Protective Activity of Glycyrrihzaglabra against Histopathological Changes in White Albino Rats

The study was aimsto evaluation the protective activity of methanol-water extract of Glycyrrihzaglabraroot (GL) against histopathological changes induced by cyclophosphamide in white albino rats. Multiple doses for drug and extract were used to investigate the accumulation effect of drug and extract onliver and kidney. Results show that drug causes different harmful changes in rat organs in all doses concentrations used in study and extract have protective activity to prevent changes in tissue in 1000, 750 and 250 mg \kg , but dose 500 was failure to protect liver and lowest effect on kidney. Conclusion of present study is Glycyrrihzaglabrauseful for protective body organs against side effect of drugs and harmful effect of oxidative stress. Keywords: Glycyrrihzaglabra  ,cyclophosphamide, liver, kidney

A novel homozygous TPM1 mutation in familial pediatric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and in silico screening of potential targeting drugs.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic cardiac disease. While sarcomeric gene mutations explain many HCM cases, the genetic basis of about half of HCM cases remains elusive. Here we aimed to identify the gene causing HCM in a non-consanguineous Saudi Arabian family with affected family members and a history of sudden death. The impact of the identified mutation on protein structure and potential drug targets were evaluated in silico. Triplets (two HCM subjects and one patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) case) and unaffected parents were screened by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) for 181 candidate cardiomyopathy genes. In silico structural and functional analyses, including protein modeling, structure prediction, drug screening, drug binding, and dynamic simulations were performed to explore the potential pathogenicity of the variant and to identify candidate drugs. A homozygous missense mutation in exon 1 of TMP1 (assembly GRCh37-chr15: 63340781; G>A) was identified in the triplets [two HCM and one patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)] that substituted glycine for arginine at codon 3 (p.Gly3Arg). The parents were heterozygous for the variant. The mutation was predicted to cause a significant and deleterious change in the TPM1 protein structure that slightly affected drug binding, stability, and conformation. In addition, we identified several putative TPM1-targeting drugs through structure-based in silico screening. TPM1 mutations are a common cause of HCM and other congenital heart defects. To date, TPM1 has not been associated with isolated PDA; to our knowledge, this is the first report of the homozygous missense variation p.Gly3Arg in TPM1 associated with familial autosomal recessive pediatric HCM and PDA. The identified candidate TPM1 inhibitors warrant further prospective investigation.This research was supported by the Strategic Technologies Programs of the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Project No: 12-MED3174-05, through the Science and Technology Unit (STU), Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Emerging risks in recycling and waste: Perfluorinated compounds in plastic pellets and nanomaterials in contaminated soil

Ponencia presentada en la Final RISKCYCLE conference, titulada "Risk-Based Management of Chemicals and Products in a circular economy at a global scale",celebrada en Dresden (Alemania) el 8 y 8 de mayo de 2012.According to the European Parliament over 1.8 billion tonnes of waste are generated each year in Europe (3.5 tonnes per person) and less than a third of it is recycled. United States produces approximately 200 million tons of garbage each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.Peer reviewe

Incidence of suboptimal response to tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy in inflammatory bowel disease in newly industrialised countries: The EXPLORE study

Abstract Background Incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in newly industrialised countries (NICs); however, data on suboptimal response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are limited. Objectives To assess incidence and indicators of suboptimal response to first anti-TNF therapy in IBD patients in NICs. Methods A chart review was conducted in ten countries from Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LatAm), and Russia and the Middle East (RME) regions among patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD), initiating anti-TNF therapy in 2010–2015. The cumulative incidence of suboptimal response to anti-TNF therapy was assessed using the following indicators: dose escalation or discontinuation, augmentation with non-biologic therapy, IBD-related hospitalization, or surgery. Results The study included 1,674 patients (570 UC; 1,104 CD). At 24 months, 32.9% of UC (APAC: 45.1%; LatAm: 38.2%; RME: 23.8%) and 41.2% of CD patients (APAC: 54.1%; LatAm: 42.5%; RME: 29.5%) had experienced suboptimal response. The most frequent first indicator was non-biologic therapy augmentation in LatAm (41.7%), IBD-related hospitalization in RME (UC: 50.7%; CD:37.3%) and in APAC for CD (39.1%), and anti-TNF discontinuation in APAC for UC (38.3%). Conclusion Suboptimal response to anti-TNF agents is common in IBD patients in NICs. Observed regional differences in the incidence and indicators may reflect local practice and anti-TNF restrictions in IBD management. NCT Registration Number NCT03090139

