Precise and rapid point-of-care quantification of albumin levels in unspiked blood using organic field-effect transistors

Nanowire-based field-effect transistors (FETs) are widely used to detect biomolecules precisely. However, the fabrication of such devices involves complex integration procedures of nanowires into the device and most are not easily scalable. In this work, we report a straightforward fabrication approach that utilizes the grain boundaries of the semiconducting film of organic FETs to fabricate biosensors for the detection of human serum albumin (HSA) with an enhanced sensitivity and detection range. We used trichromophoric pentapeptide (TPyAlaDo-Leu-ArTAA-Leu-TPyAlaDo, TPP) as a receptor molecule to precisely estimate the concentration of HSA protein in human blood. Bi-layer semiconductors (pentacene and TPP) were used to fabricate the OFET, where the pentacene molecule acted as a conducting channel and TPP acted as a receptor molecule. This approach of engineering the diffusion of receptor molecules into the grain boundaries is crucial in developing OFET-based HSA protein sensors, which cover a considerable detection range from 1 pM to 1 mM in a single device. The point-of-care detection in unspiked blood samples was confirmed at 4.2 g dL-1, which is similar to 4.1 g dL-1 measured using a pathological procedure.

Multi-Institutional Clinical Outcomes of Biopsy Gleason Grade Group 5 Prostate Cancers Treated With Contemporary High-Dose Radiation and Long-Term Androgen Deprivation Therapy

AIMS

This multicentric retrospective study reports long-term clinical outcomes of non-metastatic grade group 5 prostate cancers treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients treated across 19 institutions were studied. The key endpoints that were evaluated were 5-year biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS), metastases-free survival (MFS), overall survival, together with EBRT-related acute and late toxicities. The impact of various prognostic factors on the studied endpoints was analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Among the 462 patients, 88% (405) had Gleason 9 disease and 31% (142) had primary Gleason pattern 5. A prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan was used for staging in 33% (153), 80% (371) were staged as T3/T4 and 30% (142) with pelvic nodal disease. The median ADT duration was 24 months; 66% received hypofractionated EBRT and 71.4% (330) received pelvic nodal irradiation. With a median follow-up of 56 months, the 5-year bRFS, MFS and overall survival were 73.1%, 77.4% and 90.5%, respectively. Primary Gleason pattern 5 was associated with worse bRFS, MFS and overall survival with hazard ratios of 0.51 (95% confidence interval 0.35 to 0.73, P < 0.001), 0.64 (95% confidence interval 0.43 to 0.96, P = 0.031) and 0.52 (95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.97, P = 0.040), respectively, whereas pelvic nodal disease was associated with worse bRFS (hazard ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.46 to 0.98, P = 0.039) and MFS (hazard ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.37 to 0.85, P = 0.006). The acute and late radiation-related toxicities were low overall and pelvic nodal irradiation was associated with higher toxicities.

CONCLUSION

Contemporary EBRT and long-term ADT led to excellent 5-year clinical outcomes and low rates of toxicity in this cohort of non-metastatic grade group 5 prostate cancers. Primary Gleason pattern 5 and pelvic node disease portends inferior clinical outcomes.

MOF-Assimilated High-Sensitive Organic Field-Effect Transistors for Rapid Detection of a Chemical Warfare Agent

The selective and rapid detection of trace amounts of highly toxic chemical warfare agents has become imperative for efficiently using military and civilian defense. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of inorganic-organic hybrid porous material that could be potential next-generation toxic gas sensors. However, the growth of a MOF thin film for efficiently utilizing the material properties for fabricating electronic devices has been challenging. Herein, we report a new approach to efficiently integrate MOF as a receptor through diffusion-induced ingress into the grain boundaries of the pentacene semiconducting film in the place of the most adaptive chemical functionalization method for sensor fabrication. We used bilayer conducting channel-based organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) as a sensing platform comprising CPO-27-Ni as the sensing layer, coated on the pentacene layer, showed a strong response toward sensing of diethyl sulfide, which is one of the stimulants of bis (2-chloroethyl) sulfide, a highly toxic sulfur mustard (HD). Using OFET as a sensing platform, these sensors can be a potential candidate for trace amounts of sulfur mustard detection below 10 ppm in real time as wearable devices for onsite uses.

