Lipase Production in Tray-Bioreactor via Solid State Fermentation under Desired Growth Conditions

Lipase was produced under desired growth conditions in a novel tray bioreactor using the fungus strain of Rhizopus oryzae. Several agricultural residues/products including sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran, corn meal, barely bran and equal mixtures of sugarcane bagasse with agricultural residues were applied as solid substrate. Lipase produced from the pure sugarcane bagasse showed higher activities than other substrates; which resulted enzyme activities of 155.76 and 138.37 U/gds for the top and middle trays respectively. Furthermore, the influence of carbon and nitrogen supplements was investigated. Addition of carbon sources as substrate was found to be ineffective, while lipase activity remarkably increased by supplementation of bagasse with adequate amount of nitrogen source. Among the nitrogen supplements, urea as a suitable nitrogen source was considered; as a result the average lipolytic activity of 229.355 U/gds was achieved. In addition, various concentrations of vegetable oils including canola oil, soybean oil, olive oil and castor oil were applied. The inducing effect of vegetable oil on lipase activity was investigated. Among them, olive oil and canola oil increased lipolytic activity of lipase with an average value of 192.26 and 183.57 U/gds, respectively

Preparation, characterization, antibacterial and antifungal activities of some transition metal complexes with novel Schiff base ligand derived from N-amino rhodanine

The Schiff base ligand (E)-3-(2-methoxy benzylidene amino)-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (L), was prepared from N-amino rhodanine and 2-methoxy benzaldehyde . Moreover, Its complexes were synthesized by mixing metal chloride Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) with the prepared Schiff base ligand. These compounds were characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, and elemental analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the ligand and its complexes were tested using four pathogenic bacterial and two fungal species. The bacterial species used in the screening were Salmonella typhi and Vibrio cholera (gram negative) and Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis (gram-positive). The fungal species were Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus nigar. The antimicrobial activities of the ligand and its metal complexes were studied by disc agar diffusion method and compared with Ampicillin. Diameter of inhibition zone (mm) including the disc diameter was measured for each treatment. The findings indicated that the CuL, NiL and CoL complexes have good biological activity but the ligand (L) did not had any activity against the microorganisms under identical experimental conditions

Serum dipeptidyl peptidase-4 activity and progranulin level in polycystic ovary syndrome

Background: Evidence showed that abnormal alteration of adipokines level may perform a key role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) pathogenesis. Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) and progranulin (PGRN) are two novel adipokines related to insulin resistance (IR). Thus, we aimed to determine the serum DPP4 activity and PGRN level in PCOS patients with and without IR, and non-PCOS women. Methods: Ninety women were recruited in the present study including 60 PCOS patients (divided into two groups of 30 IR and 30 non-IR) and 30 non-PCOS women. Serum levels of insulin, fasting blood glucose, PGRN, and DPP4 activity were measured, and IR indices were calculated. Results: DPP4 activity was significantly higher in PCOS-IR and PCOS-NIR patients than non-PCOS women (p<0.001, P=0.011, respectively), whereas no significant variation was detected between two groups of PCOS subjects. There was no significant difference in the level of PGRN in the three groups of the present study. Conclusion: The present study suggests that increasing DPP4 activity may be associated with PCOS

Comparison of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances and total antioxidant capacity in saliva of smokers and nonsmokers

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as lipid peroxidation marker and total antioxidant capacity(TAC) in saliva of smoker and non-smoker men. Materials & Methods: This case-control study was performed on 104 men including smoker (52) and non-smoker (52) men, referred to the Oral Medicine Department in Babol Faculty of Dentistry. 2 ml of unstimulated saliva was collected and specimens were transferred to the Biochemistry Laboratory using dry ice and freezed. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 and Mann Whitney test. Results: Findings indicated that the levels of TBARS and TAC in saliva of smokers were significantly higher than control group. Conclusion: Higher level of TBARS in smokers can show the evident and dangerous role of cigarette and its chemical compounds, and increased level of TAC in smokers can prove the hypothesis of compensatory mechanism of antioxidant system

