Effect of feeding a blackseed meal-sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellet on gastrointestinal nematode and coccidia infection and animal performance in young goats.

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection poses the most significant obstacle to the sustainable development of small ruminant (sheep and goat) farming globally. Resistance of GINs to synthetic anthelmintic drugs has led to rising interest in exploring alternative methods for parasite control, such as the utilization of bioactive plants with anti-parasitic properties. In this investigation, black seed (Nigella sativa), a shrub high in secondary antioxidant compounds, and sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a perennial legume high in tannins with anti-parasitic properties were combined to determine if two bioactive plants containing different types of secondary compounds can provide a stronger anti-parasitic effect than sericea lespedeza alone. In a 49-day trial, naturally parasitized 6-7-month-old intact male Spanish goats (n = 15/treatment) were fed pelletized feeds encompassing sericea lespedeza leaf meal (SL), a combination of black seed meal (BS) and sericea lespedeza leaf meal (BS-SL - 75 % SL, 25 % BS), or alfalfa (Medicago sativa, control parasitized; CONP), with an additional group of dewormed kids given the alfalfa pellets (Control treated; CONT). Weekly measurements of animal weights and samples of blood and feces were collected to determine the packed cell volume (PCV), GIN fecal egg counts (FEC), and coccidia fecal oocyte counts (FOC), respectively. All animals were processed at the end of the trial (60 total), with adult Haemonchus contortus worms recovered from the abomasum of each goat for counting and sex determination. Carcass weights were recorded after processing. Goats given the SL and BS-SL treatments had lower FEC (P<0.05) than the parasitized alfalfa (CONP) goats. At the end of the study, the SL and BS-SL groups' FOC values were lower (P < 0.05) than the CONT and CONP groups. A rise in PCV values was seen over time for all groups; SL, BS-SL, and CONT animals exhibited higher PCV values (P < 0.05) in comparison to the CONP goats. The parasitized goats fed SL-only pellets showed greater feed intake and animal body weights (P < 0.05) compared to goats fed BS-SL or alfalfa pellets. However, the treatments had no effect on the weight of the goats' carcasses. Although the H. contortus adult worm counts in the CONT goats (alfalfa-dewormed) were lower (P < 0.05) than in the CONP goats (alfalfa-parasitized), they did not differ from the SL or BS-SL animals. This study indicates that sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellet diet, either by itself or in combination with black seed meal, showed promising results as an anthelmintic and may prove to be an effective alternative to exclusive use of conventional deworming drugs. The addition of black seed did not appear to enhance the effectiveness of sericea lespedeza in this study.

Multimodal Brain Tumor Classification Using Convolutional Tumnet Architecture.

The most common and aggressive tumor is brain malignancy, which has a short life span in the fourth grade of the disease. As a result, the medical plan may be a crucial step toward improving the well-being of a patient. Both diagnosis and therapy are part of the medical plan. Brain tumors are commonly imaged with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT). In this paper, multimodal fused imaging with classification and segmentation for brain tumors was proposed using the deep learning method. The MRI and CT brain tumor images of the same slices (308 slices of meningioma and sarcoma) are combined using three different types of pixel-level fusion methods. The presence/absence of a tumor is classified using the proposed Tumnet technique, and the tumor area is found accordingly. In the other case, Tumnet is also applied for single-modal MRI/CT (561 image slices) for classification. The proposed Tumnet was modeled with 5 convolutional layers, 3 pooling layers with ReLU activation function, and 3 fully connected layers. The first-order statistical fusion metrics for an average method of MRI-CT images are obtained as SSIM tissue at 83%, SSIM bone at 84%, accuracy at 90%, sensitivity at 96%, and specificity at 95%, and the second-order statistical fusion metrics are obtained as the standard deviation of fused images at 79% and entropy at 0.99. The entropy value confirms the presence of additional features in the fused image. The proposed Tumnet yields a sensitivity of 96%, an accuracy of 98%, a specificity of 99%, normalized values of the mean of 0.75, a standard deviation of 0.4, a variance of 0.16, and an entropy of 0.90.

Safeguards and weightless of electronic chain of command consolidated for virtual patient evaluation.

