Effect of malathion on biochemical and physiological parameters in Glossogobius giuris (HAM)

The effect of sub-lethal concentrations (0.05 and 0.5ppm) of the organophosphorous pesticide, malathion on biochemical and enzyme activities in muscles of the freshwater gobiid fish, Glossogobius giuris, was studied for 24 and 96 hours of exposure. The following effects were examined; 1. Changes in the levels of protein and glycogen in cardiac muscle. The protein and glycogen contents were altered and decreased significantly in cardiac muscle after exposure to malathion. 2. Changes in the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in cardiac muscle. The results indicated that the LDH level was significantly elevated and SDH activity was suppressed in the muscle tissues after exposure to pesticide. The alterations produced were more significant at 96 hours of exposure than 24 hours. The decreased SDH activity indicated inhibition of SDH at mitochondrial level and LDH activity enhanced may be due to sub-lethal effect of malathion. © Enviromedia Printed in India. All rights reserved

Identification & differentiation of Mycobacterium avium & M. intracellulare by PCR- RFLP assay using the groES gene

Background & objectives: We report a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay using mycobacterial groES as a target to identify Mycobacterium avium and M. intracellulare in clinical samples. Methods: The assay was standardized using M. avium and M. intracellulare standard strains obtained from ATCC and was tested with 45 M. avium-M. intracellulare complex (MAC) clinical isolates (Of which 31 were from HIV+ individuals). The standard and clinical strains were typed with HPLC based mycolic acid fingerprinting. Results: Three polymorphisms (BamHI, BstNI and HgaI) were identified for inter-species differentiation among standard strains; of which, only HgaI was found to be useful in clinical isolates. Of the 45 isolates, 25 were M. avium and 20 were M. intracelluare. MAC isolates, which could not be differentiated by HPLC analysis, were also typed by this method. Interpretation & conclusions: The use of mycobacterial groES as a PCR-RFLP target for M. avium and M. intracellulare is a simple and rapid method that can complement HPLC in their differentiation

Effect of Filarial Infection on Serum Inflammatory and Atherogenic Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease (CURES-121)

Helminth infections can potentially confer protection against metabolic disorders, possibly through immunomodulation. In this study, the baseline prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) among subjects without (N = 236) and with (N = 217) coronary artery disease (CAD) was examined as part of the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES). The prevalence of LF was not significantly different between CAD− and CAD+ subjects. The LF antigen load and antibody levels indicated comparable levels of infection and exposure between the groups. Within the CAD group, LF+ and LF− subjects had no significant difference in the intimal medial thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values. However, LF infection was associated with augmented levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 among CAD+ subjects. The LF infection had no effect on serum adipocytokine profile. In conclusion, unlike type-2 diabetes, there is no association between the prevalence of LF and CAD and also no evidence of protective immunomodulation of LF infection on CAD in the Asian Indian population

Increased Levels of Serum Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Is Associated with Activated Peripheral Dendritic Cells in Type 2 Diabetes Subjects (CURES-99)

Background: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with growth factor–like properties for monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). In the present study, serum GM-CSF levels and the activation status of DCs were studied in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects. Methods: Study subjects were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study. Healthy controls (n = 45) and T2DM patients (n = 45) were included in the study. Serum levels of GM-CSF, interleukin-1b, interleukin- 6, and tumor necrosis factor-a were measured. Enumeration of circulating DCs (myeloid [m] and plasmocytoid [p]) and its surface antigen expression were quantified by flow cytometry. Results: The serum GM-CSF levels were significantly higher among diabetes subjects compared with subjects without diabetes and showed a positive correlation with glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.208, P = 0.018). The serum GM-CSF levels were lower in subjects on combined insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) treatment (1.09 pg/mL) compared with those taking OHA alone (1.9 pg/mL). The increased GM-CSF levels were associated with the activated phenotype of mDCs and pDCs, as determined by up-regulation of the lineage markers. Conclusion: The activated state of mDCs and pDCs seen among diabetes subjects might be due to the increased levels of GM-CSF and other pro-inflammatory cytokines

Multi-point aerodynamic design and optimization of a nacelle for an electric fan

Engines that power commercial airliners are becoming more carbon neutral as propulsion technologies are evolving at a rapid pace, targeting progressive decarbonization goals. Electrification of sub-regional aircraft could be an initial step in controlling emissions in the skies. In accordance with this goal, GKN Aerospace has been leading the EleFanT project that is aimed at developing an electric fan thruster for an electric aircraft. The present multi-point aerodynamic design of the nacelle is done as a part of the Electric Fan thruster (EleFanT) project. A multiobjective shape optimization method was implemented to obtain an initial set of axisymmetric shape parameters for nacelle and nozzle geometries. The optimization workflow consists of a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II), coupled with 2-D axisymmetric Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations based CFD code. The good designs from 2-D cruise studies were subjected to multi-point analysis, where the 3-D asymmetric flow fields from various operating points like cruise, take-off and crosswind were studied. The aerodynamic drag and thrust coefficients and the engine performance metrics were recorded using a defined bookkeeping method. For the 3-D simulations, a validated faninlet coupling model, the modified parallel compressor (MPC) method was employed at the fan face boundary to adapt to the incoming flow distortions. Thorough investigations on inlet drooping were done to analyze its positive impact on intake aerodynamics. With drooping, besides a reduction in drag coefficient Cd at cruise, mitigation of intake flow separation and distortion at take-off was also achieved. Further, a small increment done to the highlight radius at the lower position of the nacelle gave sizeable reductions in incoming flow distortion at the fan face