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Annals of Parasitology 2021Gastrointestinal (GI) infection is predominant globally, especially in people with low socio-economic status with existing illiteracy, ignorance, poor housing and...
Gastrointestinal (GI) infection is predominant globally, especially in people with low socio-economic status with existing illiteracy, ignorance, poor housing and lifestyle, and the surrounding environment. It has been implicated as a significant public health concern in the rural parts of many developing countries like Nepal. This study aimed to determine the diversity and prevalence of GI parasites in the highly marginalized indigenous Chepang communities in central Nepal. One hundred fresh stool samples of Chepangs were collected and preserved in 2.5% potassium dichromate solution. The samples were analyzed by direct wet mount, sedimentation, flotation, and acid-fast techniques and examined under the microscope at the total magnifications of 100Å~, 400Å~, and 1000Å~. We detected 97% prevalence rates with eight protozoan and six helminth parasites. Considering the infection’s concurrency, mixed pattern of infection was found to be higher than single pattern. Mixed infections from two to seven parasitic species were differently recorded in different samples. We also found that people’s eating habits were associated with GI parasitism (p=0.0034). “One Health” Approach/Principle accompanied by the detailed molecular and epidemiologic studies of parasitic transmission is required to identify the causal evidence critical in controlling and preventing parasitic infections.
Topics: Animals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Feces; Humans; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic; Nepal; Parasites; Prevalence; Risk Factors
PubMed: 34953115
DOI: 10.17420/ap6703.353 -
Veterinary Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) 2022infection is one of the protozoal diseases of animals caused by various species of (intracellular parasite) and causes reduced productivity and mortality in ruminants,...
INTRODUCTION
infection is one of the protozoal diseases of animals caused by various species of (intracellular parasite) and causes reduced productivity and mortality in ruminants, especially in young ones. Despite the fact that the disease is one of the leading causes of economic losses, there is little information in Ethiopia on the occurrence of the infection in cattle and sheep.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to April 2022 in and around Adama and Bishoftu towns with the objectives to estimate the prevalence of infection; identify circulating oocysts, the intensity/burden of infection and associated risk factors of infection in cattle and sheep. A total of 384 randomly selected (265 cattle and 119 sheep) fecal samples were collected from the rectum and examined by flotation technique using sheather's sugar solution to detect the oocysts of . A 2.5% potassium dichromate solution was added to the positive fecal samples for sporulation of the oocysts.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The overall prevalence of 48.95% infection was recorded during the study. 45.0% and 58% prevalence of the infection was registered in cattle and sheep, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference (P ˂ 0.05) in infection between the study animal species, age of the animals, breed, farm hygiene and management system. However, there was no significant difference in infection (P > 0.05) in sex, body condition of the animals and fecal consistency. The maximum oocysts per gram of feces was found to be 10,000. infection is of great importance to livestock producers and requires serious control and prevention initiatives.
PubMed: 36110350
DOI: 10.2147/VMRR.S377017 -
PeerJ 2020Deterioration of the ecological environment in recent years has led to increasing soil salinization, which severely affects the cultivation of agricultural crops. While...
BACKGROUND
Deterioration of the ecological environment in recent years has led to increasing soil salinization, which severely affects the cultivation of agricultural crops. While research has focused on improving soil environment through the application of pollution-free microbial fertilizers, there are relatively few plant growth-promoting bacteria suitable for saline-alkali environments. Although can adapt to saline-alkali environments to successfully colonize rhizosphere microenvironments, only a few studies have investigated its role in promoting crop growth. Its effect on the crop rhizosphere soil microenvironment is especially unclear.
METHODS
In this study, the biological function of and its colonization in maize seedling rhizosphere soil were studied in detail through selective media and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The effects of on the rhizosphere soil microenvironment and the growth of maize seedlings in saline-alkali and neutral soils were systematically analysed using the colorimetric method, the potassium dichromate volumetric method, and the diffusion absorption method.
RESULTS
Our results showed that played a role in indole acetic acid, acetoin, ammonia, phosphorus, and potassium production, as well as in nitrogen fixation. A high level of colonization was observed in the rhizosphere soil of maize seedlings. Following the application of in neutral and saline-alkali soils, the nutrient composition of rhizosphere soil of maize seedlings increased in varying degrees, more notably in saline-alkali soil. The content of organic matter, alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, alkaline phosphatase, sucrase, urease, and catalase increased by 64.22%, 117.39%, 175.64%, 28.63%, 146.08%, 76.77%, 86.60%, and 45.29%, respectively, insaline-alkalisoil.
