Correction to: Development of typological classification and its relationship to microdifferentiation in ethnic India

Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. Cisplatin, also known as cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP), is a standard chemotherapeutic agent used to treat PCa, and DDP resistance remains one important obstacle inDDP-based chemotherapy. In our research, we found miR-425-5p was down-regulated in PCa and even lower in DDP-resistantPCa determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction; in contrast, GSK3b mRNA expression was upregulated in PCa andeven higher in DDP-resistant PCa. Moreover, there was a modest but significant inverse correlation between the expression ofGSK3b mRNA and miR-425-5p. Functional experiments showed that miR-425-5p mimic inhibited DDP resistance as evidencedby a promoted apoptosis rate (flow cytometry) and suppressed cell viability (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay) and expressions of MDR1 and MRP1 (western blotting) in DU145/DDP and PC3/DDP cells. Luciferase reporterassay and RNA immunoprecipitation identified GSK3b was a potential target of miR-425-5p. The effect of miR-425-5p mimic onDDP resistance was partially reversed by pcDNA-GSK3b. Mechanically, miR-425-5p mimic reduced expression of b-catenin,cyclin D1 and C-myc, which was further blocked when GSK3b overexpressed. In vivo experiments, recovery of GSK3bprevented xenograft tumor growth and DDP resistance in the presence of miR-425-5p mimic. To sum up, miR-425-5p upregulation might sensitize human PCa to DDP by targeting GSK3b and inactivating the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway

Growth and nutritional status of Bengali adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the growth and nutritional status among healthy Bengali adolescent schoolgirls at peri-urban area. METHODS: In this cross sectional study, sample consists of 527 school going adolescent girls, aged 10 to 18 years. The sample of the present study was collected from a peri-urban area (Duttapukur) of north 24 parganas district of West Bengal, India. Standard anthropometric measurements including linear, curvilinear and skinfold thickness were collected from each subject. Percentile curves and nutritional indices were used to determine the growth and nutritional status respectively. RESULTS: The nature of distance curves and percentile curves of the body measurements showed a high rate of increase in 10-11 years of age group corresponding to an earlier adolescent growth spurt than average Indian girls. The adolescent girls in the current study were found to be significantly (p<0.0001) taller than Indian girls and heavier than both Indian and urban Bengali girls but slightly shorter than urban Bengali girls. They are significantly (p<0.0001) shorter and lighter than American girls, which also corresponded to 50(th) percentile curves. Age specific nutritional assessment shows different grades of malnutrition among them. Gomez's classification indicates about 60 % to 70 % adolescent girls show either moderate to mild malnutrition during their growth period. Both the indices of Waterlow's classification show least percentage of least malnutrition among the girls. CONCLUSION: The growth pattern and nutritional status observed among adolescent girls in peri-urban situation show heterogeneity with respect to some anthropometric traits and in conformity with the growth pattern and nutritional status of urban girls.

Whole time domestic child labor in metropolitan city of Kolkata.

We conducted this study to explore the socioeconomic conditions, and health and nutritional status of whole time child domestic labor. 330 children engaged in domestic child labor ranging between 8 to 14 years of age from the metropolitan city of Kolkata were studied. Majority of the domestic child laborers were girls and migrants coming from illiterate families. These children were physically, mentally or sexually abused. Further, they suffered from anemia, gastrointestinal tract infections, vitamin deficiencies, respiratory tract infections and skin diseases along with a high prevalence of malnutrition. The study highlights the poor state of domestic child labor in Kolkata, India.