Relationship of Anatomical Lengths of Forearm plusHand to the Length of Femur in Healthy Subjects

The commonest procedure for adult diaphyseal femoral fractures is intramedullary nailing. A thorough preoperative examination of facture pattern and its morphology are necessary. Previous studies are non-homogenous and with conflicting results. So the study was planned to find out, any relation between femur and forearm plus little finger length and its association with height/ arm span and upper segment/lower segment ratios in an individual, with its statistical validity. The study was carried on 75 male and 75 female students of more than 18 years of age, studying at AIIMS Rishikesh after taking their informed consent and ethical approval. The forearm plus hand length and the length offemur were measured as per protocol, by simple measuring tape. The mean forearm plus hand length and the length of femur were 42.85 (SD, ±1.87) and 45.88 (SD, ±2.95) cm, respectively with the mean difference between these 2 measurements of -3.03 (95% CI, -3.83 to -2.22) cm, in male and 39.56(SD, ±1.68), 40.96 (SD, ± 2.75) cm and -1.400 (95% CI, -1.917 to -0.883) cm in female volunteers. The Pearson correlation co efficient and p value 0.575, 0.0001 and 0.585, 0.0001 in male and female respectively. There was no significant variation with height, upper segment and lower segment ratios. So we conclude that there is extremely significant correlation between the forearm plus hand length and the length of femur of the individuals. The forearm plus hand length represents the maximum length of the nail to be used in femur. The length of the femur nail can be definitely predicted by the forearm plus hand length in both sexes but it has to be different in both, for the same femoral fracture and there is no significant variation in the femur length with height, upper segment and lower segment variation in the same individ

A Study on the Morphometric Asymmetry of Atlas Vertebrae

The commonly used examination procedures of the upper cervical spine depend upon the symmetry for comparison and interpretation of joint functions. If symmetry is not normal, then these assessments may mislead the examiners, allowing them implementation of incorrect treatment plans. Objectives of this study are to explore the possibility that asymmetry is more common than symmetry and, if it is true, to find out the effects of asymmetry on the biomechanics of these joints. The study was carried out on 30 atlas vertebrae of cadavers of Indian origin. The different intra-atlas distances were measured on both sides by digital vernier calliper. All the parameters studied showed statistically significant differences between the right and left side i.e. a p value of < 0.05. The anteroposterior diameter of the foramen transversarium, the transverse diameter of the foramen transversarium, the distance from the midline to medial edge of the vertebral artery groove (inner as well as outer cortex) and the length of the superior articular facets were more on the right side as compared to the left side. The breadth as well as the length of the inferior articular facet, the breadth of the superior articular facet and the difference of posterior arch thickness at the site of vertebral artery groove were more on the left side as compared to the right side. These differences may be explained by the handedness of an individual, which influences the intra-osteal asymmetry in a characteristically distinct manner, which needs to be confirmed or refuted in a further study.

Distance between Midline and Vertebral Artery Groove of Atlas – A Real Aid to the Neurosurgeon

The knowledge of the relationship of the vertebral artery with the atlas is very important, in order to avoid any injury to the vertebral artery, during surgeries in the craniovertebral region. Different researchers have measured the distance of the vertebral artery from the midline along the posterior arch of atlas (oblique distance), but some authors have measured the perpendicular distance of vertebral artery from the midline. Usually, it is the perpendicular distance along which the surgeons are exploring in this region. Hence, the present study was planned to study and compare both oblique and perpendicular distances of the vertebral artery from the midline and find out statistical differences between these two parameters. It was carried out on 30 atlas vertebrae of Indian origin. The oblique and perpendicular distances of vertebral artery groove from midline and the thickness of vertebral artery groove were measured. The results suggest that dissection on the posterior aspect of the arch of atlas should remain 17.00 mm lateral to the midline and dissection on the superior aspect of the arch of atlas should remain 8.00 mm from the midline to prevent injury to the vertebral artery. It was also observed that “oblique distances of vertebral artery groove from the midline to the medial margin of inner and outer cortex are larger than the corresponding perpendicular distances from the midline”. Although, the differences of oblique and perpendicular distances are not statistically significant but it may be clinically significant for the surgeons operating in the craniovertebral region. Hence, it is concluded that the surgeon should be aware of both the distances while operating in the craniovertebral region to avoid any iatrogenic injury to the vertebral artery.

Isolation, purification and properties of cathepsin B from buffalo liver.

