Terpenoid precursors of strigol as seed germination stimulants of broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) and witchweed (Striga asiatica)

Strigol and some of its synthetic precursors and analogs are known to be germination stimulants for broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) and witchweed (Striga asiatica). Fifteen synthetic terpenoids, similar in structure to one of the four rings of the strigol molecule, were evaluated in two bioassays as seed germination stimulants with broomrape, and nine were found to be active. Five of the more active compounds contained ester groups. Whereas the study was intended primarily to evaluate forced germination of broomrape by aqueous solutions, the results are almost qualitatively identical for broomrape and witchweed. Monocyclic compounds with chemical structures similar to two of the rings of strigol have now been shown to possess significant bioactivity as germination stimulants.Mention of a trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also be suitable.     

Effect of oral contraceptives and some psychological factors on the menstrual experience

This study attempts to clarify the etiology of menstrual distress by using objective measures of menstration, enlightened statistical treatment and standardized measures of psychological factors. In addition to observing the traditionally associated psychological factors, measures of health locus of control, preventive health behavior and menstrual socialization (e,g., age at menarche) are included in order to assess the relevance of attitudes towards health. 57 women (mean age=23.5 years), 1/2 of whom (29) used an oral contraceptive, completed Moos' menstrual distress questionnaire at each of the 3 menstrual phases. In addition they kept menstrual diary cards for 50 days, recording days on which menstrual blood loss occurred. During an intermenstrual phase, they completed a general information questionnaire with questions on menstrual socialization and demographic variables; Eysenck's personality inventory; the multidimensional health locus of control scale; the Bem sex role inventory; and a measure of preventive health behavior. Analyses investigating the effects of pill use and psychological factors on the incidence and intensity of menstrual distress found few significant associations between these measures, especially when symptom changes over the menstrual cycle were the dependent variables. The results generally support the notion that menstruation is a negative event for most women (2/3 of the sample). Neuroticism was found to correlate with all the premenstrual MDQ scores except the positive aspect of increased arousal, with negative affect at both menstrual and intermenstrual phases, with menstrual pain and with intermenstrual concentration. The regression analyses indicate that changes in symptoms of menstrual distress over the menstrual cycle are not well predicted by the measures investigated in this study. Of the few significant associations noted, most are explicable in common sense terms. The more objective approach adopted in this study gives little support for a psychological etiology of distres. However, it also queries the appropriateness of a physiological explanation because of the limited differences found between pill users and nonusers. The inability of locus of control scores, menstrual socialization measures and a preventive health behavior measure to contribute to the definition of a woman at risk, suggests that distress is not related to an individual's general health concepts nor perceived control. 1 aspect not investigated in this study and a topic for future research is the role of a woman's expectations on her experience.     

An extensive review on antifungal approaches in the treatment of mucormycosis

During the period of COVID-19, the occurrences of mucormycosis in immunocompromised patients have increased significantly. Mucormycosis (black fungus) is a rare and rapidly progressing fungal infection associated with high mortality and morbidity in India as well as globally. The causative agents for this infection are collectively called mucoromycetes which are the members of the order Mucorales. The diagnosis of the infection needs to be performed as soon as the occurrence of clinical symptoms which differs with types of Mucorales infection. Imaging techniques magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scan, culture testing, and microscopy are the approaches for the diagnosis. After the diagnosis of the infection is confirmed, rapid action is needed for the treatment in the form of antifungal therapy or surgery depending upon the severity of the infection. Delaying in treatment declines the chances of survival. In antifungal therapy, there are two approaches first-line therapy (monotherapy) and combination therapy. Amphotericin B ( 1 ) and isavuconazole ( 2 ) are the drugs of choice for first-line therapy in the treatment of mucormycosis. Salvage therapy with posaconazole ( 3 ) and deferasirox ( 4 ) is another approach for patients who are not responsible for any other therapy. Adjunctive therapy is also used in the treatment of mucormycosis along with first-line therapy, which involves hyperbaric oxygen and cytokine therapy. There are some drugs like VT-1161 ( 5 ) and APX001A ( 6 ), Colistin, SCH 42427, and PC1244 that are under clinical trials. Despite all these approaches, none can be 100% successful in giving results. Therefore, new medications with favorable or little side effects are required for the treatment of mucormycosis.     

Saikosaponin-d,a novel SERCA inhibitor,induces autophagic cell death in apoptosis-defective cells

Autophagy is an important cellular process that controls cells in a normal homeostatic state by recycling nutrients to maintain cellular energy levels for cell survival via the turnover of proteins and damaged organelles. However, persistent activation of autophagy can lead to excessive depletion of cellular organelles and essential proteins, leading to caspase-independent autophagic cell death. As such, inducing cell death through this autophagic mechanism could be an alternative approach to the treatment of cancers. Recently, we have identified a novel autophagic inducer, saikosaponin-d (Ssd), from a medicinal plant that induces autophagy in various types of cancer cells through the formation of autophagosomes as measured by GFP-LC3 puncta formation. By computational virtual docking analysis, biochemical assays and advanced live-cell imaging techniques, Ssd was shown to increase cytosolic calcium level via direct inhibition of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase pump, leading to autophagy induction through the activation of the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase–AMP-activated protein kinase–mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. In addition, Ssd treatment causes the disruption of calcium homeostasis, which induces endoplasmic reticulum stress as well as the unfolded protein responses pathway. Ssd also proved to be a potent cytotoxic agent in apoptosis-defective or apoptosis-resistant mouse embryonic fibroblast cells, which either lack caspases 3, 7 or 8 or had the Bax-Bak double knockout. These results provide a detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of Ssd, as a novel autophagic inducer, which has the potential of being developed into an anti-cancer agent for targeting apoptosis-resistant cancer cells.     

