Assessment of groundwater salinity using principal component analysis (PCA): a case study from Mewat (Nuh), Haryana, India.

In the present study, principal component analysis (PCA) is used to investigate the processes controlling groundwater salinity in the Mewat (Nuh) district, Haryana, India. Twenty groundwater samples were collected from salinity-affected areas in the March-April months of years 2018 and 2019 and were analyzed for chemical variables pH, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, [Formula: see text], Cl-, SO42-, [Formula: see text], TDS, and total hardness. Three principal components were selected based on the eigen value, which explains 79.58% and 85.08% of the total variation in the years 2018 and 2019, respectively. The first principal component (PC-1) is identified with salinity, the second principal component (PC-2) with alkalinity, and the third principal component (PC-3) described the pollution. When the yearly comparison was made, the samples collected in 2019 were found to have an increased salinity compared to 2018, which shows an increased vulnerability to the aquifer of Mewat on account of the decline in rainfall recharge. It was also evident that declining recharge also triggered the recharge from other sources; thus, the impact of pollution is more pronounced in 2019 compared to 2018.

Identification of heterotic groups in South-Asian-bred hybrid parents of pearl millet.

KEY MESSAGE: Pearl millet breeding programs can use this heterotic group information on seed and restorer parents to generate new series of pearl millet hybrids having higher yields than the existing hybrids. Five hundred and eighty hybrid parents, 320 R- and 260 B-lines, derived from 6 pearl millet breeding programs in India, genotyped following RAD-GBS (about 0.9 million SNPs) clustered into 12 R- and 7 B-line groups. With few exceptions, hybrid parents of all the breeding programs were found distributed across all the marker-based groups suggesting good diversity in these programs. Three hundred and twenty hybrids generated using 37 (22 R and 15 B) representative parents, evaluated for grain yield at four locations in India, showed significant differences in yield, heterosis, and combining ability. Across all the hybrids, mean mid- and better-parent heterosis for grain yield was 84.0% and 60.5%, respectively. Groups G12 B × G12 R and G10 B × G12 R had highest heterosis of about 10% over best check hybrid Pioneer 86M86. The parents involved in heterotic hybrids were mainly from the groups G4R, G10B, G12B, G12R, and G13B. Based on the heterotic performance and combining ability of groups, 2 B-line (HGB-1 and HGB-2) and 2 R-line (HGR-1 and HGR-2) heterotic groups were identified. Hybrids from HGB-1 × HGR-1 and HGB-2 × HGR-1 showed grain yield heterosis of 10.6 and 9.3%, respectively, over best hybrid check. Results indicated that parental groups can be formed first by molecular markers, which may not predict the best hybrid combination, but it can reveal a practical value of assigning existing and new hybrid pearl millet parental lines into heterotic groups to develop high-yielding hybrids from the different heterotic groups.

Radiographically normal knees with contralateral joint space narrowing display greater change in cartilage transverse relaxation time than those with normal contralateral knees: a model of early OA? - data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI).

OBJECTIVE: To develop a model of early osteoarthritis, by examining whether radiographically normal knees with contralateral joint space narrowing (JSN), but without contralateral trauma history, display greater longitudinal cartilage composition change (transverse relaxation time; T2) than subjects with bilaterally normal knees. METHODS: 120 radiographically normal knees (Kellgren Lawrence grade [KLG] 0) from the Osteoarthritis Initiative were studied. 60 case knees displayed definite contralateral radiographic knee osteoarthritis (KLG ≥ 2) whereas 60 reference subjects were bilaterally KLG0, and were matched 1:1 to cases based on age, sex, and BMI. All had multi-echo spin-echo MRI acquired at year (Y) 1 and 4 follow-up, with cartilage T2 being determined in superficial and deep cartilage layers across 16 femorotibial subregions. T2 across all regions was considered the primary analytic focus. RESULTS: Of 60 KLG0 case knees (30 female, age: 65.0 ± 8.8 y, BMI: 27.6 ± 4.4 kg/m2), 21/22/13/4 displayed contralateral JSN 0/1/2/3, respectively. The longitudinal increase in the deep layer cartilage T2 between Y1 and Y4 was significantly greater (P = 0.03; Cohen's D 0.50) in the 39 KLG0 case knees with contralateral JSN (1.2 ms; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.4, 2.0]) than in matched KLG0 reference knees (0.1 ms; 95% CI [-0.5, 0.7]). No significant differences were identified in superficial T2 change. T2 at Y1 was significantly greater in case than in reference knees, particularly in the superficial layer of the medial compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographically normal knees with contralateral, non-traumatic JSN represent an applicable model of early osteoarthritis, with deep layer cartilage composition (T2) changing more rapidly than in bilaterally normal knees. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFICATION: NCT00080171.