Cathepsin B was isolated from buffalo liver by salt fractionation, ion-exchange resin treatment, gel filtration and repeated ion-exchange chromatography using a linear salt gradient. The enzyme showed activity, against denatured hemoglobin (or ovalbumin), alpha-N-benzoyl-DL-arginine p-nitroanilide (BAPNA), and alpha-benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamine (BANA). It inactivated buffalo muscle aldolase with a half life period of 21 min. The pH-activity profiles obtained for the digestion of hemoglobin (or ovalbumin) and aldolase inactivation by the enzyme were found to be different. The enzyme (mol wt 27,800 by SDS-PAGE) eluted in gel filtration with a molecular weight of 27,000 and a Stokes radius of 2.31 nm. The results showed buffalo cathepsin B to be a single-chain molecule. The N- and C-terminal amino acids of the enzyme were found to be leucine and aspartic acid, respectively. It contained 0.7% concanavalin A reactive neutral carbohydrate. The amino acid composition of buffalo cathepsin B was found to be similar to that of human liver cathepsin B. The optical properties of the buffalo enzyme were found consistent with its aromatic amino acid content. The isoionic pH of the enzyme was found to be 5.70 and the intrinsic viscosity was 3.48 ml/g whence the frictional ratio, f/f0 was computed to be 1.10 suggesting that the native enzyme conformation is compact and is globular in solution.

Spectrophotometric titration of phenoxyl groups of sheep brain tubulin.

Spectrophotometric titration of phenoxyl group of sheep brain tubulin carried out in 6M guanidine hydrochloride indicated 36 tyrosine residues per dimer of tubulin. A plot of log alpha/(1-alpha) versus pH showed that 26 residues titrated with apparent pK of 10.4 and 10 residues titrated with apparent pK of 11.0. The high pK value of tyrosine could be attributed to the possibility that the molecules containing tyrosine residues were not completely utilised as these residues could have been partially shielded from the solvent. Alternatively, they could have proximal negative charges.

Disease profile in respect of health services of Upazila health complex.

This study was carried out to identify the disease profile in relation to medical services at upazila health complex. Thirty different types of diseases were identified. Diarrhoeal diseases were found to be highest (53%), the second highest was intestinal worms (44%). About ninety seven percent patient attended the OPD and only 2% were attended in the emergency Department. On average 172 patients were admitted per month and the highest of admission was found in the months of September and October. The average length of stay in the hospital was 11.6 days. Among the patients admitted 55% were male, and 45 were female. 5% pregnant mothers attended in U.H.C. for antenatal checkup and 2% mother were admitted into the hospital after delivery. Metronidazole was the drug of highest consumption followed by B-Complex and Penicillin.

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of serum cholinesterase and lactate dehydrogenase in breast cancer.

Serum cholinesterase (ChE) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities were estimated in 40 cases of carcinoma breast, 25 cases of benign tumours and compared with healthy controls (30 cases). Significant difference in enzyme activities were obtained between benign and malignant neoplasms of the breast when compared with each other as well as when compared with healthy controls. Also, there were significant enzyme changes between non-metastatic cases and those with metastasis and when Stage I and Stage II cancers were compared with those in Stage III and Stage IV. No difference in enzyme levels were recorded between pre and post-operative cases and in different types of breast cancers. While ChE was depressed in 80 per cent cases of malignancy breast, serum LDH was raised in 73.3 per cent cases.

Isolation, characterization and effect of acidic pH on the unfoldingrefolding mechanism of serum albumin domains.

Three fragments, viz., BSA-CNBr1 – 183, BSA-CNBr184 – 582, and BSA-T377–582 representing domains I, II + III and III of bovine serum albumin have been isolated and purified. The physicochemical properties have been investigated and compared with their parent albumin molecule. The values of Stokes radii (nm) and intrinsic viscosities (ml/g) have been determined to be 2·36, 3·30; 3·43, 4·36; and 2·40, 3·13 for the fragments BSACNBr1– 183, BSA-CNBr184–582 and BSA-T377–582 respectively. The acid induced unfolding-refolding transitions of intact albumin and the fragment BSA-T 377–582 have been shown to occur in two steps while the fragments BSA-CNBr1 – 183 and BSACNBr184– 582 underwent single step transitions. The formation of the acid denatured states of intact albumin, BSA-CNBr1 – 183 and BSA-CNBr184–582 was accompanied by an increase of about 86, 56 and 44% in the values of intrinsic viscosities respectively. Since all the transitions were reversible, the values of equilibrium constants, KD, were calculated. The analysis of the dependence of KD on pH indicated that the first transition (N–X) of albumin was caused due to the uptake of about 3 protons by the native albumin. ,The intermediate state, X, is converted to acid unfolded state, D, by taking up another two protons. A comparision of the results on intact albumin with that of its fragments revealed that the second transition of the fragment BSA-T377– 582 and the two single step transitions of the fragment BSA-CNBr1–183 and BSA-CNBr184–582 were much closer to the second transition (X-D) of the intact albumin. The first transition of albumin has been attributed to its domain III represented by the fragment BSA-T377–582.

