Genetic dissection of grain iron and zinc concentrations in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are wide spread in South Asia and Africa. Biofortification of food crops is a viable means of addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Lentil is an important pulse crop that provides affordable source of proteins, minerals, fibre and carbohydrates for micronutrient deficient countries. An association mapping (AM) panel of 96 diverse lentil genotypes fromIndia and Mediterranean region was evaluated for three seasons and genotyped using 80 polymorphic simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers for identification of the markers associated with grain Fe and Zn concentrations. A Bayesian model based clustering identified five subpopulations, adequately explaining the genetic structure of the AM panel. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis usingmixed linear model (MLM) identified two SSR markers, GLLC106 and GLLC108, associated with grain Fe concentration explaining 17% and 6% phenotypic variation, respectively and three SSR markers (PBALC 364, PBALC 92 and GLLC592) associated with grain Zn concentration, explaining 6%, 8% and 13% phenotypic variation, respectively. The identified SSRs exhibited consistentperformance across three seasons and have potential for utilization in lentil molecular breeding programme.

Diabetes control, dyslipidemia, hsCRP and mild cognitive impairment in non-elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia has been observed more in people with diabetes when compared with general population. The risk factors for MCI in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been defined in elderly patients and aging may itself contribute to declining in cognitive functions. As the large number people with T2DM are under 60years, the prevalence of MCI and factors contributing to it are not much studied. So, this study aimed to find out the factors contributing to MCI in non-elderly T2DM patients.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 257 patients with T2DM underwent cognitive assessment by Montreal cognitive assessment test and the cognitive levels were correlated with their glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP).Results: The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was 64.2%.  MCI significantly correlated with duration of diabetes, socioeconomic status, HbA1c, serum triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein and hsCRP levels. The factors that were statistically insignificant were body mass index and high-density lipoprotein levels.Conclusions: Cognitive impairment is seen even in non-elderly T2DM patients. It should be considered along with the other complications of diabetes and individuals with T2DM should be screened for cognitive impairment to prevent progression to dementia.

Obstructive Lung Disease as a Complication in Tuberculosis Survivors: Fate of Tuberculosis

Background: Successful treatment of TB confirming the bacteriological clearance from involved site or completion of chemotherapy does not assess structural and functional effects on the involved organ. This study has been conducted to assess the post tubercular sequelae in cured pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Methods: It was an observational hospital based study conducted on about 120 patients attending or being admitted in the department of Pulmonary Medicine after fulfilling the inclusion criteria India to assess the post tubercular sequelae by using spirometry. Results: Out of 120 patients, 20 patients were excluded from the study as they could not perform the test at all. Hence a total of 100 patients were finally enrolled in the study. The prevalence of pulmonary impairment was only 32% with predominant lung function abnormality being obstructive pattern. Conclusion: Out of 120 patients, 20 patients were excluded fromthe study as they could not perform the test at all. Hence a total of 100 patients were finally enrolled in the study. The prevalence of pulmonary impairment was only 32% with predominant lung function abnormality being obstructive pattern.

Assessment of Lipid Profile among Children: A Hospital Based Prospective Study

Background: Abnormal lipid level in children leads to cardiovascular diseases. There is increase in rate of cardiovascular diseases among children for past few years. There comes the role of diagnosis and treatment. Examination of lipid profile can help to rule out the disease. The aim of the present study was to study lipid profile of children aged between 8 to 16 years.  Methods: A cross sectional study was planned . A total of 200 patients were included for the study. Blood samples were collected from each patient in fasting state. Samples were further examined for lipid profile estimation.  Results: 200 students were selected for the present study. Of the 200 children 100 were boys i.e. 50% and 100 were girl’s i.e.50%. Total cholesterol for girls was 165.62±30.48 and for boys it was 162.08±30.16. Mean total cholesterol for girls were 94.2±22.80 and for boys were 92.54±21.14.  Conclusions: lipid profile plays a very important role in good health of children. Examination of lipid profile should be done at an early age.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of some 3-(5-aryl-4H-pyrazol-3-yl).

