Search

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are opportunistic bacteria pulmonary and extra-pulmonary infections in humans that closely resemble Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although genome sequencing strategies helped determine NTMs, a common assay for the detection of coinfection by multiple NTMs with M. tuberculosisin the primary attempt of diagnosis is still elusive. Such a lack of efficiency leads to delayed therapy, an inappropriate choice of drugs, drug resistance, disease complications, morbidity, and mortality. Although a high-resolution LC–MS/MS-based multiprotein panel assay can be developed due to its specificity and sensitivity, it needs a library of species-specific peptides as a platform. Toward this, we performed an analysis of proteomes of 9 NTM species with more than 20 million peptide spectrum matches gathered from 26 proteome data sets. Our metaproteomic analyses determined 48,172 species-specific proteotypic peptides across 9 NTMs. Notably, M. smegmatis(26,008), M. abscessus(12,442), M. vaccae(6487), M. fortuitum(1623), M. aviumsubsp. paratuberculosis(844), M. aviumsubsp. hominissuis(580), and M. marinum(112) displayed >100 species-specific proteotypic peptides. Finally, these peptides and corresponding spectra have been compiled into a spectral library, FASTA, and JSON formats for future reference and validation in clinical cohorts by the biomedical community for further translation.

The purpose of the study is to check the parallel mediation effect of perceived customer satisfaction and service quality confirmation in the relationship of perceived website usability and repurchase intentions of the consumers in the case of fashion apparel. Data were collected from 480 respondents of Punjab and Chandigarh, India. To analyse the data SPSS version 24 and variance-based partial least square in software Smart PLS 3 was used. Further consistent PLS algorithm and consistent bootstrapping with 5,000 bootstraps were applied to analyse the results. The results of the research indicate the positive and significant direct influence of websites on repurchase intentions. The study also showed that perceived customer satisfaction and service quality confirmation strengthen the relationship between website usability and repurchase intentions. Further, there has been little research conducted testing the parallel mediation of service quality confirmation and customer satisfaction. Moreover, for the highly competitive industry of fashion apparel, the results will be highly useful. The findings of the study make a significant contribution to the existing literature and can be used by the e-commerce companies dealing in fashion apparel for attaining a significant customer base.

Pulsed light, pulsed electric field and cold plasma are three different non-thermal and non-chemical sterilization techniques that are becoming exceedingly important in food industry for pushing towards a reduced downstream CO2footprint. These techniques are found especially promising to alter the physicochemical, thermal, structural, pasting and digestibility characteristics of starch. This review discusses the effects of experimental conditions as well as equipment selected for starch modification using these three methods and discusses plausible mechanisms behind the observed changes in functional properties such as cross linking, depolymerization, esterification and dehydrogenation, of modified starches from different sources. The morphology and crystal polymorph of the treated starch is observed to be retained following physical modification, yet exhibiting similar characteristics as that of depolymerized, crosslinked or esterified starches.

Graphical abstract:

Sustainability is the important issue for most of the organisation for reaping the benefit of triple bottom line and competitive advantage. Green human resource management is one of the ways to attain the sustainability which also helps in attracting and retaining the young talent towards the organisation. The purpose of the present research is to study the concept of Green HRM with various dimensions and to investigate the mostly researched domain related to Green HRM. The study discussed the key and major focus areas in the literature in the context of GHRM as per the author's view to accomplish the stated objectives. The results of the study showed the manufacturing domain has been focused by most of the studies due to the direct consumption of natural resources more in this sector. Further, originality or practicality of the research lies as this research would be helpful to the HR practitioners to focus only on key areas to implement the concept of GHRM well in their respective organizations to formulate the competitive strategy to add value to their respective organizations.

Gamma ray shielding ability of WO3borate glasses is analyzed by using the Phy-X/PSD software. Mass attenuation coefficient of glasses gets enhanced with addition of tungsten oxide resulting in lowering of the values of MFP, HVL, TVL and EBF at 10 mol % of tungsten as compared to many commercial and radiation shielding glasses/concretes. The higher value of FNRCS (∑R) in studied glasses than concretes shows their neutron shielding ability. The sample with highest value of tungsten is most suitable for making radiation shielding materials. The OPD, OMV, n¯c, nband dbbvalues indicate the rigid and stable glass structure due to the formations of stable BO4groups. Poisson ratio confirms high cross density and stability of prepared glasses as its value decreases from 0.233 to 0.226. The increased values of elastic constants and VHN are also in the favour of higher stability and rigidity of the glasses due to addition of WO3. All of these parameters are in good relation with each other and support the shielding power of the studied glasses.

