identified as emissions from additives of plasticizers in the polymer industry and the productions of adhesives, building materials and vinyl flooring. Although inhalation exposure of infants was higher than other population segments (toddlers, children and adults), exposure levels were found to be safe for people belonging to all ages based on reference dose (RfD) and tolerable daily intake (TDI) values. This study first attempted to report seasonal trend based on atmospheric monitoring using passive air sampling technique and exposure risk together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymorphism of interferon regulatory factor 5 ( IRF5), a latent transcription factor gene has been associated with various auto-immune diseases. Our aim was to study the IRF5rs2004640 gene polymorphism and its association with disease susceptibility, disease phenotype and treatment response in South Indian Tamil patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).The study was conducted on 217 RA patients fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2010 criteria and 482 healthy controls (HCs) without family history of autoimmune disease. The IRF5rs2004640 genotyping was performed using a TaqMan 5′ allelic discrimination assay. We found that the IRF5rs2004640T allele [ P < 0.0001, odds ratio (OR) 3.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.55-4.12] and TT genotype ( P < 0.0001, OR 4.60, 95% CI 3.23-6.57) were significantly more frequent in RA patients as compared with HCs. No association was found between IRF5rs2004640 polymorphism, clinical manifestations, autoantibody profile and treatment response. IRF5rs2004640 T (mutant) allele may be a susceptibility factor conferring risk for RA in South Indian Tamils, whereas G allele (wild type) may be protective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CYP2C19 is a polymorphic enzyme involved in the metabolism of clinically important drugs. Genotype-phenotype association studies of CYP2C19 have reported wide ranges in the metabolic ratios of its substrates. These discrepancies could be attributed to the variations in the promoter region and this aspect has been reported recently. The observations in the recent reports on the influence of promoter region variants on the metabolism of CYP2C19 substrates might also have been influenced by the copy number variations of CYP2C19. In this paper, we describe copy number variations of CYP2C19 using real-time polymerase chain reaction by comparative Ct method. No copy number variations were observed in the south Indian population indicating the observed discrepancies in genotype-phenotype association studies might be due to the regulatory region polymorphisms as reported earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationship betweenCYP2C19genotypes and the hydroxylation index (HI) of omeprazole in the South Indian population. Healthy unrelated South Indian subjects (n=300) were separated into three groups based on theirCYP2C19genotypes. They were administered a single oral dose of 20 mg omeprazole, and venous blood was collected 3 h later. Plasma was assayed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and the omeprazole HI was calculated. The means of HIs in individuals withCYP2C19*1/*1(n=124),*1/*2(n=129) and*2/*2,*2/*3(n=47) were 2.4, 5.3 and 22.5, respectively, and were found to be significantly different between any two groups (P<0.0001). A good correlation was established betweenCYP2C19genotype and omeprazole HI (r=0.54, 95% CI 0.45-0.62;P<0.0001). Of the 300 subjects, 42 (14.0%; 95% CI 10.1-17.9) were phenotypic poor metabolizers (PMs), but only 33 of them had two mutant alleles and the remaining 9 PMs had at least one wild-type allele. Among the 258 extensive metabolizers, 14 had two mutant alleles. The prevalence of PMs in the South Indian population was 14.0%, which is similar to that in North Indians and Orientals but significantly higher than in Caucasians and Africans. A genotype-phenotype relationship was established between theCYP2C19genotype and HI of omeprazole, but 7.7% of subjects deviated from expected genotype-phenotype associations. This could be due to an additional mutation, either in the exons/introns or in the 5'-regulatory region of theCYP2C19gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to establish the frequencies ofCYP2C9* 1,* 2,* 3andCYP2C19* 1,* 2and* 3in the south Indian population and to compare them with the inter-racial distribution of theCYP2C9andCYP2C19genetic polymorphisms. Genotyping analyses ofCYP2C9andCYP2C19were conducted in unrelated, healthy volunteers from the three south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, by the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). The allele frequencies of the populations of these three states were then pooled with our previous genotyping data of Tamilians (also in south India), to arrive at the distribution ofCYP2C9andCYP2C19alleles in the south Indian population. Frequencies ofCYP2C9andCYP2C19alleles and genotypes among various populations were