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Trace amounts of uranium along with its decay products are found in varying levels in natural soil, rocks, water and air. They are a matter of significant concern due to their carcinogenic nature. In the present work, the distribution of U and 210Po in groundwater of Kodagu District, Karnataka, India, was studied. The concentration of total U in groundwater samples was estimated using LASER and LED fluorimeter, and the activity of 210Po in groundwater was studied using electrochemical deposition followed by alpha counting method. The concentration of U and 210Po varied from 0.4 to 8.8 μgl-1 and 0.47 to 4.35 mBql-1, respectively. The ingestion dose due to U and 210Po in groundwater varied from 0.33 to 7.17 and 0.41 to 3.81 μSv y-1, respectively. The estimated U activity was found to be well below the standard safe limits of 30 μgl-1 in drinking water, as recommended by WHO and USEPA. The 210Po activity was low compared with the recommended 100 mBql-1 standard of WHO., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

This work analyzed the probiotic properties of isolates from cereal-based Indian fermented food. The isolates were tested for lactic acid production, cell hydrophobicity, antibiotic sensitivity, sensitivity to acidic conditions, and increased salt concentration. This study also evaluated the ability of the probiotic isolates to ferment sugars and their antioxidant activity. The potential probiotic  L. plantarum  J9 isolated from  jangri  batter was encapsulated using 2.5% sodium alginate and CaCl 2 by extrusion method with an encapsulation efficiency greater than 99%. After 2 h of incubation, in simulated gastric juice the encapsulated J9 cells reduced from 11.8 to 6.8 log 10 CFU/ml however, free J9 cells reduced from 11.8 to 1.89 log 10 CFU/ml. Similarly, encapsulated J9 cells reduced from 11.8 to 8.0 log 10 CFU/ml but free J9 cells reduced from 11.6 to 0.890 log 10 CFU/ml in simulated intestinal juice after 2 h incubation. The microencapsulation of  L. plantarum  J9 with alginate proves effective in delivering viable bacterial cells at required levels. Probiotic with antioxidant activity and antagonistic properties against food-borne pathogens is reported for the first time from  jangri  batter. The sodium alginate microencapsulation allows viable cells to reach a beneficial level, and hence this study aids in developing new probiotic products., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2021.)

Human monkeypox (MPOX) which recently hit the headlines is a rare, emerging zoonotic disease, only next to smallpox yet never attended adequately to halt the epidemic outbreak threat. MPOX is caused by Orthopox virus , which is a double-stranded, linear DNA virus, transmitted from infected animals, commonly rodents to humans. Monkeypox is endemic to the tropical jungles in Central-West Africa; occasional cases reported in other nations could be due to people traveling from endemic regions of MPOX. Transmission may occur via direct contact with human body secretions, cutaneous or mucosal lesions in the mouth or throat or respiratory droplets, and contaminated objects. Typical MPOX symptoms are fever, lymphadenopathy, skin rashes, intense headache, muscle, back pain, etc. Lesions can range from a few to numerous and may be filled with clear or yellowish fluid that later dries up or crusts, eventually falling off. MPOX is often considered as infrequent and self-limiting; nonetheless, the latest sporadic reports call for urgent vigilance, precautionary preparedness, and immediate response. Paucity of the data available about MPOX virus diversity and incomplete information on validated management protocols instigate a sense of impending danger and loom large as a global health emergency. MPOX is a completely preventable infection, and this article will cater to the need for creating general awareness and developing cutting-edge surveillance measures to curtail the spread of the disease. Genomic investigations of new cases of MPOX must be undertaken to check for mutations which can lead to higher human susceptibility. Local health stakeholders and clinicians should emphasize early identification and give out appropriate treatment as per the existing protocol., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Aim: Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) is a histological subtype of esophageal cancer that begins in the squamous cells in the esophagus. In only 19% of the ESCC-diagnosed patients, a five-year survival rate has been seen. This necessitates the identification of high-confidence biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets for the mitigation of ESCC., Method: We performed a meta-analysis of 10 mRNA datasets and identified consistently perturbed genes across the studies. Then, integrated with ESCC ATLAS to segregate 'core' genes to identify consequences of primary gene perturbation events leading to gene-gene interactions and dysregulated molecular signaling pathways. Further, by integrating with toxicogenomics data, inferences were drawn for gene interaction with environmental exposures, trace elements, chemical carcinogens, and drug chemicals. We also deduce the clinical outcomes of candidate genes based on survival analysis using the ESCC related dataset in The Cancer Genome Atlas., Result: We identified 237 known and 18 novel perturbed candidate genes. Desmoglein 1 (DSG1) is one such gene that we found significantly downregulated (Fold Change =-1.89, p-value = 8.2e-06) in ESCC across six different datasets. Further, we identified 31 'core' genes (that either harbor genetic variants or are regulated by epigenetic modifications) and found regulating key biological pathways via adjoining genes in gene-gene interaction networks. Functional enrichment analysis showed dysregulated biological processes and pathways including "Extracellular matrix", "Collagen trimmer" and "HPV infection" are significantly overrepresented in our candidate genes. Based on the toxicogenomic inferences from Comparative Toxicogenomics Database we report the key genes that interacted with risk factors such as tobacco smoking, zinc, nitroso benzylmethylamine, and drug chemicals such as cisplatin, Fluorouracil, and Mitomycin in relation to ESCC. We also point to the STC2 gene that shows a high risk for mortality in ESCC patients., Conclusion: We identified novel perturbed genes in relation to ESCC and explored their interaction network. DSG1 is one such gene, its association with microbiota and a clinical presentation seen commonly with ESCC hints that it is a good candidate for early diagnostic marker. Besides, in this study we highlight candidate genes and their molecular connections to risk factors, biological pathways, drug chemicals, and the survival probability of ESCC patients.

