Mean UMCP-1 levels were significantly higher in the lupus nephritis flare group as compared to non-renal flare and stable patients. Baseline mean UMCP-1 levels significantly correlated with both lupus nephritis class and severity of lupus nephritis flare, hence UMCP-1 could be used as a non-invasive marker for the judgement of lupus flare and lupus nephritis class.

BACKGROUND:The dose requirements for oral anticoagulants in thromboembolic events are influenced by promoter polymorphism in the VKORC1 gene. However, limited data are available on the influence of the polymorphism in various Indian populations. The present study aimed at determining the relationship between the VKORC1-1639 G>A genotypes and maintenance doses of oral anticoagulants for therapeutically stable INR values in patients taking Acitrom after valve replacement surgery.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Fifty patients from the northern Indian region were genotyped for VKORC1-1639 G>A by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Means of the weight-normalized daily Acitrom dose were calculated for every patient.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:The VKORC1 1639G>A minor allele frequency in the study population (n = 50) was found to be 22%. The patients with a wild type genotype required the maximum drug dose as suggested for full functionality of the enzyme. Heterozygous patients were found to have an intermediate drug dose and the patients with a variant homozygous genotype had the minimum maintenance drug dose requirement. These findings are in concurrence with the effect of the promoter polymorphism on vitamin K epoxide reductase activity.1639G>A minor allele frequency in the study population (n = 50) was found to be 22%. The patients with a wild type genotype required the maximum drug dose as suggested for full functionality of the enzyme. Heterozygous patients were found to have an intermediate drug dose and the patients with a variant homozygous genotype had the minimum maintenance drug dose requirement. These findings are in concurrence with the effect of the promoter polymorphism on vitamin K epoxide reductase activity.CONCLUSION:The VKORC1-1639 G>A status can be indicative of establishing the therapeutic dose of oral anticoagulants in Indian patients.

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The present investigation was carried out to assess heritability, genetic advance and inter se associations of physiological, oil and seed meal quality characters in diverse accessions of Indian mustard. Significant mean sum of squares indicated genotypic differences for all the physiological and oil and seed meal quality characters investigated except protein content. Estimates of heritability and genetic advance were high for harvest index, specific leaf weight and total dry matter at 50% flowering suggesting the dominant role of additive gene action in their inheritance. The phenotypic and genotypic correlations of seed yield with biological yield/plant and harvest index were positive and significant indicating the usefulness of these characters in selection. Reduction in erucic acid would also bring forth correlated increase in oleic, linoleic and linolenic fatty acids owing to its negative associations with all the fatty acids except eicosenoic acid.