Diffusion-Induced Ingress of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 into the Charge Conducting Path of a Pentacene Channel for Efficient Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Saliva Samples

Rapid and accurate identification of a pathogen is crucial for disease control and prevention of the epidemic of emerging infectious like SARS-CoV-2. However, no foolproof gold standard assay exists to date. Nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostic tests have been established for identifying COVID-19. However, viral RNAs are highly unstable in handling with poor laboratory procedures, leading to a false negative that accelerates the spread of the disease. Detection of the spike protein (S1) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus through a proper receptor, commonly used in antigen-based rapid testing kits, also suffers from false-negative predictions due to decreasing viral titers in clinical specimens. Organic field-effect transistor (OFET)-based sensors can be highly sensitive upon properly integrating receptors in the conducting channel. This work demonstrates how angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) molecules can be used as receptor molecules of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the OFET platform. Integration of ACE2 molecules into pentacene grain boundaries has been studied through the statistical analysis of rough surfaces in terms of lateral correlation length and interface width. The uniform coating of ACE2 molecules has been confirmed through growth studies to achieve better ingress of the receptors into the conducting channel at the semiconductor/dielectric interface of OFETs. We have observed less than a minute detection time with 94% sensitivity, which is the highest reported value. The sensor works with a saliva sample, requiring no sample preparation or virus transfer medium. A prototype module developed for remote monitoring confirms the suitability for point-of-care (POC) application at large-scale testing in more crowded areas like airports, railway stations, shopping malls, etc.

Superfluid stiffness of a KTaO3-based two-dimensional electron gas

After almost twenty years of intense work on the celebrated LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃system, the recent discovery of a superconducting two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) in (111)-oriented KTaO₃-based heterostructures injects new momentum to the field of oxides interface. However, while both interfaces share common properties, experiments also suggest important differences between the two systems. Here, we report gate tunable superconductivity in 2-DEGs generated at the surface of a (111)-oriented KTaO₃ crystal by the simple sputtering of a thin Al layer. We extract the superfluid stiffness of the 2-DEGs and show that its temperature dependence is consistent with a node-less superconducting order parameter having a gap value larger than expected within a simple BCS weak-coupling limit model. The superconducting transition follows the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless scenario, which was not reported on SrTiO₃-based interfaces. Our finding offers innovative perspectives for fundamental science but also for device applications in a variety of fields such as spin-orbitronics and topological electronics.

Silver Nanodot Decorated Dendritic Copper Foam As a Hydrophobic and Mechano-Chemo Bactericidal Surface

The present work investigates the time-dependent antibacterial activity of the silver nanodot decorated dendritic copper foam nanostructures against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive) bacteria. An advanced antibacterial and antifouling surface is fabricated utilizing the collective antibacterial properties of silver nanodots, chitosan, and dendritic copper foam nanostructures. The porous network of the Ag nanodot decorated Cu foam is made up of nanodendrites, which reduce the wettability of the surface. Hence, the surface exhibits hydrophobic nature and inhibits the growth of bacterial flora along with the elimination of dead bacterial cells. The fabricated surface exhibits a water contact angle (WCA) of 158.7 ± 0.17°. Specifically, we tested the fabricated material against both the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial models. The antibacterial activity of the fabricated surface is evident from the growth inhibition percentage of bacterial strains of Escherichia coli (72.30 ± 0.60%) and Bacillus subtilis (48.30 ± 1.71%). The micrographs obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the treated cells show the damaged cellular structures of the bacteria, which is strong evidence of successful antibacterial action. The antibacterial effect can be attributed to the synergistic mechano-chemo mode of action involving mechanical disruption of the bacterial cell wall by the nanoprotrusions present on the Cu dendrites along with the chemical interaction of the Ag nanodots with vital intracellular components.

