No abstract

In agro-ecosystem, plant pathogens hamper food quality, crop yield, and global food security. Manipulation of naturally occurring defense mechanisms in host plants is an effective and sustainable approach for plant disease management. Various natural compounds, ranging from cell wall components to metabolic enzymes have been reported to protect plants from infection by pathogens and hence provide specific resistance to hosts against pathogens, termed as induced resistance. It involves various biochemical components, that play an important role in molecular and cellular signaling events occurring either before (elicitation) or after pathogen infection. The induction of reactive oxygen species, activation of defensive machinery of plants comprising of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative components, secondary metabolites, pathogenesis-related protein expression (e.g. chitinases and glucanases), phytoalexin production, modification in cell wall composition, melatonin production, carotenoids accumulation, and altered activity of polyamines are major induced changes in host plants during pathogen infection. Hence, the altered concentration of biochemical components in host plants restricts disease development. Such biochemical or metabolic markers can be harnessed for the development of “pathogen-proof” plants. Effective utilization of the key metabolites-based metabolic markers can pave the path for candidate gene identification. This present review discusses the valuable information for understanding the biochemical response mechanism of plants to cope with pathogens and genomics-metabolomics-based sustainable development of pathogen proof cultivars along with knowledge gaps and future perspectives to enhance sustainable agricultural production.

A total of 260 male subjects between 1 and 80 years of age of north-west region of India were studied with regard to morphometry of the ear lobule. The purpose of the present study was to obtain average values and range of measurements of several parameters of the ear lobule and the differences between right and left lobules. Female subjects were excluded from the study due to piercing. Various measurements of lobule were taken with the help of Vernier and Lange's calipers. The results of the aforementioned measurements were analyzed statistically using Student's t-test. The maximum length of the lobule increased appreciably between 6-15 years and 41-80 years. The breadth of the ear lobule increased up to the age of 15 years and was almost static between the ages of 16 and 40 years and increased again from 41 years onwards. Length of the lobule showed significant growth from the age group of 6-10 to 11-15, 21-40 to 41-60 and 41-60 to 61-80 years on the right side and 6-10 to 11-15 and 21-40 to 41-60 years on the left side. Breadth and thickness of ear lobule also showed statistically significant growth pattern in some age groups. On comparing the ear lobe dimensions with the studies available in other populations of the world, it was observed that north-west Indians have smaller ear lobules as compared to Caucasian and Japanese populations. In the present study, the frequency of attached (square) type of lobules was the maximum, followed by free (pendulous) type and tapering lobules. These findings were similar to those found among the Onge tribe of Andhra (India) and Newars of Nepal.

Plants including Rhizoma polgonati, Smilax china, and Trigonella foenum-graecum contain a lot of diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin. This bioactive phytochemical has shown high potential and interest in the treatment of various disorders such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and cardiovascular disease, in addition to being an important starting material for the preparation of several steroidal drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. This review aims to provide an overview of the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies reporting the diosgenin’s pharmacological effects and to discuss the safety issues. Preclinical studies have shown promising effects on cancer, neuroprotection, atherosclerosis, asthma, bone health, and other pathologies. Clinical investigations have demonstrated diosgenin’s nontoxic nature and promising benefits on cognitive function and menopause. However, further well-designed clinical trials are needed to address the other effects seen in preclinical studies, as well as a better knowledge of the diosgenin’s safety profile.

The study shows that awareness of PPIUCD is low in this region despite good education, leading to high refusal rates. The commonest reason is lack of appropriate counseling, and not only the woman but the husband and mother-in-law also must be provided the knowledge of it as they play important roles in our society.

A total of 3079 samples were received and identified at the National Salmonella and Escherichia Centre (NSEC), Central Research Institute, Kasauli, India during 2001-2005. Out of these, 2098 samples were from humans, 250 from animals, and 726 from meat, vegetables, seafood and the environment. The Salmonella strains isolated were distributed among 35 different Salmonella serovars. The most common serovars from humans were Salmonella Typhi (73%) and Salmonella Paratyphi A (24%) among typhoidal serovars, and Salmonella Worthington (28.2%) and Salmonella Typhimurium (22.5%) among non-typhoidal serovars. The other frequently isolated serovars from different sources were Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Dublin. Analysis of the prevalence of the 10 most common serovars in 18 states indicated that different serovars are distributed in different parts of India. The results from this study may be helpful in formulating preventive strategies to control the spread of infection in the country.

Community-based rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) is largely driven by goals set in the course of rehabilitation by clients and service providers. A preliminary study investigating the perspectives and practice of experienced rehabilitation coordinators was undertaken to explore issues that influence goal-setting in community rehabilitation settings. Detailed interviews and subsequent rounds of clarification were conducted with six experienced rehabilitation coordinators. Key themes identified through inductive analysis include cognitive influences, other client influences, service provider influences and the client-service provider relationship in the goal-setting process. Based on the findings, a preliminary descriptive schema of goal-setting in a community-based rehabilitation service for people with acquired brain injury is suggested. Factors such as training, experience, and values of the rehabilitation coordinators are also discussed in terms of their influence on goal-setting. Some strategies to assist a person with ABI to identify and work towards achieving realistic goals are identified. Suggestions for enhancing community-based rehabilitation practices with people with ABI, and scope for future research are noted. This paper constitutes a general overview of goal-setting in community-based ABI rehabilitation.

Introduction: Typhoid fever (enteric fever) is a global health problem causing high morbidity and mortality, especially in endemic areas such as India. The problem is exacerbated as the causative agent, Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), rapidly develops resistance to drugs used in treatment. However, non-responsiveness of S. Typhi to quinolones has been reported simultaneously with the re-emergence of susceptibility to chloramphenicol. The present study investigates the re-emergence of sensitivity to conventionally used drugs among strains of S. Typhi in the central west part of India. Methodology: We evaluated 128 S. Typhi isolates received at the National Salmonella and Escherichia Centre for chloramphenicol, ampicillin and trimethoprim susceptibility using standard methods. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were also evaluated. Results: The proportion of S. Typhi isolates showing susceptibility to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and trimethoprim was 95.3%, 94.5%, and 94.5%, respectively. These findings may help the health authorities in reconsidering the addition of these antimicrobial drugs into the treatment regime of typhoid fever and therefore may help combat the problem of increasing resistance to quinolones and cephalosporins. Conclusion: The changing trends of S. Typhi resistance patterns necessitate reconsideration of conventionally used drugs in typhoid fever treatment in India. In the present study, S. Typhi strains exhibited increased susceptibility toward chloramphenicol, ampicillin and trimethoprim, therefore suggesting the possibility of their use for treatment of typhoid fever.