Impact of cytomixis on meiosis, pollen viability and pollen size in wild populations of Himalayan poppy (Meconopsis aculeata Royle).

We report the occurrence of cytomixis in wild populations of Himalayan poppy (Meconopsis aculeata Royle),which is considered to be an important and threatened medicinal plant growing in the high hills of the Himalayas. The impact of cytomixis on meiotic behaviour, reduced pollen viability and heterogeneous-sized pollen grains was also studied. Cytological studies in the seven wild populations from the high hills of Himachal Pradesh revealed that all the Himalayan populations exist uniformly at the tetraploid level (2n=56) on x=14. The phenomenon of chromatin transfer among the proximate pollen mother cells (PMCs) in six populations caused various meiotic abnormalities. Chromatin transfer also resulted in the formation of coenocytes, aneuploid, polyploid and anucleated PMCs. Among individuals that showed chromatin transfer, chromosome stickiness and interbivalent connections were frequently observed in some PMCs. The phenomenon of cytomixis in the species seems to be directly under genetic control; it affects the meiotic course considerably and results in reduced pollen viability.

Bioremediation of pulp and paper mill effluent with Phanerochaete chrysosporium.

The present study reports on the treatment of pulp and paper mill effluent by Phanerochaete chlysosporium and the same has been compared at two different pH, 5.5 and 8.5. At both the pH, colour, COD, lignin content and total phenols of the effluent significantly declined after bioremediation. However, greater decolourisation and reduction in COD, lignin content and total phenols were observed at pH 5.5. Such bioremediated effluent of pulp and paper mill could gainfully be utilized for crop irrigation.

Clinical presentation of tuberculosis in patients with AIDS: an Indian experience.

A retrospective series of 25 patients with AIDS and tuberculosis is presented. Their clinical presentation, absolute lymphocyte count, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts, treatment details and outcome are detailed. Commonest method of acquiring HIV infection was through heterosexual contact (10 of the 25; 40%) and blood transfusion (10 of the 25; 40%). More than 50% of the patients (14 of the 25) had extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Eighteen of the 19 patients for whom values were available had CD4+ lymphocyte count < 200/mm3. Four of the 18 patients for whom follow-up details were available died.

Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the mediastinum.

Mediastinal location of benign fibrous histiocytoma is relatively rare. This case is being presented for its unusual location and rarity.

Carcinoma penis.

In the present study 90 cases of carcinoma penis were studied. The disease is more common after the age of 40 years; phimosis was found to be most important predisposing factor. Most common presentation was proliferative lesion with commonest involvement of glans penis. All the cases were of squamous cell carcinoma except one case of malignant melanoma. Clinical determination of lymph node metastasis is falacious as there was discrepancy between clinical and histopathological stage of the disease in 26.67% of cases. Therefore lymph node biopsy at the time of primary surgery is advocated. The result of total amputation is better than other mode of treatment.

Study of interaction between catechin and native and modified bovine serum albumin by physico-chemical methods.

The interaction of native and modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) with catechin, a flavanoid having vitamin P activity, has been studied using equilibrium dialysis, pH-metric, viscosity and spectrophotometric methods. The order of reactivity of catechin binding to proteins was found to be: esterified BSA greater than BSA greater than formylated BSA greater than acetylated BSA with log K values of 3.778, 3.879, 3.748 and 3.813 and free energy change equal to -5.11, -5.16, -5.07 and -5.15 kcal/mole, respectively.