Water-efficient genotypes along with conservation measures significantly reduce the green and blue water footprints in sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)

Sugarcane crop is irrigated using surface, overhead, and drip irrigation methods. Increased water use in sugarcane is a major concern around the world, implying the need for water accounting, developing water-efficient hybrids and water-saving agro-techniques for long-term conservation and use of water. "Water Footprint (WF)" is a measure of both direct and indirect water usage accountable for any product and/or process. In praxis, 'Green Water Footprint' (GWF) and 'Blue Water Footprint' (BWF) are extremely crucial for the restoration of essential ecosystem services (ES), such as sugarcane production. The WF metric was used as a priority tool in our study to evaluate water-efficient sugarcane hybrids, germplasm clones, deficit irrigation scheduling, crop geometry, and water conservation measures. Precise and accurate WF quantification would supplement the decision-making processes for managing available water resources in sugarcane agriculture. In split plot experimental design two research investigations on water management in sugarcane were undertaken at the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The major objective of the research trails was to find out suitable sugarcane hybrids and agronomic management practices to minimise water usage in sugarcane cultivation in water stressed and drought prone areas of tropical India. Our investigation comprised two phases; the first one being assessment of the impact of deficit irrigation scheduling, planting techniques and water conservation measures in sugarcane production, while the second phase dealt with genotypic evaluation under variable irrigation scheduling. Results showed that BWF reduced significantly in the first ratoon crop due to deficit irrigation scheduling coupled with planting of two budded setts and application of sugarcane trash at the rate of 5 t ha-1. Sugarcane hybrids viz., Co 85019, Co 10026, Co 12009, Co 13014, Co 14002, Co 14025, Co 15015, and Co 15018 were more water efficient, with a lower total WF. Among the germplasm clones, Fiji 55, ISH 111, ISH 107, Pathri, and Gungera exhibited lower GWF, BWF and total WF.

Antiepileptic Activity of Indian Filbert Fruit Extract in Experimental Animal Models

Aim: To screen the antiepileptic activity of ethanolic fruit extract of Indian filbert. Methodology: The cleaned, dried and powdered fruits of Indian filbert were subjected to extraction.Preliminary Phytochemical studies were carried out for the presence secondary metabolites.Acute toxicity and anticonvulsant effect on maximal electroshock induced seizures and metrazol (pentylenetetrazole) induced seizures carried out in experimental animals. Results: Preliminary phytochemical studies showed the presence of steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, carbohydrates. Acute toxicity of ethanolic extract of fruits were found to be safe up to 2000 mg/kg body weight Ethanolic extract of Indian (100,200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced the duration of seizures induced by maximal electroshock (MES) as well as protected animals from metrazol induced tonic seizures and the results were found to be significant (P=0.05) when compared to control Conclusions: The presence of triterpenoids, steroids and flavonoid might be responsible for the antiepileptic activity of the fruit extract of Indian filbert.

Intraoperative Scrape Cytology from Ovarian Masss Lesions: A Study of 81 Cases

Background:

Intraoperative evaluation of an ovarian mass is of crucial importance in its further management, accomplished by frozen section (FS) and scrape smear (SS) examination.

Aim:

To evaluate utility of SS over FS and to study scrape cytological features of a variety of ovarian neoplasms.

Materials and Methods:

The study comprised ovarian tumors studied over a period of 1 year (2014–2015) that were submitted for intraoperative assessment. SS and FS were examined and evaluated independently. The results were compared with final pathological diagnosis in each case, and cases with discordant diagnoses were reviewed. All the SSs of ovarian tumors were re-evaluated with Giemsa-stained smears, and cytological features were described.

Results:

The results of SS and FS were 100% concordant. On histopathology, of 81 cases, 43 were epithelial [(categorized further as serous, mucinous, or malignant mixed Mullerian tumor (MMMT)] along with subcategorization of benign, borderline, and malignant), 16 were germ cell (categorized as teratoma: mature/immature and yolk sac tumor), 11 were sex cord stromal tumors (fibroma, granulosa cell tumor, Sertoli–Leydig cell tumor), 8 cases were hemorrhagic cysts (torsion, endometroid, corpus luteal cyst, etc.), and 3 were metastasis. There were 61 benign, 2 borderline, and 18 malignant cases on FS and scrape. Combining all the values, sensitivity and specificity were 76% and 98.21%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy in diagnosing malignant lesions was 91%.

Conclusion:

Adequate knowledge on cytohistological correlation of ovarian scrape cytology may phase out the use of cryostat in intraoperative diagnosis of ovarian neoplasms, and thus be a boon for resource-deprived settings.

Development and validation of the stability-indicating LC-UV method for the determination of Cefditoren pivoxil

An isocratic RP-HPLC method was developed for the determination of Cefditoren pivoxil in pharmaceutical formulations using a C-18 column with water–acetonitrile (50:50, v/v) as mobile phase and flow rate 1.2 mL/min (UV detection at 218 nm). Linearity was observed in the concentration range 1.0–250 μg/mL (R²=0.999) with regression equation y=24194x+10749. The forced degradation studies were performed by using HCl, NaOH, and H₂O₂, and thermal and UV radiation. Cefditoren pivoxil is more sensitive towards oxidation and alkaline conditions and resistant towards acidic and photolytic degradations. The method was validated as per ICH guidelines.