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Akhtar Z, Islam MA, Aleem MA, Mah-E-Muneer S, Ahmmed MK, Ghosh PK, Rahman M, Rahman MZ, Sumiya MK, Rahman MM, Shirin T, Alamgir ASM, Banu S, Rahman M, Chowdhury F. SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection among patients with severe acute respiratory infection during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a hospital-based descriptive study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e053768. [PMID: 34845073 PMCID: PMC8634662 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection among severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases-patients during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. DESIGN Descriptive study. SETTING Nine tertiary level hospitals across Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS Patients admitted as SARI (defined as cases with subjective or measured fever of ≥38 C° and cough with onset within the last 10 days and requiring hospital admission) case-patients. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES Proportion of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection and proportion of mortality among SARI case-patients. RESULTS We enrolled 1986 SARI case-patients with a median age: 28 years (IQR: 1.2-53 years), and 67.6% were male. Among them, 285 (14.3%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2; 175 (8.8%) were infected with the influenza virus, and five (0.3%) were coinfected with both viruses. There was a non-appearance of influenza during the usual peak season (May to July) in Bangladesh. SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly more associated with diabetes (14.0% vs 5.9%, p<0.001) and hypertension (26.7% vs 11.5%, p<0.001). But influenza among SARI case-patients was significantly less associated with diabetes (4.0% vs 7.4%, p=0.047) and hypertension (5.7% vs 14.4%, p=0.001). The proportion of in-hospital deaths among SARS-CoV-2 infected SARI case-patients were higher (10.9% (n=31) vs 4.4% (n=75), p<0.001) than those without SARS-CoV-2 infection; the proportion of postdischarge deaths within 30 days was also higher (9.1% (n=25) vs 4.6% (n=74), p=0.001) among SARS-CoV-2 infected SARI case-patients than those without infection. No in-hospital mortality or postdischarge mortality was registered among the five coinfected SARI case-patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus was not very common and had less disease severity considering mortality in Bangladesh. There was no circulating influenza virus during the influenza peak season during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Future studies are warranted for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Akhtar
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ariful Islam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Abdul Aleem
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Bangladesh
| | - Syeda Mah-E-Muneer
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M Kaousar Ahmmed
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Probir K Ghosh
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mustafizur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mariya Kibtiya Sumiya
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mahfuzur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tahmina Shirin
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A S M Alamgir
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sayera Banu
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahmudur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Global Health Development, EMPHNET, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahmida Chowdhury
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Chowdhury S, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Kile JC, Hoque MA, Rahman MZ, Hossain ME, Ghosh PK, Ahmed SSU, Kennedy ED, Sturm-Ramirez K, Gurley ES. Association of Biosecurity and Hygiene Practices with Environmental Contamination with Influenza A Viruses in Live Bird Markets, Bangladesh. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:2087-2096. [PMID: 32818393 PMCID: PMC7454050 DOI: 10.3201/eid2609.191029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In Bangladesh, live bird market environments are frequently contaminated with avian influenza viruses. Shop-level biosecurity practices might increase risk for environmental contamination. We sought to determine which shop-level biosecurity practices were associated with environmental contamination. We surveyed 800 poultry shops to describe biosecurity practices and collect environmental samples. Samples from 205 (26%) shops were positive for influenza A viral RNA, 108 (14%) for H9, and 60 (8%) for H5. Shops that slaughtered poultry, kept poultry overnight, remained open without rest days, had uneven muddy floors, held poultry on the floor, and housed sick and healthy poultry together were more frequently positive for influenza A viruses. Reported monthly cleaning seemed protective, but disinfection practices were not otherwise associated with influenza A virus detection. Slaughtering, keeping poultry overnight, weekly rest days, infrastructure, and disinfection practices could be targets for interventions to reduce environmental contamination.
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Biswas D, Ahmed M, Roguski K, Ghosh PK, Parveen S, Nizame FA, Rahman MZ, Chowdhury F, Rahman M, Luby SP, Sturm-Ramirez K, Iuliano AD. Effectiveness of a Behavior Change Intervention with Hand Sanitizer Use and Respiratory Hygiene in Reducing Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza among Schoolchildren in Bangladesh: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 101:1446-1455. [PMID: 31701861 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Schoolchildren are commonly linked to influenza transmission. Handwashing with soap has been shown to decrease infections; however, improving handwashing practices using soap and water is difficult in low-resource settings. In these settings, alternative hygiene options, such as hand sanitizer, could improve handwashing promotion to reduce influenza virus infections. We conducted a cluster randomized control trial in 24 primary schools in Dhaka to assess the effectiveness of hand sanitizer and a respiratory hygiene education intervention in reducing influenza-like illness (ILI) and laboratory-confirmed influenza during June-September 2015. Twelve schools were randomly selected to receive hand sanitizer and respiratory hygiene education, and 12 schools received no intervention. Field staff actively followed children daily to monitor for new ILI episodes (cough with fever) through school visits and by phone if a child was absent. When an illness episode was identified, medical technologists collected nasal swabs to test for influenza viruses. During the 10-week follow-up period, the incidence of ILI per 1,000 student-weeks was 22 in the intervention group versus 27 in the control group (P-value = 0.4). The incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza was 53% lower in the intervention schools (3/1,000 person-weeks) than in the control schools (6/1,000 person-weeks) (P-value = 0.01). Hand sanitizer and respiratory hygiene education can help to reduce the risk of influenza virus transmission in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashish Biswas
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Probir K Ghosh
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shahana Parveen
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fosiul A Nizame
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahmida Chowdhury
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahmudur Rahman
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Unicomb L, Horng L, Alam MU, Halder AK, Shoab AK, Ghosh PK, Islam MK, Opel A, Luby SP. Health-Care Facility Water, Sanitation, and Health-Care Waste Management Basic Service Levels in Bangladesh: Results from a Nation-Wide Survey. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2019; 99:916-923. [PMID: 30152311 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted a nationally representative cross-sectional study of 875 health-care facilities (HCFs) to determine water, sanitation, and health-care waste disposal service levels in Bangladesh for doctors, staff, and patients/caregivers in 2013. We calculated proportions and prevalence ratios to compare urban versus rural and government versus other HCFs. We report World Health Organization (WHO)-defined basic HCF service levels. The most common HCF was nongovernmental private (80%, 698/875), with an average of 25 beds and 12 admissions per day. There was an improved water source inside the HCF for doctors (79%, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 75, 82), staff (59%, 95% CI: 55, 64), and patients/caregivers (59%, 95% CI: 55, 63). Improved toilets for doctors (81%, 95% CI: 78, 85) and other staff (73%, 95% CI: 70, 77) were more common than for patients/caregivers (54%, 95% CI: 50, 58). Forty-three percentage (434/875) of HCFs had no disposal method for health-care waste. More urban than rural and more government than other HCFs had an improved water source on the premises and improved toilets for staff. WHO-defined basic service levels were detected in > 90% of HCFs for drinking water, among 46-77% for sanitation, and 68% for handwashing at point of care but 26% near toilets. Forty-seven percentage of HCFs attained basic health-care waste management service levels. Patient/caregiver access to water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities is inadequate in many HCFs across Bangladesh. Improving facilities for this group should be an integral part of accreditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Unicomb
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Enteric and Respiratory Infections Program, Infectious Disease Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lily Horng
- Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Mahbub-Ul Alam
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Enteric and Respiratory Infections Program, Infectious Disease Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Amal K Halder
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Enteric and Respiratory Infections Program, Infectious Disease Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abul K Shoab
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Enteric and Respiratory Infections Program, Infectious Disease Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Probir K Ghosh
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Enteric and Respiratory Infections Program, Infectious Disease Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Goyat MS, Ghosh PK. Impact of ultrasonic assisted triangular lattice like arranged dispersion of nanoparticles on physical and mechanical properties of epoxy-TiO 2 nanocomposites. Ultrason Sonochem 2018; 42:141-154. [PMID: 29429655 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Emerging ex-situ technique, ultrasonic dual mixing (UDM) offers unique and hitherto unapproachable opportunities to alter the physical and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites. In this study, triangular lattice-like arranged dispersion of TiO2 nanoparticles (average size ∼ 48 nm) in the epoxy polymer has been attained via concurrent use of a probe ultra-sonicator and 4 blades pitched impeller which collectively named as UDM technique. The UDM processing of neat epoxy reveals the generation of triangular lattice-like arranged nanocavities with nanoscale inter-cavity spacing. The UDM processing of epoxy-TiO2 nanocomposites reveals two unique features such as partial and complete entrapping of the nanoparticles by the nanocavities leading the arranged dispersion of particles in the epoxy matrix. Pristine TiO2 nanoparticles were dispersed in the epoxy polymer at loading fractions of up to 20% by weight. The results display that the arranged dispersion of nanoparticles is very effective at enhancing the glass transition temperature (Tg) and tensile properties of the epoxy at loading fractions of 10 wt%. We quantify a direct relationship among three important parameters such as nanoparticle content, cluster size, and inter-particle spacing. Our results offer a novel understanding of these parameters on the Tg and tensile properties of the epoxy nanocomposites. The tensile fracture surfaces revealed several toughening mechanisms such as particle pull-out, plastic void growth, crack deflection, crack bridging and plastic deformation. We show that a strong nanoparticle-matrix interface led to the enhanced mechanical properties due to leading toughening mechanisms such as crack deflection, plastic deformation and particle pull-out. We showed that the UDM has an inordinate prospective to alter the dispersion state of nanoparticles in viscous polymer matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Goyat
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667, India.
