A Study on Etiopathological Evaluation of Anaemia in Newly Diagnosed HIV-Infected Adults at a Tertiary Health Care Centre of Eastern India.

Background: Anaemia is a common feature among HIV infected people and has been uniformly demonstrated that the severity of anaemia increase the morbidity and mortality in PLWH independent of CD4 count. There are wide variations in the prevalence of anaemia from different countries all over the world and gender specific variation observed in different studies. Aims and Objectives: Aims of our study were to study the different types and the various etiologies of anaemia in newly diagnosed HIV infected adults. Also to find out the relation between absolute CD4 counts and severity of anaemia. Methods: Fifty newly diagnosed HIV infected adults with anaemia were included in the study. Study conducted from July 2014 to June 2015 at a tertiary care hospital and medical teaching institute in eastern India. Detailed medical history was taken, thorough physical examination was done and relevant routine laboratory investigations were done in all patients. Few special investigations were done in selected patients. Results: In this study 70 % of the patients belonged to the lower socio economic group and 58% of the cases were addicted to alcohol which is also a significant associated risk factor. The mean CD4 count was 170.1 with a standard deviation of 123.16. The mean Hb% of the population was 7.13 with a standard deviation of 1.27031492. The most common etiology found was anaemia of chronic disease (34%) and other etiologies were HIV induced myelodysplasia (32%), iron deficiency anaemia (16%), helminth infection (14%) and vitamin B12 deficiency leading to megaloblastic anaemia was seen in 4% cases. Conclusion: Anaemia of chronic disease is the most common etiology, which has correlation with disease activity.

Simultaneous induction of ectopic pelvic zone and duplication of regenerated limbs in tadpoles of Polypedates maculatus by vitamin A.

With a view to determine ectopic limb developing capacity along with normal hind limb regeneration in response to vitamin A palmitate in well-differentiated hind limb stage tadpoles of P. maculatus, higher doses of vitamin A (30 IU/ml and 20 IU/ml) were administered for a longer period (120 hr) to the tadpoles following tail amputation through middle and hind limb amputation through middle of thigh. Simultaneous development of ectopic pelvic zone was observed along with hind limbs from the cut end of tail and duplication of regenerated hind limbs in the same tadpole for the first time. Besides, development of double ectopic pelvic girdle was also reported in one case. Results also indicate that induction of pelvic zone and duplication of regenerated limbs are concentration dependent.

Thermoregulatory spectrum in vertebrates.

Thermoregulatory mechanisms and control of homeothermy are quite recent from evolutionary stand point. Animals have either simply recruited or modified other regulatory systems for the purpose of thermoregulation. The degree of such recruitments or modifications vary among different class of vertebrates thus giving rise to a relative diversity in the spectrum of thermoregulatory control and mechanisms. The review briefly summarizes the evidence showing that body temperature control is not an isolated regulated system in vertebrates, rather, a hierarchically integrated multiple system. The available information shows that pineal transduces environmental cues for photoperiodic and seasonal adjustments to the preoptic area of anterior hypothalamus via its primary secretory product, melatonin. The hypothalamus integrates the information and then sets the effector recruitment for each control system consistent with the metabolic rate of the animal taking into considerations the cost and benefit of the action taken. The overwhelming similarity in response to different constituents of the thermoregulatory spectrum contradicts the aphorism that cold-blooded animals are dependent on ambient temperature. It is our collective view that there is no fundamental difference between ectotherms and endotherms since the two vary only in the degree of their ability to maintain thermal homeostasis.

The pineal gland: structural and functional diversity.

