HS-C reactive protein and red blood cell distribution width as effective markers for hypertension

Background: Hypertension or elevated blood pressure is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. HsCRP, which is a known marker for CVD, is also one of the predictive markers of inflammation processes which result in hypertension. Increased RDW is also believed to be associated with CVD morbidity and mortality in patients with previous myocardial infarction, brain vascular disease, strokes, septicemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hepatitis B. Methods: 200 patients 100 male and 100 females and 50 each of controls were selected for the study. Complete demographic details were collected from all the patients including the age, sex, height, weight, BMI, smoking/nonsmoking status, alcoholism etc. After a thorough clinical examination, venous blood was collected from all the patients after an overnight fast for lipid profile, hs-CRP and complete blood count. Results: The patients in both males and females had a higher BMI than that of the controls. Hs-CRP levels in males was 1.64 mg/L and in females it was 1.47 mg/L. Significant difference was seen in the RDW values also in the patients. Conclusions: Hs-CRP levels and RDW levels are both equally effective as a predictive marker for hypertension.Background: Hypertension or elevated blood pressure is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. HsCRP, which is a known marker for CVD, is also one of the predictive markers of inflammation processes which result in hypertension. Increased RDW is also believed to be associated with CVD morbidity and mortality in patients with previous myocardial infarction, brain vascular disease, strokes, septicemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hepatitis B. Methods: 200 patients 100 male and 100 females and 50 each of controls were selected for the study. Complete demographic details were collected from all the patients including the age, sex, height, weight, BMI, smoking/nonsmoking status, alcoholism etc. After a thorough clinical examination, venous blood was collected from all the patients after an overnight fast for lipid profile, hs-CRP and complete blood count. Results: The patients in both males and females had a higher BMI than that of the controls. Hs-CRP levels in males was 1.64 mg/L and in females it was 1.47 mg/L. Significant difference was seen in the RDW values also in the patients. Conclusions: Hs-CRP levels and RDW levels are both equally effective as a predictive marker for hypertension

Haptic Feedback for Injecting Biological Cells using Miniature Compliant Mechanisms

Abstract We present a real-time haptics-aided injection technique for biological cells using miniature compliant mechanisms. Our system consists of a haptic robot operated by a human hand, an XYZ stage for micro-positioning, a camera for image capture, and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) miniature compliant device that serves the dual purpose of an injecting tool and a force-sensor. In contrast to existing haptics-based micromanipulation techniques where an external force sensor is used, we use visually captured displacements of the compliant mechanism to compute the applied and reaction forces. The human hand can feel the magnified manipulation force through the haptic device in real-time while the motion of the human hand is replicated on the mechanism side. The images are captured using a camera at the rate of 30 frames per second for extracting the displacement data. This is used to compute the forces at the rate of 30 Hz. The force computed in this manner is sent at the rate of 1000 Hz to ensure stable haptic interaction. The haptic cell-manipulation system was tested by injecting into a zebrafish egg cell after validating the technique at a size larger than that of the cell

Effect of SEN immersion depth on mold flow profile and slag entrapment during continuous casting of steel

Mold flux entrapment during continuous casting of steel contributes to both surface and sub-surface defects in the final product. Continuous casting operating parameters such as casting speed, SEN immersion depth, SEN port geometry, argon flow, and mold EMS significantly affect the mold flow conditions and flow profile. During continuous casting operation, SEN immersion depth is continuously varied to avoid localized erosion of SEN, and it impacts the flow dynamics in the mold. In the present work, water modeling studies were carried out for a wide range of mold widths (1200-1800 mm) and casting speeds (0.8-1.4 m/min) on a 0.5 scaled down water model to optimize casting speed for different combinations of SEN immersion depth and mold width. Results from water modeling were further validated using nail board studies in the actual plant. A safe operating matrix was identified from these experiments to avoid mold slag entrapment during continuous casting

Callosbruchus maculatus Resistance in Some Wild Relatives and Interspecific Derivatives of Pigeonpea

The present study of Screening of some wild relatives of pigeonpea against bruchid revealed that amongst the 4 Cajanus species, comprising of seven accessions, bruchid damage ranged between 14 and 30%, compared to 78% in the commercially cultivated pigeonpea variety ICPL 85010. Wild species Cajanus scarabaeoides accession ICPW 130 and C. platycarpus accession ICPW 66 had lowest damage (14% and 16% respectively). The larval/pupal period was prolonged in wild accessions (42 – 55days) compared to 33 days on the susceptible control ICPL 85010 indicating the antibiosis mechanism of resistance in the wild species. Though there was high oviposition on the seeds of interspecific derivative of C. platycarpus A 4-10-7-19, it had the least damage (10%). In the rest of the derivatives the damage rating ranged between 10 and 55% compared to 80% damage in the susceptible control, reflecting the potential of utilizing these wild species derivatives in pigeonpea crop improvement to overcome the Bruchid damage

Synthesis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of 2-Amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-Derived NRF2 Activators

This is the first study investigating the nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 (NRF2) activity of compounds containing a new scaffold, tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene. Eighteen compounds were synthesised and confirmed their NRF2 activation through NQO1 enzymatic activity and mRNA expression of NQO1 and HO‐1 in Hepa‐1c1c7 cells. The compounds disrupted the interaction between Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and NRF2 via interfering with the KEAP1’s Kelch domain. The compounds exhibited anti‐inflammatory activity in Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide (LPS( Ec ))‐stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The anti‐inflammatory activity of the compounds was associated with their ability to activate NRF2. The compounds reversed the elevated levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IFN‐γ) and inflammatory mediators (PGE2, COX‐2, and NF‐κB). The compounds were metabolically stable in human, rat, and mouse liver microsomes and showed optimum half‐life (T(1/2)) and intrinsic clearance (Cl(int)). The binding mode of the compounds and physicochemical properties were predicted via in silico studies

