Effect of MTHFR (rs1801133) and FTO (rs9939609) genetic polymorphisms and obesity in T2DM: a study among Bengalee Hindu caste population of West Bengal, India.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) susceptibility has increased due to the independent risks of genetic polymorphism and obesity as well as combinations of these. Despite recent advancements in T2DM management and diagnosis, the challenges of susceptibility and prognosis still remain. The present work is attempted to understand the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) (rs1801133) and FTO (rs9939609) genetic polymorphisms and obesity with T2DM among the Bengalee Hindu caste population of West Bengal, India. One hundred and four clinically diagnosed T2DM male patients and 176 healthy males, without family history of T2DM, (control group) of the endogamous linguistic group (Bengalee Hindu caste) participated. Genotyping was performed using the PCR-RFLP method following the isolation of genomic DNA. MTHFR (rs1801133) genetic polymorphism with CT genotype revealed significantly higher risk (OR = 3.44; p = .01) of T2DM compared to the CC genotype. The attenuation of MTHFR-T2DM risk after adjustment for age and waist circumference revealed obesity and age effects in progression of T2DM. T2DM patients also had significantly (p < .05) higher overall obesity, central obesity, and SBP compared to the controls. However, FTO (rs9939609) genetic polymorphism demonstrated no significant (p= .854) effect on T2DM and obesity. The present study identified that MTHFR genetic polymorphism and obesity might be used as screening tools for early prognosis of T2DM.

Development of a gas jet coupled electron cyclotron resonance ion source for radioactive ion beam.

A 2.45 GHz electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source coupled to a gas-jet skimmer system has been developed for the online production of radioactive ion beams (RIBs). Using radial injection of gas jet in the ion source, RIBs of 11C1+, 11CO21+, and 11CO1+ have been produced online with beam intensity up to about 9 × 103 particles per second for a 1 µA primary proton beam bombarding a nitrogen gas target. The details of the gas jet coupled ECR ion source and the results for stable isotope beams and RIBs are reported.

Maternal fetal interaction in the ABO system: A comparative analysis of healthy mother and couples with spontaneous abortion in Bengalee population.

OBJECTIVES: The selective effects on genotypes could generally be perceived by its manifestation in prezygotic and postzygotic stages, which is further extendable to neonatal and postnatal periods in human. Selective elimination of genotypes could generally be perceived by the study of reproductive performance of the couple on the basis of their mating types. Actual studies on the products of conception, living, or dead (aborted material) of these couples essential for understanding of process of selective elimination of the alleles. METHODS: Of 124 spontaneous abortions occurring during the first 16 weeks of gestation, simultaneous karyotyping and ABO blood grouping of 148 of the parents was carried out. In 80 of the 124 chromosome-analyzed aborted foeti, the ABO blood groups of the foeti were determined by the mixed cell agglutinating reaction in fetal tissue. RESULTS: The results of the ABO blood grouping were compared with that of 100 newborns along with their parents (181) from the same area. Among aborted foeti with normal karyotype, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) frequency of ABO incompatibility was found in couple combination in comparison with the couple combination of the parents of the newborns. Furthermore, the distribution ABO blood group alleles of the fetuses deviated significantly from those of newborns (P < 0.05) in terms of significantly higher A alleles among the fetus. CONCLUSIONS: The ABO incompatibility between the couples is likely to be a risk factor for early spontaneous abortions and also the heterozygote selection of ABO blood group genotypes.

33.7 MHz heavy-ion radio frequency quadrupole linac at VECC Kolkata.

A 33.7 MHz heavy-ion radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linear accelerator has been designed, built, and tested. It is a four-rod-type RFQ designed for acceleration of 1.38 keVu, qA> or =116 ions to about 29 keVu. Transmission efficiencies of about 85% and 80% have been measured for the unanalyzed and analyzed beams, respectively, of oxygen ((16)O(2+), (16)O(3+), (16)O(4+)), nitrogen ((14)N(3+), (14)N(4+)), and argon ((40)Ar(4+)). The system design and measurements along with results of beam acceleration test will be presented.

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of BMI in assessing obesity among adult Bengalee males in India.