The Internet of Things (IoT), 5G cellular technology, and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are enabling a wide range of IoT-based application cases that are both intelligent. As one of the most impactful applications of the Internet of Things (IoT), healthcare makes use of AAL (Ambient Assisted Living), mobile health (mHealth), and electronic health (eHealth). Spending on health is a significant portion of people's income. Traditional medicine is prone to long delays, waste of money and effort, and even death. RVO (Remote Victim Observation) can be utilized to circumvent problems associated with traditional healthcare facilities because of IoT's intelligence and predictive power. With the help of IoT-based RVO and wearable devices, sensor networks, and other digital infrastructure, we can detect oncoming situations before they become life-threatening or even fatal. IoT integration with healthcare units was demonstrated in order to build a trustworthy, available, and secure RVO system. Secure end to end communication, encryption of RFID data, and privacy protection are all part of the proposed solution. An android wearable watch (Biosensor | Body sensor), a server using REST framework, and a smartphone app to monitor and detect falls, blood pressure, and heart rate are all part of the system. As a bonus, the peace and quiet of this secluded location contribute to the attraction. Using this RVO could improve health care and quality of life, according to an empirical investigation.

A Comparative Study of Bilateral Erector Spinae Block Versus Intravenous Dexmedetomidine for Perioperative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting - A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Regional analgesia, along with general anesthesia, reduce postoperative pain. In this study, the authors compared the erector spinae plane (ESP) block having dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant with conventional pain management along with intravenous dexmedetomidine. DESIGN: Prospective randomized single-blinded trial. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All of the patients scheduled for elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting with an ejection fraction of >45%. INTERVENTIONS: After obtaining institutional ethical committee approval, 130 patients were randomized into Group E and Group D. Group E patients received ESP block bilaterally with 25 mL of bupivacaine plus 0.5 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine. The patients in Group D received conventional intravenous analgesia, as well as a 0.7 µg/kg of dexmedetomidine bolus, followed by a 0.3 µg/kg dexmedetomidine infusion during surgery and continued postoperatively for 24 hours. Group E patients received 8 mL/h of bupivacaine infusion bilaterally for 24 hours. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome assessed was pain scores in the postoperative period. The secondary outcomes assessed were postoperative rescue analgesic consumption, time to first rescue analgesia, intraoperative fentanyl consumption, duration of mechanical ventilation, and duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in demographic characteristics. The postoperative pain scores from 4 hours to 12 hours were lower in Group E compared with Group D. The pain scores at 24 hours were not significantly different between groups. Postoperative fentanyl consumption in Group E (99.23 ± 50.19 µg) was significantly lower than in Group D (181.15 ± 82.92 µg), with a p value of 0.001. Time to first rescue analgesia was significantly longer in Group E, with a median score of 8 hours when compared with that of 4 hours in Group D, with a p value of 0.01. Intraoperative fentanyl consumption was significantly lower in Group E (392.15 ± 55.36 µg) compared with Group D (604.00 ± 131.87 µg; p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation in both groups. Duration of ICU stay was significantly lower in Group E (51.95 ± 8.54 hours) when compared with Group D (59.06 ± 8.68 hours) (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Erector spinae fascial plane blocks appeared to reduce postoperative pain scores in off-pump coronary artery bypass graft patients. Furthermore, ESP block was beneficial in terms of less intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption, longer time to first rescue analgesia, and shorter ICU stay.

Identification of sources resistant to a virulent Fusarium wilt strain (VCG 0124) infecting Cavendish bananas.

Bananas are vital for food security in many countries, and half of banana production relies solely on 'Cavendish' (AAA), which is presently threatened by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4. This particular virulent Foc strain was also found to attack other banana varieties of commercial importance. As there is no single effective management practice available so far, this study was undertaken to determine resistant sources from the genotype collection available at the ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India for direct use by farmers and/or in breeding programmes to develop resistant hybrids. A total of 258 genotypes of different ploidies and genomic constitutions were tested against Foc race 1 (VCG 0124). In total, 19 genotypes (AA Unique-6, BB type-2, AAA Unique-1, AAA Cavendish-1, AAB Mysore-3, AAB Pome-1, AAB Plantain-4 and AAAB-1) were found to be immune; eight genotypes (AA Unique-1, BB type-3, AAA Cavendish-1, AAB Mysore-1, AAB Unique-1, AAB Plantain-1) were highly resistant; and nine genotypes (AA Unique-1, AAA Cavendish-3, AAB Silk-1, AAB Pome-4) were resistant. The genotypes that are resistant to the virulent Foc race 1 (VCG 0124) strain can be exploited directly for commercialization and/or in breeding programs to develop resistant hybrids.

