Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Potential Therapeutic Value of Medicinal Plants in the Management of Metabolic Disorders

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent, multifactorial and complex disease that is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and other major cardiovascular complications. The rise in the global prevalence of MetS has been attributed to genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. The adoption of sedentary lifestyles that are characterized by low physical activity and the consumption of high-energy diets contributes to MetS development. Current management criteria for MetS risk factors involve changes in lifestyle and the use of pharmacological agents that target specific biochemical pathways involved in the metabolism of nutrients. Pharmaceutical drugs are usually expensive and are associated with several undesirable side effects. Alternative management strategies of MetS risk factors involve the use of medicinal plants that are considered to have multiple therapeutic targets and are easily accessible. Medicinal plants contain several different biologically active compounds that provide health benefits. The impact of phytochemicals present in local medicinal plants on sustainable health and well-being of individuals has been studied for many years and found to involve a plethora of complex biochemical, metabolic, and physiological mechanisms. While some of these phytochemicals are the basis of mainstream prescribed drugs (e.g., metformin, reserpine, quinine, and salicin), there is a need to identify more medicinal plants that can be used for the management of components of MetS and to describe their possible mechanisms of action. In this review, we assess the potential health benefits of South African ethnomedicinal plants in protecting against the development of health outcomes associated with MetS. We aim to provide the state of the current knowledge on the use of medicinal plants and their therapeutically important phytochemicals by discussing the current trends, with critical examples from recent primary references of how medicinal plants are being used in South African rural and urban communities.
Mitochondrial Energetics and Ca2+-Activated ATPase in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common genetic disease of the myocardium associated to mutations in sarcomeric genes, but the link between genotype and phenotype remains poorly understood. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have demonstrated impaired cardiac energetics in patients with HCM, and altered mitochondria were described in biopsies, but little is known about possible perturbations of mitochondrial function and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production/consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate possible abnormalities in mitochondrial enzymes generating/scavenging reactive oxygen species, and changes in the Ca2+-activated ATPases in myocardial tissue from patients with obstructive HCM undergoing surgical myectomy compared to unused donor hearts (CTRL). Methods and Results: Both the amount and activity of mitochondrial Complex I (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide -reduced form, NADH, dehydrogenase) were upregulated in HCM vs. CTRL, whilst the activity of Complex V (ATP synthase) was not reduced and ATP levels were significantly higher in HCM vs. CTRL. Antioxidant Mn-activated superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and (m)-aconitase activities were increased in HCM vs. CTRL. The Cu/Zn-activated superoxide dismutase (SOD1) amount and mtDNA copy number were unaltered in HCM. Total Ca2+-activated ATPase activity and absolute amount were not different HCM vs. CTRL, but the ratio between ATPase sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transporting type 2 (ATP2A2) and type 1 (ATP2A1), ATP2A2/ATP2A1, was increased in HCM in favor of the slow isoform (ATP2A2). Conclusion: HCM is characterized by mitochondrial Complex I hyperactivity and preserved Ca2+-activated ATPase activity with a partial switch towards slow ATP2A2. This data may give insight into the abnormal cellular energetics observed in HCM cardiomyopathy but other studies would need to be performed to confirm the observations described here.
Cilia-associated Respiratory (CAR) Bacillus-like Organism (CLO) Identified in a Banded Rock Rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi)

Abstract Cilia-associated respiratory bacillus-like organisms (CLO) are bacteria found intermixed among the cilia of epithelial cells lining the respiratory tract. They are considered moderate pathogens and have been reported in rodents, rabbits, ruminants, cats, and pigs. In this article, we describe respiratory disease associated with a Mycobacterium sp. and CLO in a banded rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus klauberi). The CLO were confirmed via Warthin-Starry silver stain and ultrastructure examination.
The impact of defoliating insects on the growth of eucalypt saplings