A series of 3-(5-aryl-4H-pyrazol-3-yl)anthracen-10(9H)-ones were synthesized from anthracen-10(9H)-one (1) and studied for their in vitro antibacterial activity. Anthracen- 10(9H)-one after Friedel crafts acetylation with acetyl chloride yielded 3-acetylanthracen- 10(9H)-one (2) which on further reaction with substituted aromatic aldehydes in the presence of catalytic amount of sodium hydroxide in water and ethanol furnished the corresponding 3-(3-arylacryloyl)anthracen-10(9H)-ones (3a-g) as intermediate compounds, which on further reaction with hydrazine hydrate in absolute ethanol formed the title compounds 3-(5-aryl-4H-pyrazol-3-yl)anthracen-10(9H)-ones (4a-g). These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, Mass and 1H-NMR spectral data. All the compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against two gram positive strains (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two gram negative strains (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) taking ciprofloxacin as a standard drug. Some of the compounds showed significant antibacterial activity.

Metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia: how much is attributable to drug treatment.

Background: This study was planned to investigate new onset metabolic syndrome (MS) and its various components associated with two widely used second generation antipsychotics i.e. olanzapine and quetiapine in the management of schizophrenia using International Diabetic Federation (IDF) criteria. Methods: A total of 60 drug naïve patients with ICD-10 diagnosis of first episode schizophrenia, divided in two groups of 30 patients each, were randomly allocated to receive two different treatments i.e. olanzapine and quetiapine. Metabolic parameters were measured at day 0, then at 6 and 12 weeks. For categorical variables, ‘Chi-square test’ was used for comparison between the two groups. For continuous variables student’s t-test was used. Results: At 6 weeks none of the patient, treated with olanzapine, developed Metabolic Syndrome (MS), but among quetiapine group 3.33% (1 out of 30) developed MS. At the end of 12 weeks, 20% patients (i.e. 6 out of 30) had MS in olanzapine treatment group and 10% (3 out of 30) in quetiapine treatment group. Conclusion: Both olanzapine and quetiapine were found to cause comparable metabolic derangement and metabolic syndrome.

Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation: a need or a commercial hype.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an important component of the brain and is essential critical for optimal brain health and function. With revealing of its benefi cial effects on cognitive function, neurological, cardiovascular system and anti-infl ammatory benefi ts, DHA has recently gained huge attention. As a result, the market is stocked with products supplemented with DHA claiming various health benefi ts. This review attempts to elucidate the current fi ndings of DHA supplementation as a pharmacological agent with both preventive and therapeutic value.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study on a few series of potent, highly selective inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase.

QSAR study was performed on a series of 1,2-dihydro-4-quinazolinamines, 4,5-dialkylsubstituted-2-imino-1,3-thiazolidine derivatives and 4,5-disubstituted-1,3-oxazolidin-2-imine derivatives studied by Tinker et al. [J Med Chem (2003), 46, 913-916], Ueda et al. [Bioorg Med Chem (2004) 12, 4101-4116] and Ueda et al. [Bioorg Med Chem Lett (2004) 14, 313-316], respectively, as potent, highly selective inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The iNOS inhibition activity of the whole series of compounds was analyzed in relation to the physicochemical and molecular properties of the compounds. The QSAR analysis revealed that the inhibition potency of the compounds was controlled by a topological parameter 1v (Kier’s first order valence molecular connectivity index), density (D), surface tension (St) and length (steric parameter) of a substituent. This suggested that the drug-receptor interaction predominantly involved the dispersion interaction, but the bulky molecule would face steric problem because of which the molecule may not completely fit in active sites of the receptor and thus may not have the optimum interaction.

Quantitative assessment of current status and biomass of Bergenia Ciliata and Bergenia Stracheyi from Kumaun Himalaya.

Studies on production of biomass in the underground and above ground parts of Bergenia ciliata and Bergenia stracheyi, comparing seven sites along the altitudinal gradients to determine the best harvesting site. It also provides quantitative details through assessment of density and biomass of Bergenia species. This study reveals that due to difference in climatic conditions which coupled with the wide altitudinal range provides a wide diversity. It also reveals the best habitat for obtaining the maximum biomass.

Turner syndrome and its variants.

Case records of female patients with karyotype proven turner syndrome were analyzed. 11 patients had classic Turner karyotype (Group 1) and 13 patients had karyotype suggestive of one of the variants of Turner syndrome (Group 2). There was a median difference of 3 years between the age of presentation and the age of diagnosis in Group 2. Out of the thirteen patients in Group 2, 4 had no clinical stigmata of Turner Syndrome; the rest (n=9) had one or more of the typical clinical stigmata of Turner Syndrome. One patient with a complex mosaic karyotype also had an intracranial medulloblastoma. One patient in each group had coarctation of the aorta. 5 patients in Group 1 and 3 patients in Group 2 had primary hypothyroidism and received levothyroxine. The median Thyroid Stimulating Hormone levels were significantly higher among patients in group 1 than in group 2.