Comparison of Health of Height-Weight Matched Young-Adult Female Athletes of Hilly and Plane Regions in Selected Anthropometric Measurements

Height and weight are the major two determinants for various anthropometric properties at any age in life. People of different racial origins and geographical locations have specific anthropometric features. Purpose of this study was to compare health status of height-weight matched young-adult females of hill and plane regions through selected anthropometric measurements. Sixty (N=60) 18– 25 years female, thirty from each of the hill and plane localities were the subjects. The height range was 157.5 – 162.5 cm and weight was 52.5 – 55.5 kg. Seven skin-folds, six body circumferences and three body composition measures, namely – body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body fat percentage (%BF), derived from respective anthropometric measurements, all were the variables of the study. Out of seven skin-folds, plane subjects were significantly higher (P>0.05) at only biceps site and hilly subjects at sub-scapula, suprailiac, abdomen and thigh but no difference existed at triceps and calf. Among the seven body circumferences, hilly girls were superior at upper limb, lower limb and waist circumferences; however, at thigh, calf, abdomen and hip sites there was no any significant difference between the groups. Among the three body composition measures, only %BF and WHR was higher in hilly subjects. But LBM and BMI did not differ in both groups

Water quality improvement of Penaeus monodon culture pond for higher productivity through biomediation

Intensive culturing of Penaeus monodon generates considerable amount of wastes leading to the deterioration of water quality, disease outbreaks and lower yields. Recently, the application of biocontrol agents were started in ponds in order to improve yield through bioremediation. Analytical investigation of a biocontrol product (PROFS), an extensively used product of Biostadt India Ltd. was performed to determine its accuracy and applicability. It was found that four different types of Bacillus species (69×10 9 cfu/g) were present in the product. Amylase, phytase and protease activities in the product were 3.078, 4.584 and 84.154 U/g, respectively. The biocontrol treatment was applied in the ponds five times during the cultivation (120 days) of P. monodon at a dose of 1 kg/ha. The amount of total ammonia, nitrate and nitrite of the treated ponds varied from 0.418 ± 0.039 to 0.079 ± 0.028 ppm, 0.029 ± 0.008 to 0.014 ± 0.004 ppm and 0.0127 ± 0.0008 to 0.0098 ± 0.00007 ppm, respectively, which were significantly lower than the values measured for untreated ponds. The product showed antimicrobial activity against Vibrio harveyi MTCC 7954 (inhibition zone: 4.89 mm) and Vibrio vulnificus MTCC 1145 (6.41 mm). Average body weight of shrimps in treated ponds was 33 ± 2.42 g, which was 39.5% higher than the values measured from control ponds. The Vibrio count was negligible (0.12×10 5 cfu/ml) and the survival rate was 93% in treated ponds

Effect of a three-component bacterial consortium in white shrimp farming for growth, survival and water quality management

The effect of a bacterial consortium containing Rhodopseudomonas palustris SUP-2, Bacillus subtilis SUP-3, and Bacillusfirmus SUP-1 strains for white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) farming were investigated. Shrimp growth, water quality, survival rate and enzymatic activities were followed at different stages of farming. Consortium developed using equal proportion of each bacterium was added to shrimp ponds at different concentrations. Dosages were adjusted in three different stages, first 40 days (10 l/ha), second 40 days (15 l/ha) and then continued up to harvest (20 l/ha). Consortium was used in the experiment ponds and no consortium was used in the control ponds. The mean survival rates were significantly lower, 65.1 ± 1.4% and 67.8 ± 2.2% in control ponds BPC-1 and BPC-2 (P˂0.001), respectively. The statistical analysis showed significant differences (P<0.05) in the weight of the animals between the treatment (34.98 ± 0.1 in BTP 1 and 35.26 ± 0.1 g in BTP 2) and control (29.23 ± 0.1 in BCP 1 and 30.41 ± 0.1 in BCP 2) groups

Marsh Foraminiferal Assemblages in Relation to Vegetation in Sunderban, India

The marsh zones of Sunderban coast were examined for modern benthic marsh foraminiferal assemblages and correlated with the typical mangrove vegetation. A total of 14 genera of foraminifera and 8 genera of mangrove plants were recorded from the region. The assemblage is characterised by agglutinated and calcareous foraminifera. The high, middle and low marshes are identified on the basis of position of tides. The agglutinated foraminifera Trochammina inflata, Miliammina fusca and Haplophragmoides canarienses with mangroves species of Ceriops tagal, Phoeniz paludosa and Excoecaria agollacha characterize the high marsh zones and the calcareous foraminiferal assemblage comprising Ammonia beccarii, Haynesina germanica, Rosalina bradyi and Elphidium sp. with mangroves including Avicennia spp., Bruiera gymnomorrhiza, Aegialitis roundifolia and Sonneratia apetala indicates low marsh environments

Recent developments in pyrene-based fluorescence recognition and imaging of Ag+ and Pb2+ ions: Synthesis, applications and challenges

Contamination of heavy metals in the environment is a burning and contemporary issue of modern life. Whilst lead contamination is historic, the ongoing extensive use of lead in batteries is likely to continue to cause serious environmental problems. Silver ions also present multiple environmental issues, such as bioaccumulation and toxicity. As a result, these two heavy metal ions have a high impact from an environmental and industrial point of view. Thus, the colorimetric and fluorescence detection of these two metal ions has been the subject of intense research during the last decade and pyrene-based fluorophores have played a crucial role in their detection. This review article summarizes the recent chronological progress on pyrene moiety integrated small molecule chemosensors for the colorimetric and fluorescent detection of silver and lead ions. Herein, the different strategies that have been utilized for the recognition of lead and silver ions are discussed. Throughout, the juxtaposition of structural aspects of the chemosensors and their sensitivity has been scrutinized together with an overview and future vision