Investigation of Sesamol on Myeloperoxidase and Colon Morphology in Acetic Acid-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disorder in Albino Rats

Background. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of gastrointestinal tract of immune, genetic, and environmental origin. In the present study, we examined the effects of sesamol (SES), which is the active constituent of sesame oil in the acetic acid (AA) induced model for IBD in rats. Methods. The groups were divided into normal control, AA control, SES, and sulfasalazine (SS). On day 7, the rats were killed, colon was removed, and the macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations were performed. Results. The levels of MPO, TBARS, and tissue nitrite increased significantly (P<0.05) in the AA group whereas they reduced significantly in the SES and SS treated groups. Serum nitrite levels were found to be insignificant between the different groups. Conclusions. The mucosal protective effects of sesamol in IBD are due to its potential to reduce the myeloperoxidase and nitrite content

Expression of Pennisetum glaucum Eukaryotic Translational Initiation Factor 4A (PgeIF4A) Confers Improved Drought, Salinity, and Oxidative Stress Tolerance in Groundnut

Eukaryotic translational initiation factor 4A belong to family of helicases, involved in multifunctional activities during stress and non-stress conditions. The eIF4A gene was isolated and cloned from semi-arid cereal crop of Pennisetum glaucum. In present study, the PgeIF4A gene was expressed under the regulation of stress inducible Arabidopsis rd29A promoter in groundnut (cv JL-24) with bar as a selectable marker. The de-embryonated cotyledons were infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens (LBA4404) carrying rd29A:PgeIF4A construct and generated high frequency of multiple shoots in phosphinothricin medium. Twenty- four T0 plants showed integration of both nos-bar and rd29A-PgeIF4A gene cassettes in genome with expected amplification products of 429 and 654 bps, respectively. Transgene copy number integration was observed in five T0 transgenic plants through Southern blot analysis. Predicted Mendelian ratio of segregation (3:1) was noted in transgenic plants at T1 generation. The T2 homozygous lines (L1-5, L8-2, and L16-2) expressing PgeIF4A gene were exhibited superior growth performance with respect to phenotypic parameters like shoot length, tap root length, and lateral root formation under simulated drought and salinity stresses compared to the wild type. In addition, the chlorophyll retention was found to be higher in these plants compared to the control plants. The quantitative real time—PCR results confirmed higher expression of PgeIF4A gene in L1-5, L8-3, and L16-2 plants imposed with drought/salt stress. Further, the salt stress tolerance was associated with increase in oxidative stress markers, such as superoxide dismutase accumulation, reactive oxygen species scavenging, and membrane stability in transgenic plants. Taken together our results confirmed that the PgeIF4A gene expressing transgenic groundnut plants exhibited better adaptation to stress conditions

Erratum to “Investigation of Sesamol on Myeloperoxidase and Colon Morphology in Acetic Acid-Induced Inflammatory Bowel Disorder in Albino Rats”

Background. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of gastrointestinal tract of immune, genetic, and environmental origin. In the present study, we examined the effects of sesamol (SES), which is the active constituent of sesame oil in the acetic acid (AA) induced model for IBD in rats.Methods. The groups were divided into normal control, AA control, SES, and sulfasalazine (SS). On day 7, the rats were killed, colon was removed, and the macroscopic, biochemical, and histopathological evaluations were performed.Results. The levels of MPO, TBARS, and tissue nitrite increased significantly (P&lt;0.05) in the AA group whereas they reduced significantly in the SES and SS treated groups. Serum nitrite levels were found to be insignificant between the different groups.Conclusions. The mucosal protective effects of sesamol in IBD are due to its potential to reduce the myeloperoxidase and nitrite content.</jats:p

Botanical Description of Pigeonpea [Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] is an important legume crop of the papilionaceae family. It is an often cross-pollinated crop, and breeding principles of both self and cross-pollinated crops are highly effective in its genetic enhancement. Pigeonpea is a hard woody shrub, extensively adaptable to a range of soil types, temperature, and rainfall. It has a deep taproot system extending up to two meters and can grow to a height of four meters. Pigeonpea roots form a symbiotic association with Brady rhizobium spp. and perform biological nitrogen fixation. The branching pattern of stem may vary from bush type to compact upright type and is of determinate, semi-determinate, and non-determinate type based on the flowering pattern. The primary leaves are simple, opposite, and caduceus, while the latter ones are pinnately trifoliate with lanceolate to elliptical leaflets. Pigeonpea flowers are zygomorphic, borne on terminal or auxiliary racemes and are normally yellow in color with some variations. It has ten stamens in diadelphous condition with light or dark yellow anthers. The ovary is superior with a long style attached to a thickened, incurved, and swollen stigma. Pigeonpea is an often cross-pollinated crop with an average of 20% cross-pollination. The fruit of pigeonpea is called pod, which is of various colors, with and without deep constrictions. Seeds (with 20–22% proteins and amino acids) can be round or lens shaped, in shades of white and brown color with yellow color cotyledon. Pigeonpea is a widely consumed multi-utility pulse crop, thus the knowledge about the crop botany is vital for modifying it according to future challenges and goals