When AAA Means B: The State of Credit Rating in India

As in many other countries, India five year old credit rating industry has grown rapidly amidst persistent doubts about the quality of the rating service. This paper evaluates the ratings given by India leading credit rating agency, CRISIL. We find that CRISIL ratings are not only too liberal by international standards but also internally inconsistent. We argue that to improve the quality of credit rating in India, there must be more competition; credit rating must be opened up to the private sector; and raters must provide unsolicited ratings.

A study on clinico-immunological profile and treatment outcome of psoriatic arthritis

INTRODUCTION: Robert Willan, the British dermatologist described psoriasis as an independent disease in 18-th century. The French Physician Baron Jean Louis Alibert first described the association between the psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in 1918. Initial clinical features of PsA were described first by Wright V et al in 1959 and along with Moll they published the first classification criteria in 1973. Psoriatic arthritis was included as a distinct arthritis in the classification of rheumatic diseases in 1964 by American Rheumatism Association. Psoriatic arthritis is one of the diseases of SpA family and defined as inflammatory arthritis occurring in patients with psoriasis and negative test for rheumatoid factor commonly. It is a progressive and disabling disease and often associated with increased morbidity. According to one prospective study by Kane D [et. Al.], psoriatic arthritis constituted 13% of new patients attending early arthritis clinic and progressive erosive change occurs in around 50% of patients in the first few years. The exact prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is not known and the prevalence of psoriasis in general population is around 1 to 3 %. The incidence of arthritis in patients with psoriasis is between 5 and 7 %. There are only few studies in psoriatic arthritis in India especially the immunological profile like anti -CCP antibodies in psoriatic arthritis, correlation of skin and arthritis. So we took this study to correlate the skin disease and arthritis as well as to study the immunological profile of patients with psoriatic arthritis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) To study the clinical profile of patients with psoriatic arthritis. 2) To assess the correlation between skin disease and arthritis in patients with psoriatic arthritis. 3) To study the immunological profile of patients with psoriatic arthritis. 4) To assess the outcome of patients with psoriatic arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PLACE OF THE STUDY: Department of Rheumatology, Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital & Madras Medical College, Chennai-3. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Prospective analytical study. PERIOD OF THE STUDY: 2 years -From January 2011 to December 2012. ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL: Approval from hospital ethics committee was obtained before starting the study. CONSENT: A clearly written informed consent on their own language was taken from all patients and from their parents in case juvenile PsA. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) Adults who are fulfilling CASPAR classificat ion criteria for psoriatic arthritis. 2) Children fulfilling ILAR criteria for Juvenile psoriatic arthritis. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) Reactive arthritis, 2) Rheumatiod arthritis, 3) Enteropathic arthritis, 4) Crystal arthritides. RESULTS: Totally 110 patients were included for the study over two years period. Out of these 61 (55.5 %) were males and 49 (44.5 %) were females. Lowest age of the patient in our study was 9 years and highest was 70 years. Mean age of the patient was 39.55 years. Majority of the patients were in between 3rd to 5th decade. CONCLUSION: 1) The mean age of the patients in our study was 39.5 years. 2) Slight male preponderance was observed (1.2 : 1 ). 3) Skin disease preceding arthritis was noted in majority of patients (56%) and simultaneous onset was found in 19 % of patients. 4) Onset of arthritis after 10 years of psoriasis is uncommon (9%). 5) Psoriasis vulgaris was the commonest skin pattern and symmetric polyarthritis was the commonest subtype of arthritis noted in our study. 6) The prevalence of ANA, anti-CCP and RF positivity in our patients were 14.2%, 9.7 %, 6.3% respectively. 7) Anterior uveitis was observed in3.6 % of our patients. 8) Positive correlation between skin and joint disease activity was noticed although statistically not significant. 9) Anti-CCP positive psoriatic arthritis patients had higher number swollen, tender joints and more radiographic damage. 10) At the end of one year follow-up, 57.5% of patients showed PsARC improvement response. 11) At the end of two years follow-up, 48.7% of patients showed PsARC response and 2.7% showed Minimal Disease Activity response

