The major plant-derived cannabinoid Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol promotes hypertrophy and macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue.

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists activate lipoprotein lipase and the formation of lipid droplets in cultured adipocytes. Here we extend this work by examining whether Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major plant-derived cannabinoid, increases adipocyte size in vivo. Further, possibly as a consequence of hypertrophy, we hypothesize that THC exposure promotes macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue, an inflammatory state observed in obese individuals. Rats repeatedly exposed to THC in vivo had reduced body weight, fat pad weight, and ingested less food over the drug injection period. However, THC promoted adipocyte hypertrophy that was accompanied by a significant increase in cytosolic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK-C) expression, an enzyme important in packaging triglycerides. We also showed that THC induced macrophage infiltration and increased expression of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in adipose tissue but did not induce apoptosis as measured by TUNEL staining. That THC increased adipocyte cell size in the absence of greater food intake, body weight and fat provides a unique model to explore mechanisms underlying changes in adipocyte size associated with a mild inflammatory state in fat tissue.

1-Benzoyl-3-methyl-3-pentyl-thio-urea.

Two independent mol-ecules comprise the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(14)H(20)N(2)OS. These differ in the relative orientations of the pentyl chains [C-C-C-C torsion angles = -176.7 (3) and 176.4 (3)°]. Significant twists are evident in each mol-ecule, the dihedral angles formed between the thio-urea and amide residues being 53.47 (17) and 55.81 (17)°. In the crystal, each mol-ecule self-associates via a centrosymmetric eight-membered {⋯HNC=S}(2) synthon, and these are connected into a supra-molecular chain along [110] via C-H⋯O contacts. Disorder is noted for one of the independent mol-ecules in that two orientations (50:50) were resolved for its benzene ring.

3-Benzoyl-1,1-dibenzyl-thio-urea.

Two independent thio-urea mol-ecules comprise the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(22)H(20)N(2)OS. The central N-C(=S)N(H)C(=O) atoms in each mol-ecule are virtually superimposable and each is twisted [C-N-C-S torsion angles = 121.3 (3) and -62.3 (4)°]. The mol-ecules differ only in terms of the relative orientations of the benzyl benzene rings [major difference between the C-N-C-C torsion angles of -146.6 (3) and -132.9 (3)°]. The presence of N-H⋯S hydrogen bonding leads to the formation of supra-molecular chains along the a axis. These are consolidated in the crystal packing by C-H⋯O inter-actions. The crystal was found to be a combined non-merohedral and racemic twin (twin law 00/00/001), with the fractional contribution of the minor components being approximately 9 and 28%.

1-Benzoyl-3,3-dibutyl-thio-urea.

The title mol-ecule, C(16)H(24)N(2)OS, is twisted about the central N(H)-C bond with a C-N(H)-C-N torsion angle of -62.67 (15)°. The carbonyl group is twisted out of the plane of the benzene ring, forming a C-C-C=O torsion angle of -25.06 (17)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules related by centres of symmetry are linked by pairs of inter-molecular N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds, forming eight-membered {⋯HNCS}(2) synthons. These are further connected by weak via C-H⋯O contacts, forming a two-dimensional array in the bc plane.

1-Benzoyl-3,3-bis-(propan-2-yl)thio-urea.

Two independent thio-urea derivatives comprise the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(14)H(20)N(2)OS. The major difference between the mol-ecules relates to a twist in the relative orientation of the benzene rings [torsion angles = 4.5 (2) and -19.9 (2)° for the two independent mol-ecules]. The thio-carbonyl and carbonyl groups lie to opposite sides of the mol-ecule as there are twists about the central N-S bond [torsion angles = 83.90 (15) and 81.77 (15)°]. Supra-molecular chains extending parallel to [101] with a stepped topology and mediated by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonding feature in the crystal structure. C-H⋯O and C-H⋯π inter-actions are also present.

Insecticidal activity of the root extract of Decalepis hamiltonii against stored-product insect pests and its application in grain protection.

Root extracts of Decalepis hamiltonii were tested for insecticidal activity against the stored products pests, Rhyzopertha domonica, Sitophilus oryzae, Stigobium pancieum, Tribolium castaneum and Callosobruchus chinensis, in residual and contact toxicity bioassays. Methanolic extract showed LC50 value of 0.14 mg/cm(2) for all the test species in a filter paper residual bioassay. The extract was effective as a grain protectant for wheat and green gram. Reduction of F1 progeny was observed in treated grain stored for 3-4 months. The extract did not affect the germination of the treated grains. Our results indicate that methanolic extracts of D. hamiltonii has a potential to control stored product pests and could serve as a natural grain protectant.

Workplace based Potentially Malignant Oral Lesions Screening among Tobacco Consuming Migrant Construction Site Workers in Chennai, South India: A Pilot Study.

