Study of insulin resistance and antioxidant vitamin status in prostate cancer patients

The incidence of prostate cancer is 5 per 100000 in southern and eastern Asia. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in its etiology. The mitogenic and growth stimulatory effects of Insulin growth factor may be involved in prostate carcinogenesis. To evaluate serum insulin and insulin resistance was passed by HOMA- IR. Prostatic specific antigen passed by immune-enzymatic assay. Vitamins were estimated by high performance liquid chromatography. In our study 30 prostate cancer patients aged 60-80years were taken as cases. 30 normal age matched disease free person were taken as controls in both groups, Insulin resistance and antioxidant vitamin status was studied.  In the present study, the value of HOMA-IR was (P <0.05) is significantly higher compare to controls. Serum vitamin E and vitamin C values for cases was reduced (P <0.05) significantly lower than controls. The development of prostate cancer is a multistep process. Hyperinsulinemia associated with insulin resistance may play a role in pathogenesis of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer cells generate high levels a ROS

Modification of silicon carbide fibers for use in SiC/Ti composites

The degradation of silicon carbide fibers during exposure to conditions typical of composite fabrication was investigated. The tensile strength of pristine fibers and fibers sputtered with thin metal coatings were determined before and after treatment at 870 C for one hour in vacuum. Each fiber strength distribution was related by an analytical procedure to a projected composite ultimate tensile strength (PC UTS). The results indicate that a thin aluminum diffusion barrier can yield a 150 percent increase in PC UTS over the baseline SiC/Ti system

Mechanism of phosphorescence quenching in photomagnetic molecules determined by positron annihilation spectroscopy

Platinum Octaethyl Porphyrin (Pt.OEP) is an efficient phosphor under ultraviolet excitation. The phosphorescent triplet state (T(sub 1)) is readily quenched by the oxygen (O2) molecules. This phenomenon is being utilized as the basis for global air pressure measurements in aerodynamic facilities at various laboratories. The exact mechanism by which O2 molecules quench the (T(sub 1)-S(sub 0)) transitions is still unknown. The diamagnetic S(sub n) singlet states, which feed T(sub 1) states via intersystem crossings, would presumably not be affected by O2. It must be the magnetic T(sub 1) states, which can interact with the paramagnetic O2 molecules, that are affected. However, our positron lifetime and Doppler broadening studies suggest the formation of (S(sub n).02) complexes which can also eventually reduce the population of the T(sub 1) states (i.e. quench phosphorescence). This is possible since higher triplet states in (Pt-OEP) are admixed with the S(sub n) states via spin orbit interactions. The experimental procedures and the results of various measurements are discussed in this paper

Mechanism of phosphorescence quenching in photomagnetic molecules determined by positron annihilation spectroscopy

Platinum Octaethyl Porphyrin (Pt.OEP) is an efficient phosphor under ultraviolet excitation. The phosphorescent triplet state (T(sub 1)) is readily quenched by the oxygen (O2) molecules. This phenomenon is being utilized as the basis for global air pressure measurements in aerodynamic facilities at various laboratories. The exact mechanism by which O2 molecules quench the (T(sub 1) - S(sub 0)) transitions is still unknown. The diamagnetic S(sub n) singlet states, which feed T(sub 1) states via intersystem crossings, would presumably not be affected by O2. It must be the magnetic T(sub 1) states, which can interact with the paramagnetic O2 molecules, that are affected. However, our positron lifetime and Doppler broadening studies suggest the formation of (S(sub n) central dot O2) complexes which can also eventually reduce the population of the T(sub 1) states (i.e. quench phosphorescence). This is possible since higher triplet states in (Pt.OEP) are admixed with the S(sub n) states via spin orbit interactions. The experimental procedures and the results of various measurements are discussed in this paper

