Effects of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) and rooting media on rooting and survival of air layered wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) CV Jambu Madu / Efeitos do Ácido Indol-3-Butírico (AIB) e meio de enraizamento no enraizamento e sobrevivência de maçã de cera em camada de ar (Syzygium samarangense) CV Jambu Madu

The wax apple or jambu madu, is a non-climacteric tropical fruit from Myrtaceae family and widely cultivated in South East Asia. The limited availability of good quality seedlings of wax apple is the main problem to development of flourish it's market share in the current fruit industry. Therefore, in order to produce good quality planting materials, a study aimed at optimizing propagation and adventitious rooting technique and survivability of wax apple air layer was conducted. In this study, four different levels of Indole-3-Butyric Acid (IBA) concentration (0, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg L-1) and three rooting media (sphagnum moss, vermicompost and garden soil) were applied after removal of bark (phloem) on the shoot to determine the effect on rooting and survivability of the wax apple air layer under field conditions. The results showed that the wax apple shoots treated with 2000 mg L-1 IBA produced the significantly higher number of roots, increased length of root, diameter of branch, length of branch, number of leaf and leaf area of air layers. In addition, the highest chlorophyll content and stomatal aperture were recorded in 2000 mg L-1 IBA treatment compared to other treatments including control. Vermicompost medium was better than garden soil and sphagnum moss in respect of rooting and survivability of air layers. The results showed that the combination of 2000 mg L-1 IBA and vermicompost as rooting media give the best combination to root initiation, root number, root length and survival rate (100%) of wax apple air layers. From this study, it can be concluded that 2000 mg L-1 IBA and vermicompost treatment enhance the root initiation, early establishment and survivability of wax apple air layered under field conditions.

A maçã de cera, ou jambu madu, é uma fruta tropical não climatérica da família Myrtaceae e amplamente cultivada no Sudeste Asiático. A disponibilidade limitada de mudas de macieira de boa qualidade é o principal problema para o desenvolvimento de sua participação de mercado na fruticultura atual. Portanto, com o objetivo de produzir materiais de plantio de boa qualidade, foi realizado um estudo visando otimizar a técnica de propagação e enraizamento adventício e a sobrevivência da camada aérea da cera de macieira. Neste estudo, quatro diferentes níveis de concentração de ácido indol-3-butírico (AIB) (0, 1000, 1500 e 2000 mg L-1) e três meios de enraizamento (musgo esfagno, vermicomposto e solo de jardim) foram aplicados após a remoção da casca (floema) na parte aérea para determinar o efeito no enraizamento e capacidade de sobrevivência da camada de ar da macieira em condições de campo. Os resultados mostraram que os brotos de macieira tratados com 2000 mg L-1 de AIB produziram significativamente maior número de raízes, maior comprimento de raiz, diâmetro de galho, comprimento de galho, número de folhas e área foliar das camadas aéreas. Além disso, o maior teor de clorofila e abertura estomática foram registrados no tratamento 2000 mg L-1 IBA em comparação com outros tratamentos, incluindo o controle. O meio de vermicomposto foi melhor do que o solo de jardim e o musgo esfagno em relação ao enraizamento e capacidade de sobrevivência das camadas aéreas. Os resultados mostraram que a combinação de 2000 mg L-1 de AIB e vermicomposto como meio de enraizamento proporciona a melhor combinação para iniciação radicular, número de raízes, comprimento radicular e taxa de sobrevivência (100%) das camadas aéreas de macieira. A partir deste estudo, pode-se concluir que 2.000 mg L-1 de AIB e tratamento com vermicomposto melhoram a iniciação radicular, o estabelecimento precoce e a capacidade de sobrevivência de macieiras em camadas de ar em condições de campo.

Evaluating Southeast Asian Military Camouflage Designs Using Camouflage Similarity Index (CSI)

@#Military camouflage plays a critical survivability component of the front-line soldiers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the existing military camouflage effectiveness across Southeast Asian countries using Camouflage Similarity Index (CSI). CSI is a color-based image algorithm based on CIELAB color space. The value ranges from 0 to 1 and the best value 0 is achieved if the selected camouflage perfectly blends with the selected background. 10 existing military camouflage designs across Southeast Asian countries were evaluated under 7 different locations (20x50 pixels) from 1 selected woodland background. Each location had different L*, a*, and b* values. Post-hoc Tukey test showed that there was no significant difference between camouflage, indicating that the existing Southeast Asian Military camouflage had equal effectiveness of concealment on the selected woodland background. This study represents the first attempt to investigate the effectiveness of Southeast Asian military camouflages. The results of this study could be very beneficial for Southeast Asian military organizations, academicians, and camouflage manufacturer in terms of finding the enhanced direction from the current design which subsequently enhances the survivability of the front-line soldiers.

