Performance of hymenopteran insects as pollinators of pumpkin in Meghalaya

Pumpkin is a major cultivated crop particularly in north eastern states of India that depends on insects for the pollination, as the pollens of these plants are large sized and sticky. In the present study, field and lab experiments were conducted to determine the efficiency of the pollinators of pumpkin based on their diversity, relativeabundance and foraging activity. Total four hymenopteran insect pollinators were observed in field viz., bumble bee, little honey bee, Indian honey bee and Digger bee. On the basis of abundance and relative abundance bumble bee was identified as most abundant pollinator of pumpkin with 69.69 per cent mean relative abundance as other pollinators mean relative abundance was less than 25 per cent and it was only 3.49 per cent for Indian honey bee. Foraging speed and foraging rate of bumble bee was 7.13 sec/flower and foraging rate was 3.80 flower/minute. To ensure the efficient pollinator of pumpkin flower, pollen carrying capacity, pollen deposition and percent deposition of viable pollen was studied for all the pollinators in field and laboratory condition. The pollen carrying capacity of pollinators ranged from more than 7 mg to 1 mg. It was highest for bumble bee which was 7.33 mg followed by little honey bee (6.66 mg) and least pollen carrying capacity was observed in Digger bee (1.67 mg). Pollen depositions by pollinators on stigma in a single visit was again highest for bumble bee (565 pollen grains) with maximum number of viable pollen deposition 224.33 pollen grains out of which 39.7 per cent pollen was viable. So on the basis of above result it can be concluded that bumble bee was the most abundant and most efficient pollinator of pumpkin

BIOMARKERS IN SERUM, URIC ACID AS A RISK FACTOR FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES ASSOCIATED WITH HYPERTENSION

ABSTRACTObjectives: Uric acid (UA) is the end product of purine metabolism in humans. UA is the final oxidation product of purine catabolism and has beenimplicated in diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as in hyperlipidemias. Hyperuricemia can cause serious health problems including renal insufficiency.Hyperuricemia is associated with many diseases including hypertension (HTN), DM, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity. The aim was to determine theserum UA (SUA) level in Patients of Type 2 DM with HTN.Methods: Out of 100 samples, 50 were found as cases of Type 2 diabetic with HTN, and the 50 control samples were without Type 2 diabetic HTN.Results: SUA, glycosylated hemoglobin, and low-density lipoprotein of male and female cases of Type 2 DM with HTN compared to control were(p<0.05) highly significant and also serum triglycerides and total cholesterol of both sex groups of Type 2 DM with HTN compared to control werefound to be (p<0.05) highly significance.Conclusion: It is concluded from our present study that level of SUA >7.0 mg/dl were significantly seen in cases of diabetes with HTN. SUA ≤5.0 mg/dlwas significantly seen in subjects without diabetes with HTN. Our data showed hyperuricemia and glycated hemoglobin as significant risk factors inthe progression of DM, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, renal disorder, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity. Further large sample size studies areneeded to be done in the direction with more focused mechanistic approaches to fortify the fact. Very little is known about the relationship betweenUA, DM, and HTN in India.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Uric acid, Glycosylated hemoglobin, Lipid profil

The Yin and Yang of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells

In recent years, most of our knowledge about myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) has come from cancer studies, which depicts Yin side of MDSCs. In cancer, inherent immunosuppressive action of MDSCs favors tumor progression by inhibiting antitumor immune response. However, recently Yang side of MDSCs has also been worked out and suggests the role in maintenance of homeostasis during non-cancer situations like pregnancy, obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders. Continued work in this area has armored the biological importance of these cells as master regulators of immune system and prompted scientists all over the world to look from a different perspective. Therefore, explicating Yin and Yang arms of MDSCs is obligatory to use it as a double edged sword in a much smarter way. This review is an attempt toward presenting a synergistic coalition of all the facts and controversies that exist in understanding MDSCs, bring them on the same platform and approach their “Yin and Yang” nature in a more comprehensive and coherent manner

