Mangrove stilt root morphology modeling for estimating hydraulic drag in tsunami inundation simulation

The submerged tree volume and the projection area of mangroves play a significant role in damping tsunami inundation flow with a distinct root formation above ground. We modeled the stilt root morphology of the Rhizophora sp., especially to incorporate into a hydraulic drag of tsunami inundation simulation. The equivalent Manning’s roughness coefficient has been used as the hydraulic drag of mangroves for the computation of inundation flow [Yanagisawa et al. (Coast Shelf Sci 81: 27–37, 2009)], but it could not elucidate the effectiveness under different tree conditions. The field data from 18 sample trees in Ranong Province, Thailand, were measured. The total number of primary roots, the root height at trunk, and the root-spread distance, the root diameter, and the vertical root angle from trunk could be estimated with the diameter of the breast height. The quadratic equation expressed the root curve of the primary stilt root, and functions to estimate root volume and projected area were derived by the integration of the equation that will be used to calculate drag force in tsunami simulation.     

Application of duplex-PCR in rapid and reliable detection of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae in water samples in Thailand

Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae, the cause of cholera, is a native flora of the aquatic environment which is transmitted through drinking water and still remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries including Thailand. The culture method (CM), which is routinely used for assessing water quality, has not proven as efficient as molecular methods because the notorious pathogen survives in water mostly in a non-culturable state. We employed duplex-polymerase chain reaction (duplex-PCR) for detection of tcpA and ctxA genes in toxigenic V. cholerae, and compared PCR detection with CM in various waters of Khon Kaen Municipality, Thailand. We also evaluated the effect of different pre-PCR conditions on the results of ctxA and tcpA detection including: 1) water filtered and enriched in alkaline peptone water (APW) for 3 h before PCR, 2) water filtered without enrichment before PCR, and 3) use of only enrichment in APW for 6 h before PCR. Of the 96 water samples (taken from waste-water, potable and waste-water from patients' houses, and from rivers) tested, 48 (50%) were positive for ctxA and tcpA by duplex-PCR, whereas only 29 (30%) were positive for V. cholerae by CM. Of the 29 V. cholerae isolated by CM, 2 (7%) were toxigenic V. cholerae belonging to serovar O1, while the rests were non-O1/ non-O139. Results revealed, therefore, that ctxA and tcpA-targeted duplex PCR is more sensitive than CM for detection of toxigenic V. cholerae from water samples because CM detected much less toxigenic V. cholerae than the non-toxigenic V. cholerae. Template DNA as low as 100 fg or 23 cells of V. cholerae in the water sample was detected in duplex PCR. Pre-PCR filtration followed by enrichment for 3 h significantly increase in the efficiency of duplex-PCR detection of toxigenic V. cholerae.     

Trends in First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Asia: Results from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has evolved rapidly since its beginnings. This analysis describes trends in first-line ART use in Asia and their impact on treatment outcomes.

Methods

Patients in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database receiving first-line ART for ≥6 months were included. Predictors of treatment failure and treatment modification were assessed.

Results

Data from 4662 eligible patients was analysed. Patients started ART in 2003–2006 (n = 1419), 2007–2010 (n = 2690) and 2011–2013 (n = 553). During the observation period, tenofovir, zidovudine and abacavir use largely replaced stavudine. Stavudine was prescribed to 5.8% of ART starters in 2012/13. Efavirenz use increased at the expense of nevirapine, although both continue to be used extensively (47.5% and 34.5% of patients in 2012/13, respectively). Protease inhibitor use dropped after 2004. The rate of treatment failure or modification declined over time (22.1 [95%CI 20.7–23.5] events per 100 patient/years in 2003–2006, 15.8 [14.9–16.8] in 2007–2010, and 11.6 [9.4–14.2] in 2011–2013). Adjustment for ART regimen had little impact on the temporal decline in treatment failure rates but substantially attenuated the temporal decline in rates of modification due to adverse event. In the final multivariate model, treatment modification due to adverse event was significantly predicted by earlier period of ART initiation (hazard ratio 0.52 [95%CI 0.33–0.81], p = 0.004 for 2011–2013 versus 2003–2006), older age (1.56 [1.19–2.04], p = 0.001 for ≥50 years versus <30years), female sex (1.29 [1.11–1.50], p = 0.001 versus male), positive hepatitis C status (1.33 [1.06–1.66], p = 0.013 versus negative), and ART regimen (11.36 [6.28–20.54], p<0.001 for stavudine-based regimens versus tenofovir-based).

Conclusions

The observed trends in first-line ART use in Asia reflect changes in drug availability, global treatment recommendations and prescriber preferences over the past decade. These changes have contributed to a declining rate of treatment modification due to adverse event, but not to reductions in treatment failure.     

Acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting steroidal alkaloid from the sponge Corticium sp

A new stigmastane-type steroidal alkaloid, 4-acetoxy-plakinamine B (1), was isolated from the Thai sponge Corticium sp. The compound was subjected to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity determination to reveal a high inhibitory activity (IC(50) 3.75+/-1.69 microM). The kinetics of enzyme inhibition showed a decrease in V(max), whereas K(m) was increased, thus suggesting an unusual mixed-competitive mode of inhibition. Compound 1 is the first steroidal alkaloid bearing a stigmastane skeleton ever been reported to exhibit such good potency in the acetylcholinesterase inhibition bioassay.     