Antenatal Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder in a Tertiary Hospital in South India.

BACKGROUND: Antenatal depression is associated with several adverse maternal outcomes, perinatal outcomes, lower academic achievements in adolescence, and future mental health problems for the mothers. Early identification and effective treatment of depression in antenatal women can also improve perinatal outcomes. AIM: This study aims to understand the prevalence of antenatal depression and anxiety disorder, along with associated factors, among antenatal women attending the outpatient clinic of the obstetrics department in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was employed for determining the prevalence, while a case-control framework was used for analysis of the associated factors. Semi-structured sociodemographic pro forma, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Tamil version, and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Tamil version were administered to antenatal women after obtaining informed consent. Those who scored above 10 points on the PHQ-9 or above 9 points on the GAD-7 were interviewed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) diagnostic interview schedule, by a psychiatrist, for confirming the diagnosis. RESULTS: In our sample, 22% of the participants were diagnosed with depression, and 23% with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Twenty-eight participants (13.4%) had both depression and GAD. Antenatal depression was associated with alcohol use in the spouse (P < 0.015), physical violence (P < 0.026), low perceived social support from the in-laws (P < 0.039), and pressure to have a male child (0.001). Antenatal GAD was associated with low perceived social support from the in-laws (P < 0.039) and pressure to have a male child (P < 0.041). CONCLUSION: The occurrence of depression and generalized anxiety disorder is high in antenatal women. Our study identified relevant psychosocial factors that may be potential targets to develop effective interventions.

Pulmonary protective efficacy of S-2[2-aminoethylamino] ethyl phenyl sulphide (DRDE-07) and its analogues against sulfur mustard induced toxicity in mice.

Our previous study showed that percutaneous sulfur mustard (SM) exposure induced pulmonary toxicity, which was attenuated by DRDE-07 (S-2[2-aminoethylamino] ethyl phenyl sulphide) pretreatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective efficacy of DRDE-07 and its analogues viz., DRDE-30 (S-2(2-aminoethyl amino)ethyl propyl sulphide) and DRDE-35 (S-2(2-aminoethyl amino)ethyl butyl sulphide) against SM. Thirty minutes before percutaneous SM (0.8 LD50) exposure, female Swiss mice were orally gavaged with DRDE-07 and its analogues(0.2 LD50). Animals were sacrificed on day 3 and 7, BAL fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected for biochemical, histopathological studies. As results, DRDE-07 and its analogues were beneficial in reducing the number of BALF inflammatory cells, protein level, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and ß-glucuronidase activity, while content of BALF and lung reduced glutathione level (GSH) were significantly protected. The pretreatment of DRDE-07 and its analogues inhibited the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the lung. The beneficial effects of DRDE-07 and its analogues were attributed to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Among the analogues, DRDE-30 exhibited significant beneficial effects as compared to the other two compounds. These analogues may be considered as prototype candidate molecules as there is no effective antidote for SM toxicity.

Neutrophil mediated inflammatory lung damage following single Sub lethal inhalation exposure to plant protein toxin abrin in mice.

Abrin, a highly toxic plant protein found in the seeds of Abrus precatorius plant. To date, there is no antidote against abrin intoxication. Abrin is toxic by all routes of exposure, but inhalation exposure is the most toxic of all routes. Present study was conducted to evaluate the acute inhalation toxicity of aerosolized abrin in BALB/c mice. Animals were exposed to 0.2 and 0.8LC50 doses of aerosolized abrin and evaluated at 1 and 3 day post toxin exposure. Bronchoalveolar fluid from lungs was used for evaluation of markers for lung injury. Abrin inhalation exposure caused rise in LDH activity, protein content, increase in ß-glucuronidase and myeloperoxidase activity. Increase in CRP activity, MMP-9 expression and recruitment of CD11b + inflammatory cells in lungs was also observed which was associated with severe inflammation and lung damage. Histopathological findings support the lung damage after abrin exposure. Our results indicate lung injury after single aerosol inhalation exposure, associated with excessive inflammation, oxidative stress, pulmonary edema followed by lung damage. These results could supplement treatment strategies and planning for therapeutic approaches against aerosolized abrin inhalation exposure.

