Induction of Lipoxygenase in downy mildew resistant seedlings of pearl millet in response to inoculation with Sclerospora graminicola

Lipoxygenase (LOX) activity was studied in seedlings of pearl millet genotypes resistant and susceptible to downy mildew pathogen Sclerospora graminicola. An increase in LOX activity was observed during the incompatible host-pathogen interaction whereas the activity decreased in compatible ones. Resistant pearl millet seedlings exhibited a 2.4-fold increase in LOX activity after inoculation with the pathogen. The enzyme activity was maximum at 18 h after inoculation. The enzyme activity was maximum in shoot portion of resistant genotype after inoculation. The enzyme activity correlated well with the degree of host-resistance to the pathogen. Substrate-based gel assay revealed five isozymes (LOX-1, LOX-2, LOX-3, LOX-4 & LOX-5) in both susceptible and resistant genotype. An additional isozyme (LOX-6) was unique to only resistant genotype after inoculation

Role of the equatorial ionization anomaly in the development of the evening prereversal enhancement of the equatorial zonal electric field

1] During the evening prereversal enhancement of the zonal electric field (EPRE) that begins around 1700 LT when the F region neutral winds turn eastward, as assumed here, and continues till the postsunset zonal electric field reversal time, an overall positive feedback is shown to occur between the eastward electric field in the lower side of the flux tube integrated (LSFTI) F region and the increased flux tube integrated Pedersen conductivity (FTIC) of the tropical F region. The increase in this FTIC can take place because of the increase in electron density through the increase in solar flux and the intensification of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA). While the influence of EIA on EPRE is immediate, the growth time for EIA is 2 to 3 h. Therefore, for a strong EPRE to occur, a fairly strong EIA is required at 1700 LT which is then sustained by the electric field associated with EPRE during its growth period. This study suggests that the postsunset eastward electric field is due to the combined currents in the equatorial electrojet and the LSFTI F regions that get diverted from the daytime Sq current system and flow from the presunset region toward the postsunset zonal electric field reversal region. Thereafter these currents turn and flow poleward to meet the current continuity requirement of the F region dynamo followed by a westward turn to rejoin the daytime Sq current system in midlatitudes. Thus the currents responsible for EPRE are an extension of the daytime Sq current system

CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF INDIAN SALMON (ELEUTHERONEMA TETRADACTYLUM) PROTEIN HYDROLYSATES

Objective: The main aim of the present research was to evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of Indian salmon (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) protein hydrolysates by pepsin and trypsin enzyme using In vitro gastrointestinal digestion procedure.Methods: Indian salmon protein hydrolysates (ISPH) were fractionated to obtain fraction I (FI), fraction II (FII) and fraction III (FIII) of peptides with different molecular weights (MW). Further, the antioxidant activity of ISPHs was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging, metal chelating, reducing power and lipid peroxidation assays. Moreover, In vitro antiproliferative activity of ISPHs was assessed against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7. The amino acid contents of the bioactive peptides were also determined to find the correlation between the activity of peptides and their amino acid contents.Results: All bioactive peptides showed dose-dependent antioxidant activities. The highest antioxidant activity was measured in FII which was able to quench higher levels of free radicals. In the measurement of the antiproliferative capacity of peptides, they revealed nearly similar activities at low concentration. However, the cytotoxicity of peptides was significantly increased at the high dose in which only 43.9±1.8% to 65.7±1.6% cell proliferation occurred. The results showed an absence of correlation between MW and activity of peptides since the most potent bioactive peptides in our study had MWs of 1 to 3 kDa. However, hydrophobicity and presence of special amino acids like arginine and histidine is affected the activity of peptides.Conclusion: Consequently, Indian salmon protein hydrolysates were identified as good sources of antioxidant and antiproliferative peptides which could confer both nutritional and functional properties in the food industry.Keywords: Indian salmon, Protein hydrolysates, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Amino aci

Improvement in Renal Function and Reduction in Serum Uric Acid with Intensive Statin Therapy in Older Patients: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SAGE Trial.

