ETHNOMYCOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OF SOME WILD MUSHROOMS OF NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA

  Objective: Mushrooms are known for their nutritional and medicinal importance from ancient times throughout the world. The use of mushrooms as valuable tonic, food, and ethnomedicines has also been reported from India. However, information on the ethnomedicinal use of mushrooms is not available from the surveyed area of Kashmir valley. Therefore, the objective of this work is to study the ethnomedicinal use of wild mushrooms from the Northern districts of Jammu and Kashmir.Materials and Methods: Different remote areas of Northern districts, Baramulla and Kupwara of Kashmir Valley were surveyed to document the indigenous use of various mushrooms growing in the area by local tribal people and local herbalists. Mushroom hunters, local Hakims, herbalists and aged people from tribal communities and nomads were consulted, interviewed and taken as guides to collect various mushroom species.Results: The mushroom samples collected from the study area were used as a source of food and medicines for different ailments. The specimens collected were photographed by Sony cyber shot 12.1 megapixel camera in their natural habitats and were identified on the basis of macro and microscopic characters, expert mushroom taxonomists, field guides and standard related literature. The study revealed that 33 mushroom species belonging to Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes were used for their nutritional and medicinal values. These mushrooms were used by the local hakims against various ailments ranging from respiratory, blood and heart ailments, arthritis, nervous and urogenital diseases either alone or in combination with some herbs.Conclusions: It was concluded from this study that all the mushrooms used by the local tribal people and local herbalists for different ailments can be further evaluated for medicinal value and for bioactive constituents

Genetic diversity analysis in the Hypericum perforatum populations in the Kashmir valley by using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers

Assessment of genetic variability among the Hypericum perforatum populations is critical to the development of effective conservation  strategies in the Kashmir valley. To obtain accurate estimates of genetic diversity among and within populations of H. perforatum, inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers were used. The study was aimed to check, whether ISSR fingerprinting may be a useful tool for studying genetic variations among H. perforatum populations in the Kashmir valley (India). A total of 15 ISSR primers were tested with the 20 genotypes of H. perforatum. The ten informative primers were selected and used to evaluate the degree of polymorphism and genetic relationships within and among all the H. perforatum populations. ISSR of 20 genotypes analysis yielded 98 fragments that could be scored, of which 71 were polymorphic, with an average of 7.1 polymorphic fragments per primer. Number of amplified fragments varied in size from 150 to 1650 bp. Percentage of polymorphism ranged from 60% to a maximum of 100%. Resolving power ranged from a minimum of 7.7 to a maximum of 14.3. Shannon indexes ranges from 0.166 to 0.389 with an average of 0.198 and Nei’s genetic diversity (h) ranges from 6.98 to 9.8. Estimated value of gene flow (Nm = 0.579) indicated that there was limited gene flow among the populations. The genetic diversity (Ht) within the population of 0.245 was clearly higher than that of among population genetic diversity (Hs= 0.115), indicating an out-crossing predominance in the studied populations. Analysis of molecular variance by ISSR markers indicated that over half of the total variation in the studied populations (58%) could be accounted for by differences among the 8 divisions, with a further 42% being accounted for by the variation among populations within a division.The dendrogram grouping the populations by unweighted pair-group method with arithmeticaverages (UPGMA) method revealed eight main clusters. In conclusion, combined analysis of ISSR markers and hypericin content is an optimal approach for further progress and breeding programs.Keywords: Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers, unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA), Nei’s genetic diversityAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(1), pp. 18-31, 1 January, 201

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Kaempferol and its derivatives: Biological activities and therapeutic potential

Kaempferol, a natural plant-origin flavonoid, exhibits therapeutic anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective properties. Kaempferol acts within several distinct mechanisms like apoptotic induction in cancer cells, enzymatic inhibition, signalling pathway inhibition, and downregulation in cell viability during the G2/M phase of cell division. This review summarizes the therapeutic effects of kaempferol against several health ailments. The recent progress on kaempferol obtained from fruits and vegetables as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, and neuroprotective agent and its mechanisms of action are also discussed. In addition, kaempferol has been reported to be present in wastes and byproducts from post-fruit and vegetable processing. Thus, a paradigm shift towards valorizing fruits and vegetable industrial wastes/byproducts to obtain bioactive kaempferol can support the circular economy pillar for generating wealth from waste and for finding a sustainable alternative source

