Seeing the unseen: a trifoliate (MYB117) mutant allele fortifies folate and carotenoids in tomato fruits.

In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), mutations in the gene encoding the R2R3-MYB117 transcription factor elicit trifoliate leaves and initiate the formation of axillary meristems; however, their effects on fruit ripening remain unexplored. The fruits of a new trifoliate (tf) mutant (tf-5) were firmer and had higher °Brix values and higher folate and carotenoid contents. The transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome profiling of tf-5 reflected a broad-spectrum change in cellular homeostasis.

Evaluation of Interleukin 6(Il-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (Tnf-α) and Paraoxonase 1(Pon 1) in Obese and Non-Obese Metabolic Syndrome.

Unlabelled: Metabolic syndrome is a multiplex of the risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease and it reflects the clustering of multiple risk factors resulting from obesity and insulin resistance. Despite its predominance in obese individuals, MS does occur in non-obese individuals. Many individuals characterized as normal weight as per their body mass index (BMI), have increased visceral adiposity thereby leading to an unfavorable inflammatory cytokine profile and altered PON levels.

A randomized open label parallel group pilot study to evaluate efficacy of Ayurveda interventions in the management of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 patients-experiences of a Lucknow based level 2 hospital of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: SARS--CoV-2 has emerged as a global threat since its onset in December 2019. India has also been severely affected by the dreadful Corona Virus and is currently battling one of the worst pandemics of history. WHO and the world medical fraternity are putting their efforts to materialize a treatment or vaccine for this novel virus.

Topical vs Peribulbar Anesthesia: Comparison of Anterior Chamber Depth and the Resultant Visual Outcome After Phacoemulsification.

Purpose: To compare anterior chamber depth and postoperative visual outcome in patients undergoing phacoemulsification under topical vs peribulbar anesthesia.

Materials And Methods: Prospective, randomized, comparative observational study.Sample size: 110 eyes with 55 eyes each.

Pre-bypass levosimendan in ventricular dysfunction-effect on right ventricle.

Background: Levosimendan is an effective calcium sensitizer with complementary mechanisms of action: calcium sensitization and opening of adenosine triphosphate-dependent potassium channels, both on the sarcolemma of the smooth muscle cells in the vasculature and on the mitochondria of cardiomyocytes. Levosimendan has a long-acting metabolite with a half-life of approximately 80 h. There have been a few small studies on this drug regarding right ventricular function.

Evaluation of serum Glutathione-S Transferase-Alpha as a Biomarker of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy.

Objective: To evaluate if serum Glutathione-S Transferase-Alpha (GSTA) can be used as a biomarker of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (IHCP).

Methods: 45 pregnant women with IHCP and 45 age and weight matched pregnant women as controls were enrolled and liver function tests including serum GSTA were measured. All cases and controls were followed for their maternal and foetal outcomes till delivery.

Contribution of point sources and non-point sources to nutrient and carbon loads and their influence on the trophic status of the Ganga River at Varanasi, India.

To determine the possible contributions of point and non-point sources to carbon and nutrient loading in the Ganga River, we analyzed N, P, and organic carbon (OC) in the atmospheric deposits, surface runoff, and in the river along a 37-km stretch from 2013 to 2015. We also assessed the trophic status of the river as influenced by such sources of nutrient input. Although the river N, P, and productivity showed a declining trend with increasing discharge, runoff DOC and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) increased by 88.

Antiplasmodial potential and quantification of aloin and aloe-emodin in Aloe vera collected from different climatic regions of India.

Background: In this study, Aloe vera samples were collected from different climatic regions of India. Quantitative HPTLC (high performance thin layer chromatography) analysis of important anthraquinones aloin and aloe-emodin and antiplasmodial activity of crude aqueous extracts was done to estimate the effects of these constituents on antiplasmodial potential of the plant.

Methods: HPTLC system equipped with a sample applicator Linomat V with CAMAG sample syringe, twin rough plate development chamber (20 x 10 cm), TLC Scanner 3 and integration software WINCATS 1.

Water Quality Interaction with Alkaline Phosphatase in the Ganga River: Implications for River Health.

Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus inputs through atmospheric deposition, surface runoff and point sources were measured in the Ganga River along a gradient of increasing human pressure. Productivity variables (chlorophyll a, gross primary productivity, biogenic silica and autotrophic index) and heterotrophy (respiration, substrate induced respiration, biological oxygen demand and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) showed positive relationships with these inputs. Alkaline phosphatase (AP), however, showed an opposite trend.

Effect of climate change on phytochemical diversity, total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.

