Menopause versus aging: The predictor of obesity and metabolic aberrations among menopausal women of Karnataka, South India.

CONTEXT: Increased incidences of cardiovascular disorder and metabolic syndrome particularly after menopause have raised curiosity for the underlying factors. However, it is still a debate whether age or menopausal transition is a greater contributor. AIMS: To elucidate the inter-relationships of age, menopause, and associated obesity and to assess their independent effects on aggravation of cardio metabolic risk factors in postmenopausal women. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Four hundred two women aged between 30 and 75 years were recruited in a cross-sectional study from Southern India. Three hundred sixteen participants exempting exclusion criteria, comprising of 169 premenopausal and 147 postmenopausal women were finally included. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), fat percentage, basal metabolic rate (BMR), and blood pressure were taken. Fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Independent t-test, Analysis of covariates (ANCOVA), Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple stepwise linear regression model analysis were done. RESULTS: A significant increase in physical and metabolic factors was observed in postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women except WC and HbA1c. Contrastingly, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels and BMR were significantly decreased. After adjusting for BMI and age, the significant differences in the variables through the menopausal transition persisted, including an increase in WC. Significant correlation was observed between age and measures of general obesity such as BMI (P < 0.05) and fat percentage (P < 0.001) but not with central obesity indices. Menopausal status and WC exerted an independent effect on most of the metabolic risk factors (P < 0.001 or P < 0.01). Fat percentage was the predicting variable for CRP, HbA1c, diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001), and HDL (P < 0.01). But Age showed independent effect only on HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: Menopausal transition brings about anomalies in total body composition characterized by an increased body fat mass and central adiposity. This creates a compatible atmosphere for abnormal metabolism and aggravated cardio metabolic risk factors. Thus, menopausal status and associated obesity is the major predictor of metabolic aberrations over age in menopausal women.

Avifauna in the Panipat Region, Haryana (India).

Avifaunal study was carried out in the Panipat region, Haryana (India) at 56 locations. 91 birds species were observed during the study, of which, 39 species were aquatic. House sparrow was found to be dominant followed by bank myna, house crow and Indian myna. Among the aquatic birds, cattle egret was dominant followed by common pochard, pintail and blackwinged stilt. Encounter rates of the birds were related to the dominant indices of each species. Species diversity index was found to be 10.25 which showed the richness of avifauna in the region. Majority of birds were insectivorous followed by piscivorous. The study reveals the occurrence of more birds, especially aquatic ones, after the commissioning of the refinery.

Assaying baseline status of particulate laden polyaromatic hydrocarbon for a grass root level industrial project.

A study of particulate laden polyaromatic hydrocarbon was conducted at 13 selected locations in a 10 km radial distance of a proposed site for a grass root level industry. Suspended particulate matter samples were continuously monitored for 24 h over a period of 3 months. The Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were extracted from the particulate samples and analysed using Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer. Limit of Quantification was also established for individual PAHs. Coal combustion and traffic emission were the major contributors for PAHs in the region. The relative contribution of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ring PAHs in particulates of different sampling sites was also investigated and it is observed that 4 ring (29.76%) and 5 ring (29.06%) compounds are prominent in the particulates measured in the region.

The earliest settlers' antiquity and evolutionary history of Indian populations: evidence from M2 mtDNA lineage.

BACKGROUND: The "out of Africa" model postulating single "southern route" dispersal posits arrival of "Anatomically Modern Human" to Indian subcontinent around 66-70 thousand years before present (kyBP). However the contributions and legacy of these earliest settlers in contemporary Indian populations, owing to the complex past population dynamics and later migrations has been an issue of controversy. The high frequency of mitochondrial lineage "M2" consistent with its greater age and distribution suggests that it may represent the phylogenetic signature of earliest settlers. Accordingly, we attempted to re-evaluate the impact and contribution of earliest settlers in shaping the genetic diversity and structure of contemporary Indian populations; using our newly sequenced 72 and 4 published complete mitochondrial genomes of this lineage. RESULTS: The M2 lineage, harbouring two deep rooting subclades M2a and M2b encompasses approximately one tenth of the mtDNA pool of studied tribes. The phylogeographic spread and diversity indices of M2 and its subclades among the tribes of different geographic regions and linguistic phyla were investigated in detail. Further the reconstructed demographic history of M2 lineage as a surrogate of earliest settlers' component revealed that the demographic events with pronounced regional variations had played pivotal role in shaping the complex net of populations phylogenetic relationship in Indian subcontinent. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that tribes of southern and eastern region along with Dravidian and Austro-Asiatic speakers of central India are the modern representatives of earliest settlers of subcontinent. The Last Glacial Maximum aridity and post LGM population growth mechanised some sort of homogeneity and redistribution of earliest settlers' component in India. The demic diffusion of agriculture and associated technologies around 3 kyBP, which might have marginalized hunter-gatherer, is coincidental with the decline of earliest settlers' population during this period.

