Phytochemical study of Joannesia princeps Vell. (Euphorbiaceae) leaves

A phytochemical study of chloroform-methanol and methanol extracts of Joannesia princeps Vell. leaves led to the isolation of twenty eight compounds, including two α-ionones (2, 5), three glycosylated monoterpenes (1, 3, 4), eight phenolic compounds (6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18, 24), two gallotannins (10, 11), twelve flavonoids (7, 15, 16, 19, 20-23, 25-28), and one lignan (13). The structural characterization of the isolated compounds was performed by spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature. All compounds were isolated from this species and from the genus Joannesia for the first time. The chemotaxonomic importance of these metabolites is therefore summarized

Investigation of a neutrosophic group

We use a neutrosophic set, instead of an intuitionistic fuzzy because the neutrosophic set is more general, and it allows for independent and partial independent components, while in an intuitionistic fuzzy set, all components are totally dependent. In this article, we present and demonstrate the concept of neutrosophic invariant subgroups. We delve into the exploration of this notion to establish and study the neutrosophic quotient group. Further, we give the concept of a neutrosophic normal subgroup as a novel concept

A Chemical-Biological Study Reveals C-9-type Iridoids as Novel Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) Inhibitors

The potential of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) as a therapeutic target for numerous diseases has made the identification and optimization of novel Hsp90 inhibitors an emerging therapeutic strategy. A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) approach was adopted to screen some iridoids for their Hsp90 alpha binding capability. Twenty-four iridoid derivatives, including 13 new natural compounds, were isolated from the leaves of Tabebuia argentea and petioles of Catalpa bignonioides. Their structures were elucidated by NMR, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. By means of a panel of chemical and biological approaches, four iridoids were demonstrated to bind Hsp90 alpha. In particular, the dimeric iridoid argenteoside A was shown to efficiently inhibit the chaperone in biochemical and cellular assays. Our results disclose C-9-type iridoids as a novel class of Hsp90 inhibitors

A pyridinium derivative from Red Sea soft corals inhibited voltage-activated potassium conductances and increased excitability of rat cultured sensory neurones

BACKGROUND: Whole cell patch clamp recording and intracellular Ca(2+ )imaging were carried out on rat cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones to characterize the actions of crude extracts and purified samples from Red Sea soft corals. The aim of the project was to identify compounds that would alter the excitability of DRG neurones. RESULTS: Crude extracts of Sarcophyton glaucum and Lobophyton crassum attenuated spike frequency adaptation causing DRG neurones to switch from firing single action potentials to multiple firing. The increase in excitability was associated with enhanced KCl-evoked Ca(2+ )influx. The mechanism of action of the natural products in the samples from the soft corals involved inhibition of voltage-activated K(+ )currents. An active component of the crude marine samples was identified as 3-carboxy-1-methyl pyridinium (trigonelline). Application of synthetic 3-carboxy-1-methyl pyridinium at high concentration (0.1 mM) also induced multiple firing and reduced voltage-activated K(+ )current. The changes in excitability of DRG neurones induced by 3-carboxy-1-methyl pyridinium suggest that this compound contributes to the bioactivity produced by the crude extracts from two soft corals. CONCLUSION: Sarcophyton glaucum and Lobophyton crassum contain natural products including 3-carboxy-1-methyl pyridinium that increase the excitability of DRG neurones. We speculate that in addition to developmental control and osmoregulation these compounds may contribute to chemical defenses

Climate Change and Reproductive Biocomplexity in Fishes: Innovative Management Approaches towards Sustainability of Fisheries and Aquaculture

The ongoing rapid climate change, combined with the disturbance of fish breeding grounds, may impact reproduction by endangering successful breeding and survival, and thus affect the viable sustainability in aquaculture systems as well as in the sea. In this study we focus on the biocomplexity of fish reproduction in response to climate change. Further, we propose adaptive strategies, including technological advancements, using a noninvasive and non-lethal approach, and we outline an assisted reproduction and nutrigenomics approach to mitigating fish reproductive risks posed by climate change. This was done in an effort to monitor fish aquaculture and ensure that, as a livelihood, it may provide a useful source of nutrition for our society

Fisheries and biodiversity along Mediterranean Sea: Italian and Egyptian coast overview

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Evaluation of the health status and histopathology of gills and liver of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, reared ina recirculating aquaculture system with a TiO2-based photo-electrocatalysis filtering technique

