Brainstem volume mediates seasonal variation in depressive symptoms : A cross sectional study in the UK Biobank cohort

This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank resource. UK Biobank was established by the Wellcome Trust medical charity, Medical Research Council, Department of Health, Scottish Government and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. This work was supported by the Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre with financial support from the Roland Sutton Academic Trust (RSAT-0039/R/16) and the Saudi Cultural Bureau in contact with Jazan University (PhD scholarship for NAM). Data Availability: The datasets processed and analysed during the current study are available from the online open access UK Biobank repository (https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/). This research was conducted under the UK Biobank Resource under Application Number 24089 (PI Waiter).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Amygdala and subregion volume are associated with photoperiod and seasonal depressive symptoms : A cross sectional study in the UK Biobank cohort

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource. This work was supported by the Aberdeen Biomedical Imaging Centre with financial support from the Roland Sutton Academic Trust (RSAT-0039/R/16) and Jazan University and Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic efficiency of a new smart PdO oxide nanomaterials for using in the recycling and sustainable wastewater treatment

Nanostructured PdO materials with promising catalytic properties were successfully synthesized by the controlled thermal decomposition in air of three Pd(II) complexes containing Pd(II) ion, ofloxacin drug and amino acid. The Pd(II) complexes which were used as precursors were [Pd(OFL)(Gly)]Cl, [Pd(OFL)(Ala)]Cl, and [Pd(OFL)2]Cl2, where Gly is glycine amino acid, Ala is alanine amino acid, and OFL is ofloxacin. Structural and morphological properties of the synthesized PdO materials were obtained using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX techniques. The XRD results confirm the tetragonal structure of PdO. The obtained PdO materials were tested as a catalyst for the heterogeneous degradation of H2O2 solution. The results revealed that PdO could effectively degrade H2O2.                     KEY WORDS: PdO, Nanoparticles, Photocatalytic efficiency, Wastewater treatment   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(1), 107-118. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i1.

Assessing the effects of crowding perception and gender among Southeast Asia pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia

This study gives a better understanding of the effect of crowding on pilgrims at the Hajj. It explores the levels of perceived crowding of Southeastern Asian pilgrims and investigates the effects of gender on their perceived crowding. Questionnaire in both Bahasa Melayu and English languages were administered for data collections from randomly selected pilgrims, (n=128), from the Southeast Asia Hajj group at Mina for three days (10th, 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah). Results revealed that pilgrims witness high levels of crowd perception within their stay at Mina. In addition also, differences between the overall perceived crowding, perceived human crowding and perceived spatial crowding among pilgrims were revealed. Perceived human crowding was found as an indicator to the overall perceived crowding at Mina. Future research could be carried out to assess the effects of other factors such as education and cultural backgrounds and these findings can help authorities in charge of formulating policies manage crowd levels and perception

Impacts of Dietary Lysine and Crude Protein on Performance, Hepatic and Renal Functions, Biochemical Parameters, and Histomorphology of Small Intestine, Liver, and Kidney in Broiler Chickens

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of increasing dietary lysine (Lys) levels with an adequate dietary crude protein (CP) content, as well as the effects of a reduction in dietary CP content with the recommended amino acid (AAs) level, on the performance, blood biochemical parameters, and histomorphology of the duodenum, liver, and kidney in broiler chickens. A total of 500 broiler chickens were randomly distributed into five dietary treatment groups, following a completely randomized design, where, at the beginning, the control group (C) was fed a diet containing the standard CP and Lys levels: 23% CP with 1.44% Lys during the starter period; 21.5% CP with 1.29% Lys during the growing period; and 19.5% CP with 1.16% Lys during the finishing period. The Lys content was increased by 10% above the recommended control basal requirements in the second group (Gr1) and by 20% in the third group (Gr2), while using the same recommended CP percentage as the C group. The fourth group (Gr3) had a 1% lower CP content and the fifth group had a 2% lower CP content than the C group, with the same recommended AA level as the C group. Increasing the Lys content in the Gr1 group improved the broilers’ weight gains (p \u3c 0.05) during the starter, growing, and finishing periods. Decreasing dietary CP with the standard AA levels (Gr3 and Gr4) did not significantly affect (p \u3e 0.05) the live weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the broilers compared with those fed with the C diet. Blood total bilirubin, direct and indirect bilirubin, triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very LDL were not different among the experimental groups. However, blood aspartate aminotransferase levels were increased (p \u3c 0.05) in the Gr1 and Gr3 groups compared with the other treatment groups. All dietary treatments decreased the serum creatinine levels (p \u3c 0.05) compared with the C group. The Gr2 broilers had greater serum total protein and globulin (p \u3c 0.05) than those receiving the other treatments. Increasing dietary Lys levels resulted in a significant improvement in duodenum villus height and width (p \u3c 0.05), while the low-CP diets resulted in shorter villi length and width, along with degenerated areas and lymphocytic infiltration. Low dietary CP content induced hepatocyte disorganization and moderate degeneration, along with vacuolated hepatic cells, excessive connective tissue, and lymphocytic infiltration. The cortical regions of the kidney exhibited obvious alterations in the Gr3 and Gr4 groups and large interstitial spaces were found between tubules. Renal tubules in the Gr3 and Gr4 groups were smaller in size and some of these tubules were atrophied. In conclusion, reducing dietary CP levels to 1% or 2% lower than the recommended level did not negatively affect growth performance, inducing minimal influence on the blood metabolic indicators of health status, and resulting in moderate alterations to the histomorphology of the duodenum, liver, and kidney. Furthermore, increasing the Lys content by 10% above the recommended level improved the growth performance, health status, and histomorphology of the duodenum, liver, and kidney in broiler chickens

