Peptide Extracts from Seven Medicinal Plants Discovered to Inhibit Oomycete Phytophthora infestans, a Causative Agent of Potato Late Blight Disease

We report the inhibitory effect of peptide extracts obtained from seven medicinal plants against a causative agent of late blight disease Phytophthora infestans. We find that all the extracts possess inhibitory activity toward the zoospores output, zoosporangium germination, and the development of P. infestans on potato disc tubers at different quantitative levels. Based on the biological effects detected, an extract of common horsetail (Equisetum arvense) biomass is recognized as the most effective and is selected for further structural analysis. We perform a combination of amino acid analysis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, which reveal the presence of Asn/Asp- and Gln/Glu-rich short peptides with molecular masses in the range of 500–900 Da and not exceeding 1500 Da as the maximum. Analytical anion-exchange HPLC is successfully applied for separation of the peptide extract from common horsetail (E. arvense). We collect nine dominant components that are combined in two groups with differences in retention times. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the prevalent compounds after analytical ion-exchange HPLC allows us to identify them as peptide fragments of functionally active proteins associated with photosynthesis, aquatic transport, and chitin binding. The anti-oomycete effects may be associated with the conversion of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase to produce a number of biologically active anionic peptides with possible regulatory functions. These data inform our knowledge regarding biologically active peptide fragments; they are the components of programmed or induced proteolysis of plant proteins and can realize secondary antimicrobial functions

Sarcoidosis in adolescents

The child was referred for complex in-patient examination after annual fluorography screening which detected interstitial changes in the lungs, the child had been examined including biopsy of bronchi mucosa, and pulmonary sarcoidosis, stage II, was diagnosed

Using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy to Study the Formation of Nanoparticles on Red Blood Cell Surface in Cervical Cancer Patients

Background: In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to examine the changes in morphology of red blood cells (RBCs) and to investigate the nanoparticles (NPs) found on their surface in cervical cancer (CC) patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT). Methods and Results: We obtained smears of venous blood from 12 CC patients at the start, midway and at the end of external beam RT and then midway and at the end of brachytherapy. It was found that in CC patients, the number of RBCs with abnormal morphology increased and NPs appeared on their surface. During RT, the total number of abnormally shaped RBCs and the number and size of NPs increased. The RBC diameter was 8.38±0.36 μm in the control group and 9.41±0.47 μm in CC patients. The average diameter of NPs on the RBC surface was 69.91±12.15 nm and their average height 23.75±3.70 nm. After RT, the morphology of RBCs was restored, and the formation of NPs decreased. Conclusion: The changes observed could serve as the basis for developing efficacy indicators of cancer radiation therapy. (International Journal of Biomedicine. 2020;10(1):70-75.

Саркоидоз у подростков

The child was referred for complex in-patient examination after annual fluorography screening which detected interstitial changes in the lungs, the child had been examined including biopsy of bronchi mucosa, and pulmonary sarcoidosis, stage II, was diagnosed.У ребенка, направленного после ежегодного флюорографического обследования, при котором выявлены интерстициальные изменения в легких, в результате проведенного комплексного стационарного обследования, включающего биопсию слизистой бронха, диагностирован саркоидоз легких II степени