A trinuclear Zn (II) schiff base dicyanamide complex attenuates bacterial biofilm formation by ROS generation and membrane damage and exhibits anticancer activity.

A trinuclear Zn (II) complex, [(ZnL{N(CN)2})2Zn], termed complex 1 has been synthesized by the reaction of an aqueous solution of sodium dicyanamide to the methanolic solution of Zn (CH3COO)2, 2H2O and corresponding Schiff base (H2L) which is derived from 1:2 condensation of 1, 4 butane diamine with 3-ethoxy salicylaldehyde. Complex 1 is characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV and Single X-ray diffraction study. Drug resistance is a growing global public health concern that has prompted researchers to look into advanced alternative treatment modalities. In this context, complex 1 has shown promising antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Complex 1 attenuated Staphylococcal biofilm formation by reducing several virulence factors including the formation of extracellular polysaccharide matrix, slime, haemolysin, staphyloxanthin, auto-aggregation, cell surface hydrophobicity, and motility. Notably, complex 1 mechanistically potentiated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation within the bacterial cells, leading to the damage of bacterial cell membrane followed by DNA leakage and thereby impeding the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, complex 1 significantly exhibited anticancer activity by reducing the growth of prostate adenocarcinoma cells. It obstructed the migration of cancer cells by potentiating apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. In summary, complex 1 could act as a potent candidate for the generation of novel antibacterial, antibiofilm as well as anticancer treatment regimens for the management of drug-resistant biofilm-mediated Staphylococcus aureus infection and lethal prostate malignancy.

Capturing dynamic ligand-to-metal charge transfer with a long-lived cationic intermediate for anionic redox.

Reversible anionic redox reactions represent a transformational change for creating advanced high-energy-density positive-electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The activation mechanism of these reactions is frequently linked to ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) processes, which have not been fully validated experimentally due to the lack of suitable model materials. Here we show that the activation of anionic redox in cation-disordered rock-salt Li1.17Ti0.58Ni0.25O2 involves a long-lived intermediate Ni3+/4+ species, which can fully evolve to Ni2+ during relaxation. Combining electrochemical analysis and spectroscopic techniques, we quantitatively identified that the reduction of this Ni3+/4+ species goes through a dynamic LMCT process (Ni3+/4+-O2- → Ni2+-On-). Our findings provide experimental validation of previous theoretical hypotheses and help to rationalize several peculiarities associated with anionic redox, such as cationic-anionic redox inversion and voltage hysteresis. This work also provides additional guidance for designing high-capacity electrodes by screening appropriate cationic species for mediating LMCT.

The complex relationship between iron status and anemia in pregnant and postpartum women in India: Analysis of two Indian study cohorts of uncomplicated pregnancies.

Low hemoglobin is widely used as an indicator of iron deficiency anemia in India and other low-and-middle income counties, but anemia need not accurately reflect iron deficiency. We examined the relationship between hemoglobin and biomarkers of iron status in antenatal and postnatal period. Secondary analysis of uncomplicated singleton pregnancies in two Indian study cohorts: 1132 antenatal women in third trimester and 837 postnatal women 12-72 h after childbirth. Associations of hemoglobin with ferritin in both data sets, and with sTfR, TSAT, and hepcidin in the postnatal cohort were examined using multivariable linear regression. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between severity of anemia and iron status. Regression models were adjusted for potential confounders. Over 55% of the women were anemic; 34% of antenatal and 40% of postnatal women had low ferritin, but 4% antenatal and 6% postnatal women had high ferritin. No evidence of association between hemoglobin and ferritin was observed (antenatal: adjusted coefficient [aCoef] -0.0004, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.001, 0.001; postnatal: aCoef -0.0001, 95% CI -0.001, 0.001). We found a significant linear association of hemoglobin with sTfR (aCoef -0.04, 95% CI -0.07, -0.01), TSAT (aCoef -0.005, 95% CI -0.008, -0.002), and hepcidin (aCoef 0.02, 95% CI 0.02, 0.03) in postnatal women. Likelihood of low ferritin was more common in anemic than non-anemic women, but high ferritin was also more common in women with severe anemia in both cohorts. Causes of anemia in pregnant and postpartum women in India are multifactorial; low hemoglobin alone is not be a useful marker of iron deficiency.