Cartilage loss in radiographically normal knees depends on radiographic status of the contralateral knee - data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether radiographically normal knees with contralateral radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA), but without contralateral trauma history, display greater cartilage thickness loss than knees from subjects with bilaterally radiographically normal knees. METHODS: 828 radiographically normal knees (Kellgren Lawrence grade [KLG] 0) from the Osteoarthritis Initiative [OAI] were studied; 150 case knees displayed definite radiographic knee OA (KLG ≥ 2) contralaterally, and had MRI double echo steady state (DESS) images available at 12 and 48 month follow-up. 678 reference knees displayed KLG0 at the contralateral side. Cartilage thickness change was determined in femorotibial subregions and location-independent cartilage thinning scores were computed. Case and reference knees were compared using ANCOVA. RESULTS: Of the 150 KLG0 case knees, 108 had a contralateral KLG2 knee (50 without, and 58 with joint space narrowing [JSN]), 31 a KLG3 and 11 a KLG4 knee. The cartilage thinning score tended to be greater in case than reference knees; the cartilage thinning score in KLG0 case knees with contralateral radiographic JSN (-858 µm; [95% confidence interval -1016, -701 µm]) was significantly greater (P = 0.0012) than that in bilaterally KLG0 reference knees (-634 µm; [-673, -596 µm]), whereas KLG0 knees with contralateral KLG2 without JSN only showed relatively small thinning scores (-530 µm, [-631, -428 µm]). Region-specific analysis suggested greater rates of cartilage loss in case than in reference knees in the lateral, rather than medial, femorotibial compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographically normal knees with contralateral JSN may serve as a human model of early OA, for testing disease modifying drugs in clinical trials designed to prevent cartilage loss before the onset of radiographic change. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFICATION: NCT00080171.

Preferences for physical activity: a conjoint analysis involving people with chronic knee pain.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate individual preferences for physical activity (PA) attributes in adults with chronic knee pain, to identify clusters of individuals with similar preferences, and to identify whether individuals in these clusters differ by their demographic and health characteristics. DESIGN: An adaptive conjoint analysis (ACA) was conducted using the Potentially All Pairwise RanKings of all possible Alternatives (PAPRIKA) method to determine preference weights representing the relative importance of six PA attributes. Cluster analysis was performed to identify clusters of participants with similar weights. Chi-square and ANOVA were used to assess differences in individual characteristics by cluster. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations between individual characteristics and cluster assignment. RESULTS: The study sample included 146 participants; mean age 65, 72% female, 47% white, non-Hispanic. The six attributes (mean weights in parentheses) are: health benefit (0.26), enjoyment (0.24), convenience (0.16), financial cost (0.13), effort (0.11) and time cost (0.10). Three clusters were identified: Cluster 1 (n = 33): for whom enjoyment (0.35) is twice as important as health benefit; Cluster 2 (n = 63): for whom health benefit (0.38) is most important; and Cluster 3 (n = 50): for whom cost (0.18), effort (0.18), health benefit (0.17) and enjoyment (0.18) are equally important. Cluster 1 was healthiest, Cluster 2 most self-efficacious, and Cluster 3 was in poorest health. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic knee pain have preferences for PA that can be distinguished effectively using ACA methods. Adults with chronic knee pain, clustered by PA preferences, share distinguishing characteristics. Understanding preferences may help clinicians and researchers to better tailor PA interventions.

