Phytochemical analysis and in vivo anti-malarial activities of aqueous extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens leaves in mice

This study was carried out to assess the acclaimed anti-malarial potentials of aqueous extracts of leaf of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrecsens (PN) in mice. The phytochemical constituents and in vivo anti-malarial activities of individual and combined of aqueous leaf extracts of Tithonia diversifolia (TD) and Parquetina nigrecsens (PN) were investigated. Fifteen albino mice were infected by intraperitoneal injection of standard inocula (5 × 106) of chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK 65). The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups of 3 mice. Group I served as the control while group II received 5mg/kg body weight per oral of chloroquine diphosphate. Groups III – V were orally treated with 150mg/kg body weight extracts of TD, TD+PN and PN respectively. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids and tannins in the aqueous extracts of TD and PN. There were 100, 90, 86 and 77 percent parasite inhibition in groups treated with Chloroquine, combination of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens (TD+PN), Parquetina nigrescens (PN) and Tithonia diversifolia (TN) respectively on day 5. The mean survival time (MST) for the control animals was 7 days and chloroquine 25 days, while the TD+PN, PN and TD aqueous extracts recorded 19, 18 and 11 days respectively. The results indicated that the combined aqueous (TD+PN) extracts of Tithonia diversifolia and Parquetina nigrescens produced the best antimalarial activity, which provides a justification for their use in folklore medicine and may be promising alternative anti-malarial drug.Keywords: Tithonia diversifolia; Parquetina nigrescens, Plasmodium berghei, Anti-malarial, Phytochemica

Drinking patterns: biochemical and haematological findings in alcohol consumers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Effect of drinking patterns on biochemical and haematological parameters was conducted on 200 Nigerian men, categorized into non-drinkers (control), occasional, moderate and heavy drinkers, using standard techniques. Their ages ranged between 20 and 57 years. The values obtained for occasionaland moderate drinkers showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) from those of non-drinkers based on their biochemical and haematological parameters. However, there was significant difference (p < 0. 05) in the values obtained for heavy drinkers and those of other categories. This study showed thatoccasional and moderate drinking had no effect on biochemical and haematological parameters while heavy drinking had some effect. Some of the results in conjunction with the clinical history would also be useful in diagnosing and management of alcoholics

Modélisation de la température et de la pluviométrie dans un contexte de changement climatique : cas de l’Afrique de l’Ouest

La modélisation du climat de l’Afrique de l’Ouest durant le 21ème siècle a  été effectuée dans l’optique d’évaluer les impacts du changement  climatique sur l’évolution des précipitations et des températures et depermettre aux décideurs de prendre des mesures d’adaptation et  d’atténuation afin de réduire la vulnérabilité de cette région face aux effets néfastes provoqués par ce phénomène. Le modèle régional RegCM3 a été utilisé à partir d’un maillage de 60 Km en différences finies du domaine d’étude compris entre 25°E – 25°W et 5°S – 25°N. Deux types de données ont été utilisés en entrée du modèle comme conditions initiales et conditions aux limites. Il s’agit des données climatiques (température, pression, humidité relative, vitesse du vent…) et physiographiques (occupation du sol, topographie). Les résultats donnent selon les localités en Afrique de l’Ouest un accroissement de 0,4°C à 1,8°C de la température à l’horizon 2031-2040 et de 3,2°C à 5,8°C à l’horizon 2091-2100. Selon l’analyse, les précipitations pourraient baisser dans l’ensemble dans la zone et atteindre dans certaines localités 60%. Spécifiquement, les températures au Sahel connaîtraient des augmentations moyennes mensuelles et annuelles plus importantes que celles des régions du Golf de Guinée. Quant aux précipitations, elles subiraient une augmentation annuelle de 0,44% au Sahel contre une baisse de 3% dans le Golf de Guinée à l’horizon 2031-2040. A l’horizon 2091-2100, les précipitations diminueraient de 12,6% au Sahel et de 9,12% dans les régions du Golf de Guinée.Mots-clés : impacts, changement climatique, température, précipitations, Afrique de l’Ouest

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چکیده هدف پژوهش حاضر ارزشیابی دور ة آموزشی الکترونیکی رشته کارشناسی ارشد مهندسی فنّاوری اطلاعات دانشگاههای تربیت مدرس ،خواجه نصیر الدین طوسی و امیرکبیر بر اساس الگوی رودریک سیمز است. در این تحقیق از روش توصیفی استفاده شده است. نمون ۀ آماری پژوهش 151 نفر از دانشجویان، استادان و آموزشیاران دور ة آموزش الکترونیکی رشتۀ کارشناسی ارشد مهندسی فنّاوری اطلاعات دانشگاههای تربیت مدرس، خواجه نصیرالدین طوسی و امیرکبیر بودند. در این پژوهش پایایی پرسشنامه 93/0 به دست آمد. نتایج نشان داد که دورههای آموزش الکترونیکی در دانشگاههای خواجه نصیر و تربیت مدرس غالباً در حد نسبتاً مطلوب ارزیاب ی شده و در دانشگاه امیرکبیر وضعیت مؤلفهها در مقایسه با نتایج خواجه نصیر و تربیت مدرس مطلوب تر ارزشیابی شده است

