Differential suppression of menstrual fluid prostaglandin F2a, prostaglandin E2, 6-keto prostaglandin F1a and thromboxane B2 by suprofen in women with primary dysmenorrhea

Eleven women with primary dysmenorrhea completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way cross-over study comparing 200 and 400mg suprofen. Menstrual fluid volume did not change. Mean+/-S.E.M. menstrual fluid PGF2a was significantly suppressed from 18.9+/-1.9 microg (placebo) to 10.9+/-1.7 and 9.3+/-2.1 microg with 200 and 400 mg suprofen, respectively (p=<0.005). PGE2 dropped from 7.8+/-0.9 to 4.6+/-0.8 and 4.6+/-1.1 microg (p=<0.05) and TxB2 from 17.5+/-4.3 to 7.5+/-2.9 and 3.6+/-1.3 microg (p=<0.01), respectively. 6-Keto PGF1a was significantly suppressed (2.7+/-0.4 to 1.9+/-0.5 microg, p=<0.025) with only 400 mg suprofen. Six subjects rated placebo poor and five fair to very good. In contrast, nine rated suprofen excellent to fair while two rated poor. Thus, suprofen was clinically effective but the differential suppression of prostanoids favors 200mg which spares 6-keto PGF1a.     

Exogenous application of epibrassinolide attenuated Verticillium wilt in upland cotton by modulating the carbohydrates metabolism,plasma membrane ATPases and intracellular osmolytes

Verticillium dahliae toxin (Vd toxin) was employed as pathogen free model system to induce osmotic stress on upland cotton and its amelioration is investigated using epibrassinolide (EBR). In this study, we observed the physiological and biochemical differences among Vd toxin alone and EBR + Vd toxin treated plants using different levels of root (5, 10, 15 nM) and shoot (50, 100, 200 nM) applied EBR. Results revealed that in absence of EBR, Vd toxin caused 83 % plant wilting and the levels of glycine betaine and proline were 33 and 61 % higher than non treated control, respectively. However, the accumulation of these osmolytes was decreased in EBR treated plants with minimum values at 5 and 200 nM. Furthermore, the results depicted a remarkable decline in soluble sugars, photosynthesis, transpiration, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll florescence (Fv/Fm) in Vd toxin alone treated plants than EBR + Vd toxin. Besides, the activities of sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and acid invertase were high in Vd + EBR treated plants with increased root and shoot biomass than Vd toxin alone treated plants. Moreover, EBR remarkably regulated the levels of plasma membrane ATPases and contents of total ATPase and Na⁺ K⁺-ATPase were elevated while contents of Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺-ATPase and H⁺ K⁺-ATPase were decreased as compared to Vd toxin alone treated plants. This study broadens our understanding of Verticillium wilt and demonstrates the potential role of EBR in mediating tolerance against Vd toxin induced stress of V. dahliae in cotton.     

QT interval variability and cardiac norepinephrine spillover in patients with depression and panic disorder

Suggestions were made that increased myocardial sympathetic activity is reflected by elevated QT variability (dynamic changes in QT interval duration). However, the relationship between QT variability and the amount of norepinephrine released from the cardiac sympathetic terminals is unknown. We thus attempted to assess this relationship. The study was performed in 17 subjects (12 with major depressive disorder and 5 with panic disorder). Cardiac norepinephrine spillover (measured by direct catheter technique coupled with norepinephrine isotope dilution methodology) was assessed before and 4 mo after treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. The distribution of the cardiac norepinephrine spillover was bimodal, with the majority of patients having values of < or =10 ng/min. There was a positive correlation between cardiac norepinephrine spillover and corrected QT interval (r = 0.7, P = 0.03) but not with any of the QT variability measures. However, in a subgroup of five patients who had high levels of cardiac norepinephrine spillover (>20 ng/min) a tendency for a strong positive correlation with variance of QT intervals (r = 0.9, P = 0.08) was observed. There were significant correlations between the severity of depression and QT variability indexes normalized to the heart rate [QTVi and QT interval/R-R interval (QT/RR) coherence] and between the severity of anxiety and the QT/RR residual and regression coefficient, respectively. Treatment with SSRI antidepressants substantially reduced depression score but did not affect any of the QT variability indexes. We conclude that in depression/panic disorder patients with near-normal cardiac norepinephrine levels QT variability is not correlated with cardiac norepinephrine spillover and is not affected by treatment with SSRI.     

