Chemical analysis of a new fucoglucan isolated from an edible mushroom, Termitomyces robustus

A water-soluble fucoglucan, isolated from alkali-treated edible mushroom, Termitomyces robustus, consists of L-fucose and D-glucose in a molar proportion of 1:4. Structural investigation of the polysaccharide was carried out by using total hydrolysis, methylation analysis, and periodate oxidation followed by GLC-MS, and the final structure was determined using NMR experiments (1H, 13C, DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HMQC, and HMBC). On the basis of the above experiments it is concluded that the following repeating unit is present in the polysaccharide: [FORMULA: SEE TEXT].     

Cardioprotective effect of aqueous extract of Embelia ribes Burm fruits against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in albino rats

In the present study, cardioprotective effect of aqueous extract of fruits of Embelia ribes Burm (ER) was evaluated in a rat model having acute myocardial infarction, induced by isoproterenol (5.25 and 8.5 mg/kg, sc, for two consecutive days). Aqueous ER extract (100 mg/kg) pretreatment orally for 40 days in isoproterenol (ISO)-treated rats significantly decreased the heart rate, systolic blood pressure, increased levels of serum lactate dehydrogenase, serum creatine kinase and myocardial lipid peroxides and significantly increased the myocardial endogenous antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase) levels. The results of biochemical observations in serum and heart tissues were supplemented by histopathological examination of rat's heart sections to confirm the myocardial injury. The results were comparable to that of gliclazide treated group. The present results provide evidence for the first time, that aqueous ER extract pretreatment ameliorated myocardial injury and enhanced the antioxidant defense against ISO-induced myocardial infarction in rats and exhibited cardioprotective property.     

Pathways to Care: Duration of Untreated Psychosis from Karachi,Pakistan

Background

Substantial amount of time is lost before initiation of treatment in Schizophrenia. The delay in treatment is labelled as Duration of Untreated Psychosis (DUP). Most of these estimates come from western countries, where health systems are relatively better developed. There is dearth of information on pathway to care from developing countries.

Methods and Results

Patients with ICD-10 based diagnosis of Schizophrenia were enrolled by convenient method of sampling. The pathway to care was explored through a semi-structured questionnaire. Onset, course and symptoms of psychosis were assessed using Interview for the Retrospective Assessment of the Onset of Schizophrenia (IRAOS). Ethical approval of the project was taken from The Aga Khan University, Ethics Review Committee. Of the enrolled 93 subjects, 55 (59%) were males and 38 (41%) were females. In our sample, 1.56 mean (median, 2) attempts were made prior to successful help seeking. The duration of untreated psychosis was 14.8 months (St. Deviation; 29.4). DUP was 16.8 months (St. Deviation; 34.9) for males and 11.8 months (St. Deviation; 18.9) for females. In the pathway to care, psychiatrists featured prominently as initial care providers. In the first attempt at help-seeking, 43% patients were initially taken to psychiatrists. After the initial consultation, 45% were prescribed psychotropic medication while 7% were hospitalized. Only 9% subjects were given the diagnosis of schizophrenia initially. When participants were inquired about the reasons for delay, 29% reported financial difficulties as the barrier to care. Positive symptoms of psychosis were present in 57% subjects while negative symptoms were present in 30% subjects. There was a statistically significant difference (Chi-square; 7.928, df: 1, Sig 0.005) between DUP and the positive and negative symptoms category.

Conclusion

In the absence of well developed primary care health system in Pakistan, majority of patients present to psychiatrists as a first contact. DUP, as a measurement of help seeking behaviour, tends to be shorter with positive symptoms of Schizophrenia. Substantial amount of time is lost due to non recognition of disease and subsequently, inadequate treatment. Secondary prevention strategies should focus on families, which play an important role in the treatment-seeking process of psychotic patients.     

Portable PET probes are a novel tool for intraoperative localization of tumor deposits

Background

The emergency treatment of incisional hernias is infrequent but it can be complicated with strangulation or obstruction and in some cases the surgical approach may also include an intestinal resection with the possibility of peritoneal contamination. Our study aims at reporting our experience in the emergency treatment of complicated incisional hernias.

Methods

Since January 1999 till July 2008, 89 patients (55 males and 34 females) were treated for complicated incisional hernias in emergency. The patients were divided in two groups: Group I consisting of 33 patients that were treated with prosthesis apposition and Group II, consisting of 56 patients that were treated by performing a direct abdominal wall muscles suture.

Results

All the patients underwent a 6-month follow up; we noticed 9 recurrences (9/56, 16%) in the patients treated with direct abdominal wall muscles suture and 1 recurrence (1/33, 3%) in the group of patients treated with the prosthesis apposition.

Conclusions

According to our experience, the emergency treatment of complicated incisional hernias through prosthesis apposition is always feasible and ensures less post-operative complications (16% vs 21,2%) and recurrences (3% vs 16%) compared to the patients treated with direct muscular suture.     