Pathogen-mediated NMDA receptor autoimmunity and cellular barrier dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Autoantibodies that bind the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) may underlie glutamate receptor hypofunction and related cognitive impairment found in schizophrenia. Exposure to neurotropic pathogens can foster an autoimmune-prone environment and drive systemic inflammation leading to endothelial barrier defects. In mouse model cohorts, we demonstrate that infection with the protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, caused sustained elevations of IgG class antibodies to the NMDAR in conjunction with compromised blood-gut and blood-brain barriers. In human cohorts, NMDAR IgG and markers of barrier permeability were significantly associated with T. gondii exposure in schizophrenia compared with controls and independently of antipsychotic medication. Combined T. gondii and NMDAR antibody seropositivity in schizophrenia resulted in higher degrees of cognitive impairment as measured by tests of delayed memory. These data underscore the necessity of disentangling the heterogeneous pathophysiology of schizophrenia so that relevant subsets eligible for NMDAR-related treatment can be identified. Our data aid to reconcile conflicting reports regarding a role of pathological NMDAR autoantibodies in this disorder.

Impact of implant diameter and length on stress distribution in osseointegrated implants: A 3D FEA study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Dimension of dental implant is an important parameter which has a considerable impact on the biomechanical load transfer characters and its prognosis. Excessive stress in the bone-implant interface may result in the failure of the implant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of implant diameter and length on neighboring tissues around the implant. The results of the study will help in developing a scientific methodology to select appropriate implant diameter and length. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, tapered implants of different diameter and length were numerically analyzed using bone-implant models developed from computed tomography generated images of mandible with osseointegrated implants. The impact of various diameters on stress distribution was examined using implants with a length of 13 mm and diameters of 3.5 mm, 4.3 mm and 5.0 mm. Implants with a diameter of 4.3 mm and lengths of 10 mm, 13 mm, 16 mm was developed to examine the impact of various implant length. All materials were assumed to be linearly elastic and isotropic. Masticatory load was applied in a natural direction, oblique to the occlusal plane. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Maximum von Mises stresses were located around the implant neck. It was demonstrated that there was statistically significant decrease in von Mises stress as the implant diameter increased. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study there was statistically significant decrease in von Mises stress as the implant diameter increased.

Ghrelin and its Association with Nutritional and Inflammatory Status of Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis in a South Indian Tertiary Care Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition and inflammation are associated with morbidity and mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Ghrelin, an orexigenic peptide hormone, is speculated to be associated with nutritional and inflammatory status in MHD. AIM: To assess the serum total ghrelin levels and its possible relationship with inflammation and nutritional status in patients on MHD. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 90 patients on MHD for 6 months and above (56 males, 34 females, mean age 52.6 [11.7] years; mean dialysis vintage 20.9 [12.1] months) and 70 healthy volunteers as control (5 males, 25 females, mean age 50.6 [9.7] years). Demographics were obtained for the study population, and dialysis-related data were collected for cases. Anthropometry, biochemical parameters, serum total ghrelin and inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and high-sensitivityC-reactive protein (hsCRP) were assessed for cases and control. Self-reported appetite (five questions of appetite and diet assessment tool) and nutritional status (subjective global assessment-dialysis malnutrition score) were assessed for cases. RESULTS: Ghrelin (242.5 [62.3] pg/mL vs. 80.2 [19.6] pg/mL; P < 0.001), TNF-α (39.8 [15.2] pg/mL vs. 6.5 [1.2] pg/mL; P < 0.001), hsCRP (10.2 [2.8] mg/L vs. 2.7 [0.54] mg/L; P < 0.001) were significantly elevated in cases versus control, anthropometry, and biochemical parameters were significantly decreased in hemodialysis patient. Of 90 cases, (13/90 [14.4%]) were well-nourished, (28/90 [31%]) mild to moderately malnourished, and (49/90 [54.4%]) were moderate to severely malnourished. Appetite was very good for14.4%, good and fair for 47.8%, poor and very poor for 37.8% patients. There was a significant difference in appetite with respect to nutritional status (P < 0.001). Ghrelin had positive correlation with inflammatory markers and negative correlation with nutritional status (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study identified the association of ghrelin with appetite, nutritional, and inflammatory status of the patients on MHD.

Excitotoxicity as a Common Mechanism for Fetal Neuronal Injury with Hypoxia and Intrauterine Inflammation.

