Utilization of various agricultural wastes for activated carbon preparation and application for the removal of dyes and metal ions from aqueous solutions

Activated carbons were prepared from the agricultural solid wastes, silk cotton hull, coconut tree sawdust, sago waste, maize cob and banana pith and used to eliminate heavy metals and dyes from aqueous solution. Adsorption of all dyes and metal ions required a very short time and gave quantitative removal. Experimental results show all carbons were effective for the removal of pollutants from water. Since all agricultural solid wastes used in this investigation are freely, abundantly and locally available, the resulting carbons are expected to be economically viable for wastewater treatment.     

Spectrofluorimetric method for the estimation of total lipids in Eremothecium ashbyii fungal filaments using Nile blue and avoiding interference of autofluorescent riboflavin

A rapid, simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric technique was developed for monitoring total lipids in hyphae of the riboflavin-overproducing fungus Eremothecium ashbyii using the fluorescent probe Nile blue in an aqueous system, avoiding the interference due to autofluorescent riboflavin. The existing methodologies for lipid estimation are tedious, requiring large biomass, solvent extraction and gravimetry. E. ashbyii is a hemiascomycete fungus which accumulates lipids in its mycelia prior to flavinogenesis. This study defines the conditions (wavelength selection and sensitivity) for the spectrofluorimetric quantification of lipids in situ in the macerated mycelia of this fungus in the presence of intracellular autofluorescent riboflavin without the need to extract the lipids from the mycelia. The fluorescent intensity was linear with the lipid concentration of the mycelia (by gravimetry) under three different growth conditions using glucose, olive oil and sunflower oil as carbon sources. This spectrofluorimetic method of lipid estimation can be applied to other fungi and microorganisms.     

Foregut Mesenchyme Contributes Cells to Islets during Pancreatic Development in a 3-Dimensional Avian Model

Current interest in the potential use of pancreatic stem-cells in the treatment of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus has led to increased research into normal pancreatic development. Pancreatic organogenesis involves branching morphogenesis of undifferentiated epithelium within surrounding mesenchyme. Current understanding is that the pancreatic islets develop exclusively from the epithelium of the embryonic buds. However, a cellular contribution to islets by mesenchyme has not been conclusively excluded. We present evidence that the mesenchyme of both the dorsal pancreatic bud and stomach rudiment make a substantial contribution of cells to islets during development in a three-dimensional avian model. These data suggest that mesenchyme can be a source not only of signals but also of cells for the definitive epithelia, making pancreatic organogenesis more akin to that of the kidney than to other endodermal organs. This raises the possibility for the use of mesenchymal cells as stem-or progenitor-cells for islet transplantation.Key Words: islets, stem-cells, development, epithelium, mesenchyme, pancreas, stomach, chick-quail, 3-dimensional, endocrine     

Evaluation of a labdane diterpene forskolin isolated from Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi (Cucurbitaceae) revealed promising antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic pharmacological properties

Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi (Family Cucurbitaceae) is one of the important plant species used by the Irula tribes of Walayar valley of southern Western Ghats, India for the management of diabetes. To confirm the antidiabetic property of S. amplexicaulis, the present study was addressed using crude methanolic leaf extract of S. amplexicaulis (MeOHSa) and its isolated compound, Forskolin against streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), blood glucose, lipid profile, serum liver markers, antioxidants, hemoglobin and glycogen were evaluated using standard procedure. The oral administration of Forskolin and MeOHSa (600 mg/kg b.w.) for 30 days resulted in significant restoration of all these parameters supported by histopathological observations too. The results clearly suggest that the Forskolin (diterpene) possess potent antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activities, which may be considered as a lead molecule for therapeutic purposes, and the source of Forskolin i.e. S. amplexicaulis can be further exploited for pharmaceutical industries.     

The potential of antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr (Menispermaceae)

To explore the possible bioactive compounds and to study the antioxidant capacity of Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr (Menispermaceae), the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening for various secondary metabolites were evaluated. Using the GC–MS analysis, a total number of 30 phytochemical compounds were predicted with their retention time, molecular weight, molecular formula, peak area, structure and activities. The most prevailing heterocyclic compound was Bis(2,4,6- triisopropylphenyl) phosphinicazide (6.70%). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by spectrophotometric methods using the reducing power assay and the DPPH and ABTS⁺ scavenging assays. The activity was determined to be increased in all the test samples with the increase in the volume of the extract. C. fenestratum possess a good source of many bioactive compounds that are used to prevent diseases linked with oxidative stress.     

Neurological Response to cART vs. cART plus Integrase Inhibitor and CCR5 Antagonist Initiated during Acute HIV

Objective

To compare central nervous system (CNS) outcomes in participants treated during acute HIV infection with standard combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) vs. cART plus integrase inhibitor and CCR5 antagonist (cART+).

Design

24-week randomized open-label prospective evaluation.

Method

Participants were evaluated then randomized to initiate cART (efavirenz, tenofovir, and either emtricitabine or lamivudine) vs. cART+ (cART plus raltegravir and maraviroc) during acute HIV and re-evaluated at 4, 12 and 24 weeks. We examined plasma and CSF cytokines, HIV RNA levels, neurological and neuropsychological findings, and brain MRS across groups and compared to healthy controls.

