Microbiome Dynamics and Functional Composition in Coelopa frigida (Diptera, Coelopidae): Insights into Trophic Specialization of Kelp Flies.

Coelopidae (Diptera), known as kelp flies, exhibit an ecological association with beached kelp and other rotting seaweeds. This unique trophic specialization necessitates significant adaptations to overcome the limitations of an algal diet. We aimed to investigate whether the flies' microbiome could be one of these adaptive mechanisms. Our analysis focused on assessing composition and diversity of adult and larval microbiota of the kelp fly Coelopa frigida. Feeding habits of the larvae of this species have been subject of numerous studies, with debates whether they directly consume kelp or primarily feed on associated bacteria. By using a 16S rRNA metabarcoding approach, we found that the larval microbiota displayed considerably less diversity than adults, heavily dominated by only four operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Phylogenetic placement recovered the most dominant OTU of the larval microbiome, which is the source of more than half of all metabarcoding sequence reads, as an undescribed genus of Orbaceae (Gammaproteobacteria). Interestingly, this OTU is barely found among the 15 most abundant taxa of the adult microbiome, where it is responsible for less than 2% of the metabarcoding sequence reads. The other three OTUs dominating the larval microbiome have been assigned as Psychrobacter (Gammaproteobacteria), Wohlfahrtiimonas (Gammaproteobacteria), and Cetobacterium (Fusobacteriota). Moreover, we also uncovered a distinct shift in the functional composition between the larval and adult stages, where our taxonomic profiling suggests a significant decrease in functional diversity in larval samples. Our study offers insights into the microbiome dynamics and functional composition of Coelopa frigida.

Evening but not morning aerobic training improves sympathetic activity and baroreflex sensitivity in elderly patients with treated hypertension.

The blood pressure-lowering effect of aerobic training is preceded by improving cardiovascular autonomic control. We previously demonstrated that aerobic training conducted in the evening (ET) induces a greater decrease in blood pressure than morning training (MT). To study whether the greater blood pressure decrease after ET occurs through better cardiovascular autonomic regulation, this study aimed to compare MT versus ET on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in treated patients with hypertension. Elderly patients treated for hypertension were randomly allocated into MT (n = 12, 07.00-10.00 h) or ET (n = 11, 17.00-20.00 h) groups. Both groups trained for 10 weeks, 3 times/week, cycling for 45 min at moderate intensity. Beat-to-beat blood pressure (finger photoplethysmography), heart rate (electrocardiography) and MSNA (microneurography) were assessed at the initial and final phases of the study at baseline and during sequential bolus infusions of sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine (modified-Oxford technique) to evaluate cardiac and sympathetic BRS. Mean blood pressure decreased significantly after ET but not after MT (-9 ± 11 vs. -1 ± 8 mmHg, P = 0.042). MSNA decreased significantly only after ET with no change after MT (-12 ± 5 vs. -3 ± 7 bursts/100 heart beats, P = 0.013). Sympathetic BRS improved after ET but not after MT (-0.8 ± 0.7 vs. 0.0 ± 0.8 bursts/100 heart beats/mmHg, P = 0.052). Cardiac BRS improved similarly in both groups (ET: +1.7 ± 1.8 vs. MT: +1.4 ± 1.9 ms/mmHg, Pphase  ≤ 0.001). In elderly patients treated for hypertension, only ET decreased mean blood pressure and MSNA and improved sympathetic BRS. These findings revealed that the sympathetic nervous system has a key role in ET's superiority to MT in blood pressure-lowering effect. KEY POINTS: Reducing muscle nerve sympathetic activity and increasing sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity plays a key role in promoting the greater blood pressure reduction observed with evening training. These findings indicated that simply changing the timing of exercise training may offer additional benefits beyond antihypertensive medications, such as protection against sympathetic overdrive and loss of baroreflex sensitivity, independent markers of mortality. Our new findings also suggest new avenues of investigation, such as the possibility that evening aerobic training may be beneficial in other clinical conditions with sympathetic overdrive, such as congestive heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Myriad Mapping of nanoscale minerals reveals calcium carbonate hemihydrate in forming nacre and coral biominerals.

