Carrots are a multi-nutritional food source. They are an important root vegetable, rich in natural bioactive compounds, which are recognised for their nutraceutical effects and health benefits. This review summarises the occurrence, biosynthesis, factors affecting concentration, and health benefits of phytochemicals found in Daucus carota. Two hundred and fifty-five articles including original research papers, books, and book chapters were analysed, of which one hundred and thirty articles (most relevant to the topic) were selected for writing the review article. The four types of phytochemicals found in carrots, namely phenolics, carotenoids, polyacetylenes, and ascorbic acid, were summarised. These chemicals aid in the risk reduction of cancer and cardiovascular diseases due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, plasma lipid modification, and anti-tumour properties. Numerous factors influence the amount and type of phytochemicals present in carrots. Genotype (colour differences) plays an important role; high contents of α and β-carotene are present in orange carrots, lutein in yellow carrots, lycopene in red carrots, anthocyanins in the root of purple carrots, and phenolic compounds abound in black carrots. Carotenoids range between 3.2 mg/kg and 170 mg/kg, while vitamin C varies from 21 mg/kg to 775 mg/kg between cultivars. Growth temperatures of carrots influence the level of the sugars, carotenoids, and volatile compounds, so that growing in cool conditions results in a higher yield and quality of carrots, while higher temperatures would increase terpene synthesis, resulting in carrots with a bitter taste. It is worthwhile to investigate the cultivation of different genotypes under various environmental conditions to increase levels of phytochemicals and enhance the nutritional value of carrot, along with the valorisation of carrot by-products.

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In contrast to earlier empirical research that documents the import and export price elasticities at an aggregate level, this article estimates bilateral price and income impacts on Pakistan’s trade performance with its four major trading partners, i.e., USA, UK, Germany, and Japan. Using quarterly data for the period 1982-I-1996-IV and the Three-stage Least Square technique, the study documents the impact of real devaluation, real income, export incentives, and domestic inflation on trade performance with respect to each of the four trading partners.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most important cereal in the world and the most important food security crop in sub‐Saharan Africa. Maize provides energy and micronutrients. Deficiencies of the essential micronutrients Zn and Fe are fifth and sixth ranked among the top 10 most important risk factors for conditions such as anemia, low cognitive functioning, and impaired immune system (Fe deficiency) and diarrhea, skin inflammation, and recurrent infections (Zn deficiency) in humans, affecting more than two billion people worldwide. Poverty, lack of access to balanced diets and awareness, and low phytoavailability and bioavailability of these nutrients are major reasons for deficiencies. Breeding for mineral‐rich maize is a sustainable and cost‐effective approach to reduce micronutrient deficiencies. Since 2004, there has been significant progress in improving maize for Zn content. The aim of this review was to capture recent developments, trends, and progress in maize Fe and Zn biofortification and to identify challenges and ways to overcome them. HarvestPlus has set target levels for Fe (60 μg g−1) and Zn (38 μg g−1) in maize. Zinc target levels have been reached, but conventional breeding alone cannot enhance Fe to the recommended levels. Techniques such as oligo‐directed mutagenesis, reverse breeding, RNA‐directed DNA methylation, and gene editing could be used in future to speed up maize Fe biofortification. Additional research is required on Fe and Zn bioavailability in maize products, and on interactions of Fe and Zn with Ca and phytate and their influence on absorption, to better understand the underlying mechanisms.

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Chronic low-dose (2-3 mg/kg/day) rotenone infusion produces clinical features and biological markers of Parkinson's disease (PD) in some rats. A significant proportion of rats, however, die of acute rotenone toxicity. Most studies have focused on chronic rotenone-infused rats. It has not been established if the animals that die of acute low-dose rotenone toxicity manifest clinical or pathological evidence of PD. In the present study, six rats that received continuous 3 mg/kg/day subcutaneous rotenone infusion, became moribund and were euthanized after five days were compared with ten vehicle infused animals sacrificed 14, 28 or 56 days after placebo infusion. All rotenone-infused rats had significant motor function decline beginning one day after the infusion and progressive worsening in the physical condition until they became severely akinetic, at which point they were euthanized. In the substantia nigra of rotenone-treated rats, four of six had reduced numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons and all six had increased nigral •-synuclein expression. Our observations show that even a short duration of low-dose subcutaneous rotenone infusion can induce clinical and pathological markers of PD in some rats. The pathophysiology of the enhanced susceptibility to PD in some animals remains to be established.

AIMTo ascertain the frequency of hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome (HHS) in a cohort of children with hypertensive emergency in a tertiary pediatric hospital.METHODSA retrospective review was undertaken among children with hypertensive emergency admitted in our tertiary children hospital between June 2014 and December 2015 with an aim to identify any children with HHS. Three children with HHS were identified during this period.RESULTSThe 3 patients with HHS presented with hypertensive emergency. They were initially managed with Labetalol infusion and thereafter switched to oral anti-hypertensives (combination of Nifedipine sustained release, Hydralazine and Beta Blocker). All 3 were diagnosed to have unilateral renal artery stenosis. One child was lost to follow up, whereas the other 2 underwent renal angioplasty which was followed with normalization of blood pressure.CONCLUSIONDespite activation of renin angiotensin axis secondary to renal artery stenosis, these groups of children have significant hyponatremia. Renal re-vascularisation produces excellent results in most of them.

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