Allelopathic Interaction of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) with Trigonella and Coriandrum sativum

The negative allelopathic interaction of spinach with other crop plants (fenugreek and coriander) was studied under laboratory conditions. The seeds of Spinacia oleracea were grown in combinations with trigonella and coriander seeds in the seed extracts of all three plants in dilutions of 1:10, 1:20 and 1:50 and in distilled water as control. The seedling growth were studied in terms of radicle length, dry weight, total nitrogen and carbohydrate contents at 3rd and 7th day immediately after radicle emergence. It was found that the growth of spinach was inhibited by Trigonella and coriander seedlings. In their own seed extract the growth inhibition was not more as compared to distilled water grown control and with Trigonella or coriander seedlings. The total nitrogen and carbohydrate contents were lower in spinach seedlings grown in the seed extracts of Trigonella and Coriandrum both, as compared to control.ÂÂ

Diabetic dyslipidaemia is associated with alterations in eNOS, caveolin-1 and endothelial dysfunction in streptozotocin treated rats

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Yousif A. Shamsaldeen, Rosemary Ugur, Christopher D. Benham, and Lisa A. Lione, ‘Diabetic dyslipidaemia is associated with alterations in eNOS, caveolin‐1, and endothelial dysfunction in streptozotocin treated rats’, Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews, e2995, March 2018, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/dmrr.2995. Under embargo until 22 February 2019. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.Background: Diabetes is a complex progressive disease characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia associated with endothelial dysfunction. Oxidised LDL (Ox-LDL) is elevated in diabetes and may contribute to endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to relate the serum levels of Ox-LDL with endothelial dysfunction in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats and to further explore the changes in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and caveolin-1 (CAV-1) expression in primary aortic endothelial cells (ECs). Methods: Diabetes was induced with a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ in male Wistar rats. During the hyperglycaemic diabetes state serum lipid markers, aortic relaxation and aortic ECs eNOS and CAV-1 protein expression was measured. Results: Elevated serum Ox-LDL (STZ 1486 ± 78.1 pg/ml vs control 732.6 ± 160.6pg/ml, p<0.05) was associated with hyperglycaemia (STZ 29 ± 0.9 mmol/L vs control: 7.2 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p<0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia (STZ 9.0 ± 1.5 mmol/L vs control: 3.0 ± 0.3 mmol/L, p<0.01) in diabetic rats. A significant reduction was observed in STZ-diabetic aortic endothelial cell eNOS and CAV-1 of 40% and 30% respectively, accompanied by a compromised STZ-diabetic carbachol-induced vasodilation (STZ 29.6 ± 9.3% vs control 77.2 ± 2.5%, p<0.001). Conclusions: The elevated serum Ox-LDL in hyperglycaemic STZ-diabetic rats may contribute to diabetic endothelial dysfunction, possibly through downregulation of endothelial CAV-1 and eNOS.Peer reviewe

A self-avoidance mechanism in patterning of the urinary collecting duct tree

BACKGROUND: Glandular organs require the development of a correctly patterned epithelial tree. These arise by iterative branching: early branches have a stereotyped anatomy, while subsequent branching is more flexible, branches spacing out to avoid entanglement. Previous studies have suggested different genetic programs are responsible for these two classes of branches. RESULTS: Here, working with the urinary collecting duct tree of mouse kidneys, we show that the transition from the initial, stereotyped, wide branching to narrower later branching is independent from previous branching events but depends instead on the proximity of other branch tips. A simple computer model suggests that a repelling molecule secreted by branches can in principle generate a well-spaced tree that switches automatically from wide initial branch angles to narrower subsequent ones, and that co-cultured trees would distort their normal shapes rather than colliding. We confirm this collision-avoidance experimentally using organ cultures, and identify BMP7 as the repelling molecule. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that self-avoidance, an intrinsically error-correcting mechanism, may be an important patterning mechanism in collecting duct branching, operating along with already-known mesenchyme-derived paracrine factors

Uncorrected Tetralogy of Fallot in a 45yr old Man: A case report

Teratology of Fallot (TOF), congenital heart diseas

Evaluation oftranscricothyroid membrane ultrasonography and ultrasound guided pleural sliding sign for confirmation of endotracheal intubation

Introduction : There are many different ways of assessing the placement of endotracheal tube. However all techniques have certain limitations for some clinical situations.With the advent and easy availability of ultrasound machine in operation theatres,various ultrasound guided techniques are being evaluated for their feasibility and accuracy to confirm endotracheal tube placement. Aim : The aim of the present study was to assess the sensitivity,specificity, positivepredictive value and negative predictive value of the pleural sliding sign on ultrasonography and transcricothyroid membrane ultrasonography for confirming endotracheal tube placement. Materials & Methods: This was a prospective double blinded clinical trial carried out in operation theatre on patients who were to receive general anesthesia for various surgical procedures. 100 patients of American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) status I and II were enrolled for the study. During intubation a 6-13 MHz linear ultrasound probe was placed horizontally over the cricothyroid membrane. Endotracheal intubation was confirmed dynamically by transcricothyroid ultrasound. Then the same probe was used to assess presence of pleural sliding sign with intermittent positive pressure ventilation. This was followed by routine confirmation with waveform capnography and auscultation. Statistical analysis: We calculatedthe sensitivity,specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of both the tests. Results: Out of 100, 8 patients had inadvertentoesophageal intubation. Sensitivity, Specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values were 97.83, 100%, 100% and 80% respectively for transcricothyroid ultrasound. With ultrasound lung sliding sign each were 100%. Conclusion: Transcricothyroid ultrasound evaluation and positive lung sliding sign are useful methods to confirm endotracheal intubatio