Use of cuprous ion and metallic copper as initiators of aqueous vinyl polymerization

Cuprous chloride and copper powder (in acid media) initiate the aqueous polymerization of certain vinyl monomers such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid and styrene but it fails in case of acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, and acrylic acid under identical conditions. Catalyst exponent of this initiator (in acid aqueous media) with respect to methyl methacrylate is 0.38. Quantitative determination of end-groups by dye techniques of the polymers obtained shows that about 2 hydroxyl end-groups per chain are present under acidic conditions in presence of slight traces of oxygen but in rigorous absence of oxygen, very little OH end-groups are found incorporated. The mechanism of initiation under different experimental condition is discussed.     

Antibody spectrum against the viral transactivator protein in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and Kaposi's sarcoma

We analyzed patterns of antibody response to recombinant transactivator protein (human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 [HIV-1] tat) in serum samples from HIV-1-negative subjects (n = 60), HIV-1-infected asymptomatic patients (n = 20), HIV-1-infected patients with Kaposi's sarcoma (n = 25), and patients with Kaposi's sarcoma without HIV-1 infection. None of the healthy subjects possessed anti-tat immunoglobulin G (IgG) in their serum. All asymptomatic patients with HIV-1 infection were anti-tat IgG-positive. Epitope mapping revealed that these sera had anti-tat IgG to all the functional domains of tat protein. Histochemical studies on lymph nodes from five asymptomatic HIV-1-infected patients showed that, in all cases, tat-positive cells were present within the germinal center at the stage of follicular fragmentation containing immunoblasts and small lymphocytes. Of the 25 HIV-1-infected patients with Kaposi's sarcoma, 4 were anti-tat IgG-positive; however, the epitope analysis revealed that IgG to functional domains of tat protein--in particular to transactivating response element (TAR)-binding site--were absent. All patients with Kaposi's sarcoma without HIV-1 infection were anti-tat IgG-negative. Presence or absence of anti-tat IgG and a prevalence of different antibody profiles in different groups of patients indicated the pathophysiologic role of tat protein. Thus, a passive immunization with anti-tat IgG could be a useful strategy to influence the pathophysiologic state of the disease.     

Motor neuron disease in the United States, 1971 and 1973-1978: patterns of mortality and associated conditions at the time of death

Mortality rates for deaths "due to" and "with" motor neuron disease are presented for the first time. Age-specific mortality rates increase with age until 70 to 74 years and then decline. There appear to be no major differences by race in the age-adjusted mortality rates, but these rates are higher for males both white and nonwhite. A case-control study of all deaths with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was conducted for deaths due to ALS in the year 1971. Conditions associated with ALS at the time of death include pneumonia and bronchopneumonia, symptoms referable to respiratory system, superficial injury to shoulder and upper arm, essential benign hypertension, chronic skin ulcer, and malnutrition. No association was found between ALS and malignancies, Parkinson's disease, or dementia.     

The eye in idiopathic mental retardation

An ophthalmic evaluation was undertaken in 250 consecutive cases of mental retardation where no specific etiological diagnosis could be established, ie, "idiopathic" mental retardation. Visual impairment was noted in 59 of these patients, and was mainly due to primary optic atrophy, besides cortical blindness, strabismus, nystagmoid eye movements, refractive errors and various associated congenital ocular anomalies. It was encouraging to find that 191 children had active vision, including 10 patients with definite disc pallor. The importance of useful vision in these retarded children cannot be overemphasized. This is probably the first report in the literature analyzing the ocular changes and their significance in a fairly large series of idiopathic mental retardation.     

Need for Testing and Supplementation of Vitamin D3 After Release of COVID-19 Lockdown in Patients with Increased Musculoskeletal Pain

AimsTo evaluate vitamin D3 levels in patients who presented with increased musculo-skeletal pain after release of lockdown period when compared to pre-lockdown status.IntroductionDuring this COVID pandemic, many countries have implemented lockdown measures and people have to work from home and many students and workers have to restrict themselves to home. During this period, their outdoor activities were limited. After the partial release of this lockdown many of them started to have some kind of physical activity and started experiencing body pains. We evaluated such patients for vitamin D3 levels and symptoms of fibromyalgia.MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis of patients from age group 18–60 presented to outpatient department or on telephonic consultation after partial release of lockdown. All patients who had mild back ache before lockdown and had symptoms exaggerated during this lockdown release were included. All patients were investigated for vitamin D3, PTH, thyroid profile, liver functional and kidney functional tests.ResultsOut of 120 patients presented to us in a period of 3 months, 31 patients had increased symptoms when compared to pre-lockdown status. 20 out of 31 patients had low vitamin D3 levels. 14 patients also developed symptoms of fibromyalgia.ConclusionThere might be many reasons for increased pain during lockdown, but we focussed specially only on vitamin D3 because of its association with increased symptoms of COVID-19. This is a gentle reminder to test for vitamin D3 levels and supplement if found deficient.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-021-00376-8.     

Adolescent mother -- an unprepared child

The World Health Organization considers adolescence to be the period between 10 and 20 years during which individuals undergo significant psychosexual and psychosocial development. The needs an well-being of people, especially girls, in this age group in India, however, are neglected. Almost 25% of India's population is comprised of girls below 20 years of age. Adolescent pregnancies make up 10-15% of the total and may be largely attributed to early marriage, but these girls are prepared neither physically nor emotionally for pregnancy and motherhood. Adolescents who marry between aged 15-19 will nonetheless bear on average 6-7 children over the course of their lives. In fact, 80% of women's time between the ages 15 and 35 is spent either being pregnant or nursing offspring. Sections discuss nutritional deprivation and poor fetal growth, obstetric risks, and maternal and infant mortality, literacy and school dropouts, and psychosocial aspects of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood. Intervention programs could aim to increase total food intake, prevent against iron deficiency anemia, provide education and health care for girls aged 10-15, promote the use of contraception, register marriages and provide family life education, and involve boys in the education process. While the marriage age needs to be increased, this change should not be legislated. Change must instead result from education syllabi at the school level.     

Mandibular invasion in oral cancers

Mandibular resection for oral cancers has significant aesthetic and functional sequelae. A reliable preoperative predictor of mandibular invasion is required to guide the need for and extent of mandibular resection. An orthopantomogram of the mandible is an accurate, reliable, cost-effective predictor of bony involvement except for central arch lesions. The feasibility of outer table rim mandibulectomy alone in patients with floor of mouth tumors needs to be examined carefully. Received: 11 December 1998 / Accepted: 7 October 1999     

Gene-targeted inhibition of transactivation of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-LTR by antisense oligonucleotides

We have used an in vitro approach to study the efficiency of antisense oligonucleotides in inhibiting LTR-(HIV-1)-directed CAT expression catalyzed by tat protein, the functional protein of the transactivator gene. We selected the target sequence localized near the 5 end of the tat mRNA. The following conclusions can be drawn from the data presented here: a) Antisense oligonucleotides modified by conjugation of cholesterol at the 3 end have a severalfold higher inhibitory response, b) inhibitory response is dependent on the mode of introducing oligonucleotides, and c) the inhibition by antisense oligonucleotides is sequence specific and directed towards the targeted region. This approach could be useful for targeting functional regions of regulatory gene products and designing gene-targeted inhibitors of virus replication.Dedicated to Professor Klaus Ring on his 60th birthday.