A Prospective, Randomized, Open Label, Comparative Study of Cholecalciferol as an Add on Therapy to Standard Treatment in Adult Patients with Bronchial Asthma

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma one of the most common chronic diseases globally is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Chronic inflammation leads to airway remodeling resulting in irreversible airway obstruction. Treatment of bronchial asthma includes bronchodilators – beta-2 agonists, anticholinergics, methylxanthines; leukotriene antagonists and corticosteroids. Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D) has been found to play key beneficial role in asthma. Cholecalciferol reduces airway inflammation by increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D also reduces airway hyper responsiveness and improves the response to inhaled and oral corticosteroids. Hence, the present study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of Cholecalciferol as an add on therapy in patients with bronchial asthma. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Cholecalciferol as an add on therapy to standard treatment in modifying disease severity in adult patients with bronchial asthma. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, open labelled, comparative study was conducted in asthmatic patients of mild to moderate severity attending Thoracic Medicine OPD of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. After screening, the study subjects (n=60) were allocated into 2 groups by simple randomization. Control group (n=30) patients received Formoterol (6 mcg) and Budesonide (200 mcg) metered dose inhale r(MDI) bid and study group (n=30) patients received Formoterol (6 mcg) and Budesonide (200 mcg) metered dose inhaler (MDI) bid with Tablet cholecalciferol 1000IU/D for 12 weeks and followed-up after 4 weeks. RESULTS: The primary outcome of the study was to measure the change in Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) & Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). Improvement in FEV1, FVC & PEFR values in study group was significant at the end of 12 weeks (p < 0.05). In addition, the frequency of exacerbations in study group was less compared to control group. No serious adverse events were reported in both groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Cholecalciferol supplementation improves the long-term control over bronchial asthma and is well tolerated

Production of Diamino propionic acid ammonia lyase by a new strain of Salmonella typhimurium PU011

BACKGROUND: Seeds of the legume plant Lathyrus sativus, which is grown in arid and semi arid tropical regions, contain Diamino Propionic acid (DAP). DAP is a neurotoxin, which, when consumed, causes a disease called Lathyrism. Lathryrism may manifest as Neurolathyrism or Osteolathyrism, in which the nervous system, and bone formation respectively, are affected. DAP ammonia lyase is produced by a few microorganisms such as Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium and Pseudomonas, and is capable of detoxifying DAP. RESULTS: S. typhimurium PU011, a non-virulent bacterial strain isolated in our lab, was found to produce DAP ammonia lyase enzyme when grown in minimal medium containing DAP. There was a direct correlation between biomass yield and enzyme activity, until 16 h post inoculation in minimal medium containing DAP. Following ammonium sulphate precipitation and passing through Sephadex G100, CM-Sephadex and DEAE-Sephacel for crude enzyme extract preparation, about 68-fold enzyme purity was obtained. The purified enzyme gave maximum activity at pH 8.0 and was stable up to 45 degrees C. The Km value for the substrate was found to be 0.685mM, calculated from a Line Weaver Burk plot. CONCLUSION: A new bacterial strain, S.typhimurium PU 011, which is capable of producing DAP ammonia lyase, was isolated

In vitro anticancer activity of Sargassum sp. polysaccharides against MCF-7 cell lines

1267-1273Seaweed polysaccharides are compounds with promising chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activities. In this study, polysaccharides isolated from Sargassum seaweeds were tested for their efficiency in cancer therapy. Polysaccharides were isolated, purified, and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR); and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI-MS). It was found that the polysaccharides from Sargassum sp. branches are sulfated galactose–fucose disaccharides and sulfated galactose monosaccharides attached to the main chain through (1–4) linkages. Further, the polysaccharides were tested for cytotoxicity and anticancer activity against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) using the Annexin-V/propidium iodide (PI) staining method

Thermal comfort properties of knitted fabrics produced from bamboo/polyester core-spun yarns

The influence of polyester content, twist and loop length on the comfort properties of single jersey knitted fabrics produced from 100% bamboo, 80:20 bamboo/polyester and 60:40 bamboo/polyester core-spun yarns has been studied. Comfort properties, such as air permeability, moisture vapour transmission, thermal conductivity and thermal resistance properties have been analyzed with three different twist levels and loop lengths. Box–Behnken, a three level three factorial design software, has been used to study the interactive effect of core-sheath ratio, twist and loop length on the comfort properties of single jersey knitted fabrics, response surface equations are derived and the design variables are optimized. It is found that the increase in bamboo content in the core yarns having high twist and loop length increases the moisture vapour transmission and thermal conductivity of the knitted fabrics. The air permeability and thermal resistance of the knitted fabrics are found to be higher as the polyester component is increased. High twist and loop length increase the thermal comfort properties of knitted fabrics

Streptomyces sp. as plant growth-promoters and host-plant resistance inducers against Botrytis cinerea in chickpea