Effects of Foliar NPK Application on Growth, Yield and Nutrient Content of Sweet Corn Grown on Rengam Series Soil

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different rates of macronutrients as a foliar spray on the growth performance, yield, and nutrient content of sweet corn grown in the Rengam soil series. The treatments consisted of five rates of macronutrients as a foliar fertilizer at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % NPK. Foliar NPK was applied 25 and 50 days after sowing to the sweet corn seedlings. The results showed that fresh cob weight, cob number, flowering, and dry matter yield of sweet corn significantly increased at the rate of 75%, and 100% of NPK foliar fertilizers. The macro and micronutrient concentrations in ear leaf, mature leaves, stem, cob, and flowers of 75 and 100% NPK treated corn were significantly increased over the control plants. The macronutrient content in the whole plant was also significantly higher at 75% and 100% NPK treatments. Fe and Mn contents in the whole plant were also the highest in 75% and 100% NPK treatments. Macronutrient concentration in ear leaf and whole corn plants significantly correlated with the fresh cob yield of corn. It is concluded that foliar application of N, P, and K macronutrients (75 to 100% NPK) enhanced the yield and quality of sweet corn

Effects of alginates on the growth, haematological, immunity, antioxidant and pro-inflammatory responses of rabbits under high temperature

Heat stress (HS) is one of the most severe hurdles impacting rabbit growth, immunity, homeostasis, and productivity. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) have considerable beneficial effects due to their plausible antioxidant and immune-stimulatory properties. This work was planned to explore the preventive function of AOS as a new bio-feed additive against the harmful effects caused by environmental HS on growing rabbits. Rabbits were allotted in four experimental groups (25 animals in each group) and fed on a basal diet supplemented with 0.0 (AOS0), 50 (AOS50), 100 (AOS100), and 150 (AOS150) mg AOS/kg diet reared under summer conditions. Dietary AOS supplementation improved significantly (P ≤ 0.001) feed conversion rate, while both AOS100 and AOS150 significantly (P ≤ 0.001) enhanced the final body weight and body weight gain. All AOS addition significantly increased nitric oxide and lysosome activity and significantly reduced interferon-gamma (IFNγ) compared with those in the control group. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin1β (IL-1β), myeloperoxidase and protein carbonyl levels were significantly reduced in rabbits fed diets containing AOS (100 and 150 mg/kg) compared with those in the control group under heat stress conditions. In addition, glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) were significantly (P ≤ 0.001) improved with increasing AOS dietary levels compared with the control group. Still, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), eosinophils, and lymphocytes did not change. Erythrocyte's indices improved significantly (P ≤ 0.001), while neutrophils and white blood cell counts were decreased by dietary AOS inclusion. Immunological (IgM and IgG) were markedly reduced in AOS-treated groups compared with the control group. The current investigation exemplified that AOS as a novel bio-feed additive that could be an effective strategy to extenuate prejudicial effects in heat-stressed rabbits via enhancing immunity, and antioxidant defence system, further regulating the inflammation cytokines.Universidad King Saud, Riad, Arabia Saudita | Ref. RSP2023R439Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Metabolomic profile, anti-trypanosomal potential and molecular docking studies of <i>Thunbergia grandifolia</i>

Trypanosomiasis is a protozoan disease transmitted via Trypanosoma brucei. This study aimed to examine the metabolic profile and anti-trypanosomal effect of methanol extract of Thunbergia grandifolia leaves. The liquid chromatography-high resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-HRESIMS) revealed the identification of fifteen compounds of iridoid, flavonoid, lignan, phenolic acid, and alkaloid classes. The extract displayed a promising inhibitory activity against T. brucei TC 221 with MIC value of 1.90 μg/mL within 72 h. A subsequent in silico analysis of the dereplicated compounds (i.e. inverse docking, molecular dynamic simulation, and absolute binding free energy) suggested both rhodesain and farnesyl diphosphate synthase as probable targets for two compounds among those dereplicated ones in the plant extract (i.e. diphyllin and avacennone B). The absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiling of diphyllin and avacennone were calculated accordingly, where both compounds showed acceptable drug-like properties. This study highlighted the antiparasitic potential of T. grandifolia leaves

Effects of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) and rooting media on rooting and survival of air layered wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) CV Jambu Madu

The wax apple or jambu madu, is a non-climacteric tropical fruit from Myrtaceae family and widely cultivated in South East Asia. The limited availability of good quality seedlings of wax apple is the main problem to development of flourish it’s market share in the current fruit industry. Therefore, in order to produce good quality planting materials, a study aimed at optimizing propagation and adventitious rooting technique and survivability of wax apple air layer was conducted. In this study, four different levels of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) concentration (0, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg L-1) and three rooting media (sphagnum moss, vermicompost and garden soil) were applied after removal of bark (phloem) on the shoot to determine the effect on rooting and survivability of the wax apple air layer under field conditions. The results showed that the wax apple shoots treated with 2000 mg L-1 IBA produced the significantly higher number of roots, increased length of root, diameter of branch, length of branch, number of leaf and leaf area of air layers. In addition, the highest chlorophyll content and stomatal aperture were recorded in 2000 mg L-1 IBA treatment compared to other treatments including control. Vermicompost medium was better than garden soil and sphagnum moss in respect of rooting and survivability of air layers. The results showed that the combination of 2000 mg L-1 IBA and vermicompost as rooting media give the best combination to root initiation, root number, root length and survival rate (100%) of wax apple air layers. From this study, it can be concluded that 2000 mg L-1 IBA and vermicompost treatment enhance the root initiation, early establishment and survivability of wax apple air layered under field conditions

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks