Post-harvest calcium chloride treatments influence fruit firmness, cell wall components and cell wall hydrolyzing enzymes of Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.) fruits during storage.

Ber fruits of two varieties having variable shelf lives viz. Umran (8-9 days) and Kaithali (4-5 days) given post-harvest treatments of calcium chloride (1% and 2%) were analyzed for various cell wall components, cell wall hydrolyzing enzymes and fruit firmness at 2 days interval until complete decay. There was a continuous decrease in cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin contents during storage in both the varieties with more reduction in Kaithali, a variety having short shelf-life. The decline in cell wall components was accompanied by parallel increase in activities of cellulase, polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin methylesterase (PME). Post-harvest treatment of Ber fruits with calcium chloride resulted in significantly lowering of activities of cellulase (20-22%), PG (23-29%) and PME (25-28%) thereby retaining higher cell wall components viz. cellulose (9-11%), hemicellulose (7-8%) and pectin (12-13%) as compared to their respective control in both the varieties. The delay in cell wall hydrolysis, as mediated by calcium chloride corresponded to the higher retention of fruit firmness.

Intervention of molecular breeding in water saving rice production system: aerobic rice.

The aerobic rice system/methods developed to tackle shortage of water, is a sustainable method to enhance rice productivity. Approximately 50% of irrigation water could be saved using this system in contrast to lowland rice cultivation. The crop can be directly seeded or transplanted in dry soil in this system rather than irrigated system of rice production. Here in this review we had tried to present all the important development made in regards to aerobic rice. Many QTLs responsible for aerobic traits in rice that have been mapped already are enlisted here. Brief comparisons of aerobic rice and conventional rice, further improvements made in aerobic rice have also been discussed.

Genetic variation, linkage mapping of QTL and correlation studies for yield, root, and agronomic traits for aerobic adaptation.

BACKGROUND: Water scarcity and drought have seriously threatened traditional rice cultivation practices in several parts of the world, including India. Aerobic rice that uses significantly less water than traditional flooded systems has emerged as a promising water-saving technology. The identification of QTL conferring improved aerobic adaptation may facilitate the development of high-yielding aerobic rice varieties. In this study, experiments were conducted for mapping QTL for yield, root-related traits, and agronomic traits under aerobic conditions using HKR47 × MAS26 and MASARB25 × Pusa Basmati 1460 F2:3 mapping populations. RESULTS: A total of 35 QTL associated with 14 traits were mapped on chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 in MASARB25 x Pusa Basmati 1460 and 14 QTL associated with 9 traits were mapped on chromosomes 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 in HKR47 × MAS26. Two QTL (qGY8.1 with an R2 value of 34.0% and qGY2.1 with an R2 value of 22.8%) and one QTL (qGY2.2 with an R2 value of 43.2%) were identified for grain yield under aerobic conditions in the mapping populations MASARB25 × Pusa Basmati 1460 and HKR47 × MAS26, respectively.A number of breeding lines with higher yield per plant, root length, dry biomass, length-breadth ratio, and with Pusa Basmati 1460-specific alleles in a homozygous or heterozygous condition at the BAD2 locus were identified that will serve as novel material for the selection of stable aerobic Basmati rice breeding lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results identified positive correlation between some of the root traits and yield under aerobic conditions, indicating the role of root traits for improving yield under aerobic situations possibly through improved water and nutrient uptake. Co-localization of QTL for yield, root traits, and yield-related agronomic traits indicates that the identified QTL may be immediately exploited in marker-assisted-breeding to develop novel high-yielding aerobic rice varieties.

Insight into the 3D structure of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase from rice (Oryza sativa L.).

