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Measurement of biological particles (bioaerosols) in ambient air is of great importance as it is directly linked with the health issues. However, data on the bioaerosols characterization are scarce. Here we report on the concentration and characterization of bioaerosols (including bacterial and fungal aerosols) as well as determination of organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) in total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) at a busy roadside restaurants-cluster site in New Delhi. In addition, 14 carbonyl volatile organic compounds (carbonyl VOCs) were also measured and their relationship with bioaerosols and OC/EC is assessed. The culturable airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations (CAB and CAF) at restaurant area varied significantly in different seasons ranging from 1.7 x 10(4)-9.8 x 10(4) (averaged 6.3 x 10(4) +/- 2.6 x 10(4) cfu m(-3)) and 3.5 x 10(2)-9.5 x 10(3) (3.9 x 10(3) +/- 3.1 x 10(3) cfu m(-3)) cfu m(-3), respectively. Major concentration peaks of TSPM, OC, EC as well as bacterial and fungal aerosols were found in winter and spring seasons. These peaks can be attributed to the low atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) height and favourable meteorological conditions for microbial growth in winter and spring seasons in New Delhi. Good correlations (R-2 > 0.5) were observed between CAB, CAF, TSPM and OC. On the other hand, CAB and CAF were not found to be correlated with carbonyl compounds (R2 < 0.2) indicative of their diverse sources. The bacterial identification was done by 16s rDNA sequencing and the identified strains were Bacillus sp., Bacillus firmus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumilus, Acinetobacter sp. and Acinetobactor radioresistens gene. Predominant fungal genera identified were Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Alternaria and Fusarium, which are known for adverse health effects causing numerous allergic and pathogenic inflammations.

Size-segregated aerosol samplings were carried out during 2013-14 at Okhla landfills, Delhi, which is a municipal solid waste dumping station. Aerosol samples were collected on quartz filters using an Andersen impactor sampler having 9-stages with cut-off diameter >9.0, 9.0-5.8, 5.8-4.7, 4.7-3.3, 3.3-2.1, 2.1-1.1, 1.1-0.65, 0.65-0.43, 9.0 μm. Fungal spores mostly peaked in coarse sizes (2.1-5.8 μm) and showed unimodal size distribution. Predominant identified bacterial strains were mostly belonged to Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebseilla and Escherichia genera. Most of the identified fungal spores are known for adverse health effects causing numerous allergic and pathogenic inflammations. These results suggest that the open-solid waste dumping sites are a major source of bioaerosols, and residents living in the nearby areas of landfills are at high health risks.

Elevated exposure to arsenic has been suggested to be associated with atherosclerosis leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, biochemical events underlying the arsenic-induced atherosclerosis have not yet been fully documented. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of circulating molecules involved in atherosclerosis with arsenic exposure in the individuals exposed to arsenic in Bangladesh. A total of 324 study subjects, 218 from arsenic-endemic areas and 106 from nonendemic areas in Bangladesh, were recruited. Drinking water, hair, nail, and blood samples were collected from the study subjects for analysis. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were lower in arsenic-endemic subjects than those of nonendemic subjects. Oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL), C-reactive protein (CRP), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels were significantly higher in arsenic-endemic subjects than those in nonendemic subjects. All these circulating molecules showed significant correlations with arsenic exposure (water, hair, and nail arsenic concentrations), and all these relations were significant before and after adjusting for relevant covariates. Among the circulating molecules tested in this study, HDL, Ox-LDL, and CRP showed dose-response relationships with arsenic exposure. Ox-LDL/HDL ratios were increased with the increasing concentrations of arsenic in the water, hair, and nails. Furthermore, non-HDL cholesterol and TC/HDL ratios were significantly correlated with arsenic exposure before and after adjusting for relevant covariates. Thus, all the observed associations may be the major features of arsenic exposure-related atherosclerosis leading to CVD.

