MRX8, the conserved mitochondrial YihA GTPase family member, is required for de novo Cox1 synthesis at suboptimal temperatures in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The synthesis of Cox1, the conserved catalytic-core subunit of Complex IV, a multisubunit machinery of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system under environmental stress, has not been sufficiently addressed. In this study, we show that the putative YihA superfamily GTPase, Mrx8, is a bona fide mitochondrial protein required for Cox1 translation initiation and elongation during suboptimal growth condition at 16°C. Mrx8 was found in a complex with mitochondrial ribosomes, consistent with a role in protein synthesis. Cells expressing mutant Mrx8 predicted to be defective in guanine nucleotide binding and hydrolysis were compromised for robust cellular respiration. We show that the requirement of Pet309 and Mss51 for cellular respiration is not bypassed by overexpression of Mrx8 and vice versa. Consistently the ribosomal association of Mss51 is independent of Mrx8. Significantly, we find that GTPBP8, the human orthologue, complements the loss of cellular respiration in Δmrx8 cells and GTPBP8 localizes to the mitochondria in mammalian cells. This strongly suggests a universal role of the MRX8 family of proteins in regulating mitochondrial function.

Pressure dependent ultrasonic characterization of nano-structured w-BN

The work includes evaluation of elastic constants of wurtzite Boron nitride (w-BN) at different particle-size (5-40 nm) and pressure (0-60 GPa) at 300 K using potential model approach. Size and pressure dependent thermo-physical and ultrasonic parameters are also calculated using evaluated elastic constants. It is found that the elastic constants, ultrasonic velocities and Debye temperature of nanostructured w-BN enhance with increase in pressure and reduction in particle size. The size variation of thermal relaxation time resembles the dependency of thermal conductivity with size. The thermal conductivity of nanostructured w-BN is found to increase with reduction in nanoparticle size.

Complementary gene interaction and xenia effect controls the seed coat colour in interspecific cross between Trifolium alexandrinum and T. apertum

Trifolium alexandrinum (Egyptian clover) is a widely cultivated winter annual fodder. Present work deals with inheritance of the seed coat colour in segregating progenies of the interspecific cross between T. alexandrinum and T. apertum. Although, both the parent species possessed yellow seed coat, the F₁ seeds were black coloured in the reciprocal cross (T. apertum × T. alexandrinum). Seeds borne on individual F₂ plants and the advancing generations segregated in yellow and black seed coat colour, which confirmed xenia effect. F₂ seeds collected from individual F₁ plants exhibited nine black and seven yellow segregation ratio. The segregation of the seed coat colour recorded from F₃ to F₅ generations revealed that yellow seed coat was true breeding (i.e. non-segregating) in this interspecific cross (including the reciprocal crosses). However, the black seeded progenies were either true breeding or segregated in nine black: seven yellow ratio or three black: one yellow ratio suggesting a complementary gene interaction or duplicate recessive epistasis. It indicated that the seed coat colour is controlled by complementary gene interaction along with xenia effect in interspecific crosses between T. alexandrinum and T. apertum. Occurrence of the complementary genes across the species could suggest T. apertum to be the progenitor of T. alexandrinum. Inheritance of seed coat colour in reference to its importance in Egyptian clover breeding is also discussed.

Identification of new deep sea sinuous channels in the eastern Arabian Sea

Deep sea channel systems are recognized in most submarine fans worldwide as well as in the geological record. The Indus Fan is the second largest modern submarine fan, having a well-developed active canyon and deep sea channel system. Previous studies from the upper Indus Fan have reported several active channel systems. In the present study, deep sea channel systems were identified within the middle Indus Fan using high resolution multibeam bathymetric data. Prominent morphological features within the survey block include the Raman Seamount and Laxmi Ridge. The origin of the newly discovered channels in the middle fan has been inferred using medium resolution satellite bathymetry data. Interpretation of new data shows that the highly sinuous deep sea channel systems also extend to the east of Laxmi Ridge, as well as to the west of Laxmi Ridge, as previously reported. A decrease in sinuosity southward can be attributed to the morphological constraints imposed by the elevated features. These findings have significance in determining the pathways for active sediment transport systems, as well as their source characterization. The geometry suggests a series of punctuated avulsion events leading to the present array of disconnected channels. Such channels have affected the Laxmi Basin since the Pliocene and are responsible for reworking older fan sediments, resulting in loss of the original erosional signature supplied from the river mouth. This implies that distal fan sediments have experienced significant signal shredding and may not represent the erosion and weathering conditions within the onshore basin at the time of sedimentation.