Comparative activity of baculoviruses against the codling moth Cydia pomonella and three other tortricid pests of tree fruit

The granulovirus of Cydia pomonella (L.) (CpGV) offers potential for selective control of codling moth. Two major limitations of CpGV are its narrow host range and lack of persistence in the orchard agroecosystem. The nucleopolyhedroviruses of the alfalfa looper Autographa californica (Speyer) (AcMNPV) and those of the celery looper Anagrapha falcifera (Kirby) (AfMNPV) have broad host ranges. Comparative assays of CpGV, AcMNPV, and AfMNPV against codling moth neonate larvae revealed a 54-93-fold greater susceptibility of codling moth to the granulovirus than to the two nucleopolyhedroviruses based on the LC(50) values for each virus. The LC(50)s for CpGV, AfMNPV, and AcMNPV were 32.7 capsules/mm(2), 1.77 x 10(3) occlusion bodies (OBs)/mm(2), and 3.05 x 10(3)OBs/mm(2), respectively. The LT(50) determined for AfMNPV using an approximate LC(95) of the virus against neonate larvae was 3.6 days. Histological examination of tissues in moribund codling moth larvae that had been treated with AfMNPV revealed the presence of nonoccluded and unenveloped virus rods in midgut tissue. Neither OBs nor signs of infection were detected in other tissues. The activity of AfMNPV was also evaluated in three other tortricid apple pests (obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris); Pandemis leafroller, Pandemis pyrusana Kearfott; and the oriental fruit moth, Grapholitha molesta (Busck)). Codling and Oriental fruit moths were significantly more susceptible to AfMNPV than were the two leafroller species.     

Developmental implications of differential effects of calcium in tail and body skin of Anuran tadpoles

The effects of external Ca(++) on metamorphosis of Rana catesbeiana tadpoles were assessed. Treatment of tadpoles with Ca(++) (0.05 mM) during early prometamorphic stages induced precocious metamorphic events such as tail regression, shortening of the intestine, forelimb emergence, and keratinization of body epidermis within 23 days of treatment compared to control tadpoles still in mid-prometamorphic stages. These effects of Ca(++) are probably mediated by the thyroid gland, as indicated by histological features of the gland at the light and electron microscopic levels. Calcium levels of tail and body skin were measured at various stages of development by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In control and experimental groups, body skin had significantly higher Ca(++) concentrations than tail skin. There were no statistically significant effects of developmental stage on Ca(++) levels of tail or body skin. Experimental Ca(++) treatment significantly increased Ca(++) concentration in tail but not body skin. Ultrastructure studies and gel electrophoresis indicated that calcium induced keratinization of body skin, but not tail epidermis. Ca(++)-treated tail epidermis showed various autolysing figures in apoptotic cells. In summary, calcium treatment accelerated metamorphosis and induced the following region-dependent cellular events: keratinization of body skin-a characteristic of adult epidermis-and programmed cell death in the tail. Whatever signal elicited by calcium in this experimentally induced accelerated metamorphosis is probably mediated via the thyroid gland.     

Moving Toward Patient-Centered Care in Africa: A Discrete Choice Experiment of Preferences for Delivery Care among 3,003 Tanzanian Women

Objective

In order to develop patient-centered care we need to know what patients want and how changing socio-demographic factors shape their preferences.

Methods

We fielded a structured questionnaire that included a discrete choice experiment to investigate women’s preferences for place of delivery care in four rural districts of Pwani Region, Tanzania. The discrete choice experiment consisted of six attributes: kind treatment by the health worker, health worker medical knowledge, modern equipment and medicines, facility privacy, facility cleanliness, and cost of visit. Each woman received eight choice questions. The influence of potential supply- and demand- side factors on patient preferences was evaluated using mixed logit models.

Results

3,003 women participated in the discrete choice experiment (93% response rate) completing 23,947 choice tasks. The greatest predictor of health facility preference was kind treatment by doctor (β = 1.13, p<0.001), followed by having a doctor with excellent medical knowledge (β = 0.89 p<0.001) and modern medical equipment and drugs (β = 0.66 p<0.001). Preferences for all attributes except kindness and cost were changed with changes to education, primiparity, media exposure and distance to nearest hospital.

Conclusions

Care quality, both technical and interpersonal, was more important than clinic inputs such as equipment and cleanliness. These results suggest that while basic clinic infrastructure is necessary, it is not sufficient for provision of high quality, patient-centered care. There is an urgent need to build an adequate, competent, and kind health workforce to raise facility delivery and promote patient-centered care.