Disruption of a putative mitochondrial oxaloacetate shuttle protein in Aspergillus carbonarius results in secretion of malic acid at the expense of citric acid production

FWN – Publicaties zonder aanstelling Universiteit Leide

Metabolic engineering with ATP-citrate lyase and nitrogen source supplementation improves itaconic acid production in Aspergillus niger

FWN – Publicaties zonder aanstelling Universiteit Leide

Individual-level preventive measures during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic among Bangladeshi residents

COVID-19 causes mild to severe respiratory illness in humans. Government and non-government authorities along with telecommunication, print and electronic media undertook extensive advertising campaign regarding protective measures against COVID-19 to raise the public awareness. Therefore, this web-based cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate peoples' responses towards COVID-19 during the first wave of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to estimate the association between demographic characteristics, awareness, and individual preventive measures. The overall awareness level of the majority of the respondents (89%, n=920) was good, but the overall score for individual-level preventive measures during lockdown was poor to moderate. The relation between a good level of awareness and a higher level of educational status was found statistically significant (aOR 5.87, 95% CI: 1.58-21.86). Service holders were two times more likely to follow COVID-19 prevention practices than students (aOR 2.08, 95% CI: 1.24-3.51). Despite having adequate knowledge on awareness, many respondents were reluctant to follow preventive measures during the lockdown. The outcomes of this study highlight the requirement for stringent execution of preventative measures by law enforcement agencies to stop the transmission of the COVID-19 virus

Pharmacological Evaluation of Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn Fruits for Central Nervous System Depressant Activity

El objetivo de este estudio fue la investigación de las actividades ansiolíticas y sedantes de los extractos clorofórmicos y metabólicos de los frutos de Antidesma ghaesembilla a las dosis de 400 mg/kg pp utilizando modelos de comportamiento de roedores, tales como el tiempo de sueño inducido por tiopental sódico, el método de “hole cross” (cruce de un agujero) y el campo abierto para evaluar sedación, y la actividad ansiolítica fue evaluada utilizando el método del laberinto elevado (elevated plus maze, EPM). En el caso del sueño inducido por tiopental sódico, ambos extractos exhibieron una supresión dosis dependiente de la actividad motora, de la actividad exploratoria (en el método de campo abierto y “hole cross”) y prolongación del tiempo de inducción de sueño inducido por tiopental en ratones, con efectos máximos mostrados para el extracto metabólico. En el ensayo de EPM, el extracto metabólico aumentó significativamente el tiempo de exploración y el tiempo consumido en el laberinto de una manera similar al diazepam, pero el extracto clorofórmico se encontró que produjo solo una moderada actividad. Estos resultados significativos pueden justificar una base científica para el uso de plantas en medicina tradicional para tratar la ansiedad y desórdenes relacionados

Antidiarrheal Activity of Three Medicinal Plants in Swiss Albino Mice

Background: Different parts of Allamanda neriifolia (AN), Crinum latifolium (CL), and Bruguiera cylindrical (BC) are used in folk medicine to treat diarrhea. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate and compare possible antidiarrheal activity of methanol extracts from barks, stems, and roots of AL, CL, and BC in Swiss albino mice. Methods: Antidiarrheal activities of extracts were evaluated at three doses (100mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg) and compared with Loperamide in a castor oil-induced diarrhea and charcoal meal test model in the Swiss albino mice. Results: The aqueous extract of CL and BC administered at doses of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg showed 0%, 24.5%, 62.26% and 5.66%, 37.11%, and 62.26% diarrhea inhibition, respectively (Table 2). This reduction in diarrheal episodes is significant, and maximum effect was observed at the dose of 400mg/kg similarly in the alcohol extracts of both CL and BC. AN administered at the dose of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg showed 55.97%, 74.84% and 74.84% diarrhea inhibition, respectively. Conclusion: The antidiarrheal effect of the AN extract, in contrast to CL and BC, against the castor oil-induced diarrhea model prove its efficacy in an extensive range of diarrheal conditions

