60 research outputs found
Comparative Study of Vitamin D Levels in Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis and a Normal Population
No full textBackground and Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. It contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment of TB poses a considerable challenge because of emerging drug resistance and the longer duration of therapy. Various past studies, both in vitro and in vivo, have established the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis and treatment of TB. Results of in vivo studies are inconsistent, and this study aims to determine vitamin D levels and their association with newly diagnosed TB (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) cases and normal populations. Material and Methods: A Prospective Case-Control study with 116 subjects (58 cases and 58 controls) was conducted over two years. 29 cases of pulmonary TB and 29 cases of extrapulmonary TB constituted 58 cases of TB. Vitamin D levels were measured and compared in both the cases and controls. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software 22.0. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 68.96% in the cases, while it was 51.72% in the controls. The reported median and quartile of serum vitamin D levels were 14.35 ng/mL (8.65, 25.48) in the TB group and 19.08 ng/mL (13.92, 26.17) in the control group. There was a significant statistical difference between the TB and non-TB populations with a p-value of 0.029 on the Mann–Whitney test. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in individuals with TB than those without TB
A Prospective, Randomized, Open Label, Comparative Study of Cholecalciferol as an Add on Therapy to Standard Treatment in Adult Patients with Bronchial Asthma
Get PDFBACKGROUND:
Bronchial asthma one of the most common chronic diseases globally is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Chronic inflammation leads to airway remodeling resulting in irreversible airway obstruction. Treatment of bronchial asthma includes bronchodilators – beta-2 agonists, anticholinergics, methylxanthines; leukotriene antagonists and corticosteroids. Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D) has been found to play key beneficial role in asthma. Cholecalciferol reduces airway inflammation by increasing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Vitamin D also reduces airway hyper responsiveness and improves the response to inhaled and oral corticosteroids. Hence, the present study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of Cholecalciferol as an add on therapy in patients with bronchial asthma.
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of Cholecalciferol as an add on therapy to standard treatment in modifying disease severity in adult patients with bronchial asthma.
METHODS:
A prospective, randomized, open labelled, comparative study was conducted in asthmatic patients of mild to moderate severity attending Thoracic Medicine OPD of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. After screening, the study subjects (n=60) were allocated into 2 groups by simple randomization. Control group (n=30) patients received Formoterol (6 mcg) and Budesonide (200 mcg) metered dose inhale r(MDI) bid and study group (n=30) patients received Formoterol (6 mcg) and Budesonide (200 mcg) metered dose inhaler (MDI) bid with Tablet cholecalciferol 1000IU/D for 12 weeks and followed-up after 4 weeks.
RESULTS:
The primary outcome of the study was to measure the change in Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) & Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). Improvement in FEV1, FVC & PEFR values in study group was significant at the end of 12 weeks (p < 0.05). In addition, the frequency of exacerbations in study group was less compared to control group. No serious adverse events were reported in both groups.
CONCLUSION:
We conclude that Cholecalciferol supplementation improves the long-term control over bronchial asthma and is well tolerated
Feasibility of heavy truck occupant protection measures
Get PDFNotes: June 2003.Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 87-90)Notes: Special reportNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.CVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburghttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/1544/2/97646.0001.001.pd
Dégradation aérobie des biosolides municipaux et récupération de biocatalyseurs pour le traitement des eaux usées
Get PDFLe volume élevé de biosolides municipaux et industriels (BS) produits dans le monde entier est une source de préoccupation majeure pour les écologistes. Actuellement, la production mondiale de BS est estimée à environ 100 à 125 millions de tonnes par an et devrait augmenter continuellement. Au Canada, 6,6 millions de tonnes de BS stabilisés secs sont produites chaque année par plus de 3 500 stations d’épuration des eaux usées (STEP). La gestion et l’élimination des BS sont très préoccupantes pour de nombreuses municipalités, car cela peut représenter plus de la moitié du coût total du traitement des eaux usées. La valorisation des BS pour la production de biogaz présente un grand avantage. En effet, la digestion anaérobie des BS peut être utilisée pour produire du biogaz comme combustible si celui-ci est correctement collecté et purifié. Outre cet avantage, les BS représentent une menace environnementale à travers la production de gaz à effet de serre (GES), et la production de lixiviat contenant de nombreux contaminants organiques (incluant des contaminants organiques à l’état de traces (TrOCs), tels que les composés pharmaceutiques actifs (PhACs) et pesticides). Ainsi, à partir des sites d'enfouissement et de l'amendement des sols avec les BS municipales, ces contaminants peuvent se retrouver dans les eaux souterraines. Pour remédier à cela, le Québec a mis en place des politiques strictes en matière d’élimination des BS. On compte parmi les mesures prises l’interdiction du déversement des BS dans les décharges et établit une taxe verte qui est prélevée en fonction de l’inflation pour chaque tonne de BS incinérée ou mise en décharge au Québec.