Naphthalene Derivatives and Quinones from Ventilago denticulata and Their Nitric Oxide Radical Scavenging,Antioxidant, Cytotoxic,Antibacterial, and Phosphodiesterase Inhibitory Activities

New naphthalene derivatives ( 1 and 2 ) and a new isomer ( 3 ) of ventilagolin, together with known anthraquinones, chrysophanol ( 4 ), physcion or emodin 3‐methyl ether ( 5 ), and emodin ( 6 ), were isolated from vines of Ventilago denticulata. The isolated compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 1.15 – 40.54 μg/ml. Compounds 1 – 3 selectively exhibited weak antibacterial activity (MIC values of 200.0 – 400.0 μg/ml), while emodin ( 6 ) displayed moderate antibacterial activity with MIC value of 25.0 μg/ml. The isolated compounds showed nitric oxide and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Compounds 1 – 3 and 6 exhibited weak xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, while emodin ( 6 ) acted as an aromatase inhibitor with the IC₅₀ value of 10.1 μm . Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 8.28 μm and 6.48 μm , respectively.     

Animal Models for Echinostoma malayanum Infection: Worm Recovery and Some Pathology

Echinostomes are intestinal trematodes that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including humans, in their adult stage and also parasitize numerous invertebrate and cold-blooded vertebrate hosts in their larval stages. The purpose of this study was to compare Echinostoma malayanum parasite growth, including worm recovery, body size of adult worms, eggs per worm, eggs per gram of feces, and pathological changes in the small intestine of experimental animals. In this study, 6-8-week-old male hamsters, rats, mice, and gerbils were infected with echinostome metacercariae and then sacrificed at day 60 post-infection. The small intestine and feces of each infected animal were collected and then processed for analysis. The results showed that worm recovery, eggs per worm, and eggs per gram of feces from all infected hamsters were higher compared with infected rats and mice. However, in infected gerbils, no parasites were observed in the small intestine, and there were no parasite eggs in the feces. The volume of eggs per gram of feces and eggs per worm were related to parasite size. The results of histopathological changes in the small intestine of infected groups showed abnormal villi and goblet cells, as evidenced by short villi and an increase in the number and size of goblet cells compared with the normal control group.     

Hepatitis B and C Co-Infection in HIV Patients from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database: Analysis of Risk Factors and Survival

Background

We assessed the effects of hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) co-infection on outcomes of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD), a multi-center cohort of HIV-infected patients in the Asia-Pacific region.

Methods

Patients testing HBs antigen (Ag) or HCV antibody (Ab) positive within enrollment into TAHOD were considered HBV or HCV co-infected. Factors associated with HBV and/or HCV co-infection were assessed by logistic regression models. Factors associated with post-ART HIV immunological response (CD4 change after six months) and virological response (HIV RNA <400 copies/ml after 12 months) were also determined. Survival was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test.

Results

A total of 7,455 subjects were recruited by December 2012. Of patients tested, 591/5656 (10.4%) were HBsAg positive, 794/5215 (15.2%) were HCVAb positive, and 88/4966 (1.8%) were positive for both markers. In multivariate analysis, HCV co-infection, age, route of HIV infection, baseline CD4 count, baseline HIV RNA, and HIV-1 subtype were associated with immunological recovery. Age, route of HIV infection, baseline CD4 count, baseline HIV RNA, ART regimen, prior ART and HIV-1 subtype, but not HBV or HCV co-infection, affected HIV RNA suppression. Risk factors affecting mortality included HCV co-infection, age, CDC stage, baseline CD4 count, baseline HIV RNA and prior mono/dual ART. Shortest survival was seen in subjects who were both HBV- and HCV-positive.

Conclusion

In this Asian cohort of HIV-infected patients, HCV co-infection, but not HBV co-infection, was associated with lower CD4 cell recovery after ART and increased mortality.     

Intracolonial allocation of trisoxazole macrolides in the sponge Pachastrissa nux

Pachastrissa nux has two distinctive growth forms in one colony, i.e., the protruding gorgonian-shaped capitum and the substratum-attached irregular-shaped base. The sponge has the ability to allocate specifically its major secondary metabolites to the two parts in different levels. Using two cytotoxic trisoxazole macrolides, kabiramides C (2) and G (3), as chemical markers, it was found that the capitum accumulated higher contents of either or both compounds than did the base. However, there were neither inductive nor suppressive correlations among the allocation profiles of either compound in either part of the sponge. The allocation of kabiramides was a trade-off with the structural materials involved in reinforcing the strength of the sponge. To date, this is the second report that provides evidence of the specific allocation of bioactive metabolites in two distinctively different organ-like structures in a single sponge colony.     

Can macroalgae recover, 13 months after the 2004 Tsunami?: a case study at Talibong Island, Trang Province, Thailand

The tsunami that hit the coast of Thailand along the Andaman Sea on 26 December 2004 caused great damage to human life, property and coastal resources. Here we report the effect of the tsunami on the seaweed community, and its recovery, at Talibong Island, one of the affected areas in Trang province. We made surveys at three sites around the island from April 2004 to January 2006. Fifteen 0.5 m × 0.5 m permanent plots were set up on the west coast of the island to monitor changes in the seaweed community. Eighteen species were found. Sargassum stolonifolium and Laurencia composita were the most abundant, covering 90% and 39%, respectively, of the rocky substrate. Thirteen species varied among sites and seasons. Eleven species, however, were strongly affected by the tsunami. L. composita and Padina sanctae-crucis, for example, were initially washed up onto the shore by the strong wave action, which clearly resulted in a decrease in percentage cover. Also, many permanent plots were covered by sediment causing anoxic conditions, an indirect impact of the tsunami. A difference in species composition revealed a change in overall diversity. Particular morphologies and life forms were more sensitive to the extremes of the tsunami than others. Therefore, the recovery ability of populations of the affected species varied. We did not find any seasonal pattern to the recovery of seaweed after the tsunami within the 13 months of this study.