On the re-isolation and taxonomic study of Candida viswanathii Viswanathan et Randhawa 1959

Summary A detailed taxonomic study of a new isolate ofCandida viswanathii from sputum is reported.     

Targeted and efficient transfer of value-added genes into a wheat variety

With an objective to optimize an approach to transfer value-added genes to a wheat variety while maintaining and improving agronomic performance, two alleles (Als1 and Als2) with mutations in the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene located on the long arm of wheat chromosomes 6B and 6D providing tolerance to imazamox herbicide were transferred to Eltan, a popular soft white common winter wheat cultivar in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA. Four-step marker-assisted background selection and marker assisted forward breeding approaches were used to develop a wheat variety carrying two genes (Als1 and Als2) for imazamox tolerance along with improvements in many other agronomic traits. Screening of 1600 BC₁ plants for imazamox tolerance identified 378 plants that were further screened with markers to identify seven plants that were used to make a population of 1400 BC₂ plants, and the selection cycle was repeated. Progeny of 17 selected BC₂F₁ plants was evaluated for various agronomic and quality parameters to select 12 plants that were increased for field testing. Field evaluation of these lines conducted over 58 location-years along with evaluation in the greenhouse/growth chamber led to the selection of a line “WA8143” carrying the two genes for imazamox tolerance that yielded >3% higher than Eltan did. With 96.8% similarity to the recurrent parent, WA8143 also showed a better disease resistance package and grain quality needed in a successful Pacific Northwest wheat variety and was subsequently released for cultivation under the name of “Curiosity CL+.”     

Human hemoglobin Portland II (zeta 2 beta 2). Isolation and characterization of Portland hemoglobin components and their constituent globin chains

Two types of embryonic hemoglobins (Hb) containing zeta chains have been identified in the blood of several neonates of Chinese origin with homozygous alpha-thalassemia. In addition to Hb Portland I (zeta 2 gamma 2) which was previously reported, another embryonic hemoglobin has been detected and found to contain zeta chains and beta chains. It is being designated Hb Portland II and has the formula (zeta 2 beta 2). It has a mobility slightly slower than that of Hb A on starch gel electrophoresis at pH 8.6 and has been found in the hemolysates of blood of some but not all hydropic infants. Another component with a mobility faster than that of Hb A2 on starch gel has been isolated from the blood of some hydropic neonates. This latter component is postulated to be zeta 2 delta 2. The occurrence of Hb Portland I and Hb Portland II in these hydropic neonates is consistent with the hypothesis that, in the absence of normal alpha chain production, zeta chains are continued to be produced at later states of development than normal and form tetramers with each of the beta-like globin chains. Because Hb Portland II has not been found in blood from all hydropic neonates, we postulate that the presence of this hemoglobin in these fetuses may be correlated with the gestational age of the fetus at the time of birth.     

Clinical data analysis of telmisartan for hypertension management in Indian population

It is of interest to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, clinical effectiveness, and safety of telmisartan as a monotherapy or as part of combination therapy in Indian adults (>18 years old) with hypertension. All patients were receiving telmisartan as monotherapy, or as a combination therapy for hypertension management. Demographics, risk factors, existing comorbidity, and ongoing medical therapies were retrieved from the patients’ medical records. A total of 8607 patients with hypertension (median age, 51.0 years) were part of the study. The gender distribution suggested, 5534(64.3%) patients were male, and 3073 (35.7%) were female patients. The excess salt intake (39.0%) was the most common risk factor according to the results. The analysis revealed telmisartan dual therapy (57.9%) as the most prescribed therapy, followed by monotherapy (32.5%), and triple therapy (9.6%). Further, telmisartan 40mg (21.3%) and telmisartan 40mg plus amlodipine 5mg (17.6%) were the most commonly prescribed therapies. The data suggested that only 17.2% of patients required dose titration. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (mmHg) were significantly decreased with monotherapy (mean change: 19.8 [15.1] mmHg and 8.8[8.2] mmHg), dual therapy (mean change: 23.7 [16.6] mmHg and 10.3[8.5] mmHg), and triple therapy (mean change: 28.6 [19.0] mmHg and 12.1[10.8] mmHg) after the treatment (P<0.001). A total of 98.4% of the patients were compliant, and 97.6% achieved the target blood pressure goal with telmisartan-based therapy. There were 157 adverse events reported altogether. The Physicians'' global evaluation of efficacy and tolerability showed the majority of the patients receiving telmisartan-based therapy on a good to excellent scale. Telmisartan used as a monotherapeutic agent or as a part of combination therapy was successful and effective in reducing blood pressure and achieving the blood pressure target. Irrespective of the patient’s age, duration, and stages of hypertension, the study resulted in a good to excellent scale in efficacy and tolerability in the Indian patients having hypertension.     

Special work-wear and protective clothing for Indian furnace workers

1. 1. In the present study two new, ergonomically designed, low-cost prototypes of protective work-wear for furnace workers of five hot metal and three glass factories in West Bengal were developed and evaluated on the basis of objective and subjective assessments.

2. 2. The objective assessments included the thermal data of the workplaces during summer and winter months, data on accidents and workers' physiological responses such as pulse rates, core and skin temperatures and sweat loss during work with the existing as well as work-wear. The subjective assessments were from questionnaires on the merits and demerits of the existing and new work-wear and the comfort votes.

3. 3. The study recommended the use of ergonomically designed, low-cost, washable, ventilated, vapour permeable, flame-retardant, radiant-heat-reflecting type special work clothing (Prototype No.II) by the workers to reduce the heat stress, accident risks and the physiological costs and to increase efficiency and productivity.

Time-course of cardiac myocyte injury due to oxidative stress

Time course of changes in cell morphology, cation content, lipid peroxidation and high energy phosphates was examined in isolated rat cardiac myocytes exposed to oxygen radicals for 0 to 20 min. Xanthine (2 mM) and xanthine oxidase (10 U/L) mixture was used as a source of oxygen radicals. A significant decrease in the number of rod-shape cells with a concomitant increase in the number of hypercontracted cells was observed within 5 min of exposure to xanthine-xanthine oxidase (x-xo). At 10,15 and 20 min of exposure to x-xo, there was a time-dependant increase in the number of round cells. Lipid peroxide content, as indicated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive material, was significantly and progressively increased between 10 to 20 min of perfusion with x-xo. In myocytes exposed to x-xo, Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ were increased by 15% and 45% at 15 min and by 55% and 100% at 20 min respectively. Levels of adenosine tri- and di- phosphates were significantly depressed and that of adenosine mono- phosphate were higher at 20 min. These data support the hypothesis that reactive oxygen intermediates can directly influence myocyte structure and function, but these changes seem to occur more slowly in isolated myocytes than in whole hearts.     

On the occurrence of two new species of Trichophyton in Indian soils

Summary Two new species ofTrichophyton, T. indicum andT. evolceanui, isolated from soil in India by the hair baiting technique, are described.T. indicum is characterized by its flat colony and delicately roughened microconidia. It is common and widely distributed in soil in India. T. evolceanui can be distinguished fromT. indicum by its heaped and folded colony on tomato juice agar and its echinulate and obovate microconidia which are consistently wider than those ofT. indicum on the various culture media tested.T. evolceanui also differs fromT. indicum in producing perforating organs on hair in vitro soil culture. It has restricted occurrence in Indian soils.