Recent Advancements and Future Prospects in NBD-Based Fluorescent Chemosensors: Design Strategy, Sensing Mechanism, and Biological Applications.

In recent years, the field of Supramolecular Chemistry has witnessed tremendous progress owing to the development of versatile optical sensors for the detection of harmful biological analytes. Nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) is one such scaffold that has been exploited as fluorescent probes for selective recognition of harmful analytes and their optical imaging in various cell lines including HeLa, PC3, A549, SMMC-7721, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, MFC-7, etc. The NBD-derived molecular probes are majorly synthesized from the chloro derivative of NBD via nucleophilic aromatic substitution. This general NBD moiety ligation method to nucleophiles has been leveraged to develop various derivatives for sensing analytes. NBD-derived probes are extensively used as optical sensors because of remarkable properties like excellent stability, large Stoke's shift, high efficiency and stability, visible excitation, easy use, low cost, and high quantum yield. This article reviewed NBD-based probes for the years 2017-2023 according to the sensing of analyte(s), including cations, anions, thiols, and small molecules like hydrogen sulfide. The sensing mechanism, designing of the probe, plausible binding mechanism, and biological application of chemosensors are summarized. The real-time application of optical sensors has been discussed by various methods, such as paper strips, molecular logic gates, smartphone detection, development of test kits, etc. This article will update the researchers with the in vivo and in vitro biological applicability of NBD-based molecular probes and challenges the research fraternity to design, propose, and develop better chemosensors in the future possessing commercial utility.

Systemic Analysis of Glyphosate Impact on Environment and Human Health.

With a growing global population, agricultural scientists are focusing on crop production management and the creation of new strategies for a higher agricultural output. However, the growth of undesirable plants besides the primary crop poses a significant challenge in agriculture, necessitating the massive application of herbicides to eradicate this problem. Several synthetic herbicides are widely utilized, with glyphosate emerging as a potential molecule for solving this emerging issue; however, it has several environmental and health consequences. Several weed species have evolved resistance to this herbicide, therefore lowering agricultural yield. The persistence of glyphosate residue in the environment, such as in water and soil systems, is due to the misuse of glyphosate in agricultural regions, which causes its percolation into groundwater via the vertical soil profile. As a result, it endangers many nontarget organisms existing in the natural environment, which comprises both soil and water. The current Review aims to provide a systemic analysis of glyphosate, its various effects on the environment, its subsequent impact on human health and animals, which will lead us toward a better understanding of the issues about herbicide usage and aid in managing it wisely, as in the near the future glyphosate market is aiming for a positive forecast until 2035.

Comparison of Different Anthropometric Indicators for Assessment of Nutritional Status Among Adolescent Girls in an Urban Resettlement Colony in New Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background In India, 44.8% of adolescent girls are under-nourished, while about 8%-13% of girls are overweight. Though several studies have been done regarding the nutritional status of adolescent girls over the years, there have been no significant changes. Also, there are several different anthropometric indicators for nutritional status assessment, due to which there are huge variations in the prevalence of malnutrition across different studies. So the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of malnutrition using different anthropometric indicators and compare them. Methods A random sample of 426 girls was taken from Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) of the Centre for Community Medicine (CCM), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered among 386 of them to determine associated factors. Height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were measured for 386 girls, and BMI for age and height for age z scores were calculated using WHO AnthroPlus. Mid-upper arm circumference for age z scores (MUAC for age) were calculated using Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) charts by the CDC for girls aged one year to 20 years. Results It was found in this study that using BMI for age z scores (BAZ), 33.4% of the adolescent girls were malnourished; 18.9% (95% CI 15.1-23.2) being underweight, 10.6% (95% CI: 7.7-14.1) being overweight, and 3.9% (95% CI: 2.2-6.3) were obese. While using BMI solely as an indicator, the prevalence of thinness was 51.8% (95% CI: 46.9-56.9), while that of overweight and obesity was 10.6% (95% CI: 5.7-11.5) and 1.0% (95% CI: 0.2-2.6), respectively. The prevalence of under-nutrition by MUAC for age z scores was 53.4% (95% CI: 48.2-58.4), and that of over-nutrition was 1.8% (95% CI: 1.0-3.7). BMI for age z scores positively and strongly correlated with both MUAC and MUAC for age z scores and had a significant association with both on univariable linear regression. Though there was a negative correlation between BMI for age z scores and height-for-age z scores, it was not significant. Height-for-age z scores, even though positively correlated with MUAC for age z scores, the correlation was not that strong.