The identification of a fuzzy model is a complex and nonlinear problem. This can be formulated as a search and optimisation problem and many computing approaches are available in the literature to solve this problem. This research paper is focused on using a new nature inspired approach for fuzzy modeling based on Bat Algorithm which is derived from the behaviour of micro-bats to search for their prey. The bat algorithm approach has been implemented and validated successfully on a rapid battery charger fuzzy controller problem. Currently, the key requirement is real-time solutions to complex problems at a blazing speed. Bat algorithm evolved the optimised fuzzy model within a few seconds as compared to other approaches.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, once regarded as an organism of low virulence, has evolved as a significant opportunistic pathogen causing severe human infections in both hospital and community settings, especially amongst highly debilitated patients. Globally, S. maltophiliaranks third amongst the four most common pathogenic non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNBs), others being Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanniiand Burkholderia cepaciacomplex (Bcc). The worth of accurate identification of S. maltophiliacomes to the forefront as it needs to be differentiated from other NFGNBs such as Acinetobacter, P. aeruginosaand Bcc due to its inherently contrasting antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Consequently, its correct identification is essential as no single drug is amply effective against all NFGNBs, which hinders initiation of appropriate empirical treatment resulting in increased morbidity and mortality.

The bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis pathway provides multiple targets for antibacterials, as proven by the clinical success of β-lactam and glycopeptide classes of antibiotics. The Mur ligases play an essential role in the biosynthesis of the peptidoglycan building block, N-acetyl-muramic acid-pentapeptide. MurC, the first of four Mur ligases, ligates l-alanine to UDP-N-acetylmuramic acid, initiating the synthesis of pentapeptide precursor. Therefore, inhibiting the MurC enzyme should result in bacterial cell death. Herein, we report a novel class of pyrazolopyrimidines with subnanomolar potency against both Escherichia coliand Pseudomonas aeruginosaMurC enzymes, which demonstrates a concomitant bactericidal activity against efflux-deficient strains. Radio-labeled precursor incorporation showed these compounds selectively inhibited peptidoglycan biosynthesis, and genetic studies confirmed the target of pyrazolopyrimidines to be MurC. In the presence of permeability enhancers such as colistin, pyrazolopyrimidines exhibited low micromolar MIC against the wild-type bacteria, thereby, indicating permeability and efflux as major challenges for this chemical series. Our studies provide biochemical and genetic evidence to support the essentiality of MurC and serve to validate the attractiveness of target for antibacterial discovery.

ABSTRACTPantothenate kinase (PanK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of pantothenate, the first committed and rate-limiting step toward coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis. In our earlier reports, we had established that the type I isoform encoded by the coaAgene is an essential pantothenate kinase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and this vital information was then exploited to screen large libraries for identification of mechanistically different classes of PanK inhibitors. The present report summarizes the synthesis and expansion efforts to understand the structure-activity relationships leading to the optimization of enzyme inhibition along with antimycobacterial activity. Additionally, we report the progression of two distinct classes of inhibitors, the triazoles, which are ATP competitors, and the biaryl acetic acids, with a mixed mode of inhibition. Cocrystallization studies provided evidence of these inhibitors binding to the enzyme. This was further substantiated with the biaryl acids having MIC against the wild-type M. tuberculosisstrain and the subsequent establishment of a target link with an upshift in MIC in a strain overexpressing PanK. On the other hand, the ATP competitors had cellular activity only in a M. tuberculosisknockdown strain with reduced PanK expression levels. Additionally, in vitroand in vivosurvival kinetic studies performed with a M. tuberculosisPanK (MtPanK) knockdown strain indicated that the target levels have to be significantly reduced to bring in growth inhibition. The dual approaches employed here thus established the poor vulnerability of PanK in M. tuberculosis.

