Genetic diversity of seed lipid content and fatty acid composition in some species of Sesamum L. (Pedaliaceae)

Genetic diversity in seed oil content and fatty acid composition in six wild species of genus Sesamum viz., Sesamum mulayanum, Sesamum capense, Sesamum laciniatum, Sesamum latifolium, Sesamum occidentale and Sesamum schinzianum were studied and compared with the cultivated species Sesamum indicum or sesame. Seed oil content ranged from 46.13 to 53.8% in cultivated sesame and 20.3 to 33.9% in wild species. Palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2) acids are the principal fatty acids in all the wild species and cultivated sesame studied here. Wild species exhibit wide range of variation in palmitic and stearic acid contents. Stearic acid content in all the wild species is significantly higher than the cultivated sesame. Lower oleic acid and higher linoleic acid contents are apparent in wild species. Genetic diversity in seed oil content and fatty acid contents are apparent in wild and cultivated sesame

Non drowsy obstructive sleep apnea as a potential cause of resistant hypertension: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and arterial hypertension (AH) are common and underrecognized medical disorders. OSA is a potential risk factor for the development of AH and/or may act as a factor complicating AH management. The symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are considered essential for the initiation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which is a first line treatment of OSA. The medical literature and practice is controversial about the treatment of people with asymptomatic OSA. Thus, OSA patients without EDS may be left at increased cardiovascular risk.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>The report presents a case of 42year old Asian woman with symptoms of heart failure and angina like chest pain upon admission. She didnt experience symptoms of EDS, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale was seven points. Snoring was reported on direct questioning. The patient had prior medical history of three unsuccessful pregnancies complicated by gestational AH and preeclampsia with C-section during the last pregnancy. The admission blood pressure (BP) was 200/120mm Hg. The patients treatment regimen consisted of five hypotensive medications including diuretic. However, a target BP wasnt achieved in about one and half month. The patient was offered to undergo a polysomnography (PSG) study, which she rejected. One month after discharge the PSG study was done, and this showed an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 46 events per hour. CPAP therapy was initiated with a pressure of 11H₂0cm. After 2months of compliant CPAP use, adherence to pharmacologic regimen and lifestyle modifications the patients BP decreased to 134/82mm Hg.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>OSA and AH are common and often underdiagnosed medical disorders independently imposing excessive cardiovascular risk on a diseased subject. When two conditions coexist the cardiovascular risk is likely much greater. This case highlights a possible clinical phenotype of OSA without EDS and its association with resistant AH. Most importantly a good hypotensive response to medical treatment in tandem with CPAP therapy was achieved in this patient. Thus, it is reasonable to include OSA in the differential list of resistant AH, even if EDS is not clinically obvious.</p

Key signaling nodes in mammary gland development and cancer: β-catenin

β-Catenin plays important roles in mammary development and tumorigenesis through its functions in cell adhesion, signal transduction and regulation of cell-context-specific gene expression. Studies in mice have highlighted the critical role of β-catenin signaling for stem cell biology at multiple stages of mammary development. Deregulated β-catenin signaling disturbs stem and progenitor cell dynamics and induces mammary tumors in mice. Recent data showing deregulated β-catenin signaling in metaplastic and basal-type tumors suggest a similar link to reactivated developmental pathways and human breast cancer. The present review will discuss β-catenin as a central transducer of numerous signaling pathways and its role in mammary development and breast cancer

North American Wild Relatives of Grain Crops

The wild-growing relatives of the grain crops are useful for long-term worldwide crop improvement research. There are neglected examples that should be accessioned as living seeds in gene banks. Some of the grain crops, amaranth, barnyard millet, proso millet, quinoa, and foxtail millet, have understudied unique and potentially useful crop wild relatives in North America. Other grain crops, barley, buckwheat, and oats, have fewer relatives in North America that are mostly weeds from other continents with more diverse crop wild relatives. The expanding abilities of genomic science are a reason to accession the wild species since there are improved ways to study evolution within genera and make use of wide gene pools. Rare wild species, especially quinoa relatives in North American, should be acquired by gene banks in cooperation with biologists that already study and conserve at-risk plant populations. Many of the grain crop wild relatives are weeds that have evolved herbicide resistance that could be used in breeding new herbicide-resistant cultivars, so well-documented examples should be accessioned and also vouchered in gene banks

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Not AvailableBananas are the highly evolved, oldest fruits known to mankind. The Cavendish group cultivars are popular commercial varieties. AAA genomic group cultivars are said to have evolved from the wild AA Musa acuminata species by natural hybridization and polyploidization and these vigorous triploids were selected by man for cultivation. Basic cytological studies on banana are comparatively few due to the plant's complex nature. In this report, karyo-morphological studies on five AAA Cavendish group cultivars i.e. Robusta, Dwarf Cavendish, Grand Naine, Gros Michel and Red banana are reported. All the five cultivars had similar karyotype, except cv. Robusta. Total chromosome length was highest in Red banana and lowest in cv. Gros Michel.Not Availabl

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