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Background: Trichomoniasis is a worldwide protozoan parasitic disease. Considering the importance of the disease in public health and the controversial ideas about the prevalence of drug resistance, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of metronidazole resistance gene in trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) with PCR-RFLP method in Tehran and in Kashan. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study 140 samples of T. vaginalis in patients with T. vaginalis infections were collected and assessed microscopically. Then they were isolated and examined by culturing in dorset's medium, DNA extraction and PCR amplification. The PCR products were analyzed using RFLP and suspected samples were sequenced. Results: All but 7 samples were T. vaginalis positive by PCR. Sixty-two samples (44.4%) were examined by microscopic, culture and PCR techniques; 12 samples (8.5%) by microscope and PCR, 56 samples (40%) by culture and PCR and other 3 samples (2.1%) were positive only by PCR. Two samples (1.5%) were also examined for detection of mutation in 18S rRNA gene with RFLP in Tehran. Conclusion: This study shows that T. vaginalis infections in the female population living in Tehran are metronidazole-resistant. Since metronidazole is considered as the drug choice for T. vaginalis infections, more studies are recommended for identification of the drug resistance mechanisms and prevention of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The plant Cleome gynandra L. (Capparidaceae), is commonly known as 'Hurhur'and 'Karaila' in India and 'Cat's whiskers' in English. Traditionally the whole plant is used in the treatment of tumor, anti-inflammatory and lysosomal stability actions. AIM OF STUDY: The objective of present study is to explore the anticancer activity of the methanol extract of the Cleome gynandra in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anticancer activity of methanol extract of Cleome gynandra (MECG) was evaluated in Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cell line at the doses of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally. MECG was administered for nine consecutive days. Twenty-four hours of last dose and 18 h of fasting, the mice were sacrificed and antitumor effect of MECG assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumor cell count, tumor weight and hematological parameters of EAC bearing host. RESULTS: MECG showed significant decrease in (p<0.01) tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile such as RBC, hemoglobin, WBC and lymphocyte count reverted to normal level in MECG treated mice. CONCLUSION: From the result it was showed that the extract has potent dose dependent anticancer activity and that is comparable to that of 5-fluorouracil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a hydro-refining spent catalyst with an alumina base has been taken into consideration. It is mostly used for the recovery of molybdenum. The spent catalyst constitutes around 21 pct of molybdenum as molybdenum oxide. The study has revealed that at temperature lower than 600°C, it is possible to recover an appreciable quantity of molybdenum from the spent catalyst. The statistical experiments have been designed for the study to optimize the process parameters during soda ash roasting, i.e. roasting temperature, reaction time and percentage soda ash addition. In the trial run, it has been found to extract about 81% of molybdenum with temperature 500°C, soda ash 20wt% when roasted for 20 minutes. The process has further been optimized and it has been possible to recover about 94% of Mo as its oxide, from the spent hydro-refining catalyst, under the optimum condition of reaction temperature 575°C with 10wt. pct. soda ash addition and 45 minutes roasting time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argulus spp. are important ectoparasites of fish, and the current approach of their control using chemical pesticides has numerous drawbacks. Vaccination is a promising alternative but identification of protective antigens is a limiting step. The ribosomal protein P0, essential for protein synthesis, has been studied as a vaccine candidate. We generated sequence information of the P0 protein of the ectoparasite Argulus siamensis and the host Labeo rohita. The region of the parasite P0 protein with less sequence similarity with that of the host P0 protein and high predicted antigenicity was used for peptide synthesis. The peptide was conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) for immunization of rohu at a dose of 1.5 μg/g body weight. Dot blot assays confirmed production of antibodies against pP0-KLH in immunized fish. We evaluated the efficiency of pP0-KLH as a vaccine antigen by challenge of the immunized fish with A. siamensis. Although there was no significant difference in parasite load between both groups, a reduced and delayed mortality of 59% (15 days post-infection) in immunized group was noticed as compared to 75% mortality (within 7–15 days post-infection) in control group. The partial protection observed indicated the need for further optimization of this molecule to develop it into a vaccine candidate.

