Do school students with specific learning disabilities have lower emotional intelligence abilities? A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: School students with specific learning disabilities (SpLDs) endure academic difficulties, anxiety, and social maladaptation. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the emotional intelligence (EI) abilities of these afflicted students. Its secondary objective was to analyze the impact of socio-demographic variables on their EI abilities. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional single-arm questionnaire-based study was conducted in the Learning Disability clinic in a public medical college in Mumbai. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: SpLD students studying in class standards VII-IX were recruited by non-probability sampling. Their EI (overall, subscales, and settings) scores were measured using the Four EsScale of Emotional Intelligence-Adolescents (FESEI-A) questionnaire; and compared with Indian norm scores by utilizing the Mann - Whitney U test. To evaluate the unadjusted impact that each of the "variables" had on the FESEI-A scores, linear regression or the Mann-Whitney U test, or the Kruskal-Wallis test, was utilized as applicable. RESULTS: SpLD students had similar "overall" EI abilities as their regular peers. Their EI scores in school setting were significantly lower (P = 0.001), but significantly higher in social setting (P = 0.005). At univariate level, presence of co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was significantly associated with a lower "school setting" score (P = 0.040). Higher socioeconomic status was significantly associated with a higher "overall" score and "family setting" score (P = 0.023 and P= 0.041, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to evaluate the EI abilities of SpLD students to identify deficits so that optimum rehabilitation can be facilitated.

The use of intravitreal bevacizumab in neovascular glaucoma: a case report.

PURPOSE: To assess the short-term safety and efficacy of an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in a patient with neovascular glaucoma. CASE REPORT: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection was given in a patient with neovascular glaucoma and the changes in the visual acuity, intraocular pressure (lOP), iris neovascularisation were noted before injection and after one day, one week, three weeks and six weeks. Regression of the iris new vessels and normalization of the intraocular pressure was noted. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab was effective and safe in the short-term in a patient with neovascular glaucoma. It may be a useful adjunctive treatment.

Role of beta2 integrins in the prevention of apoptosis induction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells.

Immunologically committed lymphocytes, especially mature, leukemic B cells, proliferate then accumulate without further cell division in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients (CLL). These mature, leukemic B cells often produce autoantibodies. Under normal circumstances, immunologically committed lymphocytes that are autoreactive are deleted by a programmed cell death mechanism. In CLL cells, these mechanisms appear to be inhibited; therefore, cells accumulate rather than be destroyed. To understand the mechanism by which cell survival is selected over death in CLL cells, we studied the role of beta2 integrins and their ligands in the regulation of apoptosis. CLL cells were treated with monoclonal antibodies directed against beta2 integrins. Antibodies directed against the I-domain of the alpha chain of CD11b/CD18 inhibited apoptosis. The identity of the physiological ligand or counter-receptor for beta2 integrins that was required for the inhibition of apoptosis induction was sought. The ligand iC3b, but not ICAM-1 or fibrinogen, was identified as a ligand that could prevent apoptosis of CLL B cells. Free iC3b levels were elevated in CLL patients indicating that this ligand is available in vivowhere it may interact with beta2 integrins on CLL B cells and sustain their viability by preventing activation of the programmed cell death pathway. Leukemia (2000) 14, 34-39.

Broad resistance due to plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli that produce plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases are rare in the United States. The clinical features associated with infection with these organisms have not been well described. We identified 2 clinical isolates of E. coli that produced the plasmid-mediated AmpC enzyme beta-lactamase CMY-2. These organisms were recovered from urine specimens and were resistant to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and cefepime. One isolate was resistant to ertapenem but susceptible to imipenem and meropenem; the other was susceptible to imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem. One of the 2 infected patients did not require specific therapy; the other required imipenem for cure. The presence of the CMY-2 beta-lactamase was confirmed by DNA sequencing. Hybridization studies confirmed that the bla(CMY-2) gene was on a plasmid in both isolates; in one of them, the probe also hybridized with chromosomal DNA. Infection with plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases in E. coli in the United States may be associated with treatment failure, and these strains may become a serious nosocomial threat.

Synthesis, dopamine transporter affinity, dopamine uptake inhibition, and locomotor stimulant activity of 2-substituted 3 beta-phenyltropane derivatives.

