Effect of Hg, As and Pb on biomass production, photosynthetic rate, nutrients uptake and phytochelatin induction in Pfaffia glomerata

Plantlets of Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) were exposed for 28 days to three different metal/metalloid (Hg, Pb and As) with different levels (Hg 1; As 25, 50, 100 and Pb 100 and 400 μM) to analyze the possible phytochelatin initiation and affects on growth and photosynthetic pigments vis-à-vis metal accumulation potential of plants. The plantlets showed significant Hg, As and Pb accumulation in roots (150, 1267.67 and 2129 μg g^?1 DW respectively); however, a low root to shoot metal translocation was observed. It was interesting to note that all tested macronutrient (Mg, K, Ca) was higher in shoots and just opposite in case of micronutrients (Cu, Fe, Zn), was recorded highest in roots. The growth of plantlets (analyzed in terms of length and dry weight) was negatively affected by various metal treatments. In addition, the level of photosynthetic pigments alters significantly in response to all metal/metalloid treatment. In response to all tested metal/metalloids in plants only As induced phytochelatins (PC2, PC3 and PC4) in roots, and in shoots, GSH was observed in all tested metal/metalloids. In conclusion, P. glomerata plantlets could not cooperatively induce phytochelatins under any of Hg and Pb levels.     

Retrospective reporting of the duration of post-partum amenorrhea: A survival analysis

Introduction: Duration of post-partum amenorrhoea (PPA) is the period from the end of pregnancy to begin of menstruation. It is a temporary infecundable period. The attainment of first menstruation after delivery is treated as the termination of PPA. Objectives: The main aim of this paper is to investigate the differentials of the duration of PPA according to the characteristics of mothers and their child. Methods: The data are taken from a sample survey of Palpa and Rupandehi districts. A total of 1019 ever-married mothers were interviewed. 481 mothers were provided information on the duration of PPA to their last but one born child (retrospective status reporting). Survival analysis technique has been used. Results: It was found that the distribution of PPA showed a heaping at the multiple of three months. Mean duration of PPA was found to be ten months and it was higher among mothers of higher parity, older mothers and higher age at birth of child. Younger mothers have lower duration than that of the older. Mean duration was increased with the increased parity of mothers. A strong positive association was observed between the duration of PPA and breastfeeding (BF). The increased duration of PPA was found with the increased birth interval. The survival status of child was found a strong consequence on amenorrheaic period. Inverse association was found with education as well as high socioeconomic status of the family. A significant association was found with residential as well as caste/ethnic groups. Conclusion: Mean duration of PPA was found to be 10.6 months. Amenorrheaic period was found higher among mothers of higher parity, older ages, and higher age at birth of the child. A positive relationship was found with BF whereas inverse association was found with the level of education. Duration of PPA was decreased with the increased level of socio-economic status.     

Blood-based inflammation biomarkers of neurocognitive impairment in people living with HIV

Inflammation in people living with HIV (PLWH) correlates with severity of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. The objective of this study is to identify blood-based markers of neurocognitive function in a demographic balanced cohort of PLWH. Seven neurocognitive domains were evaluated in 121 seropositive Black/African American, Non-Hispanic White, and White Hispanic men and women using computerized assessments. Associations among standardized neurocognitive function and HIV-related parameters, relevant sociodemographic variables, and inflammation-associated cytokines measured in plasma and cellular supernatants were examined using multivariate and univariate regression models. Outlier and covariate analyses were used to identify and normalize for education level, CD4 T cell count, viral load, CNS and drug abuse comorbidities, which could influence biomarker and neurocognitive function associations. Plasma levels of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 8 significantly associated with memory, complex attention, cognitive flexibility, psychomotor speed, executive function, and processing speed. Plasma tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 associated with the aforementioned domains except memory and processing speed. In addition, plasma interleukin-23 significantly associated with processing speed and executive function. Analysis of peripheral blood cell culture supernatants revealed no significant markers for neurocognitive function. In this cohort, CD4 T cell count and education level also significantly associated with neurocognitive function. All identified inflammatory biomarkers demonstrated a negative correlation to neurocognitive function. These cytokines have known connections to HIV pathophysiology and are potential biomarkers for neurocognitive function in PLWH with promising clinical applications.

     

Shepherd's crook configuration of right coronary artery and anomalous origin of left circumflex artery from right coronary cusp in a middle-aged man—A case report

Shepherd''s crook configuration of the right coronary artery is a course anomaly where the ostium is oriented superiorly with the proximal artery taking an upward turn before resuming its regular path. Although it is classified as an unimportant hemodynamic variation, it is relevant in the context of coronary artery disease due to the technical issues it causes when being treated. The anomalous origin of the left circumflex artery arising as a separate branch from the right coronary cusp is a rare variant and its significance lies in its association with sudden arrhythmia, syncope, and sudden cardiac death. Here we report a case of a 58-year-old male patient with an anomalous course of the right coronary artery consistent with Shepherd''s crook configuration and anomalous origin of the left circumflex artery from the right coronary cusp.