Background: The aim of the present study was to analyse the effect of climate change on phytochemicals, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant potential of methanolic extracts of Aloe vera collected from different climatic zones of the India.

Methods: Crude methanolic extracts of A. vera from the different states of India were screened for presence of various phytochemicals, total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity.

Spatial and seasonal influences on culturable endophytic mycobiota associated with different tissues of Eugenia jambolana Lam. and their antibacterial activity against MDR strains.

Background: Present study focuses on diversity and distribution analysis of endophytic fungi associated with different tissues of Eugenia jambolana. The influence of season and geographical location on diversity and distribution of endophytic fungi has been analyzed. Antibacterial activity of isolated fungal species has also been investigated against MDR bacterial strains.

Dehydration-responsive miRNAs in foxtail millet: genome-wide identification, characterization and expression profiling.

A set of novel and known dehydration-responsive miRNAs have been identified in foxtail millet. These findings provide new insights into understanding the functional role of miRNAs and their respective targets in regulating plant response to dehydration stress. MicroRNAs perform significant regulatory roles in growth, development and stress response of plants.

In vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of endophytic fungi isolated from Eugenia jambolana Lam.

Objective: To elucidate the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) of ethyl acetate extracts of endophytic fungi isolated from Eugenia jambolana by three different antioxidant assays.

Methods: Twenty one different endophytic fungal extracts were screened for presence of various phytochemicals, TPC and in vitro antioxidant activity. TPC was tested by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent based assay.

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the rib masquerading as a giant chest wall tumor in a teenage girl: an unusual presentation.

Chondrosarcoma of the chest wall is a rare primary neoplasm found to occur in elderly men. Patients present with an enlarging, painful, anterior chest wall mass arising from either the vicinity of the costochondral junction or the sternum. Treatment includes wide resection with appropriate chest wall reconstruction.

High uptake of HIV testing in a cohort of male injection drug users in Delhi, India: prevalence and correlates of HIV infection.

We report baseline findings from a longitudinal cohort study to examine HIV incidence, high-risk injection and sexual behaviors of 3,792 male injection drug users (IDUs) in Delhi. The majority (95.4 %) accepted HIV testing; HIV prevalence was 21.

Role of leptin and adiponectin in insulin resistance.

Adipose tissue is a major source of energy for the human body. It is also a source of major adipocytokines adiponectin and leptin. Insulin resistance is a condition in which insulin action is impaired in adipose tissue and is more strongly linked to intra-abdominal fat than to fat in other depots.

Correlation of adiponectin and leptin with insulin resistance: a pilot study in healthy north Indian population.

The increasing incidence of obesity, leading to metabolic complications is now recognized as a major public-health problem. Insulin resistance is a central abnormality of the metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X, originally hypothesized by Reaven Insulin resistance is more strongly linked to intra abdominal fat than to fat in other depots. Adipose tissue secretes numerous factors (adipokines) known to markedly influence lipid and glucose/insulin metabolism, oxidative stress, and cardiovascular integrity.

Correlation of creatinine with TSH levels in overt hypothyroidism - a requirement for monitoring of renal function in hypothyroid patients?

Objective: Renal function is influenced by thyroid status. Therefore, this study was done to determine the relationship between renal function and different degrees of thyroid dysfunction.

Design And Methods: Thyroid and kidney function tests were analyzed in 47 patients with overt (TSH ≥ 10.

Role of hormones in acne vulgaris.

Objective: To elucidate the role of endogenous hormones like testosterone, progesterone, estrogen, insulin-like growth factor, insulin and glucocorticoids in a common skin condition acne vulgaris.

Design And Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature and abstracted the data for every published cut point.

Results: We screened more than 1000 studies and found that serum testosterone, progesterone, glucocorticoids, insulin and insulin-like growth factors are increased in patients with acne vulgaris and serum estrogen levels are low in patients.

Cytokines in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as the occurrence of three or more consecutive miscarriages prior to 20 weeks gestation. Exaggerated maternal immune response to fetal antigens has been proposed to be one of the mechanisms underlying recurrent pregnancy loss.

Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted from the websites of the National Library of Medicine (http://www.

MCP-1: chemoattractant with a role beyond immunity: a review.

Background: Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP)-1, a potent monocyte attractant, is a member of the CC chemokine subfamily. MCP-1 exerts its effects through binding to G-protein-coupled receptors on the surface of leukocytes targeted for activation and migration. Role of MCP-1 and its receptor CCR2 in monocyte recruitment during infection or under other inflammatory conditions is well known.