Selenium as adjunct to HAART in the management of HIV/Hepatitis B Virus coinfection: A Randomized open label study

Objective: Management of viral hepatitis in patients with HIV disease is quite challenging and  complex. With effective HIV treatment, people with HIV/HBV co-infection are living longer. HBV  epidemiologic surveys showed an inverse association between selenium (Se) level and regional cancer incidence, as well as viral infection. This study assessed effect of selenium as adjunct to HAART in management of HIV/HBV co-infection.Methods: A randomized open label study with participants allocated into three treatment groups: – HAART-only, Se-only and HAART-plus-Se. HIV viral load, HBV viral load, CD4 cell count, and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), were analyzed at baseline and 18th month, analyzed using SPSS 5 v11. Ethical approval was obtained from Institute’s Ethical Review Board.Results: Sample size was 149 HIV/HBV patients. Rate of HBV clearance was higher among those on HAART-plus-Se at 18th month when compared with rate of clearance among those on HAART-only (p=0.046). CD4 count increment among HAARTplus- Se group compared with HAART-only group was higher (p=0.133), though not statistically significant. On comparison of baseline and 18th month ALT, there was significant decline for HAART-plus-Se (p=0.002) compared with HAART-only group.Conclusion: Selenium seems to have protective effect on liver cells; may be beneficial as adjunct to HAART in HIV/HBV management.Key words: HIV/HBV co-infection, Selenium adjunct, HAAR

Outcome of a Simple Novel Technique to Reduce Soft Tissue Complications in Open Tendoachilles Injury: A Series of 20 Patients

Introduction: Open tendoachilles injuries are rare and associated with significant soft tissues complications. The objective of the present study was to assess the clinical outcome and safety of a simple and minimally invasive technique, with a goal to assess if it may help minimise flap and wound related complications in open tendoachilles injuries. Materials and methods: This prospective study of four years duration included 20 patients with open tendoachilles injuries managed with a simple minimally invasive tunnel technique. The primary outcome variable was occurrence of a major soft tissue complication. The secondary outcome variables included functional outcome measured using AOFAS Ankle hind foot score, re-rupture of tendoachilles and need for revision surgery. Results: None of the patients in the present series developed a serious soft tissue complication. Based upon the AOFAS hind foot scoring system, good to excellent outcome was achieved in 19 (95%) patients. All the patients were able to perform tip toe walking at six months post-surgery. None of the patients had a re-rupture of the tendoachilles and no patient needed a revision surgery. The complications encountered include thickening of the tendon at the repair site (15%), superficial wound infection (5%), stitch granuloma (5%) and hypertrophic scar (5%). Conclusion: This technique seems to be promising in reducing the soft tissue complications associated with the surgical management of open tendoachilles injuries. Most patients had a good final clinical outcome. The technique is safe, simple and reproducible. However, further randomised control studies with a larger sample size assessing the technique are recommended

Optimization and Reproducibility of Aortic Valve 18F-Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography in Patients With Aortic Stenosis

$\textbf{BACKGROUND}$: 18F-Fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) can measure disease activity and progression in aortic stenosis. Our objectives were to optimize the methodology, analysis, and scan-rescan reproducibility of aortic valve 18F-fluoride PET-CT imaging. $\textbf{METHODS AND RESULTS}$: Fifteen patients with aortic stenosis underwent repeated 18F-fluoride PET-CT. We compared nongated PET and noncontrast CT, with a modified approach that incorporated contrast CT and ECG-gated PET. We explored a range of image analysis techniques, including estimation of blood-pool activity at differing vascular sites and a most diseased segment approach. Contrast-enhanced ECG-gated PET-CT permitted localization of 18F-fluoride uptake to individual valve leaflets. Uptake was most commonly observed at sites of maximal mechanical stress: the leaflet tips and the commissures. Scan-rescan reproducibility was markedly improved using enhanced analysis techniques leading to a reduction in percentage error from ±63% to ±10% (tissue to background ratio MDS mean of 1.55, bias -0.05, limits of agreement -0·20 to +0·11). $\textbf{CONCLUSIONS}$: Optimized 18F-fluoride PET-CT allows reproducible localization of calcification activity to different regions of the aortic valve leaflet and commonly to areas of increased mechanical stress. This technique holds major promise in improving our understanding of the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis and as a biomarker end point in clinical trials of novel therapies. $\textbf{CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION}$ - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02132026.The study was funded by the British Heart Foundation (FS/14/78/31020). Drs Pawade, Cartlidge, Jenkins, Dweck, and Newby are supported by the British Heart Foundation (SS/CH/09/002/26360, FS/13/77/30488, SS/CH/09/002/2636, FS/14/78/31020, and CH/09/002). Dr Newby is the recipient of a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator Award (WT103782AIA). Dr Dweck is the recipient of the Sir Jules Thorn Award for Biomedical Research 2015. Dr Adamson is supported by New Zealand Overseas Training and Research Fellowship (1607) and Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation (50–534). The Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility and the Clinical Research Imaging Centre are supported by NHS Research Scotland (NRS) through NHS Lothian. Dr Rudd is partly supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, the British Heart Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust

Genetic diversity of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in imported and domestic camels in Saudi Arabia

Camels gained attention since the discovery of MERS-CoV as intermediary hosts for potentially epidemic zoonotic viruses. DcHEV is a novel zoonotic pathogen associated with camel contact. This study aimed to genetically characterize DcHEV in domestic and imported camels in Saudi Arabia. DcHEV was detected by RT-PCR in serum samples, PCR-positive samples were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. DcHEV was detected in 1.77% of samples with higher positivity in domestic DCs. All positive imported dromedaries were from Sudan with age declining prevalence. Domestic DcHEV sequences clustered with sequences from Kenya, Somalia, and UAE while imported sequences clustered with one DcHEV isolate from UAE and both sequences clustered away from isolates reported from Pakistan. Full-genome sequences showed 24 amino acid difference with reference sequences. Our results confirm the detection of DcHEV in domestic and imported DCs. Further investigations are needed in human and camel populations to identify DcHEV potential zoonosis threat

A transient homotypic interaction model for the influenza A virus NS1 protein effector domain

Influenza A virus NS1 protein is a multifunctional virulence factor consisting of an RNA binding domain (RBD), a short linker, an effector domain (ED), and a C-terminal 'tail'. Although poorly understood, NS1 multimerization may autoregulate its actions. While RBD dimerization seems functionally conserved, two possible apo ED dimers have been proposed (helix-helix and strand-strand). Here, we analyze all available RBD, ED, and full-length NS1 structures, including four novel crystal structures obtained using EDs from divergent human and avian viruses, as well as two forms of a monomeric ED mutant. The data reveal the helix-helix interface as the only strictly conserved ED homodimeric contact. Furthermore, a mutant NS1 unable to form the helix-helix dimer is compromised in its ability to bind dsRNA efficiently, implying that ED multimerization influences RBD activity. Our bioinformatical work also suggests that the helix-helix interface is variable and transient, thereby allowing two ED monomers to twist relative to one another and possibly separate. In this regard, we found a mAb that recognizes NS1 via a residue completely buried within the ED helix-helix interface, and which may help highlight potential different conformational populations of NS1 (putatively termed 'helix-closed' and 'helix-open') in virus-infected cells. 'Helix-closed' conformations appear to enhance dsRNA binding, and 'helix-open' conformations allow otherwise inaccessible interactions with host factors. Our data support a new model of NS1 regulation in which the RBD remains dimeric throughout infection, while the ED switches between several quaternary states in order to expand its functional space. Such a concept may be applicable to other small multifunctional proteins

Electronic Origin of High Temperature Superconductivity in Single-Layer FeSe Superconductor

The latest discovery of high temperature superconductivity signature in single-layer FeSe is significant because it is possible to break the superconducting critical temperature ceiling (maximum Tc~55 K) that has been stagnant since the discovery of Fe-based superconductivity in 2008. It also blows the superconductivity community by surprise because such a high Tc is unexpected in FeSe system with the bulk FeSe exhibiting a Tc at only 8 K at ambient pressure which can be enhanced to 38 K under high pressure. The Tc is still unusually high even considering the newly-discovered intercalated FeSe system A_xFe_{2-y}Se_2 (A=K, Cs, Rb and Tl) with a Tc at 32 K at ambient pressure and possible Tc near 48 K under high pressure. Particularly interesting is that such a high temperature superconductivity occurs in a single-layer FeSe system that is considered as a key building block of the Fe-based superconductors. Understanding the origin of high temperature superconductivity in such a strictly two-dimensional FeSe system is crucial to understanding the superconductivity mechanism in Fe-based superconductors in particular, and providing key insights on how to achieve high temperature superconductivity in general. Here we report distinct electronic structure associated with the single-layer FeSe superconductor. Its Fermi surface topology is different from other Fe-based superconductors; it consists only of electron pockets near the zone corner without indication of any Fermi surface around the zone center. Our observation of large and nearly isotropic superconducting gap in this strictly two-dimensional system rules out existence of node in the superconducting gap. These results have provided an unambiguous case that such a unique electronic structure is favorable for realizing high temperature superconductivity