bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
eDNAqua-Plan—Standardisation Overview for eDNA Sequencing of Aquatic Organisms and the Downstream Data Ecosystem
Authors: Pauperio Joana , Woollard Peter , Boulanger Emilie , Cochrane Guy , Costa Filipe , Exter Katrina , Grabowski Michal , Kavakiotis Ioannis , Krawczyk Dawid , Laamanen Tiina , Martins Filipa MS , Moutinho Jorge , Papakostas Spiros , Picazo-Moz Antonio , Probert Ian , Rimet Frédéric , Seweryn Michał , Suominen Saara , Pade Nicolas , Consortium eDNAqua-Plan
Published: August 2024

The eDNAqua-Plan project stands as a beacon of innovation in the biomonitoring of marine and freshwater ecosystems, propelled by the urgent need to integrate DNA-based approaches in aquatic bioassessment and monitoring frameworks. The broad utilisation of cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) and DNA barcoding methodologies is dependent on complete, reliable, and accessible reference DNA sequence data (Rimet et al. 2021). Complete and interoperable metadata is crucial to allow a broad reuse of (e)DNA data and analysis outputs, and for a broader uptake of results by end users.

The eDNAqua-Plan project aims to address key limitations to the routine implementation of eDNA-based monitoring methods in Europe by developing plans for federated DNA barcode reference libraries and eDNA data repositories to support DNA-based environmental monitoring. This will ensure a sustainable and reliable infrastructure to underpin its broad use, thereby paving the way for more effective conservation and management strategies. The project is working towards creating a comprehensive overview of standardisation efforts and data workflows, through collaborations with other projects, initiatives and infrastructures for aquatic monitoring across the European Union (EU) and associated countries. We are analysing existing archives (e.g., International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC), Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS)), portals, and papers to determine current and best practices through the use of questionnaires, manual evaluation of repositories, and machine learning methods (LLMs). This includes an overview of the usage of existing metadata and data standards (e.g., Minimum Information about any (X) Sequence Specifications from the Genomics Standards Consortium (GSC), Darwin Core standard). The results are being integrated by a team of experts in marine and freshwater biomonitoring.

With a diverse consortium comprising 18 partner institutions from 11 countries and one international institute, eDNAqua-Plan brings together experts in marine and freshwater monitoring, eDNA analysis, and data science. The collective effort by this consortium will lay the groundwork for the creation of a digital ecosystem of eDNA repositories and an integrated reference library of marine and freshwater species, adhering to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles.
Potential Increasing Trend in Schizophrenia Relapse Prevention in the Past 40 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Syarif Isymiarni , Amqam Hasnawati , Syamsuddin Saidah , Hadju Veni , Russeng Syamsiar , Amir Yusran
Published: August 2024

Objectives: Schizophrenia is an organic disease and a severe mental disorder with a relatively high risk of relapse. The rising rate of schizophrenia relapse has motivated researchers and academics to innovate and develop interventions aimed at relapse prevention. This bibliometric study sought to examine the publication trends in schizophrenia relapse prevention from 1973 to 2023, assess the contribution of international collaborations across various journals, identify the most influential authors and articles, and forecast future developments in this field.Methods: The study included 683 articles obtained from the Scopus database, analyzed using VOSviewer software, and visualized with Tableau.Results: Reports of schizophrenia relapse prevention strategies have increased significantly over the last 3 decades. However, fluctuations persist, as evidenced by the annual number of publications ranging from 25 to 40 within the past 5 years. Nevertheless, this increasing trend underscores the sustained interest in this area of research. Regarding contribution size, the United States produced the largest volume of publications on this subject. John M. Kane authored the most articles, while Stefan Leucht exhibited the highest h-index. Frequently used keywords in this field include “relapse AND schizophrenia” AND “prevention.”Conclusions: These results represent an important reference for determining the current state of research on schizophrenia relapse prevention and future research directions.
Resource Mobilization for Enhancing Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Authors: Ibrahim Badr El Din
Published: August 2024

This research explores the connection between microfinance services and climate adaptation and resilience, focusing on small farmers. It examines climate-adaptive interventions and solutions, citing examples from Arab countries and AGFUND's bank initiatives. These findings suggest that effective climate change adaptation for small producers necessitates a multi-stakeholder approach, including a supportive Central Bank regulatory environment, enhanced financial instruments for risk mitigation, promotion of public-private partnerships, and advancement of mobile banking regulations. Additionally, adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, strengthening early warning systems, and diversifying products and delivery mechanisms are crucial. The chapter proposes wholesaling through Apex institutions as intermediaries for donors, investors, and government funding, along with leveraging international adaptation funds. Furthermore, the research recommends linking government finance to specific agricultural outcomes, moving away from input-based support to output-based support.
Ethical Leadership in Global Environmental Crises
Authors: Jay Ashli D.
Published: August 2024

