Association of Cord Ferritin Levels with Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometry in Newborns.

Iron is an important nutrient and it plays a pivotal role in myelin formation and neurotransmitter synthesis, thus contributing to normal neurological activity. Ferritin is a reliable indicator of the tissue iron stores and in-utero stores can be well measured by cord ferritin levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of umbilical cord ferritin levels (CFL) on the brain stem evoked response audiometry (BERA) This prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care centre of North India with a sample size of 100 inborn neonates. After evaluation of the umbilical cord ferritin levels the study cohort was divided into Group A( UCF<75ng/ml) and Group B(UCF>75ng/dl). All subjects were subjected to BERA. A detailed analysis of CFL and BERA was done and statistically analysed. Neonates in group B had significantly prolonged absolute peak latency of wave I, III and V and interpeak latency of wave III-V when compared to group A. The Pearson correlation also showed negative correlation of CFL with absolute peak latency of wave I, III, and V and interpeak latency of wave III-V. Among the maternal and neonatal variables, highly significant correlation was noted between absolute latency of wave I, III and V, CFL and cord hematocrit. The Pearson correlation showed negative correlation of absolute peak latency of wave I, III and V with maternal haemoglobin (Hb), neonatal birth weight, CFL,s and cord hematocrit values. A negative Pearson correlation was noted between interpeak latency of wave III-V with neonatal birth weight and cord hematocrit level, interpeak latency of wave I-V with neonatal birth weight and between interpeak latency of wave I-III with cord hematocrit values. CFL's significantly affect the absolute peak latency of wave I, III and V and it also affects the interpeak latency of wave III-V. This may be attributed to slow conduction time secondary to altered myelination. CFL's should be considered as a routine protocol in neonates to detect early compromises in the process of myelination and brain maturation.

Meta-analysis of uranium contamination in groundwater of the alluvial plains of Punjab, northwest India: Status, health risk, and hydrogeochemical processes.

Despite numerous studies, there are many knowledge gaps in our understanding of uranium (U) contamination in the alluvial aquifers of Punjab, India. In this study, a large hydrogeochemical dataset was compiled to better understand the major factors controlling the mobility and enrichment of uranium (U) in this groundwater system. The results showed that shallow groundwaters (<60 m) are more contaminated with U than from deeper depths (>60 m). This effect was predominant in the Southwest districts of the Malwa, facing significant risk due to chemical toxicity of U. Groundwaters are mostly oxidizing and alkaline (median pH: 7.25 to 7.33) in nature. Spearman correlation analysis showed that U concentrations are more closely related to total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, Na, K, HCO3-, NO3- Cl-, and F- in shallow water than deep water, but TDS and salinity remained highly correlated (U-TDS: ρ = 0.5 to 0.6; U-salinity: ρ = 0.5). This correlation suggests that the salt effect due to high competition between ions is the principal cause of U mobilization. This effect is evident when the U level increased with increasing mixed water species (Na-Cl, Mg-Cl, and Na-HCO3). Speciation data showed that the most dominant U species are Ca2UO2(CO3)2- and CaUO2(CO3)3-, which are responsible for the U mobility. Based on the field parameters, TDS along with pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were better fitted to U concentration above the WHO guideline value (30 µg.L-1), thus this combination could be used as a quick indicator of U contamination. The strong positive correlation of U with F- (ρ = 0.5) in shallow waters indicates that their primary source is geogenic, while anthropogenic factors such as canal irrigation, groundwater table decline, and use of agrochemicals (mainly nitrate fertilizers) as well as climate-related factors i.e., high evaporation under arid/semi-arid climatic conditions, which result in higher redox and TDS/salinity levels, may greatly affect enrichment of U. The geochemical rationale of this study will provide Science-based-policy implications for U health risk assessment in this region and further extrapolate these findings to other arid/semi-arid areas worldwide.

Source apportionment, chemometric pattern recognition and health risk assessment of groundwater from southwestern Punjab, India.