Metastatic Breast Cancer and Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Introduction: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis, which includes granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), are life-threatening vasculitis. Several studies reported that up to 8% of patients with a malignant disease had ANCA-associated vasculitis. Sixty three percent of malignancies associated with vasculitides, were hematologic in origin. In this report, we describe a rare case of a recurrent breast cancer and GPA in the same lung lesion. Case Report: A 66-year-old woman with a past medical history of scleroderma, inflammatory lung disease, and remote bilateral breast cancer status post bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy was admitted for lung biopsy. The patient developed flu-like symptoms and was started on oral antibiotics after she was seen in an urgent care clinic. Despite this, she developed worsening dyspnea and hemoptysis. Her outpatient CT chest showed multiple lung cavities with bilateral fibrotic changes. Her initial blood test was positive for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (CCP), and rheumatoid factor (RF). Because of this, she was admitted for a lung biopsy as a workup for vasculitis disease. Initially, the patient was isolated in a room with negative pressure to rule out tuberculosis (TB). Her QuantiFERON TB test and acid fast bacilli smears were negative. Later, a thoracic surgery team was consulted to perform lung biopsy through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Her lung biopsy revealed metastatic breast cancer that was positive for estrogen receptor, and a necrotizing granulomatous inflammation that was consistent with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) formerly known as Wegener \u27s disease. The oncology team recommended to start her on anastrozole as a treatment for breast cancer. The rheumatology team recommended a loading dose of intravascular methylprednisone and then a maintenance dose of oral prednisone. A permacath was placed in order to start outpatient rituximab infusion as a treatment for vasculitis. In addition, she was started on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis and advised to continued her home dose of mycophenolate mofetile for treatment of scleroderma. Discussion: There are two forms of vasculitis: primary and secondary. Secondary vasculitis has been linked to several processes, such as medications side effect, allergic reaction, rheumatologic and neoplastic disease. A close relationship between the diagnosis of malignancy and onset of vasculitis has been reported in a number of patients. Most vasculitides were cutaneous leukocytoclastic (45%) and polyarteritis nodosa (36%). The exact pathogenesis of malignancy-associated vasculitis is unclear. However, we hypothesize that the inflammatory responses provoked by the underlying neoplasm might contribute to the pathogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of recurrent breast cancer and development of GPA that may be representative of an association between the two condition. Clinicians must be aware of associations between various medical conditions as it most certainly changes the management. While we do not dispute that, our case may be just a co incidence of two medical conditions at once, we believe a very low incidence of GPA deserve a second look in finding an association with other medical conditions should one be present

Itaconic acid degradation in Aspergillus niger: the role of unexpected bioconversion pathways

Abstract Background Itaconic acid (IA), a C5-dicarboxylic acid, has previously been identified as one of the top twelve biochemicals that can be produced by biotechnological means. IA is naturally produced by Aspergillus terreus, however, heterologous production in the related species Aspergillus niger has been proposed earlier. Remarkably, we observed that during high producing conditions and elevated titers A. niger detoxifies the extracellular medium of IA. In order to determine the genes responsible for this decline in IA titers a transcriptome analysis was performed. Results Transcriptome analysis has led to the identification of two novel and previously unknown IA bioconversion pathways in A. niger. One pathway is proposed to convert IA into pyruvate and acetyl-CoA through the action of itaconyl-CoA transferase (IctA), itaconyl-CoA hydratase (IchA) and citramalyl-CoA lyase, similar to the pathway identified in A. terreus. Another pathway putatively converts IA into 1-methyl itaconate through the action of trans-aconitate methyltransferase (TmtA). Upon deleting the key genes ictA and ichA we have observed increased IA production and titers and cessation of IA bioconversion. Surprisingly, deletion of tmtA lead to strong reduction of heterologous IA production. Conclusion Heterologous IA production in A. niger induces the expression of IA bioconversion pathways. These pathways can be inhibited by deleting the key genes ictA, ichA and tmtA. Deletion of ictA and ichA resulted in increased IA production. Deletion of tmtA, however, resulted in almost complete cessation of IA production

Body mass index of married Bangladeshi women: trends and association with socio-demographic factors

SummaryBody mass index (BMI) is a good indicator of nutritional status in a population. In underdeveloped countries like Bangladesh, this indicator provides a method that can assist intervention to help eradicate many preventable diseases. This study aimed to report on changes in the BMI of married Bangladeshi women who were born in the past three decades and its association with socio-demographic factors. Data for 10,115 married and currently non-pregnant Bangladeshi women were extracted from the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS). The age range of the sample was 15-49 years. The mean BMI was 20.85±3.66 kg/m2, and a decreasing tendency in BMI was found among birth year cohorts from 1972 to 1992. It was found that the proportion of underweight females has been increasing in those born during the last 20 years of the study period (1972 to 1992). Body mass index increased with increasing age, education level of the woman and her husband, wealth index, age at first marriage and age at first delivery, and decreased with increasing number of ever-born children. Lower BMI was especially pronounced among women who were living in rural areas, non-Muslims, employed women, women not living with their husbands (separated) or those who had delivered at home or non-Caesarean delivery

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ფოტო გადაღებულია სიმონეთშინინო გოცირიძე - ფილოლოგი; დავით ისლამოვი - სტომატოლოგ