Preventive effect of tannic acid on 2-acetylaminofluorene induced antioxidant level, tumor promotion and hepatotoxicity: a chemopreventive study

Tannic acid, present in almost every food derived from plants, has been widely investigated as a chemopreventive agent because, apart from its use as a food additive, pharmacological studies have demonstrated its many health-promoting properties. In this study, we show the modulatory effect of tannic acid on 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF)-mediated hepatic oxidative stress and cell proliferation in rats. 2-AAF (50 mg/kg body weight) caused reduction in hepatic glutathione content and the activities of hepatic anti-oxidant enzymes and phase-II metabolizing enzymes with an enhancement of xanthine oxidase activity, lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide content. 2-AAF treatment also induced serum oxaloacetate and pyruvate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Treatment of rats orally with tannic acid (125 and 250 mg/kg body weight) resulted in significant recovery of hepatic glutathione content, antioxidant and phase-II metabolizing enzymes. Also, significant decreases in lipid peroxidation, xanthine oxidase, hydrogen peroxide generation and liver damage marker enzymes were observed. The antiproliferative efficacy of the tannic acid was also evaluated. The promotion parameters induced (ornithine decarboxylase activity and DNA synthesis) by 2-AAF administration in the diet with partial hepatectomy (PH) were also significantly suppressed, dose dependently, by tannic acid. Hence, we propose that tannic acid might suppress the promotion stage via inhibition of oxidative stress and polyamine biosynthetic pathway.     

Acorus calamus extracts and nickel chloride

Nickel, a major environmental pollutant, is known for its clastogenic, toxic, and carcinogenic potential. In this article, we report the effect of Acorus calamus on nickel chloride (NiCl₂)-induced renal oxidative stress, toxicity, and cell proliferation response in male Wistar rats. NiCl₂ (250 μmol/kg body weight/mL) enhanced reduced renal glutathione content (GSH) glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), lipid peroxidation (LPO), H₂O₂ generation, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine with a concomitant decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (p<0.001). NiCl₂ administration also dose-dependently induced the renal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity several-fold as compared to salinetreated control rats. Similarly, renal DNA synthesis, which is measured in terms of [³H] thymidine incorporation in DNA, was elevated following NiCl₂ treatment. Prophylactic treatment of rats with A. calamus (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight po) daily for 1 wk resulted in the diminution of NiCl₂-mediated damage, as evident from the downregulation of glutathione content, GST, GR, LPO, H₂O₂ generation, BUN, serum creatinine, DNA synthesis (p<0.001), and ODC activity (p<0.01) with concomitant restoration of GPx activity. These results clearly demonstrate the role of oxidative stress and its relation to renal disfunctioning and suggest a protective effect of A. calamus on NiCl₂-induced nephrotoxicity in a rat experimental model.     

The magnum-isthmus junction of the fowl oviduct participates in the formation of the avian-type shell membrane

Avian eggs possess a shell membrane in the shape of an asymmetrical ellipsoid and with a limiting membrane that is a smooth layer of homogeneous, dense materials. We describe the role of the magnum-isthmus junction (MIJ) of the oviduct in the formation of the avian-type shell membrane in the domestic fowl Gallus domesticus. The narrow width of the lumen at the MIJ indirectly participates in the determination of the asymmetrical ellipsoid shape of eggs that are encased by the egg-white layer and subsequently by the peri-albumen layer (PL) and the shell membrane. The PL reacts with Alcian blue and exists between the egg white and the limiting membrane. It is added to the ovulating egg at the MIJ and covers the outermost surface of the egg-white layer. The function of the PL is to provide a smooth surface by covering the irregular surface of the egg-white layer. The materials of the PL consist of an Alcian blue-positive polysaccharide (or glycoprotein) of 240 kDa and five proteins of 135, 116, 72, 49, and 46 kDa. The isolated materials have an affinity to bind with the egg-white mass. An antiserum against quail PL materials stains the domestic fowl PL and secretory cells of the luminal epithelium at the MIJ, and cross-reacts with the molecules of 240, 135, and 116 kDa.     

Farnesol ameliorates massive inflammation, oxidative stress and lung injury induced by intratracheal instillation of cigarette smoke extract in rats: an initial step in lung chemoprevention

Cigarette smoke toxicants are well known for their debilitating effects on lungs. Cigarette smoke toxicities cause various respiratory disorders including pulmonary emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis and cancer. Farnesol, an isoprenoid, is known to possess anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive properties. In this study we report the protective efficacy of farnesol against massive lung inflammation, oxidative stress and consequent injuries caused by cigarette smoke toxicants. Farnesol was administered by gavage (50 and 100 mg/kg b.wt. in corn oil) one time daily for 7 days. On day 7 lung injuries were induced by intratracheal instillation of aqueous cigarette smoke extract (CSE). LDH, total cell count, total protein, phospholipid content and MDA formation were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In lung tissue H2O2 content, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase activities were evaluated. Prophylactic treatment with farnesol significantly shows lung protection by lowering the levels of LDH, total cell count, total protein and MDA in BALF. Farnesol maintained the phospholipid content of BALF in a positive manner. In lung tissue it positively modulated the CSE altered activities of GR, GPx and catalase. There was a marked increase in GSH content and decrease in H2O2 content of lung tissue by farnesol administration. Histopathological findings correlate with cellular and biochemical parameters of the lungs and potentiate the protective role of farnesol against CSE induced lung inflammation and injuries. These results suggest a potent role of farnesol in protection of lung against cigarette smoke toxicants induced lung injuries.     

