Length–weight relationships of some fish from the Ganga River,India

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for seven riverine fish species from the river Ganga, India. Specimens were collected on a bi‐monthly basis from April 2017 to December 2018 using gill nets (mesh size 22–34 mm), cast nets (mesh size 16 mm) and bag nets (mesh size 14–22 mm). Total length was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm using a digital caliper and weight was recorded to the nearest 0.01 g on an electronic balance. From estimated length–weight relationships, the values for parameter “a” ranged from 0.004 (Bregmaceros mcclellandi and Setipinna tenuifilis) to 0.014 (Brachirus pan). Likewise, the values for the parameter “b” of the equation ranged from 2.958 (Bagarius bagarius) to 3.124 (Bregmaceros mcclellandi) and r² from 0.978 (Gonialosa manmina) to 0.996 (Brachirus pan).     

Molecular mechanisms of nitrogen dioxide induced epithelial injury in the lung

The lung can be exposed to a variety of reactive nitrogen intermediates through the inhalation of environmental oxidants and those produced during inflammation. Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) include, nitrogen dioxide (.NO2) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-). Classically known as a major component of both indoor and outdoor air pollution, .NO2 is a toxic free radical gas. .NO2 can also be formed during inflammation by the decomposition of ONOO- or through peroxidase-catalyzed reactions. Due to their reactive nature, RNS may play an important role in disease pathology. Depending on the dose and the duration of administration, .NO, has been documented to cause pulmonary injury in both animal and human studies. Injury to the lung epithelial cells following exposure to .NO2 is characterized by airway denudation followed by compensatory proliferation. The persistent injury and repair process may contribute to airway remodeling, including the development of fibrosis. To better understand the signaling pathways involved in epithelial cell death by .NO2 or otherRNS, we routinely expose cells in culture to continuous gas-phase .NO2. Studies using the .NO2 exposure system revealed that lung epithelial cell death occurs in a density dependent manner. In wound healing experiments, .NO2 induced cell death is limited to cells localized in the leading edge of the wound. Importantly, .NO2-induced death does not appear to be dependent on oxidative stress per se. Potential cell signaling mechanisms will be discussed, which include the mitogen activated protein kinase, c-Jun N-terminal Kinase and the Fas/Fas ligand pathways. During periods of epithelial loss and regeneration that occur in diseases such as asthma or during lung development, epithelial cells in the lung may be uniquely susceptible to death. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of epithelial cell death associated with the exposure to .NO2 will be important in designing therapeutics aimed at protecting the lung from persistent injury and repair.     

In vitro antiproliferative and antifungal activity of essential oils from Erigeron acris L. and Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers

Antiproliferative and antifungal activities of essential oils from Erigeron acris root and herb and from Erigeron annuus herb were investigated. The cell viability assay was performed in cultured fibroblasts, cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MBA-231), and endometrial adenocarcinoma (Ishikawa) cells as well as colon adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The essential oil from E. acris root showed the highest antiproliferative activity in the MCF-7 cell line with an IC50 value of 14.5 microg/mL. No effect of the essential oil on normal cells at that concentration was found. Antifungal activity against various strains of five Candida species, i.e. C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and C. parapsilosis, was tested by the microdilution method. It was found that all examined oils can be useful as antifungal agents against the above-mentioned species, but the essential oil of E. acris herb was the most active. Their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranged from 30 to 0.4 microL/mL. The data presented suggest that essential oils from E. acris and E. annuus possess antifungal activity against Candida spp. and antiproliferative activity against breast cancer MCF-7 cells.     

Induction of robust de novo centrosome amplification, high-grade spindle multipolarity and metaphase catastrophe: a novel chemotherapeutic approach

Centrosome amplification (CA) and resultant chromosomal instability have long been associated with tumorigenesis. However, exacerbation of CA and relentless centrosome declustering engender robust spindle multipolarity (SM) during mitosis and may induce cell death. Recently, we demonstrated that a noscapinoid member, reduced bromonoscapine, (S)-3-(R)-9-bromo-5-(4,5-dimethoxy-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-1-yl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-[1,3]dioxolo-[4,5-g]isoquinoline (Red-Br-nos), induces reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated autophagy and caspase-independent death in prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Herein, we show that Red-Br-nos induces ROS-dependent DNA damage that resulted in high-grade CA and SM in PC-3 cells. Unlike doxorubicin, which causes double-stranded DNA breaks and chronic G2 arrest accompanied by ‘templated'' CA, Red-Br-nos-mediated DNA damage elicits de novo CA during a transient S/G2 stall, followed by checkpoint abrogation and mitotic entry to form aberrant mitotic figures with supernumerary spindle poles. Attenuation of multipolar phenotype in the presence of tiron, a ROS inhibitor, indicated that ROS-mediated DNA damage was partly responsible for driving CA and SM. Although a few cells (∼5%) yielded to aberrant cytokinesis following an ‘anaphase catastrophe'', most mitotically arrested cells (∼70%) succumbed to ‘metaphase catastrophe,'' which was caspase-independent. This report is the first documentation of rapid de novo centrosome formation in the presence of parent centrosome by a noscapinoid family member, which triggers death-inducing SM via a unique mechanism that distinguishes it from other ROS-inducers, conventional DNA-damaging agents, as well as other microtubule-binding drugs.     

Time series forecasting model for fisheries in Chilika lagoon (a Ramsar site, 1981), Odisha,India: a case study

Chilika, a Ramsar site and the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, is situated in East Coast of India, endowed with rich fisheries resources. In this study, SARIMAX fisheries forecasting model was developed by using seasonal ARIMA (Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average) model with three external physicochemical factors (factor 1 was dominated by the combined effect of salinity and temperature and factor 2 and factor 3 were dominated by alkalinity and transparency) in Chilika. Monthly fish catch data and physico-chemical parameters of water from 2001–2002 to 2015–2016 was used to develop model. The results showed SARIMAX model; SARIMA (1,0,0)(2,0,0)₁₂ with factor 1, factor 2 and factor 3 was the best fitted model for the fish catch in Chilika. The factor 1 was found to be positive influence on catch at 10% level of significance (p = 0.089) while, factor 2 and factor 3 were found to be insignificant. The developed SARIMAX model was validated with actual annual fish catch for the years 2011–2015 with prediction error 3–7%. Further, the developed SARIMAX model was used to forecast fish catch for the period April 2016 to March 2018 indicating increasing 10% present catch in the lagoon. The developed SARIMAX model in the present case study is of the first time to forecast and visualise the positive influence of salinity and temperature on the fish catch in the Chilika lagoon.     

Insulin-like growth factor I-dependent regulation of prolidase activity in cultured human skin fibroblasts

The objectives of this article are to: (i) discuss the origins and the nature of ischemic injury, (ii) identify factors influencing the evolution of injury, (iii) consider various cellular targets for ischemic injury, (iv) assess the overall importance of reperfusion injury, (v) discuss conceptual approaches to cardioprotection and (vi) to identify new ideas and approaches in the realm of myocardial protection. In the human heart, myocardial ischemia may take many forms, it may exist for periods as short as a few seconds or minutes, it may last for hours or it may persist for years. In terms of discussing interventions to combat myocardial ischemia, this article will focus on: (i) regional ischemia as occurs during evolving myocardial infarction and (ii) whole heart or global ischemia as occurs during cardiac surgery and transplantation.