The ketone body, β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB), is metabolised by the brain alongside the mandatory brain fuel glucose. To examine the extent and circumstances by which βOHB can supplement glucose metabolism, we studied guinea pig cortical brain slices using increasing concentrations of [U- 13 C]D-βOHB in conjunction with [1- 13 C]D-glucose under conditions of normo- and hypoglycaemia, as well as under high potassium (40 mmol/L K + ) depolarization in normo- and hypoglycaemic conditions. The contribution of βOHB to synthesis of GABA was also probed by inhibiting the synthesis of glutamine, a GABA precursor, with methionine sulfoximine (MSO). [U- 13 C]D-βOHB at lower concentrations (0.25 and 1.25 mmol/L) stimulated mitochondrial metabolism, producing greater total incorporation of label into glutamate and GABA but did not have a similar effect in the cytosolic compartment where labelling of glutamine was reduced at 1.25 mmol/L [U- 13 C]D-βOHB. At higher concentrations (2.5 mmol/L) [U- 13 C]D-βOHB inhibited metabolism of [1- 13 C]D-glucose, and reduced total label incorporation and total metabolite pools. When glucose levels were reduced, βOHB was able to partially restore the loss of glutamate and GABA caused by hypoglycaemia, but was not able to supplement levels of lactate, glutamine or alanine or to prevent the increase in aspartate. Under depolarizing conditions glucose was the preferred substrate over βOHB, even in hypoglycaemic conditions where comparatively less βOHB was incorporated except into aspartate isotopomers. Inhibition of glutamine synthesis with MSO had no significant effect on incorporation of label from [U- 13 C]D-βOHB into GABA C2,1 indicating that the majority of this GABA was synthesized in GABAergic neurons from [U- 13 C]D-βOHB rather than from Gln C4,5 imported from astrocytes.

β-Hydroxybutyrate (βOHB), a ketone body, is oxidised as a brain fuel. Although its contribution to energy metabolism in the healthy brain is minimal, it is an interesting metabolite which is not only oxidised but also has other direct and collateral effects which make it a molecule of interest for therapeutic purposes. In brain βOHB can be produced in astrocytes from oxidation of fatty acids or catabolism of amino acids and is metabolised in the mitochondria of all brain cell types although uptake across the blood brain barrier is a metabolic control point. βOHB possesses an intrinsic high heat of combustion, making it an efficient mitochondrial fuel, where it can alter the NAD + /NADH and Q/QH 2 couples and reduce production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. It can directly interact as a signalling molecule influencing opening of K + channels and regulation of Ca 2+ channels. βOHB is an inhibitor of histone deacetylases resulting in upregulation of genes involved in protection against oxidative stress and regulation of metabolism. It interacts with an inflammasome in immune cells to reduce production of inflammatory cytokines and reduce inflammation. Use of βOHB as an efficient neurotherapeutic relies on increasing blood βOHB levels so as to encourage entry of βOHB to the brain. While use of βOHB as a sole therapeutic is currently limited, with employment of a ketogenic diet a more widely used approach, recent development and testing of esterified forms of βOHB have shown great promise, with the approach elevating plasma βOHB while allowing consumption of normal diet. An improved understanding of the mechanisms by which βOHB acts will allow better design of both diet and supplemental interventions.

Castor ( Ricinus communis L.) a chief non-edible oilseed crop has numerous industrial applications. Systematic genetic diversity analysis utilizing DNA based markers has been quick and reliable method that ensures selection of diverse parents for exploitation of higher levels of heterosis in breeding programs. From NCBI database, 63,852 EST sequences of castor were mined. One thousand one hundred and five (1105) EST-SSRs and 1652 repeat motifs sequences were identified from 20,495 non-redundant unigene sequences. Repeat motifs consisted of 29.7 % mono nucleotide repeats, 24.8 % di nucleotide repeats, 27.27 % tri nucleotide repeats and 3.94 % tetra nucleotide repeats. Twenty eight primer pairs were chosen from SSR-containing ESTs to determine genetic diversity among 27 castor accessions. Twelve EST-SSRs showed polymorphism. Number of alleles detected were 2-3 with an average of 2.33 per locus. 150-400 bp was the size of an allele. Dendrogram analysis grouped the 27 accessions into two separate clusters. Genetic similarity coefficient of dendrogram ranged from 0.24 to 0.83. The polymorphic information content value of 0.28-0.49 revealed medium level of diversity in castor. Results of present study indicated that EST-SSRs to be efficient markers for genetic diversity studies. Knowledge on level of diversity existing in castor genotypes would be useful for breeders to plan efficient hybrid breeding programme.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Spirulina fusiformis on adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice. Arthritis was induced by intra dermal injection of complete freund's adjuvant (0.1 ml) into the right hind paw of Swiss albino mice. Spirulina fusiformis (800 mg/kg/b.wt) was orally administered for 8 d (from 11th to 18th day) to arthritic animals after adjuvant injection. The anti-inflammatory activity of Spirulina fusiformis was assessed by measuring paw volume, body weight, levels of lysosomal enzymes, tissue marker enzymes and glycoproteins in control and experimental animals. In adjuvant-induced arthritic animals, the levels of lysosomal enzymes, tissue marker enzymes, glycoproteins and the paw volume were increased significantly. However the body weight was found to be reduced when compared to control animals. Oral administration of Spirulina fusiformis (800 mg/kg/b.wt) significantly altered these above physical and biochemical changes observed in arthritic animals to near normal conditions. Hence results of this study clearly indicate that Spirulina fusiformis has promising anti-inflammatory activity against adjuvant-induced arthritic animals.