Environmental effects on the oxygen consumption rate in juvenile Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskal, 1775).

This study was designed to optimize the culture conditions of juvenile Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775) under laboratory conditions. To this effect, the rate of oxygen consumption was monitored as an index of stress under different temperature, salinity, pH, photoperiod, and urea concentrations. The result obtained after 12 h of exposure suggests the preference of the juvenile E. fuscoguttatus to a temperature range of 15-25 °C and salinity of 30 ppt. Based on this study, temperature was found to be the most lethal as 100% mortality was observed after 6 h in fish exposure to temperatures above the optimal (≥ 30 °C). However, the oxygen consumption rate was similar under the different pH, photoperiod, and urea concentration tested. It was concluded that water temperature was most critical in terms of respiration physiology of the juvenile E. fuscoguttatus given the range and levels of environmental factors tested in this study.

Colour preference and light sensitivity in trilobite larvae of mangrove horseshoe crab, Carcinoscopius rotundicauda (Latreille, 1802).

The trilobite larvae of C. rotundicauda were tested to determine their colour preference and light sensitivity until their first moulting (25 days post hatching) under laboratory conditions. Maximum congregation size of the trilobite larvae was found in the white zone respectively where (n = 12) followed by yellow (n = 8) and orange (n = 8), which showed the larval preference for lighter zones. Morisita's index calculation showed a clumped/aggregated distribution (yellow, blue, orange and white) and uniform/hyper dispersed distribution (green, red and black) for various colours tested. Trilobite larvae showed least preference for brighter regions while tested in the experiment [black; (n = 4) and red; (n = 5)]. Experiments done to determine the light sensitivity of trilobite larvae showed that the larvae had more preference towards ultraviolet lights. The maximum congregation size of 38.8 and 40.7% of the larvae was encountered under ultraviolet light, when the light sources were kept horizontal and vertical, respectively. Overall, results suggested that the trilobite larvae of C. rotundicauda, preferred light source of shorter wavelengths (UV light) and colours of lighter zone (white, yellow, orange), which might be due to their adaptation to their natural habitat for predator avoidance, prey selection and water quality.

A novel Gymnema sylvestre extract stimulates insulin secretion from human islets in vivo and in vitro.

Many plant-based products have been suggested as potential antidiabetic agents, but few have been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in human studies, and little is known of their mechanisms of action. Extracts of Gymnema sylvestre (GS) have been used for the treatment of T2DM in India for centuries. The effects of a novel high molecular weight GS extract, Om Santal Adivasi, (OSA(R)) on plasma insulin, C-peptide and glucose in a small cohort of patients with T2DM are reported here. Oral administration of OSA(R) (1 g/day, 60 days) induced significant increases in circulating insulin and C-peptide, which were associated with significant reductions in fasting and post-prandial blood glucose. In vitro measurements using isolated human islets of Langerhans demonstrated direct stimulatory effects of OSA(R) on insulin secretion from human ß-cells, consistent with an in vivo mode of action through enhancing insulin secretion. These in vivo and in vitro observations suggest that OSA(R) may provide a potential alternative therapy for the hyperglycemia associated with T2DM.

Nonlinear effects in charge stabilized colloidal suspensions.

Molecular-dynamics simulations are used to study the effective interactions in charged stabilized colloidal suspensions. We focus on highly charged macroions in the limit of low salt concentrations. Within this regime, nonlinear corrections to Debye-Hückel (DH) theory have to be considered. For non-bulk-like systems, such as isolated pairs or triples of macroions, we show that nonlinear effects can become relevant, which cannot be described by the charge renormalization concept [S. Alexander, J. Chem. Phys. 80, 5776 (1984)]. For an isolated pair of macroions, we find an almost perfect qualitative agreement between our simulation data and DH theory. However, on a quantitative level, neither DH theory nor the charge renormalization concept can be confirmed in detail. This seems mainly to be related to the fact that for small ion concentrations, microionic layers can strongly overlap, whereas, simultaneously, excluded volume effects are less important. In the case of isolated triples, where we compare between coaxial and triangular geometries, we find attractive corrections to pairwise additivity in the limit of small macroion separations and salt concentrations. These triplet interactions arise if all three microionic layers around the macroions exhibit a significant overlap. In contrast to the case of two isolated colloids, the charge distribution around a macroion in a triple is found to be anisotropic.

A randomized crossover comparison of acebutolol and methyldopa in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.

In a randomized crossover comparison between acebutolol and methyldopa for the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension in 30 patients, acebutolol, a cardioselective beta-one-adrenergic blocker, at 400 to 800 mg daily was found to be significantly better (p less than 0.002) than 500 to 1000 mg methyldopa daily in reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse rate. Patient compliance with therapy was excellent, and there were no side-effects on acebutolol, whereas patients on methyl-dopa reported a significant number of side-effects (p less than 0.002). The potassium-sparing effect due to acebutolol was significant (p less than 0.005) and this has not been reported before. This may be beneficial in diuretic-induced hypokalaemia in the hypertensive patient.