This chapter examines global environmental crises through a detailed analysis of recent challenges and responses, with a focus on ethical leadership. It explores sustainable development practices and environmental policies influenced by climate change adaptation, digital economy advancements, and green innovation. Key topics include environmental justice, corporate social responsibility, and the role of conflict resolution in addressing these crises. By analyzing case studies from various continents, the chapter provides insights into the effectiveness of current strategies and suggests pathways for future action to ensure a more sustainable and equitable global environment. The chapter aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of how different regions are responding to environmental challenges and the critical role of ethical leadership in fostering sustainable solutions.
Confluence of Deep Learning Using Watershed Segmentation GAN for Advancing Endoscopy Surgery Imaging
Authors: Megala G. , Swarnalatha P. , Prabu S. , Venkatesan R. , Kaneswaran Anantharajah
Published: August 2024

Accurate segmentation in medical images is critical for effective diagnosis and treatment. This study presents a novel approach using a watershed-segmented Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) for segmentation in the Cholec80 laparoscopic cholecystectomy videos. Initially, a watershed algorithm preprocesses the images, providing robust initial segmentation that highlights potential lesion boundaries. This segmented output trains a GAN, which refines and improves segmentation accuracy. The GAN comprises a generator producing segmentation masks and a discriminator evaluating their realism against ground truth. Evaluated on the Cholec80 dataset, our approach demonstrates significant improvements in segmentation accuracy over existing methods. Quantitative results indicate superior performance in dice coefficient, intersection over union (IoU), and other metrics. Qualitative analysis supports the efficacy of our method in accurately delineating boundaries in complex surgical scenes. This integration presents a promising direction for enhancing medical image analysis.
Unraveling the Complexity of Thyroid Cancer Prediction
Authors: Joshi Hemlata , Vijayalakshmi A. , George Sneha Maria
Published: August 2024

Despite being relatively rare, thyroid cancer is being identified more often as a result of improved awareness and detection. Even if it has a high survival rate, it is crucial to comprehend its forms, risk factors, and therapies. Better results and prompt intervention are made possible by the early detection of thyroid cellular alterations made possible by evolving machine learning (ML) techniques. The USA Cancer Data Access System's Thyroid Cancer Factor Data, gathered from patient questionnaires, are used in this study. Missing values and imbalance in the dataset are addressed using resampling techniques (SMOTE, under-sampling) and imputation techniques (Median, KNN). To increase the accuracy of thyroid cancer prediction and improve early identification and prognoses for improved patient care, a comparative analysis of machine learning algorithms (ML) (Logistic Regression, LDA, KNN, Decision Tree, SVM, Naive Bayes) with imputation and resampling techniques is being conducted.
Influencing Project Success on the Impact of Project Management Persuasion via IoT-Enabled Systems in Construction Projects
Authors: Patil Deepak Tulsiram , Bhaumik Amiya
Published: August 2024

Project success is the most widely communicated aspect of project management; however, there is limited understanding of how project management performance directly impacts the overall achievement of projects. Despite the abundance of project management resources in the construction sector, project management methodologies frequently fall short of consistently achieving success on construction projects. The study validates a robust correlation between project management systems and the successful completion of construction projects. Therefore, evaluating the influence of effectively implemented project management strategies on project success is essential in construction management. The study investigates contemporary project management methodologies focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT) transformative impact on construction projects and aims to establish and assess IoT's contributions in this context. Successful projects equip themselves with IoT technology and utilize project management methodologies to enhance their implementation, as endorsed by the study. Project failures are often associated with the strategies and techniques employed in project management, underscoring the significance of incorporating IoT technologies to improve project outcomes. Proficient project managers comprehensively comprehend employing managerial tactics to achieve the intended results in every phase of the project's lifespan. Acknowledging the importance of incorporating IoT into project management decision-making processes is essential.
Methodological framework for assessing malaria risk associated with climate change in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Kouakou Yao Etienne , Dely Iba Dieudonné , Doumbia Madina , Ouattara Aziza , N’da Effah Jemima , Brou Koffi Evrard , Zouzou Yao Anicet , Cissé Guéladio , Koné Brama
Published: August 2024

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity among children under five years of age and pregnant women in Côte d’Ivoire. We assessed the geographical distribution of its risk in all climatic zones of the country based on the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach to climate risk analysis. This methodology considers three main driving components affecting the risk: Hazard, exposure and vulnerability. Considering the malaria impact chain, various variables were identified for each of the risk factors and for each variable, a measurable indicator was identified. These indicators were then standardized, weighted through a participatory approach based on expert judgement and finally aggregated to calculate current and future risk. With regard to the four climatic zones in the country: Attieen (sub-equatorial regime) in the South, Baouleen (humid tropical) in the centre, Sudanese or equatorial (tropical transition regime) in the North and the mountainous (humid) in the West. Malaria risk among pregnant women and children under 5 was found to be higher in the mountainous and the Baouleen climate, with the hazard highest in the mountainous climate and Exposure very high in the Attieen climate. The most vulnerable districts were those in Baouleen, Attieen and the mountainous climates. By 2050, the IPCC representative concentration pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios predict an increase in risk in almost all climatic zones, compared to current levels, with the former considering a moderate scenario, with an emissions peak around 2040 followed by a decline and RCP 8.5 giving the highest baseline emissions scenario, in which emissions continue to rise. It is expected that the AR5 approach to climate risk analysis will be increasingly used in climate risk assessment studies so that it can be better assessed at a variety of scales.
Replica ai commenti ricevuti
Authors: Abbruzzese Mariacarmela , Vincenti Enrico
Published: August 2024

