Identifying the hidden parasitic intruders: Molecular insights into the health of common Myna.

Birds are known to act as the parasite reservoir and can transmit them to other organisms through food chains. This study aims to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of various blood borne pathogens (Toxoplasma gondii, Isospora spp., Plasmodium spp., Haemoproteus spp., Leucocytozoan spp. and Neospora caninum) in blood samples of common Myna (Acridotheres tristis: N = 80) collected from four region (Jhang, Khanewal, Multan and Muzaffargarh) in Punjab Pakistan. Effect of pathogens on the complete blood count of the host was also determined. Results revealed by 2/80 Myna (2.5 %) amplified ITS-1 gene of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii (confirmed by DNA sequencing) while 2/80 (2.5 %) birds amplified 18S rDNA gene and Isospora spp. Phylogenetic analysis of both pathogens showed that Pakistani isolates were clustered together and were closely related to isolates that were reported from worldwide countries. Risk factor analysis revealed that prevalence of both pathogens was not restricted to a particular sampling site or a particular bird sex (P > 0.05). T. gondii infected birds had elevated red cell distribution width while Isospora sp. infected birds had elevated % monocytes and platelet distribution width while decreased mean cell hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and platelets hematocrit than their respective uninfected birds. In conclusion, we are reporting the presence of T. gondii and Isospora sp. among Pakistani common Myna that had disturbed the complete blood count parameters that may have affected their normal physiology.

Leading report of molecular prevalence of tick borne Anaplasma marginale and Theileria ovis in yaks (Bos grunniens) from Pakistan.

Domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is an economically important feature of the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan where agriculture is restricted and yaks play multiple roles which includes being a source of milk, meat, hides, fuel and power. However little is known about the parasitic infections in Pakistani yaks. Aim of this research was to report the prevalence and genetic diversity of protozoa parasite (Theileria ovis, 18 S rDNA gene was targeted) and an obligate bacterium (Anaplasma marginale, msp-1 gene was amplified) in the blood that was sampled from 202 yaks collected from four districts in Gilgit-Baltistan during January 2023 till January 2024. Results revealed that 6/202 (3%) yaks were of Theileria ovis while 8/202 (4%) were Anaplasma marginale infected. Positive PCR products of both parasites were confirmed by DNA sequencing and their similarity with previously available pathogen sequences was determined by BLAST analysis. Phylogenetic tree indicated that isolates of both parasites displayed genetic. Anaplasma marginale infection varied with the sampling districts and Shigar district had the highest rate of bacterial infection. Cows were significantly more prone to Theileria ovis infection than bulls. Calf and hybrid yaks were more prone to Anaplasma marginale infection. In conclusion, this is the first report that yaks residing the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan are infected with Theileria ovis and Anaplasma marginale. Similar larger scales studies are recommended in various regions of Gilgit-Baltistan to document the infection rates of these parasites to formulate strategies that will lead to the effective control of these pathogens.

Integrating In Vitro and In Silico Approaches to Assess Monotheca buxifolia Plant Extract against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Sarcoptes scabiei.

Tick and mite infestations pose significant challenges to animal health, agriculture, and public health worldwide. The search for effective and environmentally friendly acaricidal agents has led researchers to explore natural alternatives. In this study, we investigated the acaricidal potential of the Monotheca buxifolia plant extract against Rhipicephalus microplus ticks and Sarcoptes scabiei mites. Additionally, we employed a computational approach to identify phytochemicals from the extract that could serve as drug candidates against these ectoparasites. The contact bioassay results demonstrated that the M. buxifolia plant extract exhibited significant efficacy against R. microplus and S. scabiei, with higher concentrations outperforming the positive control acaricide permethrin in terms of mite mortality. Time exposure to the extract also showed a positive correlation with better lethal concentration (LC50 and LC90) values. Similarly, the adult immersion test revealed a notable inhibition of tick oviposition via the plant extract, especially at higher concentrations. The two-protein primary structure, secondary structure and stability were predicted using the Expasy's ProtParam server, SOPMA and SUSUI server, respectively. Using Homology modeling, the 3D structure of the protein was obtained and validated through the ERRAT server, and active sites were determined through the CASTp server. The docking analysis revealed that Alpha-Amyrenyl acetate and alpha-Tocopherol exhibited the highest docking scores for S. scabiei and R. microplus aspartic protease proteins, respectively. These phytochemicals demonstrated strong binding interactions, suggesting their potential as acaricidal drug candidates. In conclusion, the M. buxifolia plant extract displayed significant acaricidal activity against R. microplus and S. scabiei. Moreover, the computational approach identified promising phytochemicals that could serve as potential drug candidates for controlling these ectoparasites.

