The aim of this study was obtain a model that maximizes growth and production of inulinase and invertase by Aspergillus niger ATCC 20611, employing response surface methodology (RSM). The RSM with a ...five-variable and three-level central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the medium composition. Results showed that the experimental data could be appropriately fitted into a second-order polynomial model with a coefficient of determination (R2) more than 0.90 for all responses. This model adequately explained the data variation and represented the actual relationships between the parameters and responses. The pH and temperature value of the cultivation medium were the most significant variables and the effects of inoculum size and agitation speed were slightly lower. The intra-extracellular inulinase, invertase production and biomass content increased 10–32 fold in the optimized medium condition (pH 6.5, temperature 30°C, 6% (v/v), inoculum size and 150rpm agitation speed) by RSM compared with medium optimized through the one-factor-at-a-time method. The process development and intensification for simultaneous production of intra-extracellular inulinase (exo and endo inulinase) and invertase from A. niger could be used for industrial applications.
Oil palm ecosystems comprise a wide range of fungi, bacteria, insects, nematodes, and viruses that are significantly responsible for reducing crop productivity. One of the most destructive diseases ...of oil palm caused by Ganoderma boninense, a wood decaying fungi, is basal stem rot (BSR). The BSR occurs due to fungal mycelia invasion, which spreads to the bole of the plant. In addition to spreading by contact with infected roots, BSR also spreads via airborne basidiospores. Cell wall components including lignins are usually broken down by these fungi. The BSR causes the reduction of oil palm fresh fruit bunch (FFB) yield and the collapse of the palms. Plants show varying degrees of protective potential under unfavourable conditions, such as attack by a variety of pathogenic microorganisms and herbivores as well as different abiotic stresses in nature, depending on the ability of the plants to produce secondary metabolites, including phenolics, terpenes, sulphur (S)- and nitrogen (N)-containing compounds. So far, few studies have highlighted the importance of secondary metabolites involved in the response of oil palm to BSR. This review provides an overview of some of the metabolites involved in the defence mechanisms of plants against pathogenic microbes as well as under various abiotic stresses. This study also illustrates the effect of N, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers towards the suppression of pathogenic attacks by increasing the production of secondary metabolites.
•Role of secondary metabolite compounds against pathogen attack in oil palm.•Importance of NPK fertilizer in increasing susceptibility of oil palm against Ganoderma boninesis.•Improve yield of Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis).
In the present study, 63 polymorphic microsatellite markers related to rice blast resistance genes were fluorescently labelled at the 5′-end with either 6-FAM or HEX using the G5 dye set and ...incorporated into a multiplex SSR–PCR for the detection of fragments using an automated system. For rice F3 families obtained from crosses between Pongsu Seribu 2 (Malaysian blast resistant cultivar) and Mahsuri (a susceptible rice cultivar), the genotypes for 13 designated multiplex SSR panels were determined. The genotyping assays were performed using a capillary-based ABIPRISM 3100 genetic analyser. The sizes of the SSRs alleles observed in the range from 79 to 324bp. The observed marker segregation data were analysed using the Chi2 test. A genetic linkage map covering ten chromosomes and comprising 63 polymorphic SSR markers was constructed, and the distorted loci were localised to linkage groups. The results indicated that distorted loci are presented on eight chromosomes.
Over the past decade there has been a significant growth in bioinformatics databases, tools and resources. Although, bioinformatics is becoming more specific, increasing the number of ...bioinformatics-wares has made it difficult for researchers to find the most appropriate databases, tools or methods which match their needs. Our coordinated effort has been planned to establish a reference website in Bioinformatics as a public repository of tools, databases, directories and resources annotated with contextual information and organized by functional relevance. Within the first phase of BioInfoBase development, 22 experts in different fields of molecular biology contributed and more than 2500 records were registered, which are increasing daily. For each record submitted to the database of website almost all related data (40 features) has been extracted. These include information from the biological category and subcategory to the scientific article and developer information. Searching the query keyword(s) returns links containing the entered keyword(s) found within the different features of the records with more weights on the title, abstract and application fields. The search results simply provide the users with the most informative features of the records to select the most suitable ones. The usefulness of the returned results is ranked according to the matching score based on the Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) methods. Therefore, this search engine will screen a comprehensive index of bioinformatics tools, databases and resources and provide the best suited records (links) to the researchers need. The BioInfoBase resource is available at www.bioinfobase.info.