Colonoscopic findings in Patients of Portal Hypertension Due to Different Etiologies and their Correlation.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, it is established that portal hypertension also produces vascular changes throughout the colon similar to lesion on Upper GI endoscopy. So we planned this study to see the spectrum and frequency of colonic lesions in patients with portal hypertension due to different etiologies, to assess whether the presence of portal hypertension related colonic lesions correlates with severity of liver disease as indicated by CTP and MELD scores and to study the relationship between upper GI lesions of portal hypertension and colonic lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was done over a period of one year. In this study, 100 patients of portal hypertension due to different etiologies were taken if they met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The frequency of portal hypertension related colonic lesions including rectal varices, rectopathy and portal hypertensive colopathy increases with increase in the severity of liver disease as ascertained by Child-turcotte-Pugh score. Portal hypertension related colonic lesions and hemorrhoids are more frequent in cirrhotic patients with higher MELD score. Rectal varices are more frequent among who had esophageal varices on upper GI endoscopy. There is significant increase in bleeding PR as frequency of hemorrhoids increases, whereas there was not any significant relationship between bleeding PR and rectal varices suggesting that cause of lower GI bleeding in present were haemorrhoids most likly. CONCLUSION: Patients with portal hypertension due to any etiology have significantly higher frequency of colonic lesions as severity of liver disease increases indicated by worsening CTP and MELD scores. Inspite of large number of lower GI manifestations of Portal Hypertension seen in our patients none had significant life threatening lower GI bleeds. So it can be concluded that only upper GI manifestation of Portal Hypertension are clinically significant.

Development and Validation of Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR Assays for Erucic Acid Content in Indian Mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss.].

Brassica juncea L. is the most widely cultivated oilseed crop in Indian subcontinent. Its seeds contain oil with very high concentration of erucic acid (≈50%). Of late, there is increasing emphasis on the development of low erucic acid varieties because of reported association of the consumption of high erucic acid oil with cardiac lipidosis. Erucic acid is synthesized from oleic acid by an elongation process involving two cycles of four sequential steps. Of which, the first step is catalyzed by ß-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) encoded by the fatty acid elongase 1 (FAE1) gene in Brassica. Mutations in the coding region of the FAE1 lead to the loss of KCS activity and consequently a drastic reduction of erucic acid in the seeds. Molecular markers have been developed on the basis of variation available in the coding or promoter region(s) of the FAE1. However, majority of these markers are not breeder friendly and are rarely used in the breeding programs. Present studies were planned to develop robust kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASPar) assays with high throughput and economics of scale. We first cloned and sequenced FAE1.1 and FAE1.2 from high and low erucic acid (<2%) genotypes of B. juncea (AABB) and its progenitor species, B. rapa (AA) and B. nigra (BB). Sequence comparisons of FAE1.1 and FAE1.2 genes for low and high erucic acid genotypes revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 8 and 3 positions. Of these, three SNPs for FAE1.1 and one SNPs for FAE1.2 produced missense mutations, leading to amino acid modifications and inactivation of KCS enzyme. We used SNPs at positions 735 and 1,476 for genes FAE1.1 and FAE1.2, respectively, to develop KASPar assays. These markers were validated on a collection of diverse genotypes and a segregating backcross progeny. KASPar assays developed in this study will be useful for marker-assisted breeding, as these can track recessive alleles in their heterozygous state with high reproducibility.

Sine Scleroderma.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder of unknown aetiology. A small subset (10%) of patients with limited systemic sclerosis have all other features of the disease without any skin involvement and is known as systemic sclerosis sine scleroderma (ssSSc). Severe Critical Limb Ischaemia is rare in sine scleroderma.The present case showed severe critical limb ischaemia with severe PAH,Esophageal dysmotility,Glomerulonephritis(a rare association) with hypertension. Although skin thickening is considered as a hallmark of systemic sclerosis, there should be a high index of clinical suspicion in patients presenting with possible manifestations of systemic sclerosis without sclerodermatous cutaneous involvement because early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the morbidity and mortality in it.

MEN Type I (Wermer Syndrome).