Chromium and lead levels and alteration in DDPH inhibition in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Background: Recently the carcinogenic and toxic effects of some heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) through the mechanism of oxidative stress have been reported. Due to the various consequences of chemotherapeutic treatments on body hemostasis, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Adriamycin 60 mg/m2 and Cytoxan 600 mg/m2 (AC) chemotherapy on the serum levels of Cr, Pb, and the percent α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition. Methods: This study was performed on 50 patients with breast cancer at two separate sampling times, the first at the initiation of chemotherapy and the last at the end of three courses of the AC chemotherapy treatment. Serum levels of Cr and Pb were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The percent DPPH inhibition ( I) and also the effect of age and stage of the disease on the mentioned variables were evaluated. Statistical comparison of the obtained results before and after chemotherapy was performed using paired sample t-test. Intra-group evaluation of age and disease stages was done using an independent sample t-test. Results: A significant decrease was observed in the percent DPPH inhibition after 3 courses of chemotherapy (p<0.001). Cr and also Pb were significantly higher in patients with breast cancer after AC chemotherapy (p<0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, AC chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer is associated with higher levels of Cr and Pb, which can eventually lead to worsened oxidative stress status in affected patients. However, it seems that these changes do not necessarily depend on age and the stage of the disease. &#160

Effects of lysophospholipid on utilizing different sources and levels of carbohydrate in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary lysophospholipid and carbohydrates (rye and corn meal) on growth performance, blood and biochemical parameters in rainbow trout. So, 480 fish (6.70 ± 0.99 g in weight) were fed with experimental diets containing 100 g/kg corn, 250 g/kg corn, 100 g/kg corn + 9 g/kg lysophospholipid, 250 g/kg corn + 9 g/kg lysophospholipid, 100 g/kg rye, 250 g/kg rye, 100 g/kg rye + 9 g/kg lysophospholipid and 250 g/kg rye + 9 g/kg lysophospholipid in triplicate. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Results of growth performance demonstrated elevating in final weight, specific growth rate and feed intake in Tcorn100+lyso and Tray100+lyso, whereas Tcorn250+lyso and Tray250+lyso contrarily led to lower growth performance (p<0.05). Also, RBC and hematocrit indicated interaction effects between diet × lysophospholipid and lysophospholipid × carbohydrate level (p<0.05). RBC and hematocrit were elevated in Tcorn100+lyso and Tray100+lyso (p<0.05). Comparative results of biochemical parameters showed reaction effects of cholesterol between diet × lysophospholipid (p<0.05). Cholesterol values reduced by adding lysophospholipid to different levels of rye and corn and also higher value was observed in Tcorn100+lyso and Tray100+lyso compared to Tcorn250+lyso and Tray250+lyso (p<0.05). It seems that rainbow trout has potency of using 250 g rye and corn in diet containing fat powder without lysophospholipid, while lysophospholipid negatively affects this level of carbohydrates. However, lysophospholipid helps enhancing growth and erythropoiesis in the levels of 100 g rye and corn

Nitric Oxide Levels and Total Antioxidant Capacity in The Seminal Plasma of Infertile Smoking Men

Objective: Cigarette is a rich source of oxidants and reactive nitrogen species. Nitric oxide (NO) in high concentration has deleterious effects on human sperm function. Antioxidant defense system in seminal plasma protects spermatozoa from the attack of reactive oxygen metabolites. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between cigarette smoking with the NO levels and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the seminal plasma in infertile smoker men and to compare severity of oxidative stress (OS) in them with fertile and infertile non-smoking men. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, a total of 95 male participants attended the Infertility Clinic of the Fatehmeh-zahra Hospital in Babol, Mazandaran Province, Iran, between 2010 and 2011. They were divided into three groups: I. fertile non-smokers (F.ns; n=32), II. infertile non-smokers (IF.ns; n=30) and III. infertile smokers (IF.s; n=33) according to semen analysis World Health Organization guidelines (WHO, 2001) and smoking data. TAC concentration and NO levels of seminal plasma were measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) method and the Griess reagent, respectively. Results: Standard sperm parameters were significantly higher in the fertile group than those in the infertile groups, but these differences between the IF.ns and IF.s were not statistically significant. The mean TAC in the seminal plasma was higher in the F.ns>IF.ns>IF.s, respectively, but these differences were not statistically significant among three groups (p= 0.096). In contrast, the mean NO level in the seminal plasma was lower in the F.ns<IF.ns< IF.s, respectively. These differences were statistically significant among the three groups (p= 0.018). Conclusion: It argued that the increased NO levels associated with smoking might exceed the capacity of antioxidant defense system, leading to increased oxidative damage of seminal plasma and decreased fertility in men

Evaluation of the Relationship between Salivary Lipids, Proteins and Total Antioxidant Capacity with Gingival Health Status in Type-1 Diabetic Children

