Role of Brassinosteroids in plants responses to salinity stress: A review

Brassinosteroid emerges as an essential phytohormone that helps the plant to maintain plant growth and development. It also helps the plants grow well under adverse conditions along with normal conditions. In this review article, we have discussed the functional role of brassinosteroid (BRS) in plants under salinity stress conditions. Salinity stress is one of the most devastating abiotic stresses which adversely affect plant growth by disturbing their metabolic pathway. This article also comprises the occurrence, structure and signalling pathway of the brassinosteroid. Application of brassinosteroid improves the plant status under salinity by enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activity in plants. Moreover, we also reported the different growth parameters enhanced by brassinosteroid application in plants under salinity. BRSs also maintain plant growth through the regulation of expression of various genes whose products are involved in various biochemical and physiological processes. This review is based on the various aspects in much detail which are required to understand the proper mechanism of BRS, such as i) the role of BRS signaling pathways in providing tolerance to the plants, ii) changes due to the presence or absence of BRS in plants under stress conditions, iii) BRSs application on the regulation of different genes and transcriptional factor, iv) regulation in ion homeostasis, v) reduction of oxidative stress via different mechanisms under salinity stress. However, a lot of knowledge is required to understand the role of BRS in alleviating salinity stress and needs future research work on BRS with its different derivatives in the alleviation of salt stress.       

Changing Notions of “Ideal” Monkhood: A Case Study from a Satra of Majuli

All religions were initially founded with the aim of purifying men and women and helping them to lead ethical lives through prayers. However, unfortunately religion evolved to be a force reinforcing discrimination diverted from the original motive of religion. The Vaishnavite faith initiated by the 15th century Guru, Mahapurush Srimanta Shankardeva, in the region of Assam was also based on egalitarian and humanitarian values. The ideal monkhood in a Satra is to lead a life devoid of material pleasures and offer oneself to God by taking his name all the time. The various sects that have emerged after the demise of the Guru are the proofs that the main objective of an egalitarian society has collapsed. The social hierarchy is still maintained even if the Satras claim to have removed it. The unique culture of the Satra is its liturgical training, which includes dance, drama, music and poetry. The performing art forms were specifically for the monks to be performed only within the premises of the Satra, which are now staged and have become the sources of income for many monks. The monks are more known as performing artists than religious beings or leaders. The media is a socializing agent in itself, which has changed the concept of monkhood. Ideal monkhood is still a question, and this article is an academic effort to throw light on this question. It would try to bring forth the different ways as to how the ideologies of Neo-Vaishnavism has changed with time and how the monks have adjusted to the transformation. The findings are based on both primary and secondary data using ethnographic approach

Long term in vitro stability of fully integrated wireless neural interfaces based on Utah slant electrode array

Journal ArticleWe herein report in vitro functional stability and recording longevity of a fully integrated wireless neural interface (INI). The INI uses biocompatible Parylene-C as an encapsulation layer, and was immersed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for a period of over 150 days. The full functionality (wireless radio-frequency power, command, and signal transmission) and the ability of INI to record artificial action potentials even after 150 days of PBS soaking without any change in signal/noise amplitude constitutes a major milestone in long term stability, and evaluate the encapsulation reliability, functional stability, and potential usefulness for future chronic implants

Importance of silicon in combating a variety of stresses in plants: A review

The abundance of silicon (Si) in the earth's crust is found as silicon dioxide (SiO2). But this abundance of Si is not a sign that the plants take up an adequate amount of Si. This review article incorporates research based on Si to understand the importance of Si in plants under various stress conditions and its role in sustainable agricultural production. Si's application is considered a better approach to providing stress tolerance to plants under stress conditions. The review describes the different phases of Si, its absorption, transport in plants, and its various mechanisms of action to tolerate specific stresses. The uptake and transport of Si through various Si transporters have also been reported. This review also discusses the various mechanisms of Si under biotic or abiotic stress in different plants. The application of Si improves soil quality and soil health and enhances the soil microbial population. In addition, the role of Si in the upregulation and down-regulation of proteins under stressful conditions has also been reported. The information can help to better understand the importance and mechanism of Si in plants and its application in agriculture

A review on regulatory control of chromium stress in plants

Chromium (Cr) is a non-biodegradable heavy metal that persists long in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and enters the food chain. It is cytotoxic even at low concentrations and reduces the yield of plants. Plants also have cellular mechanisms to manage the accumulation of metal ions inside the cell to diminish the possible injury from non-essential metal ions. This paper reviews current information on plant response to Cr, a key environmental pollutant. The harmful effects together with absorption, transfer, and aggregation of Cr are discussed. The roles of the cell wall, plasma membrane, and plant microbes as the primary hindrances for Cr ingression into the cell, along with sequestration and compartmentalization process, have also been discussed. Cr-generated oxidative injury is also regarded as the main deliberated effect of Cr toxicity.  It interferes with NADPH oxidases (plasma membrane) and the electron transport chains, which develop electron leakage. Some genes related to Cr stress in plants get expressed, and suppression produces protective effects by activating the signal transduction pathways. The expression of genes like BnaCnng69940D and BnaC08g49360D is increased, which is involved in protein kinase activity, signal transduction, and oxidoreductase activity. The increased mRNA levels of Cr stress response proteins, including HSP90-1 and MT-1, have been reported in the Brassica napus plant. The stressed environment around the plants may stimulate the biosynthesis of phytochelatins and metal-binding proteins, which have a protective role in plant’s growth and development.