| | - P K Ghosh
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667, India
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Kumar A, Kumar K, Ghosh PK, Yadav KL. MWCNT/TiO 2 hybrid nano filler toward high-performance epoxy composite. Ultrason Sonochem 2018; 41:37-46. [PMID: 29137763 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are decorated by TiO2 nanoparticles and formed a new hybrid structure of filler (MWCNT/TiO2 hybrid filler). The MWCNT/TiO2 hybrid filler is reinforced in epoxy matrix and studied the mechanical and anti-corrosion properties of epoxy. The morphology of newly formed MWCNT/TiO2 hybrid nano filler has been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) images of tensile fracture surface confirmed the superior dispersion of MWCNT/TiO2 in the epoxy matrix. The resultant MWCNT/TiO2 hybrid-epoxy nanocomposite exhibits superior anti-corrosion and mechanical performance than the nanocomposite produced by loading of only MWCNTs or TiO2 nanoparticles as well as neat epoxy. For example, tensile strength and storage modulus of epoxy increased by 61% and 43% respectively on loading of MWCNT/TiO2 hybrid nano filler. Furthermore, the coating of MWCNT/TiO2 hybrid-epoxy nanocomposite on mild steel reduces the corrosion rate upto 0.87×10-3MPY from 16.81MPY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Kumar
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - Kaushal Kumar
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - P K Ghosh
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
| | - K L Yadav
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
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Kumar K, Kumar A, Ghosh PK. UDM enhanced physical and mechanical properties through the formation of nanocavities in an epoxy matrix. Ultrason Sonochem 2018; 40:784-790. [PMID: 28946486 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The matrix modification of relatively low viscous epoxy based polymer treated under ultrasonic mixing (UM) and ultrasonic mixing with simultaneous stirring by a rotating impeller, referred to as ultrasonic dual mixing (UDM), and the effect of processing techniques has been investigated in terms of the formation of nanocavities in the epoxy matrix. Nanocavities of size 42±8nm have been formed uniformly in the epoxy matrix by UDM. The effect of a change in matrix morphology on the viscoelastic, tensile and thermal properties of the cured epoxy resin has been studied. The UDM processed cured epoxy matrix showed 18.26% and 88.34% improvement in tensile strength and toughness as compared to unprocessed epoxy. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) of UDM processed epoxy showed significant enhancement in the thermal stability of the epoxy matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushal Kumar
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India.
| | - Arun Kumar
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - P K Ghosh
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
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Goyat MS, Rana S, Halder S, Ghosh PK. Facile fabrication of epoxy-TiO 2 nanocomposites: A critical analysis of TiO 2 impact on mechanical properties and toughening mechanisms. Ultrason Sonochem 2018; 40:861-873. [PMID: 28946497 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Optimized ultrasonic assisted dispersion of un-functionalized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (0.5-20wt%) into epoxy resin is reported. The investigation shows that there is a direct relation among nanoparticles content, inter-particle spacing and cluster size of the particles on the glass transition temperature (Tg) and tensile properties of the prepared nanocomposites. A significant improvement in tensile strength and modulus with minimal detrimental effect on the toughness was observed for the prepared composites, where compared to pristine epoxy resins, about 26% and 18% improvement in tensile strength and strain-to-break %, respectively, was observed for 10wt% particles loading, whereas a maximum improvement of about 54% for tensile toughness was observed for 5wt% particles loaded resins. The investigations found that a strong particle-matrix interface results in the enhancement of the mechanical properties due to leading toughening mechanisms such as crack deflection, particle pull out and plastic deformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Goyat
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667, India.
| | - S Rana
- Research and Development Department, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sudipta Halder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Silchar, Silchar 788010, Assam, India; Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, United States
| | - P K Ghosh
- Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247 667, India
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Alam MU, Luby SP, Halder AK, Islam K, Opel A, Shoab AK, Ghosh PK, Rahman M, Mahon T, Unicomb L. Menstrual hygiene management among Bangladeshi adolescent schoolgirls and risk factors affecting school absence: results from a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e015508. [PMID: 28694347 PMCID: PMC5541609 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many adolescent girls in low-income and middle-income countries lack appropriate facilities and support in school to manage menstruation. Little research has been conducted on how menstruation affects school absence. This study examines the association of menstrual hygiene management knowledge, facilities and practice with absence from school during menstruation among Bangladeshi schoolgirls. METHODS We conducted a nationally representative, cross-sectional study in Bangladeshi schools from March to June 2013 among girls 11 to 17 years old who reached menarche. We sampled 700 schools from 50 urban and 50 rural clusters using a probability proportional to size technique. We interviewed 2332 schoolgirls and conducted spot checks in each school for menstrual hygiene facilities. To assess factors associated with reported school absence, we estimated adjusted prevalence difference (APD) for controlling confounders' effect using generalised estimating equations to account for school-level clustering. RESULTS Among schoolgirls who reached menarche, 41% (931) reported missing school, an average of 2.8 missed days per menstrual cycle. Students who felt uncomfortable at school during menstruation (99% vs 32%; APD=58%; CI 54 to 63) and who believed menstrual problems interfere with school performance (64% vs 30%; APD=27; CI 20 to 33) were more likely to miss school during menstruation than those who did not. School absence during menstruation was less common among girls attending schools with unlocked toilet for girls (35% vs 43%; APD=-5.4; CI -10 to -1.6). School absence was more common among girls who were forbidden from any activities during menstruation (41% vs 33%; APD=9.1; CI 3.3 to 14). CONCLUSION Risk factors for school absence included girl's attitude, misconceptions about menstruation, insufficient and inadequate facilities at school, and family restriction. Enabling girls to manage menstruation at school by providing knowledge and management methods prior to menarche, privacy and a positive social environment around menstrual issues has the potential to benefit students by reducing school absence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahbub-Ul Alam
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Disease Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Stephen P Luby
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Disease Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Amal K Halder
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Disease Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Abul K Shoab
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Disease Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Probir K Ghosh
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Disease Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Disease Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Leanne Unicomb
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Infectious Disease Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Parvez SM, Kwong L, Rahman MJ, Ercumen A, Pickering AJ, Ghosh PK, Rahman MZ, Das KK, Luby SP, Unicomb L. Escherichia coli contamination of child complementary foods and association with domestic hygiene in rural Bangladesh. Trop Med Int Health 2017; 22:547-557. [PMID: 28164415 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and concentration of Escherichia coli in child complementary food and its association with domestic hygiene practices in rural Bangladesh. METHOD A total of 608 households with children <2 years were enrolled. We collected stored complementary food samples, performed spot checks on domestic hygiene and measured ambient temperature in the food storage area. Food samples were analysed using the IDEXX most probable number (MPN) method with Colilert-18 media to enumerate E. coli. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) to assess the relationship between E. coli and domestic hygiene practices using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for clustering and confounders. RESULT Fifty-eight percentage of stored complementary food was contaminated with E. coli, and high levels of contamination (≥100 MPN/dry g food) were found in 12% of samples. High levels of food contamination were more prevalent in compounds where the food was stored uncovered (APR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2-3.2), transferred from the storage pot to the serving dish using hands (APR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.2) or stored for >4 h (APR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.2), in compounds where water was unavailable in the food preparation area (APR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.6, 4.2), where ≥1 fly was captured in the food preparation area (APR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.6), or where the ambient temperature was high (>25-40 °C) in the food storage area (APR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5, 4.4). CONCLUSION Interventions to keep stored food covered and ensure water availability in the food preparation area would be expected to reduce faecal contamination of complementary foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarker Masud Parvez