Density Functional Theory Calculations and Molecular Docking Analyses of Flavonoids for Their Possible Application against the Acetylcholinesterase and Triose-Phosphate Isomerase Proteins of Rhipicephalus microplus.

Ticks and tick-borne diseases constitute a substantial hazard to the livestock industry. The rising costs and lack of availability of synthetic chemical acaricides for farmers with limited resources, tick resistance to current acaricides, and residual issues in meat and milk consumed by humans further aggravate the situation. Developing innovative, eco-friendly tick management techniques, such as natural products and commodities, is vital. Similarly, searching for effective and feasible treatments for tick-borne diseases is essential. Flavonoids are a class of natural chemicals with multiple bioactivities, including the inhibition of enzymes. We selected eighty flavonoids having enzyme inhibitory, insecticide, and pesticide properties. Flavonoids' inhibitory effects on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE1) and triose-phosphate isomerase (TIM) proteins of Rhipicephalus microplus were examined utilizing a molecular docking approach. Our research demonstrated that flavonoids interact with the active areas of proteins. Seven flavonoids (methylenebisphloridzin, thearubigin, fortunellin, quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-caffeoyl-ß-d-glucopyranoside), quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl-ß-glucopyranoside), rutin, and kaempferol 3-neohesperidoside) were the most potent AChE1 inhibitors, while the other three flavonoids (quercetagetin-7-O-(6-O-caffeoyl-ß-d-glucopyranoside), isorhamnetin, and liquiritin) were the potent inhibitors of TIM. These computationally-driven discoveries are beneficial and can be utilized in assessing drug bioavailability in both in vitro and in vivo settings. This knowledge can create new strategies for managing ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Structure-based in silico design and in vitro acaricidal activity assessment of Acacia nilotica and Psidium guajava extracts against Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi.

Infestation by Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi mite causes scabies in humans and mange in animals. Alternative methods for developing environmentally friendly and effective plant-based acaricides are now a priority. The purpose of this research was the in silico design and in vitro evaluation of the efficacy of ethanol extracts of Acacia nilotica and Psidium guajava plant leaves against S. scabiei. Chem-Draw ultra-software (v. 12.0.2.1076.2010) was used to draw 36 distinct compounds from these plants that were employed as ligands in docking tests against S. scabiei Aspartic protease (SsAP). With docking scores of - 6.50993 and - 6.16359, respectively, clionasterol (PubChem CID 457801) and mangiferin (PubChem CID 5281647) from A. nilotica inhibited the targeted protein SsAP, while only beta-sitosterol (PubChem CID 222284) from P. guajava interacted with the SsAP active site with a docking score of - 6.20532. Mortality in contact bioassay at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/ml was determined to calculate median lethal time (LT50) and median lethal concentration (LC50) values. Acacia nilotica extract had an LC50 value of 0.218 g/ml compared to P. guajava extract, which had an LC50 value of 0.829 g/ml at 6 h. These results suggest that A. nilotica extract is more effective in killing mites, and these plants may have novel acaricidal properties against S. scabiei. Further research should focus on A. nilotica as a potential substitute for clinically available acaricides against resistant mites.

Visual input to the left versus right eye yields differences in face preferences in 3-month-old infants.

From birth, infants prefer looking at faces over scrambled faces. This face input is important for the development of face processing: individuals who experienced early visual deprivation due to congenital cataracts have long-lasting face processing deficits. Interestingly, the deficits are eye-specific such that left eye cataracts disrupt the development of face processing, whereas right eye cataracts do not. This raises the question of whether infant face preferences are driven primarily by faces observed through the left eye. To investigate this, we presented 3-month-old infants with intact faces paired with scrambled faces. Infants viewed the moving stimuli binocularly, only with their left eye, or only with their right eye. Infants viewing stimuli binocularly or with only the left eye spent significantly more time looking at intact faces than scrambled faces, but this effect was equivocal in infants viewing stimuli through only their right eye. Infants in the binocular group had the greatest preference for faces, and this preference was greater than the right eye group's preference for faces. The left eye group's preference for faces was not statistically different from the other two groups' preference for faces, but additional analyses revealed a correlation between preference for faces and age for the right eye group only, indicating that preference for faces seen with the right eye increase from 3 to 4 months of age. These results indicate that the left eye plays a special role in face processing at, or before 3 months of age, but a preference for faces through the right eye emerges soon after.