Alcohol functionality in the fatty acid backbone of sphingomyelin guides the inhibition of blood coagulation

Cell-surface sphingomyelin (SM) inhibits binary and ternary complex activity of blood coagulation by an unknown mechanism. Here we show the OH functionality of SM contributes in forming the close assembly through intermolecular H-bond and through Ca²⁺ chelation, which restricts the protein–lipid/protein–protein interactions and thus inhibits the coagulation procedure.

Cell-surface sphingomyelin (SM) inhibits binary and ternary complex activity of blood coagulation.

Low Operating Voltage Organic Field-Effect Transistors with Gelatin as a Moisture-Induced Ionic Dielectric Layer: The Issues of High Carrier Mobility

We have developed low-voltage (<2 V) flexible organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) with high carrier mobility using gelatin as a moisture-induced ionic gate dielectric system. Ionic concentration in the gelatin layer depends on the relative humidity condition during the measurement. The capacitance of the dielectric layer used for the calculation of field-effect carrier mobility for the OFETs crucially depends on the frequency at which the capacitance was measured. The results of frequency-dependent gate capacitance together with the anomalous bias-stress effect have been used to determine the exact frequency at which the carrier mobility should be calculated. The observed carrier mobility of the devices is 0.33 cm²/Vs with the capacitance measured at frequency 20 mHz. It can be overestimated to 14 cm²/Vs with the capacitance measured at 100 kHz. The devices can be used as highly sensitive humidity sensors. About three orders of magnitude variation in device current have been observed on the changes in relative humidity (RH) levels from 10 to 80%. The devices show a fast response with a response and recovery times of ∼100 and ∼110 ms, respectively. The devices are flexible up to a 5 mm bending radius.

Mitochondria-targeted fluorescent polymersomes for drug delivery to cancer cells

Mitochondria is an attractive target to deliver anticancer drugs. We have synthesized a cationic triphenylphosphonium ion conjugated fluorescent polymer which self-assembles into nanosized polymersomes and targets the encapsulated anticancer drug doxorubicin to cancer cell mitochondria.

How to interpret computed tomography of the lumbar spine

Computed tomography (CT) of the spine has remained an important tool in the investigation of spinal pathology. This article helps to explain the basics of CT of the lumbar spine to allow the clinician better use of this diagnostic tool.

Observational assessment and correlates to blood pressure of future physicians of Bengal

INTRODUCTION

Hypertension is a modern day epidemic and growing public health problem. A sizable proportion of world populations suffer from prehypertension or hypertension.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was carried out to detect the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension among undergraduate medical students and to identify the associated risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was observational in nature and was done in medical colleges of Bengal. Study tool was a predesigned, pretested, validated, and semi-structured questionnaire containing both open-ended and close-ended questions. Data were collected through self-administration, clinical, and anthropometric examination. The data were then tabulated, analyzed and interpretation was done by using percentage and Chi-square test.

RESULTS

Most of the students (63%) were young adults, predominantly males (67%) and day scholars (71%). Almost one-third of them either suffered from hypertension or at risk of hypertension. Hypertension was found higher among male students. Family history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus was not associated with hypertension. Vegetarian or nonvegetarian diet or extra-salt consumption was also not associated with hypertension. Smoking was shown positively associated with hypertension but alcohol consumption was not. Higher per capita monthly income and overweight or obesity were shown positively associated with hypertension.

CONCLUSION

The overall prevalence of hypertension in this study was 13% and there were positive association of hypertension with multiple socio-demographic factors like age, sex, type of family, per capita monthly income, residence, BMI, smoking, etc.

Socioeconomic consequences of HIV/AIDS in the family system

INTRODUCTION

HIV/AIDS can lead to poverty affecting particularly women and young people and can halt or reverse socioeconomic development of a country.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the socioeconomic consequences of HIV/AIDS within the family.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among patients admitted in in-patient department and those attending integrated counseling and testing centre (ICTC) of School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. Data were gathered by interviewing the patients by using a predesigned questionnaire.