Evaluation of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic potential of two traditional medicinal plants of India: Swertia cordata and Swertia chirayita

Background:

Swertia cordata and Swertia chirayita are temperate Himalayan medicinal plants used as potent herbal drugs in Indian traditional systems of medicine (Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha).

Objective:

Assessment of Antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic potential of Swertia cordata and Swertia chirayita.

Materials and Methods:

Phytochemicals of methanolic and aqueous extracts of the two Swertia species were analyzed. The antioxidant potential of all the extracts was assessed by measuring total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and free radical scavenging potential was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, antibacterial activity was assessed against various pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria in vitro by Kirby-Bauer agar well diffusion method and antidiabetic activity was assessed by α-amylase inhibition.

Results:

Methanolic leaf extracts of both the species of Swertia contain significant antibacterial as well as anti-diabetic potential, whereas methanolic root extracts of both species were found to have potential antioxidant activity. However, Swertia chirayita showed better activities than Swertia cordata although both species have good reputation in traditional Indian medicine.

Conclusion:

Both the species are having high medicinal potential in terms of their antioxidant, antibacterial and antidiabetic activities. Studies are required to further elucidate antioxidant, anti-diabetic and antibacterial potentials using various in-vitro, in-vivo biochemical and molecular biology techniques.

Inhibitory effect of parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) residue on growth of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes Mart Solms.) II. Relative effect of flower, leaf, stem, and root residue

The relative effect of residue of leaf, flower, stem, and root of parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) on growth of water hyacinth was studied. The inhibitory activity of the residue as shown by its effect on biomass and healthy leaf number (HLN) of treated plants was in the order: leaf and flower >stem >root. Total phenolic acids in the medium after 72 hr of suspending the plant part residue were maximum in flower followed by leaf, root, and stem, successively. The dry leaf powder (DLP) and dry flower powder (DFP) at and above 0.50% (w/v) and dry stem powder (DSP) at 1.00% (w/v) killed water hyacinth in about one month. Dry root powder (DRP) at the highest dose (1.25% w/v) reduced the growth of the treated plants drastically, but the plants recovered after about one month. The DSP at 0.50% (w/v) and DRP at 0.25-0.75% (w/v) supported growth of treated plants, probably due to lower levels of inhibitors, allowing utilization of constituents of the residue as nutrients. Using wheat seedlings as a reference material, it was observed that in aquaculture at different levels of parthenium plant parts residue, water hyacinth plants were much more sensitive to inhibitory activity. Thus, water hyacinth is suggested as a material for bioassay of inhibitory activity of the parthenium plant residue.

Isoniazid causing pleural effusion

Isoniazid (INH) is a first-line antitubercular drug. We report a case of a patient who developed a pleural effusion 2 months after starting antitubercular treatment for spinal tuberculosis. Isoniazid was found to be the culprit and its discontinuation caused subsidence of the effusion.

Role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in evaluating mediastinal masses

Background:

Fine-needle aspiration cytology is an important and useful investigation and is considered next to imaging in the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions. We carried out this study in the Department of TB and respiratory diseases JNMC Aligarh from March 2000 to March 2002 with the following aims.

Objectives:

To make etiological diagnosis of mediastinal lesions, determine the pathological type of the tumor in cases of malignancy and evaluate the role of fine-needle aspiration cytology in staging of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 56 patients were included in this study who had mediastinal mass with or without lung lesions on chest X-ray or computed tomography scan. Of these patients, 36 had mediastinal mass only and 20 had mediastinal mass with parenchymal lesion.

Results:

In the present study, of 56 patients, 36 had mediastinal masses and 20 had pulmonary mass.

Conclusion:

Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration is an easy and reliable method for reaching a quick tissue diagnosis in pulmonary and mediastinal masses.