Production of monoclonal antibodies against serum immunoglobulins of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli Higendorf)

The present study was undertaken to produce monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against immunoglobulin (Ig) purified from black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli Higendorf) serum using protein A, mannan binding protein, and goat IgG affinity columns. These three different ligands were found to possess high affinity for black rockfish serum Ig. All of the Igs purified eluted at only 0.46 M NaCl concentration in anion exchange column chromatography and consisted of two bands at 70 kDa and 25 kDa in SDS-PAGE; they also had similar antigenicity for MAbs to Ig heavy chain in immunoblot assays. Therefore, black rockfish Ig is believed to exist as a single isotype within serum. The MAbs produced against Ig heavy chain reacted specifically with spots distributed over the pI range from 4.8 to 5.6 with a molecular weight of 70 kDa on two dimensional gel electrophoresis immunoblot profiles

Comparison of the Impact of Ga-68-DOTATATE and F-18-FDG PET/CT on Clinical Management in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors

This study aimed to assess the clinical impact of 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose with respect to the management plan and to evaluate the prognostic value of both tracers. Methods: A total of 104 patients (55 males, 49 females; median age 58 years, range 20–90) with histopathologically proven neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) underwent both 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Twenty-eight patients (26.9%) had poorly differentiated (PD) and 76 (73.1%), well-differentiated tumors. PET/CT results and SUVs were compared with prognostic factors such as pathologic grading (G1, G2, G3), chromogranin A, and proliferation index (Ki67). Results: 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-FDG PET/CT findings were discordant in 65 (62.5%) and concordant in 39 (37.5%) pts. PET/CT results changed the therapeutic plan in 84 (80.8%) pts. In 22 (21.1%) pts decision making was based on 18F-FDG findings, in 32 (30.8%) on findings with both radiotracers, and in 50 (48.1%) on 68Ga-DOTATATE findings. The most frequent management decision based on 18F-FDG was initiation of chemotherapy (10 pts, 47.6%). The most common treatment decision due to 68Ga-DOTATATE was initiation of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (14 pts, 27.4%). In 11/28 (39.2%) pts with PD NETs the management decision was based only on 18F-FDG results. For 68Ga-DOTATATE, SUVmax was higher for G1 and lower for G3 tumors (p=0.012). However, no significant differences in 18F-FDG-derived SUVs were observed between different tumor grades (p=0.38). Mann-Whitney test showed significant differences in 68Ga-DOTATATE SUVmax between tumors with Ki<5% and tumors with Ki>5% (p=0.004), without significance differences in 18F-FDG SUVmax. Log-rank analysis showed statistically significant differences in survival for patients with bone vs soft tissue or no metastasis for both 18F-FDG (p=0.037) and 68Ga-DOTATATE (p=0.047). Overall survival was found to decline rapidly with increasing histological grade (p=0.001), with estimated survival of 91 months for G1, 59 months for G2, and 48 months for G3. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT had no clinical impact in G1 NETs and moderate impact in G2 NETs. However in PD NETs, 18F-FDG PET/CT plays a significant clinical role in combination with 68Ga-DOTATATE. 68Ga DOTATATE SUVmax values relate to tumor grade and Ki67 index and can be used prognostically

