SPECIFIC AND NON-SPECIFIC BINDING OF PROTEINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS ON CHEMICALLY MODIFIED RETICULATED VITREOUS CARBON ELECTRODES

Proteins and nucleic acids play major roles in many important biological processes. Specific and rapid detection of these biomolecules is important for early and precise diagnosis of various genetic diseases and other medical conditions. However, accurate and inexpensive detection of proteins and nucleic acids has always been a challenge. One of the obstacles is their non-specific adsorption on the sensor surface which leads to the conformational changes in the proteins, sometimes causing their denaturation. The non-specific adsorption on the surface also leads to sensor fouling which induces changes in the availability of active sensor surface for detection of analytes and thus decreases the sensor response. Non-specific binding of biomolecules is therefore a major drawback of biosensor applications and its elimination or suppression needs to be carefully considered while developing biosensors. The present work discusses various strategies to modify the surface of reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrodes to suppress the non-specific binding of biomolecules. Both non-specific (NSB) and specific binding (SB) of neutravidin, oligonucleotides and enzyme labels were studied inside the pores of RVC electrodes that had been subjected to various modification schemes. The extent of NSB and SB of these biomolecules onto unmodified as well as modified RVC electrodes was compared by determining the initial rate of generation of an enzymatic product using linear scan voltammetry (LSV). A simple sandwich bioassay for detection of neutravidin (a deglycosylated version of avidin) was performed on the RVC electrode with the lowest NSB. The surface coverage of these biomolecules inside the RVC pores was estimated by spectroscopic as well as by electrochemical method

Detection of malarial parasite in urine of malaria patients: a future diagnostic approach

Background: Current definitive screening for active malaria infection necessitates drawing blood. The non-invasive, cost-effective malaria tests that minimize the need for blood collection are the need of time. QDx Malaria PAN/Pf rapid malaria card test (QDx rapid malaria test) is an immunochromatographic test that detects the presence of malarial antigens (pLDH and HRP-2) in the blood sample for the diagnosis of malaria. These malarial antigens are also released in the urine. The study was conducted to determine the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the QDx Rapid Malaria test for diagnosis of malaria in blood and urine.Methods: Blood and urine specimens were obtained from 75 malaria blood smear positive cases (test samples) and 25 malarial negative cases (controls). Then urine and blood specimen of each case were evaluated for QDx rapid malaria test. Using microscopy as gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the QDx rapid malaria test for urine and blood were calculated.Results: The accuracy of QDx rapid malaria test for malarial parasite detection was 97% for blood and 38 % for urine.Conclusions: Rapid malaria test processed with urine may be a useful non-invasive and cost-effective malaria diagnostic technique in future.

Association of Reproductive Parameters with Dermatoglyphics in Breast Cancer Patients, Healthy and High-Risk Individuals

Background Breast cancer has a wide array of risk factors, and its confounding reproductive aetiologies have been paramount in defining the predictive ability of the disease. Similarly, a strong link between qualitative dermatoglyphic patterns and predisposition to breast cancer has been well documented through genetic linkage. Therefore, this study aimed to discern the affiliation between the aforementioned risk factors of breast cancer.    Methods The study was carried out in 3 groups of 90 age-matched individuals of - breast cancer patients, high-risk individuals and healthy individuals. A detailed reproductive history was taken including factors such as age at menarche, menstrual regularity, age at menopause (if attained), breastfeeding, obstetric parameters and age at first live birth. Qualitative dermatoglyphics were procured through the standardised ink and paper method to get a remarkable rolled fingerprint. The variations in gynaecological and obstetric parameters and qualitative dermatoglyphic patterns were studied and their significance was computed using the chi-square test on InStat software where p values < 0.05 were considered significant with a 95% confidence interval.   Results Highly significant values (p<0.0001) were found in all gynaecological and obstetric parameters where a higher frequency of whorls in breast cancer patients, arches in high-risk individuals and an equivalent frequency of arches and whorls were predisposed to healthy individuals.   Limitations Although this study might have identified certain predominating patterns with higher frequency, the consistency might vary from place to place due to differing dermatoglyphics according to ethnicity.  A small number of patients receiving chemotherapy experienced - chemotherapy-induced adermatoglyphia - where the loss of fingerprints or very faint fingerprints was difficult to perceive. These patients were not included in the study to ensure maximum efficacy in interpreting the dermatoglyphics.   Conclusion Previous attempts failed to link dermatoglyphic indices and reproductive parameters, this study found a significant correlation between the variables in the three distinct groups. Most breast cancer patients are diagnosed late with a majority presenting to doctors in advanced stages where survival rates are marginal, so by this method, we can get a simple, practical, non-invasive and easily affordable screening technique for the above risk factors. This technique could also be employed for non-symptomatic women who might have a positive family history of breast cancer as a part of risk assessment for early diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, paving way for further research into the prognostic abilities of gynaecological parameters through qualitative dermatoglyphic indices

Polyvinyl Acetate Resin as a Binder Effecting Mechanical and CombustionProperties of Combustible Cartridge Case Formulations

