Changes in diapause related gene expression pattern during early embryonic development in HCl-treated eggs of bivoltine silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)

Investigation of differential expression of diapause related genes (five metabolic, five heat shock protein and one translational regulatory) in HCl-treated (non-diapause) and untreated (diapause) eggs of B. mori during early embryogenesis (up to 48h following oviposition) revealed the up-regulation of sorbitol dehydrogenase upon HCl treatment, indicating increased glycogen synthesis for further embryonic development but, down-regulation of phosphofructo kinase gene expression after 18h of oviposition indicating an arrest of glycerol and sorbitol conversion. The expression of poly A binding protein gene expression was higher upon HCl treatment, revealing the initiation of translation. The expression levels of other genes analyzed did not vary significantly, except for Hsp90 and Hsp40, which were up-regulated on acid treatment until 18h. Thus, Sorbitoldehydrogenase and phosphofructo kinasegenes have a crucial role in diapause termination as evidenced by HCl treatment, while the other genes did not have major roles

Clinical evaluation of efficacy and safety of appetizer syrup as appetite stimulant in children with non-pathogenic anorexia

700-705Anorexia, i.e., lack of desire to eat or loss of appetite is a common cause of parental concern in pre-school and school-going children. Many herbs and herbal formulations have been traditionally used in India as ‘appetizers’ in children with non-pathological anorexia and over 100 phyto-constituents are claimed to have appetite-stimulant effects, though efficacy and safety of many of these formulations needs to be evaluated with well-controlled clinical trials. Appetizer syrup (Mfd: Dabur India Limited) is an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation proposed to stimulate appetite in children with non-pathogenic anorexia. It comprises herbs such as Kismis (Vitis vinifera L.), Pipalli (Piper longum L.), Anar (Punica granatum L.), Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn), etc., that are traditionally known to be useful in digestive impairment and are documented to possess appetite stimulant and strength promoting properties. Present trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel group clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Appetizer Syrup in children with non-pathogenic anorexia. Results were assessed from baseline to study completion on basis of the appetite stimulating effects of the formulation and the benefits secondary to appetite stimulation like changes in anthropometric measurements and academic performance