Differential Responses of Proline, Ion Accumulation and Antioxidative Enzyme Activities in Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] lines Differing in Salt Sensitivity

Ten-day-old seedlings of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] mapping populations differing in their salinity tolerance levels were exposed to 0 and 150 mM NaCl concentrations for short durations of time (0 to 144 h) to assess the pattern of accumulation of proline, glutathione, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Cl- contents and their antioxidative enzyme activities. Salt-tolerant lines accumulated more proline and K+ than the susceptible ones pointing their accumulation as a possible mechanism of salt tolerance. Specific activities of CAT, SOD and GR were higher in tolerant compared to the sensitive lines under salt stress conditions. High GST activity was noticed in the moderately tolerant line while the increase was transient (till 48 h) in the tolerant line. Lipid peroxidation as measured by MDA levels remained more or less same in the salt-sensitive line ICMB 90111, while it increased considerably in the tolerant line under salt stress till 96 h. The above comparative studies suggest that salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive lines of pearl millet possess differential oxidative components of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic machinery for scavenging ROS generated during salt stress

Antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Successful antiretroviral treatment is dependent on sustaining high rates of adherence. In the southern African context, only a handful of studies (both quantitative and qualitative) have looked at the determinants including a health behaviour theory of adherence to antiretroviral therapy. The aim of this study is to assess factors including the information, motivation and behavioural skills model (IMB) contributing to antiretroviral (ARV) adherence six months after commencing ARVs at three public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using systematic sampling, 735 HIV-positive patients were selected prior to commencing on ART from outpatient departments from three hospitals and followed-up at six months and interviewed with a questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A good proportion of patients were found to be adherent using both adherence instruments (visual analog scale = VAS 82.9%; Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group = AATCG 70.8%). After adjusting for significant socio-economic variables, both the VAS and the dose, schedule and food adherence indicator found levels of adherence amongst urban residents to be almost 3 times greater than that of rural residents. After adjusting for health-related variables, for both indicators better adherence was associated with low depression and poorer adherence was associated with poor environmental factors. Adjusted odds ratios for adherence when taking into account different behavioural variables were for both adherence indicators, discrimination experiences were associated with lower adherence, and higher scores in adherence information and behavioural skills were associated with higher adherence. For the VAS adherence indicator, higher social support scores were associated with higher adherence. For the dose, schedule and food adherence indicator, using herbal medicines for HIV was associated with lower adherence.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>For the patients in this study, particularly those not living in urban areas, additional support may be needed to ensure patients are able to attend appointments or obtain their medications more easily. Adherence information and behavioural skills as part of the IMB model should be strengthened to improve adherence. Further psychological support is also required and patients' perceived need for ARTs should be routinely assessed.</p

Optimized conditions for callus induction, plant regeneration and alkaloids accumulation in stem and shoot tip explants of Phyla nodiflora

The present study describes callus induction and the subsequent plant regeneration with alkaloids accumulation instem and shoot tip explants of Phyla nodiflora. Both explants were cultured on different media (MS, B5, SH and WPM) for callus induction. Stem explants showed better callus biomass (dry weight) than shoot tip explants with green compact callus when cultured on MS medium containing 1.5 mg L�1 a-naphthalene acetic acid. Shoots were regenerated from the callus on MS medium with 1.5 mg L�1 a-naphthalene acetic acid and 1.0 mg L�1 benzyl adenine. The rooting of all regenerated shoots was successfully performed on half-strength MS medium with 1.0 mg L�1 indole-3-butyric acid. The plantlets were acclimatized and established in soil (90%) and exhibited morphological characteristics similar to those of the mother plant. In addition, the alkaloids content was higher in regenerated callus than intact stem and shoot tip explants, which were analyzed by a gravimetric method, TLC (thin layer chromatography) and HPTLC (high performance thin layer chromatography). The proposed method could effectively be applied for the conservation and clonal propagation to meet the pharmaceutical demands of this medicinally important specie

Discovery of 8‑Cyclopentyl-2-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenylamino]-7-oxo-7,8-dihydro-pyrido[2,3‑<i>d</i>]pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (<b>7x</b>) as a Potent Inhibitor of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 (CDK4) and AMPK-Related Kinase 5 (ARK5)

The success of imatinib, a BCR-ABL inhibitor for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia, has created a great impetus for the development of additional kinase inhibitors as therapeutic agents. However, the complexity of cancer has led to recent interest in polypharmacological approaches for developing multikinase inhibitors with low toxicity profiles. With this goal in mind, we analyzed more than 150 novel cyano pyridopyrimidine compounds and identified structure–activity relationship trends that can be exploited in the design of potent kinase inhibitors. One compound, 8<b>-</b>cyclopentyl-2-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenylamino]-7-oxo-7,8-dihydro-pyrido­[2,3-<i>d</i>]­pyrimidine-6-carbonitrile (<b>7x</b>), was found to be the most active, inducing apoptosis of tumor cells at a concentration of approximately 30–100 nM. In vitro kinase profiling revealed that <b>7x</b> is a multikinase inhibitor with potent inhibitory activity against the CDK4/CYCLIN D1 and ARK5 kinases. Here, we report the synthesis, structure–activity relationship, kinase inhibitory profile, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo tumor regression studies by this lead compound