Combating COVID-19 crisis and exploring heat-based simple solutions.

Covid-19 pandemic affected whole of the world taking many lives and impacting the economy and mental health severely. Exit pathways via vaccination though ignited optimism initially but attenuated by the emergence of several new variants which are less sensitive to vaccines. Considering emergency situations, some urgent, simple heat-based solutions for the initial stages of the disease were also proposed at the beginning of pandemic and further elaborated here. Solutions were proposed based on science as follows: exploring results of statistical analyses on the global transmission of COVID-19; observed temperature-dependent behaviours of similar category viruses; temperature-based clinical trial experiments with similar category viruses; successful clinical trial experiments with heat-based intervention for COVID-19 patients; and finally, biological mechanism/response in human bodies to heat-based solution for COVID-19 from medical doctor's perspective. Solutions proposed are practically without side effects, can be even practised in own home and there is no vested interest involved.

Seasonality, mass vaccination and critical policy evaluation on global exit strategy of COVID-19 crisis.

There is a strong coordinated effort by vaccination groups all over the world to put an end to the current crisis of COVID-19. Now sufficient data are available to analyse and compare some results to explore the aftereffects of vaccination. Some influence variables on transmissions of the disease were discussed e.g., mass vaccination, lockdown and seasonality. Most studies covered here are up to the beginning of July 2022, while some analyses focused on the earlier period of mass vaccination. Well established, simple statistical techniques to evaluate results were presented those used open data sources of authoritative bodies. Some comparisons between vaccinated vs. unvaccinated were also discussed based on data from UK Government Health Security Agency (UHSA). In terms of mass vaccination, adverse reactions after vaccination received attention, as health and safety issues of the general public are of prime importance. Apart from direct side effects, the secondary effect of mass vaccination needs attention too. After the initiation of the vaccination programme, almost all countries experienced a sudden surge in transmission and most countries had to impose strict lockdown measures. Many countries, with a low prevalence of disease, suddenly showed a steep jump and some countries even followed a synchronized pattern between the rate of transmissions and the variation of vaccine doses. Time series analyses and bar diagram presentations were able to capture those features. In that context, fast mutation of the virus and new variants after mass vaccination and possible mechanisms/consequences were also attended. To understand the effect of seasonality, similarities between COVID-19 and the seasonal Flu are discussed for Europe and US to gain useful insight. Using time series analyses and spatial plots of regional temperature composites we showed, like Flu, seasonality played a dominant role in transmissions of COVID-19 in the Europe. Regulations of vaccine dose and policy implication were explored too. From 22nd December 2021, global vaccine doses were reduced substantially, which followed a dramatic reduction in cases and thereafter deaths with around one month's lag between each. As strong dependency on seasonality is noticed in certain countries and observing that regulation of vaccine doses has roles in modulating the transmission with certain lags, globally as well as regionally, our results have policy implications for the management of COVID. Debating, questioning and criticism are always the foundation of great science and the major pillars of its progress. Following that objective, it is an effort to explore pragmatically, supported by scientific analyses, areas relating to the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and the exit strategy via the pathway of vaccination.

Identifying important drivers of East African October to December rainfall season.

