AtROS1 overexpression provides evidence for epigenetic regulation of genes encoding enzymes of flavonoid biosynthesis and antioxidant pathways during salt stress in transgenic tobacco.

In plants, epigenetic changes have been identified as regulators of developmental events during normal growth as well as environmental stress exposures. Flavonoid biosynthetic and antioxidant pathways play a significant role in plant defence during their exposure to environmental cues. The aim of this study was to unravel whether genes encoding enzymes of flavonoid biosynthetic and antioxidant pathways are under epigenetic regulation, particularly DNA methylation, during salt stress. For this, a repressor of silencing from Arabidopsis, AtROS1, was overexpressed in transgenic tobacco. Generated transgenics were evaluated to examine the influence of AtROS1 on methylation status of promoters as well as on coding regions of genes encoding enzymes of flavonoids biosynthesis and antioxidant pathways. Overexpression of AtROS1 increases the demethylation levels of both promoters as well as coding regions of genes encoding chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, flavonol synthase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, and anthocyanidin synthase of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, and glutathione S-transferase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase of the antioxidant pathway during control conditions. The level of demethylation was further increased at promoters as well as coding regions of these genes during salt-stress conditions. Transgenic tobacco overexpressing AtROS1 showed tolerance to salt stress that could have been due to the higher expression levels of the genes encoding enzymes of the flavonoid biosynthetic and antioxidant pathways. This is the first comprehensive study documenting the epigenetic regulation of flavonoid biosynthetic and antioxidant pathways during salt-stress exposure of plants.

A cross-sectional study to assess the caregiver burden and the quality of life of caregivers of the patients suffering with psychiatric illness.

Background: The impairment due to the psychiatric disorders makes the sufferer unable to become independent, therefore require long term support and care by their relatives. About 32% of years lived with disability (YLD) and about 13% of disability adjusted life-years (DALYs) is found in mental illness. Aims and Objectives: The aims were to study the socio-demographic profile, the caregiver burden and quality of life of the caregivers of the patients with different psychiatric illness. Also, to compare the burden and quality of life among caregivers of different psychiatric groups. Materials and Methods: It is a cross sectional study in which 120 caregivers of patients with psychiatric illnesses were included; divided into four groups (30 each): Anxiety, psychotic, mood and substance use disorders. After the consent, Zarit burden interview, socio demographic profile and quality of life -10 scales were used to assess the objectives. Results: The results revealed that maximum caregivers were males, and spouses in relation with the patient. Most of them were married and educated. Maximum had mild to moderate level of burden (49.1%), followed by moderate to severe level of burden in about 22.5% caregivers. Significant association was seen with the burden level. But no significant association was seen with the quality of life. Conclusion: Caregivers of the psychiatric patients have to suffer a lot and may land up into the psychiatric symptoms themselves.

Host-Induced Silencing of Pathogenicity Genes Enhances Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum Wilt in Tomato.

This study presents a novel approach of controlling vascular wilt in tomato by RNAi expression directed to pathogenicity genes of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. Vascular wilt of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici leads to qualitative and quantitative loss of the crop. Limitation in the existing control measures necessitates the development of alternative strategies to increase resistance in the plants against pathogens. Recent findings paved way to RNAi, as a promising method for silencing of pathogenicity genes in fungus and provided effective resistance against fungal pathogens. Here, two important pathogenicity genes FOW2, a Zn(II)2Cys6 family putative transcription regulator, and chsV, a putative myosin motor and a chitin synthase domain, were used for host-induced gene silencing through hairpinRNA cassettes of these genes against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. HairpinRNAs were assembled in appropriate binary vectors and transformed into tomato plant targeting FOW2 and chsV genes, for two highly pathogenic strains of Fusarium oxysporum viz. TOFOL-IHBT and TOFOL-IVRI. Transgenic tomatoes were analyzed for possible attainment of resistance in transgenic lines against fungal infection. Eight transgenic lines expressing hairpinRNA cassettes showed trivial disease symptoms after 6-8 weeks of infection. Hence, the host-induced posttranscriptional gene silencing of pathogenicity genes in transgenic tomato plants has enhanced their resistance to vascular wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum.

Tardive dystonia with olanzapine: a rare case report.

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug which is available in oral and injectable forms that is used for treatment of various psychiatric disorders. We report a rare case of tardive dystonia after receiving single dose of olanzapine (10 mg) in parental form. Clinicians should be very vigilant regarding this rare side effect with use of olanzapine in clinical practice.