SEED EXTRACT OF ABELMOSCHUS MOSCHATUS MEDIK REVERSES NAF-INDUCED BEHAVIORAL CHANGES THROUGH NEURODEGENERATION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN BRAIN OF RAT

  Objective: This study reports protective effect of Abelmoschus moschatus seed extract against sodium fluoride-induced neurodegeneration through oxidative stress, neurohistological, and behavioral observations in Wistar rats.Methods: A total of 20 Wistar rats (around 250 g) were randomly classified into four groups, namely, control, fluoride (NaF), fluoride + A. moschatus seed aqueous extract (AMAE), and fluoride + A. moschatus seed ethanol extract (AMEE). The control group animals received normal tap water, fluoride group received fluoridated water at the rate of 40 mg/kg b. wt., 3rd group rats treated with fluoride (40 mg/kg b. wt.) + AMAE (300 mg/kg b. wt.), and 4th group rats treated with fluoride (40 mg/kg b. wt.) + AMEE (300 mg/kg b. wt.). Neurobehavioral responses of rotarod, hot plate, and maze learning tests and oxidantive stress markers including lipid peroxidation (LPO), GSH levels, superoxide dismutase, CAT, and GSH peroxidase (GPx) activities, and also histology with H and E as well as congo red staining were studied in control, fluoride, and A. moschatus seed extract treated against fluoride groups.Results: Decreased neurobehavioral responses with rotarod, hot plate, and maze and enhanced LPO (p<0.05) levels were found in fluoride received animals. Whereas, the superoxide dismutase (SOD), CAT, GSH, and GPx were decreased (p<0.05) in NaF treatment. The rats received seed extract along with NaF showed significant reversal of behavioral and oxidative stress markers and the effect of ethanol extract was more pronounced than aqueous extract. The fluoride-treated group showed disturbed cell structure and reduced number of cells in H and E as well as congo red staining which was reversed in cell morphology and restored cell number in seed extract against NaF-treated group. As a result of increased LPO, decreased antioxidant system, and decreased number of cells, neurodegeneration was observed resulting in the disturbance in functions associated with reported behavior.Conclusion: Okra with high antioxidants activity, seed extract showed reversal of LPO levels and antioxidant status in the brain tissue. And also plant extract administered rats displayed normal cell structure and number of cells than only fluoride received group. Therefore, the aqueous and ethanolic extract of A. moschatus plant seeds has neuroprotective effects against fluoride-induced motor, nociceptive, learning behavior, and on histological structure of brain through antioxidant mechanism. The ethanol extract has shown more efficacy than aqueous extract

Flash-Flood Monitoring and Modeling in Kentucky

This research project focused on the evaluation of hydrologic issue of flash-flooding in the state of Kentucky. The primary objectives of this project were the following:(1) to initiate the establishment of a hydrologic database archive necessary for characterizing rainfall and runoff associated with flash-flooding; (2) identification of appropriate modeling approaches for evaluating site-specific flash-flood runoff behavior. Specific tasks accomplished to meet the objectives include the following:(1) development of a rainfall and streamflow data archive using existing measurement gages and identification of the rain gage data from two sources for preliminary quality control; (2) identification of the spatial and temporal characteristics of rainfall at daily, seasonal, and annual time scales; (3) definition of the characteristics of runoff associated with flash-flooding; and (4) initiation of a review of flash-flood runoff modeling approaches for small watersheds. Flash-flooding is one of the most costly natural hazards nationally each year. In 1990, it resulted in I 09 deaths and damages of $625 million (Kentucky Engineer, 1992) in the United States. In 1992, a single flash-flood event in Bar-Creek, Kentucky resulted in four deaths and displaced approximately 54 families (National Weather Service, 1992). Due to the short response time associated with the watersheds prone to flash flooding, rainfall data must be collected rapidly in real-time and flood estimates computed accurately in order that adequate and timely warnings may be issued. Accurate estimates of flash-flood water levels require site-specific information describing the hydrometeorologic conditions and physiographic characteristics of the watershed for use of high resolution runoff modeling approaches. Monitoring rainfall events that lead to or cause flash-flooding is necessary to identify the rainfall characteristics associated with flooding and flash-flooding. The ultimate objective in a flash-flood warning system is to provide increased warning time to residents to allow them to escape the rapidly rising water. National-level agencies are only beginning to address the issue of real time, high resolution flood forecasts meeting the needs of state agencies and local-area residents. Other issues, beyond the scope of this work, must be addressed and resolved before such a system can be significantly mitigate flash-flood losses. This project addresses the initial step toward establishing such a system by compiling a flash-flood precipitation and runoff database for Kentucky from existing gage networks, and quantitatively defining the behavior of precipitation and runoff

Prevalence of ergot of sorghum in India

This paper reports the incidence and severity of ergot (Claviceps sorghi and Claviceps africana) on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from 1999 to 2002. Crops were surveyed at vegetative to physiological maturity stages and disease incidence (number of plants infected) and severity (percentage, based on the number of florets infected within panicles) recorded in 12 m2 areas. Percentage incidence of ergot infection varied with location, with Rajasthan and Gujarat recording only trace infections from 1999-2002 and Karnataka having 27-60% infection. Disease severity followed the same pattern