Hip muscle strength and protection against structural worsening and poor function and disability outcomes in knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Examine associations of hip abductor strength with (1) cartilage damage worsening in the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral compartments 2 years later, and (2) poor function and disability outcomes 5 years later. METHODS: Participants had knee osteoarthritis (K/L ≥ 2) in at least one knee. Hip abductor strength was measured using Biodex Dynamometry. Participants underwent 3.0T MRI of both knees at baseline and 2 years later. Baseline-to-2-year cartilage damage progression, defined as any worsening of WORMS cartilage damage score, was assessed at each tibiofemoral and patellofemoral surface. LLFDI (Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument) and Chair-Stand-Rate were recorded at baseline and 5-year follow-up; outcomes analyzed using quintiles. Poor outcomes were defined as remaining in the same low-function quintiles or being in a worse quintile at 5-year follow-up. We analyzed associations of baseline hip abductor strength with cartilage damage worsening and function and disability outcomes using multivariable log-binomial models. RESULTS: 275 knees from 164 persons [age = 63.7 (SD = 9.8) years, 79.3% women] comprised the structural outcome sample, and 187 persons [age = 64.2 (9.7), 78.6% women] the function and disability outcomes sample. Greater baseline hip abductor strength was associated with reduced risks of baseline-to-2-year medial patellofemoral and lateral tibiofemoral cartilage damage worsening [adjusted relative risks (RRs) range: 0.80-0.83) and with reduced risks of baseline-to-5-year poor outcomes for Chair-Stand-Rate and LLFDI Basic Lower-Extremity Function and Disability Limitation (adjusted RRs range: 0.91-0.94). CONCLUSION: Findings support a beneficial role of hip abductor strength for disease modification and for function and disability outcomes, and as a potential therapeutic target in managing knee osteoarthritis.

Voltage-gated proton channels exist in the plasma membrane of human oocytes.

STUDY QUESTION: Do human oocytes express voltage-gated proton channels? SUMMARY ANSWER: Human oocytes exhibit voltage-gated proton currents. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Voltage-gated proton currents have been reported in human sperm, where they contribute to capacitation and motility. No such studies of human oocytes exist. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Voltage-clamp studies were undertaken using entire oocytes and vesicles derived from oocytes and in excised patches of membrane from oocytes. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Frozen, thawed human metaphase II oocytes were obtained from material donated to the gamete repository at the Rush Center for Advanced Reproductive Care. Prior to patch clamping, oocytes were warmed and equilibrated. Formation of an electrically tight seal requires exposing bare oolemma. Sections of the zona pellucida (ZP) were removed using a laser, followed by repeated pipetting, to further separate the oocyte from the ZP. Patch-clamp studies were performed using the whole-cell configuration on oocytes or vesicles derived from oocytes, and using inside-out patches of membrane, under conditions optimized to detect voltage-gated proton currents. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Proton currents are present at significant levels in human oocytes where they exhibit properties similar to those reported in other human cells, as well as those in heterologous expression systems transfected with the HVCN1 gene that codes for the voltage-gated proton channel. LARGE SCALE DATA: N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Human oocytes are large cells, which limits our ability to control the intracellular solution. Subtle effects of cryopreservation by vitrification and subsequent warming on properties of HVCN1, the HVCN1 gene product, cannot be ruled out. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Possible functions for voltage-gated proton channels in human oocytes may now be contemplated. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): NIH R35GM126902 (TED), Bears Care (DM). No competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Predictive and concurrent validity of cartilage thickness change as a marker of knee osteoarthritis progression: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive and concurrent validity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based cartilage thickness change between baseline (BL) and year-two (Y2) follow-up (predictive validity) and between Y2 and Y4 follow-up (concurrent validity) for symptomatic and radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) progression during Y2→Y4. METHODS: 777 knees from 777 Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants (age: 61.3 ± 9.0 years, BMI: 30.1 ± 4.8 kg/m2) with Kellgren Lawrence (KL) grade 1-3 at Y2 (visit before progression interval) had cartilage thickness measurements from 3T MRI at BL, Y2 (n = 777), and Y4 (n = 708). Analysis of covariance and logistic regression were used to assess the association of pain progression (≥9 WOMAC units [scale 0-100], n = 205/572 with/without progression) and radiographic progression (≥0.7 mm minimum joint space width (mJSW) loss, n = 166/611 with/without progression) between Y2 and Y4 with preceding (BL→Y2) and concurrent (Y2→Y4) change in central medial femorotibial (cMFTC) compartment cartilage thickness. RESULTS: Symptomatic progression was associated with concurrent (Y2→Y4: -305 ± 470 µm vs -155 ± 346 µm, Odds ratios (OR) = 1.5 [1.2, 1.7]) but not with preceding cartilage thickness loss in cMFTC (-150 ± 276 µm vs -151 ± 299 µm, OR = 0.9 95% CI: [0.8, 1.1]). Radiographic progression, in contrast, was significantly associated with both concurrent (-542 ± 550 µm vs -98 ± 255 µm, OR = 3.4 [2.6, 4.3]) and preceding cMFTC thickness loss (-229 ± 355 µm vs -130 ± 270 µm, OR = 1.3 [1.1, 1.5]). CONCLUSIONS: These results extend previous reports that did not discern predictive vs concurrent associations of cartilage thickness loss with OA progression. The observed predictive and concurrent validity of cartilage thickness loss for radiographic progression and observed concurrent validity for symptomatic progression provide an important step in qualifying cartilage thickness loss as a biomarker of knee OA progression. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFICATION: NCT00080171.

