Chemical And Biological Evaluations Of Asimina Triloba And Rollinia Mucosa.

Studies have shown the potential risks of neurodegeneration associated with chronic consumption of plants of the Annonaceae family, which emphasize the need for further studies to identify the neurotoxic compounds in the edible annonaceous plants and compare their risk to their benefits in defeating cancer. Our study is focused on the alkaloidal constituents of two plants from the Annonaceae family, Asimina triloba and Rollinia mocusa. This study was carried out to explore the anticancer and neurotoxic constituents of the plants with the intention that separating neurotoxic constituents would help in reducing the undesirable effects of the plants if it is used as an alternative therapy. Chapter II describes the phytochemical investigation of the alkaloids from Asimina triloba twigs that yielded one new aporphine glycoside, (-)-anolobine-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside 1, along with seven known isoquinoline alkaloids, anolobine 2, nornuciferine 3, norushinsunine 4, liriodenine 5, lysicamine 6, stepharine 7, and coclaurine 8. Alkaloids 3 and 6-8 are reported for the first time from this plant. In chapter III, the structural characteristics of eight alkaloids from methanolic extracts of dried twigs of Asimina triloba have been studied using UHPLC-QToF-MS in positive ion mode. This study described an investigation of the fragmentation pathways leading to the identification of key diagnostic fragment ions for the annonaceous alkaloids. Chapter IV demonstrates the anticancer potential and the neurotoxicity of the isolated alkaloids from Asimina triloba twigs. Six alkaloids (anolobine-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, anolobine, norushinsunine, liriodenine, squamolone and coclaurine) were evaluated for their anticancer potential in four human solid tumor cell lines (SK-MEL, KB, BT-549, and SK-OV-3). The potential for neurotoxicity was determined using rat cortical neurons. Three extracts, namely crude methanolic extract, alkaloids rich extract, and acetogenins rich extract, were also included in the study to explore how the presence and the absence of the alkaloids or acetogenins will affect the anticancer activity and neurotoxicity of this plant. This is the first report of anticancer activity and the neurotoxic effect of the alkaloidal constituents of Asimina triloba. Finally, chapter V describes the total synthesis of (±) anonaine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-1-phenanthreneethylamine, (±) romucosine, and [2-(3,4-methylenedioxy-1-phenanthrenyl)ethyl]-methylcarbamate by using direct arylation reactions with 3,4-methylenedioxyphenethylamine 1 and 2-bromophenylacetic acid 2 in the preparation of aporphine analogues. The presence of the synthesized compounds in Rollinia mucosa seeds and fruits was verified through the analytical technique using UHPLC-QToF-MS. All synthesized compounds were subjected to the biological evaluation to understand how they induce or reduce the cytotoxicity as well as neurotoxicity. Improved accuracy and precision of the bioactive marker compounds and natural toxins in the edible plants, dietary supplement, and natural health products will be helpful to the regulatory agencies

Amygdala and subregion volume are associated with photoperiod and seasonal depressive symptoms : A cross sectional study in the UK Biobank cohort

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource. This work was supported by the Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre with financial support from the Roland Sutton Academic Trust (RSAT-0039/R/16) and Jazan University and Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Job Satisfaction among Members of the Training Staff at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), KSA

The present study aimed to identify job satisfaction among members of the training staff at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) in KSA, and to detect differences that can be attributed to the variables of years of experience and gender. The descriptive approach was adopted in the study to investigate job satisfaction among a sample of (206) respondents. A job satisfaction scale adapted by Majrashi (2022) was used to collect the data, and after collecting the data and they were processed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed a level of job satisfaction above the average, and the order of dimensions came as follows: the nature of work came in the forefront, followed by the relationship with colleagues and management in the second place, then facilities and aids of training, and finally came the payroll systems. Also, there were no differences in job satisfaction for members of the training staff at TVTC according to the variables ‘years of experience’ and ‘gender’. The study was concluded with suggestions for further research in this area

