A secured compression technique based on encoding for sharing electronic patient data in slow-speed networks.

Healthcare systems capture patients' data using different medical equipment and store it in the databases with a continual increase in data volume. The continuous processing and sharing of this massive data are rising concerns in live data transferring over the networks. Sending patient data to the distant remote user without proper compressing format requires high latency in the communication channels. Any alternation of data transmitted via the communication medium may also cause issues in assuring data authentication and integrity. For solving the problems, watermarking method is being applied to ensure such security, which has a cheaper computational cost. Various watermarking mechanisms are available for ensuring health data security, especially for medical images. Watermarking on the text was not used yet due to the lack of efficient technique. This paper proposes a secured compression technique for patient live-text data while sharing them remotely over a bandwidth-deficient channel. To test the proposed system, we use patient data. The result indicates that the proposed strategy outperforms the existing compression methods and is robust enough to provide data integrity and authentication.

Dynamical links of convective storms associated with tropospheric biennial oscillation in the Indian monsoon regime.

Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation (TBO) is characterized by a tendency for a relatively stronger monsoon to be followed by a relatively weaker one (positive) or vice-versa (negative). This study examines the distribution of different convective systems occurring during TBO phases over the Indian monsoon region. During negative TBO phase, convection is preferential over the Arabian Sea (AS), whereas during positive TBO phase, it is favoured over the land areas and Bay of Bengal (BoB). The isolated shallow convection (ISC) is dominated over the AS and Indian west coast during negative TBO years. A relatively stable environment (statically) capped with drier mid-troposphere results in abundant ISC over the AS. Broad stratiform rain (BSR) dominates over the central and east coast of India, BoB and Myanmar coast during positive TBO years and wide convective core (WCC) are present along the orographic regions, i.e., Myanmar coast and Western Ghats during negative TBO phase. The anomalous easterlies induced by the upper-ocean temperature gradient interact with the mean monsoon winds during positive TBO to provide pathways for developing BSR echoes. The deep-wide convection (DWC) are higher along the Himalayan foothills during positive TBO years. The moist low-level flow from the AS is trapped by dry mid-level flow from high latitudes, resulting in orographic lifting along the Himalayan foothills and form DWC.

Physical processes controlling the diurnal cycle of convective storms in the Western Ghats.

Diurnal variation of convective storms (CSs) during monsoon season and associated physical mechanisms are significantly important for accurate forecast of short-time and extreme precipitation. The diurnal cycle of CSs is investigated using ground-based X-band radar, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Precipitation Radar, and reanalysis data during the summer monsoon (June-September of 2014) over complex mountain terrain of Western Ghats, India. Diurnally, CSs show a bimodal distribution in the coastal areas, but this bimodality became weak along the upslope regions and on the mountain top. The first occurrence mode of CSs is in the afternoon-evening hours, while the second peak is in the early-morning hours. The diurnal cycle's intensity varies with location, such that it reaches maximum in the afternoon-evening hours and early morning on the mountain top and coastal areas, respectively. Two possible mechanisms are proposed for the observed diurnal variation in CSs (a) the radiative cooling effect and (b) the surface wind convergence induced by the interaction between land-sea breeze, local topography and large-scale monsoon winds. It is also observed that the CSs developed on the mountain top during afternoon-evening hours are deeper than those along the coast. The higher moisture in the lower- and mid-troposphere, higher instability and strong upward motion facilitate deeper CSs during afternoon-evening hours.

DNA fingerprinting at farm level maps rice biodiversity across Bangladesh and reveals regional varietal preferences.

The development, dissemination, and adoption of improved rice varieties are imperative for global food and nutritional security. Knowledge of the crop's distribution across agro-ecologies is important for impact assessment studies, varietal replacement strategies, and the development and implementation of agricultural policies. Bangladesh is the world's 4th largest rice producer. Though traditional varieties (TVs) are abundant and valued throughout Bangladesh, population growth and vulnerability to climate change, necessitate efficient deployment of high-yielding stress-tolerant modern varieties (MVs). To aid agricultural policy and strategy this study aimed to accurately assess the distribution of MVs and TVs across Bangladesh during the rainfed rice-growing season. Information derived from a survey of rice production areas were compared and combined with DNA fingerprinting information from the same locations. Biodiversity of Bangladesh rice remained high. While TVs and first generation MVs of Bangladeshi and Indian origin were still commonly grown, recently released stress-tolerant MVs were adopted in large proportions in several districts. Although farmers successfully distinguished TVs from MVs grown in their fields, a considerable lack of authenticity among MVs was observed, pinpointing shortcomings in the seed supply chain. This study identifies focal points for extension work and validates DNA fingerprinting as reliable method for impact assessment studies.