Introduction: Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in India and the numbers of the patients are increasing every day. The prevalence of glaucoma depends upon various factors like racial and ethnic factors, the socioeconomic status, etc. Aim: To study the pattern of glaucoma distribution among the patients in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1500 glaucoma patients was done, who presented between 2007 and 2012 in TMMC and RC, Moradabad, U.P, India. The age and the gender distribution of glaucoma was studied along with its subtypes in different religious groups (mainly among Hindus and Muslims). Results: The mean age of the glaucoma patients was 52.7 years. Glaucoma was diagnosed in 882(58.8%) Muslim and in 561(37.4%) Hindu patients. The prevalence of POAG (33.0%) was almost equal to that of PACG (32.7%). POAG was the most common type of glaucoma in males (16.8%), while PACG was very common among females (18.8%). In Hindu patients, POAG (40.8%) was the commonest form of glaucoma, while in Muslims, PACG (40.1%) was the highest form of glaucoma. Conclusion: Glaucoma is a major ocular disease which is prevalent in the Muslim population of the western Uttar Pradesh region.

Comprehensive genetic profiling of tumors using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) is gaining acceptance for guiding treatment decisions in cancer care. We designed a cancer profiling test combining both deep sequencing and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of relevant cancer targets to aid therapy choices in both standard‐of‐care (SOC) and advanced‐stage treatments for solid tumors. The SOC report is provided in a short turnaround time for four tumors, namely lung, breast, colon, and melanoma, followed by an investigational report. For other tumor types, an investigational report is provided. The NGS assay reports single‐nucleotide variants (SNVs), copy number variations (CNVs), and translocations in 152 cancer‐related genes. The tissue‐specific IHC tests include routine and less common markers associated with drugs used in SOC settings. We describe the standardization, validation, and clinical utility of the StrandAdvantage test (SA test) using more than 250 solid tumor formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) samples and control cell line samples. The NGS test showed high reproducibility and accuracy of >99%. The test provided relevant clinical information for SOC treatment as well as more information related to investigational options and clinical trials for >95% of advanced‐stage patients. In conclusion, the SA test comprising a robust and accurate NGS assay combined with clinically relevant IHC tests can detect somatic changes of clinical significance for strategic cancer management in all the stages.

Size-segregated aerosol samplings were carried out near the potential sources of airborne biological particles i.e. at a landfill site, an agricultural field and a road side restaurant-cluster site in winter, spring and summer seasons during 2013-2015 in New Delhi. The culturable airborne bacterial (CAB) concentrations showed significant seasonal variation from higher to moderate in spring and winter seasons and lowest during summer. Highest CAB concentrations were observed at the Okhla landfill site followed by restaurant-cluster area and agriculture site. The CAB particles showed bimodal size distribution, abundant in the size ranges of 1.1-2.1, 2.1-3.3 and 4.7-5.8 μm. However, substantial concentrations were also observed in the size bins of 0.43-0.65 and0.43 μm, which are important for cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of aerosols in addition to their adverse health effects. In spring, bacterial particles were also maximized in size ranges between 5.8 and9.0 μm. Fine mode proportions of CAB were found to be higher in winter than other two seasons. Bacterial identification was done by 16s rDNA sequencing, and most abundant identified strains were Bacillus cereus (16%), Bacillus licheniformis (11%), Bacillus thuringiensis (9%), Micrococcus sp. (7%) and Acinetobacter sp. (9%).

Hadoop is a Technology which uses Distributed File System for storage of data in chunks and Mapreduce for processing massive data in parallel manner. Hadoop supports almost zettabytes of data for storage and about megabytes of map-reduce storage. In this paper, we are proposing Disk Space Monitoring System which is built on top of Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS). The special requirement in a Hadoop system is a well-balanced cluster, we do not want to have some nodes being much more (or less) utilized then others so it is mandatory to design well balanced cluster in context to Disk Space Utilization.

