Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism and obesity: A pilot study from north India     

P. K. Manchanda  H. K. Bid  B. R. Achyut  B. Mittal  N Srivastava  R. D. Mittal 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2007,22(1):61-64

The main adverse consequences of excess bodyweight are cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and several cancers, IL-1Ra serum concentration has been reported earlier to increase in human obesity and it is therefore assumed that the polymorphism of IL-1Ra may influence cytokine production. We designed this study to investigate whether the IL-1Ra polymorphism was associated with obesity. A total number of 103 individuals; 19 lean (BMI<25 Kg/m²), 51 overweight (BMI 25–29.9 Kg/m²) and 33 obese (BMI≥30.0 Kg/m²) were enrolled in this study. Genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction PCR amplification of the intron-2 fragment harboring a variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) nucleotide sequences 86 pb of tandem repeat. The PCR products were separated on 2% agarose gel. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 11.5). We found no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the three groups; lean vs. overweight and lean vs. obese (p=0.323; 0.202; 0.123 and 0.068 resp). However, an increased risk for obesity had a propensity to be higher in those having genotype II/II. This genotype has been reported to be a ‘high producer’ of IL-1Ra. Although no statistically significant relationship between IL-1Ra polymorphism and BMI was observed, however, a trend towards an increase of allele^*II in overweight and obese group was observed. This may suggest that IL-1Ra appears to be induced by inflammatory stimuli as well as obesity-associated factors. This is relatively a pilot study: but nevertheless, may assist in identifying the pathophysiological cause for obesity.  相似文献   

Levels of plasma soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1) in normal Indian adult population     

B. Sivasankar  K. R. Raju  V. Anand  S. Malu  S. Padmanabhan  S. C. Tiwari  Nibhriti Das  L. M. Srivastava 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》1999,14(2):237-240

A decrease in the membrane anchored erythrocyte complement receptor 1 (CR1) is reported as an acquired phenomenon in a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases with concomitant rise in soluble CR1 (sCR1) levels in plasma. There is a need to establish the normal range of sCR1 in Indian adults to assess the function and disease association of this protein. The plasma sCR1 levels of 50 healthy individuals have been estimated by an indigenously developed sandwich ELISA. sCR1 levels from 26 patients suffering from nephropathies had also been assayed which was much higher than the normal controls. This observation suggests sCR1 as a potential market for the assessment of disease activity in nephropathies.  相似文献   

A four-stage longitudinal study exploring pupils’ experiences,preparation and support systems during primary–secondary school transitions     

Divya Jindal-Snape  Dianne Cantali 《British Educational Research Journal》2019,45(6):1255-1278

A longitudinal study was conducted over four stages of three school years across the primary – secondary transition. The purpose was to understand the dynamic transition experience of pupils, investigate the effectiveness of preparation by schools to support transitions and understand pupils’ most important support networks. Using online questionnaires, data were collected from pupils at four time points, twice from secondary school professionals and their parents, and once from primary school professionals. Results highlight the ongoing and dynamic nature of transitions. What pupils were excited about were still seen to be good once they were in secondary school , and aspects that worried them declined over time. Some pupils experienced problems and adapted at different times, whereas for some, problems emerged later. It seems that those who anticipated problems when in primary school were more likely to experience problems; this has implications for the discourse around transitions and its impact on pupils’ anticipation of transition experience. Although transition planning and preparation by schools were important and varied, they were not always effective, not provided in a timely manner and did not tap into their naturally occurring support networks in the home and community. This study makes unique contributions in terms of highlighting the dynamic transitions process and change in pupils’ experience over time; various aspects of transitions that children are excited and concerned about and how these changed over time; professionals’ conceptualisations of transitions; pupils’ and parents’ views of the effectiveness of transition practices at various stages; and pupils’ real support networks.  相似文献   

Mucosal IgA & IL-1β in Helicobacter pylori Infection     

Ragini Srivastava  Antara Kashyap  Mohan Kumar  Gopal Nath  Ashok Kumar Jain 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2013,28(1):19-23

Helicobacter pylori infection stimulates strong local inflammatory and specific IgA antibody production. The influence of antibodies on the bacterial colonization is not clear. Here, we have analysed the association between the mucosal IgA level and IL-1β in various manifestations of the infection seen endoscopically. Antral biopsies of 57 dyspeptic patients were taken for culture, histology and estimation of mucosal levels of anti-H. pylori IgA and IL-1β. Mean mucosal IgA level was higher in patients with normal mucosa compared to all other groups and lower IgA level was associated with higher bacterial density. IL-1β was higher in ulcer patients and suspicious malignancy group as compared to normal group and higher level of IL-1β was associated with higher grades of metaplasia. Present study indicates that local immunity seems to have a protective role against H. pylori infection and higher level of IL-1β induced by the pathogen may be associated with metaplasia and carcinogenesis.  相似文献   

Environmental philosophies underlying the teaching of environmental education: a case study in India     

Karen Haydock  Himanshu Srivastava 《Environmental Education Research》2019,25(7):1038-1065