Methamphetamine (METH) is a potent psychomotor stimulant that has a high potential for abuse in humans. In addition, it is neurotoxic, especially in dopaminergic neurons. Long-lasting exposure to ...METH causes psychosis and increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Apelin-13 is a novel endogenous ligand which studies have shown that may have a neuroprotective effect. Therefore, we hypothesized that Apelin-13 might adequately prevent METH-induced neurotoxicity via the inhibition of apoptotic, autophagy, and ROS responses. In this study, PC12 cells were exposed to both METH (0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 mmol/L) and Apelin-13 (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0 μmol/L) in vitro for 24 h to measure determined dose, and then downstream pathways were measured to investigate apoptosis, autophagy, and ROS responses. The results have indicated that Apelin-13 decreased the apoptotic response post-METH exposure in PC12 cells by increasing cell viability, reducing apoptotic rates. In addition, the study has revealed Apelin-13 decreased gene expression of Beclin-1 by Real-Time PCR and LC3-II by western blotting in METH-induced PC12 cells, which demonstrated autophagy is reduced. In addition, this study has shown that Apelin-13 reduces intracellular ROS of METH-induced PC12 cells. These results support Apelin-13 to be investigated as a potential drug for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It is suggested that Apelin-13 is beneficial in reducing oxidative stress, which may also play an important role in the regulation of METH-triggered apoptotic response. Hence, these data indicate that Apelin-13 could potentially alleviate METH-induced neurotoxicity via the reduction of oxidative damages, apoptotic, and autophagy cell death.
Doctoral programs have consistently garnered the attention of policymakers in medical education systems due to their significant impact on the socio-economic advancement of countries. Therefore, ...various doctoral programs have been implemented with diverse goals. In Iran, a research doctorate program, known as PhD by Research, was introduced primarily to engage in applied research related to healthcare needs. Nevertheless, the achievement of the program's goals has been questioned. This study aimed to identify the implementation challenges of the Research Doctorate Program and its solutions in Iran.BACKGROUNDDoctoral programs have consistently garnered the attention of policymakers in medical education systems due to their significant impact on the socio-economic advancement of countries. Therefore, various doctoral programs have been implemented with diverse goals. In Iran, a research doctorate program, known as PhD by Research, was introduced primarily to engage in applied research related to healthcare needs. Nevertheless, the achievement of the program's goals has been questioned. This study aimed to identify the implementation challenges of the Research Doctorate Program and its solutions in Iran.This descriptive qualitative study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research: A Synthesis of Recommendations and was conducted in two steps. Firstly, the challenges of the Iranian Ph.D. by research program were identified through the perspectives of the program's students and graduates. In the second step, relevant solutions to these challenges were determined by focus groups of key informant experts. The transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.METHODThis descriptive qualitative study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research: A Synthesis of Recommendations and was conducted in two steps. Firstly, the challenges of the Iranian Ph.D. by research program were identified through the perspectives of the program's students and graduates. In the second step, relevant solutions to these challenges were determined by focus groups of key informant experts. The transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.Five students and six graduates were interviewed in the first step and seven experts participated in the second one. The challenges and related solutions are explored in four main themes, including: (1) admission criteria, (2) program goals and expected outcomes, (3) curricula, and (4) financial and human resources. The study showed that various dimensions of the doctoral program are not aligned with each other and how to adapt the program in these dimensions.RESULTSFive students and six graduates were interviewed in the first step and seven experts participated in the second one. The challenges and related solutions are explored in four main themes, including: (1) admission criteria, (2) program goals and expected outcomes, (3) curricula, and (4) financial and human resources. The study showed that various dimensions of the doctoral program are not aligned with each other and how to adapt the program in these dimensions.The study revealed the importance of a systematic approach in defining various dimensions of doctoral programs according to program goals and provided specific solutions for defining a research doctorate program in the context of a low- and middle-income country.CONCLUSIONThe study revealed the importance of a systematic approach in defining various dimensions of doctoral programs according to program goals and provided specific solutions for defining a research doctorate program in the context of a low- and middle-income country.
