A Retrospective Cross Sectional Study to Find out the Role of Biochemical Parameters in Assessing the Severity of SARS COVID-19

Background and Objective: SARS Cov 2 virus are spreading havoc throughout the world and is responsible for the present pandemic. The clinical presentation of this pandemic has been varied from simple flu like symptoms to severe pneumonia. It is also found to affect multiple organ systems in our body.This study was conducted to find out the variations in the biochemical parameters among SARS Covid patients admitted in our hospital. Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective cross sectional survey of medical records of 258 SARS Cov 2 patients admitted in Chettinad hospital and research institute from July 2020 to September 2020. Among them 183 were males,75 were females. The details of their liver profile, renal profile, cardiac profile, ferritin levels and LDH levels were retrieved and studied Results: In this study we found a significant difference in the levels of ferritin, LDH, serum albumin, troponin I, CK-MB and BNP levels between patients admitted in ICU and ward. The patients were divided into three groups based on their age as 20-50,50-80 and more than 80 years. We found significant difference in the levels of total protein, serum albumin, ALT, BUN, troponin I and CK –MB values. Regression analysis showed ferritin, LDH and serum albumin to be independent markers in predicting disease severity (p value <0.05). Conclusion: This study has shown that ferritin, LDH and serum albumin are promising biochemical markers in the diagnosis and prognosis of SARS Covid 19 infection.

An In vitro Evaluation of Antidiabetic Activity of Alpinia galangal and Alpinia calcarata

Background: The herbs, genus Alpinia calcarata and Alpinia galanga that underneath the family Zingiberaceae are rhizomatous and extremely aromatic. The study is to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata in-vitro. Material and Methods: The inhibitory effect of Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities were evaluated. Results: The results revealed that both Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities in a dose-dependent manner (200–1000 μg/mL). However, Alpinia calcarata possess better antidiabetic activity than Alpinia galangal. Conclusion: The presence of phenolic and other phytochemical content in the herbs might be the reason for their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Thus, the drug formulating from the herbs, Alpinia galanga and Alpinia calcarata could be part of the potential alternative for synthetic anti-diabetic drug.

Evaluation of Quality Control Data of Clinical Chemistry Parameters using Six Sigma Metrics Tool in Clinical Laboratory

Background: Physicians rely on laboratory results for treating patients. So it is the duty of laboratories to assure quality of the results released. So laboratory performance should be validated to maintain the quality. Six sigma has now gained recent interest in monitoring the laboratory quality.This study was designed to gauge the clinical chemistry parameters based on six sigma metrics. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, both the internal and external quality control data of 26 clinical chemistry parameters were collected for a period of 6 months from June 2020 to November 2020 and the six sigma analysis was done at the Central clinical biochemistry laboratory of Chettinad Hospital and research institute. Results: AST, amylase, lipase, triglyceride, HDL, iron, magnesium, creatine kinase showed sigma values more than 6.Uric acid, total protein, ALT, direct bilirubin, GGT,cholesterol, cholesterol, calcium, TIBC and phosphorus shows sigma values between 3.5 to 6. Glucose, BUN, creatinine, albumin, Na, K, Chloride, showed sigma values less than 3.5. Conclusion: Six sigma metrics can help in improving the quality of laboratory performance and also helps to standardisethe actual amount of QC that is required by the laboratory for maintaining quality.

Serum Magnesium Levels among Pregnant Women with and without Complications: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Pregnancy is a period that is characterised by remarkable physiological changes which are needed to support the growing fetus. Micronutrients play a crucial role in the maintenance of pregnancy. Among the micronutrients, magnesium has got ample amount of clinical relevance to pregnancy. Magnesium deficiency has been associated with reproductive risk during pregnancy such as anaemia, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, fetal growth retardation, preterm labour, low intrauterine growth rate and leg cramps. Aim: To find out whether there was significant difference in the magnesium levels among pregnant women with and without pregnancy related complications and also to find out whether the magnesium levels differed significantly among the three trimesters. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study done among 240 pregnant patients from different trimesters attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Outpatient Department. Out of them 164 women had complications like pre-eclampsia, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, leg cramps and history of abortions. Demographic details were obtained from all the women. BMI was calculated for each subject using the formula BMI=weight(kg)/height(m2). Haemoglobin was assessed in all samples using cyanmethaemoglobin method. Magnesium levels were analysed in the all samples using automated analyser in the Biochemistry laboratory. Student’s t-test was used to compare the levels of magnesium among the groups with and without complications. ANOVA test was used to compare the three trimesters. Results: The pregnant women were divided into three groups based on the different trimesters in which the samples were taken. Magnesium levels among the women in the first trimester were (2.96±0.83) second trimester (2.99±1.48) and third trimester (3.05±1.48) respectively. Women with previous abortions were found to have less magnesium levels (2.71) compared to women without a history of abortion (3.11) and value was found to be statistically significant (p<0.007) and magnesium levels among vegetarians (2.45) were lower than non vegetarians (3.08) and it was found to be statistical significant (p<0.013). There was no significant difference in the magnesium levels among pregnant women with complications and those without complications. Conclusion: The study shows the importance of maintaining the magnesium levels among pregnant women. There was no difference in the magnesium levels among the three trimesters. Study also points out the influence of parity, diet and occupation of pregnant women on the levels of magnesium.

