Effect of various concentrations of chromium polluted soil on biochemical changes of Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa L.)

An attempt was made to study the effect of different concentrations of chromium on biochemical  specifications on response of Globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa L.). The seeds were obtained from Private Agro centre, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India. The healthy seeds of globe amaranth were chosen and used for both laboratory experiments. The various Cr concentrations were used (25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/l). Biochemical parameter such as, protein, amino acid, sugar and proline contents in leaf, stem and root of globe amaranth at 15, 30, 45 and 60 DAS in chromium polluted soil. Among the results protein, sugars and amino acid contents in leaf, stem and root were also significantly decreased in all different concentration of Cr treated as compared to control plants. On the other hand, proline content in leaf, stem and root were increased in all the Cr treated plants as compared to control. To sum up protein, sugars and amino acid were also significantly decreased while, proline content was increased in all the chromium treated plants

Effects of intra articular steroids, hyaluronic acid and combination of both among patients with knee osteoarthritis

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative disorder of articular cartilage accompanied by hypertrophic changes of the bone. In the management of OA, though use of intra articular (IA) injection of steroids, hyaluronic acid (HA) separately plays an important role, their effects in terms of reducing pain, joint stiffness and movement restriction when it is used in combination remains a question. Hence this study was planned to assess the effects of HA and steroids alone with combination of both Ha and steroids.Methods: Prospective randomized comparative study, among patients with osteoarthritis knee attending the outpatient department of Orthopedics in a tertiary care hospital during January 2017 to May 2018, were included. Patients were randomized in three groups (steroids, HA and combination of both) and a total of 96 patients were included and the outcome was assessed by WOMAC scale. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 20.Results: Pain and movement restriction, at the end of fourth week and pain, joint stiffness and movement restriction, were found to be statistically improved in combined steroids and HA group than the group with steroids alone. Similarly at the end of third month, pain and movement restriction were found to be statistically improved in combined steroids and HA group than HA group alone.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that HA together with corticosteroid provides pain relief, reduction of joint stiffness and helps in improving joint movements within three months after treatment

Effects of tranexamic acid in major orthopedic surgical procedures: a randomized comparative study

Background: Despite modern healthcare system, major surgeries always cause economical constraints. Complications due to blood loss, long hospital stay are most common in major surgical procedures. Tranexamic acid (TXA), a synthetic derivative of lysine is used instead of blood transfusion to control bleeding peri and post operatively. Hence this study was planned to assess the effects of tranexamic acid on various orthopedic surgical procedures, in terms of blood loss, duration of surgical procedure and hospital stay.Methods: Prospective randomized comparative study, among patients undergoing elective and emergency orthopedic surgery. Patients with multiple fractures, organ injury and CKD were excluded from this study. Patients were randomized to tranexamic acid (TXA) group and colloids, blood transfusion group based on computer generated random numbers. Thirty two patients were randomized to tranexamic acid group and thirty two in control group. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS V 20.Results: The mean age group was 38.41±11.4 and 36.83±13.5 in TXA group and control group respectively. The mean SD for blood loss in TXA group was 321.5±124.7 and control group 482.7±189.6, the difference was found to be highly statistically significant with p=0.0002. Likewise the difference in postoperative Hb was found to be statistically significant with p<0.01. The p value for surgical site infection and hematoma was not statistically significant.Conclusions: TXA significantly reduces blood loss and blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery

Polymorphism in B-DNA: X-ray diffraction studies on Li-DNA fibres

From X-ray diffraction studies it is generally believed that B-DNA has the structural parameters n=10 and h=3.4 Å. However, for the first time we report that polymorphism in the B-form can be observed in DNA fibres. This was achieved by the precise control of salt and humidity in fibres and by the application of the precession method of X-ray diffraction to DNA fibres. The significant result obtained is that n=10 is not observed for crystalline fibre patterns. In fact, n=10 and h=3.4 Å are not found to occur simultaneously. Instead, a range of values, n=9.6-10.0 and h=3.35 Å-3.41 Å is observed

1-Methyl-3-(2-methyl­phen­yl)-3a-nitro-1,2,3,3a,4,9b-hexa­hydro­chromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C19H20N2O3, contains two independent mol­ecules in both of which the pyrrolidine ring adopts an envelope conformation, but with a C atom as the flap in one mol­ecule and the N atom in the other. The pyran ring adopts a half-chair conformation in both mol­ecules. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C—H⋯π inter­actions

Stock assessment and exploitation status of Lethrinus nebulosus (Lacepede, 1802) exploited off Thoothukudi coast, Tamil Nadu, India

825-828Lethrinus nebulosus (Lacepede, 1802), although a commercially important fish species, has not been studied (population studies) in Thoothukudi coast of Tamil Nadu, India. Research on recruitment pattern, virtual population analysis and exploitation status of L. nebulosus off Thoothukudi coast was conducted from July 2011 to June 2012. During the study period, 4590 specimens of L. nebulosus were collected for studying the above said parameters by using FiSAT software. Recruitment pattern of the species expressed continuously with one peak each in April and August. The fishing pressure occurred more in the length group of 43 cm onwards. The results revealed that the total annual catch of 7566.28 tonnes was obtained from 52210 boat days. The maximum catch per unit was during December and January. The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) was estimated at 12203.68 tonnes. The discrepancy between MSY and annual catch was 4664.399. The present fishing effort may be increased to 61.29% to achieve MSY with 19310 boat days. It was revealed that L. nebulosus is underexploited in this region

Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants in Thudaripettai Village, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India

The medicinal plants have received more attention among researchers to treat various diseases and disorders. This study was aimed to record the various medicinal plants present in Thudaripettai Village situated in Tharangambadi Taluk, Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. A total of 60 plant species belonging to 35 families were reported with their medicinal values. These results will provide information about medicinal plants and methods of utilization of these plants to cure various diseases of mankind. Survey of the information of medicinal plants used by the villagers were collected and arranged alphabetically followed by common name, vernacular name, family name, parts of use, methods of uses, medicinal uses and their habit. The information is very much useful for further research which will lead to the discovery of new bioactive compounds from the above medicinal plants

The Ndc80 complex targets Bod1 to human mitotic kinetochores

Regulation of protein phosphatase activity by endogenous protein inhibitors is an important mechanism to control protein phosphorylation in cells. We recently identified Biorientation defective 1 (Bod1) as a small protein inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A containing the B56 regulatory subunit (PP2A-B56). This phosphatase controls the amount of phosphorylation of several kinetochore proteins and thus the establishment of load-bearing chromosome-spindle attachments in time for accurate separation of sister chromatids in mitosis. Like PP2A-B56, Bod1 directly localizes to mitotic kinetochores and is required for correct segregation of mitotic chromosomes. In this report, we have probed the spatio-temporal regulation of Bod1 during mitotic progression. Kinetochore localization of Bod1 increases from nuclear envelope breakdown until metaphase. Phosphorylation of Bod1 at threonine 95 (T95), which increases Bod1's binding to and inhibition of PP2A-B56, peaks in prometaphase when PP2A-B56 localization to kinetochores is highest. We demonstrate here that kinetochore targeting of Bod1 depends on the outer kinetochore protein Ndc80 and not PP2A-B56. Crucially, Bod1 depletion functionally affects Ndc80 phosphorylation at the N-terminal serine 55 (S55), as well as a number of other phosphorylation sites within the outer kinetochore, including Knl1 at serine 24 and 60 (S24, S60), and threonine T943 and T1155 (T943, T1155). Therefore, Ndc80 recruits a phosphatase inhibitor to kinetochores which directly feeds forward to regulate Ndc80, and Knl1 phosphorylation, including sites that mediate the attachment of microtubules to kinetochores

Length based population characteristics and fishery of skipjack tuna, <em>Katsuwonus pelamis</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) from Tuticorin waters, Tamil Nadu, India.

52-59Fishery and population characteristics of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) along Tuticorin coast were studied for the period of one year from June 2016 to May 2017. Population parameters of Katsuwonus pelamis based on the length frequency data collected from fish landing centers of Tuticorin. Lengths ranging from 25 to 80 cm total length were observed and analyzed in current study. The population parameters L∞, K, M, Z and F were estimated as 95.70 cm, 0.40 year-1, 0.73, 1.63 and 0.90 respectively. Virtual Population Analysis (VPA) indicated that noticeable fishing mortality starts from 35-39 cm class interval and continued increasing till 50-54 length class. Afterwards a general decline in fishing mortality was observed with a relatively heavy fishing pressure on penultimate length class. The exploitation ratio (E) of 0.55 was derived from present study which is less than the maximum exploitation ratio (Emax = 0.805) indicating a scope for potential increase in production

Ursolic acid inhibits colistin efflux and curtails colistin resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Abstract Colistin resistance in Enterobacteriaceae especially Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli is driving the evolution of pan drug resistant strains. Screening a library of 13 plant nutraceuticals led to the identification of acetyl shikonin and ursolic acid, which exhibited synergy with colistin against extremely drug resistant (XDR) clinical strains of E. coli (U3790) and K. pneumoniae (BC936). Ursolic acid caused a significant colistin MIC reversal of 16-fold in U3790 and 4-fold in BC936 strains. Ursolic acid also potentiated the bactericidal effect of colistin against both U3790 and BC936 by causing ~ 4 to 4.5 log fold decline in CFU of both clinical isolates in a time kill assay. At 2× minimum effective concentration, ursolic acid was non-toxic to zebrafish as evidenced by brain and liver enzyme profiles and by histopathology studies. In combination with colistin, ursolic acid reduced bacterial bioburden of U3790/BC936 by 1–1.58 log fold from the infected muscle tissue of zebrafish. Mechanistic explorations via studies on real time efflux, membrane potential and intracellular accumulation of dansyl chloride tagged colistin revealed that colistin efflux is inhibited by ursolic acid. In addition, ursolic acid also enhanced outer membrane permeability which probably facilitates colistin’s attack on outer and inner membranes. Our study shows that ursolic acid synergizes with colistin by inhibiting colistin efflux in Enterobacteriaceae that helps to curtail colistin resistant Enterobacteriaceae.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148135/1/13568_2019_Article_750.pd