Excitotoxicity is a mechanism of neuronal injury, implicated in the pathogenesis of many acute and chronic neurologic disorders, including perinatal brain injury associated with hypoxia-ischemia and exposure to intrauterine inflammation. Glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter, signals through N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA)/α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptors. Proper functioning of both of these receptors, in conjunction with glutamate signaling, is crucial for normal development. However, even a small imbalance can result in perinatal neuronal injury. Therefore, a mechanistic understanding of the role of excitotoxicity and the NMDA/AMPA receptor functions is critical to establishing the pathogenesis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and perinatal brain injury due to exposure to intrauterine inflammation. Evidence from experimental animal models and clinical studies indicates that both oxygen and glucose deficiencies play a major role in fetal neuronal injury. However, the connection between these deficiencies, excitotoxicity, and HIE is not well established. The excitotoxic mechanisms in animal models and humans have many parallels, suggesting that detailed animal studies can elicit clinically relevant discoveries. While current therapies for HIE include hypothermia and other neuroprotective measures, emphasizing prevention of acute injuries, increase of therapeutic time window, and increased neural repair, there are no effective widely used treatment modalities for fetuses and neonates exposed to intrauterine inflammation. Further studies of HIE and intrauterine inflammation (as in cases of preterm birth and chorioamnionitis) will provide a better insight into development of effective therapeutic interventions for these conditions.

Improvement of banana cv. Rasthali (Silk, AAB) against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (VCG 0124/5) through induced mutagenesis: Determination of LD50 specific to mutagen, explants, toxins and in vitro and in vivo screening for Fusarium wilt resistance.

Shoot tips and in vitro grown proliferating buds of banana cv. Rasthali (Silk, AAB) were treated with various concentrations and durations of chemical mutagens viz., EMS, NaN3 and DES. LD50 for shoot tips based on 50% reduction in fresh weight was determined as 2% for 3 h, 0.02% for 5 h and 0.15% for 5 h, while for proliferating buds, they were 0.6% for 30 min, 0.01% for 2 h and 0.06% for 2 h for the mutagens EMS, NaN3 and DES, respectively. Subsequently, the mutated explants were screened in vitro against fusarium wilt using selection agents like fusaric acid and culture filtrate. LD50 for in vitro selection agents calculated based on 50% survival of explants was 0.050 mM and 7% for fusaric acid and culture filtrate, respectively and beyond which a rapid decline in growth was observed. This was followed by pot screening which led to the identification of three putative resistant mutants with an internal disease score of 1 (corm completely clean, no vascular discolouration). The putative mutants identified in the present study have also been mass multiplied in vitro.

Usage of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance hemodialysis.

AIM: To determine the prevalence and the type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 200 CKD patients who were on MHD. The patients were subjected to a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire adopted from the National Health Interview Survey Adult CAM. The knowledge on CAM and its usage by the patients were assessed based on the responses given by the patients. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients, 52 (26%) patients were identified to be using CAM therapy. The most commonly used CAM modality by these patients was Ayurveda both alone (30.4%) and in combination with other CAM modalities (23.2%), followed by acupuncture in 17.3% patients. CAM usage was high in the age range of 50-64 years (67%). Of the CAM users, 21% of patients were from a rural area; 16.5% of patients were from upper middle class, and 24% were on dialysis for 1-4 years. There was a statistically significant association between CAM usage and age, gender, place of living, socioeconomic status, and duration of dialysis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The present survey provides the data on the usage of CAM among dialysis patients and adds to the increasing evidence about CAM use. Because many products are at risk to either accumulate or cause interactions with medication, a better education on the risks and benefits of the CAM therapy by the health care providers to the end stage renal disease patients is needed.

Prophylactic efficacy of S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide (DRDE-07) against sulfur mustard induced lung toxicity in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was planned to investigate the prophylactic efficacy of S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide (DRDE-07), against topically applied SM induced pulmonary toxicity in mouse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Animals were pretreated with S-2(2-aminoethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulfide (DRDE-07) (249.4 mg/kg by oral gavage) 30 minutes before SM exposure. The SM (6.48 mg/kg) was applied on hair clipped dorsocaudal region (percutaneous) of the animal. The animals were sacrificed on day 1, 3, 5 and 7. The biochemical changes those were observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue included protein, LDH, MPO, ß-glucuronidase, MMP-2, MMP-9, activated macrophages, reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation level. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Pretreatment with DRDE-07 (0.2 LD50) attenuated SM-induced changes at all time point tested. BAL fluid biochemical endpoints indicated epithelial and endothelial cell damages as evidenced by increase in BAL protein, LDH level and increased number of activated macrophages. The increased myeloperoxidase activity and ß-glucuronidase level exhibited the degranulation of neutrophils due to SM toxicity in lung. The zymogrphy analysis of BAL fluid showed a significant increase in matrix metalloproteases (MMP) activity due to inflammatory cells accumulation. CONCLUSION: Thirty minutes pretreatment with DRDE-07 decreased vascular permeability reduced the inflammation and oxidative stress, hence may be recommended as a potential prophylactic agent for SM intoxication.

