Serum Parathyroid Hormone Levels in Chronic Endemic Fluorosis

Endemic waterborne fluorosis is a public health problem in Isparta, a city located in southern Turkey. Fluoride is a cumulative element that increases metabolic turnover of the bone and also affects the homeostasis of bone mineral metabolism. There are number of similarities between the effects of excess parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fluorosis on bone. So fluoride might show its effect via PTH. We aimed to determine PTH levels in patients with endemic fluorosis to estimate the possible toxic effects of chronic fluoride intake. Fifty-six patients with endemic fluorosis and 28 age-, sex-, and body-mass-index-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Endemic fluorosis was diagnosed according to the clinical diagnosis criteria of Wang. The urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly higher than those of control subjects as expected (1.9 ± 0.1 vs. 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/L, respectively; P < 0.001). PTH levels in fluorosis group were significantly higher than control group (65.09 ± 32.91 versus 47.40 ± 20.37, respectively; P = 0.01). The results of our study demonstrate that serum PTH levels are increased in patients with endemic fluorosis. Fluoride, by interfering calcium balance, may be the cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism.     

Serum Copper,Zinc, and Magnesium Levels in Patients with Chronic Fluorosis

Although there are many studies on effect of fluoride on trace elements in experimental animals, few studies exist on serum trace elements levels in patients with endemic fluorosis. We aimed to determine the serum levels of trace elements including serum copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and serum levels of minerals including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K) in patients with endemic fluorosis. The study group consisted of 30 patients with endemic fluorosis (17 females, 13 males, mean age 33.53 ± 9.85 years). An age, gender, and body mass index matched 30 healthy volunteers comprised control group (21 females, ten males with a mean age 33.93 ± 7.39 years). Urine fluoride levels of chronic fluorosis patients were significantly higher than that of control subjects as expected (1.92 ± 0.10 mg/l vs. 0.41 ± 0.09 mg/l, respectively; P < 0.001). Serum Cu levels (89.14 ± 16.77 μg/dL vs. 102.69 ± 25.04 μg/dL, respectively, P = 0.017), serum Zn levels (77.98 ± 20.58 μg/dL vs. 94.57 ± 35.87μg/dL, respectively, P = 0.032), and serum Mg levels (1.92 ± 0.18 mg/dL vs. 2.07 ± 0.31 mg/dL, respectively, p = 0.022) was significantly lower in chronic fluorosis patients than in controls. There were no statistically significant differences between the fluorosis group and control group with respect to serum levels of Na, K, Ca, and P. We concluded that chronic fluorosis is associated with reduced serum levels of Cu, Zn, and Mg.     

Impaired Heart Rate Recovery in Patients with Endemic Fluorosis

The objective of the present study was to determine the heart rate recovery index (HRRI), a marker of autonomic nervous system function in patients with endemic fluorosis. Forty patients with endemic fluorosis (16 men/24 women) and 40 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls (16 men/24 women) with normal fluoride intake were enrolled in this study. HRRI was calculated by subtracting the heart rate values at the first, second, and third minutes of the recovery phase from the peak heart rate (HRRI 1, HRRI 2, HRRI 3). Urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly (P?<?0.001) higher than control subjects as expected. HRRI 2 was significantly lower in fluorosis patients than in the controls. The incidence of abnormal HRRI 1 was significantly higher in fluorosis patients than in the controls (P?<?0.05). We observed that HRRI, a marker of autonomic nervous system function, is impaired in patients with chronic fluorosis.     

Fluoride Alters Serum Elemental (Calcium,Magnesium, Copper,and Zinc) Homeostasis Along with Erythrocyte Carbonic Anhydrase Activity in Fluorosis Endemic Villages and Restores on Supply of Safe Drinking Water in School-Going Children of Nalgonda District,India

The present study aimed to determine the serum trace elements (copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg)) along with erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity and effect of intervention with safe drinking water for 5 years in the school children of fluorosis endemic area. For this purpose, three categories of villages were selected based on drinking water fluoride (F): Category I (control, F?=?1.68 mg/L), category II (affected F?=?3.77 mg/L), and category III (intervention village) where initial drinking water F was 4.51 mg/L, and since the last 5 years, they were drinking water containing <?1.0 mg/L F. The results revealed that urinary F was significantly (P?<?0.05) higher in category II compared to categories I and III. A significant (P?<?0.05) increase in serum Cu and Mg was observed in category II compared to category I. Serum Zn and Ca was significantly (P?<?0.05) decreased in categories II and III compared to category I. The erythrocyte CA activity was decreased in the category II compared to category I. However, in the category III, erythrocyte CA activity was comparable to the control group. In conclusion, F exposure altered elemental homeostasis which has restored to some extent on intervention by safe drinking water for 5 years in school-going children.     