MEN I inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder leads to hyperplastic/ neoplastic changes in parathyroid, pituitary and endocrine pancreas along with other characteristic tumours. Hyperparathyroidism is the most common manifestation of MEN I. Our case was a female patient aged 42 years who was diagnosed with parathyroid adenoma, coincident with pancreatic neoplasm and adrenal adenoma. Hyperparathyroidism was noted initially and hemiparathyroidectomy was performed. Though adrenal adenoma and pancreatic neoplasm were detected on CECT, patient was symptom free from them and thus steps were taken to treat the chief complaint of presentation which was multiple bone pains. Post-operatively patient's serum Ca levels, serum PTH levels dropped drastically to normal ranges and there was remarkable improvement in complaints of patient. A multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, endocrinologists, oncologists, ENT surgeons and radiologists is pivotal for optimizing patient treatment. Treatment consists of surgery and drug therapy, often in association with radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Monitoring of Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Comparison with Ultrasonography, Lipid Profile, and Body Mass Index.

AIM: The aim of this study was to study the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in monitoring hepatic fat content in cases of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 41 adults (mean age: 39 years, 22 males; 19 females) with NAFLD were included after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee. The baseline clinical (weight, body mass index [BMI]) and biochemical parameters, fatty liver grade on ultrasonography (USG), and hepatic fat signal fraction (FSF) using dual-echo chemical shift imaging and proton density fat fraction on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS-PDFF) were assessed, before and after intervention (dietary and lifestyle changes and oral vitamin E for six months). They were categorized into Group A (good compliance to intervention) and Group B (poor compliance), and the clinical and imaging parameters were compared between them. RESULTS: After intervention, Group A (n = 30) showed significant reduction in BMI (28.35 ± 3.25 to 27.14 ± 3.24 kg/m2; P < 0.001), hepatic FSF (19.30 ± 9.09% to 11.18 ± 7.61%; P < 0.05), and MRS-PDFF (18.79 ± 8.53% to 10.64 ± 6.66%). In Group B (n = 11), there was significant increase in BMI (28.85 ± 2.41 to 29.31 ± 2.57 kg/m2; P < 0.001), hepatic FSF (18.96 ± 9.79% to 21.48 ± 11.80%; P < 0.05), and reduction in high-density lipoproteins (P < 0.05). Although there was good correlation between USG and MRS in quantifying liver fat (r = 0.84-0.87; P < 0.001), USG was unable to detect <5.3% change in hepatic fat. There was poor correlation between lipid profile and MRS-PDFF. Change in body weight significantly correlated with change in hepatic fat content (r = 0.76; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: MRI is useful in accurately quantifying and in monitoring hepatic fat content and is better than clinical and biochemical parameters and USG.

A Study of Clinico-radiological and Socio-demographic Profile of Patients with Stroke in a Terttary Care Hospital of South West Rajasthan.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebrovascular disorders (CVD) are increasing in prevalence and incidence in Indian population. Global burden of disease study shows that of the 9.4 million deaths in India, 619,000 were due to stroke. A matter of concern is that in the last two decades there is a significant increase in prevalence rate of stroke. AIM: To find the demographic characteristics along with clinico-radiological profile and of patients presenting with stroke in a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan. METHODOLOGY: This cross sectional study was conducted for a period of 6 months from Aug 2015 to Jan 2016 in a tertiary care hospital .A sample size of 360 patients with aged >18 years were recruited after obtaining written consent from those who attended the medical OPD or were admitted to the government hospital with the newly diagnosed stroke and confirmed by neuroimaging. RESULT: The mean age of stroke in present study was 60.46 ± 14.84 years. The stroke in the young age group defined as 40 years or less comprised only 6%. Hypertension as a risk factor was present in 52.5% of our patients followed by Dyslipidaemia (25.8%). 79.4% had ischemic stroke and 19.4 % haemorrhagic stroke. Supratentorial lesions were seen in 86.4% patients, infratentorial lesions in only 10% anterior circulation strokes (MCA>ACA) are more common than posterior circulation strokes. Motor and sensory symptoms are common in acute strokes rather than change in consciousness or speech abnormalities. 70.2% patients had moderate disability at the end of 28 days. Early presentation to hospital (<3hrs) is associated with better outcome and less morbidity in a stroke patient.

