Comparative micromorphology of the seed surface of Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) and allied species

The seed surface microstructure of Solanum melongena L., S. incanum L. and some other species were examined using SEM. Seeds were given enzyme (Driselase) etching treatment prior to examination to sweep off the outer layer of cells which obscured observation. Most seeds were characterised by hair-like structures or fibrils which surrounded each cell and which are strands of thickening in the lateral walls of the outer epidermal cells of the testa. Seed coat structure of S. melongena and S. incanum was found to be highly uniform in the samples examined indicating a close relationship between them. The seed coat patterns of S. torvum Sw., S. tomentosum L., S. aethiopicum L., S. kwebense Br. and Wr. and S. cinereum R.Br. were considerably different not only from S. melongena and S. incanum but also between themselves which supports the distinctness of these taxa

3D Woven Composites: From Weaving to Manufacturing

Manufacturing near-net shape preforms of fibre-reinforced composites has received growing interest from industry. Traditionally, a preform was made from 2D fabrics, but recently, it has been shown that 3D textiles can be used with success; with weaving being the predominant technology for carbon fibre composites. In 3D weaving, weft, warp and binder fibres run across, along and through the fabrics in the X, Y and Z directions, respectively. Producing a unitised single-piece fabric and subsequently reducing the takt time required for rapid composite manufacturing are two of the main advantages of using 3D woven preforms. Weaving of 3D fabrics, manufacturing of 3D composites, physical characterisation and mechanical testing of infused composites samples are discussed in this chapter. Finally, a large automotive composite made of single-piece 3D woven preform was manufactured and presented for demonstration

Association Between Khat (Catha edulis) Chewing and Infection with Helicobacter pylori: A Case Control Study in Nairobi County

Background: Khat (Catha edulis) is a psycho-stimulant substance grown and widely chewed in East Africa. The use of Khat leads to a number of health complications however its adverse effects and prevalence are not well studied.Objective: To compare the prevalence of Khat chewing among H. Pylori infected cases and controls.Design: Individual matched case control studySetting: KEMRI’s Centre for Clinical Research (CCR) and St. Michael’s Digestive Disease and Medical Care.Subjects: Ninety three cases were selected using Rome III criteria for functional dyspepsia, and the controls (n=93) were matched on age and gender.Results: Khat Chewing was associated with infection with H. Pylori. Of the 93 cases, 58.1% were H. Pylori positive with a majority being Khat chewers 67.2% (41/61) and 32.8% (20/61) non-Khat chewers; the two groups were significantly different (p-value=0.007). Functional dyspepsia was associated with H. Pylori. Therefore, participants with functional dyspepsia were twice more likely of being diagnosed with H. Pylori (OR 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2,3.9).Conclusion: The prevalence of H. Pylori infection was found to be higher among khat chewers, indicating that Khat chewing could be a predisposing factor to H. Pylori infection and to gastrointestinal disorders. Community-based awareness creation about the adverse effect of Khat use is thus recommended

Khat (Catha edulis) Use is Associated with the Development of Gastritis among Adults in Nairobi County, Kenya

Background: Khat (Catha edulis) chewing leads to a number of health related problems in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). Few studies have examined the effects of regular Khat chewing in relation to gastritis. Experimental studies with animals have shown that an association exists between Khat chewing and the incidence of gastritis.Objective: To compare the prevalence of Khat chewing among cases with gastritis cases and cases without gastritis.Design: Individual matched case control study.Setting: Kenya Medical Research Institute's Centre for Clinical Research (CCR) and St. Michael’s Digestive Disease and Medical Care.Subjects: Ninety three cases were selected using Rome III criteria for functional dyspepsia, and the controls (n=93) were matched on age and gender.Results: Among the 93 dyspepsia cases, 64.5% were Khat chewers and 35.5% were nonchewers. Khat chewing was associated with the presence of functional dyspepsia (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.6- 9.4). Of the 60 Khat chewers, 60% (36/60) had erosions in the upper GIT. Chewing Khat was associated with upper GIT erosions (OR 4.095% CI: 1.6, 10.1) It was determined that Khat chewers are four times more likely to have upper GIT erosions than non-chewers.. Khat chewers are 5.5 times (OR 5.5 95% CI: 1.9, 22.0)) more likely to have OGD (Oesophagitis, Gastritis and Duodenitis) compared to non-chewers. Among cases and controls, smoker  (p-value<0.001) and non-smoker (p-value<0.001) Khat chewers were significantly different. The prevalence of H. pylori among Khat chewers was significantly found to be higher (62.9%, p = 0.042); the two groups (Khatchewers and non-chewers) showed significant differenceConclusion: These results reveal that regular Khat chewing is positively associated with gastritis, which is consistent with previous experimental studies on animals

