Allantoin improves histopathological evaluations in a rat model of gastritis

Purpose Gastritis is found to be one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases worldwide. However, current therapeutic agents cause side effects, interaction, and recurrence. Allantoin has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. In this study, the therapeutic effect of allantoin has been assessed on the histopathological indices and gastric mucosal barrier of male rats. Methods Male rats were equally divided into control, ethanol-induced gastritis, and allantoin groups. The therapeutic groups consisted of gastritis plus 12.5 mg/kg allantoin, gastritis plus 25 mg/kg allantoin, and gastritis plus 50 mg/kg allantoin groups. After 5 days of allantoin administration, the rats were sacrificed and a part of their gastric tissue was maintained at −70 °C for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) measurements. Another part was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s trichrome. Results We found that Allantoin increased parietal and mucosal cell counts and mucosal thickness after gastritis induction. In addition, the number of leukocytes and vessels decreased in both of the mucosal and the submucosal layers. Allatoin improved gastric ulcer in all treatment groups. Gastric levels of PGE2 and NP-SH increased after allantoin treatment. Conclusion This study indicated that allantoin had a considerable effect on gastritis treatment, which seems to result from the reinforcement of gastric mucosal barrier

Knowledge creation through diverse knowledge networks

Inter-organizational knowledge networks have been considered vital for the knowledge economy, particularly for small and medium size enterprises in knowledge-based industries, since knowledge creation often happens within those networks. Hence an interesting question to explore is: how do knowledge networks serve to contribute to knowledge creation? Beyond the role of network structure, which has dominated the knowledge network literature, our research highlights the need for the consideration of other factors like knowledge content. First by reviewing the literature, we propose a hypothesis that predicts a positive association of content and knowledge creation. Then, focusing on patent co-authorship networks of the biotechnology industry in Victoria, this research used an explanatory multiple case study approach to test the formulated hypothesis. By introducing new emergent constructs, the results provide more insight on the positive association of knowledge content and knowledge creation. Based on the emergent constructs, rival hypotheses are also developed for further researc

The role of exploration/exploitation knowledge process in collaborative knowledge creation

There is increasing research on knowledge networks as sources to acquire and access knowledge. While this literature mainly has focused on the contribution of network structure characteristics, existing reviews show that the current literature has produced seemingly contradictory results and a growing body of research highlights the need for contingency approaches. Based on a thorough literature review, this research focused on knowledge process as one of the contingencies; this has also been considered as a measure for the knowledge exploration process. Hence two hypotheses were formulated and tested by studying the patent co-authorship networks of biotechnology firms in Victoria, Australia. Using social network analysis and moderated multiple regressions, our research positively confirmed the relationship between knowledge processes and network structure. Also based on the interaction analysis, two interesting inter-relations are discussed. Finally the implications of the findings and the potential to contribute to understanding prior contradictory results are discussed

The relationship between problem-focused coping strategies and quality of life in schizophrenic patients

Background: Schizophrenia is a disorder with psychotic symptoms that severely affects personal performance. Assessing problem- focused strategies and quality of life (QoL) in patients with schizophrenia may help the clinicians to use appropriate interventions. This study was conducted to find the relationship between problem-focused coping strategies and quality of life in schizophrenic patients who referred to the clinic of Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Methods: Non-random sampling was used in two stages (quota and convenience sampling). Data were collected through Demographic Questionnaire, 5-point Likert-type scale World Health Organization Quality of Life and Problem-Focused Strategies Standard Questionnaire. Four dimensions of QoL which were assessed among schizophrenic patients were as follows: Physical health, mental health, social relationships and environmental factors. Pearson correlation coefficient and regression were used for data analysis. Results: The highest mean score (Mean = 2.7) belonged to environmental factors and the lowest score to social relationships (Mean = 2.55). Overall, there was a significant direct relationship between the QoL and problem-focused coping strategies (p = 0.024, r = 0.319). Conclusion: The Schizophrenic patients who used more problem- focused coping strategies had better QoL. Therefore, it is important to take into account problem- focus coping strategies when treating the patients. The application of this research will be crucial to clinicians and healthcare executives

Doublecortin X (DCX) serine 28 phosphorylation is a regulatory switch, modulating association of DCX with microtubules and actin filaments