Effect of Endemic Fluorosis on Hematological Parameters

Although so many studies exist on effect of fluoride on hematological parameters in experimental animals, a few studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of chronic fluorosis on hematological parameters in humans’ subjects with endemic fluorosis. So we aimed to determine the hematological parameters in patients with endemic fluorosis. The study group consisted of 60 patients with endemic fluorosis (27 females, 33 males, and mean age 33.4?±?9.6 years). An age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched control group was composed of 34 healthy volunteers (11 females, 23 males with a mean age 32.6?±?5.6 years). Urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly higher than control subjects as expected (0.42?±?0.09 vs 1.92?±?0.14 mg/l, respectively; P?<?0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the fluorosis group and control group with respect to hematological parameters (complete blood count and ferritin). We concluded that chronic fluorosis has no effect on hematological parameters in patients with endemic fluorosis.     

Serum mineral levels at pregnancy and postpartum in single and twin pregnant sheep

This study was performed to investigate calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and chlorine (Cl) levels in blood serum at d 60, 100, and 150 of gestation and at d 45 after parturition and to find out the significance of differences for macromineral levels during these stages of single or twin gestation in Akkaraman sheep. Blood samples of 30 apparently healthy pregnant Akkaraman sheep (15 single pregnancies, 15 twin pregnancies) were used. The samples were analyzed using a biochemical analyzer for Ca, P, Na, K, and Mg concentrations and using the Schales method for Cl levels. A statistically significant decrease (p<0.001 and p<0.05) was found on d 100 of pregnancy for Ca levels and for serum inorganic P levels in both groups. Twin pregnant sheep were found to have lower (p<0.05) serum Ca and inorganic P levels than sheep pregnant with one fetus on d 100 and 150. Significant decreases (p>0.05, p <0.01) for serum Mg levels in both groups were recorded on d 100 and 150 of pregnancy. There were significant increases (p<0.01) in serum Cl levels on d 100 in single and twin pregnant sheep.     

Aortic Elasticity is Impaired in Patients with Endemic Fluorosis

Sixty-three patients with endemic fluorosis (36 males/27 females; mean age 33.9 ± 8.6 years) and 45 age-, sex-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls (30 males/15 females; mean age 32.7 ± 8.8 years) were included in this study. Aortic stiffness indices, aortic strain (AS), aortic distensibility (AD), and aortic strain index (ASI) were calculated from the aortic diameters measured by echocardiography and blood pressure obtained by sphygmomanometry. The urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly higher than control subjects as expected (1.9 ± 0.1 mg/l vs. 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/l, respectively; P < 0.001). AS and AD were significantly lower in fluorosis patients than in the controls (for AS 5.3 ± 3.6 vs. 8.0 ± 3.4%; P < 0.001 and for AD 0.2 ± 0.1 vs. 0.3 ± 0.1 cm² dyn⁻¹ 10⁻³; P < 0.001, respectively). In contrast, signicantly higher ASI was observed in fluorosis patients than in the controls (3.4 ± 0.6 vs. 3.0 ± 0.4; P < 0.001, respectively). The results of our study demonstrate that elastic properties of ascending aorta are impaired in patients with endemic fluorosis.     

