Association of Leukocyte Count and hsCRP with Metabolic Abnormalities in Subjects with Normal Glucose Tolerance (CURES – 64)

Objective : The aim of the present study was to assess the association of leukocyte count and high sensitivity C-Reactive protein (hsCRP) with metabolic abnormalities in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Methods : Subjects with Normal Glucose Tolerance (NGT) (n = 865) were recruited from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study [CURES]. Standard methods were used for assessing hsCRP [Nephelometry, in a subset] and leukocytes [Flowcytometry, Sysmex SF-3000]. Insulin resistance was calculated using the Homeostasis Assessment model (HOMA-IR). Results : Body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HOMA IR and hsCRP increased significantly with increasing tertiles of leukocyte count [p for trend < 0.001]. Both leukocyte count and hsCRP showed a positive correlation with cardiovascular risk factors. Leukocyte count showed a positive correlation with hsCRP [p=0.008]. Both mean leukocyte count [p<0.001] and hsCRP [p=0.04] were higher in subjects with Metabolic Syndrome (MS), which increased with increase in number of metabolic abnormalities [p for trend <0.001]. Regression models showed leukocyte count [p<0.001] and hsCRP [p=0.03] to be associated with MS, even after adjusting for age and gender. Conclusion : A significant association exists between systemic inflammation [leukocyte count and hsCRP] and MS/ cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indians even among non-diabetic subjects

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of isoniazid and rifampicin in patients with chronic renal failure

The pharmacokinetics of Isoniazid and Rifampicin were studied in 18 patients with mild or moderate renal failure (creatinine clearance : 10.1-50.0 ml/min) and 17 patients with severe renal failure (creatinine clearance < 10.0 ml/min) and the findings compared with those in 16 healthy subjects. The renal excretion of Isoniazid, Acetylisoniazid, Rifampicin and Dcsacetylrifampicin was severely inhibited in patients with renal failure. Plasma Rifampicin and Isoniazid concentrations in rapid acetylators were similar in healthy subjects and both the groups of patients. In slow acetylators, plasma Isoniazid concentrations and exposure (AUC) and half-life of the drug, calculated on the basis of these concentrations were appreciably higher in patients than in healthy subjects (P < 0.01); the mean values in the two groups of patients were, however, similar. The correlations between plasma creatinine or creatinine clearance and peak concentration, exposure or half-life of Isoniazid were poor (r < 0.28) in the slow acetylators. These findings suggest that in patients with renal failure, it is not necessary to reduce dosage of Rifampicin or of Isoniazid in rapid acetylators but advisable in respect of Isoniazid in slow acetylators to lessen the risk of toxic reactions

PROTEOMIC ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BLOOD AND URINE IN DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Objective: To investigate the proteomics status of human blood and urine in diabetic nephropathy.Methods: In the present study 90 patients were selected. The study was comprised of 30 Diabetic mellitus (DM) with microalbuminuria patients (Group 3), 30 DM without microalbuminuria patients (group 2), 30 healthy controls (Group 1). Fasting glucose, post prandial glucose, lipid profile, fructosamine in serum and micro albumin in urine were investigated in all the patients.Results: The significant increase in serum fructosamine, fasting and post prandial glucose levels along with increased microalbuminuria observed in group 3 patients compared to group 2 and group 1 patients. Hyperglycemia increases fructosamine, cholesterol, triglycerides with decrease in HDL-cholesterol levels, indicates the major risk of atherogenicity. To study the effect of age, smoking, DM duration on DN, patients were grouped in different way and analysed.Conclusion: The results suggested that smoking, age and prolonged DM influences DN. Normal and DN patients serum and urine samples were selected and protein was separated by SDS-PAGE and identified by LC-MS. Results of LC-MS showed the difference in proteomics of normal and DN patients

Sequential networks for cosmic ray simulations

A hybrid model of generating cosmic ray showers based on neural networks is presented. We show that the neural network learns the solution to the governing cascade equation in one dimension. We then use the neural network to generate the energy spectra at every height slice. Pitfalls of training to generate a single height slice is discussed, and we present a sequential model which can generate the entire shower from an initial table. Errors associated with the model and the potential to generate the full three dimensional distribution of the shower is discussed

How metabolism and development are intertwined in space and time

Developmental transitions, occurring throughout the life cycle of plants, require precise regulation of metabolic processes to generate the energy and resources necessary for the committed growth processes. In parallel, the establishment of new cells, tissues, and even organs, alongside their differentiation provoke profound changes in metabolism. It is increasingly being recognized that there is a certain degree of feedback regulation between the components and products of metabolic pathways and developmental regulators. The generation of large-scale metabolomics datasets during developmental transitions, in combination with molecular genetic approaches has helped to further our knowledge on the functional importance of metabolic regulation of development. In this perspective article, we provide insights into studies that elucidate interactions between metabolism and development at the temporal and spatial scales. We additionally discuss how this influences cell growth-related processes. We also highlight how metabolic intermediates function as signaling molecules to direct plant development in response to changing internal and external conditions.Fil: Caldana, Camila. Max Planck Institute Of Molecular Plant Physiology; AlemaniaFil: Carrari, Fernando Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Fernie, Alisdair R.. Max Planck Institute Of Molecular Plant Physiology; AlemaniaFil: Sampathkumar, Arun. Max Planck Institute Of Molecular Plant Physiology; Alemani

Effect of Soil Moisture Stress on Physiological Response in Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Varieties

Four varieties of grape namely Flame Seedless, Thompson Seedless, Sharad Seedless and Tas-A-Ganesh were subjected to different levels of moisture stress to study their physiological response. Stress was imposed for 14 days by withholding irrigation. Observations on relative water content, leaf water potential, leaf osmotic potential and gas exchange parameters like photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and water use efficiency (WUE) were recorded. None of the varieties could survive for 14 days without irrigation (100% stress). Flame Seedless and Thompson Seedless at 50% moisture stress maintained higher turgidity as indicated by lesser reduction in relative water content and water potential attributed to better osmotic adjustment. Marginal reduction in photosynthesis and greater reduction in transpiration rate in the variety Flame Seedless may have resulted in higher WUE under moisture stress. Higher photosynthetic rate, lower transpiration rate, higher water relation parameters and high WUE in Flame Seedless under soil moisture stress indicated its better tolerance to drought

Twin Edge Colorings of Certain Square Graphs and Product Graphs

A twin edge $k\!$-coloring of a graph $G$ is a proper edge $k$-coloring of $G$ with the elements of $\mathbb{Z}_k$ so that the induced vertex $k$-coloring, in which the color of a vertex $v$ in $G$ is the sum in $\mathbb{Z}_k$ of the colors of the edges incident with $v,$ is a proper vertex $k\!$-coloring. The minimum $k$ for which $G$ has a twin edge $k\!$-coloring is called the twin chromatic index of $G.$ Twin chromatic index of the square $P_n^2,$ $n\ge 4,$ and the square $C_n^2,$ $n\ge 6,$ are determined. In fact, the twin chromatic index of the square $C_7^2$ is $\Delta+2,$ where $\Delta$ is the maximum degree. Twin chromatic index of $C_m\,\Box\,P_n$ is determined, where $\Box$ denotes the Cartesian product. $C_r$ and $P_r$ are, respectively, the cycle, and the path on $r$ vertices each