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The study aims to characterize mutations of the HBV genome involving BCP, Precore/core and X regions and also defines HBV genotypes in patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study involved 150 HBV-related HCC cases and 136 HBV-related chronic liver disease patients without HCC as controls. HBV DNA was subjected to mutational analysis using SSCP technique, genotyping by RFLP, and direct nucleotide sequencing. HBV DNA was found in 58.7% (88/150) of the HCC cases and 74.3% (101/136) of controls. HBV mutants were observed in 44.3% of HCC cases and 43.2% of controls. HBV/D was prevalent amongst the patients and controls, followed by HBV/A. The prevalence of the TT1504 mutation in the X gene, the V1753 and T1762/A1764 mutations in the BCP region, and G1914 mutation in the core gene were significantly higher in the HCC group than in the non-HCC group. Multivariate analyses showed that the TT1504, V1753, A1762T/G1764A, and the G1914 mutations and the patient's age, sex, and HBeAg status increased the risk of HCC development significantly. Also, patients with HCC had lower levels of serum albumin, viral load, and platelet counts but higher values of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, and Alpha feto-protein than those of controls (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). HBV/D was the predominant genotype associated with HCC cases seen in India. The presence of different types of HBV mutations, age, sex, HBeAg status, and viral load was found to increase significantly the risk of HCC development in India.

Abstract. Linear and nonlinear ion acoustic waves in the presence of adiabatically heated ions in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas are studied. The Sagdeev potential approach is employed to obtain the energy integral equation in such a mulitcomponent plasma using fluid theory. It is found that electron density humps are formed in the subsonic region in magnetized electron-positron-ion plasmas. The amplitude of electron density hump is decreased with the increase of hot ion temperature in electron-positron-ion plasmas. However, the increase in positron concentration and obliqueness of the wave increases the amplitude of nonlinear structure. The increase in positron concentration also reduces the width of the nonlinear structure in a magnetized multicomponent plasma. The numerical solutions in the form of solitary pulses are also presented for different plasma cases. The results may be applicable to astrophysical plasma situations, where magnetized electron-positron-ion plasma with hot ions can exist. PACS

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SUMMARY. The specific binding of 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMB) with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) was studied including molecular analysis of the GAG species using mass spectrometry. The dye solution was unstable under any storage conditions. Inorganic analysis showed that the purity of the dye was variable from different sources. False negative results could be obtained when using impure dye. Binding of the dye with GAG resulted in the formation of a complex with an absorption maximum at 525 nm. The absorbance of the complex was linearly correlated with GAG concentration up to 150 mg/L. The specific molar extinction coefficients of individual GAG molecules were calculated in relation to the molar absorbance of the GAG-dye complex and the carbon and nitrogen contents of the GAGs. The results indicated that binding of dye occurred at both the ionized sulphate and carboxyl groups on the GAG molecules. Improvements of the DMB-binding method for the measurement of GAGs are suggested.