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Musarrat Jabeen Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ayse Ercumen
- University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Probir K Ghosh
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Zahidur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Kishor Kumar Das
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Leanne Unicomb
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Halder AK, Luby SP, Akhter S, Ghosh PK, Johnston RB, Unicomb L. Incidences and Costs of Illness for Diarrhea and Acute Respiratory Infections for Children < 5 Years of Age in Rural Bangladesh. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 96:953-960. [PMID: 28167594 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding illness costs associated with diarrhea and acute respiratory infections (ARI) could guide prevention and treatment strategies. This study aimed to determine incidence of childhood diarrhea and ARI and costs of homecare, hospitalization, and outpatient treatment by practitioner type in rural Bangladesh. From each of 100 randomly selected population clusters we sampled 17 households with at least one child < 5 years of age. Childhood diarrhea incidence was 3,451 and ARI incidence was 5,849/1,000 child-years. For diarrhea and ARI outpatient care per 1,000 child-years, parents spent more on unqualified ($2,361 and $4,822) than qualified health-care practitioners ($113 and $947). For outpatient care, visits to unqualified health-care practitioners were at least five times more common than visits to qualified practitioners. Costs for outpatient care treatment by unqualified health-care practitioners per episode of illness were similar to those for qualified health-care practitioners. Homecare costs were similar for diarrhea and ARI ($0.16 and $0.24) as were similar hospitalization costs per episode of diarrhea and ARI ($35.40 and $37.76). On average, rural Bangladeshi households with children < 5 years of age spent 1.3% ($12 of $915) of their annual income managing diarrhea and ARI for those children. The majority of childhood illness management cost comprised visits to unqualified health-care practitioners. Policy makers should consider strategies to increase the skills of unqualified health-care practitioners, use community health workers to provide referral, and promote homecare for diarrhea and ARI. Incentives to motivate existing qualified physicians who are interested to work in rural Bangladesh could also be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal K Halder
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Stephen P Luby
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh.,Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Shamima Akhter
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Probir K Ghosh
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Richard B Johnston
- Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Leanne Unicomb
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Abstract
Critical examinations were made to understand the thermophysical behavior of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2)–epoxy nanocomposite using differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis studies. ZrO2 nanoparticles in the size range of 20–30 nm were used as fillers. Ultrasonic dual mode mixing (UDMM) at two different amplitudes of 40% and 55% was employed to produce ZrO2-epoxy nanocomposites. Dispersion of less clustered ZrO2 nanoparticles in epoxy matrix demonstrates the importance of high amplitude of UDMM. Thermal degradation reaction kinetics of the nanocomposite was determined using Coats–Redfern and integral method of Horowitz and Metzger. Processing by the UDMM route at high amplitude not only significantly increases the glass transition temperature but also noticeably enhances the thermal stability of the nanocomposite. Improvement in thermal stability is attributed to the good dispersion of nanoparticles in epoxy matrix and formation of a large interface between epoxy matrix and nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to understand the molecular structure of base matrix as well as nanocomposite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudipta Halder
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Silchar, Silchar, Assam, India
| | - MS Goyat
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - PK Ghosh
- Department of Physics, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
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Samtani R, Bajpai M, Ghosh PK, Saraswathy KN. A49T, R227Q and TA repeat polymorphism of steroid 5 alpha-reductase type II gene and Hypospadias risk in North Indian children. Meta Gene 2014; 3:1-7. [PMID: 25685716 PMCID: PMC4309258 DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2014.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims Hypospadias is a common congenital error of genital development, the frequency of which is increasing. As androgens have a significant role in the development of the male urethra, we sought to investigate the association between functional polymorphisms of SRD5A2 gene in relation to hypospadias. Methods We examined DNA samples of 96 cases and 105 controls for SRD5A2-A49T, R227Q and TA repeat gene polymorphisms. Result Absence of 49T locus and 227Q locus was observed in the present study. At the (TA) n repeat site, TA (0) allele was observed to be the most common allele in both cases (91.7%) and controls (90%). TA (9/9) genotype exhibited an odds ratio of 3.03 (95% C.I. = 0.18–50.14, p = 0) with respect to only middle phenotypes. Analysis of the demographic data depicted the agricultural background aspect of the parents of the cases. 72.27% of the cases (affected with Hypospadias) have parents having agriculture as a primary occupation. Conclusion As longer TA repeats are associated with lower enzymatic activity and lower DHT levels as reported among Caucasians, this polymorphism may have an effect (rather small) in predisposing the population of the present study to the risk of Hypospadias of lesser severity. Due to small sample size, the 3.03 O.R. is not significant and a larger sample is needed to validate the results. Large scale screening of Hypospadias and other 46 X,Y disorders of sexual development is needed especially in India, where the majority of the population is from agricultural background. The results of the present study are likely to assist the health planners to initiate screening of Hypospadias among the farmer community to combat the risk of Hypospadias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratika Samtani
- Amity Institute of Anthropology, Amity University, Noida, UP 201303, India
| | - Minu Bajpai
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ansari Nagar, Delhi 110029, India
| | - P K Ghosh
- Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
| | - K N Saraswathy
- Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
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Nizame FA, Unicomb L, Sanghvi T, Roy S, Nuruzzaman M, Ghosh PK, Winch PJ, Luby SP. Handwashing before food preparation and child feeding: a missed opportunity for hygiene promotion. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 89:1179-85. [PMID: 24080638 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric diseases are often caused by poor hygiene and can contribute to stunting. From 50 randomly selected villages in Bangladesh, we collected quantitative and qualitative data on handwashing linked to child feeding to integrate handwashing promotion into a young child complementary feeding program. Most participants stated that the community knew the importance of handwashing with soap before food preparation and feeding a child, but had not developed the habit. We observed no handwashing with soap at these key times; sometimes hands were rinsed with water only. Most participants cited the unavailability of soap and water near the cooking place as a barrier to handwashing before food preparation. Most caregivers ranked nurturing messages as the best motivator to encourage handwashing with soap. An integrated intervention should include having soap and water available near the food preparation area and should use nurturing themes to encourage habitual handwashing with soap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fosiul A Nizame
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Alive and Thrive, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