Summary. Acute leukaemia is the commonest form of malignancy in childhood. The coincidental development of leukaemia in children or adults with haemophilia is extremely rare, although cases of leukaemia and other malignancies have been reported previously in HIV-positive subjects. Of a total of 440 people with haemophilia registered with our society, two were diagnosed with acute leukaemia last year. The development of leukaemia in a subject with haemophilia has previously been reported from our country in 1985, but the negative HIV status of these recent cases is very interesting. The first caseinvolved a 14-year-old boy with moderate haemophilia A, who developed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) [French–American–British (FAB) classification L2]. The second subject was a 16-year-old boy who had moderately severe haemophilia A with no previous family history, and developed acute nonlymphocytic (myelomonocytic) leukaemia (FAB-M4). Both patients received conventional chemotherapyand thisreport discusses the potential problems in management of such cases, including diagnosis and administration of chemotherapy in subjects with a pre-existing haemorrhagic disorder. Extensive cutaneous and mucosal bleeding, as well as bleeds in joints previously affected by haemarthrosis and alterations of haematological values were all initially suggestive of the development of inhibitors against factor VIII, but the appearance of blasts in the peripheral blood and bone marrow led to the definitive diagnosis. The risk of bleeding, due to the combination of both leukaemia and the consequences of the chemotherapy, was overcome by the administration of coagulation factor concentrates (daily initially followed by prophylactic doses after successful induction of remission in both patients). The young patient with ALL is now receiving the maintenance phase of the Children's Cancer Study Group 1961 protocol and is in the 15th month of follow-up, without any complications.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxy resin—aggregate composites, also known as epoxy concretes, in volving siliceous quartzite aggregates have been investigated for the effect of binder content and silane coupling agents on the mechanical properties. Ef fect of binder content on the mechanical properties shows a maximum in split-tensile strength for 12-14 wt% binder content, for the studied gradings of the aggregates. Optimum value of binder skin-thickness corresponding to the maximum in split-tensile strength is determined according to the method suggested by Gamski. Performance of two silane coupling agents is evaluated for this system. It is also observed that application of silane coupling agent through mixing it directly to the resin-aggregate mix results in sufficient im provement of properties, but this method of application produces less im provement in properties compared to its application as pre-treatment on aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

One child in a family and two children in another family had galactosemia and congenital cataract. Two of them had total soft cataracts while in one, cataract was less soft. In addition, they had mild lactosuria. The mothers of the affected children had significant lactosuria and mild galactosuria without cataracts. Fathers did not have galactosuria or lactosuria. Clinically unaffected siblings in one family had mild galactosuria and lactosuria. Pregnancy-exaggerated galactosemia was suspected in these two mothers who gave birth to children with congenital cataract. As an extension of this work, 5001 pregnant women were screened for galactose in urine just before the delivery of babies. Mild galactosuria was present in 54 (1.08%). Three children had congenital cataract and one had changes in posterior pole and cornea. Restriction of lactose by reducing intake of milk and milk products during pregnancy by mothers with galactosuria is recommended to avoid the birth of children with congenital cataract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children comprised 52% of patients with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD). Types of Sickle Cell Disease encountered were SS (92.7%). SB thalassaemia (6.7%) and SD disease (0.7%). The disease was widespread in almost all castes and communities in the society; largest number of patients (20%) belonging to scheduled castes and only 1.4% were from scheduled tribes. Maximum number of cases were in the age group 2-4 and 4-6 years, many of whom died around this age. Besides attacks of pain, jaundice and anemia, frequent attacks of fever with anemia or only anemia in childhood were a predominant presenting feature. Splenic sequestration was frequent (10.1%). The patients usually had a steady state hemoglobin level of 6-10 g/dl, with which they thrived well. Fetal hemoglobin was 5-30%. Blood transfusion was not a frequent requirement, but prophylactic long acting penicillin was helpful in preventing frequency of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal studies were performed on the segregation roasting of pure nickel sulphate. The reaction path was found to be the same as for oxide segregation, although some deviation was observed during product formation, where a metallic nugget was obtained as the end product. The nickel content in the metallic nugget has been analysed at 74% (remainder sulphur). The optimum reaction temperature appears to be 1100°C; with 10% CaCl2 + 10% charcoal addition (by weight); after roasting for 30 min, it is possible to extract a product containing 97% metallic nickel with 3% sulphur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple wet chemical method has been successfully deployed to synthesize CuO nanoparticles (NPs) by using copper chloride and lithium hydroxide as the precursors. X-ray diffraction study revealed that the synthesized CuO is highly crystalline and pure. The synthesized CuO NPs has very high transparency in the visible region of wavelength. The band gap of the CuO NPs was found to be 1.54 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the recent scenario of infrastructure investment in India, with the recognition that inadequate infrastructure is one of the major constraints on India’s ability to sustain high GDP growth. It conducts an overview of the trends in infrastructure investment from the 10th Five Year Plan onwards, and tries to examine the linkage between infrastructure and economic growth. The results exhibit a very high rate of return and also highlight that, since resource constraints will continue to limit public investment in infrastructure in other areas, Public Private Partnership (PPP) project-based development needs to be encouraged wherever feasible.

