Identification of a Rare Hemoglobin Variant HbJ-Rajappen [alpha90 (FG2) Lys?→?Thr] Using Mass Spectrometry

Hemoglobin J-Rajappen (alpha)90 Lys → Thr is an alpha chain variant found in heterozygous state and presents normal hematological blood picture. Due to the ambiguity in results obtained while analyzing by HPLC and alkaline gel electrophoresis, we report this rare case of HbJ-Rajappen using non denaturing gel electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Though HbJ-Rajappen has earlier been reported using different techniques, this is the first report being validated using mass spectrometry technique.     

In-vitro effect of a diabetic serum factor on the generation of superoxide free radical,it’s quenching ability and lysosomal degranulation in normal polymorpho nuclear leucocytes

Normal polymorpho nuclear leucocytes (PMNL) when assaulted with diabetic serum factorin-vitro, recorded enhanced generation of oxygen free radical, and lysosomal degranulation. It also caused a decrease in the cytosolic superoxide dismutase activity. Time-plot studies revealed PMNL susceptibility to diabetic serum factor for oxidative injury and concomitant decrease in SOD, consequential for lysosomal degranulation.     

Biochemical changes during exchange transfusion in hyperbilirubinemia in term newborn babies

Double volume (170 ml/kg body weight) exchange transfusion was done in 52 term infants in the first week of life for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The M:F ratio was 1.08:1 and 37 (71.1%) babies were of low birth weight. Causes of jaundice were hemolytic in 46.2% and non-hemolytic in 41.3% cases; in 13.5% babies no cause of jaundice could be found. After exchange transfusion a fall of 14.6% and 47.4% was observed in the hemoglobin and serum bilirubin levels respectively. There was significant (p=0.0414) rise in the mean mid exchange and post-exchange serum sodium levels as compared to pre-exchange values and it was found to be due to higher donor's serum sodium levels (p=0.007). There was no effect on the serum potassium levels during or after ET. In general serum calcium levels significantly increased at mid-exchange period (p=0.0029) but post-exchange levels were same as pre-exchange. Donor's serum calcium level had no effect on the infant's serum calcium level (p=0.993). There was no change in the serum phosphate and blood urea levels during and after exchange-transfusion. The plasma glucose was significantly raised during and after ET and plasma glucose of the donors had significant effect on the infant's plasma glucose levels (p=0.043). Similarly plasma osmolality also showed significant increase during and after ET which was due to the effect of donor's plasma osmolality (p=0.007).     

Role of oxidative stress in ethanol induced germ cell apoptosis — An experimental study in rats

The study was undertaken to evaluate the possible involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of ethanol induced testicular atrophy in rats. Adult male rats were orally administered ethanol at a dose of 1.6 g/kg body weight/day for four weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last treatment the rats were sacrificed using anesthetic ether. Testes were removed and weighed. Apoptosis was studied by using the Feulgen reaction on 5 μ thin paraffin sections of testis. Testicular homogenate was prepared and centrifuged. The supernatant was used for the estimation of extent of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense status. There was significant reduction in body weight: and in testicular weight and diameter in ethanol treated rats. Extent of germ cell apoptosis was significantly high in ethanol treated rats. Ethanol treated rats showed significantly high tissue TBARS level and glutathione S-transferase activity; and low tissue ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities. Chronic ethanol administration resulted in high oxidative stress in the testes either due to increased extent of lipid peroxidation or due to decreased antioxidant defenses, and thereby induces germ cell apoptosis leading to testicular atrophy.     

Evaluation of Imprecision,Bias and Total Error of Clinical Chemistry Analysers

Context Two Biosystems analysers are used in our laboratory, a fully automated A25 and a semi-automated BTS-350. Internal quality control is done for both but external quality control only for A25. As BTS-350 is used for backup, it is important that the results of both analysers are not just comparable but also within predefined limits of systematic, random and total error (TE). Aim To evaluate the imprecision, bias and TE of the two Biosystem analysers. Materials and Methods Biosystems level-1 quality control sera lot number 70A was run in duplicate for 32 days on both the analysers. Between day imprecision (measured by the coefficient of variation), bias and TE were calculated for ten analytes and were checked to see whether they are within the acceptable minimum limits, desirable limits and optimum limits of allowable error based on specifications on Westgard’s website updated in 2014. Results On both the analysers, all the analytes except alkaline phosphatase were within the acceptable minimum limits of TE and most analytes were within the desirable limits of TE. Only TG on A25 was within the optimum limit of TE. Conclusion The two Biosystem analysers performed comparably with errors within acceptable limits for most analytes. BTS-350 was found to be a suitable and ready backup analyser for A25.     

The potential of Accelerated Learning Programmes (ALPs) for conflict-ridden countries and regions: Lessons learned from an experience in Iraq

International Review of Education - Accelerated learning programmes (ALPs) provide a fast-track second-chance opportunity to complete formal education, enabling disadvantaged children and youth to...     

Great experiments in physics

Accurate measurement of angular sizes of stars became possible with the advent of stellar interferometry pioneered by Michelson and Pease which was limited to only the brightest giant stars. Only with the discovery of a new effect, by Hanbury Brown and Twiss, the measurement of stellar sizes became possible for a large number of stars. This method named after them had far reaching applications in nuclear and high energy physics.     

An Integrated Approach of the Potential Underlying Molecular Mechanistic Paradigms of SARS-CoV-2-Mediated Coagulopathy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a pandemic disease which has affected more than 6.2 million people globally, with numbers mounting considerably daily. However, till date, no specific treatment modalities are available for Covid-19 and also not much information is known about this disease. Recent studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with the generation of thrombosis and coagulopathy. Fundamentally, it has been believed that a diverse array of signalling pathways might be responsible for the activation of coagulation cascade during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Henceforth, a detailed understanding of these probable underlying molecular mechanistic pathways causing thrombosis in Covid-19 disease deserves an urgent exploration. Therefore, in this review, the hypothetical crosstalk between distinct signalling pathways including apoptosis, inflammation, hypoxia and angiogenesis attributable for the commencement of thrombotic events during SARS-CoV-2 infection has been addressed which might further unravel promising therapeutic targets in Covid-19 disease.     

Substitutive competition: Virtual pets as competitive buffers to alleviate possible negative influence on pupils

Although competition is regarded as a powerful motivator in game‐based learning, it might have a negative influence, such as damage to confidence, on students who lose the competition. In this paper, we propose an indirect approach, substitutive competition, to alleviate such negative influences. The approach is used to develop a My‐Pet v3 system, in which pupils master subject materials to make their pets stronger, and compete against each other. Specifically, pupils learn Chinese idioms in a pet‐training game scenario, and their mastery of the material is related to the pets' strength to win the competition. The result of the competition is influenced by whether pupils spend enough effort on the learning tasks. This intention is expected to alleviate the negative influence that results from direct competition. A within‐subject experiment was conducted to examine the influence of substitutive competition. The results indicated that substitutive competition seems a promising scheme to maximise the power of competition. However, there were no apparent evidences in this study to demonstrate its effect to alleviate pupils' sense of failure, as compared with other two direct competition conditions.