Preliminary Investigation of Beagle Dog as Substitute for Humans in Bioequivalence Studies

Purpose: To assess the suitability of beagle dog as an animal model for the evaluation of formulations in bioavailability and bioequivalence studies.Methods: A generic cetirizine 10 mg tablet formulation was compared with another reference formulation using beagle dog as animal model. A crossover oral comparative bioavailability study was conducted on cetirizine tablet 10 mg in healthy, male dogs under fasting conditions. The  formulations were administered orally with the aid of water. Serial blood samples were collected from pre-dose to 48.0 h post-dose and plasma concentrations of cetirizine were determined using validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analytical method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using  non-compartmental analysis while bioavailability was assessed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) model for humans and dogs.Results: Cetirizine plasma concentrations in dog were comparatively  higher, in relation to human plasma concentrations, due to the smaller blood volume in former. There was a delay in time to reach maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) in dog. Cetirizine formulations were found to be bioequivalent in either of the species (dog and human). The ratio (test\reference) of least-squares mean for area under plasma concentration curve from time zero to last detectable concentration (AUC0-t), area under plasma concentration curve extrapolated to infinity (AUC0-‡ ) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), calculated for the dogs were comparable to those for humans. AUC0-t, AUC0-‡ and Cmax ratios ranged within 92.81 - 106.80 % for dogs and 95.43 . 104.84 % for humansConclusion: The results suggest that beagle dogs can be used in place of humans in bioequivalence tests on generic products of cetirizine.Keywords: Cetirizine, Beagle dog, Bioavailability, Bioequivalence, Pharmacokinetics, Noncompartmenta

Rare Form of Crusted Scabies in Diabetes: A Case Report

Crusted scabies is an uncommon manifestation of parasitic infection caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. This variant of scabies is seen in various immunocompromised states. Uncontrolled diabetes is an immunocompromised state which is characterized by increased incidence of various infections, and rarely, may be associated with this rare crusted scabies, which may pose a real diagnostic challenge. A high index of suspicion is required for timely and correct diagnosis in the best interest of the patient and the public health point of view to prevent the spread of this highly contagious infestation

Impact of Irpex lenis and Schizophyllum commune endophytic fungi on Perilla frutescens: enhancing nutritional uptake, phytochemicals, and antioxidant potential

Background: Endophytic fungi (EF) reside within plants without causing harm and provide benefits such as enhancing nutrients and producing bioactive compounds, which improve the medicinal properties of host plants. Selecting plants with established medicinal properties for studying EF is important, as it allows a deeper understanding of their influence. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the impact of EF after inoculating the medicinal plant Perilla frutescens, specifically focusing on their role in enhancing medicinal properties. Results: In the current study, the impact of two EF i.e., Irpex lenis and Schizophyllum commune isolated from A. bracteosa was observed on plant Perilla frutescens leaves after inoculation. Plants were divided into four groups i.e., group A: the control group, group B: inoculated with I. lenis; group C: inoculated with S. commune and group D: inoculated with both the EF. Inoculation impact of I. lenis showed an increase in the concentration of chlorophyll a (5.32 mg/g), chlorophyll b (4.46 mg/g), total chlorophyll content (9.78 mg/g), protein (68.517 ± 0.77 mg/g), carbohydrates (137.886 ± 13.71 mg/g), and crude fiber (3.333 ± 0.37%). Furthermore, the plants inoculated with I. lenis showed the highest concentrations of P (14605 mg/kg), Mg (4964.320 mg/kg), Ca (27389.400 mg/kg), and Mn (86.883 mg/kg). The results of the phytochemical analysis also indicated an increased content of total flavonoids (2.347 mg/g), phenols (3.086 mg/g), tannins (3.902 mg/g), and alkaloids (1.037 mg/g) in the leaf extract of P. frutescens inoculated with I. lenis. Thus, overall the best results of inoculation were observed in Group B i.e. inoculated with I. lenis. GC-MS analysis of methanol leaf extract showed ten bioactive constituents, including 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester, and hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester as major constituents found in all the groups of P. frutescens leaves. The phenol (gallic acid) and flavonoids (rutin, kaempferol, and quercetin) were also observed to increase after inoculation by HPTLC analysis. The enhancement in the phytochemical content was co-related with improved anti-oxidant potential which was analyzed by DPPH (% Inhibition: 83.45 µg/ml) and FRAP (2.980 µM Fe (II) equivalent) assay as compared with the control group. Conclusion: Inoculation with I. lenis significantly enhances the uptake of nutritional constituents, phytochemicals, and antioxidant properties in P. frutescens, suggesting its potential to boost the therapeutic properties of host plants. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)Microbial Cell Factorie

