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Background: HIV is pandemic and remains as a public health concern for many decades. This infection though associated with many opportunistic infections and neoplasms, it is further complicated with marked hematological abnormalities. The aim of this study is to determine the magnitude & severity of hematological abnormalities in HIV infected individuals and also to analyze these abnormalities in correlation with the CD4 counts. We also compared these hematological abnormalities in patients on ART and those not on ART.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted for a period of one year, on 120 HIV positive cases including both patients on ART & not on ART. Controls with similar age and sex distribution was set up. The blood samples were collected and processed in an automated cell counter. The parameters were tabulated and analyzed with respect to CD4 count & ART status.Results: Among the total of 120 HIV cases, 77% had anemia, 21% had leucopenia and 5% had thrombocytopenia. The magnitude and severity of anemia, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and other parameters was found to be more in patients not on ART, when compared to patients on ART. Similarly, the magnitude and severity of most of hematological abnormalities were inversely proportional to the CD4 count in non-ART cases but not with cases on ART.Conclusion: The basic hematological parameters can be used as a prospective screening test to assess the severity and progression of HIV infection when CD4 count is not available. These parameters can also be used to assess the response to anti-retroviral treatment. Therefore, these basic hematological investigations readily available at all medical centers are of great use while treating HIV infected patients.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.7(4) 2016 14-18

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder caused due to loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta, which occurs the presence of Lewy bodies made up of Alpha-synuclein (ASN) aggregation resulting in neuronal death. This study aims to identify potent 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (DHF) derivatives to inhibit the ASN aggregation from in silico analysis. Molecular docking study reveals that carbamic ester derivatives of DHF [DHF-BAHPC (8q), DHF-BAHPEC (8s), DHF-BAHEC (8p), DHF-BDOPC (8c), DHF-BAPEC (8n) and DHF-BAMC (8h)] have good binding affinity towards ASN, when compared with DHF and L-DOPA; their docking score values are −16.3120, −16.1875, −15.2223, −14.3118, −14.2893, -14.2810, −14.0383, and −9.1560 kcal/ mol respectively.The in silico pharmacological evaluation shows that these molecules exhibit the druglikeness and ADMET properties. Molecular dynamics simulation confirms the stability of the molecules with ASN. The intermolecular interaction analyzed under the dynamic condition, allows to identify the candidate which potentially inhibits ASN aggregation. Hence, we propose that DHF derivatives are the potential lead drug molecules and preclinical studies are needed to confirm the promising therapeutic ability against PD.Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impairment of motor functions due to complete loss of dopamine in the midbrain. Clinically, PD characterized by behavioral impairments such as rigidity, tremor, postural instability and bradykinesia 1 . Alpha-synuclein (ASN), a PD associated protein, misfolds and accumulates in the brain through protein aggregation. Post-mortem studies showed that these aggregated filamentous termed as a Lewy body, the neurotoxicity is a main factor involved in PD and other disorders such as Alzheimer and Prion disease 2 . Studies report that the loss of dopaminergic neurons in PD is partly due to the overexpression of ASN in the cytoplasm of neurons. ASN expression increases in the substantia nigra with the response of age in rhesus monkeys and humans 3 . The unfolded ASN protein does not have a secondary structure under the physiological condition. However, changes in various environmental factors (agitation, ion strength, pH) induces the formation of amyloid-like fibrils and ASN aggregates in vitro 4 . Comparatively, ASN has more cytotoxicity than the amyloid proteins, which generate amyloid-like fibrils 5 . To prevent the aggregation

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Inulinase are industrial food enzymes which have gained much attention in recent scenario. In this study, Inulinase producing eight bacterial colonies were isolated and screened from three different plant root tubers soil sample. Among 8 inulinase producing colonies, the higher yielding colony was selected with 25.10 U/mL for further studies. The best inulinase producing colony was identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequence as Bacillus sp. The crude inulinase was purified by using ammonium sulphate precipitation, dialysis and ion exchange chromatography on DEAE – sephacel and obtained 1.9 purification fold with total activity 293 U. The purified enzyme was subjected to characterization studies and it was found to be stable at 30–60 °C and optimum temperature was at 55 °C. The enzyme was stable at pH 3.0–7.0 and optimum pH was at 6.5. The Km and Vmax value for inulinase was found to be 0.117 mg/mL and 4.45 μmol min mg−1 respectively, demonstrate its greater affinity. Hence, this enzyme can be widely used for the production of fructose, and fructooligosaccharides, which are important ingredients in food and pharmaceutical industry.

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