A tomato ethylene-resistant mutant displays altered growth and higher β-carotene levels in fruit.

The mutants resistant to ethylene are helpful in deciphering the role of ethylene in plant development. We isolated an ethylene-resistant tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant by screening for acetylene-resistant (atr-1) seedlings. The atr-1 mutant displayed resistance to kinetin, suggesting attenuation of the ethylene sensing response.

Exploring genetic diversity, population structure, and subgenome differences in the allopolyploid : implications for future breeding and research studies.

Camelina (), an allohexaploid species, is an emerging aviation biofuel crop that has been the focus of resurgent interest in recent decades. To guide future breeding and crop improvement efforts, the community requires a deeper comprehension of subgenome dominance, often noted in allopolyploid species, "alongside an understanding of the genetic diversity" and population structure of material present within breeding programs. We conducted population genetic analyses of a diversity panel, leveraging a new genome, to estimate nucleotide diversity and population structure, and analyzed for patterns of subgenome expression dominance among different organs.

Fulminant Orbital Cellulitis - A Rare Presentation of Endogenous Endophthalmitis.

Background: Endogenous endophthalmitis refers to the intraocular infection resulting via haematogenous spread from the distant foci. Dengue is an important health problem in India with varied ophthalmic manifestations either due to viremia, immunologic phenomenon, or haemorrhagic tendency.

Case: We report an unusual presentation of endogenous endophthalmitis as fulminant orbital cellulitis in a young adult patient having a history of dengue fever.

CRISPR/Cas9 mutants of tomato MICRORNA164 genes uncover their functional specialization in development.

Plant MICRORNA164 (miR164) plays diverse regulatory functions by post-transcriptional repression of certain NAM/ATAF/CUC-domain transcription factors. However, the involvement of miR164 in fleshy fruit development and ripening remains poorly understood. Here, de novo prediction of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) MIR164 genes identified four genes (SlMIR164a-d), of which SlMIR164d has an atypically long pre-miRNA.

Is Required for Floral Organ Identity and Number in Tomato.

MicroRNA172 (miR172) functions as a central regulator of flowering time and flower development by post-transcriptional repression of APETALA2-LIKE transcription factors. In the model crop (tomato), the miR172 family is still poorly annotated and information about the functions of specific members is lacking. Here, de-novo prediction of tomato miR172 coding loci identified seven genes (), that code for four unique species of miR172 (sly-miR172).

Tomato agamous-like6 parthenocarpy is facilitated by ovule integument reprogramming involving the growth regulator KLUH.

Fruit set is established during and soon after fertilization of the ovules inside the quiescent ovary, but the signaling pathways involved remain obscure. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) CRISPR loss-of-function mutant of the transcription factor gene AGAMOUS-like6 (SlAGL6; slagl6CR-sg1) is capable of fertilization-independent setting of normal, yet seedless (parthenocarpic), fruit. To gain insight into the mechanism of fleshy fruit set, in this study, we investigated how slagl6CR-sg1 uncouples fruit set from fertilization.

Effect of rutin on retinal VEGF, TNF-α, aldose reductase, and total antioxidant capacity in diabetic rats: molecular mechanism and ocular pharmacokinetics.

Purpose: The current study was conducted to explore the potential of rutin in preventing sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Wistar albino rats (either sex) weighing 200-225 g were intraperitoneally injected with 45 mg/kg streptozotocin (pH 4.5).

Comparative evaluation of pharmacovigilance regulation of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India and the need for global harmonized practices.

The primary focus of the pharmacovigilance (PV) practice has been on the collection, assessment, and reporting of the adverse drug reactions to medicinal products. Globalization of the pharmaceutical industry has prompted efforts to toward harmonization of PV practices worldwide to enable improved knowledge of medicine's benefit-risk profile and risk communication. Even as PV has evolved over the past decade, there still exist few areas of discordance across global PV practices.

Tuning of SlARF10A dosage by sly-miR160a is critical for auxin-mediated compound leaf and flower development.

miR160 adjusts auxin-mediated development by post-transcriptional regulation of the auxin response factors ARF10/16/17. In tomato, knockdown of miR160 (sly-miR160) suggested that it is required for auxin-driven leaf blade outgrowth, but whether additional developmental events are adjusted by sly-miR160 is not clear. Here, the SlMIR160 genes and the genes of its SlARFs targets were edited by CRISPR/Cas9 resulting in the isolation of loss-of-function mutants.

An atypical presentation of infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

A 64-year-old African-American female presented with nonbloody nipple discharge. Clinical and cytological examination of the discharge was normal. The mammography suggested pleomorphic calcification in the left breast.

Miller Fisher syndrome.

A man aged 30 years presented to the emergency department (ED) with ataxia, areflexia, facial weakness, ophthalmoplegia, extremity weakness and back pain for 4 days. 4 days prior to attending the ED, the patient had suffered from diarrhoea for 2 weeks. The diagnosis of Miller Fisher syndrome was performed on the dual basis of clinical features in addition to an investigations report.

Cardioprotective effects of rutin via alteration in TNF-α, CRP, and BNP levels coupled with antioxidant effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a dreadful complication of diabetes responsible for 80 % mortality in diabetic patients, but unfortunately its pharmacotherapy is still incomplete. Rutin is a naturally occurring flavonoid having a long history of use in nutritional supplements for its action against oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperglycemia, the key players involved in the progression of DCM, but remains unexplored for its role in DCM. This study was conducted to address this lacuna.

Tomato Fruits Show Wide Phenomic Diversity but Fruit Developmental Genes Show Low Genomic Diversity.