Gastrointestinal Absorption and Renal Excretion of Fluoride After Ingestion of a High-Fluoride Dentifrice

This study aimed to evaluate the gastrointestinal absorption and renal excretion of fluoride after the ingestion of high-fluoride dentifrice. Twelve volunteers participated in this in vivo, crossover, and blinded study. In three experimental phases, the volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups, who ingested either the following: distilled and deionized water (control), conventional dentifrice (1100 μg/g), or high-fluoride dentifrice (5000 μg/g). Both dentifrices contained fluoride in the form of NaF/SiO₂. To determine the rate of fluoride absorption, non-stimulated saliva was collected for up to 120 min after ingestion and the area under the curve of the salivary fluoride concentration was plotted as a function of time and the maximum concentration determined. All urine produced during the 24 h before and after ingestion was collected, and urinary excretion was calculated from the difference between the urinary fluoride concentrations in the two periods. A specific ion electrode coupled to an ion analyzer was used to measure fluoride concentrations. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test with p set at 5%. All measured parameters were highest after the ingestion of the dentifrice with 5000 μg/g (p < 0.001), confirming that this has an increased level of bioavailable fluoride compared with the conventional dentifrice. The high-fluoride dentifrice increases the concentration of salivary fluoride, which may explain its greater anticaries effect. However, it poses a potential risk of causing dental fluorosis and so should not be used by children.

     

Effects of Fluoride on Synaptic Membrane Fluidity and PSD-95 Expression Level in Rat Hippocampus

The objective of this study is to investigate the neurotoxicity of drinking water fluorosis on rat hippocampus. Just weaning male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and given 15, 30, and 60 mg/L NaF solution and distilled water, respectively, for 9 months. The fluidity of brain synaptic membrane and expression level of postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95) were tested. Results showed that the fluidity of brain synaptic membrane decreased gradually with increasing of fluoride concentration, and it was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in moderate-fluoride group compared with control group, and expression level of PSD-95 was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in moderate-fluoride group when compared with that of control group. These results indicate that decrease of synaptic membrane fluidity and PSD-95 expression level may be the molecular basis of central nervous system damage caused by fluoride intoxication; PSD-95 in CA3 region of hippocampus is probably a target molecule for fluoride.     

Effect of long-term swimming exercise on zinc,magnesium, and copper distribution in aged rats

Trace element content of different tissues might be altered by both age and exercise training. We aimed to determine the effects of a 1-yr swimming protocol (60 min/d, 5 day/wk) on tissue levels and the distribution of zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) in aging rats. Three groups were formed: sedentary and trained old groups and a young control group. Tissue Zn, Mg, and Cu concentrations were measured in the kidney, heart, liver, lungs, and gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Kidney zinc concentration significantly decreased in the sedentary old group compared to the young control group (p<0.01) and was significantly higher in the trained old group compared to the sedentary old group (p<0.01), whereas Zn levels in the soleus muscle significantly increased in the sedentary old group in comparison to young controls (p<0.05). Tissue Mg concentrations remained unchanged. The sedentary old group exhibited a significant decrease in kidney Cu concentration compared to the young control group (p<0.01). Although kidney Cu levels also decreased in trained old rats in comparison to young controls (p<0.05), they were significantly higher than in sedentary old rats (p<0.01). The decrease in kidney Zn and Cu content as a result of aging was partly prevented by long-term swimming exercise.     

Study on Blood Biochemical Diagnostic Indices for Hepatic Function Biomarkers in Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship of fluoride in drinking water to liver function in individuals living in normal and seven endemic fluorosis areas of Punjab, India. The concentration of fluoride in drinking water of different areas varied from 5.9 to 24.5 mg/L. Study group consisted of 705 patients in the age group between 20 and 60 years (mean age of 39.35 ± 11.27) affected with osteodental fluorosis were compared with 300 age- and sex-matched controls (with mean age of 35.28 ± 8.25 years). Biochemical data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Tukey–Kramer and Bonferroni multiple comparison tests. The relationship between hepatic enzymes was calculated by Pearson’s correlation and linear regression. The results revealed significantly (P < 0.001) higher concentration of serum fluoride in patients when compared to control. The mean activities of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) were significantly (P < 0.05–0.001) elevated in patients from all fluoride areas. ANOVA with post hoc Turkey–Kramer and Bonferroni multiple comparison test demonstrated a significant (P < 0.0001) variance in the activities of cAMP, ALKP, ACP, AST, and ALT in fluorotic patients, with elevation in water fluoride levels. Maximum elevation of 196.14% (ACP), 99.31% (cyclic adenosine monophosphate; cAMP), 72.08% (ALT), 60.14% (AST), and least 21.35% (ALKP) was recorded in patients exposed to 24.5 mg/L fluoride in drinking water. There was positive correlation between water fluoride, serum fluoride and AST (r = 0.77, 0.91), ALT (r = 0.82, 0.90), ALKP (r = 0.88, 0.97), and ACP (r = 0.74, 0.85). Pearson’s correlation demonstrated highly significant (P < 0.05) positive relationship between water fluoride and cAMP (regression equation: Y = 0.9807 ×+ 22.081 Y = 0.9807 \times + 22.081 , = 0.84; r = 0.92, P < 0.05). The increased levels of transaminases in fluorotic patients suggest alteration in liver functions. The level of alkaline and acid phosphatase was increased during fluoride intoxication which is also an early marker of hepatic cell damage because of its specificity and catalytic activity. The elevated levels of enzymes are reflective of bone disorders, which are characterized by increased osteoblastic activity. There levels increased several times if cellular damage occurs in the liver. The results suggest that fluoride exposure intensifies the activities of hepatic function enzymes in osteofluorosis.     