CONCLUSION
, therefore, performed a variety of biological functions to promote the growth of maize seedlings and effectively improve the level of soil nutrients and enzymes in the rhizosphere of maize seedlings, undersaline-alkali stress conditions. It played an important role in enhancing the rhizosphere microenvironment of maize seedlings under saline-alkali stress.
PubMed: 32995084
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9894 -
PloS One 2021Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infect up to one-quarter of the global population, with a significant associated disease burden. The main human STH are: Ancylostoma...
Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) infect up to one-quarter of the global population, with a significant associated disease burden. The main human STH are: Ancylostoma spp. and Necator americanus (hookworms); Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis. The aim of this study was to establish a scalable system for stool STH multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qPCR). Stool samples collected in Fiji and preserved in potassium dichromate were transferred to Melbourne at ambient temperature. Samples were washed to remove potassium dichromate and DNA was extracted with the Mini-Beadbeater-24 and a column-based kit. A SYBR green qPCR to detect the vertebrate mitochondrial gene was used as a DNA extraction control. Samples were tested using a probe-based multiplex qPCR targeting A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and S. stercoralis, and in a second multiplex reaction to detect hookworms to the species level (A. duodenale, A. ceylanicum, N. americanus). An internal amplification control in both multiplex assays was included to prevent false-negative results due to PCR inhibitors. Samples were homogenised for a single cycle of 40 seconds to release STH DNA and washed stool was stored for up to 15 weeks at -30°C without compromising DNA. Our multiplex qPCR detected multiple species of STH without reduced sensitivity compared to singleplex. qPCR data from 40 stools was validated against STH-positive stools determined by microscopy. We have developed and validated an efficient and staged system for detecting six clinically important STH affecting humans that could be easily implemented without advanced automation in any qPCR-capable laboratory.
Topics: Animals; DNA, Helminth; Feces; Fiji; Helminths; Humans; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Workflow
PubMed: 34591904
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258039 -
Chinese Herbal Medicines Oct 2021To evaluate the quality of (AR) and (DC) and study the efficacy of herbal extracts of these two herbs on the treatment of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the quality of (AR) and (DC) and study the efficacy of herbal extracts of these two herbs on the treatment of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).
METHODS
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of effective components was performed using High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), and HPLC-Quadrupole Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-QTOF-MS). allergic ACD 3D model was established by incubating 3D reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) with skin sensitizer, potassium dichromate. A total of 65 gene expression that were associated with ACD, which included 24 antioxidant responsive element (ARE) and 41 SENS-IS genes were quantified by qRT-PCR. More than or equal to 10 ARE genes and 18 SENN-IS genes were induced by 1.3-fold, demonstrating the successful establishment of ACD model. Oil extracts of AR and DC were applied on the ACD model to study the efficacy.
RESULTS
Batch 3 of AR and batch 2 of DC showed presence of all active ingredients with the highest concentrations. Active ingredients of the herbs were extracted using a special oil and formulated into herbal oil extracts. The herbal oil extracts were able to down regulate the induced genes in the ACD skin model, bringing the tissue back to homeostatic status.
CONCLUSION
The oil extracts showed the potent efficacy of using AR and DC in ACD treatment. The combination study will be done to optimize the formulation ratio which will be developed into a topical cream.
PubMed: 36119360
DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2021.10.006 -
Clinical Kidney Journal Apr 2018Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], an environmental pollutant that originates mostly from anthropogenic sources, is a serious threat to human health. After entering into...
BACKGROUND
Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], an environmental pollutant that originates mostly from anthropogenic sources, is a serious threat to human health. After entering into cells, Cr(VI) is capable of producing excessive free radicals and causing tissue damage. The present study aims to reveal the toxic manifestation of Cr(VI) on the metabolic activity of renal tissue.
METHODS
Male Swiss albino mice were treated orally with potassium dichromate (KCrO) at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight for a period of 30 days. Important tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme activities like isocitrate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase, as well as the activities of enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation such as Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase, were measured. Additionally, transaminase and protease (pronase, cathepsin and trypsin) activities, tissue protein and free amino nitrogen were estimated in renal tissue. Glucose-6-phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities, as well as lactic acid, pyruvic acid and chromium contents, of kidneys were determined following standard protocols. Kidney histology was performed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.
RESULTS
Cr(VI) suppresses the rate-limiting enzymes of the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation indicating an inhibition of renal ATP production. It decreases protease activity by eliminating the protein substrates and alters the gluconeogenic pathway. Cr(VI) worsens the normophysiological attributes of renal tissue by enhancing the activity of alkaline phosphatase, pointing towards kidney disease. Histopathological observations confirmed these biochemical results through the presence of chronic tubular nephritis and altered glomerular structure. Cr(VI) retention occurs to a greater extent in renal tissue, which intensifies the toxic manifestation of this pollutant in the kidney.