Knee tissue lesions and prediction of incident knee osteoarthritis over 7 years in a cohort of persons at higher risk.

OBJECTIVE: Among high risk individuals, whether knee lesions in tissues involved in osteoarthritis (OA) can improve prediction of knee OA is unclear. We hypothesized that models predicting (1) incident osteophytes and (2) incident osteophytes and joint space narrowing can be improved by including symptoms or function, and further improved by lesion status. DESIGN: In Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants with normal knee X-rays, we assessed cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions (BMLs), and menisci. Cox proportional hazards models were used to develop risk prediction models for risk of each outcome. Nested models (increasingly larger baseline covariable sets) were compared using likelihood ratio tests and Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion (SBC). Model discrimination used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: In 841 participants [age 59.6, body mass index (BMI) 26.7, 55.9% women] over up to 7 years follow-up, each larger set improved prediction (+hand OA, injury, surgery, activities; +symptoms/function). Prediction was further improved by including cartilage damage both compartments, BMLs both compartments, meniscal tear, meniscal extrusion, sum of lesion types, number of subregions with cartilage damage, number of subregions with BMLs, and (concurrently) subregion number with cartilage damage, subregion number with BMLs, and meniscal tear. AUCs were ≥0.80 for both outcomes for number of subregions with cartilage damage and the combined model. CONCLUSIONS: Among persons at higher risk for knee OA with normal X-rays, MRI tissue lesions improved prediction of mild as well as moderate disease. These findings support that disease onset is likely occurring during the "high-risk" period and encourage a reorientation of approach.

Association of baseline knee sagittal dynamic joint stiffness during gait and 2-year patellofemoral cartilage damage worsening in knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Knee sagittal dynamic joint stiffness (DJS) describes the biomechanical interaction between change in external knee flexion moment and flexion angular excursion during gait. In theory, greater DJS may particularly stress the patellofemoral (PF) compartment and thereby contribute to PF osteoarthritis (OA) worsening. We hypothesized that greater baseline knee sagittal DJS is associated with PF cartilage damage worsening 2 years later. METHODS: Participants all had OA in at least one knee. Knee kinematics and kinetics during gait were recorded using motion capture systems and force plates. Knee sagittal DJS was computed as the slope of the linear regression line for knee flexion moments vs angles during the loading response phase. Knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained at baseline and 2 years later. We assessed the association between baseline DJS and baseline-to-2-year PF cartilage damage worsening using logistic regression with generalized estimating equations (GEE). RESULTS: Our sample had 391 knees (204 persons): mean age 64.2 years (SD 10.0); body mass index (BMI) 28.4 kg/m2 (5.7); 76.5% women. Baseline knee sagittal DJS was associated with baseline-to-2-year cartilage damage worsening in the lateral (OR = 5.35, 95% CI: 2.37-12.05) and any PF (OR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.27-7.04) compartment. Individual components of baseline DJS (i.e., change in knee moment or angle) were not associated with subsequent PF disease worsening. CONCLUSION: Capturing the concomitant effect of knee kinetics and kinematics during gait, knee sagittal DJS is a potentially modifiable risk factor for PF disease worsening.

