Studies of Correlation and Path Coefficients for Tomato Yield and Quality Attributes (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Fifteen genotypes of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with 18 yield contributing traits, were studied for correlations and path coefficients. The experiment has been done at Vegetable Research Farm of Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, during Rabi season of 2020-21. The experiment was laid under Randomized Block Design with three replications. Using genotypic correlation, it has been found that the fruit yield per plant significantly positively correlates with lycopene, titrable acidity, pericarp thickness, fruits per plant, ascorbic acid and days to 50% flowering. This indicates that the selection of these qualities will impact the number of fruits produced by each plant. Yield per plant was showed the significant positive direct effects with ascorbic acid, pericarp thickness, firmness, fruit yield per plant, TSS, locules per fruit, number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter, lycopene content, seed test weight and days to 50% flowering at the genotypic path coefficient level that indicated the selection for these traits might be effective and there is a possibility of improving yield per plant through selection based on these characters. The investigation contains the necessary information to support the objectives, as shown by the residual influence at the genotypic (0.198) and phenotypic (0.206) routes.

Ameliorating Effect of Melatonin on L- Arginine Induced Acute Pancreatitis in Rats

The present study was aimed to evaluate the ameliorative potential of melatonin against L-arginine induced acute pancreatitis in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats (150–240 g) were divided into 3 groups, viz. group I (control group), group II (acute pancreatitis control group) and group III (treatment control) which were further subdivided into 3 subgroups according to time points of 24 hours, 3 days and 7 days. Rats from groups II and III received two injections of L-arginine (2 g/kg i.p.) at 1 h intervals for induction of acute pancreatitis. Melatonin was administered to group III daily at a single dose of 10 mg/kg i.p. On 6 hours, 24 hours, 3 days and 7 days, blood samples were obtained from each group and subjected for the assays of oxidative stress and serum biochemical parameters. Erythrocytic lipid peroxides contents in acute pancreatitis group were significantly higher, while reduced glutathione contents were significantly lower in comparison with the normal controls. The activities of other antioxidant enzymes were also significantly low in these rats. Moreover, significantly increased activities of serum amylase and serum lipase were found in these rats. Administration of melatonin significantly reduced the over production of malonaldialdehyde levels. Other antioxidant enzymes viz. reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were improved significantly in melatonin treated rats. Melatonin had also considerably ameliorated the altered serum amylase and serum lipase levels towards normalcy. Thus, it can be concluded that melatonin may possess therapeutic efficacy against L-arginine induced acute pancreatitis in rats

Pattern of Ear Diseases in the Patients Attending Ear Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Center in Eastern Nepal.

Introduction: The prevalence of disabling hearing loss for adults and children is greatest in South Asia followed by Asia Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa. Nepal is one of the least developed nation where hearing loss and ear diseases is very common. Objective: To find out the pattern of ear diseases in the patients attending Ear outpatient department (OPD) of Biratnagar Eye Hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive review of data retrieved from the medical record section of the Hospital between January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014 was done. The data were tabulated and analysed. The results are expressed in number and percentage. Results: Chronic suppurative otitis media, mucosal (42.64%) and ear wax/otomycosis (24.39%) were the commonest ear diseases found. Eustachian tube dysfunction (12.89%), acute otitis media (0.74%), acute suppurative otitis media (2.9%), otitis media with effusion (0.54%) were other common diseases. Presbyacusis (10.09%) was found to be a common problem in adults. Various other external auditory canal problems and those of inner ear were also detected. Conclusions: Ear diseases are one of the major health problems in Nepal. This study has found chronic otitis media and ear wax/otomycosis to be commonest problems in children and adults attending the Ear OPD of Biratnagar eye hospital.

Variability in serum electrolytes in different grades of depression.

The present study was planned to assess the variation in serum electrolytes in patients of major depression. A total of 100 patients of 35– 45 yrs of age (68 males and 32 females) of depression were compared with the age matched healthy volunteers. Severity of depression was assessed by DSM IV criteria and were graded into mild, moderate and severe depression. In all the subjects serum electrolytes (Na+, K+, Mg++ and Ca++) were assessed quantitatively. All the depression patients were having higher level of Na+, K+, and Ca++ and lower level of Mg++. Multivariate analysis showed that different grades of depression influences statistically significantly levels of serum Mg++ and Ca++ (F2,98 for Mg++ = 4.88, P value = 0.001 and F2,98 for Ca++ = 5.97, P value = 0.004). No statistically significant difference was observed for Na+ and K+ although their values were higher (within normal limit) in comparison to that of control group. Multiple comparison revealed highly statistically significant difference between the levels of serum Ca and Mg individually between mild and moderate depression (S V(mild & mod) for Ca++; Mg++ = 7.1; 7.4) moderate & severe depression (S V(mod & severe) for Ca++; Mg++ = 6.82; 6.92) and mild & severe depression patients (S V(mild & severe) for Ca++; Mg++ = 7.46; 7.73) with critical value = 6.36. These results indicated the disbalance in the level of serum electrolytes especially of Ca and Mg in accordance with the severity of depression.

Gender based alteration in color perception.

Human beings are able to perceive hundreds of shades of color which depends on the three types of cone system and various ratios of stimulation in response to different wavelengths. Perceptually and cognitively, men and women may experience appearance of color differently. Therefore, this study was planned to assess and compare color vision in male and female subjects. This study was carried out in the department of Physiology, SGRRIM&HS, Dehradun on 60 ocular healthy subjects (equal number of males and females) of 17–22 years of age group. The task was to match 22 test color strips with 2 shade charts of different colors. Total number of correct answers and total time taken in matching all the test color strips with the shade charts was recorded in both the sexes and analyzed. The results of this study showed that overall, females gave more correct responses (P<0.001) and also took less time (P<0.01) than males. Color wise also, females gave more correct responses especially for red (P<.001) and green color (P<0.01). The conclusion states that the females can see more shades of colors than males.

Protective effect of ethanolic and water extracts of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) against the toxic effects of mustard gas.

Ethanolic extract of H. rhamnoides L. leaf (HL-EOH), water and ethanolic extract of H. rhamnoides fruit (HF-W and HF-EOH), and H. rhamnoides flavone from fruit (HR-flavone) were evaluated against percutaneously administered sulphur mustard (SM), a chemical warfare agent. The animals administered with SM (9.7, 19.3 and 38.7 mg/kg) died at various days depending upon the dose and there was a significant reduction in the body weight. The H. rhamnoides extracts (1 g/kg; 3 doses; po) significantly protected the lethality, with a protective index of 2.4, 1.7, 1.7 and 2.2 for HL-EOH, HF-W, HF-EOH and HR-flavone respectively. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutalthione (GSSG) levels were reduced, and malondialdehyde (MDA) was elevated after percutaneous administration of SM. Oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone significantly protected the body weight loss. Recovery in the levels of GSH, GSSG and MDA were also observed following oral administration of HL-EOH and HR-flavone. All the extracts were non-toxic and the LD50 was more than 5 g/kg. The present study shows that percutaneous administration of SM induces oxidative stress and ethanolic extract of leaf of H. rhamnoides and H. rhamnoides flavone from fruit can significantly protect it.