CONCLUSIONS
Cr(VI) disrupts the metabolic interaction between carbohydrates and proteins in mammalian renal tissue.
PubMed: 29644063
DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfx069 -
Nanoscale Advances Nov 2021Carbon nanomaterials such as carbon dots (0D), carbon nanotubes (1D), graphene (2D), and graphite (3D) have been exploited as electrode materials for various... (Review)
Review
Carbon nanomaterials such as carbon dots (0D), carbon nanotubes (1D), graphene (2D), and graphite (3D) have been exploited as electrode materials for various applications because of their high active surface area, thermal conductivity, high chemical stability and easy availability. In addition, due to the strong affinity between carbon nanomaterials and various catalysts, they can easily form metal carbides (examples: ionic, covalent, interstitial and intermediate transition metal carbides) and also help in the stable dispersion of catalysts on the surface of carbon nanomaterials. Thermally expanded graphite (TEG) is a vermicular-structured carbon material that can be prepared by heating expandable graphite up to 1150 °C using a muffle or tubular furnace. At high temperatures, the thermal expansion of graphite occurred by the intercalation of ions (examples: SO , NO , Li, Na, K, ) and oxidizing agents (examples: ammonium persulfate, HO, potassium nitrate, potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate, ) which helped in the exfoliation process. Finally, the obtained TEG, an intumescent form of graphite, has been used in the preparation of composite materials with various conducting polymers (examples: epoxy, poly(styrene--acrylonitrile), polyaniline, ) and metal chlorides (examples: FeCl, CuCl, and ZnCl) for hydrogen storage, thermal energy storage, fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors, sensors, The main features of TEG include a highly porous structure, very lightweight with an apparent density (0.002-0.02 g cm), high mechanical properties (10 MPa), thermal conductivity (25-470 W m K), high electrical conductivity (106-108 S cm) and low-cost. The porosity and expansion ratio of graphite layers could be customized by controlling the temperature and selection of intercalation ions according to the demand. Recently, TEG based composites prepared with metal oxides, chlorides and polymers have been demonstrated for their use in energy production, energy storage, and electrochemical (bio-) sensors (examples: urea, organic pollutants, Cd, Pb, ). In this review, we have highlighted and summarized the recent developments in TEG-based composites and their potential applications in energy storage, fuel cells and sensors with hand-picked examples.
PubMed: 36133482
DOI: 10.1039/d1na00109d -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Oct 2022Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] exists environmentally and occupationally. It has been shown to pose a carcinogenic hazard in certain occupations. This study was to...
Hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] exists environmentally and occupationally. It has been shown to pose a carcinogenic hazard in certain occupations. This study was to investigate the role of high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) in Cr (VI)-induced metabolism reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis in A549 and HELF cells. First, knockdown of HMGA2 by siHMGA2 significantly attenuated Cr (VI)-reduced expression of OXPHOS-related proteins (COX IV and ND1) and mitochondrial mass, indicating that HMGA2 was involved in Cr (VI)-reduced OXPHOS. Overexpression of HMGA2 by transfection of HMGA2-DNA plasmids reduced the expression of COX IV, ND1 and mitochondrial mass, suggesting the negative role of HMGA2 in OXPHOS. Secondly, both CCCP, the inhibitor of mitochondrial function, and the ER stress inhibitor, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), decreased the level of HMGA2, indicating that the interaction of mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress resulted in Cr (VI)-induced HMGA2 expression. Further study demonstrated that ER stress/HMGA2 axis mediated the metabolism rewiring from OXPHOS to aerobic glycolysis. Notably, Cr (VI) induced the accumulation of HMGA2 proteins in mitochondria and ChIP assay demonstrated that HMGA2 proteins could bind to D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which provided the proof for HMGA2-modulating OXPHOS. Taken together, our results suggested that the interaction of mitochondria and ER stress-enhanced HMGA2 played an important role in Cr (VI)-induced metabolic reprogramming from OXPHOS to glycolysis by binding directly to D-loop region of mtDNA. This work informs on the potential mode of action for Cr (VI)-induced tumors and builds on growing evidence regarding the contribution of cellular metabolic disruption contributing to carcinogenicity.
Topics: Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone; Chromium; DNA, Mitochondrial; Glycolysis; Mitochondria
PubMed: 36116352
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114085 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022The environmental impact and availability of ingredients are vital for the new generation of rocket propellants. In this context, several novel composite propellants...