Targeted Delivery of FLT-Morpholino Using Cyclic RGD Peptide.

PURPOSE: We previously showed that intravitreal injection of the sFLT morpholino-oligomer (FLT-MO) suppresses laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in mice by decreasing the membrane bound form of Flt-1 while increasing the soluble form of Flt-1 via alternative splicing shift. In this study, we examined whether cyclic RGD peptide (cRGD) can promote morpholino-oligomer accumulation in CNV following tail vein injection, and whether systemic cRGD conjugated FLT-MO (cRGD-FLT-MO) suppresses CNV growth. METHODS: cRGD conjugated fluorescent morpholino-oligomer (cRGD-F-MO) was injected via tail vein into mice with previous retinal laser photocoagulation and examined for cRGD-F-MO accumulation in CNV. To examine whether cRGD-FLT-MO suppresses CNV growth, mice were tail-vein injected with cRGD-FLT-MO, cRGD conjugated standard morpholino-oligomer (cRGD-STD-MO), or Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline (DPBS) 1 and 4 days postlaser photocoagulation. Seven days postlaser photocoagulation, eyes were harvested and laser CNV was stained with isolectin GS-IB4, allowing quantification of CNV size by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: cRGD-F-MO accumulation in CNV commenced immediately after tail vein injection and could be observed even 1 day after injection. cRGD-FLT-MO tail vein injection significantly suppressed CNV size (2.7 × 105 ± 0.3 × 105 µm3, P < 0.05 by Student's t-test) compared with controls (DPBS: 5.1 × 105 ± 0.6 × 105 µm3 and cRGD-STD-MO: 5.5 × 105 ± 0.8 × 105 µm3). CONCLUSIONS: cRGD peptide facilitates morpholino-oligomer accumulation in CNV following systemic delivery. cRGD-FLT-MO suppressed CNV growth after tail-vein injection, demonstrating the potential utility of cRGD peptide for morpholino-oligomer delivery to CNV. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: Current therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration involves intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs. Our results indicate that CNV can be treated systemically, thus eliminating risks and hazards associated with intravitreal injection.

Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Enhancement of Cellular Activity by Mushroom Lectins in Arsenic Induced Carcinogenesis.

Chronic arsenicosis is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world, including India. Animals and human beings are affected due to drinking of arsenic contaminated ground water, due to natural mineral deposits, arsenical pesticides or improperly disposed arsenical chemicals. Arsenic causes cancer with production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are neutralized by an elaborate antioxidant defense system consisting of enzymes and numerous non-enzymatic antioxidants. Dietary antioxidant supplements are useful to counteract the carcinogenesis effects of arsenic. Oyster mushroom lectins can be regarded as ingredients of popular foods with biopharmaceutical properties. A variety of compounds have been isolated from mushrooms, which include polysaccharides and polysaccharopeptides with immune-enhancing effects. Lectins are beneficial in reducing arsenic toxicity due to anticarcinogenetic roles and may have therapeutic application in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem that is especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

Characterization of arsenic-induced cytotoxicity in liver with stress in erythrocytes and its reversibility with Pleurotus florida lectin.

Arsenic is one of the most hazardous substances in the environment known to cause toxicity in multiple organs. Cell adhesion, morphological alterations, cell proliferation, terminal deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3/CPP32 fluorometric protease assay were important biomarkers to assess apoptosis in cells. This study aimed to evaluate arsenic-induced apoptosis in the hepatocytes of rat and its protective efficacy with coadministration of ascorbic acid (AA) and Pleurotus florida lectin (PFL) individually. Results of the present study also showed that arsenic caused cytotoxicity by elevating morphological alterations, TUNEL-positive nuclei, caspase-3 activity and DNA damage and reducing cell adhesion and cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner. The apoptosis in hepatocytes was reverted to normal value after coadministration of mushroom lectin in arsenic-exposed rat. The study provided significant evidence that PFL has antiapoptotic property against arsenic-induced toxicity. The beneficial effect of PFL was proportional to its duration of exposure. Retard activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, enhanced lipid peroxidation as well as protein carbonyl in erythrocytes caused by arsenic could also be maintained toward normalcy by supplementation of AA and PFL. These antioxidative effects were exhibited in a time-dependant manner. In rat, treatment with AA and PFL prevented alteration of plasma enzyme activities caused by arsenic. The results concluded that treatment with PFL has significant role in protecting animals from arsenic-induced erythrocytic damage. This finding might be of therapeutic benefit in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

Effect of Pleurotus florida lectin (PFL) on arsenic-induced activities of splenocytes in rat.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of Pleurotus florida lectin (PFL) against arsenic-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damages in freshly isolated splenocytes of rodents. Our finding indicated that arsenic caused reduction in cell adhesion, morphological alterations, cell proliferation, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) index, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and relative mRNA expression of SOD2 in relation to housekeeping gene glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and increased production of nitric oxide (NO), protein carbonyl (PC) and lipid peroxidation levels (LPO) assembled to play key factors for cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. PFL normalized cellular damages and enhanced SOD production pathway relating to gene expression. Further studies are needed to address effective phytochemicals of the edible mushroom and their mechanism.

Arsenic residue in the products and by-products of chicken and ducks: a possible concern of avian health and environmental hazard to the population in West Bengal, India.

Arsenicosis caused due to drinking of arsenic contaminated ground water is a major environmental health hazard throughout the world. We evaluated the ecotoxicological effect of arsenic on chicken and duck in an arsenic endemic zone. The concentration of arsenic was higher in chicken and duck feed and their by-products than that in the respective samples of control area. Arsenic concentration in the eggs of both chicken and duck was higher than that in the respective samples of control area. Thus, we concluded that arsenic enters into food chain through the intake of contaminated eggs. Furthermore, adverse health effect of arsenic on avian population is due to the alteration in haematobiochemical indices.

Subclinical arsenicosis in cattle in arsenic endemic area of West Bengal, India.

Arsenic is ubiquitously found metalloid that commonly contaminates drinking water and agricultural food. To minimise the ecotoxicological effect of arsenic in the environment, it is important to ameliorate the deleterious effects on human and animal health. We investigated the effects of arsenic on cattle by estimating arsenic concentration in biological samples of cattle that consumed contaminated drinking water and feedstuffs directly or indirectly. We have selected arsenic prone village that is Ghentugachi, Nadia district, West Bengal, India, along with arsenic safe control village, Akna in Hoogli district, West Bengal, India. It is found that arsenic is deposited highly in blood, urine and faeces. Agricultural field is contaminated through cattle urine, hair, faeces, cow dung cakes and farmyard manure. Bioconcentration factor and biotransfer factor are two important biomarkers to assess the subclinical toxicity in cattle, as they do not exhibit clinical manifestation like human beings.

Evidence of antiapoptotic properties of Pleurotus florida lectin against chronic arsenic toxicity in renal cells of rats.

Chronic arsenic exposure results in toxicity in humans and causes many toxicologic manifestations. Apoptosis was measured by cell adhesion, morphologic alterations, cell proliferation, terminal deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and caspase-3/CPP32 fluorometric protease assay. Results of the present study suggested that arsenic administration in rats caused apoptosis by elevating morphologic alterations, TUNEL-positive nuclei, caspase-3 activity, and DNA damage and by reducing cell adhesion and cell proliferation in a time-dependent manner. The apoptosis in renal cells of arsenic-exposed rats reverted to normal values after coadministration of mushroom lectin. This study provided significant evidence that Pleurotus florida lectin has an antiapoptotic property by protecting from arsenic-induced toxicity. The beneficial effect of Pleurotus florida lectin was proportional to its duration of exposure. This finding might be of therapeutic benefit in people suffering from chronic exposure to arsenic from natural sources, a global problem that is especially relevant to millions of people on the Indian subcontinent.

Metabolic adaptations to arsenic-induced oxidative stress in male wistar rats.