Two hundred and fifty seven actinobacteria, isolated from five different rhizosphere soils of chickpea, were evaluated for their antagonistic potential against Botrytis cinerea, causal agent of Botrytis grey mold (BGM) disease in chickpea, by dual culture assay. Of them, three most promising isolates (ATIRS43, ATIRS65 and ARRS10) with highest inhibitory activity (67–77%) were identified as Streptomyces sp. These selected isolates induced growth of chickpea genotype JG11 as a consortium rather than an individual inoculum. Co-inoculation of the selected Streptomyces sp. with Mesorhizobium ciceri UPM-Ca7T enhanced nodulation and nitrogenase activity in five chickpea genotypes (ICCV2, ICCV10, ICC4958, Annigeri and JG11). The selected Streptomyces sp. significantly reduced the disease incidence caused by B. cinerea by 28–47% over the un-inoculated control across the chickpea genotypes ICC4954 (susceptible), ICCV05530 (moderately resistant) and JG11 (unknown resistance). The Streptomyces sp. were also able to induce host-plant resistance, irrespective of the genotype, through the induction of various antioxidant enzymes and phenolics. Phenolic profiling of B. cinerea-affected and Streptomyces treated plants of ICCV05530 further confirmed host-plant resistance traits. This study indicated that the selected Streptomyces sp. have the potential for biological control of BGM disease in chickpea

Microstructure, mechanical performance and corrosion properties of base metal solder joints

Context: Alloys have been considered to be of paramount importance in the field of prosthodontics. Long span prosthesis may often require joining of one or more individual castings to obtain better fit, occlusal harmony and esthetics in comparison to one-piece casting. Aim: This study was undertaken to evaluate the mechanical properties of base metal alloys joined by two different techniques, namely, gas oxygen torch soldering and laser fusion, compared to a one-piece casting. Mechanical properties evaluated were tensile strength, percentage of elongation and hardness of the solder joint. In addition, corrosion properties and scanning electron microscopic appearance of the joints were also evaluated. Materials and Methods: The samples were prepared according to American Society for Testing Materials specifications (ASTM, E8). Specimens were made with self-cure acrylic and then invested in phosphate-bonded investment material. Casting was done in induction casting machine. Thirty specimens were thus prepared for each group and compared with 30 specimens of the one-piece casting group. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS software (version 10.0, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. ANOVA and Benferroni post hoc tests were done for multiple comparisons between the groups and within the groups for mean difference and standard error. Results: Results showed that tensile strength of the one-piece casting was higher than laser fused and gas oxygen torch soldered joints. Laser fused joints exhibited higher hardness values compared to that of gas oxygen torch soldered joints. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed greater porosity in the gas oxygen torch soldered joints. This contributed to the reduction in the strength of the joint. Gas oxygen torch soldered joints showed less corrosion resistance when compared to laser fused joints and one-piece casting. Conclusion: Laser fusion, which is a recent introduction to the field of prosthodontics, produces joints which have properties between those of one-piece casting and the gas oxygen torch soldering

First report of tuber-rot of safed musli (chlorophytum borivilianum) caused by fusarium solani in India

Fusarium solani was identified for the first time as causing a tuber-rot of Safed musli, a medicinal herb, in India

Protein-nucleic acid interactions: investigations on the peptide backbone interaction with polynucleotides

Model building, difference spectroscopy, and 1H and 13C NMR experiments have been carried out to study the binding of poly(L-Ser) with the polyribonucleotides poly(A) and poly(U) at pH 7.1. Studies have also been carried out with base paired duplexes poly(A)m.poly(U). Peak doubling of C&#945; and carbonyl resonances in the 13C NMR spectrum of poly(L-Ser) in presence of polyribonucleotides is observed. From the chemical shifts and the linewidth, it is concluded that the interaction occurs through hydrogen bonding between the nucleic acid bases and the peptide backbone. In case of poly(A) and poly(U) the hydrogen bonding scheme with peptide backbone is different from that in the base paired poly(A)m.poly(U). The possible binding schemes of double stranded DNA and peptide backbone have been investigated using model building and potential energy calculations. The hydrogen bonding schemes discriminate between various base pairs and their sequence. It is concluded that protein backbone can play an important role in protein-nucleic acid recognition schemes

Hydrography of Gourikere pond of Siddapur, Karnataka

Present work was pertaining to studies conducted at one lentic perinial water body at Talaguppa viz., Gourikere pond Tq:Sagar Karnataka. The period of study undertaken it one year from May - 2007 to April - 2008. This study is intended to monitor the water quality of Gourikere pond of Talaguppa, Sagar Tq: Shimoga District and also helpful for using this water for making fisheries activity. The present investigation encompassed collection of data pertaining to various aspects such as meteorological condition, physicochemical parameter of water body of Gourikere pond. Air and surface water temperatures varied from 29.7oC to 37.5oC and from 20.6oC – 24.8oC. And the pH ranged between 8.1 to 9.1. Variation in dissolved oxygen content was from 6.4 mg/l to 10.8 mg/l and variation in CO2 was observed from 7.4 mg/l to 12.00 mg/l. Concentrations of nutrients viz. nitrates (0.69 mg/l to1.30 mg/l), phosphates (0.30 mg/l to 0.63 mg/l) Magnesium (11.79 mg/l to 88.64 mg/l) sulphate (2.45 mg/l to 5.16 mg/l) Calcium (33.41 to 138.10mg/l), also varied independently. The results of the study revealed that hydrographical conditions fluctuated moderately throughout the year