Antioxidant Activity of Vitamin C against LPS-Induced Septic Cardiomyopathy by Down-Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

In severe cases of sepsis, endotoxin-induced cardiomyopathy can cause major damage to the heart. This study was designed to see if Vitamin C (Vit C) could prevent lipopolysaccharide-induced heart damage. Eighteen Sprague Dawley male rats (n = 6) were divided into three groups. Rats received 0.5 mL saline by oral gavage in addition to a standard diet (Control group), rats received one dose of endotoxin on day 15 (lipopolysaccharide) (LPS) (6 mg/kg), which produced endotoxemia (Endotoxin group), and rats that received 500 mg/Kg BW of Vit C by oral gavage for 15 days before LPS administration (Endotoxin plus Vit C group). In all groups, blood and tissue samples were collected on day 15, six hours after LPS administration, for histopathological and biochemical analysis. The LPS injection lowered superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and increased malondialdehyde in tissues compared with a control group. Furthermore, the endotoxin group showed elevated inflammatory biomarkers, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Both light and electron microscopy showed that the endotoxic-treated group’s cardiomyocytes, intercalated disks, mitochondria, and endothelial cells were damaged. In endotoxemic rats, Vit C pretreatment significantly reduced MDA levels and restored SOD activity, minimized biomarkers of inflammation, and mitigated cardiomyocyte damage. In conclusion: Vit C protects against endotoxin-induced cardiomyopathy by inhibiting oxidative stress cytokines.     

Inflammation and serotonin deficiency in major depressive disorder: molecular docking of antidepressant and anti-inflammatory drugs to tryptophan and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenases

The roles of the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan (Trp) degradation in serotonin deficiency in major depressive disorder (MDD) and the associated inflammatory state are considered in the present study. Using molecular docking in silico, we demonstrate binding of antidepressants to the crystal structure of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) but not to indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). TDO is inhibited by a wide range of antidepressant drugs. The rapidly acting antidepressant ketamine does not dock to either enzyme but may act by inhibiting kynurenine monooxygenase thereby antagonising glutamatergic activation to normalise serotonin function. Antidepressants with anti-inflammatory properties are unlikely to act by direct inhibition of IDO but may inhibit IDO induction by lowering levels of proinflammatory cytokines in immune-activated patients. Of six anti-inflammatory drugs tested, only salicylate docks strongly to TDO and apart from celecoxib, the other five dock to IDO. TDO inhibition remains the major common property of antidepressants and TDO induction the most likely mechanism of defective serotonin synthesis in MDD. TDO inhibition and increased free Trp availability by salicylate may underpin the antidepressant effect of aspirin and distinguish it from other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The controversial findings with IDO in MDD patients with an inflammatory state can be explained by IDO induction being overridden by changes in subsequent KP enzymes influencing glutamatergic function. The pathophysiology of MDD may be underpinned by the interaction of serotonergic and glutamatergic activities.     

