Implementation of Silver Nanoparticles Green Synthesized with Leaf Extract of Coccinia grandis as Antimicrobial Agents Against Head and Neck Infection MDR Pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck infections (HNI) associated with multidrug resistance (MDR) offer several health issues on a global scale due to inaccurate diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the bacteria and Candidal isolates and implement the silver nanoparticles green synthesized with leaf extract of Coccinia grandis (Cg-AgNPs) as a therapeutic approach against HNI pathogens. METHODS: The Cg-AgNPs were characterized by the UV-visible spectrophotometer, FT-IR analysis, Zeta particle size, Zeta potential, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis to validate the synthesis of nanoparticles. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of Cg-AgNPs was presented by the zone of inhibition (ZOI), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentration (MBC/MFC), and antibiofilm assay. Moreover, the cell wall rupture assay was visualized on SEM for the morphological study of antimicrobial activities, and the in-vivo toxicity was performed in a swiss mice model to evaluate the impact of Cg-AgNPs on various biological parameters. RESULTS: Different bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Candida sp. (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida orthopsilosis, and Candida glabrata) were identified. The MIC, MBC, and antibiofilm potential of Cg-AgNPs were found to be highest against A. baumannii: 1.25 µg/ml, 5 µg/ml, and 85.01±5.19% respectively. However, C. albicans and C. orthopsilosis revealed 23mm and 21mm of ZOI. Subsequently, the micromorphology of the cell wall rupture assay confirmed the efficacy of Cg-AgNPs, and no significant alterations were seen in biochemical and hematological parameters on the swiss mice model in both acute and subacute toxicity studies. CONCLUSION: The green synthesized Cg-AgNPs have multifunctional activities like antibacterial, anticandidal, and antibiofilm activity with no toxicity and can be introduced against the HNI pathogens.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in chronic simple silicosis patients and its correlation with smoking history, occupation type, age and duration of silica exposure.

Silicosis is a preventable occupational health hazard with potential for permanent physical disability and increased socio-economic burden. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to chronic respiratory diseases signifies poorer prognosis and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has proven its usefulness as a screening tool for PH diagnosis. The objectives were to determine PH prevalence in chronic simple silicosis patients through TTE screening and correlate PH prevalence with smoking status, occupation type, age and duration of silica exposure (DSE). We enrolled 104 patients in the study based on occupational exposure to silica dust and radiologic confirmation of chronic simple silicosis. The study sample was divided into significant smokers (SS group) and insignificant smokers (InS group) on the basis of ≥10 pack years smoking history, and into drillers and dressers based on occupation type. TTE examination was performed to measure resting mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and the patients were classified into: no PH (mPAP≤20 mm Hg), borderline PH (mPAP>20 and <25 mmHg), and PH (mPAP≥25). PH prevalence was 25% in study subjects (26/104); 29.6% (16/54) among SS group versus 20% (10/50) among InS group (.52) ; and 34.2% (14/41) among drillers versus 19.1% (12/63) among dressers (p=.024). Mean age and mean duration of silica exposure among SS and InS groups were comparatively similar, while they had lower values among dressers against dressers with no statistical significance. Logistic regression analysis established a significant association of PH prevalence with higher age in the study sample, SS group and drillers group, while a significant association of PH prevalence with longer DSE was only seen in the study sample. PH prevalence was significantly associated (p=.007) with SS-driller group on comparing TTE findings with combined smoking and occupation type based groups. This study has shown PH prevalence in chronic simple silicosis patients at alarming levels, having associations with driller occupation, older age and longer DSE with varying results among groups and complex interplay with smoking exposure, suggesting the need for large sample-based molecular and genetic studies. Including TTE in the initial work-up of silicosis patients will promote timely intervention and reduce morbidity and mortality with a high benefit-cost ratio.

