Background: Dissolved radon is contained in natural water due to primordial uranium in rocks and soils with which it comes in contact. There is dual exposure from radon in water i.e. due to inhalation of the radon released from the water into the ambient air and through ingestion when water is used for drinking. As radon contaminated water adversely affects the health, it is therefore fundamental from health and hygiene point of view to measure radium concentration and radon exhalation rates in water. Materials and Methods: LR-115, Type- II plastic track detectors were used to measure the radium concentration and radon exhalation rate in water samples collected from various thermal springs. The Alpha tracks registered were counted by optical microscope at suitable magnification and converted into radium concentration and subsequently radon exhalation rates were measured. Results: The radon concentration emanated from water samples (air borne) varied from 84 Bq m-3 to 827 Bq m-3 with an average of 429 ± 12.72 Bqm-2 and the dissolved radon concentration varied from 5.65 Bq l-1 to 55.66 Bq l-1 with an average of 28.88± 0.85 Bq l-1. The radon mass exhalation rates varied from 2.37 mBq kg-1 hr-1 to 23.39 mBq kg-1 hr-1 with an average of 12.14 ± 0.36 mBq kg-1 hr-1 and surface exhalation rates from 52.34 mBq m-2 hr-1 to 515.29 mBq m-2 hr-1 with an average of 267.36 ± 7.93 from different thermal spring water samples. The radium concentration varied from 0.30 Bq l-1 to 2.93 Bq l-1 with an average of 1.52 ± 0.045 Bq l-1. Conclusion: Results indicate that the thermal spring water, which is also being used for drinking, is safe as far as radium concentration is concerned with the exception of a few isolated thermal spring sources.

Objective: Electrophysiological studies have identified abnormal oscillatory activities in the cerebral cortex in schizophrenia and mood disorders. Biological and pathophysiological evidence suggests specific deficits in serotonin (5-HT) receptor function in schizoaffective disorder (SA), a clinical syndrome with characteristics of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This study investigated Alpha oscillations in patients with SA. Method: Electroencephalography was used to measure ongoing and evoked Alpha oscillations in 38 adults meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders– Fourth Edition (DSM– IV) criteria for SA, and in 39 healthy controls. Results: Spontaneous Alpha power of the participants with SA was significantly lower than that of healthy participants [F (1, 75) = 8. 81, P < 0. 01]. Evoked Alpha Activity was also decreased in SA compared to controls [F (1, 75) = 5. 67, P = 0. 025]. Conclusion: A strong reduction of Alpha power in the posterior regions may reflect abnormality in the thalamocortical circuits. It is shown that hypoxia and reduced cerebral blood flow is associated with reduced Alpha Activity among different regions of the brain. Therefore, it can be concluded that greatly decreased Alpha Activity, particularly in centroparietal and occipital regions, is related to SA symptoms such as hallucinations.

Background: The mechanism of hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Pyrus biossieriana Buhse leaf extract (PbBLE) and its phytochemical component arbutin, have not been well determined. The present study was performed to understand the hypoglycemic Activity mechanisms of pbBLE and arbutin more clearly.Methods: In vitro enzymatic carbohydrate digestion with PbBLE and arbutin was assessed using a-amylase and a-glucosidase powders. The enzyme solutions were premixed with PbBLE and arbutin at different concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg/ml). Substrate solutions and colorimetric reagents were added to the reaction. The release of glucose was determined by spectrophotometric method. Acarbose was used as the positive control.Results: The extract (10, 100 mg/ ml) completely inhibit a- amylase and a- glucosidase activities. The extract produced higher reduction of a-amylase and a-glucosidase Activity than arbutin. Inhibition at various concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, 100 mg/ml) were significantly different (p<0.05).Conclusion: Our results exhibited that both the extract and arbutin were able to suppress the enzymes strongly.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose level caused due to deficiency of insulin secretion or insulin function. The inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes such as a-amylase can be an important strategy for decrease postprandial blood glucose level in patients with type II diabetes. Plants contains different chemical constituents with potential for inhibition of a-amylase and hence maybe used as therapeutic.Objectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of the ethanolic extract of Capparis spinosa on pancreatic a-amylase activities to find out the relevance of the plant in controlling blood sugar.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, root and leaves of C. spinosa were tested for a-amylase inhibition. Different concentrations (1.56, 3.12, 6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/mL) of extracts were incubated with enzyme substrate solution and the spectrometric method used for measure enzyme Activity. Also acarbose was used as the standard inhibitor.Results: Both rootandleaves extractsshowedinhibition of a-amylase (root=97.31% andleaves=98.92%). Therootandleaves extracts of C. spinosa exhibited appreciable a-amylase inhibitory Activity with an IC50 values 5.93 mg/mL and 3.89 mg/mL respectively, when compared with acarbose (IC50 value 0.038 mg/mL).Conclusions: This study supports that root and leaves extracts of C. spinosa exhibit considerable a-amylase inhibitory activities. These results could be useful for developing functional foods by combination of plant-based foods for treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Baculovirus expression system has been used successfully to over-express eukaryotic proteins in insect cells. This system uses a very strong viral promoter, AcNPV polyhedrin, for high level protein expression. Here a Baculovirus expression system was used to express the Mouse Gaq protein (mGaq) in SF9 insect cells. The recombinant protein was made at high levels and it was found in the cell membrane where it functions as a signaling molecule.