Effect of C3G overexpression on proliferation and apoptosis of high glucose-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes / 重庆医学

Objective To observe the effects of Crk-SH3 domain guanine exchange factor(C3G)overexpression on the pro-liferation and apoptosis of high glucose-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes.Methods H9C2 cardiomyocytes were transiently transfected with pCXN2-Flag(empty plasmid)and pCXN2-Flag-hC3G(human C3G mRNA)plasmids,then conducted high glucose(HG)in-tervention.The experiment was divided into the blank group,empty vector group,C3G overexpression group,blank + HG group, empty vector + HG group and C3G overexpression+ HG group.The C3G protein expressions,apoptosis and proliferation rate were respectively detected in each H9C2 cardiomyocytes groups.Results The proliferation rate in the blank+ HG group and empty vec-tor+ HG group were significantly decreased compared with the blank group and empty vector group,while the apoptosis rate was significantly increased.Compared with blank group and empty vector group,blank + HG and empty vector + HG group,the C3G protein expression and proliferation rate in the C3G overexpression group and C3G overexpression+ HG group were increased sig-nificantly,while the apoptosis rate was decreased significantly.Conclusion High glucose inhibits H9C2 myocardial cell proliferation and promots its apoptosis;furthermore,C3G overexpression can reversed the decrease of high glucose-induced H9C2 cardiomyocyte prolifer-ation rate and apoptosis increase.C3G overexpression can promote the survivability of high glucose-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes.

Effect of pre-existing Schistosoma haematobium infection on Plasmodium berghei multiplications in imprinting control region mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of pre-existing Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infection on malaria disease severity. Methods: The study involved the use of twenty-five imprinting control region mice, fifteen of which were initially infected with S. haematobium. Five of the remaining ten schisto-uninfected mice together with five schisto-infected mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) after four weeks (acute stage) of schistosoma infection. The remaining five schisto-uninfected mice together with five schisto-infected mice were also infected with P. berghei after seven weeks (chronic stage) of schistosoma infection. The last five schisto-infected mice were used as control group. They were then monitored for changes in P. berghei parasitaemia on Days 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 post-infection. Records on their survivability were also taken. Results: The co-infected mice had significantly higher malaria parasitaemia, compared with the mono-infected mice during acute S. haematobium infection. In contrast, the coinfected mice had significantly lower malaria parasitaemia during chronic S. haematobium infection and a higher survival rate. Conclusions: Co-infection of mice with P. berghei during acute S. haematobium infection resulted in rapid P. berghei development and increased malaria parasitaemia. However, the co-infection resulted in slower P. berghei development and decreased malaria parasitaemia with enhanced survivability of the mice during chronic S. haematobium infection. Therefore, pre-existing chronic S. haematobium infection may provide some protection to the host by reducing parasitaemia.

Improvised microinjection technique for mosquito vectors.

Background & objectives: Bio-manipulation technique is of primary importance during the development of transgenic mosquitoes. The study describes the variable factors that influence the viability of medically important mosquito vectors during microinjection. Methods: Three mosquito vectors belonging to the genus Aedes, Anopheles and Culex were microinjected at different developmental stages of their life cycle viz., egg, larvae, pupae and adult. Results: The improvisations revealed an increased survivability of biomanipulated mosquitoes during the embryonic and adult microinjection. The study of injecting larvae and pupae resulted in poor survivability. Interpretation & conclusions: The microinjection protocol was successfully tested on three important mosquito vectors. The critical period after biomanipulation which contributes heavily for the survivability factor was evaluated. The results provide a common protocol for biomanipulation of three mosquito vectors with enhanced survivability.

