Study of Serum Adiponectin and Interleukin-1ß Levels in Women with Gestational Diabetes.

Introduction: Pregnancy is associated with alterations in the regulation of glucose metabolism caused by actions of various placental hormones and substances that antagonise the action of insulin leading to a state of relative insulin resistance as pregnancy progresses. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Adiponectin is known to be synthesised by adipocytes as well as by the placenta during pregnancy. It has an insulin-sensitising and anti-atherosclerotic actions. Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) is a member of interleukin-1 cytokine family and is known to involve in immune-mediated disease and regulation of inflammation. Accumulating evidence indicates that diseases related to metabolic syndrome are characterised by abnormal cytokine production, including IL-1ß. Objectives: To evaluate serum adiponectin and IL-1ß levels in women with GDM and correlate their levels with blood glucose level. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in which 30 cases of GDM along with age-matched normal glucose tolerance (NGT) pregnant controls were taken. Informed consent was taken and subjects were screened at 24-28th weeks of gestation for GDM by glucose challenge test (GCT), followed by oral glucose tolerance test. Socio-demographic data and clinical evaluation were done using a pre-structured perfoma. Serum concentration of adiponectin and IL-1ß was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean value of serum adiponectin level was significantly lower, 5.76 µg/ml SD ± 2.01351 in cases of GDM compared to NGT controls (14.12 µg/dl SD ± 4.99734), P < 0.05. A cutoff value of serum adiponectin level ≤8.7 µg/ml gave a sensitivity and specificity of 100% when used alone for identifying cases of GDM in the present study. Serum level of IL-1ß was less than the detectable level (<6.5 pg/ml) in NGT controls. In this study, 26.7% of GDM cases showed levels >6.5 pg/ml (median 18.2 [12.8-34.62]), rest of the cases (73.3%) had levels less than 6.5 pg/ml. A significant inverse correlation was seen between serum adiponectin and HbA1c, pre-gestational BMI, and blood glucose level at GCT. There was no significant correlation of serum IL-1ß level with any of the parameters. Conclusion: GDM is associated with low level of serum adiponectin, and serum adiponectin may be used as a biomarker for detecting cases of GDM to complement blood glucose level.

Comparison of liquid-based cytology with conventional cytology in the evaluation of abdominal masses.

CONTEXT: Liquid-based cytology. AIMS: Utility of liquid-based cytology (LBC) was compared to conventional smear cytology in ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates of abdominal masses. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a prospective comparative study conducted in collaboration with surgery and pediatrics surgery departments of our institute. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients presenting with evidence of abdominal mass were enrolled for the study and underwent fine-needle aspiration cytology. The material was processed for the preparation of conventional smears and residual material was rinsed into cytolyt for LBC by Thin Prep method and into cell block fluid. The smears prepared from both the methods were compared by two independent and experienced pathologists for adequacy, cellularity, architectural pattern, cytoplasmic preservation, nuclear preservation, and background. RESULTS: : Cellularity was frequently higher in the conventional smears than on Thin Prep slides (P value = 0.025). Recognition of architecture was better on the conventional smears (P value = 0.001). Cytoplasm was better preserved on the conventional smears (P value = 0.001) but difference in the preservation of nuclear details was not statistically significant on slides prepared from both the techniques. The background of Thin Prep slides is significantly cleaner than direct smears (P value = 0.001). Non epithelial elements such as mucin and neurofibrillary tangles were better preserved on direct smears (P value = 0.001) but diagnostic accuracy of both the methodologies showed no statistically significant difference (P value = 0.226). CONCLUSIONS: The Thin Prep technique utilizes expensive equipment and reagents. It also generates certain morphological artefacts in slides with which a cytologist needs to get familiar. When used in isolation, it may not consistently provide any added advantage in the diagnosis of such lesions and should be used as an adjunct to conventional smears. It may be preferred in situations where material has to be transported for processing or is required for ancillary tests.

Effect of steam parboiling and hot soaking treatments on milling yield, physical, physicochemical, bioactive and digestibility properties of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.).

