Effect of Moringa oleifera leaves on hematological profile of fluorosis affected rats

Fluorosis is a metabolic disease that is endemic in nearly 25 countries with India being one of the most affected. It primarily affects the bone and the teeth. Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves are known to reduce the effect of fluorosis on various tissues. Therefore, it is of interest to document the effect of Moringa oleifera leaves on the hematological profile of fluorosis affected rats. Twenty four Sprague Dawley rats were housed two per cage in a room with 12 hours light and 12 hours dark cycle. The rats were allowed to adjust to the laboratory environment for about one to two weeks before the beginning of the study. This study reveals that MO leaves is effective in reducing the plasma fluoride content. It also helps in improving the Hb % and RBC count in fluorosis affected rats. Data shows that Moringa olifera leaves powder is effective in reducing the plasma fluoride content. It also helps in improving the Hemoglobin percentage & Red Blood Cell count in fluorosis affected rats.     

Molecular dynamics of synthetic leucine-serine ion channels in a phospholipid membrane

Molecular dynamics calculations were carried out on models of two synthetic leucine-serine ion channels: a tetrameric bundle with sequence (LSLLLSL)(3)NH(2) and a hexameric bundle with sequence (LSSLLSL)(3)NH(2). Each protein bundle is inserted in a palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membrane and solvated by simple point charge water molecules inside the pore and at both mouths. Both systems appear to be stable in the absence of an electric field during the 4 ns of molecular dynamics simulation. The water motion in the narrow pore of the four-helix bundle is highly restricted and may provide suitable conditions for proton transfer via a water wire mechanism. In the wider hexameric pore, the water diffuses much more slowly than in bulk but is still mobile. This, along with the dimensions of the pore, supports the observation that this peptide is selective for monovalent cations. Reasonable agreement of predicted conductances with experimentally determined values lends support to the validity of the simulations.     

Reduction in magnetic resonance imaging T2 burden of disease in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: analysis of 48-week data from the EVIDENCE (EVidence of Interferon Dose-response: European North American Comparative Efficacy) study

Background  

The EVIDENCE (EVidence of Interferon Dose-response: European North American Comparative Efficacy) study was an international, randomized, open-label, assessor-blinded, parallel-group study assessing the efficacy and tolerability of interferon (IFN) beta-1a, 44 mcg subcutaneously (sc) three times weekly (tiw), and IFN beta-1a, 30 mcg intramuscularly (im) once weekly (qw), in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The aim of this analysis was to assess whether reductions in T2 burden of disease (BOD) were greater for patients receiving IFN beta-1a, 44 mcg sc tiw, than for those treated with IFN beta-1a, 30 mcg im qw, and to assess the impact of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs).     

黑长臂猿（Hylobates concolor）对人类和非人类捕食者的回避行为

捕食和避免捕在动物生存和进化过程中起着重要作用,本文报道了我们自１９９０年３月至１９９２年元月观察黑长臂猿对人类和非人类捕食者的一系列反映,在遇到人类（观察者）后,据离观察者的远近和受惊程度不同,它们表现出５种回避方式,而在遇到非人类捕食者时,成年雌雄性一起将捕食者引开,以保护其后代个体免遭捕食。文中还对这些不同的行为方式进行了讨论。成年雄性是群体的主要保护者,成年雌性在群体保护中也起到重要的作用     

Synergistic effect of extracellularly supplemented osteopontin and osteocalcin on stem cell proliferation,osteogenic differentiation,and angiogenic properties

A high demand for functional bone grafts is being observed worldwide, especially due to the increased life expectancy. Osteoinductive components should be incorporated into functional bone grafts, accelerating cell recruitment, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and new bone formation at a defect site. Noncollagenous bone matrix proteins, especially osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OC), have been reported to regulate some physiological process, such as cell migration and bone mineralization. However, the effects of OPN and OC on cell proliferation, osteogenic differentiation, mineralization, and angiogenesis are still undefined. Therefore, we assessed the exogenous effect of OPN and OC supplementation on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (hBM MSC) proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. OPN dose-dependently increased the proliferation of hBM MSC, as well as improved the angiogenic properties of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by increasing the capillary-like tube formation in vitro. On the other hand, OC enhanced the differentiation of hBM MSC into osteoblasts and demonstrated an increase in extracellular calcium levels and alkaline phosphatase activity, as well as higher messenger RNA levels of mature osteogenic markers osteopontin and osteocalcin. In vivo assessment of OC/OPN-enhanced scaffolds in a critical-sized defect rabbit long-bone model revealed no infection, while new bone was being formed. Taken together, these results suggest that OC and OPN stimulate bone regeneration by inducing stem cell proliferation, osteogenesis and by enhancing angiogenic properties. The synergistic effect of OC and OPN observed in this study can be applied as an attractive strategy for bone regeneration therapeutics by targeting different vital cellular processes.     

