Molecular characterization of Dg3, a cDNA that encodes a novel lipid transfer protein in Brassica napus

In this study, we have analysed the sequence of Dg3 clone using bioinformatic tools, determined copy number of this transcript in the genome of B. napus and expression levels at various tissues/organ. The cDNA contained 307-base pair open reading frame encoding 102 amino acid residues, 60-base pair 5`-untranslated region and 127-base pair 3`-untranslated region. The predicted mature protein has a molecular weight of 9.2 kDa and is acidic, with a predicted isoelectric point (pI) of 6.2. The Dg3 sequence has all the conserved structural characteristics of plant LTPs and showed highest homology to LTPs from other plant species. The transcripts of Dg3 were detected in all tested tissues but highest expression was in siliques and in vitro embryogenic cultures. Possible roles of Dg3 during somatic embryogenesis and normal plant development are discussed

A Study of Iron Overload using Oral Exfoliative Cytology in Beta Thalassemia Major patients

INTRODUCTION: Beta Thalassemia are group of inherited disorder of haemoglobin synthesis caused by genetic mutations that reduce or prevent the synthesis of beta globin chain of haemoglobin. These patient requires regular blood transfusion therapy to overcome the effects of anemia leading to iron overload in the body tissues causing morbidity and mortality in these patient and hence it is essential to monitor the iron overload in these patients. AIM OF THE STUDY: To correlate iron overload in oral exfoliative buccal cells with serum ferritin level among Beta Thalassemia Major patient. MATERIALS AND METHOD: With the study group of 50 beta thalassemia patients with the control groups of 50 healthy subject their buccal squamous cells have scraped, smeared and stained with Perl’s Prussian blue method and compared with serum ferritin level. The sample are collected from pediatrics ward and general medicine ward. RESULTS: The exfoliated cells from buccal mucosa of 33/50 beta thalassemia major patients revealed positivity for Perls Prussian blue reaction with increased serum ferritin level when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Perls prussian blue method is a non invasive, easy, cheaper method in analysing iron overload in these patients rather than the invasive procedures (bone marrow and liver biopsy)

Extracellular localization of napin in the embryogenic tissues of Brassica napus spp. oleifera

Napin, a storage protein, has been reported to be transcribed abundantly during the pre-embryogenic stage and associated with the induction of Brassica napus secondary embryogenesis. In this study, we studied the distribution pattern of napin in the winter oilseed rape embryogenic tissue in comparison to that of the non-embryogenic tissue using the indirect immunofluorescence localisation coupled with the ultrastructural immunogold labelling techniques. Immunolocalisation studies revealed that the extracellular matrix layer outside the outer epidermal cell wall of B. napus embryogenic tissues contained napin. This is the first study to report the extracellular localisation of napin. In addition, we have also further characterised the expression pattern of Eg1 that encodes for napin in the B. napus embryogenic tissue

Distribution of arabinogalactan protein (AGP) epitopes on the anther derived embryoid cultures of Brassica napus

The anther-derived embryoid cultures of Brassica napus is stably embryogenic and has an extracellular matrix (ECM) layer covering the surface of the developing embryoids. In this study, the distribution of arabinogalactan protein (AGP) epitopes in the ECM layer and the embryogenic tissue of winter oilseed rape were investigated by immuno-labelling with anti-AGP monoclonal antibodies (mAb JIM4, JIM8, and JIM 13). There was no labelling by the JIM4 and JIM8 mAbs in the ECM layer, unlike what was reported in other plant species. JIM 13 epitope is developmentally regulated because it was only present in the ECM layer of the mature embryogenic tissue. These observations indicate a possible variability in the AGP epitopes present in the ECM layer among the different plant species. JIM8 and JIM 13 epitopes were found in some epidermal cells of embryogenic tissue, but not in the non-embryogenic tissue, implying that AGPs might have a specific role in embryogenic competency or determining the cell fate of the B. napus embryogenic cell

Soil degradation due to heavy metal accumulation under long term fertilization of paddy (Oryza sativa L.)