Prediction of successful vaginal birth after caesarean section based on Flamm and Geiger scoring system a prospective observational study

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of Flamm and Geiger scoring system in prediction of successful vaginal birth after caesarean section.Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out on 75 pregnant women with previous one caesarean section in department of obstetrics and Gynecology, St Stephen’s hospital, New Delhi over a period of one year.Results: In the present study, out of 75 patients, 40% patients had successful VBAC and 60% patients had emergency LSCS. Among successful VBAC 70% patients had spontaneous vaginal delivery, while 23.3% patients had vacuum assisted and 6.7% had forceps assisted vaginal delivery. Most of the patients with total Flamm and Geiger score 4 had successful VBAC. There were 53.3%, 75%, 85.7% and 100% probabilities of Successful VBAC with total score 4,5,6 and >8 respectively.  Mean score for successful VBAC was 5±1.66and for emergency caesarean was 2.97±0.83.Conclusions: As total Flamm and Geiger score increases, a chance of successful VBAC increases. Application of Flamm and Geiger scoring gives fare judgment of successful vaginal birth in TOLAC and reduces the rate of failed trial leading to emergency caesarean section, thus improving outcome in a trial of labor

Interaction of silicon with cell wall components in plants: A review

Silicon (Si) is the utmost element of the earth's crust involved in various plant processes. Despite being a non-essential element of the plant, its role in plant tolerance is appreciable. The interaction of Si with the plant cell wall provides structural and mechanical strength to the plants. This review article discusses the different forms of silica (simple to complex), the nature of Si, and its interaction with plant cell wall components after being taken up by plants. Ligands of plant cell wall like hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, cellulose, callose, and mixed-linked glucans (MLG) are the possible linker, which helps the Si in crosslinking with the plant cell wall. This review also incorporates the interrelation of Si with different cell wall components, the role of Si-cell wall complexes in different stress alleviation, and enhancing stress resistance in plants. Accumulation of Si after crosslinking with the cell wall provides rigidity and stability to the plant wall and enhances mechanical strength. Many studies have been conducted on the Si role in different stress alleviation, but little knowledge is available on how plants react when Si is taken up, how Si interacts with the plant cells, how Si accumulation is enhanced by the plant itself, how the possible ligands help Si in bonding with the cell wall. This study helps to understand the relationship of cell wall components with Si and to think about the precise bonding patterns between them

Potential predictors of surgical evacuation following early medical abortion: a prospective study

Background: Medical management is the safer, effective and more convenient method for the management of missed abortion. Owing to the risk and complications, medical management is offered to all the women presenting with missed abortions. Yet after all possible efforts a large number of patients land up into surgical evacuation. This study is conducted for the in-depth analysis of the patient's presenting complaints and their risk factors to establish the correlation of these factors with failed medical abortion. This would help in the establishment of easily identifiable subgroups for whom medical management would be a success. Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted at St. Stephen’s hospital Delhi during September 2019-June 2020. 55 women with missed abortion attending the gynaecological clinic and emergency, were recruited based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. After taking informed and written consent, all cases were administered misoprostol by vaginal route for medical management. Patients were followed up for 24 hours and looked for the outcome.Results: We found that multiparity, advanced gestational age and previous caesarean deliveries were the predictors of uterine evacuation following failed medical management. Higher chances of complete abortion were seen among multiparous and among the patients who had bleeding at the time of presentation. Failure of medical management was seen in around 70% cases with more than 9 weeks gestational age. Lesser side effects are observed with 400 mcg misoprostol dosing.Conclusions: Nulliparous patients and the patients presenting with bleeding at the time of presentation had more complete abortion. Multiparity and previous caesarean delivery is associated with failed medical management. After studying the potential risk factors, every patient can be counselled about the chances of completion of medical management

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and normal pregnant women

Background: The aim of this study was to compare vitamin D level in normal pregnant women and patients of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and to study the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and normal pregnant women.Methods: 50 women affected by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and 50 normal pregnant women more than 20 weeks of gestation, admitted to the ward or to labour room in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department, of Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital were enrolled in the study. Assessment of serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D was done by chemiluminescent immunoassay method.Results: Serum vitamin D levels were low in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with mean serum vitamin D level 13.66±7.358 ng/ml as compared to normal normotensive pregnant women 21.14±8.241ng/ml, which is statistically significant (p=0.001). Mean vitamin D level in study population was 17.40±8.634 ng/ml. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy group was very high 88% compared to 50% in normal normotensive pregnant women group. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). vitamin D deficiency was found among 69% in study population.  Conclusions: Vitamin D levels are deficient in patients of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as compared to normal pregnant women. There is increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy suggesting that vitamin D deficiency can be a risk factor for the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Diagnostic laparoscopy in isolated torison of hydrosalpinx: a likely cure for an unlikely disorder

Isolated torsion of fallopian tubes is a rare cause of acute abdomen. It is a diagnosis that is often reached after much delay. This is primarily because it has no pathognomonic clinical, radiological or laboratory signs. In such cases, it is advisable to have a low threshold for diagnostic laparoscopy. We managed a middle-aged lady with acute abdomen and after initial tests were inconclusive, we proceeded to diagnostic laparoscopy without much delay and found a twisted right hydrosalpinx. We performed a right salpingectomy as her family was complete. The fallopian tube and ovary usually act as a unit and an isolated torsion of the fallopian tube is a rare occurrence with few tell-tale sign. After cross sectional imaging, we can be fairly certain of an adnexal pathology. A delay in making a diagnosis can lead to catastrophic consequences in such conditions. An early laparoscopy can be both diagnostic and therapeutic in these cases