Organ targeted prenatal gene therapy—how far are we?

Prenatal gene therapy aims to deliver genes to cells and tissues early in prenatal life, allowing correction of a genetic defect, before long-term tissue damage has occurred. In contrast to postnatal gene therapy, prenatal application can target genes to a large population of dividing stem cells, and the smaller fetal size allows a higher vector-to-target cell ratio to be achieved. Early-gestation delivery may allow the development of immune tolerance to the transgenic protein which would facilitate postnatal repeat vector administration if needed. Targeting particular organs will depend on manipulating the vector to achieve selective tropism and on choosing the most appropriate gestational age and injection method for fetal delivery. Intra-amniotic injection reaches the skin, and other organs that are bathed in the fluid however since gene transfer to the lung and gut is usually poor more direct injection methods will be needed. Delivery to the liver and blood can be achieved by systemic delivery via the umbilical vein or peritoneal cavity. Gene transfer to the central nervous system in the fetus is difficult but newer vectors are available that transduce neuronal tissue even after systemic delivery. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Report: Medical students for monitoring biomedical waste segregation practices--why and how? Experience from a medical college

The cornerstone for an effective biomedical waste (BMW) management is appropriate waste segregation. Improper waste segregation practices can have an adverse impact on public health and increase the cost of treatment. Deficiencies in waste segregation practices can be corrected by continuous monitoring and education. Manpower for monitoring waste segregation in a large teaching hospital is scanty. We utilized the undergraduate medical students as monitors and studied the impact on waste segregation practices. A prospective observational study was carried out from August 2004 to January 2005. For monitoring waste segregation, the different areas of the hospital were divided amongst the II M.B.B.S students. They were provided with an observation sheet wherein the status of waste segregation and overall hygiene was recorded on a scale of 1-5. The impact of this programme was then analysed over the study period. The results indicated that a statistically significant improvement in waste segregation practices occurred in all areas. Thus, a large hospital with a medical college can identify students or a similar group for monitoring waste segregation or other aspects of biomedical waste management. This will improve their understanding of good practice in BMW management in future.     

A COMPARISON OF MODELS PREDICTING GROUND WATER LEVELS ON HILLSIDE SLOPES1

ABSTRACT: A comparative study of ground water level predictions on hillside slopes using two models is presented. The models are a simplified mass balance model that has components for evapotran-spiration, recharge, and drainage; and a two-dimensional finite difference model that employs kriging to estimate soil parameters and accounts for non-uniform thickness of the soil layer. These models are representative of a wide range of modeling capabilities and are used to illustrate the sensitivity of ground water level predictions to the sophistication of the modeling techniques. The drainage and recharge components of the two models are evaluated and the importance of unsaturated flow in recharge computations is underscored. Piezometric observations in a small drainage depression on the slope of Kennel Creek Valley in Tongass National Forest, Alaska, were used to evaluate the two models. The results show that, although the predictions differ from the field observations, the simple physically-based mass balance model predicts the ground water levels as well as the two-dimensional model. It is suggested that caution should be exercised in using complex models to validate simpler models.     

Studies of some biochemical changes in the tissues of Catla catla (Hamilton), Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) exposed to NH3-N,NO2-N and NO3-N

Biochemical changes, total proteins, glycogen, aspartate and alanine (AAT and ALAT) amino transferases were studied with exposure of sublethal concentrations of NH3-N, NO2-N and NO3-N to the freshwater fish Catla catla (Hamilton), Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton). Depletion in the food reserves and enzyme activity was observed in all the three fish species exposed to these toxicants. Hence, the concentrations of NH3, NO2 and NO3 in water need to be monitored in water quality in aquaculture practices.     

Tailor Made Thin Film Composite Membranes: Potentiality Towards Removal of Hydroquinone from Water

The study investigated the use of thin film composite membrane (TFC) as a potential candidate for hydroquinone removal from water. Thin film composite membranes were prepared by polyamide coating on Polysulfone asymmetric membrane. FTIR study was performed to verify the Polysulfone as well as polyamide functionality. TFC membrane was characterized by contact angle, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy studies. The salt rejection trend was seen from 500 to 1000 mg/L. The membrane is marked by permeability co-efficient B based on solution diffusion studies. The value is 0.98 × 10^?6 m/s for NaCl solution at 1.4 MPa. The separation performance was 88.87% for 5 mg/L hydroquinone at 1.4 MPa. The separation was little bit lowered in acid medium because of the nature of the membrane and feed solute chemistry. The ‘pore swelling’ and ‘salting out’ influenced hydroquinone separation in the presence of NaCl. The hydroquinone separation was 80.63% in 1000 mg/L NaCl solution. In acidic pH, NaCl separation was influenced much more compared to hydroquinone. The separation is influenced by field water matrix.     

Trends of surface water quality of the Krishna River,India during the urbanization process

In the present study, Amaravati, the proposed city of India is considered to assess the impacts of urbanization on water quality of the Krishna River in the vicinity. Long-term surface water quality data of various parameters of Krishna River are obtained from Central Water Commission (CWC). Trends of various parameters are analyzed using a modified version of Mann-Kendall (M-K) test; bootstrapped M-K trend test with optional bias corrected pre-whitening and R programming are used affecting water quality prior to and at the commencement of urbanization. During the onset of urbanization, minimum BOD is decreased from 0.49 to 0.2 mg/L, while the maximum BOD is increased by 67.7%. Dissolved oxygen's (DO) minimum value is decreased by 29.33% while maximum DO value is decreased by 4.47% at the beginning of urbanization. During the process of urbanization, total coliform's minimum count is increased to 330 from 2 MPN/100 ml while the maximum count of total coliforms is increased to 16,000 from 2400 MPN/100 ml. Faecal coilform's minimum count is increased from 2 to 80 MPN/100 ml while maximum count is increased to 16,000 from 800 MPN/100 ml during urbanization. It is found that due to urbanization, pH, DO values exceed the allowable limit.     

Remediation and toxicity of endocrine disruptors: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Endocrine disruptors are hazardous chemicals with chronic health effects for most living organisms, inducing homeostasis, hormonal imbalances, cancer, reproductive...