The association of fluoride in drinking water with serum calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in pregnant women and newborn infants.

BACKGROUND: Chronic exposure to fluoride in drinking water causes an increase in plasma fluoride levels that is related to a reduction in calcium transport across the renal tubule endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. In the present study, it was hypothesised that varying levels of fluoride present in drinking water are associated with serum levels of calcium and the related hormones vitamin D and parathyroid hormone in pregnant women and newborn infants. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included two groups based on the fluoride concentration in drinking water. One group was considered low/optimum in which the fluoride concentration in drinking water was <1 ppm, and the other group was considered a high fluoride group with ≥1 ppm fluoride in drinking water. In each group, 90 pregnant women were recruited at the hospital during delivery. The participants were given a questionnaire regarding their medical history, sunshine exposure duration, and supplement use and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Fluoride was measured in drinking water, urine, maternal serum and cord blood. Serum calcium, vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone were measured in a fully automated analyser. RESULTS: In pregnant women, drinking water that contained fluoride was significantly positively correlated with urine and blood serum. Low mean concentrations of vitamin D and deficient (<10 ng/ml) vitamin D were more prevalent among the high fluoride group irrespective of diet, sunshine exposure and supplementation. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were significantly lower in the high fluoride group than in the low/optimum fluoride group in both pregnant mothers' blood and cord blood. CONCLUSIONS: Drinking water with high fluoride levels was significantly associated with calcium and the related hormones vitamin D and parathyroid hormone.

Interaction of antioxidant flavonoids with calf thymus DNA analyzed by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods.

Mechanism of interaction of bioactive flavonoids, hesperitin (HES) and naringenin (NAR) with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was studied employing UV absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, melting temperature, fluorescence anisotropy and differential pulse voltammetric methods. The observed fluorescence quenching of DNA-ethidium bromide system by the flavonoid indicated the intercalative mode of binding between the flavonoid and DNA. Stern-Volmer plots have revealed the presence of static quenching mechanism. Binding and thermodynamic characteristics of interaction were evaluated. Melting temperature of DNA was found to be increased up to 5 °C in the presence of the flavonoid indicating the stabilization of DNA double helix upon binding. CD and fluorescence anisotropic results have revealed the conformational changes in DNA upon binding to the flavonoid. The observed positive shift in peak potential and decreased peak current of the flavonoid in the presence of DNA further supported the intercalative mode of binding.

Craniofacial anthropometric analysis in Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, in a representative sample of young patients with Down syndrome, the specificity of craniofacial anthropometric profile for the syndrome, which can be used in the diagnosis, monitoring of growth and eventual plastic surgical procedures in the cranio-facial region and to identify anthropometric variables which best discriminate group of patients with Down syndrome from healthy persons. Limited Asian reports are available, and may not be able to be extrapolated for use in our local population, due to a differing mix of ethnicities. Hence, the present study was conducted to analyze the craniofacial anthropometric characteristics of Down syndrome in South Indian patients. METHODS: The present study was conducted on 100 subjects of South Indian origin. Using non-invasive method of craniofacial anthropometry, six craniofacial anthropometric measurements were performed and four indices were calculated in 50 Down syndrome patients and 50 age and sex matched controls, aged 1-18 years. RESULTS: Stepwise forward discriminant function analysis identified a subset of three variables, namely cephalic index, index of size of head and morphological upper facial index which could accurately classify subjects with Down syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the usefulness of anthropometric craniofacial pattern profiles in defining abnormal craniofacial dimensions in Down syndrome patients.

Interaction of an antidepressant buzepide methiodide with DNA immobilized on the glassy carbon electrode.

In the present study, a DNA-biosensor was prepared using immobilization technique to investigate the interaction between an antidepressant, buzepide methiodide (BZP) and calf thymus DNA. BZP showed a quasireversible peak in Britton-Robinson (BR) buffer of pH 5 at bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE). At DNA modified GCE, the peak potential of BZP was observed to be shifted towards positive potential revealing intercalative mode of binding. The binding constant and stoichiometry between DNA and BZP are calculated to be 1.908×10(5)M(-1) and 0.982, respectively. The spectroscopic techniques viz., spectrofluorescence and UV-vis absorption have also been employed to understand the interaction between BZP and DNA. The results serve as a reference for the interaction of BZP with DNA base pairs in the natural environment of living cells.

Voltammetric sensor for buzepide methiodide determination based on TiO2 nanoparticle-modified carbon paste electrode.

In this work, we have prepared nano-material modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) for the sensing of an antidepressant, buzepide methiodide (BZP) by incorporating TiO2 nanoparticles in carbon paste matrix. Electrochemical studies indicated that the TiO2 nanoparticles efficiently increased the electron transfer kinetics between drug and the electrode. Compared with the nonmodified CPE, the TiO2-modified CPE greatly enhances the oxidation signal of BZP with negative shift in peak potential. Based on this, we have proposed a sensitive, rapid and convenient electrochemical method for the determination of BZP. Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak current of BZP is found to be proportional to its concentration in the range of 5 x 10(-8) to 5 x 10(-5)M with a detection limit of 8.2 x 10(-9)M. Finally, this sensing method was successfully applied for the determination of BZP in human blood serum and urine samples with good recoveries.