Tolerability of Six Months Indirect Cold (Physical) Plasma Treatment of the Scalp for Hair Loss.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a chronic form of hair loss. Cold atmospheric (physical) plasma (CAP) is partly ionized gas with various widely researched effects on living tissues. CAP is an emerging treatment modality in dermatology with uses for chronic leg ulcer, actinic keratosis, warts, and other applications. Its previously demonstrated ability to induce stem cell differentiation in various cell types makes CAP a possible treatment option for AGA. Directly creating CAP on the scalp surface has drawbacks, but indirect CAP treatment—when a CAP-treated liquid is used as topical therapy—offers an alternative. In a clinical pilot study, we treated 14 patients with AGA using the indirect CAP method for three months (4 patients) and six months (10 patients). The indirect CAP treatment was well tolerated and while the primary goal of the study was not to assess efficacy, most patients reported improvement, and the investigator’s assessment also showed improvement in most patients. Our findings create the foundation for longer, extensive trials to systematically assess the efficacy of indirect CAP treatment for AGA. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04379752 J Drugs Dermatol. 2020;19(12): doi:10.36849/JDD.2020.5186.

An education intervention to improve decision making and health literacy among older Australians: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: National policies seek to involve older Australian's in decisions regarding their care; however, research has found varying levels of decision self-efficacy and health literacy skills. An increasing number of older Australians use complementary medicine (CM). We examined the effectiveness of a CM educational intervention delivered using a web or DVD plus booklet format to increase older adults' decision self-efficacy and health literacy. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted. We recruited individuals aged over 65 years living in retirement villages or participating in community groups, in Sydney Australia. Participants were randomly allocated to receive a CM education intervention delivered using a website or DVD plus booklet versus booklet only. The primary outcome was decision self-efficacy. A secondary outcome included the Preparation for Decision-Making scale and health literacy. Outcomes were collected at 3 weeks, and 2 months from baseline, and analysed using an adjusted ANOVA, or repeated measures ANOVA. RESULT: We randomised 153 participants. Follow up at 3 weeks and 2 months was completed by 131 participants. There was a 14% (n = 22) attrition rate. At the end of the intervention, we found no significant differences between groups for decision self-efficacy (mean difference (MD) 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.0 to 9.6 p = 0.20), there were no differences between groups on nine health literacy domains, and the Preparation for Decision-Making scale. Over 80% of participants in both groups rated the content as excellent or good. CONCLUSION: Decision self-efficacy improved for participants, but did not differ between groups. Decision self-efficacy and health literacy outcomes were not influenced by the delivery of education using a website, DVD or booklet. Participants found the resources useful, and rated the content as good or excellent. CM Web or DVD and booklet resources have the potential for wider application. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN ( ACTRN12616000135415 ). The trial was registered on 5 February 2016.

A thematic analysis assessing clinical decision-making in antipsychotic prescribing for schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades atypical antipsychotics have increased treatment options available for schizophrenia, however there is conflicting evidence concerning the trade-off between clinical efficacy and side effects for the different classes of antipsychotics. There has been a consistent increase in atypical antipsychotic prescribing compared to typical, despite evidence showing that neither class is superior. This leads to the question of whether prescribers are selective in their uptake of research evidence and clinical guidelines and if so, what influences their choice.. This study aims to identify the factors that contribute to the prescribing choice and how these can be used to aid knowledge translation and guideline implementation. METHODS: A thematic analysis study was conducted using data from 11 semi-structured interviews with clinicians with experience in prescribing for schizophrenia. RESULTS: The analysis identified five themes underpinning prescribing behaviour: (1) ownership and collaboration; (2) compromise; (3) patient involvement; (4) integrating research evidence; and (5) experience. CONCLUSION: The themes mapped to various degrees onto current models of evidence-based decision making and suggest that there is scope to re-think the guideline implementation frameworks to incorporate recurring themes salient to clinicians who ultimately use the guidelines. This will further translation of future evidence into clinical practice, accelerating clinical progress.

