Identification of phytochemical components from Aerva lanata (Linn.) medicinal plants and its in-vitro inhibitory activity against drug resistant microbial pathogens and antioxidant properties.

This study aimed to determine the phytochemical components, microbial inhibitory effectiveness and antioxidant properties of Aerva lanata plant extracts. The whole plant showed various medicinal applications in folklore and traditional medicine in various parts of the world. The organic extracts such as ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, acetone, water and methanol were subjected for various phytochemical analysis and confirmed for the existence of flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids and alkaloid containing components. Alternatively, the extracts were performed for the antibacterial activities against the microbial pathogens and antioxidant properties. Results indicated that, the solvent extracts showed prominent activity against the tested strains. The MIC concentrations of plant were detected from 5 mg/ml to 40 mg/ml. The plant extract was highly effective against E. coli and E. aerogenes and the MIC was 5 mg/ml. In addition, the extracts noted promising antioxidant activities. The antioxidant activities were dose dependent manner. In conclusion, A. lanata extracts showed that significant major phytochemicals and effective antioxidant and anti-microbial properties.

Screening for microsatellite instability in colorectal carcinoma: Practical utility of immunohistochemistry and PCR with fragment analysis in a diagnostic histopathology setting.

Since 2014, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has recommended that colorectal carcinoma (CRC) be universally tested for high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) which is present in 15% of such cancers. Fidelity of resultant microsatellites during DNA replication is contingent upon an intact mismatch repair (MMR) system and lack of fidelity can result in tumourigenesis. Prior to commencing routine screening for MSI-H, we assessed two commonly used methods, immunohistochemical (IHC) determination of loss of MMR gene products viz MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 against PCR amplification and subsequent fragment analysis of microsatellite markers, BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346 and D17S250 (Bethesda markers) in 73 unselected primary CRC. 15.1% (11/73) were categorized as MSI-H while deficient MMR (dMMR) was detected in 16.4% (12/73). Of the dMMR, 66.7% (8/12) were classified MSI-H, while 33.3% (4/12) were microsatellite stable/low microsatellite instability (MSS/MSI-L). Of the proficient MMR (pMMR), 95.1% (58/61) were MSS/MSI-L and 4.9% (3/61) were MSI-H. The κ value of 0.639 (standard error =0.125; p = 0.000) indicated substantial agreement between detection of loss of DNA mismatch repair using immunohistochemistry and the detection of downstream microsatellite instability using PCR. After consideration of advantages and shortcomings of both methods, it is our opinion that the choice of preferred technique for MSI analysis would depend on the type of laboratory carrying out the testing.

Can algae-based technologies be an affordable green process for biofuel production and wastewater remediation?

Algae is a well-known organism that its characteristic is prominent for biofuel production and wastewater remediation. This critical review aims to present the applicability of algae with in-depth discussion regarding three key aspects: (i) characterization of algae for its applications; (ii) the technical approaches and their strengths and drawbacks; and (iii) future perspectives of algae-based technologies. The process optimization and combinations with other chemical and biological processes have generated efficiency, in which bio-oil yield is up to 41.1%. Through life cycle assessment, algae bio-energy achieves high energy return than fossil fuel. Thus, the algae-based technologies can reasonably be considered as green approaches. Although selling price of algae bio-oil is still high (about $2 L-1) compared to fossil fuel's price of $1 L-1, it is expected that the algae bio-oil's price will become acceptable in the next coming decades and potentially dominate 75% of the market.

Reassessment of vegetative compatibility of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa using nitrate-nonutilizing mutants.

Nitrate-nonutilizing (nit) mutants were recovered for the first time from 21 isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa collected in the United States. Mutants were selected from shredded mycelium of each isolate when cultured on water agar medium amended with 4% (wt/vol) potassium chlorate. The mutants could be classified into three phenotypes: nit1, nit3, and NitM, based on their growth on minimal medium (Czapek solution agar) supplemented with NaNO(2) or hypoxanthine. Complementary heterokaryons were observed in pairings between different phenotypes of nit mutants derived from compatible isolates, but not in self-fusions or pairings between incompatible isolates. The vigor of prototrophic growth varied with isolates and mutant phenotypes. Strong and continuous heterokaryons, as well as weak and spontaneous ones, formed depending on pairings of nit mutants. Stable heterokaryons between compatible isolates, but apoptotic reactions between incompatible isolates, were observed immediately after hyphal fusion under the epifluorescence microscope. The 21 isolates used in this study, which were previously assigned into 11 different vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) based on the formation of a barrage zone at the contact site of paired isolates on complete medium (potato dextrose agar), were regrouped into five VCGs based on heterokaryon formation between nit mutants on minimal medium.

