Mitigating NaCl stress in Vigna radiata L. cultivars using Bacillus pseudomycoides.

Salt stress is one of the significant abiotic stress factors that exert harmful effects on plant growth and yield. In this study, five cultivars of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) were treated with different concentrations of NaCl and also inoculated with a salt-tolerant bacterial strain to assess their growth and yield. The bacterial strain was isolated from the saline soil of Sahiwal District, Punjab, Pakistan and identified as Bacillus pseudomycoides. Plant growth was monitored at 15-days interval and finally harvested after 120 days at seed set. Both sodium and potassium uptake in above and below-ground parts were assessed using a flame photometer. Fresh and dry mass, number of pods, seeds per plant, weight of seeds per plant and weight of 100 seeds reduced significantly as the concentration of NaCl increased from 3 to 15 dSm-1. There was a significant reduction in the growth and yield of plants exposed to NaCl stress without bacterial inoculum compared to the plants with bacterial inoculum. The latter plants showed a significant increase in the studied parameters. It was found that the cultivar Inqelab mung showed the least reduction in growth and yield traits among the studied cultivars, while Ramzan mung showed the maximum reduction. Among all the cultivars, maximum Na+ uptake occurred in roots, while the least uptake was observed in seeds. The study concludes that NaCl stress significantly reduces the growth and yield of mung bean cultivars, but Bacillus pseudomycoides inoculum alleviates salt stress. These findings will be helpful to cultivate the selected cultivars in soils with varying concentrations of NaCl.

Nematicidal activity of paucimannose-type glycoconjugates from acacia honey.

Natural honey contains glycoconjugates as minor components. We characterized acacia honey glycoconjugates with molecular masses in the range of 2-5 kDa. The glycoconjugates were separated by RP-HPLC into three peaks (termed RP-2-5 k-I, RP-2-5 k-II, and RP-2-5 k-III) which demonstrated paralyzing effects on the model nematode C. elegans (ED50 of 50 ng glycoconjugates/µL). To examine molecular mechanisms underlying the nematicidal effects of honey glycoconjugates, expressional analyses of genes that are essential for the growth, development, reproduction, and movement of C. elegans were carried out. Quantitative PCR-based assays showed that these molecules moderately regulate the expression of genes involved in the citric acid cycle (mdh-1 and idhg-1) and cytoskeleton (act-1 and act-2). MALDI-ToF-MS/MS analysis of RP-HPLC peaks revealed the presence of paucimannose-like N-glycans which are known to play important roles in invertebrates e.g., worms and flies. These findings provided novel information regarding the structure and nematicidal function of honey glycoconjugates.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Portal Vein Flow Velocity for Esophageal Varices in Cirrhotic Patients.

Background Variceal bleeding is a life-threatening complication of cirrhosis. Traditionally, endoscopy has been utilized as a preferred modality for the detection and grading of esophageal varices. However, endoscopy is an invasive procedure and may not be readily available in resource-limited settings. To overcome this limitation, various non-invasive tests, including Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) with portal vein (PV) velocity measurement, have been investigated to predict the presence of esophageal varices (EV). This study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of portal vein flow velocity (PVFV) as a non-invasive alternative to endoscopic screening for predicting the presence of esophageal varices among cirrhotic patients. Methodology This validation cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Centre (PKLI&RC), Lahore, Pakistan from June 8, 2022, to March 8, 2023. Cirrhotic patients were enrolled based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological assessments. Doppler ultrasonography was performed to measure portal vein flow velocity along other relevant indices. Subsequently, all patients underwent endoscopic evaluation to screen and grade the esophageal varices. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant clinical predictors of EV based on the results of the independent sample t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to determine the optimal cut-off value for portal vein flow velocity (PVFV). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were calculated based on the identified cut-off value. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A cohort of 137 cirrhotic patients was enrolled. The study population consisted of 92 males (67.2%) and 45 females (32.8%). Endoscopic screening confirmed the presence of esophageal varices in 81 patients (59.91%). A multivariate analysis revealed that aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) (p=0.008) and portal vein flow velocity (p=0.001) were significant factors associated with esophageal varices and were used for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) for PVFV was 0.981, and for APRI, it was 0.711. At a cut-off value of 18 cm/sec for PVFV, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy for esophageal varices were found to be 93.83%, 92.86%, 95%, 91.23%, and 93.43%, respectively. Conclusion Measurement of portal vein flow velocity using Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) is a reliable screening method for predicting the presence of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with liver cirrhosis. DUS offers several advantages, including its non-invasive nature, cost-effectiveness, and widespread availability, making it a recommended approach due to its high diagnostic accuracy.

Fabrication of Guided Tissue Regeneration Membrane Using Lignin-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles in Biopolymer Matrix for Antimicrobial Activity.

