Inhibitory effects of taraxasterol and aqueous extract of Taraxacum officinale on calcium oxalate crystallization: in vitro study

Objective: We investigated and compared the effects of taraxasterol, aqueous extract of T. officinale (AET) aerial part, and potassium citrate (PC) on calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystallization in vitro.

Materials and methods: CaOx crystallization was induced by adding sodium oxalate to synthetic urine. Taraxasterol (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 12.5?μg/mL), extract (1, 2, 4 and 8?mg/mL), and PC (100, 150, 200 and 350?mg/mL) were subjected to anti-crystallization activities. The absorbance and %inhibition of nucleation of CaOx crystals were evaluated by spectrophotometer at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60?min and the number and morphology of crystals were studied by light microscopy after 60?min.

Results: Presence of taraxasterol, extract and PC decreased absorbance in experimental samples compared to control, significantly. The nucleation of crystals is inhibited by taraxasterol, extract, and PC (26–64, 55–63 and 60–70%, respectively). The number of CaOx crystals were decreased in presence of taraxasterol (p?p?p?2O₄ monohydrate, while increased CaC₂O₄ dihydrate crystals, significantly. Also, the diameter of CaC₂O₄ dihydrate crystals was decreased in presence of taraxasterol, extract and PC, significantly.

Conclusions: This research indicated that taraxasterol and extract have anti-crystallization activities and effectiveness of the extract is more potent than taraxasterol. It could be because of another constituent in the extract with the synergistic effect.     

Cultivation of Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor) on Lignocellulosic Wastes and Evaluation of Substrate Bioconversion

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - The research evaluated the changes in degradability of some agro-forest wastes such as poplar sawdust, wheat...     

Effects of social isolation on mRNA expression for corticotrophin-releasing hormone receptors in prairie voles

Previous studies have demonstrated that various type of stressors modulate messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) for type 1 corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) receptor (CRH-R1 mRNA) and type 2 CRH receptor (CRH-R2 mRNA). The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of social isolation stress of varying durations on the CRH, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 mRNAs expression in the hypothalamus, hippocampus and pituitary of socially monogamous female and male prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). Isolation for 1h (single isolation) or 1h of isolation every day for 4 weeks (repeated isolation) was followed by a significant increase in plasma corticosterone levels. Single or repeated isolation increased hypothalamic CRH mRNA expression, but no changes in CRH-R1 mRNA in the hypothalamus were observed. Continuous isolation for 4 weeks (chronic isolation) showed no effect on hypothalamic CRH or CRH-R1 mRNAs in female or male animals. However, hypothalamic CRH-R2 mRNA was significantly reduced in voles exposed to chronic isolation. Single or repeated isolation, but not chronic isolation, significantly increased CRH-R1 mRNA and decreased CRH-R2 mRNA in the pituitary. Despite elevated CRH mRNA expression, CRH-R1 and CRH-R2 mRNAs were not modulated in the hippocampus following single or repeated isolation. Although, chronic isolation did not affect hippocampal CRH or CRH-R1 mRNAs, it did increase CRH-R2 mRNA expression in females and males. The results of the present study in prairie voles suggest that social isolation has receptor subtype and species-specific consequences for the modulation of gene expression for CRH and its receptors in brain and pituitary. Previous studies have revealed a female-biased increase in oxytocin in response to chronic isolation; however, we did not find a sex difference in CRH or its receptors following single, repeated or chronic social isolation, suggesting that sexually dimorphic processes beyond the CRH system, possibly involving vasopressin, might explain this difference.     

Molecular determination and genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp.in fecal and respiratory samples of industrial poultry in Iran

Objective:To identify the genotypes of prevalent Cryptosporidia in broiler chickens in Lorestan province,Iran.Methods:A total of 1 000 fecal and 1 000 trachea samples were collected from chickens.Smears from both fecal and tracheal samples were stained with modified ZiehlNeelsen method and nested PCR-RFTP according to amplification of 18S rRNA gene using Ssp1 and Vsp 1 restriction enzymes and DNA sequencing.Results:From the examined chickens0.7%was positive for Cryptosporidium,Infection was present in 0.3%fecal samples and also in0.5%trachea.Only 0.3%of simultaneous infections in fecal and tracheal samples were observed.Nested PCR of our isolates demonstrated Cryptosporidium baileyi.Conclusions:In our work,low rate of Cryptosporidium baileyi infection was detected,but in critical situations and our poor management circumstances,cryptosporidiosis occurs in serious feature especially in immune suppressed individuals.     

