In vitro toxicity of T-2 mycotoxin in mouse lymphoid cells

The in vitro toxicity of T-2 toxin towards mouse lymphoid cells prepared from spleen, thymus, peritoneal lavage and bone marrow cells was studied. Bone marrow cells were more resistant to damage by T-2 toxin than thymus, spleen and peritoneal cell preparations.     

T4+ T helper cell function in vivo: differential requirement for induction of antiviral cytotoxic T-cell and antibody responses.

This study documents the differential requirements of T4+ T helper cells in the induction of virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) and antibody responses during acute lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. Two monoclonal antibodies (GK1.5 and RL172.4) directed against the L3T4 (T4) molecule were used for depleting T helper cells from mice. Depletion of T4+ cells caused a pronounced suppression of antiviral antibody response (20-fold decrease) but had minimal effect on virus-specific CTL response (less than 2-fold reduction). Despite the elimination of greater than 90% of T helper cells, anti-L3T4-treated mice were able to generate a CTL response of sufficient magnitude to control the viral infection. In contrast, depletion of Lyt2+ T cells abrogated the CTL response and the ability to eliminate virus. Thus, our results underscore the importance of the Lyt2+ T-cell subset in controlling infection with this virus and show that a deficiency of T4+ T cells is likely to have a more severe effect on antibody production than on CTL responses.     

Stereospecific high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of metoprolol

A valid, sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic technique is reported for the separation of the two enantiomers of metoprolol in human plasma. The procedure involves pre-column derivatization with the homochiral reagent S-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)-ethyl isocyanate. Once formed, the diastereomers are separated using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Fluorescence detection (220 nm excitation; no emission filter) was utilized, resulting in baseline resolution (R_s > 1.5). The peaks corresponding to metoprolol enantiomers were free from interference throughout the examined range of 5–500 ng/ml; accuracy and precision were within approximately 10%. Analysis of a plasma sample collected from a healthy volunteer demonstrated that the assay is applicable to clinical studies.     

Response of corn to micronutrients (Zn and Cu) on a saline soil. I. Growth and ionic relationships

Summary Response of corn to Zn and Cu on a salinized soil in pots has been studied. Zinc increased the dry weights of tops and roots at all levels of NaCl+CaCl₂. Increasing Zn level increased the weights considerably at 10 mM NaCl+CaCl₂. Copper increased the weight of tops at 10 mM NaCl+CaCl₂: it had little effects on plant weights at 50–125 mM NaCl+CaCl₂. The growth response of plant to low Cu was somewhat similar to that of higher Zinc.NaCl+CaCl₂ treatments, in general, increased Zn concentrations in tops as well as roots. At low Zn application, Zn concentrations in the tops were higher than those in the roots but at high Zn application, the concentrations of Zn in tops were similar to those in the roots.NaCl+CaCl₂ treatments increased Cu concentrations in the tops to a slight extent but had a depressive effect on those in the roots. Copper concentrations in the tops were, however, much below those in the roots. The greater retention of Cu in the roots remains to be explained.     

Annual changes in the ovarian activity of the freshwater teleost, Barbus luteus (Heckel) from Southern Iraq

The present paper describes the morphology, histology, and annual cyclical changes in the ovaries of Barbus luteus (Heckel). The ovaries are paired structures, joined by short oviducts. The ovarian structure consists of a number of lamellae, which contain the germ cells in various phases of maturation—immature, maturing and mature. Two types of yolk have been reported in the oocyte. The endocrine function of the gonads has been attributed to the follicular cells forming the 'pre-ovulatory corpus luteum' and 'postovulatory corpus luteum'. The ovaries undergo a regular annual cycle which has been divided into five stages, based on various criteria, viz, ovarian size, colour, gonosomatic index, average ova-diameter, histological composition, and the spawning activity.     

Protease of adenovirus type 2. In vitro processing of core protein

Protease activity associated with temperature sensitive mutant ts3 of adenovirus type 2 was studied. This activity was induced only when ts3 was propagated at 33°C. By $\text{in vivo}$ and $\text{in vitro}$ experiments the enzyme was found to cleave main core polypeptide PVII to VII. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the protease activity of ts3 was partially characterized. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (1mM) and SDS (0.5%) inhibited its activity completely. EDTA (10 mM) did not seem to inhibit its activity. Protease activity was completely abolished after 10 min. of incubation at 60°C. Autocatalytic cleavage of PVII to VII was not observed.     