Study on Changes of Clinical Indicators and Key Proteins from Fluoride Exposure

Few studies have evaluated the biomarker changes of fluoride exposure. In order to explore early and sensitive indicators, animal experiment was designed. Ninety-six healthy SD rats (48 males and 48 females) weighing approximately 60 g were randomly divided into six groups of 16 animals each by gender average. Control animals were supplied with distilled water only as group 1. Exposure groups’ animals were treated with 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 mg NaF/kg bw, respectively, as groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Our study found that contents of white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte percentage (LYMPH%), lymphocyte (LYM), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) increased significantly in high-fluoride-exposure groups (p?<?0.05), which revealed that immune system may be interfered by high fluoride. Meanwhile, levels of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), and ALT/AST in groups 5 and 6 decreased significantly compared to those in control group (p?<?0.05), as well as the concentration of uric acid (UA) in groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 exhibited the same trends (p?<?0.05). On the contrary, the level of blood B2 microglobulin (BB2MG) increased significantly (p?<?0.05) in groups 4, 5, and 6. Changes of ALT, AST, UA, and BB2MG suggested the functions of the liver and kidney be altered by fluoride exposure. At the same time, the ATF4 content decreased gradually with the increase of fluoride concentration; furthermore, a highly significant (r?=??0.586, p?<?0.01) negative relationship between ATF4 content and fluoride exposure level was found. Results meant that clinical indicators cannot act as indicators of high fluoride exposure, and it also suggested that protein ATF4 might be the early and sensitive indicator in epidemiologic study of high fluoride exposure.     

Protective role of intraperitoneally administered vitamins C and E and selenium on the levels of lipid peroxidation in the lens of rats made diabetic with streptozotocin

The aim of this work was to determine the protective effects of intraperitoneally administered vitamins C and E and selenium on the lipid peroxidation (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), reduced glutathione (rGSH) activities in the lens of rats induced diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ). Lenses in the diabetic control group had a slightly higher mean level of MDA compared with lenses of the vitamin E and selenium groups, although the mean levels of MDA were significantly lower in control, combination, and vitamin C groups than in the diabetic control group (p < 0.05 andp < 0.01). However, MDA levels were significantly lower in vitamin C, vitamin E, and combination groups than in controls (p < 0.01). The GSH-Px activities of lenses were significantly higher in vitamin C-, vitamin E- and selenium-injected groups than that in the diabetic control group (p < 0.01), whereas, the activity of GSH-Px was significantly lower in the diabetic control group than in the control group. In addition, the rGSH content was seen to decrease only in the vitamin C group compared to both control and diabetic control groups (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results from these experiments indicate that vitamins C and E and selenium can protect the lens against oxidative damage, but the effect of vitamin C appears to be much greater than that of vitamin E and selenium.     

Effects of chronic fluorosis on electrocardiogram in sheep

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of chronic fluorosis by means of the electrocardiograms in sheep. Ten sheep with fluorosis living around a volcanic mountain (Tendürek Mount) in East Anatolia in Turkey and 10 healthy sheep were used. Leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V₂, V₄, and V₁₀ were recorded in the electrocardiographs of the sheep. All waves were seen in all derivations. The P-Q interval was significantly (p<0.05) prolonged and sinus bradycardia was observed in the sheep with fluorosis. As a result of this, the number of heart beats was decreased significantly (p<0.05); that is, the number of heart beats was 110±15 in the control group and 75±10 in sheep with fluorosis.     

