Suitability of using palm oil mill effluent as a medium for lipase production

Lipases are enzymes that can be secreted by several microorganisms using agro-industrial residues as potential substrates. This work screened ten microorganisms for their potential to produce lipase in palm oil mill effluent (POME)-based medium. Among the 10 organisms, the most promising strain was Candida cylindracea (ATCC 14830) which showed appreciable activity both on agar plates and liquid cultures. Medium supplementation by NH4Cl and olive oil led to an enzyme activity of 2.07 U/ml. However, supplementation with organic nitrogen sources resulted in better enzyme activity. Addition of malt extract, peptone and olive oil into the medium greatly influenced the lipase production. Among the oils that were tested, olive oil was found to be the best for the expression of extracellular lipase at 0.5% (v/v) with an activity of 4.02 U/ml in an optimized POME supplemented medium.Key words: Lipase, agro-industrial residue, palm oil mill effluent, Candida cylindrace

Antioxidant activity of Piper caninum and Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition by methoxylated flavones.

Background: This study investigated on antioxidant activity of Piper caninum and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition by methoxylated flavones.Materials and methods: The present study was carried out to quantify the total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activities of the crude extracts by Folin-Ciocalteu and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay respectively.Results: Methanolic extracts of Piper caninum exhibited the highest total phenolic content and free radical scavenging activities. All the pure compounds possessed significant cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition at physiological concentrations.Conclusion: Based on in vitro and molecular docking, we therefore suggest that Piper caninum methoxylated flavones are potent inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 at physiological concentrationsKey words: Piper caninum; antioxidant; cyclooxygenase-2.List of abbreviations: COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl; PGE2, prostaglandin E2

A new xanthone and a new benzophenone from the roots of Garcinia hombroniana

In this study, the roots of Garcinia hombroniana were chemically investigated, in which novel derivatives of xanthone and benzophenone, known as garcihomxanthone (1) and garcihombrianone (2), respectively, together with garceduxanthone (3), cheffouxanthone (4), norathyriol (5), and 2,3′,4,5′-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxybenzophenone (6) were isolated.. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques and evaluated based on references with previous literature data

Avicenna and cancer study

Cancer is the main cause of mortality after COVID-19, reaching pandemicity and remains one of major public health concern. It is worthwhile to consider the perspectives of the renowned medical scholar, Avicenna and he is widely regarded as the prince of physicians. However not much recent paper discussed on his practice on treating cancer. The review's goal was to discuss the background of Avicenna's bibliography and history in cancer study. This review encompasses 25 literatures and begins with a description of his profile and attitude. It then explains his medical background and interests, with an emphasis on cancer research. His contribution and a major milestone in cancer research were described. It also explains in great depth his perspective on cancer research. His proposed and implemented cancer prevention and treatment are listed and advised in order to lessen the negative impacts of cancer. To conclude, early detection and preventative measures aid in the reduction of cancer progression. In addition, plant base and less irritant treatment as well as improving the diet help to reduce malignancy. This review might contribute to give an insight to improve the current cancer treatment by looking back into the perspective of great scholar in medical field

Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist has fostered safe practice for 10 years, yet its place in emergency surgery has not been assessed on a global scale. The aim of this study was to evaluate reported checklist use in emergency settings and examine the relationship with perioperative mortality in patients who had emergency laparotomy. Methods In two multinational cohort studies, adults undergoing emergency laparotomy were compared with those having elective gastrointestinal surgery. Relationships between reported checklist use and mortality were determined using multivariable logistic regression and bootstrapped simulation. Results Of 12 296 patients included from 76 countries, 4843 underwent emergency laparotomy. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, checklist use before emergency laparotomy was more common in countries with a high Human Development Index (HDI) (2455 of 2741, 89.6 per cent) compared with that in countries with a middle (753 of 1242, 60.6 per cent; odds ratio (OR) 0.17, 95 per cent c.i. 0.14 to 0.21, P <0001) or low (363 of 860, 422 per cent; OR 008, 007 to 010, P <0.001) HDI. Checklist use was less common in elective surgery than for emergency laparotomy in high-HDI countries (risk difference -94 (95 per cent c.i. -11.9 to -6.9) per cent; P <0001), but the relationship was reversed in low-HDI countries (+121 (+7.0 to +173) per cent; P <0001). In multivariable models, checklist use was associated with a lower 30-day perioperative mortality (OR 0.60, 0.50 to 073; P <0.001). The greatest absolute benefit was seen for emergency surgery in low- and middle-HDI countries. Conclusion Checklist use in emergency laparotomy was associated with a significantly lower perioperative mortality rate. Checklist use in low-HDI countries was half that in high-HDI countries.Peer reviewe

