Assessment of Copper Total Bioaccumulation and Genotoxicity in Boac River, Marinduque Island, Philippines Two Decades Post-Mining Disaster: Pseudodon sp. as Aquatic Fauna Indicator

In 1996, a mining drainage tunnel burst and released copper wastes into the Boac River—rendering it dead. Two decades after the disaster, the river is now used for aquaculture farming. This study assessed the total bioaccumulation of copper and its genotoxicity in the mussel Pseudodon sp. farmed in the river. A total of 30 Pseudodon sp. were collected randomly from the downstream tributaries of the river in September 2015. Total bioaccumulation in terms of total copper concentrations was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and the genotoxicity by micronucleus cytome assay. The total copper concentrations were present in the soft tissues (Mean + Standard Error of the Mean [SEM] of 0.0550 + 0.0003 ppm). Genotoxic indicators of nuclear alterations showed the formation of micronuclei yielding the highest frequency (Mean + SEM of 10.257 + 0.793 per 1000 cells). Binucleated, nuclear buds, agranular, apoptotic, and necrotic nuclear anomalies were likewise evident. Total copper concentrations and the frequency of the hemocyte micronuclei occurrences showed a significant relationship (r=0.366; p = 0.047) while the other nuclear abnormalities were not significantly related to the total copper concentrations. Continuous biomonitoring of mining-affected areas is necessary to safeguard people’s health from the effects of mining wastes. Keywords: bioaccumulation · copper · energy use · genotoxicity · heavy metal · mining · nuclear abnormalitie

Quetiapine augmentation of SRIs in treatment refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study [ISRCTN83050762]

BACKGROUND: Although serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective in the treatment of OCD, many patients fail to respond to these agents. Growing evidence from open-label and placebo-controlled trials suggests a role for augmentation of SRIs with atypical antipsychotics in OCD. Quetiapine is generally well tolerated and previous open-label data has produced mixed results in OCD and additional controlled data is needed. METHODS: We undertook a double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, flexible-dose, placebo-controlled study of quetiapine augmentation in subjects who had responded inadequately to open-label treatment with an SRI for 12 weeks. Following informed consent and screening, forty-two subjects were randomised to either placebo or quetiapine for six weeks. RESULTS: There was significant improvement from baseline to endpoint on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale in both the quetiapine and placebo groups (quetiapine, n = 20, p < 0.0001; placebo, n = 21, p = 0.001) with 40% (n = 8) of quetiapine and 47.6% (n = 10) of placebo treated subjects being classified as responders. Quetiapine did not demonstrate a significant benefit over placebo at the end of the six-week treatment period (p = .636). Similarly quetiapine failed to separate from placebo in the subgroup of subjects (n = 10) with co-morbid tics. Quetiapine was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, quetiapine augmentation was no more effective than placebo augmentation of SRIs. A number of limitations in study design make comparisons with previous studies in this area difficult and probably contributed to our negative findings. Future work in this important clinical area should address these limitations

Antimicrobial activity of two South African honeys produced from indigenous Leucospermum cordifolium and Erica species on selected micro-organisms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Honey has been shown to have wound healing properties which can be ascribed to its antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity can be effective against a broad spectrum of bacterial species especially those of medical importance. It has also been shown that there is considerable variation in the antimicrobial potency of different types of honey, which is impossible to predict. With this in mind we tested the antimicrobial activity of honeys produced from plants grown in South Africa for their antibacterial properties on selected standard strains of oral micro-organisms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The honeys used were produced from the blossoms of <it>Eucalyptus cladocalyx </it>(Bluegum) trees, an indigenous South African plant <it>Leucospermum cordifolium </it>(Pincushion), a mixture of wild heather shrubs, mainly <it>Erica </it>species (Fynbos) and a <it>Leptospermum scoparium </it>(Manuka) honey. Only pure honey which had not been heated was used. The honeys were tested for their antimicrobial properties with a broth dilution method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although the honeys produced some inhibitory effect on the growth of the micro-organisms, no exceptionally high activity occurred in the South African honeys. The carbohydrate concentration plays a key role in the antimicrobial activity of the honeys above 25%. However, these honeys do contain other antimicrobial properties that are effective against certain bacterial species at concentrations well below the hypertonic sugar concentration. The yeast <it>C. albicans </it>was more resistant to the honeys than the bacteria. The species <it>S. anginosus </it>and <it>S. oralis </it>were more sensitive to the honeys than the other test bacteria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The honeys produced from indigenous wild flowers from South Africa had no exceptionally high activity that could afford medical grade status.</p