Biometric Assessment of Cyprinus carpio var. Communis from Anchar Lake of Kashmir Valley

Morphometric analysis have proven to be a useful tool for studying fish species, population and races. It is a basic fundamental tool for attaining information on development of organisms, systematics, growth, variation and morphology. The present study was carried out in Anchar lake of Srinagar Kashmir to analyze morphometric measurements of Cyprinus carpio var. communis. About 120 specimens of Cyprinus carpio var. communis was collected randomly from different zones of the water body. The morphometric characters were classified into genetically controlled (narrow range), intermediate (moderate range) and environmentally (vast range) controlled characters. In percentage of total length out of fourteen 14 morphometric characters 5 were genetically controlled, 2 characters were intermediate and 7 characters were environmentally controlled. The relationship between the different morphometric characters was found to be linear with most of them being highly significant (p&lt;0.01). The study concluded that the environmentally controlled characters were maximum, which indicates that these characters are less stable in nature

Diet-derived small molecules (nutraceuticals) inhibit cellular proliferation by interfering with key oncogenic pathways: an overview of experimental evidence in cancer chemoprevention

Discouraging statistics of cancer disease has projected an increase in the global cancer burden from 19.3 to 28.4 million incidences annually within the next two decades. Currently, there has been a revival of interest in nutraceuticals with evidence of pharmacological properties against human diseases including cancer. Diet is an integral part of lifestyle, and it has been proposed that an estimated one-third of human cancers can be prevented through appropriate lifestyle modification including dietary habits; hence, it is considered significant to explore the pharmacological benefits of these agents, which are easily accessible and have higher safety index. Accordingly, an impressive embodiment of evidence supports the concept that the dietary factors are critical modulators to prevent, retard, block, or reverse carcinogenesis. Such an action reflects the ability of these molecules to interfere with multitude of pathways to subdue and neutralize several oncogenic factors and thereby keep a restraint on neoplastic transformations. This review provides a series of experimental evidence based on the current literature to highlight the translational potential of nutraceuticals for the prevention of the disease through consumption of enriched diets and its efficacious management by means of novel interventions. Specifically, this review provides the current understanding of the chemopreventive pharmacology of nutraceuticals such as cucurbitacins, morin, fisetin, curcumin, luteolin and garcinol toward their potential as anticancer agents

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Molecular characterization of wheat germplasm for stripe rust resistance genes (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yr5</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Yr10</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yr15</i> & <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Yr18</i>) and identification of candidate lines for stripe rust breeding in Kashmir</span>

241-248<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: " times="" new="" roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" mangal;mso-ansi-language:en-gb;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:="" hi"="" lang="EN-GB">Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is an important disease of wheat in Jammu and Kashmir state of India. The leading cultivars and breeding lines of wheat in the state were evaluated for stripe rust resistance at the experimental fields of the Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura. The study on molecular characterization and identification of candidate lines for stripe rust resistance genes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Yr5, Yr10, Yr15 and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Yr18 depicted that gene Yr5 was found in 14 entries, Yr10 in 29 entries, Yr15 in 25 entries and Yr18 in 9 entries including reference lines, while the susceptible control did not amplify any of the resistance genes used in the study. Single gene based resistance was detected in 9 entries, two gene based resistance was detected in 20 cultivars, three gene based resistance was detected in 8 cultivars and all four gene based resistance was detected in 1 cultivar (HPW-42). Such validation information is valuable and can efficiently be used in devising future breeding strategies in building a long lasting defense against stripe rust fungus.</span

Perinatal Outcomes of Subjects Enrolled in a Multicenter Trial with a Waiver of Antenatal Consent.

