Genome sequence of Colletotrichum karsti isolated from rose leaves exhibiting anthracnose symptoms in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

We present the genome sequence of Colletotrichum karsti isolated from rose leaves exhibiting anthracnose symptoms. The genome was assembled to 53.2 Mbp organized into 753 scaffolds having an N50 of 582,313 kbp and a GC content of 52.5%. The genome had an estimated 99.4% of the core Ascomycota genes.

Oxidative Stress-induced Hormonal Disruption in Male Reproduction.

Research into the impacts of oxidative stress (OS), and hormonal balance on reproductive potential has increased over the last 40 years possibly due to rising male infertility. Decreased antioxidant levels and increased OS in tissues result from hormonal imbalance, which in turn leads to male infertility. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in seminal plasma has been linked to many lifestyle factors such as alcohol and tobacco use, toxicant exposure, obesity, varicocele, stress, and aging. This article provides an overview of the crosslink between OS and gonadal hormone disruption, as well as a potential mode of action in male infertility. Disrupting the equilibrium between ROS generation and the antioxidant defense mechanism in the male reproductive system may affect key hormonal regulators of male reproductive activities. Unchecked ROS production may cause direct injury on reproductive tissues or could disrupt normal regulatory mechanisms of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and its interaction with other endocrine axes, both of which have negative effects on male reproductive health and can lead to male infertility.

Correlation of Morphological Appearance of Peritoneal Lesions at Laparotomy and Disease at Pathological Assessment in Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery for Peritoneal Malignancy: Results of Phase I of the PRECINCT Study in 707 Patients.

BACKGROUND: The PRECINCT (Pattern of peritoneal dissemination and REsponse to systemic Chemotherapy IN Common and uncommon peritoneal Tumors) is a prospective, multicenter, observational study. This report from phase I of PRECINCT outlines variations in recording the surgical peritoneal cancer index (sPCI) at experienced peritoneal malignancy centers and the incidence of pathologically confirmed disease in morphologically different peritoneal lesions (PL). METHODS: The sPCI was recorded in a prespecified format that included the morphological appearance of PL. Six prespecified morphological terms were provided. The surgical and pathological findings were compared. RESULTS: From September 2020 to December 2021, 707 patients were enrolled at 10 centers. The morphological details are routinely recorded at two centers, structure bearing the largest nodule, and exact size of the largest tumor deposit in each region at four centers each. The most common morphological terms used were normal peritoneum in 3091 (45.3%), tumor nodules in 2607 (38.2%) and confluent disease in 786 (11.5%) regions. The incidence of pathologically confirmed disease was significantly higher in 'tumor nodules' with a lesion score of 2/3 compared with a lesion score of 1 (63.1% vs. 31.5%; p < 0.001). In patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the incidence of pathologically confirmed disease did not differ significantly from those undergoing upfront surgery [751 (47.7%) and 532 (51.4%) respectively; p = 0.069]. CONCLUSIONS: The sPCI was recorded with heterogeneity at different centers. The incidence of pathologically confirmed disease was 49.2% in 'tumor nodules'. Frozen section could be used more liberally for these lesions to aid clinical decisions. A large-scale study involving pictorial depiction of different morphological appearances and correlation with pathological findings is indicated.

Reporting the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of selected spondias mombin flavonoids through network pharmacology and molecular dynamics simulations.

Neuroinflammation plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, with a complex interplay between immune responses and brain activity. Understanding this interaction is crucial for identifying therapeutic targets and developing effective treatments. This study aimed to explore the neuroprotective properties of flavonoid compounds from Spondias mombin via the modulation of neuroinflammatory pathway using a comprehensive in-silico approach, including network pharmacology, molecular docking, and dynamic simulations. Active flavonoid ingredients from S. mombin were identified, and their potential protein targets were predicted through Network Pharmacology. Molecular docking was conducted to determine the binding affinities of these compounds against targets obtained from network pharmacology, prioritizing docking scores ≥ - 8.0 kcal/mol. Molecular dynamic simulations (MDS) assessed the stability and interaction profiles of these ligand-protein complexes. The docking study highlighted ≥ - 8.0 kcal/mol for the ligands (catechin and epicatechin) against FYN kinase as a significant target. However, these compounds failed the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability test. MDS confirmed the stability of catechin and the reference ligand at the FYN kinase active site, with notable interactions involving hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic contacts, and water bridges. GLU54 emerged as a key residue in the catechin-FYN complex stability due to its prolonged hydrogen bond interaction. The findings underscore the potential of S. mombin flavonoids as therapeutic agents against neuroinflammation, though optimization and nanotechnology-based delivery methods are suggested to enhance drug efficacy and overcome BBB limitations.

Stock Inhalers: A Qualitative Data Analysis of Illinois Health Policy Trials and Triumphs.

BACKGROUND: Asthma reliever medication access is critical, especially in schools. Policies that "stock" reliever inhalers in schools provide failsafe medication access. This research aims to understand barriers and facilitators to Illinois stock inhaler policy implementation. METHODS: We conducted 18 semi-structured interviews in 2021-2022 with key school-based and non-school-based partners (school administrators, nurses, governmental agencies, and advocacy leaders). Through Atlas.ti, code frequencies compared (Fisher's exact test), and a thematic analysis performed. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: facilitators, barriers, program rationale, and process considerations. The common facilitators were "Finding a provider," having a "Champion," and "Funding". Barriers included "Not enough school nurses," "Pharmacy refusal to fill prescriptions," and "Feeling overwhelmed." All were supportive of the rationale for stock inhalers. Non-school-based informants (p < .01) were more likely to mention medication donations, while school staff reported having enough nurses as a facilitator (p < .01). School staff reported concerns about children with asthma not having their medication significantly more than other partners (p = .02). IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY: Our analysis revealed that school partners recognize the value of stock inhalers. Barrier mitigation to support the funding, prescription access and processing, and training are essential to success of stock inhaler programming. Multilevel collaborative efforts through coalitions could be a potential solution.

Exploring alternative fuel solutions: lemon grass oil biodiesel blend with dibutyl ether additive for VCR diesel engines - an experimental analysis.

There has been an intense surge in interest in the search for alternative sources of petroleum fuels in the modern world as a result of the inflation of fuel prices and the historic supply gap. When compared to petroleum fuels, biodiesel is becoming an increasingly valuable option due to the fact that it produces less emissions and provides the almost same amount of energy. In point of fact, the prime aim of this work is to explore the possibility of utilizing biodiesel derived from lemongrass oil and including dibutyl ether as an additive for the test diesel engine operating on varied compression ratios. The findings showed that the best operating settings are a 17.5 compression ratio with a blend of 30% biodiesel and 70% diesel fuel. At greater loads, brake thermal efficiency is lower than that of diesel engines. Lower loads result in lower specific fuel usage. Mechanical efficiency at higher loads is highest in the B30 blend, but emission metrics such as CO, CO2, HC, and NOx were reduced with the inclusion of an additive, though HC rose with higher loads of lemongrass oil biodiesel blends. When compared to the B30 biodiesel blend with various composition additives, the B30 + 4% additive has the highest efficiency at the fourth load in terms of both brake power and mechanical efficiency.

Design and Optimization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Targeting Epinephrine Molecule: A Theoretical Approach.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a growing highlight in polymer chemistry. They are chemically and thermally stable, may be used in a variety of environments, and fulfill a wide range of applications. Computer-aided studies of MIPs often involve the use of computational techniques to design, analyze, and optimize the production of MIPs. Limited information is available on the computational study of interactions between the epinephrine (EPI) MIP and its target molecule. A rational design for EPI-MIP preparation was performed in this study. First, density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation were used for the screening of functional monomers suitable for the design of MIPs of EPI in the presence of a crosslinker and a solvent environment. Among the tested functional monomers, acrylic acid (AA) was the most appropriate monomer for EPI-MIP formulation. The trends observed for five out of six DFT functionals assessed confirmed AA as the suitable monomer. The theoretical optimal molar ratio was 1:4 EPI:AA in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and acetonitrile. The effect of temperature was analyzed at this ratio of EPI:AA on mean square displacement, X-ray diffraction, density distribution, specific volume, radius of gyration, and equilibrium energies. The stability observed for all these parameters is much better, ranging from 338 to 353 K. This temperature may determine the processing and operating temperature range of EPI-MIP development using AA as a functional monomer. For cost-effectiveness and to reduce time used to prepare MIPs in the laboratory, these results could serve as a useful template for designing and developing EPI-MIPs.

Ultrafast Sintered Composite Cathode Incorporating a Negative Thermal Expansion Material for High-Performance Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells.

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) offer a promising, clean, and efficient energy conversion solution. However, thermal mismatch between cathodes and electrolytes remains a critical obstacle, leading to interfacial damage such as cracking and delamination. Incorporating negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials into the cathode can mitigate this issue. The challenge lies in integrating NTE materials without compromising electrochemical performance or causing unwanted reactions during sintering. This study introduces a novel BaFe0.9Zr0.1O3-δ (BFZ)-NdMnO3-δ composite cathode fabricated using an ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS) process. This approach mitigates thermal expansion while boosting the cathode's catalytic activity compared to a single-phase BFZ cathode. The resulting fuel cell achieves a high peak power density of ∼550 mW cm-2 at 600 °C and demonstrates excellent stability during a 100 h test at 550 °C. These findings highlight the potential of UHS for developing high-performance, thermally compatible cathode materials that advance the field of PCFCs.

The Role of Vitamin C on ATPases Activities in Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat Striatum and Cerebellum.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a silent excitotoxin used as a flavour enhancer but exerts serious health hazards to consumers. MSG plays a role in neuronal function as the dominant excitatory neurotransmitter. It is transferred into the blood and ultimately increases brain glutamate levels, causing functional disruptions notably via oxidative stress. The study evaluated the toxic effect of high consumption of MSG and the modulatory role of vitamin C on ATPase activities in the striatum and cerebellum of male Wistar rats for five weeks. Rats were grouped into four (A-D): group A was fed with rat's show only; Group B was fed with diet containing 15% MSG; Group C was treated with vitamin C (200 mg/kg b.wgt orally in 0.9% saline solution) only for 3 weeks; and group D rats were fed with MSG and vitamin C. The findings show that MSG does not affect body and cerebellum weights but increases striatal weight. MSG increases the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and significantly decreases catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and glutathione (GSH) levels. MSG significantly impaired striatal and cerebellar ATPases activities (Na+/K+-, Ca2+-, Mg2+- and total ATPases). Vitamin C treatment abolishes MSG-induced oxidative stress and improves ATPase activities. The findings show that vitamin C has beneficial effects in improving the functions of membrane-bound ATPases against MSG toxicity in rat's striatum and cerebellum.

Cancer-associated DNA hypermethylation of Polycomb targets requires DNMT3A dual recognition of histone H2AK119 ubiquitination and the nucleosome acidic patch.

During tumor development, promoter CpG islands that are normally silenced by Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) become DNA-hypermethylated. The molecular mechanism by which de novo DNA methyltransferase(s) [DNMT(s)] catalyze CpG methylation at PRC-regulated regions remains unclear. Here, we report a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the DNMT3A long isoform (DNMT3A1) amino-terminal region in complex with a nucleosome carrying PRC1-mediated histone H2A lysine-119 monoubiquitination (H2AK119Ub). We identify regions within the DNMT3A1 amino terminus that bind H2AK119Ub and the nucleosome acidic patch. This bidentate interaction is required for effective DNMT3A1 engagement with H2AK119Ub-modified chromatin in cells. Further, aberrant redistribution of DNMT3A1 to Polycomb target genes recapitulates the cancer-associated DNA hypermethylation signature and inhibits their transcriptional activation during cell differentiation. This effect is rescued by disruption of the DNMT3A1-acidic patch interaction. Together, our analyses reveal a binding interface critical for mediating promoter CpG island DNA hypermethylation, a major molecular hallmark of cancer.

16S rRNA gene sequencing data of plant growth-promoting jute-associated endophytic and rhizobacteria from coastal-environment of Ondo State, Nigeria.

This study provides sequence datasets of endophytic and rhizobacteria of jute using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The plant samples were first surface sterilized and DNA of the bacteria from soil and jute roots and stem was extracted using Quick-DNA™ Fungal/Bacterial Miniprep Kit. The purified DNA was amplified and subjected to polymerase chain reaction using forward and reverse primers. The PCR products were sequenced on Applied Biosystems ABI 3500XL Genetic Analyser (Applied Biosystems, ThermoFisher Scientific). The sequences were analyzed using BioEdit version 7.2.5 and then BLAST on NCBI. The identifiable bacteria include the rhizobacteria, Citrobacter fruendii RZS23 (accession number: CP024673.1), endophytic bacteria, Bacillus cereus EDR23 (accession number: LN890242.1), and Morganella morganii EDS23 (accession number: KR094121.1). The plant growth-promoting traits exhibited by these bacteria suggest their future exploration as bioinoculants.

