The present study evaluated the ability of methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE) to induce micronuclei and comet assay in vivo after 14 and 28 days exposure by the oral route. Rats administered MTBE orally at 800 or 1600 mg/kg/day in corn oil for 14 or 28 consecutive days. MTBE induced a higher number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes at a dose of 1600 mg for 14 days. MTBE produced slight increase in MNPCEs 28 days post-treatment with two dose levels. Conversely, the polychromatic erythrocytes and normochromatic erythrocytes (P/N) ratio declined with increasing dose and time of treatment. A significant increase in comet assay parameter tail moment was observed in animals receiving 1600 mg MTBE /kg b.w. for 28 days. These observations indicate the in vivo susceptibility of mammals to the genetic toxicity potential of MTBE.
Four new complexes, [Cu(Cpf)2](CH3COO)2∙5H2O (1), [Co(Cpf)2](CH3COO)2∙5H2O (2), [Pb(Cpf)2](CH3COO)2∙4H2O (3) and [Ag(Cpf)2]NO3∙2H2O (4) were prepared by the reaction of chloropyrifos with Cu(CH3COO)2∙H2O, Co(CH3COO)2∙4H2O, Pb(CH3COO)2∙3H2O and AgNO3 in ethanol, respectively. The complexes were characterized by melting point, Magnetic moment, Molar conductivities, elemental analyses measurements, IR and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The obtained data indicate that chloropyrifos interacted with metal ions in its neutral bidentate fashion. The thermal degradation (TGA and DTG) of chloropyrifos and its metal complexes were carried out in the range 30 – 800C and the decomposition mechanisms were proposed. The data obtained agreed quit well with the proposed structures and showed that the complexes were finally decomposed to the corresponding metal oxide or metal. The free base and its metal complexes were tested for their acaricidal activity by the Dipping method. The preliminary data showed that the complexes were less toxic than chloropyrifos.
The Psoas major muscle (PMM) is a long, thick, fusiform muscle and one of the muscular components of the posterior abdominal wall. The aim of this study was to assess the psoas major muscle thickness in apparently healthy adults in Port Harcourt metropolis. Two hundred and ten (210) apparently healthy volunteers aged 18 years and above were recruited. A high frequency (7.5 MHz) linear transducer of a 4D LOGIQ P6 General Electrics Ultrasound machine was used to measure the muscle at the point of maximum thickness. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21.0. Pearson correlation analysis was used to test for the correlation between PMM thickness and Age, Body Mass Index, Height and Weight.. Statistical test was considered significant at p ≤ 0.05 at 95% confidence interval. The mean PMMT was 34.28±5.15mm and correlated with age (r= 0.304, P<0.05), height (r=0.234, p=0.001), weight (r=0.535, p=0.000) and BMI (r=0.443, p=0.000). The PMMT was greater in males with a mean difference of 3.08mm. A mean difference of 6.42mm existed between the professionals and clerical support staff. There is significant difference in mean PMMT between the Igbos and Hausas. Psoas major muscle thickness varies significantly with occupation, ethnicity, age, gender and anthropometric variables.\n Keywords: Sonography, Evaluation, Apparently, Healthy, Psoas muscle, Thickness
Signalized intersections influence urban traffic networks’ performance. The design and operation of signalized intersections rely critically on the saturation flow rate. Despite the importance and the use of saturation flow rate, most of the transportation agencies do not collect data form the field. Instead, they use Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) suggested values, which are not necessarily applicable to different cities around the world. The saturation flow rate varies from one place to another. Therefore, using HCM’s suggested value can over or underestimate the actual local saturation flow rate. This may lead to wrong estimation of the intersection capacity and performance. The purpose of this research is to estimate saturation flow rate of signalized intersections in the UAE for each lane group under prevailing local conditions. Such values will help local transportation authorities to have a better estimation and optimization of signalized intersection performance, in the UAE. The results show that the mean saturation flow rate for through lanes, shared through and left lanes, and left turn lanes are 2104, 1904, and 1603 vehicles per hours, respectively. The obtained value for the saturation flow rate for through movement is higher than HCM’s suggested value by about 11%. Therefore, using HCM’s suggested value can lead to underestimation of local signalized intersections’ capacities. In addition, this value is less than saturation flow rates measured in other GCC countries due to strict traffic laws in the UAE
