Risk Assessment of Cancer in People Living Near Cauvery Belt of Erode, Namakkal and Salem Districts - A Pilot Study

The present study, we have studied the prevalence of various Cancers in Erode and surrounding areas and then we have assessed the various risk factors for Cancer, excluding the known risk factors, in Cancer patient living from Cauvery belt and Cancer patient from other than Cauvery belt of Erode and surrounding town by using specially designed questionnaire. Then we have analysed the water and soil samples from the Cauvery belt for the presence of various heavy metals like Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Mercury and compared with the samples taken from other than Cauvery belt by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). 20 Finally the same procedure as followed for the blood sample of cancer patients and volunteers from the both Cauvery belt and other than the Cauvery belt. In prevalence study totally 765 cancer patients are registered at the ECC hospital at erode. In that 274 numbers of male patients and 494 numbers of female patients are presented. Region/site wise cancer patients in descending order are Head/Neck (189)> Cervix (136)> Breast (88)> Stomach (72)> Oesophagus (59)> Chest (38)> Prostate (14) >Brain (12) > Lung (8). In total 765 cases in that male 42% and female 58%. Out of these cancers most prevalence was Head/neck (25 %). In Risk assessment, there are about 44% patients are reported to have known risk factors, 56% are with unknown risk factors. Out of 100 cancer patients 63% are from Cauvery belt and 37% patients from other than Cauvery belt. From the result it was revealed that most of the patients are from Cauvery belt area Considering the contamination of Cauvery water by the dyeing industry effluents and possibility of this contamination for the development of cancer was perceived in our study. Metallic carcinogenicity is generally thought to generate of free radicals.34 The presence of impurities in the commercially available dyes has been reported to contribute to the mutagenicity of this dyes. In prevalence study totally 765 cancer patients were registered at the ECC hospital at erode, Out of that male 42% and female 58%. In risk assessment, there are about 44% patients are reported to have known risk factors, 56% are with unknown risk factors. Out of 100 cancer patients 63% are from Cauvery belt and 37% patients from other than Cauvery belt. Our study concluded that there was a significant increase in the Lead, Chromium contents in Cauvery River water and soil samples when compared to water samples from other than Cauvery belt. The blood samples of cancer patients from Cauvery belt showed increased in lead content and chromium contents when compared to blood sample of volunteers from other than Cauvery belt. The increase incidence of cancer patients from Cauvery belt area is may be due to the contamination of Cauvery River water by the Textiles/Dyeing industry effluents. The result of our study is an eye opener for the people living nearby Cauvery belt and the environment. Our study gives clear message to the Government to control the pollution of Cauvery mater by the Textile/Dyeing industry effluents

ZrCl4-catalyzed C-O bond to C-N bond formation: synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles and their biological evaluation

A simple and efficient protocol was developed for the synthesis of aryl azides directly from aryl carbinols using ZrCl4as a Lewis acid catalyst. The azides were converted to novel triazoles under click reaction conditions, which were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against various strains

Determination and distribution of various antinuclear antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus patients by using immunoblot testing

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is defined as a multisystemic inflammation resulting from production autoantibodies against nuclear and cytoplasmic antigen. Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine the distribution of various auto antibodies in SLE patients by line immuno assay. Materials and methods: A prospective study conducted at Yashodha Hospital, Somajuguda, Hyderabad. A total number of 120 clinically diagnosed SLE patients serum samples were collected and they were subjected to indirect immunofluorescence testing (IIFT) to screen autoantibodies. Results: Out of 120 patients 97 were males and 23 were females, predominant age group affected was 41-60 years. Out of 120 patients 99 were positive by IIFT. Predominant pattern in IIFT is nucleus homogenous (54.54%), followed by nucleus speckled (29.9%). Out of 120 patients 69 were positive by ANA immunoblot, in that the predominant autoantibody was anti dsDNA antibody (40.57%), followed by RO-52 (31.88%), SSA (30.43%). Out of 120 Samples 68 were positive by both IIFT and immunoblot, 31 were only positive by IIFT, 20 were negative by both and one was only positive by immunoblot. Conclusion: The study stresses on using IIFT as screening test for SLE. It should be followed by ANA immunoblot to determine specific antibody, which inturn helps in diagnosis, evaluation and follow-up of SLE patient

Impact of Carbon and Nitrogen Sources on L-Asparaginase Production by Isolated Bacillus circulans (MTCC 8574): Application of Saturated Plackett-Burman Design

The present work aimed to study the impact of different carbon and nitrogen sources on the effective production of L-asparaginase by isolated Bacillus circulans using Plackett-Burman design (PBD). Among carbon sources; lactose, galactose, starch, sucrose, maltose, arabinose and among nitrogen sources; proline, tryptone, sodium glutamate, corn steep liquor, beef extract, ammonium chloride, yeast extract at selected concentration produced a maximum of 105 and 164 U mL–1 L-asparaginase enzyme, respectively. Initial analysis of L-asparaginase data with different carbon and nitrogen sources as per PBD did not reveal standardized effects as well as ‘p’ and ‘t’ values. Regression coefficient and t-values were calculated by subjecting the experimental data to statistical analysis after pooling the least two nutrient components into error. Among selected 26 components, xylose, galactose, yeast extract and proline denoted least significance, while glucose, mannose, ammonium chloride and ammonium sulphate showed maximum significance on enzyme production. Saturated PBD can be effectively utilized for analysis of the data by pooling the least significant factors based on the effects on metabolite/product/enzyme production. Ammonium chloride and glucose were observed to be the most significant carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively in L-asparaginase production in this bacterial strain. The presented approach is highly useful in bioprocess optimization procedure where all selected parameters show little degree of freedom and subsequent significant factors

Novel application of Nerium leaf and Image J software in drop collapse assay for rapid screening of biosurfactant producing microorganisms

484-492Biosurfactants are attractive molecules with varied applicationsmainly oil degradation, emulsification, bioremediation, therapeutics and conjugation of nanoparticles. The existing screening methods for biosurfactants are inappropriate and too tedious. Here, we have explored a novel approach with drop collapse assay wherein we replaced the microtiter well plate with the naturally hydrophobic Nerium (Nerium oleander L.) leaf. The stability of beaded drops on the leaf indicates negative phenomenon, and spreading of drop indicates positive phenomenon for surfactant property, as confirmed by the measuring drop diameter using Image J software. Fifty five bacterial cultures isolated from oil contaminated site were screened through this novel approach which revealed that the isolates DNM49 (6.75±0.29 mm), DNM50 (7.45±0.19 mm) and DNM51 (6.14±0.82 mm) were the best in terms of surface tension reduction, although thirty other isolates were also found to be positive. A gradation of activity in terms of surface tension reduction was also established based on drop diameter. The results demonstrated promising application of Nerium leaf with Image J software in drop collapse assay as an eco-friendly and cost-effective and technically authenticated alternative to the existing assays

Evaluation of different cultivars of sorghum for fodder quality and agronomic performance in Semi-Arid Tropics

Thirty four improved sorghum cultivars were evaluated for fodder quality and agronomic performance using two cuts harvested during the rainy season 2014 at ICRISAT, Patancheru following randomized complete block design with two replications. Within cuts consistent significant cultivar difference were only observed for biomass yields which ranged from 17.3 - 33.8 t ha-1 in the first cut to 3.2 and 17.4 t ha-1 in the second cut. Within and across cuts cultivar-dependent variations in fodder quality traits were statistically largely insignificant and inconsistent

Comparisons of ensiled maize, sorghum and pearl millet forages fed to sheep

Water-use efficient sorghum (7) and pearl millet (5) forages were compared with reference maize forage as silage tested with Nellore Brown sheep. Mean silage organic matter intake was 352, 297 and 137g!d in maize, sorghum and pearl millet silage, respectively Current pearl millet forage cultivars do not match maize forage in terms of fodder quality Of the 7 sorghum cultivars several were on par with maize though the cultivar dependent variation in intake was huge (254 to 343g!d). Anti-nutritive factors associated with sorghum like dhurrin were undetectable in the silages, although present in the fresh forage. A routine laboratory trait does not seem to describe sorghum and pearl millet forages adequately More research is required to understand the true nutritional potential of sorghum and in particular pearl millet forages. Dissemination of these forages based on only biomass yield should be discouraged