Results

At baseline, 62 participants were in Fiebig stages I-V. Randomized groups were similar for mean age (27 vs. 25, p = 0.137), gender (each 94% male), plasma log₁₀ HIV RNA (5.4 vs. 5.6, p = 0.382), CSF log₁₀ HIV RNA (2.35 vs. 3.31, p = 0.561), and estimated duration of HIV (18 vs. 17 days, p = 0.546). Randomized arms did not differ at 24 weeks by any CNS outcome. Combining arms, all measures concurrent with antiretroviral treatment improved, for example, neuropsychological testing (mean NPZ-4 of -0.408 vs. 0.245, p<0.001) and inflammatory markers by MRS (e.g. mean frontal white matter (FWM) choline of 2.92 vs. 2.84, p = 0.045) at baseline and week 24, respectively. Plasma neopterin (p<0.001) and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10) (p = 0.007) remained elevated in participants compared to controls but no statistically significant differences were seen in CSF cytokines compared to controls, despite individual variability among the HIV-infected group.

Conclusions

A 24-week course of cART+ improved CNS related outcomes, but was not associated with measurable differences compared to standard cART.     

Blue Light Exposure Targets NADPH Oxidase to Plasma Membrane and Nucleus in Wheat Coleoptiles

Wheat coleoptile tips generate superoxide radical as a part of the phototropic response to blue light, but the source of this free radical generation is not known. We evaluated the presence and involvement of homologs of neutrophil NADPH oxidase (NOX), including gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox, p47phox, and p40phox, in wheat coleoptiles using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy. Blue light augmented the expression levels of all these subunits and targeted NOX subunits onto the plasma membrane and to the nucleus. gp91phox, p22phox, p67phox, and p40phox showed entry into the nucleus and exhibited physical closeness with DNA. CuZnSOD was also present in the coleoptile tip, which also showed a blue-light-dependent elevation in expression. Superoxide production and phototropic response were both abrogated by DPIC and staurosporine, indicating their cause-and-effect relationship. We conclude that blue light mediates a phototropic response in wheat coleoptiles through modulation of expression of NOX and SOD as well as the translocation of NOX subunits onto the plasma membrane and nuclear membrane. Thus, this study provides a mechanistic explanation for superoxide production during the photoresponse in wheat coleoptiles.     

Localized delivery of interferon-β by Lactobacillus exacerbates experimental colitis

Background

There have been conflicting reports of the role of Type I interferons (IFN) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Clinical trials have shown potent efficacy of systemic interferon-beta (IFN-β) in inducing remission of ulcerative colitis. Likewise, IFNAR1^−/− mice display an increased sensitivity to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, suggesting Type I IFN play a protective role during inflammation of the gut. Curiously, however, there have also been reports detailing the spontaneous development of IBD in patients receiving systemic IFN-β therapy for multiple sclerosis or hepatitis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To investigate the effects of local administration of IFN-β on a murine model of colitis, we developed a transgenic Lactobacillus acidophilus strain that constitutively expresses IFN-β (La-IFN-β). While pretreatment of mice with control Lactobacillus (La-EV) provided slight protective benefits, La-IFN-β increased sensitivity to DSS. Analysis showed colitic mice pretreated with La-IFN-β had increased production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-17A and IL-13 by intestinal tissues and decreased regulatory T cells (Tregs) in their small intestine. Examination of CD103⁺ dendritic cells (DCs) in the Peyer''s patches revealed that IFNAR1 expression was dramatically reduced by La-IFN-β. Similarly, bone marrow-derived DCs matured with La-IFN-β experienced a 3-fold reduction of IFNAR1 and were impaired in their ability to induce Tregs.

Conclusions/Significance

Our IFNAR1 expression data identifies a correlation between the loss/downregulation of IFNAR1 on DCs and exacerbation of colitis. Our data show that Lactobacillus secreting IFN-β has an immunological effect that in our model results in the exacerbation of colitis. This study underscores that the selection of therapeutics delivered by a bacterial vehicle must take into consideration the simultaneous effects of the vehicle itself.     

The chlamydial organism Simkania negevensis forms ER vacuole contact sites and inhibits ER‐stress

Most intracellular bacterial pathogens reside within membrane‐surrounded host‐derived vacuoles. Few of these bacteria exploit membranes from the host's endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to form a replicative vacuole. Here, we describe the formation of ER–vacuole contact sites as part of the replicative niche of the chlamydial organism Simkania negevensis. Formation of ER–vacuole contact sites is evolutionary conserved in the distantly related protozoan host Acanthamoeba castellanii. Simkania growth is accompanied by mitochondria associating with the Simkania‐containing vacuole (SCV). Super‐resolution microscopy as well as 3D reconstruction from electron micrographs of serial ultra‐thin sections revealed a single vacuolar system forming extensive ER–SCV contact sites on the Simkania vacuolar surface. Simkania infection induced an ER‐stress response, which was later downregulated. Induction of ER‐stress with Thapsigargin or Tunicamycin was strongly inhibited in cells infected with Simkania. Inhibition of ER‐stress was required for inclusion formation and efficient growth, demonstrating a role of ER‐stress in the control of Simkania infection. Thus, Simkania forms extensive ER–SCV contact sites in host species evolutionary as diverse as human and amoeba. Moreover, Simkania is the first bacterial pathogen described to interfere with ER‐stress induced signalling to promote infection.