Groundwater arsenic contamination in one of the 107 arsenic-affected blocks in West Bengal, India: Status, distribution, health effects and factors responsible for arsenic poisoning

A somewhat detailed study was carried out in Gaighata, one of the 107 arsenic-affected blocks in West Bengal, India, to determine the degree of groundwater contamination with arsenic, its depth wise distribution, correlation with iron, arsenical health effects to the inhabitants and the factors responsible for arsenic poisoning. Groundwater in all the 107 mouzas over 13 gram-panchayets in Gaighata block contains arsenic above 0.01mgl(-1) and in 91 mouzas, arsenic concentration has been found above 0.05mgl(-1). About 59.2 and 40.3% of the tubewell water samples contain arsenic above 0.01 and 0.05mgl(-1), respectively. The approximate population drinking arsenic-contaminated water above 0.01 and 0.05mgl(-1) are 106,560 and 72,540, respectively. The tubewells that were installed within the depth range of 15.4-30.3m are mostly arsenic-contaminated. Even the shallow groundwater level (7.87-15.1m) is arsenic-contaminated. Both arsenic and iron concentrations in groundwater gradually increase from lower depth to higher depth up to 39.4m, and then decrease with increasing depth. About 58% of the deep tubewell water samples (depth range 122-182m, n=31) contain arsenic ≥0.05mgl(-1). About 72% of the arsenic-contaminated deep tubewells (n=18) were safe when surveyed first time. But within a span of 2-5 years, they became contaminated with arsenic. The linear regression shows direct correlation between arsenic and iron concentrations in groundwater (r(2)=0.8114, p<0.0001, n=912). Intakes of inorganic arsenic from water by an adult male and female in the surveyed areas are 11.7 and 13.1μg/kg body wt./day, respectively and these values are higher than the WHO recommended PTDI value of inorganic arsenic (2.1μg/kg body wt./day). Mean arsenic concentrations in urine, hair and nail samples, collected from the inhabitants of Gutri mouza are higher than their normal level and the values are 292μgl(-1) (range: 8.35-1024μg l(-1), n=193), 2.50mgkg(-1) (range: 0.17-5.99mgkg(-1), n=132), and 6.05mgkg(-1) (range: 0.55-16.7mgkg(-1), n=116), respectively. About 83% and 68% of the urine samples (n=250) contain arsenic above 100 and 200μgl(-1), respectively. Linear regressions show very good correlations between arsenic concentrations in water vs. urine, hair and nail samples from the inhabitants (n=103) of Gutri mouza. About 18.3% of the population (n=930) were registered with arsenical skin lesions.     

Dietary risk factors for hypopharyngeal cancer in India

Objective  The Indian subcontinent has among the highest rates of hypopharyngeal cancer worldwide. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between the Indian diet and hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods  We used data from a hospital-based case–control study of 513 incident hypopharyngeal cancers and 718 controls from four centers in India. Dietary information was assessed using a 67-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Intakes of related foods were combined across food groups and were categorized by quartile. We used unconditional logistic regression modeling, stratified by ever tobacco use, to analyze the association between food intakes and hypopharyngeal cancer. Results  Among persons who had ever smoked or chewed tobacco, protective associations were seen at the highest quartiles of total fruit intake (OR = 0.37, 0.20–0.69), curds (OR = 0.35, 0.17–0.69), and leafy green (OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.13–0.51), root (OR = 0.22, 95% CI 0.11–0.43), and cruciferous vegetable intakes (OR = 0.41, 0.20–0.84). Results were similar, although not as robust, among persons who had never smoked or chewed tobacco. An increased risk of disease was seen among tobacco users who drank milk daily (OR = 1.84, 1.14–2.98). Conclusions  Dietary factors might contribute to the high risk of hypopharyngeal cancer observed in India.     

Combined venous sinus angioplasty and low-dose thrombolytic therapy for treatment of hemorrhagic transverse sinus thrombosis in a pediatric patient

We describe the successful treatment of a 5-year-old girl with rapidly evolving left hemispheric hemorrhagic infarcts resulting from left transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis using combined endovascular dural sinus angioplasty and local low-dose thrombolytic therapy.     

Isolation and Characterization of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain PGP for Plant Growth Promotion

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The present study has identified a free living bacterial strain from dump garbage soil, capable of forming...     

