Ameliorating Direct Blue Dye Degradation Using Trametes versicolor Derived Laccase Enzyme Optimized through Box–Behnken Design (BBD) via Submerged Fermentation

The major intend of this study was to elucidate the laccase production by Trametes versicolor under submerged fermentation using fruit waste peel as substrate. The textile dye was decolorized by the procured crude enzymatic extract using the response surface methodology. The submerged media with organic fruit peel waste extract (jackfruit, pineapple & kaffir) supplemented with gypsum, calcium carbonate, and nutrient broth were considered superior for laccase production. The produced laccase enzyme was used in dye decolorization at the optimum conditions using the Box-Behnken design. Subsequently, the experiment was designed with four variables (dye concentration, pH, temperature & time) with three factors to achieve the maximum direct blue dye decolorization. The highest laccase activity level was obtained from jackfruit peel extract with 3.86U/ml on 15th day at 25oC with pH 5.0 when compared to the other two extracts. The maximum laccase activity with guaiacol was obtained at optimum pH 4 and 40oC. The predicted value was experimentally validated by attaining 81.25% of dye color removal. From the result, the optimum conditions for direct blue color removal were: dye concentration 40ppm, pH 4.0, temperature 40oC at 24 hours. From the results of this study, it was concluded that the jack fruit peel was a more suitable substrate for laccase production. The dye decolorization results were recommended that Box-Behnken design for parameters optimization. The T. versicolor laccase was more proficient for textile dye decolorization. The opportunity was created by using the laccase enzyme for the biological treatment of textile dyeing effluent before discharging into the environment

Phytoremediatiation of Metal and Metalloid Pollutants from Farmland: An <em>In-Situ</em> Soil Conservation

Phytoremediation is an effective technology for in-situ remediation of high level polluted soils. Phytoremediation is a plant-mediated approach, which involves the use of plants to absorb and remove elemental pollutants or lower their concentration or bioavailability to soil. Plants have efficacy to absorb compounds in the soil even at low concentration through their root system. Plant root system has geotropism which helps them to extend into the soil matrix and hyper accumulate heavy metals to increase their bioavailability considerably and thereby the polluted soil is domesticated and the soil fertility is enhanced. The heavy-metal-resistant endophytes give the promising effect on plant growth, by decreasing metal phytotoxicity and affecting metal translocation and accumulation in plants. It is an eye opening for researches to implement the phytoremediation of organic contaminants through endophytes that produce various enzymes to metabolize organic contaminants and reduce both the phytotoxicity and evapotranspiration of volatile contaminants. Here, we focus on the most widely used phytoremediation strategies, phytostabilization, phytoextraction, phytovolatilization, and phytofiltration in the remediation of heavy metal-polluted soil

Vitamin D resistant genes – promising therapeutic targets of chronic diseases

Vitamin D is an essential vitamin indispensable for calcium and phosphate metabolism, and its deficiency has been implicated in several extra-skeletal pathologies, including cancer and chronic kidney disease. Synthesized endogenously in the layers of the skin by the action of UV-B radiation, the vitamin maintains the integrity of the bones, teeth, and muscles and is involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and immunity. The deficiency of Vit-D is increasing at an alarming rate, with nearly 32% of children and adults being either deficient or having insufficient levels. This has been attributed to Vit-D resistant genes that cause a reduction in circulatory Vit-D levels through a set of signaling pathways. CYP24A1, SMRT, and SNAIL are three genes responsible for Vit-D resistance as their activity either lowers the circulatory levels of Vit-D or reduces its availability in target tissues. The hydroxylase CYP24A1 inactivates analogs and pro-hormonal and/or hormonal forms of calcitriol. Elevation of the expression of CYP24A1 is the major cause of exacerbation of several diseases. CYP24A1 is rate-limiting, and its induction has been correlated with increased prognosis of diseases, while loss of function mutations cause hypersensitivity to Vit-D. The silencing mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT) and its corepressor are involved in the transcriptional repression of VDR-target genes. SNAIL1 (SNAIL), SNAIL2 (Slug), and SNAIL3 (Smuc) are involved in transcriptional repression and binding to histone deacetylases and methyltransferases in addition to recruiting polycomb repressive complexes to the target gene promoters. An inverse relation- ship between the levels of calcitriol and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is reported. Studies have demonstrated a strong association between Vit-D deficiency and chronic diseases, including cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, etc. Vit-D resistant genes associated with the aforementioned chronic diseases could serve as potential therapeutic targets. This review focuses on the basic structures and mechanisms of the repression of Vit-D regulated genes and highlights the role of Vit-D resistant genes in chronic diseases

Coronary intervention in anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (ARCA) from the left sinus of valsalva (LSOV): A single center experience

