Method validation and simultaneous quantification of eight organochlorines/organophosphates in apple by gas chromatography.

Background: The increasing and extensive use of pesticides worldwide has resulted in a significant loss of non-target populations particularly humans by direct or indirect exposures. Also, various methods have been used for the estimation of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from recent past which are either tedious, time consuming or expensive. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the pesticide residues from apple by simple and novel validated gas chromatography.

Epibrassinolide and proline alleviate the photosynthetic and yield inhibition under salt stress by acting on antioxidant system in mustard.

Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stress factors that hampers plant growth and productivity by limiting photosynthesis and other related metabolic processes. In this study we investigated whether treatment with proline and/or 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) to two contrasting cultivars of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss viz.

FSH β-subunit mutations in two sisters: the first report from the Indian sub-continent and review of previous cases.

Isolated FSH deficiency due to mutations in the gene for β-subunit of FSH is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disease of which only eleven cases have been reported so far. The clinical features include absent breast development and primary amenorrhea in females and azoospermia with normal testosterone levels in males. In this study we report two Kashmiri sisters born to native Kashmiri consanguineous parents with failure of onset of puberty.

Xanthine oxidase inhibitors from an endophytic fungus Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae.

Two new compounds, lasdiplactone (1) and lasdiploic acid (2) and one known compound 3 were isolated from the chloroform extract of cell free filtrate of the endophytic fungus Lasiosdiplodia pseudotheobromae. The structures of new compounds were determined by interplay of spectral techniques (IR, mass, H NMR, C NMR, DEPT, and 2D NMR). The absolute configuration at C-4 position of 1 was established as S using a process similar to modified Mosher's method.

Adenine type and diphenyl urea derived cytokinins improve the postharvest performance of L. cut scapes.

An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of various adenine derived cytokinins (kinetin and 6-benzylaminopurine) and diphenyl urea cytokinin (thidiazuron) on the postharvest performance of cut scapes of . Flower scapes were harvested with the oldest bud at '1 day before anthesis stage', brought to laboratory under water, cut to a uniform length of 35 cm, divided into three sets viz., kinetin (KIN), 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ).

Renal hydatid cyst presenting as an intrarenal-pelvic mass.

Intra-renal-pelvic hydatid cyst is a rare manifestation of renal hydatid disease, as most of the renal hydatid cysts are based in the renal cortex. We present and discuss the clinical and radiological findings of a 55-year-old woman who presented with left flank pain, frequency, dysuria, and hydatiduria. She was thoroughly investigated radiologically, and the diagnosis of intra-renal-pelvic hydatid cyst was confirmed surgically.

Anterior mediastinal neurofibrosarcoma-a rare manifestation of neurofibromatosis type-1.

Anterior mediastinal neurofibroma and neurofibrosarcoma form a rare class of tumors seen in patients of neurofibromatosis. We describe a case of anterior mediastinal neurofibrosarcoma in a known case of neurofibromatosis type-1.

Development of an efficient in vitro mutagenesis protocol for genetic improvement of saffron ( L.).

Saffron ( L) is a triploid (2n = 3x = 24), sterile geophyte which can only be propagated by means of underground vegetative corms. Since corm multiplication does not induce genome variations, therefore, the entire saffron population is expected to have a similar genetic makeup. Keeping in view the economic importance of the plant and the factors responsible for its low yield, the present investigation has been undertaken to establish an in vitro ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis protocol followed by characterization of the induced variability in the advanced generations.

Recurrent Unexplained Cystitis Due to an Ingested Foreign Body-An Extremely Rare Case.

We present the images of a 4-year-old male child with history of recurrent unexplained urinary tract infections which was found to be due to an ingested wooden foreign body which had perforated the small bowel into the posterior bladder wall. Such cases are very rare, usually due to domestic abuse or in patients with psychiatric illnesses. The adults usually report early but in children these cases go un-noticed.

Soluble Aβ suppresses TNF-α and activates NLRP3 inflammasome in THP-1 macrophages.

Deposition of amyloid-β in Alzheimer's disease is accompanied by chronic inflammation, which involves raised levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. However, the role of Aβ- in the inflammatory process, before it gets deposited into aggregates has not been investigated thoroughly. Through this study, we are illustrating the dual role of soluble Aβ- (sAβ) in activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and simultaneously inhibiting TNF-α secretion.

Evaluation of intracranial tuberculomas using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI).

Objective:: The present study was aimed to evaluate patients of suspected intracranial tuberculomas with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI).

