Ultrastructural changes of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) root colonized by Glomus mosseae and Ralstonia solanacearum

The colonization of plant root cell by mycorrhizal fungi is one of the mechanisms involved for the understanding of plant bio-protection against soil-borne pathogens. The aim of current study was to investigate and describe tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) root ultra-structural modifications caused by Glomus mosseae and the bacterial wilt Ralstonia solanacearum. In scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, the root cells presented several arbuscules and mature spores of G. mosseae. In transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, many entry points on the cell wall were detected in addition to nucleus, cell organs and many mitochondria. The results evidenced that the presence of G. mosseae can change the root architecture dramatically. R. solanacearum was inhibited by the endophytic fungi. G. mosseae structure can help the plant to prevent the pathogen bacterial invasion totally due to root architecture system changes.Key words: Mycorrhizal fungi, bacterial wilt, tomato, root cell, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy

Changes in the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and c-reactive protein following administration of aqueous extract of piper sarmentosum on experimental rabbits fed with cholesterol diet

Background: Inflammation process plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Piper sarmentosum (P.s) on inflammatory markers like vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods: Forty two male New Zealand white rabbits were divided equally into seven groups; (i) C-control group fed normal rabbit chow (ii) CH-cholesterol diet (1 cholesterol) (iii) X1-1 cholesterol with water extract of P.s (62.5 mg/kg) (iv) X2-1 cholesterol with water extract of P.s (125 mg/kg (v) X3-1 cholesterol with water extract of P.s (250 mg/kg) (vi) X4-1 cholesterol with water extract of P.s (500 mg/kg) and (vii) SMV group fed with 1 cholesterol supplemented with simvistatin drug (1.2 mg/kg). All animals were treated for 10 weeks. Blood serum was taken for observing the inflammatory markers at the beginning and end of the experiment. Results: Rabbits fed with 1 cholesterol diet (CH) showed significant increase in the level of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and CRP compared to the C group. The levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and CRP in the 1 cholesterol group and supplemented with P.s (500 mg/kg) were significantly reduced compared to the cholesterol group. Similar results were also reported with simvistatin group. Conclusion: These results suggest that the supplementation of Piper sarmentosum extract could inhibit inflammatory markers which in turn could prevent atherosclerosis

Aqueous extract of Piper sarmentosum decreases atherosclerotic lesions in high cholesterolemic experimental rabbits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Piper sarmentosum </it>(P.s) has flavonoid component in its leaves which has antioxidative effect. To date, its effect on atherosclerosis has not been studied histologically.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The study aimed to investigate the effect of <it>P.s </it>on atherosclerotic changes in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty two male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into seven groups. C - control group fed normal rabbit chow, CH - cholesterol diet (1% cholesterol), W1 - 1% cholesterol with water extract of <it>P.s </it>(62.5 mg/kg), W2 - 1% cholesterol with water extract of <it>P.s </it>(125 mg/kg), W3 - 1% cholesterol with water extract of <it>P.s </it>(250 mg/kg), W4 - 1% cholesterol with water extract of <it>P.s </it>(500 mg/kg) and Smv - 1% cholesterol supplemented with simvistatin drug (1.2 mg/kg). All rabbits were treated for 10 weeks. Following 10 weeks of supplementation, the animals were sacrificed and the aortic tissue was taken for histological study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Rabbits fed only with high cholesterol diet 1% cholesterol (CH) showed focal fatty streak lesions compared to the C group and 1% cholesterol supplemented with simvistatin drug (Smv) group. Atherosclerotic lesions in the 1% cholesterol group supplemented with <it>P.s </it>(500 mg/kg) i.e. W4 group showed significant reduction (30 ± 6.0%, p < 0.05) in fatty streak compared to the high cholesterol group (85.6 ± 4.1%) under Sudan IV stain. The atherosclerotic lesions under transmission electron microscope showed reduction in foam cells in the treatment groups compared to the CH groups.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Administration of <it>P.s </it>extract has protective effect against atheroscleros</p

Chaotic local search based algorithm for optimal DGPV allocation

The advent of advanced technology has led to the increase of electricity demand in most countries in the world. This phenomenon has made the power system network operate close to the stability limit. Therefore, the power utilities are looking forward to the solution to increase the loadability of the existing infrastructure. Integration of renewable energy into the grid such as Distributed Generation Photovoltaic (DGPV) can be one of the possible solutions. In this paper, Chaotic Mutation Immune Evolutionary Programming (CMIEP) algorithm is used as the optimization method while the chaotic mapping was employed in the local search for optimal location and sizing of DGPV. The chaotic local search has the capability of finding the best solution by increasing the possibility of exploring the global minima. The proposed technique was applied to the IEEE 30 Bus RTS with variation of load. The simulation results are compared with Evolutionary Programming (EP)  and it is found that CMIEP performed better in most of the cases

Data mining of the essential causes of different types of fatal construction accidents

Accident analysis is used to discover the causes of workplace injuries and devise methods for preventing them in the future. There has been little discussion in the previous studies of the specific elements contributing to deadly construction accidents. In contrast to previous studies, this study focuses on the causes of fatal construction accidents based on management factors, unsafe site conditions, and workers' unsafe actions. The association rule mining technique identifies the hidden patterns or knowledge between the root causes of fatal construction accidents, and one hundred meaningful association rules were extracted from the two hundred and fifty-three rules generated. It was discovered that many fatal construction accidents were caused by management factors, unsafe site circumstances, and risky worker behaviors. These analyses can be used to demonstrate plausible cause-and-effect correlations, assisting in building a safer working environment in the construction sector. The study findings can be used more efficiently to design effective inspection procedures and occupational safety initiatives. Finally, the proposed method should be tested in a broader range of construction situations and scenarios to ensure that it is as accurate as possible