ABSTRACTMembers of the fluoroquinolone class are being actively evaluated for inclusion in tuberculosis chemotherapy regimens, and we sought to determine the best in vitro and pharmacodynamic predictors of in vivo efficacy in mice. MICs for Mycobacterium tuberculosisH37Rv were 0.1 mg/liter (sparfloxacin [SPX]) and 0.5 mg/liter (moxifloxacin [MXF], ciprofloxacin [CIP], and ofloxacin [OFX]). The unbound fraction in the presence of murine serum was concentration dependent for MXF, OFX, SPX, and CIP. In vitro time-kill studies revealed a time-dependent effect, with the CFU reduction on day 7 similar for all four drugs. However, with a J774A.1 murine macrophage tuberculosis infection model, CIP was ineffective at up to 32× MIC. In addition, MXF, OFX, and SPX exhibited less activity than had been seen in the in vitro time-kill study. After demonstrating that the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum concentration of drug in plasma were proportional to the dose in vivo, dose fractionation studies with total oral doses of 37.5 to 19,200 mg/kg of body weight (MXF), 225 to 115,200 mg/kg (OFX), 30 to 50,000 mg/kg (SPX), and 38 to 100,000 mg/kg (CIP) were performed with a murine aerosol infection model. MXF was the most efficacious agent (3.0 ± 0.2 log10CFU/lung reduction), followed by SPX (1.4 ± 0.1) and OFX (1.5 ± 0.1). CIP showed no effect. The ratio of the AUC to the MIC was the pharmacodynamic parameter that best described the in vivo efficacy. In summary, a lack of intracellular killing predicted the lack of in vivo activity of CIP. The in vivo rank order for maximal efficacy of the three active fluoroquinolones was not clearly predicted by the in vitro assays, however.

ABSTRACTLimited data exist on the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) parameters of the bactericidal activities of the available antimycobacterial drugs. We report on the PK-PD relationships for isoniazid. Isoniazid exhibited concentration (C)-dependent killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosisH37Rv in vitro, with a maximum reduction of 4 log10CFU/ml. In these studies, 50% of the maximum effect was achieved at a C/MIC ratio of 0.5, and the maximum effect did not increase with exposure times of up to 21 days. Conversely, isoniazid produced less than a 0.5-log10CFU/ml reduction in two different intracellular infection models (J774A.1 murine macrophages and whole human blood). In a murine model of aerosol infection, isoniazid therapy for 6 days produced a reduction of 1.4 log10CFU/lung. Dose fractionation studies demonstrated that the 24-h area under the concentration-time curve/MIC (r2= 0.83) correlated best with the bactericidal efficacy, followed by the maximum concentration of drug in serum/MIC (r2= 0.73).

The present investigation was aimed at producing a thermostable and neutral glucoamylase (amyloglucosidase, EC 3.2.1.3) by a thermophilic mould, Thermomucor indicae-seudaticaein submerged cultivation and testing its applicability in starch saccharification. Parametric optimization resulted in the secretion of 30,000 U/l of glucoamylase in a synthetic medium (5% soluble starch, 0.1% yeast extract, 0.05% K2HPO4and 0.01% MgSO4· 7H2O) using 5 × 106spores/50 ml of a 3-day-old inoculum at 40 °C and 250 rev/min in shake flasks in 48 h. The enzyme secretion was not affected to any significant extent by the tested additives and detergents. A 1.7-fold increase in glucoamylase secretion was attained when T. indicae-seudaticaewas grown in a laboratory fermenter. The enzyme alone catalysed the hydrolysis of soluble starch to an extent of 65%. A prior treatment of starch with thermostable α-amylase and amylopullulanase, followed by glucoamylase, resulted in a greater extent of hydrolysis, 79 and 91%, respectively.

