Biological affinities between the migrant groups of fishermen of Puri Coast, Orissa, India

Biological affinities between the three endogamous groups of marine fishermen of Puri are examined with the help of nine anthropometric measurements and 22 dermatoglyphic traits of fingers and palms. The results are interpreted in the light of their ethnic, geographical, and migrational backgrounds. Multiple discriminant analysis and Mahalanobis's generalized distances suggest higher discrimination of populations with reference to anthropometric traits as compared to that in dermatoglyphic variables. While the nature of interpopulation distances conforms to the geographic pattern in anthropometrics, no clear picture emerges in the dermatoglyphic distances supporting either ethnic or geographic evidence.     

Structure of the d-galactan isolated from garlic (Allium sativum) Bulbs

Hot-water extraction of defatted garlic-bulbs yielded a mixture of polysaccharides containing a d-galactan, a d-galacturonan, an l-arabinan a d-glucan, and a d-fructan. A trace of l-rhamnose was also detected in the polysaccharide by hydrolyzate. The pectic acid was partially removed by precipitation with aqueous calcium chloride; from the remaining polysaccharide mixture a pure d-galactan containing 97.3% of d-galactose was isolated by fractional precipitation repeated chromatography through a column of DEAE-cellulose. Methanolysis and hydrolysis of the permethylated d-galactan yielded 2,3,4,6-tetra-,2,3,6-tri-, and 2,3-di-O-methyl-d-galactose in the molar proportions of 1:2:1. On periodate oxidation the d-galactan reduced 1.18 molar equivalents of the oxidant per d-galactosyl residue, and liberated one molar equivalent or formic acid per 4.13 d-galactosyl residues. Smith degradation of the d-galactan was also conducted. From these results, a structure has been assigned to the repeating unit of the d-galactan.     

Graded-hydrolysis studies on bael (aegle marmelos) gum

Graded hydrolysis of purified bael gum afforded three neutral and two acidic oligosaccharides, together with monosaccharides. These sugars were identified through periodate oxidation, methylation, reduction with lithium aluminum hydride, co-chromatography, and preparation of crystalline derivatives. The neutral oligosaccharides were characterized as 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-L-arabinose, 5-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-L-arabinose, and 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-galactose, and the acidic oligosaccharides as 3-O-(β-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid)-D-galactose and 3-O-(β-D-galactopyranosyluronic acid)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-D-galactose.     

Study of blood groups and haemoglobin variants among the Santal tribe in Midnapore District of West Bengal, India

Blood specimens of the Santals in Midnapore District of West Bengal, India were tested for the antigens A, B, C, D, E, c and e, when the incidence of B gene was found to be 26.8%. Another feature of the Santals was the high frequency (74.6%) of CDe chromosome with complete absence of cde. Trace of sickle-cell trait was also noticed among the Santals as is known to occur in some of the aboriginal tribes of the Nilgiri Hills, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Western India. HbS was the only haemoglobin variant detected among them.     

Uteroglobin is essential in preventing immunoglobulin A nephropathy in mice.

The molecular mechanism(s) of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, the most common primary renal glomerular disease worldwide, is unknown. Its pathologic features include hematuria, high levels of circulating IgA-fibronectin (Fn) complexes, and glomerular deposition of IgA, complement C3, Fn and collagen. We report here that two independent mouse models (gene knockout and antisense transgenic), both manifesting deficiency of an anti-inflammatory protein, uteroglobin (UG), develop almost all of the pathologic features of human IgA nephropathy. We further demonstrate that Fn-UG heteromerization, reported to prevent abnormal glomerular deposition of Fn and collagen, also abrogates both the formation of IgA-Fn complexes and their binding to glomerular cells. Moreover, UG prevents glomerular accumulation of exogenous IgA in UG-null mice. These results define an essential role for UG in preventing mouse IgA nephropathy and warrant further studies to determine if a similar mechanism(s) underlies the human disease.     

Diterpenoid quinones of Salvia lanata

Two diterpenoid quinones, 20-hydroxy-7α-acetoxyroyleanone and royleanone, have been isolated from the whole plant (aerial parts and roots) of Salvia lanata.