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is abundant on Earth, is a major component of marine biominerals and thus of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and it plays a major role in the global carbon cycle by storing atmospheric CO2 into solid biominerals. Six crystalline polymorphs of CaCO3 are known-3 anhydrous: calcite, aragonite, vaterite, and 3 hydrated: ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O), monohydrocalcite (CaCO3·1H2O, MHC), and calcium carbonate hemihydrate (CaCO3·½H2O, CCHH). CCHH was recently discovered and characterized, but exclusively as a synthetic material, not as a naturally occurring mineral. Here, analyzing 200 million spectra with Myriad Mapping (MM) of nanoscale mineral phases, we find CCHH and MHC, along with amorphous precursors, on freshly deposited coral skeleton and nacre surfaces, but not on sea urchin spines. Thus, biomineralization pathways are more complex and diverse than previously understood, opening new questions on isotopes and climate. Crystalline precursors are more accessible than amorphous ones to other spectroscopies and diffraction, in natural and bio-inspired materials.

Genomic attributes of airway commensal bacteria and mucosa.

Microbial communities at the airway mucosal barrier are conserved and highly ordered, in likelihood reflecting co-evolution with human host factors. Freed of selection to digest nutrients, the airway microbiome underpins cognate management of mucosal immunity and pathogen resistance. We show here the initial results of systematic culture and whole-genome sequencing of the thoracic airway bacteria, identifying 52 novel species amongst 126 organisms that constitute 75% of commensals typically present in heathy individuals. Clinically relevant genes encode antimicrobial synthesis, adhesion and biofilm formation, immune modulation, iron utilisation, nitrous oxide (NO) metabolism and sphingolipid signalling. Using whole-genome content we identify dysbiotic features that may influence asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We match isolate gene content to transcripts and metabolites expressed late in airway epithelial differentiation, identifying pathways to sustain host interactions with microbiota. Our results provide a systematic basis for decrypting interactions between commensals, pathogens, and mucosa in lung diseases of global significance.

Aircraft observations in a tropical supercluster over the equatorial Indian Ocean during MISO-BOB field campaign.

The Monsoon Intra-Seasonal Oscillations in the Bay of Bengal (MISO-BOB) field campaign was conducted in the Indian Ocean during the 2018 and 2019 summer monsoon seasons. WC-130J aircraft of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron of the US Air Force participated in the campaign in June 2018. The dropsonde observations across a tropical supercluster showed zonal wind variations in association with the structure of the convectively coupled Kelvin wave (CCKW). Within the supercluster, easterlies (westerlies) were observed in the upper (lower) troposphere; this transformation occurred just below the 0[Formula: see text] C level. The cold pool had an easterly component throughout, and it was coldest (by 2.5[Formula: see text] C) at the center of the supercluster, deepest ([Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]) at its rear/western end, and shallowest ([Formula: see text] 300 m) at the front/eastern end. The level of free convection (LFC) at the front end was at [Formula: see text] altitude. At the eastern flank of the supercluster, zonal convergence in the lower troposphere occurred between 500-1500 m levels above the surface between the westerlies within the supercluster and opposing ambient easterlies. Thus, the uplifting of conditionally unstable air parcels above LFC to the east of the supercluster was likely to occur due to this convergence rather than the cold pool influence. Conversely, the western flank of the supercluster had low-level zonal divergence. These observations support the notion of 'self-similarity' among the mesoscale convective systems and large-scale waves.

Disability-adjusted life years due to leptospirosis in Monaragala District of Sri Lanka.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection with significant morbidity and mortality. As an occupational disease, it has become a global concern due to its disease burden in endemic countries and rural areas. The aim of this study was to assess disease burden in terms of Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of leptospirosis.A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using 450 clinically diagnosed leptospirosis patients admitted to base and above hospitals in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka, using a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The patients were followed up until normal day-to-day life after discharge. Estimation of DALYs was done using laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis patients. Leptospirosis disease burden in Monaragala District was 44.9 DALYs per 100,000 population, which includes 33.18 Years of life losts and 10.9 YLDs. The incidence of leptospirosis in Monaragala District during the study period was 59.8 per 100,000 population, and the case fatality rate (CFR) was 1.5% and 75% of deaths were among males.The disease burden of leptospirosis in Monaragala District was significantly high and urgent efforts to control and prevent leptospirosis should be a priority.

MORBIDITY, COMORBIDITY AND MULTIMORBIDITY AS PORTALS FOR SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING AMONG OLDER PERSONS IN A RURAL NIGERIAN ENVIRONMENT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY.