Eicosanoids, the oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA), mediate a variety of human diseases, such as cancer, inflammation and arthritis. To evaluate the role of eicosanoids in epidermoid carcinoma, the expression of AA metabolizing enzymes, such as lipoxygenases (LOXs) and cyclooxygenases (COXs), was analysed in a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line (A431). These studies revealed overexpression of 12-R-LOX and COX-2 in A431 cells. Baicalein (a 12-LOX inhibitor) and celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) significantly reduced thymidine incorporation, whereas 12-(R)-HETE and 12-(S)-HETE (12-LOX metabolites) and PGE(2) (COX-2 metabolite) significantly enhanced thymidine incorporation, suggesting a role for these enzymes in the regulation of A431 cell proliferation. Further studies on the mechanism of cell death by baicalein and celecoxib revealed that the induction of apoptosis in A431 cells was associated with reduction in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3 and PARP cleavage. The apoptosis induced by baicalein and celecoxib was mediated by down regulation of ERK and PI3K-Akt pathways. Further, 12-(R)-HETE, 12-(S)-HETE and PGE(2) upregulated the p-ERK and p-Akt levels, suggesting the involvement of ERK and Akt pathways in the 12-LOX- and COX-2-mediated regulation of growth in A431 cells. Our findings suggest that 12-R-LOX and COX-2 play a critical role in the regulation of growth in epidermoid carcinoma and that their inhibitors may be of potential therapeutic importance.

Eicosanoids, a family of oxygenated metabolites of eicosapolyenoic fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, formed via the lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase (COX) and epoxygenase pathways, play an important role in the regulation of various pathophysiological processes, including inflammation and cancer. COX-2, the inducible isoform of COX, has emerged as the key enzyme regulating inflammation, and promises to play a considerable role in cancer. Although NSAIDs have been in use for centuries, the COX-2 selective inhibitors - coxibs - have emerged as potent anti-inflammatory drugs with fewer gastric side effects. As COX-2 plays a major role in neoplastic transformation and cancer growth, by downregulating apoptosis and promoting angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, coxibs have a potential role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Recent studies indicate their possible application in overcoming drug resistance by downregulating the expression of MDR-1. However, the cardiac side effects of some of the coxibs have limited their application in treating various inflammatory disorders and warrant the development of COX-2 inhibitors without side effects. This review will focus on the role of COX-2 in inflammation and cancer, with an emphasis on novel approaches to the development of COX-2 inhibitors without side effects.

In order to understand the performance of a woman panchayat leader, the ethnography method was used, including formal and informal interviews, and also data collection from administrative offices. The entry of women in the rural political sphere makes them a part of the socio-political power structure where they are expected to deliver, and their participation in structure also provides them with an agency to act. Highlighting the role of context, this chapter also indicates how the variables of motivation and personal traits help women function as effective leaders.

A specific method for the determination of a fungicide, i.e. iron(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate (ferbam) in fog-water samples is described. The method is based on the releasing of equivalent amount of iron from the fungicide and subsequently determination by spectrophotometrically or by flame-atomic absorption spectrometrically (flame-AAS). The fungicide was extracted with chloroform/toluene from the samples and digested with nitric acid. For spectrophotometric determination, the solution was then treated with ammonium thiocyanate solution in presence of the surfactants and absorbance was measured at 475 nm. Whereas, the digested solution was directly applied for flame-AAS determination of ferbam. The molar absorptivity in terms of ferbam was determined to be (3.49)x10(4) l mol(-1) cm(-1). The detection limits for spectrophotometric and flame-AAS methods were calculated to be 62 and 111 ppb ferbam (R.S.D.1 and3%), respectively. Whereas, the optimum concentration ranges for the analysis of ferbam are 4-120 and 1.5-55 mug in final volume, respectively. The methods are freed from interference of almost all ions [including Fe(II) and Fe(III)], which can commonly associate with ferbam in fog-water. The methods have been successfully applied to fog samples collected from agriculture sites of Raipur (central India).

A novel compound, i.e. malonyl dihydrazide (MDH) was synthesized by coupling of diethylmalonate and hydrazine hydrate in alcoholic medium. The reagent is applied for the field test detection of Se, and gravimetric analysis of Se and Te in various real samples, i.e. sediment, wastewater, cigarette paper cabbage, etc. A drop of sample containing more than 2 and 6 μg of Se on test-tube/plate and test-paper were found to be detected, respectively. The reagent is successfully applied for the detection of Se and Te in semi-micro analysis of inorganic mixtures containing different ions. The gravimetric determination of Se and Te is highly selective, as the analysis conditions are different for both the elements. The non-stick precipitates also having good filtration characteristics, therefore 5 mg Se or Te present in the solution can be estimated accurately. Almost all metal ions associated with real samples did not interfere. The detection and determination with the proposed reagent is simple, rapid, selective and sensitive in comparison to other conventional methods. The data of estimation of Se and Te in standard samples prove the reliability of the proposed gravimetric determination.