Integration of 3D anatomical data obtained by CT imaging and 3D optical scanning for computer aided implant surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A precise placement of dental implants is a crucial step to optimize both prosthetic aspects and functional constraints. In this context, the use of virtual guiding systems has been recognized as a fundamental tool to control the ideal implant position. In particular, complex periodontal surgeries can be performed using preoperative planning based on CT data. The critical point of the procedure relies on the lack of accuracy in transferring CT planning information to surgical field through custom-made stereo-lithographic surgical guides.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this work, a novel methodology is proposed for monitoring loss of accuracy in transferring CT dental information into periodontal surgical field. The methodology is based on integrating 3D data of anatomical (impression and cast) and preoperative (radiographic template) models, obtained by both CT and optical scanning processes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A clinical case, relative to a fully edentulous jaw patient, has been used as test case to assess the accuracy of the various steps concurring in manufacturing surgical guides. In particular, a surgical guide has been designed to place implants in the bone structure of the patient. The analysis of the results has allowed the clinician to monitor all the errors, which have been occurring step by step manufacturing the physical templates.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The use of an optical scanner, which has a higher resolution and accuracy than CT scanning, has demonstrated to be a valid support to control the precision of the various physical models adopted and to point out possible error sources. A case study regarding a fully edentulous patient has confirmed the feasibility of the proposed methodology.</p

Sub-micron moulding topological mass transport regimes in angled vortex fluidic flow

Shear stress in dynamic thin films, as in vortex fluidics, can be harnessed for generating non-equilibrium conditions, but the nature of the fluid flow is not understood. A rapidly rotating inclined tube in the vortex fluidic device (VFD) imparts shear stress (mechanical energy) into a thin film of liquid, depending on the physical characteristics of the liquid and rotational speed,ω, tilt angle,θ, and diameter of the tube. Through understanding that the fluid exhibits resonance behaviours from the confining boundaries of the glass surface and the meniscus that determines the liquid film thickness, we have established specific topological mass transport regimes. These topologies have been established through materials processing, as spinning top flow normal to the surface of the tube, double-helical flow across the thin film, and spicular flow, a transitional region where both effects contribute. The manifestation of mass transport patterns within the film have been observed by monitoring the mixing time, temperature profile, and film thickness against increasing rotational speed,ω. In addition, these flow patterns have unique signatures that enable the morphology of nanomaterials processed in the VFD to be predicted, for example in reversible scrolling and crumbling graphene oxide sheets. Shear-stress induced recrystallisation, crystallisation and polymerisation, at different rotational speeds, provide moulds of high-shear topologies, as ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ spicular flow behaviour. ‘Molecular drilling’ of holes in a thin film of polysulfone demonstrate spatial arrangement of double-helices. The grand sum of the different behavioural regimes is a general fluid flow model that accounts for all processing in the VFD at an optimal tilt angle of 45°, and provides a new concept in the fabrication of novel nanomaterials and controlling the organisation of matter

Effects of Goat Manure Fertilization on Grain Nutritional Value in Two Contrasting Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Varieties Cultivated at High Altitudes

In this study, the effects of goat manure fertilization (2, 4, 8, and 12 Tn/ha) on the grain yield, organic compounds, and mineral composition of two quinoa varieties (CICA-17 and Regalona Baer) were evaluated under field conditions in Northwest Argentina. The results indicate that fertilization improved the quinoa grain yield and total protein content. Low manure doses positively affected the fatty acid (FA) profile, and significant changes were determined for the monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acid contents of CICA-17 and on the saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents of R. Baer seeds. The amino acid contents were positively affected in CICA-17 and negatively in R. Baer. Soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose), major elements (K, Si, P, Mg, Ca, and Na), minor elements (Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, and Cu), and ultratrace elements (Cr and Li) were detected and discussed in terms of their impact on human nutrition and health. Conclusively, manure addition affected some essential amino acids, the desaturase activity, the n6:n3 and SFA/UFA ratios, the atherogenic index, soluble sugars, and mineral content, and the fatty acid metabolism of each variety was differently affected, especially the C16 and C18 desaturase activity, which responded differently to various manure doses. Manure addition is a promising alternative to improve the nutritional quality and functionality of quinoa grains, but the response is not linear