Background: Subjective well-being (SWB) has been described as a new vital sign that predicts the overall health and future health status of individuals. Despite the process of natural ageing, older persons in addition suffer morbid, comorbid and multimorbid medical conditions that affect their SWB. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the morbidity, comorbidity and multimorbidity as predictors of SWB among older persons in a rural environment of Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out on 214 older persons from January to December 2022 in Nigeria. Data collection was done using structured, pretested and interviewer guided questionnaire. Subjective well-being was assessed with self-rated health status questionnaire. Morbidity was determined by self-reported health problems, clinical, laboratory and radio-diagnostic methods. Co-morbidity was assessed using Self-Reported Comorbidity Questionnaire (SCQ) while multimorbidity was evaluated using multimorbidity Assessment Questionnaire for Primary Care (MAQ-PC). Results: The study participants were aged 60-99 years with mean age of 68±4.5 years. There were 123(57.5%) females. Ninety-three(43.5%) of the study participants had good SWB. The three most common morbidities were malaria(97.2%), hypertension(69.2%) and musculo-skeletal disorders(67.8%). The commonest cardiovascular comorbidity was musculoskeletal disorders(56.1%) and one hundred and five(49.1%) of the study participants had three co-morbid chronic conditions. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 45.3%. The independent predictors of poor SWB were age≥75 years(ORs=2.103; 95%CI(1.215-4.214), P=.026); poor healthseeking behaviour(ORs=2.005; 95%CI(1.351-5.090), P=.041); presence of ≥ 3 comorbidities(ORs=3.111; 95%CI(1.465-6.910); P=.019) and presence of ≥ 3 multimorbidities(ORs=3.309; 95%CI(1.899- 7.921); P= .001). Conclusion: The study has shown the overall SWB of the study participants. The independent predictors of poor SWB were age ≥ 75 years, poor health seeking behaviour, presence of ≥ 3 comorbidities and multimorbidities. Health-seeking behaviours, comorbidities and multimorbidities should be explored during clinical consultations with older persons with poor SWB.

Incidence of KOH Positive Elements in Chronic Discharging Ear -A Retrospective Study.

The term chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) refers to middle ear infections lasting more than three months that lead to perforated tympanic membrane. Low socioeconomic strata of the society are more likely to have the disease in developing countries. There have been many studies focusing on the bacterial flora of CSOM, but little is known about the mycological aspects, which have become increasingly important over the last few decades. The present study was aimed to speculate the presence of fungal flora responsible for the cases of CSOM among patients who attended the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department of our hospital a tertiary care center. This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care centre after taking the approval of the protocol review committee and institutional ethics committee. Total 100 Patients of chronic otitis media were included with no history using ear drops for last one week and using two sterile swab without touching the external auditory canal, discharge was taken from middle ear and placed in sterile container and sent for potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount and observed. The age ranged from 18 months to 87 years and the mean age was 37.27+/- 12.59 years. The study population of male is 42 (41.6%) and female is 59 (58.4%). Distribution of KOH positivity observed for 33 (32.7%) and KOH negative for the study population of 68 (67.3%). When antibacterial treatment does not seem to relieve persistent otorrhea, otologists should suspect mycotic otitis media probable cause.

Histomorphological Study of Thyroidectomy Specimens in Tertiary Care Hospital -A Retrospective Study.

