Global Longitudinal Strain Evaluation In Hypertension With And Without Left Ventricular Hypertrophy By Speckle Tracking Echocardiography

Aim:Assessment of Left ventricular (LV) function in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and in those without LVH using two dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE).Materials and Methods:Hundred hypertensive patients were included in the study. Of these 50 patients with LVH and 50 patients with non LVH and all had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Two-dimensional conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography was done to all patients to assess left ventricle systolic function and global longitudinal strain.Results:There was no significant difference between hypertensive patients with LVH and without LVH regarding age and sex distribution. There was significantly higher septal wall thickness (1.2±0.3cm p= <0.001), Posterior wall thickness (1.3±0.4cm p=<0.001), and left atrium size (3.9±0.5) in hypertensive patients with LVH (P< 0.001) compared to non LVH patients. GLS (Global Longitudinal Strain) was significantly decreased in patients with systemic hypertension with LVH (−17.4 ± 3.03) compared to no LVH (-19.6±4.6) patients (Pvalue =0.005).Conclusion:This study concluded that there is impairment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function detected by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in hypertensive patients, especially if associated with LVH with apparently preserved LVsystolic function

Tenecteplase versus streptokinase thrombolytic therapy in patients with mitral prosthetic valve thrombosis

Objective Prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) is a dreadful complication of mechanical prosthetic valves. Thrombolytic therapy (TT) for PVT is an alternative to surgery and currently making a leading role. This study compares TT with tenecteplase (TNK) and streptokinase (SK) head to head in patients with mitral PVT. Methods In this single center, observational study, patients with mitral PVT diagnosed by clinical data, transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and fluoroscopy were included. After excluding patients with contraindications for thrombolysis, they were randomly assigned to receive either SK or TNK regimen. Patients were monitored for success or failure of TT and for any complications. Results Among 52 episodes (47 patients with 5 recurrences) of mechanical mitral PVT, 40 patients were thrombolyzed with SK and 12 patients were thrombolyzed with TNK. Baseline characteristics including demographic profile, clinical and echocardiographic features, and valve types were not statistically significant between the groups. Complete success rate was 77.5% in SK group and 75% in TNK group (p = 0.88). Partial success rate, failure rate, and major complications were not statistically significant between the two groups. Within 12 h of therapy, TNK showed complete success in 33.3% of patients compared to 15% in SK group (p-value <0.02). Minor bleeding was more common in TNK group. Conclusion Slow infusion of TNK is equally efficacious but more effective than SK in the management of mitral mechanical PVT. 75% to 77.5% of PVT patients completely recovered from TT and it should be the first line therapy where the immediate surgical options were remote.

Protocol for augmented shoot organogenesis in selected variety of soybean [Glycine max L. (Merr.)].

Development of a reproducible, versatile and efficient in vitro plant regeneration system is highly warranted for Indian soybean varieties for their mass multiplication in view of their commercial significance. Accordingly a protocol for direct shoot organogenesis in soybean variety JS 335 has been developed. Using cotyledonary node explants significant organogenic responses, mean shoot number and shoot length were observed when these were incubated on MS medium supplemented with 0.89 µM Benzyladenine (BA) and 5 μg/L triacontanol (TRIA) where in 9.3 ± 0.5 shoots were obtained. TRIA at 5 μg /L able to produce 6.8 ± 0.5 shoot buds in presence of 0.98 µM IBA and 0.89 µM BA. Highest mean shoot buds (14.0 ± 0.5 and 9.0 ± 0.5) and mean shoot length (4.6 ± 0.3 and 10.0 ± 0.7) were obtained when cotyledonary node and shoot tip explants were cultured on MS medium containing 0.14 µM gibberellic acid (GA3), 0.89 µM BA and 5 μg/L TRIA. Moreover, TRIA supported highest mean root number (6.3±0.5) and root length (21.5 ± 0.57 cm). Field survival of in vitro derived plants of TRIA treatment was 70% and the overall growth and seed yield was also significantly better than control plants. This protocol may be used for improving the in vitro regeneration of soybean variety JS 335 for transformation studies.

Photoperiod influences endogenous indoleamines in cultured green alga Dunaliella bardawil.