A novel arsine generator glass assembly is constructed and reported for the spectrophotometric determination and speciation of arsenic in real samples. In an arsine generator, sodium borohydride is added dropwise to the acidic sample solution and arsine thus formed is reacted with silver diethyldithiocarbamate (Ag-DDTC) - Tritron-X (TX-100) solution in pyridine to form a red coloured complex. The complex showed the absorption maximum at λmax 540 nm. The molar absorptivity of the method was found to be (1.55) × 104 L mole−1 cm−1 at this wavelength. The presence of non-ionic surfactant, i.e. TX-100 in the Ag-DDTC solution, makes the method ≈ 3 times more sensitive than the conventional Ag-DDTC method. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 0.05–2.80 mg L−1 of arsenic. The detection limit of the method was calculated to be 20 μg L−1 As. Speciation of arsenite from other forms of arsenic in sample solutions was carried out by extraction of arsenite with Pb-DDTC in chloroform, followed by spectrophotometric determination. After arsenite separation the sample is used for the arsenate determination. Total arsenic was determined by acid decomposition of the same sample. The speciation data were found to be comparable (±2%) with ICP-MS, with better precision (< 1%). The method has been successfully applied for the speciation of arsenic in drinking water and dust samples of arsenic affecting the Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, India, and urine and blood samples of patients with arsenical diseases. Concentration of total arsenic in tube-well water of this area was 3–6 times more than the permissible limit. Dust samples contained less amounts of arsenic than the ground water.

Many legacy applications may be outdated due to obsolete user interface however they still carry the precious business information about the data and processes. Such applications can be modernized by reengineering their user interface. The first step in modernization is the reverse engineering of the user interface. In this paper we compare the techniques to reverse engineer a simple java based application to identify the best possible technique for model generation.

This book illustrates and debates the well-grounded and confident tradition of Indian Poetry in English. It contains individual essays on poets before and since the Indian Independence focus on the poetry of Derozio, Tagore, Aurobindo and Naidu right down to the modern and contemporary poets like Ezekiel, Mahapatra, Ramanujan, Kolatkar, Das, Moraes, Daruwalla, de Souza, Jussawalla and Patel who ushered in a change both in terms of subject matter and style.