Thyroid disorders are the most common endocrine disorder affecting the general population. Diseases of the thyroid glands present with either an alteration of hormone secretion or as an enlargement of the thyroid gland. They vary from non-neoplastic to neoplastic lesions. The prevalence and pattern of these disorders depend on the factors like age, sex and geographic patterns. The aim of the study is to determine the histomorphological features of thyroid lesions in thyroidectomy specimens in patients who underwent thyroidectomy in tertiary care hospital. This is a retrospective study, conducted in tertiary care centre attached to government hospital. All thyroidectomy specimens received in the Department of Pathology, from January 2021 to January 2023 were included in the study. The patients who underwent thyroidectomy in view of thyroid swelling, over a period of 2 years, were selected. Data was collected from histopathological examinations done on the thyroidectomy specimens. Different histomorphological patterns were observed on microscopy. The thyroid lesions were classified into Neoplastic and Non-neoplastic based on histomorphological features and the data was segregated according to this and analysed. There was a total of 194 specimens, of which 175 were from female and 19 were from male patients. Maximum number of thyroid lesions were seen in the age group of 30-50 years. Among 194 patients, 52 (26.8%) were found to have neoplastic lesions, of whom, 25 (12.8%) patients had benign and 27(14%) patients had malignant lesion. 141(72.7%) patients had non neoplastic conditions. One patient had lymphoproliferative disorder (0.5%). In Neoplastic lesions, Among Benign lesions, Follicular adenoma was found be present in 25 patients. In malignant lesions, Papillary carcinoma was the most commonly found lesion (25 cases, 12.9%). 141(73%) patients had Non neoplastic conditions. Most commonly occurring Non neoplastic lesions were Nodular goiter (50 cases, 25.8%) followed by Colloid goiter (34cases, 17.5%), Multinodular goiter (33 cases, 17%), Hashimoto's thyroiditis (5 cases, 2.6%). Followed by Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (4 cases, 2.1%). The frequency of carcinoma is more common in females amongst the total thyroid lesions. Papillary carcinoma was the most frequent malignancy (12.9%) among the thyroidectomy specimens. Papillary carcinoma was the commonest malignant lesion with female preponderance whereas, nodular goiter and colloid goiter were the commonest non neoplastic lesions with female preponderance.

Effect of E-learning on Management Undergraduates' Academic Success during COVID-19: A Study at Non-state Universities in Sri Lanka.

Education also becomes one of the basic needs of all human being in the today's world. Due to the rapid advancement of the information and communication technology during the past years emphasize the necessity of using e-learning in the education sector. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all the countries developed and developing had to quickly move from conventional learning methods to e-learning. As a developing country Sri Lankan education sector also adopt the e-learning as a solution for continuing education process. The prime objective of this study is to examine the impact of e-learning on university undergraduates' academic success in the context of management faculties in non-state universities in Sri Lanka. A deductive quantitative research approach utilized for the data collection and analysis. The study population is 2500 undergraduates who are studying in the year 3 and 4 belongs to the management faculties of two non-state universities. Out of the total population 332 undergraduates were selected using convenience sampling technique. An online questionnaire survey conducted to collect data and simple linear regression models employed for data analysis. To ensure the overall reliability of the gathered data, Cronbach's alpha values checked. The findings revealed that e-learning has a significant positive impact on academic success along with a strong correlation of 0.872. According to the main study findings, there is a positive moderating effect on student satisfaction between e-learning and academic success while showing a strong correlation of 0.774. The major findings of this study give insights for higher educational institutions to create new initiatives to direct undergraduates towards the academic success with e-learning exposure.

Biomarkers for monitoring heavy metal pollution in the Anzali Wetland.

This research aims to investigate biochemical activities of Phragmites australis, as a biomarker of heavy metals including Cr, Ni, V, Zn and Co. In order to determine and analyze biochemical parameters including flavonoids, Non-Protein Thiols (NPTs), chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll pigments in the roots, stems and leaves of P. australis, sediment and plant samples were collected from 7 stations in the Anzali wetland. Based on the obtained results, there were positive and significant correlation coefficients among the concentrations of the heavy metals in the sediments with non-protein thiols and flavonoids, also negative and significant correlation coefficients were found between the heavy metal contents and the total chlorophyll in the leaves in all the sampling stations. Therefore, it can be concluded that these parameters are appropriate biomarkers to evaluate the heavy metal pollution in the sediments of the aquatic ecosystem.

Comparative Case Study of Efficacy of Oral Bilastine Monotherapy to Concomittant Administration of Oral Bilastine with Probiotic in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis.