Monsoon rainfall plays a crucial part in Africa's socio-economic structure and its year-to-year variability has profound implications for agricultural, energy, and other societal sectors. The current study focuses on two of the major climate drivers of the east African rainy season during October-November-December (OND), which is when the season starts for a large portion of east Africa (e.g. Tanzania and Malawi). Such drivers could be different in early austral summer from the rest of the year, due to the relative positioning of the Intertropical convergence zone, which passes through this region - hence regions of east Africa and OND season are the focus here. The two drivers of Monsoon viz. El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are considered: both independently indicate strong connections with monsoon OND rain. Not only is there a strong significant positive correlation in the OND season as a simultaneous relation, but the signal is also there even with the lag of a few months. This has been tested using various data sources, detrending data beforehand, analysing either recent time periods or earlier time periods - covering two decades each, and using regression analyses. To further strengthen the results, a compositing approach is applied that can additionally identify strong rainfall signals to that from years when opposite combinations of ENSO and IOD phases act as confounding factors. Results of precipitation anomaly for OND for compositing, when IOD and ENSO are both negative (positive) in July-August-September(JAS) indicate a deficit (excess) in rainfall in that region. The Walker circulation seems to play a major part via altering ascending to descending branch in two situations, when both drivers are in same phase. In the last near thirty years period, a total of 9 years matched the criteria when both drivers were negative and suggested a deficit in OND rainfall; more recently, that criteria occurred also in 2022 (JAS) and was again associated with a rainfall deficit in OND 2022. Based on this analysis, it is possible to deliver an estimation of cumulative rain in terms of median value, range and distribution, one season in advance, at a point location or average over a region. Some results of compositing are confirmed for longer record (1940-2021) too and further classifications based on threshold of drivers are tested. Rainfall (OND) variability at intra-decadal, decadal and multi-decadal scales are studied by applying the method of centered moving averages of 5-year, 11-year and 21-year respectively. Our results have implications for future planning in optimizing agricultural and energy outputs, mitigating severe consequences and losses associated with droughts and excess rain and will impact the livelihoods of millions of east Africans.

Maternal and fetal factors associated with stillbirth in singleton pregnancies in 13 hospitals across six states in India: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of and risk factors for stillbirth in an Indian population. METHODS: We conducted a secondary data analysis of a hospital-based cohort from the Maternal and Perinatal Health Research collaboration, India (MaatHRI), including pregnant women who gave birth between October 2018-September 2023. Data from 9823 singleton pregnancies recruited from 13 hospitals across six Indian states were included. Univariable and multivariable Poisson regression analysis were performed to examine the relationship between stillbirth and potential risk factors. Model prediction was assessed using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. RESULTS: There were 216 stillbirths (48 antepartum and 168 intrapartum) in the study population, representing an overall stillbirth rate of 22.0 per 1000 total births (95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.2-25.1). Modifiable risk factors for stillbirth were: receiving less than four antenatal check-ups (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.25-2.47), not taking any iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy (aRR: 7.23, 95% CI: 2.12-45.33) and having severe anemia in the third trimester (aRR: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.97-6.11). Having pregnancy/fetal complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aRR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.03-2.36), preterm birth (aRR: 4.41, 95% CI: 3.21-6.08) and birth weight below the 10th percentile for gestational age (aRR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02-1.79) were also associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. Identified risk factors explained 78.2% (95% CI: 75.0%-81.4%) of the risk of stillbirth in the population. CONCLUSION: Addressing potentially modifiable antenatal factors could reduce the risk of stillbirths in India.

Risk factors for labour induction and augmentation: a multicentre prospective cohort study in India.

Background: Guidelines for labour induction/augmentation involve evaluating maternal and fetal complications, and allowing informed decisions from pregnant women. This study aimed to comprehensively explore clinical and non-clinical factors influencing labour induction and augmentation in an Indian population. Methods: A prospective cohort study included 9305 pregnant women from 13 hospitals across India. Self-reported maternal socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, and maternal medical and obstetric histories from medical records were obtained at recruitment (≥28 weeks of gestation), and women were followed up within 48 h after childbirth. Maternal and fetal clinical information were classified based on guidelines into four groups of clinical factors: (i) ≥2 indications, (ii) one indication, (iii) no indication and (iv) contraindication. Associations of clinical and non-clinical factors (socio-demographic, healthcare utilisation and lifestyle related) with labour induction and augmentation were investigated using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Findings: Over two-fifths (n = 3936, 42.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 41.3-43.3%) of the study population experienced labour induction and more than a quarter (n = 2537, 27.3%, 95% CI 26.4-28.2%) experienced augmentation. Compared with women with ≥2 indications, those with one (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.50, 95% CI 0.42-0.58) or no indication (aOR 0.24, 95% CI 0.20-0.28) or with contraindications (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.07-0.20) were less likely to be induced, adjusting for non-clinical characteristics. These associations were similar for labour augmentation. Notably, 34% of women who were induced or augmented did not have any clinical indication. Several maternal demographic (age at labour, parity and body mass index in early pregnancy), healthcare utilization (number of antenatal check-ups, duration of iron-folic acid supplementation and individuals managing childbirth) and socio-economic factors (religion, living below poverty line, maternal education and partner's occupation) were independently associated with labour induction and augmentation. Interpretation: Although decisions about induction and augmentation of labour in our study population in India were largely guided by clinical recommendations, we cannot ignore that more than a third of the women did not have an indication. Decisions could also be influenced by non-clinical factors which need further research. Funding: The MaatHRI platform is funded by a Medical Research Council Career Development Award (Grant Ref: MR/P022030/1) and a Transition Support Award (Grant Ref: MR/W029294/1).

