Comparative clinical data for gingivitis treatment using gels from Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) and chlorhexidine (CHX)

Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi) has various properties like anti bacterial, anti inflammatory, anti oxidant for curing diseases. It is a plant with known medicinal value in Indian system of medicine. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the effectiveness of Ocimum sanctum with Chlorhexidine (CHX) which is a standard material for the treatment of gingivitis. We used 30 gingivitis subjects divided into 2 groups. Group I used Tulsi gel (n= 15) and Group II used CHX gel (n = 15) for treatment. Tulsi and CHX gel use was advised for 1 month. The Clinical parameters assessed were gingival Index (GI), plaque Index (PI), probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) assessed at a time interval of 30 days. Statistical analysis was completed using the SPSS software 23.0. Data showed that GI and PD for Tulsi and CHX in pre and post groups are not significant with p > 0.05. Moreover, PI is not significant with p>0.05 among pre Tulsi, pre CHX and post CHX. However, data is significant with p<0.05 for Tulsi group. CAL is significant with p<0.05 among pre/post Tulsi groups. However, this is not significant with p>0.05 among pre/post CHX groups. Data shows that 2% of Tulsi is effective in reducing gingival bleeding and inflammation. Thus, clinical data shows that Tulsi gel is promising for the treatment of gingivitis.     

Evaluation of zona pellucida birefringence intensity during in vitro maturation of oocytes from stimulated cycles

Background  

This study evaluated whether there is a relationship between the zona pellucida birefringence (ZP-BF) intensity and the nuclear (NM) and cytoplasmic (CM) in vitro maturation of human oocytes from stimulated cycles.     

猪CFL2b 基因cDNA克隆初步分析

利用基因表达谱芯片分析法筛选出与大白猪高肌肉产量-肌纤维形成有关的CFL2b基因.参考人和小鼠CFL2b基因序列,采用SMART-RACE技术结合EST序列拼接技术,从猪骨骼肌肌肉中首次克隆了猪CFL2b的全长cDNA序列（GenBank登录号EU561660,EU561661）,Northern杂交检测CFL2b基因 mRNA.结果表明,猪CFL2b基因含有2个转录本,长转录本3　012 bp,短转录本1　466 bp .CFL2b基因在多种真核生物中都有表达,且编码区序列非常保守,开放式读码框501 bp编码了166个氨基酸的蛋白质.氨基酸序列分析表明,猪CFL2基因与人和小鼠氨基酸同源性分别为100%和99.1%.核苷酸序列相似性分别为88.1%和74.9%.     

烈香杜鹃的离体培养和高效植株再生

以烈香杜鹃嫩茎为外植体,应用均匀设计法筛选其最适合的嫩茎基部直接再生芽苗和生根培养基。结果表明,最适合烈香杜鹃嫩茎基部直接再生芽苗的诱导培养基为DR＋2．30mg·L-1 TDZ＋0．05mg·L-1 IAA＋1．80mg·L-1 KT,诱导率为99．6％;生根培养基为1／2DR＋0．07mg·L-1 IAA＋0．02mg·L-1NAA,生根率达99．7％以上。以再生植株茎节为材料进行快速繁殖,在35d的培养周期内,每段增殖倍数平均达5以上。     

Further evidence of the African antiquity of hyaenodontid (‘Creodonta’, Mammalia) evolution

We report here the new ‘creodont’ Lahimia selloumi gen. et sp. nov. from the late Palaeocene of the Ouled Abdoun Basin (Morocco) as the oldest known Hyaenodontidae with Tinerhodon from the Ouarzazate Basin (Morocco). By contrast to Tinerhodon, Lahimia is unexpectedly derived. Most of its specializations, such as the shortening of the anterior dentition (e.g. loss of P₁) and the talonid reduction and simplification, are strikingly shared with Boualitomus from the Ypresian of the Ouled Abdoun Basin, and are distinctive from other hyaenodontids, including ‘proviverrines’. They are interpreted as synapomorphies evidencing a precociously specialized early African hyaenodontid lineage. Although Lahimia and Boualitomus remain known only by the lower dentition, their relationships with Koholia are suggested by comparison of their molar occlusal pattern. Lahimia and Boualitomus are referred to the Koholiinae, which is representative of an old African endemic lineage, as initially recognized. This remarkable lineage is characterized by synapomorphies of Lahimia and Boualitomus, and also by a shared original prevallum/postvallid shearing. The discovery of Lahimia provides direct evidence for the antiquity of the African evolution of the Hyaenodontidae. This is in agreement with an African origin of the Hyaenodontidae, and with the probable diphyletism of the ‘Creodonta’. Lahimia and the Koholiinae, as well as the diversity of the first Laurasian hyaenodontid lineages, emphasize our poor knowledge of the striking early African hyaenodontid radiation.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation in natural and reintroduced populations of Bencomia exstipulata and comparisons with B. caudata (Rosaceae) in the Canary Islands: an analysis using microsatellites

Variation at five polymorphic microsatellite loci was used to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation of two tetraploid Canarian endemics, Bencomia exstipulata and B. caudata. Data were analysed and are discussed in terms of tetrasomic (autotetraploid) and disomic (allotetraploid) inheritance. In both cases, genetic diversity values were similar to those described in other tetraploid plant species. High genetic differentiation between the only two described natural populations of B. exstipulata was detected (F_ST = 0.411). Bayesian cluster analysis revealed a geographical structure with distinct genetic groups from each island. High genetic differentiation and low genetic diversity of the B. exstipulata population from Tenerife suggest a recent population bottleneck, perhaps caused by the most recent major volcanic eruption, for this natural locality. This may be heightened by possible inbreeding depression and the monoecy of these species. Polymorphic microsatellite loci were also tested across all species in the Bencomia alliance. These reliably amplified the target sequence, suggesting a high degree of conservation of the sequences flanking the microsatellites. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 160 , 429–441.     

