Comparative study of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in normal and glaucomatous human eyes as measured by optical coherence tomography

Background: Glaucoma is a disease primarily associated with damage to the Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) bodies and axons, which causes characteristic patterns of Visual Field (VF) and changes in the appearance of the Optic Nerve Head (ONH). This Study Compares Nerve Fibre layer thickness in normal and Glaucomatous Human Eye.Methods: It is a case control observational study carried out in 100 patients in a tertiary eye care hospital in the department of ophthalmology in the period from 1st January 2019 to 30th June 2019.Results: The diagnostic ability for distinguishing between normal and glaucoma patients were same when authors consider average RNFL thickness and average GCC thickness. Diagnostic accuracy increases when authors consider both RNFL and GCC thickness. There was a significant difference in both RNFL and GCC thickness between normal and glaucoma patient (p<0.001). The mean deviation shows a significant correlation with all the parameters in eyes with glaucoma (<0.001).Conclusions: RNFL thickness as measured by OCT showed statistically significant correlation with glaucoma. RNFL seems to have higher sensitivity and specificity for the detection of early glaucoma. Diagnostic accuracy increases when we include other parameters like RNFL and visual fields.

Purification and Characterization of α-Glucan Phosphorylase Isoform Pho 2 from Spinach Leaves.

α-Glucan phosphorylase is an important enzyme of carbohydrate metabolism. In spinach leaves, it has been reported in two multiple forms viz. Pho 2 (cytosolic) and Pho 1 (plastidial). Here, we extracted and purified Pho 2 form of α-glucan phosphorylase from spinach using salting out with ammonium sulfate, desalting using Sephadex G-25 chromatography, anion exchange chromatography using DEAE-Sepharose and gel filtration chromatography using Sepharose-4-B. The purified enzyme had a specific activity, 150 units/mg protein. There was 38% recovery and 652 fold purification after final Sepharose-4B chromatography. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band on SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis having molecular weight 94,000±2000 daltons. The native molecular weight is found to be 188,000±3000 daltons as determined using gel filtration chromatography over Sephadex G-200. The Pho2 exhibited optimum pH at pH 6.0 with two half pH optima at pH 5.2 and pH 7.0. The optimum temperature of Pho2 is found to be 37ºC with two half temperature optima at 30ºC and 40ºC. The Km value of the enzyme for starch and glucose-1-phosphate is found to be 116 μg/mL and 0.55 mM, respectively.

Starch Phosphorylase: An Overview of Biochemical Characterization, Immobilization and Peptide Mapping.

Starch phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.1) is the key enzyme which catalyzes the reversible conversion of starch and inorganic phosphate into glucose-1-phosphate (G-1-P) and has been reported in many higher plants. It can be exploited for industrial purposes for tailoring starch and for the synthesis of biopolymers which may be useful in food industry and are also of clinical importance. Starch in the form of insoluble granules accumulates in chloroplasts as the primary product of photosynthesis. Multiple forms of the enzyme have been reported in different plant tissues which have been predicted to have different roles in starch metabolism. Here, various biochemical properties have been reviewed. Various techniques for enzyme immobilization have been discussed. Besides, reports on immobilization of starch phosphorylase from different sources and on different solid matrices have also been reviewed. Peptide mapping reports of various proteins have also been assessed in this review.

Dielectric studies of wheat in powder form at microwave frequencies.

Dielectric constant and loss factor of Raj-4120 variety of Indian wheat were determined in powder form (grain size 125 to 150 ) at room temperature. Microwaves at three different frequencies were employed in C-band, X-band and Ku-band respectively for investigating frequency dependence of dielectric parameters of the sample. Bulk dielectric values of the sample were determined by employing the dielectric mixture relations, such as, half power mixture equation, Landau and Lifshitz, Looyenga equation etc.

IMCI approach in tertiary hospitals, India.

Objective. This study was conducted to compare physicians’ diagnosis with Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) algorithm generated diagnosis in hospitalized children aged 2 – 59 months. Methods. Recruited were patients aged 2-59 months admitted with one or more IMCI danger signs. IMCI and physician's diagnosis were noted and compared. Results. In 222 included subjects, mean duration of illness was 9.4 (SD: 16.5) days. Among those with cough or difficult breathing, 44 (19.8%) and 66 (29.7%) were diagnosed as either severe pneumonia or mild to moderate pneumonia by physicians and IMCI algorithm, respectively (p= 0.015). Among 146 presenting as fever, 140 (95.9%) were diagnosed as very severe febrile disease by the IMCI algorithm, whereas physicians diagnosed these as either malaria in 10/146 (6.7%), pyogenic meningitis in 47/146 (32.2%), sepsis in 31/146 (21.3%), tuberculous meningitis in 17/146 (11.6%), encephalitis in 5/146 (3.4%), measles in 3/146 (2.1%) or others in 24/146 (16.4%). Conclusion. As there was a low concordance between physician and IMCI algorithmic diagnosis of pneumonia (Kappa value= 0.74, 95% CI: (0.64 – 0.84)) and since very severe febrile disease is not a diagnosis made by the physicians, the IMCI algorithms have to be refined for appropriate management of these conditions.

Dietary profile of sportswomen participating in team games at state/national level.

A cross sectional study was conducted toassess dietary profile of 100 Delhi based national / state level sportswomen, aged 18-25 years, participating in team games--volleyball, hockey, football and kabaddi. Mean energy intake was found to be 1471 +/- 479 Kcal. Only 24 percent of the sports women met the recommendations of 60-65 energy percent from carbohydrates and 87 percent were consuming more than 25 energy percent from fat. The mean macronutrients and micronutrient intakes of all the subjects were much lower than the recommendations. Improper food choices were also observed in majority. It becomes necessary to generate awareness among sports personnel regarding proper nutrition practices.