Natural feed additives as alternative to in-feed medication

The use of antibiotics in livestock production is very common and widespread. The reason for their use can be very diverse. Examples are the treatment of clinically sick animals, the improvement of growth performance, as well as the prevention of common bacterial infections. However, the extensive use of such antimicrobials raised concerns of increasing the incidence of resistant pathogenic bacteria, which has a negative impact not only on livestock production, but also on human health. In the last years, many different substances have been investigated as suitable alternatives to the use of antibiotics as growth promoting agents and as prophylactic substances

Seven Level Modified Cascaded Inverter for Induction Motor Drive Applications

In this paper, an H-bridge inverter topology with reduced switch count technique is introduced. This technique reduces the number of controlled switches used in conventional multilevel inverter. To establish a single phase system, the proposed multilevel inverter requires one H-bridge and a multi conversion cell. A multi conversion cell consists of three equal voltage sources with three controlled switches and three diodes. In conventional method, twelve controlled switches are used to obtain seven levels. Due to involvement of twelve switches the harmonics, switching losses, cost and total harmonic distortion are increased. This proposed topology also increases the level to seven with only seven controlled switches. It dramatically reduces the complexity of control circuit, cost, lower order harmonics and thus effectively reduces total harmonic distortion. Keywords: Cascaded Multilevel Inverter, H-bridge Inverter, Total Harmonic Distortion, Sinusoidal Pulse Width Modulation, Insulated Gate Bipolar Transisto

Differential roles and regulation of the protein kinases PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6 in melanoma cells

The protein kinases PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6 comprise a family of ohnologues. In multiple cancers including melanomas PAK5 most frequently carries non-synonymous mutations; PAK6 and PAK4 have fewer; and PAK4 is often amplified. To help interpret these genomic data, initially we compared the cellular regulation of the sister kinases and their roles in melanoma cells. In common with many ohnologue protein kinases, PAK4, PAK5 and PAK6 each have two 14-3-3-binding phosphosites of which phosphoSer99 is conserved. PAK4 localises to the leading edge of cells in response to phorbol ester-stimulated binding of 14-3-3 to phosphoSer99 and phosphoSer181, which are phosphorylated by two different PKCs or PKDs. These phosphorylations of PAK4 are essential for its phorbol ester-stimulated phosphorylation of downstream substrates. In contrast, 14-3-3 interacts with PAK5 in response to phorbol ester-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser99 and epidermal growth factor-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser288; whereas PAK6 docks onto 14-3-3 and is prevented from localising to cell–cell junctions when Ser133 is phosphorylated in response to cAMP-elevating agents via PKA and insulin-like growth factor 1 via PKB/Akt. Silencing of PAK4 impairs viability, migration and invasive behaviour of melanoma cells carrying BRAF(V600E) or NRAS(Q61K) mutations. These defects are rescued by ectopic expression of PAK4, more so by a 14-3-3-binding deficient PAK4, and barely by PAK5 or PAK6. Together these genomic, biochemical and cellular data suggest that the oncogenic properties of PAK4 are regulated by PKC–PKD signalling in melanoma, while PAK5 and PAK6 are dispensable in this cancer

Role of Vitamin A and Vitamin D in management of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a very common cause of infertility in reproductive age groups, has increased exponentially in the past few years registering 9% of cases annually worldwide. It is one of the most common syndromes which manifests hormone secretion and its activity. Insulin resistance, obesity, Vitamin and mineral deficiency, etc., are commonly associated with PCOS. Vitamin A is a lipid-soluble vitamin that is useful in antioxidant activity and steroid synthesis is known to prevent the occurrence of PCOS. Vitamin D, a steroid hormone originating from cholesterol is commonly known as “the sunshine vitamin,” is also one of the observed vitamin deficiencies in PCOS women. Supplementation of Vitamins in the diet is essential in the management of PCOS women. This review attempts to brief the role of Vitamin A and Vitamin D as an important agent to overcome the challenges of PCOS by reviewing the investigations of various authors about the potential role of supplementation of Vitamin A and Vitamin D in various model organisms and Randomised Clinical Trials (RCT’s)

Genetic diversity of vegetative and bunch traits of African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) germplasm in India

Knowledge on genetic diversity among breeding materials could be an invaluable aid in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) improvement strategies. Germplasm from primary/secondary centres of origin were collected during 1994 under FAO programme and planted in the gene bank at DOPR Research Centre, Palode during 1998 were studied for genetic diversity. Twenty six accessions representing three African countries (Guinea Bissau, Tanzania and Zambia) were studied using 50 individual palms. Thirty numbers of vegetative and bunch component traits recorded during 2008 to 2013 were analysed in this study. An attempt was made using Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index (SWDI) with an objective to understand the level of diversity in these traits. In general, mean of all the accessions exhibited high levels (0.694) of diversity. Mean diversity estimate (0.778) was highest in Tanzanian source closely followed by Zambia (0.727) and least value (0.576) was observed in Guinea Bissau. Low diversity values (<0.32) for bunch weight, shell thickness, single fruit, and nut weight noticed in Guinea Bissau when compared to other sources. Highest level of homozygosity (SWD=0) for spine length was observed in Guinea Bissau population and similar trend of homzygosity noticed in other traits also in GB accessions. These findings combined with other evaluation results suggest that "Tanzanian population" possess adequate genetic variability that is potentially useful for oil palm improvement program in India. More palms should be preserved for populations that have higher diversity and those with rare traits

Targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis CoaBC through Chemical Inhibition of 4'-Phosphopantothenoyl-l-cysteine Synthetase (CoaB) Activity.