Leggere critiche e commenti così ricchi e costruttivi ci ha reso particolarmente lieti, perché constata l’importanza dello scambio e del confronto come ricchezza per una ricerca basata su approfondimento e studio continuo. [...]
Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by cyanobacterial extracts: an approach guarantees potential bioactivity and proper cereal seed germination
Authors: Aly Bahieeldin E. , Mona Badawi H. , Higazy Aziz M.
Published: August 2024

Background

The last few decades witnessed the adoption of green nanotechnology as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective strategy with several biomedical, industrial and agricultural applications. Here, cyanobacteria have been suggested as model microorganisms for bio-nanoparticles production.

Objective

In the present study, the extracts of a number of cyanobacterial isolates representing different genera and isolated from various aquatic environments of Egypt were explored as a novel source of bioactive silver-based nano-materials.

Materials and methods

The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results revealed the presence of secondary metabolites in the aqueous extracts necessary for the nano-material biosynthesis. The biological potentials of the produced crude extract-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) assessed as antimicrobials indicated high activities against several bacterial and fungal pathogens. These bioactive nanoproducts exhibited antioxidant effects as well.

Results and conclusion

When extract-based AgNPs were tested for seed germination and seedling development of barley (cvs. Giza-123, Giza-2000) and wheat (cvs. Benisweif-7, Misr-3), relative increases in the germination percentages, germination rate index (GRI%), germination velocity coefficient (GVC%) were scored together with somewhat reductions in the mean germination times (MGT). All in all, the findings of this work emphasis that such silver nanoparticles possess antimicrobial and antioxidant activities besides supporting seed germination and seedling development, hence they are highly recommended as an alternative to high-risk chemically synthetic agrochemicals with no expected phytotoxicity.
Immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of Silene succulenta Forssk
Authors: El Gendy Mohamed A.M. , Motawe Hemaia M. , Maamoun Maii A.I. , El-Akad Radwa H. , Afifi Ahmed H.
Published: August 2024

Background and objectives

Immunomodulation using medicinal plants is a useful alternative to classical conventional chemotherapy for several diseases, including cancer and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of Silene succulenta Forssk. extract that is a common herb growing in Egypt.

Materials and methods

S. succulenta was collected from Mediterranean coast region of Egypt, dried in shade, ground, and extracted using methanol. The effect of the plant extract on immune cells was tested using murine splenocytes and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) proliferation colorimetric assays. A bioassay-directed fractionation was applied to identify the most active fraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to analyze it. The effect of the plant extract and its active fraction on human interleukin-2 (IL-2) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, the effect on macrophage nitric oxide production ability, macrophage viability, and HL-60-differentiated cells to neutrophil ROS production was tested.

Results and conclusion

Our results demonstrated that S. succulenta extract induced murine splenocytes and PBMCs proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Through bioassay-directed fractionation, we identified hexane subfraction as the active fraction of the extract and identified 18 compounds using GC–MS with major components of palmitic acid (33.19%) and phthalic acid, di(6-methylhept-2-yl) ester (20.22%). The extract and its active fraction induced human IL-2, whereas they inhibited macrophage nitrite-production ability, and neutrophil reactive oxygen species production level. We concluded that S. succulenta possesses several immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties that can be utilized to treat several diseases.
Effect of licorice root and cabbage leaf extracts as a natural fertilizer on growth and productivity of Cynara cardunculus L
Authors: El-Gohary Ahmed E. , Wahba Hend El-Sayed , Hendawy Saber Fayez , Hussein Mohamed Salah
Published: August 2024

Background

There is an ongoing need to find safe natural sources of plant nutrients. Licorice root and cabbage leaf extracts are being used as sources that can be used for growth and yield of crops to substitute inorganic fertilizers.

Objective

To study the effect of extracts of cabbage leaves (waste) and licorice roots on Cynara cardunculus L.

Materials and methods

This experiment was carried out during two seasons (2017/2018 and 2018/2019) at Aladlya Field, Sekem, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, to study the influence of some plant extracts, that is cabbage leaves’ extract at 0, 1, 2, and 3 g/l as well as licorice root’s extract at 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/l, on growth, yield, and chemical constituents (NPK, total phenolic content, and phenolic compounds) of C. cardunculus L. plants.