Periodontal disease is a common complication, and conventional periodontal surgery can lead to severe bleeding. Different membranes have been used for periodontal treatment with limitations, such as improper biodegradation, poor mechanical property, and no effective hemostatic property. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes favoring periodontal regeneration were prepared to overcome these shortcomings. The mucilage of the chia seed was extracted and utilized to prepare the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane. Lignin having antibacterial properties was used to synthesize lignin-mediated ZnO nanoparticles (∼Lignin@ZnO) followed by characterization with analytical techniques like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). To fabricate the GTR membrane, extracted mucilage, Lignin@ZnO, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were mixed in different ratios to obtain a thin film. The fabricated GTR membrane was evaluated using a dynamic fatigue analyzer for mechanical properties. Appropriate degradation rates were approved by degradability analysis in water for different intervals of time. The fabricated GTR membrane showed excellent antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial species.

Recent progress in materials development and biological properties of GTR membranes for periodontal regeneration.

Chronic periodontal is a very common infection that instigates the destruction of oral tissue, and for its treatment, it is necessary to minimize the infection and the defects regeneration. Periodontium consists of four types of tissues: (a) cementum, (b) periodontal ligament, (c) gingiva, and 4) alveolar bone. In separated cavities, regenerative process also allows various cell proliferations. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a potential procedure that favors periodontal regrowth; however, some limitations (such as ineffective hemostatic property, poor mechanical property, and improper biodegradation) are also associated with it. This review mainly emphasizes on the following areas: (a) a summarized overview of the periodontium and its immunological situations, (b) recently utilized treatments for regeneration of distinctive periodontal tissues; (c) an overview of GTR membranes available commercially, and the latest developments on the characterization and processing of GTR membrane material; and 4) the function of the different non-polymeric/polymeric materials, which are acting as drug carriers, antibacterial agents, nanoparticles, and periodontal barrier membranes to prevent periodontal inflammation and to improve the strength of the GTR membrane.

Alcohol consumption and obesity: The hidden scare with COVID-19 severity.

Obese individuals seem to be at the highest risk of contracting COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, severity of morbidity and mortality rates are higher in the developed world as compared to the developing world. One probable reason for this difference could be the difference in living conditions and exposure to other infections. Secondly, the difference in food especially, alcohol use may have deteriorating effects superimposed with obesity. Our hypothesis suggests that a combination of alcohol consumption and obesity causes low immunity and makes the individual prone to develop 'cytokine storm' and 'acute respiratory distress syndrome'; the hallmark of COVID-19 mortality and morbidity. Thus, we propose that reducing any one trigger can have a beneficial effect in combating the disease severity.

Association between preeclampsia and prostasin polymorphism in Pakistani females.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between a prostasin gene variations and the development of preeclampsia in a Pakistani female population. Methods: This was a case-control study carried out at University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan between May 2018 and 2019. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at rs12597511 locus was examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses in 76 preeclamptic and 74 normotensive expecting mothers. RESULTS: We observed significantly increased risk of preeclampsia associated with the CC genotype of rs12597511 polymorphism as compared to TT (p less than 0.001, OR=8.08, 95% CI: 1.28-31.19) and TT/TC (p less than 0.001, OR=14.66 and 95% CI: 3.31-65.07) genotypes carriers. Calculation of the allelic distribution revealed a higher frequency of the T allele (82%) among controls; however, the C allele was more prevalent in the preeclamptic group (36%) significantly. CONCLUSION: The significantly higher C allele frequency in the prostasin gene at the rs12597511 locus in the preeclamptic group indicates that the distribution of the C allele of the prostasin gene is a potential risk factor contributing to the development of preeclampsia.

Nematicidal activity of 'major royal jelly protein'-containing glycoproteins from Acacia honey.

Parasitic nematodes infect more than two billion people worldwide particularly in developing countries. We previously reported nematicidal activity of natural honey using model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In this study, characterization of nematicidal effects of natural honey and its glycoproteins has been carried out. Chromatographically separated honey glycoproteins showed potent anti-C. elegans activity (LD50 = 100 ng proteins/µL). Honey glycoproteins with molecular masses of ∼260 kD and ∼160 kD comprised of 'major royal jelly protein-1'-containing complexes. In these complexes, MRJP1 was present in different glycosylation forms. Quantitative PCR based gene expression assays described molecular functions of C. elegans affected by honey and honey glycoproteins. Expression of 14 gene transcripts associated with key cellular and molecular functions including energy metabolism, cytoskeleton, cell division, transcription and translation was analyzed. Acacia honey exerted a concentration-dependent alteration of gene transcripts involved in the citric acid cycle (mdh-1 and idhg-1) and cytoskeleton (act-1, act-2, and arp6). Likewise, MRJP1-containing glycoproteins caused down-regulation of arp-6 and idhg-1; and up-regulation of act-1 and mdh-1 gene transcripts. Consistent down-regulation of isocitrate dehydrogenase encoding idhg-1 gene which is among the rate-controlling enzymes of the citric acid cycle was considered as main biochemical factor involved in the nematicidal activity of honey and MRJP-containing glycoproteins. Acacia honey suppressed the expression of gene transcripts encoding actin-2, while honey glycoproteins did not. Hence, honey partly exerted anti-C. elegans activity by decreasing the transcription of actin-2 gene transcripts, demonstrated by a defect in the movement and egg laying. Moreover, arp-6 gene transcripts encoding actin-related protein 6 was significantly and constantly down-regulated by honey and honey proteins.