Heat-Stress-Induced Changes in Physio-Biochemical Parameters of Mustard Cultivars and Their Role in Heat Stress Tolerance at the Seedling Stage.

In the era of global warming, heat stress, particularly at the seedling stage, is a major problem that affects the production and productivity of crops such as mustard that are grown in cooler climates. Nineteen mustard cultivars were exposed to contrasting temperature regimes-20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C and a variable range of 25-40 °C-and evaluated for changes in physiological and biochemical parameters at the seedling stage to study their role in heat-stress tolerance. Exposure to heat stress showed detrimental effects on seedling growth as revealed by reduced vigor indices, survival percentages, antioxidant activity and proline content. The cultivars were grouped into tolerant, moderately tolerant and susceptible based on the survival percentage and biochemical parameters. All the conventional and three single-zero cultivars were found to be tolerant and moderately tolerant, respectively, while double-zero cultivars were reckoned to be susceptible except for two cultivars. Significant increases in proline content and catalase and peroxidase activities were found associated with thermo-tolerant cultivars. More efficient antioxidant system activity and proline accumulation were noticed in conventional along with three single-zero (PM-21, PM-22, PM-30) and two double-zero (JC-21, JC-33) cultivars that might have provided better protection to them under heat stress than the remaining one single- and nine double-zero cultivars. Tolerant cultivars also resulted in significantly higher values of most of the yield attributing traits. Heat-stress-tolerant cultivars could easily be selected based on the survival percentage, proline and antioxidants at the seedling stage and included as efficient cultivars in breeding programs.

Susceptibility of male reproductive system to bisphenol A, an endocrine disruptor: Updates from epidemiological and experimental evidence.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an omnipresent environmental pollutant. Despite being restrictions in-force for its utilization, it is widely being used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Direct, low-dose, and long-term exposure to BPA is expected when they are used in the packaging of food products and are used as containers for food consumption. Occupationally, workers are typically exposed to BPA at higher levels and for longer periods during the manufacturing process. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor chemical (EDC), that causes male infertility, which has a negative impact on human life from emotional, physical, and societal standpoints. To minimize the use of BPA in numerous consumer products, efforts and regulations are being made. Despite legislative limits in numerous nations, BPA is still found in consumer products. This paper examines BPA's overall male reproductive toxicity, including its impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, hormonal homeostasis, testicular steroidogenesis, sperm parameters, reproductive organs, and antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, this paper highlighted the role of non-monotonic dose-response (NMDR) in BPA exposure, which will help to improve the overall understanding of the harmful effects of BPA on the male reproductive system.

Occupational lead exposure is an independent modulator of hypertension and poor pulmonary function: A cross-sectional comparative study in lead-acid battery recycling workers.

Blood lead level (BLL) is the primary biomarker for lead-exposure monitoring in occupationally exposed workers. We evaluated occupational lead-exposure (OE) impact on cardiopulmonary functions in lead-acid battery recycling unit workers. Seventy-six OE cases and 30 control subjects were enrolled for questionnaire-based socio-demographic, dietary, tobacco usage, and medical history data. Anthropometric measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and pulmonary function tests were performed. Venous blood was collected for BLL, hematological analysis, and biochemical analysis. OE caused a significant increase in BLL, SBP, DBP, and small airways obstruction in lung function tests. It also impaired platelet indices, affected renal and liver biochemical measurements, and promoted oxidative stress and DNA damage. Multilinear regression analysis suggested that BLL affected SBP (ß = 0.314, p = .034) and increased small airways obstruction (FEV1/FVC, ß = -0.37, p = .05; FEV25-75%, ß = -0.351, p = .016). Higher BLL appears to be an independent modulator of hypertension and poor pulmonary function upon occupational lead exposure in lead-acid battery recyclers.

Time- and temperature-dependent changes in cytochrome c oxidase activity and cyanide concentration in excised mice organs and mice cadavers.

Postmortem stability of cyanide biomarkers is often disputed. We assessed the time and temperature-dependent changes in cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activity and cyanide concentration in various organs of mice succumbing to cyanide. Immediately after death, excised mice organs and mice cadavers were stored at room temperature (35°C ± 5°C) or in frozen storage (-20°C ± 2°C). At various times after death, CCO activity and cyanide concentrations were measured in excised mice organs or organs removed from mice cadavers. The study revealed that (i) measuring both the biomarkers in mice cadavers was more reliable compared to excised mice organs, (ii) measuring temporal CCO activity and cyanide concentration in vital organs from mice cadavers (room temperature) was reliable up to 24 h, and (iii) CCO activity in the brain and lungs and cyanide concentration in organs from mice cadavers (frozen) were measurable beyond 21 days. This study will be helpful in postmortem determination of cyanide poisoning.