Oxidative toxicity in diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease: mechanisms behind ROS/ RNS generation

Reactive oxidative species (ROS) toxicity remains an undisputed cause and link between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Patients with both AD and T2DM have damaged, oxidized DNA, RNA, protein and lipid products that can be used as possible disease progression markers. Although the oxidative stress has been anticipated as a main cause in promoting both AD and T2DM, multiple pathways could be involved in ROS production. The focus of this review is to summarize the mechanisms involved in ROS production and their possible association with AD and T2DM pathogenesis and progression. We have also highlighted the role of current treatments that can be linked with reduced oxidative stress and damage in AD and T2DM.     

Quest for Novel Preventive and Therapeutic Options Against Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a critical healthcare challenge due to its ability to cause persistent infections and the...     

Antifungal effect of Penicillium metabolites against some fungi

Microorganisms are increasingly exploited as a source of new biological control agents. Genus Penicillium is a source of novel bioactive molecules which can be used as antifungal agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal potential of Penicillium strains. Culture filtrates of two Penicillium species were tested for their antifungal potential by well diffusion assays. Filtrate of Penicillium isolates showed high antifungal effects on mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phaseolina, Aspergillus japonicus var aculeatus and Cladosporium cladosporioides. But Penicillium italicum inhibit the fungal growth from 45 to 68% as compared to Penicillium simplissimum (25–68%). However in case of A. japonicus var aculeatus, Penicillium spp. extracts were equally effective and reduce the colony growth up to 68%. However, P. simplissimum extract was least effective in case of M. phaseolina, where it decreased the colony growth only 25%.     

Grain damage,viability and weight loss in different barley cultivars due to Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) infestation

This study was carried out to see the impact of Angoumois grain moth (AGM) on different cultivars of barley so that we must grow resistant variety of barley or improve those which are susceptible to it. Eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) were collected and reared in incubators available in Stored Product Entomology Laboratory, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, under temperature 27 ± 2°C and 60 ± 2% relative humidity. For the experiment, five different cultivars of barley; Sanober-96, Jau-83, Soorab-96, ICBA and Sterling were selected for AGM feed. After an interval of 30, 60 and 90 days of infestation, percentage damage and weight loss in grains were determined. After carrying out laboratory and field germination tests, viability of different cultivars were checked. Damage was maximum in variety Soorab (99.38%), which becomes susceptible while it was minimum in Sanober-96 (90.62%), which becomes resistant. Weight loss was maximum in variety Soorab (49.71%), which becomes susceptible and was minimum in Sanober-96 (45.32%), which becomes resistant. Damage was positively correlated with weight loss and negatively correlated with seed germination. In germination tests, on filter paper, maximum germination was found in variety Sterling (3%) which becomes resistant and it was minimum in ICBA which becomes susceptible (0%). In sand germination test, maximum seeds germinated in variety Sanober-96 (2%), and minimum seeds germinated in ICBA (0%). By calculating the percentage of losses of different cultivars, it was found that none of cultivars proved itself completely resistant or susceptible.     

Management of Sitotroga cerealella in stored cereal grains: a review

The economic loss due to pest attack in stored commodities is a serious problem worldwide. About 200 insect species attack stored commodities. These insect pests are responsible for quantitative and qualitative losses in cereal grains. Among the stored grain pests, Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella is considered as common, top of the list and most destructive pest of cereal grains. Its infestation starts in the standing crop and continues in storage. Although there are many control strategies, our need is some effective, cheap and readily available strategy for safe storage. This review presents different ways by which S. cerealella can be controlled. In this paper, a list of approaches is given which are used to improve the protection of stored grains against S. cerealella attack. These approaches include use of edible oils, containers, synthetic chemicals, agricultural waste materials, plant derivatives, bacterial protoxins, biopesticides, biocontrol enhancers and semiochemicals. If these tactics are followed as combined strategies in a compatible manner, they can provide us an integrated pest management programme for the efficient control of S. cerealella in cereal grains.     

