Agronomic biofortification of forage crops with zinc and copper for enhancing nutritive potential: a systematic review.

Many developing countries are facing a silent increase in deficiency of micronutrients in forage crops that results in decreased levels of essential nutrients in animals. Micronutrients are essential not only for basic metabolic processes of forage crops but also for sustaining animal health. Forage productivity and quality are severely affected by soil micronutrients deficiencies, especially zinc and copper. This review summarizes the literature highlighting the significance of different methodologies used to increase the biomass and quality of forage so as to enhance the micronutrient content of the forage crops through biofortification. Biofortification is a promising and sustainable agriculture-based strategy to reduce micronutrient deficiency in crops. The experiments and trials conducted at different locations of the world showed that copper and zinc concentrations in animal fodders can be enhanced through the process of foliar application. Additionally, agronomic biofortification showed more promising results, and thus is an outstanding, fast, and cost-effective technique for the immediate enrichment of forage in order to overcome malnutrition in animals. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Immature Teratoma with Embryonal Carcinoma; a Rare Malignant Mixed Germ Cell Tumor in a 13-Year-Old Girl.

Malignant mixed germ cell tumors,though rare overall, are the most common type of malignant ovarian neoplasms in young and adolescent girls. These tumors are rapidly growing and can metastasize. We report a case of 13-yr-old girl who presented at SHKM GMC, Nalhar, Mewat, Haryana, India in December 2013 with huge abdominal lump of a malignant mixed germ cell tumor comprising both immature teratoma and embryonal carcinoma. This report illustrates the aggressiveness of this tumor and emphasises the need of early diagnosis and treatment.

Fournier's Gangrene in a Two Year Old Child: A Case Report.

Necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum and external genitalia is a life-threatening infective gangrene, primarily seen in adults. It may be seen at any age but it is relatively uncommon in children. Here, we report a case of Fournier's gangrene in a two year old male child who was treated aggressively with broad spectrum antibiotics and early surgical debridement with hemodynamic stabilization. Even though no obvious precipitating cause was identified, hygiene was thought to be the inciting factor. Early surgical debridement with appropriate antibiotics and aggressive supportive care gave good results.

Cytological diagnosis of Castleman's disease of the soft tissue.

Castleman's disease (CD), a rare benign disease is characterized by lymphoid hyperplasia of uncertain etiology that may present as a nodal or extranodal mass. We describe herein a rare case of CD occurring in the soft-tissue of right arm in a 55-year-old woman. The present case is instructive in the differential diagnosis of primary soft-tissue tumors, for which the possibility of CD should be considered. On clinical examination as well as gross examination, this disease mimics lymphomas and tuberculosis. Since cytological appearances vary depending on the type and extent of hyperplasia, fine needle aspiration cytology findings may not always be conclusive in all cases. We studied aspirates which revealed reactive hyperplasia with increased vascularity. Excision confirmed the diagnosis.

Solitary plasmacytoma of skull: a rare cytological diagnosis.

Solitary Plasmacytoma of the Skull (SPS) is very rare and only 35 cases have been reported in the English literature. It remains controversial whether a solitary plasmacytoma of the skull is essentially identical with a Solitary Plasmacytoma of Bone (SPB) or not. A solitary plasmacytoma of bone, which includes a solitary plasmacytoma of the skull, is characterized by a radiologically solitary bone lesion, neoplastic plasma cells in the biopsy specimen, fewer than 5% plasma cells in bone marrow, less than 2.0 g/dl monoclonal protein in the serum when it is present and a negative urine test for Bence Jones protein (monoclonal light chain). A solitary plasmacytoma of bone tends to disseminate or progress to multiple myeloma, even as long as 7-23 years after its presentation.

