A rare case of severe hypertriglyceridemia induced pancreatitis in pregnancy

Acute pancreatitis is caused by various causes such as Gall stone disease, alcoholism, drug abuse but rarely caused by severe hypertriglyceridemia. It typically presents as acute or recurrent pancreatitis. The hypertriglyceridemia can be gestation induced or familial. The family history of the pregnant women needs to be taken in detail. The serum triglyceride levels in the range of 1000 to 2000 mg/dl in patients with type I, III, IV and V hyperlipoproteinemia (Friedrickson's classification) is the identifiable risk factor. The clinical course of hypertriglyceridemia induced pancreatitis is similar to other causes. We hereby report a case of 21-year-old lady G3P1L0A1 with 37 weeks of pregnancy without any family history of hypertriglyceridemia and but with history of recurrent episodes of acute pancreatitis

Status of Plasmodium Falciparum and Vivax in Jharkhand: A Five Year (2004-08) Retrospective Study at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi

ABSTRACT Malaria is well known for its fatalities worldwide. In India, it is still endemic in many areas where two species of Plasmodium namely Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are reported. P.vivax is widespread, creating lots of morbidities across the country. P. falciparum, on the other hand, though comparatively narrow in its infectious volume, is a serious cause of mortalities in India. A five year survey was conducted from 2004 to 2008 in a high malaria-hit district, Ranchi. Thick and thin blood smears were made at the Department of Clinical Pathology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where the microscopic examinations were carried out. The overall reported and examined cases at RIMS included 36643 suspected malaria cases, out of which, 21833(59.5%) were found positive. Out of these positive cases, 6842(31.3%) were confirmed as P. falciparum patients and 14991(68.6%) as P. vivax cases respectively. Number of negative cases was 14811 (40.4%). In this study, it was observed that after the year 2005, incidence of malaria suddenly dropped by 50% and remained almost static on the same level in the following years with only some seasonal variations. However, it was observed that P. falciparum steadily became more dangerous. It is therefore highly necessary to take immediate and effective measures to minimize the complications of P. falciparum along with P. vivax to prevent death toll in these areas

Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Groups

Background: Canagliflozin reduces the risk of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, but effects on specific cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain, as are effects in people without previous cardiovascular disease (primary prevention). Methods: In CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to canagliflozin or placebo on a background of optimized standard of care. Results: Primary prevention participants (n=2181, 49.6%) were younger (61 versus 65 years), were more often female (37% versus 31%), and had shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (15 years versus 16 years) compared with secondary prevention participants (n=2220, 50.4%). Canagliflozin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]; P=0.01), with consistent reductions in both the primary (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.94]) and secondary (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.69-1.06]) prevention groups (P for interaction=0.25). Effects were also similar for the components of the composite including cardiovascular death (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.61-1.00]), nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.59-1.10]), and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.56-1.15]). The risk of the primary composite renal outcome and the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure were also consistently reduced in both the primary and secondary prevention groups (P for interaction >0.5 for each outcome). Conclusions: Canagliflozin significantly reduced major cardiovascular events and kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, including in participants who did not have previous cardiovascular disease

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Laboratory culture of stem borer, _Aeolesthes holosericea_ F., method developed

_Aeolesthes holosericea_, a polyphagous stem borer has been reported to damage up to 40% of tropical tasar silkworm host-plants wherever infestation is high. Known control measures are not very effective as information on its life cycle and susceptible stages against insecticides and bio-agents are insufficient. Laboratory culture of the insect is inevitable for developing control measures as the insect passes most of its life within stem tissues. Culture method of other borer species was not applied to it due to sophistication of process. A convenient laboratory culture method has been developed for the insect. The culture includes complete larval rearing; preservation of pupa; rearing and mating of adults followed by oviposition, incubation and hatching. Other available culture methods are incomplete and hence of little applied value. The present method is simple, economic and easy to be adopted in absence of a sophisticated laboratory having provision for stepwise observation to suit testing of control measures. This method can be utilized by Agriculture and Forest Entomologists and Sericulturists for testing and developing its control measures to save precious forests and to increase production of tasar silk. Anybody can be trained easily. 

