Ecdysteroids from the flowers of Aerva javanica

Four new ecdysteroids (1–4), along with three known steroids, β-ecdysone (5), 5-β-2-deoxyintegristerone A (6) and 24-epi-makisterone A (7) (Fig. 1), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the flowers of Aerva javanica by using normal and reverse phase chromatography. The structures of the new compounds (1–4) were determined due to 1D (¹H and ¹³C), 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, COSY, NOESY) techniques and high resolution mass spectrometry (HREIMS). The known compounds (5–7) were characterized based on the 1D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry and by comparison with the literature values. All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and lipoxygenase (LOX).     

Ambulatory dispersal of the susceptible and propargite-resistant strains of Tetranychus urticae and its influence on pesticide resistance dynamics

The distribution of resistant individuals is determined by the amount of movement between populations. The differential rate of dispersal of a susceptible and a pesticide-resistant strain could influence the resistance dynamics under field conditions. The dispersal rate and dispersal efficiency of the susceptible and propargite-resistant strains of Tetranychus urticae were measured in separate-release and mixed-release experiments. The diffusion coefficient (D) of both strains did not differ significantly (P > 0.344) and an estimate of the asymptotic rate of advance (2 √ rD) (for one generation) was estimated at 0.1047 and 0.0930 cm per degree day for the susceptible and propargite-resistant strains, respectively. The dispersal efficiency of the two strains differed significantly (P < 0.005) as more susceptible mites than propargite-resistant mites crossed into specified zones more quickly after 290 and 366 degree days. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher number of susceptible adults, immatures and eggs were found in the outer most zone of an arena as compared to that of the propargite-resistant mites. The bioassay of the two strains showed a similar pattern of the spread of the adult females across the specified zones in the mixed-release experiment. The relatively lower dispersive tendency of the propargite-resistant T. urticae and the smaller proportion of adult females exhibiting that behaviour increase the chances of developing resistant ‘hotspots’ in field specially after an acaricide application.     

Pattern of sex steroids secretion and their relationship with embryo yield in Jersey cows superovulated with PMSG

The levels of progesterone and estrogen secretion were studied in relationship to the superovulatory response in Jersey cows. Progesterone and estrogen concentrations were measured in superovulated Jersey cows with the objective of correlating the patterns of steroid secretion with embryo yield and quality. Pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) was used in combination with prostaglandin F(2) alpha analogue to induce superovulation in 18 multiparous, cyclic cows. Serum progesterone and estradiol levels from cows which exhibited estrus within 24 to 48 h after prostaglandin administration (n=13) were used to estimate the superovulatory response. Sex steroid concentrations at the day of estrus (Day 0) was a strong indicator of embryo yield. Progesterone was negatively (r=-0.56) and estrogen positively (r=0.80) correlated to the number of embryos collected. Dramatic increase in progesterone from Day 0 to Day 7 was a significant indicator of embryo yield. A higher rise of estrogen in the follicular phase was an indicator of a larger number of growing follicles and, consequently, better superovulatory response. Nonresponding animals did not show any significant change in the hormonal profile from the day of PMSG treatment to the day of embryo collection. The estimation of progesterone and estradiol concentrations, simultaneously, gave a more objective prediction of embryo yield.     

Fungal silver nanoparticles: synthesis,application and challenges

Purpose: This paper aims to summarize recent developments regarding the synthesis, application and challenges of fungal AgNPs. Possible methods to overcome the challenge of synthesis and reduce the toxicity of AgNPs have been discussed.

Materials and methods: This review consults and summary a large number of papers.

Results: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have great potential in many areas, as they possess multiple novel characteristics. Conventional methods for AgNPs biosynthesis involve chemical agents, causing environmental toxicity and high energy consumption. Fungal bioconversion is a simple, low-cost and energy-efficient biological method, which could successfully be used for AgNPs synthesis. Fungi can produce enzymes that act as both reducing and capping agents, to form stable and shape-controlled AgNPs.

Conclusions: AgNPs have great potential in the medical and food industries, due to their antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-HIV, and catalytic activities. However, the observed in vitro and in vivo toxicity poses considerable challenges in the synthesis and application of AgNPs.     

