Secondary metabolite variability in lichen genus Usnea in India: A potential source for bioprospection

The species of lichen genus Usnea are well known for their worldwide distribution and medicinal properties due to presence of usnic acid. The genus is represented by more than 300 species in the world out of which 57 species are reported from India. In India, the species of Usnea grows profusely in higher altitudes of Western Ghats and Himalayan regions. 20 different secondary metabolites are known from Indian Usnea species which have potential biological and physiological significance. Salazinic acid, stictic acid, norstictic acid and barbatic acid are the most dominant secondary metabolites along with usnic acid. Apart from the natural thalli the cultivated mycobiont of Usnea species also produced many of these compounds in culture conditions. The secondary compounds present in Usnea species are significant source of natural products for commercial uses

Advancing fruiting season in Annona cv. Arka Sahan through pruning

Annona cultivar ‘Arka Sahan’, an inter-specific hybrid of Annona atemoya × A. squamosacomes to harvest during August-September under mild tropical climate, which coincides with monsoon rains resulting in poor fruit quality and high susceptibility to anthracnose and fruit fly. An attempt was made to advance the fruiting in this hybrid through pruning during 2016- 17 and 2017-18. The effect of three pruning levels (25, 50 and 75% of previous season’s growth) at five different times (60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 days after final harvest of previous crop) on flowering and fruiting were compared. Early sprouting, flowering and fruit harvest were recorded in trees pruned to 75% of the past season’s growth in both the years. Earliest fruits were harvested 271 (3rd week of June) and 268 (2nd week of June) days after pruning in trees pruned during first week of October in 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively (P<0.05).Bigger fruits with lesser seeds per 100 g of pulp (P<0.05) were harvested from trees pruned to 75% and 25% levels in the first and second year, respectively, irrespective of pruning time. Tree canopy following pruning at 75%level recorded higher light interception and photosynthetic rate (P<0.05). Pruning time and levels significantly influenced the biochemical constituents of leaf and shoot. The fruiting in cultivar ‘Arka Sahan’ could be thus advanced by 8-9 weeks to June from the normal season of August-September with comparable or better fruit quality by pruning 75% of the last season’s growth during October

Acidity & Catalytic Activity of Modified Zeolite-X

554-55

Studies on character association among quality traits and yield components in Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice is most important food crop of India and grown in different regions with differential consumer preferences for grain size, shape, aroma and cooking qualities. Therefore, crop improvement in rice not only focused on yield but also to enhance quality. Hence the present investigation was carried out with an objective of assessing the character association among twenty-two morphological and quality characters of thirty basmati rice (Oryza sativa L) genotypes. Correlation analysis revealed that Seed yield was significantly and positively associated with days to maturity (0.330**), number of tillers per plant (0.434**), number of grains per panicle (0.358**), grain weight per panicle (0.410**), and flag leaf length (0.258*).  The days to maturity exhibited a significant positive correlation with plant height, panicle length, grain weight per plant, kernel length before cooking, kernel length after cooking and L: B ratio. Tiller per plant reflected the positive and significant association with a number of grains per panicle, grain weight per panicle and grain weight per plant. Flag leaf length showed a significant positive correlation with a number of grains per panicle and grain weight per plant, while Grains per panicle was positively and significantly associated with grain weight per panicle, grain weight per plant and kernel breadth before cooking.  Grain weight per panicle exhibited a significant positive association with grain yield per plant (0.410**), kernel breadth before cooking (0.381**), 100 grain weight (0.240*) and 100 kernel weight (0.210*).  These characters could be utilized to form a selection index for improvement of the basmati rice

Toxicity Evaluation of Magnetic Hyperthermia Induced by Remote Actuation of Magnetic Nanoparticles in 3D Micrometastasic Tumor Tissue Analogs for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Magnetic hyperthermia as a treatment modality is acquiring increased recognition for loco-regional therapy of primary and metastatic lung malignancies by pulmonary delivery of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP). The unique characteristic of magnetic nanoparticles to induce localized hyperthermia in the presence of an alternating magnetic field (AMF) allows for preferential killing of cells at the tumor site. In this study we demonstrate the effect of hyperthermia induced by low and high dose of MNP under the influence of an AMF using 3D tumor tissue analogs (TTA) representing the micrometastatic, perfusion independent stage of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) that infiltrates the lungs. While application of inhalable magnetic nanocomposite microparticles (MnMs) to the micrometastatic TNBC model comprised of TTA generated from cancer and stromal cells, showed no measureable adverse effects in the absence of AMF-exposure, magnetic hyperthermia generated under the influence of an AMF in TTA incubated in a high concentration of MNP (1 mg/ mL) caused significant increase in cellular death/ damage with mechanical disintegration and release of cell debris indicating the potential of these inhalable composites as a promising approach for thermal treatment of diseased lungs. The novelty and significance of this study lies in the development of methods to evaluate in vitro the application of inhalable composites containing MNPs in thermal therapy using a physiologically relevant metastatic TNBC model representative of the microenvironmental characteristics in secondary lung malignancies

