Antioxidant and antimicrobial phenolic compounds from extracts of cultivated and wild-grown Tunisian Ruta chalepensis

The antioxidant and antibacterial activities of phenolic compounds from cultivated and wild Tunisian Ruta chalepensis L. leaves, stems, and flowers were assessed. The leaves and the flowers exhibited high but similar total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin content. Moreover, two organs showed strong, although not significantly different, total antioxidant activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging ability, and reducing power. Investigation of the phenolic composition showed that vanillic acid and coumarin were the major compounds in the two organs, with higher percentages in the cultivated organs than in the spontaneous organs. Furthermore, R. chalepensis extracts showed marked antibacterial properties against human pathogen strains, and the activity was organ- and origin-dependent. Spontaneous stems had the strongest activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From these results, it was concluded that domestication of Ruta did not significantly affect its chemical composition and consequently the possibility of using R. chalpensis organs as a potential source of natural antioxidants and as an antimicrobial agent in the food industry

Meningococcal disease in children in Merseyside, England:a 31 year descriptive study

Meningococcal disease (MCD) is the leading infectious cause of death in early childhood in the United Kingdom, making it a public health priority. MCD most commonly presents as meningococcal meningitis (MM), septicaemia (MS), or as a combination of the two syndromes (MM/MS). We describe the changing epidemiology and clinical presentation of MCD, and explore associations with socioeconomic status and other risk factors. A hospital-based study of children admitted to a tertiary children's centre, Alder Hey Children's Foundation Trust, with MCD, was undertaken between 1977 to 2007 (n = 1157). Demographics, clinical presentations, microbiological confirmation and measures of deprivation were described. The majority of cases occurred in the 1-4 year age group and there was a dramatic fall in serogroup C cases observed with the introduction of the meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine. The proportion of MS cases increased over the study period, from 11% in the first quarter to 35% in the final quarter. Presentation with MS (compared to MM) and serogroup C disease (compared to serogroup B) were demonstrated to be independent risk factors for mortality, with odds ratios of 3.5 (95% CI 1.18 to 10.08) and 2.18 (95% CI 1.26 to 3.80) respectively. Cases admitted to Alder Hey were from a relatively more deprived population (mean Townsend score 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.41) than the Merseyside reference population. Our findings represent one of the largest single-centre studies of MCD. The presentation of MS is confirmed to be a risk factor of mortality from MCD. Our study supports the association between social deprivation and MCD

Effect of growth stages on phenolics content and antioxidant activities of shoots in sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) varieties under salt stress

We investigated the contributions of salinity and development stage on total polyphenols, flavonoids,  condensed tannins contents, phenolic content, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide  scavenging activities at three phenolic stages: early vegetative stage (EVS), late or prefloral vegetative (LVS) stage and flowering stage (FS). The total phenolic, flavonoids and condensed tannins contents were more  important in the presence and absence of salt at prefloral or building stage than at EVS and FS. In addition, salt stress increased total polyphenol and individual phenolic contents in shoots of Origanum majorana. This  increase was more important in LVS than in EVS and FS. Moreover, the antiradical activity of the shoots (DPPH) decreased with the addition of NaCl. In fact, LVS extracts showed the highest antioxidant properties.  Furthermore, at LVS, marjoram grown at 75 mM showed a higher antiradical ability against DPPH radical and antioxidant activity, compared to EVS and LVS. Data reported here revealed the variation of phenolic  compound contents at different stages of growth of O. majorana, and the possible role of these changes in the response of the plant to salt was also discussed.Key words: Antiradical activity, Origanum majorana, early vegetative stage (EVS), late or prefloral vegetative (LVS) stage and flowering stage (FS), phenolic content

Composición del aceite de la semilla del pistacho (Pistacia vera): efectos de la situación geográfica y de la variedad

This study was aimed at characterizing four Tunisian pistachio cultivations (Pistacia vera) from the Mateur (North), Nabeul (North-East), Kairouan (Middle) and Sfax (Middle- East) regions and two varieties, Mateur and Ohadi, considering fatty acid composition and main lipid class contents (polar lipids, diacylglycerols, triacylglycerols and free fatty acids) in ripe seeds. Lipid classes were separated using thin layer chromatography, and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were analyzed by gas chromatography. Oleic acid (C18:1 Δ9) was the major fatty acid for all samples; those of the Mateur region (the northern region) differed significantly with the lowest content in C18:1 (54.2 % of total fatty acids) and the highest in C18:2 (24.1 %). The total amount of fatty acids (TFA) in the seeds of Ohadi variety was significantly lower than that of the Mateur variety from the Sfax region. Triacylglycerols were most abundant in pistachio seeds from Nabeul (98.5% of total glycerolipids).Este estudio tiene como objetivo caracterizar cuatro cultivos de pistacho (Pistacia vera) de Túnez, de las regiones de Mateur (Norte), Nabeul (Nordeste), Kairouan (Centro) y Sfax (Centro-Este) y dos variedades, Mateur and Ohadi, considerando la composición en ácidos grasos y de lípidos mayoritarios (lípidos polares, diglicéridos, triglicéridos y ácidos grasos libres) de semillas maduras. Los lípidos se separaron mediante cromatografía en capa fina, y los ésteres metílicos de los ácidos grasos (FAMEs) se analizaron por cromatografía de gases. El ácido oleico (C18:1 Δ9) fue el mayoritario en todas las muestras; las de la región de Mateur (Norte) fueron significativamente distintas, presentando el contenido más bajo de C18:1 (54.2 % del total de ácidos grasos) y más alto de C18:2 (24.1 %). La cantidad total de ácidos grasos (TFA) en las semillas de la variedad Ohadi fue significativamente más bajo que el de la variedad Mateur de la región de Sfax. Los triglicéridos fueron el componente más importante en la semillas de pistacho de Nabeul (98.5% del total de glicerolípidos)

