Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of Haloxylon salicarnicum, Ochradenus arabicus and Tamarix nilotica

In the present investigation, the preliminary phytochemical analysis and antioxidant potential of hexane, chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts of Haloxylon salicarnicum, Ochradenus arabicus and Tamarix nilotica were reported. The presence of flavonoid, alkaloid, phenols, terpenoids, carbohydrate, tannin, protein, steroids, saponin, phlobatannin, cardiacglycoside, anthraquinines and volatile oils were determined and for antioxidant activity, DPPH, ABTS, superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging potential were studied. Strong presence of alkaloid, tannin, steroids in H. salicarnicum, flavonoid and phenols in O. arabicus and saponin T. nilotica were observed. In the present investigation, all the extracts inhibited the free radicals the methanol extract of O. arabicus was identified as potential crude extract compared to all other extracts with the IC50 values of 91.65 (DPPH), 94.62 (ABTS), 95.82 (O2) and 96.02 (OH) µg/mL. Whereas, the IC50 value of the standard, Gallic acid were 125.25 (DPPH), 142.32 (ABTS), 130.78 (O2) and 139.93 µg/mL (OH). Whereas, the IC50 value of the standard, Gallic acid were 125.25 (DPPH), 142.32 (ABTS), 130.78 (O2) and 139.93 µg/mL (OH)The present study suggests that methanol extract of O. arabicus can be used for the isolation potential natural antioxidant

Outdoor continuous cultivation of self-settling marine cyanobacterium chroococcidiopsis sp.

Spontaneous settling of certain aggregating microalgae or cyanobacteria could potentially alleviate the energy requirement in biomass harvesting. A locally isolated floc-forming marine cyanobacteria, Chroococcidiopsis sp., was initially grown indoor to study its self-settling efficiency; 97% of the biomass settled spontaneously in 1 h. Later, the strain was grown in outdoor raceway tanks (1 square meter) for 70 d. Every alternative day, 50% of the culture was harvested by self-settling, and the supernatant was recycled back to the tank. Average biomass productivities for the strain was 16.08 g/m2/d. The biomass had an average 2.26% water extractable phycobiliproteins that comprised of both phycocyanin (11.4 mg/g) and phycoerythrin (10.6 mg/g). Since Chroococcidiopsis sp. biomass can be harvested very efficiently, it would reduce the energy and cost of biomass production which are deemed necessary for microalgal animal feed and biofuel applications. Furthermore, its ability to produce high-value pigments will also make it economically very attractive from biorefinery approach. Copyright 2018, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2018.The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF, a member of Qatar Foundation) for providing the funding (under grant NPRP8-646-2-272) for this study.Scopu

The NF- B subunit Rel A is associated with in vitro survival and clinical disease progression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and represents a promising therapeutic target

In this study, we characterized nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) subunit DNA binding in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) samples and demonstrated heterogeneity in basal and inducible NF-κB. However, all cases showed higher basal NF-κB than normal B cells. Subunit analysis revealed DNA binding of p50, Rel A, and c-Rel in primary CLL cells, and Rel A DNA binding was associated with in vitro survival (P = .01) with high white cell count (P = .01) and shorter lymphocyte doubling time (P = .01). NF-κB induction after in vitro stimulation with anti-IgM was associated with increased in vitro survival (P < .001) and expression of the signaling molecule ZAP-70 (P = .003). Prompted by these data, we evaluated the novel parthenolide analog, LC-1, in 54 CLL patient samples. LC-1 induced apoptosis in all the samples tested with a mean LD50 of 2.8 μM after 24 hours; normal B and T cells were significantly more resistant to its apoptotic effects (P < .001). Apoptosis was preceded by a marked loss of NF-κB DNA binding and sensitivity to LC-1 correlated with basal Rel A DNA binding (P = .03, r2 = 0.15). Furthermore, Rel A DNA binding was inversely correlated with sensitivity to fludarabine (P = .001, r2 = 0.3), implicating Rel A in fludarabine resistance. Taken together, these data indicate that Rel A represents an excellent therapeutic target for this incurable disease

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population