Design,synthesis, antinociceptive,and anti-inflammatory properties of thiazolopyrimidine derivatives

Ten 2-(substituted benzylidene)-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(furan-2-yl)-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-3(7H)-one derivatives were synthesized and evaluated. A series of heterocyclic, 2-(substituted benzylidene)-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(furan-2-yl)-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-3(7H)-one were synthesized by reaction of 7-(4-chloro phenyl)-5-(furan-2-yl)-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-3(7H)-one with appropriately substituted aldehydes in the presence of anhydrous sodium acetate and glacial acetic acid. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated by tail-flick technique, anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema test and their ulcerogenicity index was determined. The para-substituted methyl, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, bromo, and nitro derivatives showed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic data, and pharmacological screening of the synthesized compounds were reported.     

Plasma lipid profiles and risk of cardiovascular disease on occupational exposure in Karimnagar

Occupational exposure is unregulated in developing countries like India, and becoming the most common cause of disease of environmental origin. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of occupational exposure on plasma lipid profiles, and risk of cardiovascular diseases. A total of 79 human volunteers were included in the study. Control subjects were healthy housewives of Karimnagar, India. Occupationally exposed individuals included different occupational workers like petrol station attendants, battery chargers, drivers, welders, pesticide-exposed workers, painters, and auto mechanics. These subjects were shown to be chronic occupationally-exposed for at least three years, and neither associated with any other chronic pathological conditions like hypertension or diabetes, nor under any medication other than analgesics during the month preceding the study. Subjects with excessive high or low caloric intake were excluded from the study. Total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), VLDL cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol, and TC/HDL ratio in these subjects were significantly higher than those in control subjects, whereas HDL cholesterol was not markedly affected. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and other anthropometric parameters (body mass index (BMI), body fat index (BFI), body surface area (BSA)) were not significantly different between groups. Data suggest that chronic occupational exposure increases plasma lipid levels and is thereby associated with cardiovascular complications.     

Heavy metal concentration in water,sediment, and tissues of fish species (Heteropneustis fossilis and Puntius ticto) from Kali River,India

The river Kali has been one of the major recipients of industrial effluents in the Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh. The present studies revealed the occurrence and bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Mn) in riverine water, sediment, and muscles of two fish species, Heteropneustis fossilis and Puntius ticto. Data showed that the order of occurrence of heavy metals was Pb > Zn > Mn > Cr > Cd in river water, Mn > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cd in sediment, Zn > Mn > Cr > Cd > Pb in Puntius ticto and Cr > Zn > Mn > Cd > Pb in Heteropneustis fossilis. Results indicate that the concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in river water, Pb, Zn, and Mn in sediment, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn concentration in muscles of Puntius ticto and Cr, Pb, and Zn concentration in in muscles of Heteropneustis fossilis are higher than the permissible standard limits. The presence of heavy metals contributed to toxicity in different organs of fish in River Kali. The bioaccumulation of heavy metals in different biotic organisms in river ecosystem may have adverse consequences on humans and livestock.     

DNA damage in mouse organs and in human sperm cells by bisphenol A

Abstract

The in vivo genotoxic potential of bisphenol A using the comet assay in mice and in human sperm cells in vitro without metabolizing enzymes was studied. Male mice were exposed by oral gavage to the following doses of bisphenol A (0 125, 250 and 500?mg/kg body weight). DNA damage was investigated in liver, kidney, testes, urinary bladder, colon and lungs cells. In testicular cells, a significant increase in DNA strand breaks was observed in the lowest, but not in the medium or highest dose groups. Histopathological investigation of the testicular samples did not show any treatment dose-related effects. No DNA strand breaks were observed in any of the other investigated tissues. In human sperm cells in vitro, bisphenol A did not induce DNA strand breaks.     

Mercury exposure in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients from Ganga plain region in India: A retrospective study

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive disorder that usually runs a fatal course within 2–5 years of onset, is characterized by loss of motor neurons in the cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. In this study mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined in blood samples of 40 ALS patients, of whom 24 ALS patients were from the Ganga plain region and their metal levels were found to be significantly higher. In contrast, Hg levels in the 16 ALS patients from non-Ganga plain regions whose levels were similar to those of the control subjects. Mercury in stream water samples and freshly deposited stream sediment were determined in the locations of patients’ native residences along the Ganga plain region and metal levels were found to be higher than the threshold guideline values for Hg in stream waters recommended by WHO. The geo-accumulation index in selected sites of freshly deposited stream sediment ranged from moderate to highly polluted. The high levels of Hg observed in ALS patients may potentially alter the redox status of neuronal cell components and induce cell-death pathways.     