Long term fertility experiment (LTFE) under double rice cropping system was investigated in Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai, India with two varieties (ADT 43 and ADT 45) in two seasons (Kharif and Rabi) under six fertilizer treatments to study the heavy metal accumulation in soil and its impact on paddy. There was a significant variation in physico-chemical properties of soil due to different fertilizer treatments. The surface soil (0-15cm soil depth) in all the treatments showed relatively higher heavy metal accumulation than subsurface. In thelong run, there was a build up in the total heavy metal content in soil and it was found to be relatively high in phosphatic fertilizer applied treatments than others. Total Cd and Pb was found high, but the availability was below detectable limit indicated that Cd and Pb were found in unavailable forms, while Cu and Zn were slightly in mobile forms which had been translocated into grain and straw of paddy. The DTPA (Diphenyl Triamine Penta Aceticacid) extractable Cd and Pb in the soil was low, but there was heavy increase in Cu and Zn comparing with initial period. The rate of increase in Cd and Pb content was lower in N alone and control plots. This might be due to the long term application of phosphotic and zinc sulphate fertilizers. Cd and Pb were evenly distributed at low concentrations in grain and straw under various treatments. In case of Cu and Zn, it was relatively higher in grains and paddy strawamong various fertilizer treatments. There was no significant difference among the varietal (seasons) treatments for the accumulation of heavy metals in grain and straw

Utilization of flower waste for the removal of chromium from tannery effluent

In this work we used flower waste biomass as a biosorbent to remove Cr from tannery effluent through column experiments. The sorption capacities of biosorbent (Fine, coarse and rough grades) were also evaluated by employing chemical pretreatments viz., sodium hydroxide, acetic acid, glutaraldehyde and hydrogen peroxide. The order of percentage removal of Cr using the above pretreatments was: 10% hydrogen peroxide < Raw powdered-FWB < 2% Gluteraldehyde < 10% Acetic acid < 0.1N sodium hydroxide. Among the different grades of biosorbents used, fine grade adsorbed more Cr (70 %) than that of coarse (64%) and rough (62 %) sorbents. The removal percentage of Cr from tannery was analyzed by using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, the functional groups which are responsible for adsorption was examined by Fourier Transform- Infrared Spectroscopy and the amorphous behaviour of FWB facilitating metal biosorption was indicated by the X-ray diffractogram. This study showed that pretreated flower waste biomass is a potential sorbent of Cr, which could be successfully used to reduce the Cr content in tannery effluent

Evaluation of localization of lead and nickel in plant cells of Amaranthus sp. and Brassica sp. absorbed from mine spoil waste

A detailed survey was undertaken in the sewage water contaminated areas of Coimbatore to select the natural hyper accumulators to rehabilitate the contaminated mine spoils. From this experiment the Pb and Ni accumulators, Amaranthus sp. and Brassica sp. were selected for further studies towards remediating the metal contaminated mine spoils. Microtomy of root, stem and leaf of Amaranthus sp. and Brassica sp. showed that the colour development in the plant species is evidence for accumulation of metals in different parts of plants and also tolerance mechanism employed by plant species under metal stress condition. The accumulation of heavy metals from soil to plant did not follow any particular pattern and varied with respect to metals, species and plant parts. However, the maximum Pb localization took place in root portion than in aerial parts. But the Ni accumulation was almost equal or higher in aerial parts (leaf and stem) compared to roots. This study revealed that the Amaranthus sp and Brassica sp stored lead and nickel in roots, leaves and stems. The roots showed more localization of metals followed by leaves and stems

Role of Nanoparticles in Environmental Remediation: An Insight into Heavy Metal Pollution from Dentistry