Serum and tissue levels of six trace elements and copper/zinc ratio in patients with cervical cancer and uterine myoma

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between trace elements and the incidence of cervical cancer. Tissue and serum levels of six elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ca, and Se) and the Cu/Zn ratio in 40 cases of patients with cervical cancer, 30 cases of uterine myoma, and 50 healthy subjects were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; the selenium content was determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The results showed that the tissue contents of Zn, Se, and Ca were significantly lower and the Cu and Fe concentrations and Cu/Zn ratio were significantly higher in cervical cancer tissue than that for paired nonlesion tissue (p<0.02 and p<0.001, respectively). The serum levels of Zn, Se, Ca, and Fe were lower and Cu and Mn levels and Cu/Zn ratio were higher in patients with cervical cancer than in healthy subjects (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively) and in the uterine myoma group compared with healthy subjects (p< 0.05–0.001). There are no significant differences in the contents of six elements and the Cu/Zn ratio between uterine myoma tissue and paired nonlesion tissue. The results showed also that the Fe level and Cu/Zn ratio were significantly higher and the Zn and Se levels were significantly lower in cervical cancer tissue than in uterine myoma tissue (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). The serum Cu level and Cu/Zn ratio were significantly higher in the cervical cancer group than the uterine myoma group (p<0.01). Data were also analyzed using multivarate logistic regression. After adjustment for age, occupation, life habit, and other covariates for the development of cervical cancer, the odds ratios were 22.64 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.64–90.88, p=0.001) for Cu, 0.11 (95% CI: 0.034–0.373; p=0.005) for Zn, and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.36–0.99, p=0.01) for Se. Thus, the serum and tissue levels of Cu increase and the deficiency of Zn and Se may be risk factors for the development of cervical cancer.     

Effects of Calcium and Dairy on Body Composition and Weight Loss in African‐American Adults

Objective: Our objective was to determine the effects of dairy consumption on adiposity and body composition in obese African Americans. Research Methods and Procedures: We performed two randomized trials in obese African‐American adults. In the first (weight maintenance), 34 subjects were maintained on a low calcium (500 mg/d)/low dairy (<1 serving/d) or high dairy (1200 mg Ca/d diet including 3 servings of dairy) diet with no change in energy or macronutrient intake for 24 weeks. In the second trial (weight loss), 29 subjects were similarly randomized to the low or high dairy diets and placed on a caloric restriction regimen (?500 kcal/d). Results: In the first trial, body weight remained stable for both groups throughout the maintenance study. The high dairy diet resulted in decreases in total body fat (2.16 kg, p < 0.01), trunk fat (1.03 kg, p < 0.01), insulin (18.7 pM, p < 0.04), and blood pressure (6.8 mm Hg systolic, p < 0.01; 4.25 mm Hg diastolic, p < 0.01) and an increase in lean mass (1.08 kg, p < 0.04), whereas there were no significant changes in the low dairy group. In the second trial, although both diets produced significant weight and fat loss, weight and fat loss on the high dairy diet were ～2‐fold higher (p < 0.01), and loss of lean body mass was markedly reduced (p < 0.001) compared with the low dairy diet. Discussion: Substitution of calcium‐rich foods in isocaloric diets reduced adiposity and improved metabolic profiles in obese African Americans without energy restriction or weight loss and augmented weight and fat loss secondary to energy restriction.     

Evaluation of the Preventive Effect of Isoflavone Extract on Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats

To examine a potential role for soybean phytoestrogens in postmenopausal bone loss, twenty-four 12-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into 4 groups and given controlled diets for 16 weeks. The treatment groups were as followed: sham operated, ovariectomized (OVX) control, OVX + isoflavone extract (6.25 g/kg), and OVX + 17β-estradiol (4 mg/kg). OVX treatments reduced femoral and fourth lumbar vertebral bone density and mineral content (p<0.01), decreased uterine weight (p<0.01), accelerated body weight increases (p<0.05), and increased the activities (p<0.01) of both serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). Supplementation with isoflavone prevented the losses of bone density and mineral content caused by OVX (p<0.01). Although both isoflavone and 17β-estradiol exhibited similar bone-sparing ability on the OVX-induced bone loss, the effect of isoflavone was not the same as that of 17β-estradiol on the serum ALP and TRAP, body weight increase, and uterine weight change. We concluded that dietary supplementation with soybean isoflavone can prevent postmenopausal bone loss via a different mechanism of estrogen in OVX rats.     

