Anilofos Tolerance and Its Mineralization by the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PUPCCC 64

This study deals with anilofos tolerance and its mineralization by the common rice field cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PUPCCC 64. The organism tolerated anilofos up to 25 mg L⁻¹. The herbicide caused inhibitory effects on photosynthetic pigments of the test organism in a dose-dependent manner. The organism exhibited 60, 89, 96, 85 and 79% decrease in chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin, respectively, in 20 mg L⁻¹ anilofos on day six. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase increased by 1.04 to 1.80 times over control cultures in presence of 20 mg L⁻¹ anilofos. Glutathione content decreased by 26% while proline content was unaffected by 20 mg L⁻¹ anilofos. The test organism showed intracellular uptake and metabolized the herbicide. Uptake of herbicide by test organism was fast during initial six hours followed by slow uptake until 120 hours. The organism exhibited maximum anilofos removal at 100 mg protein L⁻¹, pH 8.0 and 30°C. Its growth in phosphate deficient basal medium in the presence of anilofos (2.5 mg L⁻¹) indicated that herbicide was used by the strain PUPCCC 64 as a source of phosphate.     

Antiapoptotic effects of vitamins C and E against cypermethrin‐induced oxidative stress and spermatogonial germ cell apoptosis

Toxicological studies have demonstrated the relation between use of agrochemicals and fertility issues within males. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate the propensity of cypermethrin (CYP) in bringing testicular germ cell apoptosis and effective attenuation by vitamins C and E in caprines. Reproductive toxicity of CYP was evaluated using histomorphological, cytological, and biochemical changes in the testicular germ cells in dose‐dependent (1, 5, 10 μg/mL) and time‐dependent (4, 6, 8 h) manner. Histological and ethidium bromide/acridine orange fluorescence staining exhibited that vitamins C and E (0.5 and 1.0 mM) successfully diminished the CYP‐induced testicular germ cells apoptosis. CYP exposure along with vitamins C and E supplementation also resulted in significantly increased ferric reducing antioxidant power activity along with the antioxidant enzymes, namely catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione‐s‐transferase, and decreased lipid peroxidation in testicular germ cells. Thus, vitamins C and E ameliorated CYP‐induced testicular germ cell apoptosis, thereby preventing spermatogonial cells degeneration and male infertility.     

Development of immunoassays for human interleukin 3 and interleukin 4, some of which discriminate between different recombinant DNA-derived molecules

Two panels of hybridomas were produced that secreted monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against recombinant DNA-derived human interleukin 3 and interleukin 4 (rhIL-3 and rhIL-4). From each panel, sensitive immunoradiometric assays (IRMAs) were developed which were capable of detecting the recombinant molecule used as the immunogen but were unable to recognize natural or other recombinant forms of the same cytokine. Subsequent studies using the MAbs from each panel showed that a number of the MAbs appeared only to recognize that particular recombinant molecule used as immunogen, with little or no binding to other recombinant forms of the molecule. By using MAbs that were found to be unrestricted in their recognition for different recombinant forms of the cytokines, it was possible to develop an IRMA for IL-4 that was capable of detecting natural IL-4 as well as all the recombinant forms equally. An IRMA was also developed for IL-3 but was not of equivalent sensitivity in detecting the different recombinant forms of IL-3 used in the study. The recombinant DNA-derived cytokine molecules used to raise the two panels of MAbs contained amino acid substitutions relative to the natural sequences, and these findings indicate that caution should be exercised when using immunoassays to estimate natural sequence molecules if antibodies raised to modified rDNA-derived molecules are used.     

Preliminary evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of S. lappa, A. speciosa and A. aspera.

Saussurea lappa, Argyreia speciosa and Achyranthes aspera are well known Indian medicinal plants used in the indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. The ethanolic extracts of the plants at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. were screened for their effect on acute and chronic inflammation induced in mice and rats. S. lappa and A. speciosa were found to significantly inhibit paw edema induced by carrageenan and Freund's complete adjuvant and to prevent accumulation of inflammatory cells in carrageenan-induced peritonitis at doses of 50-200 mg/kg. A. aspera inhibited these inflammatory responses at doses of 100-200 mg/kg. The studies reveal that the ethanolic extracts of S. lappa, A. speciosa and A. aspera possess anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity and support the rationale behind the traditional use of these plants in inflammatory conditions.     

Effect of simvastatin on fracture healing--an experimental study

Left femur was osteotomized and fixed with K wire in 21 rabbits. One group was fed simvastatin (120 mg/kg body wt/day) orally, whereas another group without medication served as control. Both groups were assessed radiologically, morphologically, histologically and biomechanically at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. An analysis of various parameters of study showed that simvastatin treated group had improved bone healing at 4 and 8 weeks of follow up, however, the difference was not significant statistically at 12 weeks. So it is concluded that Simvastatin favourably hastened the process of fracture healing in the rabbits at earlier phases.     

In vitro and in silico molecular interaction of multiphase nanoparticles containing inositol hexaphosphate and jacalin: Therapeutic potential against colon cancer cells (HCT-15)

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a natural constituent found in almost all cereals and legumes. It is known to cause numerous antiangiogenic manifestations. Notwithstanding its great potential, it is underutilized due to the chelation and rapid excretion from the body. Jacalin is another natural constituent obtained from seeds of jackfruit and can target disaccharides overexpressed in tumor cells. The current study was in-quested to develop and evaluate a surface-modified gold nanoparticulate system containing IP6 and jacalin which may maximize the apoptotic effect of IP6 against HCT-15 cell lines. IP6 loaded jacalin-pectin-gold nanoparticles (IJP-GNPs) were developed through reduction followed by incubation method. The developed formulation was tested for various in vitro and in silico studies to investigate its potential. HCT-15 cells when exposed to IJP-GNP resulted in significant apoptotic effects in dose as well as time-dependent manner, as measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, micronucleus, and reactive oxygen species assay. IJP-GNP displayed cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. To further explore the mechanism of chemoprevention, in silico studies were performed. The docking results revealed that the interactive behavior of IP6, P-GNP, and jacalin could target and inhibit the tumor formation activity, supported by in vitro studies. Taken together, all the findings suggested that IP6 loaded nanoparticles may increase the hope of future drug delivery strategy for targeting colon cancer.     

Aspergillus terreus Causing Probable Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with Cystic Fibrosis

Mycopathologia - Aspergillus terreus may colonize the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Whether this merits antifungal treatment is still unclear due to heterogeneous reports regarding...