Prevalence and risk factors of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus infection (CAEV) in Northern Somalia

The aim of the present study was to determine seroprevalence and the risk factors associated with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus infection (CAEV) in Northern Somalia (Somaliland). A total of 1198 serum samples were collected from 34 randomly selected goat herds of two major districts of Somaliland namely, Togdheer (Burao) and Waqoyi Galbed (Hergiesa). Serum samples were examined for CAEV antibodies using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). A total of 72 goats were found seropositive with overall seroprevalence of 6.0%. On animal level, multivariate logistic regression showed that there was a significant association between CAEV infection and age (P < 0.01; OR: 16.282; CI 95%, 5.87–25.17), rearing with sheep (P < 0.001; OR: 4.158; CI 95%, 1.47–11.715), and herd size (P < 0.05; OR: 1.22; CI 95%, 0.93–2.17). However, on the herd level, herd size (P < 0.05; OR: 1.96; CI 95%, 0.51–1.76) and rearing with sheep (P < 0.05; OR: 13.31; CI 95%, 1.30–13.24) were the risk factors.The result of the present study indicates that CAEV infection exists in the goat herds in Somaliland. It also provides an overview about the risk factors associated with the disease at the examined localities.     

Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effects of the essential oil from aerial parts of Alpinia zerumbet and its main constituent 1,8-cineole in rats

Vasorelaxant effects of essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (EOAZ) and its main constituent, 1,8-cineole (CIN) were studied. In rat isolated aorta preparations with intact endothelium, EOAZ (0.01–3000 μg/ml) induced significant but incomplete relaxation of the phenylephrine-induced contraction, an effect that was abolished by removal of vascular endothelium. However, at the same concentrations (0.01–3000 μg/ml corresponding to 0.0000647–19.5 mM), CIN induced a complete vasorelaxant effects (IC₅₀=663.2±63.8 μg/ml) that were significantly reduced in endothelium-denuded rings (IC₅₀=1620.6±35.7 μg/ml). Neither EOAZ nor CIN affected the basal tonus of isolated aorta. Vasorelaxant effects of both EOAZ and CIN remained unaffected by the addition of tetraethylamonium chloride (500 μM) or indomethacin (10 μM) into the bath, but were significantly reduced by N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 μM). It is concluded that EOAZ induces a potent vasorelaxant effect that could not be fully attributed to the actions of the main constituent CIN, and appears totally dependent on the integrity of a functional vascular endothelium. The data is novel and corroborate the popular use of A. zerumbet for the treatment of hypertension.     

Phenotypic characterization of chronic inflammation in a rare case of endobronchial carcinoma

This report presents a phenotypical characterization of the immune cell infiltrate in a rare case of endobronchial carcinoma. A patient initially treated for an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus developed an endobronchial carcinoma surrounded by gastric metaplasia distal to a suspected gastrobronchial fistula, 11 years after esophagectomy. Our hypothesis is that the sustained exposure of the bronchial mucosa to a mixed acid and pancreatobiliary refluxate led to chronic inflammation and promoted malignant transformation. We performed an immunohistochemical study of the tumor microenvironment evaluating the density of CD3⁺, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, CD20⁺ B lymphocytes, CD68⁺ macrophages and FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells. Quantification of immune cell density was completed using a novel software-based analysis method. Our results suggest that, within all the tissues analyzed, FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells were present at their highest density in the malignant and metaplastic tissues. The endobronchial metaplasia biopsied several years prior to the detection of the endobronchial adenocarcinoma was already densely infiltrated by B cells and macrophages, when compared to the immune cell infiltrate of the endobronchial carcinoma. Altogether, these observations support the current understanding of carcinogenesis promoted by chronic inflammation.     

Untersuchungen über das Phytoplankton und einige Umweltparameter des Shatt al-Arab (Irak)

Samples of phytoplankton were taken from the Euphrat and Tigris Estuary (Shatt al-Arab) in April 1974 and investigated by means of the inverted microscope. Among 226 species identified in the samples 95 were of marine origin. The share of diatoms in the total numbers of cells from all stations amounted to 68%. The abundance of planktonic green algae amounted to 19%, of the blue greens to 13%. The number of marine species continuously increased in the longitudinal axis of the 139 km section considered. The data of the phytoplankton were compared with the gradation of some environmental variables (temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen, chloride). Regular longitudinal or vertical differences of these parameters were not observed.     