Effect of light intensity and photoperiod on growth, indoleamines and carotenoid production was studied in unicellular green algae D. bardawil. Maximum biomass and carotenoid contents were found when cultures were grown in light (intensity of 2.0 Klux) at a photoperiod of 16/8h light and dark cycle. There was a profound influence of tested photoperiod conditions of light:dark viz. 8:16, 10:14, and 12:12 hr, continuous light on indoleamines (SER and MEL) production as estimated by HPLC and confirmed by mass spectral data obtained from LC-MS-ESI studies. Serotonin level increased from 908 to 1765 pg/g fresh wt with increase in light duration and melatonin level increased from 267 to 584 pg/g fresh wt during increase in dark phase. Carotenoids production was high in continuous light than other tested conditions.

Effect of pretreatment with chromium picolinate on haematological parameters during dengue virus infection in mice.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Dengue virus (DV) has caused severe epidemics of dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and is endemic all over India. We have earlier reported that exposure of mice to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] compounds increased the severity of dengue virus infection. Trivalent chromium picolinate (CrP) is used worldwide as micronutrient and nutritional supplement. The present study was therefore, carried out to investigate the effects of CrP on various haematological parameters during DV infection of mice. METHODS: The Swiss Albino smice were inoculated with dengue virus (1000 LD50, intracerebrally) and fed with chromium picolinate (CrP) in drinking water (100 and 250 mg/l) for 24 wk. Peripheral blood leucocytes and other haematological parameters, and spleens were studied on days 4 and 8 after virus inoculations and the findings were compared with those given only CrP and the normal control age matched mice. RESULTS: CrP in drinking water for 24 wk had no significant effects on peripheral blood cells of mice. On the other hand, there was significant decrease in different haematological parameters following inoculation of normal mice with DV. In CrP fed mice the effects of DV infection were abolished on most of the haematological parameters. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The findings of present study showed that the adverse effects of DV infection, specially on platelets and leucocytes, were abrogated by pretreatment of mice with CrP. The therapeutic utility of CrP in viral infections including dengue needs to be studied in depth.

Antioxidant property of Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn.

Aromatic edible root of D. hamiltonii was subjected to the extraction of the antioxidant rich fraction. Different parts of root namely whole tuber, peel, tuber without peel and medullary portion were extracted with dichloromethane (European Patent No. W02005063272). The extract was found to contain flavor compound 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (2H4MB), which was identified by TLC and GC. Medullary portion was found to be rich in 2H4MB, (73.73 mg g(-1) dry tissue) followed by peel, containing 68.34 mg g(-1) 2H4MB. Different concentration of dichloromethane extracts were subjected for antioxidant assay by DPPH (1,1 dihydroxy 2-picryl hydrazyl) method, this has shown 44, 46.7% radical scavenging activity in case of medullary, peel extracts and 67.3% in case of pure 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde at 100 ppm concentration, whereas ascorbic acid used as standard showed 94.3% activity. In beta-carotene linoleate model system (b-CLAMS) 43.46 and 45.7% antioxidant activity was observed in medullary and peel extracts at 100 ppm concentrations respectively, whereas standard 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde exhibited 69.64% at 100 ppm and BHA (butylated hydroxyl anisole) 90.1% activity also at 100-ppm level. Similarly hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was found to be 48.36, 46.86, 48.26 and 73.60% in whole tuber, medullary, peel and standard 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde respectively at 100 ppm levels. This is the first report on the antioxidant activity of D. hamiltonii. Results have shown that 2H4MB is one of the major constituents responsible for antioxidant activity. Hence the extract of D. hamiltonii can be utilized for the production of antioxidant rich fractions required for various health benefits.

In vitro clonal propagation of bird eye chilli (Capsicum frutescens Mill.).

An efficient and highly reproducible protocol for micropropagation of bird eye chilli Capsicum frutescens was attempted. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.5-3.0 mgl(-1) of 6-benzyladenine (BA), 2-isopentenyl adenine (2iP), kinetin and 0.5-2.0 mg l(-1) of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) along with 1 gl(-1) activated charcoal (AC) were used for shoot regeneration from both shoot tip and nodal explants. Shoot tip explants (100%) grew well on medium containing 1 mgl(-1) of kinetin and 1 mgl(-1) of IBA. Shoot proliferation (1-3) from nodal explants was effective on this medium. The regenerated shoots with 4-7 nodes had further growth upon sub-culturing onto kinetin (1 mgl(-1)) and IBA (1 mgl(-1)) and rooted simultaneously. The rooted plants were transferred to pots after hardening under controlled conditions. The survival percentage in pots was 80-90%.

Efficient clonal propagation method for Decalepis hamiltonii, an endangered shrub, under the influence of phloroglucinol.

