Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles by Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria solani

Recently, biosynthesis of nanoparticles has attracted scientist’s attention because of the use of environmentally friendly nanoparticles that do not produce toxic wastes in their process of synthesis. In this study we investigated the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using three fungi: Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria solani. These silver nanoparticles were characterized by means of UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM). Results indicate the synthesis of silver nanoparticles in the reaction mixture. The synthesis of nanoparticles would be suitable for developing a microbial nanotechnology biosynthesis process for mass scale production.Keywords: Silver nanoparticles, biosynthesis, fungi, Aspergillus

The use of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker for COVID-19 infection in Saudi Arabia: A case-control retrospective multicenter study

Objectives: To assess the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) diagnostic and prognostic value in the context of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A case-control study in which 701 confirmed COVID-19 patients (of which 41 were intensive care unit [ICU]-admitted) and 250 control subjects were enrolled. The study was conducted retrospectively in October on patients admitted to 3 separate hospitals in Saudi Arabia namely: King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz University Hospital (Riyadh), Ohud Hospital (Madinah), and Nojood Medical Center (Madinah) between May and September 2020. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was calculated based on absolute neutrophil and lymphocyte count. Institutional ethical approval was obtained prior to the study. Results: Patients (median age 35 years), of which 54.8% were females, were younger than the control cohort (median age 48 years). Patients had significantly higher NLR compared to the control group. Intensive care unit admitted patients had significantly higher platelet, WBC and neutrophil counts. The ICU patients’ NLR was almost twice as of the non-intensive patients. The NLR value of 5.5 was found to be of high specificity (96.4%) and positive predictive value (91.4%) in diagnosing COVID-19. Furthermore, it had a very good sensitivity (86.4%) in predicting severe forms of disease, such as, ICU admission. Conclusion: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an important tool in determining the COVID-19 clinical status. This study further confirms the prognostic value of NLR in detecting severe infection, and those patients with high NLR should be closely monitored and managed

Comparison of ultrasound-guided versus anatomical landmark-guided cannulation of the femoral vein at the optimum position in infants

Background Femoral vein cannulation may be required during major surgery in infants and children and may prove to be life saving under certain conditions. This study compared ultrasound (US)-guided cannulation of the femoral vein in infants with the traditional anatomical landmark-guided technique.Methods Eighty infants who had been prepared for a major elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly assigned to either group I, in which the femoral vein cannulation was guided by anatomical landmarks in optimally positioned patients, or group II, in which an US-guided technique was used for cannulation.Results The procedure was successful in 35 cases in group I and in all cases in group II. The number of needle passes was higher in group I compared with that in group II [four (1–22) vs. one (1–8); P = 0.001]. First-pass success was achieved in 20 cases in group I and in 35 cases in group II. The time to complete cannulation was significantly shorter in group II compared with that in group I [145 (40–650) s vs. 350 (40–1600) s; P = 0.02]. Three cases of arterial puncture occurred in group I, whereas there were no complications in group II.Conclusion US-guided techniques for femoral vein cannulation are useful as they result in greater success, shorter cannulation times, less number of attempts, and lower complication rates. Keywords: anatomical, cannulation, femoral vein, infants, ultrasoni

Analysis of physical and chemical composition of honey samples in selected market in Ibadan metropolis

The study analyzed the physical and chemical compositions of seven honey samples, which were obtained from selected markets in Ibadan metropolis. Seven samples of honey were obtained namely from sample A (Forestry honey Ibadan), Sample B (Pure honey), Sample C (Mr. honey), Sample D (Taraba honey), sample E (Sokoto honey), sample F (Saki honey) and sample G (Natural honey). The variables analyzed were pH, % purity, Ash content, Refractive index, Viscosity, Colour and specific gravity. The average price/litre of the honey samples B,C and G (N1,250) was higher than samples D, E and F (N666.00). The average % purity of the honey samples is 92.64.Result also showed that the mean value of the variables tested namely Viscosity (4.37), Refractive index (1.49), specific gravity (1.12), pH (5.27) and % Ash content (0.35) were within the established codex standard values of honey; i.e. 1.95 – 5.65, 1.4000 – 1.9000, 1.38 - 1.45, 3.6 – 5.6 and 0.20 – 1.03 respectively. The result further revealed that the variables considered were within the standard set by Codex alimentrus. Improvement in processing and packaging techniques will not only enhance the acceptability of these products but also brings about higher income to the producers and marketers

Partial characterization of three &#946-defensin gene transcripts in river buffalo and cattle

