Population-based repeat cross-sectional seroprevalence survey of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Area, Maharashtra, India.

Context: Population-based seroepidemiological studies are recommended to measure the extent of spread of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection in an area. The present seroprevalence survey was planned with the aim to estimate the cumulative burden of the COVID-19 disease in the Pimpri Chinchwad corporation area. Aims: To estimate the cumulative burden of the COVID-19 disease in the Pimpri Chinchwad corporation area. Settings and Design: The study was carried out in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) city area. It was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Materials and Methods: A population-based seroprevalence study for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was carried out among 10082 residents in the age group of 6 years and above selected by cluster random sampling. Thirty-five clusters were in slums, 45 clusters in tenements and 120 clusters from housing societies. The fieldwork for the collection of samples was carried out from 16 June to 17 June 2021. For antibody testing, a kit from Abbott (SARS-CoV-2 IgG) was used which employs chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) technology. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequency analysis was done for sociodemographic variables, the cumulative incidence of COVID-19, age-stratified infection rate, risk factors and COVID symptomatic versus asymptomatic cases. Chi-square test of association was applied to test the association between seropositivity and sociodemographic and clinical profile of participants. Results: The overall seropositivity for IgG antibodies was 81.34%. Those living in the Gaothan area (tenements) had a positivity rate of 84.5%. The age group between 45 and 60 years had a seropositivity of 91%. Conclusions: The study indicates that a considerable proportion of the population had encountered the novel coronavirus approaching herd immunity.

Solitary Giant Extradural Plasmacytoma.

Solitary plasmacytoma of the skull is very rare, and only a few cases have been reported in the literature. It remains controversial whether solitary plasmacytoma of the skull is essentially identical with solitary plasmacytoma of bone or not. Solitary plasmacytoma of bone including solitary plasmacytoma of the skull is characterized by a radiologically solitary bone lesion, neoplastic plasma cells in the biopsy specimen, fewer than 5% plasma cells in bone marrow, <2.0 g/dl monoclonal protein in the serum when present and negative urine test for Bence Jones protein (monoclonal light chain). We report one case of a 70-year-old woman who referred to our hospital because of a progressive left parietal swelling. On clinical examination, a painless large soft mass in the right parietal region was observed. Computed tomography revealed an extra-axial mass in the in the left frontoparietal region. The lesion was totally excised despite the bleeding tendency. Histology disclosed the presence of a plasmacytoma. On follow-up examination, 7 months later no tumor recurrence or evidence of multiple myeloma was detected.

Lead and trace element levels in milk and blood of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Hyderabad, India.

The presence of lead (Pb) in milk and its interaction with trace elements is a serious health concern. Present study is aimed at determining Pb and trace element (Fe, Zn and Mg) levels in milk and blood/serum samples of lactating buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) living in a market-area (Group-A) and a dairy-experimental station (Group-B), Hyderabad, India. In addition, kidney and liver function tests were assessed. Fodder, milk and blood Pb levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in Group-B. Elevated Pb levels correlated positively with reduced Fe and Zn levels in both serum and milk. A significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation between blood Pb and milk Pb levels was observed. Kidney and liver function markers were significantly higher in Group-B buffaloes. The results suggest that contaminated fodder might be one of the responsible factors for elevated Pb levels. In addition, lower levels of Fe and Zn might have led to bioaccumulation of Pb in blood and milk.

Formation of genotoxic nitro-PAH compounds in fish exposed to ambient nitrite and PAH.