RESULTS

For prolonged duration and severity of disease, higher proportion of indoor patients reported loss of job, decreased family income, increased expenditure for care seeking, and faced greater economic consequences, reflected by selling assets. Loss of job was mainly due to illness (86.8%), disclosure of sero-status (13.2%), and predominantly among skilled workers. Assets were sold mainly to meet the cost of own illness for indoor patients, but more to meet the expenditure for husband's illness, in the case of ICTC patients. High school dropout seen in both groups was mainly due to economic reasons. HIV/AIDS status was known to other members of family for 84.8% of indoor patients out of which 15.4% experienced rejection by family members. Out of 72 ever married women indoor patients whose in-laws were aware of their HIV/AIDS status, 41.7%, 40.9%, and 33.33% reportedly were blamed for spouse's illness, and had strained relation with in-laws and spouse, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Intensive behavior change communication and provision of care and support are required to curb AIDS-related stigma, discrimination, and to maintain physical, mental, and social wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS.

A study on habits of tobacco use among medical and non-medical students of Kolkata

BACKGROUND

Age-old practice "using tobacco" is a well known major global concern as it victimizes all its lovers by a host of chronic noncommunicable diseases including cancer; all develop very slowly and silently, and can cause premature death.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the pattern of tobacco use among the medical and nonmedical college students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in Kolkata collecting anonymous data from 515 medical and 349 nonmedical college students of two medical and two general colleges, selected randomly.

RESULT

Overall prevalence of tobacco use (18.3% vs 43.6%) and smoking (14.9% vs 40.7%) were significantly less in medical subjects, both across the sex and years of study. Lower rate of tobacco adoption at college level, higher quitting rate, correct knowledge regarding uselessness of filter attached with cigarette, and ill-effects of tobacco consumption were observed among medical participants. More nonmedical subjects were increasingly smoking compared to medical students. Filter-tipped cigarette was the top choice, and smoking was more prevalent mode of use among the nonmedical participants, most (62.3%) of whom were mild users. Curiosity was the top influencing factor for the initiation of tobacco use and two-third users wanted to quit.

CONCLUSION

Although the mortal habits was comparatively less among medical students, the medical environment seemed to fail to curb the dreadful practice totally. Thereby it can be recommended that active behavior-changing communication is required for all sections of the society to tear out the social root of the problem instead of unimpressive vague health warnings in vogue.

Functional Disability and Associated Chronic Conditions among Geriatric Populations in a Rural Community of India

BACKGROUND

Geriatric population and chronic diseases are increasing throughout the world especially in developing countries like India. Because of social change and urbanization, disability is also a problem in India. As the major reasons for geriatric disabilities are chronic diseases, a study was undertaken.

OBJECTIVES

To find out the prevalence of different chronic diseases and disability among the geriatric population in a rural community of India and to determine the association between chronic diseases and disability of the geriatric population.

METHOD

A cross-sectional, observational community based study was conducted in a rural area of West Bengal, India through house to house visit for Clinical examination, observation and interview with a predesigned pre-tested proforma

RESULTS

Out of 495 study population, 80 (16.16%) were found to be functionally disabled as per ADL scale and more than half (56.2%) of them had 3 or more chronic conditions. 92.5% of study populations had one or more chronic conditions

CONCLUSION

Association between different risk factors and disability was found with age, sex, anaemia, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases(C.O.P.D), scabies, hypertrophy of prostate, ischaemic heart disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and acid peptic disorder were the risk factors of disability. These data suggest the significant chronic conditions and risk factors associated with disability. Measures to reduce such chronic conditions and impairment would be the useful approach for the prevention of disability.

