Enzymatic hydrolysis method for development of low glycemic index rice flour from temperate grown rice (var. Jehlum): Numerical optimization, rheological and spectroscopic characteristics.

This study aimed at optimizing process protocols for development of low glycemic index (GI) rice flour (LGIRF) by employing enzymatic hydrolysis method using central composite rotatable design (CCRD). LGIRF was evaluated for pasting, farinographic, spectroscopic and microbiological attributes. Independent variables for optimization included concentrations of α-amylase (0.02-0.12 %), glucoamylase (0.02-0.24 %), as well as the incubation temperature (55-80°C). Resistant starch (RS), glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) were investigated as response variables. The optimum conditions for development of LGIRF with better quality were- α-amylase concentration of 0.040 %, glucoamylase concentration of 0.070 % and an incubation temperature of 60 °C. The results of mineral analysis revealed significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of boron, potassium, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese in LGIRF, while iron and copper were significantly higher. The viscosity profile as evident from pasting profile and farinographic characteristics of LGIRF were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than native rice flour. 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic studies showed an increase in flexible starch segments and a decrease in amorphous portion of starch LGIRF, along with chemical shift alterations in carbons 1 and 4. Free fatty acids and total plate count were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in LGIRF although was within limits.

Morpho-cultural, pathological and molecular variability in Phloeospora maculans causing leaf spot of mulberry (Morus species) in India.

BACKGROUND: Leaf spot disease (LSD) of mulberry caused by Phloeospora maculans is a major threat to the silk industry of Jammu and Kashmir, India, therefore, it was necessary to study the population structure of the pathogen for successful management of the disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: To understand the diversity in the Phloeospora maculans, a combination of conventional (morphological, cultural and pathological) and molecular (ISSR markers) approaches were employed to discern the variability in 27 isolates collected from Srinagar, Bandipora, and Baramulla districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The studies revealed a high level of variability in the pathogen. Based on the morpho-cultural and pathological studies, the pathogen isolates were grouped into different categories based on colony growth, texture, margin and colour besides changes in colour of medium, incubation period, leaf area infected, etc.A high level of polymorphism was observed in different isolates of P. maculans using ISSR markers, which indicated that these markers are suitable for studying the genetic diversity in this pathogen. All the isolates (27) of P. maculans were clustered into two groups or populations as indicated by mean delta K value. Analysis of molecular variance revealed the low genetic variation among the populations (1.08%) and a high level of genetic variation within the populations (98.91%). Fst value was found to be 0.01 indicating smaller amount of genetic differentiation between the populations against calculated P-value of 0.29. CONCLUSION: A high level of diversity based on morphological, cultural, pathological and molecular levels was observed in Phloeospora maculans collected from various districts of Kashmir valley, which indicates that the study of population structure is necessary for successful management of the disease.

Promising applications of cold plasma for microbial safety, chemical decontamination and quality enhancement in fruits.

Consumers' demand is increasing for safe foods without impairing the phytochemical and sensory quality. In turn, it has increased research interest in the exploration of innovative food processing technologies. Cold plasma technology is getting popularity now days owing to its high efficacy in decontamination of microbes in fruit and fruit-based products. As a on-thermal approach, plasma processing maintains the quality of fruits and minimizes the thermal effects on nutritional properties. Cold plasma is also exploited for inactivating enzymes and degrading pesticides as both are directly related with quality loss and presently are most important concerns in fresh produce industry. The present review covers the influence of cold plasma technology on reducing microbial risks and enhancing the quality attributes in fruits.

Effects of transgenic expression of dopamine beta hydroxylase (Dbh) gene on blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is the most widely used animal model of essential hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. Catecholamines play an important role in the pathogenesis of both essential hypertension in humans and in the SHR. Recently, we obtained evidence that the SHR harbors a variant in the gene for dopamine beta hydroxylase (Dbh) that is associated with reduced adrenal expression of Dbh mRNA and reduced DBH enzymatic activity which correlated negatively with blood pressure. In the current study, we used a transgenic experiment to test the hypothesis that reduced Dbh expression predisposes the SHR to hypertension and that augmentation of Dbh expression would reduce blood pressure. We derived 2 new transgenic SHR-Dbh lines expressing Dbh cDNA under control of the Brown Norway (BN) wild type promoter. We found modestly increased adrenal expression of Dbh in transgenic rats versus SHR non-transgenic controls that was associated with reduced adrenal levels of dopamine and increased plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. The observed changes in catecholamine metabolism were associated with increased blood pressure and left ventricular mass in both transgenic lines. We did not observe any consistent changes in brainstem levels of catecholamines or of mRNA levels of Dbh in the transgenic strains. Contrary to our initial expections, these findings are consistent with the possibility that genetically determined decreases in adrenal expression and activity of DBH do not represent primary determinants of increased blood pressure in the SHR model.

