A novel method of plasmid isolation using laundry detergent.

Since the discovery of plasmid, various methods have been developed to isolate plasmid DNA. All the methods have one common and important target of isolating plasmid DNA of high quality and quantity in less time. These methods are not completely safe because of use of toxic chemicals compounds. The developed protocol for plasmid extraction is based on the alkaline lysis method of plasmid preparation (extraction at pH 8.0) with slight modifications. Cell lysis reagent sodium dodecyl sulfate is replaced by lipase enzyme present in laundry detergent. A good plasmid preparation can be made, which is well suited for subsequent molecular biology applications. By taking safety measures on count, contaminants like, RNA and protein can be completely avoided with maximized plasmid yield. The resultant plasmid quality and quantity can be well comparable to other prevalent methods.

Rural people and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC)--some findings in North Bengal Medical College, Darjeeling, West Bengal.

A hospital based interdepartmental collaborative study was carried out from 1st July to 30th September, 2000 on 269 rural people residing in six districts of the northern part of West Bengal and attending the Pathology Department in North Bengal Medical College for Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) after being referred from different clinical departments. The objectives of the study were to study some aspects of the outcomes of FNAC among rural people and to suggest for its wider application in rural community through Community Health Centre/Rural Hospital/Block Primary Health Centre. The results shows that Hindus (80.3%) are attending more in number than Muslims (14.13%), Christians (4.83%) and Buddhist (0.74%); 53.54% of the population are in 11-40 years age group. In benign conditions 76.95% are coming from up to 100 kms. of N.B.M.C; people in lower per capita income group of up to Rs.400/- per month are attending twice in number than those in the income groups of Rs.401/- and more per month. In malignancy however people do not think of distance or expenses due to seriousness of the diseases. In 14.5% cases FNAC remains inconclusive whereas in 85.5% cases it provides definite diagnoses.

Serine proteinase from rice bean.

A trypsin like serine-proteinase of M(r) 16,000 Da, optimally active at pH 8.4 on N-benzoyl-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) was purified from 4-day old germinated seeds of rice bean, Vigna umbellata (Thunb), by ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration, ion-exchange chromatography and by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The purity of the enzyme was checked by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The enzyme activity was studied on natural substrates like casein, haemoglobin and vicilin, a rice bean storage protein. The activity of the enzyme was completely inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, but not by iodoacetamide and HgCl2, suggesting it to be a serine protease. Loss of activity in presence of EDTA was reversed by addition of Ca2+.