Body Composition and Fat Distribution Pattern of Urban Elderly Females, Delhi, India

The present study was conducted on females (n=279) in the age range of 51–89 year, living in the urban dwellings of Delhi, India. Another group of 21–25 years old young adult females was taken as a control group. A total of 14 anthropometric measurements were taken: stature, sitting height, weight, skinfold thickness at nine different sites over the body and body girths such as upper arm, waist and hip circumference. Indices like body mass index, grand mean thickness, waist-hip ratio were computed to assess the body composition. Fat profile and responsiveness of different skinfold sites towards fat accumulation were studied to find out the regional fat distribution with advancing age. Redistribution of body fat was found to take place with increasing age. A relative preponderance of upper body fat was visible among elderly subjects. However, a clear reverse trend was observed in the young control group females. Significant differences were observed with regards to the body composition and fat profile between young adult females and test group females. Abdomen and the sub-scapular area were reported to be the most sensitive sites for fat deposition as the age advanced. The stature and sitting height showed significant decline with age. All the indices of adiposity i.e. grand mean thickness, waist-hip ratio and body mass index revealed significant changes in elderly females when compared with young adult control group females

Comparative Study of Ground Water Quality of Udaipur and its Surrounding Areas

Ground water is considered one of the country's most important natural resources. It's responsible for approximately 40% of the water utilized for all other purposes except for the generation of hydropower and the cooling of electric power plants. Interestingly, it's resources that are commonly utilized and have a significant impact on the country's health and economy. Ground water is the natural gift to humanity, it is valued at around 210 billion m3 and includes the volume of recharge as well as the volume of water that evaporates and falls to the earth. One third of the water is used for irrigation, the remaining two-thirds are domesticated and industrially utilized. The majority of the water is re-circulated into rivers. Today, the rapid rate of development, increased industrialization, and population density have all contributed to an increased burden on water resources. The process of groundwater pollution is different from the pollution of surface water; the resource is imperceptible and recovery is difficult at the current state of technology (MacDonald and Kavanaugh 1994). As part of the international effort to understand the functions, structures, and processes within the CZ, a variety of investigations have been conducted that contribute to our understanding of the flow and evolution of groundwater (Sawyer et al. 2016; Goldhaber et al. 2014). Water pollutants in groundwater are typically odorless and colorless. Additionally, the adverse effects of polluted groundwater on human health are long-term and are extremely difficult to recognize (Chakraborti et al. 2015). Around one third of the world's population is  dependent on groundwater for drinking water ( International The association of hydrogeologists is dedicated to promoting the study of water-related issues. Groundwater is water that is particularly significant in arid and semiarid regions. where precipitation and surface water are confined (Li et al.2017a)

E-cigarette retailer storefront availability following a nationwide prohibition of e-cigarettes in India: A multicentric compliance assessment

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the availability of retailer storefronts that continued to sell electronic nicotine/non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) in India, and characterise such retailers following the promulgation of 2019 Indian Ordinance and Act (Ordinance/Act) that prohibit ENDS/ENNDS nationwide. Methods: Discreet observations were conducted of retailer storefronts across different socioeconomic zones in nine major cities of India (Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Raipur, and Ranchi) from 28 November 2019 to 22 January 2020 to identify the availability of ENDS/ENNDS (i.e. electronic cigarettes, e-cigarette liquid, e-cigarette accessories, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and HTPs accessories). We report the number and proportion (%) of retailers that sold ENDS/ENNDS. Other characteristics of the retailers are also described, including indirect evaluation of the retailer's awareness of the Ordinance/Act. Results: Of the 199 retailer storefronts visited, 37 (18.6%) sold ENDS/ENNDS and, therefore, did not comply with the Ordinance/Act. The highest availability of non-compliant retailers was in Kolkata (n=26; 83.9%). The majority of the non-compliant retailers were tobacco retailers (n=35; 94.6%), sold e-cigarettes (n=22; 59.5%), and e-cigarette accessories (n=24; 64.9%). Although many of the non-compliant retailers displayed their ENDS/ENNDS products (n=33; 89.2%) and did not feature health warnings related to ENDS/ENNDS (n=32; 86.5%) in the stores, nearly 90% (n=33) were aware of the Ordinance/Act. Conclusions: Despite a nationwide ban, ENDS/ENNDS are still available in major cities in India, and concentrated in a particular city. Indian authorities should focus on law enforcement to ensure that the prohibition is effectively implemented