Post-harvest hydrothermal processing of grains are targeted at improving milling performances and nutritional properties. In this study, the effects of two hydrothermal processes, namely steam parboiling and soaking in boiling water for different durations on properties of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.) grown in the Indian Himalayan regions were assessed. Both treatments significantly improved milling yield. Changes in grain section morphology were evidenced under scanning electron microscope. Milder processing for 5 and 10 min mostly exerted annealing effect, represented by increased intensities of X-ray diffraction peaks. Starch gelatinization occurred upon prolonged processing for 15 and 20 min. This resulted in decreased crystallinity, increased sedimentation volume, paste thinning during rapid viscosity analysis and lower thermal transition in differential scanning calorimetry. Marginal changes in oil uptake suggested limited protein denaturation. Natural antioxidant compounds were variably denatured. Maillard browning was indicated by CIE L* a* b* colour and antioxidant levels. The starchy flour samples showed partial resistance to enzymatic amylolysis post retrogradation. Soaking in boiling water can be considered as a feasible alternative to conventional steam parboiling for better milling yield of buckwheat. Altered physicochemical and nutritional properties of buckwheat suggested that the hydrothermally modified flours can be used in ready to eat therapeutic food products.

Codon usage bias and phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial ND1 gene in pisces, aves, and mammals.

The mitochondrially encoded NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit 1 (MT-ND1) gene is a subunit of the respiratory chain complex I and involved in the first step of the electron transport chain of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). To understand the pattern of compositional properties, codon usage and expression level of mitochondrial ND1 genes in pisces, aves, and mammals, we used bioinformatic approaches as no work was reported earlier. In this study, a perl script was used for calculating nucleotide contents and different codon usage bias parameters. The codon usage bias of MT-ND1 was low but the expression level was high as revealed from high ENC and CAI value. Correspondence analysis (COA) suggests that the pattern of codon usage for MT-ND1 gene is not same across species and that compositional constraint played an important role in codon usage pattern of this gene among pisces, aves, and mammals. From the regression equation of GC12 on GC3, it can be inferred that the natural selection might have played a dominant role while mutation pressure played a minor role in influencing the codon usage patterns. Further, ND1 gene has a discrepancy with cytochrome B (CYB) gene in preference of codons as evident from COA. The codon usage bias was low. It is influenced by nucleotide composition, natural selection, mutation pressure, length (number) of amino acids, and relative dinucleotide composition. This study helps in understanding the molecular biology, genetics, evolution of MT-ND1 gene, and also for designing a synthetic gene.

Codon usage and expression level of human mitochondrial 13 protein coding genes across six continents.

The study of codon usage coupled with phylogenetic analysis is an important tool to understand the genetic and evolutionary relationship of a gene. The 13 protein coding genes of human mitochondria are involved in electron transport chain for the generation of energy currency (ATP). However, no work has yet been reported on the codon usage of the mitochondrial protein coding genes across six continents. To understand the patterns of codon usage in mitochondrial genes across six different continents, we used bioinformatic analyses to analyze the protein coding genes. The codon usage bias was low as revealed from high ENC value. Correlation between codon usage and GC3 suggested that all the codons ending with G/C were positively correlated with GC3 but vice versa for A/T ending codons with the exception of ND4L and ND5 genes. Neutrality plot revealed that for the genes ATP6, COI, COIII, CYB, ND4 and ND4L, natural selection might have played a major role while mutation pressure might have played a dominant role in the codon usage bias of ATP8, COII, ND1, ND2, ND3, ND5 and ND6 genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that evolutionary relationships in each of 13 protein coding genes of human mitochondria were different across six continents and further suggested that geographical distance was an important factor for the origin and evolution of 13 protein coding genes of human mitochondria.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Post Prostatic Massage Urine Cytology in Diagnosis of Various Prostatic Lesions with Cytohistological and Clinical Correlation.

BACKGROUND: Elderly men are at high risk of various prostatic diseases carrying high morbidity and mortality rates. For screening large populations, there is a need for a simple, reliable, and noninvasive test with high sensitivity and specificity. Exfoliated prostatic cancer cells can be harvested by prostatic massage and subjected to cytologic examination and molecular tests. AIMS: This study was undertaken to evaluate the morphology of various prostatic lesions on post prostatic massage urine cytology and correlate cytologic, histologic, and clinical findings. It was further proposed to establish the diagnostic accuracy of post prostatic massage urine cytology in different prostatic lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 100 cases including 50 cases each from study group and control group were subjected to post prostatic massage urine cytology and correlated with clinical and histological findings. RESULTS: Five out of 50 cases were diagnosed as prostatic carcinoma, of which 60% were clinically detected. Diagnostic accuracy by histology and cytology independently was 80%, and 20% remained false negative by each technique. On combining both the techniques, diagnostic accuracy was 100%. For nine cases each of prostatitis and nodular hyperplasia diagnosed clinically, the diagnostic accuracy by cytology was 100 and 66.6%, respectively. 62% (31) cases were diagnosed as nodular hyperplasia including 22 (44%) cases of nodular hyperplasia with prostatitis. CONCLUSION: Collection of urinary specimens after prostatic massage provides adequate samples for cytological examination and carries great importance in establishing the preoperative morphologic diagnosis in cases of malignancy, prostatitis, and prostatic calculi.