Trends of acute poisoning: 22 years experience from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the trends of acute poisoning in terms of frequency, nature of poisoning agent, clinical presentation and its outcome. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of patients who presented with poisoning between January 1989 and December 2010.The patients were randomly selected , and demographic, chemical information, clinical feature, treatment and outcome were analysed using SPSS 16. RESULTS: Of the total hospital admissions during the period, 3,189(0.3%) were cases of poisoning. Of them, medical records of 705(22%) cases were reviewed; 462(65.5%) adult and 243(34.5%) paediatric cases below 16 years of age. The overall median age was 21 years (interquartile range: 4-32 years)Moreover, 544(87%) were critical at the time of presentation. In 647(92%) cases, the poisoning occurred at home. Psychiatric drugs were found involved in 205(29%) cases, followed by prescription drugs 172(24.4%), pesticides 108(15.3%), hydrocarbons 71(10%), analgesics 59(8.7%), household toxins 59(8.7%), alcohol and drug abuse 21(2.97%) and others 47(6.67%). CONCLUSIONS: Poisoning was a serious cause of morbidity in children and young adults. Medications were the leading cause and home was the most common place of incident.

Toxoplasma gondii infection affects the complete blood count and disturbs the markers of oxidative stress from the vital organs of wild rodents.

Rodents are the synanthropic mammals that are existing in close proximity to humans and their belongings and have the potential to act as the reservoir for a variety of parasites having zoonotic potential. Present study was designed to report the molecular prevalence and phylogenetic evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii in the blood samples of four wild rodent species [Rattus rattus (N = 122), Mus musculus (N = 64), Rattus norvegicus (N = 57) and Dryomys nitedula (N = 1)] that were trapped during May 2022 till July 2023 from three districts in Punjab (Jampur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Multan) and three districts (Upper Dir, Mardan and Bunar) in Pakistan. Results revealed that 44/244 (18%) rodents amplified ITS-1 gene of Toxoplasma gondii through PCR. Parasite prevalence varied between the rodent species. Highest rate of infection was found in Rattus norvegicus followed by Rattus rattus and Mus musculus. For both rat species, Toxoplasma gondii infection significantly varies between the sampling districts. DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in rodent blood samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Pakistani isolates were genetically diverse and clustered with the isolates that were reported from worldwide countries. Complete blood count analysis revealed that parasite infected rodents had disturbed lymphocyte, mean platelet volume, mean corpuscular volume (and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Markers of oxidative stress analysis revealed that infected rodent had elevated malondialdehyde levels in liver and kidney while disturb catalase concentrations in kidney and heart as compared to uninfected animals. In conclusion, we are reporting a relatively high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Pakistani rodents. Infection leads to disturbed complete blood count and markers of oxidative stress in the vital organs. We recommend large scale studies in various geo-climatic regions of Pakistan to report the incidence and prevalence of this pathogen among the rodents in order to prevent their infections in local people as well as in livestock.

Infestation prevalence, spatio-temporal distribution, phylogenetic positioning, and pathogen investigation of Argas persicus ticks in domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Pakistan.

Soft ticks pose significant health risks as vectors of various pathogens. This study explored the spatio-temporal distribution and genetic relationships of the soft tick species Argas persicus infesting domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) across different districts in Pakistan. An examination of 778 hens revealed a notable tick infestation prevalence of 70.82%, with a total of 1299 ticks collected from 551 hens. The overall mean intensity was 2.19 soft ticks per infested chicken, and the overall mean abundance was 1.61 soft ticks per examined hen. Morphological identification confirmed all collected ticks (n = 1210) as A. persicus, comprising 719 males, 333 females, 121 nymphs, and 38 larvae. The Haveli, Muzaffarabad, and Kotli districts had the highest infestation rates, while Bagh had the lowest. Molecular analyses of tick DNA, focusing on 16S rDNA and 12S rDNA sequences, revealed genetic similarities among A. persicus soft ticks from Pakistan and other regions, providing insights into their evolutionary history. Importantly, no Babesia, Rickettsia, or Anaplasma infections were detected in the examined samples. These findings enhance the understanding of soft tick infestation patterns and the genetic diversity of A. persicus in the studied region.

