Inhibition and kinetic studies of cellulose - and hemicellulose - degrading enzymes of Ganoderma boninense by naturally occurring phenolic compounds

AIM: Ganoderma sp, the causal pathogen of the basal stem rot (BSR) disease of oil palm, secretes extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. These play an important role in the pathogenesis of BSR by nourishing the pathogen through the digestion of cellulose and hemicellulose of the host tissue. Active suppression of hydrolytic enzymes secreted by Ganoderma boninense by various naturally occurring phenolic compounds and estimation of their efficacy on pathogen suppression is focused in this study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten naturally occurring phenolic compounds were assessed for their inhibitory effect on the hydrolytic enzymes of G. boninense. The enzyme kinetics (Vmax and Km ) and the stability of the hydrolytic enzymes were also characterized. The selected compounds had shown inhibitory effect at various concentrations. Two types of inhibitions namely uncompetitive and noncompetitive were observed in the presence of phenolic compounds. Among all the phenolic compounds tested, benzoic acid was the most effective compound suppressive to the growth and production of hydrolytic enzymes secreted by G. boninense. The phenolic compounds as inhibitory agents can be a better replacement for the metal ions which are known as conventional inhibitors till date. The three hydrolytic enzymes were stable in a wide range of pH and temperature. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the efficacy of the applications of phenolic compounds to control Ganoderma. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study has proved a replacement for chemical controls of G. boninense with naturally occurring phenolic compounds

Biotreatment of anthraquinone dye Drimarene Blue K2RL

Drimarene Blue (Db) K2RL is a reactive anthraquinone dye, used extensively in textile industry, due to poor adsorbability to textile fiber; it has a higher exhaustion rate in wastewater. The dye is toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic and resistant to degradation. Decolorization of this dye was studied in two different systems. Shake flask study, using the same immobilized fungus Aspergillus niger SA1 with increasing concentration (10 - 300 ppm) of dye resulted in 75% decolorization in 24 h with 10 ppm concentration, while the higher the concentration of dye, the lower the values (68% at 25 ppm, 40% at 50 ppm, 11% at 100 ppm, 3% at 200 ppm and 2% at 300 ppm) of decolorization (p < 0.05). Simulated textile effluent containing 10 ppm dye Db K2RL was tested aerobically using sludge in stirred tank reactor (STR) at 30ºC for 8 days. The values achieved of chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction and decolorization were 84% (r = 0.968) and 30% (r = 0.905), respectively. This study revealed that immobilized fungus A. niger SA1 have potential, while sludge containing bacterial consortium have limited potential to be used as bioremediation for textile dye Drimarene Blue K2RL

Up-flow immobilized fungal Column Reactor for the Treatment of Anthraquinone dye Drimarene blue Ksub>2RL

This research work is on the decolorization of a reactive anthraquinone dye Drimarene blue (Db) K2RL, which is known for its markedly usage in textile industry. Due to poor adsorbability to textile fiber, it has a higher exhaustion rate in wastewater. The main objective of our research work was to evaluate the potential of an Up-flow Column reactor (UFCR) (13x1.7//) containing the fungal strain, Aspergillus niger SA1 (immobilized on support material Scotch-BriteTM) for the decolorization of a dye, Db K2RL, insimulated textile effluent. Different concentrations of dye in the effluent were treated in the reactor for 24 h, with a flow rate of 10 mL-1 at hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 h. Using anoxic UFCR, decolorization of the effluent was observed maximum, that is, 94.26% at 10 ppm of dye; however, it reduced to 58.51% at 300 ppm of dye. A trend towards increase ( 15%) in decolorization of effluent was noted, when the effluent was aerated prior to treatment. Recycling of the effluent containing dye increased the decolorization (85% at 130 ppm of dye; 66% at 500 ppm of dye), however, further recycling decreased the rate of decolorization, which might be due to desorption by the immobilizedfungus. The results of these findings providing important insights into the development of effective treatment technology for bioremediation of textile dyes

Inhibition and kinetic studies of lignin degrading enzymes of Ganoderma boninense by naturally occurring phenolic compounds

Aim Lignolytic (lignin degrading) enzyme, from oil palm pathogen Ganoderma boninense Pat. (Syn G. orbiforme (Ryvarden)), is involved in the detoxification and the degradation of lignin in the oil palm and is the rate‐limiting step in the infection process of this fungus. Active inhibition of lignin‐degrading enzymes secreted by G. boninense by various naturally occurring phenolic compounds and estimation of efficiency on pathogen suppression was aimed at. Methods and Results In our work, 10 naturally occurring phenolic compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory potential towards the lignolytic enzymes of G. boninense. Additionally, the lignin‐degrading enzymes were characterized. Most of the peholic compounds exhibited an uncompetitive inhibition towards the lignin‐degrading enzymes. Benzoic acid was the superior inhibitor to the production of lignin‐degrading enzymes, when compared between the 10 phenolic compounds. The inhibitory potential of the phenolic compounds towards the lignin‐degrading enzymes are higher than that of the conventional metal ion inhibitor. The lignin‐degrading enzymes were stable in a wide range of pH but were sensitive to higher temperature. Conclusion The study demonstrated the inhibitor potential of 10 naturally occurring phenolic compounds towards the lignin‐degrading enzymes of G. boninense with different efficacies. Significance and Impact of the Study The study has shed a light towards a new management strategy to control basal stem rot disease in oil palm. It serves as a replacement for the existing chemical control