In this study, the tracheal tissues from Egyptian river buffalo and cattle were screened for the presence of three bovine β-defensin gene transcripts. Three primer pairs were designed on the basis of published Bos taurus sequences for partial amplification of β-defensin 4, β-defensin 10 and β-defensin 11 complementary DNA (cDNA). The amplified cDNA products of the three genes in both buffalo and cattle were sequenced. The sequences were analyzed to verify gene identity and to identify differences with the corresponding buffalo (Bubalus bubalis bubalis) and/or cattle (Bos taurus) β-defensin mRNAs published sequences in the GenBank database. β-Defensin 4 and β-defensin 10 primer pairs amplified cDNA sequences in buffalo and cattle that corresponded to those mRNAs of the two genes in GenBank database with nucleotide percentage homology of 83 and 84% for β-defensin 4, and 87 and 90% for β-defensin10, respectively. The translated protein sequences obtained for buffalo and cattle showed protein percentage similarity of 86 and 81% for β-defensin 4, and 87.5 and 87% for β-defensin 10 with the corresponding proteins of B. bubalis bubalis and/or B. taurus in GenBank database. On the other hand, cDNA sequences amplified by β-defensin 11 primer pair in both buffalo and cattle corresponded more to lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP) mRNAs of B. bubalis bubalis and B. taurus (94 and 82% nucleotide similarity and 92 and 77% translated-protein similarity) rather than β-defensin 11 mRNA of B. taurus (68 and 66% nucleotide similarity and 74 and 65.5% translated-protein similarity).Key words: β-Defensin 4, β-defensin 10, β-defensin 11, lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP), river buffalo, cattle

Role of MBL2 polymorphisms in sepsis and survival: A pilot study and in silico analysis

Sepsis is a serious infection-induced syndrome with serious ramifications, especially in intensive care units. Global concern motivated the investigation of the role of related genes’ polymorphism in predicting the liability to infection, sepsis, septic shock and survival. Among these genes is the gene encoding mannose-binding lectin (MBL), with its remarkable importance in the immune system. However, the previous studies showed conflicting results and ambiguity that urged us to engage with this issue in the Egyptian population. Prediction of functional and structural impacts of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was done using in silico methods. A prospective observational study was conducted in intensive care units; one hundred and thirty patients were followed up. Genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technology. MBL SNPs showed a remarkable high frequency in our population, as well. No significant association was found between MBL2 genotypes and any of our analyses (sepsis, septic shock and survival). Only septic shock and age were independently associated with time of survival by Cox regression analysis. Our study may confirm the redundancy of MBL and the absence of significant impact on sepsis liability and mortality in adult patients

SPARC 2018 Internationalisation and collaboration : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2018 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the launch of our Doctoral School, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 100 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to take up this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas from your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers

Laparoscopy in management of appendicitis in high-, middle-, and low-income countries: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency worldwide. Differences between high- and low-income settings in the availability of laparoscopic appendectomy, alternative management choices, and outcomes are poorly described. The aim was to identify variation in surgical management and outcomes of appendicitis within low-, middle-, and high-Human Development Index (HDI) countries worldwide. METHODS: This is a multicenter, international prospective cohort study. Consecutive sampling of patients undergoing emergency appendectomy over 6 months was conducted. Follow-up lasted 30 days. RESULTS: 4546 patients from 52 countries underwent appendectomy (2499 high-, 1540 middle-, and 507 low-HDI groups). Surgical site infection (SSI) rates were higher in low-HDI (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.33-4.99, p = 0.005) but not middle-HDI countries (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.76-2.52, p = 0.291), compared with high-HDI countries after adjustment. A laparoscopic approach was common in high-HDI countries (1693/2499, 67.7%), but infrequent in low-HDI (41/507, 8.1%) and middle-HDI (132/1540, 8.6%) groups. After accounting for case-mix, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42-0.71, p < 0.001) and SSIs (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14-0.33, p < 0.001). In propensity-score matched groups within low-/middle-HDI countries, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.23 95% CI 0.11-0.44) and SSI (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.09-0.45). CONCLUSION: A laparoscopic approach is associated with better outcomes and availability appears to differ by country HDI. Despite the profound clinical, operational, and financial barriers to its widespread introduction, laparoscopy could significantly improve outcomes for patients in low-resource environments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02179112