INFLUENCE OF CADMIUM ON ANTIOXIDATIVE DEFENCE SYSTEM, PHOTOSYNTHESIS, LEVEL OF OSMOLYTES AND IONS UPTAKE IN BRASSICA JUNCEA

Objective: In the present study various physiological and biochemical aspects of Brassica juncea were studied under cadmium (Cd) stress conditions. Methods: Plants of Brassica juncea were subjected to different concentrations of Cd (0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mmol) metal. After 30 d of cadmium exposure it was found that the level of antioxidants, osmolytes, photosynthetic parameters, ions and total sugars were altered. To investigate the effects of metal in Brassica juncea plants, level of ascorbic acid, tocopherol, glutathione, ferric ion reducing assay, molybdate ion reduction assay, total osmolytes content, anthocyanins, xanthophylls, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, uptake of sodium and potassium ions, level of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and total sugar content was detected.Results: Results from this study revealed the increase in antioxidant potential of Brassica juncea plants under cadmium metal stress. Photosynthetic parameters and uptake of sodium and potassium ions were affected negatively due to metal exposure and level of sugars and osmolytes were found to rise in the presence of cadmium stress.Conclusion: Findings of present study suggested that treatment of Cd activated a range of defence strategies in Brassica juncea plants

Bis(O-ethyl dithio­carbonato-κ2 S,S′)bis­(pyridine-3-carbonitrile-κN 1)nickel(II)

The Ni2+ ion in the title complex, [Ni(C3H5OS2)2(C6H4N2)2], is in a strongly distorted octa­hedral coordination environment formed by an N2S4 donor set, with the Ni2+ ion located on a centre of inversion. In the crystal, weak C—H⋯S and C—H⋯N inter­actions are observed

Alterations in Cell-Extracellular Matrix Interactions during Progression of Cancers

Cancer progression is a multistep process during which normal cells exhibit molecular changes that culminate into the highly malignant and metastatic phenotype, observed in cancerous tissues. The initiation of cell transformation is generally associated with genetic alterations in normal cells that lead to the loss of intercellular- and/or extracellular-matrix- (ECM-) mediated cell adhesion. Transformed cells undergo rapid multiplication and generate more modifications in adhesion and motility-related molecules which allow them to escape from the original site and acquire invasive characteristics. Integrins, which are multifunctional adhesion receptors, and are present, on normal as well as transformed cells, assist the cells undergoing tumor progression in creating the appropriate environment for their survival, growth, and invasion. In this paper, we have briefly discussed the role of ECM proteins and integrins during cancer progression and described some unique conditions where adhesion-related changes could induce genetic mutations in anchorage-independent tumor model systems

Free Radical Scavenging Activity and HPLC Analysis of Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don Leaf Extract

Background: Several diseases are caused in the body due to oxidative stress of free radicals. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the antioxidant activity of Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don (Araucariaceae) leaf extract. The dried leaves of Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don (Araucariaceae) were extracted with 80% methanol. The antioxidant activity of the extract was predicted through in vitro model systems such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power and nitric oxide scavenging assays. The total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin content of the extract were also estimated in order to draw the correlation with their bioactivities. The extract was also investigated for several polyphenolic compounds using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: The antioxidant activity of extract was found to be excellent in all the three assays. A positive correlation between the antioxidant activity and phenolic content was observed. HPLC analysis identified the presence of Gallic acid, Catechin, Chlorogenic acid, Epicatechin, Caffeic acid, Umbelliferone, Ellagic acid, Quercetin and Kaempferol in the methanol leaf extract of Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don. Conclusions: The results of the present study point towards the fact that Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex D. Don leaves possess good antioxidant potential. The strong antioxidant activity can be correlated with the polyphenolic compounds present in the leaves