Comparison of efficacy of bedaquiline and moxifloxacin in drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis. A prospective observational study.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis remains a major public health concern in many countries. We compared the efficacy and safety of bedaquiline plus optimized background regimen (Bdq+OBR) with high dose moxifloxacin and optimized background regimen (Mfx(h)+OBR) for the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis with additional resistance to fluoroquinolones. In this prospective observational study, newly diagnosed cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis with additional resistance to fluoroquinolone were enrolled. They received either Bdq+OBR or Mfx(h)+OBR and were followed up for six months. The sputum culture conversion rate at the end of six months and the time to culture conversion in each group were studied. The safety profile of both regimens was also studied. The sputum culture conversion was achieved in 41 patients (100%) in the Bdq+OBR group and 36 patients (87.8%) in the Mfx(h)+OBR group at the end of 6 months. The mean time to culture conversion was found to be 3.10±0.8 months in the Bdq+OBR group and 3.32±0.9 months in the Mfx(h)+OBR group. Mortality was 6.8% in the Bdq+OBR group and 10.8 % in the Mfx(h)+OBR group at 6 months. Raised serum lipase and dark discolouration of skin were significantly more common in the Bdq+OBR group while vomiting and ototoxicity were more common in the Mfx(h)+OBR group. Bdq+OBR was associated with higher success of sputum culture conversion at 6 months and faster sputum culture conversion rate as compared to the Mfx(h)+OBR.

AC Electric Field Mediated Assembly of Bacterial Tetrads.

Understanding spatiotemporal organization in bacteria under an external AC electric field is not only very interesting from a perspective of studying assembly and disassembly in a model biofilm but also provides insight into the intricate role of anisotropic interaction with bacterial dynamics that can generate interesting complex structures. In the current study, using confocal microscopy, we demonstrate such complex assemblies of monodisperse tetrad clusters of Micrococcus luteus, an environmental bacterium synthesized under a controlled growth condition. These clusters under the AC field produce a range of interesting structures such as chains, double helix, and bundles, which are instantaneously reversible when the field is switched off. Our studies can provide important insights into the natural organization of the clustered bacterium (with relevance in biofilm-like states) and generate strategies for biomaterial fabrication with a switchable functionality.

Heat stress-induced alterations in the expression of genes associated with gonadal integrity of the teleost Puntius sophore.

Temperature plays an important role on reproductive physiology of vertebrates including mammals, fish, and birds. It has varying effects on fish reproduction depending on the species; higher temperatures favor the spring-spawning species, while lower temperatures stimulate reproduction in autumn spawners. To evaluate the impact of high temperature on the reproductive physiology of minnow Puntius sophore, we carried out expression analysis of selected genes associated with gamete quality (hsp60, hsp70, hsp90, hsf1, vtg), pleuripotency (sox2, oct4, nanog), and sex determination (dmrt1) in gonads (ovary and testis) of P. sophore, heat stressed for different time periods (36 °C/7 days or 60 days) using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Expression of most of the hsp, vtg, and pleuripotency marker genes sox-2, oct-4, and nanog genes was downregulated in both ovary and testis of heat-stressed fish. The expression of dmrt-1 was upregulated in testis but downregulated in ovary of the heat-stressed fish which could be a male favoring effect of high temperature in P. sophore. This study suggests that the reproductive physiology and health of the nutrient dense P. sophore would be negatively affected by high temperature stress.

Expression patterns of heat shock protein genes in Rita rita from natural riverine habitat as biomarker response against environmental pollution.

River pollution is one of the principal environmental concerns and biomonitoring tools can play an important role in pollution assessment in the riverine environment. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) have been found to be suitable tools for monitoring stress response. In the present study, expression analyses of hsp genes (hsp27, hsp47, hsp60, hsp70, hsc70, and hsp90) and selected hsp-regulatory genes (hsf1, hyou1, ask1, jnk) were carried out by RT-qPCR in catfish Rita rita collected from selected stretches of river Ganga to investigate changes in their expression patterns as biomarker response. Water quality characteristics were measured in terms of physico-chemical characteristics (DO, BOD, COD, pH, conductivity), element profile (arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc, copper) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs; HCH, DDT, aldrin, endosulphan, heptachlor). Water quality index was calculated and sampling sites were categorized as good/medium/bad. Multivariate analysis was carried out taking the water quality parameters and the fold changes in hsp gene expression as variables, which showed that hsp47 and hsp70b correlated well with BOD, an indicator of organic pollution. To identify the organic pollutant(s) which could be influencing the expression of hsps, again multivariate analysis was employed taking concentration of POPs and fold changes of hsps, which showed up-regulation of hsp47 and hsp70b (HSP72i) correlated well with concentrations of aldrin and HCH. Synergistic effects of these POPs could be responsible for the up-regulation of said hsps, although individually present in low concentration; thus, indicating synergistic effect of the POPs on hsp47 and hsp70b up-regulation as biomarker response.