Application of the general health status questionnaire SF36 to patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction: initial validation and validation as a measure of change.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the Short Form (SF36) Health Status Survey is a valid measure of health status and health change for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). METHODS: The SF36 was self-administered by 116 patients with IBS at the commencement and end of a controlled clinical trial. Patients were recruited through two Sydney teaching hospitals and through private gastroenterologists during 1997 and treated with Chinese herbal medicine. RESULTS: The SF36 health concepts demonstrated internal consistency, construct validity and concurrent validity when applied to patients with significant bowel dysfunction. Patient scores on two health scales of the SF36 (bodily pain, general health) correlated significantly with the bowel symptom scores recorded by patients and gastroenterologists at the beginning and end of the trial period. Actively treated patients significantly improved their scores in four out of eight of the health scales of the SF36 and reported overall improvement compared with inactively treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The SF36 is a valid measure of general health status in IBS patients, is sensitive to the presence of IBS, and is adequately sensitive to gastrointestinal change in IBS patients. IMPLICATIONS: While the SF36 general health measure is used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and widely overseas, until recently no data have been available on the sensitivity of the SF36 to gastrointestinal dysfunction or numerous other disorders. The SF36 is not only sensitive to the presence of IBS, it also provides a useful adjunct to current methods of evaluating treatment outcomes for IBS, and potentially other disorders.

Clinical evaluation of ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution in the treatment of refractory bacterial keratitis.

Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent inhibiting bacterial DNA gyrase, with good in vitro and in vivo activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative ocular pathogens. It has low toxicity, low resistance rate and low minimum inhibitory concentration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ciprofloxacin in treating bacterial keratitis refractory to conventional therapy. Thirty patients with smear-proven bacterial ulcers were treated by conventional therapy. Of these, cultures were positive in 28 (93.3%) patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 13 (46.4%) patients, nontuberculous mycobacteria in nine (32.1%) and other bacteria in six (21.4%). Fifteen patients (50%) were cured with conventional therapy. Four patients (13.3%) underwent surgery due to impending corneal perforation. Eleven patients were shifted to ciprofloxacin therapy because of poor results with conventional treatment. Of these, eight (72.7%) patients were treated successfully. No adverse events were encountered except a white crystalline precipitate in two cases which resolved spontaneously after discontinuation of therapy. In view of its effectiveness and low toxicity, ciprofloxacin should be considered in treating bacterial keratitis which is refractory to conventional therapy.

Role of eicosanoids in staphylococcal alpha-toxin-induced lung injury in the rat.

We investigated the role of arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids in staphylococcal alpha-toxin (alpha-T)-induced lung injury. Bolus injection of 200 and 500 micrograms alpha-T into isolated perfused rat lungs resulted in increased pulmonary perfusion pressure followed by lung weight gain. Inhibition of pressure change with papaverine (10(-4) M) failed to abolish lung edema. Furthermore, alpha-T increased the permeability-surface area product in papaverine-treated lungs and caused marked endothelial cell injury and interstitial edema as documented by electron microscopy. alpha-T dose dependently increased lung tissue thromboxane B2 (TxB2) levels and leukotriene C4 levels. In lungs given 0, 200, and 500 micrograms of alpha-T, TxB2 (in micrograms/g wet lung) values were 16.3 +/- 2.8, 25.0 +/- 3.0, and 54.2 +/- 6.2; and leukotriene C4 values were 4.6 +/- 1.1, 6.7 +/- 1.2, and 22.1 +/- 3.8, respectively. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzyme with indomethacin (10(-5) M) or lipoxygenase enzyme with 2(12-hydroxydodeca-5,10-dinyl)-3,5,6-trimethyl-1,4-benzoq uin one (AA861, 10(-5) M) attenuated the vasoconstriction and prevented lung edema due to low dose (200 micrograms) but not high dose (500 micrograms) alpha-T. The protective effect of these inhibitors on lung edema is in part due to decreases in alpha-T-stimulated venoconstriction because alpha-T-induced increase in lung microvascular pressure was attenuated by indomethacin and AA861 pretreatment. We conclude that both eicosanoid-dependent and eicosanoid-independent mechanisms contribute to alpha-T-induced lung edema in the rat.