Correlation of Red Blood Cell Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme Activity with Various RBC Indices

Cholinesterases belongs to class hydrolases. There are two types acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase present in nerve endings and also in the RBC membrane. It helps to maintain the shape and size of RBCs. Any change in shape and size of RBCs may affect the activity of Acetylcholinesterase. Thus this study aimed to estimate RBCs Acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity in various types of anemias and correlate the RBCs Acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity with various hematological indices such as Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Red cell Distribution Width (RDW) etc. After obtaining ethical approval from Institutional ethics committee total of 100 samples were collected from Clinical Biochemistry laboratory, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal University. 25 were having normal RBC indices, 12 with hemolytic anemia, 26 with microcytic anemia and 26 with macrocytic anemia based on peripheral smear report and RBC indices. Acetylcholinesterase were measured using Ellman’s method. RBC acetylcholinesterase activity was significantly increased in microcytic anemia (58.13 ± 5.4) and macrocytic anemia (76.87 ± 6.7) than normal group (37.62 ± 2.71). Also increased RBC acetylcholinesterase was seen in hemolytic anemia (48.11 ± 5.18) but the increase is not statistically significant. RBC acetylcholinesterase correlated negatively with hemoglobin (r = ?0.356, p = 0.001) and positively with RDW (r = 0.31, p = 0.003). To conclude RBC acetylcholinesterase activity can be used as one of the potential marker for various types of anemia.     

The inveterate tinkerer: Instability of Kolmogorov flow

In this section of Resonance, we invite readers to pose questions likely to be raised in a classroom situation. We may suggest strategies for dealing with them, or invite responses, or both. “Classroom” is equally a forum for raising broader issues and sharing personal experiences and viewpoints on matters related to teaching and learning science.     

Do Financial Education Interventions for Women from Poor Households Impact Their Financial Behaviors? Experimental Evidence from India

Policymakers have invested significant resources in financial education to improve financial literacy of the poor, reduce bad financial decision-making, and increase take-up of financial services and products. Yet, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of such interventions, especially in developing countries. This paper provides evidence from a clustered randomized controlled trial (RCT) where a relatively light financial education program (one day of training) was offered to a large sample of women (n = 1,281) from poor households in informal community settings. The educational intervention was a significant departure from the more costly traditional classroom-style adult education interventions. It was based on simple “rules of thumb” and used a goal-oriented and action-focused approach, targeted at changing behaviors. We find evidence of modest, positive treatment effects for some outcomes including an increase in personal savings, achieved at a relatively low cost of training per participant.     

The inveterate tinkerer 3. Experiments with vortex rings

In this series of articles, the authors discuss various phenomena in fluid dynamics, which may be investigated via tabletop experiments using low-cost or home-made instruments. The third article in this series is about vortex rings and some interesting experiments based on them.     

The inveterate tinkerer 1. Salt oscillator

In this series of articles, the authors discuss various phenomena in fluid dynamics, which may be investigated via tabletop experiments using low-cost or home-made instruments. The first article in this series is about the salt oscillator — a hydrodynamic curiosity.     

Preschool children’s early writing: repeated measures reveal growing but variable trajectories

Reading and Writing - Findings from education to neuroscience highlight the role of young children’s print-related skills, including early writing, in predicting and enhancing the development...     

Streamline based design guideline for deterministic microfluidic hydrodynamic single cell traps

A prerequisite for single cell study is the capture and isolation of individual cells. In microfluidic devices, cell capture is often achieved by means of trapping. While many microfluidic trapping techniques exist, hydrodynamic methods are particularly attractive due to their simplicity and scalability. However, current design guidelines for single cell hydrodynamic traps predominantly rely on flow resistance manipulation or qualitative streamline analysis without considering the target particle size. This lack of quantitative design criteria from first principles often leads to non-optimal probabilistic trapping. In this work, we describe an analytical design guideline for deterministic single cell hydrodynamic trapping through the optimization of streamline distributions under laminar flow with cell size as a key parameter. Using this guideline, we demonstrate an example design which can achieve 100% capture efficiency for a given particle size. Finite element modelling was used to determine the design parameters necessary for optimal trapping. The simulation results were subsequently confirmed with on-chip microbead and white blood cell trapping experiments.     

Relationship between hs-CRP and cardiac efficiency in chronic alcoholics

High sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a non-specific marker of inflammatory status has considerable interest focused due to its ability to predict myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and sudden cardiac death. Alcoholics are known to be associated with inflammation of heart. This study was taken up to look for an association between consumption of alcoholic beverages over 10 years and serum concentration of hs-CRP. 3 groups were studied, 30 age matched control, 30 non-drinkers with cardio vascular complications and 30 alcoholics with history of cardio-vascular disease. Blood was analyzed for hs-CRP. Results indicated that the level of hs-CRP was 0.17 ± 0.16 mg/lit in group 1; 0.79 ± 0.41 mg/lit in group 2 and 1.67 ± 0.16 mg/lit in group 3. A correlation was also obtained between the hs-CRP levels and cardiac efficiency in chronic alcoholics. The elevated hs-CRP levels in chronic alcoholic with heart disease could probably be due to enhanced damaging effect of alcohol on the heart and other organs.     

Lead: Tiny but Mighty Poison

The documentation of lead toxicity (plumbism) dates back to the times when man learnt its various applications. This versatile heavy metal is non-degradable and its ability to get accumulated in the body that goes undiagnosed, makes it a serious environmental health hazard. Lead is now known to affect almost every organ/tissue of the human body. With irreversible effects on neurobiological development of young children and foetus, its toxicity has lasting implications on the human life. Outlining the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment therapy for lead poisoning, the present review elaborates the pathophysiological effects of lead on various organs. This will be of immense help to the health professionals so as to inculcate a better understanding of the lead poisoning which otherwise is asymptomatic. With chelation therapy being the classic path of treatment, new strategies are being explored as additive/adjunct therapy. It is now understood that lead toxicity is completely preventable. In this regard significant efforts are in place in the developed countries whereas much needs to be done in the developing countries. Spreading the awareness amongst the masses by educating them and reducing the usage of lead following stricter industry norms appears to be the only roadmap to prevent lead poisoning. Efforts being undertaken by the Government of India and other organisations are also mentioned.     

Metabolic Issues in Schizophrenic Patients Receiving Antipsychotic Treatment

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder with a complex pathophysiology and requires treatment that includes long term administration of antipsychotics that is said to be associated with metabolic syndrome. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of seven different antipsychotics prescribed to schizophrenic patients, on development of metabolic syndrome in the patients. A total of 210 patients with schizophrenia (30 patients in each drug therapy group) were recruited according to ICD-10 criteria and were assigned to receive the drug for 16 weeks. Measurement of anthropometric (body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure) and biochemical parameters (glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, LDL, HDL) was done and the patients were subjected to ATP-III defined criteria for metabolic syndrome. Patients undergoing treatment with olanzapine were more prone to metabolic syndrome as the drug induces weight gain after 16 weeks of treatment. It also induces dyslipidemia (P < 0.001) and hyperglycemia (P < 0.01). Clozapine was found to be second most potent drug in inducing metabolic syndrome as the weight in clozapine treated patients increased after 16 weeks, along with a significant increase in glycemic (P < 0.001) and lipid parameters (P < 0.01). Aripriazole and amisulphride are comparatively safer drugs as their role in inducing metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenic patients was insignificant, although the impact of long term administration of these drugs needs to be explored. It is clear from the study that antipsychotic treatment induces metabolic syndrome so, it becomes important that the metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors should be surveillance regularly in schizophrenic patients undergoing antipsychotic treatment.