Factors affecting the codon usage bias of SRY gene across mammals.

Codon usage bias (CUB) is extensively found in a wide variety genomes and it is mostly affected by mutation pressure and natural selection. Analysis of CUB helps in studying the evolutionary features of a genome. The SRY gene plays an important role in male reproductive organ and a good candidate to study the evolutionary forces, since little work was reported earlier on this gene. We used bioinformatic methods to analyze the protein-coding sequences of SRY gene in 172 different mammalian species to understand the patterns of codon usage and the evolutionary forces acting on it. We found that the codon bias of SRY gene varies widely across mammals. Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) value revealed that the codons such as TCG, CCG, CAT, ATT, ACT, GCT, GTT, GCG, GGG and GGT were over-represented. Correspondence analysis indicated that the distribution of codons was more close to the axes indicating that compositional constraints might correlate to codon bias. Z-score analysis on RSCU values of codons identified a set of 11 codons viz. TCT, TTT, CTA, CTC, TAT, CAG, CGT, ATA, ACC, AAT and GTA which differed significantly at p<0.01 between 5% high and low gene expression datasets. Further, it was evident from the neutrality plot that GC12 was influenced by both mutation pressure and natural selection. From the study we concluded that natural selection played a dominant role, but mutational pressure played a minor role in the codon usage pattern of SRY gene across mammals.

Factors influencing codon usage of mitochondrial ND1 gene in pisces, aves and mammals.

Animal mitochondrial genome harbours 13 protein coding genes which regulate the process of respiration. The mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 (MT-ND1) gene, one of the 13 protein-coding genes, encodes the NADH dehydrogenase 1 enzyme of the respiratory chain. Analysis of codon usage bias (CUB) acquires importance for better understanding of the molecular biology, new gene discovery, design of transgenes and gene evolution. The MT-ND1 gene seems to be a good candidate for analyzing codon usage pattern, since no work has yet been reported. Moreover, it is still not clear which factors significantly influence the codon usage pattern. In the present study, comparative analysis of codon usage pattern, expression level and influencing factors for MT-ND1 gene from 100 different species each of pisces, aves and mammals were used for CUB analysis. Our result suggests that the gene is AT rich in pisces, aves and mammals and most of the nucleotides significantly differ among them as revealed from t-test. CUB was not remarkable as reflected by high value of effective number of codons and it also significantly differs among pisces, aves and mammals. Although we found that CUB is mainly influenced by natural selection and mutation pressure for MT-ND1 gene as suggested by correlation and correspondence analysis but neutrality plot further revealed that natural selection played a major role and mutation pressure played a minor role in codon usage pattern. Additionally, t-test analysis showed that the MT-ND1 gene has a wide significant discrepancy in codon choices in pisces, aves and mammals. This study has contributed to boost our understanding about the mechanism of distribution of the codons and the factors that may influence the evolution of the MT-ND1 gene.

Codon usage bias and its influencing factors for Y-linked genes in human.

The non-uniform usage of synonymous codons during translation of a protein is the codon usage bias and is mainly influenced by natural selection and mutation pressure. We have used bioinformatic approaches to analyze codon usage bias of human Y-linked genes. Effective number of codon (ENC) suggested that the overall extent of codon usage bias of genes was low. The relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis revealed that AGA and CTG codons were over-represented in Y-linked genes. Compositional constraint under mutation pressure influenced the codon usage pattern as revealed by the correspondence analysis (COA). Parity plot suggests that both natural selection and mutation pressure might have influenced the codon usage bias of Y-linked genes.

Gene expression, nucleotide composition and codon usage bias of genes associated with human Y chromosome.

Analysis of codon usage pattern is important to understand the genetic and evolutionary characteristics of genomes. We have used bioinformatic approaches to analyze the codon usage bias (CUB) of the genes located in human Y chromosome. Codon bias index (CBI) indicated that the overall extent of codon usage bias was low. The relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis suggested that approximately half of the codons out of 59 synonymous codons were most frequently used, and possessed a T or G at the third codon position. The codon usage pattern was different in different genes as revealed from correspondence analysis (COA). A significant correlation between effective number of codons (ENC) and various GC contents suggests that both mutation pressure and natural selection affect the codon usage pattern of genes located in human Y chromosome. In addition, Y-linked genes have significant difference in GC contents at the second and third codon positions, expression level, and codon usage pattern of some codons like the SPANX genes in X chromosome.