Cependant, avec l’aide de technologies de bioprocédés avancées, ces BS peuvent être traités et utilisés simultanément comme matière première pour la production de produits de grande valeur ou de précurseurs de produits de grande valeur. Ce travail de recherche fournit une évaluation des principales méthodes d’élimination (réduction du volume et des contaminants) et passe en revue l’état des processus biotechnologiques, en particulier pour la digestion aérobie pour la production d’enzymes hydrolytiques et lignolytiques à partir des BS.
En premier lieu, l’impact des microorganismes endogènes a été étudié avec ou sans co-traitement. En ce sens, divers traitements comprenant l’utilisation de microorganismes indigènes présents dans les BS, l’effet combiné d’un prétraitement enzymatique, la biostimulation par l’ajout d’une source externe de carbone et l’effet synergique de la biostimulation et du prétraitement enzymatique ont été étudiés pendant 28 jours. En raison de diverses stratégies de traitement, une réduction totale des solides en suspension de 12% à 23%, une élimination des PhACs de 44% à 62% et une élimination des pesticides d’environ 10% à 54% ont été observées.
Aussi, pour améliorer l’élimination des solides en suspension des PhACs et pesticides, l’effet de quatre stratégies de prétraitement différentes (ultrasonication, congélation-décongélation, addition enzymatique et traitement alcalin), suivis d’une bioaugmentation avec la souche de bactérie Bacillus subtilis a été étudiée. Après 28 jours de traitement, la bioaugmentation a amélioré l’élimination totale des solides en suspension par 8 à 54% et une l’élimination des PhACs par 21 à 80% et une l’élimination des pesticides par 22 à 76%. La production d‘un cocktail d’enzymes extracellulaires (ex. : laccase, peroxydase, glucose oxydase, lipase, phosphatase, estérase…etc.) à la suite de la bioaugmentation des BS avec B. subtilis a été observée. Ces enzymes peuvent être impliquées dans l’élimination des contaminants présents dans les BS ainsi que dans la réduction des solides observée.
Cette étude est une approche bio-intégrée, où les enzymes produites lors de la digestion aérobie des BS ont été évaluées pour l’élimination des contaminants organiques présents dans les BS issus du traitement des eaux usées municipales. Pour souligner cela, la bioaugmentation des BS avec la souche de champignon Aspergillus niger a été évaluée dans le but de produire une enzyme d’intérêt telle que la glucose oxydase (GOD). La GOD sécrétée par A. niger, a été utilisée pour le processus d’oxydation avancé basé sur le bio-Fenton pour la dégradation de 15 PhACs d’intérêt dans l’eau. En somme, l’utilisation des BS comme substrat par les microorganismes étudiés a permis d’une part de diminuer les contaminants organiques et, d’autre part, de réduire le volume des BS.Abstract : The high volume of municipal and industrial biosolids (BS) produced all over the world is a
cause of major concern to the environmentalists these days. Currently, the worldwide production
of BS is estimated to be around 100-125 million tonnes per year and is expected to increase
continuously. According to Canadian context reported on, 6.6 million tonnes of dry stabilized BS
are generated yearly by more than 3500 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Management of
BS is primarily handled as a technical matter. The disposal of BS is of great concern for many
WWT facilities because it accounts for over half of the total cost of wastewater treatment. BS
disposal in landfill sites leads to a great advantage of biogas generation by anaerobic digestion
which can be used as a fuel if the biogas is properly collected. Apart from adding advantages, it
poses environmental threat such as trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), green house gases
(GHGs) production, potential contaminant leachate into the ground water system at the landfill
site as well as soil amendment of municipal BS . Stringent laws in BS disposal are followed in
Quebec which focuses on restraining from the dumping of BS in landfills and green tax is levied
based on the inflation for each ton of biosolid that is incinerated or landfilled in Quebec. However, with the help of advance bioprocess technologies these biosolids can be treated and
simultaneously used as a raw material for the production of high value products or high value
product precursors. This current research work delivers an assessment of the leading disposal
methods (volume and contaminant reduction) and reviews the state of biotechnological
processes, particular to aerobic digestion for the production of hydrolytic and lignolytic enzymes
from BS. During aerobic digestion, various pretreatments including utilization of indigenous microbes
present in BS, the effect of an enzymatic pretreatment, biostimulation by the addition of an
external carbon source and the synergic effect of biostimulation and enzymatic pretreatment
were studied for 28 days. As a result of various treatment strategies, the total suspended solids
reduction of 12-23% ,total PhACs removal of 44-62% and total pesticides removal around 10-
54% were observed. Further, to enhance the total suspended solids, total PhACs and total
pesticides removal, effect of four different pre-treatment strategies (ultrasonication, freezethawing,
enzymatic and alkaline addition) subsequent bioaugmentation with Bacillus subtilis for IV
28 days were studied. Impact of bioaugmentation improved the total suspended solids removal
by 8-54%, total PhACs removal by 21-80% and total pesticides removal by 22-76%. The
production of enzymatic cocktail by bioaugmented along with indigenous microorganisms,
which contain high laccase, peroxidase, glucose oxidase, lipase, phosphatase, esterase activities
and other activities related to elimination of contaminants present in the BS. This study is biointegrated
approach, where the enzymes producing during aerobic digestion of BS is evaluated to
reduce the contaminants present in water or wastewater. To emphasize that, bioaugmentation of
Aspergillus niger to BS to produce glucose oxidase (GOD), which was utilized for bio-Fenton
based advanced oxidation process for the partial removal of 15 pharmaceutically active
compounds in water. Therefore, the use of BS residuals as a substrate can decrease the
contaminants on the one hand and, on the other hand, it can reduce the volume of BS
Effects of 16 genetic variants on fasting glucose and type 2 diabetes in South Asians : ADCY5 and GLIS3 variants may predispose to type 2 diabetes
Get PDFBackground: The Meta-Analysis of Glucose and Insulin related traits Consortium (MAGIC) recently identified 16 loci robustly
associated with fasting glucose, some of which were also associated with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of our study was to
explore the role of these variants in South Asian populations of Punjabi ancestry, originating predominantly from the
District of Mirpur, Pakistan.