Objective: To assess the technical challenges in percutaneous coronary intervention of Anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left sinus of valsalva. Methods: Between year 2008 and 2012, a total of 17 patients underwent PCI for an angiographically significant lesion in the right coronary artery of an anomalous origin in the LSOV. Their procedure details such as usage of catheters, radiation time, amount of contrast used were assessed. Results: A total of 17 patients with anomalous right coronary artery underwent PCI during the above mentioned period. 8 patients had type A origin, 3 had type B origin and the remaining 6 had type C origin. Type A origin RCA were successfully cannulated in 6 patients with Judkins left 5.0 and in 2 patients using Judkins left 4.0. Extra back up (EBU) 3.5 were doing well in 2 patients of Type B origin and the remaining one patient was successfully cannulated using Judkins left 4.0. In type C origin 4 patients had successful cannulation with Amplatz Left 1.0, 1 patient with Amplatz Left 2.0 and 1 patient with Judkins left 4.0. The mean fluoroscopic time was 20.7 min and amount of contrast used was 210 ml. Conclusion: PCI of anomalous RCA origin from LSOV requires appropriate guide catheter selection according to the anatomy of origin for successful cannulation and to reduce the contrast usage and radiation exposure

Outcome of primary PCI – An Indian tertiary care center experience

Objective: To assess the feasibility and outcomes of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Indian Scenario. Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2012, consecutive STEMI patients who underwent PPCI within 12 h of onset of chest pain were prospectively enrolled in a PPCI registry. Patient demographics, risk factors, procedural characteristics, time variables and in-hospital and 30 day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) [death, reinfarction, bleeding, urgent coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) and stroke] were assessed. Results: A total of 672 patients underwent PPCI during this period. The mean age was 52 ± 13.4 years and 583 (86.7%) were males, 275 (40.9%) were hypertensives and 336 (50%) were diabetics. Thirty one (4.6%) patients had cardiogenic shock (CS). Anterior myocardial infarction was diagnosed in 398 (59.2%) patients. The median chest pain onset to hospital arrival time, door-to-balloon time and total ischemic times were 200 (10–720), 65 (20–300), and 275 (55–785) minutes respectively. In-hospital adverse events occurred in 54 (8.0%) patients [death 28 (4.2%), reinfarction 8 (1.2%), major bleeding 9 (1.3%), urgent CABG 4 (0.6%) and stroke 1 (0.14%)]. Nineteen patients with CS died (mortality rate – (61.3%)). At the end of 30 days, 64 (9.5%) patients had MACE [death 35 (5.2%), reinfarction 10 (2.1%), major bleeding 10 (1.5%), urgent CABG 4 (0.6%) and stroke 1 (0.1%)]. Conclusion: Our study has shown that PPCI is feasible with good outcomes in Indian scenario. Even though the recommended door-to-balloon time can be achieved, the total ischemic time remained long. CS in the setting of STEMI was associated with poor outcomes

Hydrographical parameters and phytoplankton assemblages along the Pondicherry–Nagapattinam coastal waters, southeast coast of India

Hydrographical parameters and phytoplankton assemblages were determined along the Pondicherry, Parangipettai and Nagapattinam coastal waters, southeast coast of India. All the hydrographical parameters such as sea surface temperature, salinity, pH, total alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients like nitrate, nitrite, inorganic phosphate and reactive silicate, chlorophyll a and phytoplankton assemblages were studied for a period of five months (May, August, September 2010, March and November 2011). Over 121 species of phytoplankton represented by 93 species of diatoms, 16 species of dinoflagellates, 9 species of blue-green algae, 2 species of greens and 1 species of silicoflagellate were recorded. High phytoplankton species diversity was found in March 2011 when salinity and nitrate concentrations were low and reactive silicate and inorganic phosphates were moderate. Species diversity was low during May 2010 when increased sea surface temperature, salinity and low nutrients availability were observed. Coscinodiscus centralis, Diatoma vulgaris and Proboscia alata were dominant, especially Coscinodiscus sp. distributed in all stations whereas Skeletonema costatum, Odontella sinensis and Ditylum brightwellii were abundant in August and September 2010. From principal component analysis and multiple regression analysis, it is evident that variables like sea surface temperature and dissolved oxygen are the most important factors influencing the seasonal pattern of phytoplankton population

Statistical analysis of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in hard rock coastal aquifers of Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, India

The study of groundwater hydrogeochemistry of a hard rock aquifer system in Thoothukudi district has resulted in a large geochemical data set. A total of 100 water samples representing various lithologies like Hornblende Biotite Gneiss, Alluvium Marine, alluvium Fluvial, Quartzite, Charnockite, Granite and Sandstone were collected for two different seasons and analyzed for major ions like Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3 -, Cl-, SO4 2-, NO3 -, PO4 -, F- and H4SiO4. Statistical analysis of the data has been attempted to unravel the hidden relationship between ions. Correlation analyses and factor analyses were applied to classify the groundwater samples and to identify the geochemical processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. Factor analysis indicates that sea water intrusion followed by leaching of secondary salts, weathering and anthropogenic impacts are the dominant factors controlling hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in the study area. Factor score overlay indicate major active hydrogeochemical regimes are spread throughout the Eastern, Northwestern and Southeastern parts of the study area. The dominant ions controlling the groundwater chemistry irrespective of season are Cl-, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, SO4 2-, K+ and NO3 -. An attempt has also been made to note the seasonal variation of the factor representations in the study area. This study also illustrates the usefulness of statistical analysis to improve the understanding of groundwater systems and estimates of the extent of salinity/salt water intrusion