IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PHOSPHATE ESTERS SCREENED BY BROTH DILUTION ASSAY METHOD

Objective: The present study was formulated in order to determine the novelty and the potency of the synthesized phosphate esters in terms of their antibacterial activity.Methods: Mono-6-chloro-2,4-dinitroaniline phosphate and di-2-methyl-5-nitroaniline phosphate were screened for antibacterial activity against four pathogenic bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 3160, Klebsiella oxytoca ATCC 13182, Bacillus subtilis BAB 2437 and Bacillus licheniformis MS 17. Antibacterial activity was evaluated by the broth dilution assay method at different concentrations (50-2000µg/ml) of phosphate esters. Solutions of mono-and di phosphate esters were prepared in water and DMSO respectively. Growth of inoculums was noted in terms of optical density.Results: Di-2-methyl-5-nitroaniline phosphate was found more active than mono-6-chloro-2,4-dinitroaniline phosphate against selected bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both phosphate esters was found in the range of 25 to 50 µg/ml. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of mono-6-chloro-2,4-dinitroaniline phosphate was found in the range of 1000 to 1500µg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. Di-2-methyl-5-nitroaniline phosphate showed MBC of 500 and 400 µg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella oxytoca respectively, and 1000 µg/ml against Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis. Conclusion: Both the phosphate esters have exhibited significant antibacterial activity, therefore these compounds may be a good antibacterial agent.Â

ANTI -ARTHRITIC POTENTIAL OF HELIANTHUS ANNUUS IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

Objective: The present study was carried out to investigate the anti-arthritic potential of ethanolic extract of Helianthus annuus leaves (HA).Methods: The effect of HA was evaluated for chronic inflammation by complete Freud's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis in rats.Results: The paw edema was measured along with biochemical, hematological, histopathological, radiographic parameters, and ulcerogenic potential.In this study, pre-treatment with HA significantly decreased paw volume, arthritic index, spleen and thymus weight, ulcerogenic index; and inhibitedhistopathological changes in joint cavity and inhibited destruction of the knee joints induced by CFA in radiographic examination. Treatment ofHA also restored significantly the hematological parameters such as hemoglobin level, total red blood cell, total white blood cell, and erythrocytsedimentation rate along with antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase, catalase glutathione, and lipid peroxide. The serum marker ofarthritis such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor were also reduced in the HA-treated arthritic rats.Conclusion: The results of the present study demonstrate the anti-arthritic potential of HA leaves in the anti-arthritic activity.Keywords: Anti-arthritic, C-reactive protein, Complete Freud's adjuvant, Helianthus annuus, Paw volume, Rheumatoid factor

Using a Hybrid Lecture and Small Group Standardized Patient Case to Teach the Inclusive Sexual History and Transgender Patient Care

Background: Previous negative experiences with the medical community often leave transgender people reluctant to seek needed medical treatment and preventive care. Inadequate training in transgender healthcare during all stages of medical education promotes the disparities experienced by this community. Undergraduate medical education is uniquely positioned to address these disparities by better preparing future physicians to provide inclusive care to transgender patients; however, curricular coverage of these topics remains inadequate. Methods: The second-year clinical skills course at the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine includes a hybrid workshop consisting of a one-hour lecture about the components of an inclusive sexual history, followed by a 1.5 hour, faculty-facilitated small group session during which students interview a standardized patient playing the role of a transgender man with abdominal pain. During the session, students were provided with an optional, anonymous pre- and post-intervention survey assessing the impact of this workshop. Results: After the session, there was a statistically significant increase in students’ knowledge of the Create your own automated PDFs with JotForm PDF Editor 1 components of an inclusive sexual history, in the number of students who felt that their medical training had effectively prepared them to provide medical care for transgender patients, and in those who reported feeling comfortable gathering a sexual history from a transgender patient. Students overall reported a high level of satisfaction with the session and the standardized patient case. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the hybrid-learning format of the sexual history workshop effectively improved students’ knowledge and confidence regarding transgender healthcare and sexual history taking. Although our case was acted by well-coached cis-gender standardized patients without the lived experiences of being transgender, students still reported that it provided a realistic opportunity to explore the nuances of transgender healthcare. While we demonstrated value in using cis-gender standardized patients, future directions of this project will explore the recruitment of transgender standardized patients.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/sexandgenderhealth/1027/thumbnail.jp

