Anjum Ara

Lead toxicity: a review.

Abstract Lead toxicity is an important environmental disease and its effects on the human body are devastating. There is almost no function in the human body which is not affected by lead toxicity. Though in countries like US and Canada the use of lead has been controlled up to a certain extent, it is still used vehemently in the developing countries. This is primarily because lead bears unique physical and chemical properties that make it suitable for a large number of applications for which humans have exploited its benefits from historical times and thus it has become a common environmental pollutant. Lead is highly persistent in the environment and because of its continuous use its levels rise in almost every country, posing serious threats. This article reviews the works listed in the literature with recent updates regarding the toxicity of lead. Focus is also on toxic effects of lead on the renal, reproductive and nervous system. Finally the techniques available for treating lead toxicity are presented with some recent updates.

Omega-3 fatty acids and the treatment of depression: a review of scientific evidence

Depression is a condition in which an individual feels lethargic, irritable, and guilty, has difficulty and trouble, no enjoyment in life, mood swings, sometimes suicidal ideation and thoughts, and loss of pleasure in activities. There are hundreds of millions of individuals suffering from major depression disorder all over the world. This leads to a considerable portion of the economy going for treatment as large amounts of money are spent on drugs every year. Pharmaceutical drugs are not very effective and they also have side effects that compound the problem. There are number of studies which shows that omega-3 fatty acids are proving to be very effective against the treatment of major depression disorder and other psychiatric disorders. However, the data regarding the efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids in depression treatment are conflicted. This article reviews the recent research showing the relation between omega-3 fatty acids and depression. The roles of the omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of depression are being studied with increased pace in the last decade due to heightened prevalence of depression. It is emphasized that omega-3 fatty acids have no record of associated side effects, which deserves greater attention for further research.

Genetic studies on gynandromorphism (sgm, gm) inCulex pipiens fatigans

Individuals showing anterior-posterior gynandromorphism or somatic mosaicism of palpi respectively have been found in a laboratory strain ofCulex pipiens fatigans. The origin of the gynanders on the basis of binucleated eggs bearing anm factor and independently fertilized by male gemetes ofM andm genotype respectively has been suggested.

Blood injury phobia: an overview of gender specific brain differences

Blood injury injection phobia (BII) involves an intense fear of situations, in which an individual is directly or indirectly exposed to blood, injections or viewing injuries, along with a tendency to avoid these situations. BII phobia is highly prevalent in females as compared to males. It is virtually the only specific phobia and the only anxiety disorder, in which fainting occurs. Although fainting is much distressed to the BII phobic individuals, but it may have developed in the humans at the time when they needed it much as a survival mechanism. In this article we discuss how in the humans there may have developed the trait of BII phobia in the ancestors, including the variation in the symptoms among sexes. There are not studies which specifically examine the syncope related brain differences among genders. But there are other well defined studies which highlight marked differences among male and female brains. Considering this we also review some recent breakthrough discoveries showing differences in the brain of males and females at gene expression level which leads to the variation in brain and behaviour related problems among genders. There is an exigent need to understand the brain behavioral problems through multiple perspectives.