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

Cross-Sectional Analysis of Late HAART Initiation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Late Testers and Late Presenters

Background: Starting HAART in a very advanced stage of disease is assumed to be the most prevalent form of initiation in HIV-infected subjects in developing countries. Data from Latin America and the Caribbean is still lacking. Our main objective was to determine the frequency, risk factors and trends in time for being late HAART initiator (LHI) in this region. Methodology: Cross-sectional analysis from 9817 HIV-infected treatment-naive patients initiating HAART at 6 sites (Argentina, Chile, Haiti, Honduras, Peru and Mexico) from October 1999 to July 2010. LHI had CD4$^+$ count $\leq$200cells/mm$^3$ prior to HAART. Late testers (LT) were those LHI who initiated HAART within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. Late presenters (LP) initiated after 6 months of diagnosis. Prevalence, risk factors and trends over time were analyzed. Principal Findings: Among subjects starting HAART (n = 9817) who had baseline CD4$^+$ available (n = 8515), 76% were LHI: Argentina (56%[95%CI:52–59]), Chile (80%[95%CI:77–82]), Haiti (76%[95%CI:74–77]), Honduras (91%[95%CI:87–94]), Mexico (79%[95%CI:75–83]), Peru (86%[95%CI:84–88]). The proportion of LHI statistically changed over time (except in Honduras) ($p\leq0.02$; Honduras p = 0.7), with a tendency towards lower rates in recent years. Males had increased risk of LHI in Chile, Haiti, Peru, and in the combined site analyses (CSA). Older patients were more likely LHI in Argentina and Peru (OR 1.21 per +10-year of age, 95%CI:1.02–1.45; OR 1.20, 95%CI:1.02–1.43; respectively), but not in CSA (OR 1.07, 95%CI:0.94–1.21). Higher education was associated with decreased risk for LHI in Chile (OR 0.92 per +1-year of education, 95%CI:0.87–0.98) (similar trends in Mexico, Peru, and CSA). LHI with date of HIV-diagnosis available, 55% were LT and 45% LP. Conclusion: LHI was highly prevalent in CCASAnet sites, mostly due to LT; the main risk factors associated were being male and older age. Earlier HIV-diagnosis and earlier treatment initiation are needed to maximize benefits from HAART in the region

Condiciones optimizadas para inducción de callos, regeneración de plantas y acumulación de alcaloides en explantes de tallos y brotes de 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 α-naphthalene acetic acid. Shoots were regenerated from the callus on MS medium with 1.5 mg L–1 α-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 speciesEl presente estudio describe la inducción de callos y la posterior regeneración de plantas con la acumulación de alcaloides en los explantes de tallos y brotes de Phyla nodiflora. Para la inducción de callos, ambos explantes fueron cultivados en diferentes medios (MS, B5, SH y WPM). Los explantes de tallos tuvieron mejor biomasa (peso seco) de callo que explantes de ápices de naturaleza verde compacta cuando se cultivaron en un medio MS con 1,5 mg L–1de ácido α-naftalén acético. Los brotes fueron regenerados a partir de los callos en medio MS con 1,5 mg L–1 de ácido α-naftalén acético y 1,0 mg L–1 de benciladenina. El enraizamiento de todos los brotes regenerados se realizó con éxito en un medio ½ MS con 1,0 mg L–1 de ácido indol-3-butírico. Las plántulas fueron aclimatadas y establecidas en suelo (en un 90%) y mostraron características morfológicas similares a las de la planta madre. Además, el contenido de alcaloides fue mayor en los callos regenerados que en los explantes de tallo y brotes intactos, que fueron analizados por un método gravimétrico, TLC y HPTLC. El método propuesto se podría aplicar con eficacia para la conservación y propagación clonal, a fin de satisfacer la demanda farmacéutica de esta especie medicinalmente important

Changes in Behavior and Brain Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Mosquito Fish, Gambusia affinis in Response to the Sub-Lethal Exposure to Chlorpyrifos

Sub-lethal studies of chlorpyrifos, O,O-diethyl-O-(3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl) phosphorothioate on mosquito fish, Gambusia affinis were carried out in vivo, for 20 days to assess the locomotor behavior in relation to bioaccumulation and interaction with a targeted enzyme, acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC: 3.1.1.7). Fish exposed to sub-lethal concentration of 60 Ag/L (1/5 of LC50) were under stress, and reduced their locomotor behavior like distance travelled per unit time (m/min) and swimming speed (cm/sec) with respect to the length of exposure. The alteration in locomotor behavior of fish may be due to an accumulation of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter at synaptic junctions, due to the inhibition of AChE enzyme activity (40 to 55%) in brain and also bioaccumulation of the toxicant in different parts of fish. The bioaccumulation values indicated that the accumulation of chlorpyrifos was maximum in viscera followed by head and body. The average bioconcentration values are 0.109, 0.009 and 0.004 Ag/g for viscera, head and body with depuration rates of 2.24, 1.69 and 0.39 ng/h respectively. It is evident from the results that the sub-lethal concentration [1/5 of LC50; equivalent to Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC)] of chlorpyrifos can able to alter the locomotor behavior of G. affinis in relation to the length of exposure. The findings revealed that the locomotor activity of test organism could be considered as a suitable marker to evaluate the affect of toxicant even at LOEC levels

Radiolabeled somatostatin analogs in prostate cancer

Vapreotide (RC-160), a somatostatin analog, was labeled with 99mTc by a direct method and also by using CPTA [1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane]as a bifunctional chelating agent. The labeled compounds were evaluated in nude mice bearing experimental human prostate cancers. In these studies, 111In-DTPA-D-Phe-Octreotide ( 111In-DTPA-octreotide) served as a standard and 99mTc-oxytocin as a receptornon-specific control. 99mTc-octreotide was also used. The 24 htumor uptake of 99mTc-RC-160 was nearly 400% higher, ( p < 0.05), than that of 111In-DTPA-octreotide and diminished upon receptor blocking. In all tissues except the kidneys, the uptake of 99mTc-RC-160 was also higher than that of 111In-DTPA-octreotide. The uptake of 99mTc-RC-160 was influenced by the amount of peptide injected and the best tumor/muscle and tumor/blood ratios were obtained when only one μg of the peptide (200 Ci/mmol) was administered

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