Antipyretic activity of Caesalpinia digyna (Rottl.) leaves extract along with phytoconstituent’s binding affinity to COX-1, COX-2, and mPGES-1 receptors: In vivo and in silico approaches

Caesalpinia digyna (Rottl.) (Family: Fabaceae) is well known for its numerous medicinal values against several human disorders including fever, senile pruritis, diarrhea, tuberculosis, tonic disorder, diabetes, etc. The current study is intended to investigate the in vivo antipyretic activity of the methanol extract of C. digyna leaves (MECD) and its carbon-tetrachloride (CTCD) and butanol fraction (BTCD). Besides, in silico molecular docking and ADME/T profiling of the selective identified bioactive compounds of C. digyna has been also studied to validate the experimental outcomes and establish a better insight into the possible receptor-ligand interaction affinity. In vivo antipyretic activity of MECD, CTCD and BTCD were evaluated by employing yeast induced pyrexia technique in mice model and in silico analysis of the identified compounds of C. digyna has been implemented using PyRx autodock vina, Discovery Studio 2020, UCSF Chimera software and ADME/T online tools. MECD and BTCD unveiled significant antipyretic activity in dose dependent manner whereas, CTCD failed to exhibit significant antipyretic activity. Comparing to other test sample, MECD (400 mg/kg; b.w) (p < 0.001) displayed maximum inhibition of pyrexia. In molecular docking approach, docking score between −6.60 to −10.20 kcal/mol have been revealed. Besides, in ADME/T analysis, no compound violated the lipiniski’s 5 rules and displayed any toxicity. Biological and computational approaches ascertain the ethno-botanical use of C. digyna as a good agent against pyrexia and the compounds of C. digyna are primarily proved as safe. Hereafter, further analysis is suggested to validate this research.     

Spatial distribution and trophic ecology of dominant copepods associated with turbidity maximum along the salinity gradient in a highly embayed estuarine system in Ariake Sea, Japan

The present study aimed to investigate into the feeding ecology of the dominant copepods along a salinity gradient in Chikugo estuary. Copepod composition was studied from samples collected from stations positioned along the salinity gradient of the estuary. Copepod gut pigment concentrations were measured by fluorescence technique and hydrographical parameters such as temperature, salinity, transparency, suspended particulate matter (SPM); pigments such as chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), phaeopigment; and particulate nutrients such as particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate organic nitrogen (PON) were measured. Two distinct zones in terms of nutrient and pigment concentrations as well as copepod distribution and feeding were identified along the estuary. We identified a zone of turbidity maximum (TM) in the low saline upper estuary which was characterized by having higher SPM, higher POC and PON but lower POC:PON ratios, higher pigment concentrations but lower Chl-a/SPM ratios and higher copepod dry biomass. Sinocalanus sinensis was the single dominant copepod in low saline upper estuary where significantly higher concentrations of nutrients and pigments were recorded and a multispecies copepod assemblage dominated by common coastal copepods such as Acartia omorii, Oithona davisae and Paracalanus parvus was observed in the lower estuary where nutrient and pigment concentrations were lower. Copepods in the estuary are predominantly herbivorous, feeding primarily on pigment bearing plants. However, completely contrasting trophic environments were found in the upper and the lower estuary. It was speculated from the Chl-a and phaeopigment values that copepods in the upper estuary receive energy from a detritus-based food web while in the lower estuary an algal-based food web supports copepod growth. Overall, the upper estuary was identified to provide a better trophic environment for copepod and is associated with higher SPM concentrations and elevated turbidity. The study demonstrates the role of estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) in habitat trophic richness for copepod feeding. The study points out the role of detritus-based food web as energy source for the endemic copepod S. sinensis in the upper estuary, which supports as nursery for many fish species.     

Developmental and regional expression and localization of mRNAs encoding proteins involved in RNA translocation.

RNA localization is a regulated component of gene expression of fundamental importance in development and differentiation. Several RNA binding proteins involved in RNA localization during development in Drosophila have been identified, of which Y14, Mago, Pumilio, and IMP-1 are known to be expressed in adult mammalian intestine. The present study was undertaken to define the developmental and regional expression of these proteins, as well as Staufen-1, in mouse intestinal cells and in other tissues and cell lines using RT-PCR, and localization using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Staufen-1, Y14, Mago-m, and Pumilio-1 were expressed in intestinal epithelial cells of both villus and crypt and in Caco-2 and IEC-6 cells. In contrast, expression of IMP-1 was age- and region-specific, showing clear expression in distal fetal and newborn intestine, but very low or no expression in adult. The mRNAs were cytosolic, with more apical than basal expression in enterocytes. Staufen protein showed a similar localization pattern to that of its cognate mRNA. Overall, the data suggest an essential role for these proteins in intestinal cells. Age and regional expression of IMP-1 may indicate a role in regulation of site-specific translation of intestinal genes or in RNA localization.     

Proteomic approach to address low seed germination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyclobalnopsis gilva</Emphasis>

Seeds play essential roles in plant life cycle and germination is a complex process which is associated with different phases of water imbibition. Upon imbibition, seeds begin utilization of storage substances coupled with metabolic activity and biosynthesis of new proteins. Regeneration of organelles and emergence of radicals lead to the establishment of seedlings. All these activities are regulated in coordinated manners. Translation is the requirement of germination of seeds via involvements of several proteins like beta-amylase, starch phosphorylase. Some important proteins involved in seed germination are discussed in this review. In the past decade, several proteomic studies regarding seed germination of various species such as rice, Arabidopsis have been conducted. We face A paucity of proteomic data with respect to woody plants e.g. Fagus, Pheonix etc. With particular reference to Cyclobalnopsis gilva, a woody plant having low seed germination rate, no proteomic studies have been conducted. The review aims to reveal the complex seed germination mechanisms from woody and herbaceous plants that will help in understanding different seed germination phases and the involved proteins in C. gilva.