Worldwide Variations in Demographics, Management, and Outcomes of Acute Pancreatitis

Background & Aims Few studies have compared regional differences in acute pancreatitis. We analyzed data from an international registry of patients with acute pancreatitis to evaluate geographic variations in patient characteristics, management, and outcomes. Methods We collected data from the APPRENTICE registry of patients with acute pancreatitis, which obtains information from patients in Europe (6 centers), India (3 centers), Latin America (5 centers), and North America (8 centers) using standardized questionnaires. Our final analysis included 1,612 patients with acute pancreatitis (median age, 49 years; 53% male, 62% white) enrolled from August 2015 through January 2018. Results Biliary (45%) and alcoholic acute pancreatitis (21%) were the most common etiologies. Based on the revised Atlanta classification, 65% of patients developed mild disease, 23% moderate, and 12% severe. The mean age of patients in Europe (58 years) was older than mean age for all 4 regions (46 years) and a higher proportion of patients in Europe had comorbid conditions (73% vs 50% overall). The predominant etiology of acute pancreatitis in Latin America was biliary (78%), whereas alcohol-associated pancreatitis accounted for the highest proportion of acute pancreatitis cases in India (45%). Pain was managed with opioid analgesics in 93% of patients in North America versus 27% of patients in the other 3 regions. Cholecystectomies were performed at the time of hospital admission for most patients in Latin America (60% vs 15% overall). A higher proportion of European patients with severe acute pancreatitis died during the original hospital stay (44%) compared with the other 3 regions (15%). Conclusions We found significant variation in demographics, etiologies, management practices, and outcomes of acute pancreatitis worldwide

Extrusion reactions-VIII: a facile synthesis of 4-alkyl quin azolines and 1-methyl-2-aryl-4-quinolones

With aq. sodium hydroxide, ω - (4(3H̲ )-quinazolinylidene) acetophenones, 4b̲ (R'= H, R=Ar) or ω-(4-quinazolinyl) acetophenones 4a̲ (R'= Me, Et; R = Ar) provide 4-alkylquinazolines 6̲ but 1-methyl-4-phenacyl or phenacylidene-3H̲-quinazolinium derivatives 10a̲ or 10b̲ give N-methyl-4-quinolone derivatives 11̲

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of allyl, crotyl and prop argyl alcohols by diperiodato cuprate(III) in alkaline medium

685-688The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of ɑ, β-unsaturated alcohols (UA) such as allyl, crotyl and propargyl alcohols by periodate complex of trivalent copper in aqueous alkaline medium has been studied spectrophotometrically at 416 run. The order in [oxidant] and [substrate] is found to be unity each. The rate decreases with increase in [periodate] and increases with increase in [OH-]. There is no effect of addition of salts like Na2SO4 and KNO3. The primary kinetic isotopic effect k/ k is 3.87 at 313 K. The solvent isotopic effect k/ k is 0.912 at 313 K. The product of oxidation has been identified as the corresponding aldehyde. Participation of double bond in the oxidation reaction has not been observed. Under the experimental conditions monoperiodato cuprate(III) species has been assumed to be the active species. The results are discussed in terms of + I effect of methyl group and resonance stabilisation of free radical. The observed results are explained in terms of an outersphere electron transfer mechanism

Extrusion reactions-VII: formation of 2,5-diaryl-1,4-dithiins and 2-acetonyl thiazoles

ω-(2,6-Dimethyl-4-pyrimidinylthio-(4), 2-methyl-4-quinazolinylthio-(9), and 4-oxo-2-quinazo-linylthio)-(10) acetophenones with hydrochloric or perchloric acid provide 2,5-diaryl-1,4-dithiins (7) whereas α)-(6-methyl-4-pyrimidinylthio) acetophenones (11) with aq HCl/HClO, or POCl followed by hydrolysis provide 1-(4-aryl-2-thiazolyl)-2-propanones (12). Likewise, 2-(6-methyl-4-pyrimidinylthio) cyclohexanone (13) give the thiazole derivative (14)

PhSeSiR<SUB>3</SUB>-catalyzed group transfer radical reactions

A novel design for initiating radical-based chemistry in a catalytic fashion is described. The design of the concept is based on the phenylselenyl group transfer reaction from alkyl phenyl selenides by utilizing PhSeSiR3 (1) as a catalytic reagent. The reaction is initiated by the homolytic cleavage of -C-Se- bond of an alkyl phenyl selenide by the in situ generated alkylsilyl radical (R3Si•), obtained by the mesolysis of PhSeSiR3]•-(1•-). The oxidative dimerization of counteranion PhSe- to PhSeSePh functions as radical terminator. The generation of 1•- is achieved by the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) promoted reductive activation of 1 through a photosystem comprising of a visible-light (410 nm)-absorbing electron rich DMA as an electron donor and ascorbic acid as a co-oxidant. The optimum mole ratio between the catalyst 1 and alkyl phenyl selenides for successful reaction is established to be 1:10. The generality of the concept is demonstrated by carrying out variety of radical reactions such as cyclization (10, 15-18), intermolecular addition (25), and tandem annulations (32)