Key words: _Aeolesthes holosericea_, Arjun, Asan, Culture stems, Feeding stem

Olaparib modulates DNA repair efficiency, sensitizes cervical cancer cells to cisplatin and exhibits anti-metastatic property

Abstract PARP1 trapping at DNA lesion by pharmacological inhibitors has been exploited in several cancers exhibiting defects in DNA repair mechanisms. PARP1 hyperactivation is involved in therapeutic resistance in multiple cancers. The role of PARP1 in cervical cancer (CC) resistance and implication of PARP inhibitor is yet to be elucidated. Our data demonstrates significantly higher expression of PARP1 in primary cervical tumors and CC cell lines SiHa and ME180. Upon cisplatin treatment CC cells display significant overexpression of PARP1 and its hyperactivation. PARP inhibitor olaparib shows significant anti-proliferative effect on CC cells and drive loss of clonogenic survival and enhanced cell death in combination with cisplatin. PARP inhibited cells show delay in resolution of γH2A.X foci and prolonged late S and G2-M phase arrest resulting in apoptosis. Further, PARP inhibition disrupts the localization of base excision repair (BER) effector XRCC1 and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) proteins Ku80 and XRCC4. Due to disrupted relocation of repair factors, cisplatin induced stalled replication forks collapse and convert into double strand breaks (DSBs). Interestingly, PARP inhibition also shows anti-migratory and anti-invasive properties in CC cells, increases anchorage independent cell death and induces anoikis. Collectively, our data demonstrates therapeutic potential of PARP inhibitor in cervical cancer

Naked Eye Single Tube Red Cell Osmotic Fragility Test Screening For Detection Of B-Thalassemia Trait -An Evaluation Against HPLC Method At Rajendra Institute Of Medical Sciences, Ranchi (A Tribal Zone )

ABSTRACT The objective of the manuscript is to evaluate the effectiveness of NACKED EYE SINGLE TUBE RED CELL OSMOTIC FRAGILITY TEST (NESTROFT) as screening tool for detection of B-THALASSEMIA TRAIT against the HPLC method. NESTROFT and HPLC METHOD were applied to blood sample of 84 patients of suspected cases of B-Thalassemia and other haemoglobinopathies. Out of 84, Beta Thal Trait 13 cases (15.4%) , Delta Beta Thal Trait 9( 10.7%) ,Thal Major 5( 5.9%), HPFH 7( 8.3), Sickle Homo 12 (14.2 %), Sickle Trait 10(11.9%) Sickle Thal Trait 7(8.3%) & IDA 21(25%) cases were detected by HPLC . The NESTROFT test was successful in detecting 12/13 subjects with B-Thalassemia trait. Sensitivity of the test was 92.31 % and specificity was 63.38 %. The test was positive in detecting other haemoglobinopathies like sickle cell disease also. The test proved to be simple, cheap easy to perform and adaptable for mass screening coming close to an ideal screening test for B-Thalassemia trait

Natural pigment betacyanin as tracking dye for gel electrophoresis

Several dyes including bromophenol blue are used as tracking dye in gel electrophoresis. The stability of betacyanin extracted from spinach vine fruit (Basella rubra L.) was studied in relation to degradative factors such as pH ranging from 2 to 12 and at 100ºC. Betacyanin pigment was found to be stable at pH range 3-8 while the stability of the pigment at high temperature was found to be moderate. The effectiveness of betacyanin as a tracking dye was checked along with the bromophenol blue for agarose gel electrophoresis. The present study revealed that betacyanin from spinach fruit can be a potential alternative to conventional dye like bromophenol blue used in the loading dye preparation for agarose gel electrophoresis