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (E.C. 2.7.7.27; AGPase) is a key regulatory enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step of starch biosynthesis in higher plants. AGPase consists of pair of small (SS) and large (LS) subunits thereby constituting a heterotetrameric structure. No crystal structure of the native heterotetrameric enzyme is available for any species, thus limiting the complete understanding of structure-function relationships of this enzyme. In this study, an attempt was made to deduce the heterotetrameric assembly of AGPase in rice. Homology modeling of the three-dimensional structure of the LS and SS was performed using the Swiss Model Server, and the models were evaluated and docked using GRAMM-X to obtain the stable heterodimer orientation (LS as receptor and SS as ligand) and then the heterotetrameric orientation. The initial heterotetrameric orientation was further refined using the RosettaDock Server. MD simulation of the representative heterodimer/tetramer was performed using NAMD, which indicated that the tail-to-tail interaction of LS and SS was more stable than the head-to-head orientation, and the heterotetramer energy was also minimized to -767,011 kcal mol(-1). Subunit-subunit interaction studies were then carried out using the programs NACCESS and Dimplot. A total of 57 interface residues were listed in SS and 63 in LS. The residues plotted by Dimplot were similar to those listed by NACCESS. Multiple sequence alignment of the sequences of LS and SS from potato, maize and rice validated the interactions inferred in the study. RMSD of 1.093 Å was obtained on superimposition of the deduced heterotetramer on the template homo-tetramer (1YP2), showing the similarity between the two structures.

Aerobic rice genotypes displayed greater adaptation to water-limited cultivation and tolerance to polyethyleneglycol-6000 induced stress.

Water scarcity and drought have seriously threatened traditional rice cultivation practices in several parts of the world including India. In the present investigation, experiments were conducted to see if the water-efficient aerobic rice genotypes developed at UAS, Bangalore (MAS25, MAS26 and MAS109) and IRRI, Philippines (MASARB25 and MASARB868), are endowed with drought tolerance or not. A set of these aerobic and five lowland high-yielding (HKR47 and PAU201, Taraori Basmati, Pusa1121 and Pusa1460) indica rice genotypes were evaluated for: (i) yield and yield components under submerged and aerobic conditions in field, (ii) root morphology and biomass under aerobic conditions in pots in the nethouse, (iii) PEG-6000 (0, -1, -2 and -3 bar) induced drought stress at vegetative stage using a hydroponic culture system and (iv) polymorphism for three SSR markers associated with drought resistance traits. Under submerged conditions, the yield of aerobic rice genotypes declined by 13.4-20.1 % whereas under aerobic conditions the yield of lowland indica/Basmati rice varieties declined by 23-27 %. Under water-limited conditions in pots, aerobic rice genotypes had 54-73.8 % greater root length and 18-60 % higher fresh root biomass compared to lowland indica rice varieties. Notably, root length of MASARB25 was 35 % shorter than MAS25 whereas fresh and dry root biomass of MASARB25 was 10 % and 64 % greater than MAS25. The lowland indica were more sensitive to PEG-stress with a score of 5.9-7.6 for Basmati and 6.1-6.7 for non-aromatic indica rice varieties, than the aerobic rice genotypes (score 2.7-3.3). A set of three microsatellite DNA markers (RM212, RM302 and RM3825) located on chromosome 1 which has been shown to be associated with drought resistance was investigated in the present study. Two of these markers (RM212 and RM302) amplified a specific allele in all the aerobic rice genotypes which were absent in lowland indica rice genotypes.

Potential pharmacodynamic drug-drug interaction between concomitantly administered lisinopril and diclofenac sodium: a call for appropriate management in hypertensive osteoarthritic patients.

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed as an open label, multiple-dose, randomized, parallel trial to evaluate the pharmacodynamic drug-drug interaction of lisinopril and concomitantly administered diclofenac sodium in non-diabetic and diabetic, mild to moderate hypertensive, osteoarthritic patients. METHODS: Post-screening and on inclusion, patients were put on a 2-week washout period and then randomly assigned to either only lisinopril 10 mg or combination of lisinopril 10 mg and diclofenac sodium 100 mg treatments for 8-12 weeks in diseased states of hypertension and osteoarthritis with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The blood pressure (BP) control with lisinopril was reduced by concomitantly administered diclofenac sodium in non-diabetic (SBP: p=0.00002; DBP: p=0.000008) and diabetic (SBP: p=0.002; DBP: p=0.001) patients when compared with the patients receiving lisinopril alone. Insulin sensitivity was improved (p=0.00002) and urinary albumin excretion rate was better controlled (p=0.0096) in lisinopril-treated patients when compared with the combination treatment in diabetic pool. Serum creatinine levels increased significantly in non-diabetic patients (p=0.00004) receiving combination treatment. In addition, creatinine clearance (CLCR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly higher in diabetic (CLCR: p<0.00001; BUN: p=0.0098) as well as in non-diabetic (CLCR: p<0.00001; BUN: p=0.03) patients treated with combination treatment. The alterations in serum electrolytes, reduction in % platelet aggregation activity and improvement in lipid profile was more profound with combination treatment in comparison to lisinopril alone. CONCLUSIONS: The antihypertensive efficacy and insulin sensitivity improving property of lisinopril along with the renal function might get worse in hypertensive osteoarthritic patients receiving concomitant treatment of oral diclofenac sodium with lisinopril. In addition to this, close monitoring of serum electrolytes is also suggested to rule out any long-term detrimental effect.

A review on recent advances in dry eye: Pathogenesis and management.

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca, more commonly known as dry eye, is an extremely common and often unrecognized disease. It is the condition in ophthalmology that in its mild grade of severity will affect most of the population at one time or other. Due to a wide variety of presentations and symptoms, it often frustrates the ophthalmologists as well as patients. Due to multifactorial and elusive etiology, it is often challenging to treat dry eye. Ocular surface disorders are also clinically important to treat especially in terms of visual acuity. Xero-dacryology is therefore becoming a very important branch of ophthalmology. Recent studies have given insight into the inflammatory etiology of dry eye. The conventional and main approach to the treatment of dry eye is providing lubricating eye drops or tear substitutes. However, the newer treatment approach is to target the underlying cause of dry eye instead of conventional symptomatic relief. In light of the above knowledge, the present article focuses on newer theories on pathogenesis of dry eye and their impact on dry eye management. METHOD OF LITERATURE SEARCH: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed databases in two steps. The first step was oriented to articles published for dry eye. The second step was focused on the role of inflammation and anti-inflammatory therapy for dry eye. The search strategy was not limited by year of publication. A manual literature search was also undertaken from authentic reference books on ocular surface disease.

Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, which includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). These diseases have become important health problems. Medical therapy for IBD has advanced dramatically in the last decade with the introduction of targeted biologic therapies, the optimization of older therapies, including rugs such as immunomodulators and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), and a better understanding of the mucosal immune system and the genetics involved in the pathogenesis of IBD. The goal of IBD therapy is to induce and maintain remission. The current treatment paradigm involves a step-up approach, moving to aggressive, powerful therapies only when milder therapies with fewer potential side effects fail or when patients declare themselves to have an aggressive disease. This review focuses on the current treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.

Patterns of left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic kidney disease: an echocardiographic evaluation.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients having different degree of uremia for the prevalence of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), different patterns of left Ventricular Hypertrophy by echocardiographic variables to define the most sensitive and powerful predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature morbidity and mortality. METHODS: We used clinical and biochemical data from the prospective study done by us to evaluate "The Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac functions in patients with chronic kidney disease". The diagnosis of CKD was made on the basis of serum creatinine (sCr) concentration of more than 1.5 mg/dl, persistent and with no evidence of recovery over a period of 3 months. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation and cut-off for CKD was taken to be < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 as per existing guidelines. The study population consisted of a total of 75 subjects divided into three groups of 25 subjects each, all between the age of 20-65 yrs: GROUP A: Healthy normal controls (sCr < 1.5 mg/dl); GROUP B: Patients with mild to moderate CKD (sCr 1.5 - 6.0 mg/dl); GROUP C: Patients with severe CKD (sCr > 6.0 mg/dl). RESULTS: A progressive rise in prevalence of LVH was observed with the severity of kidney disease from 64% (mild/ moderate CKD group) to 96% (severe CKD group) and higher prevalence of LVH in females than males in the severe CKD group. The mean LVMI in both the groups of CKD was significantly higher than the healthy controls (76.62 +/- 10.97). Also, mean LVMI in severe CKD (139.23 +/- 17.47) patients was significantly higher than in mild/moderate CKD (114.91 +/- 15.20) patients. The prevalence of concentric remodeling in both the CKD groups was alike (20%). While that of concentric hypertrophy in severe CKD patients (68%) was significantly higher than in mild/moderate CKD group (40%) (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed for eccentric pattern of hypertrophy between the two CKD groups. This suggests that concentric hypertrophy is more prevalent in CKD patients. CONCLUSIONS: The mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) showed a proportionate increase with the severity of renal failure and a progressive rise with increase in severity of disease. Patients of CKD groups revealed occurrence of concentric remodeling which is a predictor of high vulnerability for progressing into concentric and eccentric hypertrophy. Hence early medical intervention may reverse the concentric remodeling, thereby preventing the advancement to concentric or eccentric LVH.