The present study attempted to understand the appropriateness of different body mass index (BMI) cut-off points in assessing obesity. Four hundred thirty adult Bengalee males with mean age 36.48 +/- 12.23 years (mean +/- SD) from West Bengal, India were studied. Height, weight and percent body fat were measured and BMI was derived following standard equation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated low sensitivity and high specificity of international (> or = 30 kg/m2) and proposed (> or = 25 kg/m2) BMI cut-off points in identifying individuals with obesity. Furthermore, these international and proposed BMI cut-off points also found to be in substantial misclassification to assess obesity as much as 32.09% and 17.44% respectively. However, based on ROC curve analysis, a BMI cut-off point of > or = 24 kg/m2 revealed optimal sensitivity (83.66%) and specificity (90.61%) and as well as less misclassification (11.86%) in assessing obesity among the adult Bengalee males. The present study accentuated that the international and proposed BMI cut-off points so far might not be appropriate in assessing obesity and on the other hand, lower BMI cut-off point (> or = 24 kg/m2) has relatively high sensitivity and specificity in assessing obesity as well. Therefore, the present study envisages the requirement of further lowering down of BMI cut-off point in assessing excess body fat in adult Bengalee males.

Radioactive ion beams of 111In using ECR plasma sputtering method.

Radioactive ion beams of 111In (indium-111, half-life 2.8 days) have been produced using the plasma sputtering method in an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source at the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre RIB facility. Indium isotopes were first produced by bombarding a natural silver target with a 32 MeV, 40 µA alpha particle beam from the K-130 cyclotron. After radio-chemical separation, about 25 mCi In-chloride was deposited on an aluminum electrode and inserted in the plasma chamber of the ECR. Indium ions produced by ion induced sputtering in the plasma were extracted from the ion source, isotopically separated, and a pure 111In beam was measured at the focal plane of the separator. The measured 111In beam intensity was 2.67 × 105 particles/s for a beam energy of 5 keV.

A study on Cormic Index among semi-urban Bengalee Boys of West Bengal, India.

Since stature is an additive measurement, it would be useful to examine the pattern of its constituent segments in terms of sitting height and subischial leg length for the evaluation and insight of various growth related issues as well. The aim of the present study was to understand the growth patterns with respect to height (HT), sitting height (SH), subischial leg length (SLL), Cormic Index (CRI) and their relationship with age. The present cross-sectional study includes 162 Bengalee boys aged 6-12 years. Age effect displayed significant positive correlation with HT (r = 0.734), SLL (r = 0.731) and SH (r = 0.637). However, CRI revealed significant negative correlation (r = -0.433) with age. This may be due to the fact that in these ages tempo of growth in SLL was higher than SH. Age-wise correlation between SH and SLL changes dramatically and varies from 0.474 to 0.750 due to the variation in the tempo of growth.

Haptoglobin and birth weight in a Bengalee population.

A close relationship between birth weight and synthesis of haptoglobin was found in a study of cord blood derived from newborns. Newborn infants with detectable haptoglobin types showed, on average, significantly higher birth weight than those without detectable haptoglobin types under normal conditions. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Central adiposity and the risk of hypertension in Asian Indian girls.

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood pressure during childhood is an established predictor of elevated blood pressure in adulthood. This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship of general and central adiposity measures with hypertension and to find out the best adiposity measure in predicting hypertension. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 197 girls aged 5 to 16 years. Anthropometric measurements included stature, weight, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference. Body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), waist hip ratio (WHR) and conicity index (CI) were calculated subsequently. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic bold pressure (DBP) were taken and hypertension was defined as age and stature adjusted SBP and/or DBP ≥95(th) percentile. Linear and logistic regression analysis was made to determine the relationship of adiposity measure with blood pressure and hypertension and to find out the best adiposity measure in predicting hypertension. RESULTS: Both WC [odds ratio (OR)=2.20, 95% confidence interval, 1.32-3.69] and CI (OR=1.85, 95% confidence interval, 1.14-3.0) were significantly associated with hypertension. However, there was no significant association in BMI and WHR with hypertension. CONCLUSION: WC is the best adiposity measure in predicting hypertension in girls.

Variations of scalp, pubic and axillary hair.

Hair examinations and comparisons conducted by forensic scientists often provide investigative and associative information. Apart from its length and its natural color, hair displays a morphologic diversity both macroscopically and microscopically. Pseudogenization of

A study on nutritional status among young adult Bengalee females of Kolkata: effect of menarcheal age and per capita income.

Nutritional status and its association with age at menarche and per capita income was studied in a sample of one hundred seventy five young adult post menarche Bengalee females of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Height and weight were measured following standard technique and BMI was calculated. Information regarding age, age at menarche, per capita income etc. were collected through schedule. The results of the linear regression analysis revealed that both age at menarche and per capita income have significant (p < 0.05) impact on BMI. However, menarcheal age demonstrated negative impact (beta = -0.21) on BMI and explained 4% of the variance of BMI. Contrary to that, per capita income demonstrated positive impact (beta = 0.34) on BMI and explained 11% of the variance of BMI. However, the overall prevalence of thinness, overweight and obese was 30.3%, 9.1% and 4.6%, respectively. The results of the chi-square analysis revealed significant (p < 0.01) association of nutritional status with age at menarche and per capita income.