OBJECTIVE:  This study aimed to determine whether outcomes differed between infants enrolled in the PREMOD2 trial and those otherwise eligible but not enrolled, and whether the use of waiver effected these differences. STUDY DESIGN:  The multicenter PREMOD2 (PREmature infants receiving Milking Or Delayed cord clamping) trial was approved for waiver of antenatal consent by six of the nine sites institutional review boards, while three sites exclusively used antenatal consent. Every randomized subject delivered at a site with a waiver of consent was approached for postnatal consent to allow for data collection. Four of those six sites\u27 IRBs required the study team to attempt antenatal consent when possible. Three sites exclusively used antenatal consent. RESULTS:  Enrolled subjects had higher Apgar scores, less use of positive pressure ventilation, a lower rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and a less frequent occurrence of the combined outcome of severe intraventricular hemorrhage or death. A significantly greater number of infants were enrolled at sites with an option of waiver of consent (66 vs. 26%, risk ratio = 2.54, CONCLUSION:  PREMOD2 trial demonstrated analytical validity limitations because of the variable mix of antenatal consent and waiver of consent. A waiver of antenatal consent for minimal risk interventional trials conducted during the intrapartum period will be more successful in enrolling a representative sample of low and high-risk infants if investigators are able to enroll all eligible subjects. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03019367. KEY POINTS: · Waiver of consent is when informed consent cannot be obtained prior to delivery.. · Cord milking is a procedure in which blood is pushed (stripped) two to four times towards the newborn.. · Delayed clamping means the umbilical cord is not clamped immediately after birth.

Pattern of urinary albumin excretion in normotensive young and adolescent Indian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a clinically heterogeneous endocrine disorder affecting up to 4-8% of women of reproductive age. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of microalbuminuria in women with PCOS and study its correlation with the various metabolic, clinical, and hormonal parameters. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 69 PCOS women was carried out in a tertiary care center hospital. The diagnosis of PCOS was made according to the Rotterdam criteria. Blood samples were collected in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and analyzed for fasting luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), total testosterone (T), glucose, insulin, and lipid profile. Urinary albumin was measured in the first void spot urine sample. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 22.0 ± 4.1 years and 21.8 ± 4.7 years in normoalbuminuric and microalbuminuric groups, respectively. Urinary albumin excretion (UAE) varied from 5 mg/l to 100 mg/ml, with a median of 5 mg/l. Microalbuminuria was observed in 17/69 (24.6%) of subjects. The mean UAE was 3.65 ± 4.44 mg/l in the normoalbuminuria group versus 45.29 ± 22.74 mg/l in the microalbuminuria group. Upon univariate analysis, hip circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose showed significant correlations with urinary albumin concentration (r = 0.264, 0.264, and 0.551, respectively; P = 0.028, 0.029, and 0.000, respectively). No association between UAE and the usual cardiovascular risk factors could be found upon regression analysis. Conclusion: About 24.6% of women with PCOS showed presence of microalbuminuria in the first void spot urine sample. Screening for the presence of microalbuminuria can help in early identification of a subset of PCOS women with a high risk for future CVD, who can be subjected to preventive strategies at the earliest. However, further studies are needed before recommending routine use of UAE in PCOS cases for the detection of CVD risk

Perinatal outcomes of subjects enrolled in a multicenter trial with a waiver of antenatal consent

Objective This study aimed to determine whether outcomes differed between infants enrolled in the PREMOD2 trial and those otherwise eligible but not enrolled, and whether the use of waiver effected these differences. Study Design: The multicenter PREMOD2 (PREmature infants receiving Milking Or Delayed cord clamping) trial was approved for waiver of antenatal consent by six of the nine sites institutional review boards, while three sites exclusively used antenatal consent. Every randomized subject delivered at a site with a waiver of consent was approached for postnatal consent to allow for data collection. Four of those six sites' IRBs required the study team to attempt antenatal consent when possible. Three sites exclusively used antenatal consent. Results: Enrolled subjects had higher Apgar scores, less use of positive pressure ventilation, a lower rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and a less frequent occurrence of the combined outcome of severe intraventricular hemorrhage or death. A significantly greater number of infants were enrolled at sites with an option of waiver of consent (66 vs. 26%, risk ratio = 2.54, p < 0.001). At sites with an option of either approaching families before delivery or after delivery with a waiver of antenatal consent, those approached prior to delivery refused consent 40% (range 15-74% across six sites) of the time. Conclusion: PREMOD2 trial demonstrated analytical validity limitations because of the variable mix of antenatal consent and waiver of consent. A waiver of antenatal consent for minimal risk interventional trials conducted during the intrapartum period will be more successful in enrolling a representative sample of low and high-risk infants if investigators are able to enroll all eligible subjects