Environmental damage is without a doubt one of the most serious issues confronting society today. As dental professionals, we must recognize that some of the procedures and techniques we have been using may pose environmental risks. The usage and discharge of heavy metals from dental set-ups pollute the environment and pose a serious threat to the ecosystem. Due to the exclusive properties of nanosized particles, nanotechnology is a booming field that is being extensively studied for the remediation of pollutants. Given that the nanoparticles have a high surface area to volume ratio and significantly greater reactivity, they have been greatly considered for environmental remediation. This review aims at identifying the heavy metal sources and their environmental impact in dentistry and provides insights into the usage of nanoparticles in environmental remediation. Although the literature on various functions of inorganic nanoparticles in environmental remediation was reviewed, the research is still confined to laboratory set-ups and there is a need for more studies on the usage of nanoparticles in environmental remediation.</jats:p

Evaluation of Nutritional, Phytochemical, and Mineral Composition of Selected Medicinal Plants for Therapeutic Uses from Cold Desert of Western Himalaya

The aim of this study was to determine the elemental and nutritive values of leaf parts of 10 selected wild medicinal plants, Acer pictum, Acer caecium, Betula utilis, Oxalis corniculata, Euphorbia pilosa, Heracleum lanatum, Urtica dioica, Berberis lycium, Berberis asiaticaand, and Quercus ilex, collected from the high hills of the Chitkul range in district Kinnaur, Western Himalaya. The nutritional characteristics of medicinal plant species were analyzed by using muffle furnace and micro-Kjeldahl methods, and the mineral content in plants was analyzed through atomic absorption spectrometry. The highest percentage of used value was reported in Betula utilis (0.42) and the lowest in Quercus ilex (0.17). In this study, it was found that new generations are not much interested in traditional knowledge of ethnomedicinal plants due to modernization in society. Therefore, there is an urgent need to document ethnomedicinal plants along with their phytochemical and minerals analysis in study sites. It was found that rural people in western Himalaya are dependent on wild medicinal plants, and certain steps must be taken to conserve these plants from extinction in the cold desert of Himalayan region. They are an alternative source of medicine because they contain saponin, alkaloid, and flavonoid etc. as well as minerals. The leaves used for analysis possesses good mineral content, such as Na, N, K, P, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ca, Mg, and S. Hence, in the current study it was observed that medicinal plants are not only used for therapeutic purposes, but they can also be used as nutritional supplements

Health workers' views on quality of prevention of mother-to-child transmission and postnatal care for HIV-infected women and their children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prevention of mother-to-child transmission has been considered as not a simple intervention but a comprehensive set of interventions requiring capable health workers. Viet Nam's extensive health care system reaches the village level, but still HIV-infected mothers and children have received inadequate health care services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission. We report here the health workers' perceptions on factors that lead to their failure to give good quality prevention of mother-to-child transmission services.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semistructured interviews with 53 health workers and unstructured observations in nine health facilities in Hanoi were conducted. Selection of respondents was based on their function, position and experience in the development or implementation of prevention of mother-to-child transmission policies/programmes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Factors that lead to health workers' failure to give good quality services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission include their own fear of HIV infection; lack of knowledge on HIV and counselling skills; or high workloads and lack of staff; unavailability of HIV testing at commune level; shortage of antiretroviral drugs; and lack of operational guidelines. A negative attitude during counselling and provision of care, treating in a separate area and avoidance of providing service at all were seen by health workers as the result of fear of being infected, as well as distrust towards almost all HIV-infected patients because of the prevailing association with antisocial behaviours. Additionally, the fragmentation of the health care system into specialized vertical pillars, including a vertical programme for HIV/AIDS, is a major obstacle to providing a continuum of care.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Many hospital staff were not being able to provide good care or were even unwilling to provide appropriate care for HIV-positive pregnant women The study suggests that the quality of prevention of mother-to-child transmission service could be enhanced by improving communication and other skills of health workers, providing them with greater support and enhancing their motivation. Reduction of workload would also be important. Development of a practical strategy is needed to strengthen and adapt the referral system to meet the needs of patients.</p