Protein difference among the leaf explants determined for shoot regeneration and callus growth in Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

A comparison of protein profiles of leaves during different stages of shoot and callus induction showed similarities as well as differences in the expression of proteins.  A protein of 39 kDa was expressed in low levels in leaf explants and increased in intensity during induction of shoot organogenesis in both the cultivars. Analysis of protein patterns during organogenesis and callus proliferation from leaves by two dimensional gel analysis revealed the separation of 39 kDa protein into four spots during organogenesis with pI values ranging from 4.2-5.8.  However, the isoforms of 39 kDa protein with pI values of 4.2 and 5.8 were highly expressed in callus of M-5 cultivar in contrast to S-36 cultivar where only one isoform with pI value of 4.2 was detectable. The analysis of protein synthesis in different stages of development in the cultures may acts as markers to differentiate the group of specific isoforms

Dramatic difference in the responses of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase to temperature in leaves of C<SUB>3</SUB> and C<SUB>4</SUB> plants

Temperature caused phenomenal modulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31) in leaf discs of Amaranthus hypochondriacus (NAD-ME type C4 species), compared to the pattern in Pisum sativum (a C3 plant). The optimal incubation temperature for PEPC in A. hypochondriacus (C4) was 45&#176;C compared to 30&#176;C in P. sativum (C3). A. hypochondriacus (C4) lost nearly 70% of PEPC activity on exposure to a low temperature of 15&#176;C, compared to only about a 35% loss in the case of P. sativum (C3). Thus, the C4 enzyme was less sensitive to supra- optimal temperature and more sensitive to sub- optimal temperature than that of the C3 species. As the temperature was raised from 15&#176;C to 50&#176;C, there was a sharp decrease in malate sensitivity of PEPC. The extent of such a decrease in C4 plants (45%) was more than that in C3 species (30%). The maintenance of high enzyme activity at warm temperatures, together with a sharp decrease in the malate sensitivity of PEPC was also noticed in other C4 plants. The temperature-induced changes in PEPC of both A. hypochondriacus (C4) and P. sativum (C3) were reversible to a large extent. There was no difference in the extent of phosphorylation of PEPC in leaves of A. hypochondriacus on exposure to varying temperatures, unlike the marked increase in the phosphorylation of enzyme on illumination of the leaves. These results demonstrate that (i) there are marked differences in the temperature sensitivity of PEPC in C3 and C4 plants, (ii) the temperature induced changes are reversible, and (iii) these changes are not related to the phosphorylation state of the enzyme. The inclusion of PEG-6000, during the assay, dampened the modulation by temperature of malate sensitivity of PEPC in A. hypochondriacus. It is suggested that the variation in temperature may cause significant conformational changes in C4-PEPC

Epilepsy clinic services, nice guidelines and patient satisfaction—An audit

SummaryObjectiveTo audit the performance of the paediatric epilepsy services in a district general hospital based on NICE guidelines and parent satisfaction.DesignRetrospective audit.SettingPaediatric epilepsy clinic in a district general hospital.PatientsConsecutive children (n=54) with epilepsy attending the paediatric epilepsy clinic over a 4-month period.MethodologyData from hospital notes was recorded in standardized study forms, which was subsequently entered into database and analysed independently. A parent/patient satisfaction survey was also conducted over the same period involving the same study population by sending out a postal questionnaire.Outcome measureNICE epilepsy audit criteria and patient/carer satisfaction measured using the standards published by Webb et al.ResultsThe results show that the service achieved almost all the key targets set out in the NICE guidelines but performed less well in the parent satisfaction survey.ConclusionThis audit suggests that in addition to NICE guidelines, an evaluation of parent/patient satisfaction should form part of assessment of the quality of paediatric epilepsy service

A comparative study on field performance of micropropagated plants and stem cutting derived plants of S-36 cultivar of Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

Micropropagated and stem cutting derived plants of Mulberry (Morus indica L. cv. S-36) were transferred to the similar field conditions. A comparative study was conducted based on morphological parameters and growth characteristics for three consecutive years.  The results demonstrated that micropropagation gave rise to superior clonal populations with respect to number of branches/plant and leaf yield/plant that will be suitable for the mass production of plants.  Thus in vitro grown plants did not exhibit any significant quantitative variation as compared to the conventionally grown plants, indicating the varietal multiplication to be of true-to-type

Marked modulation by phosphate of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in leaves of Amaranthus hypochondriacus, a NAD-ME type C<SUB>4</SUB> plant: decrease in malate sensitivity but no change in the phosphorylation status

