Centrosomal clustering contributes to chromosomal instability and cancer.

Cells assemble mitotic spindles during each round of division to insure accurate segregation of their duplicated genome. In animal cells, stereotypical spindles have two poles, each containing one centrosome, from which microtubules are nucleated. By contrast, many cancer cells often contain more than two centrosomes and form transient multipolar spindle structures with more than two poles. In order to divide and produce viable progeny, the multipolar spindle intermediate must be reshaped into a pseudo-bipolar structure via a process called centrosomal clustering. Pseudo-bipolar spindles appear to function normally during mitosis, but they occasionally give rise to aneuploid and transformed daughter cells. Agents that inhibit centrosomal clustering might therefore work as a potential cancer therapy, specifically targeting mitosis in supernumerary centrosome-containing cells.

Impact of dehulling and germination on nutrients, antinutrients, and antioxidant properties in horsegram.

The changes in chemical composition, antioxidant activity and minerals content of horse gram seed after dehulling and germination of 12 advance lines were investigated. Dehulled samples had a higher protein content compared with the raw and germinated. Total soluble sugars (TSS) content increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) after dehulling (29.31 %) and germination (98.73 %) whereas, the total lipids increased (10.98 %) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) after dehulling and decreased (36.41 %) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) after germination. Dehulling and germination significantly decreased the amount of phytic acid (PA), tannin (TN) and oxalic acid (OA). Trypsin inhibitor units decreased (26.79 %) significantly (p ≤ 0.05) after germination. The minerals (Ca, Fe and Cu) composition of the germinated horsegram flour samples was significantly higher than the raw and dehulled flour. The functional properties of flours were studied and found that the bulk density (11.85 %) and oil absorption capacity (18.92 %) significantly increased after germination. Raw samples followed by germinated samples showed the highest concentrations of phytochemicals responsible for the antioxidant activity and also the antioxidant capacities. principal component analysis revealed that in case of dehulled samples; TN, polyphenols, DPPH and ABTS radical inhibition, TSS, total antioxidant, OA, protein, FRAP value, Ca and Zn had positive correlation among themselves while in case of germinated samples, protein, oil absorption capacity, FRAP value, OA, total flavonoids, DPPH radical inhibition, Ca and Cu had positive correlation among themselves. Present study suggest that germination combined with dehulling process improved quality of horsegram by enhancing the nutritive value and reducing the antinutrients.

Ingested metallic foreign body lodged in the appendix.

An 8-year-old child ingested a metallic screw 3 months prior to admission. At laparotomy, the foreign body was found to be lodged inside the vermiform appendix, and was removed by appendicectomy.

Isolation, molecular characterization and growth-promotion activities of a cold tolerant bacterium Pseudomonas sp. NARs9 (MTCC9002) from the Indian Himalayas.

A bacterium that grows and expresses plant growth promotion traits at 4 degrees C was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Amaranth, cultivated at a high altitude location in the North Western Indian Himalayas. The isolate was Gram negative and the cells appeared as rods (2.91 x 0.71 microm in size). It grew at temperatures ranging from 4 to 30 degrees C, with a growth optimum at 28 degrees C. It exhibited tolerance to a wide pH range (5-10; optimum 8.0) and salt concentrations up to 6% (wt/vol). Although it was sensitive to Rifampicin (R 20 microg mi-1), Gentamicin (G 3 microg mi-1), and Streptomycin (S 5 microg mi-1), it showed resistance to higher concentrations of Ampicillin (A 500 microg mi-1), Penicillin (P 300 microg mi-1), Polymixin B sulphate (Pb 100 microg mi-1) and Chloramphenicol (C 200 microg mi-1). The 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed maximum identity with Pseudomonas lurida. The bacterium produced indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and solubilizes phosphate at 4, 15 and 28 degrees C. It also retained its ability to produce rhamnolipids and siderophores at 15 degrees C. Seed bacterization with the isolate enhanced the germination, shoot and root lengths of thirty-day-old wheat seedlings by 19.2, 30.0 & 22.9% respectively, as compared to the un-inoculated controls.

Isolation, molecular characterization and growth-promotion activities of a cold tolerant bacterium Pseudomonas sp. NARs9 (MTCC9002) from the Indian Himalayas

A bacterium that grows and expresses plant growth promotion traits at 4°C was isolated from the rhizospheric soil of Amaranth, cultivated at a high altitude location in the North Western Indian Himalayas. The isolate was Gram negative and the cells appeared as rods (2.91 x 0.71 μm in size). It grew at temperatures ranging from 4 to 30°C, with a growth optimum at 28°C. It exhibited tolerance to a wide pH range (5-10; optimum 8.0) and salt concentrations up to 6 percent (wt/vol). Although it was sensitive to Rifampicin (R 20 μg mi-1), Gentamicin (G 3 μg mi-1), and Streptomycin (S 5 μg mi-1), it showed resistance to higher concentrations of Ampicillin (A 500 μg mi-1), Penicillin (P 300 μg mi-1), Polymixin B sulphate (Pb 100 μg mi-1) and Chloramphenicol (C 200 μg mi-1). The 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed maximum identity with Pseudomonas lurida. The bacterium produced indole Acetic Acid (IAA) and solubilizes phosphate at 4, 15 and 28°C. It also retained its ability to produce rhamnolipids and siderophores at 15°C. Seed bacterization with the isolate enhanced the germination, shoot and root lengths of thirty-day-old wheat seedlings by 19.2, 30.0 & 22.9 percent respectively, as compared to the un-inoculated controls.

A five year review of clinical profile in HSP.