Collection and composition of xylem sap and root structure in two halophytic species

Leptochloa fusca (L.) Kunth and Atriplex hortensis (L.) were grown on quartz sand or in liquid culture in the presence of varied concentrations of NaCl. Xylem sap was collected as (a) root pressure exudate, in L. fusca even at 100 mM NaCl, (b) by applying pressure to excised roots of L. fusca and (c) from leaves of the whole plant growing in quartz sand by pressurizing the root system. The latter procedure failed in L. fusca due to the passage of air and soil solution into the leaves. This was caused by an extensive aerenchyma in root cortex. In Atriplex hortensis remarkably high pressures were required to induce a flow of sap. The mineral cation and anion and the amino acid composition of the xylem sap obtained by the different methods was measured and is examined in view of using it for determining the flows of minerals in the whole plant and in relation to the effects of salinity. The spacious aerenchyma in roots of L. fusca has been found to persist also after prolonged exposure to dry air.Presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Structure and Function of Roots, Starà lesna, Slovak Republic. See also PLSO 167/1 (1994).     

Enantioselective resolution of racemic flurbiprofen methyl ester by lipase encapsulated mercapto calix[4]arenes capped Fe3O4 nanoparticles

This work presents the synthesis of new mercapto calix[4]arenes derivatives (4 and 5). These derivatives were capped on Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles and subsequently encapsulated with Candida rugosa through sol–gel method to furnish enc-4 and enc-5, respectively, to enhance catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of lipase for hydrolysis reaction of racemic flurbiprofen methyl ester. Catalytic activity and enantioselectivity of enc-4 and enc-5 were assayed at different pH and temperature conditions and it was found that the resultant encapsulated enzyme exhibited higher thermal and operational stabilities compared to the free lipase in which enc-5 showed the excellent rate of enantioselectivity (E = 176) for S-flurbiprofen better than free lipase (E = 137) at pH 7 and 35 °C for 48 h. The time study shows that enantioselectivity reached the maximum value of E = 244 after 72 h. Catalytic activity  of these materials was hardly affected by 20 and 23% after five usages of enc-4 and enc-5, respectively.

     

Determinants of infant and young child feeding practices by mothers in two rural districts of Sindh,Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices during the first two years of life are important for the growth and development of a child. The aim of this study was to assess IYCF practices and its associated factors in two rural districts of Pakistan.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in two rural districts of Sindh province, Pakistan as part of a stunting prevention project between May and August 2014. A standard questionnaire on IYCF practices recommended by World Health Organization was used to collect information from 2013 mothers who had a child aged between 0 and 23 months.

Results

Only 49% of mothers initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Thirty-seven percent of mothers exclusively breastfed their infants for six months. Seventy-percent mothers introduced complementary feeding at 6–8 months of age. Eighty-two percent of mothers continued breastfeeding for at least one year and 75% for at least two years of age. IYCF practices were not significantly different for boys and girls in the study area. Being an employed mother (AOR 2.14; 95% CI 1.02, 4.51) was positively associated with the early initiation of breastfeeding. Children who were born at a health facility (AOR 0.65; 95% CI 0.50, 0.84) and were aged six to eleven months (AOR 0.70; 95% CI 0.54, 0.90) were less likely to be have an early initiation of breastfeeding. Mothers aged 25 to 29 years (AOR 1.83; 95% CI 1.05, 3.18), being literate (AOR 1.79; 95% CI 1.15, 2.78), and higher income (AOR 10.6; 95% CI 4.40, 25.30) were more likely to have an improved dietary diversity. Being an employed mother (AOR 2.18; 95% CI 1.77, 4.03) and higher income were more likely to have minimum acceptable diet (AOR 9.7; 95% CI 4.33, 21.71).

Conclusion

IYCF practices were below the acceptable level and associated with maternal age, maternal illiteracy, unemployment, and poor household wealth status. Emphasis should be given to improve maternal literacy and reduction in poverty to improve IYCF practices.