Tamarix gallica ameliorates thioacetamide–induced hepatic oxidative stress and hyperproliferative response in Wistar rats

Tamarix gallica, a hepatic stimulant and tonic, was examined for its ability to inhibit thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic oxidative stress, toxicity and early tumor promotion response in male Wistar rats. TAA (6.6 mmol/kg body wt. i.p) enhanced lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide content, glutathione S-transferase and xanthine oxidase with reduction in the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes viz., glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and caused depletion in the level of hepatic glutathione content. A marked increase in liver damage markers was also observed. TAA treatment also enhanced tumor promotion markers, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and [³H] thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA. Pretreatment of rats orally with Tamarix gallica extract (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) prevented TAA-promoted oxidative stress and toxicity. Prophylaxis with Tamarix gallica significantly reduced the susceptibility of the hepatic microsomal membrane for iron-ascorbate induced lipid peroxidation, H₂O₂ content, glutathione S-transferase and xanthine oxidase activities. There was also reversal of the elevated levels of liver marker parameters and tumor promotion markers. Our data suggests that Tamarix gallica is a potent chemopreventive agent and may suppress TAA-mediated hepatic oxidative stress, toxicity, and tumor promotion response in rats.     

Atrazine movement in soil: Comparison of field observations and PRZM simulations

The predictive capability of the pesticide root zone model (PRZM) was investigated for herbicide atrazine [2‐chloro‐4‐(ethylamino)‐6‐(isopropylamino)‐s‐triazine] in corn production under no‐till (NT) and conventional‐till (CT) management practices. Simulation values of atrazine residues obtained using our site‐specific soil and environmental data were compared with the actual values measured in soil samples taken from the root zones of the NT and CT plots during three growing seasons: 1986, 1987, and 1988. The mean concentration of atrazine in soil at each sampling time and depth after application, for each tillage treatment plot (NT or CT), was estimated based on the type of distribution (i.e., normal or lognormal). Overall, the PRZMs simulated concentrations for the top 10 cm of soil compared well with the atrazine residues measured in the CT plots, but overestimated measurements in NT plots. For example, in 1986 the mean atrazine concentration measured in soil samples taken 6 d after application from the top 10 cm of CT plots was 548 μg/kg (S.E. 198 μg/kg), and the PRZM predicted value was 690 μg/kg. In contrast, the mean atrazine concentration for the same soil depth increment in NT plots was 385 μg/kg (S.E. 154 μg/kg), with a PRZM predicted value of 674 μg/kg. Although the PRZM prediction was closer to the measured mean for atrazine concentrations in the top 10 cm of the CT system, the model did not transport atrazine to the lower soil depths, as the actual values have indicated in all 3 years. The results of this model comparison, especially for the lower soil depths (20 to 30 cm) in the NT practice, indicated that the PRZM model does not account for the preferential transport of, and, consequently, underestimates the atrazine residue levels in the lower soil profile under NT management systems.     

Physico-chemical and antigenic characterization of unconventional heavy chain antibodies of Indian desert camel (Camelus dromedarius L.)

Heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) of IgG2 and IgG3 subtypes were purified from the sera of Indian desert camel (Camelus dromedarius L.) by ammonium sulphate precipitation, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and affinity chromatography on protein A-sepharose and protein G-sepharose, and characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP), immunoelectrophoresis (IEP), ELISA and immunoblotting. IgG2 and IgG3 were found to have molecular mass 46.77 kDa and 43.65 kDa, respectively by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. They migrated in beta-region in IEP and could be detected in CIEP, because of being more negatively charged and smaller size. Anti-camel IgG3 cross-reacted in AGID, ELISA and immunoblotting with IgGs of pig and ruminants (cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat), but not with immunoglobulins from horse, dog, guinea pigs, mice, fish, poultry and human. The present findings suggest close antigenic relationship of camels with pigs and ruminants.     

Patterns of roost site selection and use by Southern Ground-Hornbills in north-eastern South Africa

Different habitats may be used for the needs of various aspects of an animal’s life. Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri groups announce their presence within year-round territories by calling at dawn from their overnight roost sites. Knowledge on ground-hornbill roosting habits is limited. Groups roost in large trees, apparently close to where they end up after daily foraging. We investigated patterns of roost site selection and use for four Southern Ground-Hornbill groups in the Associated Private Nature Reserves, north-eastern South Africa, based on data from GPS-satellite transmitters. The number of roost sites used per month averaged 15.4 ± 4.7 across all groups, indicating little evidence of strong preferences for specific sites. This number was least when groups were breeding, decreasing throughout the early wet season (October–December) and was lowest during the late wet season (January–March) when actively breeding groups frequently roosted close to the nest (54–83% of roosts <1 000 m of the nest). As might be expected, the mean monthly number of nights per roost peaked during the breeding season (December–January). Riparian habitats were preferred for roosting during the breeding season, whereas disturbed areas, as well as Combretumand mopane-dominated habitats were preferred during the dry non-breeding season. Adequate large trees not only for nesting, but also for roosting, particularly in riparian habitats, may therefore be an important and potentially limiting factor for the successful reproduction of Southern Ground-Hornbills.     

Whole Grain Intakes in the Diets Of Malaysian Children and Adolescents – Findings from the MyBreakfast Study

Background

Diets rich in whole grain are associated with several health benefits. Little is known however, about whole grain consumption patterns in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to assess whole grain intakes and dietary source in Malaysian children and adolescents.

Methods

This analysis is from the MyBreakfast study, a national cross sectional study investigating eating habits among primary and secondary school children throughout Malaysia, conducted in 2013. Children (n = 5,165) and adolescents (n = 2,947) who completed two days of dietary assessment using a food record or recall respectively were included. The whole grain content of foods was estimated mainly through the use of quantitative ingredient declarations on food labels. All wholegrain foods were considered irrespective of the amount of whole grain they contained.

Results

Overall, only 25% of children and 19% of adolescents were wholegrain consumers. Mean daily intakes in the total sample were 2.3g/d (SD 5.8g/d) in children and 1.7g/d (SD 4.7g/d) in adolescents and in the consumer’s only sample, mean intakes reached 9.1g/d (SD 8.6) and 9.2g/d (SD 7.1g/d) respectively. Wheat was the main grain source of whole grain while ready to eat breakfast cereals and hot cereals were the main food contributors. Less than 3% of the children and adolescents reached the US quantitative whole grain recommendation of 48g/day.

Conclusion

Whole grain is consumed by only a minority of Malaysian children and adolescents and even among consumers, intakes are well below recommendations. Efforts are needed to firstly understand the barriers to whole grain consumption among Malaysian children in order to design effective health promotion initiatives to promote an increase in whole grain consumption.     

First Systematic Plant Proteomics Workshop in Botany Department,University of Delhi: Transferring Proteomics Knowledge to Next‐generation Researchers and Students

International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO) outlined ten initiatives to promote plant proteomics in each and every country. With greater emphasis in developing countries, one of those was to “organize workshops at national and international levels to train manpower and exchange information”. This third INPPO highlights covers the workshop organized for the very first time in a developing country, India, at the Department of Botany in University of Delhi on December 26–30, 2013 titled – “1^st Plant Proteomics Workshop / Training Program” under the umbrella of INPPO India‐Nepal chapter. Selected 20 participants received on‐hand training mainly on gel‐based proteomics approach along with manual booklet and parallel lectures on this and associated topics. In house, as well as invited experts drawn from other Universities and Institutes (national and international), delivered talks on different aspects of gel‐based and gel‐free proteomics. Importance of gel‐free proteomics approach, translational proteomics, and INPPO roles were presented and interactively discussed by a group of three invited speakers Drs. Ganesh Kumar Agrawal (Nepal), Randeep Rakwal (Japan), and Antonio Masi (Italy). Given the output of this systematic workshop, it was proposed and thereafter decided to be organized every alternate year; the next workshop will be held in 2015. Furthermore, possibilities on providing advanced training to those students / researchers / teachers with basic knowledge in proteomics theory and experiments at national and international levels were discussed. INPPO is committed to generating next‐generation trained manpower in proteomics, and it would only happen by the firm determination of scientists to come forward and do it.     

Vacuolar reticulum in oomycete hyphal tips: An additional component of the Ca2+Regulatory system?

Cultures of Achlya sp., Phytophthora cinnamomi, Saprolegnia diclina, S. ferax, and S. parasitica, treated with 6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate solution, accumulate 6-carboxyfluorescein in a reticulate system of fine tubules. The network shows longitudinal polarity within the hyphae, tubules being finest toward the hyphal tips. In more mature subapical regions the network is connected with large vacuoles that also accumulate 6-carboxyfluorescein. A morphologically similar system has also been identified in freeze-substituted hyphae of S. ferax. The network is considered to be vacuolar, but differs from the tubular vacuole system of true fungi in that tubules are less motile, more frequently branched, and do not alternate with clusters of spherical vacuoles. The appearance of the network resembles patterns of calcium-sensitive dye staining and it is suggested that the vacuolar reticulum in the tip region of oomycete hyphae may act as a Ca2+ sink. The tubular reticulum in oomycetes is very fragile and can be shown with 6-carboxyfluorescein in only those hyphal tips with a motility and organelle distribution characteristic of growing hyphae with normal morphology. Diverse abnormal hyphae show a range of other fluorochrome localizations. These include large irregular compartments filled with fluorochrome, and fluorescent cytoplasm with organelles and vacuoles standing out in negative contrast. These localizations in abnormal hyphae are correlated with other structural changes indicative of damage. Special care is required in experiments with oomycetes to avoid such artefacts of localization. Copyright 1997 Academic Press. Copyright 1997 Academic Press