Improved bioassay method for evaluation of oviposition deterrents against Old World bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner)

Old world bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is one of the serious pests of agricultural crops with more than 184 recorded hosts including cotton. In cotton, H. armigera usually causes yield losses up to 40% with 20-80% damage intensity. In the Indian context it has already developed resistance to most conventional classes of insecticide and its survival on Bt cotton also has been reported in some isolated places. Under such situation, application of semiochemicals can serve as an alternative management option. Among the semiochemicals, oviposition deterrent ones are known to be the most effective as they minimize the infestation at first line of attack by deterring the female moths and protecting the host from oviposition. However, before applying at field level, it is important to develop and standardize a bioassay method for evaluation of oviposition deterrent compounds under laboratory condition. Here, we report a suitable improved bioassay method for evaluation of effect of oviposition deterrents against H. armigera. The five days duration of bioassay method was finalized according to the peak activity of adult moth in terms of mating and fecundity. This investigation presents a method, for finding promising oviposition deterrent compound which will be helpful for researchers to identify the most potent molecule/compounds against H. armiger

Influence of elevated carbon dioxide and ammonium nutrition on growth and nitrogen metabolism in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Growth under elevated CO2 (EC) conditions inhibits nitrate (NO3-) assimilation in crop plants, hence ammonium (NH4+) nutrition is beneficial compared to NO3– nutrition under EC conditions. In the present study, an attempt was made to compare the suitability NH4 + vs mixed NH4 + + NO3 – nutrition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Wheat seedlings supplied with NH4+ alone or with both NH4+ + NO3– as nitrogen (N) source and grown under ambient (380 μl/l, AC) or elevated (600±50 μl/l, EC) CO2 conditions were analyzed for growth and biochemical parameters. Plants receiving only NH4+ as N source showed significant reduction in growth parameters. The negative effects of NH4+ nutrition were manifested in form of reduced root length, root surface area and thinner leaves under EC. Negative effects of NH4+ nutrition were ameliorated in plants receiving mixed NH4 + + NO3 – nutrition. Supplementing NO3 – -N with NH4+ -N led to the enhancement of various morphological and biochemical parameters in EC grown plants. Activity and gene expression of the enzymes, nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase was significantly higher in plants supplied with both NH4+ + NO3– ions and grown in EC, as compared to plants grown in AC, resulting in lesser reduction in N content of the EC grown plants. Our study indicates that mixed NH4+ + NO3– nutrition will be more suitable for wheat cultivation under high CO2 conditions in future

Itaconic acid and its applications for textile, pharma and agro-industrial purposes

Itaconic acid (IA) is a well-known bio-based monounsaturated organic acid (C5H6O4), with a white color and crystalline structure. It is widely used in the agro-based, plastics, textile, paint and pharmaceutical sectors, owing to its flexible structure, due to the presence of functional groups with covalent double bonds. IA is an alternative to the petrochemicals acrylic and methacrylic acids. Commercial manufacturing of IA using Aspergillus terreus is more economically effective and feasible, and the Department of Energy (DOE) of the United States added IA under the “top 12” organic chemicals in 2004. This review provides an overview on the synthesis of IA and improvement of its yield by mutagenesis and metabolic engineering of Aspergillus and other fungal strains, along with its wide applications for food, pharmaceutical and textile purposes