First report of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Rickettsia spp. in Amblyomma gervaisi ticks infesting monitor lizards (Varanus begalensis) of Pakistan.

Ticks pose significant health risks to both wildlife and humans due to their role as vectors for various pathogens. In this study, we investigated tick infestation patterns, tick-associated pathogens, and genetic relationships within the tick species Amblyomma gervaisi, focusing on its prevalence in monitor lizards (Varanus bengalensis) across different districts in Pakistan. We examined 85 monitor lizards and identified an overall mean intensity of 19.59 ticks per infested lizard and an overall mean abundance of 11.98 ticks per examined lizard. All collected ticks (n = 1019) were morphologically identified as A. gervaisi, including 387 males, 258 females, 353 nymphs, and 21 larvae. The highest tick prevalence was observed in the Buner district, followed by Torghar and Shangla, with the lowest prevalence in Chitral. Lizard captures primarily occurred from May to October, correlating with the period of higher tick infestations. Molecular analysis was conducted on tick DNA, revealing genetic similarities among A. gervaisi ticks based on 16S rDNA and ITS2 sequences. Notably, we found the absence of A. gervaisi ITS2 sequences in the NCBI GenBank, highlighting a gap in existing genetic data. Moreover, our study identified the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, including Ehrlichia sp., Candidatus Ehrlichia dumleri, Anaplasma sp., Francisella sp., Rickettsia sp., and Coxiella sp., in these ticks. BLAST analysis revealed significant similarities between these pathogenic sequences and known strains, emphasizing the potential role of these ticks as vectors for zoonotic diseases. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS2 and mitochondrial 16S rDNA genes illustrated the genetic relationships of A. gervaisi ticks from Pakistan with other Amblyomma species, providing insights into their evolutionary history. These findings contribute to our understanding of tick infestation patterns, and tick-borne pathogens in monitor lizards, which has implications for wildlife health, zoonotic disease transmission, and future conservation efforts. Further research in this area is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with tick-borne diseases in both wildlife and humans.

Acaricidal assessment of the fungal extract of Pleurotus ostreatus against Rhipicephalus microplus: Role of in vitro and in silico analysis.

The Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom, commonly referred to as the oyster mushroom, is a widely consumed edible mushroom that grows in clusters on dead or dying trees. In addition to its culinary uses, research has found that the mushroom may also have potential medicinal properties. The current study investigated the potential use of a fungal extract from P. ostreatus as a natural acaricide against Rhipicephalus microplus, a major vector of economically significant infections and one of the most significant bovine ectoparasites. The study used the adult immersion test (AIT) and the larvae packet test (LPT) to evaluate the effectiveness of the extract against ticks. To evaluate the reproductive effect of the fungal extract on the reproduction of R. microplus engorged females, the eggs were tested for weight and egg-laying index. The results of the study showed that P. ostreatus extract had a significant acaricidal effect, with a 40 mg/mL concentration causing 89 ± 2.64% mortality in R. microplus larvae compared to the 91.00 ± 3.60% mortality by the positive control at 48 h interval. Whereas in the AIT, the extract inhibited 39.86 ± 4.13% of oviposition. The study also used in silico approach to further examine the binding mechanisms of the compounds in the fungal extract to the target protein R. microplus Triosephosphate isomerase RmTIM, using molecular docking in AutoDock Vina software. Docking scores of -8.3, -7.7 and -6.9 kcal/mol, respectively, showed that rutin, naringin and myricitin had significant interactions with the active site residues of the target protein. Our results suggest that P. ostreatus extract may be a potential alternative to traditional acaricides for controlling R. microplus in livestock.

In Vitro and In Silico Protocols for the Assessment of Anti-Tick Compounds from Pinus roxburghii against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Ticks.

