Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Risk for Male Infertility in Asian Population

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a critical enzyme of folate pathway and required for DNA synthesis and methylation. MTHFE C677T polymorphisms is reported as risk factors for various diseases and disorders like birth defects, metabolic, neurological, psychiatric disorders, and cancers. Several studies have investigated association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and male infertility. To assess the risk associated with MTHFR C677T polymorphism in Asian population, a meta-analysis was performed. Included articles were collected from the following electronic databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science direct up to March 2015. Risk was estimated as pooled odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals (CIs) for assessment. Seventeen case–control studies involving 4392 breast infertile males and 3667 fertile males were found suitable for the inclusion in the present meta-analysis. Results showed that the C677T polymorphism was significantly associated with male infertility in Asian population using all the five genetic models (OR_{T vs. C} (allele contrast model) = 1.86, 95% CI 1.7–2.0; OR_{TT vs. CC} (homozygote model) = 1.96, 95% CI 1.67–2.30; OR_{CT vs. CC} (co-dominant model) = 1.40, 95% CI 1.18–1.62; OR_{TT+CT vs. CC} (dominant model) = 1.53, 95% CI 1.30–1.77; OR_{TT vs. CT+CC} (recessive model) = 1.67, 95% CI 1.44–1.92). In conclusion, results of present meta-analysis strongly supported an association between C677T polymorphism and male infertility in Asians.     

In the ruins of truth: the work of melancholia and acts of memory

Abstract

This paper seeks to problematize and render inadequate the ‘truth’ of Truth Commissions, which have proliferated globally. It does so by questioning the relationship of ‘truth’ to ‘testimony’ by offering a critical account of their relationship to ‘trauma,’ on the one hand and by questioning the location of ‘testimony’ in relation to ‘resistance,’ on the other hand. Moving away from this ‘psycologistic register,’ the paper rehearses a re‐reading of Freud, which attempts to question the sharp distinction between mourning and melancholia, in his 1917 essay. Given this, a complex, psychoanalytic subject is constructed, whose psychic and social ‘work of melancholia,’ and ‘acts of memory,’ cannot be straightforwardly rendered in testimony or recollection, and is unavailable for nationalist appropriation. Empirical material is drawn from field work in Eastern Sri Lanka, on the after life multiple massacres that took place in the early 1990s, and is juxtaposed with Commissions of Inquiry into these events in the late 1990s.     

Noetica: a tool for semantic data modelling

Noetica is a tool for structuring knowledge about concepts and the relationships between them. It differs from typical information systems in that the knowledge it represents is abstract, highly connected and includes meta-knowledge (knowledge about knowledge). Noetica represents knowledge using a strongly-typed semantic network. By providing a rich type system it is possible to represent conceptual information using formalised structures. A class hierarchy provides a basic classification for all objects. This allows for a consistency of representation that is not often found in “free” semantic networks and gives the ability to easily extend a knowledge model while retaining its semantics. We also provide visualisation and query tools for this data model. Visualisation can be used to explore complete sets of link-classes, show paths while navigating through the database, or visualise the results of queries. Noetica supports goal-directed queries (a series of user-supplied goals that the system attempts to satisfy in sequence) and path-finding queries (where the system find relationships between objects in the database by following links).     

Meeting the 2020 American Graduation Initiative (AGI) Goal of Increasing Postsecondary Graduation Rates and Completions: A Macro Perspective of Community College Student Educational Attainment

The paper uses the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data system (IPEDS) data to simulate the 2020 American Graduation Initiative (AGI) goal introduced by President Obama in the summer of 2009. We estimate community college graduation rates and completion numbers under different scenarios that include the following sets of variables: (a) internal education variables; (b) external workforce development variables; and (c) state and national environmental factors. Our analysis suggests that the likelihood of success of meeting the AGI goal increases dramatically if community colleges are able to raise graduation rates and increase completion numbers by doing the following: (a) lowering the inherent risk factors that prevent students from graduating by implementing proactive retention and completion strategies; (b) operating in economic and workforce development environments of low unemployment levels and (c) taking into consideration the ever-growing globally competitive environment.     

Serum Lp(a) in diabetics with and without evidence of clinical nephropathy—A preliminary study

Type 2 diabetes is associated with a marked increase in the risk of coronary artery disease. Dyslipidaemia is believed to be a major cause of this increased risk. Recently, elevated levels of lipoprotein (a), Lp(a), have been reported to be associated with an increased risk. However there is very little data regarding Lp(a) concentrations and type 2 diabetes from India. The objective of the study was to assess serum Lp(a) levels in type 2 diabetics with and with out evidence of clinical nephropathy. We estimated serum Lp(a) levels in 30 control subjects, 30 diabetics without evidence of clinical nephropathy and 30 diabetics with evidence of clinical nephropathy. Statistical analysis showed that Lp(a) levels were increased in diabetic patients with nephropathy (mean 46.3±17.6 mg/dl). The Lp(a) levels however did not differ significantly between control (mean 20.2±15.9 mg/dl) and diabetics without nephropathy (mean 22.6±13.1mg/dl). Thus diabetes per se seems to have little or no influence on serum Lp(a) levels, however elevated levels were seen in patients with nephropathy.     