Expression patterns and mutation analysis of p53 in fish Rita rita from polluted riverine environment.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the alterations in gene expression patterns and for mutation analysis of p53 in the riverine catfish Rita rita collected from polluted riverine habitat. The partial p53 gene sequence of Rita rita generated showed a high degree of similarities with the DNA binding domains of fishes, mice and human. Transcriptomic analysis, carried out by quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), showed significant down-regulation of p53 in fishes collected from most of the polluted stretches. Similar trend in protein abundance was observed by western blot analysis. Down-regulation of p53 was more pronounced in gill than liver. Expression patterns of p53 suggest that exposure to a multitude of contaminants in the natural riverine ecosystem could suppress the expression of p53. Genomic DNA showed a low stained smear pattern upon electrophoresis, with no evidence of DNA fragmentation. For mutation analysis PCR-SSCP followed by sequence analysis was carried out, which identified eight mutations; two at codon level and six missense mutations in the DNA binding domain IV and V. Secondary structure prediction showed that these mutations could lead to impairment of protein structure. Thus, the present study indicated that aquatic pollution has impacted these lower vertebrates which are reflected by the down-regulation of tumor suppressor protein (p53) in majority of the stretches studied.

A Prospective Study of Bacteriological Etiology in Hospitalized Acute Exacerbation of COPD Patients: Relationship with Lung Function and Respiratory Failure.

OBJECTIVES: Bacterial infections are the major cause of acute exacerbation of COPD (AE-COPD). The relationship between lung functions and respiratory failure (arterial blood gas parameters) with the etiology of AE-COPD has not been clearly understood. We conducted this study to determine the bacterial profile in AE-COPD and to identify the associated risk factors and drug sensitivity pattern. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients hospitalized for AE-COPD were prospectively evaluated. Quantitative sputum culture, blood gas analysis, and drug sensitivity testing were performed at the time of admission, and pulmonary function testing was performed 6 weeks after discharge as per standard guidelines. RESULTS: Bacterial pathogens were isolated in 34 (47.22%) cases. Pathogens isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38.23%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (29.41%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.53%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (5.88%), and Acinetobacter spp. (2.94%). Isolation of bacterial pathogen was observed in patients with advancing age (p=0.02), frequent exacerbations (p<0.001), systemic steroid use (p=0.005), and deranged lung function (p=0.02). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that higher partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) was independently associated with isolation of K. pneumoniae (p=0.025) and P. aeruginosa (p=0.001). Additional independent factors that favor isolation of K. pneumoniae were age >55 years (p=0.017) and systemic steroid use (p=0.017). Antibiotic sensitivity testing showed that ciprofloxacin and piperacillin/tazobactum were effective in 27/34 (79.41%) of isolates followed by gentamycin in 26/34 (76%). CONCLUSION: Hypercapnic respiratory failure is an independent risk factor for isolation of K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa in addition to advanced age and systemic steroid use. These findings may be an important adjunct in deciding the initial antibiotic therapy.

Comparison of Diagnostic Potential of Narrow Band Imaging Bronchoscopy Over White Light Bronchoscopy in Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, lung cancer is the largest contributor to new cancer diagnoses and to death from cancer. Narrow band imaging (NBI) is a novel bronchoscopic technique which enables detailed examination of submucosal microcapillary grid and showed great potential in early detection of malignant lesions of the bronchial mucosa. The aim of this study was to compare diagnostic potential of NBI bronchoscopy over white light (WL) bronchoscopy in lung cancer. METHODS: We enrolled 187 patients having clinical and radiologic findings highly suspicious of lung cancer. Patients were further divided into 2 groups: NBI group (n=102), and control WL group (n=85). Bronchoscopy examination was performed with respective visualization modes and all pathologic lesions were biopsied and histologically confirmed. RESULTS: On NBI bronchoscopy, malignancy was suspected in 69 patients, of whom 62 had malignancy, and 33 patients were suspected of inflammation, of whom 32 had inflammation and only 1 patient had malignancy. Under WL bronchoscopy, 54 patients were suspected of malignancy, of whom 36 had malignancy, and 31 patients were suspected of inflammation, of whom 23 had inflammatory disease and 8 had malignancy. NBI bronchoscopy had sensitivity 98.1%, specificity 82.05%, positive predictive value 89.86% and negative predictive value 96.97% in comparison to standard WL bronchoscopy which had sensitivity 81.82%, specificity 56.10%, positive predictive value 66.67% and negative predictive value 74.19%. CONCLUSION: NBI bronchoscopy demonstrated better results in comparison to WL bronchoscopy. The presence of pathologic vascularization of the tumor helps to better identify the malignant process. Inflammatory changes in the mucosa can be easily differentiated from malignant changes by the appearance of vessels.

