Diurnal variation in serum glucose,pyruvate, lactate and lactate dehydrogenase levels under different environmental temperatures

Circadian rhythm of serum glucose, pyruvate, lactate and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was studied in normal healthy young volunteers at the onset (I Group, 7 cases) and peak (II Group, 8 cases) of winters in India with highly varied temperature. There was a significant difference, in the circadian rhythm of glucose, pyruvate and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of the two groups. A clockwise shift was observed in acrophase except in serum lactate, which is related to the energy demand in association with time qualified changes in diurnal activity of the individuals and change in photoperiod.     

Some biochemical markers in various neoplasms: A multivariate analysis

The analysis of biochemical parameters in 162 patients with various neoplastic disorders along with 50 normal subjects showed significant rise in serum alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase as compared to normal subjects. 21 patients with other monoclonal gammopathies which include infection and immunological diseases were also studied. Parameters such as serum calcium, uric acid, total protein, albumin and globulin were also analyzed in 42 (26%) cases of multiple myeloma, 27 (17%) cases of gastro-intestinal malignancies, 22 (14%) cases of urogenital malignancies, 11 (6%) cases of carcinoma breast, 4 (2%) cases of bone tumors, 21 (12%) cases of other monoclonal gammopathies, including 7 (4%) cases of infection and 14 (8%) cases of immunological diseases. The results indicate use of enzymes alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase in neoplastic disorders.     

Are preservice teachers prepared to teach struggling readers?

Reading disabilities such as dyslexia, a specific learning disability that affects an individual’s ability to process written language, are estimated to affect 15–20% of the general population. Consequently, elementary school teachers encounter students who struggle with inaccurate or slow reading, poor spelling, poor writing, and other language processing difficulties. However, recent evidence may suggest that teacher preparation programs are not providing preservice teachers with information about basic language constructs and other components related to scientifically based reading instruction. As a consequence preservice teachers have not exhibited explicit knowledge of such concepts in previous studies. Few studies have sought to assess preservice teachers’ knowledge about dyslexia in conjunction with knowledge of basic language concepts. The purpose of the present study was to examine elementary school preservice teachers’ knowledge of basic language constructs and their perceptions and knowledge about dyslexia. Findings from the present study suggest that preservice teachers, on average, are able to display implicit skills related to certain basic language constructs (i.e., syllable counting), but fail to demonstrate explicit knowledge of others (i.e., phonics principles). Also, preservice teachers seem to hold the common misconception that dyslexia is a visual perception deficit rather than a problem with phonological processing. Implications for future research as well as teacher preparation are discussed.     

Effect of vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients

Hemodialysis represents a chronic stress status for its recipients. Many hypotheses state that this may be associated with oxidative stress. Thus, there may be deficiency of antioxidants like erythrocytic superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin E or increased generation of free radicals like superoxide anions. A study was carried out to investigate oxidant and antioxidant status in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis and effect of vitamin E supplementation on these two status. Blood samples were collected from patients before and after hemodialysis and from controls. The samples were analyzed for quantitation of MDA as index of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide, vitamin E, vitamin C and enzymatic antioxidants namely erythrocyte SOD and catalase. As compared to controls, the levels of serum MDA were significantly increased and activities of erythrocyte SOD and catalase, levels of serum nitric oxide, serum vitamin E and plasma vitamin C were significantly decreased both before and after hemodialysis. The efficiency of vitamin E therapy in hemodialysis patients was assessed by re-evaluating oxidant and antioxidant status of same patients after supplementation of vitamin E. Vitamin E supplementation caused decrease in serum MDA and increase in levels of serum nitric oxide, vitamin E, vitamin C and activities of erythrocytic SOD and catalase. Our results suggest the presence of oxidative stress and the possible preventive role of vitamin E therapy in hemodialysis patients.     

Two-dimensional collision –at higher secondary level

The treatment of two-dimensional collision of bodies in textbooks at various levels was examined. It is found that while many books do not mention impact parameter at all, some books show it in a diagram, though they do not include it in the mathematical treatment that follows. In this article, the importance of impact parameter is highlighted and a simple treatment which does not go beyond the higher secondary level is developed. A simple experiment is suggested.     

Analysis of insoluble fiber components in common Indian foods and habitual diets

Dietary fiber components e.g. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin are estimated in 53 commonly consumed Indian foods, with an objective to get an estimate of habitual level of intakes in Indians. Results indicate that there is a wide range of variation in Indian foods in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content for all the classes of Indian foods. This is useful to modify the diets with varying proportions of fiber but giving the same level of calories. When our values were compared with fifteen values obtained by Kamat and Belavady (1) and nine values of Anuradhaet al (7) the values were found to be comparable (P>.01). However they were significantly different (P<.01) when compared with eleven values of Premakumari (8). A computer program FIBER. INT based on cooked factors is developed for the calculation of habitual level of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin for Indian diets. Total NDF is in the range 20.5–47.6 grams per day for 28 adult males and 15.2–26.1 grams per day for 6 females. However fiber expressed as gram per 1000 calories is 13.1 in females as compared to 11.9 in males. Diets with combination of wheat and sorghum were highest in fiber content (12.5 gram per 1000 K calories).     

Evolution,fruit flies and gerontology

In the past decade or so, genetic theories of the evolution of ageing and studies on populations of fruit flies (Drosophila spp.) in the laboratory have provided a new perspective on the phenomenon of ageing. These recent advances, very different in approach and methodology from traditional gerontological studies, have provided a wealth of knowledge about the mechanisms of ageing, as well as some answers to deeper, more philosophical questions, such as “why do organisms age at all?”.