YAP insertion signature in South Asia.

A total of 2169 samples from 21 tribal populations from different regions of India were scanned for the Y-chromosome Alu polymorphism. This study reports, for the first time, high frequencies (8-65%) of Y Alu polymorphic (YAP) insertion in northeast Indian tribes. All seven Jarawa samples from the Andaman and Nicobar islands had the YAP insertion, in conformity with an earlier study of Andaman Islanders. One isolated case with haplotype E* was found in Dungri Bhill, a western Indian population, while YAP insertion in northeast India and Andaman tribes was found in association with haplotype D* (M168, M174). YAP insertion frequencies reported in the mainland Indian populations are negligible, according to previous studies. Genetic drift may be the causative factor for the variable frequency of the YAP insertion in the mainland populations, while the founder effect may have resulted in the highest incidence of haplotype D among the Andaman Islanders. The results of YAP insertion and the evidence of previous mtDNA studies indicate an early out of Africa migration to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The findings of YAP insertion in northeast Indian tribes are very significant for understanding the evolutionary history of the region.

Comparison of bacteriostatic and bactericidal inhibitors of Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth produced in vitro by urogenital staphylococci.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci are known to produce bactericidal and bacteriostatic antigonococcal activities. Out of 12 staphylococci, Staphylococcus haemolyticus (four isolates) was identified as the principal source of bactericidal activity, whereas Staphylococcus epidermidis (six isolates) was primarily responsible for producing bacteriostatic activity. A comparison of the bacteriostatic substance produced by S. epidermidis isolate 66 with the bactericidal substance produced by S. haemolyticus isolate 7, which had been previously purified, showed that they were similar lipoproteins or lipid-associated proteins. However, these two inhibitors migrated differently under electrophoresis on agarose gel. The protein component of the bacteriostatic inhibitor was more difficult to separate from the lipid component when chromatographed on Ultrogel AcA 54 in the presence of urea (4 M) than the protein component of the bactericidal inhibitor. The protein component of both types of inhibitors was responsible for the antigonococcal activity and was dissociable into subunits of approximately 1,400 daltons. However, these protein components had different migration patterns on agarose gel. The bacteriostatic substance displayed a bactericidal effect when dissociated from its lipidic component suggesting that the lipids might play a role in the type of inhibitory activity produced. All of the bactericidal and bacteriostatic substances contained in the different crude preparations were antigenically related.

Preliminary characterization of inhibitors of Neisseria gonorrhoeae produced in vitro by Eubacterium limosum.

Among anaerobic bacteria normally found in the urogenital flora, Eubacterium limosum was found to inhibit the in vitro growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The antigonococcal activity produced by E. limosum was soluble in methanol and in a chloroform--methanol mixture (30:70). The fraction soluble in chloroform--methanol (30:70) yielded eight absorbance peaks when chromatographed on Bio-Gel P-2 and the inhibitory activity was found in the first two peaks. This activity was not absorbed on DEAE Sephacel and was eluted with distilled water in a peak considered as peak 1, on which preliminary characterization was done. The inhibitory activity of peak 1 was found to be heat and pH resistant and not susceptible to proteases, lipase, or amylases. When peak 1 was chromatographed on cellulose paper using a butanol--acetic acid (4:1) solvent system, eight different spots were detected upon spraying the paper with ninhydrin. No spot was detected with anthrone, bromothymol, nor Sudan black reagents used for the detection of carbohydrates and lipids. Based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel chromatography on Sephadex G-25, peak 1 appeared either as a diffuse band and as a single peak, respectively. The molecular weight of the inhibitory complex was estimated to be 2400. All these results suggest that the antigonococcal activity produced by E. limosum is composed of more than one low molecular weight amino compound.

Production, purification, and preliminary characterization of a gonococcal growth inhibitor produced by a coagulase-negative staphylococcus isolated from the urogenital flora.

Coagulase-negative staphylococcus no. 7, isolated from the urogenital flora, was grown on semisolid brain heart infusion medium. Supernatants were obtained by centrifuging frozen and thawed media which had supported the growth of the staphylococci at 37 degrees C. The kinetic of production revealed that the antigonococcal activity was detected at the end of the logarithmic phase of growth and that the maximum activity was obtained after 24 h of incubation. Production of inhibitory activity was detected in cultures grown between 35 and 39 degrees C and in a pH range of 6.9 to 9.4. The inhibitory substance was purified by methanol extraction, acetone fractionation, dialysis, and chromatography on Ultrogel AcA 54. The characterization of the inhibitor showed that it was a lipoprotein or a lipid-associated-protein and that the protein component could be separated from the lipids when chromatographed on Ultrogel AcA 54 in the presence of urea. The inhibitory activity was associated with the protein component which had a molecular weight of approximately 15,900. In polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and urea, the protein component was dissociated in a subunit estimated to be approximately 1,400 daltons.

