Partial Antiviral Activities Detection of Chicken Mx Jointing with Neuraminidase Gene (NA) against Newcastle Disease Virus

As an attempt to increase the resistance to Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) and so further reduction of its risk on the poultry industry. This work aimed to build the eukaryotic gene co-expression plasmid of neuraminidase (NA) gene and myxo-virus resistance (Mx) and detect the gene expression in transfected mouse fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) cells, it is most important to investigate the influence of the recombinant plasmid on the chicken embryonic fibroblasts (CEF) cells. cDNA fragment of NA and mutant Mx gene were derived from pcDNA3.0-NA and pcDNA3.0-Mx plasmid via PCR, respectively, then NA and Mx cDNA fragment were inserted into the multiple cloning sites of pVITRO₂ to generate the eukaryotic co-expression plasmid pVITRO₂-Mx-NA. The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by restriction endonuclease treatment and sequencing, and it was transfected into the mouse fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) cells. The expression of genes in pVITRO₂-Mx-NA were measured by RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The recombinant plasmid was transfected into CEF cells then RT-PCR and the micro-cell inhibition tests were used to test the antiviral activity for NDV. Our results showed that co-expression vector pVITRO₂-Mx-NA was constructed successfully; the expression of Mx and NA could be detected in both NIH-3T3 and CEF cells. The recombinant proteins of Mx and NA protect CEF cells from NDV infection until after 72 h of incubation but the individually mutagenic Mx protein or NA protein protects CEF cells from NDV infection till 48 h post-infection, and co-transfection group decreased significantly NDV infection compared with single-gene transfection group (P<0. 05), indicating that Mx-NA jointing contributed to delaying the infection of NDV in single-cell level and the co-transfection of the jointed genes was more powerful than single one due to their synergistic effects.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of Some N-Pentopyranosyl-2-Pyridinethiones

Abstract

A novel synthesis of 1-(β-D-pentopyranosyl)pyridinethione nucleosides utilizing pyridine-2(1H)-thiones and α-bromoxylose or β-bromoarabinose triacetate as starting components is described. The free nucleosides were tested for their potential activity against HIV and different types of tumor virus.     

Characterization of early transient accumulation of PrP in immune cells

PrP^Sc is known to elicit no specific immune response and the immune cells are suspected to support its accumulation. In the present study, we investigated the response of some immune cell types to PrP^Sc to characterize an observed early transient accumulation of PrP^Sc. After cells were treated with PrP^Sc-brain homogenate, PrP^Sc was transiently accumulated for the first 8–12 h post-exposure then completely cleared by the 5th day of the experiment. The accumulated PrP^Sc was not a de novo product of the cell PrP^C. Further investigation of this phenomenon revealed some potential factors influencing it. These factors included cholesterol homeostasis, temperature, the degradation power of the cell and the availability of sufficient PrP^C. Our in vitro results suggest that immune cells, especially macrophages are potential risk factors for the accumulation and intercellular spread of PrP^Sc if the complete clearance of PrP^Sc were not fulfilled.     

Pericardial Fat and Atrial Conduction Abnormalities in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Pericardial fat (Pfat) overlies the cardiac surface including atria and their inter‐ and intra‐conduction system. Through its local inflammatory effects, Pfat may predispose to atrial abnormalities that could be detected as changes in P‐wave morphology in the 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG). We evaluated the association between Pfat and ECG measurements of P wave and PR interval (referred to as P‐wave indexes): PR duration (PR‐dur), P‐wave duration (P‐dur), and P‐wave terminal force (P‐term), in the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Participants with available Pfat measured by computed tomography (CT) and P‐wave indexes measured by ECG were included (N = 996). Differences in P‐wave indexes per 1 standard deviation difference in Pfat were tested in unadjusted linear regression analysis first, then adjusted for demographics (age, sex, and ethnicity), and further adjusted for measures of adiposity (BMI or waist circumference (WC)), or cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension (HTN), diabetes, and smoking). All P‐wave indexes were significantly associated with Pfat in unadjusted analyses (regression‐coefficient (β) (95% CI): PR‐dur (ms) 2.53 (1.02, 4.04), P‐dur (ms) 2.59 (1.84, 3.35), P‐term (µV·s) 0.25 (0.13, 0.36)). After demographics adjustment, P‐dur (1.68 (0.87, 2.49)) and P‐term (0.16 (0.04,0.28)), but not PR‐dur (1.11 (?0.52, 2.74)) were associated with Pfat. No associations were significant after adjustment for BMI, WC, or cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. BMI and WC, separately, were significantly associated with P‐wave indexes in all models, including those that included Pfat as a covariate. BMI, but not WC, was associated with P‐wave indexes when the two were entered into the same model. In conclusion, Pfat is associated with P‐wave indexes, but not after adjusting for measures of adiposity or CVD risk factors. Among Pfat, BMI and WC, BMI had the most robust association with P‐wave indexes. These findings raise doubts about potential local effects of Pfat on atrial electrophysiology and morphology     

