Physical activity classification utilizing SenseWear activity monitor in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Validation. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to develop and evaluate activity classification algorithms for a multisensor-based SenseWear (SW) activity monitor that can recognize wheelchair-related activities performed by manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with spinal cord injury (SCI). The secondary aim was to evaluate how the accuracy in activity classification affects the estimation of energy expenditure (EE) in MWUs with SCI. SETTING: University-based laboratory. METHODS: Forty-five MWUs with SCI wore a SW on their upper arm and participated in resting, wheelchair propulsion, arm-ergometery and deskwork activities. The investigators annotated the start and end of each activity trial while the SW collected multisensor data and a portable metabolic cart collected criterion EE. Three methods including linear discriminant analysis, quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), and Naïve Bayes (NB) were used to develop classification algorithms for four activities based on the training data set from 36 subjects. RESULTS: The classification accuracy was 96.3% for QDA and 94.8% for NB when the classification algorithms were tested on the validation data set from nine subjects. The average EE estimation errors using the activity-specific EE prediction model were 5.3±21.5% and 4.6±22.8% when the QDA and NB classification algorithms were applied, respectively, as opposed to 4.9±20.7% when 100% classification accuracy was assumed. CONCLUSION: The high classification accuracy and low EE estimation errors suggest that the SW can be used by researchers and clinicians to classify and estimate the EE for the four activities tested in this study among MWUs with SCI.

Prevalence and distribution of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) Types 16 and 18 in Carcinoma of cervix, saliva of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and in the general population in Karnataka, India.

BACKGROUND: In view of conducting HPV vaccination in India it is most important to understand the prevalence of HPV genotypes in this population, not only in squamous cell carcinoma of cervix and oral cavity but also in the general population. In this study we explored the prevalence and distribution of high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 in carcinoma of cervix, saliva of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and in general population in Karnataka. METHODS: Cervical cancer specimens after punch biopsy (n=60) were obtained from women attending Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences and Karnataka Cancer Therapy and Research Institute, Hubli (KCTRI). Saliva rinse of (n=34) OSCC patients from KCTRI and (n=396) normal individuals from different regions of North Karnataka, were collected and PCR based high-risk HPV genotyping was carried out. RESULTS: Using consensus PCR primers it was observed that 96.7% patients were infected with HPV irrespective of specific type in cervical cancer. Among them, HPV 16 was observed in 89.7%, HPV 18 in 86.2% and both HPV 16 and 18 in 79.3% patients. In OSCC, 70.6% were positive for HPV, among which HPV 16 prevalence was observed in 45.8%, HPV 18 in 54.2%, and HPV 16 and 18 multiple infection in 4.18%. In general population, HPV prevalence was observed in 84.4%. Among them, HPV 16 was observed in 2.75% and HPV 18 in 22.0% patients. In general population, multiple infection with HPV 16 and 18 was not observed but 75.3% were found to be infected by HPV genotypes other than HPV 16 and 18. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals that multiple infection of HPV 16 and 18 is quite high in cervical cancer and in case of OSCC, it was in conformity with the other studies. In general population HPV 18 prevalence was observed to be high. With this, we can conclude that both HPV 16 and 18 vaccinations will reduce the burden of cervical cancer and OSCC in Karnataka.

Prevalence and risk of leukemia in the multi-ethnic population of North Karnataka.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze the trends in the incidence rates of four major types of leukemia in the population of North Karnataka, which accounts for the 2.5% of the whole population of India. Due to the lack of any nationwide leukemia screening program, the majority of the people are not aware of the disease. Epidemiological study can play a vital role in understanding the occurrence and outcome of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Focusing on variables like age, sex, race, blood group and lifestyle habits, detailed reports of 417 males and 230 females (M:F ratio 1.8:1) were collected from different hospitals of North Karnataka and analyzed for their risk of leukemia. RESULTS: Compared to female patients, Hindu males were found to have greater risk of occurrence of leukemia (p=0.0333). The males of scheduled caste (SC) and Lingayat communities showed a high risk than other communities (p=0.000). The occurrence of AML showed a significant relationship with ABO blood groups (p=0.0090). The frequency of leukemia is quite high in Belgaum district when compared to others districts of North Karnataka and totally absent in Bidar district. The reasons need precise molecular and genetical studies of the population. CONCLUSIONS: The localized communities of Lingayat and SCs needs to be further studied to get a better understanding of the higher risk of occurrence of leukemia in males. Moreover, since the spectrum of cancer epidemiology seen in India is different from that in developed countries more emphasis should be placed on better development of regional and national registries.

The anti-inflammatory activity of some sulphonamides in albino rats.

Clinically equivalent doses of dapsone, sulphasalasine and sulphamethizole in albino rats showed significant (P < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan and cotton pellet induced inflammation. Their activity was comparable to that of aspirin (200 mg/kg) and was confirmed by granuloma histology. Further, these compounds also showed significant (P < 0.01) analgesic activity which was comparable to that of aspirin. The ulcer index for sulphamethizole was comparable to that of control animals, whereas dapsone and sulphasalazine showed significant ulcerogenicity (P < 0.01). Other sulphonamides like sulphadiazine, sulphanilamide, sulphamoxole and cotrimoxazole did not show significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.

Bile acids. LXXIII. Synthesis of analogs of 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one as substrates for hepatic steroid 12 alpha-hydroxylase.

Analogs of 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one were prepared to ascertain structural features necessary for maximal activity of hepatic microsomal 12 alpha-steroid hydroxylase. Methyl 3 alpha,7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-carboxylate derived from chenodeoxycholic acid was oxidized at C-3 with silver carbonate/Celite. The product was hydrolyzed and dehydrogenated with SeO2 to provide 3-oxo-7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholene-24-carboxylic acid. 5 beta-Cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,25-triol and 5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,25-tetrol were similarly oxidized at C-3 and dehydrogenated to provide 7 alpha,25-dihydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one and 7 alpha,12 alpha,25-trihydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one, respectively. The products were characterized by thin-layer and gas chromatography, ultraviolet, infrared, proton resonance and mass spectrometry.

Bile acids. LXIV. Synthesis of 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 25-triol and esters of new 5 alpha-bile acids.

Interest in the structural requirements of a sterol or bile acid for maximal activity by an hepatic microsomal steroid 12 alpha-hydroxylase prompted the preparation of 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 25-triol and 5 alpha-analogs of 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-carboxylic acid. Methyl 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-carboxylate derived from methyl chenodeoxycholate via the Arndt-Eistert reaction was allomerized with Raney nickel in boiling p-cymene to provide a number of product of which methyl 3, 7-dioxo-5 beta- and 5 alpha-cholane-24-carboxylates, methyl 3-oxo-7 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-and 5 alpha-cholane-24-carboxylates, were identified. Reduction with K-Selectride of methyl 3-oxo-7 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-cholane-24-carboxylate, provided a high yield of methyl 3 alpha, 7 alpha-dihydroxy-5 alpha-cholane-24-carboxylate. Treatment of this ester with an excess of methyl magnesium iodide afforded 5 alpha-cholestane-3 alpha, 7 alpha, 25-triol. The products were characterized by thin-layer and gas liquid chromatography, proton resonance, infrared and mass spectrometry.