Allelopathic Effect of Echinochloa colona

The present study was undertaken to assess the allelopathic effect of Echinochloa colona L. and Cyperus iria L. in relation to the germination and primary growth of Oryza sativa L. (rice) and Glycine max L. (soyabean). Effects of dichloromethane (DCM) and double distilled water soluble (DDW) fractions of E. colona L. and C. iria L. root and aerial part extracts reduced germination and suppressed early seedling growth of rice and soyabean. With increase in extract concentration from 1 to 100 mg/mL, a gradual decrease in seed germination and seedling length occurred. The highest growth of G. max seedling was recorded in DDW fraction of E. colona aerial part extract at 1 mg/mL concentration with 94% germination and the lowest length was found in DCM fraction of C. iria root extract at 100 mg/mL concentration with 65% germination. In O. sativa, the highest length was noted at 1 mg/mL concentration in DDW fraction of E. colona aerial part extract with 82% germination and the lowest length was found in DCM fraction of C. iria and E. colona root extracts with germination 57% and 62%, respectively, at 100 mg/mL concentration. The results suggested that these weeds had good allelopathic potential which reduces germination and plant growth

3D tumor tissue analogs and their orthotopic implants for understanding tumor-targeting of microenvironment-responsive nanosized chemotherapy and radiation

AbstractAn appropriate representation of the tumor microenvironment in tumor models can have a pronounced impact on directing combinatorial treatment strategies and cancer nanotherapeutics. The present study develops a novel 3D co-culture spheroid model (3D TNBC) incorporating tumor cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts as color-coded murine tumor tissue analogs (TTA) to better represent the tumor milieu of triple negative breast cancer in vitro. Implantation of TTA orthotopically in nude mice, resulted in enhanced growth and aggressive metastasis to ectopic sites. Subsequently, the utility of the model is demonstrated for preferential targeting of irradiated tumor endothelial cells via radiation-induced stromal enrichment of galectin-1 using anginex conjugated nanoparticles (nanobins) carrying arsenic trioxide and cisplatin. Demonstration of a multimodal nanotherapeutic system and inclusion of the biological response to radiation using an in vitro/in vivo tumor model incorporating characteristics of tumor microenvironment presents an advance in preclinical evaluation of existing and novel cancer nanotherapies.From the Clinical EditorExisting in-vivo tumor models are established by implanting tumor cells into nude mice. Here, the authors described their approach 3D spheres containing tumor cells, enodothelial cells and fibroblasts. This would mimic tumor micro-environment more realistically. This interesting 3D model should reflect more accurately tumor response to various drugs and would enable the design of new treatment modalities

25 years after Vi typhoid vaccine efficacy study, typhoid affects significant number of population in Nepal

Salmonella Typhi, first isolated in 1884, results in infection of the intestines and can end in death and disability. Due to serious adverse events post vaccination, whole cell killed vaccines have been replaced with new generation vaccines. The efficacy of Vi polysaccharide (ViPS) vaccine, a new generation, single-dose intramuscular typhoid vaccine was assessed in Nepal in 1987. However, despite the availability of ViPS vaccine for more than 25 years, Nepal has one of the highest incidence of typhoid fever. Therefore we collected information from hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley from over the past five years. There were 9901 enteric fever cases between January 2008 and July 2012. 1,881 of these were confirmed typhoid cases from five hospitals in the Kathmandu district. Approximately 70% of the cases involved children under 15 years old. 1281 cases were confirmed as S. Paratyphi. Vaccines should be prioritized for control of typhoid in conjunction with improved water and sanitation conditions in Nepal and in endemic countries of Asia and Africa

COVID-19 vaccination up-take in three districts of Nepal

Vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be an issue in terms of global efforts to decrease transmission rates. Despite high demand for the vaccines in Nepal, the country still contends with challenges related to vaccine accessibility, equitable vaccine distribution, and vaccine hesitancy. Study objectives were to identify: 1) up-take and intention for use of COVID-19 vaccines, 2) factors associated with vaccine up-take, and 3) trusted communication strategies about COVID-19 and the vaccines. A quantitative survey was implemented in August and September 2021 through an initiative at the Nepali Ministry of Health and Population Department of Health Services, Family Welfare Division. Data were collected from 865 respondents in three provinces (Bagmati, Lumbini, and Province 1). Ordinal multivariate logistic regression was utilized to determine relationships between vaccination status and associated factors. Overall, 62% (537) respondents were fully vaccinated and 18% (159) were partially vaccinated. Those respondents with higher education (p \u3c .001) and higher household income (p \u3c .001) were more likely vaccinated. There were also significant differences in vaccine up-take across the three provinces (p \u3c .001). Respondents who were vaccinated were significantly more likely to perceive vaccines as efficacious in terms of preventing COVID-19 (p = .004) and preventing serious outcomes (p = .010). Among both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, there was a high level of trust in information about COVID-19 vaccines provided through local health-care workers [e.g. nurses and physicians]. These results are consistent with other findings within the South Asia region. Targeted advocacy and outreach efforts are needed to support ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns throughout Nepal

Nanostructured carriers as innovative tools for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Cancer accounts for millions of deaths every year and, due to the increase and aging of the world population, the number of new diagnosed cases is continuously rising. Although many progresses in early diagnosis and innovative therapeutic protocols have been already set in clinical practice, still a lot of critical aspects need to be addressed in order to efficiently treat cancer and to reduce several drawbacks caused by conventional therapies. Nanomedicine has emerged as a very promising approach to support both early diagnosis and effective therapy of tumors, and a plethora of different inorganic and organic multifunctional nanomaterials have been ad hoc designed to meet the constant demand for new solutions in cancer treatment. Given their unique features and extreme versatility, nanocarriers represent an innovative and easily adaptable tool both for imaging and targeted therapy purposes, in order to improve the specific delivery of drugs administered to cancer patients. The current review reports an in-depth analysis of the most recent research studies aiming at developing both inorganic and organic materials for nanomedical applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy. A detailed overview of different approaches currently undergoing clinical trials or already approved in clinical practice is provided