Statement of the Problem: Alteration in salivary composition and its effect on the oral cavity in diabetic child patients remains equivocal. Purpose: This study was performed to assess the relationship between salivary factors and gingival status in children with type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Method: In this cross-sectional study, 120 subjects aged 6-16 years (60 well-controlled and poorly-controlled diabetics and 60 healthy individuals) were examined to determine the gingival index (GI) and plaque index (PI). The unstimulated saliva samples were collected to measure the salivary triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin, α-amylase, total protein levels by the laboratory kits. Total antioxidant capacity and the free radicals scavenger index were measured by the Ferric Reducing Ability Of Plasma (FRAP) and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively. Data were analyzed by parametric and non-parametric, Pearson correlation, and t tests at a 5% error level. Results: GI of diabetics was significantly higher than that of healthy individuals (1.51± 0.71 and 0.9±0.81, respectively, p< 0.001). No significant difference was found between the PI of diabetics compared to healthy volunteers (1.59±0.69, 1.63±0.74, respectively). The levels of salivary triglyceride and cholesterol, albumin and total proteins in healthy subjects were significantly higher than that in people with DM (p< 0.001). A significantly more salivary α-amylase activity was found in diabetics compared to non-diabetics (p< 0.001). No significant differences were found between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects in terms of DPPH (95.5, 95.9%, respectively) and FRAP (9.77±0.13, 9.78±0.12 (µmol/mL), respectively). Conclusion: More gingival inflammation and salivary α-amylase activity and lower level of salivary lipids, albumin, and total proteins were found in diabetic patients, but there was no association between the level of lipids, proteins, and the total antioxidant capacity of saliva with periodontal health indicators in patients with DM and healthy individuals

The unfinished agenda of communicable diseases among children and adolescents before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Communicable disease control has long been a focus of global health policy. There have been substantial reductions in the burden and mortality of communicable diseases among children younger than 5 years, but we know less about this burden in older children and adolescents, and it is unclear whether current programmes and policies remain aligned with targets for intervention. This knowledge is especially important for policy and programmes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to use the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 to systematically characterise the burden of communicable diseases across childhood and adolescence. METHODS: In this systematic analysis of the GBD study from 1990 to 2019, all communicable diseases and their manifestations as modelled within GBD 2019 were included, categorised as 16 subgroups of common diseases or presentations. Data were reported for absolute count, prevalence, and incidence across measures of cause-specific mortality (deaths and years of life lost), disability (years lived with disability [YLDs]), and disease burden (disability-adjusted life-years [DALYs]) for children and adolescents aged 0-24 years. Data were reported across the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and across time (1990-2019), and for 204 countries and territories. For HIV, we reported the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) as a measure of health system performance. FINDINGS: In 2019, there were 3·0 million deaths and 30·0 million years of healthy life lost to disability (as measured by YLDs), corresponding to 288·4 million DALYs from communicable diseases among children and adolescents globally (57·3% of total communicable disease burden across all ages). Over time, there has been a shift in communicable disease burden from young children to older children and adolescents (largely driven by the considerable reductions in children younger than 5 years and slower progress elsewhere), although children younger than 5 years still accounted for most of the communicable disease burden in 2019. Disease burden and mortality were predominantly in low-SDI settings, with high and high-middle SDI settings also having an appreciable burden of communicable disease morbidity (4·0 million YLDs in 2019 alone). Three cause groups (enteric infections, lower-respiratory-tract infections, and malaria) accounted for 59·8% of the global communicable disease burden in children and adolescents, with tuberculosis and HIV both emerging as important causes during adolescence. HIV was the only cause for which disease burden increased over time, particularly in children and adolescents older than 5 years, and especially in females. Excess MIRs for HIV were observed for males aged 15-19 years in low-SDI settings. INTERPRETATION: Our analysis supports continued policy focus on enteric infections and lower-respiratory-tract infections, with orientation to children younger than 5 years in settings of low socioeconomic development. However, efforts should also be targeted to other conditions, particularly HIV, given its increased burden in older children and adolescents. Older children and adolescents also experience a large burden of communicable disease, further highlighting the need for efforts to extend beyond the first 5 years of life. Our analysis also identified substantial morbidity caused by communicable diseases affecting child and adolescent health across the world. FUNDING: The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence for Driving Investment in Global Adolescent Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

BACKGROUND: The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. METHODS: For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose-response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15-95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. FINDINGS: The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15-39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0-0) and 0·603 (0·400-1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0-0) and 1·75 (0·698-4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0-0·403) to 1·87 (0·500-3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0-0·900) and 6·94 (3·40-8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3-65·4) were aged 15-39 years and 76·9% (73·0-81·3) were male. INTERPRETATION: There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation