The changes of serum lipids and metals' levels in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients were studied in comparison to normal subjects. The same parameters were also determined in presence of other diseases in conjunction to AMI such as diabetes and/or hypertension. Results showed that all patients' magnesium, copper, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Ch) levels were significantly higher than the corresponding values of controls. Serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Ch) levels were lower than values of controls but the decrease was significant in patients with AMI and AMI with diabetes. Also, serum iron significantly decreased in patients with AMI, diabetes and hypertension. In all patients serum zinc and total cholesterol (T-Ch) showed an appreciable increase compared to the control. Our findings emphasize the importance of lipids and metals measurements in AMI patients.

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Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient human scourge that continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. The risk of increasing spread of tuberculosis and development of drug resistance make early diagnosis a matter of utmost concern. Improved rapid methods for laboratory confirmation are therefore urgently required.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD), an important secretory protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has been ignored in the past for the development of a serodiagnostic test. We have evaluated the performance of an ELISA based on the detection of antibody to SOD in TB patients.
The presence of antibodies to SOD has been detected in most TB patients' sera. TB sera exhibited 93-94% positivity and showed a significantly higher response (p<0.0001) when compared with the serum samples from The Regional Blood Transfusion Centre. A slightly lower positive predictive value (77%) was obtained when Indian TB cases were compared with Indian normals. Similarly, an 88% positive predictive value was obtained with Egyptian TB cases. This test showed a significant level of specific response (p<0.0001). 25% of The Indian normals also found to contain a high level of antibodies to mycobacterial SOD. This may be due to the prevalence of M. tuberculosis or other mycobacteria in the environment or they may be early TB cases.
The test has a 98% specificity with 93-94% positive predictive value. However this is preliminary data and its performance needs to be evaluated on larger numbers of confirmed positive TB patients and controls.

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Synthesis of articulated robotic arms, comprising an assembly of three links and three revolute joints, is considered. Design criteria are laid and novel relationships are initiated for determining dimensions of the links to meet certain work space constraints. The procedure of synthesis is illustrated with an example. Likewise, functional relationships are configured between locations of the work piece and displacement variables. The consequences are discussed and conclusions are drawn.

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Three fractions from the leaves of Moringa oleifera were obtained on Sephadex G-25 column chromatography. Single bands of these fractions were detected on Polyacrylamide SDS gel electrophoresis. An antibacterial action of small protein/peptide was tested against E. coli Kl. aerogenes, KI. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. Fraction P1, P2 and P3 showed strong inhibitory activity against E. coli, S. aureus and B subtilis but clear zone of inhibition was also noted against K1. aerogenes with peptide 1. Fraction P2 showed ignificant zone of inhibition against Aspergillus niger.

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