bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cafeteria diet increased adiposity in comparison to high fat diet in young male rats
Authors: Buyukdere Yucel , Gulec Atila , Akyol Asli 
Published: April 2019

BackgroundDietary intervention studies in animal models of obesity are crucial to elucidate the mechanistic effects of specific nutrients and diets. Although several models of diet induced obesity have been examined in rodents to assess obesity, there are few studies that have researched influence of different high fat and/or westernized diets. The aim of this study was to compare a high fat diet and a cafeteria diet on obesity related biochemical and physiological parameters in young male rats.MethodsFive week old Wistar male rats were fed a control chow diet (C), butter-based high fat diet (HF) or cafeteria diet (CAF) for twelve weeks. In HF, 40% of energy came from fat and this ratio was 46% in CAF. CAF composed of highly energetic and palatable human foods along with chow diet. At the end of the feeding protocol all animals were culled using CO2asphyxia and cervical dislocation after an overnight fasting.ResultsTotal energy and fat intake of CAF was significantly higher than C and HF. CAF was more effective in inducing obesity, as demonstrated by increased weight gain, Lee index, fat depot weights and total body fat in comparison to C and HF. Despite increased adiposity in CAF, plasma glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR levels were similar between the groups. Plasma leptin and cholesterol levels were markedly higher in CAF than C and HF.DiscussionWe have demonstrated that there are differential effects of high fat diet and cafeteria diet upon obesity and obesity-related parameters, with CAF leading to a more pronounced adiposity in comparison to high fat diet in young male rats. Future studies should consider the varied outcomes of different diet induced obesity models and development of a standardized approach in similar research practices.
Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Anti-diabetic Effect of Mucuna puriens Extract
Authors: Njemuwa N. Nwaji , Dickson N. Uduagwu , Elizabeth A. Elekwa , Uchenna R. Mgbenka , Ogbonnaya C. Njoku 
Published: April 2019

Aims: To investigate the scientific basis for the anti-diabetic and antioxidant activity of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) leaf ethanolic extract using alloxan-induced diabetic rats, DPPH and ABTS assay.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria between October 2013 and May 2014.
Methodology: The polyphenol content was determined using Folin-Ciocaltu method and their linear relationship with antioxidant activity was evaluated using linear regression analysis. The antioxidant activity was determined using 1, 1-Diphenyl, 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and (2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical assay. The active ingredients in the ethanolic extract were isolated using HPLC method. Also the ant-diabetic activity was determined in vivo using alloxan-induced diabetic wister rats.
Results: Ethanol extract showed the highest phenolic content as well as highest antioxidant activity. A strong relationship was found between phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. The HPLC analysis indicates the presence of gallic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin and (+)-catechin. The ethanolic extract at the concentration of 400 mg/kg significantly (P<0.001) increased the intracellular antioxidant enzymes and reduced the elavated serum lipids and showed more active than the reference drug (metformin).
Conclusion: Based on the obtained result, the antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity demonstrated by Mucuna pruriens leaf extracts provide good evidence to support the traditional use of this plant in treatment of diabetics.
Prolonged Administration of Leaf Extract of Ocimum gratissimum Reduces RBC, PCV and Platelet Count but Increases Total WBC and Lymphocyte Counts in Rats
Authors: Aribo E. O. , Ofem O. E. , Moses M. E. 
Published: April 2019

Background: Ocimum gratissimum is an ethnopharmacological plant with numerous healing potentials. But there is paucity in scientific literature on its impact on the blood cells.
Aim and Objective: The present study was intended to evaluate the dose and time-dependent effect of aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum on some haematological in albino Wistar rats.
Methods: Twenty four rats were randomly assigned to four equal groups. Group 1 was control, groups 2, 3 and 4 were given 450 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1800 mg/kg respectively of the extract daily for 30 days. All rats had free access to water and rat chow.