This work evaluated the effect of Callicostella pallida extract (CP) incorporated into a microemulsified system on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and co-culture of these cells with blood MN cells. The MCF-7 cells (ATCC) and the human blood mononuclear (MN) cells were used. MN cells, MCF-7 cells and co-culture (MN and MCF-7 cells) were pre-incubated for 24 h with or without CP or CP incorporated into the microemulsified system (CP-ME). The viability, superoxide, SOD, IL-4 and TNF-? in culture supernatant, and the apoptosis and necrosis were determined. There was a reduction in the SOD when the MCF-7 cells were incubated with CP, whereas there was increased SOD when the cells were treated with CP-ME. In co-culture, the SOD was higher when these cells were treated with PC-ME. The superoxide was higher in MN cells, MCF-7 cells and co-culture incubated with CP-ME. The TNF-? was higher in co-culture. The apoptosis and necrosis were higher in co-culture in cells incubated with CP-ME. These data suggest that CP-ME was able to activate cellular oxidative stress and induce the release of TNF-? and consequently cell death in co-culture of MN and MCF-7 cells, and CP-ME can be considered promising for future anti-tumor therapies.
Introduction: Type 1 diabetes, in general, manifests itself in childhood or adolescence and the treatment consists of insulin administration, medication use, food planning, and physical activity. Also, Type 2 diabetes often develops during adulthood and, in less severe cases, can be controlled through dietary planning and physical activity. Thus, therapies for both types include food planning and the consumption of healthy foods for health promotion. This depends on adequate information, which is provided through nutrition labeling, providing the diabetic population with the knowledge and analysis of industrialized products. Objective: To analyze the reading habit and the understanding of the nutritional information contained in the labels of processed foods by individuals with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Methods: Between May and September 2020, an observational study was carried out with an approach quantitative, which counted on the participation of 55 individuals with type 1 or 2 diabetes. The data collection was carried out from an online questionnaire that contained 12 questions about the interpretation of the labels of two industrialized foods commonly consumed by this public. Results: The sample consisted mostly (83.6%) of individuals over 60 years of age, which is divided into patients with type 1 (60%) and type 2 diabetes (40%). As for eating habits, 72.7% make use of processed foods daily, however, 69.1% usually read the labels on the packages before consuming them. Regarding the proposed label analysis: 25.5% of the individuals stated that the order of the ingredients presented on the packaging refers to the decreasing order of the constituents. The interpretation of the class of carbohydrates maltodextrin and maltitol was correct by 81.8% and 58.2%, respectively. Finally, 38.2% of the participants correctly classified polyols, sorbitol, and maltitol. Conclusion: Most of the individuals questioned had the habit of reading the labels on food packaging before consuming them and managed to identify variants for the designation of carbohydrate. However, despite the great majority of people with diabetes making regular use of industrialized products, only a small percentage knew the correct disposition of the ingredients contained in the ingested products.
Egyptian aquatic ecosystems have faced a rapid deterioration over the last decade. This deterioration results in severe effects on fish health and behavior. This study assessed the water quality of the drainage canal of Kalabsho sugarbeet factory and the Nile River. Histological and hematological changes in fish were estimated to evaluate the effects of altered water quality on fish. Water samples from the canal showed increased total dissolved solids, anions, and cations as well as decreased dissolved oxygen, compared to the Nile river. Fish from the drainage canal had lower levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and thrombocytes. Histological changes indicated several adverse effects of the deteriorated water quality in the drainage canal. Hematological alternations and histopathological changes have been also proved sensitive biomarkers for the detection of interactions between pollutants and biological compounds.
