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Riccia boliviensisJovet-Ast is recorded for the first time in Asia from the Eastern Ghats area of Andhra Pradesh (India). It is a disjunct distribution of this taxon recorded in Asia beyond South America as earlier it was reported from Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia (South America). The species can be readily distinguished in having spores exhibiting prominent triradiate mark and vermiculate sculpturing on its proximal face, while distal surface has sinuose ridges forming areolation at some places with tubercles at angles. Morpho-taxonomic account of Indian plants with distributional map is provided in the present contribution.

During the course of intensive exploration of the Govind Wild Life Sanctuary, Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya, some interesting specimens of genus Paraleucobryum(Lindb. ex Limpr.) Loeske have been identified. A critical morpho-taxonomic study of these plants has revealed its close resemblance with P. enerve(Thed.) Loeske; however, it differs from this species in smaller size of plants, larger leaves and strongly falcato-secund rather hooked leaves with ragged appearance and hence designated here as a new variety of P. enervenamely: Paraleucobryum enervevar. secundumvar. nov.

The lipid lowering effects of Senna didymobotrya (Leguminoceae) root extract (250 mg/kg) and pure isolates (100 mg/kg) were investigated for hypolipidemic activity on Triton-induced hyperlipidemic rats (in-vivo). The extracts and isolates showed significant (p≤0.01) reduction in serum lipid contents, and reactivation of the lipolytic enzymes, relative to the Triton-treated group. Ethyl acetate extract exhibited the highest lipid lowering (p≤0.01) compared to other fractions. Seven anthraquinones, obtusifolin (1), 1,6-di-O-methylemodin (2), nataloemodin-8-methyl ether (3), chrysophanol (4), physcion (5), chrysophanol-10,10'-bianthrone (6), physcion-10,10 -bianthrone (7) and stigmasterol (8) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract. Compounds 3, 5 and 7 displayed significant (p≤0.01) lipid lowering effects. The hypolipidaemic activities prompted the determination of inhibition of differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes by the compounds 3, 5 and 7. Only compound 7 exhibited potent anti-adipogenic activity without significant cytotoxicity. The result indicated that extracts of S. didymobotrya root extract can provide good antidyslipidaemic and adipocytes maturation inhibitors.

Abstract Three cyanobacterial strains originating from different habitats were subjected to temperature shift exposures and monitored for levels of proline, thiol and activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Thermophile Mastigocladus laminosus (growth optimum, 40 °C), raised the proline level 4.2-fold at low temperature (20 °C), for the psychrophile Nostoc 593 (growth optimum, 20 °C), it was raised 8-fold at 40 °C while in the mesophile Nostoc muscorum (growth optimum, 30 °C), the imino acid level increased 2.3-fold during temperature ‘shiftdown’ to 20 °C or 3.5-fold in sets facing ‘shiftup’ (40 °C). Alterations in thiol levels in the above strains were in line with proline. It is suggested that such fluctuations reflect metabolic shifts as a response to stress. Interestingly, GAPDH activity was maximum at the respective growth temperature optimum of M. laminosus (122 nmol NADPH oxidized min -1 mg -1 protein) and Nostoc 593 (141 nmol NADPH oxidized min -1 mg -1 protein) while in N. muscorum, it increased at 40 °C (101 nmol NADPH oxidized min -1 mg -1 protein) and to 93.3 nmol NADPH oxidized min -1 mg -1 protein (20 °C) relative to 86 nmol NADPH oxidized min -1 mg -1 protein at 30 °C. It seems that extremophiles maintain the GAPDH activity/level during growth at their respective temperatures optimal while the mesophile increases it in order to cope up with temperature-stress.

