Use Of Glucan From Saccharomyces Cerevisiae As An Immunostimulant In Carp: Impact On Hematology, Phagocyte Function, And Infection With Aeromonas Hydrophila

Glucan was extracted from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and subjected to chemical analy- ses. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) revealed that glucan is primarily composed of glucose units and contains 97.2% glucose. Infrared spectrum showed a major band at 883/cm, suggest- ing that glucan is linked to β-glycosidic. Intraperitoneal administration of different doses of glu- can enhanced the survival rate of carp (Cyprinus carpio) infected by Aeromonas hydrophila. When a concentration above 500 μg glucan per fish was administered, survival relative to the uninfected control was 100%. The total leukocyte count and neutrophil and monocyte popula- tions increased after administration of the glucan. The maximum effect occurred on day 6 after injection. Macrophages of compound-administrated test animals significantly increased produc- tion of superoxide anions, efficiently killing the bacterial pathogen. This study showed that glu- can can be effective in inducing non-specific cellular defense mechanism in carp

Modernising Asthma Management: Personalised Asthma Action Plans Using a Smartphone Application

© 2018 IEEE. Asthma is a chronic disease affecting one in nine Australians. With symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Asthma can significantly impact a patient's quality of life. Asthma action plans are said to be one of the most effective asthma interventions available. However, in Australia only one in five people aged 15 and over, with asthma, have a written asthma action plan. Even less of which, refer to their plan. A review of related literature and work showed a gap regarding accessibility of information on asthma action plans in a written form. In an attempt to mitigate this problem, this paper focuses on the design and development of a smartphone application. The application is currently a high-fidelity prototype designed and built using proto.io.software. In addition to this conversion, the application incorporates aspects of the Internet of Things (IoT) whereby realtime data regarding environmental triggers such as temperature, humidity and pollen in surroundings, can be accessed from the application. The application ultimately aims to help asthmatics improve their health and quality of life by providing them, or their carer with the knowledge needed to better understand and manage their asthma, when and where they need it

SAM Smart Asthma Monitoring: Focus on Air Quality Data and Internet of Things (IoT)

© 2018 IEEE. Nowadays, mobile technologies and in particular the Internet of Things (IoT), data and machine learning technologies can have a positive impact on the way we manage our health. This paper focuses on Asthma, a condition that affects 10% of Australians. This research collects and analyses data about air quality using New South Wales regional area data and data obtained from our faculty smart building (UTS building 11). Based on a persons location and travel plans, we analyze the Air Quality Index (AQI) and provide a personalized and localized feedback to individuals living with asthma and help them manage their condition better

A Comparison of Vitamin A and Leucovorin for the Prevention of Methotrexate-Induced Micronuclei Production in Rat Bone Marrow

INTRODUCTION: Methotrexate, a folate antagonist, is a mainstay treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is also widely used in a low dose formulation to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In rats, methotrexate is known to induce micronuclei formation, leading to genetic damage, while vitamin A is known to protect against such methotrexate-induced genetic damage. Leucovorin (folinic acid) is generally administered with methotrexate to decrease methotrexate-induced toxicity. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether vitamin A and leucovorin differed in their capacity to prevent formation of methotrexate-induced micronuclei in rat bone marrow erythrocytes. The present study also aimed to evaluate the effect of combined treatment with vitamin A and leucovorin on the formation of methotrexate-induced micronuclei. METHODS: Male and female Wistar rats (n=8) were injected with 20 mg/kg methotrexate (single i.p. dose). The control group received an equal volume of distilled water. The third and fourth groups of rats received vitamin A (5000 IU daily dose for 4 successive days) and leucovorin (0.5 mg/kg i.p. dose for 4 successive days), respectively. The fifth and sixth groups of rats received a combination of vitamin A and a single dose of methotrexate and a combination of leucovorin and methotrexate, respectively. The last group of rats received a combination of leucovorin, vitamin A and single dose of methotrexate. Samples were collected at 24 hours after the last dose of the treatment into 5% bovine albumin. Smears were obtained and stained with May-Grunwald and Giemsa. One thousand polychromatic erythrocytes were counted per animal for the presence of micronuclei and the percentage of polychromatic erythrocyte was determined. RESULTS: Comparison of methotrexate-treated rats with the control group showed a significant increase in the percentage of cells with micronuclei and a significant decrease polychromatic erythrocyte percentage. Combined methotrexate and vitamin A therapy and combined methotrexate and leucovorin therapy led to significant decreases in the micronuclei percentage and an increase in polychromatic erythrocyte percentage when compared to rats treated with methotrexate alone. Leucovorin was found to be more effective than vitamin A against the formation of methotrexate-induced micronuclei. CONCLUSIONS: Both vitamin A and leucovorin provided significant protection against genetic damage induced by methotrexate

