Molecular simulation unravels the amyloidogenic misfolding of nascent ApoA1 protein, driven by deleterious point mutations occurring in between 170-178 hotspot region.

Protein ApoA1 is extensively studied for its role in lipid metabolism. Its seedy dark side of amyloid formulation remains relatively understudied yet. Due to genetic mutations, the protein pathologically misshapes into its amyloid form that gets accumulated in various organs, including the heart. To contrive effective therapeutics against this debilitating congenital disorder, it is imperative to comprehend the structural ramifications induced by mutations in APoA1's dynamic conformation. Till now, several point mutations have been implicated in ApoA1's amyloidosis, although only a handful has been examined considerably. Especially, the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that occur in-between 170-178 mutation hotspot site of APoA1 needs to be investigated, since most of them are culpable of amyloid deposition in the heart. To that effect, in the present study, we have computationally quantified and studied the ApoA1's biomolecular modifications fostered by SNPs in the 170-178 mutation hotspot. Findings from discrete molecular dynamics simulation studies indicate that the SNPs have noticeably steered the ApoA1's behaviour from its native structural dynamics. Analysis of protein's secondary structural changes exhibits a considerable change upon mutations. Further, subjecting the protein structures to simulated thermal denaturation shows increased resistance to denaturation among mutants when compared to native. Further, normal mode analysis of protein's dynamic motion also shows discrepancy in its dynamic structural change upon SNP. These structural digressions induced by SNPs can very well be the biomolecular incendiary that drives ApoA1 into its amyloidogenesis. And, understanding these structural modifications initiates a better understanding of SNP's amyloidogenic pathology on APoA1.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Toxic hazards of ammonia release and population vulnerability assessment using geographical information system.

Today, chemical industries manufacture, store and transport evermore hazardous substances and hence the risk of accidental releases of these chemicals can become more and more catastrophic in the context of increasing population and their requirements. The damage potential is proportional to the population characteristics of the location as well as various meteorological factors and geographical features. For the risk assessment of ammonia toxicity, the storage facility at Eloor industrial area is taken as a sample. Pollutant dispersion model - Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmosphere (ALOHA) is utilized to predict the toxicity impacted distance of ammonia. The model estimates the vulnerable areas, which may be affected toxically by an Ammonia release by integrating information about chemical properties of the substance, weather conditions prevalent in the area and release conditions. Risk assessment is done for four different atmospheric conditions, typical to the prevailing seasons and affected area is estimated in each scenario. To determine the affected population, the areal interpolation method in GIS database is also employed in this study, which illustrates the toxically impacted areas and the population in need of immediate help and evacuation. Such studies can serve as an effective tool for decision makers to prepare an emergency plan in case of accidental releases.

Spatial changes of estuary in Ernakulam district, Southern India for last seven decades, using multi-temporal satellite data.

The study area, located in the western side of Kerala State, South India, is a part of Vembanad-Kol wetlands - the largest estuary in India's western coastal wetland system and one of the Ramsar Sites of Kerala. Major portion of this estuary comes under the Ernakulam district which includes the Cochin City - the business and Industrial hub of Kerala, which has seen fast urbanization since independence (1947). Recently, this region is subjected to a characteristic fast urban sprawl, whereas, the estuarine zone is subjected to tremendous land use/land cover changes (LULC). Periodic monitoring of the estuary is essential for the formulation of viable management options for the sustainable utilization of this vital environmental resource. Remote sensing coupled with GIS applications has proved to be a useful tool in monitoring wetland changes. In the present study, the changes this estuarine region have undergone from 1944 to 2009 have been monitored with the help of multi-temporal satellite data. Estuarine areas were mapped with the help of Landsat MSS (1973), Landsat ETM (1990) and IRS LISS-III (1998 and 2009) using visual interpretation and digitization techniques in ArcGIS 9.3 Environment. The study shows a progressive decrease in the estuarine area, the reasons of which are identified chronologically.

Profile of blood donors and reasons for deferral in coastal South India.

BACKGROUND: A blood transfusion is a life-saving procedure in many instances. An adequate supply of safe blood is ensured by exercising donor deferral criteria and screening for Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTI). The aim of this paper is to study the profile of blood donors and reasons for donor deferral in coastal South India. METHOD: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Mangalore. All those who donated between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2008 were included in the study. Data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured proforma and analysed using SPSS version 11.5. RESULTS: Most of the donors were under the age of 25 (42.92%). Donors were predominantly male (95.20%). In terms of occupation, most subjects were students (28.01%) followed by businessmen (18.61%). Slightly more than three-quarters of the donors (77.20%) were replacement donors. The main reasons for deferral were consumption of medication in the past 72 hours (15.15%), hypertension (13.18%), a low haemoglobin level (12.34%) and alcohol intake in the past 72 hours (12.20%). Among the TTIs identified, most samples were positive for Hepatitis B surface Antigen - HBsAg (0.87%) or tested positive for Anti-Hepatitis C (HCV antibodies (0.36%). CONCLUSION: From the study it was concluded that the majority of the donor population was young and educated. The reason for donation was mainly replacement rather than voluntary. This issue needs to be addressed by exercising proactive measures to increase the number of voluntary, nonremunerated, low-risk donors.

Evaluation of physical and chemical parameters of river Kaveri, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.

The physical, chemical and total heterotrophic bacteriological parameters (THBP) bacterial population were measured at three sampling stations namely Upper Anicut (S1), Chinthamani road bridge (S2) and Grand Anicut (S3) for a period of three month January to March 2007 in the river Kaveri, Tiruchirappalli. The pH ranged from 6.7 to 7.8, the level of solids and total hardness was high in station S2 when compared to other stations. Station 2 registered a minimum level of DO (3.6 mg l(-1)), and the BOD and COD varied from 3.47 to 4.27, 20.67 to 41.47 mg l(-1) respectively. THBP colony count was found to be high in S2 (8.16 x 10(2) CFU ml(-1)) and a lowest level in S1 (2.64 x 10(2)) and S3 (1.80 x 10(2)). It was observed in the present study that in reservoir (anicut) stations factors like pH, TDS, TSS, Hardness and THBP were at lower level than for the water at Chinthamani road bridge (S2), probably due to the mixing of municipal sewage at this point.