Impact of HIV Co-Infection on Clinical Presentation in Patients with TB and Correlation of the Findings with Level of Immune Suppression.

BACKGROUND: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has long been known to alter the clinical presentation of tuberculosis (TB), which varies according to the time of occurrence of TB infection and the level of immunodeficiency. Identifying variations in clinical features in HIV-TB coinfection might be helpful in settings with limited diagnostic facilities. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical presentation of TB in HIV coinfection and associate clinical findings with level of immune suppression (CD4 count). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, cross-sectional observational study 110 patients having TB-HIV co-infection were assessed for clinical presentation and correlation with CD4 count. The study setting was a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients were categorized in three group based on CD4 counts as group I: ≤ 100 cells/cmm, group II: 101-200 cells/cmm and group III: > 200 cells/cmm. RESULTS: 110 patients were enrolled, 70% had CD4 cell count < 200 cells/mm3. Mean age and CD4 cell were 33.82±8.79 years and 181.7cells/cmm, respectively. Most common form of tubercular involvement was pulmonary (56.4%) followed by combined pulmonary and extra-pulmonary involvement (28.2%) and exclusively extra-pulmonary (15.5%). No significant intergroup difference was observed in site of involvement among three groups (p=0.700). Cough (91.8%) followed by low grade fever (85.5%), anorexia (82.7%) and weight loss (66.4%) were the commonest presenting symptom without any significant inter group difference. 70.9% patients were in undernourished category and 53.6% were febrile on examination. Sputum negative TB was noted 53.8%. 72.0% of patients with CD4 counts ≤100 had sputum negative TB as compared to sputum positive TB (28%). CONCLUSION: Due to varied clinical presentation of TB in HIV patients, ample knowledge of the clinical spectrum at different levels of immunosuppression is absolutely necessary to identify such patients early.

Suitable reference gene for quantitative real-time PCR analysis of gene expression in gonadal tissues of minnow Puntius sophore under high-temperature stress.

BACKGROUND: High ambient temperature is known to affect fish gonadal development and physiology in a variety of ways depending on the severity and duration of exposure; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Gonadal gene expression influence the gonadal development, physiology and the quality of egg/sperm produced in teleosts and the mechanistic understanding of spatio-temporal changes in the gonadal gene expression could be instrumental in controlling the fate of egg/sperm and the quality of seed produced. Real time-quantititative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qCR), is a high throughput, sensitive and reproducible methodology used for understanding gene expression patterns by measuring the relative abundance of mRNA transcripts. However, its accuracy relies upon a suitable reference gene whose expression levels remain stable across various experimental conditions. In the present study, we evaluated the suitability of ten potential reference genes to be used as internal controls in RT-qPCR analysis in gonadal tissues (ovary and testis) of minnow Puntius sophore exposed to high temperature stress for different time periods (7 days, 60 days). Expression analysis of ten different constitutively expressed genes viz. 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA), beta actin (ßactin), ß-2 microglobulin (b2mg), eukaryotic elongation factor-1 (eef1), glyceraldehyde-3phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd), ribosomal binding protein L13 (rpl13), tubulin (tub), tata box binding protein (tbp), ubiquitin (ubi) was carried out by using RT-qPCR and the stability in their expressions were evaluated by using four different algorithms; namely, delta Ct, BestKeeper, geNorm and NormFinder. RESULTS: In ovary, eef1 was found to be the most suitable reference gene in all the algorithms used. In testis, b2mg was found to be the most suitable reference gene in delta Ct, BestKeeper, NormFinder analysis while tbp and eef1 were found to be the most suitable reference genes in geNorm analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, eef1 and b2mg were found to be the most suitable reference genes in ovary and testis, respectively, of Puntius sophore exposed to high temperature stress, and could be used as internal controls for gene expression analysis in gonadal tissues of Puntius sophore.

hsp90 and hsp47 appear to play an important role in minnow Puntius sophore for surviving in the hot spring run-off aquatic ecosystem.