The groundwater quality of southwestern Punjab, India, is a serious cause of concern due to the presence of chemical contaminants in it. However, limited studies of groundwater quality, sources of chemical contaminants and their health risks are available for the region. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the source, distribution and potential health risk assessment of groundwater quality in three districts of southwestern Punjab, India. The spatial distribution of groundwater chemical contaminants and their potential health risks have been illustrated using inverse distance weighting interpolation technique. The concentration of fluoride (F-; ranged from 0.08 to 4.79 mg L-1) exceeded the WHO limit (1.5 µg L-1) in 80 and 50% samples collected from Bathinda and Ludhiana districts, respectively. The uranium (U) concentration ranged from 0.5 to 432 µg L-1 and shows ~ 85%, 75% and 10% of samples collected from Bathinda, Barnala and Ludhiana districts exceeded the WHO drinking water limit (30 µg L-1), respectively. The groundwater quality of the Bathinda district is a matter of concern due to elevated levels of alkalinity, hardness, fluoride, uranium and nitrate (NO3-). The principal component analysis shows close association between F- and U, which indicates their geogenic origin. Further, they also seem to be subordinately influenced by diffuse anthropogenic activities. The clustering of Cu and Pb with NO3- and SO42- indicates their anthropogenic origin. The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment indicates that F-, NO3- and U are the major health risk pollutants in the study area. The carcinogenic health risk of As and Cr exceeded the USEPA limits (10-6) in the entire study area, but observed to be more serious for the district Bathinda (10-3-10-5). The spatial distribution maps illustrate that the health risk for Bathinda district inhabitants is higher than Barnala and Ludhiana districts.

Quantification of groundwater-agricultural soil quality and associated health risks in the agri-intensive Sutlej River Basin of Punjab, India.

The quality of drinking water and agricultural soil significantly affects the health of residents of the area. The quality of groundwater used as drinking and irrigation water along with agricultural soil of an agri-intensive region of the Sutlej River Basin (SRB), Punjab (India), has been investigated in the present paper to further access their impacts on human health. The quality parameters studied are pH, conductivity, cations, anions and trace elements/heavy metals. The spatio-distribution maps of major contaminates have been made. The distribution of major existing groundwater and agricultural soil contaminants has also been illustrated using inverse distance weighting interpolation technique. Further, the Pearson correlation matrix and principal component analysis (PCA) have been applied to explore the correlation and source apportionment analysis for the contaminants. Finally, the health risk assessment study has also been performed. The results showed elevated levels [compared to BIS acceptable limits] of bicarbonate and total hardness in more than 90% groundwater samples, while the concentration of Se and U exceeded in around 25% samples. Spatial distribution maps showed a non-homologous distribution pattern for most of the heavy metals except Zn, indicating their different origins. The significant existence of Se and U in groundwater and low content in soils indicated their geogenic origin. The Gibbs diagram suggested that rock-water interaction is the primary process controlling the chemical evolution of the groundwater in the region. The PCA indicated that Cu, Mn, Pb, NO3- and SO42- in groundwater have an anthropogenic origin, whereas Fe, As and U are mainly of geogenic origin. Significant positive correlations of heavy metals with Fe and Al in soils indicated scavenging of these elements by Fe/Al-oxyhydroxides minerals. Based on SAR, Na%, PI and corrosivity ratio analysis, it can be concluded that groundwater of the region is suitable for irrigation purposes Further, health risk assessment study indicated Cr and As are the possible cancer risk posing elements from both soil and groundwater. Non-carcinogenic risk assessment showed that cumulative exposure (hazard index-1.98) of U (HQ 1.21), NO3- (HQ 0.37) and F- (HQ 0.34) might pose harmful impacts to residents through groundwater ingestion in the long term. Although currently the contaminants in the groundwater-soil system may not pose any human health risks, continuous long-term monitoring is required to keep a check on the changes in their quality with time.

Amido-amine derivative of alginic acid (AmAA) for enhanced adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution.

The present work reports the alternate synthesis of amido-amine derivative of alginic acid (AmAA) with high degree of functionalization. The AmAA have been characterized for percentage functionalization, functional group change, surface morphology and thermal decomposition behavior. The results indicate that the amido-amine derivatisation of alginic acid (AA) with >95% functionalization, significantly improves its Pb(II) adsorption efficiency (395.72 mg/g to 535.87 mg/g) over the AA. The equilibrium and kinetic studies showed that Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models fitted well to the experimental data, and these followed pseudo-second order kinetic model. The FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and 13C CP-MAS NMR (Cross-polarization magic angle spinning carbon-13 solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy) analysis revealed that Pb(II) binds to the carboxyl group in case of AA and to the carbonyl & amine group in case of AmAA, which leads to increase in its adsorption efficiency. The study concludes that the functionalization of amido-amine on AA improves its adsorptive efficiency for Pb(II) from aqueous medium.

Evaluation of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertner bark extracts for in vitro cytotoxicity on cancer cells and in vivo antitumor activity in solid and liquid tumor models.