Dental students should be able to perform adequate endodontic treatments upon graduation. The purpose of the presented study was to determine the influence of the preliminary diagnosis on the outcomes of endodontic treatment performed by undergraduate students. Material and methods: The study sample consisted 827 teeth endodontically treated by students from the Faculty of Dental Medicine in Sofia, Bulgaria. They were divided into 3 groups according to the preliminary diagnosis. The distance between the end of the root canal filling and the radiographic apex was used to evaluate the quality of the root canal filling. Results: Good filling length was found in 68.95% of the teeth with preliminary diagnosis Pulpitis, 56.4% of the teeth with chronic periodontitis and 49.9% in the retreatment cases. Worst results were achieved in the retreatment of molars (26.2%). A statistically significant difference was observed when comparing premolars and molars for all diagnoses, as well as when comparing front teeth and molars with Irreversible pulpitis and Retreatment cases. For front teeth and premolars were proved to be with no statistically significant difference of the diagnosis. Conclusions: Based on the results of the study we might recommend the students to be allowed to do retreatment on molars only in strictly limited cases.
Phoenix dactylifera L. is a medicinal plant and it is extensively used in prevention and cure for chronic diseases. The present study investigated the effect of antidepressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant activities in rats by P. dactylifera extracts. Methanolic extracts of P. dactylifera fruit extract (PDF), P. dactylifera seed extract (PDS) and P. dactylifera fruit and seed extract mixture (PDM) for antidepressant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant activities in Sprague Dawley rats at 300, 200 and 100mg/kg body weight. Results indicated that TST and FST showed that rats struggling efforts and immobility time were higher in PDS, while locomotory behavior and immobility time were significantly increased in PDS and PDM, respectively. All extracts showed good antidepressant activity, but the highest value was exhibited by PDS, whereas analgesic activity and reduction in edema were demonstrated by PDF. Moreover, PDM revealed prominent anticoagulant activity and moderate activity in PDF. We can conclude that Phoenix dactylifera extracts prolongs the clotting time and have the potential to reduce the platelet aggregations, depression and inflammation. Further studies needed to find out the active components responsible for pharmacological effects.
Peripheral nerve function is significantly affected by age, with functional deficits resulting from fiber loss, myelin sheath abnormalities, or connective tissue changes and nerve vascularization. Age also influences the ability of peripheral nerves to regenerate and reinnervate target organs, with different patterns for motor, sensory and autonomic fibers. Experimental studies on aging show that morphological and morphometric changes of peripheral nerves of rats are not linear during life. Some of the morphological observations with aging include an increase in the heterogeneity of the structure of myelin fibers: changes in the thickness and shape of the myelin sheath, abnormalities in the width of Schmith Lanterman incisures, separation of myelin sheaths lamellae (myelin splits) appearance of ovoid myelin figures inside the axon, images suggestive of demyelination and axonal degeneration. Foamy cells with myelin content in the cytoplasm, suggestive of active macrophages, have also been identified as well as the proportion of irregular myelin fibers increased progressively with age. Morphometric parameters also change with aging, mainly the decrease in the area and diameter of the myelinated fiber and myelin sheath, the decrease in the area and diameter of the axon, and the decrease in the Schwann cell nuclei number. Functional studies confirmed nerve alterations with aging, in humans and experimental animals, demonstrating a reduction in nerve conduction velocity, with differences for sensory and motor nerves, being sensory nerves affected first. This review lightens up chronologic literature support indicating that aging affects peripheral nerve morphology and morphometric parameters, impairing nerve function, either in experimental animals or humans.
