Inconsistencies in the red blood cell membrane proteome analysis: generation of a database for research and diagnostic applications.

Based on recent results, the determination of the easily accessible red blood cell (RBC) membrane proteins may provide new diagnostic possibilities for assessing mutations, polymorphisms or regulatory alterations in diseases. However, the analysis of the current mass spectrometry-based proteomics datasets and other major databases indicates inconsistencies-the results show large scattering and only a limited overlap for the identified RBC membrane proteins. Here, we applied membrane-specific proteomics studies in human RBC, compared these results with the data in the literature, and generated a comprehensive and expandable database using all available data sources. The integrated web database now refers to proteomic, genetic and medical databases as well, and contains an unexpected large number of validated membrane proteins previously thought to be specific for other tissues and/or related to major human diseases. Since the determination of protein expression in RBC provides a method to indicate pathological alterations, our database should facilitate the development of RBC membrane biomarker platforms and provide a unique resource to aid related further research and diagnostics

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Not AvailableInsect crop visitations do not necessarily always translate to transfer or carriage of pollen. To determine the potential of the various insects visiting summer and rainy seasons sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica (Linn.)) flowers to facilitate the pollen transfer, the present study examines the diversity of visiting insects to sponge gourd seed crops in relation to the time of day and season, diversity and abundance to its flowers, fruits and seed yield. These visiting insects taxonomically belonged to 8 different insect orders viz. Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Lepidoptera, Odonata and Orthoptera/Dictyoptera. Rainy season sponge gourd crops had higher numbers of insect visitors and higher diversity 0.80 of Simpson’s Diversity Index and 1.71 of Shannon–Weaver Index of diversity as compared to summer season crop (0.72 and 1.51, respectively). The summer crop had the highest number of visiting insects belonged to the order Coleoptera followed by Hemiptera and Hymenoptera and their reciprocal form of Berger Parker’s dominance indices were 2.21, 5.05 and 6.17, respectively. In summer crop, honeybees were the main pollinators comprising 57.69% of total pollinators in sponge gourds. All the four honeybee species viz., Apis cerana indica, A. dorsata, A. florea and A. mellifera were found to visit in sponge gourd. However, the dominant species was A. florea with 39% of total honeybee share. In rainy season crop, in contrary, honeybees comprised only 16.32% share on total visiting pollinators in sponge gourd. Rice skipper, Pelopidas mathias (46.84% share) was found almost thorough out the day with higher visitation during evening hours. Other pollinators were stingless bees (11.58% share), butterflies and moths. Consequently, we suggest optimizing pollinators’ management including honeybees and thereby improving the attraction of sponge gourd lines to these pollinators to improve pollination rates for sponge gourd seed crops.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAmong heavy metal contaminants in soil, lead (Pb) is a potentially toxic element to plant growth and humans due to non-degradable nature. Nowadays, concentration of Pb in cultivable soil has increased tremendously due to different anthropogenic activities such as untreated sewage water, industrialization etc. Present study explored the role of ZnO and Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) in alleviating stress symptoms caused by lead (Pb) exposure in Basella alba during seed germination and seedling growth. After preliminary study, 15 different treatment combinations of seed priming with two NPs (ZnNPs and FeNPs at 0 & 200 mg/L) and Pb (0, 4, 8, 15, 20 mM), were chosen to investigate the effect of the NPs in Pb contaminated media. Pb stress (0 to 20 mM) was found to reduce seed germination (72.8 %) and seedling growth, particularly root growth (92 %). Under Pb stress conditions, however, seed priming with ZnNPs (200 mg/L) and FeNPs (200 mg/L) resulted in increase in seed germination and root length. The content of Pb in seedling decreased by 20.2–33.7% and 24.6–32.6%, respectively, in Pb + ZnNPs and Pb + FeNPs treatments. Increasing Pb stress resulted in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (H2O2 content), and lipid peroxidation (MDA content) compared to non-Pb stressed seedlings. These ROS were scavenged however, by increased production of SOD, CAT, POX and proline content in the Pb + ZnNPs and Pb + FeNPs treatments. To summarise, seed priming with NPs has the potential to alleviate Pb toxicity by (1) reduction in Pb uptake (2) reduction in ROS and lipid peroxidation (3) increase in proline (4) activation of antioxidant enzymes. It is recommended that seed priming with either of the NPs could be used in the remediation of Pb contaminated media for healthy vegetable production.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableFaulty storage and poor knowledge of seed storage directly affect the crop performance and yield. Therefore, an experiment was conducted at ICAR-IIVR, Varanasi to standardize the storage of vegetable seeds using the zeolite beads. Seeds of pumpkin cv. Kashi Harit, radish cv. Kashi Hans and vegetable cowpea cv. Kashi Nidhi were stored with two desiccants [zeolite beads and silica gel @1:10 (desiccant: seeds)] at two storage conditions [room temperature and cold storage (10°C)] in cloth bag, polythene bag and air tight container with and without the desiccants. Physiological seed quality parameters were observed once in four months (0, 4, 8, 12 month). In all the three crops, reduction in seed quality with increase of storage period was observed. Among the storage conditions, seed stored in cold storage recorded highest seed quality compared to the seeds stored at room temperature. At the same time, seeds stored with zeolite beads in room temperature recorded on par germination and vigour with seeds stored in cold storage. Among the storage containers (seeds with zeolite beads in air tight container, seed without zeolite beads in air tight container, seeds in cloth bag, seeds in polythene bag and seeds with silica gel in airtight container), seed stored with zeolite beads recorded significantly highest seed quality after 12 months of storage period. The performance was on par with the seeds stored in cold storage condition. In conclusion, after one year of storage, seeds stored with zeolite beads at room temperature recorded highest speed of germination in pumpkin, and radish. Issue of secondary dormancy was observed in cowpea. Other parameters such as germination (%) and vigour also recorded highest value when seeds were stored with zeolite beads. Therefore, it is recommended that seed storage with zeolite beads at farmer’s level to maintain the seed quality up to next growing season.Not Availabl

