Cytotoxic effects of aporphine alkaloids from the stems and leaves of Stephania dielsiana Y.C.Wu.

Phytochemical studies of the stems and leaves of Stephania dielsiana Y.C.Wu yielded two new aporphine alkaloids (1 and 5), along with six known alkaloids (2-4 and 6-8). Their structures were characterised based on analyses of spectroscopic data, including one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS). The cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds against a small panel of tumour cell lines were assessed by MTS assay. Interestingly, compound 2 exhibited particularly strong cytotoxic activities against HepG2, MCF7 and OVCAR8 cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 3.20 ± 0.18, 3.10 ± 0.06 and 3.40 ± 0.007 µM, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations were carried out to explore the interactions and binding mechanisms of the most active compound (compound 2) with proteins. Our results contribute to understanding the secondary metabolites produced by S. dielsiana and provide a scientific rationale for further investigations of cytotoxicity of this valuable medicinal plant.

Valorization of the treatment of antibiotic and organic contents generated from an in-situ-RAS-like shrimp farming pond by using graphene-quantum-dots deposited graphitic carbon nitride photocatalysts.

In this study, we investigated the possibility of a photocatalytic system that uses graphene-quantum-dot (GQD)-deposited graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) to treat tetracycline (TC) and other organic compounds generated from an in-situ-recirculatory-aquaculture-system (RAS)-like shrimp farming pond. GQDs were successfully deposited on the exfoliated g-C3N4 base through a hydrothermal treatment. The results showed that the incorporation of GQDs into the g-C3N4 enhanced its porosity without aggregating its mesoporous structure. The GQDs-deposited g-C3N4 photocatalysts revealed sheet-like structures with nanopores on their surface that facilitate photocatalysis. More than 90% of the TC was removed by the photocatalysts under UV-LED irradiation. Low loadings of GQDs over g-C3N4 resulted in a faster and more effective photocatalysis of TC, mainly driven by.O2- radicals. The photocatalysts were also applicable in the degradation of organic compounds with 27% of the total organic compounds (TOC) being removed from the wastewater of a RAS-like shrimp farming pond.

GABA- and Glycine-Mimetic Responses of Linalool on the Substantia Gelatinosa of the Trigeminal Subnucleus Caudalis in Juvenile Mice: Pain Management through Linalool-Mediated Inhibitory Neurotransmission.

Linalool, a major odorous constituent in essential oils extracted from lavender, is known to have a wide range of physiological effects on humans including pain management. The substantia gelatinosa (SG) of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) is involved in transmission of orofacial nociceptive responses through thin myelinated A[Formula: see text] and unmyelinated C primary afferent fibers. Up to date, the orofacial antinociceptive mechanism of linalool concerning SG neurons of the Vc has not been completely clarified yet. To fill this knowledge gap, whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used in this study to examine how linalool acted on SG neurons of the Vc in mice. Under a high chloride pipette solution, non-desensitizing and repeatable linalool-induced inward currents were preserved in the presence of tetrodotoxin (a voltage-gated Na[Formula: see text]channel blocker), CNQX (a non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist), and DL-AP5 (an NMDA receptor antagonist). However, linalool-induced inward currents were partially suppressed by picrotoxin (a GABA[Formula: see text] receptor antagonist) or strychnine (a glycine receptor antagonist). These responses were almost blocked in the presence of picrotoxin and strychnine. It was also found that linalool exhibited potentiation with GABA- and glycine-induced responses. Taken together, these data show that linalool has GABA- and glycine-mimetic effects, suggesting that it can be a promising target molecule for orofacial pain management by activating inhibitory neurotransmission in the SG area of the Vc.

Recycling of aquaculture wastewater and sediment for sustainable corn and water spinach production.

This study develops a method to reuse aquaculture wastewater and sediment from a catfish pond in order to increase agricultural productivity and protect the environment. Material flow analysis (MFA) is a central concept of this study that involves collecting catfish pond wastewater (CPW) and reusing it to irrigate five water spinach (Ipomoea aquatic) ponds before discharging it into a river. Typically, catfish pond sediment (CPS) was collected and composted to produce organic fertilizer for cornfields. The results revealed that pollutant removal efficiency of wastewater from CPW (by using water spinach) were total organic carbon (TOC) = 38.78%, nitrogen (N) = 27.07%, phosphorous (P) = 58.42%, and potassium (K) = 28.64%. By adding 20 tons of CPS compost per hectare of the cornfield, the corn yield boosted 15% compared to the control field. In addition, the water spinach grew and developed well in the medium of wastewater from the fish pond. Altogether, the results illustrate that catfish pond wastewater and sediment can act as organic fertilizers for crops meanwhile reduce environmental pollution from its reuse.

Using a 'vector rotation' technique and 'parallel geometry' utility to calculate the equivalent dose rate from a patient undergoing nuclear medicine procedures.