Antihyperlipidemic activity of Clitoria ternatea and Vigna mungo in rats.

CONTEXT: Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Some plants are effective in controlling hyperlipidemia. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Clitoria ternatea L. and Vigna mungo L. (Fabaceae) on experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The poloxamer 407-induced acute hyperlipidemia and diet-induced hyperlipidemia models were used for this investigation. RESULTS: Oral administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of the roots and seeds of C. ternatea and the hydroalcoholic extract of the seeds of V. mungo resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The atherogenic index and the HDL/LDL ratio were also normalized after treatment in diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The effects were compared with atorvastatin (50 mg/kg, p.o.) and gemfibrozil (50 mg/kg, p.o.), reference standards. DISCUSSION: The cholesterol-lowering effect of C. ternatea might be attributed to increased biliary excretion and decreased absorption of dietary cholesterol. The cholesterol-lowering effects of V. mungo seeds might be because of decreased HMG-CoA reductase activity, increased biliary excretion, and decreased absorption of dietary cholesterol. Additionally, they improved natural antioxidant defense mechanisms. CONCLUSION: The findings of the investigation suggest that C. ternatea and V. mungo have significant antihyperlipidemic action against experimentally-induced hyperlipidemia.

Immunostimolatory activities of Vigna mungo L. extract in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Vigna mungo L. (Fabaceae) is a popular food legume used in the traditional Indian system of medicine for the treatment of a variety of disease conditions. The objective of the study was to evaluate any immunostimulatory activities of the extract of V. mungo seeds in an animal model. The induction of any immunostimulatory effects were evaluated using measures of sheep red blood cells (SRBC)-induced humoral antibody titer, SRBC-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), neutrophil adhesion, and in vivo phagocytosis (via the carbon clearance method) after host treatment with the extract. The results here indicated that primary and secondary antibody titers in the rats were significantly increased by treatment with the V. mungo extract as compared with those noted among rats in a control group. Increases in DTH response, the percentage (%) neutrophil adhesion, and in situ phagocytosis were also observed after treatment with the extract. We summarize that the apparent immunostimulatory effect of the V. mungo seed extract might be attributed to an augmentation of humoral and cell-mediated responses, phagocytosis, and hematopoiesis in the treated rats. The findings in this study suggest that V. mungo seed extract possesses profound immunostimulatory activities. Whether such outcomes are also evidenced by consumption of the intact seeds themselves, as is most likely to be the case with humans, remains to be determined. Nonetheless, the present study provides evidence that could help explain how the traditional use of V. mungo has been successful in the treatment of various disorders in humans.

A comparative study of DNA damage in patients suffering from diabetes and thyroid dysfunction and complications.

OBJECTIVE: The apoptotic DNA levels in blood leukocytes of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and thyroid dysfunctionism were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) detects migration of DNA from individual cell nuclei following alkaline treatment. Comet assay pattern was studied in individuals with T2D, hypothyroid (HT), hyperthyroid (HeT), and patients suffering from both diabetes mellitus and HT (HT + DM). Results were compared with the normal subjects (n = 9 in each group). The percentage apoptotic cell populations were calculated from the tail length. RESULTS: T2D patients showed 92.24% of cell damage compared to HT or HeT patients (51.04% or 54.64%, respectively). Further, increase in cell damage was also observed in HT + DM subjects (P < 0.05). Pharmacologic therapy significantly influenced cell damage. However, age and duration of disease did not show any definite influence on apoptosis. CONCLUSION: Dependence of disease seems to be the major contributor of the cell damage. However, thyroid dysfunction did not show any deleterious effects on individual cells under the study.