A series of 2 beta-substituted 3 beta-phenyltropanes were synthesized as analogs of cocaine and tested in vitro for their ability to displace bound [3H]WIN 35,428 (2b) and inhibit dopamine uptake in rat caudate-putamen tissue. The analogs bound with high affinity (Ki = 11-22 nM) to the dopamine transporter. Increased lipophilicity at the beta-C(2)-position was found to lead to increased binding affinity and increased dopamine uptake potency. However, a direct correlation between clogP values and binding affinity and potency of uptake inhibition was not observed. The unsaturated ester 7 was found to possess weak dopamine uptake inhibition relative to the high binding affinity (IC50/Ki = 10.2). In vivo measurement of stimulated locomotor activity and drug discrimination against cocaine (10 mg/kg, ip) with selected analogs (4, 6, and 7) demonstrated that the behavioral effects of these drugs were approximately equipotent with those of cocaine. The structure-activity relationships of this series of cocaine analogs supports a pharmacophore model in which lipophilic interactions between the beta-C(2)-position of 3 beta-phenyltropanes and the cocaine binding site on the dopamine transporter lead to enhanced potency while electrostatic interactions have a nonspecific effect.

Synthesis and ligand binding of eta(6)-(2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-phenyltropane) transition metal complexes.

The transition metal complexes [eta(6)- (2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-phenyltropane)]tricarbonylchromium (3) and [eta(6)-(2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-phenyltropane)] [eta(5)-(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)]ruthenium(II)triflate (4) were synthesized from 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-phenyltropane (2, WIN 35,065) to further elucidate the influence of substituents on the 3beta-aryl on the affinity of the ligand for cocaine-binding sites at the dopamine transporter. The compounds were tested for their ability to displace bound [(3)H]WIN 35,428 (5) from rat caudate putamen tissue and for their ability to inhibit [(3)H]dopamine uptake. The binding affinity for 3 was 2-fold greater than those observed for cocaine (1) and 2, while the binding affinity for 4 was found to be 100-fold less than those of 1 and 2. In addition, 3 was equipotent with 1 and 2 in [(3)H]dopamine uptake inhibition studies, while 4 was 10-fold less potent. The potencies of the complexes 3 and 4 correlated well with the structure-activity relationships of other 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-aryltropane derivatives. These data further support a pharmacophore model in which the region occupied by the aryl ring is a lipophilic pocket with electropositive character.

Antitumor activity of lactic acid bacteria on a solid fibrosarcoma, sarcoma-180 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

Antitumor activity of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Streptococcus cremoris and Streptococcus lactis was investigated in solid mouse fibrosarcoma. Intratumor administration of lyophilised bacterial cells at a dose of 20 mg/kg body wt resulted in the regression of tumors in a maximum number of animals. Intraperitoneal injection at the same dose resulted in a significant increase in the survival time but was ineffective in curing the animals. Intratumor injection of Streptococcus thermophilus at a dose of 20 mg/kg body wt also inhibited the growth of fibrosarcoma accompanied by an increase in the survival time while intraperitoneal administration of S. thermophilus prolonged only the survival time and did not result in cure. In mice bearing the ascitic form of sarcoma-180 or Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, intraperitoneal administration of S. thermophilus resulted in complete cure in a very significant proportion of tumor-bearing mice. S. thermophilus was more effective in sarcoma-180 than in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. The cured tumors did not recur.

Antitumor activity of Streptococcus thermophilus against fibrosarcoma: role of T-cells.

Antitumor activity induced by a heat-killed preparation of S. thermophilus against mouse fibrosarcoma was investigated. The treatment of Swiss mice with S. thermophilus prior to transplantation could not prevent tumors. However, animals cured by treatment with a S. thermophilus preparation failed to take up the tumor when rechallenged with fibrosarcoma. S. thermophilus did not induce antitumor activity in animals immunosuppressed by sublethal whole body gamma-irradiation (4 Gy) or hydrocortisone treatment prior to transplantation. Suppression of activity of macrophages by carrageenan had no effect on antitumor activity of the heat inactivated preparation of S. thermophilus. The intravenous administration of sera from cured animals was ineffective in curing the tumours. Spleen cells from cured animals could effectively transfer the antitumor activity to recipients transplanted with the tumor. This effect was abolished when the T-lymphocyte population in the inoculum was specifically depleted. The results thus suggest the involvement of T-lymphocytes in antitumor activity exhibited by S. thermophilus.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in non-insulin-dependent diabetics of Mumbai, India and its effect on plasma lipids and lipoproteins.