A dose calculation for a person who has been in contact with a patient undergoing Nuclear medicine procedures can be performed by using Merged Phantom Tool (MPT). In this study, we are upgrading the MPT to help users easily merge phantoms at any axis and with any angle using the "vector rotation" technique. The segmented structure information of the contact's phantom is also included in the calculation using the GEANT4 "parallel geometry" utility. The calculation is applied to a case of a male cancer patient lying on a bed who has used I-131, and a caregiver standing beside the patient. The equivalent dose to the thyroid of the caregiver is calculated at 0.3, 0.5, 0.8 and 1m away from the patient, as the caregiver is standing near the patient's abdomen, chest and neck area. The results show that the dose to the thyroid of the contact greatly depends on his standing position and that there are clear differences between the results calculated with the point source and those calculated with the patient source. In summary, using activity distributions in the patient's body as well as the right communication circumstance helps to calculate the optimal dose for people who have been in contact with patients.

Cost-effectiveness of treating multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Tuberculosis (TB), along with the human immunodeficiency virus, is one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases. Its prevalence has rendered the treatment of drug-resistant TB a major public health problem that threatens the progress made in TB care and control worldwide. Our objectives were to conduct a systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of treatment for multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB/XDR-TB) and to synthesise available data from scientific research. METHODS: Using English keywords, we searched for papers over reputable databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane and Google Scholar, from Jan. 23 to Mar. 23, 2019. RESULTS: The search and screening yielded 13 articles, whose results were extracted and reviewed to draw conclusions on the cost-effectiveness of MDR-TB/XDR-TB treatment. The data extraction table used to cull and categorise the results comprised the characteristics of a given study, as well as its objectives, the perspectives used to guide the investigation, methods and results (outcome, sensitivity analysis). The measured outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The review indicated that MDR -TB/XDR-TB treatment can be very cost-effective in countries with low to high incomes, regardless of whether minimal or considerable disease burdens exist.

Aetiologies of central nervous system infection in Viet Nam: a prospective provincial hospital-based descriptive surveillance study.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) remain common and life-threatening, especially in developing countries. Knowledge of the aetiological agents responsible for these infections is essential to guide empiric therapy and develop a rational public health policy. To date most data has come from patients admitted to tertiary referral hospitals in Asia and there is limited aetiological data at the provincial hospital level where most patients are seen. METHODS: We conducted a prospective Provincial Hospital-based descriptive surveillance study in adults and children at thirteen hospitals in central and southern Viet Nam between August 2007-April 2010. The pathogens of CNS infection were confirmed in CSF and blood samples by using classical microbiology, molecular diagnostics and serology. RESULTS: We recruited 1241 patients with clinically suspected infection of the CNS. An aetiological agent was identified in 640/1241 (52%) of the patients. The most common pathogens were Streptococcus suis serotype 2 in patients older than 14 years of age (147/617, 24%) and Japanese encephalitis virus in patients less than 14 years old (142/624, 23%). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed in 34/617 (6%) adult patients and 11/624 (2%) paediatric patients. The acute case fatality rate (CFR) during hospital admission was 73/617 (12%) in adults and to 42/624 (7%) in children. CONCLUSIONS: Zoonotic bacterial and viral pathogens are the most common causes of CNS infection in adults and children in Viet Nam.

Qualitative assessment of washed human normal sperm after cryopreservation

Background: Sperm cryopreservation becomes a relatively routine process in assisted reproductive centers. However, there must be ensured quality of washed human normal sperm and cryopreservation to successful fertilization. Objective: To evaluate the quality of washed human normal sperm after cryopreservation. Subjects and method: 30 normal semen samples, each sample was divided into two parts for washed and unwashed spermatozoa. All samples were cryopreserved in 1, 2 and 30 days. Evaluating and comparing the quality of sperm before and after which washed, pre-cryopreservation and post-cryopreservation between the groups were performed. Results: The quality of sperm after washing was more significantly improved than before washing. Post-cryopreservation, the quality of sperm was reduced time by time but within an accepted limitation. There was not a significant difference between the two ways of preparation before cryopreservation. Conclusions: The quality of sperm at post-cryopreservation was reduced (both washed sperm and unwashed sperm). The quality of washed sperm is reduced continuously with time, but there was no difference between the two studied groups.

Effects of Cryopreservation on Morphological Characteristics of Washed Spermatozoa from Normozoospermia

Introduction: Successful cryopreservation of spermatozoa must ensure normal newborns after the preservation time. This method frequently can potentially contain cross-infected risks during the cryopreservation process in the liquid nitrogen environment (such as HCV, HIV). A number of researchers reveal that these risks can be eliminated by washing spermatozoa before cryopreservation. However, the problem is whether cryopreservation of washed spermatozoa still retains its morphology and function or not? \r\n', u'Objectives: To evaluate the change of sperm morphology characteristics after which washed sperm cryopreserved from normozoospermia. \r\n', u'Subjects and method: 30 normal semen samples; each sample was divided into two aliquots of washed and unwashed spermatozoa. All samples were cryopreserved in stages of 1, 2 and 30 days. We compared the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology before and after which was washed, pre - cryopreservation and post - cryopreservation between the groups. \r\n', u'Results: The percentage 0 spermatozoon with normal morphology after washing was more significantly increased than prior to washing. Post - cryopreservation, this percentage was reduced time by time but acceptable. There is no significant difference between the two ways of preparation before cryopreservation. The percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal head and neck increased significantly after cryopreservation. \r\n', u'Conclusion: The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology post - cryopreservation was reduced in both washed sperm and unwashed sperm samples. This percentage was reduced time by time, but there is no difference between the two groups studied. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'