Nanophthalmos is a rare form of congenital hypermetropia, in which, the individual is at a high risk of developing angle-closure glaucoma. We report a family of nanophthalmos affecting a brother and sister, as confirmed by biometry. Genetic analysis revealed an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The sister developed angle-closure glaucoma, which was refractory to medical and laser therapy. She underwent surgical interventions which resulted in complications. The clinical presentation, management, and complications encountered are discussed

Abstract Background Nucleolus is the most prominent mammalian organelle within the nucleus which is also the site for ribosomal biogenesis. There have been many reports indicating the involvement of nucleolus in the process of aging. Several proteins related to aging have been shown to localize in the nucleolus, which suggests the role of this organelle in senescence. Results In this study, we used quantitative mass spectrometry to map the flux of proteins into and out of the nucleolus during the induction of senescence in cultured mammalian cells. Changes in the abundance of 344 nucleolar proteins in sodium butyrate-induced senescence in NIH3T3 cells were studied by SILAC (stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture)-based mass spectrometry. Biochemically, we have validated the proteomic results and confirmed that B23 (nucleophosmin) protein was down-regulated, while poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and nuclear DNA helicase II (NDH II/DHX9/RHA) were up-regulated in the nucleolus upon treatment with sodium butyrate. Accumulation of chromatin in the nucleolus was also observed, by both proteomics and microscopy, in sodium butyrate-treated cells. Similar observations were found in other models of senescence, namely, in mitoxantrone- (MTX) treated cells and primary fibroblasts from the Lamin A knockout mice. Conclusion Our data indicate an extensive nuclear organization during senescence and suggest that the redistribution of B23 protein and chromatin can be used as an important marker for senescence.

Abstract Background Executive control processes such as task switching and error processing have been shown to change with age. The present study explored from a developmental perspective whether shared or different mechanisms underlie these processes. Methods The sample included 180 children (30 in each of the six age groups from 6-11 years) who were required to perform two different tasks: identification of a digit, or counting the number of digits. We computed switch costs as a function of response-repetition, stimulus-response (S-R) compatibility, and post-error-slowing. We also analyzed reaction time distributions. Results and discussion The results showed a switch cost in the response-repetition condition, with a reduction in switch cost between 7 to 8 and 9 to 10 years of age, and an S-R compatibility effect in 6 to 9 years old children. Reaction time (RT) distributions showed that the decrement in the switch cost is due to the overall decrease in RTs in fast (5th percentile) trials in 9 to 11 year olds, and slow (95th percentile) trials in 7 to 8 and 9 to 11 years old children, in both the task switch and non-switch trials. A major reduction in RT was found between 9 to 11 years in both the response type and S-R compatibility type conditions. RT distributions for post-error trials revealed that the large decrement seen in 7 to 8 and 9 to 10 years old children is primarily due to the sudden decrease in RTs in the fast and slow trials respectively. The developmental pattern of error processing was similar to one component of task switching (switch cost of the response-repetition condition), indicating that inhibition could be a common mechanism underlying both the processes. However, the failure to maintain task set was found only with task switching. Conclusion The development of task switching and error processing is not gradual. The developmental pattern of error processing is similar to that of the switch cost of the response-repetition condition in task switching, indicating that inhibition could be a common mechanism underlying both processes. The present results have implications for theories of executive control.