Biochemical predictors for Sars-Cov-2 severity

It is of interest to assess the inflammatory marker profile in SARS-CoV-2 patients and to correlate the levels of systemic inflammatory biomarkers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-Reactive Protein CRP, Ferritin, Creatine kinase (CK), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and liver function analytes total serum proteins, albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infections. A total of 1000 COVID-19 positive patient''s data were collected. Laboratory assessments consisted of NLR (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) by cell counter, C Reactive Protein (CRP) by immunoturbidimetry, Ferritin by electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) and Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Total Bilirubin, Direct Bilirubin, Total Protein and Albumin by spectrophotometry. The mean plasma CRP levels, NLR, ferritin, CK and LDH levels were higher in severe cases than in non-severe cases, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). All liver function tests such as the total and direct bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, total protein and albumin were higher in severe patients than non-severe patients and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Data indicate that NLR, CRP, Ferritin, CK, LDH and liver function analytes have a crucial role as prognostic markers for SARS-CoV-2 infections and hence should be routinely recommended for risk assessment and stratification of the patients to reduce the associated morbidity and mortality.     

The MS Risk Allele of CD40 Is Associated with Reduced Cell-Membrane Bound Expression in Antigen Presenting Cells: Implications for Gene Function

Human genetic and animal studies have implicated the costimulatory molecule CD40 in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated the cell specific gene and protein expression variation controlled by the CD40 genetic variant(s) associated with MS, i.e. the T-allele at rs1883832. Previously we had shown that the risk allele is expressed at a lower level in whole blood, especially in people with MS. Here, we have defined the immune cell subsets responsible for genotype and disease effects on CD40 expression at the mRNA and protein level. In cell subsets in which CD40 is most highly expressed, B lymphocytes and dendritic cells, the MS-associated risk variant is associated with reduced CD40 cell-surface protein expression. In monocytes and dendritic cells, the risk allele additionally reduces the ratio of expression of full-length versus truncated CD40 mRNA, the latter encoding secreted CD40. We additionally show that MS patients, regardless of genotype, express significantly lower levels of CD40 cell-surface protein compared to unaffected controls in B lymphocytes. Thus, both genotype-dependent and independent down-regulation of cell-surface CD40 is a feature of MS. Lower expression of a co-stimulator of T cell activation, CD40, is therefore associated with increased MS risk despite the same CD40 variant being associated with reduced risk of other inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Our results highlight the complexity and likely individuality of autoimmune pathogenesis, and could be consistent with antiviral and/or immunoregulatory functions of CD40 playing an important role in protection from MS.     

Ethnozoology in Brazil: current status and perspectives

Ancient connections between animals and human are seen in cultures throughout the world in multiple forms of interaction with the local fauna that form the core of Ethnozoology. Historically, ethnozoological publications grew out of studies undertaken in academic areas such as zoology, human ecology, sociology and anthropology - reflecting the interdisciplinary character of this discipline. The rich fauna and cultural diversity found in Brazil, with many different species of animals being used for an extremely wide diversity of purposes by Amerindian societies (as well as the descendents of the original European colonists and African slaves), presents an excellent backdrop for examining the relationships that exist between humans and other animals. This work presents a historical view of ethnozoological research in Brazil and examines its evolution, tendencies, and future perspectives. In summary, literature researches indicated that ethnozoology experienced significant advances in recent years in Brazil, although from a qualitative point of view improvement is still needed in terms of methodological procedures, taxonomic precision, and the use of quantitative techniques. A wide range of methodologies and theories are available in different areas of learning that can be put to good use in ethnozoological approaches if the right questions are asked. The challenges to studying ethnozoology in Brazil are not insignificant, and the tendencies described in the present study may aid in defining research strategies that will maintain the quantitative growth observed in the recent years but likewise foster needed qualitative improvements.