Aflatoxins and Hepatitis B, C Viral Associated Hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a serious human disease with fatal consequences. The most distressing aspect of hepatocellular carcinoma is the limited improvement in mortality (mortality rate of more than 90%). At present, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood and treatment options are often of limited efficacy. This review presents our current understanding of the burden of hepatocellular carcinoma on human health, pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and molecular mechanisms associated with the disease, as well as our knowledge of the physical barriers, cellular mechanisms and molecular elements that may be targets for therapeutic interventions and/ or the development of preventative measures. As the proposed findings present a major risk to public health, it is hoped that robust intervention measures will be introduced for aflatoxins monitoring and reduction in diet

The analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block vs. local anesthetic infiltration technique in major gynecologic surgery: A randomized controlled trial

Background and aim: Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and local anesthetic infiltration (LAI) technique are used as part of the multimodal analgesic regimen after abdominal surgery. Postoperative opioid consumption and analgesic efficacy was compared using TAP and LAI techniques in patients undergoing gynecologic surgery in a randomized, controlled clinical trial.Material and methods: Total of 135 patients scheduled for major gynecological surgeries were allocated into three groups: group T received bilateral TAP block with bupivacaine 0.25%; group I received LAI with 0.25% bupivacaine with epinephrine 5 μ/mL in the peritoneum and abdominal wall, and group C was control group. Anesthesia and postoperative analgesia were standardized. Outcome measures were cumulative and rescue tramadol consumption, numerical rating score (NRS) for pain and side effects in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) at 4, 8, 12 hours postoperatively.Results: Tramadol consumption, need for rescue analgesia, and NRS for pain between three groups at 4, 8, and 12 hours postoperatively had no statistically significant difference (P \u3c 0.05). In PACU, median tramadol consumption used for rescue analgesia between group T (15 (15-30)) and group C (30 (15-45)) (P = 0.035), and between group T (15 (15-30)) and group I (30 (15-52)) was statistically significant (P = 0.034). In PACU, the percentage of patients having NRS \u3e4 on movement in group C (72%) compared to group T (46.5%) and group I (46.5%) was significant (P = 0.034). No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of side effects among study groups (P \u3e 0.05).Conclusion: Except for the immediate postoperative period, neither TAP block nor LAI had added benefit to the multimodal analgesia regimen in patients undergoing gynecological surgeries

Sonographic fetal biometry charts for a Pakistani cohort.

This study aimed to develop growth centiles at different gestational weeks for fetal biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, femur length and head circumference in a Pakistani cohort. Data were collected at a tertiary referral hospital from pregnant women at gestational ages 13-40 weeks referred for obstetric ultrasound as a part of routine antenatal care. A total of 1599 fetal sonographic biometric measurements were collected after screening for the inclusion criteria. For each measurement, separate regression models were derived to estimate the mean, standard deviation and reference percentiles at each week of gestational age for this cohort. The best fitting model for each variable was selected. These charts will help radiologists and clinicians in predicting dates of delivery, assessing fetal growth and identifying intrauterine fetal insufficiency in the Pakistani population

Determination of Alpha-i Antitrypsin Genetic Deficiency in Duodenal Ulcer by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective: To confirm alpha-I-AT deficiency status in duodenal ulcer using a combination of PCR and restricted enzyme digestion. Methods: Fifty patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer and hundred controls with no signs of the disease were included. Alpha-i-AT phenotypes were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction enzyme digestion. Results:Alpha-I-AT concentration in duodenal ulcer patients showed a mean value of 2.12 ± 0.11g/1 (range: 0.52-3.95 g/1, p Conclusion: Alpha-1 AT deficiency was found in 10% of duodenal ulcer patients. DNA analysis more accurately resolved the phenotypes as S and Z mutations (JPMA 52:545; 2002)

Incidence and contributing factors of glucose intolerance in Saudi postpartum women: Sub-group analysis from RAHMA study

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine incidence and risk factors of glucose intolerance one year after delivery in a sub-cohort of Riyadh Mother and Baby Cohort Study (RAHMA) study. Methods: This is a follow-up study of a sub-cohort from RAHMA study from King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH). All women from RAHMA database who completed one year since delivery at KKUH were contacted by phone to participate in the study. Previously collected data from RAHMA registry for each participant were linked to this study data. Clinical data measured for each participant included current weight and height to calculate the BMI and waist circumference. Blood tests done for each participant were fasting blood glucose (FPG) and HbA1c. Based on the blood tests results, participants were classified into three groups; diabetic, pre-diabetic and normal. The incidence of diabetes and prediabetes was calculated for the whole cohort. Clinical, biochemical, and sociodemographic predictors of glucose intolerance were compared between the three groups. Risk factors with P-value less than 0.05 were tested in multivariate regression model with bootstrapping to calculate the relative risk (RR) and its 95% Bias corrected Confidence Interval (C.I.) Results: From the sub-cohort, 407 women fulfilled the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. From the study participants; 250 (61.4%) women were normoglycemic, 142 (35%) women had prediabetes and 15 (3.6%) women were diabetic. Following multivariable regression analysis only history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), (RR 1.74, 95% CI (1.06 to 2.84), P = 0.01), obesity (RR 1.69, 95% CI (1.01–3.11), P = 0.04) and diastolic blood pressure, (RR 1.04, 95% CI (1.01–1.09), P = 0.03) remained as predictors of postpartum glucose intolerance. Conclusion: The incidence of postpartum glucose intolerance (diabetes and prediabetes) is very high in Saudi women. Both GDM and obesity are strong predictors of glucose intolerance