Vitamin D attenuates monosodium glutamate-induced behavioural anomalies, metabolic dysregulation, cholinergic impairment, oxidative stress, and astrogliosis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a commonly used flavor enhancer that has raised concerns due to its potential adverse effects on various organs. This study explored the neuroprotective potential of Vitamin D, a beneficial micronutrient, in mitigating MSG-induced neurotoxicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were categorized into five groups: control (2 ml/kg PBS orally for 30 days), MSG (40 mg/kg orally for 30 days), VIT-D (oral cholecalciferol; 500 IU/kg for 30 days), MSG+VIT-D (MSG for 30 days followed by VIT-D for another 30 days), and VIT-D/MSG (concurrent VIT-D and MSG for 30 days). The rats underwent neurobehavioral, histochemical, and biochemical analyses following the treatments. RESULTS: MSG treatment caused a decline in both long and short-term memory, along with reduced exploratory and anxiogenic behavior, mitigated by vitamin D treatment. MSG exposure also induced impaired behavior, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, altered cholinergic transmission, and increased chromatolysis and neuroinflammation in the frontal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum. CONCLUSIONS: VIT-D demonstrated a mitigating effect on MSG-induced adverse outcomes, highlighting its potential to attenuate neurodegenerative cascades. This investigation contributes to understanding MSG-associated neurotoxicity and suggests vitamin D as a valuable and potential intervention for neuroprotection.

Molecular detection of sub-microscopic infections and Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein-2 and 3 gene deletions in pre-elimination settings of South Africa.

South Africa's efforts toward eliminating malaria have positioned the country in the pre-elimination stage. Imported and sub-microscopic cases still contribute to the persistence of malaria in regions of low transmission as identified in this study where diagnostics is built largely on the use of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT). However, the presence of Pfhrp2/3 gene deletion is known to interfere with the accuracy of diagnosis with the use of RDT. Malaria elimination and detection of Pfhrp2/3 gene deletion in the pre-elimination setting requires accurate molecular surveillance. With the core objective of this study being the determination of the presence sub-microscopic malaria cases and deleted Pfhrp2/3 gene markers, a total of 354 samples were collected from five districts of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. These samples were prepared for molecular analysis using primers and PCR conditions specific for amplification of 18S rRNA and msp-1gene. Positive amplicons were analysed for the presence of Pfhrp2/3 and flanking genes, along with Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic studies. Out of 354 samples collected 339 were tested negative with PfHRP2 based RDTs. Of these Pfhrp2 and Pfhrp3 gene deletions were confirmed in 94.7% (18/19) and 100% (19/19) respectively. High migration rate (75%) among the study participants was noted and phylogenetic analysis of sequenced isolates showed close evolutionary relatedness with India, United Kingdom, Iran, and Myanmar and China isolates. Molecular-based test is recommended as an essential surveillance tool for malaria management programs as the target focuses on elimination.

Time to first remission and survival in patients with acromegaly: Evidence from the UK Acromegaly Register Study (UKAR).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the effect of time to remission of acromegaly on survival in people living with acromegaly. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENT: This cross-sectional study used data from the UK Acromegaly Register. We considered remission of acromegaly growth hormone controlled at ≤2 µg/L following the diagnosis of acromegaly. We used the accelerated failure time model to assess the effect of time to remission on survival in acromegaly. RESULTS: The study population comprises 3569 individuals with acromegaly, with a median age of diagnosis of 47.3 (36.5-57.8) years, 48% females and a majority white population (61%). The number of individuals with the first remission of acromegaly was 2472, and the median time to first remission was 1.92 (0.70-6.58) years. In this study, time to first remission in acromegaly was found to have a significant effect on survival (p < .001); for every 1-year increase in time to first remission, there was a median 1% reduction in survival in acromegaly. In an analysis adjusted for covariates, the survival rate was 52% higher (p < .001) in those who underwent surgery as compared to those who did not have surgery, 18% higher (p = .01) in those who received treatment with somatostatin analogues (SMA) as compared to those with dopamine agonists and 21% lower (p < .001) in those who received conventional radiotherapy as compared to those who did not receive radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this population-based study conducted in patients with acromegaly revealed that faster remission time, surgical intervention and treatment with SMA are linked to improved survival outcomes.