Mutagenic nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) have been known to arise in the environment through direct emissions from combustion sources and nitration of PAHs, primarily in the atmosphere. Here, we report the formation of nitro-PAH compounds in fish contaminated with PAH and exposed to nitrite (NO2-) in the ambient water. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of the bile of the euryhaline fish Oreochromis mossambicus exposed simultaneously to field-relevant, sublethal concentrations of phenanthrene (1 microg/g) and NO2- (1 microM) and collision-induced dissociation of selected ions revealed the presence of two strongly genotoxic nitro-PAH metabolites, namely phenanthrene-6-nitro-1,2-dihydrodiol-3,4-epoxide (mass/charge [m/z] 273) and dihydrodihydroxy acetylamino nitrophenanthrene (m/z 359). These two metabolite peaks present only in the bile of fish exposed simultaneously to phenanthrene and NO2- constituted, respectively, about 3.1 and 2.7% of the highest peak among the putative unconjugated phenanthrene metabolites in the mass spectrum. The presence of the oxidized phenanthrene metabolite dihydroxyphenanthrene (m/z 233) in fish exposed to phenanthrene alone as well as phenanthrene plus NO2- suggested that oxidation of phenanthrene precedes nitration in the sequence of reactions leading to the formation of the observed nitrophenanthrene metabolites. However, the route of PAH administration seems to determine the nature of metabolites formed. Nearly 92% of the hepatic cells of the fish exposed to phenanthrene in the presence of NO2- were found to have suffered extensive DNA fragmentation on comet assay.

Increased formation of carcinogenic PAH metabolites in fish promoted by nitrite.

Nitrite (NO(2)(-)), a highly reactive chemical species, accumulates in coastal waters as a result of pollution with nitrogenous waste and/or an imbalance in the bacterial processes of nitrification and denitrification. The present study probed the impact of nitrite (NO(2)(-)) on the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish. In a laboratory experiment, exposure of euryhaline fish, Oreochromis mossambicus to industrial effluents containing PAHs in the presence of NO(2)(-) enhanced the cytochrome P450-dependent biotransformation activity determined as 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), by nearly 36% compared to the value observed in the absence of NO(2)(-) (50.2 +/- 6.74 pmol resorufin min(-1) g(-1) liver). Fixed wavelength fluorescence measurements in bile revealed maximum enhancement to have occurred in the metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogenic PAH. Lasting, sublethal physiological deterioration was apparent in fish exposed simultaneously to an oil refinery effluent and NO(2)(-), from the unremittingly decreasing liver somatic index, even after the withdrawal of the contaminants.

Evaluation of impact of PAH on a tropical fish, Oreochromis mossambicus using multiple biomarkers.

Treatment of the widely occurring tropical cichlid, Oreochromis mossambicus with a pure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), phenanthrene, induced a concentration-dependant formation of the enzyme, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD). Concomittant increase (65-669%) in the activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase in the serum (SSDH) occurring with EROD induction denoted liver cell damage, which was more severe in fish exposed to lower concentrations (0.4-4 microg g-1) of the chemical. In O. mossambicus exposed to 25% refinery effluent liver damage associated with cell death was indicated by the twin analyses of SSDH and liver somatic index. Cell injury appeared to have occurred at low PAH concentrations due to inadequately induced phase II-related detoxification of metabolites. This was indicated by the nearly 33% higher activity of hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) in fish exposed to higher PAH concentrations as compared to low-exposure animals. Tilapia such as O. mossambicus were found to be eminently suited for biomonitoring in tropical coastal waters. A combination of EROD and serum sorbitol dehydrogenase activity measurements serves as an excellent tool for biomonitoring sublethal effects of PAH pollution in fish.

Methionine-repressible homoserine dehydrogenase of Serratia marcescens: purification and properties.

Serratia marcescens Sa-3 possesses two homoserine dehydrogenases and neither has any aspartokinase activity unlike the case of Escherichia coli enzymes. The two enzymes have been separated. One of them is active with either NAD+ or NADP+ and has been purified about 180-fold to homogeneity. This enzyme is completely repressed by the presence of 1 mM methionine or homoserine in the growth medium, but its activity is unaffected by any amino acid of the aspartate family either singly or together. In many of its properties (such as pH optimum, Km for substrate and cofactors), it resembles its counterpart in E. coli K12. Potassium ions stabilize the enzyme but are not essential for activity. Its molecular weight is around 155,000 as determined by gel filtration and approximately 76,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This suggests that the enzyme has two subunits (polypeptide chains) in the molecule: 8 M urea has no effect on enzyme activity. This enzyme represents approximately 30% of the total homoserine dehydrogenase activity of S. marcescens unlike in Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli K12 where it is a minor or a negligible component.