CoagVDb: a comprehensive database for coagulation factors and their associated SAPs

The current state of the art in medical genetics is to identify and classify the functional (deleterious) or non-functional (neutral) single amino acid substitutions (SAPs), also known as non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs). The primary goal is to elucidate the mechanisms through which functional SAPs exert their effects, and ultimately interrogating this information for association with complex phenotypes. This work focuses on coagulation factors involved in the coagulation cascade pathway which plays a vital role in the maintenance of homeostasis in the human system. We developed an integrated coagulation variation database, CoagVDb, which makes use of the biological information from various public databases such as NCBI, OMIM, UniProt, PDB and SAPs (rsIDs/variant). CoagVDb enriched with computational prediction scores classify SAPs as either deleterious or tolerated. Also, various other properties are incorporated such as amino acid composition, secondary structure elements, solvent accessibility, ordered/disordered regions, conservation, and the presence of disulfide bonds. This specialized database provides integration of various prediction scores from different computational methods along with gene, protein, and disease information. We hope our database will act as a useful reference resource for hematologists to reveal protein structure-function relationship and disease genotype-phenotype correlation.

Randomized double blind comparison of two brands of clopidogrel in inhibition of platelet aggregation.

Objectives: To compare the anti platelet effects of locally manufactured clopidogrel with the anti platelet effect of clopidogrel manufactured by multinational pharmaceutical abroad. Methodology: A total of 118 subjects were enrolled, 18 to 65 years of age, who presented with suspected ischemic heart disease and were randomly assigned to receive either drug A (Pidogrel) or drug B (Plavix) in a double blind manner for 7 days. Platelet aggregation was measured in both the groups at baseline and at final visit. Results: Base line platelet aggregability in both drug groups was not significantly different (p=0.317) Mean reduction in platelet aggregation by drug-A was 8.47+/- 0.45 ohms (p<0.001) and mean reduction in platelet aggregation by drug-B was 8.62+/- 0.46 (p<0.001). The difference in platelet aggregability at day 7(follow up) between the two groups was not statistically significant i.e., was the same. Conclusion: Locally manufactured clopidogrel is equally effective as that manufactured by the multinational company abroad giving us the added advantage of cost effectiveness.