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Not AvailablePalak is a leafy green vegetable and grown almost throughout the year for leafy vegetable purpose. Cutting palak is a common practice to realize the income from the crop by the farmers. So, there is need to standardize seed production method with proper data of sowing along with number of cutting to produce the quality seed with additional income. Considering above points, an experiment was conducted under AICRP (VC) seed production trial during 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. Palak cv. All Green seeds were sown with three different dates (1 st week of October, 3rd week of October and 1st week of November) and seed production were carried out with no cutting, one cutting, two cuttings and three cuttings. The results reveal that sowing in 3rd week of October recorded significantly highest green leaf yield (123.1q/ha), seed yield (14.5q/ha), 100 seed weight (1.0g), seed germination per cent (75%) and vigour index I (1143) and II (1.173) and highest BC ratio of 1.72. Among the cutting treatments, one cutting gave on par seed yield with no cutting (15.66 q/ha and 16.17 q/ha respectively). One cutting also recorded significantly highest germination per cent (76%), vigour index I (1186) and vigour index II (1.25) and BC ratio of 1.91. Therefore, sowing in the month of October (3rd week) with one cutting considered as the best treatment and recommended for palak seed production under Varanasi condition.Not Availabl

Hypertensive disorders in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: insights from the ESC EORP PPCM Registry

Aims: Hypertensive disorders occur in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). How often hypertensive disorders co-exist, and to what extent they impact outcomes, is less clear. We describe differences in phenotype and outcomes in women with PPCM with and without hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: The European Society of Cardiology PPCM Registry enrolled women with PPCM from 2012-2018. Three groups were examined: 1) women without hypertension (‘PPCM-noHTN’); 2) women with hypertension but without pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-HTN’); 3) women with pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-PE’). Maternal (6-month) and neonatal outcomes were compared. Results: Of 735 women included, 452 (61.5%) had PPCM-noHTN, 99 (13.5%) had PPCM-HTN and 184 (25.0%) had PPCM-PE. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had more severe symptoms (NYHA IV in 44.4% and 29.9%, p<0.001), more frequent signs of heart failure (pulmonary rales in 70.7% and 55.4%, p=0.002), higher baseline LVEF (32.7% and 30.7%, p=0.005) and smaller left ventricular end diastolic diameter (57.4mm [±6.7] and 59.8mm [±8.1], p<0.001). There were no differences in the frequencies of death from any cause, re-hospitalization for any cause, stroke, or thromboembolic events. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had a greater likelihood of left ventricular recovery (LVEF≥50%) (adjusted OR 2.08 95% CI 1.21-3.57) and an adverse neonatal outcome (composite of termination, miscarriage, low birth weight or neonatal death) (adjusted OR 2.84 95% CI 1.66-4.87). Conclusion: Differences exist in phenotype, recovery of cardiac function and neonatal outcomes according to hypertensive status in women with PPCM