OVARIAN MALIGNANCIES IN RELATION TO ABO BLOOD GROUPS AND RH FACTOR. - See more at: .

Background & Objectives: To investigate correlation between the ABO blood groups and ovarian malignancies in females and also to correlate the frequency of ovarian malignancies with Rh factor. Methods: Data were collected on the blood groups of 1,870 females diagnosed with ovarian malignancies and the same was compared with blood groups of 2,540 females taken as controls that were operated with reasons other than ovarian malignancies. For assessing the relationship between blood groups and ovarian malignancies, odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI (confidence interval) was calculated. Results: A strong correlation was observed between females without ‘A’ or ‘B’ antigens i.e. O blood group females and increased risk of ovarian cancer (OR= 1.3281, CI= 1.1457-1.5396, p-value= 0.0002). The strongest magnitude of correlation was observed in patients without ‘Rh’ factor i.e. Rh- blood group. Interpretation & Conclusions: There is a strong correlation between ABO and Rh blood groups and tendency of a female to develop ovarian malignancy. - See more at: .

METRONOMIC CHEMOTHERAPY (CAPECITABINE) IN WOMEN WITH TRIPLE- NEGATIVE OPERABLE BREAST CANCER. - .

Background:- Triple-negative breast cancers are defined as tumors that lack expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) which constitute 15%–20% of all breast cancers and characterized by high rates of relapse, visceral and central nervous system (CNS) metastasis. These Patients do not benefit from established targeted drugs with endocrine therapy or trastuzumab ,but cytotoxic chemotherapy is still the mainstay treatment.Metronomic chemotherapy ,is frequent administration of certain cytotoxic agents at low doses at close regular intervals with no prolonged drug-free interruptions ,can be given after standard adjuvant therapy in triple -negative disease Aim:- The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of metronomic capecitabine which given for one year after standard adjuvant treatment as an extended adjuvant therapy for women with triple-negative breast cancer Patients and Method:- Between January 2011 and November 2012, 22 women patients with pathologically proven operable breast cancer and immunohistochemistry proven triple negative{estrogen receptor (ER) ,progesterone receptor(PR) negative and HER 2 neu 0 or 1} , were enrolled to this prospective phase II study at Clinical Oncology Department and Nuclear Medicine , Zagazig University ,Egypt and Medical Oncology Department ,Zagazig University ,Egypt . The patients received standard adjuvant anthracycline based chemotherapy ( FAC, FEC,AC), or sequential anthracycline containing chemotherapy with taxanes followed by radiotherapy if indicated. Then the patients received 1 year of metronomic chemotherapy { oral capecitabine (Xeloda) } by a dose of (650 mg/m2 , twice daily ) which is discontinued if disease progression or major toxicities occured. The primary endpoints of this study were relapse-free survival (RFS) and safety profile. The secondary end point was overall survival (OS). Results:-At time of analysis,the median follow up duration was 34.5 months(range; 13-53 months) .Metronomic Capecitabine was well tolerated and no dose reduction needed in our study . The most common non hematological toxicity was handfoot syndrome which occurred in 4 (18.18%) patients ,two of them were G1/2 and the other two were G3/4 who needed dose delay for one week .The second most common toxicity was G1/2 nausea and vomiting which was occurred in 3(13.6%) patients .Two patients had G3 diarrhea(9.09%) who needed admission .Hematological toxicity occurred in five ( 22.7%) patients in the form of anaemia . No patients lost during follow up.One patient(4.5%) had locoregional recurrence.Distant metastasis occurred in 4 (18.18%) patients.Three patients (13.6%)died during the follow up period.2 and 3y OS was 86.4% for each . 2-3yDFS was 86.4% and 81% respectively. Conclusion:- The conclusion of this study that metronomic capecitabine is effective and well tolerated extended adjuvant treatment of patients with TNBC but I recommend to study the effect of this regimen in a randomized phase III study on larger number of patients and longer follow up period . - See more at: .

A STUDY ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BMI AND PREVALENCE OF FLAT FOOT AMONG THE ADULTS USING FOOT PRINT PARAMETERS. - .

Background: Overweight weight and obesity is related with series of health complications, involving raised blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and musculoskeletal disorders. Foot arch is made up of bony arch and soft tissues which are which acts as shock absorber and helps in transmission and distribution of body weight. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of flat foot in adults and to establish the relationship between body mass index BMI and foot morphology. Setting and design: The study was conducted in 412 volunteers of both sexes aged between 18-40 years. Methods and material: In full weight bearing foot prints of both foot were impregnated using non irritant blue ink in a 60 cm length x 60cm breadth of paper and the parameters were measured. Results and conclusion : Foot morphology can be assessed by the Clarke’s index(CI), Chippaux - Smirak index (CSI), Staheli index (SI), and Arch index (AI). This study shows that the age group of 25-40 years of both the sex has correlation between BMI and foot morphology. Obesity not only affects the foot by causing pain it also causes other musculo-skeletal problems leading to poor performance, and the ideal BMI should be maintained to minimize the biomechanical problems. Keywords- BMI and flatfoot, flat foot in adults, footprints, morbid obese, Arch index. - See more at: .

A NEW SPECIES OF CEROPEGIA (APOCYNACEAE: CEROPEGIEAE) FROM A MIDLAND LATERITIC HILL OF KERALA, INDIA. -

. Ceropegia nampyana, a new species of Apocynaceae from the southern Western Ghats, is described and illustrated. The new species is morphologically allied to Ceropegia spiralis Hook.f. & Thomson, but differs by having corolla lobes shorter than the tube, corolla tube glabrous within and hairy outer corona. The new taxon belongs to Ceropegia Ser. Attenuatae. - See moreat: .

. STUDY OF 894 G>T SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM OF ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE (ENOS) AND THE RISK OF DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY. -.

Endothelial dysfunction plays is a major cause of pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease, including diabetic nephropathy(DNP). A single nucleotide polymorphism in endothelial-derived nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphisms affect activity of eNOS and is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Studies examining association of eNOS gene polymorphism in type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM) with diabetic nephropathy and without diabetic nephropathy are limited in Indian population. Thus, we investigated the genotype: phenotype association between potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the eNOSgene (894G>T) by PCR-RFLP assays in diabetic subjects with and without nephropathy. We also measured serum Nitric Oxide (NO) levels in these subjects and examined its correlation with eNOS genotypes and diabetic nephropathy. We observed that subjects carrying ‘GT’ genotype of 894G>T, were associated with increased risk of renal damage in type 2 diabetes.(OR=2.26; CI=1.020-5.032) We also observed lower serum NO levels in T2DM subjects (both study and controls group) carrying GT+TT genotypes. Our study suggest that 894G>T is associated with increased risk of nephropathy type 2 diabetic patients. - See more at: .

ROLE OF SIDDHA DRUGS TO ENHANCE SPERM COUNT IN SELECTED PATIENTS-A SHORT RESEARCH COMMUNICATION. - .

In this new era of time, a big issue like Oligospermia is one of the most concerning factors for male infertility and threatens a considerable population in the human society. Though it is a challenging one to treat, Siddha drugs assures positive results in this area and thus making need of a mass level research. This study is a short research communication conducted at Siddha Regional Research Institute, Puducherry on five patients who attended the OPD during the period July 2009 to March 2010 retrospectively. A complete clinical history and the Semen analysis were taken before and after treatment to assess the efficacy of the Siddha drugs. The patients were administered the drugs AmukkuraChurnam 1 gm with SilasathuParpam 200 mg along with 100 ml of cow’s milk, b.i.d for a period of three months. The results were tabulated with relevant clinical and laboratory data. There was significant response in increasing the sperm count and motility and it will be carried out in mass number of patients to ascertain its potential efficacy - See more at: 

CHARACTERIZATION OF L-ASPARAGINASE FROM CAPSICUM ANNUM L. .

L-asparagine is the most abundant metabolite for storage and transport of nitrogen that is utilized in protein biosynthesis in plants. L-asparaginase catalyzes the deamination of L-asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia. The present study is aimed to characterize L-asparaginase from Capsicum annum L.Crude L-asparaginase was partially purified by salting out using 20% to 80% of ammonium sulphate. The activity of L-asparaginase was measured in the aqueous extract of fruits by Nesselerization method. The specific enzyme activity after 80% saturation was 4841.78 IU/mg. Optimum incubation period for L-asparaginase was found 60 min. The enzyme showed stability at alkaline pH and has pH 8 as optimum pH. L-asparaginase have maximum activity at 37oC. Highest activity of L-asparaginase was at 6mM substrate concentration. Kinetic parameter study revealed high affinity of enzyme towards L-aspargine with high velocity. Partially purified enzyme have molecular weight of 25.41 kDa estimated by Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). - See more at: .