The Effects of Exercise and Zinc Deficiency on Some Elements in Rats

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of exercise and zinc deficiency on some elements in rats. Forty adult male Sprague–Dawley species male rats were allocated to four groups as follows: Group 1: control, Group 2: zinc-deficient, Group 3: exercise in which exercise group fed with a normal diet, Group 4: zinc-deficient exercise, exercise group fed by a zinc-deficient diet for 15 days. After the procedure ended, rats in groups 3 and 4 were exercised on the treadmill for 60 min at a speed of 6 m/min until the exhaustion. The rats were decapitated 48 h after exercise together with their controls, and blood samples were collected to determine copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) levels. The highest Cu and Fe values in the serum were obtained in group 2 (p < 0.01). The levels of these elements in group 4 were lower than those in group 2 and higher than the levels in groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.01). Serum Mg levels did not differ significantly between groups. Group 4 had the lowest serum Ca and P levels (p < 0.01). These same parameters in Group 2 were higher than those in group 4 but significantly lower than those in groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between Ca and P levels of groups 1 and 3. The results of the study indicate that zinc deficiency adversely affects copper, iron, calcium, and phosphorus mechanisms and that these adverse effects much more marked after an effort exercise.     

Conserving the Sacred Medicine Mountains: A Vegetation Analysis of Tibetan Sacred Sites in Northwest Yunnan

Mount Kawa Karpo of the Menri ('Medicine Mountains' in Tibetan), in the eastern Himalayas, is one of the most sacred mountains to Tibetan Buddhists. Numerous sacred sites are found between 1900 and 4000 m, and at higher elevations the area as a whole is considered a sacred landscape. Religious beliefs may affect the ecology of these sacred areas, resulting in unique ecological characteristics of importance to conservation; recent studies have demonstrated that sacred areas can often play a major role in conservation. The goal of this study is to preliminarily analyze the vegetation of sacred areas in the Menri region using existing vegetation maps and a Geographical Information System (GIS) for remote assessment. Sacred sites are compared to random points in the landscape, in terms of: elevation, vegetation, and nearness to villages; species composition, diversity, and richness; and frequency of useful and endemic plant species. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) ordination reveals that sacred sites differ significantly in both useful species composition (p=0.034) and endemic species composition (p=0.045). Sacred sites are located at lower elevations, and closer to villages, than randomly selected, non-sacred sites (p< 0.0001), and have higher overall species richness (p=0.033) and diversity (p=0.042). In addition, the high-elevation (> 4000 m) areas of the mountain - a sacred landscape - are found to have significantly more endemics than low-elevation areas (p<0.0001). These findings represent an initial analysis of sacred sites and suggest that sacred sites in the Menri region may be ecologically and ethnobotanically unique.     

Association of morphological and biochemical features of mulberry lines with resistance to bacterial leaf spot

Xanthomonas campestris pv. mori causes bacterial leaf spot (BLS) of mulberry (Morus spp.) worldwide. Twenty mulberry lines with contrasting response to BLS showed significant (p?<?0.01) variation between resistant and susceptible groups for stomata frequency (SF), trichome density (TD), total soluble sugar (TSS) and polyphenol (PP) content, while non-significant for chlorophyll content. Heritability (broad-sense) estimates obtained from the variance component analysis were high (≥0.72) for these traits. The disease severity index values of the lines were significantly negatively correlated with TD (r?=??0.66; p?<?0.01), TSS (r?=??0.73; p?<?0.01) and PP (r?=??0.61; p?<?0.01), while positively correlated with SF (r?=?0.65; p?<?0.01). The cluster analysis was based on highly significant four variables and DSI values, and classified the lines into two major clusters. The resistant lines that come under cluster-I had high TD, TSS and PP, while those in susceptible category had high SF in cluster-II. These findings suggest that direct selection for SF, TD, TSS and PP will be effective for development of host resistance against BLS in mulberry.