Results and conclusion

Both licorice root and cabbage leaf extracts had positive effects compared with control. However, licorice root extract had more effect on C. cardunculus L. plants compared with cabbage leaves’ extract. The main phenolic compounds were apigeni-7-glucoside (50.9272–161.8283 μg/g), rutin (79.8306–152.3828 μg/g), chlorogenic (4.5107–25.7202 μg/g).
Influence of date palm pollen grain extract on rabbit buck semen characteristics throughout chilled storage period of 72 h
Authors: El-Seadawy Islam El-Sayed , Kotp Mohamed S. , Hozyen Heba F. , El-Nattat Walid S. , El-Tohamy Magda M.
Published: August 2024

Background

The demand for using stored semen in artificial insemination programs of livestock animals is increasing. Therefore, developing and improving methods for semen preservation would provide adequate fertility rates that maintain the high production rates for rabbit industry. Several studies on preservation protocols and extender composition have been carried out.

Objective

The current study was designed to examine the effect of various concentrations of date palm pollen grain extract (DPPE) on postchilling quality of rabbit semen.

Materials and methods

Total phenolic and flavonoid substances and antioxidant activity were assessed in DPPE. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for identification and separation of goal metabolites. Semen was gathered from 10 male rabbits, grouped, and then split into five fractions (500 μl each). The first fraction represented as control, whereas DPPE was supplemented at concentrations of 1.6, 2.0, 2.4, and 2.8 mg/5 ml tris-citric extender. Extended semen specimens were cooled at 4°C for 72 h. Motile, life, abnormal, membrane, and acrosome integrity percentages of sperms were appraised in chilled semen all over the refrigeration period.

Results and conclusion

Total phenolic and total flavonoids contents in the DPPE were 4.15 mg GAE/g extract and 0.74 mg CE/g extract, respectively. The DPPE specimen showed various antiradical activity gauged toward 2,2-azino-bis/3-ethil-benothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (12.37 mM TE/g) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (4.06 mM TE/g). However, the reducing capacity assessed by ferric reducing activity power method was 9.19 mM TE/g/g. The most effective compounds in the DPPE were pyrogallol (4150.92 μg/g extract), ferulic acid (2935.50 μg/g extract), and rutin (2163.99 μg/g extract). The enrichment of semen extenders with 2.4 mg DPPE/5 ml tris-citric extender had preserved the sperm forward motility, sperm livability, sperm acrosome integrities, and sperm membrane integrities in an upright state during cooling till 72 h related to control treating. No adverse effects were recorded on sperm abnormalities. It could be concluded that the enriching of rabbit bucks’ semen tris-basic extender by 2.4 mg DPPE/5 ml tris-extender (the perfect and harmless concentration) sustained the sperm features in decent conditions all over a cooling period of 72 h.
Effect of algae and yeast on the production of essential oil and some active constituents in rosemary
Authors: Fouad Rasha , Fouad Hend , Aziz Eman E. , Nofal Osama A. , Rezk Abdelhalim I. , El-Nasharty Adel B. , Omer Elsayed A.
Published: August 2024

Background

Rosemary is an important medicinal plant and one of the main aromatic spices in the world. Nowadays, it is very important to use natural substances such as algae and yeast in the green agriculture to increase quantity and quality of crops, in addition to preserving environment from the harms of using chemicals in the agriculture.

Objective

The study aimed to investigate growth, yield, and active constituents of rosemary under foliar spraying of different concentrations of both algae and yeast extracts.

Materials and methods

The experiment was performed during the two successive seasons 2019 and 2020 in completely randomized blocks design and consisted of seven treatments: two biostimulants with three levels of each factor, in addition to the control (tap water). Algae extract was sprayed with concentrations of 0.5, 1, and 2 g/l, whereas yeast concentrations were 5, 10, and 20 g/l. The growth parameters, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, essential oil percentage, yield, and its main constituents were studied.

Results and conclusion

The main components of essential oil were found to be endo-borneol followed by (+)-2-bornanone. The growth, yield, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, essential oil, and the main components of rosemary increased with all used concentrations of algae and yeast extracts compared with control. These increments reached their maximum with application of algae at 1 and 2 g/l and yeast extract at 10 and 20 g/l. In general, spraying yeast extract resulted in the highest average of growth, yield, and chemical constituents of rosemary, and the best parameters were obtained by spraying yeast at 20 g/l. It is recommended to spray rosemary with yeast extract at a dose of 20 g/l to obtain the best plant herbal yield, essential oil, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity.
Exogenous utilization of jasmonic acid and methyl jasmonate stimulates growth and biochemical composition of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) plant
Authors: El-Ziat Rasha A. , Soliman Dina M. , El-Sayed Iman M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) as an economic herb is used in traditional medicine, perfume, flavoring, and cosmetics. It is classified in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and commonly used as a landscape plant. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are the most common chemical components found in essential oils. Because of these compounds, it is used for antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities. Secondary metabolite compounds, that is, jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA), significantly influence secondary metabolism regulation by stimulating the accumulation of phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids.

