Lipid Composition, Cytotoxic and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Effects of Two Brown Algae Species Lobophora tsengii and Lobophora australis.

In this paper, the lipid classes, compositions of the neutral lipids, phospholipids and fatty acids, acetylcholinesterase inhibition and cytotoxic activity of two brown algae Lobophora tsengii D. Tien & Z. Sun and Lobophora australis Z. Sun, F. C. Gurgel & H. Kawai have been investigated. The polar lipid class had the highest content in total lipid (TL) (43.47% in L. tsengii and 48.95% in L. australis). Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the main components in the phospholipids of two studied brown algae with contents varied from 32.27% to 52.33%. Total lipids were rich in PUFA (42.54% of total fatty acids for L. australis and 32.98% for L. tsengii), with EPA (11.46%, 14.30%) and AA (8.0%, 11.96%). L. tsengii methanol extract inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in in vitro assay with an IC50 value of 25.45 µg/mL. Both Lobophora methanol extracts display cytotoxic effects against four human cancer cell lines (KB, MCF7, HepG2 and A549) with IC50 in the range of 21.11-83.61 µg/mL. Especially, L. australis extract showed a strong cytotoxicity against KB cell lines with IC50 value of 21.11±0.39 µg/mL.

Protective Effect of Willow (Salix babylonica L.) on Fish Resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus.

Vibrio spp. cause vibriosis in many saltwater and freshwater aquatic species, such as fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus are among the few Vibrio species commonly found in infections in fish. This study aimed at investigating the chemical composition and evaluating the antibacterial activities of Salix babylonica L. The ethyl acetate (LL2) and methanolic (LL3) extracts were used to evaluate the resistance of strains as V. parahaemolyticus LBT6 and VTCC 12233, and two strains of V. alginolyticus, NG20 and ATCC 17749, and compared their efficacy with cefotaxime in order to find an alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of vibriosis. The obtained results show that the LL2 extract, with its major components identified as chrysoeriol, luteolin, and ß-sitosterol, exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against all the tested strains. In parallel, the LL3 extract, with the four major compounds luteolin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, salicin, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, and ß-sitosterol-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, showed significant bactericidal activity against these four strains; the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) varied from 2.0 to 3.0 µg/mL and from 3.5 to 5.0 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the LL3 extract could effectively increase the survival rate of the challenged fish at a dose of 5% (w/w) for the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and 3% (w/w) for the sea bass (Lates calcarifer). The LL3 extract showed a potential application of S. babylonica L. in the prevention and treatment of vibriosis in fish.

Crucial Roles of Ubiquitin Carboxy-Terminal Hydrolase L1 in Motor Neuronal Health by Drosophila Model.

Aims: Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) plays an important role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system and is distributed mostly in the brain. Previous studies have shown that mutated forms or reduction of UCH-L1 are related to neurodegenerative disorders, but the mechanisms of pathogenesis are still not well understood. To study its roles in motor neuronal health, we utilized the Drosophila model in which dUCH, a homolog of human UCH-L1, was specifically knocked down in motor neurons. Results: The reduction of Drosophila ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase (dUCH) in motor neurons induced excessive reactive oxygen species production and multiple aging-like phenotypes, including locomotive defects, muscle degeneration, enhanced apoptosis, and shortened longevity. In addition, there is a decrease in the density of the synaptic active zone and glutamate receptor area at the neuromuscular junction. Interestingly, all these defects were rescued by vitamin C treatment, suggesting a close association with oxidative stress. Strikingly, the knockdown of dUCH at motor neurons exhibited aberrant morphology and function of mitochondria, such as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion, an increase in mitochondrial size, and overexpression of antioxidant enzymes. Innovation: This research indicates a new, possible pathogenesis of dUCH deficiency in the ventral nerve cord and peripheral nervous systems, which starts with abnormal mitochondria, leading to oxidative stress and accumulation aging-like defects in general. Conclusion: Taken together, by using the Drosophila model, our findings strongly emphasize how the UCH-L1 shortage affects motor neurons and further demonstrate the crucial roles of UCH-L1 in neuronal health. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 257-273.