The present study was planned to investigate the effect of arsenic in rats on several biochemical indices of oxidative stress. Rats were exposed to arsenite in drinking water for upto 12 weeks. Chronic exposure to arsenic for a period of 12 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) increased arsenic burden in blood, liver, and kidney. Several intrinsic antioxidant defenses were activated after a 4-week exposure to arsenic. Some remained elevated, but others became depressed over a longer exposure period. Alterations in most of the biochemical variables reached statistical significant (p < 0.05). Arsenic significantly (p < 0.01) reduced mRNA expression of the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) gene with respect to the glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene. These observations indicated that prolong exposure to arsenic causes induction of oxidative stress and biochemical alterations.

Chronic arsenicosis in goats with special reference to its exposure, excretion and deposition in an arsenic contaminated zone.

Thirty goats were selected randomly from a village of Nadia district, West Bengal according to the previous reports of human being suffering from chronic arsenicosis. Environmental samples viz. drinking water, rice plants and grass used for goat and biological samples viz. blood, urine, faeces, hair and meat were collected to evaluate the arsenic status. It was found that arsenic concentration in both environmental and biological samples was significantly (p<0.01) higher rather than respective samples on control zone. Bio-concentration factor (BCF) and bio-transfer factor (BTF) are indicated to evaluate the subclinical toxicity in goat as they do not exhibit clinical manifestation like human beings.

Pleurotus florida lectin normalizes duration dependent hepatic oxidative stress responses caused by arsenic in rat.

Natural contamination of arsenic in ground water is a major health problem throughout the World. It is one of the most hazardous substances in the environment known to cause toxicity in multiple organs via oxidative stress. The molecular basis for arsenic toxicity involves direct or indirect damage to protein, lipid and DNA. Various studies have focused on the possible toxic effects of arsenic on membrane components and its correlation with oxidative damage. The present study was aimed to mitigation of arsenic induced hepatic oxidative stress by dietary modulation using of mushroom lectin in rats. Animals were divided into four groups; the first group was used as control. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were arsenic (20 ppm) exposed through drinking water, arsenic exposed plus oral ascorbic acid (25 mg/kg body weight) and arsenic exposed plus oral mushroom lectin (150 mg/kg body weight) respectively for a period of 12 weeks. We observed significant alterations in the antioxidant enzymes, oxidative stress intermediates and SOD(2) gene expression profile on arsenic exposure. These alterations were restored by co-administration of Pleurotus florida lectin which was as potent as standard antioxidant viz. ascorbic acid. The findings of the experiment suggested that P. florida lectin has capability of modulating arsenic mediated toxic effects and could be helpful in ameliorating them.

Mushroom lectin protects arsenic induced apoptosis in hepatocytes of rodents.

Acute and chronic arsenic exposure result in toxicity both in human and animal beings and cause many hepatic and renal manifestations. The present study stated that mushroom lectin prevents arsenic-induced apoptosis. Apoptosis was measured by morphological alterations, cell proliferation index (CPI), phagocytic activity (nitro blue tetrazolium index; NBT), nitric oxide (NO) production, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity. Arsenic exposure at 5 µM in the form of sodium arsenite resulted in significant elevation of deformed cells, NO production, TUNEL stained nuclei of hepatocytes, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity. But the CPI and NBT index were significantly declined in arsenic-treated hepatocytes. The beneficial effect of mushroom lectin at 10 µg/mL, 20 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL) showed increased CPI and phagocytic activity. Mushroom lectin at those concentrations reduced deformed cells, NO production, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity of hepatocytes. But significant better protection was observed in 50 µg/mL mushroom lectin-treated hepatocytes. This finding may be of therapeutic benefit in people suffering from chronic arsenic exposure.

Sodium arsenite mediated immuno-disruption through alteration of transcription profile of cytokines in chicken splenocytes under in vitro system.

Arsenic is a ubiquitously found metalloid that commonly contaminates drinking water and agricultural food. To understand the ecotoxicological effects of arsenic in environment, it is essential to ameliorate the deleterious effects on human and animal health, particularly on the immune response. We investigated the effects of inorganic arsenic (iAs) on the immune response of chicken splenocytes. Both 1 and 10 mM concentrations of sodium arsenite treatment significantly reduced (P<0.001) splenocyte proliferation and phagocytic activity compared to concanavalin A (ConA) stimulated cells at 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. Nitrous oxide (NO) production was significantly higher (P<0.001) at 24 h and subsequently declined in the higher dose group, while there was a gradual decline from 24 to 72 h in the lower dose group. Comparison of two different concentration of arsenic treatment also revealed time dependent differences. Relative quantification of expression of IFNγ and IL2 revealed that both genes were significantly down regulated (P<0.001) at both concentrations at each time point. iNOS gene was rapidly down regulated in splenocytes at 24 h at the high doses of As treated splenocyte, a gradual decreasing trend at low doses. Down regulation of IL-2 gene expression in response to As was further evidenced by a significant reduction (P<0.001) in the release of IL-2 into the splenocyte culture medium. We suggest that arsenic, a potent immunotoxic agent, modulates non-specific immune responses and alters the expression of cytokines in a dose and time dependent manner.