Immunohistochemical co-expression of human papillomavirus type 16/18 transforming (E6) oncoprotein and p53 tumour suppressor gene proteins in oesophageal cancer.

Human papillomaviruses have been widely implicated as important etiologic agents in various squamous cell carcinomas including oesophageal carcinoma. p53 mutant oncoprotein has also been implicated in various tumours. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect the co-expression of HPV and p53 mutant protein in biopsy specimens of patients of cancer oesophagus as well as controls. This analysis revealed a significantly higher immunopositivity (63%) of E6 oncoprotein of HPV 16/18 in carcinoma of the oesophagus. Immunoexpression of E6 oncoprotein of HPV did not alter significantly the degree of differentiation of the tumour. Seventy-seven percent of cases of oesophageal carcinoma showed strong immuno-staining for mutant p53 protein. A higher percentage (89%) of tissues showed immunoexpression of mutant p53 protein in conjunction with E6 oncoprotein of HPV 16/18 indicating a selective degradation of key cellular protein of p53 having regulatory properties which in turn leads to uncontrolled cellular proliferation. Therefore, coexpression of oncoprotein E6 of HPV 16/18 and mutant p53 protein may be considered as a "high risk" factor for progression to oesophageal malignancy.

Effect of extracellular pH and DNFB treatment on the mechanical performance of frog skeletal muscle.

isometric tension and maximum velocity of shortening of frog sartorious and biceps muscles were measured at varying pH and compared with the values obtained for muscles treated with DNFB. Both To and Vmax exhibited increase with increase in pH above neutral pH upto pH 9, and decreased as the pH was decreased up to 5. Muscle treated with DNFB at pH 7 showed about 30% decrement but these too improved at pH 9 to almost 105% and 130% respectively compared to untreated muscle at pH 7. Using the number of short duration tetanic contractions, which reduce To and Vmax by half, as an index for the onset of fatigue, high pH was found to have a positive effect in both normal and DNFB-treated muscle. Thus, the crucial factor for onset of fatigue is not a fall in ATP level but acidification and treatment with high pH Ringer's solution partially annuls the effect of acidosis, arising either naturally or from DNFB treatment. One additional role of creatine kinase activity to that of ATP regeneration is suggested to be the maintenance of neutral pH in the sarcoplasm.

Pioneering efforts to control AIDS. Review: IHO.

PIP: The Indian Health Organisation (IHO) is a nongovernmental organization based in Bombay with more than 12 years experience in HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts. It has attacked ignorance and prejudice via communication efforts. IHO has created a bond with some hospital systems of Bombay. IHO disseminated information about HIV/AIDS in Bombay's red light districts and has bridged the gap between the city's medical establishment and the community most in need. IHO's aggressive street-level fighting in a sector replete with sensitive issues has somewhat isolated it from mainstream national NGOs involved in HIV/AIDS education and control as well as from the medical establishment and potential partners. IHO funds have been reduced, forcing IHO to reduce intervention programs and responses to field demands. It suffers from a high rate of turnover among middle management staff. IHO's chief advantage is its confidence gained over the past 12 years. IHO has clearly delineated the direction it wants to go: care and support programs for persons affected by HIV/AIDS and for commercial sex workers to allow them to quit prostitution, orphan care, and development of training institutions for the education and motivation of medical personnel on HIV/AIDS care and prevention. It plans to build a hospice for AIDS patients and orphans and a training center. Training activities will vary from one-week orientation programs to three-month certificate courses for medical workers, NGOs, and managers from the commercial sector. IHO is prepared to share its experiences in combating HIV/AIDS in Bombay in a team effort. As official and bilateral funding has been decreasing, IHO has targeted industry for funding. Industry has responded, which enables IHO to sustain its core programs and approaches. IHO observations show a decrease in the number of men visiting red-light districts. IHO enjoys a positive relationship with Bombay's media reporting on AIDS.^ieng

Expression of the oligomerization domain of the replication-associated protein (Rep) of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus interferes with DNA accumulation of heterologous geminiviruses.

The minimal DNA binding domain of the replication-associated protein (Rep) of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus was determined by electrophoretic mobility gel shift analysis and co-purification assays. DNA binding activity maps to amino acids 1-160 (Rep-(1-160)) of the Rep protein and overlaps with the protein oligomerization domain. Transient expression of Rep protein (Rep-(1-160)) was found to inhibit homologous viral DNA accumulation by 70-86% in tobacco protoplasts and in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The results obtained showed that expression of N-terminal sequences of Rep protein could efficiently interfere with DNA binding and oligomerization activities during virus infection. Surprisingly, this protein reduced accumulation of the African cassava mosaic virus, Pepper huasteco yellow vein virus and Potato yellow mosaic virus by 22-48%. electrophoretic mobility shift assays and co-purification studies showed that Rep-(1-160) did not bind with high affinity in vitro to the corresponding common region sequences of heterologous geminiviruses. However, Rep-(1-160) formed oligomers with the Rep proteins of the other geminiviruses. These data suggest that the regulation of virus accumulation may involve binding of the Rep to target DNA sequences and to the other Rep molecules during virus replication.