Inhibitors of Neisseria gonorrhoeae produced in liquid medium by Bacteroides fragilis and Eubacterium limosum.

Indigenous micro-organisms of the urogenital flora including anaerobes can inhibit the in vitro growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Bacteroides fragilis and Eubacterium limosum strains known to inhibit the gonococcal growth on solid medium have been shown to produce their antigonococcal activities in liquid medium. Concentrations of individual short-chain fatty acids produced by E. limosum strains were lower than the inhibitory concentrations reported for N. gonorrhoeae. B. fragilis strains produced propionic acids in amounts known to be inhibitory to the gonococcus. Furthermore, studies with E. limosum (Ps11A) cultures incubated at 29 degrees C (200 ml, 50 l) and at 37 degrees C (200 ml) have shown that short-chain fatty acids were not the inhibitors since no correlation between the short-chain fatty acids and the antigonococcal activity was found throughout the growth of the cultures. Moreover, the observed inhibitory activity of E. limosum was not due to pH change or to nutrient depletion of the medium. These observations coupled with the specificity of the antigonoccal activity produced by E. limosum suggest that it is different from previously reported gonococcal inhibitors of bacterial origin.

Bactericidal and bacteriostatic antigonococcal activities produced by urogenital staphylococci.

We have overcome some of the difficulties in obtaining soluble antigonococcal activity produced by staphylococci by using a very sensitive detection method. This method is based on the light absorbance determinations of liquid cultures of the gonococcus incubated for 6 h in the presence of serial dilutions of the inhibitor as compared to the absorbance of uninhibited control cultures. Antigonococcal activity was detected in the liquid phase prepared from semisolid agar cultures of all twenty two staphylococcal isolates tested. Sixteen supernatants from liquid cultures were also found to be active. The antigonococcal activity detected was differentiated by colony forming units counts into two types, bacteriostatic and bactericidal. After 6 h of incubation of the gonococcus in the presence of five arbitrary units (AU)/ml of the bactericidal activity produced by one of the strains of staphylococci, isolate 37, the loss of viability was over 99.9%, while 10 AU/ml of the bacteriostatic activity produced by isolate 66 did not cause any loss of viability of the gonococcus.

Antigonococcal and antibacterial spectra of some bacterial isolates of the urogenital flora.

The antigonococcal and antibacterial spectra of bacterial isolates of the urogenital flora selected for their in vitro interference of Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth were determined on solid medium. A broad antigonococcal spectrum was found for all the selected isolates when they were tested against gonococcal virulent (T1) strains, penicillinase producing strains and strains belonging to the auxotypes NR, Thi-, Pro- Hyx-, Pro- Meth- Thp-, Arg- Meth- and Arg- Hyx- Ura-. Except for the group D streptococci, all the selected isolates particularly the coagulase negative staphylococci showed a narrow interference spectrum towards aerobic and anaerobic bacterial representatives of the normal urogenital flora. The selected isolates inhibited also the growth of N. meningitidis and N. catarrhalis meaning that they produce antineisserial rather than antigonococcal activities. The crude preparations isolated from cultures of Micrococcus sp. No. 2 and 42, and Acinetobacter sp. No. 13 on solid medium showed similar antigonococcal and antibacterial spectra as those observed with the basal spot/lawn method. These inhibitory activities were characterized for stability to extreme of temperature and pH values, and for susceptibility to different enzyme treatments. Based on ultrafiltration, differences in molecular size were observed between the inhibitors. These substances appear different from the previously reported gonococcal inhibitors of bacterial origin.

In vitro antigonococcal activity of urogenital coagulase-negative staphylococci.

Twenty-four urogenital isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci were selected because of their demonstrated ability to inhibit Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth in vitro. These organisms showed quantitative differences in their growth-interfering capability as revealed by a flip-flop agar overlay method. The composition of the culture medium affected the production of antigonococcal activity. Antigonococcal activity was shown with the following media: GC agar base with Lankford defined supplement, brain heart infusion agar, trypticase soy agar, and dextrose starch agar, but not with the GC agar base with CVA enrichment. An antigonococcal activity was obtained in the liquid phase prepared from semisolid agar cultures for 10 of the 24 staphylococcal isolates, whereas no activity was found in the supernatant from liquid cultures. The production of antigonococcal activity by staphylococci in vitro is influenced by growth conditions.

Interference of Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth by aerobic bacterial representatives of the urogenital flora.