Domestication of tomato has resulted in large diversity in fruit phenotypes. An intensive phenotyping of 127 tomato accessions from 20 countries revealed extensive morphological diversity in fruit traits. The diversity in fruit traits clustered the accessions into nine classes and identified certain promising lines having desirable traits pertaining to total soluble salts (TSS), carotenoids, ripening index, weight and shape.

Clinical biomarkers and molecular basis for optimized treatment of diabetic retinopathy: current status and future prospects.

Diabetic retinopathy is a highly specific microvascular complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness worldwide. It is triggered by hyperglycemia which causes increased oxidative stress leading to an adaptive inflammatory assault to the neuroretinal tissue and microvasculature. Prolonged hyperglycemia causes increased polyol pathway flux, increased formation of advanced glycation end-products, abnormal activation of signaling cascades such as activation of protein kinase C (PKC) pathway, increased hexosamine pathway flux, and peripheral nerve damage.

Retinal neuroprotective effects of quercetin in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Quercetin (Qctn), a plant based flavonol, on retinal oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and apoptosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Qctn treatment (25- and 50 mg/kg body weight) was given orally for six months in diabetic rats. Retinal glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] were estimated using commercially available assays, and inflammatory cytokines levels [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] were estimated by ELISA method.

Complex and shifting interactions of phytochromes regulate fruit development in tomato.

Tomato fruit ripening is a complex metabolic process regulated by a genetical hierarchy. A subset of this process is also modulated by light signalling, as mutants encoding negative regulators of phytochrome signal transduction show higher accumulation of carotenoids. In tomato, phytochromes are encoded by a multi-gene family, namely PHYA, PHYB1, PHYB2, PHYE and PHYF; however, their contribution to fruit development and ripening has not been examined.

Effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum (L.) on retinal oxidative stress, and proinflammatory and angiogenic molecular biomarkers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. (fenugreek) in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat retina. Fenugreek (100 and 200 mg/kg body weights) treatment was carried out for 24 weeks and evaluated for inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β] and angiogenic [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and protein kinase C (PKC)-β] molecular biomarkers.

Hesperetin rescues retinal oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and apoptosis in diabetic rats.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of hesperetin (Hsp) on diabetes-induced retinal oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and apoptosis in rats. The Hsp treatment (100 mg/kg body weight) was carried for twenty four weeks in STZ-induced diabetic rats and evaluated for antioxidant (Superoxide dismutase; SOD, Catalase; CAT and glutathione; GSH) enzymes, inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), caspase-3, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and aquaporin-4(AQP4) expression. Histological changes were evaluated by light and transmission electron microscopic (LM and TEM) studies.

Retinoprotective effects of Moringa oleifera via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic mechanisms in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Purpose: The present study was aimed to evaluate the retinoprotective effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Methods: The study was continued for 24 weeks and evaluated for inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α and interleukin [IL]-1β, angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and protein kinase C [PKC]-β) and antioxidant (Glutathione, Superoxide dismutase, and Catalase) parameters. Retinal leakage was checked by Fluorescein angiography (FA) and fundus photographs were evaluated for retinal vessel caliber (arteriolar and venular).

Hesperetin ameliorates hyperglycemia induced retinal vasculopathy via anti-angiogenic effects in experimental diabetic rats.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate vasculoprotective effects of Hesperetin (Hsp) in Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. The study was carried out for a period of 24weeks and evaluated for angiogenic parameters (VEGF and PKC-β), retinal vascular leakage by fluorescein angiography and, vessel (arteriolar and venular) diameters and any morphological abnormality through fundus photographs. Apart from this, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was done to determine capillary basement membrane (BM) thickness.

Calotropis procera root extracts block VEGF-induced angiogenesis: quantitative analysis.

Angiogenesis is controlled by number of growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Plant derived anti-angiogenic molecules acting via VEGF are being investigated for curtailing angiogenesis dependent diseases. In this study, methanolic (CM), n-hexane (CH), ethylacetate (CE) and water (CW) extracts of the roots of Calotropis procera were tested for anti-angiogenic activity.

Green tea prevents hyperglycemia-induced retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Purpose: Our objective was to investigate the effect of green tea (GT) on diabetes-induced retinal oxidative stress and proinflammatory parameters in rats.

Methods: Treatment (200 mg/kg body weight) was carried out for a period of 16 weeks in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and was evaluated for hypoglycemic, antioxidant [reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)] and anti-inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)] activity. Histological changes were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy.

Risk of hepatotoxicity with add-on leflunomide in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Combination of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is increasingly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Hepatotoxicity has been an important safety concern with DMARDs therapy. Though leflunomide (CAS 75706-12-6) has emerged as an effective oral DMARD, its use is associated with hepatotoxicity.

Evaluation of anticataract potential of Triphala in selenite-induced cataract: In vitro and in vivo studies.

Triphala (TP) is composed of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula, and Terminalia belerica. The present study was undertaken to evaluate its anticataract potential in vitro and in vivo in a selenite-induced experimental model of cataract. In vitro enucleated rat lenses were maintained in organ culture containing Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium alone or with the addition of 100μM selenite.

Curcumin prevents experimental diabetic retinopathy in rats through its hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of oral curcumin (1 g/kg body weight of rat) in the prevention and treatment of streptozotocin-induced diabetic retinopathy in Wistar albino rats.

Methods: The treatment was carried out for a period of 16 weeks in diabetic rats and evaluated for hyperglycemic, antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione), and inflammatory parameters (tumor necrosis factor-α, vascular endothelial growth factor). Rat fundus was observed weekly to see any visible changes in the retina, such as tortuosity and dilation of retinal vessels.