Varus thrust during walking and the risk of incident and worsening medial tibiofemoral MRI lesions: the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of varus thrust during walking to incident and worsening medial tibiofemoral cartilage damage and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) over 2 years in older adults with or at risk for osteoarthritis (OA). METHOD: Subjects from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST) were studied. Varus thrust was visually assessed from high-speed videos of forward walking trials. Baseline and two-year MRIs were acquired from one knee per subject and read for cartilage loss and BMLs. Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations was used to estimate the odds of incident and worsening cartilage loss and BMLs, adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), and clinic site. The analysis was repeated stratified by varus, neutral, and valgus alignment. RESULTS: 1007 participants contributed one knee each. Varus thrust was observed in 29.9% of knees. Knees with thrust had 2.17 [95% CI: 1.51, 3.11] times the odds of incident medial BML, 2.51 [1.85, 3.40] times the odds of worsening medial BML, and 1.85 [1.35, 2.55] times the odds of worsening medial cartilage loss. When stratified by alignment, varus knees also had significantly increased odds of these outcomes. CONCLUSION: Varus thrust observed during walking is associated with increased odds of incident and worsening medial BMLs and worsening medial cartilage loss. Increased odds of these outcomes persist in varus-aligned knees.

Osteoarthritis year in review 2015: clinical.

The purpose of this review is to highlight clinical research in osteoarthritis (OA). A literature search was conducted using PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) with the search terms "osteoarthritis [All Fields] AND treatment [All Fields]" and the following limits activated: humans, English language, all adult 19+ years, published between April 1, 2014 and April 1, 2015. A second literature search was then conducted with the search terms "osteoarthritis [All Fields] AND epidemiology [All Fields]", with the same limits. Reports of surgical outcome, case series, surgical technique, tissue sample or culture studies, trial protocols, and pilot studies were excluded. Of 1523, 150 were considered relevant. Among epidemiologic and observational clinical studies, themes included physical activity, early knee OA, and confidence/instability/falls. Symptom outcomes of pharmacologic treatments were reported for methotrexate, adalimumab, anti-nerve growth factor monoclonal antibodies, strontium ranelate, bisphosphonates, glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfate, and structural outcomes of pharmacologic treatments for strontium ranelate, recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 18, and glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Symptom outcomes of non-pharmacologic interventions were reported for: neuromuscular exercise, quadriceps strengthening, weight reduction and maintenance, TENS, therapeutic ultrasound, stepped care strategies, cognitive behavior therapy for sleep disturbance, acupuncture, gait modification, booster physical therapy, a web-based therapeutic exercise resource center for knee OA; hip physical therapy for hip OA; and joint protection and hand exercises for hand OA. Structure outcomes of non-pharmacologic interventions were reported for patellofemoral bracing.

Elucidation of the potential disease-promoting influence of IgM apoptotic cell-reactive antibodies in lupus.

The undigested remnants of apoptosis are believed to stimulate the generation of autoantibodies in lupus. The biological properties of initiator, disease-specific IgM antibodies that specifically recognize apoptotic cells, readily detected in the sera of lupus patients, remain unclear. Apoptotic cell-reactive IgM monoclonal antibodies (generated from lupus-prone mice), as opposed to control IgM, preferentially stimulated maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) derived from such mice, relative to BMDCs derived from healthy mice. An influence of both antibody specificity and cell genotype was also apparent in the secretion of signature inflammatory cytokines. Immunization of such antibodies in lupus-prone animals induced increases in total serum IgG levels, with the elicited antibodies also preferentially recognizing moieties on dying cells. An expanded specificity was apparent both upon Western blot on cellular lysate and from the enhanced recognition of dsDNA, Ro60, RNP68 and Sm; the antibody most efficient in mediating autoreactive diversity, while being germline encoded, also induced the highest degree of phenotypic changes on BMDCs. Apoptotic cell-reactive IgM antibodies may therefore be potentially capable of influencing the course of systemic autoimmune disease by affecting both innate and adaptive immunity.

Novel keratin preparation supports growth and differentiation of odontoblast-like cells.

