P. K. Ahluwalia

Effect of monosodium glutamate on lipid peroxidation and certain antioxidant enzymes in cardiac tissue of alcoholic adult male mice

Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a sodium salt of glutamic acid is commonly used as flavor enhancer in Chinese, Japanese and ready to serve foods all over the World, is the inducer of oxidative stress. In the present era, MSG and alcohol is becoming a part of daily food. Concomitantly, there is a tremendous increase in the incidences of cardiovascular diseases. So, the present study was designed to elucidate the effect of MSG by evaluating the changes in oxidative stress markers in cardiac tissue of normal and alcoholic adult male mice. Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into six groups of six mice each and MSG at dose levels of 0, 4, and 8 mg/g body weight was given orally for seven consecutive days (that is from 31st day to 37th day of alcohol ingestion) to chronic alcoholic (30% ethanol/100 g body weight) adult male mice. After the dose period (38th day), animals were fasted overnight, sacrificed by decapitation and hearts were removed for the estimation of lipid peroxidation (LPO), xanthine oxidase (XOD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) and its metabolizing enzymes like glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR). Results: A significant (P < 0.001) increase was observed in LPO and XOD levels while a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx and GR was found in cardiac tissue of normal and alcoholic animals. Conclusion: These observations suggested that oral ingestion of MSG at dose levels of 4 mg/g body weight and above with and without alcohol increased the oxidative stress and thereby, could act as an additional factor for the initiation of atherosclerosis.

Studies on the effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration on the activity of xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in hepatic tissue of adult male mice

Subcutaneous administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG), to normal adult male mice, for six consecutive days at dose levels of 4 and 8 mg/g body weight, significantly increased the level of free radical initiating enzyme, xanthine oxidase, whereas the activity of free radical scavenging enzymes, like catalase and superoxide dismutase was significantly decreased in hepatic tissue. These observations suggested that ingestion of MSG at dose level of 4 mg/g body weight and above, induced oxidative stress in the hepatic tissue of adult male mice.

Interactions of gas molecules with monolayer MoSe2: A first principle study

We present a first principle study of interaction of toxic gas molecules (NO, NO2 and SO2) with monolayer MoSe2. The predicted order of sensitivity of gas molecule is NO2 > SO2 > NO. Adsorbed molecules strongly influence the electronic behaviour of monolayer MoSe2 by inducing impurity levels in the vicinity of Fermi energy. NO and SO2 is found to induce p-type doping effect while semiconductor to metallic transitions occur on NO2 adsorption. Our findings may guide the experimentalist for fabricating sensor devices based on MoSe2 monolayer.

Effect of monosodium glutamate on various lipid fractions and certain antioxidant enzymes in arterial tissue of chronic alcoholic adult male mice.

Oral ingestion of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to chronic alcoholic adult male mice at dose levels of 4 and 8 mg/g body weight for seven consecutive days caused a significant increase in lipid fractions, lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase, whereas the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and its metabolizing enzymes like glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were significantly decreased in the arterial tissue. These observations suggested that ingestion of MSG to chronic alcoholic animals had no beneficial effect and thereby, could act as an additional factor for the initiation of atherosclerosis.

Structural, electronic and optical properties of armchair silicon nanotube of chirality (6,6)

First principle calculations based on density functional theory have been used to study the structural, electronic and optical properties of infinite armchair (6,6) silicon nanotube. The cohesive energy of the studied SiNT has been found to be 4.45 eV/atom in comparison to cohesive energy 5.22 eV/atom of its bulk counterpart. Contrary to some published results in literature, the SiNT with (6,6) chirality does not appear to have zero band gap semiconductor since it shows band gap of 0.18 eV. Also the absorption egde of SiNT shifts towards the lower energy as compared to bulk and lies in the infrared region, as a consequence of decrease in dimensionality.

Effect of trifluoperazine on certain arterial wall lipid-metabolizing enzymes inducing atherosclerosis in rhesus monkeys

The effect of trifluoperazine (TFP) was investigated on arterial wall lipid-metabolizing enzymes like acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and cholesterol ester hydrolase (CEH) in rhesus monkeys. The activity was determined in aortic wall homogenates obtained from rhesus monkeys fed an atherogenic diet coupled with intramuscular injections of adrenaline and TFP. Although TFP had no significant effect on serum cholesterol and triglycerides, it decreased significantly the formation of atherosclerotic lesions by decreasing the esterification of cholesterol, by inhibiting ACAT and enhancing its utilization by activating CEH. Hence, the preventive effect of TFP on the development of atherosclerosis in rhesus monkeys is mediated through its ability to influence the activities of arterial wall lipid-metabolizing enzymes like ACAT and CEH.

Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Au-based monolayer derivatives in honeycomb structure

We present electronic properties of atomic layer of Au, Au2-N, Au2-O and Au2-F in graphene-like structure within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The lattice constant of derived monolayers are found to be higher than the pristine Au monolayer. Au monolayer is metallic in nature with quantum ballistic conductance calculated as 4G0. Similarly, Au2-N and Au2-F monolayers show 4G0 and 2G0 quantum conductance respectively while semiconducting nature with calculated band gap of 0.28 eV has been observed for Au2-O monolayer. Most interestingly, half metalicity has been predicted for Au2-N and Au2-F monolayers. Our findings may have importance for the application of these monolayers in nanoelectronic and spintronics.

Electronic energy loss spectra from mono-layer to few layers of phosphorene

Using first principles calculations, electronic and optical properties of few-layers phosphorene has been investigated. Electronic band structure show a moderate band gap of 0.9 eV in monolayer phosphorene which decreases with increasing number of layers. Optical properties of few-layers of phosphorene in infrared and visible region shows tunability with number of layers. Electron energy loss function has been plotted and huge red shift in plasmonic behaviours is found. These tunable electronic and optical properties of few-layers of phosphorene can be useful for the applications of optoelectronic devices.

Structural and electronic transport properties of compound forming HgPb liquid alloy using ab-initio pseudopotential

The electrical resistivity of compound forming liquid alloy HgPb is studied as a function of concentration. Hard sphere diameters of Hg and Pb are obtained through the inter-ionic pair potential evaluated using Troullier and Martins ab initio pseudopotential, which have been used to calculate partial structure factors. Considering the liquid alloy to be a ternary mixture Zimans formula for calculating the resistivity of binary liquid alloys, modified for complex formation, has been used. The concentration dependence in resistivity occurs due to preferential ordering of unlike atoms as nearest neighbours with help of complex formation model. Though the compound HgiPbi as per structure peaks is found to be less stable. However it contributes significantly to resistivity as compared to bare ions.

Partial structure factors of compound forming Na-Pb binary liquid alloy using ab-initio pseudopotentials

The partial structure factors of compound forming NaPb alloy with the formation of two compounds simultaneously have been studied using Hoshinos m-component hard sphere mixture, which is based on Percus-Yevic equation of Hiroike. Formulae have been applied to NaPb with the formation of two compounds NaPb, & Na4Pb simultaneously. Hard sphere diameters have been obtained using Troullier and Martins ab-initio pseudopotentials. Total partial structure factors have been found to be in good agreement with experimental total partial structure factors.