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Ghosh PK, Hänggi P, Marchesoni F, Nori F, Schmid G. Brownian transport in corrugated channels with inertia. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2012; 86:021112. [PMID: 23005727 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.86.021112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2011] [Revised: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Transport of suspended Brownian particles dc driven along corrugated narrow channels is numerically investigated in the regime of finite damping. We show that inertial corrections cannot be neglected as long as the width of the channel bottlenecks is smaller than an appropriate particle diffusion length, which depends on the the channel corrugation and the drive intensity. With such a diffusion length being inversely proportional to the damping constant, transport through sufficiently narrow obstructions turns out to be always sensitive to the viscosity of the suspension fluid. The inertia corrections to the transport quantifiers, mobility, and diffusivity markedly differ for smoothly and sharply corrugated channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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Ghosh PK, Hänggi P, Marchesoni F, Martens S, Nori F, Schimansky-Geier L, Schmid G. Driven Brownian transport through arrays of symmetric obstacles. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys 2012; 85:011101. [PMID: 22400506 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.85.011101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We numerically investigate the transport of a suspended overdamped Brownian particle which is driven through a two-dimensional rectangular array of circular obstacles with finite radius. Two limiting cases are considered in detail, namely, when the constant drive is parallel to the principal or the diagonal array axes. This corresponds to studying the Brownian transport in periodic channels with reflecting walls of different topologies. The mobility and diffusivity of the transported particles in such channels are determined as functions of the drive and the array geometric parameters. Prominent transport features, like negative differential mobilities, excess diffusion peaks, and unconventional asymptotic behaviors, are explained in terms of two distinct lengths, the size of single obstacles (trapping length), and the lattice constant of the array (local correlation length). Local correlation effects are further analyzed by continuously rotating the drive between the two limiting orientations.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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Ghosh A, Pakshirajan K, Ghosh PK, Sahoo NK. Perchlorate degradation using an indigenous microbial consortium predominantly Burkholderia sp. J Hazard Mater 2011; 187:133-139. [PMID: 21255920 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.12.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2010] [Revised: 12/04/2010] [Accepted: 12/31/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
An acclimatized mixed microbial consortium, predominantly Burkholderia sp., was isolated from an activated sludge and investigated for its potential to degrade perchlorate in batch shake flasks. The 16S rDNA analysis of the predominant strain in the mixed culture showed the closest homology (98%) with Burkholderia sp. ATSB16. For the first time mixed culture with predominantly Burkholderia sp., has been reported to be involved in perchlorate degradation. The substrate perchlorate was completely utilized within 10 days even at a high concentration of 1000 mg L(-1) utilizing succinate as the sole carbon-source. Compared to other carbon-sources tested in this study, succinate proved to be better for perchlorate degradation by the mixed consortium. The optimum conditions for perchlorate degradation by the enriched mixed culture were found to be 30 °C and pH 7.0. The effect of co-pollutants on perchlorate removal by the mixed culture was also investigated at a mixed perchlorate concentration of 500 mg L(-1). Results showed that the degradation of perchlorate was affected to different extent due to the presence of an equal concentration (500 mg L(-1)of each) of co-pollutants such as nitrate, nitrite, chlorate and phosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atreyi Ghosh
- Centre for the Environment, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
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Samtani R, Bajpai M, Ghosh PK, Saraswathy KN. SRD5A2 gene mutations--a population-based review. Pediatr Endocrinol Rev 2010; 8:34-40. [PMID: 21037542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of steroid 5 alpha-reductase type 2 (SRD5A2) gene mutations is expanding, and its role has been implicated in various disease susceptibilities concerning reproductive health. Extensive research has revealed the tendency for specific SRD5A2 gene mutations to be passed along certain racial, ethnic and geographically isolated groups, which suggests population specificity of these mutations. The review provides evidence of variation in the mutational spectrum of the SRD5A2 gene leading to population-specific high prevalence of characteristic disease or phenotypic expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratika Samtani
- Research Scholar, Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India
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Hati KM, Mandal KG, Misra AK, Ghosh PK, Bandyopadhyay KK. Effect of inorganic fertilizer and farmyard manure on soil physical properties, root distribution, and water-use efficiency of soybean in Vertisols of central India. Bioresour Technol 2006; 97:2182-8. [PMID: 16289791 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2005.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2003] [Revised: 09/13/2005] [Accepted: 09/18/2005] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted on a Vertisol for three consecutive years (1998-2000) to study the effects of combined use of inorganic fertilizer (NPK) and organic manure (farmyard manure) on soil physical properties, water-use efficiency, root growth and yield of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a soybean-mustard cropping system. Application of 10 Mg farmyard manure and recommended NPK (NPK+FYM) to soybean for three consecutive years improved the organic carbon content of the surface (0-15 cm) soil from an initial value of 4.4 g kg(-1) to 6.2 g kg(-1) and also increased seed yield and water-use efficiency by 103% and 76%, respectively, over the control. The surface (0-15 cm) soil of the plots receiving both farmyard manure and recommended NPK had larger mean weight diameter (0.50 mm) and a higher percentage of water stable aggregates (55%) than both the inorganically fertilized (NPK) (0.44 mm and 49%) and unfertilized control plots (0.41 mm and 45.4%). The saturated hydraulic conductivity (13.32 x 10(-6) m s(-1)) of the NPK+FYM treatment of the 0-7.5 cm depth was also significantly greater than that of the NPK (10.53 x 10(-6) m s(-1)) and control (8.61 x 10(-6) m s(-1)) treatments. The lowest bulk density (1.18 Mg m(-3)) in the 0-7.5 cm layer was recorded in NPK+FYM whereas it was highest in the control plots (1.30 Mg m(-3)). However, at sub-surface (22.5-30 cm) layer, fertilizer and manure application had little effect on bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Root length density (RLD) up to the 30 cm depth was highest in the NPK+FYM plots and it was 31.9% and 70.5% more than NPK and control plots. The RLD showed a significant and negative correlation (r=-0.88( * *)) with the penetration resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Hati
- Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 038, Madhya Pradesh, India.
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Mukherjee N, Bhattacharyya P, Banerjee M, Mondal A, Gettens RTT, Ghosh PK, Saha H. Galvanic deposition of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films from a ZnO-Zn(OH)(2) mixed phase precursor on p-Si substrate. Nanotechnology 2006; 17:2665-2669. [PMID: 21727522 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/17/10/037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A galvanic technique for the deposition of ZnO thin films is reported. The depositions were carried out on p-type single-crystal silicon substrates at room temperature, from a solution of ZnSO(4), where the Zn rod acted as a sacrificing anode and p-Si was the cathode. The deposition of ZnO by this method is pH sensitive, and a pH between 4 and 5 is found to be optimum for film deposition. This deposition technique is simple, inexpensive and can be carried out at room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies revealed the nanocrystalline structure of the films. The resistivity of the annealed ZnO films was determined by the Van der Pauw measurement technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah-711103, India
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Abstract
Microemulsions are clear, transparent, thermodynamically stable dispersions of oil and water, stabilised by an interfacial film of surfactant frequently in combination with a co-surfactant. Recently, there has been a considerable interest for the microemulsion formulation, for the delivery of hydrophilic as well as lipophilic drug as drug carriers because of its improved drug solubilisation capacity, long shelf life, easy of preparation and improvement of bioavailability. In this present review, we discuss about the various advantages of microemulsion in pharmaceuticals, along with its composition variables, physicochemical characterisation etc. The potential use of microemulsion for therapeutic application is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Drug Delivery Research Laboratory, Pharmacy Department, The M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, India
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Biswas NM, Ghosh PK. Protection of adrenal and male gonadal functions by androgen in lead-treated rats. Kathmandu Univ Med J (KUMJ) 2006; 4:218-221. [PMID: 18603901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The potential health hazard of the large amounts of Lead that occurs in canned baby food, domestic water from lead-lined tanks and, in printing and petroleum industries. Lead acetate administration at a does of 8 mg/kg body weight for 21 days resulted a significant increase in adrenal steroidogenic enzyme (Delta5-3beta- HSD) and serum levels of corticosterone, while serum levels of testosterone, FSH, LH and testicular spermatogenesis were decreased in albino rats. But lead-treated rats received exogenous testosterone for the last 14 days of lead treatment, showed prevention of adrenocortical hyperactivity by decreasing adrenal Delta5-3beta-HSD activity and serum level of corticosterone. Testosterone administration also increased serum level of testosterone, FSH and LH along with spermatogenesis. The results suggest that testosterone supplementation in lead-treated rats protects adrenocortical activity and testicular spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Biswas
- Kathmandu Medical college, Duwakot, Nepal.