Changes in the expression of a number of hsp genes in minnow Puntius sophore collected from a hot spring run-off (Atri hot spring in Odisha, India; 20o09'N 85°18'E, 36-38 °C) were investigated to study the upper thermal acclimation response under heat stress, using same species from aquaculture ponds (water temperature 27 °C) as control. Expression of hsp genes was analyzed in both groups using RT-qPCR, which showed up-regulation of hsp90 (2.1-fold) and hsp47 (2.5-fold) in hot spring run-off fishes, whereas there was no alteration in expression of other hsps. As the fish inhabit the hot spring run-off area for very long duration, they could have adapted to the environment. To test this hypothesis, fishes collected from hot spring run-off were divided into two groups; one was heat-shocked at 41 °C/24 h, and the other was acclimatized at 27 °C/24 h. Up-regulation of all the hsps (except hsp78) was observed in the heat-shocked fishes, whereas expression of all hsps was found to be down-regulated to the basal level in fishes maintained at 27 °C/24 h. Pathway analysis showed that the expressions of all the hsps except hsp90 are regulated by the transcription factor heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1). This study showed that hsp90 and hsp47 play an important role in Puntius sophore for surviving in the high-temperature environment of the hot spring run-off. Additionally, we show that plasticity in hsp gene expression is not lost in the hot spring run-off population.

Proteomic changes in the liver of Channa striatus in response to high temperature stress.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the proteomic changes in the liver of murrel Channa striatus exposed to high temperature stress. Fishes were exposed to 36°C for 4 days and liver proteome changes were analyzed using gel- based proteomics, i.e. 2DE, MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS, and validation by transcript analysis. The study showed, besides others, increased abundance of two sets of proteins, the antioxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ferritin, cellular retinol binding protein (CRBP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and the chaperones HSP60 and protein disulfide isomerase; this was validated by transcript analysis. The proteome data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002608. Further, gene expression analysis was also carried out in the fishes exposed to thermal stress for longer durations (30 days experimental exposure in laboratory and for 30 days beyond, taking Channa collected from a hot spring runoff at 36-38°C); sod, gst, crbp, and hsp60 were found to continue to remain upregulated at eight-, 2.5-, 2.4-, and 2.45-fold, respectively, in the hot spring runoff fish. Pathway analysis showed that the upregulations of the antioxidant enzymes as well as molecular chaperones are induced by the transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2). Thus, while short-term heat stress tolerance involves the antioxidative enzymes SOD, ferritin, CRBP, GST, and chaperones HSP60 and protein disulfide isomerase, adaptation under chronic heat stress is associated with SOD, CRBP, GST, and HSP60.

Evaluation of housekeeping genes as references for quantitative real-time PCR analysis of gene expression in the murrel Channa striatus under high-temperature stress.

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction is the most advanced method of quantifying gene expression studies; however, the significance of the obtained results strongly depends on the normalization of the data to compensate for differences between the samples. In the present study, expression analysis of six different constitutively expressed genes viz. 18S ribosomal RNA, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), beta actin (ßactin), ribosomal binding protein L13, tubulin and TATA-box-binding protein (tbp) were carried out to test their efficacy as reference genes in three different tissues, namely liver, gill and muscle of murrel Channa striatus exposed to high temperature for variable time periods. The stability and suitability of the genes were determined by using bioinformatic tools: GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. Based on the results, tub/ßactin could be used as the reference genes for liver and gill tissues and ßactin/gapdh could be the reference genes for muscle tissues in Channa striatus under both short- and long-term thermal stress.

Proteomic profiling of white muscle from freshwater catfish Rita rita.

Muscle tissues contribute 34-48 % of the total body mass in fish. Proteomic analysis enables better understanding of the skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism. A proteome map reflects the general fingerprinting of the fish species and has the potential to identify novel proteins which could serve as biomarkers for many aspects of aquaculture including fish physiology and growth, flesh quality, food safety and aquatic environmental monitoring. The freshwater catfish Rita rita of the family Bagridae inhabiting the tropical rivers and estuaries is an important food fish with high nutritive value and is also considered a species of choice in riverine pollution monitoring. Omics information that could enhance utility of this species in molecular research is meager. Therefore, in the present study, proteomic analysis of Rita rita muscle has been carried out and functional genomics data have been generated. A reference muscle proteome has been developed, and 23 protein spots, representing 18 proteins, have been identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS and LC-MS/MS. Besides, transcript information on a battery of heat shock proteins (Hsps) has been generated. The functional genomics information generated could act as the baseline data for further molecular research on this species.