Dr. Lee questioned multiple topics that needs to be addressed for better clearance. As provided the commentary they asked about the pedicle status of our cases. To equal the severity indices in both ...groups, before group allocation, we did not include obvious and dislocated bilateral pedicular fractures to prevent selection biases. However, it is worth mentioning pedicular fracture has no prognostic role in Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score (TLICS)/Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) classifications. KCI Citation Count: 0
A 67‐year‐old female was hospitalized due to right‐sided hemiparesis and neck pain with rapid deterioration to a deep coma. She had received the Sinopharm vaccine 2 days earlier. MRI showed extensive ...cervicothoracic hematomyelia. She received intensive medical care for 2 months and was discharged. An 18‐month follow‐up showed significant neurological recovery.
COVID‐19 vaccines are relatively safe, but serious complications are expected regarding their emergency approval. Hematomyelia, such as other spinal cord lesions, can be expected in the post‐vaccination period, emphasizing higher healthcare providers' awareness.
•A standardized neurosurgical approach was opted for best fusion outcomes accompanied by maximal infection eradication in treatment of spondylodiscitis.•The fusion rate was 92.3 %. Proximal ...junctional kyphosis incidence was 16.3 % and had a significant association with on-admission neurological symptoms, and thoracic and thoracolumbar junction involvements.•Patients with older age, neurological symptoms, and comorbidities are expected to experience less favorable clinical outcomes.
To investigate the fusion construct properties, construct length, intervertebral prosthesis (IVP) selection, bone grafting methods, complications management, and follow-up outcomes of spondylodiscitis fusion.
This case series was conducted in Al-Zahra University referral hospital from March 2016 to November 2021. All the surgery-eligible patients were enrolled. Those who did not participate or failed the neurosurgical intervention were excluded. A unified neurosurgical protocol was defined. After operation and follow-up, all variables were documented. IBM SPSS v.26 was used for data analysis. P-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
Ninety-two patients were reviewed in the final analysis with 65.2 % males. The mean age was 55.07 ± 14.22 years old. The most frequent level of pathology and surgery was the lumbar spine (48.9 %). Short and long constructs were almost equally used (57.6 and 42.4 %, respectively). Bone graft mixture was the dominant IVP (75 %). The most frequent persistent postoperative symptom was back pain (55.4 %), while the neurological deficits resolution rate was 76.7 %. The fusion rate was 92.3 %. Proximal junctional kyphosis incidence was 16.3 % and had a significant association with on-admission neurological symptoms, thoracic and thoracolumbar junction involvements (p < 0.05). Follow-up Oswestry disability index scores showed 44.6 % of the patients had mild or no functional disabilities. Advanced age, On-admission deficits, comorbidities, titanium cages, and poor fusion status were associated with poor functional outcomes and higher mortality rates (P < 0.05).
The introduced neurosurgical protocol could effectively achieve acceptable SD treatment, spine stabilization, and fusion with low long-term surgical complications. Autologous bone graft mixture in comparison to titanium cages showed a higher fusion rate with a lower mortality rate. Patients with older age, neurological symptoms, and comorbidities are expected to experience less favorable clinical outcomes.
Close contact tracing is an essential measure that countries are applying to combat the epidemic of COVID-19. The purpose of contact tracing is to rapidly identify potentially infected individuals ...and prevent further spread of the disease. In this study, based on the factors affecting the COVID-19 transmission, a scoring protocol is provided for close contact tracing.
First, the factors affecting the COVID-19 transmission in close contacts were identified by a rapid review of the literature. Data were gathered by searching the Embase, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. Then, by formulating and scoring the identified factors with two sessions of the expert panel, close contact transmission risk score determined, and a protocol for contacts tracing was designed.
Close contact transmission risk depends on the contact environment characteristics, the infectivity (virus shedding) of the sentinel case, and contact characteristics. Based on these factors, the close contact transmission risk score and contact tracing protocol were prepared.
The close contact transmission risk scores will provide the ability to contact classifications and developing specific tracing strategies for them. Given that there are not any specific treatments for COVID-19 and lack of universal vaccination, applying nonpharmaceutical measures such as contact tracing along with physical distancing is very crucial. Therefore, we recommended this model to the evaluation of exposure risk and contact tracing.
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