Defence Life Science Journal
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Normal Body Mass Index and Heart Rate Variability
Get PDFThe autonomic nervous system (ANS) works in synergy with the Endocrine system that affects the body-mass and height and in turn the body mass index (BMI). The ANS activities are often assessed with one index that is heart rate variability (HRV). Reduced HRV has been reported in underweight (low BMI) and overweight (high BMI) individuals, but there is scarce information available on the relationship between normal BMI and HRV. Further, as per WHO expert consultation report, the Asian population has higher percentage of body fat than their European counterparts, therefore Asian people may have greater risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease even below the existing upper edge of normal BMI. Thus it was recommended by WHO to consider the intermediate cutoff points within the normal BMI range as 18.5 Kg/m2, 20 Kg/m2, 23 Kg/m2, and 25 Kg/m2 for the Asian population. Therefore, the present study was aimed to investigate ANS activity among intermediate cutoff points of normal BMI using HRV. Seventy young individuals participated in the non-invasive and benign study. Subjects were divided into three groups based on their BMI as per the recommendation of the WHO report; NB1 (18.5<BMI≤20), NB2 (20<BMI<23) and NB3 (23<BMI<25). For all the subjects, 10 min of electrocardiogram was recorded and short term HRV analysis was carried out. Student t test was carried out to find the significance of study parameters in BMI groups. The BMI was correlated with HRV measures using Spearman’s correlation method. Statistically significant negative correlation was found between BMI and various HRV parameters. The sympathovagal balance was comparable in NB1 and NB2 group whereas it shifted towards sympathetic dominance in NB3 group. Higher sympathetic activity for BMI greater than 23 in Indian youth may lead to predictability of risks associated with overweight and obesit
Yoga Intervention as a Potential Countermeasure for Polar T3 Syndrome
Get PDFPolar T3 syndrome is a common ailment for polar sojourners. It is characterised by abnormal fluctuations of thyroid hormones during extended polar winter. A randomised controlled study was conducted on 14 winter expedition members of Indian Scientific Expedition (2016) to Antarctica by introducing customised yoga module. Blood samples were collected during January to October, 2016 at different intervals for the estimation of total thyroxine (TT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroid stimulating hormone and noradrenaline (NA) by ELISA. In October yoga group showed significant (p = 0.04) higher TT3 values (2.1 ng/ml ± 0.9; mean ± SD) as compared to the control (0.7 ng/ml ± 0.6). In October a significant difference (p=0.0085) was observed between yoga and control group for NA values (47.0 pg/ml ± 22.0 and 107 pg/ml ± 46.0). Thyroid response of control group at the end of the study revealed presence of polar T3 syndrome in control group. Results indicate that regular yoga practice helped mitigating polar T3 syndrom
Implications of Biosecurity in Food Safety
Get PDFOwing to growing population of world, efforts are being made to maximise food production. Food safety should not be compromised to meet the food requirement of increasing population. Biosecurity is the imperative approach to ensure food safety. This is a holistic approach that interlinks health, environment, security and trade. Increased incidents of foodborne diseases led to promotion of biosecurity as a major priority policy worldwide to curtail such incidents and ensure food safety. Microbial risk management is an essential component of food safety. National biosecurity programmes are essentially required to identify the prospective modes of introduction and spread of a disease in a country or region and to specify the control measures to curtail the risk associated with the disease. International standards for various biosecurity sectors are set mainly by Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organisation for Animal Health and Commission on Phytosanitary Measures, which are implemented through the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, 1995 of World Trade Organisation. Agricultural biosecurity is of utmost importance in the countries that are large crop and animal producers, and these countries are at risk from alien pests and pathogens. Adequate biosecurity programmes are essential in all the countries to protect global environment, agriculture and biodiversity. Developing countries, particularly with large populations aiming maximised food production require stringent biosecurity approaches to provide safe and nutritious food to the people
Enhanced Production of Protective Antigen, a Potent Diagnostic Protein of Bacillus anthracis, the Causative Agent of Anthrax
Get PDFProtective antigen (PA) produced by Bacillus anthracis is a highly immunogenic protein. Therefore, it has significant importance in serodiagnosis as well as a vaccine candidate for anthrax. In the present study, codons for PA gene were optimised and synthesised for its expression in Escherichia coli. Various expression conditions were optimised for scaled up production of rPA. The final yield of affinity chromatography purified protein was 40.8 mg/l during batch fermentation. For further purification, affinity purified protein was diafiltered and subjected to anion exchange chromatography. SDS-PAGE and Western blot was used to characterise the purified rPA protein. The diagnostic potential of purified rPA was evaluated in Western blot using standards reference serum AVR 801 and cutaneous anthrax clinical sera. The results of the present study established the optimum production of rPA in E. coli after codon optimisation for its subsequent use in diagnosis of anthrax infection
