Effect of high pressure ammoniation procedure on the detoxification of aflatoxins

Ammoniation represents the best technique to detoxify aflatoxin-contaminated grain and it is considered as economically practicable for commercial applications. In the present studyAspergillus parasiticus was used to contaminate yellow corn to produce the final concentration reached 4000 μg/kg corn total aflatoxin. Two procedures of ammoniation (in aqueous ammonia concentrations, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% ) were adopted for aflatoxin destruction. The first procedure was under atmospheric pressure at ambient temperature (AP/AT) for 24 hrs, and the second procedure was under high pressure (2 bar) at high temperature (121°C) (HP/HT ) for 15 min. Aflatoxin concentrations were determined by HPLC using fluorescence detection. The effect of HP/HT procedure was compared with the ammoniation procedure under AP/AT. The detoxification pattern of the two ammoniation procedures as well as the detoxification pattern of the different types of aflatoxins under the two procedures was studied.     

A survey of the pathogenic fungi of mycotic infection of the scalp in U.A.R.

Summary 121 cases diagnosed clinically as tinea capitis were examined microscopically and culturally. In 80 cases the causative organism could be cultured.T. violaceum was the causative organism of the majority of the cases as it caused 47.5 % of the cases,T. schoenleinii 31.3 %,M. canis caused 26.1 %,T. tonsurans 1.3 %, whileM. audouinii caused none. In most of the cases ofT. violaceum infection, scaling and mild inflammation were the common clinical manifestation. The black dot or the bald patch appearance was rarely seen. Favus did not necessarily show the characteristic scutulae; in many cases ofT. schoenleinii infection, only few scales and mild inflammation were present.     

Lycopene is superior to moringa in improving fertility markers in diet-induced obesity male rats

Obesity is a condition of chronic tissue inflammation and oxidative stress that poses as a risk factor for male infertility. Moringa oleifera oil extract is known to have cholesterol-lowering properties and a potential to treat obesity, while lycopene is a potent antioxidant. We hypothesize that Moringa or lycopene may improve male fertility markers in an animal model of diet-induced obesity. Male Albino rats (n = 60) were randomized to receive regular chow (RC) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks (n = 30 each). Animals in each arm were further randomized to receive gavage treatment with corn oil (vehicle), lycopene (10 mg/kg), or Moringa (400 mg/kg) for four weeks starting on week 9 (n = 10 each). Animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks, and blood was collected to assess lipid profile, serum testosterone, and gonadotropin levels. The testes and epididymides were removed for sperm analysis, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and histopathological assessment. In comparison to their RC littermates, animals on HFD showed an increase in body weights, serum lipids, testosterone and gonadotrophin levels, testicular oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, as well as sperm abnormalities and disrupted testicular histology. Moringa or lycopene reduced body weight, improved oxidative stress, and male fertility markers in HFD-fed animals with lycopene exhibiting better anti-antioxidant and anti-lipidemic effects. Lycopene is superior to Moringa in improving male fertility parameters, possibly by attenuating oxidative stress.     

Effects of steroid anaesthesia on some liver function tests in goats

The effect of Saffan, a steroid anaesthetic, on the liver function of goats has been studied. Forty healthy animals were divided into 4 equal groups. The first 2 groups were given 2 and 4 mg Saffan/kg b. wt respectively. A mixture of Saffan (1 mg) and Xylazine (0.1 mg)/kg b. wt was given to the third group and Xylazine alone to the fourth group (0.1 mg/kg b. wt). Serum samples from all groups were analysed for glucose, total protein, total and direct bilirubin and the level of activity of transaminases. Administration of Saffan evoked more hyperglycemia than a mixture with Xylazine, or Xylazine alone. The hyperglycemic effect of both doses of Saffan (2 and 4 mg) was equivocal beyond 2 h. The effect then differed and glucose was increased 4-fold by 2 mg and 3-fold by 4 mg Saffan. Serum total protein, conjugated and total bilirubin, and GPT and GOT were not changed in the four experimental groups. This was good evidence of a normally functioning liver during the course of steroid anaesthesia administration in goats.     

Isolation of Double Negative αβ T Cells from the Kidney

There is currently no standard protocol for the isolation of DN T cells from the non-lymphoid tissues despite their increasingly reported involvement in various immune responses. DN T cells are a unique immune cell type that has been implicated in regulating immune and autoimmune responses and tolerance to allotransplants^1-6. DN T cells are, however, rare in peripheral blood and secondary lymphoid organs (spleen and lymph nodes), but are major residents of the normal kidney. Very little is known about their pathophysiologic function⁷ due to their paucity in the periphery. We recently described a comprehensive phenotypic and functional analysis of this population in the kidney⁸ in steady state and during ischemia reperfusion injury. Analysis of DN T cell function will be greatly enhanced by developing a protocol for their isolation from the kidney.Here, we describe a novel protocol that allows isolation of highly pure ab CD4+ CD8+ T cells and DN T cells from the murine kidney. Briefly, we digest kidney tissue using collagenase and isolate kidney mononuclear cells (KMNC) by density gradient. This is followed by two steps to enrich hematopoietic T cells from 3% to 70% from KMNC. The first step consists of a positive selection of hematopoietic cells using a CD45+ isolation kit. In the second step, DN T cells are negatively isolated by removal of non-desired cells using CD4, CD8, and MHC class II monoclonal antibodies and CD1d α-galcer tetramer. This strategy leads to a population of more than 90% pure DN T cells. Surface staining with the above mentioned antibodies followed by FACs analysis is used to confirm purity.     

Intrinsic atomic-level forces in polymer networks exhibiting non-gaussian effects: relationship with the limited chain extensibility

Intrinsic atomic-level forces for networks exhibiting non-Gaussian effects were evaluated during the integration of the equations of motion using the Verlet algorithm. The forces acting on the junction points of the cross-linking chains and the elastomeric chains of unimodal and bimodal network arrangements showed no apparent change as a consequence of the network variation. The forces acting on the short chains in a bimodal network cross-linked using sulfur atoms and relatively long polyquinone chains had much higher values than those in a unimodal network arrangement. Nevertheless, the intrinsic forces acting on the polyquinone atoms decreased dramatically as a result of the formation of bimodal networks. The presence of relatively long polyquinone chains in bimodal networks caused the short sulfur chains to stretch to their maximum extensibility and they can no longer increase their end-to-end separation by simple rotations about their skeletal bonds. Limited chain extensibility of the short chains resulting from the deformation of the bond angles and bond lengths led to much higher potential energies, as determined using the dynamic quenching technique. This resulted in the non-Gaussian effects known for bimodal networks and their subsequent anomalous mechanical properties. The dynamical behavior of the nuclei bending and torsional angles was also investigated for the unimodal and bimodal networks.