The stem bark of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertner is claimed to be useful in the treatment of tumors in the southern part of India. This plant possesses a number of sesquiterpenoids and isoflavones which are known for their anticancer properties. The present study was designed to scientifically evaluate the cytotoxic potential of bark extracts in in vitro on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC), MCF-7 and B16F10 cells and in vivo in EAC (Liquid tumor) model and Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA or solid tumor) model. The bark was powdered and extracted successively with solvents viz., petroleum ether (PE), benzene, chloroform, acetone (AC), and ethyl alcohol in the sequential order of polarity. Cytotoxicity of dried extracts was screened on EAC cells by trypan blue assay. Three potent extracts namely petroleum ether, acetone, and ethanol were screened for their cytotoxicity on MCF-7 and B16F10 cells by MTT assay and nucleomorphological alteration by propidium iodide staining. Safe doses of these extracts were evaluated by acute toxicity study in mice. Extracts were found to be safe up to 300 mg/kg in acute toxicity study. Dosage of 1/10th and 1/20th of safe dose i.e., 15 and 30 mg/kg were selected for in vivo study. In the EAC model, both doses of the extracts showed a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in mean survival time and a maximum decline in tumor induced increase in body weight (an indirect measure of tumor weight) by the PE and AC treatment at 15 mg/kg compared to control. In the DLA-model, all extracts at both tested dose levels showed >50 % reduction in tumor weight and a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in tumor volume on the 30th day compared to control. It can be concluded that these extracts possess cytotoxic and antitumor activity.

Synthesis, antitumor, and DNA binding behavior of novel 4-(2-hydroxyquinolin-3-yl)-6-phenyl-5, 6 dihydropyrimidin derivatives in aqueous medium.

This article deals with the synthesis of 4-(2-hydroxyquinolin-3-yl)-6-phenyl-5,6-dihydropyrimidin derivatives (2a-f), on condensation with various aromatic aldehydes and ketones in aqueous ethanolic NaOH solution yielding the corresponding chalcones (3). These chalcones were further reacted with thiourea/urea in the presence of a base, which led to the formation of the titled derivatives (2a-f). The newly synthesized heterocyles were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, (1)HNMR, and electronic and mass spectral data. The compounds (2a and 2b) were evaluated for in vitro cyctotoxicity against human breast adenocarcinoma cell (MCF-7). In MTT cytotoxicity studies, both quinolinde derivatives were found most effective. The binding interaction behavior of the compound (2a) and (2d) with calf thymus-DNA (CT-DNA) was studied by electronic spectra, viscosity measurements, and thermal denaturation studies. On binding to CT-DNA, the absorption spectrum underwent bathochromic and hypochromic shifts. The binding constant (K(b)) observed 4.3 x 10(5) M(-1) for (2a), and 3.8 x 10(5) M(-1) for (2d) suggested that compound (2a) binds more strongly with base pairs than (2d).

Efficacy of low dose atorvastatin in diabetic dyslipidaemia.

Coronary heart disease (CHD), the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes, requires multipronged approach for management, including especially treating dyslipidaemia with statins. We conducted this study to demonstrate that low dose (10 mg) atorvastatin is effective in reducing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) to the target levels in patients from Indian subcontinent. Eighty-one subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia (LDL-C >100 mg/dl in those without coronary artery disease, n=77; LDL-C >70 mg/dl in those with coronary artery disease, n=4) were included. All patients were initiated on 10 mg atorvastatin daily. Serum lipid profile was repeated after 3 months. The mean body mass index among men and women were 25.0 +/- 4 and 26.7 +/- 3.6 kg/m2 respectively. Pretreatment mean HbA(1c) was 7.9 +/- 1.8 % and total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholestrol (HDL-C) and LDL-C was 214 +/- 27 mg/dl, 164 +/- 63 mg/dl, 46 +/- 6 mg/dl and 135 +/- 24 mg/dl respectively. After three months of treatment the mean decrease was 62 +/- 31 mg/dl in total cholesterol (p < 0.001), 31 +/- 57 mg/dl in triglycerides (p < 0.001), 51 +/- 27 mg/dl in LDL-C (p < 0.001) and 4 +/- 8 mg/dl in HDL-C (p < 0.001). The LDL-C level was reduced by 37.6% in these patients, from 135 +/- 24 mg/dl to 84 = 27 mg/dl (p < 0.001) with 10 mg of atorvastatin daily. It was possible to achieve target LDL-C of less than 100 mg/dl in 75.5% (n=58) in subjects without CHD (n=77) and less than 70 mg/dl in 75% (n=3) of those patients with CHD (n=4). The present study showed that in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 10 mg of atorvastatin daily was safe, well tolerated, and effective in reducing LDL-C to target levels.