Protective role of biogenic selenium nanoparticles in immunological and oxidative stress generated by enrofloxacin in broiler chicken.

Presently most bacteria are becoming antibiotic resistant. Due to this there is a deficiency of potent antibiotics, therefore we have to preserve and improve the efficiency of existing antibiotics by mitigating the side effects. Enrofloxacin (EFX) is an important antimicrobial used in veterinary practice but it is known to exert immune suppression antioxidant stress. In the present study, we report on: (a) the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs), and (b) their protective effect in reducing adverse effects of EFX on broiler chicken. A potent bacterial strain, isolated from farm soil, has been identified as Pantoea agglomerans (GenBank: KU500622). It tolerates a high concentration of selenium dioxide (9 mM) and produces Se NPs under aerobic conditions. The obtained Se NPs are amorphous in structure and spherical in shape with sizes of less than 100 nm. The activity of cellular, humoral immune response and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, has significantly been decreased as a result of EFX treatment. We investigated that Se NP supplementation greatly restores these values towards the control, and to even higher than those of the control. Adverse effects of EFX are prevented by simultaneous exposure to Se NPs (0.6 mg per kg of feed) in the diet of poultry chicken.

Conventional cytology, visual tests and evaluation of P16(INK4A) as a biomarker in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) using Papanicolaou test (PAP test), visual tests (visual inspection after the application of acetic acid [VIA], visual inspection after the application of Lugol's iodine [VILI]), colposcopy, and biopsy. (2) To study the biomarker p16(INK4A) expression by immunostaining. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental study was conducted from November 2009 to April 2011. 1500 women were screened for cancer cervix using conventional PAP test, VIA, and VILI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of these tests were calculated individually, sequentially, and in parallel. Women having positive results underwent colposcopy and biopsy if required. p16(INK4A) expression in biopsy samples was studied using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: All test positive cases (n = 235) underwent colposcopy. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of PAP with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) as cut-off was 40%, 99.25%, 35.25%, and 99.39%; VIA was 60%, 93.06%, 8.03%, and 99.56% and VILI was 80%, 86.06%, 5.4%, and 99.76%, respectively. When PAP, VIA, and VILI were used in parallel sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV improved to 100%, 85.18%, 6.38%, and 100%, respectively. Colposcopic abnormalities were detected in 83 and biopsy proven CIN in 15. p(16INK4A) expression was seen in eight of 15 CIN cases. CONCLUSIONS: (1) PAP test and visual techniques are complementary. (2) p(16INK4A) expression was seen in majority of CIN 2 lesions suggesting a higher grade lesion.

Concentration of natural radionuclides in raw water and packaged drinking water and the effect of water treatment.

The raw water (RW) samples collected from natural sources are subjected to water treatment process, including reverse osmosis (RO), and are packed in bottles as packaged drinking water (PDW). Raw water (21 samples) taken from deep wells of Chennai and Secunderabad which are used in the production of PDW, were analysed for (234)U, (235)U, (238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Ra and (210)Pb activity concentrations. Activity Concentrations of (234)U, (235)U, (238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Ra, (210)Pb and (210)Po in PDW were also analysed. The mean activity concentrations of (234)U, (235)U, (238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Ra and (210)Pb in RW at Chennai were 12.1, ≤1.3, 7.1, 2.6, 27.5, and 16.3 mBq/L respectively. The mean activity concentrations of (234)U, (235)U, (238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Ra and (210)Pb in RW at Secunderabad were found to be 40.9, 1.7, 41.5 84.5, 100.1, and 17.0 mBq/L respectively. The mean concentrations of (234)U, (235)U, (238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Ra, (210)Pb and (210)Po in PDW at Chennai were found to be ≤1.3, ≤1.3, ≤1.3, ≤0.2, ≤1.7, 28.0 and 1.2 mBq/L at Secunderabad were found to be ≤1.3, ≤1.3, 1.7, 4.3, 5.0 and 28.1 mBq/L. The study indicated a considerable reduction in the concentration of natural radionuclides due to water treatment. The reduction ratios of RW to PDW for (234)U, (238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Ra were 97, 96, 94 and 95%. In case of (210)Pb, the PDW showed higher concentration of (210)Pb than RW. This was due to its in growth from (222)Rn which was not removed in the RO process.

Effect of n-3 fatty acid enriched eggs and organic eggs on serum lutein in free-living lacto-ovo vegetarians.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Lutein is a xanthophyll found in the chloroplasts of dark green leafy vegetables, chromoplasts of fruits, and egg yolk. Dietary, serum and macular lutein are inversely related to the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Although the lutein from egg is known to be more bioavailable than that from spinach, not much is known about lutein bioavailability from n-3 fatty acid enriched eggs and organic eggs, both of which are increasingly available to consumers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We determined the effects of feeding n-3 fatty acid-enriched eggs and organic eggs on serum lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-carotene in 20 healthy lacto-ovo-vegetarian (LOV) adults using a single-blind, randomized, crossover study design with a 4-week washout between treatments: six organic eggs or six n-3 fatty acid enriched eggs per week or no egg control for 8 weeks each. RESULTS: Serum lutein was significantly higher in both egg treatments (P<0.009) compared with the control, but was not different between the two egg treatments. Serum ß-carotene was also higher in the egg groups compared with control but only approached significance (P=0.066). Serum zeaxanthin increased in both egg treatments compared with control but did not reach statistical significance (P=0.139). CONCLUSION: n-3 fatty acid enriched eggs and organic eggs may both significantly increase serum lutein in healthy LOV consuming a predominately plant-based diet.