Does Helical Tomotherapy Improve Dose Conformity and Normal Tissue Sparing Compared to Conventional IMRT? A Dosimetric Comparison in High Risk Prostate Cancer

The study was designed to compare Helical Tomotherapy (HT) based IMRT and conventional sliding window (SW IMRT) in patients with high risk prostate cancer. Complementary plans with HT and SWIMRT were compared using DVH parameters. The PTV Prostate was prescribed 74 Gy in 37 fractions and the nodal PTV received 55 Gy in 37 fractions by simultaneous integrated boost. Conformity Index, Homogeneity Index and dose-volume parameters were compared. The conformity index (CI) of HT (0.77, SD = 0.54) plans tended to be better (p = 0.069) compared to SWIMRT (0.70, SD = 0.01) for prostate PTV. CI for nodal PTV was similar. Helical tomotherapy plans were more homogeneous, with homogeneity index (HI) of 0.04 compared to 0.06 in SWIMRT (p = 0.018) for PTV prostate and HI of 0.06 and 0.15 (p = 0.025) for PTV nodes respectively. Median dose to bladder (p = 0.025) and rectum (p = 0.012) were less with HT. However, HT delivered a higher D10Gy and D1Gy to rectum and bladder overlap volumes as a consequence of achieving better homogeneity. Femoral heads were better spared with HT plans (p = 0.012). HT improves dose homogeneity, target coverage and conformity as compared to SWIMRT, with overall improvement in critical organ sparing.

Assessing cold chain status in a metro city of India: an intervention study

BACKGROUND

Cold chain maintenance is an essential activity to maintain the potency of vaccines and to prevent adverse events following immunization. One baseline study highlighted the unsatisfactory cold chain status in city of Kolkata in India.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the changes which occurred in the cold chain status after the intervention undertaken to improve the status and also to assess the awareness of the cold chain handlers regarding cold chain maintenance.

METHODS

Intervention consisted of reorganization of cold chain points and training of health manpower in Kolkata Municipal area regarding immunization and cold chain following the guidelines as laid by Govt of India. Reevaluation of cold chain status was done at 20 institutions selected by stratified systematic random sampling after the intervention. The results were compared with baseline survey.

RESULTS

Significant improvement had been observed in correct placing of cold chain equipment, maintenance of stock security, orderly placing of ice packs, diluents and vaccines inside the equipment, temperature recording and maintenance. But awareness and skill of cold chain handlers regarding basics of cold chain maintenance was not satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

The success of intervention included significant improvement of cold chain status including creation of a designated cold chain handler. The gaps lay in non-availability of non-electrical cold chain equipment and separate cold chain room, policy makers should stress. Cold chain handlers need reorientation training regarding heat & cold sensitive vaccines, preventive maintenance and correct contingency plan.

Brain-sparing holo-cranial radiotherapy: a unique application of helical tomotherapy

AIMS

Diffuse and extensive involvement of the scalp/skull by malignancy mandates holo-cranial radiotherapy with the aim to deliver homogeneous doses to the planning target volume (PTV) while minimising the dose to surrounding organs at risk (OARs). Previously described techniques result in significant heterogeneity, suboptimal coverage or poor conformity and need complicated beam matching. Here we report our preliminary experience of planning and delivery of brain-sparing holo-cranial radiotherapy with helical tomotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three patients with extensive involvement of the scalp/skull by malignancy were planned and treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy on helical tomotherapy. The plan evaluation was carried out using standardised dose metrics.

RESULTS

Helical tomotherapy achieved highly conformal and homogeneous dose distributions with substantial OAR sparing in all three patients. The volume of PTV receiving ≥95% of prescribed dose (V(95%)) was ≥98% in all three patients. The mean (standard deviation) homogeneity index and conformity index was 0.046 (0.006) and 0.783 (0.035), respectively. The mean dose to the brain parenchyma outside the PTV was 17.32 Gy (74%), 28.76 Gy (63.9%) and 26.7 Gy (59.3%) for the three patients. The mean (standard deviation) monitor units and beam-on time was 6939 (985) and 8.10 (1.137) min, respectively. Overall the treatment was very well tolerated with no significant acute toxicity. Early follow-up evaluation revealed a good clinicoradiological response and the absence of local disease progression with no significant sequelae, implying successful application of the treatment paradigm.

CONCLUSION

Helical tomotherapy is ideally suited for brain-sparing holo-cranial radiotherapy with its exceptional ability of tangential beam delivery resulting in highly conformal and homogenous dose distribution across large, complex target volumes with substantial OAR sparing.

