Surface sterilization method for reducing microbial contamination of field grown strawberry explants intended for in vitro culture

An effective disinfection method for strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. Senga Sengana micropropagation using runner tips and nodal segments as explants was developed. The explants were surface sterilized with different sterilants for different durations. The present studies on the effect of different regimes of sterilization revealed that maximum aseptic cultures were obtained from both explants runner tips and nodal segments when treated with 1.5% sodium hypochlorite for 20 min plus ethyl alcohol 70% for 30 s, but the surviving percentage was less because this treatment resulted in necrosis and tissue injury of explants. However, mercuric chloride (0.1%) for 4 min resulted in less percentage of aseptic cultures but gave highest percentage of surviving explants as most of researchers have found that a single sterilant is more effective than the combination. Surface sterilization with mercuric chloride (0.1%) for 4 min was the optimum duration which resulted in highest percentage of explant survival.Keywords: In vitro, senga sengana, strawberry, sterilizationAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(39), pp. 5749-575

Sarjarasa Agnikarma in the pain management in Gridhrasi - A Case Study

Pain is the chief cause of visiting a doctor in most patients. Vata is responsible for all painful conditions in the body. Gridhrasi is one among Vataja Nanatmaja Vyadhi affecting the locomotor system in which pain is major symptom. The name itself indicates the way of gait shown by the patient due to extreme pain just like a Gridhrasi (Vulture). In Gridhrasi intense shooting pain start from Sphik Pradesha and radiates downwards to Kati, Prusta, Uru, Janu, Jangha and Pada in which the patient is unable to walk properly. On the basis of symptoms of Gridhrasi; it can be equated with the disease sciatica in modern science. It occurs due to spinal nerve irritation and is characterized by pain in distribution of sciatic nerve. Statistically it is estimated that low back pain and radiating pain due to lumbar disc prolapse are major cause of morbidity throughout the world. In Ayurveda, various methods used in treatment of Gridhrasi are Bheshaja , Snehana, Swedana, Siravedha, Agnikarma and Basti. Among these, Agnikarma is one of the para-surgical procedures which is very effective, simple, safe, and cost effective and having quick action. In current study a humble attempt is made to evaluate the role of Sarjarasa and as Dahanopakarana in the pain management in Gridhrasi w.s.r to sciatica. The study includes a case study of 29 year old female patient who insidiously developed pain in the low back region radiating to right leg. Agnikarma with Sarjarasa was performed for 4 sittings and assessment was done with subjective and objective parameters. After the treatment patient noticed relief from pain and stiffness and Gait improved considerably. Agnikarma with Sarjarasa is easy to perform, cost effective and patient friendly

Preparation of Apamarga Pratisaraneeya Kshara and its Physico-chemical Analysis

Introduction: Kshara is described in Anuyantras and Anushastras according to Acharya Sushruta. It is considered to be Pradhana among Shashtra and Anushashtra because of its Chedana, Bhedana, Lekhana property, as well as it is said to be Tridoshaghna and used for the special procedures. Pratisaraneya Kshara is been indicated externally for various disorders such as Arsha, Bhagandara, Kilasa. Materials and Methods: Pratisaraneeya Kshara with the drug Apamarga is prepared as per Acharya Sushruta’s description with 12 kg of Apamarga Panchanga. Results: Physico-chemical analysis: iron as Fe - 0.043%, sodium- 0.63%, potassium - 9.19%, ph value - 13.88, acid insoluble ash - 9.69%, loss on drying at 110 degree c - 64.24%, total ash - 47.03%, colour - white. Discussion: Physicochemical analysis shows ph value as alkaline, amount of insoluble ash, iron, sodium and potassium. Conclusion: The method of preparation of Pratisaraneeya Kshara holds good even for today’s era and can be considerd as standard protocol for Teekshana Pratisaraneeya Apamarga Kshara

Impact of carotenoids on gut microbiome: Implications in human health and disease

Carotenoids are the colored compounds that prominently occur in fruits, vegetables, flowers, algae, fungi, yeast, and marine organisms. The coloration of carotenoids is mainly due to varieties of conjugated double bonds, which act as a light-absorbing chromophores. β-Carotene, α-Carotene, Lycopene, Astaxanthin, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, β-Cryptoxanthin, α-Cryptoxanthin, γ-Carotene and Fucoxanthin are the common carotenoids of the human diet. This review aimed at providing scientific evidence supporting the benefits of nutritional carotenoid intake on gut microbiota modulation in different disease models. Carotenoids have some beneficial effects on human health, and it is due to the activity of pro-vitamin A and antioxidant function. Although mechanisms are under investigation, studies suggest that carotenoid intake may reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, eye disease, haematological disease, immune stimulants, and improve cognitive function. Recent studies have shown that carotenoids can modulate gut microbiota composition associated with host health. The human gut harbors a complex community of over 100 trillion microbial cells, influencing human physiology, metabolism, nutrition, and immune function. The combination of extrinsic (lifestyle and medication) and intrinsic (host genetics, immune and metabolic regulations) factors shapes the gut microbiota. Diet is a crucial modifiable factor influencing gut microbiota composition, indicating the potential for therapeutic dietary strategies to manipulate microbial diversity, design, and stability