compared using the two-tailed Fisher's exact test. The frequencies ofCYP2C9* 1,* 2and* 3in the south Indian population were 0.88 (95% CI 0.85–0.91), 0.04 (95% CI 0.02–0.06) and 0.08 (95% CI 0.06–0.11), respectively. The frequencies ofCYP2C9genotypes* 1/* 1,* 1/* 2,* 1/* 3,* 2/* 2,* 2/* 3and* 3/* 3were 0.78 (95% CI 0.74–0.82), 0.05 (95% CI 0.03–0.07), 0.15 (95% CI 0.12–0.18), 0.01 (95% CI 0.0–0.02), 0.01 (95% CI 0.0–0.02) and 0.0, respectively.CYP2C19* 1,* 2and* 3frequencies were 0.64 (95% CI 0.60–0.68), 0.35 (95% CI 0.31–0.39) and 0.01 (95% CI 0.0–0.03), respectively. As a result of a significant heterogeneity, the data onCYP2C19genotype frequencies were not pooled. The frequency ofCYP2C9* 2mutant alleles in south Indians was higher than in Chinese and Caucasians, whileCYP2C9* 3was similar to Caucasians.CYP2C19* 2was higher than in other major populations reported so far. The relatively highCYP2C19poor-metabolizer genotype frequency of 12.6% indicates that over 28 million south Indians are poor metabolizers of CYP2C19 substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four-horned antelope is one of the smallest Asian bovids, endemic to India and Nepal. Despite its wide distribution in India, the species has received very little scientific attention. We studied its habitat preference, activity budget, diet, social behaviour and breeding in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Among tropical dry deciduous and thorn forests, where the species is distributed, higher abundance was observed in dry deciduous areas (0.26 individuals/km, 95% CI=0.22–0.29) especially the short grass habitat associated with stunted and sparse tree growth known as ‘tree-savanna’ than the dry thorn forest (0.09 individuals/km, CI=0.001–0.18). The antelopes follow a bimodal feeding pattern with 52% morning (06:00–10:00h) and 65% evening (14:00–18:00h) devoted to feeding. Diet was studied by analyzing 59 pellets collected from two major habitat types during the dry season. Of the 52% of the diet components identified, grass (28.6%, 14 species) and browse biomass (23.3%, 10 species; with five herbs (9.6%), one shrub (5.6%) and leaves and fruits from four trees (8.2%)) constituted equal parts indicating a mixed feeder category. Mean group size of 1.5 (±0.71 SD range: 1–4) individuals estimated from 94 direct sightings with solitary individuals (62%) and adult with fawn/s (11%) constituting over 70% of the sightings indicating a non-herding nature of the species. Newborns were sighted from February to May with a peak during April and the reported gestation period of c. 8 months suggests mating taking place during June–August. Mean litter size was 1.6 (±0.53 SD, n =9). The study suggests the need for including dry thorn forest habitats of Sigur plateau in the existing protected areas and detailed studies for long-term conservation of the species in this region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An epidemic outbreak of Chikungunya virus occurred during 2006 in 15 States/Union Territories of India. The magnitude of the outbreak was unprecedented. We carried out a preliminary investigation to characterize the genotype of the virus involved in the outbreak in the State of Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry. We also looked into mutations in the gene sequences of the E1 region, the most informative gene of the virus on phylogeny, so as to understand the evolutionary trends of the species. The results indicate that the outbreak in Kerala and Puducherry was caused by the East Central South African (ECSA) strain of the virus. Owing to the absence of the A226V mutation in the samples analysed, it is likely that the outbreak was caused by the introduction of the ancestral stock of the Reunion clade to India, either by a human host or by the vector population. The magnitude of the outbreak might be due to mutations other than the already proposed one, i.e. A226V. Interestingly, one of the samples (Puducherry) showed a mutation K211E in the E1 gene, specific only to the Asian strain. In-depth studies are required in order to have a thorough understanding of the phylogenetic trends of the virus in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Introduction led to in a rapid reduction of H. influenzae type b mengintis. • Impact was larger than expected from vaccine coverage, suggesting herd immunity. • Introduction resulted in reduction of probable meningitis with no etiology found. Abstract Introduction Haemophilus influenzae type b was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in infants and children below the age of two years prior to the introduction of H. influenzae type b conjugate vaccines. In December 2011, the Indian government introduced H. influenzae b vaccine in the state of Tamilnadu. A prospective surveillance for bacterial meningitis was established at the Institute of Child Health in Chennai to evaluate the etiology of meningitis and impact of the vaccine. Material and Methods Infants aged one to 23 months who were admitted to the hospital with symptoms of suspected bacterial meningitis were enrolled and lumbar puncture was performed. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were analyzed for white blood cells, protein, and glucose. Bacterial culture and a latex agglutination test for common bacterial pathogens were performed. Results Between January 2009 and March 2014, 4,770 children with suspected bacterial meningitis were enrolled. Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, an average of 11.7 cases of H. influenzae b meningitis and 31.1 cases of probable meningitis with no etiology were identified each year. After introduction, the number of cases were reduced by 79% and 44% respectively. The average H. influenzae b vaccine coverage after introduction was 69% among all children with clinically suspected meningitis. In contrast, the mean number of aseptic meningitis and pneumococcal meningitis cases remained stable throughout the pre and post vaccination period; 28.2 and 4.8 per year, respectively. Conclusions H. influenzae b conjugate vaccine reduced the number of cases of H. influenzae b meningitis and probable meningitis within the first two years of its introduction. The impact against meningitis was higher than the vaccination rate, indicating indirect effects of the vaccine. India has recently scaled up the use of Hib conjugate vaccine throughout the country which should substantially reduce childhood meningitis rates further in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease affects up to 1% of the general population. Early diagnosis and treatment are limited by the absence of specific and reliable diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers. This study was carried out in 48 Tamil South Indian RA patients and 49 healthy controls (HC) to identify any cytokine signature(s) that could potentially serve as biomarkers. Expression profiles of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Tregs cell type-specifying cytokines and transcription factors were analyzed using real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. To explore if such expression profiles mirror their steady state plasma levels, a bead-based multiplex fluorescent assay was carried out. We found that the expression of transcription factors T-bet (for Th1), GATA-3 (for Th2) and FoxP3 (for Tregs) were significantly lower in patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.0001) similar to lowering of IFN&#947 (P = 0.004) and IL-10 (P = 0.04). The transcript levels of IL-12p40 and TNF-α were higher among patients as compared to HC (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.02, respectively). Circulating levels of assessed cytokines were in general higher in RA patients as compared to controls. These alterations in the expression of transcription factors and cytokines highlight the underlying dysregulation of T cell subsets in RA that reflects a predominantly inflammatory phenotype. Despite dissecting these cellular and molecular processes, no specific signature that could be of diagnostic and/or prognostic value was identified. Additional longitudinal follow-up studies, especially on newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients are warranted to uncover clinically useful biomarkers of RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Remote sensing of global aerosols has generated a great scientific interest in a variety of applications related to global warming and climate change. The spatial and temporal variations in aerosol particles over Southern India were described in the present study and the impact of these variations on various optical properties of clouds, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data retrieved from the Terra satellite. High mean Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) values were observed in almost all regions during the summer season, whereas in Pune, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, high AOD values were noticed during the monsoon season. The Ångström exponent that increases with AOD is opposite to what would be the case if swelling of particles due to hygroscopic growth near cloudy areas played a major role in the MODIS data. We then analyzed the relationships between AOD and four other cloud parameters, namely water vapor (WV), cloud fraction (CF), cloud top temperature (CTT) and cloud top pressure (CTP). Regional correlation maps and time series plots for aerosol (AOD) and cloud parameters were produced to provide a better understanding of aerosol–cloud interaction. The correlation between AOD and CF was greater than 0.51 in Visakhapatnam, 0.45 in Thiruvanantapuram, 0.42 in Pune and whereas in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Anantapur, it is 0.17, 0.39 and 0.12, respectively. The analyses showed strong positive correlations between AOD and WV for all cities investigated. The correlation between AOD and CF was positive for all selected cities. AOD showed a negative correlation with CTP and CTT in Southern Indian regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]