Effects of Soil Types and Fertilizers on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Edible Amaranthus tricolor lines in Okinawa, Japan

Soil types and fertilizer regimes were evaluated on growth, yield, and quality of Amaranthus tricolor lines, IB (India Bengal), TW (Taiwan), BB (Bangladesh B), and BC (Bangladesh C) in developing management practices in Okinawa. Growth and yield of all amaranth lines were higher in gray soil (pH 8.4) than in dark red soil (pH 6.6) and red soil (pH 5.4). The combined NPK fertilizer resulted in highest growth parameters and yield of amaranths in all soils. Nitrogen fertilizer alone did not affect growth parameters and yield of amaranths in dark red and red soils. Growth parameters and yield increased similarly with the 30, 40, and 50 g m−2 of NPK fertilizer in BB line, and with the 20, 30, 40, and 50 g m−2 in BC line. Agronomic efficiency of NPK fertilizer at 50 g m−2 was not prominent on the amaranths, compared to the fertilizer at 40 g m−2. Amaranth lines had higher Na in dark red and red soils, while K and Mg in gray soil, Ca in gray and red soils, and Fe in dark red soil. The NPK fertilizer resulted in higher Na, Ca, Mg, and P in BB line in glasshouse. These minerals in BB line were not clearly affected, but in BC line were lower with NPK fertilizer at 20–50 g m−2 in field. These studies indicate that gray soil is best for amaranth cultivation and combined NPK fertilizer at 20–40 g m−2 is effective in gray soil in Okinawa for higher yield and minerals of amaranth

Mutagenicity potential (affect) of new atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) material incorporated with Azadirachta indica (Neem) against Salmonella typhimurium

Background The mutagenicity potential of a new atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) material against Salmonella typhimurium without metabolic activity using the Ames test (genotoxicity) was carried out. Methods and materials The potential mutagenicity of new atraumatic restorative treatment materials (ART-I and ART-II) was analyzed using the Ames test. The materials were eluted in dimethyl sulphoxide, 0.9% NaCl solution and sterilized de-ionized water and the aliquots were used after an incubation period of 24 h at 37 °C. Mutagenic effects of the materials were tested on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 using the standard assay, and in absence of S9 fraction from rat liver. Result No mutagenic effects were detected for these new ART materials on S. typhimurium TA100. The incubated DMSO extract and 0.9% NaCl extract (50 μl/plate) of the ART-I exhibited a weak mutagenic potential on S. typhimurium TA 98. In particular, Aqua extract (50 μl/plate) of ART-II, was associated with a weak mutagenic potential on S. typhimurium TA98. Conclusion Both ART materials (ART–I and II) exhibited weak mutagenic effects on S. typhimurium TA98 whereas no mutagenic effect was detected on S. typhimurium TA100. ART-II is safer than ART-I

Spatial distribution mapping of drinking water fluoride levels in Karnataka, India : fluoride-related health effects

Objectives: (1) To estimate the concentrations of fluoride in drinking water throughout different zones and districts of the state of Karnataka. (2) To investigate the variation of fluoride concentration in drinking water from different sources, and its relationships to daily temperature and rainfall status in the regional districts. (3) To develop an updated fluoride concentration intensity map of the state of Karnataka, and to evaluate these data in the context of fluoride-related health effects such as fluorosis and their prevalence. Materials and Methods: Aqueous standard solutions of 10, 100 and 1,000 ppm fluoride (F−) were prepared with analytical grade Na+/F− and a buffer; TISAB II was incorporated in both calibration standard and analysis solutions in order to remove the potentially interfering effects of trace metal ions. This analysis was performed using an ion-selective electrode (ISE), and mean determination readings for n = 5 samples collected at each Karnataka water source were recorded. Results: The F− concentration in drinking water in Karnataka state was found to vary substantially, with the highest mean values recorded being in the north-eastern zone (1.61 ppm), and the lowest in the south-western one (only 0.41 ppm). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that there were very highly significant ‘between-zone’ and ‘between-districts-within-zones’ sources of variation (p < 10−5–10−9), results consistent with a substantial spatial variance of water source F− levels within this state. Conclusions: The southern part of Karnataka has low levels of F− in its drinking water, and may require fluoridation treatment in order to mitigate for dental caries and further ailments related to fluoride deficiency. However, districts within the north-eastern region have contrastingly high levels of fluoride, an observation which has been linked to dental and skeletal fluorosis. This highlights a major requirement for interventional actions in order to ensure maintenance of the recommended range of fluoride concentrations (0.8–1.5 ppm) in Karnataka’s drinking water sources

Assaying of p53 Autoantibodies in saliva for the detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma. A road not taken.

Autoantibody detection is a promising approach to cancer screening. Serum p53 antibodies have been time tested in various cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study is aimed to detect and determine the level of p53 autoantibodies (p53-AAbs) in saliva. The association of clinicopathological features among patients with and without OSCC was also explored as a novel method for the detection of autoantibodies. One hundred preoperative saliva samples from patients with histologically confirmed OSCC and a hundred from normal healthy individuals were collected. Anti p53 detection kit assessed levels of salivary p53-AAbs. The cut-off value was 1.3 U/mL by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The p53-AAb levels were expressed in terms of the median and interquartile range (IQR). Fischer's exact test and Chi-square test were used to determine the association with clinicopathological features among patients with OSCC and healthy controls with tobacco consumption habits. Median level of p53-AAb is 0.234 U/mL (IQR 0.18-0.37U/mL) in healthy controls and 0.285U/mL (IQR 0.16-0.58U/mL) in OSCC. p53-AAbs was positive in 15% of 100 patients with OSCC, which was statistically higher (P < 0.001) among OSCC, and controls were negative for p53-AAb. No significant correlation of p53-AAbs with the patient's age, gender, site, clinical staging (TNM), and pathologic grade was observed. However, a significant association was seen between the node involvement and salivary p53-AAbs. Salivary p53-AAb positivity was seen in a higher proportion in OSCC patients than in healthy controls with tobacco consumption, and the levels did differ significantly among OSCC and healthy controls. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Indian Journal of Cancer.