Estimating genetic diversity and population structure of 22 chicken breeds in Asia using microsatellite markers.

OBJECTIVE: Estimating the genetic diversity and structures, both within and among chicken breeds, is critical for the identification and conservation of valuable genetic resources. In chickens, microsatellite (MS) marker polymorphisms have previously been widely used to evaluate these distinctions. Our objective was to analyze the genetic diversity and relationships among 22 chicken breeds in Asia based on allelic frequencies. METHODS: We used 469 genomic DNA samples from 22 chicken breeds from eight Asian countries (South Korea, KNG, KNB, KNR, KNW, KNY, KNO; Laos, LYO, LCH, LBB, LOU; Indonesia, INK, INS, ING; Vietnam, VTN, VNH; Mongolia, MGN; Kyrgyzstan, KGPS; Nepal, NPS; Sri Lanka, SBC) and three imported breeds (RIR, Rhode Island Red; WLG, White Leghorn; CON, Cornish). Their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using 20 MS markers. RESULTS: In total, 193 alleles were observed across all 20 MS markers, and the number of alleles ranged from 3 (MCW0103) to 20 (LEI0192) with a mean of 9.7 overall. The NPS breed had the highest expected heterozygosity (Hexp, 0.718±0.027) and polymorphism information content (PIC, 0.663±0.030). Additionally, the observed heterozygosity (Hobs) was highest in LCH (0.690±0.039), whereas WLG showed the lowest Hexp (0.372±0.055), Hobs (0.384±0.019), and PIC (0.325±0.049). Nei's DA genetic distance was the closest between VTN and VNH (0.086), and farthest between KNG and MGN (0.503). Principal coordinate analysis showed similar results to the phylogenetic analysis, and three axes explained 56.2% of the variance (axis 1, 19.17%; 2, 18.92%; 3, 18.11%). STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the 22 chicken breeds should be divided into 20 clusters, based on the highest ΔK value (46.92). CONCLUSION: This study provides a basis for future genetic variation studies and the development of conservation strategies for 22 chicken breeds in Asia.

Pregnancy with Heart Disease: Maternal Outcomes and Risk Factors for Fetal Growth Restriction.

Caring for children and mothers suffering from cardiac disease is highly challenging, with issues including late diagnosis as well as inadequate infrastructure and supply of drugs. We aimed to evaluate maternal outcomes among pregnant women suffering from heart disease with a live birth, and explored the risk factors for fetal growth restriction among these patients. A retrospective study was performed at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Hanoi, Vietnam) over a 3-year period from 2014 to 2016. A total of 284 patients were enrolled in the study. Overall, most women were aged below 35 years and were diagnosed with heart disease before pregnancy. Of the women experiencing rheumatic heart disease, the prevalence of mitral valve regurgitation was the highest (40.14%), while the figure for aortic valve regurgitation was the lowest (4.23%). Of women with congenital heart defects, the most common defects were ventricular septal defect (VSD) and atrial septal defect (ASD) (19.37% and 16.55%, respectively), while 5.28% of mothers were diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot and 1.76% with patent ductus arteriosus. Noted clinical presentations of the patients included palpitation (63.38%), breathlessness (23.59%), leg edema (8.45%), and chest pain (8.1%). The common complications in the study population included 16.90% of women having heart failure and 19.37% having arrhythmias. The incidence of fetal growth restriction was 9.15%. Hypertension (odds ratio (OR): 59.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): 9.1-392.17), the heart disease types (ASD (OR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.19-15.29) and tetralogy of Fallot (OR: 6.82, 95% CI: 1.21-38.55)), and the complications (heart failure (OR: 10.34, 95% CI: 2.75-38.87) and pulmonary edema (OR: 107.16, 95% CI: 4.96-2313.93)) were observed as risk factors for intrauterine growth restriction. This study provides a cornerstone to promote further studies and to motivate people to apply evidence-based medical care for mothers with diagnosed cardiac disease in the antenatal and postnatal periods.

Isolation and genetic characterization of Nocardia seriolae from snubnose pompano Trachinotus blochii in Vietnam.