The role of apolipoproteinE (apoE) phenotypes in modulating the plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels was studied in a group of NIDDM patients and healthy individuals residing in Mumbai. The apoE phenotype frequencies were similar in the diabetic and healthy persons. The elevations in the lipid/lipoprotein levels were higher in diabetic subjects (53.3%) than in the controls (8%), showing the frequency of increase to be highest in the apoE4/4 group of diabetics, followed by apoE4/3 and apoE3/2 groups. In the controls as well, a similar trend was observed in different groups, indicating that the susceptibility to changes in lipid concentrations differs among apoE phenotypes. The apoE3/3 bearing individuals in both the categories showed close to normal lipid levels, suggesting it to be the wild type. The occurrence of apoE4 allele was higher than the apoE2 allele in diabetic individuals. Diabetic subjects with the apoE4 allele showed hypercholesterolemia, while those with apoE2 showed the presence of hypertriglyceridemia. One of the striking features of our work is a significant relationship between apoE4/3 phenotype in NIDDM persons and elevated levels of plasma triglyceride, thus suggesting a delayed catabolism of VLDL relative to production. In conclusion, the work suggests that the apoE2 and apoE4 alleles are associated with elevations in lipid levels and these changes are more pronounced in the diabetic individuals in whom most of the lipid levels were higher, indicating a gene environment/disease interaction.

Adventitious shoot regeneration from root, internode, petiole and leaf explants of Piper colubrinum Link.

A single-step, high-frequency regeneration pro-tocol has been standardised for Phytophthora-resistant wild pepper, Piper colubrinum (Link) using root, internode, leaf and petiole explants derived from in vitro plantlets. The effect of BA on shoot-bud induction and elongation was assessed by supplementing half-strength MS medium (macronutrients at half the concentration) with different concentrations of BA, i.e. 0.2-10 mg l-1 in induction media and 0, 0.2 and 0.5 mg l-1 in subculture media. The interaction between culture period and BA concentration was studied by culturing the explants for 8, 15 and 30 days before the first subculture. The elongated shoots were rooted directly in soil and hardened in the greenhouse. The developed protocol would be useful in marker-assisted asymmetric hybridisation programmes involving wild-type Piper colubrinum and the cultivated species P. nigrum.

Prevalence of human group A rotavirus serotypes in Pune, India (1990-1993).

A total of 205 specimens positive for rotaviruses obtained during 1990-93 surveillance studies of hospitalized patients with diarrhoea were tested by ELISA for G serotypes. Of these, 107 (52.19%) specimens could be serotyped. Seventy four specimens were assigned to one of the G1-G4 serotypes. Of the 74 specimens, 49 (66.2%) reacted with MAb against G2. Of 107 typeable specimens, 33 showed dual or multiple reactivity. Eighteen specimens reacted with MAb specific to G1 and G2 serotypes. Five specimens reacted with MAb specific to G2 and G4. RNA profile of some of the specimens showing dual reactivities did not show additional RNA band. The specimens showing reaction to G1 and G2, had long RNA pattern, those with G2 and G4, showed short RNA pattern. Ten (9.17%) specimens reacted to 3 or more rotavirus serotypes. Of these, three reacted to MAb raised against G6, a bovine rotavirus. Ninety eight specimens could not be serotyped.

PIP: Surveillance of the geographic and temporal distribution of rotavirus serotypes is essential to the development of vaccine strategies. In the present study, 205 specimens positive for group A rotaviruses obtained during 1990-93 surveillance studies of diarrhea inpatients at Naidu Infectious Disease Hospital in Pune, India, were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for G serotypes. Although serotype G1 is reported most frequently on a worldwide basis, G2 predominated in this study. Of the 107 specimens (52.2%) that could be further serotyped, 15 (13.8%) were serotype G1, 49 (45.0%) were serotype G2, 9 (8.3%) were serotype G4, and 1 (0.09%) was serotype G3. 23 specimens (22.9%) reacted with 2 G serotypes (primarily G1 and G2) and 10 (9.2%) reacted to 3 or more G serotypes. The specimens reacting to G1 and G2 had a long RNA pattern, while those with G2 and G4 showed a short RNA pattern. Nontypeable strains pose a significant diagnostic challenge in countries such as India.

