Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant and identification of some chemical constituents of Phyllanthus atropurpureus cultivated in Egypt

Investigation of the lipid constituents of the aerial parts of Phyllanthus atropurpureus resulted in isolation and identification of the fatty acid mixture which consists of eight acids with linolenic acid as major and the unsaponifiable fraction that contain a series of hydrocabons, sterols, in addition to one triterpene (α-amyrin). The acetone insoluble fraction was found to contain two fatty alcohols and three n-hydrocabons in which the n-eicosane is the most abundant (44.16%). The flavonoidal constituents were isolated from ethyl acetate and butanol fractions which were identified as: luteolin-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-(p-coumaroylglucoside), kaempferitrin, luteolin and kaempferol. Evaluation of different extracts as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChI), established the chloroform fraction as a promising inhibitor of the enzyme. The antioxidant testing with DPPH radical revealed the potential of precipitate from MeOH extract as a radical scavenger

Information gain in environmental monitoring through bioindi-cation and biomonitoring methods ("B & B technologies") and phytoremediation processes : with special reference to the Biological System of Chemical Elements (BSCE) under specific consideration of Lithium

Different definitions for the concepts of information, information transfer, i.e. communication and its effect and efficiency of false, but also correct information, especially from the environmental sector, are given. "THE TEN ECOLOGICAL COMMANDMENTS"developed by Menke-Glückert at the end of the 1960s, the 9th commandment "Do not pollute information", in particular, is examined in more detail and understood practically as a currently unchanging law in our existing world societies. The "Ethics Consensus", derived from "THE TEN ECOLOGICAL COMMANDMENTS"and developed by Markert at the end of the 1990s, reflects both theoretical and practical levels of action that many people in our highly diverse world societies can support. From a scientific point of view, this article deals with the so-called B & B technologies, i.e. bioindication and biomonitoring of chemical elements, their chemical speciation as well as organic substances. B & B technologies, which deals with the biological detection of atmospheric deposition of chemical substances on a regional, national, and international level, are taken into account. From both an academic and a practical point of view, mosses have prevailed here in the last decades in addition to lichens. The use of mosses is a major focus of international air monitoring, especially in Europe. Furthermore, the phytoremediation of chemical substances in water, soil and air is described as a biological and sustainable biological process, which does not yet have the full scope as it is used in bioindication and biomonitoring, as shown in the example of mosses. However, the phytoremediation is considered to be an excellent tool to have the leading role in the sustainable pollutant "fight". In the future qualitative and quantitative approaches have been further developed to fit scientifically and practically B&B Technologies as well the different forms of phytotechnological approaches. Finally, the example of lithium, which is optionally derived from the Biological System of Chemical Elements (BSCE), becomes a chemical example that the administration of lithium to ALL mentally conditioned diseases such as manic depression to smoking cigarettes becomes one of the most valuable services for the recovery of human society on a global level. As a conclusion of these tremendous effects of lithium can be considered: Pulled out, to make clear that only this chemical element beside a psychiatric care and the involvement of family members, friends, physicians, psychologists and psychiatrists. In addition, it is a must that there is a strong relationship between patient, psychiatrist(s) and strongly related persons to the patient. First an intensive information transfer via communication must be guaranteed. After it, psychological support by doctors and, only if it seems necessary Lithium is to be given in a patient specific dose.RST/Applied Radiation & Isotope

CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing of the Sal1 Gene Family in Wheat

The highly conserved Sal1 encodes a bifunctional enzyme with inositol polyphosphate-1-phosphatase and 3′ (2′), 5′-bisphosphate nucleotidase activity and has been shown to alter abiotic stress tolerance in plants when disrupted. Precise gene editing techniques were used to generate Sal1 mutants in hexaploid bread wheat. The CRISPR (Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) Cas9 system with three guide RNAs (gRNAs) was used to inactivate six Sal1 homologous genes within the Bobwhite wheat genome. The resulting mutant wheat plants with all their Sal1 genes disabled had slimmer stems, had a modest reduction in biomass and senesced more slowly in water limiting conditions, but did not exhibit improved yield under drought conditions. Our results show that multiplexed gRNAs enabled effective targeted gene editing of the Sal1 gene family in hexaploid wheat. These Sal1 mutant wheat plants will be a resource for further research studying the function of this gene family in wheat

Farm and animal-level risk factors associated with rectal prolapse in bovine and buffalo calves in Egypt with special reference to the optimal treatment strategy