Model for bidirectional movement of cytoplasmic dynein

Cytoplasmic dynein exhibits a directional processive movement on microtubule filaments and is known to move in steps of varying length based on the number of ATP molecules bound to it and the load that it carries. It is experimentally observed that dynein takes occasional backward steps and the frequency of such backward steps increases as the load approaches the stall force. Using a stochastic process model, we investigate the bidirectional movement of single head of a dynein motor. The probability for backward step is implemented based on fluctuation theorem of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. We find that the movement of dynein motor is characterized with negative velocity implying backward motion beyond stall force. We observe that the motor moves backward for super stall forces by hydrolyzing the ATP exactly the same way as it does while moving forward for sub-stall forces. Movement of dynein is also simulated using a kinetic Monte Carlo method and the simulated velocities are in good agreement with velocities obtained using a stochastic rate equation model.

A feedback queue with additional optional batch service

A single server infinite capacity queuing system with Poisson arrival process along with Bernoulli feedback decision process is considered wherein the server provides two types of service. The first essential service is rendered one by one to all the customers and second optional service is given in batches of fixed size b. For this model the steady state probability generating function for the queue length process has been obtained and average queue length has been found explicitly. Results for particular cases are obtained and some numerical results are presented to test the feasibility of the queuing model.

Estimation of different degrees of provocation by DEC (diethyl carbamazine citrate) medication in bancroftian filariasis in Vellore, Tamilnadu

DEC in general has the power to bringout the filarial worms into the peripheral blood when administered. The provocative effect was observed in 86.8% of the mf positive cases. Optimum provocative effect was noticed in the age group above 12 years and there was no influence on sex. The maximum effect of provocation was seen at 60 min after the administration 2 mg/kg body weight DEC. The mf rate was high in the blood collected after the administration of DEC during day time, than that during night.

Expression of human growth hormone in silkworm larvae through recombinant Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus

We have generated a recombinant Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus, vBmhGH, harboring the full length human growth hormone gene (2.4-kb genomic DNA, with four introns and the signal peptide sequences) under the control of the polyhedrin promoter. BmN cells in culture infected with the recombinant virus showed the presence of RNA corresponding to the authentic growth hormone mRNA as well as its incompletely processed precusor. Electrophoretic analysis and immunoprecipitation of proteins of recombinant virus-infected BmN cells revealed the presence of the growth hormone protein. Infection of silkworm larvae with vBmhGH led to the synthesis and efficient secretion of the protein into hemolymph. The recombinant human growth hormone was biologically active in a radioreceptor competition binding assay. The secreted protein was isolated and purified to homogeneity by a single step immunoaffinity chromatography, to a specific activity of 2.4 x 10(4) U/mg. The recombinant hGH retained the immunological and biological properties of the native peptide. We conclude that BmNPV vectors can be used successfully for expressing chromosomal genes harboring multiple introns.

Baculovirus mediated high-level expression of luciferase in silkworm cells and larvae

Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV)-based baculovirus expression system exploits silkworm larvae as an economical alternative to large-scale cell cultures for production of biomolecules. To generate recombinant BmNPV at high frequencies, we have achieved high efficiency transfection of B. mori cells, BmN, through lipofection. Optimal conditions for lipofection were standardized by quantification of the transient expression level of firefly luciferase (luc) reporter gene under control of an immediate early gene promoter of BmNPV. Lipofection was 50-fold and 100-fold more efficient than the calcium phosphate method for transfecting BmN and Sf9 cells, respectively. Lipofection enabled us to generate a recombinant BmNPV (vBmluc), harboring luc under control of the strong polyhedrin promoter. On infection with vBmluc, luciferase was expressed at very high levels, 170 micrograms/10(6) BmN cells or 13 mg/larva. Expression of luciferase in vBmluc-infected larvae was visualized by luminescence emission instantaneously following luciferin injection generating "glowing silkworms".

A dipstick immunobinding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serodiagnosis of hepatitis B and delta virus infections

A simple, specific and economical dipstick immunobinding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DIA) for detecting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to hepatitis delta virus (anti-HDV), utilizing cellulose nitrate membrane is described. Screening of 815 serum specimens for HBsAg by DIA and micro ELISA revealed a positivity of 22.69% and 22.94% respectively. In the detection of antibodies to delta antigen, DIA was compared with an indirect immunofluorescence technique using A3 cell line as antigen substrate and a commercial macro ELISA. Of the 143 HBsAg positive sera tested for anti-HDV, 59 (41.25%) were positive by both immunofluorescence and macro ELISA and 61 (42.65%) by DIA. While the positive and negative predictive values of DIA for HBsAg were 100% and 99.6%, for anti-HDV by DIA these were 96.7% and 100% respectively. Based on the simplicity of performance and the economical nature of the test system, DIA is recommended as a diagnostic tool for field surveys and small laboratories in developing countries.