Culture care conflicts among Asian-Islamic immigrant women in US hospitals.

Muslims follow their Islamic traditions as they integrate into the US society. Islamic beliefs are reflected in everyday life, and care is viewed within a holistic context. A lack of understanding of Muslims and their cultural and religious traditions contributes to potential conflicts in health care. The five concepts of Islamic beliefs from the religious texts of the Qur'an, Sunnah, and Hadith will be discussed followed by the implication of these beliefs for clinical practice. Knowledge of these Islamic cultural and religious beliefs will help reduce potential culture care conflicts among Asian-Islamic immigrant women in US hospitals.

The sequence and associated null phenotype of a C. elegans neurocalcin-like gene.

The neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) proteins belong to a subfamily of the EF-hand calcium binding proteins. These proteins are primarily expressed in the nervous system and currently include more than 20 members across species [Nakayama et al., J Mol Evol 34:416-448, 1992]. Two homologues of the ncs genes, Ce-ncs-1 and Ce-ncs-2, have recently been identified in the nematode C. elegans. Here we report the cDNA sequence of a third C. elegans ncs homologue, Ce-ncs-3. We demonstrate that a null mutation in this gene caused by a large deletion in the locus does not confer a visible phenotype in C. elegans. This, in addition to the strong homology between Ce-NCS-3 and the other C. elegans NCS proteins, may indicate functional redundancy between the three genes.

Anti-diarrhoeal evaluation of Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. leaf extract in rats.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of leaves of Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. (MECP) (Family: Verbenaceae) for its anti-diarrhoeal potential against several experimental models of diarrhoea in Wistar albino rats. MECP showed significant inhibitory activity against castor oil induced diarrhoea and PGE2 induced enteropooling in rats. The extract also showed a significant reduction in gastrointestinal motility in charcoal meal test in rats. The results obtained establish the efficacy and substantiated the folklore claim as an anti-diarrhoeal agent.

Effects of long-term moderate exercise on iron status in young women.

The impact of long-term (6-month) moderate exercise on the iron status of previously sedentary women was determined by randomly assigning 62 college-age women into one of the following four groups: 1) 50 mg.d-1 iron supplement, low iron diet (N = 16); 2) Placebo, free choice diet (N = 13); 3) Meat supplement to achieve 15 mg.d-1 iron intake (N = 13); and 4) Control, free choice diet (N = 20). All groups except the Control group exercised 3 d.wk-1 at 60%-75% of their heart rate reserve. VO2max was measured at baseline and week 24. Blood was sampled at baseline and every 4 wk thereafter for 24 wk to measure iron status and to elucidate the causes for alterations in iron status. Subjects had depleted iron stores throughout the study as indicated by their serum ferritin levels (< 15 ng.ml-1). Serum iron, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation were not compromised with exercise. Mean hemoglobin level in the Placebo/Ex group was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than the 50 Fe/Ex and the Meat/Ex groups by week 24. However, changes in serum albumin, haptoglobin, and erythropoietin data from the study cannot explain these changes.

Plasma mineral concentrations in preterm infants fed a nutrient-enriched formula after hospital discharge.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prolonged feeding of preterm infant formula to preterm infants can accelerate recovery to normal plasma zinc levels without affecting plasma mineral homeostasis. DESIGN: Part of concurrent prospective feeding trials in a university hospital-based population. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTION: Preterm infants (n = 33; birth weight, 1037 +/- 157 gm) were fed a preterm infant formula with higher concentrations of zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, and potassium until 2 months past expected term, then a term infant formula. Term infants (n = 38; birth weight, 3318 +/- 401 gm) fed this term infant formula from birth were a reference group for comparison with study infants and with published values. Plasma mineral levels were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. RESULTS: Preterm infants fed a preterm infant formula after discharge from the hospital appeared to achieve normal plasma zinc concentrations by at least 2 months past term without adverse effects on mineral homeostasis.

Iron status in exercising women: the effect of oral iron therapy vs increased consumption of muscle foods.

Forty-seven previously sedentary women participating in a 12-wk moderate aerobic-exercise program were randomly assigned to one of four dietary groups: 50-mg/d iron supplement and a low food-iron diet (50 FE + EX), 10-mg/d iron supplement and a low food-iron diet (10 FE + EX), placebo and unrestricted diet (P + EX), and meat supplement and high food-iron diet (M + EX). A sedentary control group (n = 13) received no dietary interventions. Hematocrit, total iron-binding capacity, and hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, and serum albumin concentrations were measured every 4 wk. Hemoglobin values decreased at the end of 4 wk in all exercising groups compared with the control group. Iron status in the 50 FE + EX and M + EX groups improved after week 4 as indicated by an increase in serum ferritin, serum iron, and hemoglobin concentrations, and a decline in total iron-binding capacity. Thus, short-term, moderate aerobic exercise resulted in compromised iron status that was offset to varying degrees by ingesting iron or meat supplements. However, meat supplements were more effective in protecting hemoglobin and ferritin status than were iron supplements.