EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF STEM AND LEAF EXTRACTS OF COSCINIUM FENESTRATUM

Objective:In the present study, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity leaf and stem extracts of Coscinium fenestratum was  investigated. Methods:To asses the antioxidant activity, methanolic leaf and stem extracts were used. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) or ABTS. For antimicrobial activity, aqueous, acetone, ethanol and methanloic extracts of stem and leaf extracts were tested for its potent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis.Total content of phenol and flavonoid was quantitatively estimated in leaf and stem extracts of Coscinium fenestratum. Results &Conclusion: Total phenoilc content in the stem and leaf was found to be 8.35±0.56 and 3.35±0.67 mg GAE/g extract, While  the total flavonoid content in the stem and leaf were found to be  12.8±0.88 and 3.2±0.78 mg QE/g extract respectively. Among the different extracts, methanolic stem extract showed moderate activity against E.Coli (17±0.33),P.aeruginosa (12±0.20), B.subtilis (13±0.45).Methanol leaf extract had maximum activity against S.aureus(6.4±0.67) and lowest against B.subtilis (3.9±0.58) respectively. Key words: Coscinium fenestratum, Antioxidant , Antimicrobial,  DPPH, Medicinal plant, Phenol, Free radical

Insulinooporność poprzedza nietolerancję glukozy i hiperleptynemię u myszy C57BL/6J otrzymujących karmę wysokotłuszczową i zawierającą cukry proste

  Introduction: Very few systematic studies are done during the onset and progression of metabolic syndrome in suitable animal models. In this paper we present the effect of High-Fat Simple Carbohydrate (HFSC) feed on the metabolic hormones in C57BL/6J mice to understand the sequence of events leading to impairment of glucose homeostasis. Material and methods: One-month-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed with control (C group) and HFSC (T group) feed (n = 30 each) respectively for five months. The glucose tolerance was studied by Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) whereas serum insulin and leptin were quantified using ELISA kits, and serum cortisol was quantified using CLIA kits. Results: Insulin resistance index and HOMA-IR levels were higher in the mice of group T as compared to age-matched mice of group C within one month and significantly higher after and five months of feeding. The total area under the glucose tolerance test curve (AUC) and the insulin curve (AUC ins) was found to significantly increase in the mice of T group as compared to the mice of C group as early as two months of feeding and was elevated after 5 months post feeding. Comparison of the Matsuda index revealed that pancreatic beta cell function was significantly lower in mice of T group as compared to mice of C group by five months of feeding. Leptin levels fluctuated during the 1st–4th month and by the 5th month significant hyperleptinaemia was detected. There was no significant change in cortisol levels in mice of group T as compared to mice of group C after five months of feeding. Conclusions: HFSC feed induces insulin resistance by the first month and progressively impairs glucose tolerance, resulting in hyperleptinaemia by the fifth month in male C57BL/6J mice. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (6): 592–598)    Wstęp: Dostępnych jest bardzo niewiele badań systematycznych oceniających wystąpienie i progresję zespołu metabolicznego na odpowiednich modelach zwierzęcych. W niniejszej pracy przedstawiono wpływ podawania myszom C57BL/6J karmy wysokotłuszczowej i zawierającej cukry proste (HFSC, High Fat Simple Carbohydrate) na sekwencje zdarzeń prowadzących do zaburzeń homeostazy glukozy. Materiał i metody: Jednomiesięcznym samcom myszy C57BL/6J podawano przez 5miesięcy karmę kontrolną (grupa C) lub HFSC (grupa T) (n = 30 w każdej grupie). Tolerancję glukozy oceniono na podstawie doustnego testu tolerancji glukozy (OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test), natomiast stężenia insulin i leptyny w surowicy oznaczono, używając metody ELISA, a do oznaczenia stężenia kortyzolu w surowicy użyto metody CLIA. Wyniki: Wskaźnik insulinooporności HOMA-IR był wyższy u myszy z grupy T niż u dobranej pod względem wieku myszy z grupy C już w ciągu pierwszego miesiąca, a po 3 i 5 miesiącach diety HFSC różnice były istotne statystycznie. Całkowite pole pod krzywą (AUC, area under the curve) w teście tolerancji glukozy oraz pole pod krzywą insuliny (AUC ins) zwiększyło się istotnie u myszy z grupy T w porównaniu z myszami z grupy C, co było widoczne już po 2 miesiącach podawania karmy HFSC i było podwyższone przez 5 miesięcy od zakończenia podawania tej karmy. Porównanie wskaźnika Matsudy wykazało, że po 5 miesiącach czynność komórek beta trzustki była istotnie upośledzono u myszy z grupy T w porównaniu z myszami z grupy C. Stężenia leptyny wahały się w okresie 1.–4. miesiąca, a po 5 miesiącach wykryto istotną hiperleptynemię. Po 3 miesiącach nie stwierdzono istotnych zmian stężeń kortyzolu u myszy z grupy T w porównaniu z grupą C. Wnioski: U samców myszy C57BL/6J dieta HFSC wywołała insulinooporność już po pierwszym miesiącu, a następnie powodowała stopniowe pogarszanie tolerancji glukozy, co po pięciu miesiącach doprowadziło do hiperleptynemii. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (6): 592–598)