Long-term myocardial recovery after mitral valve replacement in noncompaction cardiomyopathy

Isolated noncompaction of the left ventricle is a congenital cardiomyopathy, which has been described recently, with literature limited to case reports and case series. Even though various complications have been reported with noncompaction cardiomyopathy, among them severe mitral regurgitation has been reported recently in a few cases. There is no great evidence in the literature about its management, apart from some cases of mitral valve repair and replacement in young patients. We are reporting a case of an elderly lady with isolated left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy associated with severe mitral regurgitation treated with mitral valve replacement with one and half year of follow up demonstrating significant myocardial recovery

Functional Conservation of the Drosophila gooseberry Gene and Its Evolutionary Alleles

The Drosophila Pax gene gooseberry (gsb) is required for development of the larval cuticle and CNS, survival to adulthood, and male fertility. These functions can be rescued in gsb mutants by two gsb evolutionary alleles, gsb-Prd and gsb-Pax3, which express the Drosophila Paired and mouse Pax3 proteins under the control of gooseberry cis-regulatory region. Therefore, both Paired and Pax3 proteins have conserved all the Gsb functions that are required for survival of embryos to fertile adults, despite the divergent primary sequences in their C-terminal halves. As gsb-Prd and gsb-Pax3 uncover a gsb function involved in male fertility, construction of evolutionary alleles may provide a powerful strategy to dissect hitherto unknown gene functions. Our results provide further evidence for the essential role of cis-regulatory regions in the functional diversification of duplicated genes during evolution

Clinical outcomes of seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in pediatric inpatients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In April 2009, a novel influenza A H1N1 (nH1N1) virus emerged and spread rapidly worldwide. News of the pandemic led to a heightened awareness of the consequences of influenza and generally resulted in enhanced infection control practices and strengthened vaccination efforts for both healthcare workers and the general population. Seasonal influenza (SI) illness in the pediatric population has been previously shown to result in significant morbidity, mortality, and substantial hospital resource utilization. Although influenza pandemics have the possibility of resulting in considerable illness, we must not ignore the impact that we can experience annually with SI.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared the outcomes of pediatric patients ≤18 years of age at a large urban hospital with laboratory confirmed influenza and an influenza-like illness (ILI) during the 2009 pandemic and two prior influenza seasons. The primary outcome measure was hospital length of stay (LOS). All variables potentially associated with LOS based on univariable analysis, previous studies, or hypothesized relationships were included in the regression models to ensure adjustment for their effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were 133 pediatric cases of nH1N1 admitted during 2009 and 133 cases of SI admitted during the prior 2 influenza seasons (2007-8 and 2008-9). Thirty-six percent of children with SI and 18% of children with nH1N1 had no preexisting medical conditions (p = 0.14). Children admitted with SI had 1.73 times longer adjusted LOS than children admitted for nH1N1 (95% CI 1.35 - 2.13). There was a trend towards more children with SI requiring mechanical ventilation compared with nH1N1 (16 vs.7, p = 0.08).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study strengthens the growing body of evidence demonstrating that SI results in significant morbidity in the pediatric population. Pandemic H1N1 received considerable attention with strong media messages urging people to undergo vaccination and encouraging improved infection control efforts. We believe that this attention should become an annual effort for SI. Strong unified messages from health care providers and the media encouraging influenza vaccination will likely prove very useful in averting some of the morbidity related to influenza for future epidemics.</p

Study of Zγ events and limits on anomalous ZZγ and Zγγ couplings in pp̄ collisions at s=1.96TeV

We present a measurement of the Zγ production cross section and limits on anomalous ZZγ and Zγγ couplings for form-factor scales of Λ=750 and 1000 GeV. The measurement is based on 138 (152) candidates in the eeγ (μμγ) final state using 320(290)pb-1 of pp̄ collisions at s=1.96TeV. The 95% C.L. limits on real and imaginary parts of individual anomalous couplings are |h10,30Z|<0.23, |h20,40Z|<0.020, |h10,30γ|<0.23, and |h20,40γ|<0.019 for Λ=1000GeV. © 2005 The American Physical Society