Towards Standardized, Safe and Efficacious Screening Approaches to Patients with Lower Extremity Peripheral Arterial Disease in the setting of Lower Extremity Arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) impedes recovery from lower extremity arthroplasties (LEA) and increases risk of complications/mortality, yet there aren’t standards for screening PAD patients pre-LEA. This review proposes some. METHODS: This review searched databases for articles containing relevant terms. Non-English articles, those unrelated to LEA, and duplicates were excluded. Articles were cross-referenced to find other relevant papers for a total of 111. RESULTS: Up to 49.2% of PAD patients have CAD. Wagner grade III/IV ulcers increase amputations and decrease wound closures. The Wound, Ischemia, and Foot Infection (WIfI) system provides more accurate, and therefore actionable, assessment. Overlooking PAD in surgery patients is linked to sequelae from tourniquets. Arterial calcification increases risk of perioperative blood loss from vascular compression, anemia, and critical limb ischemia. Compounding risk factors for PAD (diabetes, smoking, etc.) increase likelihood of future PAD diagnosis. If SBP\u3e180 or DBP\u3e110 mmHg, forgo elective surgery. Non-cardiac surgery patients with hypertension should receive a beta-blocker one day pre-surgery and perioperatively. Smoking cessation four weeks preoperatively and abstinence four weeks postoperatively may halve wound complications. Absent/asymmetrical pulses should prompt vascular referral pre-LEA. ABI may be falsely normal in asymptomatics with moderate aortoiliac stenosis. Risk of hematoma formation and LEA infection suggests waiting one year while continuing antiplatelet therapy. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Adequate blood flow is imperative peri- and postoperatively for optimal healing from LEA. Before orthopedic surgery, we suggest meticulous history and assessment to identify PAD risk factors and determine tolerance for surgical intervention. Patients should be stratified for amputation risk and revascularization benefit using the WIfI system. ABI should be performed to assess severity of vascular stenosis. Patients \u3c0.9 should receive vascular consultation, then reassessment. These recommendations could help clinicians assign vascular intervention pre-LEA, minimize complications/reoperations, truncate spending, and improve patient satisfaction/well-being

Modelling Machining-induced Residual Stresses after Laser-assisted Turning of Steels

Abstract. The current study examines the effects of laser assistance on machining-induced residual stresses (RS), using finite element modelling, during turning of AISI 4340 steel at different feed rates. Dry orthogonal cutting was modelled, along with the pre-heating effect of the laser beam. Laser-assisted machining (LAM) resulted in higher surface tensile RS compared to conventional machining, with more pronounced effects at lower feed rates. This is basically because the assisted material experienced higher plastic deformation, due to thermal softening, as well as higher temperatures, which are both attributed to the pre-heating effect of LAM

Aprepitant, An Antiemetic Agent, Interferes with Metal Ion Homeostasis of Candida Auris and Displays Potent Synergistic Interactions With Azole Drugs

With the rapid increase in the frequency of azole-resistant species, combination therapy appears to be a promising tool to augment the antifungal activity of azole drugs against resistant Candida species. Here, we report the effect of aprepitant, an antiemetic agent, on the antifungal activities of azole drugs against the multidrug-resistant Candida auris. Aprepitant reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of itraconazole in vitro, by up to eight-folds. Additionally, the aprepitant/itraconazole combination interfered significantly with the biofilm-forming ability of C. auris by 95 ± 0.13%, and significantly disrupted mature biofilms by 52 ± 0.83%, relative to the untreated control. In a Caenorhabditis elegans infection model, the aprepitant/itraconazole combination significantly prolonged the survival of infected nematodes by ~90% (five days postinfection) and reduced the fungal burden by ~92% relative to the untreated control. Further, this novel drug combination displayed broad-spectrum synergistic interactions against other medically important Candida species such as C. albicans, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis (ƩFICI ranged from 0.08 to 0.31). Comparative transcriptomic profiling and mechanistic studies indicated aprepitant/itraconazole interferes significantly with metal ion homeostasis and compromises the ROS detoxification ability of C. auris. This study presents aprepitant as a novel, potent, and broadspectrum azole chemosensitizing agent that warrants further investigation

Immunomodulation by Mesenchymal Stem Cells A Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Type 1 Diabetes

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent stromal cells that have the potential to give rise to cells of diverse lineages. Interestingly, MSCs can be found in virtually all postnatal tissues. The main criteria currently used to characterize and identify these cells are the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into tissues of mesodermal origin, combined with a lack in expression of certain hematopoietic molecules. Because of their developmental plasticity, the notion of MSC-based therapeutic intervention has become an emerging strategy for the replacement of injured tissues. MSCs have also been noted to possess the ability to impart profound immunomodulatory effects in vivo. Indeed, some of the initial observations regarding MSC protection from tissue injury once thought mediated by tissue regeneration may, in reality, result from immunomodulation. Whereas the exact mechanisms underlying the immunomodulatory functions of MSC remain largely unknown, these cells have been exploited in a variety of clinical trials aimed at reducing the burden of immune-mediated disease. This article focuses on recent advances that have broadened our understanding of the immunomodulatory properties of MSC and provides insight as to their potential for clinical use as a cell-based therapy for immune-mediated disorders and, in particular, type 1 diabetes