Development of indigenous ELISA for rotavirus diagnosis & its comparison with commercial kit.

Preparation of reagents for the diagnosis of rotavirus by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. This is a double antibody sandwich ELISA test. The coating antibody was raised in guinea pig against SA-11 (Simian rotavirus), and is used at 1:20,000 dilution. The indicator antibody was also raised against SA-11 in rabbits. The rabbit preimmune serum is used as negative control serum. Both, pre- and post-immune rabbit antisera are used at 1:10,000 dilution in the test. Goat IgG-HRP conjugate against rabbit IgG was procured commercially (Sigma, USA). Results of ELISA test can be read visually. A total of 63 pretested faecal specimens and 38 specimens of rotavirus in different concentrations were compared simultaneously by the NIV ELISA and Dakopatts ELISA. Of the 63 specimens, 36 were positive in NIV ELISA and 33 positive by Dakopatts ELISA. Human and animal rotavirus strains also showed higher titers in NIV ELISA than Dakopatts ELISA. From our data we conclude that NIV ELISA is 100 per cent specific and more sensitive than Dakopatts ELISA test. It is much more economical than any other commercial kit available for the diagnosis of rotavirus. Since the reagents are in lyophilized form, they are suitable for use in developing countries.

Prevalence of rotavirus diarrhoea among hospitalized children in Pune, India.

Rotavirus was detected in 266 (28.15%) out of 945 faecal specimens collected between July 1992 and June 1996 from children < or = 5 yr of age. Statistical analysis using odds ratios and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that seasonality had a strong influence on the number of rotavirus diarrhoea cases admitted to the hospital. Maximum cases occurred in the winter and minimum in the rainy season. Age was strongly associated with the prevalence of rotavirus diarrhoea. The age group of 6-24 months was the most susceptible. This disease was more predominant in males.

Rapid ELISA for the diagnosis of rotavirus.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Rotavirus is the major cause of gastroenteritis in infants and young children all over the world. The objective of the study was to develop a rapid ELISA for the diagnosis of rotavirus infection in children hospitalised with diarrhoea. METHODS: Immune serum was raised in rabbits by inoculating semipurified rotavirus, SA-11 strain. Immunoglobulins were conjugated to horse radish peroxidase and a rapid ELISA for rotavirus diagnosis was developed. The rapid ELISA was compared with routine ELISA, developed earlier at NIV. RESULTS: Of the 155 faecal samples from patients with diarrhoea, 96 were positive by rapid ELISA and 95 in routine NIV ELISA. OD values were higher in rapid ELISA. The rapid ELISA takes only 4 h to complete. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Rotavirus diagnosis by rapid ELISA is simple and easy to perform. This may lead to a significant reduction in the unnecessary usage of antibiotics, which cannot control infection due to rotavirus. This technology is being commercialized.

A validated LC method for imatinib mesylate.

An isocratic reversed-phase liquid chromatography method with UV detection has been developed for the purity evaluation of imatinib mesylate in bulk drug. The method is selective and is capable of detecting all process intermediates and other related compounds, which may be present at trace levels in the drug substance. The method was validated on a Symmetry Shield RP18 analytical column (150 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm), mobile phase consisting of 30 mM sodium octane sulphonic acid in 10 mM aqueous KH2PO4 (pH 2.5 with H3PO4): MeOH in the ratio of 42:58 v/v. The flow rate was set at 1.0 ml/min and the column was maintained at room temperature. The injection volume was set to 10 microl and the detector was set at a wavelength of 237 nm. The method was validated in terms of system precision, method precision, linearity, accuracy, limit of detection and limit of quantification.

Hypoglycemic activity of Eugenia jambolana and Ficus bengalensis: mechanism of action.