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Karachi, Pakistan.

An epidemiological study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia infections in adult females by enzyme immunoassay and microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained smears. Endocervical swabs were collected from 126 females attending OB/GYN ward at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. 13.5% of 126 females tested were positive by enzyme immunoassay and only 5.6% were positive by the Giemsa-staining method. The infection rate among pregnant and nonpregnant women with urinogenital problems were 11.8% and 14.7%, respectively. The majority of females complained of excessive cervical discharge and pain in the lower abdomen. A high prevalence of infection in normal pregnant women (18.2%) indicates the asymptomatic nature of this infection.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of three small indigenous fishes from the Payra River,southern Bangladesh

Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) and length‐length relationships (LLRs) for three small indigenous fishes (Esomus danrica, Pachypterus atherinoides and Salmostoma bacaila) were reported from the Payra River, southern Bangladesh. Samples were collected using traditional fishing gear including cast net (mesh size ranges from 1.0 to 2.0 cm), seine net (mesh size ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 cm) and square lift net (mesh size ~ 1.0 cm) in August to September 2017. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 2.66 for E. danrica, 3.08 for P. atherinoides and 3.06 for S. bacaila. The LLRs were also highly significant with r² ≥ .956.     

Investigating factors associated with success of breastfeeding in first-time mothers undergoing epidural analgesia: a prospective cohort study

Background

We investigated the possible risk factors that could influence the likelihood of breastfeeding at 5 to 9 weeks postpartum with our primary aim being to analyse the associations between psychological vulnerabilities, such as peripartum depression and anxiety, and continued breastfeeding. Our secondary aim was to investigate other non-psychological factors’ influence on continued breastfeeding.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Singapore. Healthy nulliparous parturients at ≥36 weeks gestation with a singleton fetus who received epidural analgesia were recruited. Demographic and anaesthetic data were obtained. Self-reported psychological and pain determinants such as anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), stress (Perceived Stress Scale), pain susceptibility (Pain Catastrophizing Scale) and pain perception (McGill Pain Questionnaire) were also recorded at baseline. A phone interview was then performed at 5 to 9 weeks postpartum to obtain information on breastfeeding status.

Results

329 participants were included into this study, of which 263 (79.9%) of them were still breastfeeding at 5 weeks postpartum. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a higher State-Trait Anxiety Inventory score (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 0.97; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.94, 1.00) at baseline, higher intrapartum blood loss (AOR 0.76; 95% CI 0.61, 0.93), and occurrence of fetal anomalies (AOR 0.15; 95% CI 0.03, 0.72) were associated with reduced likelihood of breastfeeding at 5 to 9 weeks postpartum. Indians (AOR 0.56; 95% CI 0.20, 1.53), Malays (AOR 0.30; 95% CI 0.14, 0.62) and other ethnicities (AOR 0.36; 95% CI 0.16, 0.83) were less likely to continue breastfeeding compared to Chinese participants. On the other hand, receiving any support services on breastfeeding during the participants’ hospital stay was 3.3 times more likely (AOR 3.30; 95% CI 1.21, 9.02) to increase the likelihood of breastfeeding at 5 to 9 weeks postpartum.

Conclusion

We identified 5 independent association factors that could have significant influences on breastfeeding at 5 to 9 weeks postpartum. Healthcare providers could utilize this risk stratification to identify parturients likely to have poorer breastfeeding outcomes and undertake interventions that may help safeguard optimization of breastfeeding outcomes and parturient care.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02278601. Registered 26 October 2014.

     

Bacillus thuringiensis C25 suppresses popcorn disease caused by Ciboria shiraiana in mulberry (Morus australis L.)

The mulberry tree is an important crop for silkworm farming and for the health care industry. In Asia, the annual productivity of mulberry fruits is greatly reduced due to popcorn disease mainly caused by Ciboria shiraiana, a sclerotia-forming fungal pathogen. To date, the development of efficient biocontrol agents (BCAs) against this disease has been hampered by the recalcitrance of C. shiraiana to in vitro culturing methods. Here, we established alternative in vitro antifungal assays that directly monitored the effects of BCAs on the growth of C. shiraiana apothecia and further reported that Bacillus thuringiensis C25 suppressed popcorn disease in field conditions. Initially, from mulberry drupelets showing the popcorn disease symptoms, we confirmed the infection of C. shiraiana and observed its morphology in asexual stage. Then, apothecia of C. shiraiana were induced from the sclerotia collected from the disease-infested orchard. Two bacterial isolates, Enterobacter sp. C5 and B. thuringiensis C25, strongly suppressed the elongation and fresh weight accumulation of apothecia stalks, the width of hymenium, and ascus and ascospore formation of C. shiraiana. In addition, both bacterial isolates degraded the ultrastructure of hymenium cells in C. shiraiana apothecia. Ultimately, treatment of mulberry trees with B. thuringiensis C25 mitigated the incidence of popcorn mulberry disease under field conditions. In conclusion, B. thuringiensis C25 is the first reported BCA shown to efficiently control mulberry popcorn disease. Our results also support that B. thuringiensis exerts diverse biocontrol roles in addition to insecticidal behaviour.