Ascorbate and anthocyanins act as photoprotectants during exposure to high light (HL). They accumulate in Arabidopsis leaves in response to HL on a similar timescale, suggesting a potential relationship between them. Flavonoids and related metabolites were identified and profiled by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/ MS). The ascorbate-deficient mutants vtc1, vtc2 and vtc3 accumulated less anthocyanin than wild-type (WT) during HL acclimation. In contrast, kaempferol glycoside accumulation was less affected by light and not decreased by ascorbate deficiency, while sinapoyl malate levels decreased during HL acclimation. Comparison of six Arabidopsis ecotypes showed a positive correlation between ascorbate and anthocyanin accumulation in HL. mRNA-Seq analysis showed that all flavonoid biosynthesis transcripts were increased by HL acclimation in WT. RT-PCR analysis showed that vtc1 and vtc2 were impaired in HL induction of transcripts of anthocyanin biosynthesis enzymes, and the transcription factors PAP1, GL3 and EGL3 that activate the pathway. Abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA), hormones that could affect anthocyanin accumulation, were unaffected in vtc mutants. It is concluded that HL induction of anthocyanin synthesis involves a redox-sensitive process upstream of the known transcription factors. Because anthocyanins accumulate in preference to kaempferol glycosides and sinapoyl malate in HL, they might have specific properties that make them useful in HL acclimation.

Oleanolic acid has been isolated from chloroform extract of Olea ferruginea Royle after removal of organic bases and free acids. The literature survey revealed it to be biologically very important. In this review the biological significance of oleanolic acid and its derivatives has been discussed. The aim of this review is to update current knowledge on oleanolic acid and its natural and semisynthetic analogs, focussing on its cytotoxic, antitumer, antioxidant, anti-inflamatory, anti-HIV, acetyl cholinesterase, alpha-glucosidase, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, spasmolytic activity, anti-angiogenic, antiallergic, antiviral and immunomodulatory activities. We present in this review, for the first time, a compilation of the most relevant scientific papers and technical reports of the chemical, pre-clinical and clinical research on the properties of oleanolic acid and its derivatives.

Medicinal plants are becoming an important research area for novel and bioactive molecules for drug discovery. Novel therapeutic strategies and agents are urgently needed to treat different incurable diseases. Many plant derived active compounds are in human clinical trials. Currently ursolic acid is in human clinical trial for treating cancer, tumor, and skin wrinkles. This review includes the clinical use of ursolic acid in various diseases including anticancer, antitumor, and antiwrinkle chemotherapies, and the isolation and purification of this tritepernoid from various plants to update current knowledge on the rapid analysis of ursolic acid by using analytical methods. In addition, the chemical modifications of ursolic acid to make more effective and water soluble derivatives, previous and current information regarding, its natural and semisynthetic analogs, focusing on its anticancer, cytotoxic, antitumor, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-HIV, acetyl cholinesterase, α-glucosidase, antimicrobial, and hepatoprotective activities, briefly discussion is attempted here for its research perspectives. This review article contains fourteen medicinally important ursolic acid derivatives and 351 references.

Correspondence e36classic Kawasaki disease. Two of these six patients (patients 7 and 8) had sufficient criteria for typical Kawasaki disease. None of these six children showed evidence of myocardial dysfunction, although pericardial effusion was observed in 3 of 6 children.Coronary artery dilatation was seen in five (62•5%) patients. A z-score of more than 2•5 in the left anterior descending or right coronary artery was reported in three and 2•0-2•5 in two patients (mean 2•94, SD ± 0•97, 95%CI 1•7 -4•16, SE ± 0•44, median 2•6, range +2•06 to +4•27, spread range +2•2). Both children with shocklike pre sentation had coronary artery involve ment, but two patients who fulfilled the Kawasaki disease criteria showed healthy coronary arteries. All children except one (7 of 8, 87•5%) received intra venous immuno globulin (2 g/kg body weight) within the first 2 days of their stay. Three patients received thera peutic anticoagulation (enoxaparin) on the basis of the high risk of thrombo embolism and amount of D-dimers. With the exception of the one death discussed already, the other seven children have been discharged home.Other children with PIMS-TS reported in the literature have presented with acute heart failure and features of acute myocarditis. 3,5,7 This feature has a special notability in our country, because viral myocarditis is a common presentation all year long, and there would be background cases with dilated cardiomyopathy or myocarditis. All children presenting with acute myocarditis in the study period were screened for exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and underwent COVID-19 antibody testing. Only one of six patients admitted with myocarditis during the study period tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies. This child, however, did not show evidence of raised inflammatory markers and is not included in the series.Our data, although restricted by numbers, show some differences For data on COVID-19 cases in Pakistan see www.covid.gov.pk

Newborn cord care practices may directly contribute to infections, which account for a large proportion of the four million annual global neonatal deaths. This formative research study assessed current umbilical and skin care knowledge and practices for neonates in Sylhet District, Bangladesh, in preparation for a cluster-randomized trial of the impact of topical chlorhexidine cord cleansing on neonatal mortality and omphalitis. Unstructured interviews (n ¼ 60), structured observations (n ¼ 20), rating and ranking exercises (n ¼ 40) and household surveys (n ¼ 400) were conducted to elicit specific behaviors regarding newborn cord and skin care practices. These included hand-washing, skin and cord care at the time of birth, persons engaged in cord care, cord cutting practices, topical applications to the cord at the time of birth, wrapping/dressing of the cord stump and use of skin-to-skin care. Overall 90% of deliveries occurred at home. The umbilical cord was almost always (98%) cut after delivery of the placenta, and cut by mothers in more than half the cases (57%). Substances were commonly (52%) applied to the stump after cord cutting; turmeric was the most common application (83%). Umbilical stump care revolved around bathing, skin massage with mustard oil and heat massage on the umbilical stump. Overall 40% of newborns were bathed on the day of birth. Mothers were the principal provider for skin and cord care during the neonatal period and 9% of them reported umbilical infections in their infants. Unhygienic cord care practices are prevalent in the study area. Efforts to promote hand-washing, cord cutting with clean instruments and avoiding unclean home applications to the cord may reduce exposure and improve neonatal outcomes. Such efforts should broadly target a range of caregivers, including mothers and other female household members.