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Patel A, Mishra S, Ghosh PK. Antioxidant potential of C-phycocyanin isolated from cyanobacterial species Lyngbya, Phormidium and Spirulina spp. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2006; 43:25-31. [PMID: 16955748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The antioxidant activity of C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) isolated from three cyanobacterial species Lyngbya (marine), Phormidium (marine) and Spirulina (fresh water) was studied in vitro. The results demonstrate that C-PCs from Lyngbya, Phormidium and Spirulina spp. are able to scavenge peroxyl radicals (determined by crocin bleaching assay) with relative rate constant ratio of 3.13, 1.89 and 1.8, respectively. C-PCs also scavenge hydroxyl radicals (determined by deoxyribose degradation assay) with second order rate constant values of 7.87 x 10(10), 9.58 x 10(10) and 6.42 x 10(10), respectively. Interestingly, Lyngbya C-PC is found to be an effective inhibitor of peroxyl radicals (IC50 6.63 microM), as compared to Spirulina (IC50 12.15 microM) and Phormidium C-PC (IC50 12.74 microM) and is close to uric acid (IC50 2.15 microM). Further, the studies suggest that the covalently-linked tetrapyrrole chromophore phycocyanobilin is involved in the radical scavenging activity of C-PC. The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of C-PCs indicate the presence of free radical active sites, which may play an important role in its radical scavenging property. This is the first report on the ESR activity of native C-PCs without perturbations that can cause radical formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Patel
- Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, GB Marg, Bhavnagar, India
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Patel A, Mishra S, Pawar R, Ghosh PK. Purification and characterization of C-Phycocyanin from cyanobacterial species of marine and freshwater habitat. Protein Expr Purif 2005; 40:248-55. [PMID: 15766866 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2004.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2004] [Revised: 10/29/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The present paper describes an efficient single step chromatographic method for purification of C-Phycocyanin from three cyanobacterial species, i.e., Spirulina sp. (freshwater), Phormidium sp. (marine water) and Lyngbya sp. (marine water). C-Phycocyanin from these cyanobacterial species was purified to homogeneity and some of their properties were investigated. The purification involves a multistep treatment of the crude extract by fractional precipitation with ammonium sulfate, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column. Pure C-Phycocyanin was finally obtained from Spirulina, Phormidium, and Lyngbya spp. with purity ratio (A620/A280) 4.42, 4.43, and 4.59, respectively, further the purity and homogeneity were confirmed by native and SDS-PAGE. The estimated molecular weights of purified C-PC from Spirulina, Phormidium, and Lyngbya spp. were 112, 131, and 81 kDa, respectively. SDS-PAGE of pure C-Phycocyanin yielded two bands corresponding to alpha and beta subunits. The results of SDS-PAGE demonstrate the same molecular weight of beta subunits (24.4 kDa) for all the three cyanobacterial species, whereas the molecular weight of the alpha subunit is different for all (17 kDa Spirulina sp., 19.1 kDa Phormidium sp., 15.2 kDa Lyngbya sp.). Thus, the C-Phycocyanin was characterized as (alphabeta)3 for Spirulina and Phormidium spp., while as (alphabeta)2 for Lyngbya sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Patel
- Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, G.B. Marg, Bhavnagar 364002, India
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Abstract
Nanocrystallites of CdS have been grown by chemical bath deposition within the pores of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) on glass and Si substrates. The CdS-PVA composite films are transparent in the visible region. XRD and TEM diffraction patterns confirmed the nanocrystalline CdS phase formation. TEM study of the film revealed the manifestation of nano CdS phase formation and the average particles size was varied in the range 5-12 nm. UV-vis spectrophotometric measurement showed high transparency (nearly 80% in the wavelength range 550-900 nm) of the films with a direct allowed band gap lying in the range 2.64-3.25 eV. Particle sizes have also been calculated from the shift of band gap with respect to that of bulk value and were found to be in the range 3.3-6.44 nm. The high dielectric constant (lies in the range 120-250 at high frequency) of PVA/CdS nanocomposite compared to that of pure PVA (-28) has been observed. The dielectric constant decreases with increase of dispersibility of the CdS nanoparticles within PVA. The nanocrystalline PVA/CdS thin films have also showed field emission properties with a turn-on field of approximately 6.6 V/microm, whereas only PVA thin film and bulk CdS on PVA have shown no field emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Department of Physics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India
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Reddy MS, Basha S, Joshi HV, Sravan Kumar VG, Jha B, Ghosh PK. Modeling the energy content of combustible ship-scrapping waste at Alang-Sosiya, India, using multiple regression analysis. Waste Manag 2005; 25:747-54. [PMID: 16009310 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2004.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2003] [Revised: 08/24/2004] [Accepted: 11/09/2004] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Alang-Sosiya is the largest ship-scrapping yard in the world, established in 1982. Every year an average of 171 ships having a mean weight of 2.10 x 10(6)(+/-7.82 x 10(5)) of light dead weight tonnage (LDT) being scrapped. Apart from scrapped metals, this yard generates a massive amount of combustible solid waste in the form of waste wood, plastic, insulation material, paper, glass wool, thermocol pieces (polyurethane foam material), sponge, oiled rope, cotton waste, rubber, etc. In this study multiple regression analysis was used to develop predictive models for energy content of combustible ship-scrapping solid wastes. The scope of work comprised qualitative and quantitative estimation of solid waste samples and performing a sequential selection procedure for isolating variables. Three regression models were developed to correlate the energy content (net calorific values (LHV)) with variables derived from material composition, proximate and ultimate analyses. The performance of these models for this particular waste complies well with the equations developed by other researchers (Dulong, Steuer, Scheurer-Kestner and Bento's) for estimating energy content of municipal solid waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Srinivasa Reddy
- Department of Marine Algae and Marine Environment, Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar 364 002, Gujarat, India
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Patel A, Pawar R, Mishra S, Sonawane S, Ghosh PK. Kinetic studies on thermal denaturation of C-phycocyanin. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2004; 41:254-257. [PMID: 22900283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The kinetics of thermal denaturation of a biliprotein, C-phycocyanin (C-PC) isolated from Spirulina platensis were studied at different pH values, ranging from 4.0 to 8.0. The denaturation of C-PC follows the first order kinetics and rate constant at pH 5.0 and temperature 55 degrees C is found to be 4.37 x 10(-5) s(-1), which increases to 5.46 x 10(-1) s(-1) at pH 7.0. The denaturation rate is much higher at 65 degrees C and pH 7.0 (7.96 x 10(-4)), as compared to at pH 5.0 (1.46 x 10(-4)). The thermal stability of C-PC is more at pH 5.0, as compared to other pH values. The observed differences in entropy values at pH 5.0, as compared to other pH values indicate a considerably close fit structure of the protein at pH 5.0, which increases the stability of native structure, even at higher temperature (65 degrees C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Patel
- Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar 364002, Gujarat, India
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Ghosh PK, Ajay, Bandyopadhyay KK, Manna MC, Mandal KG, Misra AK, Hati KM. Comparative effectiveness of cattle manure, poultry manure, phosphocompost and fertilizer-NPK on three cropping systems in vertisols of semi-arid tropics. II. Dry matter yield, nodulation, chlorophyll content and enzyme activity. Bioresour Technol 2004; 95:85-93. [PMID: 15207300 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2004.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2003] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted on a deep Vertisol of Bhopal, India to compare root and shoot biomass, chlorophyll content, enzyme activity and nodulation in three cropping systems at three combinations of organic manure and inorganic-fertilizer: 75%NPK + 5 t farmyard manure (FYM), 75%NPK + 1.5 t poultry manure (PM), and 75%NPK + 5 t phosphocompost (PC) vis-a-vis 0%, 75% and 100% of fertilizer-NPK. In general, nodule number and its mass were lower in intercrop soybean than sole soybean. Also there was decrease in the nodule number with higher NPK dose. The FYM treated plots recorded 22.0% and 7.6% higher nodule mass than poultry manure and phosphocompost plots, respectively. Also, the total chlorophyll content was higher in organically treated plots than that in 100% NPK particularly at 30 days after sowing (DAS, pre-flowering). In sorghum the peak nitrate reductase (NR) activity was recorded at 60 DAS while in soybean it was at 30 DAS. The NR activity was higher in intercrop sorghum than that in sole sorghum. Maximum NR activity was observed in 100% NPK. Soybean/sorghum intercropping system recorded significantly higher root and shoot biomass than sole soybean and sorghum. The crop growth rates were relatively rapid during 30-60 DAS and followed the order; intercropping > sole sorghum > sole soybean. With the increase in NPK dose from 0% to 100% there was significant improvement in the dry matter (DM) production in sole sorghum and soybean/sorghum intercropping system. Soybean as preceding crop recorded the highest DM, chlorophyll content, NR activity in wheat while these values were the lowest in sorghum-wheat system.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, Madhya Pradesh.