Methods:: The present study evaluated 116 patients known or suspected of having central nervous system tuberculosis with advanced MRI techniques comprising of DWI, MRS and SWI in addition to the conventional MRI.

Results:: Apparent diffusion coefficient value of tuberculomas was not significantly different (p > 0.

DDB2 represses ovarian cancer cell dedifferentiation by suppressing ALDH1A1.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), representing the root of many solid tumors including ovarian cancer, have been implicated in disease recurrence, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Our previous study has demonstrated that the CSC subpopulation in ovarian cancer can be limited by DNA damage-binding protein 2 (DDB2). Here, we demonstrated that the ovarian CSC subpopulation can be maintained via cancer cell dedifferentiation, and DDB2 is able to suppress this non-CSC-to-CSC conversion by repression of ALDH1A1 transcription.

Spinal angiolipoma mimicking a schwannoma: A case report.

Background: Angiolipomas rarely involve the spinal canal/foramina, and may prove difficult to differentiate from schwannomas.

Case Description: Here we report a patient who presented with a spinal angiolipoma contributing to spinal cord and neural foraminal compression that was difficult to differentiate from a schwannoma.

Conclusion: Spinal angiolipomas rarely involve the spinal canal/foramina.

Murrayanine Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Inflammation and Protects Mice from Sepsis-associated Organ Failure.

Murrayanine (MK) is the main compound isolated from Murraya koenigii, an aromatic plant belonging to the Rutaceae family, also known as curry leaf tree. Murrayanine was reported to possess potential antioxidant, antimycobacterial and antifungal effects. However, its effect in sepsis remains unclear.

Protective role of nimbolide against chemotherapeutic drug hydroxyurea induced genetic and oxidative damage in an animal model.

Nimbolide is known to be an antioxidant found in neem plant. Hydroxyurea is a medication frequently used in sickle-cell disease, different cancers and HIV infection. The present study aimed to evaluate the adverse effect of HU and possible amelioration by nimbolide in Wistar rats.

Pediatric Head Injury: A Study of 403 Cases in a Tertiary Care Hospital in a Developing Country.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Falls are the most common type of injury, followed by motor vehicle-related accidents and child abuse.

Aims And Objectives: The aim and objective of this study was to elucidate the various modes of injury, prognostic factors, complications, incidence of various modes of injury, and outcome in TBI in pediatric population.

Depleting ovarian cancer stem cells with calcitriol.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent the root of many solid tumors including ovarian cancer. Eradication of CSCs represents a novel cancer therapeutic strategy. Calcitriol, also known as 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D], is an active metabolite of vitamin D, functioning as a potent steroid hormone.

Mineral oil residues in soil and apple under temperate conditions of Kashmir, India.

The study was undertaken to ascertain the persistence of Orchol-13, a mineral oil used against insect pests of horticultural fruit crops in soil and apple following the dormant and summer applications of 2 and 0.75% respectively. Soil samples were collected during dormant, while as both soil and apple samples were collected during summer season.

Risk assessment, dissipation behavior and persistence of quinalphos in/on green pea by gas chromatography with electron capture detector.

Chemical investigation was carried out to examine the risk assessment, dissipation behavior, persistence, and half-life period of quinalphos in/on green pea fruit by spraying quinalphos at fruiting stage followed by another application after 10-day interval. The samples were extracted by using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method, and the residues of quinalphos were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Herein, we report a novel, accurate, and cost-effective gas chromatography method for the determination of average deposits of quinalphos in/on green pea.

Cardio-hepatic risk assessment by CMR imaging in liver transplant candidates.

Background: The preoperative workup of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients is practically complex given the need for multiple imaging modalities. We recently demonstrated in our proof-of-concept study the value of a one-stop-shop approach using cardiovascular MRI (CMR) to address this complex problem. However, this approach requires further validation in a larger cohort, as detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as cardiovascular risk assessment is critically important in these patients.

Contralateral lumbo-umbilical flap: A versatile technique for volar finger coverage.

Background: While contemplating any difficult soft tissue reconstruction, patient comfort and compliance is of paramount importance. Reconstruction of the volar aspect of fingers and hand by the ipsilateral pedicled flaps (groin flap, abdominal flaps) is demanding as the flap inset is difficult for the surgeon and very uncomfortable for the patient. This often leads to flap complications.

Preparation, characterization and antifungal activity of iron oxide nanoparticles.

Iron oxide nanoparticles with particle size 10-30 nm were prepared by a green approach using tannic acid as reducing and capping agent. These nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), high resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The prepared iron oxide nanoparticles were also evaluated for their antifungal activity against Trichothecium roseum, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus niger.