Indian writing in English, especially fiction, continues to capture the attention of readers all over the English-speaking world. Conversely, although there is a strong and flourishing tradition of poetry in English within India, with India's first Nobel Prize for Literature having been conferred upon poet Rabindranath Tagore in 1913, poetry in English from India has not impacted on the contemporary world in the same manner as the fiction. While poetry in English in India seems to have been written from the early nineteenth century, the first novel in English by an Indian, Rajmohan's Wife, was serialized in a littleknown journal called The Indian Field in 1894.1 If the provenance of poetry in English is older than that of the Indian novel in English, its marginalization is, for the thinking mind, a subject engaging enough to be explored.In the Indian philosophical and literary tradition, it is poetry that is the first form of utterance and address as exemplified by the ancient Indian texts of the Veda, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Mahabharata and the Valmiki Ramayana. Over centuries, from Rig Vedic poetry evolved poetic drama, and, prose, as a medium of literary expression, is a late entrant. The Mughals may have used it in Persian, to delineate the history and administrative achievements of a bloodline, but it is really after the coming of the British that native Indians acquired a penchant for literary expression in prose.2 By then, Derozio, Tom Dutt, and later, during the Nationalist movement, Tagore, Aurobindo and Sarojini Naidu had already captured public attention as poets. The kind of veneration and fan following these poets could drum up is at present a distant dream for poetry in English in India.The absence of a Great Cause like the World Wars or the Partition of India may be one of the reasons for poetry having ceased to be a major mode of expression. The marginalization of poetry in English in India may be symptomatic of poetry having been "outmoded like the fletcher's art"3 with a sharp decline in the taste and publishing of poetry the world over. But is that really so? Culturally, the world over, poetry is accorded a place of eminence in the layperson's imagination. Consider this line from an aerobatics display brochure that describes the manoeuvres of an MIG fighter plane as "precision poetry in the sky". Likewise, at a Congress Convention in Hyderabad, India, in December 2005, a banner, in the grip of poetic frenzy, boasts:GANDHI TO SONIAPEACE IS IDEAPRIORITY TO AGRICULTURERESPITE TO FARMERIt is well known that after the horror of 9/11, people in New York expressed their confusion and anxiety in a flurry of poetic activity, as also, writing poetry kept prisoners of Guantanamo together, holding on to a sense of self and culture.Today, one of the reasons for a decline in taste for the writing, reading and publishing of poetry may be attributed to the change in lifestyle; our rushed, pressurized existence which makes us prefer literature that is undemanding of our time. In comparison with good poetry, popular and even literary fiction is much less demanding and therefore more engaging than poetry. Read and forgotten, this genre does not expect us to go back to it again and again asking it existential questions. This fiction is mere storytelling. Read it, listen to it and move on. Poetry, on the other hand, for the middle-class reader, is associated with difficulty; is as feared as mathematics. Its layers of meaning demand a far greater level of engagement, ask uncomfortable, unanswerable questions and so is best, shunned. Yet, as a classical art form, poetry refuses to die. Age upon age, it somehow barely survives despite failure or a decrease in demand. This holds true for all classical forms of art perhaps because the classical is connected to spiritual enrichment and refinement. It may be pertinent to dwell on this thought that as long as spiritual hunger prevails in man, poetry will never die even though, in contemporary times, it makes nothing happen. …

South Asians who immigrate to the United States have a propensity toward insulin resistance, central obesity, and elevated total cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio. To evaluate whether these alterations are apparent at a younger age, we studied 32 offspring of South Asian immigrants and compared them with 29 of European descent between 18 to 30 years of age. American-born South Asian males had significantly higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (TC:LDL) ratios, triglycerides, and fasting insulin levels (13.9 +/- 7.1 and 10.0 +/- 5.5 microU/mL, P

The results of the seasonal analysis of the chemistry of rain, fog and surface water of central India for the two years: June 1996 to May 1998 are presented. A total of 636 rain water samples, 146 fog water samples and 226 surface water samples of 8 locations: namely, Ambikapur, Baikunthpur, Korba, Bilaspur, Raipur, Bhilai, Dallirajhara and Kanker, from different sites were collected for the present study. This paper documents the occurrence of acidic rain and fog events and their effect on surface water pH and aquatic life in central India. Most of the rain and fog water samples collected from Baikunthpur and Korba sites were found to be acidic in nature (i.e. pH < 5). The volume weighted mean pH of rain and fog water samples of these sites was 4.8 and 4.4 with lowest pH 4.4 and 4.0, respectively. However, samples from Ambikapur, Bilaspur, Raipur and Bhilai were slightly acidic and their pH values were always around 5.8. One reservoir (mean pH 5.8) and two stop dams (mean pH 4.4 and 4.2) in Baikunthpur area were found to be acidic. The effect of acidification of water on metal-accumulation in muscles of fishes was studied. Concentrations of Al, Hg, Mn, Cd and Pb were higher in fish from acid, than from less acid waters. Causes of acidification of the atmospheric water and surface water are critically discussed.

Rhinoscleroma is a chronic granulomatous disease which involves upper respiratory tract. We undertook this study to find out the antibacterial effect of local acriflavin on Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, as well as the disease rhinoscleroma. Antibiotic effect of acriflavin was studied on one of the isolate of Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis using whatman No.1 filter paper disc soaked in 2% and 5% acriflavin solution and was found sensitive. A total of 26 cases diagnosed clinically and histopathologically were studied. These patients were treated using 1%, 2% and 5% acriflavin ointment. The cure was 33%, 67% and 100% respectively. Details of response to acriflavin therapy and its adverse effect will be discussed. It is concluded that acriflavin can be used as a good alternative to systemic therapy for rhinoscleroma. As it can be prepared and applied easily and is not a financial burden on already poor patient.