Computerized automated morphometric assay including frequency estimation of pentachlorophenol induced nuclear anomalies (micronucleus) in catfish Heteropneustes fossilis

An in vivo study of the effects of pentachlorophenol was carried out with a pre-acclimatized fish species, Heteropneustes fossilis, using four sub-lethal concentrations, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 ppm, and three sampling times, 48, 72 and 96 h. Cytogenetic preparations were stained by the haematoxylin-eosin technique. The incidence of micronuclei was scored by a manual and an automated method. Small-sized micronuclei appeared in the cytoplasm in addition to the main nucleus. The frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes peaked at 4 days (96 h) exposure. The percentage of single micronuclei increased with longer exposures. The Mann-Whitney U test showed all micronuclei frequencies were significantly different from control (P<0.05). No statistical difference was observed between scores obtained by the manual and automated methods. A linear relationship between the percentage of micronucleated erythrocytes and dose was confirmed at all levels. Computer image analysis of morphological variations of erythrocytes indicated a 1:5 ratio of micronuclei and main nucleus accompanied by a reduction in cell volume by 600 dot units. Pentachlorophenol-mediated genotoxicity was confirmed in this fish for the first time. Possible consequences of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity are discussed.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric and electrochemical detection of a series of manganese(III) cationic porphyrins

Recent studies have revealed potent pharmacological activities of manganese-containing cationic porphyrins. An analytical method employing high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric and electrochemical detection (HPLC-UV/EC) suitable for in vivo applications is described for a series of manganese(III) cationic porphyrins with good separation and resolution. In particular, this method resolved the four atropisomers of manganese(III) meso-tetrakis(N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTE-2-PyP5+ or AEOL-10113), verified by mass spectrometry. Electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods of detection were compared using manganese(III) meso-tetrakis(1,3-diethylimidazolium-2-yl)porphyrin (MnTDE-2-ImP5+ or AEOL-10150), the lead catalytic antioxidant of this series. Both methods of detection were quantitative, but electrochemical detection, although less specific for in vivo applications, appears to be considerably more sensitive than spectrophotometric detection.     

Vitamin D Prevents Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption via Vitamin D Receptor-Mediated NF-kB Signaling Pathways

Maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity and minimizing neuronal injury are critical components of any therapeutic intervention following ischemic stroke. However, a low level of vitamin D hormone is a risk factor for many vascular diseases including stroke. The neuroprotective effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 (vitamin D) after ischemic stroke have been studied, but it is not known whether it prevents ischemic injury to brain endothelial cells, a key component of the neurovascular unit. We analyzed the effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ on brain endothelial cell barrier integrity and tight junction proteins after hypoxia/reoxygenation in a mouse brain endothelial cell culture model that closely mimics many of the features of the blood-brain barrier in vitro. Following hypoxic injury in bEnd.3 cells, 1,25(OH)₂D₃ treatment prevented the decrease in barrier function as measured by transendothelial electrical resistance and permeability of FITC-dextran (40 kDa), the decrease in the expression of the tight junction proteins zonula occludin-1, claudin-5, and occludin, the activation of NF—kB, and the increase in matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression. These responses were blocked when the interaction of 1,25(OH) )₂D₃ with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) was inhibited by pyridoxal 5’-phosphate treatment. Our findings show a direct, VDR-mediated, protective effect of 1,25(OH) )₂D₃ against ischemic injury-induced blood-brain barrier dysfunction in cerebral endothelial cells.     

Association of Household and Community Socioeconomic Position and Urbanicity with Underweight and Overweight among Women in Pakistan

Background

Similar to other developing countries, Pakistan is going through a rapid nutrition transition where shift from underweight to overweight and obesity is occurring. In this paper, we report on the relationship of household socioeconomic position (SEP), community SEP and urbanicity with under- and over-weight categories of BMI among Pakistani women.

Methods

We analyzed data on 4,767 women ages 15-49 years enrolled in a nationally representative Pakistan Demographic Health Survey (PDHS) conducted in 2012-13 that employed a multistage, stratified cluster sampling design. We assessed the association of urbanicity, household and community SEP derived from household assets and utilities, with categories of body mass index (BMI) using multinomial regression analysis where normal weight (BMI 18.6-22.5) was the reference category.

Results

Thirteen percent of women were underweight (BMI <18.5), 15% pre-overweight (BMI: 22.6-24.9), 25% overweight (BMI: 25.0–29.9) and 14% were obese (BMI≥30). Pre-overweight, overweight and obesity among women increased across household wealth quintiles (HWQs) in a graded fashion whereas there was no significant difference in underweight by household wealth. Women in urban areas were more likely to be obese. There was a pronounced increase in adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for overweight/obesity across HWQs within urban areas compared to rural areas. There was a steeper gradient in aORs for obesity from 1st to 5th HWQs in high income communities compared to the middle- and low income communities. In community-level analyses, communities in urban areas were more likely to have higher levels of obesity while in rural areas, especially in Sindh, more communities were more likely to have a higher level of underweight.

Conclusion

A shift to higher overweight and obesity than underweight in Pakistan is associated with high household and community wealth as well as living in urban areas. Clustering of obesity and underweight in distinct communities afford opportunity for tailored intervention programs.