Aerobic bacterial isolates obtained from endocervical, vaginal and urethral swabbings were tested for interference of neisseria gonorrhoeae growth on solid medium. Simultaneous antagonism was studied using the lawn spotting method, and delayed antagonism by the basal spot/lawn method. From 58 swabbings we recuperated a total of 181 isolates, 71 of those were found interfering with at least one out of four gonococcal strains (G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4). Similar percentages of interfering isolates were obtained from each of the isolation sites. The identification of the interfering isolates has revealed that similar numbers of coagulase negative staphylococci and identical numbers of group D streptococci were found for each of those sites. The majority of the interfering isolates and also of the inhibitory coagulase negative staphylococci showed only simultaneous antagonism. To complete the interference spectrum, we have tested all the active urogenital isolates against four other gonococcal strains (G-7, G-9, G-10 and G-11). This spectrum showed clearly that interference is not an all or none phenomenon. While the gonococcal interference spectrum of most of the Gram positive cocci and the Acinetobacter sp. strains is broad, that of all the other isolates is relatively narrow. Gonococcal strains G-7 and G-9 were the most susceptible to inhibition by the interfering urogenital isolates while strain G-3 was the most resistant one.

[Comparative study of the biochemical characteristics of hemolytic treponemes isolated from pigs]. / Etude comparative des caractères biochimiques de tréponèmes hémolytiques isolés du porc.

A number of hemolytic strains of treponemes were isolated from normal pigs and pigs which died of swine dysentery. According to their hemolytic pattern, these strains can be differentiated into strongly beta-hemolytic and weakly beta-hemolytic. According to Kinyon and Harris, aside from enteropathogenicity and hemolytic pattern, both fructose fermentation and indole production are the characteristics used in separating the two groups of treponemes. Our comparative study of these two groups of strains shows that while the fermentation activity is low for the strongly beta-hemolytic strains it is high for the weakly beta-hemolytic strains. The latter constitutes a heterogenous group which, contrary to Kinyon and Harris, can only be differentiated from the other strains by their ability to ferment lactose and to produce isovaleric acid in glucose supplemented broth.

In vitro inhibition of Neisseria gonorrhoeae growth by strict anaerobes.

Thirty two anaerobic bacterial strains were screened for their in vitro inhibitory activity toward 21 Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains, including two penicillin-resistant strains. From this screening, six anaerobic bacteria belonging to the genera Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, and Eubacterium were selected for their large antigonococcal spectrum of activity. The inhibitory activity of these six strains appears to be specific to the gonococcus as a variety of anaerobes and aerobes were not generally inhibited by these strains. The antigonococcal effect was not due to pH change or nutrient depletion of the media.

Purification and characterization of Treponema hyodysenteriae hemolysin.

A hemolysin produced by Treponema hyodysenteriae ATCC27164 was purified from broth filtrates by acetic and (NH4)2SO4 precipitations followed by ion exchange chromatography on diethylaminoethyl-Sephacel and gel filtration using Ultrogel AcA44. The purified hemolysin displayed only one band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By gel filtration the molecular weight was estimated as 74,000 daltons. The isolated hemolysin was oxygen resistant, heat labile and was not inactivated over a wide range of pH values. Further analysis indicated that this hemolysin was probably a polypeptide or a protein associated with lipids and nucleotides. Its action on rabbit erythrocytes which did not require any divalent cations could not be related to a lipolytic or proteolytic activity.

Characteristics of the interaction of a treponemal hemolysin with rabbit erythrocytes.

The mechanism of action on rabbit red cells of Treponema hyodysenteriae hemolysin was studied using volume analysis and release of hemoglobin. While fixation of the hemolysin on the erythrocytes is temperature independent, it appears that hemolysis is temperature dependent. The kinetics of hemolysis proceed according to a sigmoid curve characterized by a prelytic lag. The duration of the prelytic lag varies inversely with the quantity of hemolysin but the rate and the maximum value of hemolysis are directly proportional to the quantity of hemolysin. The effect of sucrose and trypan blue on the hemolysin and the the red cells suggest that erythrocyte lysis is likely to be induced by the hemolysin in a way different from that known for other hemolytic agents.

[Reevaluation of the effect of certain parameters on the survival of Neisseria gonorrhoeae]. / Réévaluation de l'effet de certains paramètres sur la survie de Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Lysis and survival of 4 gonococcal strains were studied under different conditions in the presence of divalent cations and glycerol. The stability and the viability of the gonococcal cells were not enhanced by any of these compounds.

[Effect of sodium ribonucleate on the growth and the hemolytic activity of Treponema hyodysenteriae]. / Effet du ribonucléate de sodium sur la croissance et l'activité hémolytique de Treponema hyodysenteriae.

Liquid cultures of different strains of Treponema hyodysenteriae, when supplemented with sodium ribonucleate show an increase in the hemolytic activity titers while the number of colony forming units remain constant.