Determination of Aflatoxin Levels in Groundnuts: A Comparative Study between Domestic and Imported Seed Supplies in Libya

The production of high-quality seeds presents a significant challenge for small-scale farmers in Libya. These farmers often face difficulties with storing their own seeds, encountering issues such as storage fungi and aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxins, known to cause various human and animal health problems, are prevalent contaminants in groundnut seeds during storage, primarily produced by Aspergillusflavus and Aspergillusparasiticus fungi. This study compares aflatoxin levels between locally sourced and imported groundnut seeds. Samples were procured from the local market in Tripoli, Libya, and aflatoxins were extracted and identified using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with Silica gel. The findings reveal higher aflatoxin levels in local samples compared to imported groundnut seeds. Various factors influence aflatoxin levels, and the detected levels surpass European Union standards. To address this, regulatory measures or awareness campaigns among local farmers are recommended to ensure quality and sustainability in groundnut cultivation in Libya

The correlation of in vitro antioxidant potentials with the various biochemical responses of salinized basil leaves

One of the environmental sustainability issues is salinity. Basil seedlings (Ocimum basilicum L.) were treated using NaCl solutions of three different concentrations prepared using irrigation (40, 80, and 130 mM), and various biochemical analyses were performed on basil leaves. The number of leaves, leaf area, moisture, weights, and MDA content of basil decreased significantly as salinity levels increased from 40 to 130 mM; however, dry matter increased. As well, the current study investigated a significant increase in osmolytes (including total soluble sugars and proline) and Na+ contents. The highest activities of CAT and SOD in the leaf tissues of basil were recorded after treatment with 130 mM NaCl, whereas the polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were negatively influenced.  On the other hand, the highest ABTS scavenging activity was observed in the 40 mM-treated leaves at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL; however, the DPPH scavenging potential increased significantly in the 80 mM-treated leaves at 3000 µg/mL. Furthermore, the correlation between in vitro antioxidant potentials and biochemical responses was described. A strong correlation was identified between the in vitro antioxidant capacities of salinized O. basilicum leaves and SOD activity, total flavonoids, and the presence of phenolic acids, particularly p-hydroxybenzoic and o-coumaric acids at various concentrations. As a result, this is the first study to explain how basil may resist salinity by producing specific antioxidant compounds; therefore, our research recommends use of salinity issue to obtain a better plant material for producing dietary supplements or herbal drugs

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis In Pregnant Women

This study aims to analyzing demographic data of patients,isolate and identify Candida species, which causes vaginal infections, and a study of its prevalence among pregnant women in Sorman city, Libya.210 specimens collected from patients admitted to the Maternity Care Center in the combined clinic. carried immediately to the Microbiology Laboratory in the National Cancer Institute, Subrata, Libya for direct microscopy, culturing, and characterization. Each participant was given an interview questionnaire and asked about their age, educational level, employment position, and history of recurrent vaginal yeast infection. Chronic diseases were also listed on the data collecting form.Identification of Candida species using Chrome agar: A total of 100 isolates have been recovered in this study, of which 72 isolates were obtained as pure cultures on Chrome agar medium. According to their color on Chrome agar, these 72 colonies were categorized to 5 main species namely Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Genotypic identification of Candida species in this investigation was validated by the ITS tree. Eight strains from this investigation were found in the Candida albicans clade, which had a high bootstrap value of 99 percent ML/99 percent MP. These were therefore identified as Candida albicans., Within the Candida glabrata clade, three isolates were grouped together, demonstrating a strong support value of 99% ML/99%MP. These strains were recognized as belonging to the C. glabrata species, while one isolate was recognized as belonging to the C. tropicalis species, with a high support value of 99% ML/99%MP

Examining the Health Benefits of Olive Oil: A Review Tailored to the Libyan Setting

The health benefits from olive oil are now a fact backed via laboratory experiments rather than a scientific hypothesis, epidemiological and clinical evidence. Plenty of epidemiological studies have correlatedthat the consumption of olive oil was associated with better overall health. In recent years, remarkable studies have been carried out to show the possible use of olive oil and derivatives for improvement of both animal performance and product quality. More Olive oils are produced and consumed in Libya. This review highlighted the most recent advances of medicinal value of olive oil', furthermore; this review explores the most significant attributes of olive oil in health and pharmaceutical applications. For instance, reduced pure olive oil considerably lowers the risk of cholesterol- related and other vascular diseases. Also exhibits excellent pharmaceutical properties for curingoxidative damage linked to cancerand neurodegenerativediseases. Invivo application of olive oil and its derived products has shown to maintain oxidative balance owing to its polyphenolic content. In addition, this review highlights the medicinal, nutritional and food benefit of olive oil

Diverse Presentation of Neurotoxicity After CAR-T Therapy in Multiple Myeloma Patients

