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Background: Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) is the sixth major legume crop widely cultivated in the Indian sub-continent, Africa, and South-east Asia. Cytoplasmic male-sterility (CMS) is the incompetence of flowering plants to produce viable pollens during anther development. CMS has been extensively utilized for commercial hybrid seeds production in pigeon pea. However, the molecular basis governing CMS in pigeon pea remains unclear and undetermined. In this study transcriptome analysis for exploring differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between cytoplasmic male-sterile line (AKCMS11) and its fertility restorer line (AKPR303) was performed using Illumina paired-end sequencing. Results: A total of 3167 DEGs were identified, of which 1432 were up-regulated and 1390 were down-regulated in AKCMS11 in comparison to AKPR303. By querying, all the 3167 DEGs against TAIR database, 34 pigeon pea homologous genes were identified, few involved in pollen development (EMS1, MS1, ARF17) and encoding MYB and bHLH transcription factors with lower expression in the sterile buds, implying their possible role in pollen sterility. Many of these DEGs implicated in carbon metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), oxidative phosphorylation and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) showed reduced expression in the AKCMS11 (sterile) buds. Conclusion: The comparative transcriptome findings suggest the potential role of these DEGs in pollen development or abortion, pointing towards their involvement in cytoplasmic male-sterility in pigeon pea. The candidate DEGs identified in this investigation will be highly significant for further research, as they could lend a comprehensive basis in unravelling the molecular mechanism governing CMS in pigeon pea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Previously believed to be innocuous, non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) is now known to progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hepatic fibrosis and even cirrhosis. NAFLD has emerged as an integral component of the metabolic syndrome, with insulin resistance as the central pathogenic feature. Evidence now suggests that NAFLD is independently correlated to insulin resistance regardless of adiposity. Since, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome are widely prevalent in Asian Indians, it is reasonable to presume that NAFLD would also be prevalent, however, data are scarce. Some recent data indicate that hepatic fat content of Asian Indians is almost twice in amount for similar body mass index when compared to white Caucasians. It is important to manage insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome which underlie NAFLD and NASH. Treatment with insulin sensitizers and some other drugs have shown improvement in hepatic aminotransferase levels and even hepatic histology, but more definite evidence is required for firm recommendation for drug therapy of NAFLD and NASH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Asian summer monsoon heating anomalies are parameterized in terms of the concurrent ENSO SST anomalies and used as additional forcing in the Cane--Zebiak (CZ) Pacific ocean--atmosphere anomaly model. The Asian heating parameterization is developed from the rotated principal component analysis of combined interannual variability of the tropical Pacific SSTs, residually diagnosed tropical diabatic heating at 400 mb (from ECMWF's analyses), and the 1000-mb tropical winds during the 1979--97 summer months of June, July, and August. Analysis of the 95 000-yr-long model integrations conducted with and without the interactive Asian sector heating anomalies reveals that their influence on the Pacific surface winds leads to increased ENSO occurrence-- an extra ENSO event every 20 yr or so. An examination of the ENSO distribution w.r.t. the peak SST anomaly in the eastern equatorial Pacific shows increased El Nino occurrence in the 2.2--3.6 K range (and 21.0 to 21.6 K range in case of cold events) along with a modest reduction in the 0.6--1.2 K range, that is, a population shift due to the strengthening of weak El Ninos in the monsoon run. The interaction of ENSO-related Asian summer monsoon heating with the CZ model's ocean--atmosphere also results in a wider period distribution of ENSO variability, but with the El Nino peak phase remaining seasonally locked with the northern winter months. The above modeling results confirm the positive feedback between Asian summer monsoon and ENSO sug-gested by previous empirical and diagnostic modeling studies; the feedback is generated primarily by the diabatic heating changes in the Asian Tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulin resistance is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). These abnormalities have been aggravated because of imbalanced and excess nutrition in developed countries, and rapid nutritional and lifestyle transition occurring in developing countries. This review presents evidence linking dietary nutrients with insulin resistance and its metabolic correlates, and also describes these issues from a Asian Indians and South Asian perspective. Despite possible influences from genetic and perinatal factors, diet and physical activity are likely to have greater and often overriding influence in pathogenesis of the insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome, and T2DM. In animal studies, a link has been established between dietary nutrients and insulin resistance. However, in human studies evidence is not as strong as in animals. Data suggest that dietary (ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) improve lipid profile and may have beneficial effect on insulin resistance. Dietary saturated fatty acids intake is positively associated with insulin resistance. Also, low glycaemic index foods and whole grain intake decrease insulin resistance. Importantly, high carbohydrate diets increase plasma triglycerides, cause hyperinsulinaemia and decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Among micronutrients, high magnesium and calcium intake have been reported to decrease insulin resistance. High intake of dietary carbohydrate and ω-6 PUFAs, low intake of ω-3 PUFAs and fiber, and high ω6/ω-3 PUFAs ratio have been reported in South Asians. Our recent investigations have shown that increased dietary ω-6 PUFAs and saturated fat intake are significantly associated with fasting hyperinsulinaemia and sub-clinical inflammation, respectively. Such imbalanced diets contribute to high prevalence of insulin resistance, the metabolic syndrome and T2DM in South Asians and Asian Indians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]