Several combustible cartridge case (CCC) formulations containing nitrocellulose (NC) as anenergetic ingredient with diphenylamine (DPA) as stabiliser, cellulose fiber as reinforcing materialand polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) as a binder are processed to form combustible discs. A formulationcontaining  nitrocellulose (83 parts), cellulose (17 parts) , PVAc (20 parts) and  diphenylamine(1 part) by weight was observed with the improvement of  mechanical properties without anyadverse effect on combustion characteristics, safety parameters and compatibility with triplebase multi-tubular propellant. Dynamic firing performance was also satisfactory

Conceptual review of Aushadha Sevana Kaal

The knowledge of Aushadha Sevana Kaal or time of drug administration is very unique concept in our Ayurvedic science and it is very much essential for effective Ayurvedic managements. The different Aushadha Sevana Kaal are defined according to biological clocks. A proper Aushadha Sevana Kaal can be suggested to attain ultimate goal of equilibrium in Dosha, Dhatu and Mala which leads to Swasthya. Aushadha Sevana Kaal is mainly explained in relation with Rogabala, Rogibala, particular Dosha, Dhatu and other factors. Successful treatment can be achieved only when there is appropriate combination of Desha (region), Kaal (time), Pramana (dosage), Satmya (wholesomeness), Asatmya (unwholesomeness), Pathya (useful), Apathya (harmful). Amongst these seven factors, Kaal attains utmost importance in Chikitsa. Acharyas have mentioned different Aushadha Sevana Kaal in various Ayurvedic text. In this present article an attempt is made to review the references of Aushadha Sevana Kaal and understand the way they enhance therapeutic action of given medicine and can cure diseases easily

AstroSat investigation of X-ray flares on two active K-M systems: CC Eri and AB Dor

We present an X-ray and UV investigation of five X-ray flares detected on two active systems, CC Eri and AB Dor, using the AstroSat observatory. The peak X-ray luminosities of the flares in the 0.3$-$7.0 keV band are found to be within 10$^{31-33}$ erg s$^{-1}$. Preliminary spectral analysis indicates the presence of three and four-temperature corona for CC Eri and AB Dor, respectively, where the highest temperature is found to vary with flare. The flare temperatures peaked at 51$-$59 MK for CC Eri and 29$-$44 MK for AB Dor. The peak emission measures of the flaring loops are estimated to be $\sim$10$^{54}$ for CC Eri and $\sim$10$^{55}$ cm$^{-3}$ for AB Dor. Global metallic abundances were also found to increase during flares.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, Accepted for publication in Bulletin de la Soci\'et\'e Royale des Sciences de Li\`ege (BSRSL

Near-UV and optical spectroscopic investigation of late-type stars from MIRA/Oliver Observing Station

Late-type stars are the most abundant in the galactic stellar population. These stars, with a similar internal structure to the Sun, are expected to have solar-like atmospheres. Investigating the stellar parameters and chemical abundances on late-type stars is essential to provide valuable constraints about stellar age, chemical evolution, and atmosphere of exoplanets. In this work, we present the study of the Near-UV and optical spectroscopic observation of three late-type stars: HR 8038, AC Her, and HD 76446, as obtained from the 36-inch MIRA/Oliver Observing Station. We derived surface temperature, gravity, metallicity, and the chemical abundances of light element Carbon in the stellar atmosphere. The elemental abundance of the Carbon for HR 8038, AC Her, and HD 76446 are derived to be 95%, 97%, and 108%, respectively, of the solar value.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Bulletin de la Soci\'et\'e Royale des Sciences de Li\`ege (BSRSL

How to choose the frozen density in Frozen-Density Embedding Theory-based numerical simulations of local excitations?

According to Frozen-Density Embedding Theory, any observable evaluated for the embedded species is a functional of the frozen density (ρ B —the density associated with the environment). The environment-induced shifts in the energies of local excitations in organic chromophores embedded in hydrogen-bonded environments are analyzed. The excitation energies obtained for ρ B , which is derived from ground-state calculations for the whole environment applying medium quality basis sets (STO-DZP) or larger, vary in a narrow range (about 0.02eV which is at least one order of magnitude less than the magnitude of the shift). At the same time, the ground-state dipole moment of the environment varies significantly. The lack of correlation between the calculated shift and the dipole moment of the environment reflects the fact that, in Frozen-Density Embedding Theory, the partitioning of the total density is not unique. As a consequence, such concepts as "environment polarization” are not well defined within Frozen-Density Embedding Theory. Other strategies to generate ρ B (superposition of densities of atoms/molecules in the environment) are shown to be less robust for simulating excitation energy shifts for chromophores in environments comprising hydrogen-bonded molecules

Bilateral Functioning Cystadenofibromas of Ovary

Abstract Cystadenofibroma, a rare variant of benign cystoma of the ovary is generally regarded as a nonfunctioning benign tumour. Small tumours of this kind are relatively common, but large, bilateral and functioning tumours are extremely rare. A 48 year old postmenopausal woman presented with bleeding per vagina and abdominal pain. We report a case of bilateral cystodenofibromas of the ovaries, producing oestrogenic substance, in postmenopausal woman