A highly efficient two stage protocol was developed for induction of multiple shoots from single node in vitro shoot tip explants of Decalepis hamiltonii. It was found that phloroglucinol (PG) had synergistic effect on shoot multiplication when added with N6-benzyladenine and gibberellic acid. This protocol uses PG for both multiple shoot induction from nodal explants, elongation of primary shoots and initiation of adventitious shoot formation from primary shoots, which was more in presence of triacontanol (TRIA). Maximum number of shoots per culture was observed on the medium containing N6-benzyladenine (1.1 microM; BA), GA3 (5.8 microM) and PG (800 microM). Sub-culturing of the shoots onto MS medium containing optimum concentration of BA (5.6 microM), PG (200 microM) and TRIA (0.011 microM) produced elongated shoots along with secondary shoot formation. The long shoots were rooted on alpha-naphthalene acetic acid (5.38 microM; NAA) and PG (400 microM) containing medium. The rooted plantlets were hardened and their field survival rate was 80-90%.

Production of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde in roots of tissue culture raised and acclimatized plants of Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn., an endangered shrub endemic to Southern India and evaluation of its performance vis-a-vis plants from natural habitat.

Axillary buds obtained from field grown plants of D. hamiltonii were used to initiate multiple shoots on Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS) supplemented with 2 mg L(-1) 6-benzyl aminopurine (BA) and 0.5 mg L(-1) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Profuse rooting was achieved when the actively growing shoots were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l(-1) indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Regenerated plants were grown successfully in the plains, in contrast to wild growth in high altitudes and rocky crevices of hilly regions. Roots of different sizes from one-year-old tissue culture raised field grown plants had the same profile of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde as that of wild plants. A maximum of 0.14% and 0.12% 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde was produced in roots of one year old tissue culture derived plants and greenhouse grown plants respectively.

Permeabilization and in situ adsorption studies during growth and coumarin production in hairy root cultures of Cichorium intybus L.

Effect of addition of a permeabilizing agent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and a solid adsorbent, XAD -7, on growth and coumarin production in hairy root cultures of C. intybus was studied. Continuous permeabilization of the hairy root cultures of C. intybus with DMSO has been shown to be an effective strategy for enhanced release of coumarins while preserving the root viability. DMSO at 0.2% (v/v) level showed the maximum growth and coumarin production but was less as compared to control on day 28. Treatment of cells with increasing concentrations of DMSO (0.3 - 0.6 % v/v) to hairy root cultures of C. intybus, showed an inverse relationship with growth and coumarin production. Growth and production of coumarins increased with 1% media filtrate (MF) of cultures of Phytopthora parasitica var. nicotiana treatment. It was observed that treatment with DMSO (0.2% v/v) and 1% MF of P. parasitica showed the better growth and coumarin production with an increased release of coumarins as compared to the control and other treatments. It was observed that treatment of hairy root cultures with XAD-7 resulted in lesser growth and coumarin production as compared to control during the culture period. Addition of XAD-7 along with 1% MF of P. parasitica showed enhanced growth, coumarin production and increased adsorption as compared to control and lone XAD-7 treatment. Combined addition of DMSO/XAD-7 with fungal elicitor showed synergistic response in terms of biomass and coumarin production. Excretion of coumarins in both the cases was dependent on the presence of DMSO/XAD-7. These results showed that continuous permeabilization of hairy root cultures of C. intybus by using DMSO at 0.2% (v/v) level coupled with 1% MF of P. parasitica maintained viability of tissues and produced coumarins at higher level.

Capsaicin formation in p-fluorophenylalanine resistant and normal cell cultures of Capsicum frutescens and activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase.

Callus cultures of Capsicum frutescens capable of producing a maximum of 53 ~g capsaicin/g FW were exposed to various levels of p-fluorophenyialanine (PFP) at 100, 400, 1000 and 2000 ~M to develop a resistant cell line that over produces capsaicin. After 15 days of culturing on media lacking PFP, cell lines resistant to 100, 400 and 1000 ~M registered 18%, 34.5% and 45% increase in capsaicin content over normal cell line (cells not exposed to PFP). Capsaicin accumulation was inhibited in 2000 ~M PFP resistant cell line. The profile of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), the key enzyme in pheny1propanoid pathway in resistant cell cultures was studied and compared with normal cell cultures to understand its role in capsaicin formation. Importantly increased production of capsaicin was obtained using PFP resistant cell lines. The activity profile of PAL had no correlation with capsaicin content in both control and PFP resistant cells.