Antioxidant and Radioprotective Effects of Ocimum Flavonoids Orientin and Vicenin in Escherichia coli

Antioxidant effect of the Ocimum flavonoids, orientin and vicenin (25-500 M), was evaluatedby the kat-sod assay in Escherichia coli mutants (DSH56, superoxide dismutase-deficient andDSH19, catalase-deficient) treated with 50 mM menadione or H2O2 (1mM). Protection by orientin(200 M) and vicenin (200 M) against H2O2-induced DNA damage in DSH19 cells ( -galactosidasetest) and against radiation lethality in wild-type (DSH7) and DSH19 cells exposed to 0-150 Gygamma radiation was also studied. Menadione and H2O2 reduced the surviving fraction to 0.2and 0.4 in DSH56 and DSH19 cells, respectively. Even 25 M of either flavonoid significantlyincreased the surviving fraction, with maximum protection at 200 M. H2O2 increased the -galactosidase activity in a concentration-dependent manner, which was significantly(P < 0.050–0.001) reduced by orientin and vicenin (200 M). Radiation produced a dose-dependentdecrease in the surviving fraction of both DSH7 and DSH19 cells. Pretreatment with 200 Morientin or vicenin significantly increased the survival (DRF: DSH7 = 2.2; DSH19 = 1.8). Bothcompounds were equally effective in reducing the cytotoxicity of radiation and the chemicaloxidants. The cytoprotective action of these plant flavonoids could be ascribed to their freeradical scavenging activity

Inclusión de subproductos de orujo de aceituna en dietas de cerdos de cebo: rendimientos productivos y estudio de la salud intestinal

[ES] Actualmente la carne de cerdo es la carne que más se consume a nivel mundial y se prevé que su producción aumente en los próximos años. Por ello, la industria alimentaria a través de sus subproductos ofrece potenciales materias primas alternativas para alimentación animal, que conllevan una menor carga ambiental. En España existen subproductos, típicamente mediterráneos como los del olivar. El orujo de aceituna es un subproducto de la fabricación del aceite de oliva. Su disponibilidad es bastante elevada durante todo el año, pudiéndose deshidratar, por lo que incrementa su interés para la alimentación animal. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es determinar los efectos de inclusión de orujo de aceituna parcialmente desengrasado en dietas de cerdos de cebo sobre el rendimiento del crecimiento, la salud intestinal y la calidad de la carne. Los ensayos productivos se llevaron a cabo en la unidad experimental de cebo del Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Animal del Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA). En el ensayo productivo se utilizaron 160 animales de 20kg de peso, que fueron distribuidos en 32 corrales de cebo a razón de 5 animales/corral. Posteriormente, a cada corral se le asignó un tratamiento experimental. Durante el periodo experimental se realizaron controles quincenales de peso/animal y consumos por corral. Una vez sacrificados los animales se tomaron medidas de pH, espesor de grasa, color en las canales y se tomaron muestras de grasa subcutánea para su posterior análisis de ácidos grasos. Para el ensayo de la salud intestinal se tomaron muestras de heces de dos animales por corral al azar. Por cada corral se homogeneizaron las dos muestras y se trató como una. Se sembró en los distintos medios de cultivo y posteriormente se procedió a la lectura de las colonias crecidas en cada medio. Para el ensayo de ácidos grasos se utilizó la metodología propuesta por O’Fallon et al., (2007). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los distintos tratamientos en cuanto al rendimiento, la calidad de la canal y los recuentos microbiológicos. El perfil de ácidos grasos tampoco mostró diferencias entre los distintos tratamientos, pero la concentración de AGMI (ácidos grasos monoinsaturados) fue mayor y la de AGP(ácidos grasos poliinsaturados) fue menor en los animales alimentados con un 12% de inclusión de orujo de aceituna. La falta de diferencias en los resultados obtenidos demostró que un 12% de inclusión de orujo de aceituna se puede suministrar a los animales sin ningún efecto negativo sobre los rendimientos, la calidad de la canal, la salud intestinal y que mejora el perfil de AG (ácidos grasos) de la grasa subcutánea.[EN] Pork meat is currently one of the most consumed meats worldwide and its production is expected to increase in the years to come. That is why the food industry offers alternative and potential raw material through its sub-products for the animal feed, which imply lower environmental burden. In Spain there are sub-products typically Mediterranean, such as the ones derived from the olive grove. The olive cake is a sub-product which results from the manufacturing of olive oil. Its availability is quite high during the whole year, but it can be dehydrated, and that is why the animal feed industry’s interest increases. The main objective of this thesis is to determine the effects of the inclusion of partiallydegreased olive cake in diets of fattening pigs on the growth performance, the intestinal health and the meat quality. The productive tests were carried out in the fattening experimental unit of the Animal Research and Technology Centre of the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (IVIA). In the productive test 160 animals of 20 kg of weight were used, distributed in 32 fattening farmyards, at a rate of 5 animals per farmyard. During the experimental period, fortnightly controls were carried out, related to weight per animal and consumption per farmyard. Once the animals were sacrificed, several measures were adopted, regarding Ph., fat thickness and carcass color, and also several subcutaneous fat samples were taken in order to further analyze them in terms of fatty acids. For the intestinal health test, stool samples from two animals were taken, chosen randomly per farmyard. These two samples per farmyard were homogenized in order to only work on one, which was sown in the different crops. Subsequently, the settlements grown in each crop were analyzed. For the fatty acids test, the methodology suggested by O’Fallon et al., (2007) was implemented. No relevant differences were found among the different treatments regarding performance, carcass quality and microbiological recounts. The fatty acids profile also showed no differences among the different treatments, but the concentration of MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids) was higher and the concentration of polyunsaturated fats was lower in the animal fed with 12% of inclusion in olive cake. The lack of differences in the results obtained proved that 12% of olive cake may be supplied to the animals without risk of having negative effects on performance, carcass quality and intestinal health, and that it even enhance the profile of fatty acids of the subcutaneous fat.Sanchis Esteve, E. (2018). Inclusión de subproductos de orujo de aceituna en dietas de cerdos de cebo: rendimientos productivos y estudio de la salud intestinal. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/114835TFG