CONTEXT: Vulnerable population groups such as migrant workers are identified as emerging high-risk groups for oral cancer owing to the high prevalence of smokeless tobacco consumption. Premature deaths due to oral cancer can be prevented by screening the population with high tobacco consumption practices and detecting early reversible stages of oral mucosal cavity lesions and facilitating linkages for further care. AIM: To assess prevalence of potentially malignant oral mucosal cavity lesions among tobacco consuming migrant construction workers in sub-urban Chennai, India. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: A workplace based cross-sectional study design. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at workplaces i.e., construction sites for screening potentially malignant oral mucosal cavity lesions among migrant workers across 23 construction sites of Chennai during September 2019 - February 2020. An onsite, group health education session was provided about the harms of tobacco use to the migrants. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data entered in MS Excel was analysed using SPSS and multivariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: Among 640 migrants included in the study, 411 (64.2%) were less than 30 years of age, 623 (97.4%) were from north-eastern states of India such as West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand. A considerable size (272, 42.5%) could not read or write and 355 (55.4%) earn a monthly income of less than ten thousand rupees. Current tobacco users were 619 (96.7%), smokeless tobacco users (463, 72.34%), smokers (206, 32.2%) and dual users (52,8.12%). Inflammatory mucosal lesions in the oral cavity were 70.97% and more among smokeless tobacco users comparable to 22.58% among tobacco smokers and was significantly associated with up to 20 years of tobacco consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of Potentially malignant oral lesions among smokeless tobacco using interstate migrant construction site workers is very high and need urgent interventions.

Sampled-Data Stabilization for Fuzzy Genetic Regulatory Networks with Leakage Delays.

This paper deals with the sampled-data stabilization problem for Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy genetic regulatory networks with leakage delays. A novel Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional (LKF) is established by the non-uniform division of the delay intervals with triplex and quadruplex integral terms. Using such LKFs for constant and time-varying delay cases, new stability conditions are obtained in the T-S fuzzy framework. Based on this, a new condition for the sampled-data controller design is proposed using a linear matrix inequality representation. A numerical result is provided to show the effectiveness and potential of the developed design method.

Simple method for estimation of hemoglobin in human blood using color analysis.

Anemic conditions in women and children across the world are a serious cause for concern. The standard method for measuring hemoglobin (Hb) in human blood is the well-recognized cyanmethemoglobin method as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). There are a number of methods available that give very approximate results as compared to this method. The color-measurement technique is one of them and it is recommended by the WHO for adaptation in low-resource settings. Since human interpretation errors are likely to creep in during the subjective processes involved with this method, an artificial neural network (ANN) approach for the estimation of Hb count in human blood has been evaluated. The ANN used color-coded values of the samples as input and the Hb value, as obtained with the cyanmethemoglobin method, as desired output using 2007 samples. The results show a strong relation between the color of the blood sample and the Hb level in the blood.

Neonatal effects of anesthesia for caesarean section.

Seventy eight parturient mothers undergoing elective caesarean section were studied with regard to the immediate neonatal outcome in those receiving general and spinal anesthesia. All mothers were of grade I anesthesia risk, were term and had singleton appropriate for gestational age fetuses. There was no difference in fetal acid base chemistry in the two groups. Babies delivered after general anesthesia appeared relatively depressed requiring more free flow oxygen and bag and mask ventilation, though one minute Apgar scores showed no significant difference in either group. Induction delivery intervals were longer in the spinal group but it was not associated with more morbidity. Uterine incision delivery intervals were very small in both groups and no meaningful conclusion could be drawn as regards effect on the newborn. A plea is made for more frequent use of spinal anesthesia considering its many postnatal advantages.

Anesthesia for caesarean section and immediate neonatal outcome.

Seventy-eight parturient mothers undergoing elective caesarean section were studied with regard to the immediate neonatal outcome in those receiving general and spinal anesthesia. All mothers were of grade I anesthesia risk, were term and had singleton appropriate for gestational age babies. There was no difference in fetal acid base chemistry in the two groups. Babies delivered after general anesthesia appeared relatively depressed requiring more free flow oxygen and bag and mask ventilation though one minute Apgar scores showed no significant difference in either group. Induction delivery intervals were longer in the spinal group but it was not associated with more morbidity. Uterine incision delivery intervals were very small in both groups and no meaningful conclusion could be drawn as regards effect on the newborn. A plea is made for more frequent use of spinal anesthesia considering its many postnatal advantages.

Reintoxication: the release of fat-stored delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) into blood is enhanced by food deprivation or ACTH exposure.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis, accumulates in adipose tissue where it is stored for long periods of time. Here we investigated whether conditions that promote lipolysis can liberate THC from adipocytes to yield increased blood levels of THC. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In vitro studies involved freshly isolated rat adipocytes that were incubated with THC before exposure to the lipolytic agent adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). A complementary in vivo approach examined the effects of both food deprivation and ACTH on blood levels of THC in rats that had been repeatedly injected with THC (10 mg.kg(-1)) for 10 consecutive days. Lipolysis promoted by ACTH or food deprivation was indexed by measurement of glycerol levels. KEY RESULTS: ACTH increased THC levels in the medium of THC-pretreated adipocytes in vitro. ACTH also enhanced THC release from adipocytes in vitro when taken from rats repeatedly pretreated with THC in vivo. Finally, in vivo ACTH exposure and 24 h food deprivation both enhanced the levels of THC and its metabolite, (-)-11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in the blood of rats that had been pre-exposed to repeated THC injections. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The present study shows that lipolysis enhances the release of THC from fat stores back into blood. This suggests the likelihood of 'reintoxication' whereby food deprivation or stress may raise blood THC levels in animals chronically exposed to the drug. Further research will need to confirm whether this can lead to functional effects, such as impaired cognitive function or 'flashbacks'.