Puducherry mangroves under sewage pollution threat need conservation

Indian mangroves have a rich diversity of soil-dwelling organisms which include micro, meio and macro forms. Mangrove ecosystem provides an ideal nursery and breeding ground for most of the marine and brackish water fish and shellfish. India has only 2.66% of the world’s mangroves1, covering an estimated area of 4827 sq. km. The present study area lies within the margins of lat. 11°90′107″– 11°90′703″N and long. 79°80′547″– 79°81′851″E. Mangrove exists as fringing vegetation over 168 ha distributed along the sides of Ariankuppam estuary, which empties into the Bay of Bengal (Coromandal coast) at Veerampatinam on the southeastern coast of Indi

Diabetes mortality and trends before 25 years of age: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes, at younger ages can be a largely preventable cause of death with the correct health care and services. We aimed to evaluate diabetes mortality and trends at ages younger than 25 years globally using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019. Methods We used estimates of GBD 2019 to calculate international diabetes mortality at ages younger than 25 years in 1990 and 2019. Data sources for causes of death were obtained from vital registration systems, verbal autopsies, and other surveillance systems for 1990–2019. We estimated death rates for each location using the GBD Cause of Death Ensemble model. We analysed the association of age-standardised death rates per 100 000 population with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and a measure of universal health coverage (UHC) and described the variability within SDI quintiles. We present estimates with their 95% uncertainty intervals. Findings In 2019, 16 300 (95% uncertainty interval 14 200 to 18 900) global deaths due to diabetes (type 1 and 2 combined) occurred in people younger than 25 years and 73·7% (68·3 to 77·4) were classified as due to type 1 diabetes. The age-standardised death rate was 0·50 (0·44 to 0·58) per 100 000 population, and 15 900 (97·5%) of these deaths occurred in low to high-middle SDI countries. The rate was 0·13 (0·12 to 0·14) per 100 000 population in the high SDI quintile, 0·60 (0·51 to 0·70) per 100 000 population in the low-middle SDI quintile, and 0·71 (0·60 to 0·86) per 100 000 population in the low SDI quintile. Within SDI quintiles, we observed large variability in rates across countries, in part explained by the extent of UHC (r2=0·62). From 1990 to 2019, age-standardised death rates decreased globally by 17·0% (−28·4 to −2·9) for all diabetes, and by 21·0% (–33·0 to −5·9) when considering only type 1 diabetes. However, the low SDI quintile had the lowest decline for both all diabetes (−13·6% [–28·4 to 3·4]) and for type 1 diabetes (−13·6% [–29·3 to 8·9]). Interpretation Decreasing diabetes mortality at ages younger than 25 years remains an important challenge, especially in low and low-middle SDI countries. Inadequate diagnosis and treatment of diabetes is likely to be major contributor to these early deaths, highlighting the urgent need to provide better access to insulin and basic diabetes education and care. This mortality metric, derived from readily available and frequently updated GBD data, can help to monitor preventable diabetes-related deaths over time globally, aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Targets, and serve as an indicator of the adequacy of basic diabetes care for type 1 and type 2 diabetes across nations.publishedVersio

Rapid identification of causal mutations in tomato EMS populations via mapping-by-sequencing

The tomato is the model species of choice for fleshy fruit development and for the Solanaceae family. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutants of tomato have already proven their utility for analysis of gene function in plants, leading to improved breeding stocks and superior tomato varieties. However, until recently, the identification of causal mutations that underlie particular phenotypes has been a very lengthy task that many laboratories could not afford because of spatial and technical limitations. Here, we describe a simple protocol for identifying causal mutations in tomato using a mapping-by-sequencing strategy. Plants displaying phenotypes of interest are first isolated by screening an EMS mutant collection generated in the miniature cultivar Micro-Tom. A recombinant F2 population is then produced by crossing the mutant with a wild-type (WT; non-mutagenized) genotype, and F2 segregants displaying the same phenotype are subsequently pooled. Finally, whole-genome sequencing and analysis of allele distributions in the pools allow for the identification of the causal mutation. The whole process, from the isolation of the tomato mutant to the identification of the causal mutation, takes 6-12 months. This strategy overcomes many previous limitations, is simple to use and can be applied in most laboratories with limited facilities for plant culture and genotyping

EVALUATION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS, ANTIOXIDANT AND THYROID HORMONE STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Oxidative stress is currently suggested as mechanism underlying diabetes and diabetic complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the magnitude of oxidative stress in patients with diabetes by measuring the lipid peroxidation as well as the status of the antioxidant defense system, thyroid hormones status and other biochemical variables. The study population consisted of 100 subjects divided into two groups viz. diabetic (n=50) and healthy controls (n=50). Changes in the levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants and thyroid hormones status were determined in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was found to be increased significantly in diabetic patients compared to healthy controls. On the other hand, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C were found to be decreased significantly in diabetics when compared to control subjects. We also noticed a marked increase in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and decrease in highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total protein and albumin in diabetic patients. The level of TSH was significantly decreased whereas the levels of T4 and FT4 were significantly increased in diabetic patients than the control subjects. However, the T3 and FT3 levels did not differ significantly between groups. Our findings indicate that changes in oxidant and antioxidant equilibrium will have biological and possibly pathological role in the development of secondary complications. It also demonstrate that detection of thyroid hormone status in the early stage of the disease will help the patients to improve quality of life and reduce the morbidity rate

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Not AvailableSelenium is an important essential trace micronutrient for living systems. Selenium in trace concentrations are essential for the growth and reproduction of plants, animals and microorganisms; however, this essential trace micronutrient element easily become toxic at concentrations higher than the physiological level. Selenium deficiency is regarded as a major health problem for 0.5–1 billion people worldwide. Oxyanions of selenium, viz. selenite and selenate, are bioavailable; selenium in the form of selenate ion (SeO4 2 ) is more toxic to most organisms than selenite (SeO3 2 ). Contrarily, elemental selenium (Se0) is insoluble, less toxic compared to other selenium forms. Nano-Se (Se0) in the range of 100–500 nm has similar bioavailability to other selenium forms into plants, animals, humans and microorganisms. Microbial nano-selenium biosynthesis is an eco-friendly and potentially economically viable ‘green synthesis’ route towards synthesis of red elemental selenium and contributes to the application of selenium for human health. In the soil, applied selenium is rapidly reduced to insoluble forms, and usually the crop nutrient use efficiency was less than 10 % only. Selenium addition in commercial fertilizers may be a larger programme method that is too wasteful, as much of the Se used thereby will be lost for future utilization. Direct addition of selenium compounds to food (process fortification) can be undertaken by the food industry for judicial use of this essential trace micronutrient. Selenium is a non-renewable resource. So it should be a concern of the all stakeholders that the extracted selenium should be judiciously used and to be stockpiled for use as an essential nutrient over generations.Not Availabl

Traditional Phytotherapy among Karens of Middle Andaman

429-436Karens, originally a hill tribe hailing from Pegu district of western Mayanmar, brought to Andaman by Britishers for forest timber operations during the year 1924-25. Although Karens have not been classified as tribals in the recent tribal notification, they form a minor ethnic group that has apparently been living amidst the forests of Mayabunder tehsil since decades. They posses extensive indigenous knowledge of the plants which they use in their ethnomedicinal practices. Information about 24 selected medicinal plants, their local names, parts used, methods of application and medicinal uses are recorded. The medicinal utilities of these plants used by Karens have not been recorded earlier. Ethnobotanical information related to agriculture, house building, canoe making and traditional artifacts are also recorded