In vitro antioxidant, reducing power, free radical scavenging and membrane stabilizing activities of seeds of Syzygium cumini L.

Different extractives of Syzygium cumini seeds were evaluated by free radical (DPPH) scavenging assay, phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant assay and reducing power determination in order to identify promising sources of antioxidants along with its membrane stabilizing activity. The total phenolic content was also determined and expressed in gallic acid equivalent. Here, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and ascorbic acid (ASA) were used as standard antioxidants. The membrane stabilizing activity was assessed by using erythrocytes in hypotonic solution and was compared with acetyl salicylic acid. A positive correlation was observed between total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity as well as reducing power of S. cumini having correlation coefficient (R2 ) values of 0.8177 and 0.9818, respectively. In the present studies, the methanol extract and its aqueous and petroleum ether soluble partitionates demonstrated significant antioxidant potentials.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Psychometric properties of three online-related addictive behavior instruments among Bangladeshi school-going adolescents

Background: Due to the ease of access to the internet in modern society users have become more prone to experiencing addictive behaviors online. The present study aimed to develop and investigate the psychometric properties of the Bangla Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), Gaming Disorder Test (GDT), and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) due to a lack of existing sound psychometric tools in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional paper-and-pencil survey was carried out among 428 school-aged adolescents who were active gamers (90.89% males; Meanage: 16.13±1.85 years; age range: 10–19 years). Participants were recruited using convenience sampling across four selected schools in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Data collected included sociodemographic information, frequency of internet use and gaming behaviors, psychological states (i.e., Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7]), disordered gaming and social media use (i.e., IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS). Psychometric testing was conducted to examine the validity and reliability levels of the Bangla IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS. Results: The newly adapted Bangla IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS exhibited adequate levels of internal consistency. All total scores were significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, frequencies of internet use/online activities and gaming, supporting criterion and convergent validity. CFA indicated excellent construct validity as all instruments had a good fit to the data. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the Bangla IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS are sound psychometric instruments due to their satisfactory psychometric properties including internal consistency, criterion validity, convergent validity, and construct validity

Chemical Investigation of Mesua nagassarium (Burm. f.) Kosterm

Repeated chromatographic separation and purification of pet-ether and carbon tetrachloride soluble fractions of a methanol extract of stem bark of Mesua nagassarium (Burm. f.) Kosterm yielded five compounds. Extensive spectroscopic studies, including high field NMR analyses was conducted to identify these compounds which resulted to be friedelin (1), 3β-friedelanol (2),lupeol (3), 3-oxo-betulin(4) and spinasterol (5). Although compounds 1–3have been reported from various plant species, but 3-oxo-betulinand spinasterol have been discovered from M. nagassarium (Burm. f.) Kosterm for the first time

Chemical Investigation of Mesua nagassarium (Burm. f.) Kosterm

Repeated chromatographic separation and purification of pet-ether and carbon tetrachloride soluble fractions of a methanol extract of stem bark of Mesua nagassarium (Burm. f.) Kosterm yielded five compounds. Extensive spectroscopic studies, including high field NMR analyses was conducted to identify these compounds which resulted to be friedelin (1), 3β-friedelanol (2),lupeol (3), 3-oxo-betulin(4) and spinasterol (5). Although compounds 1–3have been reported from various plant species, but 3-oxo-betulinand spinasterol have been discovered from M. nagassarium (Burm. f.) Kosterm for the first time

Evaluation of Thrombolytic Activity of Four Bangladeshi Medicinal Plants, as a Possible Renewable Source for Thrombolytic Compounds

Four Bangladeshi medicinal plants Sansevieria trifasciata, Justica gendarussa, Hydnocarpus kurzii and Mesua nagassarium have been investigated for their in vitro thrombolytic activity. The clot lysis activity was assessed by addition of the test material to the pre-clotted blood and incubation for 90 min. at 37oC and was expressed as % lysis of clot. Each of the plant was extracted with methanol at room temperature and the concentrated methanolic extract was fractionated by the modified Kupchan partitioning method to provide pet-ether, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform and aqueous soluble fractions. Among the four plants the aqueous soluble fraction of M. nagassarium, carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction of H. Kurzii , aqueous soluble fraction of methanolic extract of S. trifasciata exhibited highest thrombolytic activity with clot lysis value of 50.86%, 47.50%, and 47.10% respectively. However, the pet ether and carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction of methanolic extract of J. gendarussa demonstrated significant thrombolytic activity as evident from 45.93% and 45.47% lysis of clot, respectively. Standard streptokinase was used as positive control which exhibited 61.50% lysis of clot while the negative control water revealed 2.56% lysis of clot

Psychometric properties of three online-related addictive behavior instruments among Bangladeshi school-going adolescents.

BackgroundDue to the ease of access to the internet in modern society users have become more prone to experiencing addictive behaviors online. The present study aimed to develop and investigate the psychometric properties of the Bangla Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short-Form (IGDS9-SF), Gaming Disorder Test (GDT), and Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) due to a lack of existing sound psychometric tools in Bangladesh.MethodsA cross-sectional paper-and-pencil survey was carried out among 428 school-aged adolescents who were active gamers (90.89% males; Meanage: 16.13±1.85 years; age range: 10-19 years). Participants were recruited using convenience sampling across four selected schools in Dhaka City, Bangladesh. Data collected included sociodemographic information, frequency of internet use and gaming behaviors, psychological states (i.e., Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], Generalized Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7]), disordered gaming and social media use (i.e., IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS). Psychometric testing was conducted to examine the validity and reliability levels of the Bangla IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS.ResultsThe newly adapted Bangla IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS exhibited adequate levels of internal consistency. All total scores were significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, frequencies of internet use/online activities and gaming, supporting criterion and convergent validity. CFA indicated excellent construct validity as all instruments had a good fit to the data.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that the Bangla IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS are sound psychometric instruments due to their satisfactory psychometric properties including internal consistency, criterion validity, convergent validity, and construct validity

The influence of the microbiome on early-life severe viral lower respiratory infections and asthma-food for thought?

Severe viral lower respiratory infections are a major cause of infant morbidity. In developing countries, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-bronchiolitis induces significant mortality, whereas in developed nations the disease represents a major risk factor for subsequent asthma. Susceptibility to severe RSV-bronchiolitis is governed by gene-environmental interactions that affect the host response to RSV infection. Emerging evidence suggests that the excessive inflammatory response and ensuing immunopathology, typically as a consequence of insufficient immunoregulation, leads to long-term changes in immune cells and structural cells that render the host susceptible to subsequent environmental incursions. Thus, the initial host response to RSV may represent a tipping point in the balance between long-term respiratory health or chronic disease (e.g., asthma). The composition and diversity of the microbiota, which in humans stabilizes in the first year of life, critically affects the development and function of the immune system. Hence, perturbations to the maternal and/or infant microbiota are likely to have a profound impact on the host response to RSV and susceptibility to childhood asthma. Here, we review recent insights describing the effects of the microbiota on immune system homeostasis and respiratory disease and discuss the environmental factors that promote microbial dysbiosis in infancy. Ultimately, this knowledge will be harnessed for the prevention and treatment of severe viral bronchiolitis as a strategy to prevent the onset and development of asthma

The correlations and associations of the three scales (e.g., IGDS9-SF, GDT, and BSMAS) with socio-demographic variables.

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Item-descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate normality testing (<i>N</i> = 428).

Item-descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate normality testing (N = 428).</p