Alien genome mobilization and fixation utilizing an apomixis mediated genome addition (AMGA) strategy in Pennisetum to improve domestication traits of P. squamulatum.

KEY MESSAGE: An approach to release 'frozen' variability in apomictic species using sexuality of another species, eventually its utilization in crop improvement and de-novo domestication of crop wild relatives is presented. Pennisetum squamulatum, a secondary gene pool species of pearl millet (P. glaucum), harbours many desirable traits. However, it was neither utilized to improve pearl millet fodder traits nor improvement of its own domestication traits was attempted, due to the complexities of genomes and apomictic reproduction. To overcome this, we followed an Apomixis Mediated Genome Addition (AMGA) strategy and utilized the contrasting reproductive capacities (sexuality and apomixis) of both the species to access the otherwise un-available variability embedded in P. squamulatum. Segregating population of interspecific hybrids exhibited significant variability and heterosis for desired morphological, agronomical, and nutritional traits. Elite apomictic and perennial hybrids were evaluated in breeding trials, and eventually a novel grass cultivar was released for commercial cultivation in India. The performance of newly developed cultivar was superior to other adapted perennial grasses of arid and semi-arid rangelands. Through AMGA, the sexuality of one species was successfully utilized to 'release' the 'frozen' variability embedded in another species. Subsequently, the hybrids representing desirable trait combinations were again 'fixed' utilizing the apomixis alleles from the male parent in a back-and-forth apomixis-sexual-apomixis selection cycle. This study also demonstrated the potential of AMGA to improve crop relatives through genomes introgression as well as de novo domestication of new crops from wild species.

Fluorodeoxyglucose activity associated with a cosmetic poly-L-lactide filler: a potential confounder on positron emission tomography and computed tomography.

Injectable cosmetic fillers are increasingly popular, but are not often considered as a cause of abnormal findings on imaging. We present a case of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) filler associated with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake, which had the potential to interfere with staging of a squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral tongue. We characterise the FDG-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) properties of a PLLA dermal filler, Sculptra® (Aventis), and highlight its potentially confounding appearance in the staging scans of oncological patients, particularly those with oral tumours.

Induced polyploidization in Brassica campestris L. (Brassicaceae).

Present experimental design has been made up to obtain crop with higher ploidy level via synthetic polyploidization. Since ploidy manipulation is generally associated with the obtainment of some increased enviable traits of the crop and also provides them greater adaptability to unfavorable or harsh circumstances as compared to its diploids counterparts. Thus, herein present research autotetraploids of Brassica campestris L. have been lucratively achieved by the application of colchicine. Two methods of treatment were utilized i.e. seed treatment and seedling treatment. No polyploidy could be obtained through seed treatment while seedling treatment responded well towards polyploidy. However, the status of autotetraploidy has been confirmed by cytomorphological investigations of treated plants as against its diploids counterparts. For the purpose, morphological parameters such as increased stomata size, pollen diameter, flower size, reproductive organs whereas reduction in plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, stomata frequency, number of flowers/inflorescence etc. were appraised. Further, cytological observations were made that had clearly revealed the doubling of genome in the autotetraploids as compared to diploids. Meanwhile, pollen fertility and size of pollen grains were evaluated as well.

A duplicated coxI gene is associated with cytoplasmic male sterility in an alloplasmic Brassica juncea line derived from somatic hybridization with Diplotaxis catholica.

A cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line of Brassica juncea was derived by repeated backcrossing of the somatic hybrid (Diplotaxis catholica + B. juncea) to B. juncea. The new CMS line is comparable to euplasmic lines for almost all characters, except for flowers which bear slender, needle-like anthers with aborted pollen. Detailed Southern analysis revealed two copies of coxI gene in the CMS line. One copy, coxI-1 is similar to the coxI gene of B. juncea, whereas the second copy, coxI-2 is present in a novel rearranged region. Northern analysis with eight mitochondrial gene probes showed altered transcript pattern only for the coxI gene. Two transcripts of 2.0 and 2.4 kb, respectively, were detected in the CMS line. The novel 2.4 kb transcript was present in floral bud tissue but absent in the leaf tissue. In plants where male sterility broke down under high temperature during the later part of the growing season, the 2.4 kb coxI transcript was absent, which suggested its association with the CMS. The two coxI genes from the CMS line showed two amino acid changes in the coding region. The novel coxI gene showed unique repeats in the 5' region suggesting recombination of mitochondrial genomes of the two species. The possible role of the duplicated coxI gene in causing male sterility is discussed.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and ethnicity.