Comparación de los hallazgos clínicos y de supervivencia entre pacientes VIH positivos y VIH negativos con criptococosis meníngea en un hospital de tercer nivel / Comparison of Clinical Findings and Survival Among HIV Positive Patients and HIV-Negative with Cryptococcal Meningitis in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introducción: en Colombia ha sido documentada la incidencia incrementada de la criptococosis, al igual que una alta prevalencia de criptococosis por C. gattii en Cúcuta. Objetivo: hacer un análisis de los pacientes con criptococosis meníngea atendidos en un hospital de tercer nivel de atención en Cúcuta, Colombia, estableciendo diferencias según su estado de portador del VIH. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de revisión de historias clínicas en donde se evaluaron las características clínicas y los resultados de los pacientes con diagnóstico de criptococosis meníngea durante el periodo de estudio de 15 años (1996-2010). Resultados: se analizaron 90 casos, 63 (70%) VIH positivos y 27 (30%) VIH negativos. La mayoría de los pacientes VIH positivos fueron adultos jóvenes (81% vs 25.9% de los pacientes VIH negativos, p=<0.001). Hubo una alta prevalencia de niños entre los pacientes VIH negativos (29.6 vs 0%, p= <0.001). La relación hombre: mujer fue mayor en los pacientes VIH positivos (3.8 vs 2.4; p= 0.001). No se encontró factor de riesgo en 88.9% de los pacientes VIH negativos. Entre los pacientes VIH positivos la mayoría (76.2%) no recibía terapia antirretroviral, muy pocos (7.9%) tomaban profilaxis con fuconazol y 68.8% tenía <100 células CD4+. La hipertensión intracraneana sin hidrocefalia (83.3 vs 48.0%, p=0.009), los cambios visuales (48.1 vs 20.6%, p=0.02) y la criptococosis extraneural (22.2 vs 6.4%, p= 0.06) fueron más frecuentes en los pacientes VIH negativos. Los pacientes VIH negativos tuvieron mayor número de leucocitos (124.2/ml vs 43.0/ml, p=0.002) y de proteínas (113.6 vs 89.7 mg/dL, p<0.001) en el LCR. C. neoformans var. grubii se aisló con mayor frecuencia en los pacientes VIH positivos (100 vs 40%, p<0.001) y C. gattii predominó en los VIH negativos (60% vs 0%, p<0.001). La TAC de cráneo fue más frecuentemente anormal en los pacientes VIH positivos (73.3 vs 22.7%, p<0.001). La mayoría de los pacientes en ambos grupos recibieron anfotericina B como terapia primaria (96.8% de los VIH positivos vs 85.2% de los VIH negativos). La letalidad hospitalaria fue mayor en los pacientes VIH positivos (49.2 vs 16.0%, p=0.004). Fueron factores de mal pronóstico: la infección por el VIH, la alteración del estado de conciencia, la falta de terapia antirretroviral en los pacientes VIH positivos, las convulsiones y la baja celularidad en el LCR. Las secuelas neurológicas fueron frecuentes en ambos grupos de pacientes (40.6% vs 32.0%) sin existir diferencia significativa. La probabilidad de supervivencia fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes VIH negativos (82% vs 46%, p=0.0066). Conclusiones: la criptococosis tiene una alta morbilidad y mortalidad, especialmente en los pacientes VIH positivos. Es muy alta la prevalencia de criptococosis por C. gattii y de niños en la población VIH negativa. (Acta Med Colomb 2012; 37: 49-61).

