Mangrove (Avicennia marina) parts as proxies in marine pollution of Nizampatnam Bay, East Coast of India: An integrated approach.

This study focuses on the assessment of heavy metals (HM) concentration and pollution status of the Nizampatnam Bay, east coast of India, from mangrove plant parts (roots and leaves) and sediment samples. This is the first of its kind work (comparison of data from both mangrove and sediment samples) from the third largest mangrove ecosystem in India. To carry out this work, plant (Avicennia mariana) and sediment samples were collected from five stations. The collected samples were carefully subjected to the laboratory methods and heavy metal concentrations were determined by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The obtained results were juxtaposed with the optimal values of world surface pollution rock averages, and noticed heavy metals such as Cd and Cu exceed the optimal values. To know the contamination levels and the chemical elements that contribute to the pollution, various environmental indices, viz., contamination factor, enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, and pollution load index were, carried out on the sediment sample data. To ascertain the mangrove plant's capacity (in the study area) for accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in different parts of the plants, factors such as bio-concentration and translocation were calibrated.

Ex-Ex Primer: An experimentally validated tool for designing oligonucleotides spanning spliced nucleic acid regions from multiple species.

A comparative study of existing junction-primer-designing software revealed many limitations among them. Hence, we developed a new computational program, Ex-Ex Primer, which offers many improved, user-friendly features, and reliably creates junction primers and probes. This online suite can also be used to design primers/probes from other sites of nucleic acid recombination, insertion, deletion, or splicing, and regular probes/primers. The threshold for Tm difference between the complete junctional primer vs its partial sequence, which maps to one of the junctional regions, was changed based on an important observation made during the initial experimental validations. The tool is now thoroughly checked with RT-PCR and RT-qPCR experiments with more than 250 primer pairs over a few years. The junction-primer-designing features of the software are also better than other equivalent tools. Visualizing the exons and introns across transcripts, and enabling primer designing based on information from Ensembl, are some of the unique features of this tool. The primers suggested by the tool can be used to detect the expression of known transcripts, to test the existence of predicted DNA or RNA joints via hybridization-based techniques, or for validation and in silico analysis of RNA-Seq. URL: http://resource2.ibab.ac.in/exprimer/.

Intraperitoneal Ropivacaine with Dexmedetomidine or Fentanyl for Postoperative Analgesia Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Comparative Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Intraperitoneal local anesthetic is an effective analgesic approach following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. AIMS: The aim of the present study was to compare the antinociceptive effects of intraperitoneal ropivacaine plus fentanyl with ropivacaine plus dexmedetomidine in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. SETTINGS AND DESIGNS: This was randomized, prospective, double-blinded, observational clinical study. METHODS: A total of 80 patients, undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of the two equal groups to receive either of the following: Group RF (n = 40) were given 30 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine combined with 1 µg/kg fentanyl (diluted in 2 mL normal saline) and Group RD (n = 40) were given 30 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine combined with 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine (diluted in 2 mL normal saline) through trocars. The quality of analgesia was assessed using visual analog scale score (VAS). Time to the first request of analgesia, the total dose of analgesic in the first 24 h and adverse effects were noted. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed with the Students' t-test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: VAS score at different time intervals, overall VAS in 24 h was significantly lower (1.68 ± 0.46 vs. 4.47 ± 0.94), time to first request of analgesia (min) was longest (122.7 ± 24.5 vs. 89.3 ± 13.2) and total analgesic consumption (mg) was lowest (95.3 ± 15.6 vs. 135.7 ± 75.1) in RD group than in RF group. CONCLUSION: The antinociceptive effect of the intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine in combination with dexmedetomidine is superior to ropivacaine combined with fentanyl.

Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: Comparison of Varying Doses of Butorphanol Combined with Levobupivacaine - A Double-Blind Prospective Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The ideal dose of butorphanol for brachial plexus block is not well known. AIMS: This study was carried out to evaluate 1 mg and 2 mg of butorphanol added to 0.375% levobupivacaine, with regard to the duration of analgesia. Our study also sought to assess the onset and duration of sensorimotor blockade, hemodynamic effects, sedation, and adverse effects. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, and comparative study. METHODS: Eighty adult patients of either sex undergoing upper limb surgeries under supraclavicular brachial plexus block were randomly allocated into two groups. Group LB1 received 29 ml of 0.375% levobupivacaine plus 1 mg of butorphanol diluted in 1 ml of normal saline. Group LB2 received 29 ml of 0.375% levobupivacaine plus 2 mg of butorphanol diluted in 1 ml of normal saline. The onset and duration of sensorimotor blockade, level of sedation, duration of analgesia, and adverse effects were assessed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed with Student's t-test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: The onset of sensory (P = 0.032) and motor block (P = 0.026) was earlier in Group LB2 than in Group LB1. The duration of analgesia was significantly prolonged in Group LB2 (643.55 ± 131.6 vs. 511.73 ± 128.6 min; P = 0.001). The incidence of sedation was observed in more number of patients in Group LB2 (P = 0.01). Furthermore, the incidence of nausea, vomiting, and pruritus were observed in more number of patients in Group LB2 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher dose of butorphanol in brachial plexus block hastens the onset and prolongs the duration of sensorimotor blockade and analgesia but is associated with a higher incidence of sedation which requires intense monitoring.

Safflower petals: a source of gamma linolenic acid.

Safflower petals have been shown to have a lot of medicinal and therapeutic values. Indian safflower petal samples were analyzed for the red pigment carthamin, protein and oil contents. The petal oil (4.0-5.8%) was further analyzed for its fatty acids followed by alpha linolenic acid (15-19%) and palmitic acids (14-16%). Gamma linolenic acid, which has a lot of therapeutic value was present to an extent of 2-3%; decanoic and dodecanoic acids (2-5%) were also present.