Effect of occupation on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in coal-fired thermal plant workers.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution from coal-fired power units is large and varied, and contributes to a significant number of negative environmental and health effects. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coal dust-induced toxicity in coal-fired power plants. AIM: The aim of the study was to measure free radical damage and the antioxidant activity in workers exposed to varying levels of coal dust. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of workers in coal handling unit, turbine unit, and boiler unit (n = 50 each), working in thermal power plant; and electricians (n = 50) from same department were taken as controls. Lipid peroxidation was measured by malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant activity was determined by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Statistical analysis was carried out by Student's unpaired t-test. RESULT: MDA levels showed significant increase (P > 0.001) in the thermal power plant workers than the electricians working in the city. The levels of SOD and GPx were significantly higher (P > 0.001) in electricians as compared to subjects working in thermal plant. Among the thermal plant workers, the coal handling unit workers showed significant increase (P > 0.001) in MDA and significant decrease in SOD and GPx than the workers of boiler and turbine unit workers. CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress due to increase in lipid peroxidation and decrease in antioxidant activity results from exposure to coal dust and coal combustion products during thermal plant activities.

Evaluation of nested polymerase chain reaction for rapid diagnosis of clinically suspected tuberculous pleurisy.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of tuberculosis is important in its control. The conventional techniques like smear microscopy and culture suffer from low sensitivity for diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis like Pleural Tuberculosis (PTB) due to paucibacillary nature of the fluid. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is presently seen as a promising alternative to conventional techniques. In this study we have evaluated IS6110 sequence based nested PCR (nPCR) for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) DNA directly from clinical samples. The results of PCR were compared with the results of conventional methods like smear, culture and Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 50 pleural fluid samples from the patients with history suggestive of tuberculosis were taken. All the samples were processed for Ziehl-Neelsan (ZN) staining for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB), culture ADA activity and PCR with primers targeting 123bp fragment of IS6110 of MTB complex. RESULTS: A significant difference was seen in the sensitivities of conventional methods and PCR (p<0.05). Out of these 50 samples 3 were positive by smear, culture was positive in 5 samples, 21 samples showed high ADA activity and 29 were positive by PCR with overall 100% sensitivity of PCR using culture on LJ media as gold standard. CONCLUSIONS: The combined analysis of nPCR, ADA activity and other lab investigations can be very useful in the rapid diagnosis in cases of PTB.

Somatostatin inhibits insulin release via SSTR2 in hamster clonal beta-cells and pancreatic islets.

Somatostatin (SST) inhibits pancreatic endocrine secretion. It is generally accepted that SSTR2 and SSTR5 mediate the inhibition of glucagon and insulin release, respectively. The present study was performed to test the hypothesis that SSTR2, but not SSTR5, mediates SST-induced inhibition of insulin release in hamster beta-cells. Both hamster clonal beta-cells HIT-T15 and pancreatic islets were used to test this hypothesis. Both SST and a nonpeptide SSTR2 agonist L-779,976 (1-100 nM) inhibited insulin release from HIT-T15 and islets in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, nonpeptide agonists for SSTR1, 3, 4 and 5 at the highest concentration studied (1 microM) failed to inhibit insulin release. PRL-2903, a peptide SSTR2 antagonist (0.1-1 muicroM), antagonized SST-induced inhibition of insulin release in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, we conclude that, in hamster beta-cells, SST inhibits insulin release via SSTR2 but not SSTR5.

Pharmacokinetics of theanine enantiomers in rats.

Theanine, first discovered in tea, is a chiral nonproteinic amino acid that has been reported to have cardiovascular, neurological, and oncological effects. It is being considered as a therapeutic/medicinal agent and additive in consumer products. The present study evaluated the pharmacokinetics of D-theanine, L-theanine, and D,L-theanine in plasma and urine using LC-ESI/MS in rats after oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. Oral administration data indicated that gut absorption of d-theanine was far less than that of L-theanine. However, after i.p. administration, plasma theanine concentrations of L- and D-theanine were similar. This indicated that D- and L-theanine may exhibit a competitive effect with respect to intestinal absorption. Regardless of the route of administration, p.o. or i.p., the presence of the other enantiomer always decreased theanine plasma concentrations, indicating D,L-theanine competition with respect to urinary reabsorption. Data on urinary concentrations of D-theanine suggested that the D-isomer may be eliminated with minimal metabolism. L-Theanine appeared to be preferentially reabsorbed and metabolized by the kidney while D-theanine was preferentially excreted. Clearly, the bioequivalencies of D,L-theanine and its enantiomers were found to be quite different from one another. Consequently, the efficacy of commercial theanine products containing D-theanine, L-theanine, or D,L-theanine may be quite different.