Bilateral Masseter and Internal Pterygoid Muscle Hypertrophy: A Diagnostic Challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an unusual case of bilateral masseter and pterygoid muscle hypertrophy. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 23-year-old male patient presented with a bilateral, painless swelling of 1 year duration at the parotid areas without improvement after using antibiotics/systemic corticosteroids/non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. His medical history was not significant. The initial differential diagnosis included salivary gland/jaw bone/masseter pathology, but the MRI revealed only an increase in the size of the masseter and pterygoid muscles. The patient was informed of the benign nature of the swelling and was advised to discontinue the use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. CONCLUSION: The bilateral hypertrophy of masseter muscles should be considered in differential diagnosis in cases of unilateral or bilateral swelling of the parotid or lateral mandible area.

An overview of biomass thermochemical conversion technologies in Malaysia.

The rising pressure on both cleaner production and sustainable development have been the main driving force that pushes mankind to seek for alternative greener and sustainable feedstocks for chemical and energy production. The biomass 'waste-to-wealth' concept which convert low value biomass into value-added products which contain high economic potential, have attracted the attentions from both academicians and industry players. With a tropical climate, Malaysia has a rich agricultural sector and dense tropical rainforest, giving rise to abundance of biomass which most of them are underutilized. Hence, the biomass 'waste-to-wealth' conversion through various thermochemical conversion technologies and the prospective challenges towards commercialization in Malaysia are reviewed in this paper. In this paper, a critical review about the maturity status of the four most promising thermochemical conversion routes in Malaysia (i.e. gasification, pyrolysis, liquefaction and hydroprocessing) is given. The current development of thermochemical conversion technologies for biomass conversion in Malaysia is also reviewed and benchmarked against global progress. Besides, the core technical challenges in commercializing these green technologies are highlighted as well. Lastly, the future outlook for successful commercialization of these technologies in Malaysia is included.

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene: A rare complication of plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Malaria, the most important of the parasitic diseases of humans, is transmitted in 108 countries containing 3 billion people and causes nearly 1 million deaths each year. With the re-emergence of malaria various life-threatening complications of malaria have been observed. Unarousable coma/cerebral malaria, severe normochromic, normocytic anemia, renal failure, pulmonary edema/adult respiratory distress syndrome, hypoglycemia, hypotension/shock, bleeding/disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), hemoglobinuria and jaundice are few of the common complications of severe malaria. Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) has been reported as a rare complication of malaria. We report a rare and unique case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria complicated by DIC, severe normocytic normochromic anemia, and SPG.

Isolation and Characterization of a Nitrile-Hydrolysing Bacterium Isoptericola variabilis RGT01.

A nitrile-hydrolysing bacterium, identified as Isoptericola variabilis RGT01, was isolated from industrial effluent through enrichment culture technique using acrylonitrile as the carbon source. Whole cells of this microorganism exhibited a broad range of nitrile-hydrolysing activity as they hydrolysed five aliphatic nitriles (acetonitrile, acrylonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile and valeronitrile), two aromatic nitriles (benzonitrile and m-Tolunitrile) and two arylacetonitriles (4-Methoxyphenyl acetonitrile and phenoxyacetonitrile). The nitrile-hydrolysing activity was inducible in nature and acetonitrile proved to be the most efficient inducer. Minimal salt medium supplemented with 50 mM acetonitrile, an incubation temperature of 30 °C with 2 % v/v inoculum, at 200 rpm and incubation of 48 h were found to be the optimal conditions for maximum production (2.64 ± 0.12 U/mg) of nitrile-hydrolysing activity. This activity was stable at 30 °C as it retained around 86 % activity after 4 h at this temperature, but was thermolabile with a half-life of 120 min and 45 min at 40 °C and 50 °C respectively.

Evaluation of toxicological impact of cartap hydrochloride on some physiological activities of a non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya foveolarum.