BackgroundImprovement in renal function and decreases in serum uric acid (SUA) have been reported following prolonged high-intensity statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) therapy. This post hoc analysis of the SAGE trial examined the effect of intensive versus less intensive statin therapy on renal function, safety, and laboratory parameters, including SUA, in elderly coronary artery disease (CAD) patients (65-85 years) with or without chronic kidney disease (CKD).MethodsPatients were randomized to atorvastatin 80 mg/day or pravastatin 40 mg/day and treated for 12 months. Patients were stratified using Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) in CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and non-CKD populations.ResultsOf the 893 patients randomized, 858 had complete renal data and 418 of 858 (49%) had CKD (99% Stage 3). Over 12 months, eGFR increased with atorvastatin and remained stable with pravastatin (+2.38 vs. +0.18 mL/min/1.73 m(2), respectively; p < 0.0001). MDRD eGFR improved significantly in both CKD treatment arms; however, the increased eGFR in patients without CKD was significantly greater with atorvastatin (+2.08 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) than with pravastatin (-1.04 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). Modest reductions in SUA were observed in both treatment arms, but a greater fall occurred with atorvastatin than with pravastatin (-0.52 vs. -0.09 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Change in SUA correlated negatively with changes in eGFR and positively with changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Reports of myalgia were rare (3.6% CKD; 5.7% non-CKD), and there were no episodes of rhabdomyolysis. Elevated serum alanine and aspartate transaminase to >3 times the upper limit of normal occurred in 4.4% of atorvastatin- and 0.2% of pravastatin-treated patients.ConclusionIntensive management of dyslipidemia in older patients with stable coronary heart disease may have beneficial effects on renal function and SUA

The common and uncommon cestodal infestation encountered in routine histopathological practice from a semi-urban population in south India and their public health importance.

Parasites are encountered uncommonly in routine histopathologic practice. Among them, cestodes form a major bulk. Cysticercosis heads the list forming the bulk of cases followed by Hydatidosis and Sparganosis. Microscopic identification of inflammation with surrounding reactions along with other morphological features forms the mainstay of diagnosis of parasitic diseases on histopathology. Identification of the parasites on histopathological examination would reduce the cost-diagnosis ratio avoiding expensive serological investigation

A prospective study of drug utilization pattern in cardiac intensive care unit at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of sudden death. Appropriate drug therapy in cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) is crucial in managing cardiovascular emergencies and to decrease morbidity and mortality. The present study was conducted to observe the emergency cardiac diseases which are most frequently being treated and to study the prescribing prevalence among inpatients in CICU.Methods: A prospective, observational study was carried out among 102 patients admitted in CICU at a tertiary care teaching hospital, Karnataka, for a period of 3 months. Demographic data, clinical history, and complete drug therapy received during their stay in CICU was noted.Results: In our study, males (64.7%) had a higher incidence of cardiovascular emergencies than females (35.3%). Hypertension (32.4%) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (28.4%) were the frequently associated co-morbid conditions. Antiplatelet drugs 80 (78.4%) was most commonly prescribed, followed by hypolipidemic drugs 75 (73.5%) and anticoagulants 65 (63.7%). The mean duration of stay in the hospital was 4.79±1.9 days. The average number of drugs per prescription was 7.8±2.2. Percentage of drugs prescribed by generic names was 52.9%. The percentage of drugs prescribed from essential drug list was 75.1%.Conclusions: Antiplatelet drugs were the most frequently prescribed drug group. Mean number of drugs per prescription were high. The prescribing pattern could be improved by reducing the number of drugs per prescription and by prescribing generic drugs to reduce the economic burden of the patients

Hydroxy Ketones Part XIII-Fries Rearrangement of the Phenyl Esters of Thiophene-2-Carboxylic Acid

Fries migration of the esters of phenol, isomeric cresols and naphthols with thiophene-2-carboxylic acid has been investigated at 120 Degree C and 160 Degree C in absence of a solvent, with a view to study the behaviour of the sulphur atom in the thiophene ring towards an acid catalyst and its interference in the complex formation necessary for the migration. The isomeric ortho- and para-hydroxy ketones have been isolated employing chemical methods and each is characterised by the preparation of its 2:4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. The yields of the hydroxy ketones were poor and ranged from 4-8% in the case of para and from 9-18% in the case of ortho. Further, in all cases studied, above 50% of the ester was recovered unchanged. These suggest that the charge density at the sulphur atom is greater than at the phenoxyl oxygen atom as compared with similar migrations high and no unreached ester was encountered

Method for Generating Long-Range Correlations for Large Systems

We propose a new method to generate a sequence of random numbers with long-range power-law correlations that overcomes known difficulties associated with large systems. The new method presents an improvement on the commonly-used methods. We apply the algorithm to generate enhanced diffusion, isotropic and anisotropic self-affine surfaces, and isotropic and anisotropic correlated percolation.Comment: 4 pages, REVTEX, figures available upon request from [email protected]