Global variation in anastomosis and end colostomy formation following left-sided colorectal resection

Background End colostomy rates following colorectal resection vary across institutions in high-income settings, being influenced by patient, disease, surgeon and system factors. This study aimed to assess global variation in end colostomy rates after left-sided colorectal resection. Methods This study comprised an analysis of GlobalSurg-1 and -2 international, prospective, observational cohort studies (2014, 2016), including consecutive adult patients undergoing elective or emergency left-sided colorectal resection within discrete 2-week windows. Countries were grouped into high-, middle- and low-income tertiles according to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Factors associated with colostomy formation versus primary anastomosis were explored using a multilevel, multivariable logistic regression model. Results In total, 1635 patients from 242 hospitals in 57 countries undergoing left-sided colorectal resection were included: 113 (6·9 per cent) from low-HDI, 254 (15·5 per cent) from middle-HDI and 1268 (77·6 per cent) from high-HDI countries. There was a higher proportion of patients with perforated disease (57·5, 40·9 and 35·4 per cent; P < 0·001) and subsequent use of end colostomy (52·2, 24·8 and 18·9 per cent; P < 0·001) in low- compared with middle- and high-HDI settings. The association with colostomy use in low-HDI settings persisted (odds ratio (OR) 3·20, 95 per cent c.i. 1·35 to 7·57; P = 0·008) after risk adjustment for malignant disease (OR 2·34, 1·65 to 3·32; P < 0·001), emergency surgery (OR 4·08, 2·73 to 6·10; P < 0·001), time to operation at least 48 h (OR 1·99, 1·28 to 3·09; P = 0·002) and disease perforation (OR 4·00, 2·81 to 5·69; P < 0·001). Conclusion Global differences existed in the proportion of patients receiving end stomas after left-sided colorectal resection based on income, which went beyond case mix alone

Site-directed mutagenesis on plasmid using polymerase chain reaction

Site-directed mutagenesis (SDM) is a very useful technique to study changes in protein function that may occur as a result of the DNA manipulation. A detail procedure to employ SDM on whole plasmid using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with successful application of the method on a pET28a plasmid harboring an endoglucanase I gene from Fusarium oxysporum is described here

Structural basis of laminin binding to the LARGE glycans on dystroglycan

Dystroglycan is a highly glycosylated extracellular matrix receptor with essential functions in skeletal muscle and the nervous system. Reduced matrix binding by α-dystroglycan (α-DG) due to perturbed glycosylation is a pathological feature of several forms of muscular dystrophy. Like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (LARGE) synthesizes the matrix-binding heteropolysaccharide [-glucuronic acid-β1,3-xylose- α1,3-]n. Using a dual exoglycosidase digestion, we confirm that this polysaccharide is present on native α-DG from skeletal muscle. The atomic details of matrix binding were revealed by a high-resolution crystal structure of laminin G-like (LG) domains 4-5 of laminin α2 bound to a LARGE-synthesized oligosaccharide. A single glucuronic acid- β1,3-xylose disaccharide repeat straddles a Ca2+ ion in the LG4 domain, with oxygen atoms from both sugars replacing Ca2+-bound water molecules. The chelating binding mode accounts for the high affinity of this protein-carbohydrate interaction. These results reveal a novel mechanism of carbohydrate recognition and provide a structural framework for elucidating the mechanisms underlying muscular dystrophy