Physiochemical response of papaya genotypes exposed to low temperature regimes

Susceptibility to low temperature stress is the major threat to papaya cultivation. Here, we studied a low temperature stress tolerance in papaya plant. We have investigated the effect of different low temperature regimes, 28°/18°C (day/night) to 16°/06°C (day/night) with a gradual decrease of 2°C on every two days and one set with direct exposure to the low temperature of 18°/08°C (day/night), called the acclimatized plant, in five diverse papaya genotypes (Pusa Nanha, Red Lady P-7-2, P-7-9, and P-7-14) and cold tolerant wild relative of cultivated papaya genotype (Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis V.M. Badillo) under controlled regulated conditions. It was observed that there were significant variations in the physiological and biochemical parameters like photosynthetic gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll content, fluorescence parameters, relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), total sugars content, total soluble proteins content, lipid peroxidation, and proline accumulation in leaf tissues. Maximum stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, RWC, MSI, total sugars, total soluble proteins, proline and lowest MDA contents were observed in Vasconcellea cundinamarcensis followed by inbred P-7-9 as compared to other genotypes under low temperature stress. Among all the papaya genotypes, P-7-9 showed more adaptability to low temperature stress and it further give new insights for developing low temperature tolerant papaya genotypes, especially under changing climate situations.

Perioperative Management of a Patient with Rheumatic Heart Disease Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy: A Case Report

Valvular heart disease and resulting comorbidity, such as heart failure or atrial fibrillation, significantly increase the risk for perioperative adverse events. Appropriate preoperative assessment, adequate perioperative monitoring, and early intervention may help to prevent adverse events and improve patient outcome.4 We are presenting a case report of 30 year old lady who was a known case of rheumatic heart disease and underwent emergency laparotomy for acute intestinal obstruction.

Ludwig’s Angina: A Challenge for Anaesthesiologist

Ludwig’s angina is an aggressive, rapidly spreading cellulitis of the floor of mouth and neck. It is less frequently seen in children as compared to adults. Successful management of Ludwig’s angina requires proper understanding of the anatomy, appropriate antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage whenever needed. Airway management is of prime concern and should be done with prior planning and cooperation of surgeon and anaesthesiologist. We hereby describe the successful management of Ludwig’s angina in a 3 year old child.

Association of apolipoprotein B XbaI gene polymorphism and lipid profile in northern Indian obese.

BACKGROUND: Over the last few decades, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension have become main health evils. The health problems of obesity are well-recognized. However, the fact that all obese individuals are not at the same risk of developing a disease is also recognized. The apolipoprotein B (APOB) plays a central role in lipid metabolism. So we compare the association of APOB XbaI gene polymorphism and lipid profile total in obese north Indian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 132 obese (body mass index [BMI] >25 kg/m2) and 132 age matched non-obese (BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2) subjects were studied after taking detailed clinical profile. Lipid profile in serum/plasma was done using commercial kits. Genetic analysis of APOB XbaI was done using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Leanth polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (version 11.5) software (IBM Corporation). All continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD and tested by analysis of variance test. Comparisons of categorical variables were assessed using χ2 tests or Fisher's exact test. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Analysis showed that obese subjects had significantly higher value of the waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and lipid profile. In APOB XbaI gene polymorphism, we did not find significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies. Moreover, none of the studied metabolic parameters (lipid profile) showed any association with the gene polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Study reveals no considerable association of APOB XbaI gene polymorphism with obesity and lipid profile in north Indians.

Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis: an important glomerulonephritis in nephrotic syndrome of young adult.

Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) consists 10% of the total renal biopsy of glomerulonephritis. Aim of the present study was to find out clinicopathological changes in MesPGN and differences between diffuse and focal variety. MesPGN was seen mostly in young adults with mean age of 28.63 years for males and 26.3 years for females. Male predominance was noted (M:F ratio - 1.4:1). About 70.83% patient presented with edema feet, followed by hypertension (29.19%), fever (16.66%), oliguria, nausea and vomiting (10.41%). Urine analysis in 50 patients revealed that 70% patients presented with nephrotic-range proteinuria, 36% patients with microscopic hematuria and 56% patients with leukocyturia. Statistically, no significant difference was found in clinical features of diffuse and focal MesPGN. Microscopic comparison between diffuse and focal variety showed that significant increase of focal glomerular basement membrane thickening, focal endothelial cell proliferation, focal smooth muscle hyperplasia, hyaline sclerosis and vasculitis was more common in diffuse variety. In focal variety, Capillary loop congestion, periglomerulitis, cloudy swelling and vacuolar degeneration in tubules were significantly more as compared to diffuse variety. Details of the clinical features, special laboratory tests and histological details revealed that diffuse variety had systemic diseases, which included Wegner's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangitis, Henoch's schonlein purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus (two cases) and one case each of Kimura's disease, pyelonephritis and tuberculosis. Only one case of focal MesPGN showed tuberculosis. Thus, our study concludes that MesPGN is an important cause of nephrotic syndrome among young adults. Secondly, search for some other diseases should be made and thirdly, if biopsy shows focal mesangial cell proliferations in minimal change glomerulonephritis (MCGN), it should be diagnosed as focal MesPGN rather than MCGN because these cases show recurrences.

Association of β2-adrenergic receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 polymorphisms with obesity in a Northern Indian population.

BACKGROUND: Imbalance in hormonal levels, regulated by host genetic factors, are known to be a major cause of obesity. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate association of genetic polymorphisms of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) with hormonal levels in northern Indian obese. METHODS: A total of 111 obese and 89 age matched non-obese subjects were studied after taking detailed clinical profile. Hormonal assays in serum/plasma for different hormones were done using IRMA and RIA kits. Genetic analysis of β2-AR (-47 and -20, T to C) and IRS-1 (Arg972Gly) was done using PCR-RFLP. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS (version 11.5) software. All continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD and tested by ANOVA test. Comparisons of categorical variables were assessed using X2 tests or Fisher's exact test. P-value <0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Analysis showed that obese subjects had significantly higher value of blood pressure (systolic), WHR, leptin insulin and glucagon and lower value of GH. In β2-AR (-47) T/C and IRS-1 Gly972Arg gene polymorphisms we did not found significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies. Moreover, none of the studied hormonal or metabolic parameters showed any association with the gene polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Study reveals no significant association of β2-AR (-47 and -20, T to C) and IRS-1 Gly 972 Arg polymorphisms with obesity in northern Indians.

Bioaccumulation of Zn, Cu and Cd in Channa punctatus.

Adult Channa punctatus were acutely exposed to LC50 of zinc (18.62 mg/l), cadmium (11.8 mg/l) and copper (0.56 mg/l) separately for 96 hr The concentration of metals was found maximum in liver and minimum in muscles. The degree of accumulation among the five tissues differed and it was in the order: gill>liver>kidney>blood>muscle in case of Zn, gills>kidney>blood> liver>muscle in case of Cd and gills>kidney>blood>liver>muscle in case of Cu exposure.

Spectrum of renal disease in malaria.

Between January 2000 and December 2001, renal involvement in 81 cases of malaria was studied. Their age ranged between 05 and 66 (mean 35.5) years. Distribution of malarial parasite was P falciparum (75), mixed infection (4) and P vivax (2). The evidence of clinical renal disease in the form of acute renal failure, electrolyte abnormality, abnormal urinary sediment and increased urinary protein excretion (>500 mg/24 hours) was found in 100%, 91.3%, 46.9% and 18.5% respectively. Probable aetiopathogenesis of acute renal failure (ARF) was multifactorial. Volume depletion (72.8%) was the dominant cause of ARF in these patients. In addition, hyperbilirubinaemia, intravascular haemolysis and sepsis were responsible for ARF in 64.2%, 70.3% and 25.9% cases respectively. All the patients were managed with anti-malarial drugs and dialysis support was needed in 35 patients (43.2%). Prognosis of malarial acute renal failure is favourable with mortality rate of 18.5%. Multi-organ failure was the commonest cause (33.3%) of death.

Validation of traditional claim of Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum Linn. as a medicinal plant.

In several ancient systems of medicine including Ayurveda, Greek, Roman, Siddha and Unani, Ocimum sanctum has vast number of therapeutic applications such as in cardiopathy, haemopathy, leucoderma, asthma, bronchitis, catarrhal fever, otalgia, hepatopathy, vomiting, lumbago, hiccups, ophthalmia, gastropathy, genitourinary disorders, ringworm, verminosis and skin diseases etc. The present review incorporates the description of O. sanctum plant, its chemical constituents, and various pharmacological activities.