Two Major Medicinal Honeys Have Different Mechanisms of Bactericidal Activity

Honey is increasingly valued for its antibacterial activity, but knowledge regarding the mechanism of action is still incomplete. We assessed the bactericidal activity and mechanism of action of Revamil® source (RS) honey and manuka honey, the sources of two major medical-grade honeys. RS honey killed Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa within 2 hours, whereas manuka honey had such rapid activity only against B. subtilis. After 24 hours of incubation, both honeys killed all tested bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but manuka honey retained activity up to higher dilutions than RS honey. Bee defensin-1 and H2O2 were the major factors involved in rapid bactericidal activity of RS honey. These factors were absent in manuka honey, but this honey contained 44-fold higher concentrations of methylglyoxal than RS honey. Methylglyoxal was a major bactericidal factor in manuka honey, but after neutralization of this compound manuka honey retained bactericidal activity due to several unknown factors. RS and manuka honey have highly distinct compositions of bactericidal factors, resulting in large differences in bactericidal activity

Advances in quantum metrology

The statistical error in any estimation can be reduced by repeating the measurement and averaging the results. The central limit theorem implies that the reduction is proportional to the square root of the number of repetitions. Quantum metrology is the use of quantum techniques such as entanglement to yield higher statistical precision than purely classical approaches. In this Review, we analyse some of the most promising recent developments of this research field and point out some of the new experiments. We then look at one of the major new trends of the field: analyses of the effects of noise and experimental imperfections

Quasi-constructivist based approach: Effects on student\u27s achievement in and attitude towards mathematics

This study determines the effects of quasi-constructivist based approach on the achievement in and attitudes towards mathematics of freshmen college students.The study was conducted between two intact classes in trigonometry, one each from Mindanao State University-General Santos City and Notre Dame of Dadiangas College. The experimental group (MSU-GSC) used the quasi-constructivist based approach, while the control group (NDDC) used the traditional method of teaching. The researcher taught both classed for eight weeks. Both groups were given pretests and posttests to infer if there was any significant difference in their achievement. Similarly, a Mathematics Attitude Scale was given before and after the experiment to determine if there was any significant change in their attitudes. Journals were also written by the experimental group after each class session to resolve if there was a resultant change in their perception towards mathematics after the experiment. Teacher observers were allowed to visit each class to check if the researcher was impartial in handling both classes.Using alpha = 0.05, the following statistical treatments were used: t-test for dependent samples, t-test for independent samples, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with the pretest as the covariate. The use of the quasi-constructivist based approach had a significant effect on the students\u27 achievement based on the achievement test scores after partialling out initial differences due to the covariate. It also has a significant effect on the students\u27 attitudes towards mathematics. Similarly, the traditional method of teaching had a significant effect on the attitude. However, the improvement in the attitude of the experimental group did not differ significantly with that of the control group. With respect to perception towards mathematics, the experimental group showed improvement after using the quasi-constructivist based approach.It can be concluded that the quasi-constructivist based approach is more effective than the traditional method of teaching mathematics. It can also be concluded that although the quasi-constructivist based approach has a significant effect on the attitude of the students towards mathematics, this effect is just the same when the traditional method of instruction is used. Lastly, the quasi-constructivist based approach has improved the perception of the students of mathematics

2000 national book awards

DLSU Fellows Dr. Ma. Lourdes Bautista and Dr. Clodualdo del Mundo, Jr. won in the 2000 National Book Awards given by the Manila Critics Circle during the 12th Philippine Book Fair. Bautista wrote Defining Standard Philippine English: Its Status and Grammatical Features while del Mundo\u27s book was titled Bayaning 3rd World/Jose Rizal, co-authored with Mike de Leon