Corals reefs are ecosystems with great flora and fauna diversity that under anthropogenic and climatic stress produce chemical defense compounds. Therefore, we determined the phenols, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyllc1+c2, and carotenes content in Pocillopora capitata corals collected at three sites, off the coast of Jalisco (Central Mexican Pacific), under multiple stress conditions, in two different seasons. Phenols, chlorophyll-a/cm2, chlorophyllc1+ c2/cm2, and carotenes/cm2 content ranged from 1.49�4.43 �gGAE/g, 1.28�2.08 �g/cm2, 0.15�0.43 �g/cm2, and 0.20�0.77 �g/cm2, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the phenols and carotenes content between the seasons. The phenols and pigments content tended to be higher in the rainy season (October) than in the dry season (February).Key words: Phenols, carotenes, chlorophyll, hermatypic corals, oxidative stress
In this paper, implementation details of a cloud service brokerage for multi cloud environments presented. All the major elements and cloud service components of four major CSPs, i.e., AWS, Azure, GCS, and Aliyun are identified to derive a matrix that shows how to switch services and data from a cloud platform to another. Our CSB for multi cloud platforms is designed and implemented based on cloud service resources abstraction and property standardization of various cloud service environment. We performed real field tests applying our CSB software on bespinglobal.com to verify the feasibility and functionality our CSB for resource deployment and management.
Introduction: Academic leagues were designed by students and constituted a way to strengthen the inseparability of teaching, research, and extension and to contribute to the students\' curricular complementation. In this context, the changes in the way of teaching medical schools brought different methodological approaches as a model, here thought in a dichotomous way: the traditional model, characterized by the central figure of the teacher, and the active methodologies, characterized by the protagonism of the student in the learning process. Objective: To analyze the students\' perception regarding the contributions of academic leagues in medical education, considering the different methodological approaches (traditional and active). Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out with Academic Centers from 49 medical education institutions that answered an electronic questionnaire. Results: The participating institutions were classified according to the adopted methodology: traditional (44.9%), mixed (28.6%), and active (26.5%). The analyzes on the leagues identified activities carried out, themes of the leagues, and criteria of formation of the leagues. Regarding the activities developed, 59.2% carry out technical visits, 22.4% campaigns to extend the community, and 10.2% seminars, with none of the participating institutions having a preference for presenting seminars. Considering the leagues in progress, 93.9% are from surgery and 81.6% from medical clinic and gynecology and obstetrics. The criteria adopted for the formation of academic leagues are primarily of interest to students (98%). Conclusion: The curricular complementarity proposed by the leagues represents the academic\'s desire for the realization of central or peripheral contents for their training. Different from the initial hypothesis of the study, students of active methodology prefer theoretical classes, in the same way as students of traditional methodologies. The academic leagues provide students, in addition to the approach of medical practice, the realization of relevant content for their training and future entry into a residence.
This work was designed to evaluate the renoprotective effect of curcumin(Cur) or curcumin nanoparticles (CurNps) in chronic renal failure induced by adenine (AD) in male rats. Thirty-six adult male rats were divided into six groups, 6 rats each. The control, AD group, rats fed chew diet containing AD at a dosage of 0.25% w/w for 5 weeks, Cur orally gavage (100mg/kg b.wt.), CurNps orally received at a dose of 100mg/kg b.wt., the fifth and sixth groups were giving Cur or CurNps pre-administration of a diet containing AD by the same dose and route as groups 3, 4&2 respectively. The results showed that serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), urine microprotien& urine volume were significantly increased in AD fed group. Besides, we noticed a decline in antioxidant tested parameters accompanied by excessive MDA concentration, percentages of Bax, caspase-3, TNF-α, I-6& TGFβ, while percentages of Bcl2&VEGF; were significantly declined. Conversely, oxidative stress and renal function abnormalities caused by AD were potentially protected by the use of Cur or CurNps where most of these parameters go toward the normal value especially with the use of CurNps.
The present study aims to evaluate the therapeutic response of topical use of the fruit of Morinda citrifolia Linn in the healing of infected wounds, analyzing the healing time. 42 Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups of 21 animals: Group N (Topical cream prepared with the Morinda citrifolia Linn fruit) and Group C (Control). These groups were randomly divided into three subgroups according to the observation period and estimated sacrifice time of 7, 14, and 21 days. The healing volume of the wounds of the animals in the Noni group was statistically significant for the three times of analysis and the animals showed greater weight gain. and the formation of hair follicles in the animals of the Noni group. This study showed that topical use of Morinda Citrifilia Linn allowed an improvement in healing, as it has probable antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic actions without adverse events. There were stimulation of fibrin and collagen during the healing process.