Analysis of aged and cataract lenses shows the presence of increased amounts of crystallin fragments in the high molecular weight aggregates of water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions. However, the significance of accumulation and interaction of low molecular weight crystallin fragments in aging and cataract development is not clearly understood. In this study, 23 low molecular mass (<3.5-kDa) peptides in the urea-soluble fractions of young, aged, and aged cataract human lenses were identified by mass spectroscopy. Two peptides, ␣B-(1-18) (MDIAIHHPWIRRPFFPFH) and ␤A3/A1-(59 -74) (SD(N)AYHIERLMSFRPIC), present in aged and cataract lens but not young lens, and a third peptide, ␥S-(167-178) (SPAVQSFRRIVE) present in all three lens groups were synthesized to study the effects of interaction of these peptides with intact ␣-, ␤-, and ␥-crystallins and alcohol dehydrogenase, a protein used in aggregation studies. Interaction of ␣B-(1-18) and ␤A3/A1-(59 -74) peptides increased the scattering of light by ␤-and ␥-crystallin and alcohol dehydrogenase. The ability of ␣-crystallin subunits to function as molecular chaperones was significantly reduced by interaction with ␣B-(1-18) and ␤A3/ A1-(59 -74) peptides, whereas ␥S peptide had no effect on chaperone-like activity of ␣-crystallin. The ␤A3/A1-(59 -74 peptide caused a 5.64-fold increase in ␣B-crystallin oligomeric mass and partial precipitation. Replacing hydrophobic residues in ␣B-(1-18) and ␤A3/A1-(59 -74) peptides abolished their ability to induce crystallin aggregation and light scattering. Our study suggests that interaction of crystallin-derived peptides with intact crystallins could be a key event in age-related protein aggregation in lens and cataractogenesis.

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Burn injuries constitute a major public health problem and account for a significant cause of mortality and morbidity amongst the Indian population. This 2‐year prospective study was undertaken to find out the exact epidemiological determinants of 737 patients admitted with burn injuries and, thus, to try and formulate effective preventive strategies. This study was conducted in the department of plastic surgery and burns from September 2011 to June 2013. All consecutive patients with major burns admitted for in‐hospital treatment during the study period were included in the study. The data collected included age, gender, cause and mode of burns, total burn surface area (TBSA), microbiological profile and outcome. More than 55% of the patients were female (58.61%). The mean age was 31.3 years ranging from 8 months to 89 years. A higher number of females (97.5%) sustained burn injuries at home compared with 36.11% males sustaining injuries outdoors. (P = 0.000). Almost one third of injuries (40.36%) occurred between 4 pm and 8 pm, followed by 28% between 7 am and 12 noon. Synthetic garments were worn by 70% of females at the time of injury, whereas 40% of males had worn mixed clothing (P = 0.000). Flame injuries contributed to 80.1% of burns in females (P = 0.006). The rate of electrical injuries (9.8%) was significantly higher in males (P = 0.005). In almost 40% of males, TBSA was <19%, whereas in 40% of females, TBSA was >68%. (P = 0.004). Microbial profile showed that pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 260; 35.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 209; 28.5%), and Escherichia coli (n = 145; 22.6%) were the most frequent types of Staphylococci bacterial growths. The cause for burn injury was ignition of clothes in 68.74% females, and in 35.48% males, it was because of an attempt to save other burn injury victims (P = 0.013) The case fatality rate was 29.3%. A majority of the males (60.7%) recovered, whereas 45.89% of females succumbed because of their burn injury. (P = 0.001). As the aetiological factors of burn injuries vary considerably in different communities, careful study of the pattern in every community is needed before a sound prevention programme can be planned and implemented. Hence, this study was conducted to assess epidemiological, modes, causes, and risk factors and the microbial profile of burn injuries and to study the outcomes.

Objective The present study was carried out to assess the effects of fenugreek seed extract on various biochemical and haematological parameters in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. Methods Female Wistar rats were allocated into five groups (n = 6): 1) control rats, 2) HFD-fed control rats 3) rats fed with HFD and fenugreek (FG) seed extract at doses of 200 mg/kg/day, 300 mg/kg/day, and 400 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks. Blood was collected to examine the biochemical and haematological parameters using a veterinary blood cell counter; blood indices such as MCV, MCH, MCHC, red blood cell distribution width, haemoglobin (Hb) levels, haematocrit, and platelet counts were measured. Blood samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min at room temperature to obtain serum for the estimation of lipid profiles, and aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels. Results Rats fed with FG at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day showed a significant increase in the red blood cell count, Hb levels, haematocrit, and MCV, and a significant decrease in the lymphocyte count. The total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein levels increased significantly ( p < 0.05) in rats from the HFD control group, compared to those in the normal control group, but decreased significantly in rats fed with 400 mg/kg/day of FG. Conclusion The results of the current study suggest that FG seed extract exhibits hypolipidaemic activity and significantly improves the activity of hepatic enzymes, and the blood counts and indices in rats with HFD-induced obesity.