Early experiences of abuse and current depressive disorders in Iranian women

Early experience of abuse may be viewed as a risk factor for mental disorders in women later in life. This case-control study in Isfahan screened 709 women aged 20-45 years using the Beck Depression Inventory and structured clinical interviews for Diagnostic Statistical Manual-IV criteria. Lifetime history of abuse was determined using a standard questionnaire. Among the women 35.1% had experienced fear of or actual abuse (physical, sexual or both) in childhood or adolescence. The risk of having major depression in adult life was significantly higher in women who experienced abuse in childhood and adolescence (OR 4.3), severe degrees of abuse (OR 3.9) or multiple forms of abuse (OR 3.8).

Psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF in an Iranian adult sample

To evaluate discriminant validity, reliability, internal consistency, and dimensional structure of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) in a heterogeneous Iranian population. A clustered randomized sample of 2,956 healthy with 2,936 unhealthy rural and urban inhabitants aged 30 and above from two dissimilar Iranian provinces during 2006 completed the Persian version of the WHOQOL-BREF. We performed descriptive and analytical analysis including t-student, correlation matrix, Cronbach's Alpha, and factor analysis with principal components method and Varimax rotation with SPSS.15. The mean age of the participants was 42.2 +/- 12.1 years and the mean years of education was 9.3 +/- 3.8. The Iranian version of the WHOQOL-BREF domain scores demonstrated good internal consistency, criterion validity, and discriminant validity. The physical health domain contributed most in overall quality of life, while the environment domain made the least contribution. Factor analysis provided evidence for construct validity for four-factor model of the instrument. The scores of all domains discriminated between healthy persons and the patients. The WHOQOL-BREF has adequate psychometric properties and is, therefore, an adequate measure for assessing quality of life at the domain level in an adult Iranian population.

Expenditure to treat thalassaemia: an experience at a tertiary care hospital in India

BACKGROUND

The medical and economic problem of thalassaemia are considered to be a vast public health problem in the thalassaemia belt countries, emphasizing more on prenatal diagnosis as the solution of the problem.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Institute of Haematology & Transfusion Medicine located in Medical College, Kolkata, India to assess the socio-demographic profile, clinical presentation, expenditure for treatment of thalassaemia patients and awareness about cause and prevention of the disease.

RESULTS

Thalassaemia patients attended the Govt. setting were mostly from lower socioeconomic status with low level of literacy. Annual expenditure for treatment of thalassaemia ranged from $ 108 to 432; depending on type of treatment with average cost per transfusion was $ 5.2±2.2. Average 18.5%±14.3 of the total annual income was spent on the treatment for thalassaemia. Average man days or school days lost for the patients was 29.87±18.5 and 19.07±12.7 for the accompanying persons.

CONCLUSION

Blood transfusion and carrier screening facilities should be decentralized to decrease the expenditure for treatment and alleviate the harassment of the families. Folate and calcium tablets, hepatitis B vaccination can be made available at government setting free of cost.

What are the predictors of work impairment in Iranian patients with depressive disorders?

The purpose of this study is to estimate the predictors of working ability in depressed patients. Two hundred and twenty-six patients with depression consecutively admitted on outpatient basis from March 2003 to May 2006 were classified into working and non working groups. Severity of depression was measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and their occupational adjustment 2 months prior to the last episode was determined by Occupational Adjustment Scale, a subscale of Social Adjustment Scale. The groups were almost similar in terms of age, sex, education, and marital status. There were significant differences between them in terms of family history of depression, episodes of depression, history of suicide attempts, duration of illness and severity of depression (P < 0.01). The working depressed group differed significantly from the impaired depressed group in terms of work experience, job turnover, and overall occupational adjustment (P < 0.01). History of suicide attempt, family history of depression, time lost, severity of depression, pre-morbid occupational adjustment, age, and illness duration emerged as the most important predictors, explaining 64% of the patients' working ability. Our observations are on line with robust literature across the globe. Nature of illness condition as well as societal attitude can explain the impairment condition in depressed patients. Presence of a comprehensive integrated approach to their treatment and rehabilitation is imperative.