Abstract Background Malnutrition is associated with both structural and functional pathology of the brain. A wide range of cognitive deficits has been reported in malnourished children. Effect of chronic protein energy malnutrition (PEM) causing stunting and wasting in children could also affect the ongoing development of higher cognitive processes during childhood (>5 years of age). The present study examined the effect of stunted growth on the rate of development of cognitive processes using neuropsychological measures. Methods Twenty children identified as malnourished and twenty as adequately nourished in the age groups of 5–7 years and 8–10 years were examined. NIMHANS neuropsychological battery for children sensitive to the effects of brain dysfunction and age related improvement was employed. The battery consisted of tests of motor speed, attention, visuospatial ability, executive functions, comprehension and learning and memory Results Development of cognitive processes appeared to be governed by both age and nutritional status. Malnourished children performed poor on tests of attention, working memory, learning and memory and visuospatial ability except on the test of motor speed and coordination. Age related improvement was not observed on tests of design fluency, working memory, visual construction, learning and memory in malnourished children. However, age related improvement was observed on tests of attention, visual perception, and verbal comprehension in malnourished children even though the performance was deficient as compared to the performance level of adequately nourished children. Conclusion Chronic protein energy malnutrition (stunting) affects the ongoing development of higher cognitive processes during childhood years rather than merely showing a generalized cognitive impairment. Stunting could result in slowing in the age related improvement in certain and not all higher order cognitive processes and may also result in long lasting cognitive impairments.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Prenatal diagnosis of partial trisomy 21 associated with maternal balanced translocation 46xx der 21 t(21q;22q) with pericentric inversion of chromosome 9" by R. C. Parmar and P. Sira in the 2003 issue.

Abstract Background The malarial parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), is responsible for nearly 2 million deaths worldwide. However, the mechanisms of cellular signaling in the parasite remain largely unknown. Recent discovery of a few protein kinases and phosphatases point to a thriving reversible phosphorylation system in the parasite, although their function and regulation need to be determined. Results We provide biochemical and sequence evidence for a protein serine/threonine phosphatase type PP5 in Plasmodium falciparum, and named it PfPP5. The 594-amino acid polypeptide was encoded by a 1785 nucleotide long intronless gene in the parasite. The recombinant protein, expressed in bacteria, was indistinguishable from native PfPP5. Sequencing comparison indicated that the extra-long N-terminus of PfPP5 outside the catalytic core contained four tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs), compared to three such repeats in other PP5 phosphatases. The PfPP5 N-terminus was required for stimulation of the phosphatase activity by polyunsaturated fatty acids. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated an interaction between native PfPP5 and Pf heat shock protein 90 (hsp90). PfPP5 was expressed in all the asexual erythrocytic stages of the parasite, and was moderately sensitive to okadaic acid. Conclusions This is the first example of a TPR-domain protein in the Apicomplexa family of parasites. Since TPR domains play important roles in protein-protein interaction, especially relevant to the regulation of PP5 phosphatases, PfPP5 is destined to have a definitive role in parasitic growth and signaling pathways. This is exemplified by the interaction between PfPP5 and the cognate chaperone hsp90.

Aim: To establish a labeling protocol and evaluate biokinetics of the 99mTc-Ceftiofur. Material and methods: Labeling of Ceftiofur with 99mTc was carried out as follows: 5.0 ± 0.5 μg Ceftiofur dissolved in 80 ml of 2 M NaOH solution, 300 μg SnCl2 and 99mTcO4- (~10 mCi in 0.2 ml saline) in a final reaction volume of 1ml made up with distilled water. The pH of the final solution was adjusted to 6–7 using 1 M NaH2PO solution. The 99mTc-Ceftiofur was injected into normal, healthy animals through the tail vein for biodistribution studies. Imaging studies were carried out in normal rabbit, the images were acquired at 1, 3, and 24 h p.i. using 256 x 256 matrix size with LEHR collimator (GE Infinia system, SPECT-CT Unit, Bio-Imaging Facility, Tata Memorial Centre). Results: The radiochemical purity (RCP) of 99mTc-Ceftiofur was > 90%. The in vitro stability of the complex was confirmed by carrying out RCP check over period of 4 hours. The circulating levels were a maximum (7%) at 30 min and, thereafter, decreased to 0.8% at 24 h. The liver uptake was also maximum (9.8%) at 30 min and decreased to 2.1% at 24 h. The muscle uptake was maximum (0.8%) at 30 min. Bone uptake was found to be very negligible at all time points. Excretion of the compound was both through the renal system and hepatobiliary route. Renal uptake was observed ~20 to 24% at all time points. Conclusion: The labeling protocol of 99mTc-Ceftiofur was established and the radiochemical purity of the complex was > 90%. The prolonged presence of drug in circulation will be an added advantage for infection imaging particularly for lesions in thorax, which needs to be evaluated in animal models of infection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]