Electrostatic interactions mediate the nucleation and growth of a bacterial functional amyloid

Bacterial biofilm formation can have severe impacts on human and environmental health. Enteric bacteria produce functional amyloid fibers called curli that aid in biofilm formation and host colonization. CsgA is the major proteinaceous component of curli amyloid fibers and is conserved in many gram-negative enteric bacteria. The CsgA amyloid core consists of five imperfect repeats (R1-R5). R2, R3, and R4 have aspartic acid (D) and glycine (G) residues that serve as “gatekeeper” residues by modulating the intrinsic aggregation propensity of CsgA. Here, using mutagenesis, salt-mediated charge screening, and by varying pH conditions, we show that the ability of CsgA variants to nucleate and form amyloid fibers is dictated by the charge state of the gatekeeper residues. We report that in Citrobacter youngae CsgA, certain arginine (R) and lysine (K) residues also act as gatekeeper residues. A mechanism of gatekeeping is proposed wherein R and K residues electrostatically interact with negatively charged D residues, tempering CsgA fiber formation

High frequency mutation in codons 12 and 61 of H-ras oncogene in chewing tobacco-related human oral carcinoma in India.

57 primary tumour samples from Indian oral cancer patients with a 5-15 year tobacco chewing habit, were examined for mutational activation in codons 12, 13 and 61 of the H-ras, K-ras and N-ras oncogenes. The highly sensitive assay based on specific oligonucleotide hybridisation following in vitro amplification of unique sequences by polymerase chain reaction was employed. Mutations were detected in twenty (35%) of the samples and were restricted to H-ras, codons 12, 13 and 61. Two cases had concurrent mutations in codons 12 and 61. The majority of the mutations were at H-ras 61.2 (Glutamine to Arginine) and H-ras 12.2 (Glycine to Valine). Three of the less frequent mutations are apparently novel. Interestingly, eight of the samples with H-ras mutations also showed loss of wild-type H-ras, as judged by absence of signals for wild-type codons 12 or 61 on dot blots. The specific H-ras mutations in these oral malignancies associated with tobacco chewing, may represent an important example of an environmental carcinogen-induced step, in a pathway leading to malignant transformation

Trials

BACKGROUND: The aim of this open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted in four African countries (Madagascar, Niger, Central African Republic, and Senegal) is to compare three strategies of renutrition for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in children based on modulation of the gut microbiota with enriched flours alone, enriched flours with prebiotics or enriched flours coupled with antibiotic treatment. METHODS: To be included, children aged between 6 months and 2 years are preselected based on mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) and are included based on a weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) between - 3 and - 2 standard deviations (SD). As per current protocols, children receive renutrition treatment for 12 weeks and are assessed weekly to determine improvement. The primary endpoint is recovery, defined by a WHZ >/= - 1.5 SD after 12 weeks of treatment. Data collected include clinical and socioeconomic characteristics, side effects, compliance and tolerance to interventions. Metagenomic analysis of gut microbiota is conducted at inclusion, 3 months, and 6 months. The cognitive development of children is evaluated in Senegal using only the Developmental Milestones Checklist II (DMC II) questionnaire at inclusion and at 3, 6, and 9 months. The data will be correlated with renutrition efficacy and metagenomic data. DISCUSSION: This study will provide new insights for the treatment of MAM, as well as original data on the modulation of gut microbiota during the renutrition process to support (or not) the microbiota hypothesis of malnutrition. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03474276 Last update 28 May 2018