Sulfur and molybdenum fractionation in marine and riverine alluvium paddy soils

Intermittently submergence and drainage status of paddy fields can cause alterations in morphological and chemical characteristics of soils. We conducted a sequential fractionation study to provide an insight into solubility of Sulfur (S) and Molybdenum (Mo) in flooded alluvial paddy soils. The samples (0–15 and 15–30 cm) were taken from marine and riverine alluvial soils in Kedah and Kelantan areas, respectively, and were sequentially extracted with NaHCO₃, NaOH, HCl, and HClO₄–HNO₃. Total S in upper and lower layers of Kedah and Kelantan ranged between 273 and 1121 mg kg^?1, and 177 to 1509 mg kg^?1, respectively. In upper layers and subsoil of Kedah, average total Mo were 0.34 and 0.27 mg kg^?1, respectively. Average total Mo in Kelantan were 0.25 mg kg^?1 (surface layer) and 0.28 mg kg^?1 (subsoil). Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was positively correlated with plant available amounts of Mo in upper layers of Kedah area. Also, total and medium-term plant-available S was correlated with total carbon (C) at lower layers of Kelantan soil series. But in surface layers of Kelantan soil series, CEC was strongly correlated with total and medium-term plant-available S. Our results indicates that the influence of flooding conditions on soil S and Mo contents in paddy fields may cause long-term changes in S and Mo chemical reactivities.     

BMP2 Transfer to Neighboring Cells and Activation of Signaling

Morphogen gradients and concentration are critical features during early embryonic development and cellular differentiation. Previously we reported the preparation of biologically active, fluorescently labeled BMP2 and quantitatively analyzed their binding to the cell surface and followed BMP2 endocytosis over time on the level of single endosomes. Here we show that this internalized BMP2 can be transferred to neighboring cells and, moreover, also activates downstream BMP signaling in adjacent cells, indicated by Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation and activation of the downstream target gene id1. Using a 3D matrix to modulate cell–cell contacts in culture we could show that direct cell–cell contact significantly increased BMP2 transfer. Using inhibitors of vesicular transport, transfer was strongly inhibited. Interestingly, cotreatment with the physiological BMP inhibitor Noggin increased BMP2 uptake and transfer, albeit activation of Smad signaling in neighboring cells was completely suppressed. Our findings present a novel and interesting mechanism by which morphogens such as BMP2 can be transferred between cells and how this is modulated by BMP antagonists such as Noggin, and how this influences activation of Smad signaling by BMP2 in neighboring cells.      

Data on self-medication among healthcare students at Najran University,KSA

The prevalence of self-medication (SM) has increased in health professionals due to awareness of disease and symptoms. Incorrect use of medication caused harmful effects. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health professionals, this survey was conducted. A cross-sectional study was carried out among health professionals of different specialities. Knowledge, attitude and practice-based questions were asked through an electronically distributed questionnaire. Data were statistically tested using the Chi-square test with SPSS. Most of the health professionals were aware with the term of self-medication; however the knowledge about related questions was not satisfactory. Almost half of the participants practiced self-medication. The prevalence of self-medication among participants was high. They need to be trained and educate about the incorrect use of self-medication.     

The Possible Roles of Priming with ZnO Nanoparticles in Mitigation of Salinity Stress in Lupine (Lupinus termis) Plants

To our knowledge, little attention has been paid to evaluating ZnO nanoparticles (ZNPs) roles in plants grown under salinity stress. In this study, seeds of lupine (Lupinus termis) plants were grown in plastic pots and exposed to 0 (control) and 150 (S) mM NaCl with or without priming with different concentrations of ZnO [20 mg L^?1 (ZNPs1), 40 mg L^?1 (ZNPs2), and 60 mg L^?1 (ZNPs3)] for 20 days. Salinized plants showed a reduction in plant growth parameters (root length, shoot length, fresh weight, and dry weight) and in the contents of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b, and carotenoids) and Zn, as well as in the activity of catalase (CAT) against control plants. On the other side, salinity stress boosted the contents of organic solutes (soluble sugar, soluble protein, total free amino acids, and proline), total phenols, malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid and Na, as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in stressed plants over control plants. However, seed-priming with ZNPs mostly stimulated growth of stressed plants, which was accompanied by reinforcement in the levels of photosynthetic pigments, organic solutes, total phenols, ascorbic acid and Zn, as well as in the activities of SOD, CAT, POD, and APX enzymes over stressed plants alone. On the contrary, priming with ZNPs caused a decrement in the contents of MDA and Na in stressed plants relative to salinized plants alone. It is worthy to mention that, this improvement in salt tolerance of plants primed with ZNPs was more obvious in plants primed with ZNPs3 and grown both in unstressed and stressed regimes. Thus, our findings suggest that seed-priming with ZNPs, especially 60 mg L^?1 ZnO is an effective strategy that can be used to enhance salt tolerance of lupine plants.