Recent developments in pyrene-based fluorescence recognition and imaging of Ag + and Pb 2+ ions: Synthesis, applications and challenges

Contamination of heavy metals in the environment is a burning and contemporary issue of modern life. Whilst lead contamination is historic, the ongoing extensive use of lead in batteries is likely to continue to cause serious environmental problems. Silver ions also present multiple environmental issues, such as bioaccumulation and toxicity. As a result, these two heavy metal ions have a high impact from an environmental and industrial point of view. Thus, the colorimetric and fluorescence detection of these two metal ions has been the subject of intense research during the last decade and pyrene-based fluorophores have played a crucial role in their detection. This review article summarizes the recent chronological progress on pyrene moiety integrated small molecule chemosensors for the colorimetric and fluorescent detection of silver and lead ions. Herein, the different strategies that have been utilized for the recognition of lead and silver ions are discussed. Throughout, the juxtaposition of structural aspects of the chemosensors and their sensitivity has been scrutinized together with an overview and future vision

A clinicopathological study of pleural effusion with special reference to malignant aetiology in a tertiary care hospital in West Bengal

Background: Pleural effusion has varied aetiological factors. It constitutes one of the major causes of morbidity in India as well in other parts of world. Because of the various aetiologies that can cause pleural effusion, itoften present a diagnostic problem, even after extensive investigations. Objective: In this study, authors aimed to identify the common aetiologies causing pleural effusion and their clinical profile in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study is conducted over a period of one year in tertiary care hospital in West Bengal. 150 patients of pleural effusion above 10 yrs of age were studied. Clinico-pathological, radiological, hematological and biochemical parameters were documented. Results: The most common cause pleural effusion in this study was tuberculosis (64.67%), followed by malignancy (14.67%), parapneumonic effusion (7.33%), cardiac failure (5.33%) and other minor causes. It was commonly seen in male (70%). The occurrence of tubercular pleural effusion was maximum in the age group 31-40 years. Right-sided effusions were more common. Pleural fluid cytology and adenosine deaminase played a pivotal role in the diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion. Conclusion: The present study highlights tuberculosis as the common causative factor for pleural effusion, labels lung carcinoma as the most common cause of malignant pleural effusion, and defines the clinico-pathological, biochemical and imaging characteristics of different aetiologies of pleural effusion

α‑Cyclodextrin Interacts Close to Vinblastine Site of Tubulin and Delivers Curcumin Preferentially to the Tubulin Surface of Cancer Cell

Tubulin is the key cytoskeleton component, which plays a crucial role in eukaryotic cell division. Many anticancer drugs have been developed targeting the tubulin surface. Recently, it has been shown that few polyhydroxy carbohydrates perturb tubulin polymerization. Cyclodextrin (CD), a polyhydroxy carbohydrate, has been extensively used as the delivery vehicle for delivery of hydrophobic drugs to the cancer cell. However, interaction of CD with intracellular components has not been addressed before. In this Article, we have shown for the first time that α-CD interacts with tubulin close to the vinblastine site using molecular docking and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiment. In addition, we have shown that α-CD binds with intracellular tubulin/microtubule. It delivers a high amount of curcumin onto the cancer cell, which causes severe disruption of intracellular microtubules. Finally, we have shown that the inclusion complex of α-CD and curcumin (CCC) preferentially enters into the human lung cancer cell (A549) as compared to the normal lung fibroblast cell (WI38), causes apoptotic death, activates tumor suppressor protein (p53) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21), and inhibits 3D spheroid growth of cancer cel

Clinicopathological correlation of noninfectious erythematous papulosquamous cutaneous lesions in a tertiary care hospital

Aims and Objectives: Papulosquamous lesions, the largest conglomerate of skin diseases, are characterized by scaling papules and plaques which amount to lots of confusion, and hence, a definitive histopathological diagnosis has a significant role. Our study was thus aimed at evaluation of correlation between clinical diagnosis with histopathological diagnosis of different noninfectious erythematous papulosquamous skin lesions encountered in a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 cases of noninfectious erythematous, papulosquamous lesions prediagnosed by dermatologists of the same institute were included over a period of 1 year. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin stain. Cases were tabulated according to the distribution of age, gender, localization of lesions, clinical, and histopathological diagnosis. Results: Majority of the patients were in the 20–40 years age group (66%) with slight female preponderance (52%). The limbs (42%) were most frequently involved site. Histopathologically, lichen planus was the most common (52%) followed by psoriatic lesions (20%), pityriasis rosea (4%), pityriasis rubra pilaris (4%), subacute cutaneous lupus erythmatosus (4%), prurigo simplex (4%), pityriasis lichenoides chronica (4%), urticaria (2%) and ashy dermatosis (2%). Correlation of clinical with histopathological diagnosis was positive in 92% cases and negative in 8% cases. Conclusion: The contribution of histopathology to the final diagnosis was significant. Skin biopsy is thus valuable in daily dermatology practice and appropriate clinicopathological correlation is very important for the effective diagnosis and treatment of patients