AIM: To fabricate a keratin hydrogel, characterize its functionality as a biomaterial and investigate the effects of keratin on growth and differentiation of odontoblast-like cells. METHODOLOGY: Keratins were extracted from sheep wool using a well-established technique. The extracted proteins were purified by dialysis, quantified by gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, amino acid analysis and inductively coupled mass spectrometry. The microstructure of the fabricated keratin hydrogels was studied by scanning electron microscopy, flow characteristics by rheometer, hydrolytic stability and cytocompatibility by Live/Dead(®) cell assay. Furthermore, the influence of keratin on odontoblast-like cells (MDPC-23) was assessed to confirm their bioactivity at different dilutions. Cell proliferation was studied using alamarBlue(®) assay and differentiation by alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, alizarin red staining and calcium quantification, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) and immunocytochemical staining for dentine matrix protein- 1 (DMP-1) expression. anova with Tukey's tests was performed for statistical comparison. RESULTS: The characterized hydrogel was injectable with a highly porous architecture that underwent slow degradation, and its cytocompatibility was statistically equivalent to collagen hydrogel (P > 0.05). Cell proliferation and differentiation were enhanced at the optimal keratin concentration of 0.1 mg mL(-1) . At this concentration, the influence of keratin on cell differentiation was demonstrated by marked elevation in alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.05), calcium deposition (P < 0.01), gene expression (P < 0.01) and positive immunostaining for DMP-1. CONCLUSION: The presence of keratin enhanced odontoblast cell behaviour. Keratin hydrogels may be a potential scaffold for pulp-dentine regen-eration.

Detection of Shockable Ventricular Arrhythmia using Variational Mode Decomposition.

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are shockable ventricular cardiac ailments. Detection of VT/VF is one of the important step in both automated external defibrillator (AED) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy. In this paper, we propose a new method for detection and classification of shockable ventricular arrhythmia (VT/VF) and non-shockable ventricular arrhythmia (normal sinus rhythm, ventricular bigeminy, ventricular ectopic beats, and ventricular escape rhythm) episodes from Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. The variational mode decomposition (VMD) is used to decompose the ECG signal into number of modes or sub-signals. The energy, the renyi entropy and the permutation entropy of first three modes are evaluated and these values are used as diagnostic features. The mutual information based feature scoring is employed to select optimal set of diagnostic features. The performance of the diagnostic features is evaluated using random forest (RF) classifier. Experimental results reveal that, the feature subset derived from mutual information based scoring and the RF classifier produces accuracy, sensitivity and specificity values of 97.23 %, 96.54 %, and 97.97 %, respectively. The proposed method is compared with some of the existing techniques for detection of shockable ventricular arrhythmia episodes from ECG.

Effect of cryogenic grinding on volatile and fatty oil constituents of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) genotypes.

Effect of cryogenic grinding on recovery of volatile oil, fatty oil percentage and their constituents in two cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) genotypes have been analyzed. Cryogenic grinding not only retains the volatiles but enhanced the recovery by 33.9 % in GC 4 and 43.5 % in RZ 209. A significant increase (29.9 %) over normal grinding in oil percentage was also observed in genotype RZ 209. This increase was, however, less (15.4 %) in genotype GC 4. Nineteen major compounds were identified in the essential oil of both genotypes. The two grinding techniques had significant effects on dependent variables, viz., volatile oil and monoterpenes. Cuminaldehyde was the main constituent in both genotypes, content of which increased from 48.2 to 56.1 % in GC 4 on cryo grinding. Content of terpines were found to decrease in cryo ground samples of GC 4 and either decrease or no change was found in RZ 209. Organoleptic test showed more pleasant aroma in cryo ground seeds of both the genotypes. Significant increase was also reported in fatty oil yield due to cryogenic grinding. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis showed oleic acid as major FAME content of which increased from 88.1 to 94.9 % in RZ 209 and from 88.2 to 90.1 % in GC 4 on cryogenic grinding. Other prominent FAME were palmitic, palmitoleic and stearic acid. Results indicated commercial potential of cryogenic grinding technology for cumin in general and spices in particular for better retention of flavour and quality in spices.

External knee adduction and flexion moments during gait and medial tibiofemoral disease progression in knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Test the hypothesis that greater baseline peak external knee adduction moment (KAM), KAM impulse, and peak external knee flexion moment (KFM) during the stance phase of gait are associated with baseline-to-2-year medial tibiofemoral cartilage damage and bone marrow lesion progression, and cartilage thickness loss. METHODS: Participants all had knee OA in at least one knee. Baseline peak KAM, KAM impulse, and peak KFM (normalized to body weight and height) were captured and computed using a motion analysis system and six force plates. Participants underwent MRI of both knees at baseline and 2 years later. To assess the association between baseline moments and baseline-to-2-year semiquantitative cartilage damage and bone marrow lesion progression and quantitative cartilage thickness loss, we used logistic and linear regressions with generalized estimating equations (GEE), adjusting for gait speed, age, gender, disease severity, knee pain severity, and medication use. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 391 knees (204 persons): mean age 64.2 years (SD 10.0); BMI 28.4 kg/m(2) (5.7); 156 (76.5%) women. Greater baseline peak KAM and KAM impulse were each associated with worsening of medial bone marrow lesions, but not cartilage damage. Higher baseline KAM impulse was associated with 2-year medial cartilage thickness loss assessed both as % loss and as a threshold of loss, whereas peak KAM was related only to % loss. There was no relationship between baseline peak KFM and any medial disease progression outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Findings support targeting KAM parameters in an effort to delay medial OA disease progression.