Explaining the status and scope of ecotourism development for livelihood security: Andaman and Nicobar Islands,India

In the past few decades, the tourism sector has emerged as a significant economic activity in island nations, particularly in tropical regions. However, most of the tropical islands face similar constraints, viz., threat to natural resources, chances of biopiracy, impact of climate change, population pressure and unsystematic tourist management. Ecotourism, as a concept, envisages promoting tourism with due regard to natural environment and ecological sanctity of the destination. Archipelago of Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands is one of picturesque geographical creation in the Bay of Bengal, India, in tropical region and is an emerging tourist destination. It was observed that around 2.2 lakhs national and international tourists visit the A&N Islands annually. With tourism sector as an integral component, the service sector with share of 56% in gross state domestic product dominates the island economy. An analysis based on primary survey from various stakeholders associated with the sector revealed that factors such as economy in travel and boarding, availability of tourist facilities and comfort, safety, etc. were major factors that determined the choice of the tourists that visited the islands. The weights given by the tourists to the natural sites in A&N Islands revealed that the landscape topped list with 91.6% score by the visitors followed by beaches (91.3%), scenery (86.5%), reserved forests (84.6%), limestone caves (66.3%) and coral sights (65.8%). Coral sites were given weight of 65.8% of tourists, cultural and historical tourism products 85.4% for the natural history. Similarly, historical sites (83.7%), museums (78.6%) and heritage sites (72.8%) were also among top cites attraction. Recent initiatives by the Andaman administration gives due to care to sustainably develop the tourism infrastructure of the islands to harness the potential of eco-friendly tourism in this picturesque tourist haven.     

Field and GIS based post-tsunami assessment of Scleractinian coral cover in the Aerial Bay group of Islands, North Andaman, India

The Aerial Bay group of Islands are one of the diverse environments of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where the coral reefs degraded much due to the natural calamity of tsunami on 26 December 2004. After this event, the entire North Andaman Islands got elevated, which resulted in the exposure of coral reefs during low tide, causing mass mortalities and destructions to this pristine environment. In order to understand the current status, bio-physical monitoring of coral reefs was carried out and compared with classified coral map of pre-tsunami period. A decline from 411.14 to 68.25 hectares (ha) of live coral area was observed in the Aerial Bay group of Islands. The dead corals and other abiotic factors (sand, mud and rubble) were observed to be 317.33 and 25.56 ha respectively, based on comparisons between ground truthed and classified pre-tsunami coral map (2004) processed in ArcGIS®. The detrended correspondence analysis of coral life form categories showed maximum cover of dead coral with algae, in comparison with the live corals. Bray-curtis cluster analysis revealed three different groups of study sites with 60 % similarity based on life-form categories within the coral reef environment.     

Efficient arsenic depollution in water using modified maize powder

This article reports the synthesis of an efficient, low-cost material from maize powder to depollute arsenic-contaminated water. Arsenic is toxic for humans and other organisms even at low concentrations. The most well-known and severe case of arsenic poisoning through drinking water has been found in India and Bangladesh. Numerous inorganic materials have been tested for the removal of arsenic from water bodies over the last two decades. However, all such materials have several disadvantages such as unpredictable arsenic ion removal, high cost and the generation of toxic sludge that is often more difficult to manage. Alternatively, organic material from agricultural waste may be modified to enrich functional groups responsible for As sorption and, in turn, used to depollute contaminated waters. Here, Zea mays cob powder has been modified to remove arsenic species from water. Two modified materials were produced: an aminated maize powder and a thiolated maize powder. Amination was done using epichlorohydrin and dimethylamine. Thiolation was done using thioglycolic acids. Amination increased As (III) sorption from 70 to 75.8 % and As (V) sorption from 85 to 94.42 %, compared with unmodified maize powder. Thiolation increased As (III) sorption from 70 to 81.7 % and As (V) sorption from 85 to 90 %. Amination increased usability cycles from 3 to 5. Thiolation increased usability cycles from 3 to 6. The novel modified maize biosorbent has enough potential for the development of a low-cost technological pre-treatment step, prior to high-tech chemical treatments.     

Toxic release of chlorine and off-site emergency scenario – A case study

Release of chlorine gas causes deaths and injuries to workers and the public, resulting in the evacuation of communities and adversely affecting the environment as a whole. The off-site emergency plan is an integral part of any major hazard control system. This paper highlights some salient features of the emergency scenario from a chemical plant, which ultimately lead to fatal consequences all around upon releases of toxic chlorine gas. A typical scenario illustrating the dispersion model of chlorine (for three isopleths concentration) has been estimated by Complex Hazards Air Release Model (CHARM) software package. The enlarged form of this model diagram has been outlined on the area map of the study area for contingency planning. As a broad guide line to the district authorities for contingency planning, evacuation time has also been calculated with reference to a concentration level of 3 ppm chlorine.     

Environmental conditions of Chilika Lake during pre and post hydrological intervention: an overview

Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, is a prominent biodiversity hotspot along the Indian east coast. The geomorphology, water quality and biological productivity of the lake had undergone significant changes over the years under the influence of natural events and anthropogenic interventions. Decades of research have shown that the ecological changes of the lake system and its fisheries were influenced mainly by the water exchange between the lake and the sea that controls the salinity, siltation, macrophyte infestation and recruitment of marine forms. Depletion of fisheries and loss of biodiversity in 1980s and 1990s have been linked to the northward shifting of lake’s inlet and silting up of the outer channel. In order to improve the health of the lagoon and restoration of its biodiversity, a new mouth was dredged open in September 2000. Opening of the new mouth has resulted in some improvements with substantial increase in capture fishery, reduction in weed infestation, growth of seagrasses, appearance of dolphins and increase in the population of migratory birds. But, many stake holders claim that the problems associated with the lake ecology and its contribution to the socio-economic development of the stake holders still persist which could escalate in future.