Effect of fall-grazed sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) on gastrointestinal nematode infections of growing goats.

High prevalence of anthelmintic-resistant gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in goats has increased pressure to find effective, alternative non-synthetic control methods, one of which is adding forage of the high condensed tannin (CT) legume sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) to the animal's diet. Previous work has demonstrated good efficacy of dried SL (hay, pellets) against small ruminant GIN, but information is lacking on consumption of fresh SL, particularly during the late summer-autumn period in the southern USA when perennial warm-season grass pastures are often low in quality. A study was designed to determine the effects of autumn (September-November) consumption of fresh SL forage, grass pasture (predominantly bermudagrass, BG; Cynodon dactylon), or a combination of SL+BG forage by young goats [intact male Spanish kids, 9 months old (20.7 ± 1.1 kg), n = 10/treatment group] on their GIN infection status. Three forage paddocks (0.40 ha) were set up at the Fort Valley State University Agricultural Research Station (Fort Valley, GA) for an 8-week trial. The goats in each paddock were supplemented with a commercial feed pellet at 0.45 kg/head/d for the first 4 weeks of the trial, and 0.27 kg/head/d for the final 4 weeks. Forage samples taken at the start of the trial were analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content, and a separate set of SL samples was analyzed for CT in leaves, stems, and whole plant using the benzyl mercaptan thiolysis method. Animal weights were taken at the start and end of the trial, and fecal and blood samples were collected weekly for determination of fecal egg counts (FEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), respectively. Adult GIN was recovered from the abomasum and small intestines of all goats at the end of the experiment for counting and speciation. The CP levels were highest for SL forage, intermediate for SL+BG, and lowest for BG forage samples, while NDF and ADF values were the opposite, with highest levels in BG and lowest in SL forage samples. Sericea lespedeza leaves had more CT than stems (16.0 g vs. 3.3g/100g dry weight), a slightly higher percentage of PDs (98% vs. 94%, respectively) and polymers of larger mean degrees of polymerization (42 vs. 18, respectively). There were no differences in average daily gain or blood PCV between the treatment groups, but SL goats had lower FEC (P < 0.05) than the BG or SL+BG forage goats throughout most of the trial. The SL+BG goats had lower FEC than the BG forage animals by the end of the trial (week 8, P < 0.05). The SL goats had lower numbers (P < 0.05) of male Haemonchus contortus and tended to have fewer female (P < 0.10) and total (P < 0.07) H. contortus compared with the BG goats. The predominant GIN in all the goats was Trichostrongylus colubriformis (73% of total GIN). As a low-input forage with activity against pathogenic GIN (H. contortus), SL has a potential to reduce producers' dependence upon synthetic anthelmintics and also to fill the autumn 'window' in good-quality fresh forages for goat grazing in the southern USA.

Carbon black particle exhibits size dependent toxicity in human monocytes.

Increased levels of particulate air pollution are associated with increased respiratory and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Some epidemiologic and toxicological researches suggest ultrafine particles (<100 nm) to be more harmful per unit mass than larger particles. In the present study, the effect of particle size (nano and micro) of carbon black (CB) particle on viability, phagocytosis, cytokine induction, and DNA damage in human monocytes, THP-1 cells, was analysed. The cells were incubated with nanosize (~50 nm) and micron (~500 nm) size of CB particles in a concentration range of 50-800 µg/mL. The parameters like MTT assay, phagocytosis assay, ELISA, gene expression, and DNA analysis were studied. Exposure to nano- and micron-sized CB particles showed size- and concentration dependent decrease in cell viability and significant increase in proinflammatory cytokines IL-1 ß , TNF- α and IL-6 as well as chemokine IL-8 release. Gene expression study showed upregulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 gene while cyclooxygenase-2 gene remained unaffected. Nano CB particles altered the phagocytic capacity of monocytes although micron CB had no significant effect. CB particles did not show any significant effect on DNA of monocytes. The investigations indicate that CB particles in nanosize exhibit higher propensity of inducing cytotoxicity, inflammation, and altered phagocytosis in human monocytes than their micron size.