The article reviews the work carried out on pineal structure and function in vertebrates. The pineal has undergone striking changes in structure during the course of evolution from lamprey to mammals. In the primitive vertebrates, structure of the pineal is very much similar to that of the retina of the eyes and it acts as a direct photosensory organ. It acts as a photosensory and secretory organ in a number of species. Interestingly, the pineal complex among the reptiles presents the full spectrum of its morphological possibilities. There is a gradual regression of light sensitive pineal structure during the course of avian line of evolution. Further, it has been unequivocally accepted that mammalian pineal is an endocrine organ. The pineal is a prominent secretory organ, in mammals, which synthesises and secretes a number of exocrine and endocrine substances, such as indoles, peptides, various enzymes, amino acids and their derivatives, lipids, carbohydrates, and inorganic constituents. Pineal plays an important role in regulation of seasonal breeding in various vertebrate species. It is also considered as one of the most important components of the vertebrate circadian system and is a principal source of rhythmically produced melatonin. Apart from the above mentioned functions, pineal also influences thermoregulation, electrolyte metabolism, intermediary metabolism, hemopoiesis, immune system and behaviour.

Characteristics of circadian rhythm in six variables of morning active and evening active healthy human subjects.

Ten apparently healthy human subjects, inhabitants of dry and hot tropical climate, volunteered for the study. They were instructed to self-measure, several variables, such as oral temperature, heart rate, subjective fatigue, subjective drowsiness, finger counting speed and random number adding speed, daily, preferably at an interval of 4h, for 10-15 days. However, they were instructed to have ad libitum sleep and not to truncate sleep for the sake of self-measurements. The subjects were categorized into two groups, viz, morning active and evening active and their circadian time structure in the above mentioned variables was studied. The results clearly show a higher order of internal synchronization among all the variables. Comparison of acrophase locations between morning active and evening active individuals reveals that the peaks in oral temperature, heart rate and random number adding speed occurs earlier in morning active individuals (P < 0.002, P < 0.005, P < 0.001, respectively). The circadian profiles obtained in this study may serve as guide lines in the study of human health and diseases.

Age related modulation of circadian time structure of blood, plasma and tissue variables in male domestic fowls.

To study modulation of circadian time structure of 11 blood, plasma and tissue variables in male domestic fowls, as a function of age, three experiments were made in one-day-old fowls (72) standardized by 12L:12D. In the first experiment, at 6 week age, 24 birds were killed by decapitation, four each at six different circadian stages (2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 hr after light onset, HALO). Equal number of birds were killed at similar circadian stages at the age of 12 and 18 week in the second and the third experiments, respectively. Age affected both, the circadian patterns and the mesors (24 hr mean values). The circadian pattern included amplitude (half of the total extent of variation) and acrophase (estimated time of peak) for each variable. The results clearly suggest that the pattern of circadian rhythm may vary as a function of age of the bird.

Late afternoon administration of melatonin is prosomatotrophic and exerts androgen independent effects on erythropoiesis in male house sparrow Passer domesticus.

In the third week of September 1989, birds were purchased locally and acclimated to their housing conditions in a room fully exposed to natural day length (average: 11.96 hr) and temperature (26 degrees +/- 2 degrees C) for 2 weeks. Birds were in the regressive phase of their annual gonadal cycle. In the first experiment 24 birds were selected randomly and were divided into 3 groups of 8 birds each. Initial body weight and bill color score were recorded. The birds of group-I and group-II were injected daily with 5 and 10 micrograms of melatonin in 0.1 ml of vehicle, respectively. The birds of group-III were injected with vehicle only and treated as control. Injections were given daily between 1700 and 1730 hrs over a period of 10 days. At the termination of the experiment, the birds were weighed, sacrificed, bill color scored, blood collected and immediately processed to determine the number of erythrocytes and hemoglobin concentration. The mean body weight loss amounted to 9.6% in vehicle-treated house sparrow. Birds receiving low and high doses of melatonin maintained their initial body weight. Melatonin significantly accelerated the rate of bleaching of bill color. Results clearly indicate that in house sparrow, melatonin produces prosomatotrophic and antigonadotrophic effects. The low dose of melatonin stimulated erythropoiesis significantly. In the second experiment, melatonin nullified the castration-induced decline in the number of circulating red cells. This clearly suggests that the influence of melatonin on erythropoietic machinery appears to be independent of testicular hormone(s).

Circadian features of carbohydrate metabolism in domestic fowls exposed to weekly 120 degree-shifts of synchronizer schedule.

