Sargassan: A sulphated heteropolysaccharide from Sargassum linifolium

A new sulphated heteropolysaccharide containing glucuronic acid, mannose, galactose, xylose, fucose and a protein moiety has been extracted from Sargassum linifolium. The polysaccharide extracted with HCl was richer in its carbohydrate and protein contents and contained lower amounts of ash than that extracted with oxalic acid.     

Molecular detection of some toxogenic cyanobacteria in Tigris River in Baghdad–Iraq

Molecular Biology Reports - Cyanobacteria and their pollution are being increasingly commonly reported worldwide that cause a serious hazard to environmental and human health. Cyanotoxin was the...     

Acceptance of trial of labor after cesarean (Tolac) among obstetricians in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundBabies to women eligible for trial of labor after a cesarean (TOLAC) are sometimes delivered by cesarean section (CS). To obtain clinicians’ attitudes and beliefs about TOLAC, this study was designed to investigate the views of clinicians when advising TOLAC-eligible pregnant women about TOLAC, and to explore their reasons in favor of or against TOLAC.MethodsInterviews were carried out individually (face-to-face) with clinicians using a specially designed questionnaire to collect data from obstetricians in the Western Region of Saudi. Regression analysis was used as appropriate.ResultsAmong the 183 obstetricians included in the current study, approximately 79.2% were against offering TOLAC. However, most of the physicians (89.1%) were in favor of offering TOLAC to patients who had had a successful vaginal birth after CS. significant associations were found between physicians’ opposition to TOLAC and medical and most non-medical factors.ConclusionClinicians should recognize that the critical role they play in the delivery decision-making process and in boosting women’s confidence in TOLAC may be key to increasing the rate of TOLAC.     

The Effect of Different AR Nanostructures on the Optical Performance of Organic–Inorganic Halide Perovskite Semiconductor Solar Cell

Plasmonics - Nanostructures exhibit excellent antireflection (AR) properties allowing for broadband antireflection and increasing the light incoupling in solar cells. In this paper, the optical...     

Diacerein ameliorates acetaminophen hepatotoxicity in rats via inhibiting HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB and upregulating PPAR-γ signal

Molecular Biology Reports - Acetaminophen (APAP) is a worldwide antipyretic as well as an analgesic medication. It has been extensively utilized during the outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)....     

Some structural features of sargassan,a sulphated heteropolysaccharide from Sargassum linifolium

The acid-extractable, water-soluble, sulphated heteropolysaccharide, sargassan, contains residues of D-glucuronic acid, D-mannose, D-galactose, D-xylose, and L-fucose, and a protein moiety. Partial, acid hydrolysis of sargassan and auto-hydrolysis of the free-acid polysaccharide have been studied. Several acidic and neutral oligosaccharides were subsequently isolated. Evidence is advanced for the presence of ester sulphate on some galactose and fucose residues. It is concluded that the carbohydrate moiety of sargassan involves a backbone chain of D-glucuronic acid and D-mannose residues, and side chains involving residues of D-galactose, D-xylose, and L-fucose with sulphate attached to some galactose and fucose residues.     

The alterations of rat brain GABA and glutamine induced by the organophosphorus compound cyolane

Levels of the amino acids GABA and glutamine were determined in the whole brain of the white albino rat Rattus norvegicus after daily injection of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/100 LD50 of cyolane. With 1/2 LD50 an increase in the level of both GABA and glutamine in the brain was recorded. Dose levels of 1/4 and 1/8 LD50 caused an increase in the level of GABA and a decrease in glutamine concentration followed by an increase from the 7th and 11th days for 1/4 and 1/8 LD50, respectively. The induced increase in GABA level started from the 2nd week for 1/16 and 1/32 LD50 and from the 3rd week for 1/100 LD50. Dose levels of 1/16, 1/32 and 1/100 LD50 caused a fluctuating increase in glutamine concentration starting from the 2nd, 3rd and 6th weeks, respectively, which was followed by a fluctuating decrease at the 9th week for 1/32 and 1/100 LD50. These findings support previous findings that the enhanced transformation of glutamic acid to GABA and glutamine is a result of a disturbance in the metabolism of the glutamic acid-GABA and the glutamic acid-glutamine systems in the rat brain.