A total of 480 cage-cultured fish were collected from 4 coastal provinces in central Vietnam to investigate the causative agent of nocardiosis. Fish displayed unique characteristics such as paleness and lethargy and exhibited haemorrhages and ulcers on the skin. Prominent white nodules varying in size were observed in the spleen, kidney, and liver. Furthermore, histopathological sections showed typical granulomatous lesions in these organs. Using the Ziehl-Neelsen staining method, isolated bacteria exhibited acid-fast, bead-like filament morphology when cultured in brain-heart infusion medium or Ogawa medium. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA confirmed that the isolated bacterium was Nocardia seriolae. This study demonstrates for the first time an outbreak of N. seriolae in snubnose pompano in central Vietnam.

Cryopreservation of Radopholus similis, a tropical plant-parasitic nematode.

For obligate plant-parasitic nematodes, cryopreservation has advantages over the usual preservation methods on whole plants or axenic culture systems, because the latter two are labourious and time and space consuming. In addition, cross contamination among different isolates can occur easily. Moreover, specific genetic studies require maintenance of the original population. The nematode under investigation, Radopholus similis, is a plant-parasitic nematode from the humid tropics. Therefore, any treatment at low temperatures is likely to add extra stress to the nematode, making the development of a cryopreservation protocol extremely difficult. In this paper, we describe experiments to achieve a successful cryopreservation protocol for the tropical nematode R. similis using vitrification solution-based methods based on a well defined mixture of cryoprotectants in combination with ultra-rapid cooling and thawing rates. A two-step treatment was used consisting of an incubation in glycerol followed by the application of a vitrifying mixture of methanol, glycerol and glucose. After cryopreservation, the pathogenicity of the nematodes was not altered, since they could infect and reproduce on carrot discs after recovery in the Ringer solution. The cryopreservation method described can be used for routine cryopreservation of R. similis lines from different origins.

Study on dosage of amoxicilline and clavulanic acid in human serum by HPLC method

A simple, rapid, sensitive, precise and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection at wavelength of 205nm has been validated for the simultaneous determination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in human serum. Serum samples were deproteinized with methanol. The separation of 2 obtained compounds was achieved using a reversed phase C8 column and a mobile phase, consisting of acetonitrile-phosphate solution. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.625 – 10 g.ml-1 for amoxicillin and 0.3125 – 5 g.ml-1 for clavulanic acid. The quantitative limits are 0.625 and 0.3125 g.ml-1 for amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Analytical recoveries from human serum ranged from 93 to 96% for both components. This method was fully validated. It allows the simultaneous assay of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in biomedical applications. This method has been successfully applied to a pilot pharmacokinetic study in 3 healthy volunteers after a single oral administration of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid combination

Comparison between UV and HPLC methods in the dosage of pharmaceutical products containing a mixture of 2 components amoxicillin and clavulanic acid

UV - spectrophotometric (UV) and high performance liquid chromatographic methods (HPLC) were described in determining amoxicillin and clavulanic acid in pharmaceutical preparations. Spectrophotometrically, amoxicillin was determined by measuring the absorbance values at 320 nm in buffer-CuS04 solution (pH 5.2) for amoxicillin and at 313 nm in imidazol solution (pH 6.8) for clavulanic acid. Beer's Law was obeyed in range 12 - 32mg. ml-1 for amoxicillin and 12 - 22 mg. ml-1 for clavulanic acid. The simultaneous HPLC method depended upon using a reserved phase RP18 column at ambient temperature with a mobile phase consisting of methanol - phosphate solution pH 4.4 (4:96) at a flow rate 1ml.min-1. Quantitation was achieved by UV detection at 220 nm. Calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 50-150 mg. ml-1 for amoxicillin and 15-35 mg. ml-1 for clavulanic acid. Both spectrophotometry and HPLC method showed good linear correlation, precision and accuracy. The obtained results from spectrophotometry and HPLC method showed no significant difference. Both methods were successfully applied to the assay of commercial tablets. The procedures were rapid, simple and suitable for quality control applications