Cell mediated immunity in post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

Cell mediated immunity was assessed in 30 children with acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) in parallel with 20 normal children and 15 children without nephritis who showed evidence of skin-sore ß-Hemolytic streptococcal infection. Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity to 2,4, dinitrochloro benzene (DNCB) was similar in the three groups. There were no significant differences in the proportion of early and total T-rosettes. Lymphocyte transformation response to phytohemagglutinin- P (PHA), purified protein derivative (PPD) and BCG was similar in them, indirect leucocyte migration inhibition response to PPD, streptokinase streptodornase (SK-SD), and group A ß-Hemolytic T12 streptococcal antigens were not significantly different in patients when compared to normal controls and streptococcal infection controls. Cell mediated immunity was normal in APSGN in children by all the parameters studied

Humoral immunity in acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

children with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis in parallel with IS children with only skin streptococcal infection and 20 normal children. B-lymphocytes as assessed by EAC rosettes estimation was significantly elevated in patients. Markedly high anti-DNase B antibody titres were demonstrated in patients and to a less extent in skin infection controls, as compared to normal controls. C3 levels were decreased in all the patients and C4 levels were decreased in 76%. The levels returned to normal 2 months later. C3 and C4 levels were normal in skin infection and normal controls. Serum IgG, IgM, IgA were normal in patients and Rheumatoid factor was positive in only 24% o f patients, all of whom had a low positive titre. These studies indicate marked humoral immune response to streptococcal infection in patients with APSGN. IgG anti-IgG immune complex did not play a sign&ant role in our patients

Effect of retrograded rice on weight control, gut function, and lipid concentrations in rats

The effects of retrograded rice on body weight gain, gut functions, and hypolipidemic actions in rats were examined. When the retrograded rice was produced by repetitive heating and cooling cycles, it contained significantly higher amounts of resistant starch (13.9 ± 0.98%) than is found in common rice (9.1 ± 1.02%) (P < 0.05). Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either common rice powder or retrograded rice powder, and mean body weight gain was significantly lower in the retrograded rice group (P < 0.05). The liver weight of the retrograded rice group (14.5 ± 0.5 g) was significantly lower than that of the common rice group (17.1 ± 0.3 g, P < 0.05). However, the weights of other organs, such as the kidney, spleen, thymus, and epididymal fat pad were not significantly affected by rice feeding. Intestinal transit time tended to be lower in rats fed retrograded rice when compared to rats fed the common rice, but the difference was not significant. The retrograded rice diet significantly increased stool output when compared to that in the common rice powder diet (P < 0.05), whereas fecal moisture content (%) was significantly higher in the retrograded rice group (23.3 ± 1.2) than that in the common rice group (19.1 ± 1.2) (P < 0.05). The retrograded rice group had significantly lower plasma cholesterol (P < 0.05), liver cholesterol (P < 0.05), and triacylglycerol contents in adipose tissue (P < 0.05) when compared to those in the common rice group. In conclusion, retrograded rice had higher resistant starch levels compared with those of common rice powder, and it lowered body weight gain and improved lipid profiles and gut function in rats

Re‐evaluation of celluloses E 460(i), E 460(ii), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 465, E 466, E 468 and E 469 as food additives

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient sources added to Food (ANS) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of microcrystalline cellulose (E 460(i)), powdered cellulose (E 460(ii)), methyl cellulose (E 461), ethyl cellulose (E 462), hydroxypropyl cellulose (E 463), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (E 464), ethyl methyl cellulose (E 465), sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (E 466) and enzymatically hydrolysed carboxy methyl cellulose (E 469) as food additives. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) established an acceptable daily intake (ADI) ‘not specified’ for unmodified and modified celluloses. Celluloses are not absorbed and are excreted intact in the faeces; in addition, microcrystalline cellulose, powdered and modified celluloses could be fermented by the intestinal flora in animals and humans. Specific toxicity data were not always available for all the celluloses evaluated in the present opinion and for all endpoints. Given their structural, physicochemical and biological similarities, the Panel considered it possible to read-across between all the celluloses. The acute toxicity of celluloses was low and there was no genotoxic concern. Short-term and subchronic dietary toxicity studies performed with E 460(i), E 461, E 462, E 463, E 464, E 466 and E 469 at levels up to 10% did not indicate specific treatment related adverse effects. In chronic toxicity studies performed with E 460(i), E 461, E 463, E 464, E 465 and E 466, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) values reported ranged up to 9,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day. No carcinogenic properties were detected for microcrystalline cellulose and modified celluloses. Adverse effects on reproductive performance or developmental effects were not observed with celluloses at doses greater than 1,000 mg/kg bw by gavage (often the highest dose tested). The combined exposure to celluloses (E 460–466, E 468 and E 469) at 95th percentile of the refined (brand-loyal) exposure assessment for the general population was up to 506 mg/kg bw per day. The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses (E 460(i); E 460(ii); E 461–466; E 468 and E 469). The Panel considered an indicative total exposure of around 660–900 mg/kg bw per day for microcrystalline, powdered and modified celluloses

Peak-hour metro rail traffic congestion alleviation

Dubai Metro is the city railway transport under the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai. It is operated as a cyclic schedule on fixed O-D pairs and two lines. The two lines are (i) the Red line which runs between Rashidiya and Jebel Ali and (ii) the Green line which operates between Al Qusias and Creek. Union and Khalid bin Waleed are the two cross-over stations between the two lines. Operational times are based on week days and weekends and the headways are based on peak hour and off-peak hours of the day. Light rails are used in Dubai Metro and each train has five cabins. On both lines, headways are designed at 90 seconds, whereas currently operated headway during peak hours is 3.5 minutes. A high ridership is observed during the last working day and particularly during peak hours, leading to severe over-crowding. To reduce over-crowding and alleviate congestions, three types of strategic solutions are available. (i) Reduce peak hour headways (ii) Increase number of cabins in trains operated during peak hours. (iii) Increase number of services between modified O-D pairs with denser traffic. The problem domain is modeled as a directed transit network and further as an LP formulation with a focus on the third solution for the Red line, under an assumption of known demand. Nodes represent arrival/departure times at each station and two types of arcs represent storage and movement of train cabins, respectively. Constraints on (i) consistency of flow, (ii) non-negativity of flow, (iii) indivisibility, (iv) demand satisfiability and (v) bounds are proposed. The objective has two components: (i) To minimize the number of train cabins in the system and (ii) To minimize the total car miles run by all trains in a schedule cycle. The LP Model developed for the third proposed solution is tested with actual data extracted in September 2012 using an open package LP/MILP IDE for Win32, namely GUSEC. Partial results are obtained and reported. Several interesting questions have arisen out of our model and we are trying to analyze some of them. Attempts continue (i) to acquire, test and evaluate validated data from RTA, (ii) apply the proposed model to green line and study congestion alleviation of red and green lines in a combined manner and (iii) evaluate the model against other possible solutions

Prevalence of osteoporosis in selected post menopausal women

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder, characterized by low bone mass with micro architectural deterioration of bone leading to enhanced risk of fracture. On aging the strength of the bone tends to deteriorate, hence this is a degenerative process. Osteoporosis and risk of subsequent fracture is one of the most prevalent community health problems affecting the elderly population and its prevalence is increasing. Although osteoporosis can affect both men and women of any age, women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. All over the world as the population increases women are outnumbering the men in osteoporosis cases and it is becoming women's public health issue. During the post menopause period in women, bones become weak leading to osteoporosis. Therefore, Cummings claims osteoporosis as on increasing clinical and public health problem