Observations on the Pearl Oyster Fishery of Kuwait

The pearl oyster fishery of Kuwait was monitored daily from January 1989 to May 1990. Landings of pearl oysters in 1989 totaled 287 tons with a market value of U.S. $1.0 million. Commercial pearls (\u3e3 mm) were estimated to be present in one of every 4200 oysters. Most of the pearl oysters landed were new recruits with hinge lengths between 40-56 mm. There was a curvilinear relationship between total weight and size of oysters (length) and the sex ratio approached 1:1. Spawning occurs throughout the year, with a spat settlement peak in early fall. Over the size range examined there was no relationship between the size of oysters and the size of pearls and subsequent resource management strategies are discussed

Clinical Pathway and Monthly Feedback Improve Adherence to Antibiotic Guideline Recommendations for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Background: Compliance with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) guidelines remains poor despite a substantial body of evidence indicating that guideline-concordant care improves patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of a general educational and a targeted emergency department intervention on improving physicians’ concordance with CAP guidelines. Methods: Two distinct interventions were implemented over specific time periods. The first intervention was educational, focusing on the development of local CAP guidelines and their dissemination through hospital-wide educational programmes. The second intervention was a targeted one for the emergency department, where a clinical pathway for the initial management of CAP patients was introduced, followed by monthly feedback to the emergency department (ED) physicians about concordance rates with the guidelines. Data on the concordance rate to CAP guidelines was collected from a retrospective chart review. Results: A total of 398 eligible patient records were reviewed to measure concordance to CAP guidelines over the study period. Concordance rates during the baseline and educational intervention periods were similar (28.1% vs. 31.2%; p > 0.05). Significantly more patients were treated in accordance with the CAP guidelines after the ED focused intervention when compared to the baseline (61.5% vs. 28.1%; p < 0.05) or educational period (61.5% vs. 31.2%; p < 0.05). Conclusions: A targeted intervention with a CAP clinical pathway and monthly feedback was a successful strategy to increase adherence to empirical antibiotic recommendations in CAP guidelines

Gamma-Ray Protection Properties of Bismuth-Silicate Glasses Against Some Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Radioisotopes: A Comprehensive Study

This study aimed to perform an investigation for the potential implementation of bismuth silicate glasses as novel shield equipment instead of ordinary shields in nuclear medicine facilities. Accordingly, a group of Bi2O3 reinforced silicate glass system were investigated and compared with ordinary shields in terms of their gamma-ray attenuation properties in diagnostic nuclear medicine radioisotope energies emitted from99mTc,111 In,67Ga,123 I,131 I,81mKr,201Tl,133Xe. Mass attenuation coefficient (µm) results for glass samples were calculated comparatively with the XCOM program and MCNPX code. The gamma-ray attenuation parameters such as half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Zeff ) were obtained in the diagnostic gamma ray energy range from 75 to 336 keV. To confirm the attenuation performance of superior sample, obtained results were extensively compared with ordinary shielding materials. According to the results obtained, BISI6 glass sample with the highest Bi2O3 additive has an excellent gamma-ray protection. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Funding: This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program

Cladosporium cladosporioides from the perspectives of medical and biotechnological approaches

Fungi are important natural product sources that have enormous potential for the production of novel compounds for use in pharmacology, agricultural applications and industry. Compared with other natural sources such as plants, fungi are highly diverse but understudied. However, research on Cladosporium cladosporioides revealed the existence of bioactive products such as p-methylbenzoic acid, ergosterol peroxide (EP) and calphostin C as well as enzymes including pectin methylesterase (PME), polygalacturonase (PG) and chlorpyrifos hydrolase. p-Methylbenzoic acid has ability to synthesise 1,5-benzodiazepine and its derivatives, polyethylene terephthalate and eicosapentaenoic acid. EP has anticancer, antiangiogenic, antibacterial, anti-oxidative and immunosuppressive properties. Calphostin C inhibits protein kinase C (PKC) by inactivating both PKC-epsilon and PKC-alpha. In addition, calphostin C stimulates apoptosis in WEHI-231 cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Based on the stimulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in some types of cancer, calphostin C has also been evaluated as a potential photodynamic therapeutic agent. Methylesterase (PME) and PG have garnered attention because of their usage in the food processing industry and significant physiological function in plants. Chlorpyrifos, a human, animal and plant toxin, can be degraded and eliminated by chlorpyrifos hydrolase. © 2015, The Author(s)

Preliminary Phylogenetic Analysis of Thermophilic Bacteria Producing Protease isolated from Kuantan Malaysia

