Probing the interaction of Paenibacillus larvae bacteriophage as a biological agent to control the american foulbrood disease in honeybee

American foulbrood (AFB) is a harmful honeybee disease primarily caused by Paenibacillus larvae. The study aims to isolate and identify the AFB causative agent P. larvae and their specific phages to use as a new biological method for AFB disease control. Eight apiaries were inspected for AFB infections. Symptoms of diseased brood comb, were odd brood cells with soft brown decayed brood amongst healthy brood, were identified in the field and demonstrated the prevalence of AFB in every apiary. Three P. larvae isolates were identified using traditional techniques using a 452-bp PCR amplicon specific to the bacterial 16SrRNA gene and was compared between Paenibacillus isolates. Additionally, specific phages of P. larvae strains were applied to examine their efficiency in reducing the infection rate under the apiary condition. The infection rate was reduced to approximately 94.6 to 100 % through the application of a phage mixture, as opposed to 20 to 85.7 % when each phage was administered individually or 78.6 to 88.9 % when antibiotic treatment was implemented. Histological studies on phage-treated bee larvae revealed some cells regaining normal shape, with prominent nuclei and microvilli. The gastrointestinal tract showed normal longitudinal and circular muscles, unlike bee larvae treated with bacterial strains with abnormal and destroyed tissues, as shown by the basement membrane surrounding the mid-gut epithelium. Phage techniques exhibited promise in resolving the issue of AFB in honeybees due to their ease of application, comparatively lower cost, and practicality for beekeepers in terms of laboratory preparation

[In Press] COVID-19-related stigma among older adults residing in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its overwhelming physical and mental health burden can stigmatize those affected. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma and its associated factors among the older people residing in the Rohingya refugee camps of Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 864 older adults aged 60 years and above residing in selected Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews conducted between November and December 2021. COVID-19-related stigma was measured using the eight-item Stigma Scale adapted to the Rakhine language. A linear regression model was used to identify the factors associated with COVID-19-related stigma among the participants. Participants, on average, had stigmas on three items and 52.8% had a high COVID-19-related stigma score. The average stigma score was higher among the participants who had formal schooling (β = 0.58, 95% CI [0.21, 0.94]), was dependent on family for a living (β = 0.41, 95% CI [0.12, 0.74]), resided away from health center (β = 0.25, 95% CI [0.01, 0.50]), whose family income decreased during the pandemic (β = 0.27, 95% CI [0.03, 0.51]), had close friends or family members previously diagnosed with COVID-19 (β = 1.64, 95% CI [1.08, 2.20]), and had less communication during the pandemic (β = 1.80, 95% CI [1.24, 2.34]). The study findings suggest raising awareness among the older population on COVID-19 and the mitigating strategies to deal with physical and mental well-being through appropriate health literacy interventions and mass media campaigns in Rohingya camps

Characterization of Acorn Fruit Oils Extracted from Selected Mediterranean Quercus Species