Serum acid phosphatase level - is it a marker for diagnosis of malaria

Background: Malaria is endemic throughout most of the tropics. Technically, detection of malaria parasite may be missed due to low parasite density at sampling time and poor blood film preparation. The study was aimed to evaluate the serum acid phosphatase levels as a possible diagnostic marker for malarial infections.Methods: This study was conducted on a total of 100 subjects (40 malaria cases, 30 non-malarial cases and 30 sex and age matched healthy controls attending the department of medicine, PESIMSR, Kuppam. Venous blood sample was collected and serum acid phosphatase (ACP) level estimation was be done by enzymatic method using commercial kit (Raichem diagnostics kit).Results: Serum ACP level was highly significantly elevated in malarial group (Mean±SD) (3.14±1.22) when compared with control (1.33±0.72) and non-malarial (1.81±0.30) groups (P value <0.001.).Conclusions: In this study, there was a significant increase in the serum ACP levels in malarial patients as compared to other groups. This suggests that serum ACP levels can be used as a marker for malaria.

Correlation between malondialdehyde (MDA) and uric acid levels in preeclampsia

Background: Hypertensive disorders of human pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, complicates a sizeable percentage of all pregnancies, need its early indication and warning. The aim of present study was to determine the association between lipid peroxidation product, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum uric acid levels in preeclampsia and find out any association between these two parameters in preeclampsia. Methods: Thirty preeclampsia and thirty gestational age matched normotensive pregnant women attending Narayana General Hospital, Nellore were included in the study. Serum MDA levels were measured by Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) method and serum uric acid levels were estimated by automated chemistry analyser using commercial kits. Results: Serum MDA (Mean±SEM 24.4±2.38 vs 7.9± 0.28 nmol/ml, p value < 0.000) and serum uric acid levels (7.2 ± 0.25 vs 3.9 ± 0.14 mg/dl, p value <0.000) were significantly elevated in preeclampsia cases when compared with that of normotensive pregnant women. A weak positive correlation between serum uric acid and serum MDA (r value 0.065, p value 0.734) was noticed in preeclampsia.Conclusion: Serum MDA and uric acid may be included as additional markers for screening and progression of preeclampsia, thereby helpful in effectively treating the condition at an early stage.

Shorewards Upslope of the Layer of Minimum Oxygen Off Bombay: Its Influence on Marine Biology, Especially Fisheries

Shorewards Upslope of the Layer of Minimum Oxygen Off Bombay: Its Influence on Marine Biology, Especially Fisherie

Affine equation of state from quintessence and k-essence fields

We explore the possibility that a scalar field with appropriate Lagrangian can mimic a perfect fluid with an affine barotropic equation of state. The latter can be thought of as a generic cosmological dark component evolving as an effective cosmological constant plus a generalized dark matter. As such, it can be used as a simple, phenomenological model for either dark energy or unified dark matter. Furthermore, it can approximate (up to first order in the energy density) any barotropic dark fluid with arbitrary equation of state. We find that two kinds of Lagrangian for the scalar field can reproduce the desired behaviour: a quintessence-like with a hyperbolic potential, or a purely kinetic k-essence one. We discuss the behaviour of these two classes of models from the point of view of the cosmological background, and we give some hints on their possible clustering properties.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Minor updates, accepted by CQ

Barriers to vaccination service delivery within general practice: Opportunity to make a sustainable difference in Aboriginal child health?

Objective: To identify behavioural barriers of service provision within general practice that may be impacting the vaccination coverage rates of Aboriginal children in Perth, Western Australia (WA). Methods: A purposive developed survey was distributed to 316 general practices across Perth and three key informant interviews were conducted using a mixed-methods approach. Results: Of the surveyed participants (n=101), 67.4% were unaware of the low vaccination coverage in Aboriginal children; 64.8% had not received cultural sensitivity training in their workplace and 46.8% reported having inadequate time to follow up overdue child vaccinations. Opportunistic vaccination was not routinely performed by 30.8% of participants. Key themes identified in the interviews were awareness, inclusion and cultural safety. Conclusion: Inadequate awareness of the current rates, in association with a lack of cultural safety training, follow-up and opportunistic practice, may be preventing greater vaccination uptake in Aboriginal children in Perth. Cultural safety is a critical component of the acceptability and accessibility of services; lack of awareness may restrict the development of strategies designed to equitably address low coverage. Implications: The findings of this study provide an opportunity to raise awareness among clinicians in general practice and inform future strategies to equitably deliver targeted vaccination services to Aboriginal children