Serum lipids during pregnancy in relation to the risk of coronary heart disease

The serum lipid classes in 75 pregnant women (25 in each trimester) and 25 matched controls were investigated. The lipid classes studied were very low density lipoproteins (VLDLc), low density lipoproteins (LDLc), high density lipoproteins (HDLc), total triacylglycerols (Tg), phospholipids (PL) and total cholesterol (Tc). It was found that there is increase in HDLc during first trimester followed by decrease during second and third trimesters. All other lipid classed including Tc and PL showed a progressive increase. Analysis of data showed that Tc/HDLc ratio has an increasing trend with parity. LDLc/HDLc also showed similar correlation. The results of our study indicates that there is likely to be increased risk for CHD in multiparous women as predicted from serum lipid parameters.     

The dynamics and stability of lubricating oil films during droplet transport by electrowetting in microfluidic devices

The operation of digital microfluidic devices with water droplets manipulated by electrowetting is critically dependent on the static and dynamic stability and lubrication properties of the oil films that separate the droplets from the solid surfaces. The factors determining the stability of the films and preventing surface fouling in such systems are not yet thoroughly understood and were experimentally investigated in this study. The experiments were performed using a standard digital microfluidic cartridge in which water droplets enclosed in a thin, oil-filled gap were transported over an array of electrodes. Stable, continuous oil films separated the droplets from the surfaces when the droplets were stationary. During droplet transport, capillary waves formed in the films on the electrode surfaces as the oil menisci receded. The waves evolved into dome-shaped oil lenses. Droplet deformation and oil displacement caused the films at the surface opposite the electrode array to transform into dimples of oil trapped over the centers of the droplets. Lower actuation voltages were associated with slower film thinning and formation of fewer, but larger, oil lenses. Lower ac frequencies induced oscillations in the droplets that caused the films to rupture. Films were also destabilized by addition of surfactants to the oil or droplet phases. Such a comprehensive understanding of the oil film behavior will enable more robust electrowetting-actuated lab-on-a-chip devices through prevention of loss of species from droplets and contamination of surfaces at points where films may break.     

Nature watch

Fascinating and grand, with curious beaks and breeding habits, hornbills are a naturalist’s delight. In forest types ranging from open savannah to rainforest across Africa and Asia, they occupy the pride of place among birds and play a pivotal role as mutualistic frugivores and seed dispersers of various trees. Due to the impact of humans on hornbills and their habitats, most species are now endangered. Fortunately, there has been some success in recent conservation efforts to save these magnificent forest flagships.     

The Diagnosis of α-Thalassaemia: A Case of Hemoglobin H -α Deletion

We report a case of hemolytic anemia that was subsequently identified to be a case of α-thalassaemia harboring the common rightward 3.7 kb deletion/HbH. The diagnosis was based on sequential analyses using BioRad D10 HPLC, Alkaline gel electrophoresis, GPO α THAL-IC strips and the identification of the specific genetic lesion using an α Globin reverse dot blot hybridization assay. Supravital stain of RBCs helped in identifying classical HbH inclusions. In a background of a variable clinical presentation, lack of definitive hematological markers, and general under-diagnosis of α-thalassaemias we have used this case to highlight the features and sequence of techniques involved in identifying and characterizing an α-globin chain mutation, starting from a diffuse clinical history and presentation up to the identification of a specific genetic lesion involved.     

Ampére versus Biot-Savart

The International Physics Olympiad was held in Padua, Italy during July 18–27 1999. It marked India’s second foray into this exciting event where sixty-two nations participated. As the pedagogical leader of the Indian team at Padua, I was privileged to be in the thick of action. Our performance was creditable: all our participants won medals, garnering four silvers and one bronze. Out of the five special prizes, one went to a member of our team. This article describes an interesting and historically rich problem that was posed as part of the five hour theoretical examination.     

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.     

Web caching

The World Wide Web has been growing in leaps and bounds. Studies have indicated that this massive distributed system can benefit greatly by making use of appropriate caching methods. Intelligent Web caching can lessen the burden on Web servers, improves its performance and at the same time reduces the network traffic.     

Co-inheritance of HbD Iran/Beta Thalassemia IVS1–5 (G?>?C) Trait in a Punjabi Lady with Diabetes

The present report describes the molecular study of HbD ^Iran (beta) 22 Glu → Gln associated with β-Thalassemia IVS1–5 (G > C) found in India, and the first case in which mutation has been identified using mass spectrometry. Given the apparent ethnic origin and the mobility of the variant hemoglobin at alkaline pH, hemoglobin D-Punjab would be suspected, but HPLC excluded this possibility. Further characterization of hemoglobinopathy was made by using nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and IVS1–5 being validated by reverse dot blot hybridization followed by sequencing of the β-globin gene.     

Synergetic Interaction of HLA-DRB1*07 Allele and TNF-Alpha − 863 C/A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Susceptibility to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease which is characterized by dysregulation of various cytokines propagating the inflammatory processes that is responsible for tissue damage. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is one of the most important immunoregulatory cytokines that has been implicated in the different autoimmune diseases including SLE. Two hundred and two patients with SLE and 318 controls were included in the study. The TNF-α gene promoter region (from − 250 to − 1000 base pairs) was analyzed by direct Sanger’s DNA sequencing method to find promoter variants associated with South Indian SLE patients. We have analyzed six TNF-α genetic polymorphisms including, − 863C/A (rs1800630), − 857C/T (rs1799724), − 806C/T (rs4248158), − 646G/A (rs4248160), − 572A/C (rs4248161) and − 308G/A (rs1800629) in both SLE patients and controls. We did not find association of TNF-α gene promoter SNPs with SLE patients. However, the − 863A (rs1800630) allele showed association with lupus nephritis phenotype in patients with SLE (OR: 1.62, 95%CI 1.04–2.53, P = 0.034). We found serum TNF-α level was significantly elevated in SLE cases as compared to control and found no association with any of the polymorphisms. The haplotype analysis revealed a significant protective association between the wild TNF-α alleles at positions − 863C, − 857C, − 806C, − 646G, − 572A and − 308G (CCCGAG) haplotype with lupus nephritis phenotype (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35–0.82, P = 0.004). Additionally, the TNF-α − 863 C/A (rs1800630) polymorphism and HLA-DRB1*07 haplotype showed significant differences between SLE patients and controls (OR 4.79, 95% CI 1.73–13.29, P = 0.0009). In conclusion, TNF-α − 863A allele (rs1800630) polymorphism is associated with increased risk of nephritis in South Indian SLE patients. We also found an interaction between HLA-DRB1*07 allele with TNF-α − 863 C/A promoter polymorphism giving supportive evidence for the tight linkage disequilibrium between TNF-α promoter SNPs and MHC class II DRB1 alleles.