Pinus roxburghii, also known by the name "Himalayan chir pine," belongs to the Pinaceae family. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick is one of the most significant bovine ectoparasites, making it a major vector of economically important tick-borne diseases. The researchers conducted adult immersion tests (AIT) and larval packet tests (LPT) to investigate the acaricidal effect of P. roxburghii plant extract on R. (B.) microplus and its potential modulatory function when used with cypermethrin. Eggs were also assessed for their weight, egg-laying index (IE), hatchability rate, and control rate. After exposure to essential extract concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 40 mg/mL for 48 h, adult female ticks' oviposition inhibition and unfed R. (B.) microplus larvae's mortality rates were analyzed. Engorged females exposed to P. roxburghii at 40 mg/mL had reduced biological activity (oviposition, IE) compared to positive and negative controls. A concentration of 40 mg/mL of P. roxburghii caused 90% mortality in R. (B.) microplus larvae, whereas cypermethrin (the positive control) caused 98.3% mortality in LPT. In AIT, cypermethrin inhibited 81% of oviposition, compared to the 40 mg/mL concentration of P. roxburghii, which inhibited 40% of the ticks' oviposition. Moreover, this study assessed the binding capacity of selected phytocompounds with the targeted protein. Three servers (SWISS-MODEL, RoseTTAFold, and TrRosetta) recreated the target protein RmGABACl's 3D structure. The modeled 3D structure was validated using the online servers PROCHECK, ERRAT, and Prosa. Molecular docking using Auto Dock VINA predicted the binding mechanisms of 20 drug-like compounds against the target protein. Catechin and myricetin showed significant interactions with active site residues of the target protein, with docking scores of -7.7 kcal/mol and -7.6 kcal/mol, respectively. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the acaricidal activity of P. roxburghii extract, suggesting its potential as an alternative natural acaricide for controlling R. (B.) microplus.

In Silico Exploration and Experimental Validation of Camellia sinensis Extract against Rhipicephalus microplus and Sarcoptes scabiei: An Integrated Approach.

Sarcoptes scabiei is an ectoparasite of humans and animals that causes scabies. The Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is a blood-sucking ectoparasite that transmits various pathogens. These two parasites have caused great losses to a country's dairy and agriculture sectors. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro and in silico efficacy of Camellia sinensis plant extracts. Different concentrations of C. sinensis ethanolic plant extracts were prepared using the maceration method and were used against mites and ticks (in adult immersion test AIT and larval packet test LPT) to evaluate their in vitro acaricidal activity. Additionally, in silico molecular docking was performed to investigate the inhibitory interactions between the phytochemicals of the plant and S. scabiei and R. microplus glutathione transferase proteins (SsGST and RmGST). This study observed that the plant extract showed high efficacy in vitro against mites and different tick stages in adult immersion and larval packet tests. Additionally, the in silico study revealed a strong binding interaction between ellagic acid and SsGST protein, with a binding energy of -7.3 kcal/mol, with respect to permethrin (-6.7 kcal/mol), whereas quercetin and RmGST resulted in a docking score of -8.6 kcal/mol compared to deltamethrin (-8.2 kcal/mol). Overall, this study explored the potential of C. sinensis as a natural alternative for controlling tick and mite infestations and provided insights into the inhibitory mechanisms of its phytochemicals.

Ethanolic Extracts of Datura innoxia Have Promising Acaricidal Activity against Rhipicephalus microplus as It Blocks the Glutathione S-Transferase Activity of the Target Tick.

Rhipicephalus microplus is a major bovine ectoparasite that negatively impacts the cattle industry. The acaricidal activity of Datura innoxia ethanolic plant extract against R. microplus, compared with trichlorfon, was examined using the adult immersion test (AIT), and larval packet test (LPT). In vitro acaricidal activity of the selected plant extract against R. microplus engorged females was evaluated at different concentrations (2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/mL), and was the same for AIT and LPT. It was further supported by in silico molecular docking of D. innoxia's 21 phytochemicals against the R. microplus Glutathione S-transferases (RmGST) protein's three-dimensional (3D) structure predicted by the trRosetta server. The modeled 3D structure was then evaluated and confirmed with PROCHECK, ERRAT, and Verify3D online servers. To predict the binding mechanisms of these compounds, molecular docking was performed using Auto dock Vina software, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were used to investigate the protein atom's dynamic motion. D. innoxia has a relatively higher inhibitory effect on oviposition (from 9.81% to 45.37%) and total larval mortality (42.33% at 24 h and 93.67% at 48 h) at 40 mg/mL. Moreover, the docking results showed that the chemicals norapoatropine and 7-Hydroxyhyoscyamine have strong interactions with active site residues of the target protein, with a docking score of -7.3 and -7.0 Kcal/mol, respectively. The current work also provided a computational basis for the inhibitors of Glutathione S-transferases that were studied in this research work, and this new knowledge should aid in creating new and effective acaricidal chemicals. Furthermore, this plant extract's acaricide activity and its effect on oviposition and larval mortality were established in this work for the first time, indicating the possible use of this extract in the management of ticks.