A wild-type Ni-sensitive (Nis) strain of Nostoc muscorum ISU spontaneously yielded mutants resistant to inhibition by 40 µM Ni with a frequency of about 10-7. A Ni-resistant (Nir) mutant was deficient in the activities of urease and uptake hydrogenase. Cellular Ni uptake in the Nis strain was dependent on concentration (40 to 120 µM) and time (0 to 30 min) (Vmax=0.51 nmol/µg protein.min; Km=92 µM). The Ni bioconcentration factor for such cells ranged between 0.95×103 and 1.89×103. Ni uptake in spheroplast preparations from Nis cells followed almost the same trend as intact cells except that the bioconcentration factor was slightly less [(0.82 to 1.39)×103]. In contrast, Ni uptake in the Nir intact cells was not concentration dependent and also the uptake was saturated, even at 40 µM, within 10 min. Spheroplasts from the Nir strain showed a Ni bioconcentration factor of 1.19×103 compared with 4.41×103 for intact cells. The invariably lower Ni uptake by spheroplasts was attributed to altered membrane transport properties.

Abstract.: Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells growing in minimal medium were 40-fold more sensitive to Ni2+ than cells growing in enriched medium, suggesting a possible protective role of medium ingredients. Likewise, cells pre-grown in enriched medium showed a high K m (6.15 mM) and increased Ni2+ uptake (950 nmol mg−1 protein, 1h) over cells pre-sown in minimal medium (K m , 0.48 mM; 146 nmol mg−1 protein, 1 h). The overall pattern indicates that cells pre-grown in enriched medium were characterized by having lowered affinity towards Ni2+ than those with minimal medium background. The enhanced Ni2+ uptake by enriched medium-grown cells can be correlated with the improved metabolic state of the cells. Ni2+ uptake was optimum at neutrality (pH 7.0). A major Ni2+ transport system was competitively inhibited by Mg2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, or Co2+ (400 μM each). Noticeably, a minor Ni2+ transport pathway was still operative even in the higher concentration range of Mg2+ (4 mM and 40 mM). The stimulation of Ni2+ uptake monitored in the presence of different carbon sources (0.5% wt/vol, each) showed the sequence: glucose (1.6-fold) > phenol = gallic acid (1.5-fold). Succinate, in comparison, reduced Ni2+ uptake (0.5-fold) possibly because of its acting as a metal chelator as well. Sensitivity of Ni2+ transport towards methyl viologen, azide, 2-4 DNP, and DCCD suggested that transport was energy-linked.

The grim statistics of head and neck cancers calls for chemotherapy in addition to radiotherapy. Fortyfour patients with advanced cancers were treated with 4–6 injections of Methotrexate 50 mg iv weekly followed by radiotherapy (RT). Fortytwo control patients received only RT. With chemotherapy (CT) 13.64% complete (CR) and 43.18% partial response (PR) was obtained. Thirtyseven study patients and 38 control patients were assessable one month after treatment completion. 56.76% study and 42.11% control patients showed a final CR. Patients with stage III disease and oropharyngeal primary showed better response with little difference in response of laryngeal cancers between the two groups. Better response was seen in patients with good performance status. Initial responsiveness to CT was predictive of attainment of a final CR. Anterior chemotherapy did not accentuate subsequent radiation reactions.

The COVID-19 pandemic may profoundly harm the mental health and emotional well- being of many older adults. Public health interventions to minimize the spread of the virus have had the unintended consequences of worsening social isolation, financial stress, and unemployment. Results of early research efforts assessing the impact of these interventions on the mental health of older adults have been mixed. Available findings suggest that a subset of community-dwelling older adults have been less negatively impacted than younger adults, while people of color, the poor, residents of nursing homes and other communal living environments, and those living with dementia and their caregivers are more likely to suffer from COVID-related health problems. This manuscript describes two older adults for whom COVID-19 associated stresses caused significant worsening in their psychiatric illnesses, including the emergence of suicidal ideation, summarizes the literature on the impact of interactions between psychosocial stresses and biological factors on the mental health and well-being of older adults, and discusses interventions to help older adults whose mental health has worsened due to COVID-19. Timely and accurate diagnosis, prompt provision of individualized care using both pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions, adoption of new technologies that permit care to be provided safely at a distance and which allow for virtual social interactions, coupled with ongoing advocacy for policy changes that address significant health care disparities and provide older adults continued access to health care and relief from financial hardship, will help older adults remaining as healthy as possible during the pandemic.

A case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the mastoid in a six weeks old infant is reported because of rarity and unusually early onset of the disease.

Carcinoma of the esophagus in children is a rare occurrence. This report describes a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus in a 10-year-old boy with a brief review of the literature.