An ultrasonic characterization of ferrofluid

Nanoparticles of Cr(2)O(3) are prepared through hydrothermal synthesis process using CrO(3)/PVA in aqueous solution using sucrose as a reducing agent. The calcination temperature is taken 300 and 350 degrees C. XRD and SEM of the powdered Cr(2)O(3) particles are done for the characterization. The average particle size is found 30-80 nm. It is found that average particle size increases with calcination temperature. The UV-visible absorption spectra are taken for the study of photo-physical properties of ferrofluids. Ultrasonic velocity and absorption measurements are performed in Cr(2)O(3) ferrofluid using variable path interferometer and pulse-echo techniques, respectively. The achieved results are discussed in correlation with the magnetic and other physical properties of Cr(2)O(3).

Trauma: an unusual aetiology of pulmonary pseudocyst

Traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst due to blunt chest trauma is rare. It is a clinical entity that manifests itself with minor clinical and major radiological signs. We report a case of a 16-year-old girl, who during an attack by a violent cow sustained a chest impact that resulted in a traumatic pulmonary pseudocyst, confirmed with a computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest. The patient recovered with conservative management.

Role of simple needle aspiration in the management of spontaneous pneumothorax

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of simple needle aspiration in the management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Not all patients with pneumothorax require intercostal tube drainage (ICTD). Some patients can be managed conservatively by simple needle aspiration of air from pleural space. It is a cheap and easy alternative to ICTD which can be done on out patient basis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients of spontaneous pneumothorax presenting for the first time were included in this study, after obtaining baseline investigations like chest X-ray, ECG, serum creatinine, blood sugar etc. They were managed by ICTD or simple needle aspiration. Chest X-ray was done 6 hours after the procedure (ICTD), 24 hours after aspiration and prior to ICTD removal or before hospital discharge. Patients who had undergone simple needle aspiration were allowed to go home following a few hours of observation after explaining the warning symptoms and the need for reevaluation after 24 hrs, if prompt follow-up could be ensured otherwise they were admitted along with patients undergoing ICTD.

RESULTS

Eighty two patients of spontaneous pneumothorax were included in this study during a-period of 12 months (May- 04 to April - 05). Out of these 40 (49%) patients were managed by ICTD, 42 (51%) patients were subjected to simple needle aspiration. Thirty two (76%) patients responded to simple needle aspiration while the remaining 10 patients required ICTD finally. There were no complications in the patients managed by simple needle aspiration; they had less chest pain and lesser duration of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Spontaneous pneumothorax may be managed by simple needle air aspiration primarily, unless contraindicated (tension pneumothorax), or in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. For symptomatic patient it is the recommended procedure.

Community-wide coronary heart disease mortality in Mexican Americans equals or exceeds that in non-Hispanic whites: the Corpus Christi Heart Project

PURPOSE

Previous comparisons of coronary heart disease mortality between Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites have given paradoxic results: despite their adverse cardiovascular risk profiles, especially a greater prevalence of diabetes, Mexican Americans are reported to have lower rates of mortality from coronary heart disease.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We performed a community-based surveillance among all residents of Nueces County, Texas, aged 25 to 74 years, from 1990 to 1994. All death certificates were obtained and coded, and deaths potentially related to coronary heart disease were selected and validated by standardized methods blinded to ethnicity. Validated in-hospital and out-of-hospital coronary heart disease mortality was compared between 785 Mexican Americans and 862 non-Hispanic white women and men.

RESULTS

Validated coronary heart disease mortality in Mexican Americans exceeded that for non-Hispanic whites in the same community. Among women, definite coronary heart disease mortality was 40% greater among Mexican Americans (rate ratio [RR] 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12 to 1.82), as was all coronary heart disease mortality (RR, 1.32, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.63). Among men, Mexican Americans had greater rates of all (RR, 1.11; 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.28) and definite coronary heart disease mortality (RR, 1.16; 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.47), but the associations were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

When community-wide mortality rates from coronary heart disease are properly validated, Mexican Americans have rates equal to or higher than those of non-Hispanic whites. Community-based surveillance with validation of coronary heart disease as the cause of death is necessary to avoid the errors that occur with the use of death certificates alone.

Comparison of stroke hospitalization rates among Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites

The authors performed a prospective, community-based pilot stroke surveillance project in Nueces County, TX. Mexican-Americans showed a trend toward higher completed ischemic stroke hospitalization rates compared with non-Hispanic whites. Mexican-Americans were more commonly uninsured (p = 0.007) and were less likely to receive neuroimaging (p = 0.001). Additional studies are needed to confirm this finding and to determine the role of stroke risk factors and access to care variables.