Chronic kidney disease in Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome.

Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is characterized by either absence or abnormalities of the mullerian structures. It is a rare disorder, resulting in complete or partial agenesis of the uterus and cervix and primary amenorrhea. It may rarely be associated with anomalies of the urinary tract, ovaries and skeleton. Renal failure secondary to chronic tubulo-interstitial disease has been reported. We report a case of MRKH syndrome presenting late with chronic kidney disease.

A rapid technique for determination of nitrate and nitric acid by acid reduction and diazotization at elevated temperature.

A rapid technique for determination of nitrate by acid reduction and diazotization at elevated temperature has been standardized. The technique is based on quantitative diazotization of sulfanilamide by nitrate on incubation in boiling water bath for 3, 5 or 10 min in presence of high concentration of HCl, ca. 64.5%. The diazotized sulfanilamide is coupled at room temperature to N-1-(naphthyl)-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride, and the chromophore evaluated spectrophotometrically at 540 nm. The technique provides linear estimate of nitrate over the test range of 0.5 through 10 microg N mL(-1) sample with all test incubation time periods using alkali nitrate and nitric acid as sources of nitrate anion. Urea treatment enables selective determination of nitrate in presence of nitrite with overall 99+/-1% recovery, and without affecting nitrate determination (P>0.1) or its regression coefficient. The technique has obvious advantages over metal-reduction technique. It is simple, rapid, selective in presence of nitrite, and an inexpensive method for routine determination of nitrate with detection range 0.5-10 microg N mL(-1) sample. Besides, the technique provides opportunity to detect nitric acid as low as 35 microM even in presence of other acids.

A new assembly and technique for testing insecticides.

A new design of insecticide testing assembly has been devised that is highly versatile in testing the efficacy, potency and interaction of insecticides and other test chemicals. The merits of the assembly and technique have been explained.

Misexpression of noggin leads to septal defects in the outflow tract of the chick heart.

BMP-2 and BMP-4 are known to be involved in the early events which specify the cardiac lineage. Their later patterns of expression in the developing mouse and chick heart, in the myocardium overlying the atrioventricular canal (AV) and outflow tract (OFT) cushions, also suggest that they may play a role in valvoseptal development. In this study, we have used a recombinant retrovirus expressing noggin to inhibit the function of BMP-2/4 in the developing chick heart. This procedure resulted in abnormal development of the OFT and the ventricular septum. A spectrum of abnormalities was seen ranging from common arterial trunk to double outlet right ventricle. In hearts infected with noggin virus, where the neural crest cells have been labelled, the results show that BMP-2/4 function is required for the migration of neural crest cells into the developing OFT to form the aortopulmonary septum. Prior to septation, misexpression of noggin also leads to a decrease in the number of proliferating mesenchymal cells within the proximal cushions of the outflow tract. These results suggest that BMP-2/4 function may mediate several key events during cardiac development.

Nephrotic syndrome associated with transitional cell carcinoma of urinary bladder.

A 50-year-old male presented with nephrotic syndrome associated with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Renal biopsy was suggestive of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The proteinuria disappeared 4 weeks after the removal of tumour. This is the second reported case of association between nephrotic syndrome and transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Pneumadin: a new lung peptide which triggers antidiuresis.

Normal mammalian lungs, including human fetal lungs, contain significant amounts of a decapeptide which releases arginine-vasopressin from the neurophypophysis and therefore has antidiuretic activity. The rat peptide is: Tyr-Gly-Glu-Pro-Lys-Leu-Asp-Ala-Gly-Val-NH2. The peptide from human fetal lungs has Ala instead of Tyr. It may be a normal regulatory substance and its role in the pathogenesis of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis associated with lung diseases merits investigation. In view of its source and action, the antidiuretic lung peptide may be called Pneumadin.