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity Lagerstroemia speciosa in Sprague-Dawley rats

Through the boost of the natural medicinal market, individuals began to use a variety of organic materials in the marketed herbal preparation. Lagerstroemia speciosa (LS) leaves are known as banaba. People have been using a decoction of LS leaves as antidiabetic. The study aimed to investigate the acute and sub-acute oral toxicity of LS in Sprague-Dawley rats. The acute toxicity was determined by a single oral dose of LS (2000 mg/kg). Therein animal behaviour and mortality rate were observed for 14 days. The LS (200 mg/kg) was given for 28 days daily in the sub-acute study. The body weight, organ weight, food, water intake, biochemical, haematological parameters, and histopathology were studied. The findings of this study showed no mortality or morbidity was found in acute and sub-acute toxicity studies in rats.Additionally, no significant variations were found in the respective weight of organ, haematological and biochemical parameters of treated groups with reference to the control group. Moreover, no visible histological changes were detected in the liver of treated groups with reference to the control. In conclusion, the oral administration of LS did not fabricate any major toxic effect in rats. No toxic consequences were reported during acute and sub-acute toxicity investigations. Overall, LS is a safe, natural bio-actives as studied. Further investigations of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the above drug(s) or their combinations may be executed for appreciative safety.     

Quantitative detection of induced systemic resistance genes of potato roots upon ethylene treatment and cyst nematode,Globodera rostochiensis,infection during plant–nematode interactions

Potato cyst nematodes caused by Globodera rostochiensis, are quarantine-restricted pests causing significant yield losses to potato growers. The phytohormone ethylene play significant roles in various plant-pathogen interactions, however, the molecular knowledge of how ethylene influences potato–nematode interaction is still lacking. Precise detection of potato-induced genes is essential for recognizing plant-induced systemic resistance (ISR). Candidate genes or PR- proteins with putative functions in modulating the response to potato cyst nematode stress were selected and functionally characterized. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we measured the quantified expression of four pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, PR2, PR3, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase. The activation of these genes is intermediate during the ISR signaling in the root tissues. Using different ethylene concentrations could detect and induce defense genes in infected potato roots compared to the control treatment. The observed differences in the gene expression of treated infected plants are because of different concentrations of ethylene treatment and pathogenicity. Besides, the overexpressed or suppressed of defense- related genes during developmental stages and pathogen infection. We concluded that ethylene treatments positively affected potato defensive genes expression levels against cyst nematode infection. The results emphasize the necessity of studying molecular signaling pathways controlling biotic stress responses. Understanding such mechanisms will be critical for the development of broad-spectrum and stress-tolerant crops in the future.     

Phytochemical analysis and fabrication of silver nanoparticles using Acacia catechu: An efficacious and ecofriendly control tool against selected polyphagous insect pests

Globally, the farmers are struggling with polyphagous insect pest, and it is the number one enemy of agri-products, which made plenty of economic deterioration. Spodoptera litura and Helicoverpa armigera are the agronomically important polyphagous pests. Most of the farmers are predominately dependent on synthetic chemical insecticides (SCIs) for battle against polyphagous pets. As a result, the broad spectrum usage of SCIs led a lot of detrimental outcomes only inconsequently the researchers search the former-friendly phyto-pesticidal approach. In the present investigation, leaf ethanol extract (LEE) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of A. catechu (Ac) were subjected to various spectral (TLC, CC, UV, FTIR, XRD and SEM) analyses. Larval and pupal toxicity of A. catechu Ac-LEE and Ac-AgNPs were tested against selected polyphagous insect pests. The significant larval and pupal toxicity were experimentally proven, and the highest toxicity noticed in AgNPs than Ac-LEE. The larval and pupal toxicity of Ac-AgNPs tested against S. litura and H. armigera LC₅₀/LC₉₀ values were 71.04/ 74.78, 85.33/ 88.91 µg/mL and 92.57/ 96.21 and 124.43/ 129.95 µg/mL respectively. Ac-AgNPs could be potential phyto-pesticidal effectiveness against selected polyphagous insect pests. In globally, it is significantly sufficient ratification giving towards the prevention of many unauthorized SCPs.     

Ultrastructure of phagocytic cells in the spleen of Psammophis sibilans (serpentes: Colubridae)

The spleen of Psammophis sibilans is composed mainly of red pulp, the white pulp being poorly developed. The white pulp lymphoid clusters are scattered throughout the organ and contain lymphocytes, reticular cells, and some plasma cells. The red pulp consists of reticular cells intermingled with blood cells, sinusoids, and melanomacrophage centers (MMCs). Filtering of particulate matter from the blood occurs in the red pulp by phagocytes of the pulp cord. MMCs are formed by the association of free macrophages that have phagocytosed some blood cells. Early filtering of particulate matter by the phagocytes of the pulp cords may allow for more efficient phagocytosis of erythrocytes by the MMCs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.