Process mapping of vaccines: Understanding the limitations in current response to emerging epidemic threats

Vaccination remains the most successful and effective mechanism of pathogen control. However, their development and deployment in epidemic settings have been limited, and the 2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa identified several bottlenecks linked to a lack of investment in pathogen research, infrastructure or regulation. Shortly after this outbreak, the UK Government established the UK Vaccine Network to ensure the UK is better prepared to respond to pathogens outbreaks of epidemic potential. As part of their work, the network commissioned the creation of a Vaccine Development Tool (http://www.vaccinedevelopment.org.uk/) to serve as a guide to the key stages in vaccine development. The tool also set out to capture the key, rate-limiting bottlenecks in the development of vaccines against emerging infectious disease such that corrective action could be taken, be it through research, funding, infrastructure and policy, both in the UK and internationally. The main research bottlenecks were related to understanding pathogen biology, identification of appropriate animal models and investment in the manufacturing sciences, especially into process development. Infrastructure gaps in GMP manufacturing and fill-finish were also identified and limitations in GMO regulation and regulatory and ethical approvals, especially for outbreak pathogens required new policy initiatives. The UK Vaccine Network has since begun work to correct for these limitations with a series of funding calls and development programmes. This paper seeks to summarise the Vaccine Development Tool and its key findings.     

Role of human cyclooxygenase-2 in the bioactivation of dapsone and sulfamethoxazole.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and dapsone (4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, DDS) are believed to mediate their adverse effects subsequent to bioactivation to their respective arylhydroxylamine and arylnitroso metabolites, resulting in covalent adduct formation with intracellular proteins. Various bioactivating enzymes, such as cytochromes P450 and myeloperoxidase, have been shown to be capable of catalyzing the N-oxidation of these compounds. We assessed the role of human cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the metabolism and subsequent adduct formation of DDS and SMX using recombinant human COX-2. Using an adduct-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we found that the complete enzyme system gave rise to covalent adducts. However, the nonspecific COX inhibitor indomethacin did not reduce the amount of covalent adduct formed. Formation of the arylhydroxylamine metabolites was demonstrated via high performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV absorption. Metabolite formation was found to be secondary to the H2O2 in the incubation mixture and was not enzyme-mediated. Hence, COX-2 does not play a direct role in the bioactivation of these parent drugs to their arylhydroxylamine metabolites.     

Chemical analysis of sound and carious enamel of permanent tooth

Enamel consists mainly of inorganic material (96%) and only a small amount of organic substance and water (4%). The inorganic material is similar to apatite. The originally found apatite mineral remains basically unchanged except at the surface in contact with the oral tissues, where diffusion processes operate. Enamel reflects the trace element environment present in the tissue fluids at the time of tissue development. These are variations of types and concentration of inorganic elements found in permanent and deciduous enamel. Variations are also seen in sound and carious enamel.     

Metastatic Virilizing Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Rare Case of Cure with Surgery and Mitotane Therapy

A 57-year-old white woman with metastases to lungs and liver from virilizing adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) was treated with radical nephroadrenalectomy followed by oral mitotane 3 to 6 g/day for 5 months. She developed complete response and remained free of disease for more than 25 years. Here we present the case and review the literature. ACC is a rare tumor and may occur at any age. About 60% are functional tumors with hormonal secretions and clinical manifestations due to specific hormone secretions: Cushing’s syndrome due to cortisone, virilizing tumor due to androgens, feminizing tumor due to estrogens, or hypertension due to aldosterone. Stage I and II disease is curable with surgery. Stage III and IV disease may benefit from mitotane orally with gradual adjustment of the dosage to a tolerable level. Plasma mitotane level at 14 to 20 g/L results in optimal response both in hormonal secretion and symptom control, as well as tumor regression. Addition of chemotherapy (streptozotocin or a combination of etoposide, cisplatin and doxorubicin) to mitotane also produced responses along with increased survival among responders. An international study has been started by randomizing between two of the above combinations by the Collaborative Group for Adrenocortical Carcinoma Treatment.     

High throughput quantification of capsular polysaccharides for multivalent vaccines using precipitation with a cationic surfactant

The increasing requirement for multivalent vaccines containing diverse capsular polysaccharides has created an unmet need for a fast and straightforward assay for polysaccharide titer. We describe a novel and robust assay for the quantitation of anionic capsular polysaccharides. The binding of hexadecyltrimethyammonium bromide (Hb) to anionic capsular polysaccharides results in a precipitation reaction wherein the suspension turbidity is proportional to polysaccharide titer. The turbidity can be quickly measured as absorbance across a range of wavelengths that resolve scattering light. Carbohydrates comprised of repeating units of one to seven monosaccharides with phosphodiester groups, uronic acids, and sialic acids all reacted strongly and there does not appear to be specificity with respect to the particular anionic moiety. The assay is compatible with an array of common buffers across a pH range of 3.0–8.75 and with NaCl concentration exceeding 400 mM. Interference from DNA can be eliminated with a short incubation step with DNase. With these treatments, the assay has been employed in samples as complex as fermentation broth. A two-log dynamic range has been established with a mean relative standard deviation less than 10% across this range although inferior performance has been observed in fermentation broth.