Extract from Curcuma longa L. triggers the sunflower immune system and induces defence-related genes against Fusarium root rot

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) has economic value worldwide Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc., is the most important disease in sunflower crops, causing considerable economic losses. Seed treatment with a turmeric aqueous extract was tested for control of Fusarium root rot. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the extract identified three major constituents; ar-curcumin, camphor and α-turmerone. The greenhouse experiment showed that incidence and severity of sunflower root rot were significantly reduced after treatment with turmeric extract. Plant growth parameters also increased 2 and 4 weeks after inoculation. In addition, treatment with turmeric extract triggered the sunflower immune system, as indicated by the induction of host phenolic content and activity of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase). Differential display-PCR of the treated plants showed distinct profiles of gene expression in response to the treatments. Of the four bands randomly selected for sequencing and identification, three up-regulated genes that encode defence-related proteins (glutathione S-transferase 6, ascorbate peroxidase, and defensin) were detected. A time-course real-time quantitative PCR was carried out on mRNA of the defence-related genes defensin and chitinase of the treated sunflower seedlings. After 14 d, treatment with turmeric extract enhanced the expression levels of chitinase by > nine-fold and defensin genes by > four-fold. Based on these results, we recommend treatment of sunflower seeds with turmeric extract as a disease management method against Fusarium root rot

The Effectiveness of Mobile Phone Messaging–Based Interventions to Promote Physical Activity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Physical activity (PA) is an important aspect of self-care and first-line management for T2DM. Mobile text messages (SMS) can be used to support self-management in people with T2DM, but the effectiveness of mobile text messages-based interventions in increasing physical activity is still unclear.Objective: The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of mobile phone messaging on PA in people with T2DM by summarizing and pooling the findings of previous literature.Methods: A systematic review was conducted to accomplish this objective. Search sources included 5 bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, EMBASE), the search engine “Google Scholar”, and backward and forward reference list checking of the included studies and relevant reviews. Two reviewers independently carried out the study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality of evidence evaluation. Results of included studies were synthesized narratively and statistically, as appropriate. Results: We included 6 of 541 retrieved studies. Four of the studies showed a statistically significant effect of text messages on physical activity. Although a meta-analysis of results of two studies showed a statistically significant effect (P=.05) of text messages on physical activity, the effect was not clinically important. A meta-analysis of findings of 2 studies showed a non-significant effect (P=.14) of text messages on glycaemic control. Two studies found a non-significant effect of text messages on anthropometric measures (weight and BMI).Conclusions: Text messaging interventions show promise for increasing physical activity. However, it is not possible to conclude from this review whether text messages have a significant effect on physical activity, glycaemic control, or anthropometric measures among patients with T2DM. This is due to the limited number of studies, the high overall risk of bias in most of the included studies and the low quality of meta-analysed evidence. There is a need for more high-quality primary studies

Wheat in the Era of Genomics and Transgenics

Wheat, as one of the most important cereal crops in the world and second major caloric source in the world after rice, is the major staple food in South Asia and many other countries of the world. Prior to onset of “Green Revolution,” South Asian countries were facing the threat of severe famine. Green Revolution wheat genotypes brought out these countries from the crisis they were facing and has helped them to sustain their productions for more than half a century. With the emergence of molecular biology and biotechnology, another window of opportunity is opened to sustain wheat yields by using modern techniques of genes identification and utilization. Through this chapter, we have tried to gather information that was generated for wheat improvement in last 3 decades. These afforest included the development of molecular markers, mapping of genes, sequencing of markers genes, and their utilization through marker-assisted selection. The other part recorded various efforts to genetically transform wheat for traits improvements and/or to study their molecular control

Prognostic Significance of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Her-2 Protein in the Genesis of Cervical Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in the progression of tumours through the formation of new blood vessels. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a chief factor responsible for inducing and regulating angiogenesis. Additionally, the human epidermal growth factor receptor family of receptors also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of tumours.AIM: This study aimed to examine the association between VEGF and Her-2 protein expression and its correlation with clinic-pathological characteristics; in particular, prognosis.METHODS: A total of 65 cases of cervical carcinoma and 10 samples of inflammatory lesions were evaluated for VEGF and Her-2 protein expression.RESULTS: Expression of VEGF and Her-2 was detected in 63.07% and 43.07% in cervical carcinoma cases respectively whereas control cases did not show any expression. The difference in the expression pattern of both markers comparing cancer and control cases was statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference in the expression pattern of VEGF protein was observed among the different grades and stages of tumours (p > 0.05). Comparing different grades of a tumour, expression of Her-2 was detected in 31.8% of well-differentiated tumours, 36.0 % in moderately differentiated tumours and 66.66 % in poorly differentiated cancers. The expression of Her-2 was increased in high-grade tumours, and the difference of expression level between tumour grades was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The expression level of Her-2 protein was not correlated with the stage of a tumour (p > 0.05).CONCLUSION: The present study supports earlier findings that over-expression / up-regulation of VEGF and Her - 2 is linked with poor prognosis and may play a vital role in the development and progression of cervical cancer