Abstract: The effects of various doses of sodium selenite (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/kg body weight, ip) were studied on the content of phospholipids, cholesterol, esterified fatty acids (EFA), gangliosides, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), and sulfhydryl group in neuroendocrine centers of male Wistar rats for 7 d. The lowest dose of Se (0.05 mg/kg) did not alter the above parameters significantly in neuroendocrine centers. The content of phospholipids was depleted significantly in the pituitary and depletion in the pineal was 80.22% with a 0.1-mg/kg dose of Se, but this dose elevated its level significantly in the hypothalamus. Conversely, a 0.2-mg/kg dose of selenium elevated the level of phospholipids significantly in the pituitary and hypothalamus, the elevation in the pineal was 70%. Selenium, 0.1 mg/kg, elevated the level of cholesterol in the pituitary but depleted its level in the pineal (56.8%) and hypothalamus (13.60%). Selenium, 0.2 mg/kg, elevated the level of cholesterol significantly in the hypothalamus but its level was not significant in the pituitary and pineal. The depletion of esterified fatty acid in the pituitary and pineal with doses of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg was significant in the pituitary, whereas its depletion in the pineal was 85.4% and 69.26%, respectively. Selenium, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg, depleted the level of gangliosides significantly and dose dependently in the pituitary but has elevated its level significantly and dose dependently in the hypothalamus. Its depletion in the pineal was 87.1% and 67.8% with the 0.1- and 0.2-mg/kg dose of selenium, respectively. Selenium, 0.1 mg/kg, increased the content of TBARS significantly in neuroendocrine centers and its elevation in the pineal was 703.8%. Selenium, 0.2 mg/kg, elevated its level in the pituitary and it was 126.9% in the pineal, but this dose depleted its level significantly in the hypothalamus. The content of the sulfhydryl group with a 0.1-mg/kg dose of selenite was depleted significantly in neuroendocrine centers and it was 55.9% in the pineal. Selenium, 0.2 mg/kg, depleted the level of the sulfhydryl group more significantly in the pituitary and pineal, but its elevation in hypothalamus was significant.

ABSTRACTPenicillin binding protein (PBP) 1b of Escherichia colihas both transglycosylase and transpeptidase activities, which are attractive targets for the discovery of new antibacterial agents. A high-throughput assay that detects inhibitors of the PBPs was described previously, but it cannot distinguish them from inhibitors of the MraY, MurG, and lipid pyrophosphorylase. We report on a method that distinguishes inhibitors of both activities of the PBPs from those of the other three enzymes. Radioactive peptidoglycan was synthesized by using E. colimembranes. Following termination of the reaction the products were analyzed in three ways. Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-coated scintillation proximity assay (SPA) beads were added to one set, and the same beads together with a detergent were added to a second set. Type A polyethylenimine-coated WGA-coated SPA beads were added to a third set. By comparison of the results of assays run in parallel under the first two conditions, inhibitors of the transpeptidase and transglycosylase could be distinguished from inhibitors of the other enzymes, as the inhibitors of the other enzymes showed similar inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) under both conditions but the inhibitors of the PBPs showed insignificant inhibition in the absence of detergent. Furthermore, comparison of the results of assays run under conditions two and three enabled the distinction of transpeptidase inhibitors. Penicillin and other β-lactams showed insignificant inhibition with type A beads compared with that shown with WGA-coated SPA beads plus detergent. However, inhibitors of the other four enzymes (tunicamycin, nisin, bacitracin, and moenomycin) showed similar IC50s under both conditions. We show that the main PBP being measured under these conditions is PBP 1b. This screen can be used to find novel transglycosylase or transpeptidase inhibitors.

Abstract: The effect of various doses of sodium tellurite (0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 mg/kg body weight, orally) on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase) and content of glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem of male albino mice was studied after 15 d of treatment. All of the doses of tellurium (0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 mg/kg body weight, orally) have depleted the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of glutathione dose dependently in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem and it was significant with the dose of 2.0 mg/kg. On the other hand, the 2.0-mg/kg dose of tellurium has significantly elevated the content of TBARSs in the cerebrum and cerebellum. The 0.8-mg/kg dose of tellurium has significantly depleted the activities of glutathione peroxidase in the cerebrum and brainstem, glutathione-S-transferase in the cerebrum and cerebellum, catalase in the brainstem, and the content of glutathione in the cerebrum and cerebellum. In contrast, this dose has significantly elevated the content of TBARSs in the cerebrum and cerebellum. However, the depletion in the activity of glutathione reductase with various doses of sodium tellurite was not significant in any brain part of mice. The result suggests that sodium tellurite differentially affects the antioxidant status within various parts of the mice brain.