Tropical grasshopper glutathione-S-transferase and detoxification of plant allelochemicals in Calotropis procera

Poecilocerus bufonius inhabits Saudi Arabia and uses Calotropis procera as its main host plant. Cardenolids of this plant are used by this grasshopper as chemical defence against the natural enemies. The activity of enzyme detoxification in mid-gut wall for these allelochemicals has been determined in this study. Results indicate that the activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was significantly higher after 24 hours of feeding on the main host plant but no difference has been found after one, two, four and five hours of feeding.     

Antibacterial activity of selected medicinal plants of northwest Pakistan traditionally used against mastitis in livestock

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of traditionally used anti-mastitis plants (Allium sativum, Bunium persicum, Oryza sativa and Triticum aestivum) in northwest Pakistan against bacterial pathogens. Selected plants were phytochemically screened for Alkaloids, Flavonoids, and Saponins and checked for in vitro antibacterial activity at concentration of 50 mg/ml against S. aureus, E. coli and K. pneumoniae by agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration was determined against multidrug resistant bacteria using tube dilution method. All extracts were found to significantly inhibit (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) the activity against bacterial strains examined. Among phytochemicals, alkaloids of all tested antimastitis plants produced significantly higher inhibition zones against bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of phytochemicals and crude methanolic extracts against tested bacterial strains ranged between 12.5–50 mg/ml and 25–50 mg/ml, respectively. Medicinal plants traditionally used against mastitis are therapeutically active against bacterial pathogens. A. sativum and B. persicum were found to be potential candidate species for the development of novel veterinary drugs with low cost and fewer side effects.     

Impact of filter mud applications on the germination of sugarcane and small-seeded plants and on soil and sugarcane nitrogen contents

The impact of filter mud (FM) on the germination of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), maize (Zea mays), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) and sesame (Sesamum indicum), and the nitrogen content of soil and sugarcane were investigated. Experiments were set up in 2004 at the Kenana Sugarcane Estate, Sudan. For this study, 1:0,3:1,1:1,1:3 and 0:1 FM/soil (w/w) mixtures were used. The results showed that FM had no adverse impact on germination. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen after 3 months increased with an increase in the FM content of the mixture. The impact of 100 t of dry FM was compared to a control without FM, and to inorganic nitrogen fertilizer applications of 0, 55, 110, 165 and 220 Kg N/ha. Cane yield, number of stalks, soil and leaf analysis results were determined after 6 months. FM treated soil gave a higher cane yield and stalk number. Leaf analysis showed no significant difference in nutrient content.     

Atrial Fibrillation and Colonic Neoplasia in African Americans

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) share several risk factors including increasing age and obesity. However, the association between CRC and AF has not been thoroughly examined, especially in African Americans. In this study we aimed to assess the prevalence of AF and its risk factors in colorectal neoplasia in an African American.

Methods

We reviewed records of 527 African American patients diagnosed with CRC and 1008 patients diagnosed with benign colonic lesions at Howard University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2012. A control group of 731 hospitalized patients without any cancer or colonic lesion were randomly selected from the same time and age range, excluding patients who had diagnosis of both CRC and/or adenoma. The presence or absence of AF was based upon ICD-9 code documentation. The prevalence of AF in these three groups was compared by multivariate logistic regression.

Results

The prevalence of AF was highest among CRC patients (10%) followed by adenoma patients (7.2%) then the control group (5.4%, P for trend = 0.002). In the three groups of participants, older age (P<0.008) and heart failure (P<0.001) were significantly associated with higher risk of AF. After adjusting for these risk factors, CRC (OR: 1.4(95%CI):0.9–2.2, P = 0.2) and adenoma (OR: 1.1(95%CI):0.7–1.6, P = 0.7) were not significantly associated AF compared to control group.

Conclusions

AF is highly prevalent among CRC patients; 1 in 10 patients had AF in our study. The predictors of AF in CRC was similar to that in adenoma and other patients after adjustment for potential confounders suggesting that the increased AF risk in CRC is explained by higher prevalence of AF risk factors.