The effect of spraying insecticide on eucalypt saplings was experimentally tested in a New England woodland. Replicate branches of five species were sprayed fortnightly with Thiodan over a period of 4 months. Their leaf damage, leaf flushes, stem growth, and bud production were compared with those of control branches. Loss of leaf area to insect grazers was extremely variable, ranging from very low levels (e.g. 1.8% for sprayed new leaves of Angophora floribunda) to nearly total defoliation (97.1% for unsprayed new leaves of Eucalyptus viminalis). The sprayed branches consistently suffered less herbivory and grew more than the controls.
Abiotic stress mediated modulation of chromatin landscape in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Limited information is available on abiotic-stress mediated alterations of the chromatin conformation influencing gene expression in plants. In order to characterize the effect of abiotic stresses on changes in chromatin conformation, we employed FAIRE-seq and DNase-seq to isolate accessible regions of chromatin from Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings exposed to either heat, cold, salt or drought stress. Approximately, 25% regions in the Arabidopsis genome were captured as open chromatin, majority of which included promoters and exons. A large proportion of chromatin regions apparently did not change its conformation in response to any of the four stresses. Digital footprints present within these regions had differential enrichment of motifs for binding of 43 different TFs. Further, in contrast to drought and salt stress, both high and low temperature treatments resulted in increased accessibility of the chromatin. Also, pseudogenes attained increased chromatin accessibility in response to cold and drought stresses. The highly accessible and inaccessible chromatin regions in drought stress correlated with Ser/Thr protein kinases MLK1 and MLK2 mediated reduction and increase of H3 phosphorylation (H3T3Ph) respectively. The presented results provide a deeper understanding of abiotic stress-mediated chromatin modulation in plants.
Physiological Properties of Sarcodon aspratus Extracts by Ethanol Concentration

Physiological properties of Sarcodon aspratus extracts were investigated. Yields of water, 30, 60, and 90% ethanolic extracts were 52.10, 46.90, 41.50, and 32.20%, respectively. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of 60% ethanolic extract was 40.40% at a concentration of 4 mg/mL, which was highest of all the extracts. The polyphenol content of 60% ethanolic extract was the highest at 16.23 mg/g at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Superoxide anion radical scavenging activities were 56.30～77.05% at concentrations of 1, 2, and 4 mg/mL, which were better than the ascorbic acid activity (56.19% at 10 mg/mL) (P<0.05). Nitrite-scavenging ability was the most effective in 30% ethanolic extract. A pH level of 3.0 was the most effective for all extracts. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activities of Sarcodon aspratus extracts were from 52.67 to 89.52%.
Cellular circuits in the brain and their modulation in acute and chronic pain.

Chronic, pathological pain remains a global health problem and a challenge to basic and clinical sciences. A major obstacle to preventing, treating or reverting chronic pain has been that the nature of neural circuits underlying the diverse components of the complex, multidimensional experience of pain is not well understood. Moreover, chronic pain involves diverse maladaptive plasticity processes, which have not been decoded mechanistically in terms of involvement of specific circuits and cause-effect relationships. This review aims to discuss recent advances in our understanding of circuit connectivity in the mammalian brain at the level of regional contributions and specific cell types in acute and chronic pain. A major focus is placed on functional dissection of sub-neocortical brain circuits using optogenetics, chemogenetics and imaging technological tools in rodent models with a view towards decoding sensory, affective and motivational-cognitive dimensions of pain. The review summarizes recent breakthroughs and insights on structure-function properties in nociceptive circuits and higher order sub-neocortical modulatory circuits involved in aversion, learning, reward and mood and their modulation by endogenous GABAergic inhibition, noradrenergic, cholinergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic and peptidergic pathways. The knowledge of neural circuits and their dynamic regulation via functional and structural plasticity will be beneficial towards designing and improving targeted therapies.
The synthetic cannabinoids phenomenon: from structure to toxicological properties. A review