Research on the Indian Capital Market: A Review

In this paper we present a review of research done in the field of Indian capital markets during the fifteen years from 1977 to 1992. The research works included in the survey were identified by two search procedures. Firstly, we wrote to 118 Indian university departments and research institutions requesting information on the works done in this field in their department/institution. After three reminders, we obtained responses from 53 institutions. Simultaneously, we searched through various Indian journals in our library, located books listed in the library catalogue and traced through the list of references provided in various research works. Considering the size, vintage and development of the Indian capital market, the total volume of research on it appears to be woefully modest - about 0.1 unit of work per institution per year! Moreover, a large number of works are merely descriptive or prescriptive without rigorous analysis. Certain areas such as arbitrage pricing theory, option pricing theory, agency theory, and signalling theory are virtually unresearched in the Indian context. Besides, very little theoretical work has been done by researchers in India. However, with improved availability of databases and computing resources, and with increasing global interest in Indian markets, we expect an explosion of work in the near future.

Narasimham Committee Report - Some Further Ramifications and Suggestions

This paper while agreeing with the general thrust of the Narasimham Committee Report. Calls attention to some logical corollaries of the Report and analyses some possible fallout from implementing the Report. We agree with the view that control of banking system should be under an autonomous body supervised by the RBI. However at the level of individual banks, closer scrutiny of lending procedures may be called for than is envisaged in the Report. In a freely functioning capital market the potential of government bonds is enormous, but this necessitates restructuring of the government bond market. The government bonds may then also be used as suitable hedging mechanisms by introducing options and futures trading. We recommend freeing up the operation of pension and provident fund to enable at least partial investment of such funds in risky securities. In the corporate sector, we believe that the current 2:1 debt equity norm is too high and not sustainable in the long term. We envisage that high debt levels and higher interest rates, combined with higher business risk may result in greater incidence of corporate sickness. This may call for various schemes for retrenched workers and amendment to land laws for easy exit of companies. On account of interdependencies across different policies, any sequencing of their implementation may be highly problematic. We therefore suggest a near simultaneity in the implementation of various reforms in order to build up a momentum which would be irreversible if people are to have confidence that the reforms will endure, and if we are to retain our credibility with international financial institutions.

MICROBIAL EXTRACTION OF CHITIN AND CHITOSAN FROM PLEUROTUS SPP, ITS CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

Objective: The aim of the present work was to extract the chitin and chitosan from two species of Pleurotus, its characterization and its antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi.Methods: The fungi were grown in MGYP medium for 15 d. The chitin and chitosan were extracted using the alkaline method and various biochemical methods and compared with commercial chitin and chitosan. The FTIR and SEM were also performed. Antimicrobial activity was performed using well diffusion method.Results: The maximum yield of mycelia and the chitin and chitosan were obtained on 12th day of incubation. P. folrida gave maximum yield (201.3 mg/l of chitin and 65.61 mg/l of chitosan). Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy comparing the results obtained with results for commercial chitin and chitosan. Our results showed that chitin and chitosan obtained from Pleurotus spp. had a significant similitude with commercial. SEM image also carried out to study the surface morphology. The fungal chitin and chitosan had more antimicrobial activity against the gram+ve, gram–ve and the various fungus.Conclusion: In the present study the chitin and chitosan were extracted from the Pleurotus spp. (P. florida and P. eous). The yield was maximum in P. florida after 12thday of fermentation. The FTIR and SEM also confirmed the chitin and chitosan. The extracted chitin and chitosan were subjected to antimicrobial activity, and it was found the extracted chitin and chitosan were active against the bacteria and fungi. Our findings suggest that the Pleurotus spp. are the potential candidate to produce eco-friendly chitin and chitosan in the development of drugs, artificial bone and raw material for the food industries in the near future