Role of morphometry in the cytological differentiation of benign and malignant thyroid lesions.

CONTEXT: Thyroid nodules represent a common problem, with an estimated prevalence of 4-7%. Although fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has been accepted as a first line diagnostic test, the rate of false negative reports of malignancy is still high. Nuclear morphometry is the measurement of nuclear parameters by image analysis. Image analysis can merge the advantages of morphologic interpretation with those of quantitative data. AIMS: To evaluate the nuclear morphometric parameters in fine needle aspirates of thyroid lesions and to study its role in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 19 benign and 16 malignant thyroid lesions. Image analysis was performed on Giemsa-stained FNAC slides by Nikon NIS-Elements Advanced Research software (Version 4.00). Nuclear morphometric parameters analyzed included nuclear size, shape, texture, and density parameters. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Normally distributed continuous variables were compared using the unpaired t-test for two groups and analysis of variance was used for three or more groups. Tukey or Tamhane's T2 multiple comparison test was used to assess the differences between the individual groups. Categorical variables were analyzed using the chi square test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Five out of the six nuclear size parameters as well as all the texture and density parameters studied were significant in distinguishing between benign and malignant thyroid lesions (P < 0.05). Cut-off values were derived to differentiate between benign and malignant cases.

HLA Profile of Celiac Disease among First-Degree Relatives from a Tertiary Care Center in North India.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of Celiac disease (CD) in first-degree relatives (FDR) of CD children. METHODS: This observational study was performed in FDR (parents and siblings) of consecutive newly diagnosed cases of CD enrolled from January 2011 through March 2012. Screening for CD in FDR was done using IgA tissue transglutaminase (tTG) levels in serum and the seropositive subset underwent upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy and biopsy to confirm the disease. In addition, HLA analysis for CD was performed in most of the index cases and FDR. RESULTS: Of 202 FDR of the 64 index cases with CD, 17.3 % (35/202) were seropositive for IgA tTG while confirmed biopsy proven CD was diagnosed in 10.2 % (8/78) of children and 8.1 % (10/124) of adults. HLA DQ2/DQ8 was positive in 96.7 % of the index cases and all FDR with confirmed CD. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CD among FDR is 9 fold higher than the general population. High prevalence of CD in presence of anemia and short stature in seropositive FDR in index study indicates need of targeted screening of this subgroup for the presence of CD.CD is unlikely in the absence of HLADQ2/DQ8.

Codon usage pattern in human SPANX genes.

BACKGROUND: SPANX (sperm protein coupled with the nucleus in the X chromosome) genes play a crucial role in human spermatogenesis. Codon usage bias (CUB) is a well-known phenomenon that exists in many genomes and mainly determined by mutation and selection. CUB is species specific and a unique characteristic of a genome. Analysis of compositional features and codon usage pattern of SPANX genes in human has contributed to explore the molecular biology of this gene. In our current study, we have retrieved the sequences of different variants of SPANX gene from NCBI using accession number and a perl script was used to analyze the nucleotide composition and the parameters for codon usage bias. RESULTS: Our results showed that codon usage bias is low as measured by codon bias index (CBI) and most of the GC ending codons were positively correlated with GC bias as indicated by GC3. That mutation pressure and natural selection affect the codon usage pattern were revealed by correspondence analysis (COA) and neutrality plot. Moreover, the neutrality plot further suggested that the role of natural selection is higher than mutation pressure on SPANX genes. CONCLUSIONS: The codon usage bias in SPANX genes is not very high and the role of natural selection dominates over mutation pressure in the codon usage of human SPANX genes.

Codon bias and gene expression of mitochondrial ND2 gene in chordates.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial ND gene, which encodes NADH dehydrogenase, is the first enzyme of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Leigh syndrome, a neurodegenerative disease caused by mutation in the ND2 gene (T4681C), is associated with bilateral symmetric lesions in basal ganglia and subcortical brain regions. Therefore, it is of interest to analyze mitochondrial DNA to glean information for evolutionary relationship. This study highlights on the analysis of compositional dynamics and selection pressure in shaping the codon usage patterns in the coding sequence of MT-ND2 gene across pisces, aves and mammals by using bioinformatics tools like effective number of codons (ENC), codon adaptation index (CAI), relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) etc. RESULTS: We observed a low codon usage bias as reflected by high ENC values in MT-ND2 gene among pisces, aves and mammals. The most frequently used codons were ending with A/C at the 3(rd) position of codon and the gene was AT rich in all the three classes. The codons TCA, CTA, CGA and TGA were over represented in all three classes. The F1 correspondence showed significant positive correlation with G, T3 and CAI while the F2 axis showed significant negative correlation with A and T but significant positive correlation with G, C, G3, C3, ENC, GC, GC1, GC2 and GC3. CONCLUSIONS: The codon usage bias in MTND2 gene is not associated with expression level. Mutation pressure and natural selection affect the codon usage pattern in MT-ND 2 gene.

Influence of bamboo shoot powder fortification on physico-chemical, textural and organoleptic characteristics of biscuits.

Bamboo shoot has attracted significant research and a commercial interest due to its many health-promoting bioactive compounds as well as its effectiveness in decreasing blood pressure, cholesterol and increasing appetite. As availability of fresh shoot is limited due to its seasonality there is need of incorporation of nutrients of shoot to any common food product which is easily available throughout year. Shoots of Bambusa balcooa variety were taken and edible parts were separated. Slices of shoot were boiled, dried, powdered, sieved, analysed for nutritional status and used for biscuit making. Bamboo shoot powder (BSP) was added in 0 % (control), 5, 10, and 15 % level in dry ingredients by replacing wheat flour and other ingredients were kept constant. Dough prepared are firstly analysed for basic characteristics. Then biscuits were prepared and analyzed for moisture, water activity, protein, fiber, fat, ash, phenolics, antioxidant activity, dimension, hardness, color and sensory acceptability. Variations were observed for fiber, antioxidant activity and phenolics from 1.08 to 1.97 %, 3.50 to 17.85 % and 0.45 to 4.19 mg/100 g respectively. Results showed that up to 10 % fortification level the biscuits were acceptable with improved functional and neutraceutical properties compared to the control.

Congenital peripheral ameloblastic fibroma with intraosseous involvement in a 2-week-old infant: A case report with review of literature.

Ameloblastic fibroma is a rare, slow-growing benign mixed odontogenic tumor. It constitutes 2% of odontogenic tumors and is reported to occur at an age ranging from 6 months to 42 years. The youngest being a 7-week-old infant. We report a case of peripheral ameloblastic fibroma in a 2-week-old infant. The lesion presented since birth. It involved the maxilla with an extraosseous component involving the gingiva. A more or less conservative surgical approach of enucleation and curettage of the lesion was done under general anesthesia, trying to conserve the adjacent tooth buds. Only a few cases of congenital peripheral ameloblastic fibroma have been reported so far.

Myxopapillary ependymoma: Lesser known cytomorphologic features.

Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is a rare and distinctive tumor which occurs in the sacrococcygeal area of young adults and children, often intradural in location. Histopathologic features have been well-described in the literature whereas cytological findings have been sporadically reported by various authors mainly as case reports. We report the features of a primary sacrococcygeal MPE on aspirate cytology in a 45-year-old female. Cytology smears displayed a papillary pattern with the presence of fibrovascular cores, rimmed by cuboidal to columnar cells sending fibrillary cytoplasmic processes forming pseudorosettes along with the presence of hyaline globules, and myxoid material. Intranuclear inclusions, nuclear grooves, cytologic atypia or mitotic activity was not evident, in this case. MPEs need to be differentiated from the other tumors occurring in this location which may also show myxoid material and papillary fronds. Hence, the recognition of the characteristic cytologic features plays an important role in establishing a preoperative diagnosis.

Yolk sac tumor of cryptorchid testis diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Yolk sac tumor is the most common germ cell tumor in infants and children. Majority of them arise in the gonads. Yolk sac tumor of undescended testis has been rarely diagnosed. We present a case of yolk sac tumor in right undescended testis in a 2-year-old child primarily diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

Immunohistochemical detection of axillary lymph node micrometastases in node negative breast cancer patients using cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The study was conducted to detect occult metastases in lymph node negative breast cancer patients using cytokeratin (CK) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) immunohistochemistry (IHC) and correlate this with primary tumor size and grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 cases including 12 prospective and 20 retrospective cases of axillary lymph node negative breast cancer were studied. CK and EMA IHC were performed to detect micrometastases. RESULTS: Axillary lymph node metastases were detected in 18.75% of previously node negative cases using CK and EMA IHC. CK was found to be more sensitive for detection of metastases compared to EMA. A highly significant correlation was observed between tumor grade and axillary lymph node metastases detected by CK and EMA. However, no significant correlation was found between tumor size and axillary lymph node metastases detected by IHC. CONCLUSION: In the present study, there was an increase of 18.75% in the occult metastases detection rate using CK and EMA. To conclude, IHC detection of occult metastases should be done using CK in all axillary node negative cases, especially in T1 and T2 stage tumors.