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Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin that affects multiple systems, with the haematologic system being commonly involved. However, the co-existence of haemoglobinopathies and connective tissue disorders has rarely been investigated, and the available data on this matter are primarily anecdotal. Aim: To determine the prevalence of Haemoglobin E (HbE) haemoglobinopathy in adult SLE patients and to assess the association of HbE haemoglobinopathy and SLE with disease activity. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of General Medicine, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Hospital, Imphal, Manipur, India, from April 2021 to July 2022. The study included SLE patients diagnosed during the study period who attended the rheumatology Outpatient Department (OPD). The independent variables were age, gender, occupation, religion, and family history, while HbE haemoglobinopathy, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, and Systemic Lupus Activity Measure Revised Index (SLAM-R index) score were the dependent variables. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0, with proportions analysed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's-exact test, and means compared using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Of the 105 SLE patients included in the study, 93% were females. The majority of participants (36.2%) were in the age group of 21-30 years. Twenty-five patients (23.8%) had HbE haemoglobinopathy. Anaemia and MCV were significantly associated with HbE patients. Among the 25 HbE patients, 24 (96%) had active SLE disease. Among the HbE negative patients, 55 (68.7%) had active disease, while 25 (31.3%) did not have any active disease. Active SLE disease was significantly associated with HbE haemoglobinopathy (p-value=0.002). Conclusion: The overall prevalence of HbE haemoglobinopathy in SLE patients was found to be 24%. Hb levels and MCV levels were significantly lower in HbE patients. There was a significant association between active SLE disease and HbE haemoglobinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Water buffalo is an economically important livestock species and about half of its total world population exists in India. Development of stem cell technology in buffalo can find application in targeted genetic modification of this species. Testis has emerged as a source of pluripotent stem cells in mice and human; however, not much information is available in buffalo. Objectives and Methods: Pou5f1 (Oct 3/4) is a transcription factor expressed by pluripotent stem cells. Therefore, in the present study, expression of POU5F1 transcript and protein was examined in testes of both young and adult buffaloes by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analysis. Further, using the testis transplantation assay, a functional assay for spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), stem cell potential of gonocytes/spermatogonia isolated from prepubertal buffalo testis was also determined. Results: Expression of POU5F1transcript and protein was detected in prepubertal and adult buffalo testes. Western blot analysis revealed that the POU5F1 protein in the buffalo testis exists in two isoforms; large (∼47 kDa) and small (∼21 kDa). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that POU5F1 expression in prepubertal buffalo testis was present in gonocytes/ spermatogonia and absent from somatic cells. In the adult testis, POU5F1 expression was present primarily in post-meiotic germ cells such as round spermatids, weakly in spermatogonia and spermatocytes, and absent from elongated spermatids. POU5F1 protein expression was seen both in cytoplasm and nuclei of the stained germ cells. Stem cell potential of prepubertal buffalo gonocytes/spermatogonia was confirmed by the presence of colonized DBA-stained cells in the basal membrane of seminiferous tubules of xenotransplanted mice testis. Conclusion/Significance: These findings strongly indicate that gonocytes/spermatogonia, isolated for prepubertal buffalo testis can be a potential target for establishing a germ stem cell line that would enable genetic modification of buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing roof reflectance reduces absorption of solar radiation, roof surface temperature and heat ingress into the building. This leads to an increase in indoor comfort and reduction in room air temperature that in turn results in energy saving by reducing AC demand. To assess this impact of cool roofs on buildings in rural and peri-urban areas of India, a study was performed on two un-conditioned school buildings in Hyderabad (ZPH School) and Nagpur (VNHM School). Two classrooms of same size, function, and occupancy from both the school buildings were monitored for a period of ten weeks starting from March 2014 till May 2014. The data from the experiments and their analyses showed promising results. The average reduction and peak reduction in indoor air, roof underdeck and roof overdeck surface temperatures are 2.1 °C, 5.0 °C and 12.3 °C and 4.3 °C, 10.0 °C and 26.3 °C respectively for the room with white roof as opposed to grey roof in ZPH School and 1.5 °C, 4.0 °C and 9.5 °C, and 3.3 °C, 4.2 °C, and 25.2 °C respectively in VNHM School. The results from the experiment prove that white roof has a significant effect in reducing the indoor air temperatures in buildings due to reduction in outdoor and indoor roof surface temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]