Stress combinations and their interactions in plants database: a one-stop resource on combined stress responses in plants

We have developed a compendium and interactive platform, named Stress Combinations and their Interactions in Plants Database (SCIPDb; http://www.nipgr.ac.in/scipdb.php), which offers information on morpho-physio-biochemical (phenome) and molecular (transcriptome and metabolome) responses of plants to different stress combinations. SCIPDb is a plant stress informatics hub for data mining on phenome, transcriptome, trait-gene ontology, and data-driven research for advancing mechanistic understanding of combined stress biology. We analyzed global phenome data from 939 studies to delineate the effects of various stress combinations on yield in major crops and found that yield was substantially affected under abiotic-abiotic stresses. Transcriptome datasets from 36 studies hosted in SCIPDb identified novel genes, whose roles have not been earlier established in combined stress. Integretome analysis under combined drought-heat stress pinpointed carbohydrate, amino acid, and energy metabolism pathways as the crucial metabolic, proteomic, and transcriptional components in plant tolerance to combined stress. These examples illustrate the application of SCIPDb in identifying novel genes and pathways involved in combined stress tolerance. Further, we showed the application of this database in identifying novel candidate genes and pathways for combined drought and pathogen stress tolerance. To our knowledge, SCIPDb is the only publicly available platform offering combined stress-specific omics big data visualization tools, such as an interactive scrollbar, stress matrix, radial tree, global distribution map, meta-phenome analysis, search, BLAST, transcript expression pattern table, Manhattan plot, and co-expression network. These tools facilitate a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying plant responses to combined stresses.

Establishment and characterization of a fin cell line from Indian walking catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.)

A new cell line, Indian Catfish Fin, derived from the fin tissue of Indian walking catfish, Clarias batrachus, was established and characterized. The cell line grew well in Leibovitz's L-15 medium supplemented with 15% foetal bovine serum (FBS) and has been subcultured more than 110 times since its initiation in 2007. The cells were able to grow at a range of temperature from 28 to 37 °C with optimal growth at 28 °C. The cell line predominantly consists of fibroblast-like cells. The growth rate of fin cells increased as the FBS concentration increased from 2% to 20% at 28 °C with optimum growth at a concentration of 15% or 20% and poor growth at a concentration of 5%. The cells were found to be susceptible to fish nodavirus and IPNV-ab and infection was confirmed by cytopathic effect and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. PCR amplification of mitochondrial 12S rRNA using primers specific to C. batrachus confirmed the catfish origin of the cell line. The cell line was characterized further by immunocytochemistry, transfection efficiency with pEGFP-N1 and cell cycle analysis by fluorescent-activated cell sorting.

GSK3beta: role in therapeutic landscape and development of modulators

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3beta) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase which was originally identified as a regulator of glycogen metabolism. It plays a key role in the regulation of numerous signalling pathways including cellular process such as cell cycle, inflammation and cell proliferation. Over the last few years there is a considerable rise in the number of journals and patents publication by different workers worldwide. Many pharmaceutical companies are focusing on GSK3beta as a therapeutic target for the treatment of disease conditions. The present review is focused on signalling pathways of different disease conditions where GSK3beta is implicated. In this review, we present a comprehensive map of GSK3beta signalling pathways in disease physiologies. Structural analysis of GSK3beta along with molecular modelling reports from numerous workers are reviewed in context of design and development of GSK3beta inhibitors. Patent landscape of the small molecule modulators is profiled. The chemo space for small molecule modulators extracted from public and proprietary Kinase Chembiobase for GSK3beta are discussed. Compounds in different clinical phases of discovery are analysed. The review ends with the overall status of this important therapeutic target and challenges in development of its modulators.

Morbid jealousy in alcoholism

BACKGROUND

Morbid jealousy is an incompletely understood syndrome. The association between morbid jealousy and alcoholism is unclear.

METHOD

Morbid jealousy was assessed in 207 male patients with alcohol dependence (DSM-III-R) using a semi-structured interview schedule administered both to patients and their spouses.

RESULTS

Thirty-four per cent (71 out of 207) suffered from morbid jealousy. Morbid jealousy had different manifestations. Some patients expressed it only when intoxicated, others even when sober and in some the jealousy took the form of a delusional disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcoholism appears to have an aetiological role in the development of morbid jealousy. Detecting morbid jealousy when it is expressed only under the influence of alcohol has preventive implications.

Sarcoidosis of the central nervous system

A case of central nervous system sarcoidosis verified by direct biopsy and skin tests and without evidence of any other system involvement is reported. The computed tomography findings are described in detail.

Giant aneurysm of anterior communicating artery simulating 3rd ventricular tumor

This is a case report of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm simulating a 3rd ventricular tumor with obstructive hydrocephalus demonstrated on CT scan. Angiography showed the "tumor" to be an aneurysm. We believe that giant aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery should be included in the differential diagnosis of suspected 3rd ventricular tumors along with suprasellar masses as seen on CT scans.