Abstract

This study consists of two interdependent parts. First we categorise the environmental philosophies prevalent amongst environmentalists in India by comparing the way the environmental crisis is understood and what its causes and solutions are thought to be. In the second part, we use this categorisation for a case study of three high school science teachers in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Our aim is to find out what environmental philosophies underlay their teaching. In order to do this, we collected data by interviewing the teachers, observing their classrooms, and studying their textbooks. We then looked through our data for indications of the environmental philosophies found in part 1. Although the interviews showed some signs of Gandhian, Appropriate Technology, Eco-marxist, and other philosophies, in the classrooms the teachers adhered mainly to Ecological Modernisation and Eco-capitalist philosophies, and rarely expressed their own opinions. Despite progressive policy statements, the teaching was mainly textbook based, neglecting to consider systemic causes or solutions. One of the most significant findings was the prevalence of an idealist faith in a ‘Balance of Nature’ which was trusted to rectify upsets caused by human immorality.  相似文献   

Chinese character recognition and literacy development via a techno-pedagogical pivot     

Olmanson  Justin  Liu  Xianquan  Heselton  Christopher C.  Srivastava  Asha  Wang  Nannan 《Educational technology research and development : ETR & D》2021,69(2):1299-1324

Educational technology research and development - This study investigates the effect of sequenced, time-delayed, multimodal Chinese language and communicative literacy supports on the ability of...  相似文献   

Studies on homocysteine demonstrating its significance as a possible tool for differential diagnosis in occlusive vascular disease     

Seema Bhargava  R. Parakh  L. M. Srivastava 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2004,19(1):76-78

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a non-protein forming amino-acid, whose metabolism is at the intersection of two metabolic pathways: remethylation and transsulfuration which are dependent on the vitamins folic acid, B₁₂ and B₆, and the enzymes methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and cystathionine-β-synthetase. A deficiency of any of these vitamins or enzymes results in hyperhomocysteinemia. This causes oxidative and other damage to blood vessels, thus affecting various organ systems of the body. As part of our ongoing research on cardiovascular risk factors, we have studied the Hcy levels in the plasma of normal controls and those suffering from vascular diseases. It was observed that Hcy is significantly higher in patients of vascular diseases (21.59±1.28 μmol/L, mean±SEM), as compared to normal controls (11.33±0.18 μmol/L). This significance, was more pronounced in cases of venous thrombosis (26.77±2.43 μmol/L) as opposed to cases of arterial block (17.27±0.84 μmol/L). This signifies that Hcy estimation would be beneficial in obtaining a differential diagnosis in addition to being a modifiable vascular risk factor.  相似文献   

Teaching-for-Learning (TFL): A Model for Faculty to Advance Student Learning     

Clifton F. Conrad  Jason Johnson  Divya Malik Gupta 《Innovative Higher Education》2007,32(3):153-165

In light of the widespread recognition of the enduring challenge of enhancing the learning of all students—including a growing number of students representing diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds—there has been an explosion of literature on teaching, learning, and assessment in higher education. Notwithstanding scores of promising new ideas, individual faculty in higher education need a dynamic and inclusive model to help them engage in a systematic and continuous process of exploring and testing various teaching and assessment practices to ensure the learning of their students. This paper introduces a model—Teaching-for-Learning (TFL)—developed to meet this need. Clifton F. Conrad received his bachelor’s degree in History and his master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Michigan. He is Professor of Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and his research focus is on college and university curricula with particular emphases on program quality, liberal education, and teaching and learning. Jason Johnson received his bachelor’s degree in Comparative History of Ideas and his master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Washington. He is nearing completion of his Ph.D. and working as a Teaching Assistant in Higher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his research focuses on rhetoric in higher education. Divya Malik Gupta received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Human Development and Family Studies from Maharaja Sayajirao University in Gujarat, India. She is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  相似文献   

Successful School Management in India: Case Studies of Navodaya Vidyalayas     

M.?S.?KhapardeEmail author  Ashok?K.?Srivastava  R.?Meganathan 《Educational Research for Policy and Practice》2004,3(3):243-265

This research explored the management devices followed in successful schools in the Indian context. In-depth case studies of three successful Navodaya schools were carried out. The schools were identified on the basis of the academic performance of students in the last three years in the national examinations and their participation in co-curricular activities at the regional and national levels. The study employed triangulation approach in which data were collected employing different methodologies (personal interviews, observations, and questionnaires/schedules) from various categories of respondents (principals, teachers, students, parents, and in some cases alumni) by a team of researchers. Results indicated that successful schools adopted participative management system in running day-to-day activities of the schools, gave people autonomy but also made them accountable for successful completion of the tasks, followed democratic methods of taking decisions, gave priority to the welfare of students, maintained supportive relationship with teachers, attempted to establish linkage with parents, set up higher and higher goals for themselves and the schools, adopted innovative pedagogical methods and evaluation devices, and recognized good work of the teachers. The results have implications for other schools where some of these devices can be tried out to improve their performance.The Asian Network of Training and Research Institutions in Educational Planning, International Institute of Educational Planning, Paris, sponsored this study.  相似文献   

Fringe thoughts on Indian scientific research with focus to biochemical and biomedical studies     

L. M. Srivastava 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2008,23(4):305-306

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