Relationship between anthropometric measures and body composition among Muslim females of West Bengal, India.

The human body composition is assessed to determine percent body fat (PBF), fat mass (FM), and lean body mass or fat free mass (FFM). The topological distribution of body fat has been the subject of many studies in the world and India. To the best of our knowledge the present paper is the first report on the body composition in terms of PBF and FM, and their relationship with anthropometric measures in Muslim females in India. The present study examines anthropometric measurements and their relationship with the body composition among Muslim females of West Bengal, India. A cross-sectional study of 100 female, Muslim students of Howrah and Kolkata was undertaken to compare the relationships of biceps and triceps skinfold, waist, hip and upper arm circumference, waist hip ratio and conicity index with their body composition variables (PBF and FM). All anthropometric measures displayed significant (p < 0.05) correlation with body composition measures. The triceps skinfold, however, demonstrated a significant correlation with PBF (r = 0.90) and FM (r = 0.93). The greatest amount of variation of PBF (81.3 %) and FM (89.2 %) was explained by the triceps skinfold. In addition, a considerable amount of variation of PBF (72.8 %) and FM (86.0 %) was explained by the mid upper arm circumference. In conclusion, the present study displays a tendency of regional adiposity in the upper arm, triceps skinfold and mid upper arm circumference are much more strongly associated with body fat.

Income, birth order, siblings, and anthropometry.

The purpose of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship and effect of monthly household income, birth order, and number of siblings on adult body dimensions, adiposity index, and body composition among adult Bengali females. One hundred seventy-one adult Bengali females, age 20.35 +/- 1.51 years (mean +/- SD; range: 18-21 years) from Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) were studied. Anthropometric measures (weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, and triceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac, and medial calf skinfold thicknesses) were taken from all participants using standard protocols. BMI and log10 of the sum of the five skinfold thicknesses were computed subsequently. Percentage of body fat was estimated from the triceps skinfold thickness following the equation of Durnin and Womersley (1974), and fat mass was then calculated. Results of the correlation analysis revealed that monthly household income had significant (p < 0.05) positive association with all anthropometric variables. Birth order and number of siblings showed significant (p < 0.05) inverse association. The correlation of monthly household income with anthropometric variables was much stronger for number of siblings and birth order. The results of the analysis of variance showed that monthly household income, birth order, and number of siblings (tertiles used to categorize all variables) had significant effects (p < 0.05) on anthropometric variables, indicating differences in adult body dimensions, the adiposity index, and body composition in relation to income, birth order, and number of siblings.

Age and sex variation of body mass index and waist circumference among the Santal children of Jharkhand, India.

Central body fat (CBF) as measured by waist circumference (WC) etc. has now been considered as risk factor for chronic disease, disability, and death. It has been assumed that one's characteristic level of body fat, as measured by body mass index (BMI), and CBF unfolds during the normal course of growth and development. However, studies of the development of CBF show relatively weak consistency in comparison to body fat. But to the best of our knowledge, no study in this aspect has been undertaken on any Indian population to study the effect of age and sex on body fat and CBF during development. In view of the above consideration, the present work has been undertaken among 179 Santal (a tribal population) children (Boys = 107, Girls = 72) of the Galudih area in East Singbhum, Jharkhand, India. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, and circumference of waist were taken from each subject using standard procedure. The mean ages of boys and girls were 10.94 years and 9.48 years, respectively. The mean BMI for boys and girls were 14.48 kg/m2 and 13.78 kg/m2 Percent of variance explained by age was much greater for BMI (> 50%) as compared to WC (7-10%) in both sexes. Two way ANOVA showed that BMI had a significant (p < 0.05) effect of age and not of sex, whereas age-sex interaction had a significant impact on WC. The results of the present cross-sectional study indicated that during growth and development unfolding of CBF and BMI is independent of one another. Different set(s) of gene(s), onset of growth hormones during the normal development or their interaction could have been considered for this differentiation.

Interaction between haptoglobin subtypes and AB0 blood groups in a Bengalee population.

Blood samples from 621 individuals of a Caste Hindu Population from West Bengal (India) were investigated in an attempt to find out an association between the AB0 blood groups and Haptoglobin (HP) subtypes. AB0 blood grouping was done on the basis of the agglutination test with standard anti-sera. Haptoglobin subtyping only for the HP*1 allele was done by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE). A significant association was found with a significantly lower HP*1S allele frequency in blood group 0 versus other AB0 blood groups. A comparatively higher allele frequency of HP*1S was found in this population sample. An inverse relationship between HP*1S and HP*2 has been revealed in each blood group. It appears that the major portion of HP*1 alleles in the A, B, and AB blood groups belongs to the HP*1S allele compared to that of the 0 blood group.