Genetic diversity of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in imported and domestic camels in Saudi Arabia

Camels gained attention since the discovery of MERS-CoV as intermediary hosts for potentially epidemic zoonotic viruses. DcHEV is a novel zoonotic pathogen associated with camel contact. This study aimed to genetically characterize DcHEV in domestic and imported camels in Saudi Arabia. DcHEV was detected by RT-PCR in serum samples, PCR-positive samples were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. DcHEV was detected in 1.77% of samples with higher positivity in domestic DCs. All positive imported dromedaries were from Sudan with age declining prevalence. Domestic DcHEV sequences clustered with sequences from Kenya, Somalia, and UAE while imported sequences clustered with one DcHEV isolate from UAE and both sequences clustered away from isolates reported from Pakistan. Full-genome sequences showed 24 amino acid difference with reference sequences. Our results confirm the detection of DcHEV in domestic and imported DCs. Further investigations are needed in human and camel populations to identify DcHEV potential zoonosis threat

Avicenna and cancer study

Cancer is the main cause of mortality after COVID-19, reaching pandemicity and remains one of major public health concern. It is worthwhile to consider the perspectives of the renowned medical scholar, Avicenna and he is widely regarded as the prince of physicians. However not much recent paper discussed on his practice on treating cancer. The review's goal was to discuss the background of Avicenna's bibliography and history in cancer study. This review encompasses 25 literatures and begins with a description of his profile and attitude. It then explains his medical background and interests, with an emphasis on cancer research. His contribution and a major milestone in cancer research were described. It also explains in great depth his perspective on cancer research. His proposed and implemented cancer prevention and treatment are listed and advised in order to lessen the negative impacts of cancer. To conclude, early detection and preventative measures aid in the reduction of cancer progression. In addition, plant base and less irritant treatment as well as improving the diet help to reduce malignancy. This review might contribute to give an insight to improve the current cancer treatment by looking back into the perspective of great scholar in medical field

Suppression of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages infected with Leishmania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic inflammation activated by macrophage innate pathogen recognition receptors such as TLR4 can lead to a range of inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, Crohn's disease, arthritis and cancer. Unlike many microbes, the kinetoplastid protozoan pathogen <it>Leishmania </it>has been shown to avoid and even actively suppress host inflammatory cytokine responses, such as LPS-induced IL-12 production. The nature and scope of <it>Leishmania</it>-mediated inflammatory cytokine suppression, however, is not well characterized. Advancing our knowledge of such microbe-mediated cytokine suppression may provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We explored the kinetics of a range of cytokine and chemokine responses in primary murine macrophages stimulated with LPS in the presence versus absence of two clinically distinct species of <it>Leishmania </it>using sensitive multiplex cytokine analyses. To confirm that these effects were parasite-specific, we compared the effects of <it>Leishmania </it>uptake on LPS-induced cytokine expression with uptake of inert latex beads.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whilst <it>Leishmania </it>uptake alone did not induce significant levels of any cytokine analysed in this study, <it>Leishmania </it>uptake in the presence of LPS caused parasite-specific suppression of certain LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-12, IL-17 and IL-6. Interestingly, <it>L. amazonensis </it>was generally more suppressive than <it>L. major</it>. We also found that other LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1α, TNF-α and the chemokines MIP-1α and MCP-1 and also the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, were augmented during <it>Leishmania </it>uptake, in a parasite-specific manner.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>During uptake by macrophages, <it>Leishmania </it>evades the activation of a broad range of cytokines and chemokines. Further, in the presence of a strong inflammatory stimulus, <it>Leishmania </it>suppresses certain proinflammatory cytokine responses in a parasite-specific manner, however it augments the production of other proinflammatory cytokines. Our findings highlight the complexity of inflammatory cytokine signalling regulation in the context of the macrophage and <it>Leishmania </it>interaction and confirm the utility of the <it>Leishmania</it>/macrophage infection model as an experimental system for further studies of inflammatory regulation. Such studies may advance the development of therapies against inflammatory disease.</p

Social sciences research in neglected tropical diseases 2: A bibliographic analysis

The official published version of the article can be found at the link below.Background There are strong arguments for social science and interdisciplinary research in the neglected tropical diseases. These diseases represent a rich and dynamic interplay between vector, host, and pathogen which occurs within social, physical and biological contexts. The overwhelming sense, however, is that neglected tropical diseases research is a biomedical endeavour largely excluding the social sciences. The purpose of this review is to provide a baseline for discussing the quantum and nature of the science that is being conducted, and the extent to which the social sciences are a part of that. Methods A bibliographic analysis was conducted of neglected tropical diseases related research papers published over the past 10 years in biomedical and social sciences. The analysis had textual and bibliometric facets, and focussed on chikungunya, dengue, visceral leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis. Results There is substantial variation in the number of publications associated with each disease. The proportion of the research that is social science based appears remarkably consistent (<4%). A textual analysis, however, reveals a degree of misclassification by the abstracting service where a surprising proportion of the "social sciences" research was pure clinical research. Much of the social sciences research also tends to be "hand maiden" research focused on the implementation of biomedical solutions. Conclusion There is little evidence that scientists pay any attention to the complex social, cultural, biological, and environmental dynamic involved in human pathogenesis. There is little investigator driven social science and a poor presence of interdisciplinary science. The research needs more sophisticated funders and priority setters who are not beguiled by uncritical biomedical promises