Role of jasmonic acid in improving tolerance of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) to Cd toxicity / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

The well-known detrimental effects of cadmium (Cd) on plants are chloroplast destruction, photosynthetic pigment inhibition, imbalance of essential plant nutrients, and membrane damage. Jasmonic acid (JA) is an alleviator against different stresses such as salinity and drought. However, the functional attributes of JA in plants such as the interactive effects of JA application and Cd on rapeseed in response to heavy metal stress remain unclear. JA at 50 µmol/L was observed in literature to have senescence effects in plants. In the present study, 25 µmol/L JA is observed to be a "stress ameliorating molecule" by improving the tolerance of rapeseed plants to Cd toxicity. JA reduces the Cd uptake in the leaves, thereby reducing membrane damage and malondialdehyde content and increasing the essential nutrient uptake. Furthermore, JA shields the chloroplast against the damaging effects of Cd, thereby increasing gas exchange and photosynthetic pigments. Moreover, JA modulates the antioxidant enzyme activity to strengthen the internal defense system. Our results demonstrate the function of JA in alleviating Cd toxicity and its underlying mechanism. Moreover, JA attenuates the damage of Cd to plants. This study enriches our knowledge regarding the use of and protection provided by JA in Cd stress.

Evaluation of serum angiotensin converting enzyme [SACE] as a diagnostic marker for pulmonary embolism

A number of supportive laboratory tests such as ECG, Chest x-ray, ABGs, SLDH, SGOT, S. Bilirubin and D-dimer with variable sensitivity and specificity are available to facilitate the clinical diagnosis of acute Pulmonary Embolism [PE]. Serum Angiotensin Converting Enzyme [SACE] which is produced mainly by the pulmonary vascular endothelial cells, is found altered during a variety of diffuse lung diseases. This study was designed to evaluate the validity of SACE level as a marker for hypoxic damage to the pulmonary endothelium in PE. Design: A prospective study carried out on forty patients with high clinical suspicion of PE. Besides routine diagnostic tests mentioned above all of them had Ventilation Perfusion isotope [V/Q] scans [as a diagnostic test] and SACE level checked. Setting: Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore. Results. Among forty consecutive patients with age range 25-59 years [mean: 42 Yr], twenty six patients [65%] with abnormal scans reported as High Probability' were included in group-A [True Positive], whereas 14[35%] patients having Low-Probability [Suspected] or Normal scan were included in group-B, Low SACE level [<28iu/L] was found in 19/26 [sensitivity of 73%] in Group-A [Positive Predictive Value: 47%] and 9/14 [sensitivity of 64%] in Group-B, whereas mean levels for both groups were 34.55 and 54.84 respectively. Rise in LDH was pronounced in Group-A. Only chest X-ray and ECGs were found to be more sensitive for group-A than group-B. Changes in ABGs [Type-1 Resp. Failure] had low sensitivity. Among clinically suspected cases of PE, fall in SACE level can be used as a sensitive and reliable diagnostic marker as more than 75% of the enzyme is produced in the lungs compared with other enzymes which have extra-pulmonary source

Accelerated BCG response: diagnostic value among adults in an endemic area

To evaluate Accelerated BCG as screening test for active and inactive tuberculosis among adults in an endemic area. A prospective study on 59 consecutive cases of tuberculosis, among these 46 newly diagnosed [active] and 13 who had received chemotherapy and declared cured [inactive]. Setting Department of Pulmonology Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore. Serial skin changes to intradermal BCG vaccine. Accelerated skin response to BCG vaccine was observed among all the cases belonging to both active or inactive group. Accelerated BCG skin reaction cannot differentiate between active tuberculosis from previous exposure or inactive disease. Negative reaction may be more valuable