Results: The result showed a significantly lower RBC count in groups 3 and 4 when compared with control (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). PCV was significantly lower in group 4 than control (p<0.05). Platelet count was significantly lower in group 4 than control (p<0.05) and group 2 (p<0.05). A significant increase in WBC count was observed in groups 2 and 3 when compared with control (p<0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). A significant reduction in neutrophil count was observed in groups 2, 3 and 4 compared with control (p<0.05; p< 0.05 and p<0.01 respectively). There were significant increases in lymphocyte counts in groups 2, 3 and 4 when compared with control (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.01 respectively). There were no significant changes in MCV, MCH and MCHC in the groups.
Conclusion: In conclusion, aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum causes reduction in RBC count, PCV, platelet count and neutrophil count but causes increases in total WBC count and lymphocyte count.
Chronic Oral Administration of Ocimum gratissimum Leaf Extract Induced Gastrointestinal Necrosis in Treated Albino Rats
Authors: Udoha M. U. , Okolie N. J. , Ijioma S. N. 
Published: April 2019

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effect on of Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract on the histology of the gastrointestinal tract in rats.
Study Design: Adult rats of both sexes were used for the work. The study was carried out at the Departments of Physiology and Histology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria between September 2014 and January, 2015.
Methodology: Fifty adult albino rats and 35 Mice were used for the study. The mice were used for acute toxicity study while the rats were divided into five groups of 10 rats each and were used for the histological study. Groups 2-5 were assigned different dose levels of OGLE in the order 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg respectively while group 1 was given only feed and water. Treatment was given by the oral route and lasted for 28 days.
Results: Phytochemical compounds identified in the extract include protein and carbohydrate which occurred in high amounts, tannins, flavonoids and glycosides in moderate quantities, saponins, steroids and phenolic compounds in low amounts while tannins and alkaloids were absent. An LD50 and ED50 values of 2075 mg/kg and 850 mg/kg body weight respectively were obtained for the extract with a Therapeutic Index value of 2.44. Chronic oral administration of the extract also caused various degrees of histological changes in the gastrointestinal tract in all treated animals with significant erosions of the mucosa and submucosa. The gastrointesinal necrosis produced by Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract after long term treatment was dose dependent with 100 mg/kg inducing only mild necrosis of the villi, 200 mg/kg, a higher necrosis of the villi, while 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg induced severe necrosis of both the villi and the intestinal mucosa.
Conclusion: Results obtained from this study therefore suggest that Ocimum gratissimum leaf extract is rich in bioactive compounds and may be well tolerated at low to moderate doses during short term treatment but may cause gastrointestinal erosions when used continuously over a long period.
Effect of Different Drying Techniques on the Nutrients Content of Fish Feedstuffs
Authors: Mamman T. , Ipinjolu J. K. , Shamsuddeen B. K. , Jibrin H. , Mohammed U. 
Published: April 2019

The study investigated the effect of different drying techniques (air dying, oven drying and sun drying) on the proximate composition of three fish feedstuffs; Horse radish (Moringa oleifera) leaves, water lily (Pistia stratiotes) leaves and soy bean (Glysine max) seed. The soy bean was boiled for 30 minutes at 100°C in water bath to reduce the effect of anti-nutritional factor (trypsin). Samples of each feedstuff were prepared and subjected to the three dying methods in triplicate treatments. Determination of proximate composition was carried out on the dried and fresh samples of each feedstuff. The results showed that moisture content of fresh M. oleifera leaves (65%) and P. stratiotes leaves (85.67%) were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than fresh G. max (2.67%). Higher crude protein content of 23.97% and 22.50% were recorded for oven-dried M. oleifera and P. stratiotes leaves and 39.21% for fresh G. max with no significant difference (P> 0.05) between the treatments. Crude lipid was significantly higher for sun dried samples of all the feedstuffs. Oven-dried samples of the three feedstuffs had the least ash, crude fiber and nitrogen free extract. The study concluded that oven drying at moderate temperature of 700C proved to be more effective in moisture removal and retention of crude protein. Furthermore, the study recommends a feeding trial to assess the potential of these feedstuffs subjected to various drying methods on growth and nutrients utilization of cultivable fish species.
Bounded Oscillation Theorem for Unstable-type Neutral Impulsive Differential Equations of the Second Order
Authors: Abasiekwere U. A. , Eteng E. , Isaac I. O. , Lipcsey Z. 
Published: April 2019

The oscillations theory of neutral impulsive differential equations is gradually occupying a central place among the theories of oscillations of impulsive differential equations. This could be due to the fact that neutral impulsive differential equations plays fundamental and significant roles in the present drive to further develop information technology. Indeed, neutral differential equations appear in networks containing lossless transmission lines (as in high-speed computers where the lossless transmission lines are used to interconnect switching circuits). In this paper, we study the behaviour of solutions of a certain class of second-order linear neutral differential equations with impulsive constant jumps. This type of equation in practice is always known to have an unbounded non-oscillatory solution. We, therefore, seek sufficient conditions for which all bounded solutions are oscillatory and provide an example to demonstrate the applicability of the abstract result.
Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Study on the Leaf Extract of Tapinanthus dodoneifolius (Van Teigh) Loranthaceae
Authors: Mohammed M. , Idris A. Y. , Gandu I. , Tanko U. M. , Muhammad A. , A.Adeiza A. 
Published: April 2019

Leaves of Tapinanthus dodoneifolius is used as traditional medicine for the treatment of menstrual pain, wound, gonorrhea, and control of diarrhea and dysentery which was extracted by cold maceration in methanol. The concentrated methanol extract was subsequently partitioned with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethylacetate and n-butanol. Agar well Diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial activities of the extracts against Staphylococcus aureaus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiela pneumonia, Salmmnella typhi, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, and Candida albican at different concentrations. Antimicrobial sensitivity test indicated that, the extract inhibited the growth of all microorganisms to varying degrees except Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida krusei respectively. The in vitro antimicrobial screening revealed that, the extracts exhibited diverse activities against different microbe’s concentrations ranging from 2.5mg/ml-5mg/ml. The plant extract was found to contain flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tannins and cardiac glycosides which may be responsible for its antimicrobial properties. The result justifies the traditional use of the plant leaf in the treatment of menstrual pain, sexual transmitted diseases, wounds and control of dysentery and diarrhea.
Identification through Culture and Molecular Methods of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter fetus in Surface Waters in Rasht
Authors: Roshanjo Keyvan , Jafari Nematallah Jonaidi , Asadpour Leila , Ranjbar Reza , Afshar Davoud , Farahani Abbas , Shahsafi Milad , Rahimi Arian 
Published: April 2019

Backgrounds: As zoonotic infectious agents, Campylobacter spp. are important factors causing gastroenteritis in humans. Surveys show that the three strains; Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter fetus play a major role in human infections. Identification of these infectious agents is valuable for sanitary control of disease transmission through water resources.
Objectives: The aim of this study was identification and molecular diagnosis of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter fetus in surface waters in Rasht.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 45 samples of surface water in Rasht collected according to water health guidelines. After culture and biochemical tests on collected samples, detection and identification of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter fetus was done using sequence-specific amplification by Multiplex PCR. The results were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software.
Results: Out of 45 samples tested, 6 were positive in culture, four of which were identified as Campylobacter jejuni after biochemical tests. Using Multiplex PCR, 8 samples were positive, from which 3 were Campylobacter jejuni, 1 Campylobacter coli and 4 were positive for both Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. All the samples did not yield C. fetus.
Conclusions: Multiplex PCR is regarded a diagnostic method with higher sensitivity and specificity than compared to methods for Campylobacter. The prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in surface waters in Rasht is considerable. Therefore, public health measures for the control of these organisms are recommended.
Stereoselective Synthesis of 1‐Arylpropan‐2‐amines from Allylbenzenes through a Wacker‐Tsuji Oxidation‐Biotransamination Sequential Process
Authors: González‐Martínez Daniel , Gotor Vicente , Gotor‐Fernández Vicente 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHerein, a sequential and selective chemoenzymatic approach is described involving the metal‐catalysed Wacker‐Tsuji oxidation of allylbenzenes followed by the amine transaminase‐catalysed biotransamination of the resulting 1‐arylpropan‐2‐ones. Thus, a series of nine optically active 1‐arylpropan‐2‐amines were obtained with good to very high conversions (74–92%) and excellent selectivities (>99% enantiomeric excess) in aqueous medium.The Wacker‐Tsuji reaction has been exhaustively optimised searching for compatible conditions with the biotransamination experiments, using palladium(II) complexes as catalysts and iron(III) salts as terminal oxidants in aqueous media. The compatibility of palladium/iron systems for the chemical oxidation with commercially available and made in house amine transaminases was analysed, finding ideal conditions for the development of a general and stereoselective cascade sequence. Depending on the selectivity displayed by selected amine transaminase, it was possible to produce both 1‐arylpropan‐2‐amines enantiomers under mild reaction conditions, compounds that present therapeutic properties or can be employed as synthetic intermediates of chiral drugs from the amphetamine family.magnified image
CH‐π Interactions Promote the Conversion of Hydroxypyruvate in a Class II Pyruvate Aldolase
Authors: Marsden Stefan R. , Mestrom Luuk , Bento Isabel , Hagedoorn Peter‐Leon , McMillan Duncan G. G. , Hanefeld Ulf 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe class II hydroxy ketoacid aldolase A5VH82 from Sphingomonas wittichii RW1 (SwHKA) accepts hydroxypyruvate as nucleophilic donor substrate, giving access to synthetically challenging 3,4‐dihydroxy‐α‐ketoacids. The crystal structure of holo‐SwHKA in complex with hydroxypyruvate revealed CH‐π interactions between the C−H bonds at C3 of hydroxypyruvate and a phenylalanine residue at position 210, which in this case occupies the position of a conserved leucine residue. Mutagenesis to tyrosine further increased the electron density of the interacting aromatic system and effected a rate enhancement by twofold. While the leucine variant efficiently catalyses the enolisation of hydroxypyruvate as the first step in the aldol reaction, the enol intermediate then becomes trapped in a disfavoured configuration that considerably hinders subsequent C−C bond formation. In SwHKA, micromolar concentrations of inorganic phosphate increase the catalytic rate constant of enolisation by two orders of magnitude. This rate enhancement was now shown to be functionally conserved across the structurally distinct (α/β)8 barrel and αββα sandwich folds of two pyruvate aldolases. Characterisation of the manganese (II) cofactor by electron paramagnetic resonance excluded ionic interactions between the metal centre and phosphate. Instead, histidine 44 was shown to be primarily responsible for the binding of phosphate in the micromolar range and the observed rate enhancement in SwHKA.magnified image
Iron‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Dihydronaphthalenones from Aromatic Oxime Esters
Authors: Zhang Youcan , Yin Zhiping , Wu Xiao‐Feng 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHerein, a convenient procedure on iron‐catalyzed radical‐mediated synthesis of dihydronaphthalenones from oxime esters has been developed. By using iron salt as a green and inexpensive catalyst, various α‐aryl oxime esters were transformed into the corresponding dihydronaphthalenones in moderate to good yields with high chemo‐selectivities. The reaction proceeds via 1,5‐hydrogen atom transfer and then intramolecular radical cyclization sequence.magnified image
TMEM70 deficiency: Novel mutation and hypercitrullinemia during metabolic decompensation
Authors: Staretz‐Chacham Orna , Wormser Ohad , Manor Esther , Birk Ohad S. , Ferreira Carlos R. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractRespiratory chain disorders comprise a heterogeneous group of diseases that are the result of mutations in nuclear or mitochondrial genes. TMEM70 encodes a nuclear protein involved in the assembly of respiratory chain complex V. Although mutations in various genes can result in isolated complex V deficiency; TMEM70 mutations represent the most common reported etiology. TMEM70 deficiency is known to cause a syndrome of neonatal mitochondrial encephalocardiomyopathy, accompanied by elevated lactate and hyperammonemia. Elevated citrulline has been reported previously in different inborn errors of metabolism, although uncommonly associated with TMEMT70 deficiency. We present a series of two siblings diagnosed with TMEM70 deficiency, and describe hypercitrullinemia during decompensation as a new finding in this condition. The cause of hyperammonemia in TMEM70 deficiency was previously assumed to be related to carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 deficiency, but our finding of hypercitrullinemia rules out this possibility. We thus propose a different etiology for the hyperammonemia seen in these patients.
Establishment of an EC50 database of pesticides using a Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence method
Authors: Efremova Aaron Snezana , Tosheska‐Trajkovska Katerina , Cekovska Svetlana , Aaron Jean‐Jacques 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAn EC50 database was established to assess the acute toxicity of 16 PESTANAL pesticide standards and of seven pesticide commercial formulations using a Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence method. Half maximal effective concentration (EC50) is defined as the concentration of pollutant (in this case, pesticide) destroying 50% of the bacteria population and causing 50% bioluminescence inhibition, after a specified exposure time. Linear curves of bioluminescence inhibition versus pesticide concentration and EC50 values were obtained for exposure times (t) of 5 or 15 min for these pesticides. The EC50 values ranged from 6.90 × 10−4 to 0.83 mg/ml (t = 5 min), and from 9.00 × 10−4 to 0.37 mg/ml (t = 15 min) for pesticide standards, plus from 0.0077 to 0.74 mg/ml (t = 5 min), and from 0.0076 and 0.57 mg/ml (t = 15 min) for pesticide commercial formulations. The EC50 database allowed classification of the pesticides under study into three categories according to their toxicity: very toxic, toxic and moderately toxic. These results demonstrated that the establishment of an EC50 database and of linear curves of bioluminescence inhibition versus the pesticide concentration resulted in very important and irreplaceable tools to estimate the global and individual toxicity of pesticides present in environmental samples.
Digital PCR improves the quantitation of DMR and the selection of CML candidates to TKIs discontinuation
Authors: Bernardi Simona , Malagola Michele , Zanaglio Camilla , Polverelli Nicola , Dereli Eke Elif , D’Adda Mariella , Farina Mirko , Bucelli Cristina , Scaffidi Luigi , Toffoletti Eleonora , Deambrogi Clara , Stagno Fabio , Bergamaschi Micaela , Franceschini Luca , Abruzzese Elisabetta , Divona Maria Domenica , Gobbi Marco , Di Raimondo Francesco , Gaidano Gianluca , Tiribelli Mario , Bonifacio Massimiliano , Cattaneo Chiara , Iurlo Alessandra , Russo Domenico 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTreatment‐free remission (TFR) by tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) discontinuation in patients with deep molecular response (DMR) is a paramount goal in the current chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) therapeutic strategy. The best DMR level by real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR) for TKI discontinuation is still a matter of debate. To compare the accuracy of digital PCR (dPCR) and RT‐qPCR for BCR‐ABL1 transcript levels detection, 142 CML patients were monitored for a median time of 24 months. Digital PCR detected BCR‐ABL1 transcripts in the RT‐qPCR undetectable cases. The dPCR analysis of the samples, grouped by the MR classes, revealed a significant difference between MR4.0 and MR4.5 (P = 0.0104) or MR5.0 (P = 0.0032). The clinical and hematological characteristics of the patients grouped according to DMR classes (MR4.0 vs MR4.5‐5.0) were superimposable. Conversely, patients with dPCR values <0.468 BCR‐ABL1 copies/µL (as we previously described) showed a longer DMR duration (P = 0.0220) and mainly belonged to MR4.5‐5.0 (P = 0.0442) classes compared to patients with higher dPCR values. Among the 142 patients, 111 (78%) discontinued the TKI treatment; among the 111 patients, 24 (22%) lost the MR3.0 or MR4.0. RT‐qPCR was not able to discriminate patients with higher risk of MR loss after discontinuation (P = 0.8100). On the contrary, according to dPCR, 12/25 (48%) patients with BCR‐ABL1 values ≥0.468 and 12/86 (14%) patients with BCR‐ABL1 values <0.468 lost DMR in this cohort, respectively (P = 0.0003). Treatment‐free remission of patients who discontinued TKI with a dPCR <0.468 was significantly higher compared to patients with dPCR ≥ 0.468 (TFR at 2 years 83% vs 52% P = 0.0017, respectively). In conclusion, dPCR resulted in an improved recognition of stable DMR and of candidates to TKI discontinuation.