A novel PRNP-P105S mutation associated with atypical prion disease and a rare PrPSc conformation

OBJECTIVE

To define the clinicopathologic, genetic, and pathogenic prion protein (PrP(Sc)) characteristics associated with a novel mutation of the prion protein gene (PRNP).

METHODS

The coding segment of PRNP from the proband and family members was sequenced and the brain of the proband was histologically studied. The Western blot profile of the proteinase K (PK) resistant fraction of PrP(Sc), an approximation of its conformation, or "PrP(Sc)-type," was determined.

RESULTS

We detected a novel mutation at codon 105 of PRNP that results in a serine (S) substitution of proline (P) (P105S), in a young woman who developed progressive aphasia, behavioral changes, dementia, and parkinsonism, lasting 10 years to her death. Histopathologic findings included an intense focus of multicentric PrP-plaques within the hippocampus, punctate plaques scattered throughout the cerebellum, and intense spongiform degeneration focally within the putamen, suggesting a variant of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS). However, PrP(Sc)-typing revealed two PK-resistant PrP(Sc) fragments (approximately 21 and 26 kDa), a pattern not previously detected in GSS.

CONCLUSIONS

This mutation is the third sequence variation at codon 105 of PRNP. The unusual phenotype and PrP(Sc)-type distinguishes this genetic prion disease from typical Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome and other codon 105 substitutions, suggesting that, in addition to the loss of proline at this position, the PrP(Sc) conformation and phenotype is dependent on the specific amino acid substitution.

Pattern of adverse drug reactions due to cancer chemotherapy in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal

Use of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs is associated with several adverse drug reactions (ADRs) ranging from mild nausea to fatal myelosuppression. Data regarding safety profile of cancer chemotherapy is lacking in Nepal. To study the pattern of ADRs caused by cancer chemotherapeutic drugs in Manipal Teaching Hospital (MTH), Pokhara, Nepal. Hospitalized patients treated with cancer chemotherapy drugs from 1st January to 30th June 2006, was studied retrospectively. Necessary information was collected from the patients' hospital records. Total 60 patients underwent chemotherapy among which 25 (41.67%) developed ADRs. More than half (60 %) were male and 40 % were of age group 61-70 years. The mean SD age was 57.8 +/- 11.54 years. More than half of the patients (56%) who developed ADRs were on adjuvant chemotherapy. Alkylating agents were responsible for the ADRs in nearly half of the patients (52%) followed by antimetabolites (20%). Cisplatin was the individual drug responsible for 44% of the ADRs. The onset of the ADR was within a day in 44% of the patients. Thirty six percent of patients developing ADRs stayed in the hospital for 1-4 days. Hematological system was affected primarily (40.47% of the patients), followed by the gastrointestinal tract (33.33%). Grade I neutropenia was the most common ADR affecting 28.6% of the patients, followed by emesis (21.4%). Increased dose of antiemetics was needed in 38.5% of the patients to manage the ADRs. Levamisole was the drug used primarily (30.43%) for managing ADRs. Male patients and age group 61-70 years were highly predisposed to ADRs. Cisplatin was the common drug responsible for ADRs. Levamisole was commonly used in managing the ADRs. Similar studies covering more patients form different regions are needed to validate our findings.

Psychological profile of Iranian patients with low-back pain

A hospital case-control study in Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran, compared the psychological features of 200 patients with low-back pain with 350 matched controls. The control group scored lower than patients in all dimensions of the Symptom Checklist-90 checklist. Female patients were more psychologically affected by low-back pain than males. In both groups, grudge, general complaints, anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviours, somatization and phobia varied with level of education. Patients' levels of depression and anxiety were related to occupational background. Longer duration of illness was accompanied by higher levels of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive behaviours and somatization.

