Plant Metabolomics: An Emerging Technology for Crop Improvement

The astounding ability of plants to make smart decisions in response to environment is evident. As they have evolved a long list of complex and unique processes that involve photosynthesis, totipotency, long-distance signaling, and ability to restore structural and metabolic memory, recognition, and communication via emission of the selected class of volatiles. In recent years, use of metabolite profiling techniques in detection, unambiguous identification, quantification, and rapid analysis of the minute quantity of cellular micromolecules has increased considerably. Metabolomics is key to understand the chemical footprints during different phases of growth and development of plants. To feed the ever-increasing population with limited inputs and in a rapidly changing environment is the biggest challenges that the world agriculture faces today. To achieve the project genetic gains, the breeding strategies employing marker-assisted selection for high-yielding varieties and identifying germplasm resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses are already in vogue. Henceforth, new approaches are needed to discover and deploy agronomically important gene/s that can help crops better withstand weather extremes and growing pest prevalence worldwide. In this context, metabolic engineering technology looks viable option, with immense potential to deliver the future crops

The Role of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in the Development of Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Artery Disease and Chronic Heart Failure in the Context of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a significant burden globally and are especially prevalent in obese and/or diabetic populations. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) surrounding the heart has been implicated in the development of CVDs as EAT can shift from a protective to a maladaptive phenotype in diseased states. In diabetic and obese patients, an elevated EAT mass both secretes pro-fibrotic/pro-inflammatory adipokines and forms intramyocardial fibrofatty infiltrates. This narrative review considers the proposed pathophysiological roles of EAT in CVDs. Diabetes is associated with a disordered energy utilization in the heart, which promotes intramyocardial fat and structural remodeling. Fibrofatty infiltrates are associated with abnormal cardiomyocyte calcium handling and repolarization, increasing the probability of afterdepolarizations. The inflammatory phenotype also promotes lateralization of connexin (Cx) proteins, undermining unidirectional conduction. These changes are associated with conduction heterogeneity, together creating a substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF). EAT is also strongly implicated in coronary artery disease (CAD); inflammatory adipokines from peri-vascular fat can modulate intra-luminal homeostasis through an “outside-to-inside” mechanism. EAT is also a significant source of sympathetic neurotransmitters, which promote progressive diastolic dysfunction with eventual cardiac failure. Further investigations on the behavior of EAT in diabetic/obese patients with CVD could help elucidate the pathogenesis and uncover potential therapeutic targets

Racial Differences in Serum Adipokine and Insulin Levels in a Matched Osteoarthritis Sample: A Pilot Study

Background. In an attempt to correlate biomarkers with disease, serum-based biomarkers often are compared between individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) and control subjects. However, variable results have been reported. Some studies have suggested an association between certain adipokines and insulin and OA. We know that there are racial differences in OA prevalence and incidence, and from general population-based studies, those of Asian race consistently demonstrate a unique adipokine/insulin serum concentration profile as compared to Caucasians. Whether similar racial differences exist within OA samples is unknown and may have implications for selecting appropriate controls in comparative studies. Methods. Serum levels of adipokines, leptin, and adiponectin, along with insulin, were determined by ELISA in patients scheduled for total hip or knee replacement surgery for OA. Fifteen Asian patients were matched 1 : 1 on age (±2 years), gender, body mass index (±1.5 kg/m2), and surgical joint with Caucasian patients. Differences in serum concentrations were tested using paired t-tests. Results. Serum leptin and insulin levels were significantly higher in Asians compared to Caucasians (p<0.05). While serum adiponectin levels were lower among Asians, the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.12). Conclusion. Findings from this work suggest that when studying serum biomarker concentrations in OA versus controls, race may be an important factor to consider. Our findings warrant confirmation in larger studies

Effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists on albuminuria in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims: To determine the effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) on albuminuria in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Medline Ovid, Scopus, Web of Science, EMCARE and CINAHL databases from database inception until 27 January 2022. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were randomized controlled trials that involved treatment with a GLP-1RA in adult patients with T2DM and assessed the effect on albuminuria in each treatment arm. Data extraction was conducted independently by three individual reviewers. The PRISMA guidelines were followed regarding data extraction and quality assessment. Data were pooled using a random effects inverse variance model and all analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.4 software. The Jadad scoring tool was employed to assess the quality of evidence and risk of bias in the randomized controlled trials. Results: The initial search revealed 2419 articles, of which 19 were included in this study. An additional three articles were identified from hand-searching references of included reviews. Therefore, in total, 22 articles comprising 39 714 patients were included. Meta-analysis suggested that use of GLP1-RAs was associated with a reduction in albuminuria in patients with T2DM (weighted mean difference −16.14%, 95% CI −18.42 to −13.86%; p < .0001) compared with controls. Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates that GLP-1RAs are associated with a significant reduction in albuminuria in adult patients with T2DM when compared with placebo

Application of Design Of Expert for the Development and Systematic Optimisation of L-Asparaginase loaded Nanoparticulate Carrier Drug Delivery Systems

L-Asparaginase (L-ASN) is a clinically approved chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphosarcoma. The aim of this research study was to develop and to optimize solid lipid nanoparticle formulation loaded with enzyme L-Asparaginase using response surface methodology (RSM) [1]. The formulation was prepared by a modified double emulsion method followed by solvent evaporation technique using a combination of high-speed homogeniser (10000 rpm) and an automatic hotplate for a temperature 40°C.&nbsp; Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was involved in the study to establish and to understand the relationship between selected design factors and the experimental data thus obtained. A set of 29 formulations were prepared in triplicate based on the recommendations of BBD.[2] The desired results obtained were found to be in close agreement with the experimental results. The responses were fitted to a quadratic; polynomial model. The statistical validation using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was done for the respective fitted models.[3] Response Surface Graphs and 3D contour plots were constructed to understand the effect of independent variables in different combinations on the desired responses. SLN prepared were found to be spherical in shape and the mean particle size ˂198 nm.[4] The polydispersity index (PDI) and the zeta potential recorded for the prepared formulation corresponding to the particle size was 0.096 ± 0.043 and −10.39 mV respectively. The enzyme drug loading was 10.11% ± 2.02 and the enzyme entrapment efficiency was found to be 76.19% ± 1.23. BBD found to be very effective in considering the effects of independent formulation variables to develop an optimised enzyme loaded SLN formulation with sufficient activity of the L-ASN enzyme. Keywords: Solid Lipid Nanoparticle, Response Surface Methodology, Box-Behnken Desig

Disruptive Technology in Digital Notice Board using Flutter

In early days, notice boards were used to place notices which is a very hard process. First a teacher has to make a notice on his computer and edit to make it attractive then he must get it approved by the HOD. Then when it gets approved, he must print it then the teacher must go to every notice board and physically pin the notice on the notice board Which is a very hard and time-consuming process. In order to make this experience easy we are proposing a digital notice board Which will make the process very easy and very efficient. Our main aim is to make information easy to access to students and at the same time make it easy for teachers to build a notice using their phones and the templates provided on the app