     

The Role of Probiotics in the Treatment of Dysentery: a Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Diarrhea is considered as an important cause of morbidity and mortality, even though one of the main reasons of death following diarrhea is initiated by dysentery. In recent years, the consumption of probiotics has been proposed for the treatment of infectious diarrhea. Despite most of the studies on probiotics have focused on acute watery diarrhea, few studies in the field of dysentery have found beneficial effects of probiotics. This study is a randomized double-blind clinical trial. The patients were randomly placed into control and case groups. In the intervention group, the patients received probiotics in the form of Kidilact® sachet, which contained high amounts of 7-strain friendly bacteria strains of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium breve, and Streptococcus thermophiles. On the other hand, the patients in the control group received placebo sachets on a daily basis for 5 days. It is notable that the treatment protocol of acute dysentery was done on both groups. The results of this study showed significant differences in the duration of blood in diarrhea between probiotic consumers (2.62 days) and the control group (3.16 days) (P value = 0.05). Additionally, significant differences in the average length of hospitalization in probiotic consumers (3.16 days) and control (3.66 days), (P value = 0.02) could be claimed that the consumption of probiotics is effective in reducing the duration of dysentery and diarrhea. The results of this study suggest that the use of probiotics can be effective in reducing the duration of blood in diarrhea. This study was also recorded in the Iran center of clinical trials registration database (IRCT2014060617985N1).     

Antitumor studies. Part 4: Design, synthesis, antitumor activity, and molecular docking study of novel 2-substituted 2-deoxoflavin-5-oxides, 2-deoxoalloxazine-5-oxides, and their 5-deaza analogs

Various novel 10-alkyl-2-deoxo-2-methylthioflavin-5-oxides and their 2-alkylamino derivatives were prepared by facile nitrosative cyclization of 6-(N-alkylanilino)-2-methylthiopyrimidin-4(3H)-ones followed by nucleophilic replacement of the 2-methylthio moiety by different amines, and acidic hydrolysis of the 2-methylthio moiety afforded the corresponding flavin derivatives. 2-Deoxo-2-methylthio-5-deazaalloxazines and 2-deoxo-2-methylthioalloxazine-5-oxides were also prepared by Vilsmeier reaction and by nitrosation of 6-anilino-2-methylthiopyrimidin-4(3H)-ones, respectively. Then, they were subjected to nucleophilic replacement with appropriate amines to produce the corresponding 2-alkylamino derivatives. Regiospecific N(3)-alkylation of 2-deoxo-2-methylthioalloxazine-5-oxides was carried out with various alkylating agents in the usual way. The antitumor activities against CCRF-HSB-2 and KB tumor cells have been investigated in vitro, and many compounds showed promising antitumor activities. Furthermore, AutoDock molecular docking into PTK (PDB: 1t46) has been done for lead optimization of the aforementioned compounds as potential PTK inhibitors.     

Antitumor studies. Part 5: Synthesis, antitumor activity, and molecular docking study of 5-(monosubstituted amino)-2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins

Various novel 5-(monosubstituted amino)-2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins derivatives have been synthesized by direct coupling of 5-deazaflavins and N-alkyl or aryl amines. The antitumor activities against human tumor cell lines CCRF-HSB-2 and KB cells have been investigated in vitro and many compounds showed promising potential antitumor activities with less cytotoxicities. AutoDock molecular docking into PTK (PDB code: 1t46) has been done for lead optimization of these compounds as potential PTK inhibitors. Some of the synthesized 5-(monosubstituted amino)-2-deoxo-2-phenyl-5-deazaflavins at the 5-position exhibited reasonable binding affinities into PTK with the hydrogen bond through their C(5)-NH moiety.