A Study of Electrolyte Disturbances in HIV Infected Patients

INTRODUCTION: AIDS was first recognized in the United States in the summer of 1981, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the unexplained occurrence of Pneumocystis jiroveci (formerly P. carinii) pneumonia in five previously healthy homosexual men in Los Angeles and of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) with or without P. jiroveci pneumonia in 26 previously healthy homosexual men in New York and Los Angeles. Within months, the disease became recognized in male and female injection drug users (IDUs) and soon thereafter in recipients of blood transfusions and in hemophiliacs. As the epidemiologic pattern of the disease unfolded, it became clear that an infectious agent transmissible by sexual (homosexual and heterosexual) contact and blood or blood products was the most likely etiologic cause of the epidemic. In 1983, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was isolated from a patient with lymphadenopathy, and by 1984 it was demonstrated clearly to be the causative agent of AIDS. In 1985, a sensitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed, which led to an appreciation of the scope and evolution of the HIV epidemic at first in the United States and other developed nations and ultimately among developing nations throughout the world. Luc Montaineger from Pasteur Institute, France, discovered the causative agent in 1983,and labelled it as LAV -2 lymphadenopathy associated virus.[2]. Robert Gallo from USA also isolated the virus in 1984, and named it HTLV-III, Human T Lymphotropic Virus-III. The International committee on Taxonomy of Viruses re designated both the viruses and named it as Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which can be contracted through sexual contact, exposure to blood including sharing contaminated needles and syringes and by certain blood products or other body fluids. Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome has been the leading cause of death among young adults in the United state and has a devastating impact on people in the developing countries. The clinical presentation of this disease include pneumonia, fever/pyrexia loss of vision, night sweats, chronic diarrhoea, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, cough, and itchy maculopapular generalized skin rash, blue discolouration, anaemia and hairy leukoplakia. AIMS OF THE STUDY: 1 To find out the prevalence of electrolyte disturbances in HIV infected Patients. 2. And their correlation with CD4+ counts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study design : Cross sectional study. Study Population: The cross sectional study included all 150 patients admitted in medicine and STD wards, GRH. Both male and female patients were included in this study. Place : Medicine Dept., Govt. Rajaji Hospital, Madurai Medical College, Madurai. Collaborative Departments: 1) Department of Bio-Chemistry, Govt. Rajaji Hospital, Madurai Medical College, Madurai and 2) Department of STD, Govt. Rajaji Hospital, Madurai Medical College, Madurai. Period of study: 6 months (Nov 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009). Sample size: 150 patients. Selection of the study subjects: 150 patients admitted with HIV infection in the medical and STD wards, Govt. Rajaji Hospital from July to December 2008 formed the study group. All patient’s with HIV infection, admitted in both medical and dept. of STD are included in this study which includes both AIDS related complex and AIDS. Since only symptomatic patients and patients with opportunistic infections(eg. T.B meningitis, chronic diarrhea, etc., ) are getting admitted in wards, asymptomatic patients were not included in this study. 111 male and 39 female patients were included in this study. Sex distribution is shown in table 1. RESULTS: It indicate the mean age is 30.85 ± 4.78 (±1SD). The minimum and maximum CD4+ counts are 75, 349/micro litre respectively. The mean CD4 count is 209.45±80.88/micro litre (±1SD).The mean serum sodium level is 136.65±6.00(±1SD)Meq/litre. The minimum and maximum serum sodium level are 125 Meq/litre,146 Meq/litre respectively (Figure 6) (Table 1).The mean serum potassium levels is4.01±0.95 Meq/litre (±1SD). The minimum and maximum serum potassium levels observed are 2.5 Meq/litre, 7.4 Meq/litre respectively (table 2) (Figure 7). Among 150 pt’s, 52 pt’s had hyponatremia and 98 patients had normal sodium levels (Figure2). The percentage of hyponatremia is 34.7%. Among the 52 patients, female patients are 32 and males are 20 . And the percentage of hyponatremia for both males and females are 14.7%, 20.0% respectively (table 3) (Figure 4). CONCLUSION: Hyponatremia, hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are common electrolyte disorders with HIV infected patients. Because of the high incidence of the electrolyte disturbances with HIV infected patients, close monitoring and aggressive management are mandatory

EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTICANCER, AND WOUND HEALING PROPERTIES OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF ACANTHUS ILICIFOLIUS L.

Objective: To investigate the in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and wound healing properties of leaf extracts of Acanthus ilicifolius. Methods: Acanthus ilicifolius leaves were dried and extracts were prepared using different solvents using cold extraction method. The preliminary phytochemical analysis and quantitative methods were carried out using standard procedures. In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH assay. Disc diffusion method was employed to determine the antimicrobial activities of the extracts. The methanolic extract was subjected to FTIR and GC-MS analysis for characterization of phytochemicals. This extract was further subjected to HPLC analysis for characterization and quantification. The antiproliferative effects of methanolic extract was determined using MTT assay and wound healing properties were determined using Cell migration assay. Results: The highest levels of phenol and flavonoids were detected in aqueous extracts, followed by chloroform. Methanolic extract showed the highest antioxidant activity as well as significant antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Squalene, a metabolite with known pharmaceutical applications, was identified in GC-MS, which was further confirmed and quantified using HPLC analysis. The methanolic extract showed cytotoxic activity against the cervical cancer cell line and showed a significant beneficial effect on wound healing in the L929 cell line.  Conclusion: The results obtained in this study revealed that the leaf extracts of Acanthus ilicifolius possess potent antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and wound-healing properties. These activities are due to bioactive components present in the extracts whose identification could lead to the development of new therapeutic agents