应用稳定性同位素技术（δ13C、δ15N）研究长江中游干流主要鱼类的营养级

应用稳定性同位素技术（δ13C、δ15N）对2011年3月至2013年12月采自长江中游干流宜昌、荆州、石首、监利、城陵矶、鄂州、九江和湖口江段的44种鱼类及3种水生无脊椎动物进行了营养级研究。长江中游干流鱼类的δ13C值范围﹣33.83‰（鳙Aristichthys nobilis） ~ ﹣17.36‰（南方鲇Silurus meridionalis）,δ15N值范围4.83‰（泥鳅Misgurnus anguillicaudatus）~ 15.13‰（翘嘴鲌Culter alburnus）。以梨形环棱螺（Bellamya purificata）的δ15N均值5.48‰作为营养级基准线（营养级 = 2）,计算出该江段水生动物的营养级处于2.42 ~ 4.88,主要集中在2.83 ~ 3.61之间,鱼类平均营养级为3.28。营养级大于2.83的鱼类种类数量占了总生物种数的80.85%。大刺鳅（Mastacembelus armatus）和长春鳊（Parabramis pekinensis）营养级最低,分别为2.42 ± 0.49和2.56 ± 0.52,营养层级大于4.0的高级消费者为太湖新银鱼（Neosalanx taihuensis）、短颌鲚（Coilia brachygnathus）、鳙和长蛇鮈（Saurogobio dumerili）,分别为4.88 ± 0.01、4.37 ± 0.27、4.32 ± 0.35和4.09 ± 0.78,小黄黝鱼（Micropercops swinhonis)、鱤（Elopichthys bambusa）、鱖（Siniperca chuatsi）、翘嘴鲌、青鱼（Mylopharyngodon piceus）和南方鲇的营养级分别3.99、3.92 ± 0.16、3.89 ± 0.27、3.87 ± 0.62、3.59 ± 0.69和3.59 ± 0.57。本研究旨为长江中游渔业资源评估及其合理利用提供基础科学资料,为进一步研究长江中游干流渔业资源营养结构的动态变化及受人为活动干扰影响等提供科学参考依据。     

Osmotic tolerance and freezability of isolated caprine early-staged follicles

Isolated caprine early-staged follicles were submitted to osmotic tolerance tests in the presence of sucrose, ethylene glycol (EG), or NaCl solutions and were exposed to and cryopreserved (by slow or rapid cooling) in MEM alone or MEM supplemented with sucrose, EG (1.0 or 4.0 M), or both. When follicles were exposed to 1.5 M NaCl, only 2% of the follicles were viable, whereas 87% of the follicles were viable after exposure to 4.0 M EG. Regarding exposure time, the highest percentage of viable follicles was obtained when follicles were exposed for 10 min to 1.0 M EG + 0.5 M sucrose; exposure for 60 s to 4.0 M EG + 0.5 M sucrose also maintained high percentage viability in follicles. Slow cooling in the presence of 1.0 M EG + 0.5 M sucrose (75%) or rapid cooling in the presence of 4.0 M EG + 0.5 M sucrose (71%) resulted in a significantly higher proportion of viable follicles than all other treatments (P < 0.05). A 24-h culture of frozen-thawed follicles was used to assess survival; only slow-frozen follicles showed viability rates similar to control follicles (64% vs. 69% respectively; P > 0.05). Interestingly, the percentage of viable rapid-cooled follicles (59%) was similar to that obtained after in vitro culture of conventional slow-cooled follicles but was significantly lower than that in controls. Thus, in addition to determining improved procedures for the exposure of follicles to EG and sucrose before and after freezing of caprine early-staged follicles, we report the development of rapid- and slow-cooling protocols.     

Predictors of Recurrent Sickness Absence Due to Depressive Disorders – A Delphi Approach Involving Scientists and Physicians

Background

Depression is a common and highly recurrent mental disorder that is accompanied by poor functioning at home and at work. Not all depressed employees report sick and little is known about variables associated with sickness absence (SA) due to depression. Recurrent SA due to depression tends to marginalize employees from the workforce and exclude them from social participation. Therefore, this study sought group consensus on factors predicting recurrent SA due to depression.

Methodology/principal findings

23 scientists in the field of work and mental health and 23 physicians with expertise in assessing work disability were invited for a Delphi study. Sixty-seven factors retrieved from the literature were scored for their impact on the recurrence of SA due to depression, range 1 (no impact) to 10 (very high impact) in two Delphi rounds. The third Delphi round addressed the assessability and modifiability of elected predictors. Group consensus was defined as 75% agreement. In the first round (response 78%), group consensus was reached on a high impact of 13 factors on recurrent SA due to depression. The second round (response 79%) added another 8 factors with high impact on recurrent SA due to depression. The panelists were of the opinion that stressful life and work events, age at first diagnosis, duration of the last depressive episode, anxiety, lifetime number of depressive episodes, and psychological work demands were readily assessable in consultation with patients. Furthermore, work factors, particularly decision latitude, psychological job demands, and commitment to work, were recognized as modifiable.

Conclusions/significance

Although results have to be validated with further quantitative research, physicians may identify employees at risk of recurrent SA due to depression and may support them to adjust their work aimed at increasing commitment to work and preventing future SA due to depression.