Pharmacological Evaluation of Secondary Metabolites and Their Simultaneous Determination in the Arabian Medicinal Plant Plicosepalus curviflorus Using HPTLC Validated Method

© The Author(s) 2019. The present study aimed to identify biologically active secondary metabolites from the rare plant species, Pulsatilla patens subsp. patens and the cultivated P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris. Chromatographic fractionation of the ethanolic extract of the roots of P. patens subsp. patens resulted in the isolation of two oleanane-type glycosides identified as hederagenin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2.7 mg) and hederagenin 3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranoside (3.3 mg, patensin). HPLC analysis of the methanolic extract of the crude root of P. patens subsp. patens and P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris revealed the presence of Pulsatilla saponin D (hederagenin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→4)]-α-l-arabinopyranoside). Chromatographic analysis using GC-MS of the silylated methanolic extracts from the leaves and roots of these species identified the presence of carboxylic acids, such as benzoic, caffeic, malic, and succinic acids. The extracts from Pulsatilla species were tested for their antifungal, antimicrobial, and antimalarial activities, and cytotoxicity to mammalian cell lines. Both P. patens subsp. patens and P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris were active against the fungus Candida glabrata with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values of 9.37 µg/mL and 11 µg/mL, respectively. The IC 50 values for cytotoxicity evaluation were in the range of 32–38 μg/mL for P. patens subsp. patens and 35–57 μg/mL for P. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris for each cell line, indicating general cytotoxic activity throughout the panel of evaluated cancer and noncancer cells

Effects of Foliar NPK Application on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content of Sweet Corn Grown on Rengam Series Soil

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different rates of macronutrients as a foliar spray on the growth performance, yield, and nutrient content of sweet corn grown in the Rengam soil series. The treatments consisted of five rates of macronutrients as a foliar fertilizer at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % NPK. Foliar NPK was applied 25 and 50 days after sowing to the sweet corn seedlings. The results showed that fresh cob weight, cob number, flowering, and dry matter yield of sweet corn significantly increased at the rate of 75%, and 100% of NPK foliar fertilizers. The macro and micronutrient concentrations in ear leaf, mature leaves, stem, cob, and flowers of 75 and 100% NPK treated corn were significantly increased over the control plants. The macronutrient content in the whole plant was also significantly higher at 75% and 100% NPK treatments. Fe and Mn contents in the whole plant were also the highest in 75% and 100% NPK treatments. Macronutrient concentration in ear leaf and whole corn plants significantly correlated with the fresh cob yield of corn. It is concluded that foliar application of N, P, and K macronutrients (75 to 100% NPK) enhanced the yield and quality of sweet corn

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Effects of Supplementing Quails’ (Coturnix japonica) Diets with a Blend of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Black Cumin (Nigella sativa) Oils on Growth Performance and Health Aspects

In an attempt to discover a safe growth promoter and partial alternative for antibiotics, this existing study explores the efficacy of using assorted levels of cold-pressed oil mixtures consisting of 1:1 clove and black cumin (Nigella sativa) oils (CLNS) against the indices of growth and carcass traits, as well as blood components of growing Japanese quails. In a complete randomized design, three hundred growing unsexed Japanese quails (one week of age) were included in this experiment. The treated groups were as follows: (1) control basal diet (CLNS0), (2) basal diet + 1.50 mL CLNS/kg diet (CLNS1.5), and (3) basal diet + 3.00 mL CLNS/kg diet (CLNS3). The results showed that supplementing the diet with a 3.00 mL CLNS/kg diet insignificantly improved body weight (BW) compared with the CLNS0 and CLNS1.5 groups. A significantly (p < 0.05) higher feed intake and feed conversion ratio—FCR— (deterioration of feed conversion) were reported after the addition of CLNS. Feeding the quails on a 3.00 mL CLNS/kg enriched-diet yielded superior values of dressing percentage, carcass yield, and breast and thigh relative weights compared to other groups. A significant decline was noticed in creatinine and BUN levels in birds fed a 1.50 and 3.00 mL CLNS/kg diet compared with the CLNS0 group The liver enzymes and total bilirubin activities showed insignificant effects in quails fed CLNS-enriched diets. The total protein and globulins concentrations presented a significant augment in quails that received CLNS. The antiradical activity of CLNS supplementation showed increases in hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) activity and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase, glutathione S transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) in birds. The concentration of MDA in hepatic homogenates that received CLNS-diets was significantly decreased compared with the control quails. These findings clarified that the dietary inclusion of CLNS can enhance the growth performance and antioxidative status of growing Japanese quails