The present study was aimed to the evaluation of toxicological impact of insecticide cartap hydrochloride on photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation of a non-heterocystous cyanoprokaryote Leptolyngbya foveolarum isolated from paddy fields of Punjab, India. The microorganism tolerated commercial grade insecticide up to 80 ppm. Lower concentration (20 ppm) of cartap supported good growth with high dry weight of biomass, total protein content, photosynthetic pigments, photosynthesis and respiration compared to untreated control cultures while higher concentrations (40 and 60 ppm) inhibited these parameters in a dose dependent manner. Treatment of the microorganism with 60 ppm cartap lowered the content of photosynthetic pigments with maximum inhibitory effect on phycoerythrin (70% decrease) followed by allophycocyanin (66% decrease). Rates of photosynthesis and respiration were inhibited by 63% and 45%, respectively, while PS-I, II and whole chain activity were decreased by 45%, 67% and 40% respectively, compared to untreated control cultures. Cartap at 60 ppm decreased nitrate and nitrite uptake by 31% and 61%, respectively, whereas uptake of ammonium was slightly increased (18%) in cartap (60 ppm) treated cells. Nitrate and nitrite reductase, and glutamine synthetase activities of the microorganism decreased by 36-50% in 60 ppm cartap. The low levels of growth, photosynthetic pigments and activities of nitrogen assimilating enzymes in cells grown in nitrogen depleted medium supplement with insecticide indicated that insecticide may be used by the organism as a nitrogen source.

Phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria from an organic farm and their influence on the growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.).

Organic farming is gaining popularity all over the world as it avoids the use of synthetic chemicals. Plant production in organic farming mainly depends on nutrient release as a function of mineralization processes in soils. In the present study, efficient phosphate mineralizing bacteria were isolated and their efficacy tested in plant mineral uptake and soil fertility of an organic field. Amongst 12 P-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) isolated from an organic field, two isolates were selected for field inoculation based on their rock phosphate (RP) solubilzing ability, exudation of organic acids, phosphatase and phytase activity and production of indole acetic acid and siderophores. On the basis of biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA sequence analysis, these isolates were identified as Pantoea cypripedii (PSB-3) and Pseudomonas plecoglossicida (PSB-5). These isolates significantly increased yield and total P uptake in maize. Soil analysis showed that available P, organic carbon and soil enzyme activities were significantly increased. Present study results suggested that inoculation of these bacteria has great application potential in improving the crop yield and soil fertility in organic farming.

Anilofos tolerance and its mineralization by the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PUPCCC 64.

This study deals with anilofos tolerance and its mineralization by the common rice field cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PUPCCC 64. The organism tolerated anilofos up to 25 mg L(-1). The herbicide caused inhibitory effects on photosynthetic pigments of the test organism in a dose-dependent manner. The organism exhibited 60, 89, 96, 85 and 79% decrease in chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin, respectively, in 20 mg L(-1) anilofos on day six. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase increased by 1.04 to 1.80 times over control cultures in presence of 20 mg L(-1) anilofos. Glutathione content decreased by 26% while proline content was unaffected by 20 mg L(-1) anilofos. The test organism showed intracellular uptake and metabolized the herbicide. Uptake of herbicide by test organism was fast during initial six hours followed by slow uptake until 120 hours. The organism exhibited maximum anilofos removal at 100 mg protein L(-1), pH 8.0 and 30°C. Its growth in phosphate deficient basal medium in the presence of anilofos (2.5 mg L(-1)) indicated that herbicide was used by the strain PUPCCC 64 as a source of phosphate.

Lipoprotein (a) in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Relation to LDL:HDL ratio and glycemic control.

BACKGROUND: Increased lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] concentrations are predictive of coronary artery disease (CAD). Type 2 diabetes mellitus also leads to dyslipidemia, like elevated triglyceride levels and low HDL levels, which are known risk factors for CAD. This study was designed to investigate the levels of Lp (a) in type 2 diabetic patients and their association with LDL: HDL ratio and glycemic control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 60 patients of type 2 diabetes and 50 age and sex matched controls. The Lp(a) levels in the diabetic group were compared with the control group and the relationship between the Lp(a) levels and LDL: HDL ratio was evaluated. Diabetic group was further divided into three subgroups according to levels of glycated hemoglobin. Lp(a) levels and glycated hemoglobin in controlled and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus were also compared to find out any correlation between them. Statistical analysis was done using the students 't' test and Chi square test. RESULTS: Lp(a) levels were found to be significantly increased in the diabetic group as compared to the control group (P< 0.001). LDL: HDL ratio was also increased in the diabetic group as compared to the control group. Lp(a) levels showed no association with LDL: HDL ratio and degree of glycemic control in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study suggest that Lp(a) levels are increased in type 2 diabetic patients. The elevated Lp(a) levels do not reflect the glycemic status and are also independent of increase in LDL:HDL ratio suggesting different metabolic pathways and the genetic connection for LDL and Lp(a).