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Ghosh PK, Ramesh P, Bandyopadhyay KK, Tripathi AK, Hati KM, Misra AK, Acharya CL. Comparative effectiveness of cattle manure, poultry manure, phosphocompost and fertilizer-NPK on three cropping systems in vertisols of semi-arid tropics. I. Crop yields and system performance. Bioresour Technol 2004; 95:77-83. [PMID: 15207299 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2004.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2003] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted on deep vertisols of Bhopal, India to evaluate the manural potential of three organic manures: farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), phosphocompost (PC) vis-a-vis 0%, 75% and 100% recommended dose of fertilizer-NPK and to find out the most productive cropping system at various combinations of organic manures and chemical fertilizers. The seed yield of intercrop soybean (population converted to 100%) was 8.7% less than sole soybean whereas the grain yield of intercrop sorghum was 9.5% more than that of sole sorghum. However, the productivity in terms of soybean equivalent yield (SEY) was relatively high in intercropping system. The increasing NPK dose from 0% to 100% significantly improved SEY in sole sorghum and soybean/sorghum intercropping system and the integrated use of organics and inorganics recorded significantly more SEY than inorganics. The effect of nutrient management followed the order; 75% NPK + 5 t FYM ha(-1) > 75% NPK + 1.5 t PM ha(-1) > 75% NPK + 5 t PC ha(-1) > 100% NPK. Sorghum, both as sole and intercrop, responded more to PM while soybean to FYM. Application of 75% NPK in combination with PM or FYM or PC to preceding rainy season crops (soybean and sorghum) and 75% NPK to wheat produced significantly higher grain yield of wheat than those in inorganics and control indicating noticeable residual effect on the succeeding wheat crop and saving of 25% fertilizer-NPK. The effect of PC on rainy season crops was not as prominent as those of FYM and PM, but its residual effect on grain yield of wheat was comparable to those two organic manures. Among the cropping systems, soybean as preceding crop recorded the highest seed yield of wheat and was on a par with that of soybean/sorghum intercropping system. The yield of wheat following sorghum was the lowest. The total system productivity (TSP) was the highest in sorghum + soybean-wheat system and the lowest in the soybean-wheat system.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, Madhya Pradesh.
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Chatterjee C, Singh J, Ghosh PK, Ganjoo AK. Partial AV canal defect with common atrium and mitral regurgitation. Ann Card Anaesth 2004; 7:174. [PMID: 17827552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- C Chatterjee
- Department of Cardiac Anaesthesiology, Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, India
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Vaijayanthi B, Kumar P, Ghosh PK, Gupta KC. Recent advances in oligonucleotide synthesis and their applications. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2003; 40:377-391. [PMID: 22900365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Short synthetic oligonucleotides are finding wide variety of applications in area of genomics and medicinal chemistry. Since the isolation of nucleic acids to the mapping of human genome, chemical synthesis of nucleic acids has undergone tremendous advancements. Further improvements in this area such as, introduction of high throughput synthesizers, better coupling reagents, improved polymer supports, newer sets of protecting groups for exocyclic amino groups of nucleic bases and introduction of universal polymer supports have completely revolutionized the entire field of nucleic acids chemistry. Most of these developments have been targeted to assemble these molecules more efficiently in a cost-effective manner and rapidly. Preparation of oligonucleotide conjugates has further helped in identifying the newer areas of their applications. A number of conjugates with biological and abiological ligands have been discussed in this article along with their possible wide spectrum of applications. Recently developed microarray technology, which refers to attachment of short oligonucleotides on a solid/polymeric surface, has proved to be useful for screening of genetic mutations, study of polymorphism, as diagnostics, etc. The major developments in these areas are presented in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Vaijayanthi
- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Delhi University Campus, Delhi 110 007, India
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Srinivasa Reddy M, Basha S, Sravan Kumar VG, Joshi HV, Ghosh PK. Quantification and classification of ship scraping waste at Alang-Sosiya, India. Mar Pollut Bull 2003; 46:1609-1614. [PMID: 14643788 DOI: 10.1016/s0025-326x(03)00329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Alang-Sosiya located on the Western Coast of Gulf of Cambay, is the largest ship recycling yard in the world. Every year on average 365 ships having a mean weight (2.10x10(6)+/-7.82x10(5) LDT) are scrapped. This industry generates a huge quantity of solid waste in the form of broken wood, rubber, insulation materials, paper, metals, glass and ceramics, plastics, leather, textiles, food waste, chemicals, paints, thermocol, sponge, ash, oil mixed sponges, miscellaneous combustible and non-combustible. The quantity and composition of solid waste was collected for a period of three months and the average values are presented in this work. Sosiya had the most waste 15.63 kg/m(2) compared to Alang 10.19 kg/m(2). The combustible solid waste quantity was around 83.0% of the total solid waste available at the yard, which represents an average weight of 9.807 kg/m(2); whereas, non-combustible waste is 1.933 kg/m(2). There is not much difference between the average of total solid waste calculated from the sampling data (96.71 MT/day) and the data provided by the port authorities (96.8 MT/day).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Srinivasa Reddy
- Marine Algae & Marine Environment Department, Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar 364002, India
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Bisen PS, Garg SK, Tiwari RP, Tagore PRN, Chandra R, Karnik R, Thaker N, Desai N, Ghosh PK, Fraziano M, Colizzi V. Analysis of the shotgun expression library of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome for immunodominant polypeptides: potential use in serodiagnosis. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2003; 10:1051-8. [PMID: 14607866 PMCID: PMC262431 DOI: 10.1128/cdli.10.6.1051-1058.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2003] [Revised: 05/01/2003] [Accepted: 06/27/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A recombinant DNA strategy was applied to analyze and screen the shotgun expression library from a clinically confirmed local virulent isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis with sera from tuberculosis patients, which led to expression and purification of highly immunoreactive and specific mycobacterial antigens expressed during the course of active disease which could be of diagnostic significance. An enzyme-linked immunoassay for diagnosis of tuberculosis was devised by using a shotgun immunoexpression library in the lambdagt11 vector. DNA from a virulent M. tuberculosis patient isolate (TBW-33) confirmed with the BACTEC 460 system was sheared and expressed to generate shotgun polypeptides. beta-Galactosidase fusion proteins capable of demarcating active tuberculosis infections from Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated healthy subjects or people harboring environmental mycobacteria were selected by comparative immunoreactivity studies. Promising mycobacterial DNA cassettes were subcloned and expressed into the glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion vector pGEX-5X-1 with a strong tac promoter and were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. These fusion proteins were severed at a built-in factor Xa recognition site to separate the GST tags and were utilized in an indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay for serodiagnosis of patients with active tuberculosis. The system offered a clear demarcation between BCG-vaccinated healthy subjects and patients with active tuberculosis and proved to be effective in detecting pulmonary as well as extrapulmonary tuberculosis, with an overall sensitivity of 84.33% and an overall specificity of 93.62%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash S Bisen
- Department of Biotechnology, Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior 474005, Madhya Pradesh, India.