Entomotoxicity and biosafety assessment of PEGylated acephate nanoparticles: a biologically safe alternative to neurotoxic pesticides.

This is a report of an experimental study on a nanoencapsulation of the organophosphate acephate. Acephate was encapsulated in polyethylene glycol, using a simple, easy-to-replicate method that required no special equipment or conditions. The nanoencapsulation (nanoacephate) was characterized and its bioefficacy as compared to the regular commercial acephate was tested. The biosafety of the new compound was also tested on a murine model. Our new nanoencapsulation scored over the regular variety on all counts. It was found to successfully incorporate the active pesticidal component, acephate and this compound retained greater functional integrity over time as a nanoencapsulation. It was significantly more efficacious than the regular variety. It was biosafe when tested on murine model. We have reason to believe that this nanoencapsulation would allow the use of an organophosphate in a more targeted manner, thereby making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to the regular variety in use now.

CoWarriorNet: A Novel Deep-Learning Framework for CoVID-19 Detection from Chest X-Ray Images.

Even after scavenging the existence of mankind for the past year, the wrath of CoVID-19 is yet to die down. Countries like India are still getting haunted by the devastating conundrum, with coronavirus ripping through its citizens in the concurrent second wave. The surge of cases has prompted rapid intervention, with medical authorities pushing it to the limit to curve a roadblock to its aggressive growth. But, even after effortless work, human intervention remains slow and insufficient. Furthermore, relevant testing methodologies have shown weakness while detecting threats, with the recent growth of post-Covid complexities, thereby leaving a painful mark. This as such created a major requirement for technological advancements, which can cater to the mass. The growth of computational prowess in the past decade made the field of Deep Learning a major contributor in curving out algorithms to solve this. Adding to the excellent foundation of Deep Learning, this paper, proposes a novel CoWarriorNet model for rapid detection of CoVID-19, via chest X-ray images, which adds in an extra layer of precision and confirmation in the detection of cases in both pre-Covid and post-Covid conditions. The proposed classification model curves out an excellent accuracy of 97.8%, with the major eye-candy being the sensitivity rate of 0.99 when detecting CoVID-19 cases. This model introduces a new concept of Alpha Trimmed Average Pooling, which along with the novel architecture adds a subtle touch to its high efficiency, thereby giving a much-needed solution to the medical experts. The two-mouthed architecture provides the added benefit of a confidence score, deducing human aid in case of discrepancy. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00354-021-00143-1.

ß-V2O5 as Magnesium Intercalation Cathode.

Magnesium batteries have attracted great attention as an alternative to Li-ion batteries but still suffer from limited choice of positive electrode materials. V2O5 exhibits high theoretical capacities, but previous studies have been mostly limited to α-V2O5. Herein, we report on the ß-V2O5 polymorph as a Mg intercalation electrode. The structural changes associated with the Mg2+ (de-) intercalation were analyzed by a combination of several characterization techniques: in situ high resolution X-ray diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The reversible capacity reached 361 mAh g-1, the highest value found at room temperature for V2O5 polymorphs.

Focused Cardiac Ultrasound to Guide the Diagnosis of Heart Failure in Pregnant Women in India.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac complications are a leading cause of maternal death. Cardiac imaging with echocardiography is important for prompt diagnosis, but it is not available in many low-resource settings. The aim of this study was to determine whether focused cardiac ultrasound performed by trained obstetricians and interpreted remotely by experts can identify cardiac abnormalities in pregnant women in low-resource settings. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 301 pregnant and postpartum women recruited from 10 hospitals across three states in India. Twenty-two obstetricians were trained in image acquisition using a portable cardiac ultrasound device following a simplified protocol adapted from focus-assessed transthoracic echocardiography protocol. It included parasternal long-axis, parasternal short-axis, and apical four-chamber views on two-dimensional and color Doppler. Independent image interpretation was performed remotely by two experts, in the United Kingdom and India, using a standard semiquantitative assessment protocol. Interrater agreement between the experts was examined using Cohen's κ. Diagnostic accuracy of the method was examined in a subsample for whom both focused and conventional scans were available. RESULTS: Cardiac abnormalities identified using the focused method included valvular abnormalities (27%), rheumatic heart disease (6.6%), derangements in left ventricular size (4.7%) and function (22%), atrial dilatation (19.5%), and pericardial effusion (30%). There was substantial agreement on the cardiac parameters between the two experts, ranging from 93.6% (κ = 0.84) for left ventricular ejection fraction to 100% (κ = 1) for valvular disease. Image quality was graded as good in 79% of parasternal long-axis, 77% of parasternal short-axis and 64% of apical four-chamber views. The chance-corrected κ coefficients indicated fair to moderate agreement (κ = 0.28-0.51) for the image quality parameters. There was good agreement on diagnosis between the focused method and standard echocardiography (78% agreement), compared in 36 participants. CONCLUSIONS: The focused method accurately identified cardiac abnormalities in pregnant women and could be used for screening cardiac problems in obstetric settings.

Clinical and immunobiochemical characterization of airborne Peltophorum pterocarpum (yellow gulmohar tree) pollen: a dominant avenue tree of India.

BACKGROUND: Peltophorum pterocarpum (yellow gulmohar, PP) pollen is an important aeroallergen for type I hypersensitivity in the tropics. OBJECTIVE: To isolate and characterize the IgE-binding proteins of PP pollen for the first time. METHODS: Pollen extract was fractionated by a combination of Sephacryl S-200 column and diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex column. Allergen characterization was done by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, periodic acid-Schiff staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and western blotting. Allergenic activities were determined by in vivo (skin prick test) and in vitro (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and histamine release) analyses. To determine whether the carbohydrate chains are involved in immunoreactivity, deglycosylation of PP pollen proteins was performed. RESULTS: SPT results on the respiratory allergic patients of Calcutta showed that 32.77% showed positivity with PP pollen. Eight IgE-reactive protein components were found in crude extract. Optimum IgE-reactive fraction 1 was resolved into five subfractions. The subfraction 1a showed maximum IgE reactivity containing the 28 kDa IgE-reactive component. Periodate oxidation showed that protein component was involved in its IgE binding. Twenty-eight kilodalton IgE reactive protein component was recognized by 75% of PP-sensitive patients in Western blotting. It also induced significant histamine release in sensitive patient sera. CONCLUSIONS: The purified 28 kDa protein is a clinically relevant allergen with a potential for diagnosis and therapy of patients susceptible to PP pollen.