Triploidy induction in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. using pressure, heat and cold shocks.

The results of a study aimed at the identification of treatment optima for triploidy induction in recently fertilised Oreochromis niloticus L. eggs by altering the intensity, duration and timing of application of pressure, heat and cold shocks are reported. Preliminary, but not directly comparable, trials suggested the following treatments to be close to the individual agent optima. Pressure: 8,000 psi 2-min duration applied 9 min after fertilisation (a.f.); heat: 41 °C, 3.5-min duration applied 5 min a.f., cold: 9°C, 30-min duration applied 7 min a.f. In a directly comparable trial in which the eggs of eight different females were separately exposed to the optimum shocks listed above, individual triploid yields were more variable following cold shocks and mean triploid yields were, therefore, higher following pressure and heat shock. These and other results obtained are presented and the light they shed on the timing of the second meiotic division in this species is discussed.

Sequence parameters that determine specificity of binding of the replication-associated protein to its cognate site in two strains of tomato leaf curl virus-New Delhi.

The DNA binding sites for the replication-associated protein (Rep) of two strains of tomato leaf curl virus from New Delhi (ToLCV-Nde) were identified using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). The Rep proteins of the two strains were found to exhibit sequence specificity in recognition of their cognate repeat motifs (iterons) in the origin, despite the fact that they share 91% sequence identity. Using a series of synthetic oligonucleotides as probes in EMSAs, the interaction of Rep protein with its binding site was found to be dependent on number, size, and sequence of the two iterons. Mutations in the sequence of the repeat motifs or alteration in the arrangement of the motifs compromised the ability of Rep protein to bind the DNA sequence and reduced accumulation of viral DNA in protoplasts, suggesting that binding of Rep protein to its cognate iterons is an essential step in virus replication. In addition, a difference in sequence of two base pairs in the binding site of two ToLCV-Nde strains was found to affect DNA binding by the corresponding Rep protein and replication of the virus DNA in protoplasts.

Identification of replication specificity determinants in two strains of tomato leaf curl virus from New Delhi.

We used two strains of tomato leaf curl virus from New Delhi to investigate specificity in replication of their cognate genomes. The strains share 94% sequence identity and are referred to as severe and mild on the basis of symptoms on tomato and tobacco. Replication assays in tobacco protoplasts and plants showed that a single amino acid change, Asn10 to Asp in the N terminus of Rep protein, determines specificity for replication of the two strains based upon its interaction with the origin of replication (ori) sequences. The change of Asp10 to Asn in Rep protein of the mild strain coupled with point mutations at the 3rd and 10th nucleotides of the 13-mer binding site altered its replication ability, resulting in increased levels of virus accumulation. Similarly, changing Asn10 to Asp in Rep protein of the severe strain impaired replication of the virus and altered its severe phenotype in plants. Site-directed mutations made in ori and Asn10 of Rep protein suggested that Asn10 recognizes the third base pair of the putative binding site sequence GGTGTCGGAGTC in the severe strain.

Cowpea mosaic virus: from the presentation of antigenic peptides to the display of active biomaterials.

The potential of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), a plant icosahedral virus, for the presentation of foreign peptides and proteins is reported. The most prominent feature at the virus surface is a region of the smaller of the two coat proteins (S) which has been extensively used for the insertion of foreign peptides. Given the availability of the three-dimensional structure of the native virus and the amenability of foreign peptide-expressing CPMV chimeras to crystallisation, immunological data can be correlated with the conformational state of the foreign insert. The latter is influenced by proteolysis which occurs within the foreign inserts. In an effort to offer an alternative context for peptide expression, extensive exploration of a second region of the S protein is reported with respect to tolerance to small insertions. Moreover, to make CPMV suitable for a wider spectrum of presentation, a technique was developed to allow surface coupling of a peptide which can serve as the anchoring point for a range of proteins. This new approach is also widely applicable for the direct chemical cross-linking of peptides and full-length protein domains to the viral capsid.

Contact depigmentation caused by an azo dye in alta.

Alta, a scarlet-red solution used by some Indian women as a cosmetic to colour their feet, was found to be associated with depigmentation at the site of application. Chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis of 3 brands of alta confirmed the presence of 2 dyes: Crocein Scarlet MOO (CSM) (brilliant crocein) and rhodamine B (tetraethyl rhodamine). Patch testing produced depigmentation at the site of application of alta, CSM and para-phenylenediamine (PPD). Although PPD has been reported to produce leukoderma, azo dyes have not previously been reported as depigmenting agents.