The Clinical Significance of Interleukin–1 Receptor Antagonist +2018 Polymorphism in Rheumatoid Arthritis

ObjectiveInterleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) acts as an inhibitor of IL-1; which is one of the culprit cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although +2018 polymorphism of IL-1Ra has been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA, its importance remains poorly understood. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) +2018 polymorphism in RA.MethodsPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were used to determine the genotypes of the IL-1Ra +2018 for 77 RA patients and 18 healthy controls. All RA patients were assessed for the disease activity score that includes 28 joints (DAS28) and radiographic disease damage based on Modified Sharp Score (MSS).ResultsThe frequency of the T/T and C/T genotypes did not differ significantly (p = 0.893) between the RA patients and the controls. The C/T genotype had significantly higher mean disease activity (DAS 28) and disease damage (MSS) scores with p values of 0.017 and 0.004, respectively. Additionally, the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), CRP (C-reactive protein), the number of swollen and tender joints were higher for the C/T individuals. On multivariate analysis the CRP, swollen joint count and MSS remained significant with the following p values i.e. 0.045, 0.046 and less than 0.05.ConclusionsC/T genotype of IL-1Ra +2018 prognosticates more aggressive disease in RA.     

Isolation and screening of potential actinobacteria for rapid composting of rice straw

Rice straw is produced as a by-product from rice cultivation, which is composed largely of lignocellulosic materials amenable to general biodegradation. Lignocellulolytic actinobacteria can be used as a potential agent for rapid composting of bulky rice straw. Twenty-five actinobacteria isolates were isolated from various in situ and in vitro rice straw compost sources. Isolates A2, A4, A7, A9 and A24 were selected through enzymatic degradation of starch, cellulose and lignin followed by the screening for their adaptability on rice straw powder amended media. The best adapted isolate (A7) was identified as Micromonospora carbonacea. It was able to degrade cellulose, hemicelluloses and carbon significantly (P ≤ 0.05) over the control. C/N ratio was reduced to 18.1 from an initial value of 29.3 in 6 weeks of composting thus having the potential to be used in large scale composting of rice straw.     

Macrophylloside, a flavone glucoside from Primula macrophylla

A new flavone glucoside macrophylloside has been isolated from the whole plant of Primula macrophylla and its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods as 2′-hydroxy-7-O-β- -glucopyranosyloxyflavone. Sitosterol glucoside was also isolated for the first time from this plant.     

Utilization of siderophores by Candida albicans

Candida albicans secretes both hydroxamate and phenolate-type siderophores when grown under iron-restricted conditions. The inhibition of candidal growth by iron limitation was reversed by the addition of supplemental hydroxamate on phenolate siderophores. Both siderophores produced equal stimulation of growth suggesting that C. albicans could utilize both siderophores with equal efficiency. Addition of heterologous siderophores from both bacteria and fungi also supported growth of the yeast in a deferrated medium. These results suggest that C. albicans has an iron-uptake mechanism which enables it to obtain iron by utilizing candidal and non-candidal siderophores.     

The dorsalis pedis myofascial flap

A modification of the dorsalis pedis artery island flap is presented. In this modification, the deep fascia of the dorsum of the foot with part or the whole of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle is used as a fascial or myofascial flap supplied by the dorsalis pedis artery and covered by a split-thickness skin graft. The purpose is to decrease the morbidity of the donor site, which is closed by direct sutures without skin grafting. Four cases are reported with minimal donor-site morbidity and full survival of the flaps. The mean follow-up period is 17 months.     

20-Hydroxyecdysone mediated activation of larval haemolymph protein uptake by fat body cells of Corcyra cephalonica (Insecta)

Evidence is presented here to show that 20-hydroxyecdysone is essential for the activation of the larval fat body for differential uptake of larval haemolymph proteins (LHPs). By using radiolabelled LHPs it is shown that the fat body cells of Corcyra cephalonica selectively incorporate LHPs during late-larval and prepupal development. Fluorographic analysis of the labelled fat body proteins from prepupal stage separated on sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gels suggests that the LHPs are sequestered without any degradation. Although, during the last larval instar the uptake of all the three LHPs (LHP 1, LHP 2 and LHP 3) by the fat body cells is very low, 20-hydroxyecdysone treatment of early, mid or late-last instars causes a significant increase in uptake of all the three LHPs. However, the response to hormone treatment was more pronounced in late-last instar when compared to early and mid-last instar.     

Therapeutic Potential of Clove Essential Oil in Diabetes: Modulation of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators,Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Enzyme Activities

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by insulin deficiency due to the destruction of pancreatic β cells, leading to hyperglycemia, which in turn induces vascular complications. In the current study, we investigated the effect of intraperitoneal administration of clove essential oil (CEO: 20 mg/kg body weight) on certain oxidative stress and glucose metabolism enzymes, as well as the expression of proinflammatory mediators. Administration of CEO to diabetic rats showed a significant decline in blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, and xanthine oxidase, compared to the streptozotocin group. Furthermore, these treated rats elicited a notable attenuation in the levels of lipid peroxides, and thiols groups in both liver and brain tissues. The activities of antioxidant and metabolic enzymes were reverted to normality in diabetic upon CEO administration. In addition to its protective effects on red blood cell hemolysis, CEO is a potent α-amylase inhibitor with an IC₅₀=298.0±2.75 μg/mL. Also, treatment of diabetic rats with CEO significantly reduced the iNOS expression in the spleen. Our data showed that CEO has potential beneficial effects on diabetes, which can possibly prevent the pathogenesis of diabetic micro- and macrovascular complications.     

Synthesis,Biological Evaluation,and Molecular Modeling Studies of New 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives as Potent Antimicrobial Agents

In this work, the synthesis, characterization, and biological activities of a new series of 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives were investigated. The structures of final compounds were identified using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, elemental analysis, and HRMS. All the new synthesized compounds were then screened for their antimicrobial activity against four types of pathogenic bacteria and one fungal strain, by application of the MIC assays, using Ampicilin, Gentamycin, Vancomycin, and Fluconazole as standards. Among the compounds, the MIC values of 4 and 8 μg/mL of the compounds 3f and 3g , respectively, are remarkable and indicate that these compounds are good candidates for antifungal activity. The docking experiments were used to identify the binding forms of produced ligands with sterol 14-demethylase to acquire insight into relevant proteins. The MD performed about 100 ns simulations to validate selected compounds’ theoretical studies. Finally, using density functional theory (DFT) to predict reactivity, the chemical characteristics and quantum factors of synthesized compounds were computed. These results were then correlated with the experimental data. Furthermore, computational estimation was performed to predict the ADME properties of the most active compound 3f .