Effect of foliar spray of elicitors on status of defense proteins in relation to mustard aphid infestation in crop Brassica cultivars

Mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kalt., is the key insect pest of crop Brassicas causing significant reduction in crop yield. In the present study, widely grown Brassica cultivars RLC-1 (Brassica juncea) and GSC-6 (Brassica napus) were treated with elicitors salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) at 0.5mM and 1mM concentration via foliar spray (given at 40 and 60 days after planting (DAP). Their effect was evaluated in terms of total soluble protein content and activities of defense proteins (peroxidase, protease inhibitor, polyphenol oxidase, amylase inhibitor and lectins) in relation to aphid infestation in leaf tissue. SA and JA application caused significant increase in activities of defense proteins as well as total soluble proteins. JA at 1mM concentration was most effective in both Brassica cultivars. The 2nd foliar spray gave a booster response. The aphid population/plant reduced significantly in both the cultivars with JA as well as SA. POD and PPO registered negative correlation with aphid population count. SA and JA foliar applications seemed effective against mustard aphid through positive modulation in activities of defense proteins

MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS FOR MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS VISITING OUTPATIENT CLINICS OF TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN COASTAL SOUTH INDIA

Objectives: To assess the proportion of modifiable risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) among hypertensive patients and to categorize theminto different risk categories so as to determine the probability of developing MI in near future.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study done in two tertiary care hospitals attached to a medical college in south India. 600 hypertensivepatients were interviewed by the treating physician using convenient sampling technique after taking the written informed consent from them. Theinterview was conducted using the non-laboratory INTERHEART Modifiable Risk Score (non-laboratory IHMRS scores).Results: The majority of the study participants (n=404, 67.3%) never smoked in their life time, 21.6% were former smokers (n=130), and 11.1% ofthe study participants were currently smoking (n=66). More than half of the study participants (n=328, 54.7%) were currently diabetic. Most of themhad abdominal obesity (n=469, 78.2%). Around 35.3% (n=212) of the subjects had felt sad or depressed for 2 weeks or more in a row in the last year.Fruits and vegetables were not consumed one or more times daily by 35.5% (n=213) and 11.1% (n=67) of the subjects respectively. A 19 patients(3.2%) were in the lowest risk category, 132 (22%) were at moderate risk, and 449 (74.8%) fell into the highest risk category for development of MI.Conclusion: The present study categorized the hypertensive patients into different risk categories; wherein majority of them fell into the high-riskcategory. Thus, this non-laboratory IHMRS can be used as a risk predictor for the development of MI.Keywords: Risk factors, Hypertensive, Non-laboratory INTERHEART Modifiable Risk Score, Myocardial infarction

Prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age group in a rural block of Northern India

Background: Nutritional anaemia is a major public health problem in India and is primarily due to iron deficiency. The National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3) data suggests that anaemia is widely prevalent among all age groups, and is particularly high nearly 55.3% amongst the most vulnerable in all women (15-49 years) Aims & Objectives: 1. To determine prevalence of Anaemia among women of reproductive age group in rural block of Haryana. 2. Effects of anaemia on mean height and weight of women of reproductive age group. Material Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive. All the women of reproductive age group (15-45 years) of CHC Sample block were included as study participants. Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia was 48.9%. 4302 out of 8590 females had varying severity of anaemia while anaemia was absent in 51.1% of the study participants. Out of the 8590 females, 1612 (18.8%) were mildly anaemic, 2374 (27.6%) were moderately anaemic and 217 (2.5%) were severely anaemic. The study revealed that mean weight and mean height in non anaemic females was more than that of varying degree (severe, moderate, mild) of anaemic females. Conclusion: the present study revealed anaemia to be a major health problem among the women of reproductive age group in rural areas in Haryana affecting their health status

Breastfeeding counselling and support: is it adequate? a descriptive study from Rohtak, India

Background: Antenatal breastfeeding education and motivation along with postnatal encouragement and lactation support are likely to improve rates of early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding. This study was done to know whether antenatal and postnatal visits were utilized for promotion of optimum breastfeeding in addition to the routine obstetric services.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional type of community based epidemiological study was conducted in rural and urban field practice area attached to Department of Community Medicine, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. A total of 500 mothers were studied. A pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was used for interviewing the study subjects and house to house visits were carried out to collect the information.Results: Health functionaries were the source of information in 49.6% mothers in urban area as compared to only 29.2% in rural areas. Breastfeeding related information was better in the mothers counseled by health functionaries than not counseled group.Conclusions: Health functionaries should be instructed to inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding during antenatal as well as postnatal visits. Existing breastfeeding education and postnatal support is not adequate in the population studied and needs to be strengthened

GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASES OF RAT BRAIN THAT MAKE CEREBROSIDES: SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY, INHIBITORS, AND ABNORMAL PRODUCTS 1