Doublecortin X (DCX) plays essential roles in neuronal development via its regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics. This is mediated through direct interactions between its doublecortin (DC) domains (DC1 and DC2) with microtubules (MTs) and indirect association with actin filaments (F-ACT). While the regulatory role of the DCX C-terminus following DC2 (i.e. DCX residues 275–366) has been established, less is known of the possible contributions made by the DCX N-terminus preceding DC1 (i.e. DCX residues 1–44). Here, we assessed the influence of DCX Ser28 within the DCX N-terminus, on the association of DCX with MTs and F-ACT. We compared the cytoskeletal interactions of the DCX S28E phosphomimetic and DCX S28A phospho-resistant mutants and wild-type DCX. Immunoprecipitation and colocalisation analyses indicated increased association of DCX S28E with F-ACT but decreased interaction with MTs, and conversely enhanced DCX S28A association with MTs but decreased association with F-ACT. To evaluate the impact of DCX mutants on cytoskeletal filaments we performed fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) studies on SiR-tubulin and β-actin-mCherry and observed comparable tubulin and actin exchange rates in the presence of DCX WT and DCX S28A. However, we observed faster tubulin exchange rates but slower actin exchange rates in the presence of DCX S28E. Moreover, DCX S28E enhanced the association with the actin-binding protein spinophilin (Spn) suggesting the shift to favour association with both F-ACT and Spn in the presence of DCX S28E. Taken together, our results highlight a new role for DCX S28 as a regulatory switch for cytoskeletal organisation

Reverse Cardio-Oncology:Cancer Development in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease

This review focuses on reverse cardio‐oncology and highlights clinical studies, meta‐analyses, and cohorts that have evaluated cancer risk in patients with cardiovascular disease and the risk associated with treatments of cardiovascular disease. In addition, this article summarizes mechanisms of actions that mediate the cross-talk between cancer and cardiovascular disease

Quantum Black Hole in the Generalized Uncertainty Principle Framework

In this paper we study the effects of the Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) on canonical quantum gravity of black holes. Through the use of modified partition function that involves the effects of the GUP, we obtain the thermodynamical properties of the Schwarzschild black hole. We also calculate the Hawking temperature and entropy for the modification of the Schwarzschild black hole in the presence of the GUP.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, to appear in Physical Review

Učinak četiriju ljekovitih biljaka na proizvodnju, biokemijske pokazatelje u krvi i ilealnu mikrofloru u tovnih pilića.

This study was conducted with broilers to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of four medicinal plants on the performance, blood lipids and microflora population in the ileum. Three hundred and thirty-six dayold Ross broiler chicks were used in a completely randomized study with 6 treatments and 4 replicates each. The diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous and contained 15, 3, 2 and 2 g/kg of dried cumin, peppermint, yarrow and poley herbs, respectively. Two dietary treatments were considered the negative (containing no medicinal plant or antibiotic) and positive (containing Flavomycin at 0.4 g/kg) control groups. Flavomycin and peppermint supplementation to the diet increased the FI and BWG of the broiler chickens compared to the control (P<0.01). Dietary Flavomycin significantly increased body weight gain (BWG) in contrast to the other dietary treatments (P<0.05). Peppermint and cumin supplementation to the diet increased the BWG of the broiler chickens, whereas dietary poley and yarrow significantly reduced the BWG and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared with broilers fed the negative control diet (P<0.05). Dietary Flavomycin and peppermint increased the concentration of triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol in serum (P<0.05). Addition of Flavomycin or peppermint to the diet significantly reduced the ileal Bifidobacteria and Clostridia (P<0.05). In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, peppermint improved growth performance and adding it to the diet could be an alternative to the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in poultry production.Istraživanje je poduzeto s ciljem da se procijene učinci dodatka u hranu četiriju biljaka od medicinskog značenja na proizvodnju, sadržaj lipida u krvi i mikrofloru u ileumu. U pokus je bilo uzeto 336 jednodnevnih tovnih pilića linije Ross, nasumce raspoređenih, od kojih je svaki prošao šest tretmana s četiri ponavljanja. Hrana je bila jednake kalorične vrijednosti i dušičnog sastava, a sadržavala je 15 g/kg suhog kumina, 3 g/kg peperminta, 2 g/kg stolisnika i 2 g/kg biljke dubačac. Dva pripravka hrane smatrana su negativnima (nisusadržavala ljekovito bilje ili antibiotike) i pozitivnima (sadržavali su flavomicin 0,4 g/kg). Dodatak flavomicina i peperminta hrani povećao je unos hrane i prirast tjelesne mase tovnih pilića u usporedbi s kontrolom (P<0,01). Dodatak flavomicina značajno je povećao prirast tjelesne mase u odnosu na dodatak drugih biljaka (P<0,05). Dodatkom peperminta i kumina u hranu također se povećala tjelesna masa tovnih pilića, dok su dubačac i stolisnik značajno smanjili tjelesnu masu i povećali omjer konverzije hrane u usporedbi s kontrolnim pilićima (P<0,05). Flavocin i pepermint u hrani povećali su koncentraciju triglicerida, lipoproteina niske gustoće i ukupnog kolesterola u serumu (P<0,05). Dodavanje flavocina ili peperminta u hranu, značajno je smanjilo količinu ilealnih Bifidobacteria i Clostridia (P<0,05). Može se zaključiti da je pepermint pojačao rast tovnih pilića te da njegovo dodavanje hrani može biti zamjena za antibiotike kao promotore rasta u proizvodnji peradi