The Fish-PhotoCAT project, (PRIMA2019), aims to evaluate the efficiency of a nanotube TiO2-based photo-electrocatalytic (PEC) system on a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) and its impact on the growth and health of fish reared at different densities and stages of development. This study refers to the low-density trial, where rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) weighing 90 g were raised for 30 days at a density of 15 kg/m3 in a RAS. Six 500 L tanks were equipped with the standard water filtration set-up: three tanks of the control groups (CTR), and three of the treated groups (T), where a PEC system was installed together with the classic UV lamp. Water physical and chemical parameters were monitored throughout the trial. At the end of the trial, fish were collected, and gills and liver were sampled for histological analyses as alterations of the structure of these tissues can serve as reliable indicators of the water quality. Furthermore, gene expression analyses of three cytokines (IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α) and HSP70 were performed on the gills, and the melanomacrophage centers (MMCs) evaluation was done in the liver, as their number and area are good indicators of environmental conditions. Finally, the presence of TiO2 nanotubes was investigated both in the water by ICP analyses, and in tissues by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Authorization code: OPBA_20_2020. No significant differences were found regarding NH3 and nitrite concentrations between the experimental groups. The mean concentration of nitrates, however, was significantly higher in the CTR (122.211 mg/L vs. 108.510 mg/L; p<0.001), likely due to the parallel ammonia oxidation to molecular nitrogen performed by the PEC. CTR and T fish exhibited similar specific growth rates and condition factor. No histological differences were found in the structure of the gills between treatments: primary lamellae appeared arranged in double rows and secondary lamellae lined by squamous epithelial cells (Fig. 1A, lamellae, asterisk). The expression of IL-1β, IL-10, TNFα, and HSP70, showed no differences between groups, confirming the histological observations. Liver histological analyses revealed no structural differences between experimental groups (Fig.1B, MMC, arrows). The relative number of MMCs was not statistically different between treatments even if numerically, it was higher in the CTR. The relative area of the MMCs was significantly higher in the CTR (Fig.1C, p<0.01), indicating an activation of the immune response in this group. This difference may be justified by the lower levels of nitrates found in the PEC tanks. Lastly, no TiO2 nanotubes were detected in the water or in the tissues (Fig.1D), implying the safety of this innovative PEC system. These are encouraging results that indicate a beneficial effect of the TiO2-based PEC reactor in a RAS, even if further investigation is needed

Perceptions of Cancer Status Disclosure in Lebanon

In Lebanon, cancer used to be regarded as a taboo and referred to as “the disease” and was rarely disclosed to patients. However, patients are now increasingly interested in knowing their cancer status but with varying degrees of information requested. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perceptions of cancer patients, their families, oncologists, and healthy individuals concerning the disclosure of cancer prognosis. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 family members, 20 middle-aged cancer patients, 11 elderly cancer patients, 22 healthy individuals, and 6 oncologists at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. The interviews focused on the following: general perception of cancer in Lebanese society, type, and extent of information that should be disclosed, factors affecting patient autonomy, and elements contributing to the decisions taken by oncologists and patients. The oncologist’s compassion and communication with patients affected their emotional status greatly, and some gaps in communication skills of oncologists were in need of standardized training courses to improve the process of cancer status disclosure. Also, patients had an increased preference towards the disclosure of cancer prognosis, and a desire to know the truth and this need increased as the patient progressed to a terminal state. Future work should be directed at addressing the needs of cancer patients through every disease stage. More research and further deliberation are needed to confirm the findings of this study since the Lebanese Code of Medical Practice does not protect the right of full disclosure. © 2018, American Association for Cancer Education

Metastatic colorectal cancer presenting with bone marrow metastasis: A case series and review of literature

Abstract: With advances in treatment, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) are now living longer with an apparent increase in the incidence of bone and bone marrow metastases (BMM). Common sites of metastatic disease from CRC include the liver and lungs with bone metastasis rarely occurring in the absence of visceral metastatic disease. We report a series of three patients presenting with isolated bone and BMM leading to a diagnosis of primary CRC. We have reviewed the literature regarding diagnosis, potential mechanisms leading to the development of osseous metastasis and outcome. A high level of clinical suspicion and in-depth understanding of the natural history of these rare metastases may guide future management and treatment decisions. © Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. All rights reserved

temperature changes and marine fish species epinephelus coioides and sparus aurata role of oxidative stress biomarkers in toxicological food studies

The increase of seawater temperature as a result of global climate variation elucidates a major challenge for marine organisms survival in addition to consumers safety. Spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and Seabream (Sparus aurata) were collected in water with different temperature variations at Suez Canal and Alexandria (Suez and Abu Qir bay) in Egypt with the aim to assess expression levels of heat shock proteins such as HSP47, HSP70 and HSP90 genes in addition to antioxidants value through enzymes activity: Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx). Research results revealed that expression of the HSP47, HSP70a and HSP90 genes increased in marine fishes tissues collected from Suez Canal, with higher water temperature (23:28ºC), compared with those collected from Alexandria (19:24°C) whereas the content of GPx and GST decreased. Our results show alteration of the marker examined suggesting that the increase of heat shock protein genes expression levels of fish collected from Suez Canal might be exposed mainly to thermal oxidative stress response more than those collect from Alexandria. The increase of heat shock protein-related genes expression could be considered as a factor in prohibiting the heat shock transcription factor that may lead to stimulation of heat-inducible genes in addition to heat acclimation. Thus, warming of water is also likely to alter the composition and abundance of food resources, e.g. fish muscles, available to higher trophic level consumers