Relationship between anaemia, coagulation parameters during pregnancy and postpartum haemorrhage at childbirth: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between coagulation parameters and severity of anaemia (moderate anaemia: haemoglobin (Hb) 7-9.9 g/dL and severe anaemia: Hb <7 g/dL) during pregnancy and relate these to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) at childbirth. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study of pregnant women recruited in the third trimester and followed-up after childbirth. SETTING: Ten hospitals across four states in India. PARTICIPANTS: 1342 pregnant women. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. METHODS: Hb and coagulation parameters: fibrinogen, D-dimer, D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio, platelets and international normalised ratio (INR) were measured at baseline. Participants were followed-up to measure blood loss within 2 hours after childbirth and PPH was defined based on blood loss and clinical assessment. Associations between coagulation parameters, Hb, anaemia and PPH were examined using multivariable logistic regression models. OUTCOMES MEASURES: Adjusted OR with 95% CI. RESULTS: In women with severe anaemia during the third trimester, the D-dimer was 27% higher, mean fibrinogen 117 mg/dL lower, D-dimer/fibrinogen ratio 69% higher and INR 12% higher compared with women with no/mild anaemia. Mean platelets in severe anaemia was 37.8×109/L lower compared with women with moderate anaemia. Similar relationships with smaller effect sizes were identified for women with moderate anaemia compared with women with no/mild anaemia. Low Hb and high INR at third trimester of pregnancy independently increased the odds of PPH at childbirth, but the other coagulation parameters were not found to be significantly associated with PPH. CONCLUSION: Altered blood coagulation profile in pregnant women with severe anaemia could be a risk factor for PPH and requires further evaluation.

Maternal and perinatal Health Research Collaboration, India (MaatHRI): methodology for establishing a hospital-based research platform in a low and middle income country setting.

Background: Maternal and perinatal Health Research collaboration, India (MaatHRI) is a research platform that aims to improve evidence-based pregnancy care and outcomes for mothers and babies in India, a country with the second highest burden of maternal and perinatal deaths. The objective of this paper is to describe the methods used to establish and standardise the platform and the results of the process. Methods: MaatHRI is a hospital-based collaborative research platform. It is adapted from the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) and built on a pilot model (IndOSS-Assam), which has been extensively standardised using the following methods: (i) establishing a network of hospitals; (ii) setting up a secure system for data collection, storage and transfer; (iii) developing a standardised laboratory infrastructure; and (iv) developing and implementing regulatory systems. Results: MaatHRI was established in September 2018. Fourteen hospitals participate across four states in India - Assam, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The research team includes 20 nurses, a project manager, 16 obstetricians, two pathologists, a public health specialist, a general physician and a paediatrician. MaatHRI has advanced standardisation of data and laboratory parameters, real-time monitoring of data and participant safety, and secure transfer of data. Four observational epidemiological studies are presently being undertaken through the platform. MaatHRI has enabled bi-directional capacity building. It is overseen by a steering committee and a data safety and monitoring board, a process that is not normally used, but was found to be highly effective in ensuring data safety and equitable partnerships in the context of low and middle income countries (LMICs). Conclusion: MaatHRI is the first prototype of UKOSS and other similar platforms in a LMIC setting. The model is built on existing methods but applies new standardisation processes to develop a collaborative research platform that can be replicated in other LMICs.

Solar cyclic variability can modulate winter Arctic climate.

This study investigates the role of the eleven-year solar cycle on the Arctic climate during 1979-2016. It reveals that during those years, when the winter solar sunspot number (SSN) falls below 1.35 standard deviations (or mean value), the Arctic warming extends from the lower troposphere to high up in the upper stratosphere and vice versa when SSN is above. The warming in the atmospheric column reflects an easterly zonal wind anomaly consistent with warm air and positive geopotential height anomalies for years with minimum SSN and vice versa for the maximum. Despite the inherent limitations of statistical techniques, three different methods - Compositing, Multiple Linear Regression and Correlation - all point to a similar modulating influence of the sun on winter Arctic climate via the pathway of Arctic Oscillation. Presenting schematics, it discusses the mechanisms of how solar cycle variability influences the Arctic climate involving the stratospheric route. Compositing also detects an opposite solar signature on Eurasian snow-cover, which is a cooling during Minimum years, while warming in maximum. It is hypothesized that the reduction of ice in the Arctic and a growth in Eurasia, in recent winters, may in part, be a result of the current weaker solar cycle.

Nanohexaconazole: synthesis, characterisation and efficacy of a novel fungicidal nanodispersion.

