ABSTRACT
Background: Philadelphia chromosome (Ph): Hallmark of CML is caused by reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 resulting in BCR-ABL fusion protein. Most commonly associated breakpoint with CML is M-bcr in exon 13 or exon 14, producing splice variant b2a2 or b3a2 respectively. The distribution of these transcripts and their influence on clinico-hematological parameters is variable. Impact of the fusion transcripts on treatment outcome in Imatinib treated CML patients is still a matter of debate. Aims/settings and design: We conducted this study on 400 CML-CP patients to look for the distribution of fusion transcripts i.e. b3a2 and b2a2, their clinico-hematological profile and impact on treatment response in patients treated with Imatinib. Material and Methods: CML-CP was diagnosed by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for the BCR-ABL fusion transcript. Real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) was performed on peripheral blood every 3-6 monthly to look for treatment response. Results: The overall frequency of b3a2 transcript was observed in 288 (72%) followed by b2a2 in 104 (26%) and hybrid fusion transcript (b3a2 + b2a2) was seen in 8 (2%) cases. MMR was attained in 198/288 (68.7%) patients with b3a2 transcript and 90/288 (31.3%) patients failed to achieve MMR after 12 months of Imatinib therapy. Among the patients with b2a2 transcript, 44/104 (42.3%) patients achieved MMR and 60/104 (57.7%) patients failed to achieve MMR after 12 months of Imatinib therapy. Conclusions: In conclusion, the frequency of b3a2 transcript was more as compared to b2a2 transcript. MMR was significantly higher in patients with b3a2 transcript as compared to patients with b2a2.
ABSTRACT
Background: It is still a matter of debate regarding the association of JAK2V617F mutation with thrombosis in BCR-ABL negative CMPN patients. The role of JAK2V617F mutation in increasing the thrombotic risk in CMPNs is yet unequivocal. Aims: To clarify the contribution of JAK2V617F mutation in thrombosis in CMPN patients. Settings and Design: This retrospective study was done to evaluate role of JAK2V617F mutation in thrombosis in CMPNs. Materials and Methods: 65 CMPN patients (PV, ET and PMF) were analyzed for JAK2V617F mutation using ARMS-PCR and detailed history of thrombosis was recorded in these patients. Statistical Analysis: P values were 2 tailed, and statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: 46/65 were males and 19/65 were females [M: F: 2.4:1] with median age 46 years [range, 14-80 years]. Patients had median Hb 15.6 g/dl [range, 5.1-20.3], median TLC 10.7 × 109/l [range 2.4-216] and platelet count 360 × 109/l [range, 20-1859]. 32 were JAK2V617F positive and 33 were negative for this mutation. On comparing the prevalence of thrombosis in JAK2V617F positive patients with JAK2V617F negative patients, we observed that 20/32 (62.5%) JAK2V617F positive patients had thrombosis as compared to 16/33 (48%) in JAK2V617F negative patients (P = 0.04). We observed significant association of JAK2V617F mutation with thrombosis, however no association of this mutation with thrombosis was observed among the JAK2V617F negative patients. Conclusion: Our study suggests that JAK2V617F mutation may increase the risk of thrombosis in CMPNs. This finding could lead to risk stratification, setting up the treatment strategy in CMPNs.
ABSTRACT
Aspergillus niger was treated with acid and immobilized in calcium alginate matrix. The dynamic removal of Cr (VI) ion was studied using continuously fed column packed with immobilized biosorbent beads. Column experiments were carried out to study the effect of various bed heights (20, 30, 40 cm) under different flow rates (5, 7.5, 10 ml min-1) on efficiency of biosorption. The maximum time (1020 minutes; 17 hr) before breakthrough point was observed in case of 40 cm bed height with flow rate of 5ml min-1. FTIR analysis of acid treated immobilized A.niger was used for a qualitative and preliminary analysis of chemical functional groups present on its cell wall which provided the information on nature of cell wall and Cr (VI) interaction during the process of biosorption. The IR spectra of biosorbent recorded before and after chromium biosorption had shown some changes in the band patterns, which were finally analyzed and was found that chemical interaction such as ion-exchange between carboxyl (-COOH), hydroxyl (-OH) and amine (-NH2) group of biosorbent and Chromium ion were mainly involved in biosorption of Cr (VI) onto A. niger cell wall surface. The biosorbed metal was eluted from biosorbent by using 0.1 M H2SO4 as eluant. Immobilized biosorbent could be reused for, five consecutive biosorption and desorption cycles without apparent loss of efficiency after its reconditioning. Considering all above factors together this paper discusses the efficient chromium biosorption process carried out by immobilized A. niger biosorbent.
ABSTRACT
A fungus, Aspergillus niger was chemically treated with 0.1 M H2SO4 and 0.1 N NaOH to form biosorbent and it was immobilized in calcium alginate beads. The biosorption capacity of immobilized biosorbents for Cr (VI) was found to depend on pH, contact time, biosorbent dose and initial concentration of Cr (VI). The maximum uptake of Cr (VI) was 92.5, 95.9 and 98.4 mg respectively at a pH of 1.5 and with an increase in pH up to 10.5 the metal uptake decreased gradually up to 38.75, 50.19 and 65.28 mg respectively for acid treated, untreated and base treated fungal biosorbents. Increase in biosorbent dose up to 1 g of biomass and contact time up to 60 min resulted in an increase in biosorption from 19.6, 15.6 and 26.1 mg at a biosorbent dose of 0.1 g 100 ml(-1) to 92.45, 95.7 and 98.52 mg at a biosorbent dose of 1.0 g 100 ml(-1) and then further increase in adsorbent dose and contact time did not resulted in more Cr (VI) adsorption by per unit weight of biosorbent. The value of Kad (adsorption rate constant) revealed the pseudo-first order nature of biosorption. The percentage metal uptake by the biosorbent was found to decrease upto 62.33, 52.67 and 83.5 percent respectively for acid treated, untreated and base treated fungal biosorbents at the 300 mgl(-1) Cr (VI) ion concentration. The resulted data was found to fit well in Langmuir model of adsorption isotherm with a high value of correlation coefficient. The value of Qmax, b (Langmuir constants), R(L) (separation factor) and delta G (Gibb's free energy) revealed the favourable nature of adsorption. The biosorbed metal was eluted from the biosorbent by using 0.1 M H2SO4 as elutant. Immobilized biosorbent can be reused for five consecutive biosorption/desorption cycles without apparent loss of efficiency after its reconditioning. The biosorbent was found to perform well in the electroplating industrial effluent.