The ligational behavior of a phenolic quinolyl hydrazone towards copper(II)- ions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The heterocyclic hydrazones constitute an important class of biologically active drug molecules. The hydrazones have also been used as herbicides, insecticides, nematocides, redenticides, and plant growth regulators as well as plasticizers and stabilizers for polymers. The importance of the phenolic quinolyl hydrazones arises from incorporating the quinoline ring with the phenolic compound; 2,4-dihydroxy benzaldehyde. Quinoline ring has therapeutic and biological activities whereas, phenols have antiseptic and disinfectants activities and are used in the preparation of dyes, bakelite and drugs. The present study is planned to check the effect of the counter anions on the type and geometry of the isolated copper(II)- complexes as well as the ligational behavior of the phenolic hydrazone; 4-[(2-(4,8-dimethylquinolin-2-yl)hydrazono)methyl] benzene-1,3-diol; (H₂L).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A phenolic quinolyl hydrazone (H₂L) was allowed to react with various copper(II)- salts (Cl‾, Br‾, NO₃‾, ClO₄‾, AcO‾, SO₄^2-). The reactions afforded dimeric complexes (ClO₄‾, AcO‾ ), a binuclear complex (NO₃‾ ) and mononuclear complexes (the others; Cl‾, Br‾, SO₄^2-). The isolated copper(II)- complexes have octahedral, square pyramid and square planar geometries. Also, they reflect the strong coordinating ability of NO₃‾, Cl‾, Br‾, AcO‾ and SO₄^2-anions. Depending on the type of the anion, the ligand showed three different modes of bonding <it>viz</it>. (NN)⁰for the mononuclear complexes (<b>3, 4, 6</b>), (NO)^-with O- bridging for the dimeric complexes (<b>1, 5</b>) and a mixed mode [(NN)⁰+ (NO)^-with O- bridging] for the binuclear nitrato- complex (<b>2</b>).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ligational behavior of the phenolic hydrazone (H₂L) is highly affected by the type of the anion. The isolated copper(II)- complexes reflect the strong coordinating power of the SO₄^2-, AcO‾, Br‾, Cl‾ and NO₃‾ anions. Also, they reflect the structural diversity (octahedral, square pyramid and square planar) depending on the type of the counter anion.</p

Recent Updates of the CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing System: Novel Approaches to Regulate Its Spatiotemporal Control by Genetic and Physicochemical Strategies

Khaled S Allemailem,1 Ahmad Almatroudi,1 Arshad Husain Rahmani,1 Faris Alrumaihi,1 Arwa Essa Alradhi,2 Amal M Alsubaiyel,3 Mohammad Algahtani,4 Rand Mohammad Almousa,5 Ali Mahzari,6 Abdulmajeed AA Sindi,7 Gasim Dobie,8 Amjad Ali Khan9 1Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; 2General Administration for Infectious Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Riyadh 12382, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Laboratory & Blood Bank, Security Forces Hospital, Mecca 21955, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Education, General Directorate of Education, Qassim 52361, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65527, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha 65527, Saudi Arabia; 8Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Gizan 82911, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Amjad Ali Khan, Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6666, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: The genome editing approach by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) is a revolutionary advancement in genetic engineering. Owing to its simple design and powerful genome-editing capability, it offers a promising strategy for the treatment of different infectious, metabolic, and genetic diseases. The crystal structure of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) in complex with sgRNA and its target DNA at 2.5 Å resolution reveals a groove accommodating sgRNA:DNA heteroduplex within a bilobate architecture with target recognition (REC) and nuclease (NUC) domains. The presence of a PAM is significantly required for target recognition, R-loop formation, and strand scission. Recently, the spatiotemporal control of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has been considerably improved by genetic, chemical, and physical regulatory strategies. The use of genetic modifiers anti-CRISPR proteins, cell-specific promoters, and histone acetyl transferases has uplifted the application of CRISPR/Cas9 as a future-generation genome editing tool. In addition, interventions by chemical control, small-molecule activators, oligonucleotide conjugates and bioresponsive delivery carriers have improved its application in other areas of biological fields. Furthermore, the intermediation of physical control by using heat-, light-, magnetism-, and ultrasound-responsive elements attached to this molecular tool has revolutionized genome editing further. These strategies significantly reduce CRISPR/Cas9’s undesirable off-target effects. However, other undesirable effects still offer some challenges for comprehensive clinical translation using this genome-editing approach. In this review, we summarize recent advances in CRISPR/Cas9 structure, mechanistic action, and the role of small-molecule activators, inhibitors, promoters, and physical approaches. Finally, off-target measurement approaches, challenges, future prospects, and clinical applications are discussed.Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9, sgRNA, genome editing, off-target effects, spatiotemporal control, clinical translatio