Jawaharlal Nehru University

About: Jawaharlal Nehru University is a education organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Politics. The organization has 6082 authors who have published 13455 publications receiving 245407 citations. The organization is also known as: JNU.

The Challenges Confronting Public Hospitals in India, Their Origins, and Possible Solutions

Abstract: Despite the implementation of National Rural Health Mission over a period of nine years since 2005, the public health system in the country continues to face formidable challenges. In the context of plans for rolling out “Universal Health Care” in the country, this paper analyzes the social, economic, and political origins of the major challenges facing public hospitals in India. The view taken therein holds the class nature of the ruling classes in the country and the development paradigm pursued by them as being at the root of the present problems being faced by public hospitals. The suggested solutions are in tune with these realities.

Modulatory influence of Adhatoda vesica (Justicia adhatoda) leaf extract on the enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism, antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in mice.

Abstract: The effect of two different doses (50 and 100 mg/kg body wt/day for 14 days) of 80% ethanolic extract of the leaves of Adhatoda vesica were examined on drug metabolizing phase I and phase II enzymes, antioxidant enzymes, glutathione content, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid peroxidation in the liver of 8 weeks old Swiss albino mice The modulatory effect of the extract was also examined on extra-hepatic organs viz lung, kidney and forestomach for the activities of glutathione S-transferase, DT-diaphorase, superoxide dismutase and catalase Significant increase in the activities of acid soluble sulfhydryl (-SH) content, cytochrome P450, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, cytochrome b5, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), DT-diaphorase (DTD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were observed in the liver at both dose levels of treatments Adhatoda vesica acted as bifunctional inducer since it induced both phase I and phase II enzyme systems Both the treated groups showed significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in liver, suggesting its role in protection against prooxidant induced membrane damage The cytosolic protein was significantly inhibited at both the dose levels of treatment indicating the possibility of its involvement in the inhibition of protein synthesis BHA has significantly induced the activities of GR and GSH in the present study The extract was effective in inducing GST and DTD in lung and forestomach, and SOD and CAT in kidney Thus, besides liver, other organs viz, lung, kidney and forestomach were also stimulated by Adhatoda, to increase the potential of the machinery associated with the detoxification of xenobiotic compounds But, liver and lung showed a more consistent induction Since the study of induction of the phase I and phase II enzymes is considered to be a reliable marker for evaluating the chemopreventive efficacy of a particular compound, these findings are suggestive of the possible chemopreventive role played by Adhatoda leaf extract

In Vitro Low-Level Resistance to Azoles in Candida albicans Is Associated with Changes in Membrane Lipid Fluidity and Asymmetry

Abstract: The present study tracks the development of low-level azole resistance in in vitro fluconazole-adapted strains of Candida albicans, which were obtained by serially passaging a fluconazole-susceptible dose-dependent strain, YO1-16 (fluconazole MIC, 16 μg ml−1) in increasing concentrations of fluconazole, resulting in strains YO1-32 (fluconazole MIC, 32 μg ml−1) and YO1-64 (MIC, 64 μg ml−1). We show that acquired resistance to fluconazole in this series of isolates is not a random process but is a gradually evolved complex phenomenon that involves multiple changes, which included the overexpression of ABC transporter genes, e.g., CDR1 and CDR2, and the azole target enzyme, ERG11. The sequential rise in fluconazole MICs in these isolates was also accompanied by cross-resistance to other azoles and terbinafine. Interestingly, fluorescent polarization measurements performed by using the fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene revealed that there was a gradual increase in membrane fluidity of adapted strains. The increase in fluidity was reflected by observed change in membrane order, which was considerably decreased (decrease in fluorescence polarization values, P value) in the adapted strain (P value of 0.1 in YO1-64, compared to 0.19 in the YO1-16 strain). The phospholipid composition of the adapted strain was not significantly altered; however, ergosterol content was reduced in YO1-64 from that in the YO1-16 strain. The asymmetrical distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) between two monolayers of plasma membrane was also changed, with PE becoming more exposed to the outer monolayer in the YO1-64 strain. The results of the present study suggest for the first time that changes in the status of membrane lipid phase and asymmetry could contribute to azole resistance in C. albicans.

Modelling glacier-bed overdeepenings and possible future lakes for the glaciers in the Himalaya-Karakoram region

Abstract: Surface digital elevation models (DEMs) and slope-related estimates of glacier thickness enable modelling of glacier-bed topographies over large ice-covered areas. Due to the erosive power of glaciers, such bed topographies can contain numerous overdeepenings, which when exposed following glacier retreat may fill with water and form new lakes. In this study, the bed overdeepenings for ~28 000 glaciers (40 775 km2) of the Himalaya-Karakoram region are modelled using GlabTop2 (Glacier Bed Topography model version 2), in which ice thickness is inferred from surface slope by parameterizing basal shear stress as a function of elevation range for each glacier. The modelled ice thicknesses are uncertain (±30%), but spatial patterns of ice thickness and bed elevation primarily depend on surface slopes as derived from the DEM and, hence, are more robust. About 16 000 overdeepenings larger than 104m2 were detected in the modelled glacier beds, covering an area of ~2200 km2 and having a volume of ~120km3 (3-4% of present-day glacier volume). About 5000 of these overdeepenings (1800 km2) have a volume larger than 106m3. The results presented here are useful for anticipating landscape evolution and potential future lake formation with associated opportunities (tourism, hydropower) and risks (lake outbursts).

Lead sorptive removal using magnetic and nonmagnetic fast pyrolysis energy cane biochars

Abstract: Energy cane biochar (ECBC) was prepared in a 72 s fast pyrolysis at 425 °C in an auger-fed reactor and ground into 250-600 μm diameter particles. This biochar was magnetized by fusing an iron oxide phase to the particles by mixing aqueous biochar suspensions with aqueous Fe(3+)/Fe(2+) solutions, followed by NaOH treatment (MECBC). These biochars were characterized by Raman, FT-IR, X-ray, SEM, SEM-EDX, TEM, EDXRF, pHzpc, elemental analyses, S(BET), and magnetic moment determinations. The S(BET) of energy cane biochar was negligible and increased to 37.13 m(2)/g after Fe(3+)/Fe(2+)/NaOH magnetization. The dry biochar contains 18.4% oxygen. This allows swelling in water and permits sorption inside the solid as well as on its pore surfaces, leading to high capacities at low surface areas. Maximum lead removal occurred at pH 4-5. Sorption isotherms exhibited increasing lead removal (Q(0), mg/g) as temperature increased for nonmagnetic [Q(0)(25 °C)=45.70; Q(0)(35 °C)=52.01 and Q(0)(45 °C)=69.37] and magnetic [Q(0)(25 °C)=40.56; Q(0)(35 °C)=51.17 and Q(0)(45 °C)=51.75] biochars. Second order kinetics best fit the lead removal data. Furthermore, magnetic energy cane biochar was easily manipulated by low external magnetic field, thereby, allowing its easy recovery for further recycling and replacement from water. ECBC and MECBC were also successfully applied for Pb(2+) removal from contaminated ground water. Therefore, both chars can be used as potential green low cost sorbents for lead remediation to replace commercial activated carbon.