Differential expression of micro RNA-29 family in non-diabetic adults of diabetic and non-diabetic parents.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs are known to regulate 60% of genes at post translational level. MicroRNAs including Micro RNA-29 family play a vital role in cellular activities and have validate role in numerous metabolic disorders inclusive of diabetes mellitus and its complications. While micro RNA profile changes years before the occurrence of disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted in non-diabetic adults of diabetic and non-diabetic parents to explore the early changes in expression of micro RNA-29 family as it can be served as early biomarker of type 2 diabetes in non-diabetic adults. This study was conducted from January 2019 to January 2021. Micro RNA was extracted from plasma of 50 participants and expression was compared through qPCR. While data was analyzed through SPSS version 21.0. RESULTS: 29a and 29b had lower expression in participants with family history of DM compared to those having no family history of DM (P < 0.0001). While micro RNA 29c was found to be significantly higher in participants with positive family history of type 2 diabetes as compared to those without family history of diabetes (P = 0.001).

BacMam virus transduced cardiomyoblasts can be used for myocardial transplantation using AP-PEG-A microcapsules: molecular cloning, preparation, and in vitro analysis.

The potential of genetically modified cardiomyoblasts in treating damaged myocardium is well known. However, efficient delivery of these cells is of major concern during treatment. The limiting factors are the massive cell death that occurs soon after their intramyocardial transplantation into the beating heart. To address these problems, we generated recombinant baculoviruses (BacMam viruses) which efficiently transduced cardiomyoblast cells under optimized conditions. These genetically modified cells were then protected in a new polymeric microcapsule using poly-ethylene-glycol (PEG), alginate, and poly-L-lysine (PLL) polymers for efficient delivery. Results showed that microcapsules maintain cell viability and support cell proliferation for at least 30 days. The capsules exhibit strong immunoprotective potential and have high mechanical and osmotic stability with more than 70% intact capsules. The encased transduced cells showed a rapid transgene expression inside the capsule for at least 15 days. However, preclinical studies are needed to further explore its long-term functional benefits.

Clinical usefulness of Tc-99m hexakis 2-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile gated spect in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: In Dilated cardiomyopathy the heart is enlarged and ventricles are dilated. Gated myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography is considered state of the art for myocardial perfusion imaging. A retrospective analysis was conducted to evaluate patients with dilated cardiomyopathy with Tc-99m sestamibi gated myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography to evaluate its clinical utility. METHODS: A 10 year retrospective medical record review was done from 1991 to 2001 at Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA. Eligibility criteria included a diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy and availability of coronary angiography and Tc-99m sestamibi cardiac imaging results. 26 cases were selected for the final review and inclusion in the study. The study was done with standard protocols for cardiac sestamibi imaging. RESULTS: A total of 26 cases were included in the final analysis. Cases were divided into two main groups. Group-A included 16 patients with no correlation between Tc-99m sestamibi and cardiac catheterisation reports. Group-B included 10 patients with good correlation between the above tests. There were no significant differences between the left ventricular ejection fraction, angina history, sex distribution and diabetic status between the two groups. We applied Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and z-test to quantify the difference between the two groups. Data was tabulated and z-test was performed. The calculated p-value was <0.0001. This is significantly less than the tabulated p-value at 5% level of significance, i.e., 1.96. Significant differences exist between Group-A and Group-B. CONCLUSION: Tc-99m sestamibi is an excellent agent for investigating myocardial perfusion in dilated cardiomyopathy. The reversible and fixed perfusion defects (small to medium sized) seen in dilated cardiomyopathy after performance of Tc-99m sestamibi gated single photon emission computed tomography imaging may not be due to coronary artery disease. Tc-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography is useful as a routine non-invasive technique to evaluate myocardial function in dilated cardiomyopathy.