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis continues to pose a global burden in both adult and paediatric population and requires adequate medical therapy to avoid long term complications making it a challenging concern. This prompts the need to find a suitable and appropriate treatment regimen for this condition. Aim: To study the clinical efficacy of Oral Bilastine and Probiotics in patients with allergic rhinitis. To compare the effectiveness of Bilastine monotherapy to Oral Bilastine combined with Probiotics in patients with allergic rhinitis. Materials and Methods: Total of 100 patients were selected and randomized into two groups- Group 1 and Group 2 and were treated with Oral Bilastine 20 mg OD and Oral Bilastine 20 mg with Oral Probiotics OD (Lactobacillus fermentum & L. paracasei - 4 billion cells) respectively to maintain uniformity. Baseline scoring and follow up scoring after 6 weeks was done using the Total symptom score, Absolute eosinophil count and Nasal smear eosinophil count and were evaluated and documented as per their response to treatment. Results: A significant reduction was observed in the severity of symptoms especially nasal obstruction, sneezing in patients of both groups along with extra nasal symptoms, with average mean score in Group 1 being 7.72 before treatment that reduced to 3.66 and that of Group 2 from 9.32 to 5.02. The mean score of Group 2 was greater in both before and after treatment which is highly significant. (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Monotherapy with Oral Bilastine has proven in relieving allergic symptoms. Addition of Oral Probiotics along with Bilastine has shown to have synergistic effect in further improving overall symptoms in allergic rhinitis.

Relationship Between Rhinitis, Nasal Obstruction and Hypothyroidism: A Follow Up Study with Pre-post Treatment with Levothyroxine.

Hypothyroidism is the most common form of thyroid disorder in India, while, Rhinitis and Nasal obstruction are frequent complaints treated on regular basis in ENT OPD. Studies show that there is relationship between Rhinitis and Nasal obstruction with hypothyroidism. To assess the improvement in symptoms associated with Rhinitis and nasal obstruction in patients with hypothyroidism after treating with levothyroxine. 50 patients presenting in ENT OPD with rhinitis and nasal obstruction and diagnosed with hypothyroidism were selected. Complete history was taken and clinical examination was performed, Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Score, (NOSE) and Peak nasal inspiratory flow rate (PNIF) were noted. Biochemically proven hypothyroid patients were treated with adequate dosage of Levothyroxine. The patients were followed up and the above-mentioned tests were repeated at regular intervals (1 month and 3 month), Changes in these readings were recorded and maintained. Significant difference was found in TSH level, NOSE questionnaire, and PNIF reading in patients with hypothyroidism after treatment with levothyroxine (P value < 0.001). This was most commonly noted to occur in young and middle-aged population of age 15 years to 50 years (88%). In our study - An attempt was made to correlate the symptomatology with hypothyroidism. Treatment with levothyroxine in patients with rhinitis, nasal obstruction and biochemically proven hypothyroidism was found to be effective in improvement of symptoms. It was found that there is significant association between hypothyroid status and rhinitis with nasal obstruction.

[Immunomorphological aspects of post-traumatic subatrophy of the eyeball]. / Immunomorfologicheskie aspekty posttravmaticheskoi subatrofii glaznogo yabloka.

PURPOSE: The study attempts to characterize immunomorphological disorders at different degrees of post-traumatic subatrophy of the eyeball. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 123 patients with blind and unpromising eyes, eyeball subatrophy of various degrees, who were divided into three groups (1, 2 and 3) depending on the degree of eyeball subatrophy. RESULTS: The greatest risk of autoimmune inflammation was observed in patients with degree I subatrophy. Contusion injury of the eye was proven to not exclude the course of post-traumatic autoimmune uveitis. The development of post-traumatic subatrophic process is associated with activation of systemic organ-specific immunity, shift of balance in main regulatory subpopulations. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the most severe clinical course of chronic post-traumatic uveitis is observed in patients as a result of penetrating trauma to the eyeball. The contusion nature of such ocular injury does not exclude the development of autoimmune inflammation.

An unusual case of small intestinal obstruction secondary to a large primary enterolith.

Enterolithiasis is an uncommon entity in humans but frequently seen in equine mammals. A primary enterolith is a mineral concretion formed within the gastrointestinal tract due to the alteration in the anatomical integrity due to variety of conditions resulting in intestinal stasis. We report a patient with small intestinal obstruction due to a primary enterolith. A 65-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with central colicky abdominal pain, absolute constipation followed by vomiting. An enterolith located in distal ileum causing small intestinal obstruction was established with the aid of abdominal X-ray radiograph and computed tomography. Exploratory laparotomy was performed to extract the enterolith and to resect a strictured proximal jejunal segment which was suspected to be the original site of enterolith formation. Chemical analysis of the enterolith supports the speculation of a proximally formed primary enterolith eventually migrating to the site of impaction in the terminal ileum.

Bone pathology mimicking non-accidental injury in a child - Bewildered by bones, case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Physical abuse of children is criminal conduct in the purview of medico-legal sciences and the confirmative diagnosis of 'child abuse' is imperative for further legal proceedings. Clinicians play a pivotal role in the protection of children by recognizing and reporting such cases and treating the victims of abuse. PRESENTATION OF CASE: To the best of our knowledge, we present the first case report in literature where osteofibrous dysplasia resulted in a pathological fracture in a 10-month-old South-Asian child which resembled the picture of child abuse. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The challenges faced by clinicians in the process of analysis of presumed child abuse are numerous and careful formulation and elimination of medical conditions which may mimic non-accidental injury (NAI) is a must, prior to making an incontrovertible diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The telltale signs of NAI such as soft tissue injuries and fractures in a victimized child should always be evaluated cautiously with the intent of excluding pathologies that may mimic them and the evidence in this regard is seldom in literature.

Choice Modeling for the Commercial Cultivation of Underutilized Aromatic Plants for Producing Mosquito Repellents: Targeting Rural Sector Income Generation.

Tropical countries face considerable economic losses due to mosquito-borne diseases which can be effectively combatted using plant-based mosquito repellents. Therefore, using a questionnaire survey, we selected the 25 top-ranked common but underutilized aromatic plants with mosquito repellent ability in Sri Lanka to investigate the rural sector's willingness to cultivate and supply them. Cinnamomum verum, Citrus aurantiifolia, Citrus sinensis, Citrus reticulata, Aegle marmelos, and Ocimum tenuiflorum were the common species thus identified. The willingness to cultivate and supply aromatic plants with mosquito repellent ability varied between 88% and 60%. The Chi-squared test indicated a significant association between gender and willingness to cultivate and supply these plants. Men had a higher willingness (82%). Persons formally educated up to elementary school level had the highest willingness (85%). The willingness from households with many non-income-generating members was 100%. The random forest model developed in this study identifies farmers' willingness to cultivate and supply aromatic plants with mosquito repellent properties. It was trained using an upsampling strategy. Our findings aid in understanding the scenarios involved with introducing, cultivating, and supplying aromatic plants.

Transient mutation bias increases the predictability of evolution on an empirical genotype-phenotype landscape.

Predicting how a population will likely navigate a genotype-phenotype landscape requires consideration of selection in combination with mutation bias, which can skew the likelihood of following a particular trajectory. Strong and persistent directional selection can drive populations to ascend toward a peak. However, with a greater number of peaks and more routes to reach them, adaptation inevitably becomes less predictable. Transient mutation bias, which operates only on one mutational step, can influence landscape navigability by biasing the mutational trajectory early in the adaptive walk. This sets an evolving population upon a particular path, constraining the number of accessible routes and making certain peaks and routes more likely to be realized than others. In this work, we employ a model system to investigate whether such transient mutation bias can reliably and predictably place populations on a mutational trajectory to the strongest selective phenotype or usher populations to realize inferior phenotypic outcomes. For this we use motile mutants evolved from ancestrally non-motile variants of the microbe Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25, of which one trajectory exhibits significant mutation bias. Using this system, we elucidate an empirical genotype-phenotype landscape, where the hill-climbing process represents increasing strength of the motility phenotype, to reveal that transient mutation bias can facilitate rapid and predictable ascension to the strongest observed phenotype in place of equivalent and inferior trajectories. This article is part of the theme issue 'Interdisciplinary approaches to predicting evolutionary biology'.

Blood Coagulation Normalization Effect of Parkia Biglobosa Seed on Potassium Bromate-induced Coagulopathy.