To study the clinical profile of Henoch Schönlein Purpura [HSP] in children. A retrospective case series of 30 consecutive children with a diagnosis of HSP, with special focus on clinical manifestations. Two cases with unusual features are described in detail. Data of 19 boys and 11 girls with a mean age of 10.55 years was reviewed. Overall skin was involved in 100%, joints in 86.7%, GIT in 80% and renal system in 30% Two-thirds had palpable purpura at presentation. The mean duration of appearance of skin lesions after preceding joint and gastrointestinal symptoms was 8.6 days and 6.6 days respectively. Abdominal pain was the most common gastrointestinal symptom. Knee and ankle involvement occurred in more than 3/4th of the patients with arthritis. Vesciculobullous lesions were seen in two patients while one patient had rheumatic fever. Most children with HSP will have classical manifestation of the disease but diagnostic confusion can occur in those with atypical or absent cutaneous features at the onset.

Chemical Varieties of Essential Oils from Elsholtzia polystachya from Two Different Locations in India1.

Capillary GC, GC-MS, IR, GC-IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR studies of the essential oil from the leaves and cones of ELSHOLTZIA POLYSTACHYA collected from two different locations in India revealed that one oil contained 1,8-cineol (37.3%), the other one perillene (61.2%) as the main constituent.

Terpenoids from Elsholtzia Species; II1. Constituents of Essential Oil from a New Chemotype of Elsholtzia cristata.

Capillary GC, GC-MS, (1)H-, and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy revealed that the essential oil of ELSHOLTZIA CRISTATA Willd. growing in the Kumaun region contains 88% dehydroelsholtzia ketone along with some minor acylfuran derivatives. This species with respect to its oil composition is unlike that which grows in Japan and Kashmir, and contains elsholtzia ketone as the main constituent.

Constituents of Essential Oil of Elsholtzia strobilifera1.

The composition of the essential oil of ELSHOLTZIA STROBILIFERA, growing around Naini Tal (India) has been investigated by capillary gas-chromatography, gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. Out of about 50 identified mono- and sesquiterpenoids, pinocarvone is the most abundant component, which has not been identified in any species of ELSHOLTZIA before. The acylfuran derivatives reported from other species of ELSHOLTZIA could not be detected.

Variation of CRE with exponents of time and number of fractions.

The concept of NSD has been modified into TDF's by Orton and Ellis and CRE's by Kirk et al. It was aimed to study the variability of these new concepts on the exponents of time and number of fractions. It was found that TDF has larger variation with the exponents compared to that of CRE. The use of CRE and NSD for solving the treatment scheduling problems or for intercomparison of various regimes has been simplified by providing readymade estimation of CRE for various doses/fraction with increasing number of fractions. As there is increasing evidence for the change of exponents J and H, nomograms are presented to determine the CRE for various values of J and H. The variation of decay correction factors with the exponent H is also evaluated and is presented. This will help various radiotherapists to use CRE and the decay correction factors consistent with their clinical findings.

Seasonal histological changes in the ovaries of a mountain stream teleost, Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray and Hard).

In S. richardsonii, unlike its testis, the whole of the ovary is fertile. The oogonia pass through seven maturation stages to form the ripe ova. The residual oogonia are responsible for the development of the new crop of oogonia. The zonation of the ooplasm reveals that a majority of the oocytes have a darkly stained inner and a lightly stained outer zone. The yolk nucleus probably has some relationship with the process of vitellogenesis. The nucleoli are produced by the division and fragmentation of the nucleolus. Extrusion of nucleoli appears to be associated with the formation of yolk. The formation of yolk globules in the oocyte begins in the periphery of the ooplasm and moves inward till the whole of the ooplasm in impregnated with yolk. As the yolk vesicles are PAS-positive in this fish, they contain mucopolysaccharides. The ovarian cycle can be divided into five stages. The ovary becomes much enlarged and distended in the month of October and delicate and thin in March. The spawning season extends from late October to December and the ovary exhibits asynchronism.

Cellular composition of the islets of langerhans in the himalayan toad, Bufo melanostictus (Schneider): a light microscopical study.

The pancreatic islet tissue of Bufo melanostictus, investigated by differential staining techniques, is generally condensed in the anterior and middle regions, and contains distinguishable islets of various size, shape and or irregular configuration. Histologically, 3 distinct cell types have been identified: B, A1 and A2. Various tinctorial characteristics of B cells reveal that they correspond to the insulin producing B-cells of other vertebrates. The A cells are a few in number, some of which definitely show positive argyrophilia (= A1). A few isolated A- and B-cells are found scattered in the exocrine tissue. A conspicuous feature of several B-cells in some specimens of Bufo melanostictus is the presence of vacuoles of varying size.

Cyclic changes in the pituitary gland in correlation with the testicular cycle in a hill-stream teleost, Schizothorax richardsonii (Gray and Hard).

In Schizothorax richardsonii, the pituitary gland has been studied in correlation with the phases of the testicular cycle. The cyanophils of the proximal pars distalis show hypertrophy, hyperplasia, granulation, degranulation and vacuolisation in concurrence with the spermatogenic cycle. Secretory activity of the cyanophils controls the maturation of testes, which indicates that these cyanophils are gonadotrops. The formation of sperm mother cells, however, does not appear to depend on the secretory activity of the pituitary. During spawning and regression phases, the azocarminophilous granules in the cytoplasm of the cyanophils show quantitative variation. The migratory chromophil cells show numerical variation, suggesting their involvement in the reproductive cycle. Neurosecretory material also appears to play some part in reproduction.