ABSTRACT
In Agaricus bisporus, color is a key determinant for marketability and consumer acceptability. However, postharvest browning has become a major concern, affecting the overall economics of the mushroom industry. In button mushrooms, the tyrosinase enzyme (E.C.1.14.18.1) is responsible for the browning reactions by catalyzing the conversion of monophenols and diphenols into quinones which polymerize to form melanin. Thus, the present study focused on the purification and characterization of tyrosinase from A. bisporus. This enzyme was purified with a final yield of 19.71% and 32.05 purification fold. The study of enzymatic activity over a temperature (5-45°C) and pH range (3-10) showed that the optimum temperature was 35°C with pH 7. The kinetic studies revealed that Km values were different for catechol (0.71 mM) and L-dopa (0.87 mM), which indicated a higher affinity of the enzyme for catechol. Inhibition studies showed that cinnamic acid is a non-competitive inhibitor while salicylic acid is a competitive inhibitor of tyrosinase. The molecular weight of the enzyme was found to be 43 kDa and different amide regions were reflected by the FTIR spectra of the enzyme. This study may provide valuable insights into the structure, biochemical properties, and inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme for controlling mushroom browning.
ABSTRACT
Background: Inguinoscrotal diseases are one of the commonest group of disorders seen in clinical surgical practice. A wide range of swellings are seen in this region in children and includes hydrocele, torsion testis, ectopic testis, lymphadenopathy, inguinal hernias, cysts, epididymitis, orchitis, tumors etc. Vigilant clinical and radiological evaluation of inguinoscrotum for varying diseases helps in proper diagnosis and surgical management of its differential diagnosis.Methods: The present study was conducted as an observational study over a period of 10 months and enrolled a total of 50 patients.Results: In this study, 31 cases had hydrocele, 14 cases had inguinal hernia, 2 cases had epididymorchitis, 2 cases had lymphadenopathy and one case had idiopathic scrotal edema. Individual diseases had varying presentations, clinical findings and post-operative findings.Conclusions: There is a varying broad spectrum of swellings in the inguinoscrotal region in young male children. It was concluded that proper clinical and radiological evaluation of the patient helps to timely diagnose the disease and hence help in identifying correct approach to the management of the case.
ABSTRACT
Background: To compare two protocols comprising of FSH/CC/HMG and CC/HMG for ovulation induction and IUI in women with infertility.Methods: 60 women with unexplained infertility were randomized using sequentially numbered opaque envelope method. Group A received inj FSH 150 units on day 2 of menstrual cycle and clomiphene citrate 100 mg from day 3-7, followed by injection HMG 150 units on day 9 of menstrual cycle. Group B received clomiphene citrate 100 mg from day 3-7, and HMG 150 units on day 7 and 9 of the menstrual cycle. Ovulation triggered with hCG 5000 units when dominant follicle was 18mm. Single IUI was done 36-42 hours afterwards.Results: Pregnancy occurred in 3 out of 30 women in 116 cycles Group A (with FSH) with a pregnancy rate of 10 percent, and 2.8% per cycle. In group B (without FSH) pregnancy occurred in 3 out of 30 women in 117 cycles with pregnancy rate of 10 percent, and 2.6% per cycle. The number of follicles per cycle was 1.36 and follicle size was 18.57 mm in group A. While in Group B numbers of follicles per cycle were 1.22, with average size of 18.9mm. Mean endometrial thickness was 7.7mm in Group A and 6.37 in Group B (p=.01, significant). Mild OHSS was observed in one woman in Group B. No other side effects were observed in both the groups.Conclusions: The controlled ovarian stimulation regimes used in this study are equally effective, easy to administer, require less intensive monitoring and fewer medications, with little risk of OHSS and multiple gestation.
ABSTRACT
Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) is waterlogging sensitive legume crop. We studied the effect of waterlogging stress on membrane stability index (MSI), lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence in four Vigna genotypes namely (Uttara, T-44, IC530491, IC519330). Stress was imposed for 10 days at vegetative stage (30 days after sowing). Thereafter, excess water was drained to allow recovery in stressed plants. Waterlogging treatment significantly increased lipid peroxidation and SOD activity in all the genotypes, which showed the oxidative injury posed by stress conditions. Chlorophyll content and fluorescence reduced under stress conditions. SOD activity, MSI and chlorophyll content was more in IC530491 and IC519330, T44 as compared to Uttara. Lipid peroxidation was high in Uttara. Though chlorophyll fluorescence reduced in all the genotypes under waterlogging, genotypic differences were non-significant. More efficient antioxidative scavenging to maintain membrane stability and chlorophyll content in black gram was found to be associated with tolerance to waterlogging.
ABSTRACT
In order to investigate the effect of Shouwu Shudi Yin on dopaminegic neurons in MPTP induced Parkinson's disease mouse model and the possible mechamism, the experimental mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control, Shouwu Shudi Yin, MPTP and the treatment (MPTP+Shouwu Shudi Yin) groups. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells in the substantia nigra was measured by immunohistochemistry, and mRNA expression of TH and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were detected by PCR. The results showed that the number of TH positive cells and mRNA expression of TH were significantly reduced in MPTP group compared with the control (P<0.05), and pretreated with Shouwu Shudi Yin didn't show protective effect. Compared to MPTP group, the mRNA expression of four subtypes of GPX were increased in various degrees in the treatment group pretreated with Shouwu Shudi Yin, although the difference was not statistically significant. These indicated that the preventive medication of Shouwu Shudi Yin don't have protective effect on the mice with Parkinson' s disease induced by MPTP, but it may enhance the antioxidant capacity through increasing the expression of GPX.
ABSTRACT
Objective: A panorama of mucocutaneous manifestations is seen at every stage of HIV. This study was done to study the sex prevalence in HIV/AIDS patients with mucocutaneous disorders. Methods: A total of 1 000 HIV seropositive patients attending Skin-STD clinic, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar, for any dermatologic complaints were studied in respect to the sex group preponderance. Results: Males constituted the majority as 75.6% while females were 24.4%. Conclusions: Women, in most of the cases, get infected from their spouses, who have acquired infection through extramarital sexual contact. HIV infection in female patients increases the risk of HIV transmission to neonates and infants, thus further spreading the HIV in a community. So it is very crucial to initiate early preventive measures to reduce HIV burden.