Serum lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in breast tumours.

Total serum LDH and its isoenzymes were estimated in 10 female controls and 30 cases of breast lump (22 malignant, 6 benign and 2 breast abscess). In breast malignancy, there was a significant elevation of total LDH and LDH-3, LDH-4 and LDH-5 isoenzymes with a significant fall in LDH-1 and LDH-2 percentage value. Following therapy, there was a significant elevation in LDH-1 and LDH-2 towards normal with a significant fall in total serum LDH and LDH-4 and LDH-5 isoenzymes. The estimation was found to be helpful in assessing the response of patient to the therapy given.

Domain II + III of bovine serum albumin: Isolation and its characterization.

Some properties of a fragment of bovine serum albumin containing residues 184-582 of the protein sequence, produced by cyanogen bromide cleavage, have been reported. Urea-induced difference spectra of the fragment showed considerable exposure of aromatic chromophores by 8 Μ urea. Reversible unfolding of the fragment by urea, as followed by difference spectral measurements at 30°C, pH 7·0, occurred in two distinct steps involving at least 3 major conformational states, namely the native (N), intermediate (X) and completely denatured (D) states. The co-operativity values for the two transitions, N X and X Dwere found to be 4·0 and 16·4, respectively. Analysis of the data on bilirubin binding to bovine serum albumin and its fragment suggested that the fragment retains significant amount of its native structure. However, hydrodynamic parameters such as Stokes radius (3·14 nm), diffusion coefficient (6·98 × 10-7cm2/s) and frictional ratio (1·32) obtained by analytical gel chromatography as well as intrinsic viscosity (4·31 ml/g) indicates some asymmetry in the fragment molecule.

Homologous structural domains in chicken egg-white ovomucoid: Characterization and acid denaturation.

The primary structure of ovomucoid shows considerable sequence homology at three contiguous regions which form structural domains I, II and III. In order to see whether or not the three domains fold similarly and acquire similar overall native conformation/shape, two fragments A and C were obtained by controlled peptic digestion of ovomucoid. The two fragments were investigated for their chemical composition, molecular weight, anti-tryptic activity, hydrodynamic behaviour, optical properties and acid denaturation. Results on molecular weight, amino acid composition and inhibitory acitivity show that the fragments A and C correspond respectively to domain I-II and domain III. Optical data suggested more exposure of tyrosine residues in the fragments than in the intact molecule. Domain III exists in a compact and globular conformation under native conditions whereas domain I-II and ovomucoid appear to possess asymmetric conformation. Results on acid denaturation show that the process is thermodynamically reversible and that inter-domain separation probably precedes denaturation of domains during acidification of ovomucoid.

Proline peptide isomerization and protein folding.

The unfolding-refolding of proteins is a cooperative process and, as judged by equilibrium properties, occurs in one step involving the native, N, and the unfolded U, conformational states. Kinetic studies have shown that the denatured protein exists as a mixture of slow-(US) and fast-(UF) refolding forms produced by proline peptide cis-trans isomerization. Proline residues in UF are in the same configuration as in the native protein while they are in non-native configuration in US. For protein folding to occur quickly US must be converted into UF. The fact that the equilibrium and kinetic properties of US UF are the same as those found for proline cis-trans isomerization taken together with the absence of slow phase in the kinetics of refolding of a protein devoid of proline, support this view. However, the absence of a linear correlation between half-time of reactivation of denatured enzymes and their proline-contents, as well as the dissimilarities in the kinetic properties of US UF in unfolding and refolding experiments are not consistent with the model. Conformational energy calculation and experimental results on refolding of proteins suggest that some proline residues are non-essential. They will not block protein folding even in wrong isomeric form. The native-like folded structure with incorrect proline isomers will serve as intermediate state(s) in which these prolines will more readily isomerize to the correct isomeric form. The picture becomes more complex when one considers the consequence of cis-trans isomerism of non-proline residues on protein folding.