Formalization of SOA concepts with mathematical foundation

With the development of the IT industry, agility and dynamicity are the two expected characteristics from any business enterprise. Service oriented architecture (SOA) is emerging as a promising approach aiming to address the current trends/needs of enterprise business applications. The current work aims at giving an overview of the conceptual model of SOA based on set theory approach. Also, it posits mathematical definitions for service, logical service, environment service and application definition with the help of general systems theory and mathematical foundation. With the help of mathematical model, the definition and functionality of services enhances SOA principles which can be used efficiently in integrating heterogeneous components

Quantity of Vaccine Poliovirus Shed Determines the Titer of the Serum Neutralizing Antibody Response in Indian Children Who Received Oral Vaccine

Replication of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in the intestine (ie, vaccine take) is associated with seroconversion and protection against poliomyelitis. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis to measure vaccine shedding in 300 seronegative infants aged 6–11 months and in 218 children aged 1–4 years 7 days after administration of monovalent or bivalent OPV. We found that the quantity of shedding correlated with the magnitude of the serum neutralizing antibody response measured 21 or 28 days after vaccination. This suggests that the immune response to OPV is on a continuum, rather than an all-or-nothing phenomenon, that depends on efficient vaccine virus replication

Vertical variance analysis of geomagnetic disturbance during solar cycle 23

The geomagnetic field consists of temporal variations induced primarily by the variations in the solar wind and embedded interplanetary magnetic field. 34 stations across the Earth have been categorized in this paper on the basis of their geomagnetic disturbance during solar cycle 23 (1997-2008). The Vertical Variance (VV) disturbance quantifier has been used to develop such profile. The latitude profile of geomagnetic disturbance has been found to exhibit a typical 'Knee' behaviour, with the fluctuation content seen to rise sharply beyond this critical latitude determined near 52° latitude. The increasing trend in geomagnetic fluctuation content however is seen to end around the auroral oval beyond where abrupt variations has been observed indicating the transition from closed to open magnetic field lines. The physical mechanism behind this trend has also been explored. The VV analysis of geomagnetic disturbance has revealed prominent features of solar wind – magnetosphere coupling

Vertical variance analysis of geomagnetic disturbance during solar cycle 23

300-309The geomagnetic field consists of temporal variations induced primarily by the variations in the solar wind and embedded interplanetary magnetic field. 34 stations across the Earth have been categorized in this paper on the basis of their geomagnetic disturbance during solar cycle 23 (1997-2008). The Vertical Variance (VV) disturbance quantifier has been used to develop such profile. The latitude profile of geomagnetic disturbance has been found to exhibit a typical ‘Knee’ behaviour, with the fluctuation content seen to rise sharply beyond this critical latitude determined near 52° latitude. The increasing trend in geomagnetic fluctuation content however is seen to end around the auroral oval beyond where abrupt variations has been observed indicating the transition from closed to open magnetic field lines. The physical mechanism behind this trend has also been explored. The VV analysis of geomagnetic disturbance has revealed prominent features of solar wind – magnetosphere coupling

The effect of probiotics and zinc supplementation on the immune response to oral rotavirus vaccine: A randomized, factorial design, placebo-controlled study among Indian infants.

