Biological activities of Solanum pseudocapsicum(Solanaceae)against cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera Hübner and armyworm,Spodoptera litura Fabricius(Lepidotera:Noctuidae)

Objective:To evaluate the antifeedant,insecticidal and growth inhibition activities of Solanum pseudocapsicum(S.pseudocapsicum)seed extracts against Spodoptera litura(S.litura)and Helicotverpa armigera(H.armigera).Methods:Hcxane,diethyl cther,dichloromethanc and ethyl acetate seed extracts were prepared and tested for autifeedant,insecticidal and growth inhibitory activities against fourth instar larvae of&litura and H.armigera.Results:Ethyl acetate extract showed promising antifeedant and insecticidal activities against S.litura and H.armigera.Percentage of deformed larvae,pupae and adults were maximum in treatment of ethyl acetate extract.Percentage of successful adult emergence was deteriorated by seeds on extract treated larvae.Conclusions:Ethyl acetate extracts of S.pseudocapsicum,showed higher efficiency of antifeedant,insecticidal and growth inhibition activities.Hence,it can be used to controll agricultural insect pests,S.litura and H.armigera.

Host selection behavior and incidence of the bark beetle Scolytus kashmirensis (Coleoptera:Curculionidae:Scolytinae) attacking elm (Ulmus spp.) trees in Kashmir

The status of the incidence of the bark beetle Scolytus kashmirensis Schedl on elm （Ulmus spp.） trees was determined in four districts of the Kashmir Valley in 2009. The incidence of the borer was higher in the Anantnag （25.93%） and Shopian （22.35%） districts of the Kashmir Valley, followed by the Ganderbal （17.14%） and Baramulla （16.67%） districts. The overall infestation re- corded in these districts was 20.52%. The beetle under study chewed the scars on twigs of both the host and tentative non-host plants supplied to them in cages but bored and laid eggs in only one of them （the host plant）. Both species of elm, Ulmus wallichiana and U. villosa, were susceptible to borer attacks; however, U. villosa showed low susceptibility and high resistance compared to U. wallichiana. Older, taller elms were preferred for feeding by bark beetles and are therefore much more susceptible to its infestation compared to younger elms. This bark beetle species also preferred to oviposit in branches of the host plants with diameters of 9-12 mm.

Polytene chromosomes of an Indian Himalayan black fly Simulium (Nevermannia) praelargum (Diptera:Simuliidae)

High quality polytene chromosome maps （n=3） of a Himalayan Simuliid Simulium praelargum Datta, 1973 are presented and represent the first cytological description of a taxon found in the feuerborni group, subgenus Nevermannia. Polytene chromosomes one （I） and two （II） are metacentric, chromosome three （III） is submetacentric with the length of each chromosome occupying 37.25 %, 31.36 % and 31.34 % of the total complement length, respectively. Typical simuliid diagnostic intergeneric chromosomal markers are found within the polytene complement of this species. The nucleolar organizer （N.O.） is found at the base of the short arm of chromosome one （IS）, the Ring of Balbiani （R.B.）, double bubble （D.B.） and triad occur in the short arm of chromosome two （IIS）, the Parabalbiani Ring （EB.） and grey band （gb） occur in the long arm of chromosome two （IIL） and the Blister （BL） and Capsule （Ca） occur in the short arm of chromosome three （IIIS）.Terminal bands at the end of IIIS are heterochromatinized and present atypically with respect to other simuliid fauna. Populations studied so far are unique among the Simuliidae in that they exhibit chromosome structural monomorphism. These high resolution polytene chromosome maps will form the basis for future cytological characterization and phylogenetic comparisons amongst members of the feuerborni group

Role of hormone receptors and HER2 as prospective molecular markers for breast cancer:An update

This review provides an updated account on the current methods,principles and mechanism of action of therapies for the detection of molecular markers of therapeutic importance in the prognosis of breast cancer progression and recurrence,which includes estrogen receptor(ER),progesterone receptor(PR)and human epidermal growth factor receptor2(HER2).Indeed,hormone-receptors namely,ER,PR,proto-oncogene HER2 are the basic molecular markers that are recognized and established prognostic factors and predictors of response,for therapeutic practice.These markers can be detected by using immunohistochemistry(IHC)and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),which are established,faster and cost effective detection methods.These molecular markers along with clinicopathological prognostic parameters give the best prediction of the prognosis of cancer recurrence and progress.Finally,hormone receptors and HER2 as molecular markers are of prime therapeutic importance and have the capability to take part in future drug development techniques.

Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on blood transfusion service:an experience from a regional blood transfusion center

The unforeseen and uncertain life-threatening situation of the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affected all areas of the human daily work schedule.This study was designed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood transfusion services and discuss the adopted confrontation measures for uninterrupted blood supply during the pandemic situation.The data on blood donation,blood component preparation,and issue from January 2019 to December 2022 were collected from the inventory registers of the RBTC,Delhi,India.Compared to the non-pandemic year 2019,during the year 2020,all variables decreased gradually.The observed maximum decrease in variables such as blood collection(–79.16%)in the month of October,blood issue(–71.61%)in the month of August,random donor platelets(RDP)preparation(–98.09%)in the month of October,RDP issue(–86.08%)in the month of September,fresh frozen plasma(FFP)preparation(–100%)in the month of October,and FFP issue(–96.08%)in the month of July with an annual decrease of–45.52%,–42.87%,–33.00%,–59.79%,–40.98%,and–54.48%,respectively,as compared to year 2019.Compared to year 2020,in year 2021,the annual increase in blood collection,blood issue,FFP preparation,FFP issue,RDP preparation,and RDP issue was+50.20%,+21.68%,+65.31%,+78.52%,+116.23%,and+213.30%,respectively.Our study results show that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected blood transfusion services at our blood bank.The adopted coping strategies to maintain the safe and uninterrupted blood transfusion chain at our blood bank gave us lessons for future preparedness if faced with a similar situation.

Obesity as potential breast cancer risk factor for postmenopausal women

Breast cancer is the second highest prevalent cancer globally after lung cancer with 2.09 million cases during 2018.Adults about 1.9 billion were overweight and over 650 million out of these were obese during 2016.There is a significant relationship between breast cancer risk and obesity.Premature menopause and premenopausal obesity diminish the risk whereas postmenopausal obesity amplifies the risk,because adipose tissue acts as the major reservoir for estrogen biosynthesis after menopause.Lofty estrogen levels in serum along with enhanced peripheral site production of estrogen have been viewed as major reasons of developing breast cancer in overweight postmenopausal women.This review explains body fat as a peripheral site for estrogen biosynthesis,estrogen exposure affecting body fat distribution,and the mechanism of estrogen production from body fats.