The effect of various doses of sodium tellurite (1/50 LD50=0.4 mg/kg, 1/25 LD50=0.8 mg/kg, and 1/10 LD50=2.0 mg/kg body weight orally) on the lipid levels (cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, esterified fatty acids, gangliosides, and total lipids) in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem of male albino mice was studied after 7 and 15 d of treatment. Sodium tellurite (2.0 mg/kg body weight) for 7 d has an apparent effect on the depletion of cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, esterified fatty acids, and total lipids. The cholesterol content was decreased significantly in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem after 7 d of treatment with a 2.0-mg/kg dose compared to the control. On the other hand, treatment for 15 d with doses of 0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 mg/kg body weight resulted in a significant and dose-dependent increment in cholesterol level in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. The triglycerides content was decreased significantly in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem with the 2.0-mg/kg dose after 7 d of treatment. The doses of 0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 mg/kg orally for 15 d resulted in a significant and dose-dependent depletion of triglycerides in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. All the doses of tellurium (0.4, 0.8, and 2.0 mg/kg) both for 7 and 15 d have depleted the level of phospholipids in varying degrees of significance in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. However, the level of esterified fatty acids was decreased significantly with the 2.0-mg/kg dose of tellurium for 7 d but increased with the 0.4-mg/kg dose for 15 d in the cerebrum and cerebellu. The level of gangliosides was depleted in the cerebrum but elevated in the cerebellum and brainstem after receiving a 2.0-mg/kg dose of sodium tellurite for 7 d. The content of gangliosides was increased with doses of 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg but decreased with 2.0 mg/kg for 15 d in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. The total lipids content was depleted significantly and dose dependently after 7 and 15 d of treatment in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. These results suggest that sodium tellurite affects the lipids content differentially in various parts of the mice brain.

ABSTRACTLimited information exists on the pharmacokinetic (PK)-pharmacodynamic (PD) relationships of drugs against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our aim was to identify the PK-PD parameter that best describes the efficacy of rifampin on the basis of in vitro and PK properties. Consistent with 83.8% protein binding by equilibrium dialysis, the rifampin MIC for M. tuberculosisstrain H37Rv rose from 0.1 in a serum-free system to 1.0 mg/ml when it was tested in the presence of 50% serum. In time-kill studies, rifampin exhibited area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)-dependent killing in vitro, with maximal killing seen on all days and with the potency increasing steadily over a 9-day exposure period. MIC and time-kill studies performed with intracellular organisms in a macrophage monolayer model yielded similar results. By use of a murine aerosol infection model with dose ranging and dose fractionation over 6 days, the PD parameter that best correlated with a reduction in bacterial counts was found to be AUC/MIC (r2= 0.95), whereas the maximum concentration in serum/MIC (r2= 0.86) and the time that the concentration remained above the MIC (r2= 0.44) showed lesser degrees of correlation.