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Singh BK, Kuhad RC, Singh A, Tripathi KK, Ghosh PK. Microbial degradation of the pesticide lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane). Adv Appl Microbiol 2003; 47:269-98. [PMID: 12876800 DOI: 10.1016/s0065-2164(00)47007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B K Singh
- Department of Microbiology, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110021, India
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Manna MC, Jha S, Ghosh PK, Acharya CL. Comparative efficacy of three epigeic earthworms under different deciduous forest litters decomposition. Bioresour Technol 2003; 88:197-206. [PMID: 12618041 DOI: 10.1016/s0960-8524(02)00318-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
An experiment was conducted during 1998-1999, in a deciduous forest located in the semi-arid tropics of central India, to evaluate the suitability of different forest litters as food material for the tropical epigeic earthworms i.e. Eisenia fetida (Savigny), Perionyx excavatus (Perrier) and Dicogaster bolaui (michaelsen). The aim was to examine the influence of these earthworms on the decomposition processes of three types of forest litters i.e. Tectona grandis (teak), Madhuca indica (mahua) and Butea monosperma (palas), on the maintenance of quality in a vermicomposting system, and to assess the effect of applications of in situ prepared vermicomposts on the growth of forest trees. The results indicated that T. grandis litter was the most suitable food material for the earthworms possibly because it contained high reserves of mineral nutrients. Comparisons of the survival and reproduction rates of the three epigeic earthworm species indicated that a higher reproduction rate was maintained for E. fetida compared to P. excavatus and D. bolaui in the decomposition of these forest litters. The rates of growth and population increases of E. fetida approximately doubled after 12 weeks of litter decomposition. The litter decomposition process was associated strongly with the quality of the materials and their chemical composition. Irrespective of earthworm inoculations, the levels of available nutrient such as NH(4)-N, NO(3)-N, available P and K increased significantly (p</=0.05) in the order T. grandis litter compost>M. indica litter compost>B. monosperma litter compost. The mature decomposed litter had lower C/N ratios (11.3-24.8:1), water-soluble carbon (0.30-0.58%), water-soluble carbohydrates (0.35-0.71%) and larger cation exchange capacity/total organic carbon ratios than the values in the parent forest litter. The lignin content increased with maturation with a concomitant decrease in cellulose resulting in higher lignin/cellulose ratios. Application of all three vermicomposts to forest trees significantly improved their heights and diameters over those of control trees, although the increases were lower than those resulting from the chemical fertilizer applications. However, soil biological activities i.e. soil respiration, soil microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity were greater by application of vermicomposts over that after application of inorganic fertilizer in a new plantation of T. grandis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Manna
- Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia road, Bhopal, 462038, India
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Sengupta K, Ghosh PK, Ganguly S, Das P, Maitra TK, Jalan KN. Characterization of entamoeba histolytica antigens in circulating immune complexes in sera of patients with amoebiasis. J Health Popul Nutr 2002; 20:215-222. [PMID: 12430757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Isolated circulating immune complexes (CICs) from sera of patients with amoebiasis were characterized to determine Entamoeba histolytica antigens that participate in the disease process. In total, 116 serum samples were collected before starting anti-amoebic therapy, and their CICs were isolated by differential polyethylene glycol precipitation. The presence of amoeba-specific antigens in CICs was detected by antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by immunoblot assay. Antigen capture ELISA showed significantly higher optical density (p < 0.001) in all patients with amoebiasis than in the normal healthy controls and patients of non-amoebic hepatic disorder. Immunoblot assay detected amoeba-specific CICs in all 18 patients (100%) with confirmed amoebic liver abscess, 28 (80%) of 35 patients with clinically-suspected amoebic liver abscess, and 18 (78.26%) of 23 patients with amoebic colitis. No patients with non-amoebic hepatic disorders and healthy control subjects had any detectable level of amoebic antigens in CICs. Immunoblot assay revealed E. histolytica antigens of relative molecular masses of 35, 56, 70, and 90 kDa present in CICs of 64 of 76 patients with amoebiasis. The 35-kDa polypeptide was observed in 52 patients (81.25%). The results of the study suggest that the 35-kDa polypeptide antigen can be a diagnostic marker in active amoebiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Sengupta
- Department of Immunology, Kothari Medical Centre and Research Institute, Calcutta, India
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Abstract
Hypocretin is a recently discovered peptide that is synthesized by neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area (LH) and is believed to play a role in sleep regulation, arousal, endocrine control, and food intake. These functions are critical for the development of independent survival. We investigated the developmental profile of the hypocretin system in rats. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of hypocretin mRNA increased from postnatal day 1 to adulthood. Both of the identified hypocretin receptor mRNAs were strongly expressed very early in hypothalamic development, and expression subsequently decreased in the mature brain. Immunocytochemistry revealed hypocretin-2 peptide expression in the cell bodies of LH neurons and in axons in the brain and spinal cord as early as embryonic day 19. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings from postnatal P1-P14 LH slices demonstrated a robust increase in synaptic activity in all LH neurons tested (n = 20) with a 383% increase in the frequency of spontaneous activity upon hypocretin-2 (1.5 microM) application. A similar increase in activity was found with hypocretin-1 application to LH slices. Hypocretin-2 evoked a robust increase in synaptic activity even on the earliest day tested, the day of birth. Furthermore, voltage-clamp recordings and calcium digital imaging experiments using cultured LH cells revealed that both hypocretin-1 and -2 induced enhancement of neuronal activity occurred as early as synaptic activity was detected. Thus, as in the adult central nervous system, hypocretin exerts a profound excitatory influence on neuronal activity early in development, which might contribute to the development of arousal, sleep regulation, feeding, and endocrine control.
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MESH Headings
- Aging/physiology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn/growth & development
- Animals, Newborn/physiology
- Brain/embryology
- Calcium/metabolism
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Carrier Proteins/pharmacology
- Cells, Cultured
- Electrophysiology
- Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism
- Hypothalamic Area, Lateral/drug effects
- Hypothalamic Area, Lateral/embryology
- Hypothalamic Area, Lateral/growth & development
- Hypothalamic Area, Lateral/physiology
- Immunohistochemistry
- In Vitro Techniques
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Neurons/physiology
- Neuropeptides/genetics
- Neuropeptides/metabolism
- Neuropeptides/pharmacology
- Orexin Receptors
- Orexins
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats/physiology
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
- Receptors, Neuropeptide/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Van Den Pol
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
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Abstract
Performance of mixed microbial anaerobic culture in treating synthetic waste-water with high Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and varying atrazine concentration was studied. Performance of hybrid reactors with wood charcoal as adsorbent, with a dose of 10 g/l and 40 g/l, along with the microbial mass was also studied. All the reactors were operated in sequential mode with Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 5 days. In all the cases, COD removal after 5 days was found to be above 81%. Initial COD was above 1,000 mg/l. From a hybrid reactor COD removal after 2 days was observed to be 90%. Atrazine reduction after 5 days by microbial mass alone was 43.8%, 40% and 33.2% with an initial concentration of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l respectively. MLSS on all the cases were almost same. Increasing MLSS concentration by about 2 fold did not increase the atrazine removal efficiency significantly. Maximum atrazine removal was observed to be 64% from the hybrid reactor with 10 g/l of wood charcoal and 69.4% from the reactor with 40 g/l of wood charcoal. Atrazine removal from the hybrid reactors after 15 days were observed to be 35.7% and 38.7%, which showed that the higher dose of wood charcoal in hybrid reactor did not improve the atrazine removal efficiency significantly. Specific methanogenic activity test showed no inhibitory effect of atrazine on methane producing bacteria. The performance of anaerobic microorganisms in removing atrazine with no external carbon source and inorganic nitrogen source was studied in batch mode. With an initial concentration of 1.0 mg/l, reduction of atrazine by the anaerobic microorganisms in absence of external carbon source after 35 days was observed to be 61.8% where as in absence of external carbon and inorganic nitrogen source the reduction was only 44.2% after 150 days. Volatilization loss of atrazine was observed to be insignificant.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, W. Bengal
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Ghosh PK, Czekajewski J. Cardiac output measurement in mice by thermodilution. Lab Anim (NY) 2000; 29:51-3. [PMID: 11381242 DOI: 10.1038/5000091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Traditional methods for measuring cardiac output in mice are invasive and traumatic. The authors discuss using the less-invasive thermodilution method, which is widely accepted in humans and other animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Columbus Instruments, 950 North Hague Ave., Columbus, OH 43204
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45
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Ghosh PK, Gupta S, Ortiz-Ortiz L. Intestinal amoebiasis: delayed-type hypersensitivity response in mice. J Health Popul Nutr 2000; 18:109-114. [PMID: 11057067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Delayed-type hypersensitive (DTH) response was evaluated in C3H/HeJ mice intestinally infected with Entamoeba histolytica. Infected and non-infected control mice were challenged with amoebic antigen on day 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, and 60 post-infection. Maximum footpad swelling was observed after 24 hours of the challenge. The E. histolytica-infected mice exhibited a DTH response on day 5, 15, 20, 25, 40 and 60 post-infection. However, on day 10, 30, and 50, such response was similar to that of the non-infected control mice. The mice developed an evident DTH response late in the course of infection (25 days post-infection). The infected mice did not show any alteration to their DTH response against heterologous unrelated antigen (sheep red blood cells), suggesting that cellular anergy was antigen-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Department of Immunology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico D.F
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Gaur U, Sahoo SK, De TK, Ghosh PC, Maitra A, Ghosh PK. Biodistribution of fluoresceinated dextran using novel nanoparticles evading reticuloendothelial system. Int J Pharm 2000; 202:1-10. [PMID: 10915921 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-5173(99)00447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The rapid clearance of circulating nanoparticles from the blood stream coupled with their high uptake by liver and spleen has thus far been overcome by reducing the particle size, and by making the particle surface hydrophilic with poloxamers and poloxamines. We have prepared hydrogel nanoparticles of polyvinylpyrrolidone of a size less than 100 nm diameter with precise size distribution. Since the inner cores of these particles are also hydrophilic, these particles are capable of encapsulating water-soluble compounds. Biodistribution of these particles shows practically negligible (<1%) uptake by the macrophages in liver and spleen, and approximately 5-10% of these particles remain in circulation even 8 h after i.v. injection. Increasing the surface hydrophobicity as well as particle size can increase the RES uptake of these particles. Because of longer residence in blood, the hydrogel nanoparticles have potential therapeutic applications particularly in cancer: the water-soluble cytotoxic agents encapsulated in these particles can be targeted to tumors while minimizing the likelihood of toxicity to reticuloendothelial system (RES).
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Affiliation(s)
- U Gaur
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, 110021, New Delhi, India
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47
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Abstract
Distribution of immune cell populations was studied in a C3H/HeJ mouse model of intestinal amebiasis from 5 to 60 days post-inoculation with Entamoeba histolytica, using immunoperoxidase techniques. At various time intervals, the ceca from mice were fixed in 10% formalin, dehydrated, embedded and sectioned at 5 microm. Sections were incubated with conjugated peroxidase-labelled antibodies to mouse IgA, IgM, and IgG. Color was developed with 3, 3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB)/H2O2 solution. CD3, CD4, and CD8 cells, as well as neutrophils were detected by reacting with biotin-conjugated anti-mouse CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD11 monoclonal antibodies, followed by their incubation with avidin-peroxidase and color development with DAB/H2O2 solution. Erythrocin B and toluidine blue were used to stain eosinophils and Mast cells, respectively. It was observed that the IgA+ plasma cell was the dominating immune cell present in the mucosa, although eosinophils, neutrophils, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IgM+, IgG+ cells and Mast cells were also seen. Results of this study suggest that infiltration of immune cells at the mucosal surface during intestinal amebiasis might be important in the defense against this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, UNAM, Mexico DF
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Kalra RL, Kaur H, Sharma S, Kapoor SK, Chakraborty SS, Kshirasagar RB, Vaidya RC, Sagade RB, Shirolkar SB, Dikshith TS, Raizada RB, Srivastava MK, Singh V, Nagarja KV, Appaiah KM, Srinivasa MA, Rani MU, Rao SN, Toteja GS, Dasgupta J, Ghosh PK, Saxena BN. DDT and HCH residues in dairy milk samples collected from different geographical regions of India: a multicentre study. Food Addit Contam 1999; 16:411-7. [PMID: 10755132 DOI: 10.1080/026520399283803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Under a multicentre study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, 2205 samples of dairy milk were collected from rural and urban areas of 12 states representing different geographical regions of India. These samples were analysed for residues of DDT and different isomers of HCH by gas-liquid chromatography. Analytical quality assurance between various participating laboratories was ensured through analysis of check samples. The residues of DDT and HCH were detected in more than 80% of samples analysed. Concentrations of DDT residues, alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH and delta-HCH exceeded their maximum residue limits prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Indian Government in 37, 21, 42, 28 and 4% of the samples, respectively. Median values of DDT and HCH found in dairy milk in India were more than the corresponding values reported from most other countries. The results showed significant variations in the incidence as well as level of these contaminants in dairy milk from different regions of the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Kalra
- Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India
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49
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Ghosh PK, Gupta S, Ghosh R, Ruiz BH, Ortiz-Ortiz L. Experimental amebiasis: molecular weight analysis of Entamoeba histolytica antigens recognized by IgG antibodies. Indian J Exp Biol 1999; 37:803-6. [PMID: 10709329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The reactivity of sera from experimentally infected animal was studied from 5-60 days postinoculation to determine which of the E. histolytica antigens are recognized frequently to infection. Crude extract of E. histolytica trophozoites was used and sera were examined by immunoelectrotransference assay. It was observed that sera recognized polypeptide with 70 kDa molecular mass after 15 days postinoculation onward and later 14 to 24 polypeptide with molecular weight of 110-22 kDa were recognized. All the amebic antigens (polypeptides) could be recognized by sera till 60 days postinoculated animals. Significance of expression of different amebic polypeptides in terms of pathogenesis needs further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Ghosh
- Departmento de Inmunologia, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas UNAM, Mexico DF
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Ghosh PK. Small aortic valve prostheses in octogenarians. Ann Thorac Surg 1999; 67:1543-4. [PMID: 10355467 DOI: 10.1016/s0003-4975(99)00224-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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