Background: Rectal prolapse (RP) is a serious illness of the rectum and small intestine causing serious health problems in domestic animals. However, there is paucity in the estimation of the risk factors associated with this problem in calves.Aim: In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and risk factors associated with the rectal prolapse in both bovine and buffalo calves in Egypt, highlighting the most appropriate treatment strategy.Methods: Forty-two calves (23 bovine and 19 buffalo) suffering from varying degrees of rectal prolapse were used. From the owners’ anamnesis, the farm- and animal-level risk factors associated with each animal were collected. Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine the distribution of frequencies in the different rectal prolapse grades. Descriptive statistics were calculated in the form of mean ± standard deviation (SD) using one-way analysis of variance. Crosstabs were used to determine Spearman’s correlation between variables. According to the disease severity, the appropriate treatment strategy was accomplished either by medicinal or surgical interferences.Results: The final logistic regression form demonstrated that the statistical test, Hosmer and Lemeshow’s goodness of fit, indicates a significant result (χ2 = 8.91). Body score was the potential risk factor for the occurrence of RP in calves. Medicinal management along with dietary modification was sufficient to treat 70% of grade I in a successful manner, while 33.3% (grade I and grade II) were effectively treated surgically with reduction and application of purse-string sutures.Conclusion: The current study advocates the valid role of resection of rectal mucosa combined with manual reduction and retention in treating calves suffering from grade II rectal prolapse. The final multivariate logistic regression model indicates that the calf’s body score is a potential risk factor for the occurrence of RP

Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to address drought tolerance in wheat

Genome editing tools have rapidly been adopted by plant scientists for crop improvement. Genome editing using a multiplex sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system is a useful technique for crop improvement in monocot species. In this study, we utilized precise gene editing techniques to generate wheat 3’(2’), 5’-bisphosphate nucleotidase (TaSal1) mutants using a multiplex sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system. Five active TaSal1 homologous genes were found in the genome of Giza168 in addition to another apparently inactive gene on chromosome 4A. Three gRNAs were designed and used to target exons 4, 5 and 7 of the five wheat TaSal1 genes. Among the 120 Giza168 transgenic plants, 41 lines exhibited mutations and produced heritable TaSal1 mutations in the M1 progeny and 5 lines were full 5 gene knock-outs. These mutant plants exhibit a rolled-leaf phenotype in young leaves and bended stems, but there were no significant changes in the internode length and width, leaf morphology, and stem shape. Anatomical and scanning electron microscope studies of the young leaves of mutated TaSal1 lines showed closed stomata, increased stomata width and increase in the size of the bulliform cells. Sal1 mutant seedlings germinated and grew better on media containing polyethylene glycol than wildtype seedlings. Our results indicate that the application of the multiplex sgRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing is efficient tool for mutating more multiple TaSal1 loci in hexaploid wheat.</p

Search for squarks and gluinos in final states with leptons or no leptons, with the ATLAS detector

Weak scale supersymmetry is one of the best motivated and studied extensions of the Standard Model. This talk summarises recent ATLAS results on searches for supersymmetric squarks and gluinos, including third generation squarks produced via the decay of gluinos. The searches involved final states containing jets (possibly identified as coming from b-quarks), missing transverse momentum and leptons. Results using collision data from the LHC Run 2 will be shown

Correlation of spleen stiffness measured by Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging (ARFI) with Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) in the prediction of esophageal varices (EVs) grades in cirrhotic patients

Background: measurement of spleen stiffness (SS) by ARFI may predict the presence of EVs. Aim: To assess the correlation of SS measured by ARFI as noninvasive assessment with HVPG in the prediction of presence and grades of EVs in cirrhotic patients. Methods: 30 patients with post HCV liver cirrhosis who underwent biochemical tests, abdominal ultrasound (US) , Doppler , Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE), liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) measurements using ARFI elastography and HVPG. Results: statistically significant difference was found between EVs presence and grades in relation to HVPG. In contrary no statistically significant difference was found between EVs presence and grades in relation to SS. Conclusion: HVPG had good significant positive correlation with presence and grades of EVs. There was no significant correlation between non-invasive parameters including the SS and LS (by ARFI) and presence or grades of EVs. There was no significant correlation between HVPG and SS and LS (by ARFI)

Circulating adipokines in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: possible noninvasive diagnostic markers

Abstract Background The growing obesity pandemic is the leading cause for increasing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children. Histopathological evaluation of the liver remains the gold standard for NAFLD diagnosis, but it is an invasive procedure with a low but real risk of morbidity and mortality. The current study evaluated circulating chemerin and adiponectin as possible noninvasive diagnostic markers for NAFLD in obese non-diabetic children