STUDY ON BIOSYSTEMATIC AND BIOACTIVITY OF Nocardiopsis flavescencs RRMVCBNR OBTAINED FROM NICHE HABITATS OF VALPARAI HILL STATION

In this work, the soil samples were collected niche habitats of Valparai hill station to screen the diversity of actinomycetes. The actinobacterial were isolated by serial dilution and plating method on starch peptone agar media. In totally 8 different morphological were isolated on the basis of colony characteristics on starch peptone agar and dominative isolate were screened and plated on point inoculation. RRMVCBNR 1 isolate was biosystamatically characterized on the basis of microscopic, colony morphology, biochemical and phenotypic studies. Phenotypic studies indicated that strains belonged to genus of Nocardiopsis which was further confirmed by genotypic studies based on 16S rRNA gene sequences followed by phylogenetic tree construction. 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain used in this study exhibited sequence similarity in the range of 99-100% with those of selected isolate and it was identified as of Nocardiopsis flavescencs RRMVCBNR. The sequences of Nocardiopsis flavescencs 16S rRNA genes were deposited in genbank http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank and received the accession number MG287120.The biological activity of Nocardiopsis flavescencs strain showed detectable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia has been studied. Keywords: Nocardiopsis flavescencs, Starch peptone agar, Muller Hinton Agar, Mountain soil.SE

Evaluation of bioactive compounds from Jasminum polyanthum and its medicinal properties

Jasmine plant species are widely grown in Asia and used for religious offering, is known to have wide range of bioactive compounds and its properties. Most of the jasmine species have been evaluated its bioactive properties and found positive results. This work consists of evaluating bioactive properties of jasmine species, Jasminum polyanthum and finding its potential medicinal uses. The plant leaves and flowers were powdered and added water to prepare extract. Both leaves and flower extract was evaluated for phytochemical compounds, anti oxidant, anti diabetic, anti inflammatory, anti microbial, anti cancer and DNA nicking assay. The leaf and flower extract contained most of the phytochemical compounds which leads to presence of various bioactive properties. Leaf possesses good DPPH activity, while flower possess high phenol content and FRAP activity.  Leaf possesses good anti diabetic activity, while flower possess good anti inflammatory activity. Flower extract consists of higher antibacterial activity than leaf, while in antifungal it is vice versa.   Keywords:  Anti-diabetic, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant activity, MTT Assay, DNA Nicking stud

Gait speed reference values in community-dwelling older adults:Cross-sectional analysis from the Rotterdam Study

Background: Gait speed is a simple, inexpensive and clinically useful marker of physical function in older adults. We aimed to establish gait speed reference values for community-dwelling older adults. To this end, we further explored the association of age, sex and height with gait speed. Methods: This study included community-dwelling participants aged 50 years and over enrolled in the Rotterdam Study. Participants completed the gait protocol between 2009 and 2016. The mean gait speed was calculated for age and height groups, stratified by sex. Reference values for gait speed were calculated using a quantile regression model adjusted for sex, the non-linear effects of age and height, as well as the interaction between age and sex plus the interaction between age and height. Results: The study population included 4656 Dutch participants with a mean (standard deviation) age of 67.7 (9.5) years, comprising 2569 (55.2%) women. The mean height of the participants was 1.69 (0.10) meters and the mean gait speed was 1.20 (0.20) m/s. Gait speed was lower with older age and greater with taller stature, but the effect of height disappeared above the age of 80 years. Sex did not affect gait speed after accounting for age and height. Age-, sex-, and height-specific reference values for gait speed are available for use at https://emcbios tatistics.shinyapps.io/GaitSpeedReferenceValues/. Conclusions: We found that height explains the commonly noted difference in usual gait speed between sexes and that neither height nor sex impacts gait speed in the very oldest adults. We developed reference values for usual gait speed in Western European community-dwelling older adults