Methodology/Principal Findings: Sixteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 1678 subjects with
type 2 diabetes and 1584 normoglycaemic controls from two Punjabi populations; one resident in the UK and one
indigenous to the District of Mirpur. In the normoglycaemic controls investigated for fasting glucose associations, 12 of 16
SNPs displayed b values with the same direction of effect as that seen in European studies, although only the SLC30A8
rs11558471 SNP was nominally associated with fasting glucose (b = 0.063 [95% CI: 0.013, 0.113] p = 0.015). Of interest, the
MTNR1B rs10830963 SNP displayed a negative b value for fasting glucose in our study; this effect size was significantly lower
than that seen in Europeans (p = 1.2961024). In addition to previously reported type 2 diabetes risk variants in TCF7L2 and
SLC30A8, SNPs in ADCY5 (rs11708067) and GLIS3 (rs7034200) displayed evidence for association with type 2 diabetes, with
odds ratios of 1.23 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.39; p = 9.161024) and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.29; p = 3.4961023) respectively.
Conclusions/Significance: Although only the SLC30A8 rs11558471 SNP was nominally associated with fasting glucose in our
study, the finding that 12 out of 16 SNPs displayed a direction of effect consistent with European studies suggests that a
number of these variants may contribute to fasting glucose variation in individuals of South Asian ancestry. We also provide
evidence for the first time in South Asians that alleles of SNPs in GLIS3 and ADCY5 may confer risk of type 2 diabetes
A Comparative Study of Different Overset Grid Solvers Between OpenFOAM, StarCCM+ and Ansys-Fluent
No full text
Evaluation and studies on the structural impact of substituted 4, 5-Dihydroisoxazoles on their biological activities
No full textIn present study, a series of isoxazole derivatives synthesized were evaluated for antimicrobial activities by disc diffusion method. Some compounds of the series exhibited promising antibacterial and antifungal activity compared to standard drugs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC’s) was determined against each organism. The compounds were tested for their in-vitro antioxidant activity and reducing power ability. Free radicals play an important role in various pathological and xenotoxic effects so antioxidant may have protective role in these pathological conditions. Based on the results of an antimicrobial, anti-oxidant study, the effect of substitution on the activity and possible structure activity relationship of the compounds for their antioxidant activity is presented
Synthesis of novel 1,2,4-oxadiazole heterocyclic compounds containing 2-H pyranopyridine-2-one moiety and related compounds
No full text216-2207-Hydroxy/Amino-5-methyl-6-(5-substituted-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl)-2-oxo-2H-pyrano[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid amides 5a-c and 6a-c have been prepared starting from ethyl 2H-pyrano [2,3-b] pyridine-3-carboxylate 1 and 2, compounds 1 and 2 are treated with aqueous ammonia solution to afford 2H-pyrano[2,3-b] pyridine-3-carboxamide 3a-b, which are converted to 6-carboxamidoxime 2H-pyrano [2,3-b] pyridine-3-carboxamide 4a-b by treating with hydroxyl amine in refluxing ethanol. Carboxamidoximes 4a-b are treated with various acid chlorides to obtain 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives 5a-c and 6a-c. Carboxamide 3a is reacted with triethyl orthoformate to give 4-amino-5-methyl pyrano [3",2':5,6] pyrido [2,3-d] pyrimidine-7-carboximde 7. Carboxamidoxime 4a is allowed to react with N,N-dimethyl formamide dimethyl acetal under reflux to obtain N-(6-carbonyl-4-methyl-7-oxo-1,7-dihydropyrano[2,3-b]pyrazolo[4,3-e]pyri¬dine-3-yl)methanamide 8. These compounds are expected to have better hypertensive activity
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