Diagnosis of bacterial infection in children with relapse of nephrotic syndrome: a personalized decision-analytic nomogram and decision curve analysis.

BACKGROUND: Infections associated with nephrotic relapses (NR) are often managed according to physician preferences. A validated prediction tool will aid clinical decision-making and help in rationalizing antibiotic prescriptions. Our objective was to develop a biomarker-based prediction model and a regression nomogram for the prediction of the probability of infection in children with NR. We also aimed to perform a decision curve analysis (DCA). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included children (1-18 years) with NR. The outcome of interest was the presence of bacterial infection as diagnosed using standard clinical definitions. Total leucocyte count (TLC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), quantitative C-reactive protein (qCRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were the biomarker predictors. Logistic regression was used to identify the best biomarker model, followed by discrimination and calibration testing. Subsequently, a probability nomogram was constructed and DCA was done to determine the clinical utility and net benefits. RESULTS: We included 150 relapse episodes. A bacterial infection was diagnosed in 35%. Multivariate analysis showed the ANC + qCRP model to be the best predictive model. This model displayed excellent discrimination (AUC: 0.83), and calibration (optimism-adjusted intercept: 0.015, slope: 0.926). A prediction nomogram and web-application was developed. The superiority of the model was also confirmed by DCA in the probability threshold range of 15-60%. CONCLUSIONS: An ANC-based and qCRP-based internally validated nomogram can be used for the prediction of probability of infection in non-critically ill children with NR. Decision curves from this study will aid in the decision-making of empirical antibiotic therapy, incorporating threshold probabilities as a surrogate of physician preference. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Seasonal variation of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny in Belagavi district of Karnataka, India.

Systematic investigations on the seasonal variation of indoor radon, thoron and their progeny levels have been carried out in Belagavi district of Karnataka, India. The radon and thoron levels were measured using LR-115 type II dosimeter in cups with single-entry pinhole. The measurements were carried out in all the four season, viz, monsoon, autumn, winter and summer, in selected houses of the region. The higher indoor radon levels were observed during autumn with an average concentration of 56.45 Bq m-3. The minimum in radon levels was observed in summer with an average concentration of 21.8 Bq m-3. The indoor thoron concentration was also maximum during autumn with an average value of 36.44 Bq m-3 and minimum in summer with an average value of 15.9 Bq m-3. The radon and thoron levels were also found to depend on the nature of walls and floorings of dwellings. The lung dose rate to the population due to radon ranged from 1.195 to 9.557 mSv year-1, with an average of 4.572 mSv year-1. Risk levels were found to be significant during autumn and winter due to the inhalation of indoor radon and thoron. The study forms the first comprehensive report on the indoor radon and thoron levels and the resulting population dose in the Belagavi region. The studies reveal that the major contributor to the population is radon and its progeny. However, a sizable dose also comes from indoor thoron and its progeny. The study emphasises the need to provide better ventilation system to future dwellings to reduce the risk from indoor radon and thoron.

Distribution of natural radionuclides and radon concentration in the riverine environs of Cauvery, South India.

Systematic studies were carried out to understand the distribution of natural radionuclides in sediments and radon in water in the riverine environs of Cauvery, one of the major rivers of South India. The activity of radionuclides in the sediment was measured by gamma ray spectrometry. The radon emanation from the sediment was measured by the sealed 'can technique' and the radon in the water was measured using the RAD-7 instrument. The mean values of 40 K, 226Ra, and 232Th in the sediment samples were found to be 297.3 ± 4.16 Bq kg-1, 75.1 ± 2.64 Bq kg-1, and 85.5 ± 2.62 Bq kg-1, respectively. The mean activity of radon, radon exhalation rate, and radium content were found to be 135.68 Bq m-3, 327.1 mBq m-1 h-1, and 133.03 mBq kg-1, respectively. The radon in the water ranged from 0.19 kBq m-3 to 1.40 kBq m-3. The hyper pure germanium gamma spectroscopy measured via 226Ra activity and the radon activity measured by the passive can technique showed good correlation. The mean value of radon in the water was within the internationally recommended level. The sediment was considered safe for the purpose of construction, except for some extreme values, and the water was deemed safe for drinking.

Synthesis of a novel glucose capped gold nanoparticle as a better theranostic candidate.

Gold nanoparticles are predominantly used in diagnostics, therapeutics and biomedical applications. The present study has been designed to synthesize differently capped gold nanoparticles (AuNps) by a simple, one-step, room temperature procedure and to evaluate the potential of these AuNps for biomedical applications. The AuNps are capped with glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) and citrate using different reducing agents. This is the first report of synthesis of 2DG-AuNp by the simple room temperature method. The synthesized gold nanoparticles are characterized with UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) study of the synthesized AuNps shows increase in Raman signals up to 50 times using 2DG. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiozol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay has been performed using all the three differently capped AuNps in different cell lines to assess cytotoxcity if any, of the nanoparticles. The study shows that 2DG-AuNps is a better candidate for theranostic application.

NATURAL RADIONUCLIDE LEVELS IN SEDIMENTS OF CAUVERY RIVERINE ENVIRONMENT.

The paper presents the systematic measurement of activity concentrations of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in sediment sample of Cauvery river of Karnataka, South India. Activity was measured using HpGe gamma ray spectrometer, and the mean values of 40K, 226Ra and 232Th in the sediment samples were found to be 144.31, 32.05 and 61.70 Bq kg-1, respectively. To assess the radiological hazards in the samples, radium equivalent (Raeq), absorbed dose (D), annual effective equivalent dose (AEED), activity utilisation index (AUI) and annual gonadal dose equivalent (AGDE) values associated with the radionuclides were calculated and compared with international recommended values.

RADIUM AND RADON EXHALATION RATE IN SOIL SAMPLES OF HASSAN DISTRICT OF SOUTH KARNATAKA, INDIA.

The radon exhalation rate was measured in 32 soil samples collected from Hassan district of South Karnataka. Radon exhalation rate of soil samples was measured using can technique. The results show variation of radon exhalation rate with radium content of the soil samples. A strong correlation was observed between effective radium content and radon exhalation rate. In the present work, an attempt was made to assess the levels of radon in the environment of Hassan. Radon activities were found to vary from 2.25±0.55 to 270.85±19.16 Bq m-3 and effective radium contents vary from 12.06±2.98 to 1449.56±102.58 mBq kg-1 Surface exhalation rates of radon vary from 1.55±0.47 to 186.43±18.57 mBq m-2 h-1, and mass exhalation rates of radon vary from 0.312±0.07 to 37.46±2.65 mBq kg-1 h-1.

DISTRIBUTION OF 210PO IN HEMAVATHI RIVERINE ENVIRONMENT.

In the present investigation, the concentration of 210Po was measured in soil and sediment samples from riverine environment of Hemavathi river of south Karnataka. The 210Po in the samples was separated by radiochemical method, and the activity was counted using ZnS(Ag) alpha counter. Seasonal variation of 210Po was studied for soil and sediment samples. The mean activity of 210Po in monsoon was higher than that in pre-monsoon samples. The granulometric contents (sand, silt and clay), organic matter and pH contents were measured in soil, and sediment, respectively. The organic matter content and clay positively correlated with 210Po activity. There is a good correlation between activity concentration of 210Po and organic matter in both monsoon and pre-monsoon samples. Using the SPSS 22 statistical software, the median, skewness, kurtosis, variance and frequency distribution were calculated.

NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY IN SEDIMENTS AND RIVER BANK SOIL OF KALLADA RIVER OF KERALA, SOUTH INDIA AND ASSOCIATED RADIOLOGICAL RISK.

The paper presents the activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K in the sediments and river bank soil samples collected from the Kallada river environs of coastal Kerala. The radiological risks associated with these radionuclides were calculated. The samples were processed following standard procedure, and activity was counted using a high-efficiency 5″ × 5″ NaI (Tl) detector coupled to GSPEC gamma spectroscopy system. The mean values of measured activities of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K in soil samples were found to be 98.1 ± 0.4, 60.3 ± 1.1 and 343.4 ± 1.8 Bq kg-1, respectively, which results in an average absorbed dose rate of 103 nGy h-1 The corresponding values for sediment samples were found to be 88.0 ± 0.4, 48.6 ± 0.9 and 423.2 ± 2.0 Bq kg-1, respectively, with a resulting absorbed dose rate of 95 nGy h-1 Radium equivalent activity, annual effective dose equivalent, the external and internal hazard indices were determined and compared with recommended limits. The results of the work provide background data on natural radioactive isotopes, which are useful in the assessment of human radiation exposure from natural environment. The accumulation of information on natural radiation is of great value for radiation protection.

Inheritance of pigeonpea sterility mosaic disease resistance in pigeonpea.

A comprehensive study was conducted using PPSMV resistant (BSMR 736) and susceptible (ICP 8863) genotypes to develop a segregating population and understand the inheritance of PPSMV resistance. The observed segregation was comparable to 13 (susceptible): 3 (resistant). Hence, the inheritance was controlled by two genes, SV1 and SV2, with inhibitory gene interaction.

Molecular mapping of genomic regions harbouring QTLs for root and yield traits in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench).

Root system is a vital part of plants for absorbing soil moisture and nutrients and it influences the drought tolerance. Identification of the genomic regions harbouring quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for root and yield traits, and the linked markers can facilitate sorghum improvement through marker-assisted selection (MAS) besides the deeper understanding of the plant response to drought stress. A population of 184 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from E36-1 × SPV570, along with parents were phenotyped for component traits of yield in field and root traits in an above ground rhizotron. High estimates of heritability and genetic advance for all the root traits and for most of the yield traits, presents high scope for improvement of these traits by simple selection. A linkage map constructed with 104 marker loci comprising 50 EST-SSRs, 34 non-genic nuclear SSRs and 20 SNPs, and QTL analysis was performed using composite interval mapping (CIM) approach. A total of eight and 20 QTLs were mapped for root and yield related traits respectively. The QTLs for root volume, root fresh weight and root dry weight were found co-localized on SBI-04, supported by a positive correlation among these traits. Hence, these traits can be improved using the same linked markers. The lack of overlap between the QTLs of component traits of root and yield suggested that these two sets of parameters are independent in their influence and the possibility of combining these two traits might enhance productivity of sorghum under receding moisture condition.

Dose rate effect on micronuclei induction in human blood lymphocytes exposed to single pulse and multiple pulses of electrons.

The effects of single pulses and multiple pulses of 7 MV electrons on micronuclei (MN) induction in cytokinesis-blocked human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were investigated over a wide range of dose rates per pulse (instantaneous dose rate). PBLs were exposed to graded doses of 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 Gy of single electron pulses of varying pulse widths at different dose rates per pulse, ranging from 1 × 10(6) Gy s(-1) to 3.2 × 10(8) Gy s(-1). Different dose rates per pulse were achieved by changing the dose per electron pulse by adjusting the beam current and pulse width. MN yields per unit absorbed dose after irradiation with single electron pulses were compared with those of multiple pulses of electrons. A significant decrease in the MN yield with increasing dose rates per pulse was observed, when dose was delivered by a single electron pulse. However, no reduction in the MN yield was observed when dose was delivered by multiple pulses of electrons. The decrease in the yield at high dose rates per pulse suggests possible radical recombination, which leads to decreased biological damage. Cellular response to the presence of very large numbers of chromosomal breaks may also alter the damage.

Variation of radiation level and radionuclide enrichment in high background area.

Significantly high radiation level and radionuclide concentration along Quilon beach area of coastal Kerala have been reported by several investigators. Detailed gamma radiation level survey was carried out using a portable scintillometer. Detailed studies on radionuclides concentration in different environmental matrices of high background areas were undertaken in the coastal areas of Karunagapalli, Kayankulam, Chavara, Neendakara and Kollam to study the distribution and enrichment of the radionuclides in the region. The absorbed gamma dose rates in air in high background area are in the range 43-17,400nGyh⁻¹. Gamma radiation level is found to be maximum at a distance of 20m from the sea waterline in all beaches. The soil samples collected from different locations were analysed for primordial radionuclides by gamma spectrometry. The activity of primordial radionuclides was determined for the different size fractions of soil to study the enrichment pattern. The highest activity of (232)Th and (226)Ra was found to be enriched in 125-63µ size fraction. The preferential accumulation of (40)K was found in <63µ fraction. The minimum (232)Th activity was 30.2Bqkg⁻¹, found in 1000-500µ particle size fraction at Kollam and maximum activity of 3250.4Bqkg⁻¹ was observed in grains of size 125-63µ at Neendakara. The lowest (226)Ra activity observed was 33.9Bqkg⁻¹ at Neendakara in grains of size 1000-500µ and the highest activity observed was 482.6Bqkg⁻¹ in grains of size 125-63µ in Neendakara. The highest (40)K activity found was 1923Bqkg⁻¹ in grains of size <63µ for a sample collected from Neendakara. A good correlation was observed between computed dose and measured dose in air. The correlation between (232)Th and (226)Ra was also moderately high. The results of these investigations are presented and discussed in this paper.

The importance of physico-chemical parameters on the speciation of natural radionuclides in riverine ecosystems.

External gamma radiation levels were measured in the catchment areas of the Sharavathi River and the dose rates in air were found to be in the range 26.0-61.0 nGy h(-1). Soil and sediment samples of the riverine environment were analysed for natural radionuclides such as (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K using a NaI(Tl) gamma spectrometer. The activity concentration of (210)Pb and (210)Po in soil and sediment samples was determined by radiochemical separation techniques. Evaluation of the activity concentration of radionuclides with grain size revealed an increase in the activity of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K towards fine grain size. The activity concentrations for all isotopes in all samples were not significantly correlated with pH. However, the activity of (210)Po and (210)Pb in sediment showed a moderate positive correlation with organic matter content and a good correlation with clay content of sediment.

Enrichment and vertical profiles of 210Po and 210Pb in monazite areas of coastal Karnataka.

A study on radiation level and radionuclide distribution in the environment of coastal Karnataka has revealed the presence of low-level monazite deposit in the Ullal beach area. The paper presents systematic studies on the distribution, enrichment and vertical profiles of (210)Po and (210)Pb, important daughter products of (238)U, in Ombattu Kere, Summer Sand and the Bhagavathi Temple region of the Ullal beach area of coastal Karnataka. Sand samples collected at different depths from these locations were analyzed for (210)Po and (210)Pb activities to understand the distribution, enrichment and vertical profiles of these radionuclides in monazite area. The activity of (210)Po in the Ullal region is found to vary from 1.7 to 43.2 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 11.2 Bq kg(-1) and that of (210)Pb varies from 1.0 to 66.7 Bq kg(-1) with a mean value of 19.1 Bq kg(-1). The mean (210)Po/(210)Pb ratio was observed to be 0.6. The absorbed gamma dose rate in the region varies in the range 39-460 nGy h(-1) with a mean value of 193 nGy h(-1).

Study of 210Po and 210Pb in the riverine environments of coastal Karnataka.

Activity of (210)Po and (210)Pb were measured in soil and sediment samples collected from the major rivers Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi of Coastal Karnataka. The activity of these two radionuclides were determined by radiochemical separation of (210)Po and counting the activity using a ZnS(Ag) Alpha counter. The activity of (210)Pb was higher than that of (210)Po in the riverine environs. The (210)Po and (210)Pb content in sediment was found to increase with silt/clay and organic matter contents. However no significant correlation was found between the activity (210)Po and (210)Pb with pH in sediments. The activity of (210)Po and (210)Pb and influence of physico-chemical parameters on these radionuclides were studied and discussed in this paper.

The effect of electron and gamma irradiation on the induction of micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked human blood lymphocytes.

The effect of electrons and gamma irradiation on the induction of micronuclei in cytokinesis-blocked human peripheral blood lymphocytes was investigated to understand the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of electrons compared with gamma rays. Blood samples were irradiated with an 8 MeV pulsed electron beam, at a mean instantaneous dose rate of 2.6 x 10(5) Gy s(-1). Gamma irradiation was carried out at a dose rate of 1.98 Gy min(-1) using (60)Co gamma source. A dose-dependent increase in micronuclei yield was observed. The dose-response relationships for induction of micronuclei fitted well to a linear-quadratic relationship and the coefficients alpha and beta of the dose-response curve were estimated by fitting the data using error-weighted minimum chi (2) method. The RBE of 8 MeV electrons were found to be near unity as compared with gamma rays.

