Homecoming

The media is a business, but unfortunately has the greatest impact on society. Today, most people get their information from the Media and tend to believe everything it presents without much of a critical analysis or reflection. Africa is a continent filled with many natural resources, a unique culture, a rich history, and more. However when one turns on the Television in the western society, all that is presented is the negative side of Africa. We see the starvation and aids epidemic, we see the tribal wars, corruption, and more. There is always the presentation of the need for charity and rarely anything positive about the continent. Unfortunately because of the Media’s ability to influence people’s minds, this presentation have dominated society’s perception of the continent of Africa As someone who was born in Ghana, I have beautiful memories of the place but these memories are tarnished by the way that African is perceived. When someone meets me, the first thing that probably comes into his or her mind is how poor I am because I am an African. This has become one of my biggest concerns in society today and so I decided that the best way to bring awareness to it is by making a documentary the shows the side of Africa that we don’t normally see in the media. My Documentary is called “Homecoming,” and it is about my journey back home to Ghana and why I decided to take this trip. In this documentary I discuss some of the problems that young African Immigrants face in the United States and how the representation of Africa in the Media affects the way that Africa is viewed. I am the main subject in this documentary as I talk about some of the things that I encountered growing up in Italy and in the United States as a young African Immigrant and how I became ashamed of whom I was

Swedish forest growth decline: A consequence of climate warming?

Following an almost century-long increase, forest growth in Sweden has abruptly decreased during the last decade. Lower than expected forest biomass trajectories threaten national targets for carbon sequestration and bioeconomy. While climate-related drought is the most likely cause, the critical question is whether this recent growth decline is transient, or the beginning of a new normal where conventional management actions may risk further losses of resilience to water stress. We argue that improved mechanistic insights through better integrated research are urgently needed to avoid worsening the situation and further delaying necessary actions

Betulinic Acid–Doxorubicin-Drug combination induced apoptotic death via ROS stimulation in a relapsed AML MOLM-13 cell model

In this study, cell death regulation and induction in AML cell line from a relapsed MLL-rearranged cell model (MOLM-13) was investigated with doxorubin (Dox) and betulinic acid (BetA), singly and in combination. CyQUANT Direct® and Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining were used to measure the cytotoxic and cell death induction effects of the compounds, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate staining. Expressions of proteins and genes were examined by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, respectively. BetA (20 μM) and Dox (1 μM) indicated a synergistic growth inhibitory effect on MOLM-13 cells. The combined drug caused more cells to reside in irreversible late apoptotic stage compared to the single treatments (p < 0.05). Elevation in ROS may be the synergistic mechanism involved in MOLM-13 cell death since ROS can directly disrupt mitochondrial activity. In contrast, in leukaemic U-937 cells, the combination treatments attenuated Dox-induced cell death. Dox and the drug combination selectively reduced (p < 0.05) a recently reported anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein isoform p15-20-Bcl-2 in MOLM-13 by our group, without affecting the usually reported p26-Bcl-2-α. Further studies using known inhibitors of apoptosis are required to confirm the potential of Dox-BetA combination to modulate these pathways

Evaluation of the gut microbiome in association with biological signatures of inflammation in murine polytrauma and shock

Severe injuries are frequently accompanied by hemorrhagic shock and harbor an increased risk for complications. Local or systemic inflammation after trauma/hemorrhage may lead to a leaky intestinal epithelial barrier and subsequent translocation of gut microbiota, potentially worsening outcomes. To evaluate the extent with which trauma affects the gut microbiota composition, we performed a post hoc analysis of a murine model of polytrauma and hemorrhage. Four hours after injury, organs and plasma samples were collected, and the diversity and composition of the cecal microbiome were evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Although cecal microbial alpha diversity and microbial community composition were not found to be different between experimental groups, norepinephrine support in shock animals resulted in increased alpha diversity, as indicated by higher numbers of distinct microbial features. We observed that the concentrations of proinflammatory mediators in plasma and intestinal tissue were associated with measures of microbial alpha and beta diversity and the presence of specific microbial drivers of inflammation, suggesting that the composition of the gut microbiome at the time of trauma, or shortly after trauma exposure, may play an important role in determining physiological outcomes. In conclusion, we found associations between measures of gut microbial alpha and beta diversity and the severity of systemic and local gut inflammation. Furthermore, our data suggest that four hours following injury is too early for development of global changes in the alpha diversity or community composition of the intestinal microbiome. Future investigations with increased temporal-spatial resolution are needed in order to fully elucidate the effects of trauma and shock on the gut microbiome, biological signatures of inflammation, and proximal and distal outcomes. &nbsp;</p

Malaria and anemia in pregnancy: A case control study on the effectiveness of intermittent preventive treatment with Sulphadoxine Pyrimethamine against malaria and anemia in Madina

Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes carrying Plasmodium and is often complicated by anemia. This co-morbidity significantly contributes to maternal and fetal illnesses. Over the years, intermittent preventive treatment with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) has been a key preventive measure against malaria and anemia in pregnant women. Malaria during pregnancy is a considerable public health concern, and IPTp-SP is recommended to address this issue, although concerns about resistance exist. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of IPTp-SP against malaria and anemia among pregnant women in Madina, Ghana. The research conducted a case-control study involving 174 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Madina. Blood samples were collected to assess malaria parasites and hemoglobin levels, and structured questionnaires were used to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions. The study found that the use of IPTp-SP was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of malaria (p<0.05) and higher mean hemoglobin levels (p<0.05) compared to non-users. Most women demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitudes toward IPTp-SP. Despite its effectiveness, improving compliance is necessary to optimize the benefits of IPTp-SP against malaria and anemia during pregnancy in this region

Inhibition of Mg2+ binding and DNA religation by bacterial topoisomerase I via introduction of an additional positive charge into the active site region

Among bacterial topoisomerase I enzymes, a conserved methionine residue is found at the active site next to the nucleophilic tyrosine. Substitution of this methionine residue with arginine in recombinant Yersinia pestis topoisomerase I (YTOP) was the only substitution at this position found to induce the SOS response in Escherichia coli. Overexpression of the M326R mutant YTOP resulted in ∼4 log loss of viability. Biochemical analysis of purified Y. pestis and E. coli mutant topoisomerase I showed that the Met to Arg substitution affected the DNA religation step of the catalytic cycle. The introduction of an additional positive charge into the active site region of the mutant E. coli topoisomerase I activity shifted the pH for optimal activity and decreased the Mg2+ binding affinity. This study demonstrated that a substitution outside the TOPRIM motif, which binds Mg2+directly, can nonetheless inhibit Mg2+ binding and DNA religation by the enzyme, increasing the accumulation of covalent cleavage complex, with bactericidal consequence. Small molecules that can inhibit Mg2+ dependent religation by bacterial topoisomerase I specifically could be developed into useful new antibacterial compounds. This approach would be similar to the inhibition of divalent ion dependent strand transfer by HIV integrase in antiviral therapy

Liposome‑delivered baicalein induction of myeloid leukemia K562 cell death via reactive oxygen species generation

Baicalein (BL), a potential cancer chemopreventative flavone, has been reported to inhibit cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest in various human cancer cell models. Delivery of BL via nanoliposomes has been shown to improve its oral bioavailability and long‑circulating property in vivo. However, the role of BL in the inhibition of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) K562 cell growth and its underlying mechanisms has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, BL was formulated into liposomes with different sizes to improve its solubility and stability. The cytotoxic and pro‑apoptotic effects of free BL and liposomal BL were also evaluated. The results demonstrated that 100 nm liposomes were the most stable formulation when compared with 200 and 400 nm liposomes. Liposomal BL inhibited K562 cell growth as efficiently as free BL (prepared in DMSO), indicating that the liposome may be a potential vehicle to deliver BL for the treatment of CML. Flow cytometry analysis showed that there was significant (P<0.005) cell cycle arrest in the sub‑G1 phase (compared with vehicle control), indicating cell apoptosis following 20 µM liposomal BL or free BL treatment of K562 cells for 48 h. The induction of cell apoptosis by all BL preparations was further confirmed through the staining of treated cells with Annexin V‑fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide. A significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) gene­ration was observed in free BL and liposomal BL treated cells, with a higher level of ROS produced from those treated with free BL. This indicated that cell apoptosis induced by BL may be via ROS generation and liposome delivery may further extend the effect through its long‑circulating property

Evaluation of the effectiveness of Eladi Keram for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a randomised controlled pilot study

Introduction: Acne is a multifactorial and common skin disease which can significantly affect the quality of life of sufferers. In this study, a topical herbal preparation traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine was evaluated as a treatment for individuals with acne on their shoulders and backs. Methods: Study participants were randomly assigned either to treatment (Eladi Keram) or vehicle control (coconut oil) groups under double blind conditions and instructed on its daily home application. Standardised lesion counting and acne grading were conducted in accordance with US Food and Drug Administration guidelines and with reference to the Leeds Acne Grading Technique. Participants were assessed for severity of the condition at commencement and on day 28 of treatment. Results: The treatment group showed improvements of 42% (p < 0.005) on the Investigators Global Assessment scale, a 60% (p < 0.05) reduction in inflammatory lesions, a 59% (p < 0.05) reduction in non-inflammatory lesions, and a 59% (p < 0.005) reduction in combined lesion count. The control group showed no statistically significant changes for these criteria. Conclusion: This study is the first reported clinical evaluation of Eladi Keram as a treatment for acne and findings suggest that it could be effective in reducing inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions, warranting further investigation by means of a larger scale clinical trial