Effects of weekly 8 hr advance- or delay-shifts on the circadian rhythm of plasma glucose, liver glycogen and muscle glycogen in male domestic fowls, beginning at about 3 days of age, were examined. Circadian rhythm in the aforesaid indices of carbohydrate metabolism in control birds was also studied. Blood and tissue samples were collected from birds in all the three groups at 4 hr intervals over a single 24 hr time scale both at 6th and 12th week of age. Plasma glucose and glycogen content in the tissues were determined by employing standard techniques. Cosinor rhythmometry was used for analyzing time series data. In general, a statistically significant circadian rhythm was documented for all the three indices in control and advance-schedule birds, irrespective of age. In contrast, in delay-schedule birds, statistically significant circadian rhythm could not be detected, excluding in muscle glycogen at 12th week of age. The poor growth rate in the delay-schedule birds could be imputed to the disappearance of circadian rhythm in the indices of carbohydrate metabolism.

Desynchronization of oral temperature, pulse and performance circadian rhythms in shift working Indian nurses.

Circadian time structure in shift working Indian nurses was studied. In shift workers desynchronization between circadian rhythms in different physiological variables was observed. Circadian amplitudes of oral temperature, pulse and random add speed rhythms decreased significantly in shift workers as compared to control subjects. Circadian mesors of performance rhythms increased significantly in shift workers indicating that the time taken by them was more for performing the tasks. It can be concluded that the subjects studied herein are intolerant to shift work and amplitude decrement may be considered as a chronobiologic index to determine the tolerance of individual workers to shift work.

Effects of zeitgeber shifts on gonadal function in male domestic fowls.

Effects of shifting light dark (LD) schedule of 8 hr/week on comb height and gonadal development were investigated in male domestic fowls. Three-day-old birds were exposed to repeated delay (westward shift) or repeated advancement (eastward shift) of the LD schedule at weekly intervals till they attained the age of 20 weeks. Control birds were held in fixed LD 12:12 hr light/dark schedule. Comb height was monitored at weekly intervals beginning at the age of 7 weeks. At 12th, 16th and 20th week 5 birds from each schedule were sacrificed and gonadal volume was recorded. Results indicate that comb and gonadal growth were significantly higher in advance-schedule birds when compared with control and delay-schedule birds. Histologically, testes of advance-schedule birds were more active when compared with those of control and delay-schedule birds. It appears that the eastward shifts of the synchronizer schedule may exert stimulatory influence on gonads.

Effects of repeated eastward and westward synchronizer phase-shifts on growth, blood morphology and biochemical variables in male domestic fowls.

The effects of repeated synchronizer phase-shifts on growth (increment in body weight), blood morphology and growth related biochemical variables in 3-day-old juvenile male chicks were evaluated till they become 20 weeks old. The control birds were kept under a fixed LD 12:12 light schedule throughout, while the LD 12:12 regimen of experimental birds was shifted weekly either by delaying (westward shift) or by advancing (eastward shift) the time of light onset by 8 hr. The rate of growth was more in fowls which were exposed to repeated advancement of synchronizer schedule than the controls and those exposed to westward shifts of the synchronizer schedule. Hematological indices, viz., hemoglobin concentration, number of circulating erythrocytes, hematocrit and biochemical variables, such as concentration of glucose and protein in plasma; glycogen, protein and lipid in liver; and muscle tissues were significantly more in chicks exposed to repeated eastward shifts, when compared with the control birds (LD 12:12). It is suggested that the eastward shift of the synchronizer may be beneficial for the poultry birds.

Time dependent effects of hormones on rate of protein synthesis in lymphoid organs of chickens.

Total protein content in blood serum and different lymphoid organs, such as bursa, spleen and thymus was investigated in chickens at two different circadian stages (0800 or 1600 hrs; early or late photophase) following administration of either saline or hormones (thyroxine or hydrocortisone or epinephrine). The results suggest that the lymphoid organs may respond differently to the exogenous administration of different hormones depending on the time of their administration.