Despite the large volume of research dedicated to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the influence of ethnicity on the condition is still to be adequately addressed. Previous studies have shown differing rates of ADHD between different countries (although this can be affected by the assessment tool used). Cultural environment may affect a child's behaviour, but the differing attitudes of parents, clinicians, and society around the world towards acceptable behaviour may also influence diagnosis. If assessment criteria could be consistently applied across different ethnic groups, the prevalence of ADHD would probably be similar.

An extensive indoor 222Rn/220Rn monitoring in Shillong, India.

The behaviour of ubiquitous radon (222Rn), thoron (220Rn) and their progeny in the indoor atmosphere generally reflects a complex interplay between a number of processes, the most important of which are radioactive alpha-decay, ventilation, attachment to aerosols and deposition on surfaces. The present work involved a long-term (1997-2000) passive monitoring of 222Rn and 220Rn in the indoor environment of Shillong, Meghalaya. The north-east region of India being a zone of high seismicity, the indoor radon and thoron map of the region will provide a better insight and a valuable database for any study related to radon and thoron anomalies.

N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase is not attached to human sperm membranes through the glycosylphosphatidyl inositol (GPI)-anchor.

AIM: The mode of anchorage of N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGA) on human ejaculated sperm was investigated. METHODS: Sperm plasma membrane was prepared by discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation from human sperm. NAGA was solubilized from these membranes by two detergents: octyl-glycoside and triton X-100. In separate studies, the release of the enzyme from the sperm membrane preparation by phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) was also examined. RESULTS: NAGA activity was detected on sperm membranes isolated from human ejaculates. The pattern of the enzyme solubilization by detergents indicated that the enzyme was an integral protein of sperm membrane. NAGA was not released from the sperm membranes by PI-PLC treatment. CONCLUSION: The evidence presented strongly suggests that human sperm membrane bound NAGA is not attached via the GPI anchor.

Growth phase and metal-dependent regulation of the dpsA gene in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942, USA.

The Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 dpsA gene encodes a stress-inducible DNA-binding protein whose transcription increases in the stationary phase. Such transcription is likely under the control of an alternative sigma factor. Our current work indicated that dpsA transcription is also important under metal-ion limitation, because dpsA mRNA levels increased 12-fold under low-iron conditions, and that dpsA function is essential for growth under iron-limiting conditions. Promoter activity of the dpsA-promoter-lacZ reporter gene constructs implied that a region of dyad symmetry centered 28 nucleotides from the transcription start is required for metal-dependent repression, as judged by the level of lacZ induction following treatment of cultures with the chelator 2,2'-dipyridyl. This potential operator sequence is distinct from the site recognized by the cyanobacterial Fur repressor homologue. No other nutrient stresses (nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus) yielded the high level of induction seen following chelator treatment. These studies suggest that there may be more than one class of metal-dependent repressor in cyanobacteria.

Clinical psychometry and P3 in patients on phenytoin monotherapy.

To study the cognitive effects of diphenylhydantoin (PTH), 17 patients of simple partial or generalised tonic clonic seizure, who were on PTH monotherapy for at least 6 months were included. None of them had a seizure in last one month and their CT scans were normal. Serum PTH levels of these patients were in the therapeutic range (10.2-17.7 micrograms/ml). The clinical signs of PTH toxicity in the form of gingival hyperplasia and cerebellar ataxia were present in 1 patient only. In 3 patients memory quotient (MQ) and Benton visual retention test (BVRT) scores were marginally abnormal but the group difference in the clinical psychometric tests were not significant. P3 latency was also normal in all the patients. In the therapeutic range, PTH does not seem to produce significant cognitive dysfunction.

