Research on domestic violence documents the particular vulnerability of immigrant women due to reasons including social isolation, language barriers, lack of awareness about services, and racism on the part of services. Based on qualitative interviews with 30 South Asian women with insecure immigration status residing in Yorkshire and Northwest England, this article explores how inequalities created by culture, gender, class, and race intersect with state immigration and welfare policies in the United Kingdom, thereby exacerbating structures of patriarchy within minority communities. It is within these contexts that South Asian women with insecure immigration status experience intensified forms and specific patterns of abuse.

Involvement of mitochondrial and nuclear gene mutations in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been established well in various populations around the world. Previously, we have found the mitochondrial A>G transition at nucleotide position 3243 and 8296 in the T2D patients of Coimbatore population. This study is aimed to screen for the presence of various mitochondrial and nuclear DNA mutations in the T2D patients of Coimbatore to identify most prevalent mutation. This helps in identifying the susceptible individuals based on their clinical phenotype in future. Blood samples were collected from 150 unrelated late-onset T2D patients and 100 age-matched unrelated control samples according to World Health Organization criteria. Genotyping for the selected genes was done by polymerase chain reaction-single strand confirmation polymorphism, direct sequencing, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The mitochondrial T>C transition at 8356 and nuclear-encoded GLUT1 gene mutation were found in the selected T2D patients. The T8356C mutation was found in two patients (1.3%), and the clinical characteristics were found to be similar in both the patients whereas GLUT1 gene mutation was found in seven patients. Four out of seven patients showed homozygous (-) genotype and three patients showed heterozygous (±) genotype for the mutant allele XbaI. Among these three patients, one patient was found to have elevated level of urea and creatinine with the history of kidney dysfunction and chronic T2D. Our results suggest that the T8356C and GLUT1 gene mutations may have an important role in developing late-onset T2D in Coimbatore population. Particularly, individuals with GLUT1 gene may develop kidney dysfunction at their later age.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Antiretroviral drug concentrations are important determinants of clinical response to a drug accounting for both toxicity and efficacy. Several factors such as age, ethnicity, body weight and patients' immune status may influence antiretroviral drug concentrations. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of immunological status, sex and body mass index on the steady state pharmacokinetics of lamivudine (3TC) and stavudine (d4T) in HIV-infected adults, who were undergoing treatment with generic fixed dose combinations (FDC) of these drugs in India. METHODS: Twenty seven HIV-1 infected patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) for at least two weeks at the Government ART clinic at Tambaram, Chennai, took part in the study. Serial blood samples were collected predosing and at different time points after drug administration. Plasma 3TC and d4T levels were estimated by HPLC. RESULTS: The patients' immune status, sex or body mass index had no impact on the pharmacokinetics of 3TC. In the case of d4T, peak concentration was significantly lower in patients with CD4 cell counts < 200 cells/mul than those with>/= 200 cells/ mul (P < 0.05), but were within the therapeutic range. The mean CD4 cell counts increased from 101 cells/mul at initiation of ART to 366 cells/mul at 12 months of treatment. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Blood levels of 3TC and d4T drugs that are part of generic FDCs commonly used by HIV-infected individuals in India were within the therapeutic range and not influenced by nutritional or immune status. There was a significant improvement in CD4 cell counts over 12 months of treatment. Indian generic FDCs manufactured and used widely in the developing world provide effective concentrations of antiretroviral drugs.

This paper describes a simple chemical co-precipitation method for preparing nano-sized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanospheres. The morphological, thermal, structural, and chemical features of ZnO nanospheres were systematically studied and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermo gravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The SEM micrographs reveal that the particles are spherical in nature and the precipitating agent ammonia plays a critical role in controlling the morphology of the nanospheres. Crystalline ZnO phase is obtained at higher annealing temperature and there by reduce the contents of the hydrated species. Powder XRD pattern indicated that the nanospheres exhibit wurtzite hexagonal ZnO phase. The average crystallite sizes of the ZnO nanospheres were calculated to be 14 nm for as-prepared sample and 16 nm for 500 degrees C annealed sample. The peak broadening in ZnO nanospheres due to lattice deformation was analyzed by plotting various modified form of W-H analysis such as uniform deformation model, uniform stress deformation model, and uniform deformation energy density model. From the three models, the strain values epsilon and the crystallite size D(v) were estimated and tabulated. The growth and the formation of ZnO were predicted and the results were confirmed by FT-IR studies.

The dose of efavirenz during concomitant rifampicin administration is a matter of debate. We studied the influence of rifampicin co-administration on the steady state pharmacokinetics of efavirenz in HIV-1-infected patients in south India. Fifty seven HIV-TB and 15 HIV-1-infected patients, receiving combination antiretroviral therapy with an efavirenz (600mg once daily)-containing regimen were recruited. HIV-TB co-infected patients were receiving treatment with rifampicin-containing regimens. A complete pharmacokinetic study was conducted in 19 HIV-TB patients on two occasions (with and without rifampicin). Trough concentration of efavirenz was measured in the remaining 38 patients, during rifampicin co-administration. The 15 HIV-infected patients underwent complete pharmacokinetic sampling on one occasion. Plasma efavirenz was estimated by HPLC and genotyping of CYP2B6 G516T polymorphism was performed by sequencing. Peak & trough concentration and exposure of efavirenz were significantly higher in TT than in GT and GG genotypes (p < 0.001). Although rifampicin co-administration decreased the peak & trough concentration and exposure of efavirenz by 17.8, 20.4 and 18.6% respectively, the differences were not statistically significant. The trough concentration of efavirenz was sub-therapeutic (less than 1.0 microg/ml) in six out of 72 patients (8%). In this south Indian population of HIV-infected patients, CYP2B6 G516T polymorphism but not RMP co-administration significantly influences the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz; patients with TT genotype had very high blood levels of efavirenz. While a small proportion of patients had sub-therapeutic efavirenz levels, the clinical implications are uncertain, as all had good immunological response to CART.

Reserpine is a monoterpene indole alkaloid used to treat hypertension because of its hypotensive property and psychiatric disorders because of its tranquilizing effect. Protocol has been standardized to enhance the synthesis of reserpine in leaf derived calli of Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. by adjusting the auxins combinations in the medium consisting of MS nutrient salts and B5 vitamins. Auxins such as naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were used in 1-5 microM concentration along with 9 microM concentration of 2,4 dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), which was found suitable for callus induction. The combination of (2,4-D) with NAA had been proved to accumulate maximum amount of reserpine followed by 2,4-D with IBA. The IAA with 2,4-D combination yielded very less amount of reserpine than the other combinations and 9 microM 2,4-D alone. The results suggest that there may be synergetic effect of NAA with 2,4-D and IBA with 2,4-D for increase in the biomass and reserpine accumulation and antagonistic effect of IAA with 2,4-D for the above said factors in the callus.

Background and Objectives: A variety of demographic factors, sex, and degree of immunosuppression can influence antiretroviral drug concentrations. The authors studied the influence of immune status, sex, and body mass index (BMI) on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of nevirapine delivered as a fixed-dose combination in HIV-1-infected patients in India. METHODS: Twenty-six HIV-1-infected adult patients undergoing treatment with nevirapine-based highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens participated in the study. Pharmacokinetic variables were compared between patients divided based on CD4 cell counts, sex, and BMI. RESULTS: Patients with higher BMI had lower peak and trough concentration and exposure of nevirapine than those with lower BMI; none of the differences in the pharmacokinetic variables of nevirapine between the various patient groups was statistically significant. Conclusions: Patients' immune status, sex, or BMI had no impact on the pharmacokinetics of nevirapine. Plasma nevirapine concentrations were maintained within the therapeutic range of the drug in the majority of the patients.

BACKGROUND: Despite the synergy between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics, the public health responses have largely been separate. Detection of HIV among TB patients is crucial to the holistic management of HIV-TB co-infected patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of screening all TB patients for HIV through referral to a voluntary counselling and testing centre. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study of 4802 newly diagnosed TB patients between July 2005 and June 2006 was performed in Tamilnadu, India, at six sites. RESULTS: Of 4802 patients invited, 69% were willing to participate in the test. The most significant variables that influenced willingness were sex, age and place of residence (P < 0.01). The other significant variables that influenced willingness to participate were higher education, being employed and being married (P < 0.05). The main reasons for refusal of HIV screening among the patients were 'no risk behaviour'(30%), followed by 'too old'(23%) and for reasons of privacy (12%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that it is feasible to routinely test TB patients for HIV. However it is crucial for health providers to focus on an effective referral process keeping patient concerns in mind. Motivation strategies need to be sex-, age-, education- and residence-specific.