Congestive heart failure in the United States: is there more than meets the I(CD code)? The Corpus Christi Heart Project

BACKGROUND

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is increasing as a public health problem in the United States. The ability to quantify this problem has been limited by a lack of data regarding the validity of CHF identification.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the validity of the use of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD) codes to identify hospitalizations with clinical evidence of an episode of acute CHF in data of The Corpus Christi Heart Project, a population-based surveillance program for hospitalized coronary heart disease.

METHODS

The validation standard was a composite variable including the presence of physician diagnosed acute CHF or radiographic evidence of pulmonary edema. Data were abstracted from the medical records of 5083 patients identified as hospitalized for possible acute myocardial infarction, aortocoronary bypass surgery, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and related revascularization procedures in the Corpus Christi Heart Project. Discharge diagnoses, a secondary source of data, were used to apply 3 computer algorithms to assess the assignment of ICD codes.

RESULTS

The prevalence of clinically documented CHF was 27.1% (1376/5083). The ICD code 428 (CHF), assigned as the primary or a secondary discharge diagnosis, was associated with 62.8% sensitivity, 95.4% specificity, 83.5% positive predictive value, 87.4% negative predictive value, and a 24.8% underenumeration of CHF-related hospitalizations. An algorithm based on a series of ICD codes was associated with 67.1% sensitivity, 92.6% specificity, 77.1% positive predictive value, 88.3% negative predictive value, and a 13.0% underenumeration of CHF-related hospitalizations.

CONCLUSIONS

Reliance on ICD codes results in the exclusion of one third of the patients with clinical evidence of acute CHF. This underenumeration is compounded by the typical reliance on the first listed diagnosis. Congestive heart failure may be a greater public health problem than currently recognized. The allocation of resources for relevant surveillance, research, medical care, and preventive efforts should be reevaluated.

Greater stroke rate during hospitalization for acute heart disease among Mexican Americans than non-Hispanic whites

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study compared the risk for stroke during acute myocardial infarction (AMI), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between Mexican Americans (MAs) and non-Hispanic whites.

METHODS

We examined the age-specific rate ratios (RR) of acute stroke during hospitalization for AMI, CABG and PTCA in a population-based study in Corpus Christi, Tex. by searching the cardiac surveillance data for ICD-9 codes for stroke (430-437). ICD-9 stroke codes were validated by comparing medical chart abstraction with ICD-9 discharge diagnoses.

RESULTS

Stroke codes were found in 220 of the 5,697 admissions for AMI, CABG and PTCA. In the 45- to 59-year age-group MAs had a RR of 2.66 (95% CI 1.36-5.23) relative to non-Hispanic whites. In the 60- to 74-year age-group the RR was 1.52 (95% CI 1.11-2.08). There were no significant differences in the 25- to 44-year age-group. These ethnic relationships were found in nondiabetics but not in diabetics. Women in the 45- to 59-year age-group had a RR of 1.88 (95% CI 1.09-3.25) compared with men, but there were no significant sex differences in the 25- to 44- or 59- to 74-year age-groups. Stroke ICD-9 codes have a poor positive predictive value for acute stroke ranging from 10 to 76%. The stroke misclassifications were nondifferential with respect to ethnicity or sex.

CONCLUSIONS

MAs have a higher stroke rate complicating acute heart disease in Corpus Christi. A rigorous stroke surveillance project is needed to study the burden of stroke in MAs, the United States' largest Hispanic population.

Critical factors determining access to acute stroke care

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to assess gender, ethnic, and access-to-care factors critical in delay time (DT) for presentation to the hospital for acute stroke.

BACKGROUND

Little information is available on the effect of gender, ethnicity, and access issues on DT.

