Free volume study of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) using positron annihilation spectroscopy as a microanalytical tool

Positron lifetimes and X-ray diffraction measurements were carried out on poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) films annealed between 25 and 215 degrees C. The positron lifetime results were used to determine the free volume and XRD data were used to determine the apparent crystallite size and crystallinity. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of 52 degrees C obtained from positron results is in agreement with that obtained by thermal analysis. The average free volume cell size is 74 Angstrom(3) in films annealed below T-g, and increases to 84 Angstrom(3) in samples annealed above T-g. Although the observed changes in positron lifetime parameters as a function of annealing temperature are small, they are significant for the kind of material investigated. Our observations are explained in terms of thermally activated chain mobility, local relaxations and long-range motions. We further estimate, for the first time, the activation energies in the amorphous and crystalline regions of the polymer using the Goldanskii kinetic relations. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd

Neck Circumference: A valid anthropometric tool to predict Obesity in Adults of Davanagere, South India

Background: Neck Circumference (NC) can prove as a useful tool to predict obesity and overweight due to its advantages over the other anthropometric measurements. There have been fewer studies to assess its validity in a South Indian population. Aim & Objective: To validate Neck Circumference as a screening tool to predict obesity and to identify critical cut off points for obesity in Adults using Neck Circumference. Settings and Design: A cross sectional study involving 512 study subjects was conducted in the field practice area of a tertiary care hospital. Stratified sampling was used. Methods and Material: Data was collected using a pre designed semi structured questionnaire which included clinico-social details and anthropometric measurements of the respondents as per standard guidelines. Statistical analysis used: Data was analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS v.16.0 Results: In our study population BMI and body fat % was greater in females. NC showed positive correlation with Weight, Height, Waist Circumference and BMI. A cut off for NC of 36 cm in males and 29 cm in females was obtained with a sensitivity of 83.3% and 65.6% respectively. Conclusions: Neck circumference can be an important screening tool for overweight and obesity in adult population

Acceptance and feasibility for handheld Tele-ECG

Background: In a developing country like India where mobile phone usage is increasing at an exponential rate, tele monitoring techniques could be used to reduce cardiac related morbidity and mortality. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the acceptance and feasibility of handheld tele-ECG for screening general population for cardiac related abnormalities. Methods: The study was conducted among walk-in patients and their attenders of an urban health training centre attached a tertiary care teaching hospital for a period of 6 months in 2019. Results: Among the 410 respondents, majority were of age group 30-39yrs (54%) and females (62%). Left ventricular hypertrophy (15.4%) was the commonest abnormality. Majority (97.5%) were very satisfied with the hand held Tele-ECG instrument. Conclusion: Telecardiology has a potential to revolutionize the healthcare system particularly in resource poor rural and urban slum settings in bridging the gap between primary and secondary care

Liver-X-receptor-mediated increase in ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 expression is attenuated by fatty acids in CaCo-2 cells: effect on cholesterol efflux to high-density lipoprotein.

The effect of fatty acids on LXR (liver X receptors)-mediated enhancement of ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1) expression and cholesterol efflux was investigated in human intestinal cells CaCo-2. LXR activation by T0901317 increased basolateral cholesterol efflux to lipoprotein particles isolated at a density of 1.21 g/ml or higher. Oleic and arachidonic acids attenuated the amount of cholesterol isolated from these particles. Stearic, linoleic and docosahexaenoic acids also decreased cholesterol efflux from basolateral membranes, with the polyunsaturated fatty acids being the most potent. Although oleic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids modestly decreased ABCA1 mRNA levels in response to LXR activation, stearic and linoleic acids did not. Except for oleic acid, all fatty acids substantially attenuated an increase in ABCA1 mass secondary to LXR activation. Inhibiting acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity prevented the decrease in cholesterol efflux caused by oleic acid. Thus, in response to LXR activation, all fatty acids decreased the efflux of cholesterol from the basolateral membrane of CaCo-2 cells. Although modest suppression of ABCA1 gene expression by oleic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids cannot be completely excluded as a mechanism, the predominant effect of fatty acids on ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux is at a post-transcriptional level

Polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 in CaCo-2 cells: effect on fatty acid synthesis and triacylglycerol transport.

Regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) by fatty acid flux was investigated in CaCo-2 cells. Cells were incubated with 1 mM taurocholate with or without 250 microM 18:0, 18:1, 18:2, 20:4, 20:5 or 22:6 fatty acids. Fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase mRNA levels and gene and protein expression of SREBPs were estimated. 18:2, 20:4, 20:5 and 22:6 fatty acids decreased the amount of mature SREBP-1 and mRNA levels of SREBP-1c, SREBP-1a, FAS and acetyl-CoA carboxylase. SREBP-2 gene or mature protein expression was not altered. Liver X receptor (LXR) activation by T0901317 increased gene expression of SREBP-1c, SREBP-1a, FAS and acetyl-CoA carboxylase without altering SREBP-2. 20:5, but not 18:1, prevented the full expression of SREBP-1c mRNA by T0901317. T0901317 increased SREBP-1 mass without altering the mass of mature SREBP-2. Although only 18:2, 20:4, 20:5 and 22:6 suppressed SREBP-1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase and FAS expression, all fatty acids decreased the rate of fatty acid synthesis. T0901317 increased endogenous fatty acid synthesis yet did not increase secretion of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins. In CaCo-2 cells, polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease gene and protein expression of SREBP-1 and FAS mRNA, probably through interference with LXR activity. Since all fatty acids decreased fatty acid synthesis, mechanisms other than changes in SREBP-1c expression must be entertained. Increased endogenous fatty acid synthesis does not promote triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein secretion

Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A clinical, histopathological and genetic study at a neurology tertiary care center in southern India

Background : Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy that affects young boys and the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome has been found to be associated with the disorder. Materials and Methods : In this prospective study, 112 clinically diagnosed DMD patients had muscle biopsy and were tested for exon deletions. Genotyping was also carried out at STR44, STR45, STR49 and STR 50 markers in 15 families. Results : Of the 112 clinically suspected DMD patients, the diagnosis of DMD was confirmed by histopathology and/or genetics in 101 patients. The mean age of onset was 3.1±1.44 years (1-6 years) and the mean age at presentation was 8.0±3.1 years (1.1-18.0 years). Delayed motor milestones were present in 63 (62.3%) patients. The mean creatine kinase value was 11822.64±8206.90 U/L (1240-57,700). Eighty-four patients had muscle biopsy and immunohistochemistry was done in 60 muscle samples, all of which demonstrated absence of dystrophin staining. Of the 60 dystrophin-negative cases, 73% showed deletion of at least one exon. Single exon deletion was found in 20.4%. Distal hotspot Exons 45, 47, 49 and 50 were the commonly deleted xenons and the deletion rates were 36%, 35%, 33.7% and 38.5% respectively. Conclusions : In this study population in south India the deletion rate was 73% and were more frequent in the distal end exon. With the availability of genetic analysis, the first investigation of choice in DMD should be genetic studies and muscle biopsy should be considered only if the genetic tests are negative or not available

Mitochondrial Cu,Zn-Superoxide Dismutase Mediates Pulmonary Fibrosis by Augmenting H2O2 Generation*

The release of H2O2 from alveolar macrophages has been linked to the development of pulmonary fibrosis, but little is known about its source or mechanism of production. We found that alveolar macrophages from asbestosis patients spontaneously produce high levels of H2O2 and have high expression of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD). Because Cu,Zn-SOD is found in the mitochondrial intermembrane space (IMS), we hypothesized that mitochondrial Cu,Zn-SOD-mediated H2O2 generation contributed to pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestos-induced translocation of Cu,Zn-SOD to the IMS was unique to macrophages and dependent on functional mitochondrial respiration and the presence of at least one of the conserved cysteines required for disulfide bond formation. These conserved cysteine residues were also necessary for enzyme activation and H2O2 generation. Cu,Zn-SOD-mediated H2O2 generation was inhibited by knockdown of the iron-sulfur protein, Rieske, in complex III. The role of Cu,Zn-SOD was biologically relevant in that Cu,Zn-SOD−/− mice generated significantly less H2O2 and had less oxidant stress in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung parenchyma. Furthermore, Cu,Zn-SOD−/− mice did not develop pulmonary fibrosis, and knockdown of Cu,Zn-SOD in monocytes attenuated collagen I deposition by lung fibroblasts. Our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism for the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis where the antioxidant enzyme Cu,Zn-SOD translocates to the mitochondrial IMS to increase H2O2 generation in alveolar macrophages