Factors associated with depression and anxiety in the adult population of Qatar after the first COVID-19 wave: a cross-sectional study

There is limited data from Arabic-speaking countries on risk factors for depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Country-specific data is necessary given differences in culture, demographics, and COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. The main purpose of the study is to identify the factors associated with symptoms of depression-anxiety in the adult population of Qatar during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey in Qatar between July and December 2020 after Qatar’s first COVID-19 wave and before the beginning of the second wave. Depression-anxiety was defined as a cut-off of 20 or higher on the Patient Health Questionnaire-Anxiety Depression Scale (PHQ-ADS). Of 1138 participants, 71.0% were female, 69.0% Arabs, 70.0% Non-Qataris, and 77.0% were < 40 years (the median age in Qatar is 32 years). In a fully-adjusted model, six variables were significantly associated with moderate-to-severe levels of depression or anxiety on the PHQ-ADS; Arab ethnicity (OR = 1.67, p = 0.026), never married versus married (OR = 1.69, p = 0.015), prior history of psychiatric disorder versus no history (OR = 1.80, p = 0.009), increased worries due to social media use for COVID-related news/updates (OR = 1.72, p = 0.003), a history of COVID-19 (OR = 1.76, p = 0.039), loneliness (OR = 1.91, p < 0.001), and lower levels of religiosity (OR = 0.96, p = 0.039). These associations also pertained in the reduced model, with the exception of religiosity which was only marginally statistically significant (OR = 0.97, p = 0.055). The potential risk factors identified may assist with anxiety and depression prevention in future COVID-19 waves, and similar national events, and assist with early intervention to treat sufferers

Investigation of Er3+ Ions Reinforced Zinc-Phosphate Glasses for Ionizing Radiation Shielding Applications

Melt quenching technique is used for preparing glasses with chemical formula (70P2 O5)– (16 − x)CdO–(14ZnO)–(xEr2 O3), (x = 1–6 mol%). These glasses were named Er1, Er2, Er3, Er4, Er5, and Er6, respectively. Photon buildup factors, fast neutron absorption, and electron stopping of the prepared glasses were examined. Glasses’ density was varied from 3.390 ± 0.003 for the Er1 glass sample to 3.412 ± 0.003 for the Er6 glass sample. The Buildup factor (BUF) spectra have relatively higher values in the Compton Scattering (CS) dominated areas compared to both Photoelectric effect (PE), and Pair Production (PP) dominated energy regions. The highest BUF appeared at the Er atom K-absorption edge, whose intensity increases as the molar concentration of Er2 O3 in the glasses increases. The photon absorption efficiency (PAE) of the glasses increases according to the trend (PAE)Er1 &lt; (PAE)Er2 &lt; (PAE)Er3 &lt; (PAE)Er4 &lt; (PAE)Er5 &lt; (PAE)Er6. Fast neutron removal cross-section, FNRC (ΣR) values of the glasses obtained via calculation varied from 0.1045–0.1039 cm−1 for Er1–Er6. Furthermore, the continuous slowing down approximation mode (CSDA) range enhances the kinetic energy of electrons for all glasses. Generally, results revealed that the investigated glasses could be applied for radiation shielding and dosimetric media. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Taif University Researchers Supporting Project number (TURSP-2020/23), Taif University, Taif Saudi Arabia. "The APC was covered by "Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati, Romania, through grant no. RF3621/2021

Fabrication and characterization of dual function nanoscale pH-scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) probes for high resolution pH mapping

The easy fabrication and use of nanoscale dual function pH-scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) probes is reported. These probes incorporate an iridium oxide coated carbon electrode for pH measurement and an SICM barrel for distance control, enabling simultaneous pH and topography mapping. These pH-SICM probes were fabricated rapidly from laser pulled theta quartz pipets, with the pH electrode prepared by in situ carbon filling of one of the barrels by the pyrolytic decomposition of butane, followed by electrodeposition of a thin layer of hydrous iridium oxide. The other barrel was filled with an electrolyte solution and Ag/AgCl electrode as part of a conductance cell for SICM. The fabricated probes, with pH and SICM sensing elements typically on the 100 nm scale, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and various electrochemical measurements. They showed a linear super-Nernstian pH response over a range of pH (pH 2–10). The capability of the pH-SICM probe was demonstrated by detecting both pH and topographical changes during the dissolution of a calcite microcrystal in aqueous solution. This system illustrates the quantitative nature of pH-SICM imaging, because the dissolution process changes the crystal height and interfacial pH (compared to bulk), and each is sensitive to the rate. Both measurements reveal similar dissolution rates, which are in agreement with previously reported literature values measured by classical bulk methods