Optimization, Purification and Characterization of Polygalacturonase from Mango Peel Waste Produced by Aspergillus foetidus

Kora je manga, preostala nakon industrijske prerade pulpe voća, bogata pektinom, pa je upotrijebljena kao podloga za proizvodnju novog enzima, poligalakturonaze. Metodom odzivnih površina optimirano je pet ključnih čimbenika pri submerznom uzgoju plijesni Aspergillus foetidus, i to: omjeri KH2PO4, peptona, MgSO4 i uree, te pH-vrijednost. Provedeno je ukupno 50 eksperimenata, a dobiveni su podaci bili u skladu s predviđenim optimalnim vrijednostima. Rezultati potvrđuju da se iz kore manga može uspješno proizvesti poligalakturonaza, i to najviše 36,5 U/mL pri optimalnim omjerima (mase po volumenu): KH2PO4 22 %, pepton 0,5 %, MgSO4 0,02 %, urea 0,2 %, te pH-vrijednosti od 5,8. Poligalakturonaza je djelomično pročišćena 3,4 puta i određena je njezina molekularna masa od 34 kDa. Optimalna pH-vrijednost za aktivnost poligalakturonaze bila je 5, a temperatura 55 °C.Pectin-rich mango peel from industrial waste was used as a substrate for the production and characterization of novel polygalactauronase enzyme. Its production was optimized with five important factors; KH2PO4, pH, peptone, MgSO4 and urea by employing response surface methodology using submerged fermentation with Aspergillus foetidus. Total of 50 experimental runs were carried out and the predicted values for optimization were in good agreement with experimental data. The results showed that a satisfactory production of polygalacturonase from the mango peel could be achieved, reaching up to 36.5 U/mL under optimized medium conditions of pH=5.8 and (in %, by mass per volume): KH2PO4 0.22, peptone 0.5, MgSO4 0.02 and urea 0.2 %. The polygalacturonase was partially purified to 3.4-fold and the molecular mass was found to be 34 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature for polygalacturonase activity were 5 and 55 °C, respectively

High Biomass Sorghum as a Potential Raw Material for Biohydrogen Production: A Preliminary Evaluation

Six high biomass sorghum lines (IS 22868, IS 27206, IS 15957, IS 16529, ICSV 93046 and CSH 22SS were evaluated for their potential as a substrate material for biohydrogen production by anaerobic fermentation using methanogens deactivated cow dung based mixed microbial consortia. The data revealed that all selected high biomass sorghum lines differed significantly for candidate biomass traits as well as for biomass composition. The high biomass lines, IS 27206 and IS 22868 recorded higher stalk and stover yield compared to others. Least biomass yield (stalk and stover) was noticed with ICSV 93046. The lignin content is low in IS 27206 and IS 15957. Highest biohydrogen yield was observed in IS 27206 followed by IS 22868 and ICSV 93046. The lignin content is negatively correlated with biohydrogen production

In –silico molecular docking analysis of prodigiosin and cycloprodigiosin as COX-2 inhibitors

Prodigiosin and cycloprodigiosin are tripyrrole red pigmented compounds with medical importance for their anticancer property. In the present investigation, molecular docking studies were performed for both prodigiosin and cycloprodigiosins to evaluate the in- silico anti-inflammatory activity against Cycloxigenase-2 (COX-2) protein as model compound and the data compared with rofecoxib and celcoxid. Cycloprodigiosin showed higher initial potential, initial RMS gradient and potential energy values compared to prodigiosin. Analysis of COX-2 protein and ligand binding revealed that cyclprodigiosin interacted with COX-2 protein amino acid residues of Tyr(324), Phe(487) and Arg(89) while prodigiosin interaction was observed with two amino acids i.e. Leu(321) and Tyr(324). The computational ligand binding interaction suggested > 45% higher fitness score value for prodigiosin to that of cycloprodigiosin with COX-2 protein while the standard compounds rofecoxib and celecoxid revealed fitness score of 44 and 62, respectively. The prodigiosin ligand revealed the best fitness score compared with the standard drug rofecoxib suggesting the prodigiosin could be effective as the potential inhibitor compound against COX-2 protein and can be evaluated as anti-inflammatory drug molecule using clinical trials. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/2193-1801-2-172) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users