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Livotrit®, a polyherbal formulation (Zandu, India) is commonly prescribed for liver health. The present study was undertaken to elucidate possible mechanism of antioxidant potential of Livotrit®. Livotrit® exhibited concentration dependent radical scavenging activity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation as well as activation and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes. Interestingly, lower concentration of Livotrit® (0.05%) significantly increased activities and gene expression of catalase, Glutathione reductase (GR) and Gluthathione peroxidase (GPx), while higher concentration of Livotrit® (0.5%) significantly increased antioxidant enzyme Heme-oxygenase 1(HO-1) and not catalase (CAT), GR and GPx. Transcription factor, Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) required for expression of catalase, GR, GPx and HO-1 was efficiently translocated into the nucleus at both concentrations. Inspite of this, concentration dependent activation of these enzymes was found to be mediated through miRNAs involved in regulation of their gene expression.

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The heme-regulated inhibitor (HRI), a member of the eIF-2 alpha kinase family is crucial for regulating protein synthesis during stress. In addition to heme, stress proteins Hsp90 and Hsp70 are known to regulate HRI. The present study aims to determine the physical association of these Hsps in the regulation of HRI activation during oxidative stress using human K562 cells as a model. Extracts from the stress-induced cells were used for determining HRI kinase activity by measuring eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation, and Hsp-HRI interaction by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analyses. The results indicate a significant increase in both Hsp70 and Hsp90 expression during AAPH (2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride)-induced oxidative stress. Further, their interaction with HRI, which correlates well with its increased HRI kinase activity leads to inhibition of protein synthesis. Thus, we demonstrate that Hsps play an important role in the regulation of initiation of protein synthesis during oxidative stress.

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PIP: India and China are the 2 most populous countries of the world; in the 1950s, both countries initiated a centrally planned program for rapid development within vastly differing political systems. China embarked India's policy encouraged only voluntary acceptance of family planning. In both cases, however, government involvement in population forms a part of comprehensive national planning. Both countries rely on a limited resource base and technological sophistication in order to alleviate mass poverty and misery. The political implications of population growth cannot be neatly isolated from those that are generated by social and economic forces of change in a society that is in a transitional stage of modernization and development. Development has not been an unmixed bleesing; population growth is one of its counterproductive outcomes. The development process has begun to draw increasing attention to hitherto neglected correlates of fertility decline, such as a reduction in infant mortality, universal education, improvement in women's status, and women's participation in economic activity outside the home, all of which eventually result in greater demand for family planning services. Both the Indian and Chinese models highlight the importance of taking the people into one's confidence; the response of the common people to official initiatives is critical in securing a reduction in fertility levels. China has adopted a 1 child family policy, yet it is unreasonable to expect that the Indian people would agree to a nationally prescribed family size norm below 2 children. The principal determinant of future population trends in both these countries is the course of their politics. The success of developing countries will be assured if the developed nations support their progress without being worried about their population growth, which is the result of their unavoidable failure to modernize their social and economic structures.^ieng

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PIP: In India the need for controlling the population explosion is greater than ever before. This is because the 1981 census shows that the rate of population growth is too fast to be matched by the rate of economic development, meaning that whatever gains are made from development projects will be neutralized by the increased demand from the growing population. Against this background, increased awareness has arisen of the need to spare no efforts to contain population growth. In 1961 the target set was to reduce the birthrate to 25/1000 by 1973, but the birthrate was reduced only to 33/1000. The revised target is to reduce the birthrate to 21/1000 by the year 2000. To achieve the target it is necessary to cover at least 60% of the eligibile couples with contraceptive services by 2000 compared to the present level of 20% coverage of eligible couples. The question that arises is whether the present policies and programs are adequate for achieving the target. The people must be motivated, and the environment must be made conducive to greater acceptance of family planning. This cannot be accomplished by the government alone. If community leaders are involved, there is a greater chance of family planning acceptance. It was this realization that was responsible for the formation of the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development with a view toward supplementing the efforts at the official level for the acceptance of the concept of the small family and providing the necessary services at the doorsteps of the people. The Association has been successful in creating an environment of political consensus in favor of family planning. Apart from education and motivational campaigns, there are incentives and disincentives. Incentives include monetary compensation to acceptors and motivators. Some opposition exists in relation to disincentives. The feeling exists that the line between compulsion and disincentives is very thin. The following are included among the program's incentives and disincentives: cash incentives of Rs. 1000 after 2 children for undergoing sterilization and RS. 250 after 3 children for undergoing sterilization; highest priority for allotment of commercial or housing plots or flats to couples who adopt sterilization; and a maternity leave of 120 days for the 1st child if followed by sterilization, 90 days for the 2nd child if followed by sterilization, and no leave thereafter.^ieng

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