BACKGROUND: Strategies are needed to improve oral rotavirus vaccine (RV), which provides suboptimal protection in developing countries. Probiotics and zinc supplementation could improve RV immunogenicity by altering the intestinal microbiota and immune function. METHODS: Infants 5weeks old living in urban Vellore, India were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 4-arm factorial design to assess the effects of daily zinc (5mg), probiotic (1010Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) or placebo on the immunogenicity of two doses of RV (Rotarix®, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) given at 6 and 10weeks of age. Infants were eligible for participation if healthy, available for the study duration and without prior receipt of RV or oral poliovirus vaccine other than the birth dose. The primary outcome was seroconversion to rotavirus at 14weeks of age based on detection of VP6-specific IgA at ?20U/ml in previously seronegative infants or a fourfold rise in concentration. RESULTS: The study took place during July 2012 to February 2013. 620 infants were randomized equally between study arms and 551 (88.9%) completed per protocol. Seroconversion was recorded in 54/137 (39.4%), 42/136 (30.9%), 40/143 (28.0%), and 37/135 (27.4%) infants receiving (1) probiotic and zinc, (2) probiotic and placebo, (3) placebo and zinc, (4) two placebos. Seroconversion showed a modest improvement among infants receiving probiotic (difference between groups 1, 2 and 3, 4 was 7.5% (97.5% Confidence Interval (CI): -1.4%, 16.2%), p=0.066) but not zinc (difference between groups 1, 3 and 2, 4 was 4.4% (97.5% CI: -4.4%, 13.2%), p=0.272). 16 serious adverse events were recorded, none related to study interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc or probiotic supplementation did not significantly improve the low immunogenicity of rotavirus vaccine given to infants in a poor urban community in India. A modest effect of combined supplementation deserves further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered in India (CTRI/2012/05/002677)

Adjunctive rifampicin for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (ARREST): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia is a common cause of severe community-acquired and hospital-acquired infection worldwide. We tested the hypothesis that adjunctive rifampicin would reduce bacteriologically confirmed treatment failure or disease recurrence, or death, by enhancing early S aureus killing, sterilising infected foci and blood faster, and reducing risks of dissemination and metastatic infection. METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults (≥18 years) with S aureus bacteraemia who had received ≤96 h of active antibiotic therapy were recruited from 29 UK hospitals. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via a computer-generated sequential randomisation list to receive 2 weeks of adjunctive rifampicin (600 mg or 900 mg per day according to weight, oral or intravenous) versus identical placebo, together with standard antibiotic therapy. Randomisation was stratified by centre. Patients, investigators, and those caring for the patients were masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was time to bacteriologically confirmed treatment failure or disease recurrence, or death (all-cause), from randomisation to 12 weeks, adjudicated by an independent review committee masked to the treatment. Analysis was intention to treat. This trial was registered, number ISRCTN37666216, and is closed to new participants. FINDINGS: Between Dec 10, 2012, and Oct 25, 2016, 758 eligible participants were randomly assigned: 370 to rifampicin and 388 to placebo. 485 (64%) participants had community-acquired S aureus infections, and 132 (17%) had nosocomial S aureus infections. 47 (6%) had meticillin-resistant infections. 301 (40%) participants had an initial deep infection focus. Standard antibiotics were given for 29 (IQR 18-45) days; 619 (82%) participants received flucloxacillin. By week 12, 62 (17%) of participants who received rifampicin versus 71 (18%) who received placebo experienced treatment failure or disease recurrence, or died (absolute risk difference -1·4%, 95% CI -7·0 to 4·3; hazard ratio 0·96, 0·68-1·35, p=0·81). From randomisation to 12 weeks, no evidence of differences in serious (p=0·17) or grade 3-4 (p=0·36) adverse events were observed; however, 63 (17%) participants in the rifampicin group versus 39 (10%) in the placebo group had antibiotic or trial drug-modifying adverse events (p=0·004), and 24 (6%) versus six (2%) had drug interactions (p=0·0005). INTERPRETATION: Adjunctive rifampicin provided no overall benefit over standard antibiotic therapy in adults with S aureus bacteraemia. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment