Antioxidants and Manganese Deficiency in Needles of Norway Spruce (Picea abies L.) Trees

Chlorotic and green needles from Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) trees were sampled in the Calcareous Bavarian Alps in winter. The needles were used for analysis of the mineral and pigment contents, the levels of antioxidants (ascorbate, glutathione), and the activities of protective enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate radical reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase). In addition, the activities of two respiratory enzymes (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NAD-malate dehydrogenase), which might provide the NADPH necessary for functioning of the antioxidative system, were determined. We found that chlorotic needles were severely manganese deficient (3 to 6 micrograms Mn per gram dry weight as compared with up to 190 micrograms Mn per gram dry weight in green needles) but had a similar dry weight to fresh weight ratio, had a similar protein content, and showed no evidence for enhanced lipid peroxidation as compared with green needles. In chlorotic needles, the level of total ascorbate and the activities of superoxide dismutase, monodehydroascorbate radical reductase, NAD-malate dehydrogenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were significantly increased, whereas the levels of ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione were not affected. The ratio of ascorbate to dehydroascorbate was similar in both green and chlorotic needles. These results suggest that in spruce needles monodehydroascorbate radical reductase is the key enzyme involved in maintaining ascorbate in its reduced state. The reductant necessary for this process may have been supplied at the expense of photosynthate

Two rare hemoglobin variants with α thalassemia in Eastern Indian population

The current work focuses on two rare hemoglobin (Hb) variants - Hb Grange-Blanche and Hb Hofu - found for the first time in association with α-thalassemia in Eastern India. The unusual case of Hb Grange-Blanche and FS 41/42(-CTTT) mutations in cis throws light on importance of multiple mutations and its coinheritance with αααanti3.7 triplication indicates a possible cause for the clinical severity in b-thalassemia carriers. 目前的工作聚焦点在于两种稀有的血红蛋白（Hb)变异体：Grange-Blanche血红蛋白和Hofu血红蛋白，它们与α-地中海贫血症一同在印度东部被首次发现。Grange-Blanche血红蛋白和在独联体发现的FS 41/42(-CTTT)突变体的特殊情况，阐明了多元突变，其继承性及αααanti3.7在临床可能表现出严重β-地中海贫血症状的重要性。</p

Polymorphism of ACE gene as the genetic predisposition of coronary artery disease in Eastern India

Aim: A case control study was designed to assess whether the prevalence of ACE gene polymorphism has any role in the development of CAD. Methods: The study included unrelated 217 cases with CAD and 255 healthy controls. PCR was done using primers followed by agarose gel electrophoresis for study of different ACE gene polymorphisms. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to find association between studied genotypes and lifestyle as well as biochemical risk factors. Results: Both DD [OR: 2.16; 95%CI: (60.60–67.40)] and ID [OR: 1.48; 95%CI: (93.28–97.72)] genotypes of the ACE gene showed significant associations in the development of CAD. Coexistence of diabetes and hypertension found to be risk modifier of the disease. Tobacco intake in various forms elevates the risk of the disease among the cases with risk genotypes. Conclusion: ID and DD genotypes of ACE gene came out to be predisposing factors for the CAD cases in our study population

Investigation on the trace elemental profile of sewage workers in Kolkata, an Indian megacity

<em>Background</em>. Environmental pollution has become a global health risk. Exposure to pollutants at the work place,<em> i.e</em>. occupational exposure, is one of the areas that need immediate attention. The civic drainage workers are exposed to pollutants present in the wastewater they handle and most of them are toxic heavy metals. Exposure to such pollutants may be a health hazard, since it can lead to the imbalance in nutrient elements status.§<br /><em>Design and Methods</em>. In the present study, profiling of trace elements in the blood of drainage worker population from an Indian megacity, Kolkata, was carried out by energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and compared with the control group population of the same area. <br /><em>Results. </em>The elements detected by EDXRF spectrometry include P, S, Cl, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, and Rb. By using ANOVA with 5% significance level, we observed significant alterations in the trace elements status, iron over loading, selenium deficiency, and in Cu-Zn ratio. Gender specific variations within the same population were also observed. <br /><em>Conclusions.</em> The results indicate that the drainage workers have altered elemental profile in comparison to that of control population