View-Invariant Visuomotor Processing in Computational Mirror Neuron System for Humanoid

Mirror neurons are visuo-motor neurons found in primates and thought to be significant for imitation learning. The proposition that mirror neurons result from associative learning while the neonate observes his own actions has received noteworthy empirical support. Self-exploration is regarded as a procedure by which infants become perceptually observant to their own body and engage in a perceptual communication with themselves. We assume that crude sense of self is the prerequisite for social interaction. However, the contribution of mirror neurons in encoding the perspective from which the motor acts of others are seen have not been addressed in relation to humanoid robots. In this paper we present a computational model for development of mirror neuron system for humanoid based on the hypothesis that infants acquire MNS by sensorimotor associative learning through self-exploration capable of sustaining early imitation skills. The purpose of our proposed model is to take into account the view-dependency of neurons as a probable outcome of the associative connectivity between motor and visual information. In our experiment, a humanoid robot stands in front of a mirror (represented through self-image using camera) in order to obtain the associative relationship between his own motor generated actions and his own visual body-image. In the learning process the network first forms mapping from each motor representation onto visual representation from the self-exploratory perspective. Afterwards, the representation of the motor commands is learned to be associated with all possible visual perspectives. The complete architecture was evaluated by simulation experiments performed on DARwIn-OP humanoid robot.     

Antimicrobial activity of chemically and biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles against some fish pathogens

Pathogens isolated from fish appear to possess considerable antimicrobial resistance and represent a problem for the economy and public health. Natural antimicrobial substitutes to traditional antibiotics represent an essential tool in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Nanotechnology has shown considerable potential in different research fields, and the antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles are known. Silver has been used for medical purposes since ancient times because of its bactericidal properties, and the highly reactive surfaces of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) indicate that they might have a function in antimicrobial applications. This work aimed to study the antimicrobial properties of biologically produced AgNPs from Origanum vulgare leaves compared to chemically produced AgNPs. Both types were characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometry, TEM, and dynamic light scattering and tested against three bacterial strains (Streptococcus agalactiae, and Aeromonas hydrophila, both isolated from Nile tilapia and Vibrio alginolyticus, isolated from sea bass) and three fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme, and Candida albicans, all isolated from Nile tilapia). Disk diffusion test and evaluation of ultrastructure changes of tested microorganisms treated with AgNPs by transmission electron microscopy were performed. Moreover, the hemolytic properties of AgNPs were studied on chicken and goat red blood cells. The results obtained declare that the green biological production of silver nanoparticles is safer and more effective than the chemical one; moreover, AgNPs have interesting dose-dependent antimicrobial properties, with better results for biologically produced ones; their effectiveness against tested bacterial and fungal strains opens the way to their use to limit fish diseases, increase economy and improve human health.     

Crop Improvement and Abiotic Stress Tolerance Promoted by Moringa Leaf Extract

Moringa leaf extract (MLE) has been shown to promote beneficial outcomes in animals and plants. It is rich in amino acids, antioxidants, phytohormones, minerals, and many other bioactive compounds with nutritional and growth-promoting potential. Recent reports indicated that MLE improved abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying MLE-mediated abiotic stress tolerance remains limited. This review summarizes the existing literature on the role of MLE in promoting plant abiotic stress acclimation processes. MLE is applied to plants in a variety of ways, including foliar spray, rooting media, and seed priming. Exogenous application of MLE promoted crop plant growth, photosynthesis, and yield under both nonstress and abiotic stress conditions. MLE treatment reduced the severity of osmotic and oxidative stress in plants by regulating osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant synthesis, and secondary metabolites. MLE also improves mineral homeostasis in the presence of abiotic stress. Overall, this review describes the potential mechanisms underpinning MLE-mediated stress tolerance.     

Dietary Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 Relieves the Impacts of Aflatoxin B1 Toxicity on the Growth Performance,Hepatorenal Functions,and Antioxidative Capacity of Thinlip Grey Mullet (Liza ramada) (Risso 1826)

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Dietary Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 was used to relieve the impacts of aflatoxin B1 toxicity on the performances of Liza ramada. The control diet was...     

Elucidating the Effects of Combined Treatments of Salicylic Acid and l-Proline on Greenhouse-Grown Cucumber Under Saline Drip Irrigation

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Salinity is one of the major abiotic stress factors that threaten crop development and sustainable food production. As a mitigation strategy, several plant...