Objective

The research aimed to estimate the effect of both JA and MeJA on growth parameters, chemical composition, particularly secondary metabolism, and the composition of volatile oils of L. angustifolia Mill plants.

Materials and methods

In the experiment, JA concentrations of 0, 1, 5, and 10 mM and MeJA concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mM were used as foliar spray applications on L. angustifolia. The investigation was performed as a randomized complete block design in three replicates. The parameters collected were different growth parameters, essential oil components using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, the number of glands and secretory trichome diameter by scanning electron microscope, as well as chemical constituents.

Results and conclusion

The results showed that growth parameters were increased gradually with the increasing of JA and MeJA concentrations. The effects of JA and MeJA at high concentrations were more effective on all the growth parameters, biochemical components, and the number of glands and diameter of secretory trichomes than other concentrations and control plants in both seasons. JA application significantly increased chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, and N and protein content of lavender plants. MeJA gave the highest values of total sugar, free amino acids, and phenols. Therefore, the results suggested that 10 mM of JA and 1.0 mM of MeJA significantly stimulate lavender plant growth and chemical compounds and volatile oil components, especially linalool and camphor, increasing its value and raising its quality in the perfume and cosmetics industries and various chemical industry applications.
Synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity, and molecular docking of novel maleimide–succinimide derivatives
Authors: Mutlaq Dakhil Z. , Al-Shawi Ali A.A. , Al-Asadi Rafid H.
Published: August 2024

Background and objective

A wide range of maleimide heterobifunctional reagents are used for the preparation of targeted therapeutics. Succinimide derivatives are important compounds found in a variety of natural products that exhibit remarkable biological and pharmaceutical activity. The creation of new maleimide–succinimide derivatives will increase the importance and medicinal applications of these groups.

Materials and methods

The reaction of bismaleimide (1–2) with phenylhydrazide and 4-methylbenzohydrazide resulted in the formation of N’-[1-(4-[2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl] phenyl)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-3-yl] benzohydrazide (3), N’-[1-(4-[2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl] phenyl)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-3-yl]-4-methylbenzohydrazide (4), N’-[1-(4-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-[1,1’-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-3-yl] benzohydrazide (5), and N’-[1-(4-(2,5-dioxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-[1,1’- biphenyl]-4-yl)-2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-3-yl]-4-methylbenzohydrazide (6). The interaction of potential compounds with AKT1 and CDK2 proteins was performed using molecular docking to target the hydrogen bond and amino acid residues.

Results

The new compounds were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,1H-NMR,13C-NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The MTT assay was used to test cell viability against breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The cytotoxicity results revealed that compounds 3 and 5 were more toxic than compounds 4 and 6. Molecular docking of compounds that interacted with AKT1 and CDK2 showed affinity energy of −16.112 and −21.342 kcal/mol for compound 3, while −22.398 and −19.940 kcal/mol for compound 5. The root-mean-square deviation values for CDK2 and AKT1 were 2.27 and 1.61 for compound 3, respectively, and 1.93 and 1.90 for compound 5.

Conclusion

Toxicity and molecular docking studies revealed that compounds 3 and 5 could be developed as anticancer agents against breast cancer, indicating that further research is warranted.
Evaluation of inflammatory markers in egyptian obese and nonobese adolescents
Authors: El-Shaheed Azza Abd , Fahmy Reham F. , Mahfouz Nermine N. , Elabd Mona A. , Sibaii Hiba , El-Zayat Salwa Refat
Published: August 2024

Background

Obesity causes an inflammation state that is related to co-morbidities such as hypertension and insulin resistance. Though, the underlying inflammatory events in obesity are still obscure particularly in pediatric age group.

Objective

To identify the initial stage of inflammation linked to this nutritional disorder.

Materials and methods

A case control observational study involved 45 cases of overweight/obese adolescents and 44 healthy peers of matching age and sex. Serum levels of Interleukin-10, Interleukin-18, and C − reactive protein were estimated. Leukocytes, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes counts were determined, and Neutrophil/ Lymphocyte Ratio was calculated.

Results and conclusion

C − reactive protein, Neutrophils, and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio were significantly higher in overweight/ obese adolescents (P = 0.000, P = 0.015, and P = 0.034, respectively). Interleukin-10 was non-significantly lower whereas IL-18 was non-significantly higher in overweight/ obese adolescents (P = 0.334, and P = 0.427, respectively). Obesity is accompanied by a low inflammatory state that exists since childhood. Therefore, timely interventions should be adopted to preclude the deleterious consequences in grown up adults.
Metabolic disorders associated with coronavirus disease-2019 in conjunction with different chronic diseases and the increased vulnerability to infection
Authors: Rizk Maha Z. , Aly Hanan F.
Published: August 2024

