Urinary Peptide Levels in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure

Introduction: Peptide levels in urine are found to be decreased in renal failure. In the current study urinary peptide levels were determined in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. Method: 86 CRF patients and 80 healthy controls were selected for the study. Urinary proteins and peptide levels were determined by spectrophotometer based Lowry and Bradford methods. Urinary creatinine levels were determined by clinical chemistry analyzer. Results: There was significant decrease in urinary peptide levels in CRF patients and Urinary % peptides were significantly decreased in CRF patients as compared to healthy controls. Urinary % peptides correlated negatively with proteinuria. Conclusion: we have found decrease in urinary peptides and % urinary peptides in CRF patients and possibly measurement of % urinary peptides may possibly serve as better indicator in early detection of impairment in renal function

Mapping the Male Ego: A Comparative Study of Estaban Trueba in The House of the Spirits and Pedro Musquiz in Like Water for Chocolate

Being subjects of the higher order of life that extends beyond primitive means of sustenance, humans are designed to accustom themselves to the dynamic interrelations in society. Social interactions mould everyday life and are also instrumental in forming perceptions about the world. People are required to perform in multiple ways, and this gets them located in various subject positions. “Gender” and its implications as a social construct are of primary concern in this regard. Refined and reinterpreted over time, gender positively incorporates the possibilities for myriad levels of understanding associated with its practice. However, it is when people choose to selectively misconstrue gender roles that it becomes a problematic subject, thereby affecting the healthy existence of the male-female dichotomy in both personal and social spaces. Cultural conditioning and parental rearing are among the major factors that lead to the establishment of essentialist gender roles. Beginning with its base on the Freudian Psychoanalytic theory of male development, “masculinity” has come to be analysed from different standpoints by psychologists and literary theorists alike. In this paper, my attempt is to map the characteristics that outline the “masculinity” and “male ego” of the characters Esteban Trueba from The House of the Spirits and Pedro Musquiz from Like Water for Chocolate. Both the novels, though predominantly female-oriented, provide ample instances to explore the psyche of these not-so-minor male characters

Strong Domination Index in Fuzzy Graphs

Topological indices play a vital role in the area of graph theory and fuzzy graph (FG) theory. It has wide applications in the areas such as chemical graph theory, mathematical chemistry, etc. Topological indices produce a numerical parameter associated with a graph. Numerous topological indices are studied due to its applications in various fields. In this article a novel idea of domination index in a FG is defined using weight of strong edges. The strong domination degree (SDD) of a vertex u is defined using the weight of minimal strong dominating set (MSDS) containing u. Idea of upper strong domination number, strong irredundance number, strong upper irredundance number, strong independent domination number, and strong independence number are explained and illustrated subsequently. Strong domination index (SDI) of a FG is defined using the SDD of each vertex. The concept is applied on various FGs like complete FG, complete bipartite and r-partite FG, fuzzy tree, fuzzy cycle and fuzzy stars. Inequalities involving the SDD and SDI are obtained. The union and join of FG is also considered in the study. Applications for SDD of a vertex is provided in later sections. An algorithm to obtain a MSDS containing a particular vertex is also discussed in the article

Domination Index in Graphs

The concepts of domination and topological index hold great significance within the realm of graph theory. Therefore, it is pertinent to merge these concepts to derive the domination index of a graph. A novel concept of the domination index is introduced, which utilizes the domination degree of a vertex. The domination degree of a vertex a is defined as the minimum cardinality of a minimal dominating set that includes a. The idea of domination degree and domination index is conducted of graphs like complete graphs, complete bipartite, r partite graphs, cycles, wheels, paths, book graphs, windmill graphs, Kragujevac trees. The study is extended to operation in graphs. Inequalities involving domination degree and already established graph parameters are discussed. An application of domination degree is discussed in facility allocation in a city. Algorithm to find a MDS containing a particular vertex is also discussed in the study

Studies on clinical anatomy of the maxillofacial and mandibular regions of the Madras Red sheep (Ovis aries) in India

Background: The present study aimed to study the clinical anatomy of the maxillofacial and mandibular regions of the Madras Red sheep through the morphometric analysis of some clinically important parameters pertaining to the regional anaesthesia.  Materials and methods: The study was conducted in 20 male and 20 female adult Madras Red sheep around 20–25 kg body weight. Eleven parameters re- lated to the clinical regional anaesthesia of the maxillofacial and the mandibular regions were recorded.  Results: The distance between the facial tuberosity to the infraorbital canal was 2.25 ± 0.14 cm in males and 2.14 ± 0.15 cm in females. The distance from the infraorbital canal to the root of the alveolar tooth was 1.73 ± 0.28 cm in males and 1.73 ± 0.13 cm in females. The length and height of the mandibles were 15.37 ± 0.56 cm, 9.00 ± 0.24 cm and in males 14.53 ± 0.24 cm, 9.68 ± 0.16 cm in females, respectively. The maximum height of the mandible to the coro- noid process, width or height of the mandibular foramen and the distance from the condyloid process to the base of the mandible were recorded as 9.0 ± 24, 0.82 ± 0.05, 6.68 ± 0.19 cm in males and 9.68 ± 0.16, 0.83 ± 0.04, 6.25 ± ± 0.28 cm in females, respectively.  Conclusions: The present study revealed that most of the parameters showed statistically significant difference between the sexes i.e. the males had higher values. However, from the practical point of view, these differences were meagre. The results were discussed with regard to their clinical applications in various regional anaesthesia performed in maxillofacial and mandibular regions of the Madras Red sheep.

POTENTIAL OF BAJRA [PENNISETUM GLAUCUM (L.) R. BR.] IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

Bajra, also known as pearl millet, African millet or spiked millet, originated in Northern-Central Sahel of West Africa, was introduced 2500 years ago into Indian subcontinent. However, it is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts from 14th Century AD onwards as Nali under Truna dhanya or Kudhanya vargas. It is considered as a major source of Gluten free diet and is used in the management of Coeliac disease and other gluten allergy conditions worldwide. Indians are also including millet into their day to day diet in accordance with the global trend.  However the conditions of Gluten allergy and Coeliac disease are not common in Southern India. Hence, the necessity of Gluten free diet in South Indian Population is under question. It is hypothesized that excessive millet usage could be a reason behind thyroid dysfunction and goitre. Regular millet only diet may also lead to a nutrition deprived state in people who are not gluten sensitive. Ayurveda also emphasizes on avoidance of regular use of Kudhanyas. This review comprises different aspects of dietary inclusion of Bajra. The properties and usability of Bajra as a gluten free diet, utility of Bajra in populations which are not gluten allergic and the effects of Bajra on health and disease form the core of this review.