Organic Amendment and Mulching Enhanced the Growth and Fruit Quality of Squash Plants (Cucurbita pepo L.) Grown on Silty Loam Soils

Adoption of suitable organic fertilizers and soil mulching are useful tools to enhance soil quality, which will inevitably lead to improved growth and yield of crops. Little is known about the soil organic amendments and Azolla (Azolla pinnata) under soil organic mulching on the growth and yield of squash plant (Cucurbita pepo L.). A comparative study mainly focused on the impacts of organic fertilizer treatments on soil fertility and squash growth under wheat straw mulch was conducted on wooden boxes filled with silty loam soil. Wheat straw, as an organic mulch, and five organic-fertilization treatments were added to the soil. Wheat straw with a size of <2 cm was added to the soil surface with a 2 cm thickness. The fertilization treatments were: control (CO), chemical fertilizer (CF), compost (CT), vermicompost (VC), and dry Azolla (DA). Wheat straw mulch had positive effects on the soil properties, growth, and yield. The maximum fruit yield was obtained from the soil fertilized with DA under wheat straw mulch, while the lowest one was found in the control without mulching. Azolla and organic fertilizers showed a remarkable superiority over the mineral fertilization in increasing the soil fertility as well as the growth and quality of squash fruits; this superiority increased under the wheat straw mulching system. The application of recommended mineral fertilization (CF), compost (CT), vermicompost (VC), and dry Azolla (DA) under wheat straw mulch increased the soil available-N by 2, 20, 12, and 29%, respectively, above the control (CO), while these organic fertilizers without mulching increased the soil available-N by 11, 32, 26, and 48%, respectively. The production of vegetable crops such as squash plants requires the addition of organic fertilizers and mulching to increase yield and quality of fruits

Induction of Catharanthus roseus Secondary Metabolites When Calotropis procera Was Used as Bio-Stimulant

Available information associated with Calotropis procera posted its phytotoxic effect as bio-herbicide scarce works studied its stimulatory/nutritive effect. A pot experiment was performed to assess the validity of using Calotropis procera (C. procera) leaves extract as a bio-stimulant for the growth and quality of a medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) evaluated by some physio-biochemical indices. Different types of C. procera leaves extracts (CLEs) (methanolic, cold water and autoclaved water extracts) were delivered by two different modes of application. The results revealed that application of CLEs as irrigation or foliar spraying caused a stimulation effect on C. roseus plant. Root and shoot length, dry and fresh weight were significantly improved due to CLEs applications. C. roseus bioactive molecules such as anthocyanins, phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and α-tocopherol were abundance increased significantly with CLEs applications. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased explaining the involvement of CLEs in induction of antioxidant enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase for modifying cell oxidative status witnessed by lower lipid peroxidation that kept below the untreated plants’ baseline reflected the improvement of growth and quality rather than phytotoxic effect. The promotion of wholesome-promoting secondary metabolites by CLEs was closely correlated to elevated phenylalanineammonialyase activity. The comparable efficient effect induced by all treatments might be judged by the relation between C. procera phytochemicals and C. roseus metabolism (donor-receiver relation). It is concluded that application of CLEs can be a promising approach for improving the yield and quality of plants despite using polluting fertilizers. The current investigation may provide a matrix for coming studies to seek illustration of numerous plants’ response to C. procera extracts