Understanding the Nature of Scientific Enterprise (NOSE) through a Discourse with Its History: The Influence of an Undergraduate ‘History of Science’ Course

An appropriate understanding of the nature of the scientific enterprise (NOSE) is a key element of scientific literacy and can arguably be influenced through an exploration of the history of science. An elective, undergraduate History of Science course was organized in the form of small-group discussion-based inquiries into the history of science from ancient to modern times. Group discussions focused on STATEMENTS OF CRITICAL SIGNIFICANCE (SOCS) prepared by individual students on assigned readings prior to each class meeting. Small-group discussions were followed by a synthesis, facilitated by the instructor, of points raised in SOCS and other ideas central to the reading. The overarching goal of these activities was to help students see the multifaceted nature of the scientific enterprise in the context of social, political, cultural, and religious milieu of the time period and the geographic setting within which specific scientific activities and developments took place. The impact of this course on student understanding of the NOSE was assessed through the use of VIEWS ON SCIENCE-TECHNOLOGY-SOCIETY (VOSTS) instrument administered as pre- and post-test. Qualitative data regarding student understanding of the NOSE were furnished by the final exam on the NOSE written in the form of SOCS at the end of semester. Results based on four semesters of the course offering indicate modest gains in student understanding of specific aspects of the NOSE. They are discussed, along with the usefulness of small-group, discussion-based inquiries into the history of science as a way of enhancing scientific literacy during undergraduate science education.     

Effect of vitamin C and E activity on surgically removed cataractous human lens epithelium cells

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a common underlying mechanism of cataractogenesis. Experimental and observational data suggest that micronutrients like vitamin C and vitamin E with antioxidant capabilities may retard the development of age-related cataract. Effect of these factors on lens epithelium cells, center of lens metabolic activities, is not completely elucidated. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of vitamin C and E on surgically removed lens epithelium cells of patients with cataract. Capsulorhexis samples were collected from 170 patients, admitted for cataract surgery. Catalase specific activity was estimated in lens epithelium cells with and without vitamin (C or E) treatment at different concentration for different time duration. Student’s t-test was employed for data analysis. We observed that in ex-vivo condition, a) both vitamin C and E bring about a decrease in catalase activity in lens epithelial cells. b) vitamin C showed toxic effect at high concentration. c) 100μM was the optimum concentration at which both vitamins showed maximum antioxidant activity. It was concluded that both vitamin C and E has direct effect on lens epithelium cells. At optimum concentration, they can reduce oxidative stress in these cells thus can support to prevent or delay cataract development.     

The changing scenario in diagnosing prostate cancer

Fifty patients were evaluated for serum total PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen), free PSA (f-PSA), free/total PSA ratio (f/t PSA ratio) and TPS^TM (Tissue Polypeptide Specific Antigen). Fifty patients were clinically evaluated and categorized into BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) and CaP (carcinoma prostate) with twenty-five in each category before the serological examination. Serum total PSA concentration is elevated in 80% of BPH cases while it was elevated in all cases of CaP. With total PSA>10ng/mL, f/t PSA ratio was not applicable. For TPS^TM, a cell proliferation marker these values were 32% and 92% respectively. The advanced cases of CaP were reflected by the pronounced elevations of PSA and TPS^tM while f/t PSA ratio was much below the cut-off limit (cut-off limit=0.14). The data suggest that whentotal PSA concentration <10ng/mL, f/t PSA ratio plays a very important role in discriminating BPH and CaP. However, TPS^TM can be used as a valuable adjunct in diagnosis and follow-up of prostate cancer patients, especially in differentiating benign from malignant cases.     

Tyrosinase activity in photosensitive individuals inin-vitro study

A reddish glow localized within the iris was observed in the photographs of some individuals in the dark using an electric-arc flash. On repeated exposure and reprints of the same individuals to photography under similar conditions, the red glow persisted. Studies were under taken to analyze thein vitro effect of cupric ions on the activity of serum tyrosinase. A significant increase in the activity of tyrosinase was observed in the affected individuals as compared to the controls when cupric ion was supplementedin vitro. Studies also confirmed the inhibitory effect of benzoic acid on serum tyrosinase activityin vitro. Our preliminary studies have shown a significant decrease (p<0.001) in tyrosinase activity in the serum of the photosensitive individuals compared to controls which is consistent with the observed red glow on the photographic prints and reprints.