Introduction: an increased incidence of cryptococcosis has been documented in Colombia, as well as a high prevalence of Cryptococcus gattii in Cucuta. Objective: to analyze patients with cryptococcal meningitis treated at a tertiary care hospital in Cucuta, Colombia, according to the HIV carrier status. Materials and methods: we performed a retrospective review of medical records in which we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis during the study period of 15 years (1996-2010). Results: we analyzed 90 cases, 63 (70%) HIV positive and 27 (30%) HIV negative. Most HIV-positive patients were young adults (81.0% versus 25.9% of HIV negative patients, p = <0.001). There was a high prevalence of children among HIV-negative patients (29.6 versus 0%, p = <0.001). The male: female ratio was higher in HIV positive patients (3.8 versus 2.4, p = 0.001). No risk factor was found in 88.9% of HIV negative patients. Among the HIV-positive patients, mos of them (76.2%) were not receiving antiretroviral therapy, very few (7.9%) were taking prophylaxis with fuconazole and 68.8% had <100 CD4 + cells. Intracranial hypertension without hydrocephalus (83.3 versus 48.0%, p = 0.009), visual changes (48.1 versus 20.6%, p = 0.02) and extraneural cryptococcosis (22.2 versus 6, 4%, p = 0.06) were more frequent in HIV-negative patients. HIV-negative patients had higher numbers of leukocytes (124.2 /ml versus 43.0 /ml, p = 0.002) and protein (113.6 versus 89.7 mg/dL, p <0.001) in the CSF. C. neoformans var. grubii was isolated more frequently in HIV-positive patients (100 versus 40%, p <0.001) and C. gattii was predominant in HIV-negative (60% versus 0%, p <0.001). CT skull was more frequently abnormal in HIV-positive patients (73.3 versus 22.7%, p <0.001). Most patients in both groups received amphotericin B as primary therapy (96.8% of HIV positive versus 85.2% of HIV negative). The hospital mortality was higher in HIV positive patients (49.2 versus 16.0%, p = 0.004). HIV infection, altered state of consciousness, lack of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients, seizures and low CSF cellularity were factors of poor prognosis. Neurological sequelae were common in both groups of patients (40.6% vs 32.0%) without significant difference. The probability of survival was significantly higher in HIV-negative patients (82% vs 46%, p = 0.0066). (Acta Med Colomb 2012; 37: 49-61) Conclusions: cryptococcosis has a high morbidity and mortality, especially in HIV positive patients. The prevalence of Cryptococcus gattii in the HIV negative population and in children is very high.

Survivability of Acanthamoeba Strains Isolated from Clinical and Environmental Specimens During Axenization / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

Acanthamoeba is a free living protozoa that can cause keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Physiological characteristics of this amoeba are found to have a medical importance in which it can be related to the pathogenicity potential of the organism. This study was carried out to investigate the physiological characteristics of survivability during axenization. Six Acanthamoeba strains from three clinical isolates (HSB 1, HKL 48 and HKL 95) and three environmental isolates (PHS 2, PHS 11 and PHS 15) were used in this study. Axenization test was done by treating cysts with hydrochloric acid (3%) and Page saline containing Gentamicin (100 μg/ml). Cysts were then cultured into PYG enrich media, incubated at 30oC and the presence and proliferation of trophozoites of Acanthamoeba were observed. This study showed that PHS 15, HSB 1, HKL 48 and HKL 95 could be axenized but they have poor proliferation rate in PYG enrich media. The result showed that the difference between both clinical and environmental isolates was observed in two strains; PHS 2 and PHS 11. This indicates that there is a possibility that the physiological traits of strains from both isolates are the same and strains from the environment are able to show the pathogenic potential and capable of causing infection to human.

Effect of Cytochalasin B on Survivability and in Vitro Development of Mouse Oocyte Frozen by Vitrification / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CCB treatment on the survivability and in vitro development of mouse oocyte frozen by vitrification. METHODS: Mouse oocytes retrieved from cycle stimulated by PMSG and hCG were treated by CCB and then exposed to EFS-30. These oocytes were placed onto an EM grid and submerged immediately in liquid nitrogen. Thawing of the oocytes on EM grid was carried out at room temperature for 5 seconds, then the EM grid was placed into 0.75 M sucrose at 37degrees C for 3 minutes. This was followed by 0.5 M and 0.25 M sucrose for 3 minutes, each. We compared the survivability, cleavage and developmental rate of mouse frozen by vitrification between CCB treated and non-treated groups. Chi-square was used to determine statistical significance. statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. RESULTS: Survivability (79.3%) and developmental rate into blastocyst (52.3%) of mouse oocyte were markedly decreased after vitrification. There were no significant differences between CCB treated and non- treated groups regarding survivability of oocyte frozen by vitrification (80.3% vs 78.5%). The developmental rate into 2-cell in CCB treated group was significantly higher than that in non-treated group (69.7% vs 61.9%, p<0.05). The developmental rate into blastocyst in CCB treated group was higher than that in non-treated group (54.9% vs 51.5%), but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Survivability of mouse oocyte could not be affected by CCB treatment and developmental rate into 2-cell was improved in CCB treated group. It is suggested that CCB treatment prior vitrification improve stability of cytoskeleton and then improve fertilization and early stage embryo development.