Thermophilic bacteria grow in relatively high temperature between 50 to 60°C. These organisms can produce specific enzymes that have been used in industrial and biotechnological applications. The basic method to derive a sequence for a uncultured bacteria is to use universal primers against the 16S rRNA gene region in a PCR step to increase the amount of DNA and then to sequence the amplicon. This study was carried out to screen the ability of thermophilic bacterial isolates for degrading protein by protease and to identify the most potent isolates using molecular techniques inferred by 16S rRNA gene. We are dependent on accurate sequences in databases, appropriate names associated with those sequences, and an accurate sequence for the isolate to be identified. Thirty seven bacterial isolates were cultured and characterized using nutrient casein plate method. Twenty out of thirty seven bacterial isolates have been recognized to be positive for casein test and selected for Gram staining method. Total DNA genomic were extracted by using I-genomic DNA Extraction Mini Kit, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) operation assay was performed for appropriate target isolates. The phylogenetic analysis of these strains revealed that the genus of Bacillus is the most closely matched to the data from the GenBank. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus sp, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus licheniformis were identified as species for the potential bacterial isolates. Two samples which are RSS6 and JF OUTER 2B have not been characterized through the phylogenetic tree. This might refer to either rare or new bacteria

Chemotherapeutic agents: Taxol and vincristine isolated from endophytic fungi

Endophytic fungi are abundant and have been found asymptomatically in most plants species. Endophytic fungi are considered as hidden members of the microbial world and represent an under-utilized resource of natural bioactive compounds for agricultural, industrial and medicinal uses. As reported previously, several valuable natural products with anticancer, antimicrobial, and insecticidal properties have been successfully extracted from the endophytic fungi. Chemotherapy yields the first promise of destroying cancer cells that has distributed into the body. This is due to the fact that chemotherapeutic agents overlap with the process of dividing cancer cells, which in turn leads to establishing new cells. Vincristine (vinca alkaloids) and podophyllotoxin prohibit the microtubules polymerization at high drug concentrations whereas Taxol™ and Taxotere stimulate the microtubules polymerization and stabilize the microtubules as well at high concentrations. In This review, we critically attempt to summarize the mechanisms of the cancer chemotherapeutic drugs, namely, Taxol and Vincristine (vinca alkaloids) on the need for more the research in the field of cancer chemotherapy

Therapeutic potential of N-acetylcysteine for wound healing, acute bronchiolitis, and congenital heart defects

PubMedID: 26651980Background: Wound healing is a composite and vital process in which devitalized tissue layers and cellular structures repair themselves. Bronchiolitis is generally prompted by respiratory syncytial virus or human metapneumovirus; this condition is an acute inflammatory injury of bronchioles. Heart problems that develop before birth are known as congenital heart defects (CHDs), and pregestational diabetes is considered a major predisposing factor of CHDs. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is a transformed kind of amino acid cysteine which restores the intracellular levels of the natural antioxidant glutathione when taken internally, thereby assisting the cells' ability to diminish the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Objective: In the present communication, NAC's therapeutic potential for wound healing, acute bronchiolitis, and congenital heart defects (CHDs) is critically analyzed by reviewing its effect on the various targets of these diseases. The multifunctional nature of NAC is outlined in a review of evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies. Conclusion: In conclusion, NAC could be used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of wound healing, acute bronchiolitis and congenital heart defects (CHDs). The focus of future research should be the following; (1) to examine NAC clinically to be considered in the treatment of wound healing; (2) to investigate whether NAC could be used alone or with insulin to prevent CHDs in infants with pregestational diabetes; (3) to evaluate the application of NAC as a potential agent for PAH treatment. © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers

How does Alternaria alternata-derived alternariol affect our health?

Mycotoxins are chemical compounds produced by pathogenic molds that are toxic and cause diseases such as cancer and immune suppression. Alternariol (AOH), is well reported a type of mycotoxin, which is produced by Alternaria species. It is widely distributed in cereal based foods and fruits. Environmental conditions related to storage of food and cereals are main factors that are responsible for the presence of mycotoxins. Besides temperate zones, mycotoxins are frequently found in hot and humid areas that are more favourable for the growth of mold species. Generally, mycotoxins are directly ingested in the body but sometimes spore inhalation or skin contact can also be a route. Mycotoxicoses are disorders which are caused by the exposure to mycotoxins. It is difficult to control intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as strain variation, fungal strain specificity, instability of toxigenic properties. As mycotoxins have ability to induce DNA damage, modulate antioxidant capacity and mitigate macrophage phenotype and inflammatory responses, therefore, they pose acute effects on humans. Although efforts have been carried out internationally to control mycotoxins, practical measures are yet to be executed. Taken together, this communication highlights and showcases the toxicological impacts of Alternariol secreted by Alternaria alternata on the human health. © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers

Spawning and fecundity of <i>Sardinella fimbriata</i> (Val.) in Kuwaiti waters of the Arabian Gulf

39-41Based on gonadosomatic index and ova diameter measurements, spawning was found to occur from March through August with a peak in April and May. Fecundity ranged from 3,038 to 40,488 ova. Mean relative fecundity was 592 ova. g-1 fish. Because of small size range of specimens no relation was found between fecundity and length or body weight. Based on ova measurements, it is suggested that individual S. fimbriata has one long spawning season in Kuwaiti waters