Cobalt oxide nanoparticles aggravate DNA damage and cell death in eggplant via mitochondrial swelling and NO signaling pathway

BACKGROUND: Despite manifold benefits of nanoparticles (NPs), less information on the risks of NPs to human health and environment has been studied. Cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4-NPs) have been reported to cause toxicity in several organisms. In this study, we have investigated the role of Co3O4-NPs in inducing phytotoxicity, cellular DNA damage and apoptosis in eggplant (Solanum melongena L. cv. Violetta lunga 2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on Co3O4-NPs showing phytotoxicity in eggplant. RESULTS: The data revealed that eggplant seeds treated with Co3O4-NPs for 2 h at a concentration of 1.0 mg/ml retarded root length by 81.5 % upon 7 days incubation in a moist chamber. Ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated the uptake and translocation of Co3O4-NPs into the cytoplasm. Intracellular presence of Co3O4-NPs triggered subcellular changes such as degeneration of mitochondrial cristae, abundance of peroxisomes and excessive vacuolization. Flow cytometric analysis of Co3O4-NPs (1.0 mg/ml) treated root protoplasts revealed 157, 282 and 178 % increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane potential (APm) and nitric oxide (NO), respectively. Besides, the esterase activity in treated protoplasts was also found compromised. About 2.4-fold greater level of DNA damage, as compared to untreated control was observed in Comet assay, and 73.2 % of Co3O4-NPs treated cells appeared apoptotic in flow cytometry based cell cycle analysis. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrate the phytotoxic potential of Co3O4-NPs in terms of reduction in seed germination, root growth, greater level of DNA and mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress and cell death in eggplant. The data generated from this study will provide a strong background to draw attention on Co3O4-NPs environmental hazards to vegetable crops.

Frequency of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction

To determine the frequency of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children having congenital malformations of the eyes coming to the tertiary care eye hospital. Descriptive study done at Al Shifa eye hospital Rawalpindi from January 2004 to December 2007. Retrospective case record analysis of all children coming to the hospital with congenital malformation of nasolacrimal duct along with other congenital malformations of the eyes were included in the study. Children with no congenital anomalies of the eyes but having nasolacrimal duct obstruction were excluded. Congenital malformations of eyes were seen in 514 cases [289 males and 225 females]. The age distribution was from birth to 15 years, with majority seen between 0-2 years. Out of 514 cases, 103 had congenital abnormalities of lacrimal apparatus with 20% having nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Persistent tears were the major presenting feature. Nasolacrimal duct obstruction was the commonest congenital malformations of the eyes which can be easily corrected

Weight of the Human Thyroid Gland – A Postmortem Study.

Context: A cross-sectional study was designed to find out the difference in weight of the thyroid gland of Bangladeshi people in relation to age and sex and to compare with previous local and foreign studies. Materials & Methods: The present study was performed on 60 post mortem human thyroid gland (39 of male and 21 of female) collected from unclaimed dead bodies which were in the morgue under examination in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka. The samples were divided into three age-groups including Group A (10-20 years), Group B (21-50 years) & Group C (>50 years) and the weight of the thyroid glands were measured and recorded. Results: The mean weight of the thyroid gland in male was 15.14 gm, 19.20 gm and 14.64 gm and in female was 16.02 gm, 19.03 gm and 14.67 gm in group A, B and C respectively. The mean weight of the thyroid gland was 15.48 gm in group A, 19.15 gm in group B and 14.65 gm in group C. There was no difference in mean weight of the thyroid gland between male and female. The difference in mean weight of the thyroid gland between group A & group B and group B & group C were found statistically significant. The weight of the gland was found to increase from early childhood and puberty up to 50 years of age and then decrease.

potential role of some antioxidants from carotenoids and vitamins on biological and biochemical parameters of hyperlipidemic hamsters

This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of some antioxidants [carotenoids: lycopene and beta-carotene and vitamins: E and C] supplementation on some biological and biochemical parameters of male adult hyperlipidemic hamsters. Lipid profile, lipid peroxidation as MDA, blood and liver GSH, antioxidant enzymes [GPx and GR] and liver function enzymes [ALT and AST] were determined. Hyperlipidemic diet resulted in significant elevation in serum TC, LDL-C, TG, liver MDA and liver function enzymes ALT and AST, with concomitant reduction in serum HDL-C, blood GSH and liver GPx and GR enzymes activity. Supplementation by the Lycopene and vitamin C caused significant reduction in serum TC, LDL-C and TG with significant elevation in serum HDL-C. beta-carotene induced significant reduction only on TC and LDL-c vitamin E showed no obvious effect on lipid profile with highly suppressive effect on lipid peroxidation all individual antioxidants resulted in significant elevation in blood GSH, liver GPx and GR enzymes with concomitant significant reduction in liver MDA and serum ALT and AST

Evaluation of a task-oriented training programme in community medicine using students' performance and opinion, as indicators

This paper describes the assessment of a training programme of one month duration held in a rotation throughout the year for the sixth year medical students of the college of medicine university of basrah the evaluation of students performance and opinion are used to measure the training outcome and hence of the programme as a whole the association between these various methods was examined using the product moment correlation [r]. the programme is also subjected to evaluation by the students the students expressed the opinion that the duration of training should be increased