Effect of immobilisation stress on lipid peroxidation and lipid profile in rabbits

Stress is one of the basic factors in the aetiology of a number of diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, aging, liver disease etc. Hence this work was designed to study the effect of stress in the form of forced immobilisation stress on lipid peroxidation and lipid profile in rabbits. The study was conducted in 25 healthy rabbits of either sex. Rabbits were subjected to forced immobilisation for two hours everyday for consecutive seven days. Blood samples were collected on day 1, 3 and 7 after immobilisation period. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation was estimated by TBA assay method. Lipid profile was analysed by multichannel autoanalyser. There was statistically significant increase in MDA, total cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and triglycerides with immobilisation. These findings indicate that stress in the form of forced immobilisation increases lipid peroxidation and alter lipid profile, which may be responsible for pathophysiology of various diseases.     

Phenolic compounds interfere in the estimation of copper by diethyldithiocarbamate method

For the estimation of copper, diethyldithiocarbamate method is most commonly employed in various laboratories where atomic absorption spectrophotometer is not available. The prevalence rate of gastrointestinal malignancies is very high in Kashmir as compared to other parts of the world. We could find high serum copper levels in gastrointestinal tract cancer. Intake of salted tea, prepared in copper vessel, is very common in Kashmir. Such tea samples showed copper value as 3168.9 (S.D. 700.5) μg/dl estimated by diethyldithiocarbamate method. When these samples analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, the copper levels were just 9% as reported by colorimetric method. Various black salted tea samples were prepared in the laboratory in glass vessel. The mean copper was 1115.0 (S.D. 350.4) μg/dl. After addition of milk, the values were reduced by 50%. Nine phenolic compounds showed varying amount of copper by colorimetric method and no copper could be detected by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Phenolic compounds present in tea leaves interfere in the estimation of copper by diethyldithiocarbamate method. It is suggested that diethyldithiocarbamate colorimetric method for copper estimation is not suitable for solutions containing phenolic compounds.     

The relationships of dissociation and affective family environment with the intergenerational cycle of child abuse

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to test a model that may explain how physically abused children become physically abusive parents. It was predicted that when the family's affective environment is uncohesive, unexpressive, and conflictual, a history of abuse experiences would be associated with elevated dissociation. It was hypothesized that dissociation would mediate between a childhood history of abuse and the current potential to be physically abusive. METHOD: Abuse history, affective environment in the family-of-origin, dissociation, and abuse potential were assessed in a sample of 76 mothers with elementary school-age children. RESULTS: Predictions were supported. Affective Family Environment moderated the relation between abuse history and dissociation, with abuse history relating to greater dissociation primarily when the family environment was conflictual, uncohesive and unexpressive. Further, dissociation significantly mediated the relation between abuse history and abuse potential (Z = 2.19, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Dissociation's strong association with abuse potential may partially explain why only some abused children later perpetuate the cycle of abuse, as those who are not dissociative into adulthood are likely to have lower abuse potential, in contrast to those displaying elevated dissociation. The extent of the dissociation may depend on the affective family environment in which the abuse took place.     

Social justice and political education through non-formal education

The New Policy will lay special emphasis on the removal of disparities and equalise educational opportunity by attending to the specific needs of those who have been denied equality so far.     

Study of adenosine deaminase activity in pulmonary tuberculosis and other common respiratory diseases

Tuberculosis has, in a short span of time, become a major health problem in the third world or developing countries like India. In view of this, a retrospective study was conducted to study Adenosine deaminase activity in serum and pleural fluid in patients affected with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and other common non-tubercular chronic respiratory diseases. The study was carried out on 100 patients suffering from various pulmonary disorders, between January 2002 and August 2002. Thirty-five normal healthy individuals were included as control subjects. ADA estimation was done by sensitive colorimetric method. The study revealed that the serum ADA activity was higher in patients of tuberculous pulmonary and pleural diseases and non-tuberculous pulmonary diseases than in control subjects. The mean serum ADA activity in the patients’ group was 35.5±6.93 u/l as compared to 16.20±2.85 u/l in control group, showing a highly significant (P≪0.001) difference. ADA activity was highest in tuberculous pleuropulmonary diseases. The pleural fluid ADA activity was higher in pyogenic pleural effusion than in tuberculous pleural effusion.     

Serial composition of human milk in preterm and term mothers

Human milk samples were collected from 86 mothers induced in the study on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 of lactation. The mothers were divided into three groups on the basis of gestation viz. group 1: 37–41 weeks (n=41), group II: 33–36 (n=23) and group III: <33 weeks gestation (n=22). All the samples were analysed for the estimation of fat, lactose and protein. The results obtained from the investigations were statistically analysed. The analysis of the results revealed a lower amount of fat and lactose in preterm milk as compared to term milk (p<0.01). These were found to increase in amount with increasing postnatal age (p<0.05). The protein levels were observed to be significantly higher in preterm than term milk (p<0.01). These were observed to decrease significantly with increase in postnatal age (p<0.01).     

Polymorphism (C677T) in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene: A preliminary study on north Indian men

An elevated level of plasma homocysteine, sulfur containing amino acid generated through demethylation of methionine has been widely accepted as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The increase can result from genetic and/or nutrient related disturbances in the remethylation or transsulfuration pathways for homocysteine metabolism. A common mutation (C677T) in the gene encoding for the enzyme 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) or deficiency of the B vitamins namely folic acid, B₁₂, B₆ can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia. In the present study, we have investigated the incidence of the (C677T) MTHFR polymorphism in the North Indian males. 141 angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and 55 age and sex matched healthy volunteers were examined for the association between MTHFR gene polymorphism and CAD. The MTHFR genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction-isotyping with Hinf 1 endonuclease. A trend for higher ‘T’ allele frequency (0.19) was observed in patients than in controls (0.16). However no significant association was found between C677T mutation and CAD severity. The lack of statistical significance could be due to the small sample size studied. Hence a larger study including various ethnic groups is warranted.     

English as a symbol of internationalization in higher education: a case study of Vietnam

Vietnam universities have experienced remarkable changes brought about by their internationalization policies. The switch to English as a medium of instruction (EMI) for some academic programs was one of these critical changes. Literature has reported numerous issues related to EMI, including inadequate language proficiency of teaching staff. This paper looks at a qualitative research study on how a government university from Vietnam employs different strategies to enhance teachers’ English proficiency. The study reveals that the introduction of new supporting systems, assessment bodies, recruitment criteria and institutional strategies on training, monitoring and motivation have created cultural change within the teacher community. This cultural change, which includes elements such as self-directed learning, peer learning, professionalism, and ‘open-to-change’ attitudes, has been perceived by both leaders and teachers to be conducive to teachers’ language learning. The findings presented in this paper seek to contribute to the formulation or adjustment of policies related to educational reforms, such as curriculum reform, teacher recruitment and teacher professional development in non-English-speaking countries.