Rotavirus and other Diarrheal Disease in a Birth Cohort from Southern Indian Community

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence, severity and etiology of diarrheal disease in infants and young children residing in an urban slum community in Southern India.

SETTING

Three contiguous urban slums in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

PARTICIPANTS

452 children participating in a birth cohort study on diarrheal disease; 373 completed three years of follow-up.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Diarrheal incidence (obtained by twice-weekly home visits) and severity (assessed by the Vesikari scoring system), and etiological agents associated with diarrhea (through examination of stool specimens by bacteriologic culture, rotavirus enzyme immunoassay, PCR for norovirus and microscopy for parasites).

RESULTS

A total of 1856 diarrheal episodes were reported in 373 children. The overall incidence rate of diarrhea was 1.66 episodes per child year for three years, with 2.76 episodes per child year in infancy. The incidence peaked during the months of July and August. Severe diarrhea formed 8% of the total episodes. Rotavirus was the most common pathogen detected, being identified in 18% of episodes. Good hygiene status resulted in 33% protection against moderate-to-severe diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the burden of diarrheal disease and the important etiological agents of childhood diarrhea in Southern India. Promotion of hygienic behavior through health education may help reduce diarrheal incidence in this and similar communities.

Study on Airborne Heavy Metals in Industrialized Urban Area of Delhi, India

This study assessed the concentrations of airborne heavy metals (HMs) in particulate matter with a cutoff size of 10 µm (i.e., PM₁₀) in an industrialized urban area (Naraina Industrial Area) of New Delhi, India. The samples were collected from January to December, 2011. The annual mean concentrations of selected HMs were as follows As (0.002 ± 0.002), Cd (0.030 ± 0.020), Co (0.003 ± 0.002), Cr (0.170 ± 0.081), Cu (0.183 ± 0.120), Fe (4.774 ± 1.889), Mn (0.258 ± 0.145), Ni (0.170 ± 0.146), Pb (0.345 ± 0.207) and Zn (1.806 ± 1.042) µg/m³. The seasonal trend for HMs followed the order postmonsoon > winter > premonsoon > monsoon. Principal component analysis-multiple linear regression (PCA-MLR) suggested the three major emission sources: industrial emission (70 %), mobile and stationary combustion sources (16 %), and suspended/re-suspended dust (14 %). Mean seasonal concentrations of PM₁₀ exceeded both the 24-hour and annual Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 60 and 100 µg/m³, respectively, in all four seasons. Mean seasonal Ni concentrations in Delhi ambient air also exceeded the 24-h annual NAAQS of 0.020 µg/m³ during all four seasons. Mean Pb concentrations exceeded the annual NAAQS of 0.50 µg/m³ only during the post monsoon season. The high levels of Ni- and Pb-contaminated PM₁₀ would appear to present the possibility of significant health risks.

An Interesting Case of Basal Cell Carcinoma with Raynaud's Phenomenon Following Chronic Arsenic Exposure

Arsenic is commonly known to be associated with squamous cell carcinoma. Among the lesser known associations is basal cell carcinoma and even rarer is its effect on blood vessels causing peripheral vascular disease. Here we present a case of a 55 yr old man with ulceroproliferative lesions on scalp and forehead along with several hyperpigmented patches on trunk and extremities. He had symptoms suggestive of Raynaud's phenomenon that eventually led to digital gangrene. FNAC was done which was suggestive of basal cell carcinoma. On further enquiry, he was found to reside in an arsenic endemic zone and was investigated for blood arsenic level which was elevated. Punch biopsy from different lesions from body confirmed nodular basal cell carcinoma. Presently the patient has stopped drinking water from the local tubewell. On follow-up he shows improvement of Raynaud's phenomenon and skin lesions.

Cross-dehydrogenative regioselective Csp3–Csp2coupling of enamino-ketones followed by rearrangement: an amazing formation route to acridine-1,8-dione derivatives

A novel route for the construction of acridine-1,8-dione derivatives through CDC coupling of enamino-ketones followed by rearrangement.

New upper limit on strange quark matter abundance in cosmic rays with the PAMELA space experiment

In this work we present results of a direct search for strange quark matter (SQM) in cosmic rays with the PAMELA space spectrometer. If this state of matter exists it may be present in cosmic rays as particles, called strangelets, having a high density and an anomalously high mass-to-charge (A/Z) ratio. A direct search in space is complementary to those from ground-based spectrometers. Furthermore, it has the advantage of being potentially capable of directly identifying these particles, without any assumption on their interaction model with Earth's atmosphere and the long-term stability in terrestrial and lunar rocks. In the rigidity range from 1.0 to ∼1.0×10^{3}  GV, no such particles were found in the data collected by PAMELA between 2006 and 2009. An upper limit on the strangelet flux in cosmic rays was therefore set for particles with charge 1≤Z≤8 and mass 4≤A≤1.2×10^{5}. This limit as a function of mass and as a function of magnetic rigidity allows us to constrain models of SQM production and propagation in the Galaxy.