Effect of garlic supplementation on complement activity in broiler chickens

Recent studies have demonstrated the potential immuno-modulatory activity of herbal products in human and animals. The present study was performed to elucidate the impact of including fresh garlic powder (FGP) in the diet of broiler chicks on serum alternative pathway of complement activation (APCA) activity, as a functional part of humoral innate immunity. For this, two hundred new-born chicks were divided into three groups: A (50 chicks), B and C (75 each). The chicks in group A were fed control diet, whereas those in groups B and C received diets supplemented with 1% or 3% of FGP, respectively. On day 21, half of the chicks in groups B and C were separated into groups D and E, respectively, and fed control diet afterwards. Sera were collected on days 1, 14, 21, 32 and 42, and assayed for APCA activity. The results showed that APCA activity in groups A and B increased up to day 32 and then decreased (P < 0.05). On day 21, the highest and lowest APCA activities (P < 0.05) were noticed in groups B and C, respectively. On days 32 and 42, group C had the least APCA activity, but the differences among other groups were not significant (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the removal of FGP from the diet led to the improvement of APCA activity in treated groups. In conclusion, garlic supplementation, depending on the rate and period of time used in the diet, may enhance or depress humoral innate immunity in broiler chickens.     

DNA as an enzyme. The effect of imidazole derivatives as cofactors and metal ions as activators or inhibitors

OBJECTIVE: A highly sensitive spectrofluorometric method using dichlorofluorescin (LDCF) was employed to study the rate of electron transfer reaction in presence of DNA and some imidazole derivatives. RESULTS: In our experiments, DNA possessed a unique enzyme like catalytic function in oxidative conversion of nonfluorescent LDCF to fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF). The rate enhancement was associated with the turn over constant: k(p) = 10 s(-1) for DNA and cinnamoyl imidazole as a cofactor. A biphasic saturation curve was observed when the reaction velocities were measured at fixed concentrations of DNA and variable amounts of carnosine. Each of the biphasic trends gave the Scatchard values of V(m1)/K(m1) = 3.1 x 10(-5) and V(m2)/K(m2) = 5.1 x 10(-6) with K(m1) = 2.7 x 10(-5) M and K(m2) = 4.2 x 10(-4) M for carnosine. Although Ni (II) and Pb (II) induced inhibition in the rate of electron transfer reaction in presence of DNA and cinnamoyl imidazole or carnosine, metal ions such as Mg (II), Cd (II), Zn (II) and Fe (II) caused activation of DNA. The rates of the reactions showed strong dependency on electronegativity and conductivity of metal ions, namely the increase in activity of DNA in presence of each metal ion correlated inversely with the electronegativities of the metal and was also related directly to the conductivities of individual metal. These effects were observed both in activation and also inhibition of DNA reaction. Imidazole compounds, e.g., Histidine, N-trans cinnamoyl imidazole and imidazole along with Cd (II) produced further rate enhancement. The increase was several times greater with N-trans cinnamoyl imidazole. CONCLUSIONS: This effect could provide additional evidence for the importance of an intermediary cofactor that could facilitate the transfer of the electron from the reaction site to the DNA conductive chord. This was most guaranteed by the conjugated system provided by a compound such as N-trans cinnamoyl imidazole.     

COVID-19 in rheumatoid arthritis cases: an Iranian referral center experience

Clinical Rheumatology - Coronavirus infections, known as COVID-19, can induce a fatal respiratory system infection and also affect other organs, such as the kidney and heart. The mortality rate has...     

Fulminant spread of a femur anaerobic osteomyelitis to abdomen in a 17-year-old boy

To our knowledge, distant spread of infection in anaerobic osteomyelitis has not been described before. In this article, we report a case of anaerobic osteomyelitis of femur with fulminant spread of infection to the abdomen in a 17-year-old boy with no predisposing medical factors and minimal bone involvement.