Different test results have been reported for the same chemicals in two in vitro chromosome aberration test systems, CHL cells tested by a Japanese protocol and CHO cells tested by the US National Toxicology Program [Sofuni et al., Mutat Res 241:173–213,1990]. Here, laboratories in Japan, the US and the UK tested 9 such chemicals in CHL and CHO cells using the same protocols and found all 9 positive in both cell types; differences in earlier conclusions with these chemicals were due mainly to test protocol, not to different sensitivities of the cells. The most important protocol difference is sampling time. Chemicals that were negative in the NTP series using a sampling time of 10 to 13 hours often produced positive results when retested here with a 20- to 24-hour sampling time. While positive resultswere obtained in both cell types, CHL cells sometimes had higher aberration levels and survived at higher doses than CHO cells would tolerate. This may reflect some intrinsic difference in sensitivity but may also be affected by factors such as cell cycle length and culture media (e.g., oxygen scavenging capacity). The collaboration reported here also contributed to a better understanding of scoring aberrations, especially “gaps”; there was good agreement on what types of aberrations should be included in the totals when scoring criteria were clearly defined, for example, many changes classified as “gaps” by the Japanese system were classified as “breaks” in the scoring systems used in the United States and the United Kingdom, and were appropriately included in total aberration counts. Environ. Mol. Mutagen 29:189–207, 1997. ® 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Different test results have been reported for the same chemicals in two in vitro chromosome aberration test systems, CHL cells tested by a Japanese protocol and CHO cells tested by the US National Toxicology Program [Sofuni et al., Mutat Res 241:173–213,1990]. Here, laboratories in Japan, the US and the UK tested 9 such chemicals in CHL and CHO cells using the same protocols and found all 9 positive in both cell types; differences in earlier conclusions with these chemicals were due mainly to test protocol, not to different sensitivities of the cells. The most important protocol difference is sampling time. Chemicals that were negative in the NTP series using a sampling time of 10 to 13 hours often produced positive results when retested here with a 20‐ to 24‐hour sampling time. While positive resultswere obtained in both cell types, CHL cells sometimes had higher aberration levels and survived at higher doses than CHO cells would tolerate. This may reflect some intrinsic difference in sensitivity but may also be affected by factors such as cell cycle length and culture media (e.g., oxygen scavenging capacity). The collaboration reported here also contributed to a better understanding of scoring aberrations, especially “gaps”; there was good agreement on what types of aberrations should be included in the totals when scoring criteria were clearly defined, for example, many changes classified as “gaps” by the Japanese system were classified as “breaks” in the scoring systems used in the United States and the United Kingdom, and were appropriately included in total aberration counts. Environ. Mol. Mutagen 29:189–207, 1997. ® 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

The hypodivergence measure between two discrete distributions is characterized in this paper with the help of a functional inequality.

The Indian concept of gunas namely Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas is perceived to be useful in organizational behaviour research and practice.Analysing data collected from 310 executives of 13 organizations, Kaur and Sinha identify four factors — Tamas Guna, Rajas Positive Guna, Sattwa Guna, and Rajas Negative Guna and discuss the relationship of these variables with some organizationally relevant variables.

Steroid cell tumours of the ovary are uncommon sex-hormone-secreting tumours characterized by steroid cell proliferation. The incidence of steroid cell tumour of the ovary is only 0.5% of all ovarian tumours. Here, we present a case of a 59-year-old post-hysterectomy patient who presented with complaints of excessive hair growth, hoarseness of voice and male pattern baldness for 1 year. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed a well-defined solid 4 × 3 cm hypoechoic lesion, and there was increased heterogeneous vascularity on colour doppler suggestive of neoplastic solid mass lesion of the right ovary. A blood examination showed total serum testosterone of 76 ng/dL, DHEAS—310 ug/dL, and 17-OH progesterone—1025 ng/dL. Her haemoglobin in the preoperative period was 18 gm/dL, though erythropoietin levels were normal. The patient was found positive for JAK2 gene mutation, which is strongly associated with polycythaemia vera. Laparotomy followed by bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and frozen section was planned. Since frozen section was positive for malignancy in right ovarian mass, omentectomy, bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy with multiple peritoneal biopsies were performed. The result of histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of steroid cell tumour, probably Leydig cell tumour. A blood examination after a month revealed a marked decline in serum testosterone, i.e. 4.9 ng/dL, DHEAS—15.3 ug/dL, and 17-OH progesterone—0.13 ng/dL.

Flax seed (Linum usitatissimum) is an important oilseed crop which has gained importance since last few decades due to its unique nutrient profile. Flax seed comprises high amount of fiber and is a significant source of α-linolenic acid in the diet of vegetarian people. It is evident from several studies conducted that flaxseed carries functional ingredients and provide health benefits. Omega-3 fatty acid, lignan and dietary fiber are major bioactive components of flaxseed which can be delivered through value added products. Flax seed has been successfully exploited in preparation of various value added products. Commercially, all parts of flaxseed plant are exploited directly or after processing. Flaxseed consumption in the diet prevents serious diseases like coronary diseases, cancer, diabetes, obesity, gastrointestinal, renal and bone disorders. To the best of our knowledge, very limited review reports are available for commercial utilization of flaxseed in preparation of various value added products (bakery, dairy, extruded, snack, fermented and other traditional) and effect of flaxseed fortification on nutritional, physicochemical, phytochemical and sensory properties of these products. In future, this data could be useful for different food processing industries.