Assessment of in vitro antimicrobial and anti-breast cancer activities of extracts isolated from desert truffles in Saudi Arabia

Truffles are consumed worldwide as a type of precious food. Desert truffles are characterized by their growth under extreme soil and climate conditions. They have numerous nutritional and medicinal applications. Desert truffles have been shown to exhibit various biological activities. During the present work, we identified two truffle types collected from Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as Tirmania nivea and Terfezia claveryi. Their extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, while the activity was less obvious against Escherichia coli. Hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of both types showed a dose-dependent effect against MCF-7 cancer cells, where their highest toxicities ranged from 91-93%. The lowest effective IC 50 values were 378.9±0.96 and 215.8±0.92 μg/mL for T. nivea and T. claveryi, respectively

Assessment of in vitro antimicrobial and anti-breast cancer activities of extracts isolated from desert truffles in Saudi Arabia

Truffles are consumed worldwide as a type of precious food. Desert truffles are characterized by their growth under extreme soil and climate conditions. They have numerous nutritional and medicinal applications. Desert truffles have been shown to exhibit various biological activities. During the present work, we identified two truffle types collected from Riyadh Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as Tirmania nivea and Terfezia claveryi. Their extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, while the activity was less obvious against Escherichia coli. Hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of both types showed a dose-dependent effect against MCF-7 cancer cells, where their highest toxicities ranged from 91-93%. The lowest effective IC 50 values were 378.9±0.96 and 215.8±0.92 μg/mL for T. nivea and T. claveryi, respectively

Clinicopathological Significance of Vimentin and Cytokeratin Protein in the Genesis of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Cervix

Cervical cancer is one of the commonest types of cancers worldwide especially in developing countries. Intermediate filaments protein family has shown a role in the diagnosis of various cancers, but a few studies are available about the vimentin and cytokeratin roles in the cervical cancer. This case control study aimed to interpret the expression of vimentin and cytokeratin proteins in the development and progression of cervical cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological features. The cytoplasmic expression of vimentin was observed in 40% of cases, but not in inflammatory lesions of cervix. It was noticed that vimentin expression was increasing significantly with high grade of the tumour. Cytokeratin expression was observed in 48.33% and it was noticed that the expression was 62.5% in well differentiated (G1), 45% in moderately differentiated (G2), and 41.66% in poorly differentiated carcinoma, yet statistically insignificant. The expression of vimentin and cytokeratin proteins was not significantly associated with age groups. The current findings concluded a possible role of vimentin in the development and progression of cervical cancer and vimentin marker will be useful in the diagnosis and grading of cervical cancer

Pediatric Dermatology In Family Medicine: Common Conditions And Management Strategies

Among the most prevalent disorders are those related to the skin.  However, in medical education and training, this class of illnesses is frequently disregarded. The first line of defence for the treatment of common dermatological diseases is a family physician. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the particular identification, management, encountering, and referral practices related to dermatological illnesses in family care. We also looked into the challenges and opportunities that family doctors experience in family medicine and saw a few of the paediatric dermatological diseases that family doctors may encounter.  Finding areas of weakness in the clinical therapy of certain dermatological disorders, however, will be aided by assessing how family doctors treat particular ailments. Thus, this needs assessment might serve as a foundation for future research on the efficacy of family medicine in treating common paediatric dermatological problems as well as aid in the development of evidence-based training for family physicians in the area

Expanding the genetic heterogeneity of intellectual disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a common morbid condition with a wide range of etiologies. The list of monogenic forms of ID has increased rapidly in recent years thanks to the implementation of genomic sequencing techniques. In this study, we describe the phenotypic and genetic findings of 68 families (105 patients) all with novel ID-related variants. In addition to established ID genes, including ones for which we describe unusual mutational mechanism, some of these variants represent the first confirmatory disease-gene links following previous reports (TRAK1, GTF3C3, SPTBN4 and NKX6-2), some of which were based on single families. Furthermore, we describe novel variants in 14 genes that we propose as novel candidates (ANKHD1, ASTN2, ATP13A1, FMO4, MADD, MFSD11, NCKAP1, NFASC, PCDHGA10, PPP1R21, SLC12A2, SLK, STK32C and ZFAT). We highlight MADD and PCDHGA10 as particularly compelling candidates in which we identified biallelic likely deleterious variants in two independent ID families each. We also highlight NCKAP1 as another compelling candidate in a large family with autosomal dominant mild intellectual disability that fully segregates with a heterozygous truncating variant. The candidacy of NCKAP1 is further supported by its biological function, and our demonstration of relevant expression in human brain. Our study expands the locus and allelic heterogeneity of ID and demonstrates the power of positional mapping to reveal unusual mutational mechanisms