Development of an effective and efficient DNA isolation method for Cinnamomum species.

Different species of Cinnamomum are rich in polysaccharide's and secondary metabolites, which hinder the process of DNA extraction. High quality DNA is the pre-requisite for any molecular biology study. In this paper we report a modified method for high quality and quantity of DNA extraction from both lyophilized and non-lyophilized leaf samples. Protocol reported differs from the CTAB procedure by addition of higher concentration of salt and activated charcoal to remove the polysaccharides and polyphenols. Wide utility of the modified protocol was proved by DNA extraction from different woody species and 4 Cinnamomum species. Therefore, this protocol has also been validated in different species of plants containing high levels of polyphenols and polysaccharides. The extracted DNA showed perfect amplification when subjected to RAPD, restriction digestion and amplification with DNA barcoding primers. The DNA extraction protocol is reproducible and can be applied for any plant molecular biology study.

Adrenocortical carcinoma: An extremely uncommon entity and the role of Immunohistochemistry in its diagnosis.

Adrenocortcal carcinoma is an extremely uncommon entity with an incidence of two in one millionth population. Here we present a 60 year gentleman with pain in abdomen, nausea, and backache, and weight loss. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) abdomen revealed a heterogenous well defined mass measuring (15 × 10.3 × 13) cm(3) on the left suprarenal region with central necrosis which extended medially up to the midline. Locally, the growth infiltrated the upper pole of left kidney. Initially, the differential diagnosis included that of renal cell carcinoma arising from upper pole of left kidney involving adrenal gland. The patient underwent left radical nephrectomy and left adrenalectomy. Histological evaluation could not differentiate it from of malignant pheochromocytoma, but immunohistochemistry confirmed it as adrenocortical carcinoma. This case highlights the crucial role of immunohistochemistry in establishing the diagnosis like tumors.

Discriminatory value of blood urea:creatinine ratio in upper gastrointestinal bleeding with and without cirrhosis of liver.

AIM: To evaluate the discriminatory ability of blood urea:creatinine ratio in upper gastro-intestinal bleeding (UGIB) with and without cirrhosis of liver. METHODS: Blood urea:creatinine (BU/CR) ratio in 160 adult patients of UGIB were studied after excluding clinically overt cirrhosis of liver, renal failure and hematochezia. All were subjected to ultrasonography of abdomen. Only those showing cirrhosis and portal hypertension (n=76) were taken up for liver biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. BU/CR ratio was compared to UGIB cases without cirrhosis of liver (n=84). RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) blood urea creatinine ratio was significantly lower in the group with cirrhosis than without cirrhosis of liver (22.49 +/- 6.13 vs. 38.07 +/- 8.08, Z value 13.91). CONCLUSION: In absence of renal failure, the blood urea/creatinine ratio may differentiate UGIB with associated cirrhosis of liver from those without. Being simple, cheap and readily available, it can be of some value in those patients with cirrhosis of liver clinically not associated with gross findings of cirrhosis. In our study it was also noted that, an arbitrary cut-off value of 30 showed considerable overlap between the two groups; hence this ratio may not always differentiate between the cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics. Therefore, reproducibility of these results needs further studies, taking into account other factors which can modify the BU level in our population.

Variation in menarcheal age of Assamese girls.

The onset of menarche of 571 Assamese girls was investigated and the study sample included individuals from the population of various Assamese castes (brahmin, kalita, kaibarta), the Muslims and from the 2 Mongoloid populations, ie, the ahoms and the sonowals of Assam. Attempt was made to ascertain inter-group differences among themselves. The study revealed that there was insignificant statistical variation among the populations under consideration. Finally, the present findings were compared to that of the mean menarcheal age obtained on the same population by the earlier researchers which revealed good deal of variation among them. Secular trend in the age at menarche among these populations are discussed. Evidence of steady fall of menarcheal age in several populations has been noted in the present study.

PIP: This study determined the mean age at menarche among 571 Assamese girls who came from various castes (brahmin, kalita, and kaibarta). The sample population also included Muslims and two Mongoloid populations. Evidence from early research suggested that differences in the mean age at menarche occurred between castes and scheduled tribes in Assam, India. Findings from the present study indicate that the mean age at menarche was 12.23 +or- 0.19 years among brahmin girls, 11.96 +or- 0.16 years among kalita, and 11.92 +or- 0.08 years among kaibarta. The decline in age at menarche followed the decline in status among this caste. Among Muslims, the mean age at menarche was 12.10 +or- 0.10 years. Among the Mongoloid group, the mean age at menarche was 11.83 +or- 0.09 years for ahoms and 11.94 +or- 0.12 years for sonowals. There were no statistically significant differences in menarcheal age between caste and tribal groups. Findings suggest a change in the mean age at menarche over time. Age at menarche appeared to decrease among the kaibarta, sonowal, and Muslim groups; it appeared to increase among the brahmin, kalita, and ahom groups. These findings are considered tentative pending further research.

Menarche and menopause among the Kaibarta women of Dibrugarh, Assam.

"Investigation on the onset of menarche and menopause among [175]... Kaibarta females [living in Dibrugarh, in Assam, India,] is reported. Results are compared with those of the other populations in Assam. From the analysis, it emerges...that some of the observed differences between the population might be due to the effect of ethnic, genetic and rural-urban residence, etc. Secular trends in the age at menarche among populations of Assam are also discussed."