Towards National Surgical Surveillance in the UK – A Pilot Study

Objective

The Bristol heart inquiry in the United Kingdom (UK) highlighted the lack of standards for evaluating surgical performance and quality. In 2009, the World Health Organisation (WHO) proposed six standardised metrics for surgical surveillance. This is the first study to collect and analyse such metrics from a cohort of National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England, helping to determine their feasibility and utility in measuring surgical performance, its impact on public health and mortality, and for tracking surgical trends over time.

Methods

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) requests for WHO standardised surgical metrics were made to 36 NHS Trusts in England during July to November 2010. Additional data on Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio (HSMR), Patient Safety Score and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) volume and mortality was obtained from Dr Foster Health and The Guardian Newspaper. Analysis was performed using mixed-effect logistic regression.

Results

30/36 trusts responded (83%). During 2005–9, 5.4 million operations were performed with a 24.2% increase in annual number of operations. This rising volume within hospitals was associated with lower mortality ratios. A 10% increase in operative volume was associated with a lower day of surgery death rate (DDR OR = 0.94, p = 0.056) and post-operative inpatient 30-day mortality (PDR30 OR = 0.93, p = 0.001). For every 10,000 more operations that an NHS Trust does, a 4% drop in PDR30 mortality was achieved. A 10% increase in the volume of elective AAAs was associated with lower elective AAA (OR = 0.96, p = 0.032) and emergency AAA (OR = 0.95, p = 0.009) PDR30 mortality. Lower DDR mortality was noted for emergency AAA mortality (OR = 0.95, p = 0.025) but not elective AAAs (OR = 0.97, p = 0.116).

Conclusion

Standarised surgical metrics can provide policy makers and commissioners with valuable summary data on surgical performance allowing for statistical process control of a complex intervention. This study has shown their collection is feasible albeit using FOI and the first to show a statistically significant volume-outcome relationship for surgery as a whole within hospitals. It adds weight to the argument that patients are safer in larger hospitals or those that become larger by growing their patient base. Together with other measures, such metrics can help build a picture of surgical surveillance in the UK and potentially lead us to safer surgery.     

Prostate cancer is known by the companionship with ATM and miRNA it keeps: craftsmen of translation have dual behaviour with tailors of life thread

Research on prostate cancer progression has focused extensively on the concept of miRNA, which can operate either as promoters or as suppressors of carcinogenesis. Moreover, recent genetic studies and emerging functional work show that strikingly similar and overlapping pathways are involved in prostate carcinogenesis. Unswervingly, these elements constitute a recently explored ‘network of networks’ that dynamically reorganizes during DNA damage and is responsible for positively or negatively regulating genome organization and integrity. We consider these facets of convergence and discuss how insights from diametrically opposed interactions of ataxia–telangiectasia mutated and mitrons can inform us about, and possibly help us to get a step closer to personalized medicine. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dietary and toxicity exposure of emerging persistent organic pollutants to human health through consumption of cereal crops from Pakistan

There is a lack of scientific literature regarding the bioaccumulation, dietary, and toxicity exposure of emerging persistent organic pollutants through food crops. The current mini-review presents the dietary intake, spatial distribution pattern, and screening-levels risk assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the cereal crops and environmental compartments from Punjab Province, Pakistan. Results of congener specific analysis were in accordance to the previously reported pattern of detected POPs across the globe. Spatial distribution was influenced by the industrial and urban fraction and trend of spatial distribution pattern was observed as follows: industrial/urban areas > industrial/peri-urban areas > agricultural/rural areas. Dietary intake of Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) via consumption of cereal crops was observed higher and was in accordance to the previously reported levels while human health was at marginal risk to cancer. The results of dietary and toxicity exposure of detected POPs warrant auxiliary devotion in future, to this group of contaminants.     

Dosimetric effect of limited aperture multileaf collimator on VMAT plan quality: A study of prostate and head-and-neck cancers

Aim

The aim of study was to evaluate the dosimetric effect of collimator-rotation on VMAT plan quality, when using limited aperture multileaf collimator of Elekta Beam Modulator? providing a maximum aperture of 21 cm × 16 cm.