Prevalence and perception of pre-morbid lifestyle-related risk factors among covid-19 survivors in Lagos state and Abuja capital city of Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the prevalence and perception of premorbid lifestyle-related risk factors among Covid-19 Survivors in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used to collect data from 522 consenting adult Covid-19 survivors in Abuja (274) and Lagos (248), Nigeria, using a self-developed, close-ended and validated questionnaire called the Lifestyle-related Factors in Covid-19 Questionnaire (LFC-19 Questionnaire) through a multistage sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) with P value set at ≤ 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. RESULTS: A significant number of Covid-19 Survivors were overweight/obese (67.8%) and had a history of physical inactivity (73.8%). A small proportion had premorbid chronic diseases (23.8%) as well as pre-existing lifestyle-related risk factors such as inadequate consumption of fruits (67.2%) and vegetables (60.0%) and physical inactivity (73.8%). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that most Covid-19 survivors residing in Lagos State and in Abuja capital city of Nigeria were either overweight or obese. This was due to physical inactivity, an unhealthy diet consisting of low fruit and vegetable consumption and poor sleep. Additionally, the study showed that patients' perceptions of their risk factors were often inaccurate as it differed from what was measured. The findings from this study will assist public health professionals and clinicians in designing and implementing more effective Covid-19 management strategies that incorporate healthy lifestyle practices and lifestyle modifications and assist public health promotion and communication specialists in designing appropriate and evidence-based preventive messages.

Paediatric Anatomical Models in Radiotherapy Applications.

Anatomical models have key applications in radiotherapy, notably to help understand the relationship between radiation dose and risk of developing side effects. This review analyses whether age-specific computational phantoms, developed from healthy subjects and paediatric cancer patient data, are adequate to model a paediatric population. The phantoms used in the study were International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), 4D extended cardiac torso (XCAT) and Radiotherapy Paediatric Atlas (RT-PAL), which were also compared to literature data. Organ volume data for 19 organs was collected for all phantoms and literature. ICRP was treated as the reference for comparison, and percentage difference (P.D) for the other phantoms were calculated relative to ICRP. Overall comparisons were made for each age category (1, 5, 10, 15) and each organ. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel (version 16.59). The smallest P.D to ICRP was for Literature (-17.4%), closely followed by XCAT (26.6%). The largest was for RT-PAL (88.1%). The rectum had the largest average P.D (1,049.2%) and the large bowel had the smallest (2.0%). The P.D was 122.6% at age 1 but this decreased to 43.5% by age 15. Linear regression analysis showed a correlation between organ volume and age to be the strongest for ICRP (R2 = 0.943) and weakest for XCAT (R2 = 0.676). The phantoms are similar enough to ICRP for potential use in modelling paediatric populations. ICRP and XCAT could be used to model a healthy population, whereas RT-PAL could be used for a population undergoing/after radiotherapy.

Draft genome sequences of Weissella cibaria GM93m3, a promising probiotic strain from raw goat milk.

The draft genome of a previously documented potential probiotic Weissella cibaria strain GM93m3 from raw goat milk in Nigeria is reported. The total genome size was 2,447,229 with 46 contigs and G+C content of 44.86%.

Characterization of Prototype Gummy Formulations Provides Insight into Setting Quality Standards.

Gummy formulations are considered suitable alternatives to traditional oral dosage forms like tablets and capsules due to their merits that include chewability, softness/flexibility, improved drug release, administration without water, appealing organoleptic properties, better patient compliance, easy preparation and usefulness for persons of different ages (e.g. children). Though there is increasing interest in gummy formulations containing drugs, measurable parameters, and specification limits for evaluating their quality are scarce. Quality check forms an essential part of the pharmaceutical development process because drug products must be distributed as consistently stable, safe, and therapeutically effective entities. Consequently, some quality parameters that could contribute to the overall performance of typical gummy formulations were investigated employing six brands of non-medicinal gummies as specimens. Accordingly, key physicochemical and micromechanical characteristics namely adhesiveness (0.009 - 0.028 mJ), adhesive force (0.009 - 0.055 N), chewiness (2.780 - 6.753 N), cohesiveness (0.910 - 0.990), hardness (2.984 - 7.453 N), springiness (0.960 - 1.000), and resilience (0.388 - 0.572), matrix firmness - compression load (2.653 - 6.753 N) and work done (3.288 - 6.829 mJ), rupture (5.315 - 29.016 N), moisture content (< 5%), weight uniformity (< 2.5 g; < 7.5% deviation), and intraoral dissolution pH (≥ 3.5 ≤ 6.8) were quantified to identify measures that may potentially function as specification limits and serve as prospective reference points for evaluating the quality of gummy formulations. Findings from this work contribute to ongoing efforts to standardize the quality control strategies for gummy formulations, particularly those intended for oral drug delivery.