Studies on manganese nodule leached residue 4. Physicochemical characterization and catalytic activity of acetic acid treated manganese nodule leached residue

The catalytic activity of water-washed manganese nodule leached residue (WMNLR) samples improved by treating with acetic acid. The effects of acetic acid treatment on the physicochemical properties and catalytic activity of manganese nodule leached residue have been studied. The surface area, surface oxygen, surface hydroxyl groups, surface acidity, electron donating properties, etc., increase gradually with acid treatment up to 0.5 M and thereafter show a decreasing trend. The rate constant of H2O2 decomposition, catalytic activity of CO oxidation, and esterification of acetic acid also show a similar trend to that of surface properties.

Effect of heat treatment on the physico-chemical properties and catalytic activity of manganese nodules leached residue towards decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The effect of calcination temperature on the physico-chemical characterization of manganese nodule leached residue (MNLR) and water-washed manganese nodule leached residue (WMNLR) has been investigated on the basis of chemical analysis, XRD, TG-DTA, FTIR, surface hydroxyl groups, surface oxygen, reducing and oxidizing sites, surface area. XRD and IR confirm the presence of amorphous iron oxyhydroxides, delta-MnO2, which are converted to alpha-Fe2O3 and gamma-Mn2O3 phases above 400 degrees C of calcination, respectively. A solid solution of Fe2O3 and Mn2O3 is formed above 700 degrees C. The surface area, surface hydroxyl group, surface oxygen, reducing and oxidizing sites increase with the increase in calcination temperature up to 400 degrees C and then decrease with further rise in calcination temperature up to 700 degrees C. The catalytic activity of the sample towards H2O2 decomposition shows the similar trend as surface properties. A suitable Mn(3+)Mn4+ couple favours H2O2 decomposition reaction. The activity has been correlated with various physico-chemical properties.

Routine primary immunization: status in two district of West Bengal

The study was conducted at Birbhum and Purba Medinipur districts of West Bengal to assess the routine primary immunization coverage following 40 cluster sampling technique was used to study 320 children in each of the districts. BCG coverage was found to be 79.69% at Birbhum and 84.38% at Purba Medinipur. Only 62.81% children at Birbhum and 67.81% children at Purba Medinipur received all the three primary doses of DPT. Regarding OPV, coverage with three primary doses were only 65% and 66.88% at Birbhum and Purba Medinipur respectively. Measles vaccine coverage was very poor at both the districts, 55.94% at Birbhum and 62.5% at Purba Medinipur. Full primary immunization was observed 53.13% and 61.56% in Birbhum and Purba Medinipur respectively. High drop-out rate was identified as a major deficiency in both the districts. Of the children who received at least one routine vaccine, more than 1/3rd at Birbhum and more than 1/4 th at Purba Medinipur did not turn up later for completion of their primary vaccine doses. It is evident that routine immunization coverage was poor in both the districts and it seems there has been no improvement in situation for last few years. It will influence not only the child morbidity and mortality situation but also will jeopardize the paralytic polio eradication programme. Urgent intervention should be undertaken to address the large number of non-immunized children as well as high proportion of drop-outs.

Surface recognition of a protein using designed transition metal complexes

Each protein has a unique pattern of histidine residues on the surface. This paper describes the design, synthesis, and binding studies of transition metal complexes to target the surface histidine pattern of carbonic anhydrase (bovine erythrocyte). When the pattern of cupric ions on a complex matches the surface pattern of histidines of the protein, strong and selective binding can be achieved in aqueous buffer (pH = 7.0). The described method of protein recognition is applicable to proteins of known structures. With rapidly increasing number of solved protein structures, the method has wide applicability in purification, targeting, and sensing of proteins.

Synthesis of conjugated diacetylene, metal-chelating monomers for polymerizable monolayer assemblies

[see structure]. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of thiols on gold have been used for numerous applications. For protein targeting applications, one successful strategy is to use a metal-chelating SAM. It has also been demonstrated that polymerized SAMs are much more stable than non-polymerized counterparts. We report herein, the synthesis of several polymerizable, metal-chelating thiols capable of complexing luminescent lanthanide ions.