Brain homogenates from young rats were assayed for their ability to synthesize cerebrosides from radioactive UDP-galactose or UDP-glucose and ceramide. A comparison of galactose transfer with ceramides made from different 2-hydroxy acids showed that the shortest one tested (C 7 ) was by far the best acceptor, while the poorest contained 18 carbon atoms; longer fatty acids were better than CIS. Glucosyltransferase, on the other hand, showed rather little chain length specificity or discrimination against hydroxy acid ceramides. Synthetic compounds analogous in structure to ceramides were tested as inhibitors of the sugar transferases. Some were found to act as sugar acceptors themselves, particularly amides of DL-erythro-1- phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol. Some amides were good inhibitors of glucosyltransferase, particularly decanoyl norephedrine, decanoyl threo-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol and decenoyl phenylalaninol. The secondary amine analogous to the first of these, N -decyl norephedrine, was also very effective. No strong inhibitors of galactosyl transferase were found, although octanoyl D-threo- p -nitrophenyla- minopropanediol showed promise (42% inhibition at 0.3 mM). Octanoyl phenylalaninol was nearly as good an inhibitor; the inhibition appeared only after a lag period. It is suggested that the glucosyltransferase inhibitors might he useful in therapy of Gaucher's disease, by reducing the degradative load normally falling on glucocerebrosidase.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65833/1/j.1471-4159.1976.tb06987.x.pd

Sleeping habits among school children and their effects on sleep pattern

Introduction: Sleep problems can occur at any age. Inadequate sleep affects the physiological as well as psychological well-being of an individual. Thus, the objective of the present study is, to determine the pre sleep habits, duration and pattern of sleep among school children and to determine association between their sleep schedules and sleep habits.Method: The study comprised of 1050 children attending the government school. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria children were divided into three age groups: 4-5 years, 6-10 years and 11-15 years of age. A questionnaire about demographical data, sleep problems and habits, was duly filled by the parents. The parents of children were questioned for bed time, wakeup time, sleep time and sleep duration during both weekdays and weekends.Results: Total sleep time during weekdays was 8.9± 1.2 hours and 10.7 ± 1.1 hours during weekends. The wakeup time was significantly delayed during weekends in all age groups (p<0.05). Moreover, total sleep time increased significantly during weekends in all age groups (p<0.05). Children using media after 8 pm and sleeping alone are also in significant sleep debt.Conclusion: Screen activities such as TV, internet and cellular phones in a child’s bedroom had a negative effect on children’s sleep/wake patterns, duration of sleep. Children in higher grades are sleep debt compared to younger ones. Practices such as co sleeping and sharing bed with parents significantly improve the duration and quality of sleep

The Synergy of Emergency Alerts and social media: An Evaluation with the Emergency Alert and Social Media Engagement Test

Using the innovative Emergency Alert and Social Media Engagement Test (EASE Test), this study examines how the dynamics of emergency communication are changing and how conventional emergency alerts and social media engagement may work together. The results of the data analysis show that participants' alarm reaction efficacy varied, depending on things like alert clarity and personal readiness. The research highlights the potential of social media platforms as dynamic centers for information exchange by revealing varying degrees of involvement under simulated emergency circumstances. Furthermore, it is shown that social media participation is positively correlated with alert reactions that are more successful, highlighting the function of social media in improving response preparedness. Qualitative information obtained from participant interviews clarifies the potential and challenges in this interaction. In light of the potential for improved public safety, situational awareness, and catastrophe resilience in the digital age, this study supports an integrated strategy

Effect of post harvest treatments and harvesting stage on vase life and flower quality of cut Oriental lily

An investigation was carried out to study the effect of post harvest treatments and harvesting stage on vase life and flower quality of cut Oriental lily cv. Avocado. The results showed that highest vase life (15.83 days) and vase solution uptake (49.17 ml) was recorded with sucrose (2%) + 5-SSA (200ppm), whereas maximum flower diameter (15.17 cm) was recorded in vase solution containing sucrose (2%) + 5-SSA (100ppm). Earliest opening of florets (4.42 days) reported under sucrose (2%) + 5-SSA (200ppm). Effect of treatments was found non-significant in respect to opening of florets. Harvesting at green bud stage exhibited extended vase life (14.33 days) and higher vase solution uptake (40.43 ml), whereas maximum flower diameter (14.25 cm) recorded at 75% colour development stage. Based on the results it is concluded that 5-SSA could be an inexpensive and potential chemical for delaying senescence and for extending the keeping quality of cut liliums commercially

Glial and neuronal localization of cerebroside-metabolizing enzymes

Glial and neuronal cell preparations were made from young rat cerebrum and assayed for 3 enzymes involved in sphingolipid metabolism. A galactosyltransferase which makes galactocerebroside, a primary component of myelin, was found in all cell types examined, at fairly similar levels of activity. The same distribution of activities was found for the [beta]-galactosidase which hydrolyzes galactocerebroside. It is suggested that the very low levels of galactocerebroside found in neurons are the result of an inability of neurons to form the lipoidal cerebroside precursor, hydroxy ceramide, or a cerebroside-binding protein.The glucosyltransferase which makes glucocerebroside, an intermediate in ganglioside biosynthesis, was found only in neurons. This may be a new marker enzyme for neurons, in contrast to other brain cells. Since gangliosides are found in non-neuronal membranes, it appears likely that they (or some intermediate in biosynthesis) are transferred from neurons.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34120/1/0000404.pd