The environmental impact and availability of ingredients are vital for the new generation of rocket propellants. In this context, several novel composite propellants were prepared based on the "greener" oxidizer (PSAN), a micronized aluminum-magnesium alloy fuel, iron oxide powder burn rate modifier, triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN) energetic plasticizer and a polyurethane (PU) binder. The novelty of this study is brought by the innovative procedure of synthesizing and combining the constituents of these heterogeneous compositions to obtain high-performance "eco-friendly" rocket propellants. The polymorphism shortcomings brought by ammonium nitrate in these energetic formulations have been solved by its co-crystallization with potassium salts (potassium nitrate, potassium chromate, potassium dichromate, potassium sulphate, potassium chlorate and potassium perchlorate). Polyester-polyol blends, resulting from recycled post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) glycolysis, were utilized for the synthesis of the polyurethane binder, especially designed for this type of application. To adjust the energetic output and tailor the mechanical properties of the propellant, the energetic plasticizer TEGDN was also involved. The performance and safety characteristics of the novel composites were evaluated through various analytical techniques (TGA, DTA, XRD) and specific tests (rate of combustion, heat of combustion, specific volume, chemical stability, sensitivity to thermal, impact and friction stimuli), according to NATO standards, providing promising preliminary results for further ballistics investigations.
PubMed: 36556767
DOI: 10.3390/ma15248960 -
Se Pu = Chinese Journal of... Jan 2023Glutathione (GSH) is vital for oxidative stress resistance and heavy metals detoxification. It is significant to develop a sensitive and accurate quantitative GSH...
Glutathione (GSH) is vital for oxidative stress resistance and heavy metals detoxification. It is significant to develop a sensitive and accurate quantitative GSH approach for the toxicity mechanism for studying heavy metals in cells. A high-sensitive capillary electrophoresis-laser induced fluorescence (CE-LIF) detection approach was proposed in this study to detect GSH content in cells. The approach employed HepG2 cells as an object and 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (NDA) with the active group of aromatic -dialdehyde as a labeling reagent. The effects of buffer solution types, pH, additives on the GSH reaction rate with NDA, and the sensitivity of NDA-GSH were systematically investigated. The sensitivity of NDA-GSH and the reaction rate of GSH with NDA were compared in tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) buffer solution at pH 7.4 or 9.2 and borate-Tris buffer solution at pH 9.2. The results revealed that the NDA-GSH sensitivity was the highest and the reaction rate of GSH and NDA was the fastest in borate buffer solution at pH 9.2. The effects of the four additives on the sensitivity of NDA-GSH were further compared. The best additive was revealed to be -cyclodextrin (-CD). GSH reacted with NDA to reach equilibrium within 5 min under the optimal experimental conditions, and the electrophoretic signal of NDA-GSH could be seen in 3 min. Quantitative analysis of GSH in HepG2 cells was performed using an external standard approach by determining a series of GSH standard solutions. The results revealed that the approach had a good linear relationship with the peak area vs. concentration (0.01-20.00 mmol/L) of GSH. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of GSH were determined using signal-to-noise ratios of 3 (=3) and 10 (=10), which were 0.006 μmol/L and 0.020 μmol/L, respectively. The approach's spiked recoveries were 95.7%-112.6%, with relative standard deviations of the approach being 3.8%-5.0% (=3). This approach offers high sensitivity, good stability, accuracy, and reliability. To study the relationship between the toxicity of arsenic and chromium on HepG2 cells and the content of GSH in HepG2 cells, the effects of arsenic and chromium with different valences on cell viability were analyzed. The results illustrated that the cytotoxicity of potassium dichromate (Cr(Ⅵ)) was the strongest. The variations of GSH content in HepG2 cells stimulated with arsenite (As(Ⅲ)), arsenate (As(Ⅴ)), chromium chloride (Cr(Ⅲ)), and Cr(Ⅵ) were analyzed by the proposed approach and analysis of intracellular GSH imaging. The results revealed that the stimulation group i. e. analyzed doses (low-dose 2 mg/L, high-dose 5 mg/L) of As(Ⅲ), As(Ⅴ), and Cr(Ⅲ) had no obvious effect on GSH content in HepG2 cells compared with the control group, whereas high-dose Cr(Ⅵ) can significantly reduce GSH content in HepG2 cells. Considering the analysis of cytotoxicity of As(Ⅲ), As(Ⅴ), Cr(Ⅲ), and Cr(Ⅵ), it shows that the content of GSH in HepG2 cells is related to cytotoxicity, and the content of GSH will decrease with the increase in cytotoxicity.
Topics: Arsenic; Fluorescence; Reproducibility of Results; Borates; Glutathione; Chromium; Electrophoresis, Capillary; Lasers
PubMed: 36633080
DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1123.2022.04018