Activities of enzymes of fermentation pathways in the leaves and roots of contrasting cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.) during flooding.

Flooding evoked a differential response in the activities of enzymes of fermentation pathway in leaves and roots of flood sensitive (S-308) and flood-tolerant (SSG-59-3) cultivars of sorghum. Activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) enhanced in roots of SSG-59-3 during 72 h of flooding. In contrast, a transient increase in the activities was discerned in roots of S-308 up to 24 h flooding followed by a decline in activities of these enzymes. In leaves of SSG-59-3, the activities of ADH and LDH increased to about three fold during flooding stress as compared to that in the non-flooded control plants. Though elevation in activities of these enzymes was observed in leaves of S-308 up to 48 h of flooding, the magnitude of enhancement was much lower than that in SSG-59-3. Alanine aminotranferase activity depressed in leaves of both the cultivars but the level of decline was more pronounced in sensitive cultivar S-308 as compare to tolerant SSG-59-3. The amount of alcohol, lactic acid and alanine were higher in both roots and leaves of SSG-59-3 than that in S-308 during flooding stress. It is thus apparent that roots and leaves of flood tolerant variety tends to attain greater capacity to perform reactions of various fermentation pathways to sustain production of ATP under flooded conditions.

Comparison of enteroprotective efficacy of triphala formulations (Indian Herbal Drug) on methotrexate-induced small intestinal damage in rats.

Triphala is categorized as a rejuvenator and antioxidant-rich Ayurvedic herbal formulation and has traditionally been used in various gastric problems including intestinal inflammation. The aim of the present study was to examine the comparative enteroprotective effect of Triphala formulations against methotrexate-induced intestinal damage in rats. Triphala formulations were prepared by mixing equal (1:1:1) and unequal (1:2:4) proportions of Terminalia chebula Retz., Terminalia belerica (Gaertn.) Roxb. and Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Intestinal damage was induced by administering methotrexate (MTX) in a dose of 12 mg/kg, orally for 4 days to albino rats. The intestinal damage response was assessed by gross and microscopical injury, measuring the intestinal permeability to phenol red and tissue biochemical parameters. Triphala equal and unequal formulations at the dose of 540 mg/kg significantly restored the depleted protein level in brush border membrane of intestine, phospholipid and glutathione content and decreased the myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase level in intestinal mucosa of methotrexate-treated rats. In addition, Triphala unequal formulation showed significant decrease in permeation clearance of phenol red with significant attenuation in the histopathological changes, level of disaccharidase in brush border membrane vesicles and lipid peroxidation content of intestinal mucosa. Based on the data generated, it is suggested that Triphala unequal formulation provides significantly more protection than Triphala equal formulation against methotrexate-induced damage in rat intestine.

5-Hydroxytryptamine Receptor Subtypes and their Modulators with Therapeutic Potentials.

UNLABELLED: 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has become one of the most investigated and complex biogenic amines. The main receptors and their subtypes, e.g., 5-HTI (5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HTID, 5-HTIE and 5-HT1F), 5-HT2 (5-HT2A, 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C), 5-HT3, 5-HT4, 5-HT5 (5-HT5A, 5-HT5B), 5-HT6 and 5-HT7 have been identified. Specific drugs which are capable of either selectively stimulating or inhibiting these receptor subtypes are being designed. This has generated therapeutic potentials of 5-HT receptor modulators in a variety of disease conditions. Conditions where 5-HT receptor modulators have established their use with distinct efficacy and advantages include migraine, anxiety, psychosis, obesity and cancer therapy-induced vomiting by cytotoxic drugs and radiation. Discovery of 5-HT, its biosynthesis, metabolism, physiological role and the potential of 5-HT receptor modulators in various nervous, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal tract disorders, bone growth and micturition have been discussed in this article. KEYWORDS: 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors; Modulators; Biogenic amines.

Gastroprotective effect of Benincasa hispida fruit extract.