Here, the authors describe a simple method to formulate the nanodispersion of hexaconazole (hexa); henceforth, referred to as nanohexaconazole (N-hexa) that is water soluble and effective against several species of Aspergillus. Size and shape of the prepared nanocomposite was determined with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Nanohexaconazole structure was further confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antifungal efficacy of nanohexaconazole (N-hexa) was studied in vitro, compared with micronised hexaconazole (M-hexa) at different doses (5 ppm, 10 ppm and control) against two food pathogenic fungi: Aspergillus niger (MTCC 282, MTCC 2196 and BDS 113) and Aspergillus fumigatus through poisoned food technique. A dose-dependent significant growth inhibition was observed in nanohexaconazole (N-hexa) treated fungal sample compared with that of micronised hexaconazole (M-hexa). Micrographic studies for the morphological analysis of control and nanohexaconazole (N-hexa) treated fungal samples were done, exhibited an alternation in fungal morphology. Results showed that nanohexaconazole (N-hexa) is more efficacious than commercially available micronised hexaconazole (M-hexa). In future nanohexaconazole (N-hexa) could be a possible candidate for modern medical science and also reduce damage to the environment from injudicious use of pesticides.

Allergy to periwinkle pollen (Catharanthus roseus G. Don.).

Catharanthus roseus G. Don. (CR) or periwinkle plants are widely grown/ cultivated as garden plants in the tropics and subtropics. In spite of its predominantly entomophilous nature, CR pollen had been reported to be airborne and allergenic. The objective of this study was to discover the seasonal changes of CR pollen concentration in air, to determine its potential to cause respiratory allergy and to analyze its allergenic components. A 2-year aerobiological survey was conducted with a Burkard 7-day sampler in an agricultural farm in the suburban zone of Calcutta city where CR pollen was found to be almost perennial with 3.6-5.4% contribution to the aeropollen load. Skin prick test was conducted on 282 respiratory allergic individuals living within a 15 km radius of the study area. 29.8% of them were positive to CR pollen. Among them, 80.9% were directly involved in gardening. The whole pollen extract was subjected to gel filtration in a Sephacryl S-200 column. Among 5 eluted fractions, fraction I showed optimum IgE-reactivity in ELISA-inhibition. The fraction I shows 4 protein components in SDS-PAGE, within which 3 (40-66 kD molecular mass) were found to be IgE-reactive in immunoblotting using patient sera. It can be concluded that CR pollen can trigger IgEmediated respiratory allergy in the people living in close proximity.

Clinico-immunologic evaluation of allergy to Himalayan tree pollen in atopic subjects in India--a new record.

Exposure to local pollen allergens has a direct bearing on the prevalence of allergic symptoms among the inhabiting atopic population. The populations in the Himalayas and around it are exposed to a variety of pollen grains from trees growing in the region, but the pollen-population interaction has not been clinically investigated. Himalayan tree pollen from five different taxa, i.e. Alnus nitida (AN), Betula utilis (BU), Cedrus deodara (CD), Mallotus phillipensis (MP) and Quercus incana (QI) were evaluated for their allergenicity in the Indian population by in vivo (skin prick test) and in vitro (ELISA) clinico-immunological methods. The presence of specific IgE against these tree pollen in the sera of skin test positive patients was taken as evidence for sensitization to these pollen. The average skin positivity in atopic populations recorded at different allergy centers in India varied from 2.2% against AN, to 4.7% against MP pollen. Significantly raised specific IgE against these pollen were observed in the sera of hypersensitive patients. The sensitization pattern to Himalayan tree pollen in these atopic populations varied. It was concluded that skin prick test positivity and raised IgE antibodies specific to AN, BU, CD, MP and QI established Himalayan tree pollen as important sensitizers in the atopic populations of India. A high incidence of skin sensitivity was observed to pollen antigens of Cedrus deodara, Mallotus phillipensis and Quercus incana in patients of Chandigarh residing in the hills and foothills of the Himalayas while Alnus nitida, Betula utilis and Cedrus deodara were important sensitizers in Delhi patients. The skin sensitization pattern against these pollen was in accordance with the level of exposure to these pollen of the subjects residing in that part of the country.