Parameter Genetik Sifat Pertumbuhan Dan Kerapatan Kayu Klon Eucalyptus Pellita F. Muell. Di Dua Tapak Yang Berbeda Di Kalimantan Timur

Industrial forest plantations have an important role in fulfilling the wood demand. Based on global industrial development, the forest plantations industry will increase in the following years. Eucalyptus pellita has become main species in Indonesia forest plantations because it has a short cycle and wood products are suitable to forest industry. The average productivity of E. pellita plantations in Indonesia is still low and high variation. In an effort to increase the productivity, the first step is a better understanding of genetic control on growth and basic density. This study aims to determine the genetic parameters for growth and basic density of E. pellita clones on two different sites. The clonal trials was conducted at two different sites. Both clonal trial are designed using RCBD. The number of clones tested in both trial was 30, 5 blocks and 25 tree/plot. The result of the study showed that the effects of clones vary greatly according the enviromental conditions. The clones- environemntal interaction of growth trait is higher than the basic density. This is in line with genetic parameters of growth trait that are less stable than the basic density. The expected genetic gain of growth trait is higher than the basic density and at the same time there was a weak genetic correlation (there is even a negative) between growth trait and basic density. Therefore carefulness is needed in selecting clones when the two traits are used as selection parameters

Oxidative stress pattern in hepatitis C patients co-infected with schistosomiasis

This study was designed to investigate the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease with the measurement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-∝) and super oxide dismutase (SOD). Eighty patients from Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, were investigated. Thirty patients with bilharzial HCV and 30 patients with non-bilharzial HCV as compared to 20 healthy controls of the same age and sex ratio were investigated. The concentrations of liver enzymes [glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)], bilirubin (Bil), albumin (Alb) and total protein (TP) as well as TNF-α and Mn-SOD were determined. The mean level of the different liver function tests in the three groups in the study showed that the levels of GOT, GPT and ALP were significantly higher in the HCV groups as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). While serum bilirubin, albumin and total protein were non-significantly decreased in the HCV groups as compared to the control group (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the mean level of TNF-α was significantly higher in the HCV groups as compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and SOD was significantly decreased in the HCV groups as compared to the control group (p < 0.001). There is a cause-effect relationship between increased levels of TNF-α and decreased levels of SOD, relative to progression of chronic HCV, especially with bilharzias co-infection. Supporting the view that oxidative damage plays a role in chronic HCV infection, also TNF-α establishes a positive auto regulatory loop that can amplify the inflammatory response and lead to chronic inflammation. More evidence indicates that HCV block apoptosis and prolong survival of the host cell in order to gain time for replication and increase viral progeny production.Key words: Hepatitis C virus, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, superoxide dismutase, oxidative stress, schistosomiasis

Identification, Genotyping and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Brucella spp. Isolated from Livestock in Egypt

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis worldwide with economic and public health impacts. The aim of the present study was to identify Brucella (B.) spp. isolated from animal populations located in different districts of Egypt and to determine their antimicrobial resistance. In total, 34-suspected Brucella isolates were recovered from lymph nodes, milk, and fetal abomasal contents of infected cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats from nine districts in Egypt. The isolates were identified by microbiological methods and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Differentiation and genotyping were confirmed using multiplex PCR for B. abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucella ovis, and Brucella suis (AMOS) and Bruce-ladder PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against clinically used antimicrobial agents (chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamicin, imipenem, rifampicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline) was performed using E-Test. The antimicrobial resistance-associated genes and mutations in Brucella isolates were confirmed using molecular tools. In total, 29 Brucella isolates (eight B. abortus biovar 1 and 21 B. melitensis biovar 3) were identified and typed. The resistance of B. melitensis to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, imipenem, rifampicin, and streptomycin were 76.2%, 19.0%, 76.2%, 66.7%, and 4.8%, respectively. Whereas, 25.0%, 87.5%, 25.0%, and 37.5% of B. abortus were resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, imipenem, and rifampicin, respectively. Mutations in the rpoB gene associated with rifampicin resistance were identified in all phenotypically resistant isolates. Mutations in gyrA and gyrB genes associated with ciprofloxacin resistance were identified in four phenotypically resistant isolates of B. melitensis. This is the first study highlighting the antimicrobial resistance in Brucella isolated from different animal species in Egypt. Mutations detected in genes associated with antimicrobial resistance unravel the molecular mechanisms of resistance in Brucella isolates from Egypt. The mutations in the rpoB gene in phenotypically resistant B. abortus isolates in this study were reported for the first time in Egypt