OBJECTIVES: The antiulcer activity of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. fruit was evaluated in rats against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage, pylorus ligated (PL) gastric ulcers, and cold restraint-stress (CRS)-induced gastric ulcer models. METHODS: Petroleum ether and methanol extracts were administrated orally at the dose of 300 mg/kg, and omeprazole (reference standard) at the dose of 20 mg/kg. Ulcer index was common parameter studied in all the models. Further, vascular permeability was evaluated in ethanol model, and effect on lipid peroxidation, viz. melondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels were studied in CRS model. RESULTS: Both the extracts produced significant reduction in ulcer index (P < 0.05) in all the models and the results were comparable with that of omeprazole-treated group. Further, significant reduction in vascular permeability (P < 0.05) was observed. In CRS model, MDA content was significantly reduced along with increase in CAT levels as compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS: Petroleum ether and methanol extracts of B. hispida possess significant antiulcer as well as antioxidant property.

Immunostimulant activity of n-butanol fraction of root bark of Oroxylum indicum, vent.

In the present study, the immunomodulatory activity and the mechanism of action of the n-butanol fraction (100 mg/kg body weight, per os, once daily for 22 consecutive days) of the root bark of Oroxylum indicum, vent. (Bignoniaceae) was evaluated in rats using measures of immune responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC haemagglutinating antibody [HA] titer) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. In response to SRBC, treatment with the n-butanol fraction caused a significant rise in circulating HA titers during secondary antibody responses, indicating a potentiation of certain aspects of the humoral response. The treatment also resulted in a significant rise in paw edema formation, indicating increased host DTH response. Additionally, the antioxidant potential of the drug was exhibited by significant reductions in whole blood malondialdehyde (MDA) content along with a rise in the activities/levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, histopathologic analysis of lymphoid tissues showed an increase in cellularity, e.g., T-lymphocytes and sinusoids, in the treatment group. In contrast, dexamethasone treatment caused significant reduction in the HA titer, DTH responses, and antioxidant potential. In a triple antigen-mediated immunological edema model, the extent of edema raised in drug-treated rats was greater compared to that in control rats, thus confirming enhanced DTH reactions in response to the drug treatment. Based on the above findings, the reported immunomodulatory activity of an active fraction of O. indicum might be attributed to its ability to enhance specific immune responses (both humoral and cell-mediated) as well as its antioxidant potential.

Role of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases in cardiovascular diseases.

Over the last decade important advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular events underlying cellular responses to extracellular signals. Increased understanding of signal transduction mechanisms and gene regulation involved in cardiovascular diseases has created opportunities for the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds useful for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. One of the best-studied signalling routes is the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase signal transduction pathway, which plays a crucial role in many aspects of cardiovascular responses. Here, our current understanding of the MAP kinase pathway is reviewed, as well as recent advances in the design of novel agents that are able to modulate the activity of these signaling cascades.

Genetic analysis of Indian aromatic and quality rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm using panels of fluorescently-labeled microsatellite markers.

Genetic relationships among Indian aromatic and quality rice (Oryza sativa) germplasm were assessed using 30 fluorescently labeled rice microsatellite markers. The 69 rice genotypes used in this study included 52 Basmati and other scented/quality rice varieties from different parts of India and 17 indica and japonica varieties that served as controls. A total of 235 alleles were detected at the 30 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, 62 (26.4%) of which were present only in Basmati and other scented/quality rice germplasm accessions. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 22, with an average of 7.8, polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.2 to 0.9, with an average of 0.6, and the size range between the smallest and the largest allele for a given microsatellite locus varied between 3 bp and 68 bp. Of the 30 SSR markers, 20 could distinguish traditional Basmati rice varieties, and a single panel of eight markers could be used to differentiate the premium traditional Basmati, cross-bred Basmati, and non-Basmati rice varieties having different commercial value in the market-place. When estimates of inferred ancestry or similarity coefficients were used to cluster varieties, the high-quality Indian aromatic and quality rice genotypes could be distinguished from both indica and japonica cultivars, and crossbred varieties could be distinguished from traditional Basmati rices. The results indicate that Indian aromatic and quality germplasm is genetically distinct from other groups within O. sativa and is the product of a long independent pattern of evolution. The data also suggest that there is scope for exploiting the genetic diversity of aromatic/quality rice germplasm available in India for national Basmati rice breeding programs.