Baseline radiographic osteoarthritis and semi-quantitatively assessed meniscal damage and extrusion and cartilage damage on MRI is related to quantitatively defined cartilage thickness loss in knee osteoarthritis: the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a comprehensive simultaneous relation of various semiquantitative knee OA MRI features as well as the presence of baseline radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) to quantitative longitudinal cartilage loss. METHODS: We studied Multicenter OA Study (MOST) participants from a longitudinal observational study that included quantitative MRI measurement of cartilage thickness. These subjects also had Whole Organ MRI Score (WORMS) scoring of cartilage damage, bone marrow lesions (BMLs), meniscal pathology, and synovitis, as well as baseline radiographic evaluation for Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grading. Knee compartments were classified as progressors when exceeding thresholds of measurement variability in normal knees. All potential risk factors of cartilage loss were dichotomized into "present" (score ≥2 for cartilage, ≥1 for others) or "absent". Differences in baseline scores of ipsi-compartmental risk factors were compared between progressor and non-progressor knees by multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, alignment axis (degrees) and baseline KL grade. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% CIs were calculated for medial femorotibial compartment (MFTC) and lateral femorotibial compartment (LFTC) cartilage loss. Cartilage loss across both compartments was studied using Generalized Estimating Equations. RESULTS: 196 knees of 196 participants were included (age 59.8 ± 6.3 years [mean ± SD], BMI 29.5 ± 4.6, 62% women). For combined analyses of MFTC and LFTC, baseline factors related to cartilage loss were radiographic OA (KL grade ≥2: aOR 4.8 [2.4-9.5], cartilage damage (aOR 2.3 [1.2-4.4])), meniscal damage (aOR 3.9 [2.1-7.4]) and extrusion (aOR 2.9 [1.6-5.3]), all in the ipsilateral compartment, but not BMLs or synovitis. CONCLUSION: Baseline radiographic OA and semiquantitatively (SQ) assessed MRI-detected cartilage damage, meniscal damage and extrusion, but not BMLs or synovitis is related to quantitatively measured ipsi-compartmental cartilage thinning over 30 months.

Characterization of incomplete vitellogenin (VgC) in the Indian freshwater murrel, Channa punctatus (Bloch).

A novel incomplete vitellogenin (VgC) was purified from the plasma of estradiol-treated male murrel, Channa punctatus, by gel filtration chromatography. The native mass of VgC protein was 180 kDa, and it resolved as a single peptide of 100 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The peptide on subjecting to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight produced a peptide mass fingerprint. On tandem mass spectrometry, some of these peptides showed mass to charge (m/z) ratio and amino acid sequence similarity with VgC peptides of other teleosts. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a similarity of murrel VgC with fish species of the order Perciformes. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay was developed to study expression of vgc gene at variable levels of estradiol exposure. Presence of VgC in males indicates that fish has been exposed to estrogens; hence, it can be used as a biomarker for estrogenic exposure.

In silico and in vivo analysis of binding affinity of estrogens with estrogen receptor alpha in Channa punctatus (Bloch).

In the present study, potential interaction between natural estrogens i.e., estrone (E(1)), estradiol (E(2)) and estriol (E(3)) with human estrogen receptor (hER) was seen by in silico study. Molecular docking studies were carried out using Glide and ligand docking program. The binding affinity, assessed by Glide score, indicates stronger interaction of E(3) with hER followed by E(2) and E(1). Real-time PCR analysis of vga and vgb expressions, in the liver of different groups of Channa punctatus injected with the three natural estrogens, supported the docking analysis and indicated E(3) to be the most potent estrogen in inducing vga and vgb expressions followed by E(2) and E(1). This study lays the groundwork for studying interactions of various estrogenic substances with different estrogen receptors and to assess estrogenicity of various chemicals which are being released into the environment by employing molecular docking technique.