The effect of Pi on the properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from Amaranthus hypochondriacus, a NAD-ME type C4 plant, was studied in leaf extracts as well as with purified protein. Efforts were also made to modulate the Pi status of the leaf by feeding leaves with either Pi or mannose. Inclusion of 30 mM Pi during the assay enhanced the enzyme activity in leaf extracts or of purified protein by &gt;2-fold. The effect of Pi on the enzyme purified from dark-adapted leaves was more pronounced than that from light-adapted ones. The Ki for malate increased &gt;2.3-fold and &gt;1.9-fold by Pi in the enzyme purified from dark-adapted leaves and light-adapted leaves, respectively. Pi also induced an almost 50-60% increase in Km for PEP or Ka for glucose-6-phosphate. Feeding the leaves with Pi also increased the activity of PEPC in leaf extracts, while decreasing the malate sensitivity of the enzyme. On the other hand, Pi sequestering by mannose marginally decreased the activity, while markedly suppressing the light activation, of PEPC. There was no change in phosphorylation of PEPC in leaves of A. hypochondriacus due to the feeding of 30 mM Pi. However, feeding with mannose decreased the light-enhanced phosphorylation of PEPC. The marked decrease in malate sensitivity of PEPC with no change in phosphorylation state indicates that the changes induced by Pi are independent of the phosphorylation of PEPC. It is suggested here that Pi is an important factor in regulating PEPC in vivo and could also be used as a tool to analyse the properties of PEPC

Face shape analysis in people with epilepsy

Stereophotogrammetry and dense surface modelling are novel techniques that have been used to study face shape in genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders. In people with epilepsy, it has been recognised that the condition may be associated with underlying structural variants or malformations of cortical development in some cases. Here I recruited 869 people with epilepsy or unaffected relatives and control subjects to study face shape. I sought to explore whether face shape and symmetry, using new metrics for each, could help to predict those people with epilepsy who may have potential underlying genetic or structural causes. My reproducibility studies found that stereophotogrammetry and dense surface modelling were susceptible to error from changes in head position or face expression, but not from camera calibration, image acquisition and image landmarking. The next study found that in people with epilepsy, a measurement of atypical face shape, Face Shape Difference (FSD), was significantly increased in those with pathogenic structural variants compared to those without pathogenic structural variants. The FSD value was used to predict the presence of pathogenic structural variants with a sensitivity of 66- 80% and specificity of 65-78%. Body mass index affects face shape in a partly predictable manner. The effect of body mass index differences was controlled for in a further analysis. I then analysed facial asymmetry and showed that it was increased in people with developmental lesions in the brain but not in people with pathogenic structural variants. A final study showed that stereophotogrammetry, dense surface modelling, FSD and reflected FSD could be used to study a single genetic disorder associated with epilepsy, to find previously unrecognised face shape changes. Stereophotogrammetry and dense surface modelling therefore appear to be promising tools to aid both in discovery of underlying causes for epilepsy and in understanding of such causes in terms of facial development

Cultivation of micro-algae for Production of Biodiesel: An optimized Process

Microalgae are considered as one of the potential source of biodiesel for the future. The search to obtain the potential strains from the algal diversity capable of producing oil is critical for sustainable production of biodiesel. In the present study, microalgae biomass with oil/lipid accumulation capability and their morphological features was isolated from Lake Abaya and Chamo. The algal biomass was cultivated in vitro and media optimization for maximum biomass was done using different basal media, BG-11 medium, and Chu -10. In addition the various carbon sources, nitrogen sources, pH and temperature were considered in this study for optimization. Green algae Oedogonium, Chlorella and Cladophora species were observed to be dominant species and the maximum oil per dry algal biomass was found to be from Oedogonium sp. Thus from the present study for the cultivation of the selected algae, BG-11 medium supplemented with tryptone (0.2%) sucrose (2%) and pH- 6 with incubation temperature of 300C was found to be suitable.  These results suggest that Oedogonium sp. has several desirable features that make it a potential candidate for biodiesel production

Retinal nerve fibre layer thinning is associated with drug resistance in epilepsy.

Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness is related to the axonal anterior visual pathway and is considered a marker of overall white matter 'integrity'. We hypothesised that RNFL changes would occur in people with epilepsy, independently of vigabatrin exposure, and be related to clinical characteristics of epilepsy

Views and experiences of using integrated care pathways (ICPs) for caring for people in the last days to hours of life: results from a cross sectional survey of UK professionals.

Objectives To determine the views and experiences of health and social care professionals on using integrated care pathways (ICPs)for caring for people in the last days to hours of life. Methods Online cross-sectional questionnaire survey of UK professionals working in UK primary and secondary care settings. Results 1331 professionals returned completed questionnaires. Ninety-three per cent (1138/1228) of respondents used the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) or local variant. Eighty-eight (1089/1234) felt ICPs enabled professionals to provide better care for individuals and their families/carers. ICPs were viewed as promoting patient-centred holistic care, improving pain and symptom control, providing guidance and standards and improving communication with patients/families. Sixty-two per cent (770/1234) had no concerns regarding the use of ICPs. Areas of concern included incorrect use and implementation of the ICP, poor communication with families, junior level staff making decisions and insufficient education and support. Conclusions There was strong support for using ICPs for caring for people in the last days to hours of life. ICPs were viewed as supporting high-quality patient-centred holistic care. Given the recommendations of the More Care Less Pathway report, those that develop the guidance and support that replace the LCP need to incorporate the aspects of this that have resulted in the benefits seen by professionals within this survey, but also learn from the instances where ICPs have failed to prevent poor care, or worse, have contributed to it.</p