ICRC mouse with congenital mega-esophagus as a model to study esophageal tumorigenesis

ICRC mouse, an inbred strain, developed at the Cancer Research Institute, Bombay, exhibits mega-esophagus with markedly hyperplastic mucosa. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) when given in drinking water at the dose of 4 mg/kg body weight/day, induced esophageal papillomas consistently in 100% of the animals, in a short period of 12 weeks. Further, tumors were produced, even at a very low cumulative dose of 28 mg/kg body weight. Development of the esophageal papillomas was dose dependent. DEN even induces esophageal tumors transplacentally in the ICRC F1 progeny. Tobacco acts predominantly as a promoter in this system. ICRC mouse thus provides a much needed animal model to study esophageal tumorigenesis, including the two-stage carcino genesis. An interesting feature of the study is that initiation could be induced by exposure to low doses of DEN in the intra-uterine life. Tumors develop in such F1 animals only if they are fed tobacco, a predominant promoter, post-natally

Cell-mediated immune status in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

Sixteen untreated patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity were tested for in vitro immune status in comparison with the normal healthy donors. The parameters investigated were total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, percentages and absolute counts of T- and B-cells in circulation, subsets of T-cells identified by the Fc receptors, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) responses, natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities, and circulating immune complexes (CICs). Eight of these patients were retested 3 to 6 months after surgery. The results showed that there was an increase in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, an increase in the percentage and absolute number of B-lymphocytes, an increase in the percentage of T-gamma cells, suboptimal PHA and MLC responses, normal NK and ADCC activities, and increased levels of CICs in untreated oral cancer patients. In the postoperative stage, except for a reduction in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, other abnormalities remained unchanged. The CICs in treated patients correlated with the tumor load in that in three patients showing recurrence, the CIC level remained elevated, whereas in patients without evidence of the disease the CIC level was either low or comparable to the upper normal limits

Genetic Variability for Quantitative Traits in China Aster [Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees]

A field study was conducted to estimate genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in 20 genotypes of China aster for 15 traits during the year 2012-13 in Randomized Complete Block Design, with three replications. Results revealed that the magnitude of phenotypic co-efficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic co-efficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits studied. Narrow differences between GCV and PCV were recorded in all the characters except flowering duration, vase-life and shelf-life, indicating little environmental influence on expression of these characters. High (>20%) GCV and PCV were recorded for plant height, number of branches and leaves per plant, flower diameter, number of ray and disc florets/flower head, stalk length, and, number and weight of flowers/plant. Heritability estimates ranged from 28.30% (flowering duration) to 99.54% (flower diameter). High heritability (<60%) was observed for all the traits except flowering duration. High heritability, coupled with high genetic advance as per cent mean, was recorded for flower diameter, stalk-length, number of branches/plant, weight of flowers/plant, days to first flower opening, days to 50 per cent flowering, plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of ray and disc florets/flower head, number of flowers/plant, indicating a possible role of additive gene action. Thus, these traits can be improved through selection and breeding

Oral candidiasis in Chikungunya viral fever: a case report

A 32 year old Indian male patient presented with chief complaints of a high fever, erythema on ear, severe polyarthritic joint pains & swelling, non pitting pedal oedema, facial puffiness and itching for past four days. He had no significant past medical and drug history and was serologically confirmed to have Chikungunya. Oral cavity inspection revealed whitish non erythematous pseudo membranous plaques on the hard palate, buccal surface of cheek and the floor of the mouth which was later microbiologically confirmed as Candidiasis. He tested negative for HIV and had leucopenia with severe CD4 T-lymphocytopenia. This is the first report of an opportunistic infection with CD4 T-lymphocytopaenia in Chikungunya fever

Screening for resistance to gummy stem blight, powdery mildew and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus in bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.]

Investigations were carried out to identify the source of resistance in 67 bottle gourd genotypes for gummy stem blight, powdery mildew and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) diseases, under natural field epiphytotic conditions. The genotypes BG-95 (105.13), BG-114-1 (131.04), BG-114-3 (208.81) and BG-77-6-1 (221.80) were resistant for gummy stem blight with low AUDPC values, while, BG-125-5 (232.22), BG-6-3 found (250.00), BG-125-4 (307.78), BG-8-1 (308.89), BG-125-2 (311.11) and BG-124-2 (423.33) resistant with low AUDPC values for powdery mildew. Further, the two genotypes such as IIHR-19 and BG- 131 showed field level resistance against CGMMV. The selected genotypes based on field evaluation were subjected for artificial screening under glass house conditions. The genotypes, recorded consistent resistant reactions were BG-114-3, BG-77-6-1 and BG-95 for gummy stem blight disease and BG-6-3, BG-8-1, BG-125-4 and BG-125-2 for powdery mildew. The stable and durable source of resistance identified for gummy stem blight and powdery mildew in bottle gourd genotypes will hasten the process of developing resistance varieties in bottle gourd

The Energetics of Halogenated Ethylenes (Ethynes) and 1,3-Butadienes (Butadiynes): A Computational and Conceptual Study of Substituent Effects and “Dimerization”

The energetics of ethylenes and 1,3-butadienes may be interrelated by the reaction: RHC=CH2 + H2C=CHR\u27 → RHC=CH−CH=CHR\u27 + H2. Shown earlier to be nearly enthalpically thermoneutral for a variety of hydrocarbon cases, we are now interested in the related energetics of halogenated alkenes and alkynes. Using quantum chemical calculations, we have studied this as recast as the isodesmic reactions: 2(H2C=CHX) + H2C=CH−CH=CH2 → p,q-di-X-1,3-butadiene + 2H2C=CH2 2(HC≡CX) + HC≡C−C≡CH → di-X-butadiyne + 2HC≡CH. Here p,q- = 1,3-; 1,4- and 2,3- with X = F, Cl, Br, and I. The halogen and location-dependent deviations from near enthalpic thermoneutrality are discussed

Soil nutrient status as influenced by different micronutrient management practices in pearl millet cultivars

Two field experiments were conducted during Kharif, 2018 and 2019 on clay loam soils at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Babbur farm, Hiriyur, Karnataka to estimate the post harvest soil nutrient status in pearl millet cultivated plots. Micronutrient (Zn and Fe) management strategies include application of NPK, deficit iron and zinc through soil, foliar application and FYM enriched with iron and zinc along with PGPR in main plots and three pearl millet cultivars ICTP 8203 Fe (Dhanshakti), ICMH 1202 and WCC 75 (local cultivar) as sub plots laid in split plot design replicated thrice. As compared to the initial soil status, the availability of N, P2O5 and K2O was reduced, while Zn and Fe availability increased in micronutrient applied treatments. The study confirmed that after two years of experimentation, the soil available N (242 kg ha-1), P2O5 (27 kg ha-1) and K2O (286 kg ha-1) was higher with RDF alone (F1) than other micronutrient management practices, while enriched FYM + PGPR (F4) and soil application (F2) treatments were on par with each other and retained higher soil available Zn (0.60 and 0.59 ppm) and Fe (4.0 and 3.80 ppm), respectively. Plots with local cultivar WCC 75 (G3) revealed significantly higher availability of nitrogen (243 kg ha-1) and micronutrients (0.47 and 3.70 ppm Zn and Fe, respectively) in the soil over other two pearl millet cultivars

A triple action CDK4/6-PI3K-BET inhibitor with augmented cancer cell cytotoxicity

National Institutes of Health GM125195, GM135671, CA192656, FD00511