BACKGROUND: Potassium bromate (KBrO3) has been reported to be toxic, adversely affecting many body tissues and organs. The aim of this study was to determine the blood coagulation effect of Parkia biglobosa (P. biglobosa) seed on potassium bromate induced coagulopathy. METHODOLOGY: P. biglobosa was extracted with soxhlet extractor with ethanol as the solvent. Twenty-four adult male Wistar rats were acclimatized under laboratory conditions and were randomly grouped into A, B, C and D. Group A was given distilled water orally. Animals in groups B, C and D were administered 100 mg/kg body weight of potassium bromate, but groups C and D were also treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of P. biglobosa respectively. Both potassium bromate and P. biglobosa were freshly prepared on daily basis and administered to rats by oral gavage for 28 days. At the end of the treatment period, blood samples were collected in sodium citrate bottles and were used for analysis of Prothrombin Time (PT), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Thrombin Time (TT), fibrinogen and vitamin K levels using standard methods. RESULTS: Administration of potassium bromate increased Prothrombin Time (PT) from 11.67±2.15 seconds (in control animals) to 19.53±2.83 seconds. Treatment with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of P. biglobosa seed extract neutralized this effect in a dose-dependent manner. Likewise, KBrO 3 was observed to have significantly elevated Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) from 29.67±3.93 to 41.10±4.79 seconds and Thrombin Time (TT) from 15.36±2.06 to 25.43±2.83 seconds when compared with those in the control group. The result further showed that exposure of animals to KBrO3 significantly declined the levels of fibrinogen (from 4.05±0.72 to 2.59±0.30 g/dL) and vitamin K (from 3.18±0.73 to 1.84±0.18 ng/mL) when compared with the untreated animals. The effect of KBrO 3 on PT, APTT, TT, Fibrinogen and vitamin k were attenuated by P. biglobosa in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation demonstrated that potassium bromate caused prolongation of PT, aPTT and TT and decreased levels of fibrinogen and vitamin K, but P. biglobosa treatment counteracted these effects. Thus, it is recommended that these results be investigated in clinical trials in human volunteers.

CONTEXTE: On a signalé que le bromate de potassium (KBrO3) est toxique et qu'il a des effets néfastes sur de nombreux tissus et organes du corps. Le but de cette étude était de déterminer l'effet de la graine de Parkia biglobosa (P. biglobosa) sur la coagulopathie induite par le bromate de potassium. MÉTHODOLOGIE: P. biglobosa a été extrait à l'aide d'un extracteur soxhlet avec de l'éthanol comme solvant. Vingt-quatre rats Wistar mâles adultes ont été acclimatés dans des conditions de laboratoire et ont été répartis au hasard en groupes A, B, C et D. Le groupe A a reçu de l'eau distillée par voie orale. Les animaux des groupes B, C et D ont reçu 100 mg/kg de poids corporel de bromate de potassium, mais les groupes C et D ont également été traités avec 100 et 200 mg/kg de poids corporel de P. biglobosa respectivement. Le bromate de potassium et P. biglobosa ont été fraîchement préparés quotidiennement et administrés aux rats par gavage oral pendant 28 jours. A la fin de la période de traitement, des échantillons de sang ont été collectés dans des bouteilles de citrate de sodium et ont été utilisés pour l'analyse du temps de prothrombine (PT), du temps de thromboplastine partielle activée (APTT), du temps de thrombine (TT), du fibrinogène et des niveaux de vitamine K en utilisant des méthodes standard. RÉSULTATS: L'administration de bromate de potassium a augmenté le temps de prothrombine (PT) de 11,67±2,15 secondes (chez les animaux témoins) à 19,53±2,83 secondes. Un traitement avec 100 et 200 mg/kg de poids corporel a neutralisé cet effet de manière dose-dépendante. De même, on a observé que le KBrO3 augmentait significativement le temps de thromboplastine partielle activée (TCA) de 29,67±3,93 à 41,10±4,79 secondes et le temps de thrombine (TT) de 15,36±2,06 à 25,43±2,83 secondes par rapport aux animaux du groupe témoin. Le résultat a également montré que l'exposition des animaux au KBrO3 a réduit de manière significative les niveaux de fibrinogène (de 4,05±0,72 à 2,59±0,30 g/dL) et de vitamine K (de 3,18±0,73 à 1,84±0,18 ng/mL) par rapport aux animaux non traités. L'effet du KBrO3 sur le PT, l'aPTT, le TT, le Fibrinogène et la vitamine K a été atténué par P. biglobosa de manière dose-dépendante. CONCLUSION: Les résultats de cette étude ont démontré que le bromate de potassium a provoqué une prolongation du PT, de l'aPTT et du TT et a diminué les niveaux de fibrinogène et de vitamine K, mais le traitement par P. biglobosa a contrecarré cet effet. Il est donc recommandé que ces résultats soient étudiés dans des essais cliniques sur des volontaires humains. Mots-clés: Coagulation sanguine, Coagulopathie, Parkia biglobosa, Bromate de potassium.