Silicon-mediated growth and yield improvement of sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annus</Emphasis> L.) subjected to brackish water stress

Silicon is known to compensate crop yield losses under diverse biotic and abiotic stress conditions; however, reports about its protective role for plants exposed to brackish water stress are very limited. A pot culture experiment was conducted to assess the beneficial effect of silicon supplementation (0 and 100 mg/kg) in alleviating growth adversities of brackish water (saline, sodic, alkaline, and saline–sodic water) stress in two contrasting sunflower cultivars, SF-187 (salt tolerant), and Hysun-33 (salt sensitive) grown in greenhouse. Results demonstrated that hostile growth environments, mainly the combined stress of saline–sodic water, severely affected the physiological attributes, growth, yield, and yield contributing components in sunflower. However, the response to brackish water stress differed genotypically, with greater magnitude of damage to the Hysun-33 as compared to SF-187 genotype. It hampered plant growth due to membrane damage and reduced water uptake, but silicon supplementation minimized the negative effects of stress by limiting toxic Na⁺ ions uptake, improving membrane stability, and increasing relative water contents caused by higher silicon and K⁺ uptake that eventually led to improved biomass yield. The response was further evaluated at yield level and data regarding head diameter, achene yield, and 100 achene weight were taken. Results indicated that silicon supplementation to growth medium of saline and/or sodic water treated plants significantly enhanced the head diameter (22–30%), thus ultimately producing 15–25% higher achene yield, and weight of the biological harvest of both sunflower genotypes. Overall, the beneficial effect of silicon supplementation was more evident in Hysun-33 (salt sensitive) as compared to SF-187 (salt tolerant) genotype. Taken together, the results of this study suggest silicon fertilization as a potential strategy to increase crop productivity under brackish water stress; however, experimental trials at farmer field level should be conducted before setting any recommendations.     

Assessment of gender-related differences in vitamin D levels and cardiovascular risk factors in Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) including stroke, coronary heart disease, and peripheral artery disease. It remains a leading cause of mortality throughout the world, affecting both women and men. This investigation was aimed to study gender based differences in cardiovascular risk factors of adult population with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to check the correlation between serum HbA1C, lipid profile and serum vitamin D levels, in T2DM patients of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This hospital-based cross-sectional study involving subjects was divided into two gender based groups; normal male (800), diabetic male (800) and normal female (800) and T2DM females (800). Blood samples were analyzed for fasting glucose (FBG), HbA1c, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (Tg), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and serum levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D in all groups. All the glycemic control parameters and lipid profile parameters were found to be significantly different in diabetic vs non-diabetic group (p < 0.001) in both genders. The results also show that vitamin D concentration decreased significantly (p < 0.001) in diabetic patients than the healthy individuals in both the genders. Vitamin-D and HbA1C were negatively correlated in both males and females in T2DM patients and significant at P < 0.05. Our study reveals that dyslipidemia remains one of the major risk factors of CVD in T2DM. In addition to dyslipidemia, decreased levels of vitamin-D associated with increased HbA1C alarms the early diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.     

An investigation of the anti-inflammatory effects of gabapentin on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

Molecular Biology Reports - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease with treatment options which exhibit low efficacies and lead to...     

Exposure to Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Induces Neurotoxicity and Proinflammatory Response: Amelioration by Hesperidin

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are widely used in food packaging and may enter the body directly if exposed. Hereby, in this study, the oral administration was selected as the route of exposure for rats to nanoparticles and the effect of hesperidin (HSP, 100 mg/kg bwt) was evaluated on ZnONP (600 mg/kg bwt)-induced neurotoxicity in rats. ZnONPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy. Neurotoxicity was observed as seen by elevation in serum inflammatory markers including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione (GSH) content in rat brains. Pretreatment of rats with HSP in ZnONP-treated group elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes. HSP also caused decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and CRP levels which was higher in the ZnONP-treated group. The results suggest that HSP augments antioxidant defense with anti-inflammatory response against ZnONP-induced neurotoxicity. The increased antioxidant enzymes enhance the antioxidant potential to reduce oxidative stress.     

A simple EMG—Reward system for biofeedback training of children

An automated reward system to be used with standard electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback instrumentation is described. The on-line reward system, when coupled with standard biofeedback instrumentation and procedures, constitutes instrumental conditioning. In addition to describing the EMG—reward interface circuity, a study demonstrating the efficacy of the instrumental conditioning approach with cerebral-palsied children is presented.This research was aided by a grant from the Easter Seal Research Foundation of the National Easter Seal Society for Crippled Children and Adults, and by a grant from the Tulsa Cerebral Palsy Association.     

Effects of long-term estrogen treatment on IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-4 gene expression and protein synthesis in spleen and thymus of normal C57BL/6 mice.

Estrogens have been shown to markedly modulate the immune system. One mechanism by which estrogens could modulate the immune system is by regulating cytokines, an aspect not well-studied thus far. To address this issue, normal C57BL/6 orchiectomized mice were given estrogen and its effects on selected cytokines, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 2 (IL-2) and IL-4 in lymphocytes from a developmental organ (thymus) and a mature lymphoid organ (spleen) examined. Estrogen significantly increased IFN-gamma and IL-2 mRNA in concanavalin-A (Con-A) activated thymocytes, splenic lymphocytes, and in enriched splenic T cells. Estrogen had no marked effect on IL-4 mRNA. While estrogen increased IFN-gamma mRNA in Con-A activated unseparated splenic lymphocytes and enriched splenic T cells, a numerical increase in IFN-gamma was noticed only in the supernatants of Con-A activated unseparated splenic lymphocytes, but not in enriched splenic T cells. This suggests that for optimal secretion of IFN-gamma in estrogen-treated mice, co-stimulatory signals from antigen presenting cells are needed. Gender differences in IFN-gamma and IL-2 mRNA were also evident. Con-A activated splenic lymphocytes from gonadal-intact, untreated female had a pattern of numerical increase in IFN-gamma mRNA, and IFN-gamma and IL-2 protein levels compared to their male counterparts. Taken together, our data suggests that estrogens regulate the expression of cytokines, which could account in part, for the gender differences in immune capabilities.     

Nanostructured materials in electroanalysis of pharmaceuticals

Basic strategies and recent developments for the enhancement of the sensory performance of nanostructures in the electroanalysis of pharmaceuticals are reviewed. A discussion of the properties of nanostructures and their application as modified electrodes for drug assays is presented. The electrocatalytic effect of nanostructured materials and their application in determining low levels of drugs in pharmaceutical forms and biofluids are discussed.