Immunomodulatory effect of arsenic on cytokine and HSP gene expression in Labeo rohita fingerlings.

Immune system is fundamental for survival of an organism against invading pathogens and other harmful agents. Cytokines, the signaling proteins that are produced transiently after cell activation and exert pleiotropic effects on cells of the immune system, are important mediators of cell mediated immune response. When expressed in a dysregulated fashion cytokines can underlie either immunodeficient or immunopathologic states. Heat shock proteins (stress proteins, HSPs) are also key proteins, which play important role in immunomodulation, apoptosis and influence the immune responses. Arsenic is a major toxic environmental contaminant and a human carcinogen. Prolonged drinking of arsenic-contaminated water leads to chronic arsenic toxicity (arsenicosis). Arsenic is also immunotoxic and renders the host immunocompromised. Arsenic exposure has been reported to result in growth retardation, gross pathology including skin and eye lesions, ulcerations, cataract development etc. in different fish species. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of arsenic exposure on the expression of immune genes IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, complement C3a and HSP genes HSP47, HSP60, HSP70, HSC71, HSP78, and HSP90 in Labeo rohita, an important aquacultured species, as such information is not available on this major carp. Cytokine and HSP gene expression analyses were carried out in kidney and liver tissues, respectively, in arsenic-exposed fishes by RT-PCR and HSPs were analyzed by immunoblotting. It was observed that arsenic has a generalized immune-suppressive effect leading to down regulation of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines; besides, it led to up regulation of the HSP genes indicating arsenic-induced cellular stress. Thus arsenic exposure makes L. rohita immunocompromised and could increase its susceptibility to pathogen attacks.

Investigating hsp gene expression in liver of Channa striatus under heat stress for understanding the upper thermal acclimation.

Changes in hsp gene expression profiles in murrel Channa striatus experimentally exposed to temperature stress (36°C) for 4, 15, and 30 days were investigated; fish collected from aquaculture ponds and maintained in laboratory at the pond temperature (25 ± 1°C) served as control. Channa collected from a hot spring runoff (36°C) was included in the study to examine the hsp profiles beyond 30 days of exposure. Gene expression analyses of a battery of hsps in liver tissues were carried out by quantitative RT-PCR and protein expressions were analyzed by immunoblotting. hsps could be grouped into three clusters based on similarity in response to heat stress: hsp70, hsp78, and hsp60, whose transcript level continued to increase with duration of exposure; hsp90 and hsp110 that increased to a much higher level and then decreased; hsp27 and hsp47 that did not significantly vary as compared to control. The results suggest that Hsp70, Hsp78, and Hsp60 are involved in thermal acclimation and long term survival at high temperature. Fish living in the hot spring runoff appears to continuously express hsps that can be approximated by long term induction of hsps in farmed fish if temperature of their environment is raised to 36°C.

Quantification of reduction in forced vital capacity of sand stone quarry workers.

This study assessed the reduction in forced vital capacity of lungs of sand stone quarry workers exposed to high respirable suspended particulate concentration. The sand stone quarry workers are engaged in different type of activities like drilling, loading and dressing. These different working places have different concentration of RSPM and these workers are exposed to different concentration of RSPM. It is found that exposure duration and exposure concentrations are main factors responsible to damage respiratory tract of worker. It is also revealed from the study that most of the workers are suffering from silicosis if the exposure duration is more than 15 years.

Assessment of impact of high particulate concentration on peak expiratory flow rate of lungs of sand stone quarry workers.

This study was designed to assess the impact of high particulate concentration on peak expiratory flow rate of lungs of sand stone quarry workers. The workers were engaged in different types of activities such as drilling, loading and dressing. These different working conditions had different concentrations of RSPM, leading to different exposure levels in workers. It was found that exposure duration and exposure concentrations were the main factors responsible for damage to the respiratory tracts of the workers. The particles were deposited at various areas of the respiratory system and reduced the peak flow rate. It was also revealed from the study that most of the workers suffered from silicosis if the exposure duration was more than 20 years.