Solvent assisted structural diversity: supramolecular sheet and double helix of a short aromatic γ-peptide

Solvent interaction has a significant effect on the molecular motions, folding and self-assembly of short aromatic γ-peptides that leads to a change in initial helical conformation.

An efficient one pot ipso-nitration: structural transformation of a dipeptide by N-terminus modification

CuSO₄ catalyzed one pot ipso-nitration of rigid dipeptide leads to structural transformation from anti parallel to parallel β-sheet.

Synthesis and photophysics of selective functionalized π-conjugated, blue light emitting, highly fluorescent C7-imidazo indolizine derivatives

Synthesis and photophysics of selective functionalized π-conjugated, blue light emitting highly fluorescent C7-imidazo indolizine derivatives.

Enhanced venous thrombus resolution in plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 deficient mice

BACKGROUND

The resolution of deep vein thrombosis requires an inflammatory response and mobilization of proteases, such as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), to degrade the thrombus and remodel the injured vein wall. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) is a serine protease inhibitor (serpin) with unique immunosuppressive and cell survival properties that was originally identified as an inhibitor of uPA.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of PAI-2 in venous thrombus formation and resolution.

METHODS

Venous thrombus resolution was compared in wild-type C57BL/6, PAI-2(-/-) , and PAI-1(-/-) mice using the stasis model of deep vein thrombosis. Formed thrombi were harvested, thrombus weights were recorded, and tissue was analyzed for uPA and MMP activities, PAI-1 expression, and the nature of inflammatory cell infiltration.

RESULTS

We found that the absence of PAI-2 enhanced venous thrombus resolution, while thrombus formation was unaffected. Enhanced venous thrombus resolution in PAI-2(-/-) mice was associated with increased uPA activity and reduced levels of PAI-1, with no significant effect on MMP-2 and -9 activities. PAI-1 deficiency resulted in an increase in thrombus resolution similar to PAI-2 deficiency, but additionally reduced venous thrombus formation and altered MMP activity. PAI-2-deficient thrombi had increased levels of the neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL2, which was associated with early enhanced neutrophil recruitment.

CONCLUSIONS

These data identify PAI-2 as a novel regulator of venous thrombus resolution, which modulates several pathways involving both inflammatory and uPA activity mechanisms, distinct from PAI-1. Further examination of these pathways may lead to potential therapeutic prospects in accelerating thrombus resolution.

Patient-posture and Ileal-intubation during colonoscopy (PIC): a randomized controlled open-label trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patient's posture change is commonly employed by a colonoscopist to achieve complete examination. We studied whether patient's posture (left-lateral decubitus vs supine) influenced the success rate of ileal intubation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this prospective open-label randomized study performed in the Endoscopy Suite of a tertiary-care center, all adult outpatients referred for colonoscopy, in whom cecal intubation was achieved and who satisfied predefined inclusion criteria, were randomized to undergo ileal intubation in either of the above two postures. Colonoscopy (EC-201 WL, Fujinon) was performed after overnight poly-ethylene-glycol preparation, under conscious sedation and continuous pulse-oxymetry monitoring. After confirming cecal intubation, patients were randomized for ileal intubation. Success was defined by visualization of ileal mucosa or villi (confirmed by digital photography) and was attempted until limited by pain and/or time of ≥ 6 min.

RESULTS

Of 320 eligible patients, 217 patients (150 males) were randomized, 106 to left-lateral decubitus and 111 to supine posture. At baseline, the two groups were evenly matched. Successful ileal intubation was achieved in 145 (66.8 %) patients overall, significantly higher in the supine posture (74.8 % versus 58.5 %; P = 0.014). On multivariate analysis, supine posture (P = 0.02), average/good right-colon preparation (P < 0.01), non-thin-lipped ileocecal (IC) valve (P < 0.001) and younger age (P = 0.02) were independent predictors of success. Positive ileal findings were recorded in 13 (9 %) patients.

CONCLUSION

Ileoscopy is more successful in supine than in left-lateral decubitus posture. Age, bowel preparation and type of IC valve also determine success.

A small molecule peptidomimetic of spider silk and webs

A peptidomimetic compound self-assembles to form spider silk-like soft fibers at 20 °C upon contact with air and the fibers can be used to mimic a spider web.