Angiographic determinants for side branch treatment in distal unprotected left main coronary artery bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention with single stent crossover technique

 Background: The aim of this study was to analyze angiographic parameters such as bifurcation angle, diameter at the polygon of confluence (POC) and SYNTAX score in predicting the need for side branch treatment with single-stent crossover technique from distal unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) to the major side branch.Methods: This was a retrospective and observational study. A total of 83 patients with distal ULMCA lesions were enrolled. Patients who underwent provisional single-stent crossover technique were compared with patients that required side branch treatment though plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) 5 (6.0%) or stenting 7 (8.4%). Angiographic parameters, bifurcation angle, diameter at the POC and the SYNTAX score were analyzed for their ability to predict the need for side branch treatment.Results: Mean age of patients was 58.2±5.3 years. Males constituted 61 (73.5%) patients. Post main branch stenting 5 (6.0%) and 7 (8.4%) patients required side branch treatment with POBA and stent implantation, respectively. Binary regression revealed bifurcation angle (Z: 1.15, OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.97-1.01, p=0.25), diameter at the POC (Z: 1.1, OR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.32-2.13, p=0.272) and SYNTAX score (Z: 1.51, OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 0.95-1.45, p=0.132) did not correctly predict the requirement of side branch treatment.Conclusion: Left main coronary artery to main branch stenting can be performed safely with single-stent crossover technique, irrespective of presence of side branch disease across a wide range of bifurcation angles, diameters at the POC and SYNTAX scores.

BOBLME Oceanographic Working Group Meeting, Perth, Australia, July 12-16, 2010

Overview from member countries of oceanography and large scale dynamic processes affecting the Bay of Benga

Recovery on non-ferrous metallic values from metallurgical wastes

WITH the increased tempo of industrial expansion and ever-increasing consumption of common nonferrous metals like Al, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sri in India, conservation, substitution and reclamation from waste products and substandard raw materials are of paramount importance for the country, not only to tide over the present crisis but also in the larger interests of economic growth and self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency can be attained by developing processes for the utilization of low grade and complex ores,recovery of metals from waste products, like slags, ashes, drosses, apart from conservation of the non-ferrous metals not available in the country, by their judicious use and also by substitution wherever possible

Recovery of Non-ferrous Metallic Values from Metallurgical Wastes

With the increased industrial expansion and ever incre-asing consumption of non-ferrous metals in India, utili-sation of low grade and complex ores, recovery of metals from waste products like slag, ashes and dross, apart from conservation of the non-ferrous metals not available in the country, by their judicious uses and by substitution, wherever possible, is a matter of great importance

Irbesartan, an angiotensin type 1 receptor inhibitor, regulates markers of inflammation in patients with premature atherosclerosis

AbstractOBJECTIVESThis study assessed the role of angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists on inflammatory mechanisms involved in atherogenesis. Specific inflammatory markers included solubilized tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor II (sTNF-αRII), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and superoxide. In addition, the AT1receptor blocker irbesartan was evaluated for its ability to suppress these markers in individuals with atherosclerosis.BACKGROUNDMechanisms involved in the complex process of atherogenesis include alterations in the inflammatory responses. The use of compounds that suppress these responses may reduce the degree of damage seen in atherosclerosis.METHODSWith a cross-sectional study design, 33 normotensive patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) were treated with irbesartan for a 24-week period. These patients were compared against a control population with no known coronary atherosclerosis. Marker levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique and lucigenin chemiluminescence assay and statistically evaluated by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance.RESULTSAll patients with coronary artery disease had increased levels of inflammatory molecules over those of control patients. Treatment with irbesartan in these patients significantly reduced levels of inflammatory molecules measured. Soluble VCAM-1 levels were reduced by 36%; soluble TNF-alpha levels were reduced by 54% and superoxide level decreased by 52%. Maximal suppression of inflammatory markers by irbesartan therapy in patients with CAD was seen at 12 weeks.CONCLUSIONSThe effect of irbesartan on each inflammatory marker is significant. Our results show that use of irbesartan may retard the inflammatory process seen in premature forms of atherosclerosis