An overview of the recent developments on fructooligosaccharide production and applications

Over the past years, many researchers have suggested that deficiencies in the diet can lead to disease states and that some diseases can be avoided through an adequate intake of relevant dietary components. Recently, a great interest in dietary modulation of the human gut has been registered. Prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS), play a key role in the improvement of gut microbiota balance and in individual health. FOS are generally used as components of functional foods, are generally regarded as safe (generally recognized as safe status—from the Food and Drug Administration, USA), and worth about 150€ per kilogram. Due to their nutrition- and health-relevant properties, such as moderate sweetness, low carcinogenicity, low calorimetric value, and low glycemic index, FOS have been increasingly used by the food industry. Conventionally, FOS are produced through a two-stage process that requires an enzyme production and purification step in order to proceed with the chemical reaction itself. Several studies have been conducted on the production of FOS, aiming its optimization toward the development of more efficient production processes and their potential as food ingredients. The improvement of FOS yield and productivity can be achieved by the use of different fermentative methods and different microbial sources of FOS producing enzymes and the optimization of nutritional and culture parameter; therefore, this review focuses on the latest progresses in FOS research such as its production, functional properties, and market data.Agencia de Inovacao (AdI)-Project BIOLIFE reference PRIME 03/347. Ana Dominguez acknowledges Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Portugal, for her PhD grant reference SFRH/BD/23083/2005

Genetic Basis of Myocarditis: Myth or Reality?

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Neuroprotective potential of Afzelin: A novel approach for alleviating catalepsy and modulating Bcl-2 expression in Parkinson's disease therapy

The lost dopaminergic neurons in the brain prevent mobility in Parkinson's disease (PD). It is impossible to stop the disease's progress by means of symptoms management. Research focuses on oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuronal degeneration. Exploration of potential neuroprotective drugs against prosurvival B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein is ongoing. An investigable cause behind PD, as well as preventive measures, could be discovered considering the association between such behavioural manifestations (cataleptic behaviours) and PD. The compound Afzelin, known to guard the nervous system, was chosen for this study. The study was done on rats divided into six different groups. First, there was a control group. The other group was treated with Reserpine (RES) (1 mg/kg). The third group received RES (1 mg/kg) and levodopa (30 mg/kg). The remaining three groups were given RES (1 mg/kg) in conjunction with Afzelin at the following doses: 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 20 mg/kg. Cataleptic behavior and mobility in rats was assessed using the rotarod, open field, and modified forced-swim tests. thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitric oxide (NO), biogenic amines, and Bcl-2 level in rat tissue homogenates were considered. According to the study's findings, the rats treated through co-administration of RES and Afzelin improved significantly in their cataleptic behaviours and locomotor activity. In addition, administering Afzelin itself caused Bcl-2 expression, which could have some neuroprotection properties. This study provides meaningful information on the effectiveness of Afzelin in handling catalepsy and other degenerative neurologic disorders. As a result, other studies need to be conducted to establish the reasons behind the reactions and determine the long-term effects of Afzelin on these conditions

Comparative study of subchronic toxicities of mosquito repellents (coils, mats and liquids) on vital organs in Swiss albino mice

The aim of the current study was to evaluate and compare the toxicities of different types of mosquito repellents i.e. coils, mats and liquid vapors in animal models. Different types of mosquito repellents including liquid vaporizers, coils and mats have been extensively used by the people to get protection from the mosquitoes and diseases associated with them. The active constituents of these repellents include; allethrins, pyrethrins, paraffin and various other derivatives, are well known for their toxicities. Exposure of albino mice to these repellents for 3 h per day over a period of 20 days produced significant toxicological effects on vital body organs including; liver, lungs, kidneys, brain and heart. The order of toxicity of different repellents on nervous and hepatic tissues was found to be: Coil > Liquid > Mat while in renal and cardiac tissues, the coil was again found to be the most toxic one, mat with medium toxicity whereas liquid as least toxic (Coil > Mat > liquid). Lungs tissues are almost equally affected by all the repellants. On the basis of current findings, it has been concluded that exposure to various types of mosquito repellents can be deleterious to health and can cause various health related issues by producing pathological changes in the vital organs. Keywords: Allethrin, Mosquito repellents, Subchronic toxicity, Vital organs, Mic

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Not AvailableCarbapenem is usually prescribed as a last resort of antibiotic for treating drug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, the rise in carbapenem resistance due to the emergence of Zn2+ dependent New Delhi metallo-β lactamase (NDM) variants imposes a huge threat to global health. In Indian context, focusing on molecular epidemiology and underpinning the genetic insights of such continuously evolving superbug is perquisite to guide any form of control strategies or therapeutic interventions. Herein, we investigated the occurrence of NDM variants in Escherichia coli (n = 70) isolated from clinical samples. PCR assay targeting blaNDM gene detected 5 E. coli isolates as NDM positive. Sequencing analyses of blaNDM region of the plasmid DNA determined two types of variants viz., NDM-1 (n = 3) and NDM-5 (n = 2). Notably, NDM-5 variants harbored V88L and M154L mutations, which are known to increase the fitness of NDM-5 variant towards host immune system and zinc starvation. On further characterization, three NDM variants showed the ESBL and AmpC βlactamase genes, along with 3 different plasmid replicon types (L/M, Y, FIC). Virulence profiling showed traT gene as the most predominant gene among the variants. The emergence of NDM variants especially NDM-5 like variants with critical mutations in enterobacteriaceae increases the significant menaces to the global healthcare. The fact that these NDM variants harboring other antibiotic resistance markers, along with plasmid replicons and virulence genes can be transmitted underlines the gravity of this public health issue.Not Availabl

Protective effects of two Astragalus species on ulcerative colitis in rats

WOS: 000386952600014Purpose: To investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of root extracts of Astragalus gummifera and Astragalus kurdicus, as well as their protective effects against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats. Methods: The roots of both species were shade-dried, pulverized to fine powder and extracted with 80 % ethanol. The extracts were lyophilized using freeze-dryer, and their anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated in rats by carrageenan-induced paw edema. In UC study, the extracts, at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, were given orally to rats for 5 days, with the last dose given 2 h prior to colitis induction. Histopathological studies were carried out on the colon tissues. Dexamethasone (DEX) was used as standard anti-inflammatory drug. Results: A. gummifera (400 mg/kg) and A. kurdicus (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly reduced carrageenan-induced edema, offered protection against UC and arrested UC-induced increases in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Histological examination of colon sections also revealed evidence of extract-induced protection from UC. Conclusion: These results suggest that A. gummifera and A. kurdicus root extracts have promising potential as sources of anti-inflammatory agents which may be useful in the treatment of UC