Evaluation of DNA Extraction Methods of Mule Dung
Get PDFDNA isolation is a critical step in microbial community analysis of animal dung. DNA isolation from mule dung is challenging due to microbial diversity, composition and chemical nature of mule dung. Therefore, selection of an appropriate DNA isolation method is important to analyse the complete microbial diversity. In the current study, we evaluated the DNA isolation from mule dung samples (n=11) using QiAmp Mini stool kit as per manufacturer’s procedure with modifications. The results suggest that modifications in proprietary column based method improved the DNA quality and quantity suitable for mule dung microbial community analyses
Towards Protecting Critical National Assets and Preparedness for Response to Hazardous Chemical, Biological and Radiological Attacks
Get PDFHazardous chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) materials are catching attention of unscrupulous actors for creating terror and havoc. Threat perception for use of such materials by terrorists and non-state actors for malicious purposes, is not imaginative but real and imminent in today’s context. World has witnessed a number of such incidences in the recent years, e.g., Mustard gas attack against Kurdish forces in Iraq; ricin laced letters sent to US President and others senators; use of Nerve gas agents in Syria; capturing of Uranium from University of al- Mousal, Iraq by IS, etc. National assets like critical buildings where main legislative, historical building, Hospitals are some of the likely targets for CBR attacks attract quick coverage by media. Authorities related with managing and safeguarding mechanisms of the facilities to prevent such events happening also to enhance their capabilities as well as effective response. Essential CBR security should include measures to rapidly detect and effectively deter the CBR incidences their deleterious consequences. In this review, protection of the critical facilities from CBR attacks and capacity in terms of infrastructure, specialised training and mutual aid have been discussed
Synthesis of 2, 5 Dimethyl Furan from Renewable Lignocellulosic Biomass
Get PDFRenewable biomass resources could reduce the dependency on the fossil fuels by conversion of its lignocellulose into bio-fuels and other valuable chemicals. Depolymerisation of lignocellulose, hydrolysis of cellulose to monomer glucose and its subsequent dehydration results 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). HMF is an important platform chemical for fuels and various other applications. The hydrogenation of HMF results 2, 5-dimethylfuran (DMF), which may be a biofuel with 40 per cent greater energy density than that of ethanol. The homogeneous catalytic method is preferred for lignocellulosic biomass conversion to cellulose, its hydrolysis and further dehydration to HMF. The Cu-Ru/C and related catalysts are preferred for hydrogenation of HMD to 2, 5-dimethylfuran. This review is an attempt to summarise the current research and developments in the field of lignocellulose derived HMF and further conversion to DMF as a potential biofuel
Food Irradiation: An Established Food Processing Technology for Food Safety and Security
Get PDFFood irradiation is a well-established and effective technology for food processing and preservation. The technology aids in reducing food losses and ensuring food safety by elimination of pathogens and parasites causing illness and death. Radiation treatment can be applied to agricultural produce and animal food products to get extended shelf life with improved microbiological safety and quality. Irradiating food can greatly reduce illness from foodborne pathogens thereby preventing morbidity and mortality. Various national and international food and health organisations have endorsed and supported the safety of food and foodstuffs subjected to ionising radiation based on the research and testing data of more than 50 year. A review is presented on the historical developments of food irradiation technology, radiation sources for treatment of food and, the safety and wholesomeness of foods processed by ionising radiation
Evaluation of Diagnostic Potential of Recombinant Outer Membrane Protein (rOmp28) of Brucella Melitensis for Serodiagnosis of Ovine and Caprine Brucellosis
Get PDFBrucella melitensis is the main causative agent of brucellosis in small ruminants. The diagnosis of brucellosis is mostly done by isolation of bacteria from aborted material, udder secretions or from tissues of infected animals. The presumptive diagnosis of Brucellosis is attempted by elucidating the serological responses to Brucella antigens. The present study was designed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of rOmp28 antigen of Brucella melitensis for ovine and caprine brucellosis. A total of 163 clinical samples (n=79 samples of ovine and n=84 samples of caprine) were tested in an indirect plate-ELISA format using rOmp28 antigen. Results of rOmp28 antigen based indirect ELISA were also compared with the native antigens [cell envelope antigen (CE) and whole cell sonicated antigen (SA)] based ELISA and with conventional Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT). Recombinant Omp28 antigen showed high sensitivity and specificity i.e., 71.4%, 97.7% for ovine samples and 74%, 87.8% for caprine samples as compared with CE antigen (40%, 75%) and (44%, 67.6%) and SA antigen (37.1%, 84%) and (42%, 70.5%) for ovine and caprine samples respectively. This study demonstrated that rOmp28 can be a good candidate antigen in the serodiagnosis of ovine and caprine brucellosis in India and also further in the development of rapid field-adaptable diagnostic assay for screening of ovine and caprine brucellosis