Abstract The word “cannabinoid” refers to every chemical substance, regardless of structure or origin, that joins the cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain and that have similar effects to those produced by the Cannabis plant and based on their source of production, cannabinoids can be classified into endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids. Synthetic cannabinoids represent the largest class of drugs detected through the EU Early Warning System with a total of 190 substances notified from 2008 to 2018 and about 280 have been reported worldwide to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Sprayed on natural herb mixtures with the aim to mimic the euphoria effect of cannabis and sold as “herbal smoking blends” or “herbal incense” under brand names like “Spice” or “K2”, synthetic cannabinoids are available from websites for the combination with herbal materials or more recently, for the use in e-cigarettes. Currently labeled as “not for human consumption” to circumvent legislation, their legal status varies by country with many government institutions currently pushing for their control. However, due to the emergence of new substances, it requires a constant update of the list of controlled drugs. Little is known about how these substances work and their toxic effects in humans and the same product could vary not only in the amount and in the type of substance added. In the last years, synthetic cannabinoids have been associated with deaths and acute intoxications in Europe and, despite a range of new measures introduced in this area, continue to represent a challenge to current drug policy models. These synthetic substances are much more potent than natural cannabis, as well as displayed greater efficacy, acting as full agonists at the cannabinoid receptors. It is possible that, along with being highly potent, some may also have long half-lives, potentially leading to a prolonged psychoactive effect. The present work provides a review on existing literature about the development of synthetic cannabinoids as substances of abuse, current patterns of abuse and their legal status, chemical classification, and some pharmacological and toxicological properties.
Obesity, Thyroid Nodularity, and Thyroid Cancer: Epiphenomenon or Cause?

G reater than two-thirds of the US population is overweight or obese, which not only increases the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and components of the metabolic syndrome, but also appears to heighten the risk for numerous cancers including colorectal cancer, postmenopausal breast cancer, endometrial cancer, renal cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer. More than half of all cancers diagnosed in women and nearly a quarter of all cancers diagnosed in men have been associated with being overweight and obese (1). Although the links between excess body weight and cancer risk are likely complex and potential mechanism(s) underlying this association are incompletely understood, many have been proposed including the coexistence of insulin resistance/ hyperinsulinemia, abnormalities in hormone biosynthesis and hormonal pathways, disruption of circadian rhythm, and intestinal microbiome alterations, among others (2). In addition, obesity is associated with a chronic and systemic proinflammatory state in both adipose tissue and the local tumor microenvironment, which may be involved in a complicated cross-talk that propagates tumor development (3). In particular, both observational and cohort studies have previously found a positive relationship between obesity, metabolic disease, and thyroid cancer. This association was illustrated by a recent systematic review of 15 studies that determined the link was not solely related to higher cancer detection (4) and a meta-analysis that reported a 25% greater risk of thyroid cancer in individuals who are overweight and a 55% greater thyroid cancer risk in individuals who are obese compared with individuals who are lean. Strikingly, a 5-unit increase in body mass index (BMI) and a 0.1-unit increase in waist to hip ratio increased the risk of thyroid cancer by 30% and 14%, respectively (5). This increased risk appeared to be specific for papillary, follicular, and anaplastic variants, with a reduced risk observed for medullary thyroid cancer, indicating a potential dependence on tumor type and histological specificity. These and other findings led the International Agency for Research on Cancer to conclude that thyroid cancer was one of 13 identifiable cancers in which obesity played a causal role, albeit conferring a small, but significant risk (odds ratio 1.17 in men and 1.04 in women) and was based largely on epidemiologic case-control and mechanistic studies (6). The current epidemics of obesity and the metabolic/ insulin resistance syndrome, which increase the risk of patients developing T2D, have also been accompanied by a rise in nodular thyroid disease, mainly in the form of nodular hyperplasia (7). Proposed mechanisms include a response to hyperinsulinemia, as insulin exerts both metabolic and mitogenic effects on target cells, and enhanced bioavailability of insulin-like growth factor-1 in concurrence with reduced hepatic insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (8). However, most studies to date have been limited by their cross-sectional, observational nature and difficulty
COVID‐19 and Immigrants’ Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in the United States

In recent months, some of the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care needs, decisions and access across the globe have become evident.1,2 In the United States, the Trump administration has unjustly blamed migrants for the COVID-19 pandemic, exploiting this public health crisis to further its long-standing xenophobic agenda and prompting a de facto shutdown of the U.S. immigration system. Yet immigrant communities—particularly those of color—are among the hardest hit by this virus, largely as a result of intersecting inequities based on migration status, race and socioeconomic position, all of which contribute to unequal access to quality health care.3 The perilous health impact of COVID-19 on immigrants in the country has been highlighted by the fact that Latinx individuals, one-third of whom are immigrants,4 are becoming infected and hospitalized at substantially higher rates than are U.S.-born white individuals.5 Noticeably absent from the public discussion is an intersectional consideration of how the public health response to the pandemic may affect access to SRH care for immigrants in the United States. Immigrants represent 14% (44.4 million people) of the U.S. population and account for 17% of women of reproductive age and 23% of births.6 Although immigrants’ SRH is not currently well documented, many immigrant groups face intractable social, economic and political barriers to obtaining A cc ep te d A rti cl e
Survival of Largemouth Bass Iridovirus in Frozen Fish

Abstract Juvenile largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides were infected with largemouth bass iridovirus by injection and frozen at −10°C, and the visceral organs and tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, gonads, swim bladder, and muscle) of individual fish were periodically assayed for virus for 155 d postfreezing. The virus was isolated from 35 of 39 (89.7%) of the frozen fish. However, virus loss occurred more rapidly in fish that were dead when frozen than in fish that were alive when frozen. Overall, largemouth bass iridovirus was stable in frozen tissue when the fish were fresh upon freezing.
Factors associated with postsurgical wound infections among breast cancer patients: A retrospective case‐control record review

Women with non‐metastatic breast cancer will be offered surgery as their first option. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the most common postoperative complication is surgical wound infection (SWI). We investigated the prevalence of SWI in breast cancer patients and identified the factors predictive of its development. The study was conducted at the breast cancer centre in Singapore. A retrospective case‐control review of medical records was used. During the 2013 to 2016 study period, there were 657 postsurgical breast cancer patients with only 105 records eligible for the study. The sample consisted of one to four case:control (21:84), matched according to their age at the time of their surgery. Patients presenting with SWI were grouped into cases, while those without SWI were grouped into the controls. Chi‐square test and Mann‐Whitney U test were used to identify risk factors associated with SWI. Regression analysis of predictive variables from the univariate analyses was included. These variables were type of breast surgery, implants, comorbidities, previous surgery, previous chemotherapy, surgical drains, seroma, blood transfusion, surgeon department, and length of stay. The prevalence of SWI was 9%. Demographic, clinical, and comorbidities were not associated with SWI. However, multivariate analysis found that “surgeon department,” “discharged with surgical drains,” and “postoperative seroma” were predictive of SWI. Monitoring SWI is indispensable to minimise burdens on individuals and institutions. Health care professionals should identify high‐risk patients based on the identified predictive variables. A cross‐institutional record review of SWI in postoperative breast cancer patients should be conducted.
Effect of nonhost and fungicide-treated barriers on horizontal spread of Ascochyta blight of lentil.

On a etudie en Saskatchewan en 1990 et 1991 la propagation horizontale de l'ascochytose de la lentille, causee par l'Ascochyta fabae f. sp. lentis, dans des parcelles longues et etroites. Des barrieres de plantes non-hotes ou de lentille traitee avec un fongicide ont ete posees entre une source restreinte d'inoculum et les plantes non traitees. Ces deux types de barrieres ont reduit la gravite maximale de la maladie mais ont eu peu d'effet sur la distance de propagation. En 1990, les barrieres non-hotes de 10 m de largeur ont elimine les gradients de propagation et ont augmente la qualite des graines recoltees en comparaison avec celles provenant des temoins inocules. Par contre, en 1991, surtout en juillet et en aout, les conditions meteorologiques ont ete plus propices au developpement et a la propagation de la maladie et il a fallu utiliser des barrieres de 14 m de largeur afin de realiser un effet semblable. Pourtant, les barrieres de 10 m de largeur de lentille traitees avec le chlorothalonil au debut floraison ont ete aussi efficaces. Cette derniere methode serait un moyen de lutte plus pratique.
Chemotactic Response Of Fish Macrophages To Legionella-Pneumophila - Correlation With Pathogenicity

Chemotaxis is the directional migration of cells in response to a chemical stimulus. This phenomenon appears to be responsible for the accun~ulation of macrophages during inflammation This work represents an attempt to understand certain aspects of host-parasite relationships in Legionnaire's Disease. In the first phase of this study, we measured the chemotactic stimulation of fish macrophages by 2 strains of Legionella pneumophila, one virulent and one avirulent for guinea pigs. Results from this part of the study, coupled with the possibility that reduced chemotaxis may be a factor contributing to increased virulence, led us to initiate the second phase of this work to determine the correlation between in vitro chemotaxis and the degree of virulence of L. pneumophila for spot Leiostonius xanthurus. These studies demonstrated that virulent cells did not attract n~acrophages to the extent that avirulent cells did. The percentage of macrophages migrating toward virulent Legionella at 90 min was 24 as compared to 61 for the avirulent strain. In vivo studies showed that intraperitoneal injection of 1 to 2 X 10'' viable cells of vlrulent L. pneumophjla killed 100 ":, of the fish within 2 d whereas the same number of avirulent L pneumophila resulted in death in only 58 '10 of the fish within 2 d after injection.
Effects of first breeding age on the production and reproduction of Holstein heifers up to the third lactation

The effects of early initiation of first service for dairy heifers on their fertility and productivity up to the third lactation were examined under constant raising and management conditions. Eight Holstein heifers in their early breeding regimens and eight Holstein heifers in their late breeding regimens were initiated to be bred at 12 and 15 months of age, respectively, and were first calved at 21.5 and 25.1 months of age, respectively, with bodyweights of 563 and 638 kg after calving, respectively. Early first breeding resulted in a lower bodyweight and a lower body condition score, but it did not affect the fertility or milk production during the first lactation of heifers as cows. The calving intervals of cows to the second and third calving were similar in early and late bred heifers. Although the early bred heifers had a significantly lower fat-corrected milk yield at the second lactation than that of the late bred heifers, early breeding did not impair the productivity indicated by the mean milk yield per day from birth to the end of the third lactation with a shorter production period.
Carotenoids and Chlorophylls as Antioxidants

Chlorophylls and carotenoids are natural pigments that are present in our daily diet, especially with the increasing tendency towards more natural and healthy behaviors among consumers. As disturbed antioxidant homeostasis capacities seem to be implicated in the progress of different pathologies, the antioxidant properties of both groups of lipophilic compounds have been studied. The objective of this review was to analyze the state-of-the-art advances in this field. We conducted a systematic bibliographic search (Web of Science™ and Scopus®), followed by a comprehensive and critical description of the results, with special emphasis on highly cited and more recently published research. In addition to an evaluative description of the methodologies, this review discussed different approaches used to obtain a physiological perspective, from in vitro studies to in vivo assays using oxidative biomarkers. From a chemical viewpoint, many studies have demonstrated how a pigment’s structure influences its antioxidant response and the underlying mechanisms. The major outcome is that this knowledge is essential for interpreting new data in a metabolic networks context in the search for more direct applications to health. A promising era is coming where the term “antioxidant” is understood in terms of its broadest significance.