The extract of jaman pulp from fruit of Eugenia jambolana showed hypoplycemic activity. This report is the first evidence of such activity in relation to pulp. The effect of pulp was seen in 30 min, while the seeds of the same fruit required 24 hr. The extracts of bark of Ficus bengalensis caused reduction in blood sugar level. These results were confirmed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals. The oral administration of the extract resulted in enhancement in serum insulin levels in normoglycemic and diabetic rats. The incubation of isolated islets of Langerhans from normal as well as from diabetic animals with each of these plant extracts stimulated insulin secretion. These extracts inhibited insulinase activity from liver and kidney.

Circulation of group A rotavirus subgroups and serotypes in Pune, India, 1990-1997.

Group A rotavirus-positive stool specimens, collected from 432 hospitalized patients of all age groups with diarrhoea during 1990-1997 from Pune, India, were characterized for subgroups (SGs) and G serotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10). ELISA for subgrouping was carried out by employing subgroup I and II-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). For serotyping, MAbs against G1 (Ku), G2 (S2), G3 (Yo), and G4 (ST-3) were used. In addition, MAbs against G3 (RV-3), G8 (B37), G6 (bovine U.K.), and G10 (B223) were also employed. Of the 432 specimens, 174 (40.27%) belonged to subgroup I, 187 (43.29%) to subgroup II, 15 (3.47%) to subgroup I and II, and 56 (12.96%) did not react to MAbs specific to subgroup I and subgroup II MAbs. Of the 432 specimens, 111 (25.69%) reacted to one of the MAbs used. Thirty-five of the 111 specimens were serotyped as G1, 34 as G2, and 42 as G3, G4, G6, G8, and G10. Sixty-seven (21%) specimens gave dual reaction mainly to MAbs against G6, G10; G2, and G4, and in several other combinations. Forty-seven specimens (10.88%) showed multireactivities. A large number of specimens (47.92%) did not show any reactivity with MAbs employed in this study, and remained non-serotypeable. Subgroup I was found to be more common in Pune, and most specimens negative for subgroup I and II were non-serotypeable. The results implicate the need for characterization of unusual and non-typeable strains before undertaking any rotaviral vaccine studies in India.

In vivo opsonization of Japanese encephalitis virus by peritoneal macrophages in infant mice.

Anti-JE antibody in nonneutralizable concentration and Concanavalin A are synergistic in protecting 10-day-old mice from lethal JE virus challenge by i.p. route.

Macrophage-virus interaction during Con A-induced protection against Japanese encephalitis virus in infant mice.

Eight to ten-day-old mice when inoculated i.p. with Concanavalin A yielded a large number of cells in the peritoneal exudate (PE), the majority of which belonged to the macrophage series. Con A-treated and untreated (control) mice were infected i.p. with Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus. The PE cells of Con A-treated mice showed a higher percentage and greater intensity of virus specific immunofluorescent cells as compared with the cells from control mice. No live virus was detected in the Con A-induced cells. However, traces of live virus were found in the cells of control mice, 3-6 hr after infection. In vitro, peritoneal macrophages from Con A-treated mice showed a higher uptake of the virus (83.3%) within 18 hr as compared to the cells from paraffin-treated mice (34%). The protection of Con A-induced mice to JE virus challenge by i.p. route could be due to increased uptake and subsequent inactivation of the JE virus in the peritoneal exudate cells.

Mononuclear cells in Japanese encephalitis virus infection: changes in cells counts and specific fluorescence.

Progressive reduction in blood cell counts was observed in mice inoculated intracerebrally (ic) with Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus. No changes were observed in the blood cell counts of mice inoculated intraperitoneally (ip). Reduction in cell counts after a transient rise was noticed in lymph nodes of mice inoculated by either route but the cell counts returned to normal in lymph nodes of ip inoculated mice by the 8th day post inoculation (p.i.). JE virus antigen was demonstrated by immunofluorescence in mononuclear cells from the blood, spleen and lymph nodes starting from the 3rd and 4th day p.i. in mice inoculated ic and ip, respectively. The number of fluorescent cells increased as the infection progressed. The number of fluorescent spleen cells uas higher in ip than in ic inoculated mice. Live virus could only occasionally be demonstrated in the cells.