Department of Biotechnology

About: Department of Biotechnology is a government organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Silver nanoparticle. The organization has 4800 authors who have published 5033 publications receiving 82022 citations.

The Escalating Biomedical Waste Management To Control the Environmental Transmission of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Perspective from Two South Asian Countries.

Abstract: The global pandemic COVID-19 culminated in escalating biomedical waste (BMW) worldwide, and the management authorities are struggling with waste treatment. Bangladesh and India are two densely populated South Asian developing countries with limited resources. Both countries face mass community transmission of the disease, with India facing severe infections and deaths. Predictably, a large population might sum up to a large amount of COVID-19-related BMW. There is also the question of capacity, whether the existing BMW policies and regulations of the regions can manage the BMW strategically driven by the pressure of the pandemic. Here, we have shown a framework leading to further environmental and community transmission of the COVID-19 pandemic if the BMW generated at healthcare facilities and homes is not appropriately managed. The BMW, such as safety suits or personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, and shields, would likely damage the environment in the long run by creating microplastic pollution. Modification and modernization of the existing policies, plans, and guidelines on the proper management of the hospital and household infectious waste is suggested. Moreover, occupational health and safety assessments for waste management workers at the hospitals are recommended. Installing suitable capacity incinerators and related infrastructures are recommended for appropriate waste management. In the absence of incinerators, the existing industrial furnaces, cement kilns, and mobile incinerators can be used with a rapid impact assessment adhering to the appropriate implementations of the policies and guidelines.

Comparative assessment of effect of fermentation on phenolics, flavanoids and free radical scavenging activity of commonly used cereals

Abstract: The fermentation based enrichment of polyphenolics and antioxidants of commonly used cereals i.e. wheat, rice, oat, maize and sorghum was done using GRAS fungal strain A. oryzae . Significant (P O. sativa and T. aestivum followed by > S. bicolour > A. sativa > Z. mays which is mainly due to high enzyme activities as observed during their fermentation. A positive correlation was obtained between total phenol and flavanoid content with antioxidant activity. Role of α-amylase, xylanase and β-glucosidase enzymes in release of polyphenols and antioxidants during solid state fermentation of cereals was justified by a linear correlation obtained between total phenolic and flavanoid contents with enzyme activities.

Meta-analysis of glutathione S-transferase M1 genotype and risk toward head and neck cancer.

Abstract: Background. We sought to evaluate the estimated risk of GSTM1 null genotype and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Methods. The studies done so far for GSTM1 null genotype as a risk factor associated with head and neck cancer are not conclusive and have shown conflicting results. A meta-analysis has been carried out on 22 case-control studies collected from the literature. Precision of the risk estimate and presence of publication bias in those studies are also evaluated by funnel plot analysis. Results. A total of 3527 cases and 4211 controls constitute the subjects of meta-analysis. The principal outcome measured was the odds ratio (OR) for the risk of head and neck cancer. Pooling the studies together, the OR was 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.87). When stratified according to Asians and Caucasians, the OR increased in the Asians (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.29–2.90), suggesting that the risk is more pronounced in Asians. However, a substantial amount of publication bias is also associated with studies conducted on the Asian population. Conclusion. A review of the 22 case-control studies for risk of SCCHN and GSTM1 null genotype indicate that greater attention should be paid to designing future studies so that a more precise risk estimate can be achieved. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: XXX–XXX, 2005