Size-dependent effect of zinc oxide on toxicity and inflammatory potential of human monocytes.

With the rapid development of nanomedicines, it is important to understand their potential immunotoxicity. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have several applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedicine industries. This study investigates the effect of particles size (nano and micro) of ZnO on viability, phagocytosis, and cytokine induction in human monocytes, THP-1 cells, a model of the innate immune system. Cells were incubated with nano (approximately 100 nm) and micro (approximately 5 µm) sized ZnO particles in a concentration range of 10-100 µg/ml. The parameters measured included the MTT assay, phagocytosis assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), gene expression, and DNA analysis. ZnO particles significantly decreased cell viability in a size- and concentration-dependent manner associated with significant alterations in phagocytic capacity of monocytes. Exposure of THP-1 cells to both sizes of ZnO stimulated and increased release of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6, as well as chemokine IL-8, and upregulated the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 genes. However, ZnO particles did not markedly affect monocytes DNA. Collectively, these results suggest higher propensity of nano ZnO particles in inducing cytotoxicity and inflammation in human monocytes regardless of micro size, and caution needs to be taken concerning their biological application.

Nanosized zinc oxide induces toxicity in human lung cells.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are increasingly used in sunscreens, biosensors, food additives, pigments, rubber manufacture, and electronic materials. With the wide application of ZnO-NPs, concern has been raised about its unintentional health and environmental impacts. This study investigates the toxic effects of ZnO-NPs in human lung cells. In order to assess toxicity, human lung epithelial cells (L-132) were exposed to dispersion of 50 nm ZnO-NPs at concentrations of 5, 25, 50, and 100 µ g/mL for 24 h. The toxicity was evaluated by observing changes in cell morphology, cell viability, oxidative stress parameters, DNA damage analysis, and gene expression. Exposure to 50 nm ZnO-NPs at concentrations between 5 and 100 µ g/mL decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Morphological examination revealed cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, and formation of apoptotic bodies. The oxidative stress parameters revealed significant depletion of GSH level and increase in ROS levels suggesting generation of oxidative stress. ZnO-NPs exposure caused DNA fragmentation demonstrating apoptotic type of cell death. ZnO-NPs increased the expression of metallothionein gene, which is considered as a biomarker in metal-induced toxicity. To summarize, ZnO-NPs cause toxicity in human lung cells possibly through oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Effectiveness of physical activity promotion in blood pressure and blood sugar reduction: a community-based intervention study in rural south India.

CONTEXT: Physical activity of moderate intensity for 30 minutes a day, on most days substantially reduces the risk of many chronic diseases. AIM: To assess the effect of regular physical activity on blood pressure and blood sugar levels in a rural Indian community SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This community-based study was carried out in Periakattupalayam and Rangareddipalayam in south India, with 485 subjects, aged 20 to 49 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: THE STUDY WAS DONE IN FIVE PHASES: Awareness campaign, baseline assessment of participants, intervention phase (10 weeks), interim, and final assessment. Physical activity of moderate intensity (brisk walking for 30 minutes on four days / week) was promoted by forming 30 small walking groups, in a home-based setting, with professional supervision. Village leaders and Self-Help Group members were the resource people for the promotion of physical activity. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Analysis was done by using paired 't' test; the 'Intention-to-Treat' approach was utilized for the interpretation of the findings of the study. RESULTS: Of the 485 subjects, 265 (54.6%) complied with walking on more than four days / week, while 156 (32.2%) walked on one to four days / week, and 64 (13.2%) dropped out during the intervention period. This study has shown that a 10-week intervention to promote physical activity was effective in significantly decreasing the population's BP by 1.56 / 0.74 mm Hg, fasting blood sugar levels by 2.82 mg%, body weight by 0.17 kg, and BMI by 0.06 kg / m(2). CONCLUSIONS: This study has proved the functional feasibility of enabling people to undertake physical activity in a rural Indian community, and the effectiveness of using physical activity, to significantly reduce the population's mean BP and blood sugar levels.