Liquid–Liquid Extraction and Solid Phase Extraction for Urinary Organic Acids: A Comparative Study from a Resource Constraint Setting

Pre analytical process of extraction for accurate detection of organic acids is a crucial step in diagnosis of organic acidemias by GCMS analysis. This process is accomplished either by solid phase extraction (SPE) or by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE). Both extraction procedures are used in different metabolic laboratories all over the world. In this study we compared these two extraction procedures in respect of precision, accuracy, percent recovery of metabolites, number of metabolites isolated, time and cost in a resource constraint setup. We observed that the mean recovery from SPE was 84.1 % and by LLE it was 77.4 % (p value <0.05). Moreover, the average number of metabolites isolated by SPE and LLE was 161.8 ± 18.6 and 140.1 ± 20.4 respectively. The processing cost of LLE was economical. In a cost constraint setting using LLE may be the practical option if used for organic acid analysis.     

ISM-CMAP-Combine (ICMC) for hierarchical knowledge scenario in quality engineering education

Quality assurance in engineering education is a multifaceted problem further augmented by the stakeholders of engineering education. Students, parents and employers are rightfully questioning the quality of the curriculum, the instructional delivery, the learning environment, accessibility to learning technologies and equipment, employability as well as the possibilities of lifelong learning and the improvement of knowledge (Karapetrovic 2002 Karapetrovic, S. 2002. Why and how to develop a meaningful quality assurance system in engineering schools. Int. J. Engg. Educ, 18(3): 285–294. [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar]). The purpose of the study is, therefore, to identify the parameters that influence the quality of an engineering education system and develop an integrated model of hierarchical structuring and a concept map for pre-identified concept elements through a process of iterative-interactive consensus-driven methodology, as advocated by second-generation system design paradigm for evolving knowledge scenario of concepts related to quality engineering education.     

The perceived impact of external evaluation: the system,organisation and individual levels—Estonian case

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of how the employees of higher education institutions perceive the impact of external evaluations. The study was conducted using the concurrent mixed method and involved 361 employees from Estonian universities and professional higher education institutions. The results indicated that evaluation is mostly deemed necessary at the levels of the organisation and the system; from the personal viewpoint of an employee, positive effects of external evaluations are perceived to a lesser degree. The negative influences mentioned were increased bureaucracy, extra work and stress. Top managers of institutions most often saw the positive influences from external evaluations since they help to implement reorganisations and development activities within an organisation. Managers perceived the positive effects of external evaluations on their everyday work as well, more than other employees did. Researchers felt the positive effects of external evaluations least. Nearly a quarter of all employees of higher education institutions do not perceive the effects of external evaluations on their everyday work at all. Employees of professional higher education institutions perceive the positive effects of external evaluations to a greater extent than employees of universities do, indicating that external evaluation has contributed to the development of their organisations. The differences in opinions of the employees of higher education institutions regarding perceived positive and negative impacts of external evaluations—whether on individual, organisation or system points of view—indicate that employees do not identify closely enough with the organisation and its strategic goals.     

Lipid peroxide levels and antioxidant status in alcoholic liver disease

The present study was conducted to evaluate some of the components of antioxidant defense system and oxidative damage in 20 male patients of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The results were compared with 20 healthy male smokers and 20 healthy male non-smokers volunteers. Patients were subjected to detailed clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Blood samples were collected for estimating reduced glutathione (GSH), total thiols (T-SH) malondialdehyde (MDA), transaminases (AST, ALT), glutathione-S-transferease (GST) and gammaglutamyl transferase (GGT). Serum aspartate amino transferase (AST)/alanine amino transferase (ALT) ratio was significantly (p<0.01) reduced in ALD patients as compared to the controls. However, the core of utility of MDA and GST was found to be significantly (p<0.01) increased in ALD patients compared to controls. There was a significant negative correlation of MDA with both GSH and TSH. Plasma GGT levels were significantly (p<0.01) increased in alcoholics and the enzyme showed a significant positive correlation with MDA. These results give enough evidence of increased oxidative stress and compromised antioxidant defense system in patients with ALD.     

Nychthemeral rhythmicity of urinary copper levels in healthy Indians and renal stone formers

Nychthemeral rhythmicity of urinary copper (Cu) was studied in 40 clinically healthy volunteers and 35 renal stone formers. A marked diurnal rhythm was noticed in urinary Cu levels in healthy subjects with maximum excretion at 0000 to 0600 hr followed by a progressive fall during the rest of the period reaching minimum between 1200 to 1800 hr in males and 0600 to 1200 hr in female volunteers. Similarly, all stone patients exhibited a definite rhythm in urinary Cu with significant amplitude and acrophases at 2145 hr for males and 2141 hr for female stone formers. However, there was no difference in mean 24-hr Cu excretion in male and female stone formers, whereas a significant change was observed in case of healthy subjects. Urinary Cu was found to be significantly increased in renal stone formers in comparison to healthy controls of either sex attributing a significant role of this overlooked trace mineral in the crystallization and/or activation of either of the process of stone formation in the renal tubules.     

Hyperhomocysteinemia,MMPs and Cochlear Function: A Short Review

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) has been demonstrated to affect cochlear microvasculature as well as cochlear epithelial cells directly, with a resultant alteration of the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Hence, ascertaining the optimum concentration of MMPs and TIMPs in the cochlea could help to inhibit hearing loss due to HHCY by the administration of appropriate MMP inhibitors, Since infections/inflammations as well as ototoxic antibiotics have a similar mechanism of otic pathology, the cochlear damage they cause could also be similarly prevented.     

Association of plasma level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances with extent of hepatocellular injury in preterm infants with cholestatic jaundice

The present study was designed to determine the association between extent of hepatocellular injury and plasma level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in pre term infants with cholestasis. Preterm infants (<35 weeks gestation) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit were enrolled (with their parents informed consent) in either the ‘cholestasis’ group (if their direct bilirubin was >2 mg/dl) (n=25) or in the control group (n=16). Blood samples for measurement of TBARS, direct bilirubin and transaminases were obtained with-in 24 hours of enrollment. The cholestasis and control groups were comparable with respect to gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score. Serum direct bilirubin, SGOT (EC 2.6.1.1) and SGPT (EC 2.6.1.2) levels were significantly high in the cholestasis group. Plasma levels of TBARS in cholestasis group were correlated with SGOT (F=276.92; P<0.0001) and SGPT (F=355.17; P<0.0001) and differed significantly between cholestatic and control infants. Our findings suggest that oxidative stress in preterm infants with cholestasis is associated with hepatocellular injury.     

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.     

Breast cancer in developing population: A nutrition caveat

From January 1992-January 1998, 1404 patients attended the “Breast Clinic” of R.N.T. Medical College M.B. Hospital, Udaipur. Out of these, 11% and 81% patients had breast cancer (B.C.) and benign breast cancer (B.B.D.) respectively. The oxidative load in B.C. was 2.32 times higher than controls, but comparable to B.B.D. β-Carotene deficiency was uncommon in patients, whereas vitamin A deficiency was almost equally common in both B.C. and controls. Most of the patients had almost depleted levels of α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid but their TBAR levels were in normal range. The data in the present study when compared with B.B.D. and other local normal subjects point out: a) oxidative burden in B.C. is a consequence and not the cause of the disease, (b) oxidative stress could be one of the etiological factors in tumor expression, which need not to be malignant and c) α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid are not importantly responsible for higher oxidative burden in B.C.