DESIGN

Demographic, access-to-care, and DT information was obtained from emergency department (ED) documentation of stroke patients admitted from July 1995 through June 1997 at Hermann Hospital, Houston, TX. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 241 eligible patients, 126 were African American (AA), 82 were non-Hispanic white (NHW), and 33 were Hispanic American (HA). Median DT from symptom onset to presentation to the ED was 222 minutes for AAs, 280 minutes for HAs, and 230 minutes for NHWs. A multivariate regression model estimated DT to ED arrival decreased with ambulance transport (p = 0.003) and increased in patients with a primary care physician (p = 0.145) and in women (p = 0.052). DT to see an ED physician after hospital arrival decreased with ambulance transport (p < 0.001), hemorrhage patients (p = 0.006), and worse stroke severity (p = 0.038), and increased in women (p = 0.041). DT to see a neurologist decreased with hemorrhage (p = 0.002) and ambulance arrival (p = 0.010). Neurologists saw patients within 3 hours of symptom onset in 34% of NHWs, 28% of AAs, and 18% of HAs.

CONCLUSION

Gender and access-to-care issues may be important determinants of delay in acute stroke care. Less than 20% of HAs presented to the ED within 3 hours of symptom onset.

Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and its modulation during an alpha-difluoromethylornithine chemoprevention trial

Chemoprevention trials designed to prevent progression to invasive cervical cancer will benefit from the identification of biomarkers that assess the risk of developing tumors, predict likelihood of response to treatment, and measure biological response to intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a marker for progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and as a surrogate end point biomarker in a chemoprevention trial with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. To evaluate quantitative and spatial changes in EGFR expression during cervical tumorigenesis, paraffin sections from 42 archival cervical cone biopsies, each containing multiple stages of CIN, were immunohistochemically stained for EGFR, and the level and spatial expression of EGFR were quantitated by image analysis. In the progression from normal epithelium to CIN 1 to CIN 2 to CIN 3 to invasive cancer, EGFR expression showed two types of changes. Normal control epithelium showed EGFR expression predominantly confined to the basal layer, while histologically normal epithelium in specimens containing CIN showed relatively increased EGFR expression in the basal layer and the extension of EGFR expression away from the basal layer. The total EGFR relative staining intensity (RSI) of epithelium increased with the degree of CIN, predominantly due to a progressive expansion of EGFR-expressing cells away from the basal layer rather than an increase in the level of EGFR expression per cell. To determine whether EGFR expression would be modulated by a 1-month chemopreventive intervention with DFMO, pretreatment and posttreatment cervical biopsy specimens from 25 patients (22 evaluable) were examined for EGFR expression. Although the overall levels of EGFR expression were not modulated in either histological responders or nonresponders, responders showed a prominent down-regulation of EGFR expression away from the basal layer after DFMO treatment. Interestingly, pretreatment EGFR expression levels predicted for DFMO response [i.e., eight responses (72.7%) for 11 cases with RSI levels below 0.35 versus one response (9.1%) for 11 cases with RSI levels above 0.35 (P < 0.01)]. These results suggest that CIN progression is associated with a spatial dysregulation of EGFR expression that can be reversed by DFMO treatment, especially in patients whose pretreatment CIN 3 lesions exhibit relatively low EGFR expression.

DNA image cytometric measurement as a surrogate end point biomarker in a phase I trial of alpha-difluoromethylornithine for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3) is considered a high-risk precursor of invasive cervical cancer. alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) is a promising antiproliferative chemopreventive agent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate image cytometric measurement of nuclear DNA (ICM-DNA) as a surrogate end point biomarker (SEB) in a Phase I trial of DFMO for CIN. Thirty patients with CIN 3 were treated with DFMO at five doses, ranging from 0.0625 to 1.0 g/m2/day, for 1 month. Half of the patients had histological responses. Twenty-five pre- and posttreatment cervical biopsy specimens (from 11 responders and 14 nonresponders) were available for this analysis. ICM-DNA was performed on 4-micron sections cut from formalin-fixed tissue blocks and stained with a thionin-SO2 Feulgen reaction. ICM-DNAs for each case were expressed as normalized measurements (against the nuclear modal absorbance of lymphocytes) of the absorbance of each cell of interest and were presented in bar histograms. The mean normalized summed absorbance (sigma ODn) was obtained as a mean histogram of the cell population of interest. Nineteen (76%) of 25 patients had a significant decrease in sigma ODn after DFMO treatment. Posttreatment values were significantly lower than pretreatment values in a paired analysis, and responders had significantly lower values than nonresponders. Analyses of different ICM-DNA references, including percentile values of sigma ODn distribution, DNA malignancy grade, and 5c exceeding rate, showed a decrease of mean sigma ODn during DFMO treatment. In addition, the summed posttreatment sigma ODn histograms also showed progressively shorter right shoulders compared with pretreatment histograms in both responders and nonresponders. We concluded that the modulation of sigma ODn reflected the chemoprevention effect of DFMO even before morphological changes appeared, and thus, ICM-DNA may be useful as a SEB in chemoprevention trials of DFMO. Additional reasons for using ICM-DNA as a SEB are the relative simplicity of its use, the high accuracy of the results, the low cost of the reagents, the ability to use small tissue samples, and the objectivity and reproducibility of the procedure.