The present study is aimed to identifying the acorn fruit oil composition of three Mediterranean white oak group species, <i>Quercus aegilops</i> (QA), <i>Quercus infectoria</i> (QI), and <i>Quercus calliprinus</i> (QC). Samples were estimated for the oil contents of acorn fruits, oil chemical and physical constants, fatty acid profile, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, and sterols.The oil content, expressed as dry weight, was found to be 3.40-7.51%. The physical and chemical constants included specific gravity 0.912-0.922, refractive index 1.4529-1.4645, specific extinction at 232 nm 2.497-2.536 and at 270 nm 1.495-2.037, iodine value 75.2-87.6, and saponification value 192.6-219.4. The fatty acid compositions were determined by GC as methyl esters. The most abundant fatty acids were oleic (53.3-56.1%), linoleic 21.3-23.4%, palmitic 17.8-18.7%, linolenic 1.5-1.6% and stearic acid 1.02-1.60%. The Tocopherol content was high in the range of 1440-1783 mg kg^-1, γ-tocopherol constituted 84-91% of total tocopherols. Phenolic compounds were in remarkable amounts in all the three species 84-109 mg gallic acid kg^-1 oil. Total sterol contents were between 2040-2480 mg kg^-1 oil, with β-sitosterol being the main component comprising of 77.20-84.61%, followed by ∆⁵-avenasterol (5.8-11.4%), campesterol (3.6-4.5%), and stigmasterol (2.6-3.8). The cholesterol content was relatively high (0.42-0.55%).<br><br>El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar la composición de aceites de bellota de tres especies del grupo del roble blanco del Mediterráneo, <i>Quercus Aegilops</i> (QA), <i>Quercus infectoria</i> (QI) y <i>Quercus calliprinus</i> (QC). Las muestras fueron evaluadas por el contenido de aceite, parámetros físico-químicos del aceite, perfil de ácidos grasos, tocoferoles, compuestos fenólicos y esteroles. El contenido de aceite, expresado en peso seco encontrado fue de 3,40 a 7,51%. Las constantes físico-químicas fueron: densidad 0,912-0,922, índice de refracción 1,4529 a 1,4645, extinción específica a 232 nm 2,497-2,536 y a 270 nm 1,495-2,037, índice de yodo 75,2-87,6, e índice de saponificación 192,6- 219,4. Las composiciones de ácidos grasos se determinaron por GC como ésteres metilicos. Los ácidos grasos más abundantes fueron oleico 53,3-56,1%, linoleico 21,3-23,4%, palmítico 17,8^-18,7%, linolénico 1.5^-1.6% y esteárico 1,02- 1,60%. El contenido de tocoferoles fue alto: 1440^-1783 mg kg–1, constituyendo el γ-tocoferol entre el 84-91% de los tocoferoles totales. Los compuestos fenólicos estaban presentes en cantidades notables en las tres especies 84^-109 mg de ácido gálico kg–1 aceite. El contenido total de esteroles fue de 2040-2480 mg kg–1 de aceite, siendo el β-sitosterol el componente principal que comprende de 77,2-84,6%, seguido de la Δ⁵-avenasterol 5.8^-11.4, campesterol 3.6-4.5%, y estigmasterol 2.6-3.8%

Other primary headache disorders: Data from the HEAD-MENA-A study in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East

Objective: Other primary headache disorders (OPHD) are under-investigated compared to frequent primary headache types like migraine, tension-type headache, and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias. Knowledge of the distribution and characteristics of OPHD subtypes is crucial for their recognition. We aimed to determine the prevalence at the hospital and headache clinics and clinical characteristics of OPHDs in patients from 13 countries. Methods: We analyzed a large dataset from the cross-sectional study Head-MENA-A (Middle East, North Africa, Asia). Consecutive patients over 10 years of age presenting with headaches were included from outpatient, inpatient, and emergency settings. A structured questionnaire addressing demographics, headache characteristics, accompanying symptoms, and triggers was administered. Headache subtypes were diagnosed according to the ICHD-3 criteria. Results: Among patients complaining of headaches (n = 3722), 106 (2.9%) were diagnosed with OPHD. Fifty-two patients (1.4% of all headache patients) had only OPHD, while 54 (1.5%) had both OPHD and a co-existing primary headache (mostly migraine). All OPHDs were more common in females. The most frequent subtypes were new daily persistent headache and primary stabbing headache (0.2% each among all admitted patients). Photophobia and phonophobia were the most frequent accompanying symptoms, while physical activity (28.8%), stress (15.4%), and the Valsalva maneuver (15.4%) were the most common triggering factors. The majority of triggering factors were more pronounced in patients with both migraine and OPHD. Conclusions: Other primary headaches are rare and heterogeneous. Their high co-existence with migraine suggests shared predisposing factors, hinting at a “headache continuum” concept for primary headaches