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/aprn-week-23/1020/thumbnail.jp

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Chromobacterium Violaceum Strains Growth Conditions Impacting N- Acyl Homoserine Lactones AHL Production

Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram-negative bacillus that is a facultative anaerobic, oxidase positive, glucose fermenting, and non-lactose fermenting. C. violaceum is free living which can be found in the soil and water. C. violaceum produces a possible antioxidant called violacein a purple pigment that is considered to be one of the significant characteristics of C.violaceum. Chromobacterium violaceum one of the Gram negative bacteria which use Quorum Sensing (QS) occurs within a single bacterial species, and regulates a lot of different processes ,essentially serving as a simple communication network so that QS is the accumulation of signaling molecule that enable a single cell to sense the communication from other cells .The density and bioluminescence through quorum sensing is manipulated via the signaling molecule N-acyl-homoserine (AHLs) that is produced by C. violaceum. The major objective in this work is to determine the reason why 14N1 cannot produce the pigment on LB media in cultures using heavy cell inoculum and high concentration of AHL on all the C. violaceum strains. C. violaceum 14N23 and 14N1 were isolated from copper basin, Tennessee and (ATCC) 12472 and (ATCC) 31532 obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), and CV026. 14N1 produces a pigment after 24 hours by using high inoculation 20% which is 10 ml overnight culture of 14N1 to 40 ml LB broth media with different shaker's speed started from (in static culture , 150,175,225). On the AHLs 14N1 did not produce a pigment and that the same with 14N23. However, 12472 did produce a pigment after 24 hours, and the positive control (ATCC) 31532 produced and the negative control CV026 did not

Chromobacterium Violaceum Strains Growth Conditions Impacting N- Acyl Homoserine Lactones AHL Production

Chromobacterium violaceum is a Gram-negative bacillus that is a facultative anaerobic, oxidase positive, glucose fermenting, and non-lactose fermenting. C. violaceum is free living which can be found in the soil and water. C. violaceum produces a possible antioxidant called violacein a purple pigment that is considered to be one of the significant characteristics of C.violaceum. Chromobacterium violaceum one of the Gram negative bacteria which use Quorum Sensing (QS) occurs within a single bacterial species, and regulates a lot of different processes ,essentially serving as a simple communication network so that QS is the accumulation of signaling molecule that enable a single cell to sense the communication from other cells .The density and bioluminescence through quorum sensing is manipulated via the signaling molecule N-acyl-homoserine (AHLs) that is produced by C. violaceum. The major objective in this work is to determine the reason why 14N1 cannot produce the pigment on LB media in cultures using heavy cell inoculum and high concentration of AHL on all the C. violaceum strains. C. violaceum 14N23 and 14N1 were isolated from copper basin, Tennessee and (ATCC) 12472 and (ATCC) 31532 obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), and CV026. 14N1 produces a pigment after 24 hours by using high inoculation 20% which is 10 ml overnight culture of 14N1 to 40 ml LB broth media with different shaker\u27s speed started from (in static culture , 150,175,225). On the AHLs 14N1 did not produce a pigment and that the same with 14N23. However, 12472 did produce a pigment after 24 hours, and the positive control (ATCC) 31532 produced and the negative control CV026 did not

Genetic Interpretation of the Impacts of Honokiol and EGCG on Apoptotic and Self-Renewal Pathways in HEp-2 Human Laryngeal CD44\u3csup\u3ehigh\u3c/sup\u3e Cancer Stem Cells

Most current larynx cancer therapies are generally aimed at the global mass of tumor, targeting the non-tumorigenic cells, and unfortunately sparing the tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are responsible for sustained growth, metastasis, and chemo- and radioresistance. Phytochemicals and herbs have recently been introduced as therapeutic sources for eliminating CSCs. Therefore, we assessed the anti-tumor effects of two herbal ingredients, the green tea extract “Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)” and Honokiol (HNK), on parental cells or CD44high CSCs of the human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell line HEp-2. Results revealed that EGCG had a preeminent apoptotic potential on HEp-2 laryngeal CSCs. HNK conferred higher cytotoxic impacts on parental cells mostly by necrosis induction, especially with higher doses, but apoptosis induction with lower doses was also observed. The Notch signaling pathway genes were more potently suppressed by EGCG than HNK. However, HNK surpassed EGCG in downregulating the β-catenin and the Sonic Hedgehog signaling pathways genes. On a genetic basis, both agents engaged the BCL-2 family-regulated and caspase-dependent intrinsic apoptotic pathway, but EGCG and HNK triggered apoptosis via p53-independent and p53-dependent pathways, respectively. Taken together, EGCG and HNK eradicated HEp-2 human larynx cancer cells through targeting multiple self-renewal pathways and activating diverse cell death modalities