Gestational trophoblastic disease

GTD occurs in fewer than 1 in 1200 pregnancies in the United States, but it is much more common in Asia and Latin America, where its incidence may be as high as 1 in 200 pregnancies. Risk factors for GTD include advanced or young maternal age, low socioeconomic status, and prior hydatidiform mole. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are key to a favorable outcome, and thus recognition of the signs and symptoms of the disease is important for all physicians. Because these diseases have low incidences and occur after reproductive events, screening for them in the general population is not worthwhile. No chemopreventive agents have yet been studied in women at risk for GTD, but the oral contraceptive is a good candidate.

Uterine sarcoma

Sarcomas are rare tumors with unpredictable prognosis. They are treated similarly to endometrial cancers. Little is known of epidemiologic risk factors for sarcoma; similarly, little work has been performed assessing molecular alterations in sarcomas. Because of their rarity, uterine sarcomas are not suitable for screening. Chemoprevention studies might target those at risk for recurrence or a second neoplasm.

Dietary vitamin C and beta-carotene and risk of death in middle-aged men. The Western Electric Study

In the Western Electric Company Study, carried out in Chicago, Illinois, data on diet and other factors were obtained in 1958 and 1959 for a cohort of 1,556 employed, middle-aged men. Nutrients included vitamin C and beta-carotene. An index that summarized combined intake of both nutrients was constructed. Mean intakes of vitamin C in the lowest and highest tertiles of the index were 66 and 138 mg/day; corresponding values for beta-carotene were 2.3 and 5.3 mg/day. A total of 522 of 1,556 men died during 32,935 person-years of follow-up, 231 from coronary heart disease and 155 from cancer. After adjustment for potentially confounding factors, relative risks (95% confidence intervals) associated with an increment of 19 points in the index (difference between means of the lowest and highest tertiles) were 0.60 (0.39-0.93) for cancer mortality, 0.70 (0.49-0.98) for coronary disease mortality, and 0.69 (0.55-0.87) for all-cause mortality. These results support the hypothesis that consumption of foods rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene reduces risk of death in middle-aged men.

Fungitoxic studies on bark extract of Lawsonia inermis against ringworm fungi

During screening of barks of 30 plants species against Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, only Lawsonia inermis exhibited absolute toxicity. The Lawsonia bark extract was found to possess fungistatic nature at its maximum inhibitory dilution of 1:30 (W/V) against both the test pathogens but, become fungicidal at 1:10 (W/V). The extract showed broad fungitoxic spectrum when tested against 13 ring worm fungi. Further the fungitoxicity of the extract remained unaltered at high temperature, on autoclaving and after long storage.

Antimycotic activity of some amino acids against dermatophytes

20 amino acids were assayed at 1% concentration for their toxicity against the mycelial growth of two dermatophytes viz., Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. L-Cysteine hydrochloride exhibited absolute toxicity against both the test pathogens while DL-aspartic acid was found active against Microsporum gypseum only. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of L-cysteine hydrochloride was found to be 0.5 and 0.4% against M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes, respectively, at which it showed mycostatic nature. However, the amino acid exhibited mycocidal activity at 0.9 and 0.8% against M. gypseum T. mentagrophytes, respectively. The spectrum of L-cysteine hydrochloride was studied at 1 and 0.5% concentrations against 24 human and animal pathogenic fungi and it was found to possess broad range of activity. The mycotoxicity of amino acid remained unaltered at high temperature, on autoclaving and against high inoculum density. Besides, it showed stronger activity in comparison to four antimycotic drugs viz., griseofulvin, 5-bromosalicyl-4-chloranilidine, acidum undecylenicum and nystatin.