シンケイコン ショウガイ デ ハッショウシタ シンケイ サルコイドーシス ノ イチレイ

A５２-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for further examination of thoracolumbar pain. As dysesthesia at Th４level was seen in neurological examination, thoracic radiculopathy or myelopathy was suspected. Blood examination showed elevated level of serum ACE and lysozyme. Lymphadenopathy was evident in bilateral hila and mediastina with marked FDG and Gallium accumulation in FDG-PET-CT and Gallium scintigraphy, respectively. The number of lymphocytes and the CD４／CD８ratio were increased in the BALF. Histological findings of specimens obtained from the lung and the skin lesion revealed noncaseating epithelioid granuloma, which yielded the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The cerebrospinal fluid examinations showed elevated level of cell counts, proteins and β２-microglobulin. Taken together, she was diagnosed as neurosarcoidosis with thoracic radiculopathy. Her symptoms were improved with oral administration of prednisolone, but they were exacerbated when prednisolone dose was tapered to２０mg／day. Combined therapy of methotrexate and prednisolone was initiated, thereafter her symptoms disappeared completely

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe via a suite of four instruments, covering a very wide energy range, from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. These instruments include a high-resolution, high-throughput spectrometer sensitive over 0.3-2 keV with high spectral resolution of Delta E < 7 eV, enabled by a micro-calorimeter array located in the focal plane of thin-foil X-ray optics; hard X-ray imaging spectrometers covering 5-80 keV, located in the focal plane of multilayer-coated, focusing hard X-ray mirrors; a wide-field imaging spectrometer sensitive over 0.4-12 keV, with an X-ray CCD camera in the focal plane of a soft X-ray telescope; and a non-focusing Compton-camera type soft gamma-ray detector, sensitive in the 40-600 keV band. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution, will enable the pursuit of a wide variety of important science themes.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figures, Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray

The 2G allele of promoter region of Matrix metalloproteinase-1 as an essential pre-condition for the early onset of oral squamous cell carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Matrix metalloproteinase (<it>MMP</it>) is known to be involved in the initial and progressive stages of cancer development, and in the aggressive phenotypes of cancer. This study examines the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in promoter regions of <it>MMP-1 </it>and <it>MMP-3 </it>with susceptibility to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We compared 170 Japanese OSCC cases and 164 healthy controls for genotypes of <it>MMP-1 </it>and <it>MMP-3</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The frequency of the <it>MMP-1 </it>2G allele was higher and that of the 1G homozygote was lower in the OSCC cases (<it>p </it>= 0.034). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects who were 45 years old or older had a significantly increased (2.47-fold) risk of OSCC (95%CI 1.47–4.14, <it>p </it>= 0.0006), and those carrying the <it>MMP-1 </it>2G allele had a 2.30-fold risk (95%CI 1.15–4.58, <it>p </it>= 0.018), indicating independent involvement of these factors in OSCC. One of the key discoveries of this research is the apparent reduction of the <it>MMP-1 </it>1G/1G and 1G/2G genotype distributions among the early onset OSCC cases under the ages of 45 years. It should be noted that the tongue was the primary site in 86.2% of these early onset cases. This could suggest the specific carcinogenic mechanisms, i.e. specific carcinogenic stimulations and/or genetic factors in the tongue.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Since the 2G allele is a majority of the <it>MMP-1 </it>genotype in the general population, it seems to act as a genetic pre-condition in OSCC development. However this report suggests a crucial impact of the <it>MMP-1 </it>2G allele in the early onset OSCC.</p

Hitomi (ASTRO-H) X-ray Astronomy Satellite

The Hitomi (ASTRO-H) mission is the sixth Japanese x-ray astronomy satellite developed by a large international collaboration, including Japan, USA, Canada, and Europe. The mission aimed to provide the highest energy resolution ever achieved at E  >  2  keV, using a microcalorimeter instrument, and to cover a wide energy range spanning four decades in energy from soft x-rays to gamma rays. After a successful launch on February 17, 2016, the spacecraft lost its function on March 26, 2016, but the commissioning phase for about a month provided valuable information on the onboard instruments and the spacecraft system, including astrophysical results obtained from first light observations. The paper describes the Hitomi (ASTRO-H) mission, its capabilities, the initial operation, and the instruments/spacecraft performances confirmed during the commissioning operations for about a month

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362