Context: Use of information technology hardware given new heights to professional success rate and saves time but on the other hand its harmful effect has introduced an array of health related complaints causing hazards for our human health. Increased use of computers has led to an increase in the number of patients with ocular complaints which are being grouped together as computer vision syndrome (CVS). In view of that, this study was undertaken to find out the ocular complaints and the factors contributing to occurrence of such problems in computer users. Aims: To evaluate the factors contributing to Ocular complaints in computer users in Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, U.P. India. Settings and Design: Community-based cross-sectional study of 150 subjects who work on computer for varying period of time in Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods: Two hundred computer operators working in different institutes offices and bank of were selected randomly in Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, and Uttar Pradesh. 16 were non responders 18 did not come for assessment and 16 were excluded due to complaints prior to computer use making no response rate Twenty-one did not participate in the study, making the no response rate 25%. Rest of the subjects (n = 150) were asked to fill a pre-tested questionnaire, after obtaining their verbal consent Depending on the average hours of usage in a day, they were categorized into three categories viz. 6 hrs of usage. All the responders were asked to come to the Ophthalmic OPD for further interview and assessment. Statistical Analysis Used: Simple proportions and Chi-square test. Results: Among the 150 subjects studied major ocular complaint reported in descending order were eyestrain. (53%). Occurrence of eye strain, ( 53.8%), itching ( 47.6%) and burning (66.7%) in subjects using computer for more than 6 hours. distance from computer screen with respect to eyes, use of antiglare screen, taking frequent breaks, use of LCD monitor and adjustment of brightness of monitor screen bear a significant association with these ocular complaints in computer users. Conclusions: Eye strain is the most common ocular complaints among computer users working for more than 6 hours a day. We also found that maintaining ideal distance from screen, keeping level of eyes above the top of screen, taking frequent breaks, using LCD monitors and using antiglare screen and adjusting brightness levels according to workplace reduced these ocular complaints to a significant level.

Chronic arsenic (As) exposure affects the endothelial system causing several diseases. Big endothelin-1 (Big ET-1), the biological precursor of endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a more accurate indicator of the degree of activation of the endothelial system. Effect of As exposure on the plasma Big ET-1 levels and its physiological implications have not yet been documented. We evaluated plasma Big ET-1 levels and their relation to hypertension and skin lesions in As exposed individuals in Bangladesh. A total of 304 study subjects from the As-endemic and non-endemic areas in Bangladesh were recruited for this study. As concentrations in water, hair and nails were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The plasma Big ET-1 levels were measured using a one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay kit. Significant increase in Big ET-1 levels were observed with the increasing concentrations of As in drinking water, hair and nails. Further, before and after adjusting with different covariates, plasma Big ET-1 levels were found to be significantly associated with the water, hair and nail As concentrations of the study subjects. Big ET-1 levels were also higher in the higher exposure groups compared to the lowest (reference) group. Interestingly, we observed that Big ET-1 levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive and skin lesion groups compared to the normotensive and without skin lesion counterpart, respectively of the study subjects in As-endemic areas. Thus, this study demonstrated a novel dose-response relationship between As exposure and plasma Big ET-1 levels indicating the possible involvement of plasma Big ET-1 levels in As-induced hypertension and skin lesions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background: Cutaneous pancreatic fat necrosis is a pathognomonic sign for pancreatic disease and usually presents as subcutaneous nodules in the pretibial region. Objective: A case of cutaneous pancreatic fat necrosis is presented in which the clinical presentation of diffuse erythema was unusual. This disease is discussed and its possible etiologies are reviewed. Methods: A MEDLINE search for cases of cutaneous pancreatic fat necrosis presenting as diffuse erythema without nodules was conducted. Results: Diffuse erythema is an unusual presentation of cutaneous pancreatic fat necrosis. Conclusion: This may be the first case of cutaneous pancreatic fat necrosis presenting as diffuse erythema.

The role of COX-2 in the regulation of the expression of MDR1, a P-glycoprotein involved in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2, was studied in the present investigation. Celecoxib, a selective inhibitor of COX-2, at 25 microM concentration increased the accumulation of doxorubicin in HepG2 cells and enhanced the sensitivity of the cells to doxorubicin by tenfold. The induction of MDR1 expression by PGE2 and its downregulation by celecoxib or by COX-2 knockdown suggests that the enhanced sensitivity of HepG2 cells to doxorubicin by celecoxib is mediated by the downregulation of MDR1 expression, through COX-2-dependent mechanism. Further studies revealed the involvement of AP-1 in the celecoxib-induced downregulation of MDR1 expression. These experimental studies correlated well with in silico predictions and further suggested the inactivation of the signal transduction pathways involving ERK, JNK and p38. The present study thus demonstrates the usefulness of COX-2 intervention in overcoming the drug resistance in HepG2 cells.

e22127 Background: NGS allows for comprehensive profiling of a tumor genotype across multiple genes. Such molecular profiling can identify key driver mutations with potential to impact therapeutic ...

e12539 Background: Personalized cancer treatment can benefit from targeted deep-sequencing of multiple genes using NGS. The StrandAdvantage test panel assays 212 amplicons (48 genes) spanning hotsp...

The present paper describes the extractive quantification of zinc-dithiocarbamate fungicides, i.e. ziram (zinc bis-dimethyldithiocarbamate) and zineb (zinc ethylene-1,2-bis-dithiocarbamate) in fog-water samples. The method is based on the releasing of equivalent amount of zinc from the fungicides and its subsequent determination by visible spectrophotometry or by flame-atomic absorption spectrometry (flame-AAS). For spectrophotometry, the sample contained up to 48mug of ziram and 42mug of zineb was first equilibrated with chloroform. The recovery results show that only ziram content was extracted into chloroform. Then, the sample was treated with NH(4)SCN and surfactants (i.e. CPC and TX-100) solutions, and extracted with toluene to remove interference of inorganic zinc and other metal ions, if present in the sample. The residue was further used for zineb determination. The chloroform extract and residue were then digested separately with nitric acid to release Zn(II), which were then analyzed spectrophotometerically with 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol in the micellar medium (TX-100) for the determination of ziram and zineb, respectively. The complex shows lambda(max) at 495nm. The molar absorptivity in terms of ziram/zineb was determined to be (8.05) x 10(4)Lmole(-1)cm(-1). The detection limits for ziram and zineb were calculated to be 20 and 21mugL(-1) (with R.S.D.1.5%), respectively. Whereas, the optimum concentration ranges were 0.08-1.6 and 0.07-1.4mgL(-1), respectively. Alternatively, the Zn contents present in chloroform extract and in residue were directly analyzed using flame-AAS without undergoing the digestion procedure, and ziram and zineb were determined, respectively. The optimum concentration ranges were 0.9-4.8 and 0.8-4.3mgL(-1), while the detection limits were calculated to be 145 and 144mugL(-1), respectively with R.S.D.2.5%. The methods are free from interference of almost all ions [including Zn(II)] and other dithiocarbamate pesticides, which can commonly associate with ziram/zineb in fog-water.

e22059 Background: Massively parallel deep sequencing of genes involved in cancer can provide a comprehensive understanding of the processes that drive an individual's cancer and potentially provid...

Objective: To evaluate the protective role of leaves of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) Lam. against arsenic-induced toxicity in mice. Methods: Swiss albino male mice were divided into four groups. The first group was used as non-treated control group while, the second, third, and fourth groups were treated with M. oleifera leaves (50 mg/kg body weight per day), sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg body weight per day) and sodium arsenite plus M. oleifera leaves, respectively. Serum indices related to cardiac, liver and renal functions were analyzed to evaluate the protective effect of Moringa leaves on arsenic-induced effects in mice. Results: It revealed that food supplementation of M. oleifera leaves abrogated the arsenic-induced elevation of triglyceride, glucose, urea and the activities of alkaline phospatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in serum. M. oleifera leaves also prevented the arsenic-induced perturbation of serum butyryl cholinesterase activity, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Conclusions: The results indicate that the leaves of M. oleifera may be useful in reducing the effects of arsenic-induced toxicity.