Inhibition of TNF-alpha-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression by Mycobacterium bovis BCG in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is implicated in pathophysiological processes associated with the initiation or maintenance of host inflammatory responses to infection. Our results demonstrates that Mycobacterium bovis BCG (M. bovis BCG) downregulates tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced COX-2 gene expression in alveolar epithelial cells by inhibiting the phosphorylations of Raf-1 and p38 kinases. Further, M. bovis BCG-mediated inhibition of COX-2 or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase could be reversed by Calyculin A, a selective inhibitor of Ser/Thr phosphatases. Moreover, M. bovis BCG inhibited the TNF-alpha-triggered NF-kappaB activation following IkappaB degradation. Taken together, these results suggest that the attenuation of COX-2 expression by vaccine strain, M. bovis BCG, represents a novel strategy to maintain robust host proinflammatory responses to subsequent challenges with virulent tuberculosis bacilli.

1-(2,4-Dichloro-phen-yl)-3-[4-(dimethyl-amino)phen-yl]prop-2-enone.

In the title compound, C(17)H(15)Cl(2)NO, the dimethyl-amino-phenyl group is close to coplanar with the central propenone group [dihedral angle = 13.1 (1)° between the mean planes], while the dichloro-phenyl group is twisted from the plane [dihedral angle = 64.0 (1)°]. In the crystal, C-H⋯O and weak C-H⋯π inter-actions are formed between mol-ecules.

Natural radioactivity in some major rivers of coastal Karnataka on the southwest coast of India.

Systematic studies on radiation level and distribution of radionuclides have been carried out in riverine environs of three major rivers of coastal Karnataka, viz. Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi. The ambient gamma radiation levels along three rivers were measured using a portable plastic scintillometer. Activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th and (40)K in soil, sediment and rock were measured using a NaI(Tl) gamma-ray spectrometer. In the Kali, Sharavathi and Netravathi riverbanks, the median values of absorbed gamma dose rates in air were found to be 44 nGy h(-1), 35 nGy h(-1) and 57 nGy h(-1), respectively. The highest activity of (226)Ra was found in riverbank soil samples of Sharavathi River. The highest activities of (232)Th and (40)K were found in riverbank soil and sediment samples of Netravathi River. In Kali River, the highest (226)Ra activity was recorded for rock samples. To assess the radiological hazard of natural radioactivity in the samples, absorbed gamma dose rates in air, radium equivalent activity, representative level index, external hazard index and internal hazard index associated with the radionuclides were calculated and compared with internationally recommended values. The representative level index (I(gammar)) values are high in sediment samples of Netravathi River. The radium equivalent activity (Ra(eq)), external hazard index (H(ex)) and internal hazard index (H(in)) values are high in rock samples of Kali River. The results of these investigations are presented and discussed in this paper.

Vertical profiles and enrichment pattern of natural radionuclides in monazite areas of coastal Kerala.

Detailed studies on radionuclides concentration in different environmental matrices of high background areas were undertaken in the coastal areas of Karunagapalli, Chavara, Neendakara and Kollam to study the distribution and enrichment of the radionuclides in the region. The sand samples collected at different distances from sea waterline and at different depths, were analysed for primordial radionuclides by gamma spectrometry. The activity of primordial radionuclides was determined for the different size fractions of sand to study the enrichment pattern. The highest activity was found confined in 125-63 microm particle size fraction in sand. The minimum (232)Th activity was 9.4 Bq kg(-1), found in Kollam at a depth of 10-20 cm, 40 m away from waterline in 500-250 microm particle size fraction and maximum activity of 136,811.2 Bq kg(-1) was observed in Chavara in grains of size 125-63 microm at a depth of 0-10 cm for a sample collected 20 m away from waterline. The lowest (226)Ra activity observed was 29.6 Bq kg(-1) at Kollam beach for a sample 40 m away from waterline in grains of size 1000-500 microm and at a depth of 20-30 cm and the highest activity observed was 10,309 Bq kg(-1) in grains of size 125-63 microm for a sample collected at a distance 20 m away from waterline and at a depth of 0-10 cm. The activity of (40)K was below detectable level in most of the samples collected from the high background monazite area. The (232)Th, (226)Ra activities decrease with depth for the samples collected 20 m away from the waterline and increase with depth for the samples collected 40 m away from the waterline at Chavara and Kollam beaches. No definite correlation was found between variation of the concentrations of (232)Th and (226)Ra with depth at Karunagapalli and Neendakara beach sands. There exists a strong correlation between (226)Ra and (232)Th activities in the region. The results of these investigations are presented and discussed in this paper.