Neonatal morbidity and care-seeking behavior in urban Lucknow

We conducted this study to assess the neonatal morbidity and care-seeking behavior amongst slum and non-slum dwellers at Lucknow. One hundred and fifty neonates were recruited within 48 hours of birth from an urban Reproductive and Child Health center and followed up at 6 weeks±15 days at home. Twenty five (16.6%) were lost to follow-up. Among those followed up, 46.4% (58/125) developed one or more morbidity; 26% (15/58) of these did not receive qualified medical care. Neonatal morbidity was 56.8% (33/ 58) among slum dwellers and 37.3% (25/67) among non-slum dwellers (absolute difference=19.5%, 95% CI=3.3 to 34.7; P=0.04). Severe neonatal illnesses were also significantly higher among neonates from slums as compared to those from non-slum areas (OR=4.50, 95%CI=1.28 to 16.38, P=0.007). Male gender was associated with any care-seeking (OR=1.24, 95% CI =1.24 to 91.99; P=0.03) and was more likely to be seen by a qualified provider (OR=3.8, 95% CI=1.05 to 13.94; P=0.04). Since nearly half of the neonates had morbidity and more than a quarter of them did not receive qualified medical care, there is a need to introduce Community Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) program here, emphasizing on the importance of qualified medical care for ill neonates, including females

Microscopic visualisation of metabotropic glutamate receptors on the surface of living cells using bifunctional magnetic resonance imaging probes

A series of bimodal metabotropic glutamate-receptor targeted MRI contrast agents has been developed and evaluated, based on established competitive metabotropic Glu receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) antagonists. In order to directly visualize mGluR5 binding of these agents on the surface of live astrocytes, variations in the core structure were made. A set of gadolinium conjugates containing either a cyanine dye or a fluorescein moiety was accordingly prepared, to allow visualization by optical microscopy in cellulo. In each case, surface receptor binding was compromised and cell internalization observed. Another approach, examining the location of a terbium analogue via sensitized emission, also exhibited nonspecific cell uptake in neuronal cell line models. Finally, biotin derivatives of two lead compounds were prepared, and the specificity of binding to the mGluR5 cell surface receptors was demonstrated with the aid of their fluorescently labeled avidin conjugates, using both total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) and confocal microscopy

MiR-24 Tumor Suppressor Activity Is Regulated Independent of p53 and through a Target Site Polymorphism

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are predicted to regulate approximately 30% of all human genes; however, only a few miRNAs have been assigned their targets and specific functions. Here we demonstrate that miR-24, a ubiquitously expressed miRNA, has an anti-proliferative effect independent of p53 function. Cell lines with differential p53 status were used as a model to study the effects of miR-24 on cell proliferation, cell cycle control, gene regulation and cellular transformation. Overexpression of miR-24 in six different cell lines, independent of p53 function, inhibited cell proliferation and resulted in G2/S cell cycle arrest. MiR-24 over expression in cells with wt-p53 upregulated TP53 and p21 protein; however, in p53-null cells miR-24 still induced cell cycle arrest without the involvement of p21. We show that miR-24 regulates p53-independent cellular proliferation by regulating an S-phase enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) a target of the chemotherapeutic drug methotrexate (MTX). Of interest, we found that a miR-24 target site polymorphism in DHFR 3′ UTR that results in loss of miR-24-function and high DHFR levels in the cell imparts a growth advantage to immortalized cells and induces neoplastic transformation. Of clinical significance, we found that miR-24 is deregulated in human colorectal cancer tumors and a subset of tumors has reduced levels of miR-24. A novel function for miR-24 as a p53-independent cell cycle inhibitory miRNA is proposed

On-farm agrobiodiversity measurement and conservation

Total agrobiodiversity of any area is necessary to plan the implementation of agricultural and environmental projects and activities. Diversity is most for advancing agriculture development, however, modern agriculture has accelerated the replacement of old age crop diversity. Agrobiodiversity index and measures are commonly used and estimated for crop and animal species, landraces and sites. These are useful for locating sites, crops and custodians of agrobiodiversity. Agrobiodiversity includes crop and plant; livestock and fish, insect and microbial genetic resources that are cultivated, semi domesticated or wild. Diversity are ated properly that leads to choose the conservation approaches effectively

Development of a biosensor for urea assay based on amidase inhibition, using an ion-selective electrode

A biosensor for urea has been developed based on the observation that urea is a powerful active-site inhibitor of amidase, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of amides such as acetamide to produce ammonia and the corresponding organic acid. Cell-free extract from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the source of amidase (acylamide hydrolase, EC 3.5.1.4) which was immobilized on a polyethersulfone membrane in the presence of glutaraldehyde; anion-selective electrode for ammonium ions was used for biosensor development. Analysis of variance was used for optimization of the biosensorresponse and showed that 30 mu L of cell-free extract containing 7.47 mg protein mL(-1), 2 mu L of glutaraldehyde (5%, v/v) and 10 mu L of gelatin (15%, w/v) exhibited the highest response. Optimization of other parameters showed that pH 7.2 and 30 min incubation time were optimum for incubation ofmembranes in urea. The biosensor exhibited a linear response in the range of 4.0-10.0 mu M urea, a detection limit of 2.0 mu M for urea, a response timeof 20 s, a sensitivity of 58.245 % per mu M urea and a storage stability of over 4 months. It was successfully used for quantification of urea in samples such as wine and milk; recovery experiments were carried out which revealed an average substrate recovery of 94.9%. The urea analogs hydroxyurea, methylurea and thiourea inhibited amidase activity by about 90%, 10% and 0%, respectively, compared with urea inhibition

Controlled hydrodynamic conditions on the formation of iron oxide nanostructures synthesized by electrochemical anodization: Effect of the electrode rotation speed

Iron oxide nanostructures are of particular interest because they can be used as photocatalysts in water splitting due to their advantageous properties. Electrochemical anodization is one of the best techniques to synthesize nanostructures directly on the metal substrate (direct back contact). In the present study, a novel methodology consisting of the anodization of iron under hydrodynamic conditions is carried out in order to obtain mainly hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructures to be used as photocatalysts for photoelectrochemical water splitting applications. Different rotation speeds were studied with the aim of evaluating the obtained nanostructures and determining the most attractive operational conditions. The synthesized nanostructures were characterized by means of Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, photoelectrochemical water splitting, stability against photocorrosion tests, Mott-Schottky analysis, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) and band gap measurements. The results showed that the highest photocurrent densities for photoelectrochemical water splitting were achieved for the nanostructure synthesized at 1000 rpm which corresponds to a nanotubular structure reaching ∼0.130 mA cm−2 at 0.54 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). This is in agreement with the EIS measurements and Mott-Schottky analysis which showed the lowest resistances and the corresponding donor density values, respectively, for the nanostructure anodized at 1000 rpm