Cloning and functional analysis of the pmmA gene encoding phosphomannomutase from the photosynthetic prokaryote Prochlorothrix hollandica.

The pmmA gene encoding a bifunctional phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase (PMM/PGM) from the photosynthetic prokaryote, Prochlorothrix hollandica has been cloned and sequenced. The gene encodes a 51827 Da polypeptide 48% identical to the PMM of Azospirillum brasilense, 37% identical to the PGMs of pathogenic Neisseria sp. and 37% identical to the bifunctional AlgC PGM/PMM of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The pmmA gene encodes an enzyme having both PGM and PMM activities as judged by both enzyme assays and complementation analysis in which the cloned gene partially corrected the pgm-1 mutation of Escherichia coli.

Complications of treadmill testing.

Complications occurring in 2,400 treadmill tests are reported, out of which 2107 (87.8%) were on males and 292 (12.2%) on females. The total number of patients with complications was 29 (1.2%) and the types were: acute MI in 2, ventricular tachycardia (sustained) in 3, nonsustained in 7 with ventricular couplets in 3 patients, atrial tachyarrhythmias in four of AVNRT in 2, EAT in 2, SVT with abberancy in 1, SVT (undifferentiated) in 3, bradyarrhythmias in form of sinus bradycardia in 4, hypotension in 4 and AV block in 2. There were no deaths. Only 8 (0.33%) patients required treatment-2 each of acute MI, sustained VT, AVNRT and hypotension, though only 4 of them were hospitalised (2 each of acute MI and VT) and subsequently discharged. Highest incidence of complications was seen in post MI patients (2.01%) followed by those with typical anginal pain (1.9%) and they had more serious problems in form of MI and sustained VT. 55.17% patients with complications were positive for provocative ischaemia as compared to 22.75% positivity in the total. Although 14 (38.2%) patients developed complications at workload of 4-6 METS but 2 achieved load of 10 METS also. Complications were seen mostly during exercise and also during recovery only.

Plasma lipoproteins in cortical and lacunar infarction.

Plasma lipoproteins in 30 patients of cortical infarction and 20 patients of lacunar infarction were estimated to study the relation of plasma lipids to the risk for ischaemic stroke by comparing clinical and biochemical characteristics of survivors. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins in both the groups. However patients with lacunar infarction had higher concentrations of high density lipoproteins as compared to patients with cortical infarction. These data suggest that previously demonstrated differences in HDL concentration between patients with ischaemic stroke and control subjects without stroke may be true for patients with cortical infarction but not for patients of lacunar infarction.

The concept of aging in ayurveda.

The present study reveals that the process of aging was elaborately described in Ayurveda. In order to prology the life span and to promote longevity a separate discipline called Rasayana Tantra was also developed. The sailent feature of this discipline are described in this article.

A study of aluminium phosphide poisoning with special reference to its spot diagnosis by silver nitrate test.

A total of 45 cases of Aluminium phosphide poisoning were studied from December 1989 to November 1990. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) test was positive in gastric aspirate in all cases (100%) who took fresh tablets and negative in those who took exposed tablets. The test was also positive in breath but had a lower sensitivity. Majority of patients revealed ECG abnormalities.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship studies on some anticancerous, antiviral and cytostatic agents.

QSAR studies using molecular connectivity and van der Waal volume have been performed on a new series of hydroxyguanidine derivatives and a series of isoindolediones. Regression analysis has shown that anticancer and antiviral activity of hydroxyguanidines as well as cytostatic activity of isoindolediones correlate well with both the structural parameters.

Quantitative structure activity relationship studies on 3-triazines using van der Waal volume and molecular connectivity index.

QSAR studies have been performed on the homologues of 3-triazines, using molecular connectivity index and van der Waal volume as structural parameters. The regression analysis has shown good correlation between antitumour activity and the two structural parameters.