ANTIOXIDANT AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF JUSTICIA SPICIGERA ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS ANTHOCYANIN CONTENT

Objective: The antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera were evaluated and the characterization of its anthocyanin content was done. Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. The ethyl acetate fraction was obtained by successive liquid/liquid fractionation of the crude cold ethanolic extract and the pigments were characterized by HPLC technique. The in vitro studies were carried out through evaluation of the EA fraction on the attenuation of 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals. The in vivo biological evaluation was done in CCl4 injured rats through determination of liver function indices, oxidative stress markers and the histopathological picture of the treated liver.Results: The phenolic content in the EA fraction was 42.94 mg/g. Twelve anthocyanins were identified, the major of which are peonidin 3, 5-diglucoside (64.30%), malvidin 3, 5-diglucoside (10.59%) and petunidin 3,5-diglucoside (4.71%). Treatment of CCl4 intoxicated rats with EA fraction recorded improvement in the liver function indices and oxidative stress markers. The histopathological observations confirmed our results.Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of the dried aerial part of Justicia spicigera recorded antioxidant and hepato protective activities.Â

Biocompatibility and Gene Expression Associated with Streptococcus Infection in Myocarditis

Abstract Myocardial inflammation is a nonspecific response to various triggers such as viral and bacterial infection. This study was designed to examine the Streptococcus induction of myocarditis in rat and induction of CRP, SAP, LBP and Cytokines on the transcriptional activity of the inflammation / related genes expression using a semi-quantitative RT-PCR in liver and heart tissues. Experimental myocarditis was established with intra-peritoneal injection of 10 8 CFU/ ml of Streptococcus faecalis in three groups of rats and sacrificed after one, two and seven days post infection, respectively. Heart and liver functions were highly elevated while kidney functions were not affected. Histopathological examination for heart and liver showed damage effect for the bacterial infection. Expression pattern of CRP, SAP, LBP & IL6 genes were investigated, in liver these genes were highly expressed while some of them showed no expression pattern in heart tissues

Discovery of two brominated oxindole alkaloids as staphylococcal DNA gyrase and pyruvate kinase inhibitors via inverse virtual screening

In the present study, a small marine-derived natural products library was assessed for antibacterial potential. Among 36 isolated compounds, a number of bis-indole derivatives exhibited growth-inhibitory activity towards Gram-positive strains (Bacillus subtilis and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). 5- and 6-trisindoline (5-Tris and 6-Tris) were the most active derivatives (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC, 4–8 µM) that were subsequently selected for anti-biofilm activity evaluation. Only 5-Tris was able to inhibit the staphylococcal biofilm formation starting at a 5 µM concentration. In order to investigate their possible molecular targets, both natural products were subjected to in silico inverse virtual screening. Among 20 target proteins, DNA gyrase and pyruvate kinase were the most likely to be involved in the observed antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of both selected natural products. The in vitro validation and in silico binding mode studies revealed that 5-Tris could act as a dual enzyme inhibitor (IC50 11.4 ± 0.03 and 6.6 ± 0.05 µM, respectively), while 6-Tris was a low micromolar gyrase-B inhibitor (IC50 2.1 ± 0.08 µM), indicating that the bromine position plays a crucial role in the determination of the antibacterial lead compound inhibitory activity

In-situ Magnesium Diboride Superconducting Thin Films grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition

Superconducting thin films of MgB2 were deposited by Pulsed Laser Deposition on magnesium oxide and sapphire substrates. Samples grown at 450C in an argon buffer pressure of about 10-2 mbar by using a magnesium enriched target resulted to be superconducting with a transition temperature of about 25 K. Film deposited from a MgB2 sintered pellet target in ultra high vacuum conditions showed poor metallic or weak semiconducting behavior and they became superconducting only after an ex-situ annealing in Mg vapor atmosphere. Up to now, no difference in the superconducting properties of the films obtained by these two procedures has been evidenced.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Mejoras potenciales de las características físico-químicas y funcionales del aceite de Nigella sativa mediante extracción con prensa de tornillo

In the current investigation the crude oil of Nigella sativa was extracted from seeds using hydraulic and screw pressing techniques. Different parameters were evaluated in order to find out the appropriate technique to enhance the physicochemical and functional-related characteristics of the extracted crude oil. Results showed that the acid and peroxide values were significantly lower in the screw pressed oil (SPO) than in the hydraulic pressed oil (HPO). The total phenolic content of the SPO was significantly higher than that of HPO. Evaluation of the oxidative stability using the Rancimat test showed that SPO recorded a much higher oxidative stability index (40.07 h) than HPO (0.51 h). The yield of the volatile oil fraction and its contents of thymoquinone isolated from the SPO were higher than that from the HPO. Biological evaluation revealed that the SPO had significantly higher antimicrobial activity than HPO against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus at 40 μL/well.En la presente investigación se extrajo el aceite crudo de Nigella sativa de las semillas utilizando técnicas hidráulicas y de prensado de tornillo. Se evaluaron diferentes parámetros para conocer la técnica apropiada que potencie las características fisicoquímicas y funcionales del aceite extraído. Los resultados mostraron que los valores de ácido y peróxido fueron significativamente más bajos en el aceite de presión con tornillo (SPO) que en el aceite prensado hidráulico (HPO). El contenido fenólico total del SPO fue significativamente mayor que el de HPO. La evaluación de la estabilidad oxidativa mediante Rancimat demostró que el aceite SPO tiene un índice de estabilidad oxidativa mucho más alto (40,07 h) que el HPO (0,51 h). El rendimiento de la fracción volátil y su contenido de timoquinona aislada del aceite SPO fueron superiores a los del HPO. La evaluación biológica reveló que el aceite SPO tenía una actividad antimicrobiana significativamente mayor que el HPO contra Listeria monocitogenes y Staphylococcus aureus a 40 μL/pocillo

Detection of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Patient Plasma Using On-Chip Graphene Field-Effect Biosensors, in Comparison with ELISA and Single-Molecule Array

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a discriminative blood biomarker for many neurological diseases, such as traumatic brain injury. Detection of GFAP in buffer solutions using biosensors has been demonstrated, but accurate quantification of GFAP in patient samples has not been reported, yet in urgent need. Herein, we demonstrate a robust on-chip graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) biosensing method for sensitive and ultrafast detection of GFAP in patient plasma. Patients with moderate-severe traumatic brain injuries, defined by the Mayo classification, are recruited to provide plasma samples. The binding of target GFAP with the specific antibodies that are conjugated on a monolayer GFET device triggers the shift of its Dirac point, and this signal change is correlated with the GFAP concentration in the patient plasma. The limit of detection (LOD) values of 20 fg/mL (400 aM) in buffer solution and 231 fg/mL (4 fM) in patient plasma have been achieved using this approach. In parallel, for the first time, we compare our results to the state-of-the-art single-molecule array (Simoa) technology and the classic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for reference. The GFET biosensor shows competitive LOD to Simoa (1.18 pg/mL) and faster sample-to-result time (<15 min), and also it is cheaper and more user-friendly. In comparison to ELISA, GFET offers advantages of total detection time, detection sensitivity, and simplicity. This GFET biosensing platform holds high promise for the point-of-care diagnosis and monitoring of traumatic brain injury in GP surgeries and patient homes