Mitigation of arsenic-mediated renal oxidative stress in rat by Pleurotus florida lectin.

Oyster mushroom, Pleurotus florida is regarded as one of the popular food with biopharmaceutical properties. Here, the study aimed to investigate the antioxidative effects of mushroom (Pleurotus florida) lectin against arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Animals were divided into four groups; Group 1 was control. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were exposed to arsenic (20 parts per million [ppm] in drinking water), arsenic plus oral supplementation of ascorbic acid (25 mg/kg body weight) and arsenic plus oral supplementation of mushroom lectin (150 mg/kg body weight) respectively. Both ascorbic acid and mushroom lectin prevented the arsenic-mediated growth retardation and normalized the elevated kidney weight. Disrupted activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and enhanced lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PC) and nitric oxides (NO) production in kidney caused by arsenic could also be maintained towards normalcy by supplementation of mushroom lectin and ascorbic acid. These antioxidative effects were exhibited in a time-dependant manner. Further, arsenic-mediated down-regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD(2)) gene was obstructed by these agents. Thus it was found that mushroom lectin reversed the effect of arsenic-mediated oxidative stress in a time-dependent manner.

Ground water arsenic contamination in West Bengal, India: a risk of sub-clinical toxicity in cattle as evident by correlation between arsenic exposure, excretion and deposition.

Arsenic contamination of ground water in West Bengal, India, is a great concern for both human and livestock populations. Our study investigated and correlated the arsenic concentration in the drinking water, urinary excretion and deposition of total arsenic in hair of cattle at an arsenic contaminated zone in West Bengal. The results of our study indicated that the average concentration of arsenic in tube well water in contaminated villages ranged from 0.042 to 0.251 ppm and a statistical significant (p < 0.01) difference was seen when compared to samples from a non-contaminated zone. The arsenic concentration in urine and hair of cattle ranged between 0.245-0.691 ppm and 0.461-0.984 ppm, respectively. A close relationship was found between the total arsenic in drinking water urinary excretion (r² = 0.03664, p < 0.05) and the arsenic concentration in hair (r² = 0.03668, p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that quantification of arsenic concentration in cattle urine and hair can serve as biomarkers for both present and past exposure in cattle population.

Supplementation of ascorbic acid prevents oxidative damages in arsenic-loaded hepatic tissue of rat: an ex vivo study.

Oxidative stress due to arsenic toxicity and ameliorative potentiality of L-ascorbic acid was evaluated in an ex vivo system of rat hepatic tissue. The study revealed that arsenic increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and the level of lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PC) and nitric oxide (NO) at 1 hour, 1.5 hours and 2 hours of incubation. Co-treatment with L-ascorbic acid was found effective to normalize the activity of SOD and CAT and the production of LPO, PC and NO in hepatic tissue. This ex vivo study suggested that ascorbic acid is helpful to ameliorate arsenic-induced oxidative stress. This may be one of the alternative screening systems to study the efficacy of antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent.

Effect of ascorbic acid on blood oxidative stress in experimental chronic arsenicosis in rodents.

Ascorbic acid is a sugar acid and an essential vital food nutrient found mainly in fruits and vegetables. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid against arsenic induced oxidative stress in blood of rat. In rat, treatment with ascorbic acid prevented the increased serum enzymatic activity of AST, ALT, ALP, ACP and LDH. In addition, treatment with ascorbic acid prevented elevated production of LPO, PC and NO and restored the depletion of reduced SOD and CAT activities. Interestingly, ascorbic acid markedly upregulated lymphocytes relative mRNA expression of lymphocytes SOD2 gene corresponding to GAPDH, house keeping candidate gene in arsenic-treated rat, which might provide anti-oxidative activity in the blood.