Coenzyme A (CoA) is a ubiquitous cofactor present in all living cells and estimated to be required for up to 9% of intracellular enzymatic reactions. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) relies on its own ability to biosynthesize CoA to meet the needs of the myriad enzymatic reactions that depend on this cofactor for activity. As such, the pathway to CoA biosynthesis is recognized as a potential source of novel tuberculosis drug targets. In prior work, we genetically validated CoaBC as a bactericidal drug target in Mtb in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe the identification of compound 1f, a small molecule inhibitor of the 4'-phosphopantothenoyl-l-cysteine synthetase (PPCS; CoaB) domain of the bifunctional Mtb CoaBC, and show that this compound displays on-target activity in Mtb. Compound 1f was found to inhibit CoaBC uncompetitively with respect to 4'-phosphopantothenate, the substrate for the CoaB-catalyzed reaction. Furthermore, metabolomic profiling of wild-type Mtb H37Rv following exposure to compound 1f produced a signature consistent with perturbations in pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. As the first report of a direct small molecule inhibitor of Mtb CoaBC displaying target-selective whole-cell activity, this study confirms the druggability of CoaBC and chemically validates this target

αA-Crystallin Peptide 66SDRDKFVIFLDVKHF80 Accumulating in Aging Lens Impairs the Function of α-Crystallin and Induces Lens Protein Aggregation

The eye lens is composed of fiber cells that are filled with α-, β- and γ-crystallins. The primary function of crystallins is to maintain the clarity of the lens through ordered interactions as well as through the chaperone-like function of α-crystallin. With aging, the chaperone function of α-crystallin decreases, with the concomitant accumulation of water-insoluble, light-scattering oligomers and crystallin-derived peptides. The role of crystallin-derived peptides in age-related lens protein aggregation and insolubilization is not understood.We found that αA-crystallin-derived peptide, (66)SDRDKFVIFLDVKHF(80), which accumulates in the aging lens, can inhibit the chaperone activity of α-crystallin and cause aggregation and precipitation of lens crystallins. Age-related change in the concentration of αA-(66-80) peptide was estimated by mass spectrometry. The interaction of the peptide with native crystallin was studied by multi-angle light scattering and fluorescence methods. High molar ratios of peptide-to-crystallin were favourable for aggregation and precipitation. Time-lapse recordings showed that, in the presence of αA-(66-80) peptide, α-crystallin aggregates and functions as a nucleus for protein aggregation, attracting aggregation of additional α-, β- and γ-crystallins. Additionally, the αA-(66-80) peptide shares the principal properties of amyloid peptides, such as β-sheet structure and fibril formation.These results suggest that crystallin-derived peptides such as αA-(66-80), generated in vivo, can induce age-related lens changes by disrupting the structure and organization of crystallins, leading to their insolubilization. The accumulation of such peptides in aging lenses may explain a novel mechanism for age-related crystallin aggregation and cataractogenesis

Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) among Tuberculosis Patients: A Study from Chennai, South India

BACKGROUND: Alcohol Use Disorders (AUDs) among tuberculosis (TB) patients are associated with nonadherence and poor treatment outcomes. Studies from Tuberculosis Research Centre (TRC), Chennai have reported that alcoholism has been one of the major reasons for default and mortality in under the DOTS programme in South India. Hence, it is planned to conduct a study to estimate prevalence of alcohol use and AUDs among TB patients attending the corporation health centres in Chennai, India. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional cohort study covering 10 corporation zones at Chennai and it included situational assessment followed by screening of TB patients by a WHO developed Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test AUDIT scale. Four zones were randomly selected and all TB patients treated during July to September 2009 were screened with AUDIT scale for alcohol consumption. RESULTS: Out of 490 patients, 66% were males, 66% were 35 years and above, 57% were married, 58% were from the low monthly income group of <Rs 5000 per month. No females reported alcohol use. Overall, out of 490 TB pts, 29% (141) were found to consume alcohol. Among 141 current drinkers 52% (73) had an AUDIT score of >8. Age (>35 years), education (less educated), income (<Rs 5000 per month), marital status (separated/divorced) and treatment category (Category 2) were statistically significant for TB patients with alcohol use than those TB patients without alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: AUD among TB patients needs to be addressed urgently and the findings suggest the importance of integrating alcohol treatment into TB care

Results of soy-based meal replacement formula on weight, anthropometry, serum lipids & blood pressure during a 40-week clinical weight loss trial

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the intermediate-term health outcomes associated with a soy-based meal replacement, and to compare the weight loss efficacy of two distinct patterns of caloric restriction. METHODS: Ninety overweight/obese (28 < BMI ≤ 41 kg/m(2)) adults received a single session of dietary counseling and were randomized to either 12 weeks at 1200 kcal/day, 16 weeks at 1500 kcal/d and 12 weeks at 1800 kcal/d (i.e., the 12/15/18 diet group), or 28 weeks at 1500 kcal/d and 12 weeks at 1800 kcal/d (i.e., the 15/18 diet group). Weight, body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure and serum lipid concentrations were measured at 4-week intervals throughout the 40-week trial. RESULTS: Subjects in both treatments showed statistically significant improvements in outcomes. A regression model for weight change suggests that subjects with larger baseline weights tended to lose more weight and subjects in the 12/15/18 group tended to experience, on average, an additional 0.9 kg of weight loss compared with subjects in the 15/18 group. CONCLUSION: Both treatments using the soy-based meal replacement program were associated with significant and comparable weight loss and improvements on selected health variables