The severe acute respiratory-syndrome coronavirus 2 is a viral pathogen that is responsible for the coronavirus disease-2019. Since first being reported, severe acute respiratory-syndrome coronavirus 2 has infected millions of people and eventually caused millions of deaths worldwide, with these numbers rising daily during successive waves. So far, the risk factors associated with poor clinical outcomes (death or admission to an ICU) have been reported to be old age and several comorbidities associated with compromised immune system to help the patient fight the infection. The most common of these comorbidities are obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, dementia, and malignancies. These comorbidities, individually or in combination with age, were reported to be linked with poor prognoses. In the present review, vulnerability of patients with different chronic diseases to infection with coronavirus disease-2019 is discussed with different treatment strategies during coexistence of viral infection with any of these diseases. Also, biochemical markers (e.g., angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, cytokine storm, or inflammatory markers) and the underlying mechanisms associated with viral infection together with the different chronic diseases are described.
Multiple targets modulation of Bcl-2/CD1, caspase-3 and refinement of AKT/ERK signalling by sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma in rats; comprehensive outlook
Authors: Hamzawy Mohamed A. , Rahsed Laila A. , Mizar Sayed M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the commonly diagnosed cancer among the three top ranked cancer induced mortality in cancer patients worldwide. A tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib has been used as systemic therapy with a demonstrated survival benefit in HCC.

Objectives

The present work was conducted to investigate the multiple targets that may be involved in the action of sorafenib in treatment of HCC and development of drug resistance.

Materials and methods

Four groups of Swiss albino rats were assigned for 12 weeks treatment as the following: group (I) untreated control, group (II): rats received Diethyl Nitrosamine(DEN) (200 mg/kg, i.p)+Carbon Tetra Chloride (CCl4)(3 ml/kg, sc) every week for the first eight weeks, group (III): daily treatment with sorafenib (10 mg/kg, p.o.) for last 4 weeks, group (IV) sorafenib treatment after DEN + CCl4 treatment. Blood samples, and liver tissues were removed for collection to perform biochemical analysis (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), cyclin D1 (CD1), nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB), caspase-3, and gene expression of AKT, and ERK 1/2, as well as histological examinations.

Results and conclusion

Administration of diethyl nitrosamine and carbon tetra chloride showed severe changes in all measured parameters and histological photomicrographs. Daily treatment with sorafenib markedly decreased B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), cyclin D1 (CD1), nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) accompanied by improvement of active caspase-3. Sorafenib succeeded in restoring the gene expression of ERK 1/2 and AKT level and refinement of histological patterns in animals induced with DEN and CCL4. Sorafenib interrupts various cell communication pathways that control cancer progression, angiogenesis, and cell survival. Sorafenib regulates the AKT/ERK signaling pathway in HCC. study highlights the importance of investigating other therapeutic targets that may help combat sorafenib resistance in relation to different DNA repair mechanisms.
Protective efficiency of Eclipta prostrata on diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats using the urinary lipidomics approach
Authors: Hussein Noha S. , Helmy Azza S. , Sherif Naglaa M. , Ghanem Hassan Z. , El Gendy Abdel N. , Abdel-Hamid Abdel-Hamid Z.
Published: August 2024

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease in western countries and is characterized by excessive fat deposition in the liver. It affects 15–30% of the general population worldwide.

Objectives

This study aims to detect and evaluate a reproducible signature of lipid metabolome for early detection of NAFLD as well as protective efficiency of Eclipta prostrata based on targeted metabolomics analysis of urine.

Results and conclusion

A discrete divergence in levels of glycerol, myristic acid, cholesterol, 1,3-dipalmitin, and oleic acid was recorded in urine of rats bearing NAFLD in contrast to healthy ones. These metabolites were considered as diagnostic metabolic biomarkers for NAFLD. This study showed that these metabolites were less affected in rats given E. prostrata as a protective agent. It is concluded from this research that the lipidomic approach could be used for early diagnosis of NAFLD in urine as well as assessment of the stratification of protection by herbal medication.
Growth, yield and volatile oil of Pelargonium graveolens as affected by spraying of moringa leaves extract under different irrigation intervals
Authors: Elsayed Shaimaa I.M. , El-Sayed Samah M. , Mohamed Mona A. , Abdalla Aboelfetoh M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Essential oil of Pelargonium graveolens plant (Geraniaceae family) is one of the most significant essential oils produced in Egypt for the domestic market and abroad. Plant extracts have been demonstrated to promote plant development by increasing the efficiency with which nutrients are used and by reducing the impact of different biotic or abiotic stresses on plants. Water regime is one of the great important factors that affect plant growth, oil production and the availability and supply of soil moisture not only governed the rate and type of growth but also commanded the availability of plant nutrients.

Objective

The aim of this work was to choose the most suitable irrigation intervals with the best concentration of moringa leaf extract to obtain strong growth characteristics and a high oil yield and quality of Pelargonium graveolens under drip irrigation system.

Materials and methods

This study was carried out in the Experimental Research Station of National Research Centre with a factorial experiment in complete block design contains 9 treatments which are the interaction of three irrigation treatments (every 2 days, 3 days and every 4 days) with three levels of moringa leaf extracts (MLE) as foliar application (0, 0.6 and 0.9%) for two cuts during the two successive seasons of 2020 and 2021.

Results and conclusion

The plants were irrigated every 4 days and sprayed with MLE at concentration 0.9% illustrated positive effect on growth parameters, chemical composition, herb yield per plant (g) and per ha. (ton) as well as essential oil yield. Regarding the effect on essential oil composition the GC-MS analysis revealed that MLE treatment improved the volatile oil constituents and showed that citronellol, α-eudesmol and cis-geraniol are the main components for essential oil of Pelargonium graveolens herb for two cuts.
Exploring medication adherence and its determinants among hypertensive, diabetic, and hyperlipidemic patients in the OPD of a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Gandhi Kelina , Rathod Twinkle , Rangwala Jeet , Buddhadev Mohit , Jamsa Anas , Chakraborthy Gunosindhu
Published: August 2024

Background

Medication adherence is a major concern in clinical outcomes, especially in developing countries. Despite the work of several studies, nonadherence remains a universal problem and still needs to be explored. The lifelong therapy for chronic illnesses itself becomes a barrier to medication adherence.

Objective

To assess the prevalence of medication adherence and its barriers and facilitators among patients suffering from four noncommunicable diseases (HTN, T2DM, hyperlipidemia, and COPD).

Materials and methods

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Vadodara. A structured online survey questionnaire was framed with specific sections to capture information related to the patient’s adherence behaviorr. Before the sample collection, a questionnaire was pretested among 30 patients until saturation was obtained. A total of 400 individuals were recruited for the study after screening for the inclusion criteria.

Results and conclusion

Of the participants, 54.5% were males and 45.5% were females; out of the participants 41.75% had hypertension and 23.25% had diabetes mellitus. The participants with hyperlipidemia were too low to be statistically analyzed and hence they were the ones excluded. Overall, 60% of medication adherence and 40% of medication nonadherence were observed. A significant proportion of people were nonadherent, as a result of underlying factors that affected their adherence. This suggests the need for healthcare professionals and healthcare policymakers to work toward improving adherence rates among patients to achieve better clinical outcomes. If adherence rate is overlooked, the most effective treatment will also be a failure as adherence will remain a hindrance to the overall healthcare system.
Isolation, screening, and molecular identification of new lactic acid bacteria as potential probiotics
Authors: El-Sayed Ahmed F. , Abo-Sereih Nivien A. , El-Kawokgy Tahany M.
Published: August 2024

Background and objective

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are the most useful microorganisms to society, LAB are used in the production of many fermented food products that stimulate digestion and immunity. Therefore, the objective study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify new LAB members and determining their potential probiotic properties.

Materials and methods

This study was performed through isolation, selection, and identification of LAB strains morphologically, biochemically, and genetically. Then, to determine their probiotics traits, which include acid resistance, bile-salt tolerance, β-galactosidase activity, heat sensitivity, salinity, cholesterol reduction, and antioxidant activity.

Results and discussion

Eight LAB isolates were isolated and purified from milk and cheeses, out of eight isolates, K2 showed the highest resistance to acidic pH 2.0, where Log CFU/ml reduced from the initial count 8.79±0.17 at pH 7.0 to 4.57±0.10 at pH 2.0 with 51.99% survival rate. Also, the six bile-tolerant isolates (K1, K2, K3, K4, A11, and A5) were found tolerant to 1% bile-salt concentrations for 3 h with 92.50, 71.10, 64.35, 60.72, 71.11, and 72.21% rate of survival, respectively. Also, antibiotic susceptibility of A11 isolate was the most sensitive, but isolate A2 was the most resistant against antibiotics. Besides, heat sensitivity of selected LAB isolates (K1, K2, A11, and B1) were able to survive at temperatures 15, 37, and 45°C, but isolates (K3, K4, A5, and A2) did not grow at 45°C. Additionally, NaCl tolerance clearly revealed that both isolates (K2 and A11) were able to tolerate a wide range of NaCl (1–8% w/v), then the growth declined with the increase of salt (10%) concentration. The results showed that the cholesterol assimilation was reduced by 32.66 and 30.20% for A11 and K1 isolates, respectively. Also, K2 isolate showed the highest antioxidant activity (86.93%), and the best β-galactosidase producer (24.65 U/ml). Therefore, the 16S-rRNA sequencing was carried out to identify four promising LAB isolates that could be employed as a probiotic strain. Phylogenetic analysis showed that isolates belonged to three genera, including Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Enterococcus. Strains were Lactobacillus casei (A5) KU510332, Enterococcus faecium (A11) KU510333, Lactococcus lactis (K1) KU510334, and E. faecium (K2) KU510335.

Conclusion

Our results presenting four new isolates as promising potential probiotics for further application in processing probiotic products.
New molecule of nonribosomal peptide synthesis mechanism from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LMG100 probiotic bacteria
Authors: Elmasry Amr M.A. , Hussein Walaa , Abdelmoteleb Ali
Published: August 2024

Background

The huge increasing on gastrointestinal illness by spreading of resistance pathogens requires to develop alternative antimicrobial agents. Nonribosomal peptides are considered one of these alternatives which produced by wild spectrum of bacteria.

Objective

Detection of nonribosomal peptide synthesis from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LMG100 probiotic strain isolated from traditional lactic fermenting foods as alternative antimicrobial agent is important to human health and immune system.

Materials and methods

The identification of isolated strains using 16S rDNA technique was performed and followed by bioinformatics analysis tools; AntiSmash, PKS-NRPS analysis website, LSI based A-domain function predictor, NRPS predictor2, clustering using PhyML 3.0 to detect adenylation domain substrate specificity of NRP synthetases genes cluster of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LMG100. To prove the presence of the NRP synthetases genes cluster, degenerate primers protocol and three sets of primers covered the five gene cluster were designed based on the original reference strain L. plantarum WCFS1. Antibacterial activity of the isolated strain was detected against bacterial strains from coliform group of the enteric genera of Escherichia, Salmonella and Shigella which formed the ordinary gastrointestinal tract infection.

Results and conclusion

The isolated L. plantarum LMG100 strain showed 99.96% of identity to 16S rDNA partial gene sequence of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1 strain and bioinformatics analysis tools revealed the presence of NRPS gene cluster of five genes; two biosynthetic genes npsA and npsB from the five genes encoded for polypeptide of six amino acids, but six different predictors programs couldn’t assign the specificity of all adenylation domains except A4 serine and A5 glycine. The use of degenerate primers confirmed the presence of the NRPS in the isolated strain L. plantarum LMG100 compared to the standard strain WCFS1. Three sets of primers covering the five gene cluster were designed based on the original reference strain L. plantarum WCFS1 complete genome sequence confirmed the same organization of the putative gene cluster. In general, the approach of degenerated primers proved the presence of polypeptide NRPs gene presence in lactobacilli isolates. The new polypeptide NRP produced from the strain LMG100 showed maximum inhibition zones against G-ve short-rods bacterial strains from the coliform group of the enteric genera of Escherichia, Salmonella and Shigella which formed the ordinary gastrointestinal tract infection, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for G-ve bacterial strains was approximately of 125 mg.ml−1. The obtained results revealed that the selected probiotic Lactiplantibacillus strain is suitable candidate for use as bio-preservative starter or probiotic for human consumption in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Effect of light and methyl jasmonate on the accumulation of anticancer compounds in cell suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus
Authors: Ibrahim Mona M. , Danial Nancy , Matter Mohamed A. , Rady Mohamed R.
Published: August 2024

Background and objectives

Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae) is a medicinal plant that contains unique compounds used in cancer treatment. This investigation deals with enhancing the production of anticancer compounds (ajmalicine, vinblastine, and vincristine) in cell suspension cultures through elicitation by methyl jasmonate and light and dark treatments.

Materials and methods

For callus induction, leaf segments were cultured on solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different 2,4-D and kin supplementations. Actively growing leaf was used for initiation of cell suspension culture by transferring 1 g of tissues in 100 ml Erlenmeyer flasks containing 20 ml liquid MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 2.4-D+1.0 mg/l kin. Different concentrations of MeJA (100, 200 and 300 μM) were added to cell suspension culture. Cell tissues were harvested at 2 and 4 days after elicitation. For light and dark elicitation, cell suspension culture was performed in 250 ml conical flasks containing 50 ml of liquid medium and inoculated with 1 g fresh calli, subjected to 16 h photoperiod and complete darkness; then callus tissues were collected at 2 and 4 days after elicitation. Estimation of ajmalicine, vinblastine, and vincristine was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography in the elicited cultures compared with untreated calli.

Results and conclusion

Callus of C. roseus was produced from young leaves on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l of each 2,4-D and kin that recorded high callus initiation frequency (%). In cell suspension culture, viability of cells increased gradually with time until it reached their maximum at day 20 of culture, then declined until 30 day of culture. Adding methyl jasmonate (100 µM) showed higher level of ajmalicine after 2 days of culture and increased 19-fold than the control. The vinblastine content was decreased at 200 µM methyl jasmonate when cultures were treated for 2 days. With regard to vincristine accumulation in cell suspension, it was observed that there was no difference in the accumulation of vincristine. For light and dark exposure, it could be observed that cultures exposed to light condition gave the best results of ajmalicine and vincristine than cultures exposed to dark conditions, while the vinblastine content was better under dark at 2 or 4 days. In conclusion, the results suggest that methyl jasmonate efficiently enhances both of ajmalicine and vinblastine especially after 2 days, while for vincristine, there was no improvement. Regarding dark and light conditions, the yield of ajmalicine and vincristine was higher in light conditions, in contrast to vinblastine which is higher in dark than in light conditions in C. roseus suspension cultures. The results could be very effective for large-scale production for pharmaceutical industry.