Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a notorious generalist plant pathogen that threatens more than 600 host plants, including wild and cultivated species. The molecular bases underlying the broad ...compatibility of S. sclerotiorum with its hosts is not fully elucidated. In contrast to higher plants and animals, alternative splicing (AS) is not well studied in plant‐pathogenic fungi. AS is a common regulated cellular process that increases cell protein and RNA diversity. In this study, we annotated spliceosome genes in the genome of S. sclerotiorum and characterized their expression in vitro and during the colonization of six host species. Several spliceosome genes were differentially expressed in planta, suggesting that AS was altered during infection. Using stringent parameters, we identified 1,487 S. sclerotiorum genes differentially expressed in planta and exhibiting alternative transcripts. The most common AS events during the colonization of all plants were retained introns and the alternative 3′ receiver site. We identified S. sclerotiorum genes expressed in planta for which (a) the relative accumulation of alternative transcripts varies according to the host being colonized and (b) alternative transcripts harbour distinct protein domains. This notably included 42 genes encoding predicted secreted proteins showing high‐confidence AS events. This study indicates that AS events are taking place in the plant pathogenic fungus S. sclerotiorum during the colonization of host plants and could generate functional diversity in the repertoire of proteins secreted by S. sclerotiorum during infection.
Alternative splicing occurs in the plant‐pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum during colonization of diverse host plants and could generate functional diversity in the repertoire of secreted proteins.
Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide problem characterized by hyperglycemia as well as the damage of the microscopic structure of the beta cells of Langerhans pancreatic islets. In the present study, the ...histological, immunohistochemical, morphometric, and biochemical alterations to pancreatic beta cells in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetes were assessed in rats treated with curcumin (CU) (100 mg/kg/day) or nano-curcumin (nCU) (100 mg/kg/day) for 1 month. Twenty-four adult male Wistar albino rats were distributed into four groups: the nondiabetic control group, the diabetic untreated group, and two diabetic groups treated with CU or nCUR, respectively. Blood glucose, serum insulin levels, and lipid profile were measured. The pancreatic tissues were collected and processed into paraffin sections for histological and immunohistochemical examination, oxidative stress markers, and real-time PCR expression for pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1). The insulin expression in beta cells was assessed using immunohistochemistry. Morphometrically, the percentage area of anti-insulin antibody reaction and the percentage area of islet cells were determined. STZ-induced deteriorating alteration in beta cells led to declines in the number of functioning beta cells and insulin immunoreactivity. In STZ-treated rats, CU and nCUR significantly reduced blood glucose concentration while increasing blood insulin level. It also caused a significant increase in the number of immunoreactive beta cells to the insulin expression and significant reduction of the immunoreactive beta cells to the caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, CU and nCUR could have a therapeutic role in the biochemical and microscopic changes in pancreatic beta cells in diabetes-induced rats through STZ administration with more bio-efficacy of nCUR.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of maternal body mass index (BMI, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) on labor progress in nulliparous women.
Methods
The ...present prospective cohort study enrolled primigravidae admitted to Kasr Al Ainy hospital, Cairo University, Egypt, during active labor between February 1, 2016, and February 28, 2017. Patients were classified into three equal groups using their BMI at admission: underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5–29.9), and obese (≥30). The primary outcome was the rate of cervical dilatation; secondary outcomes included the duration of the second stage of labor, neonatal delivery weight, and the mode of delivery.
Results
Among the 600 primigravidae enrolled (200 in each group), significant differences were recorded in the rates of cervical dilatation (P<0.001), and the duration of the active labor phase (P<0.001) and the whole of labor (P<0.001); in the obese group, the cervical dilatation rate was lowest and the durations of the active phase of labor and the whole of labor were longer. The incidence of intrapartum cesarean delivery (P<0.001) and neonatal delivery weight (P<0.001) also differed between the groups; both were highest in the obese group.
Conclusions
Patterns in labor progress, including cervical dilatation rate and labor duration, differed among patients with different BMI.
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02686073.
Among nulliparous women in Egypt, cervical dilatation rates and labor duration differed with patient body mass index.
Objective
To test the hypothesis that there is a higher rate of unsuccessful induction of labor (IOL) in post-term obese pregnant women compared to non-obese ones.
Methods
In this prospective cohort ...study, 144 obese (BMI > 30) and 144 non-obese (BMI < 29.9) post-term (> 41 weeks) pregnant women were recruited. IOL was done by misoprostol or amniotomy and oxytocin infusion according to the Bishop score. Comparison of percentage of failed IOL in both groups (primary outcome) was performed by the Chi-test. Logistic regression and multivariable regression were performed to assess the odds ratio (OR) of cesarean section (CS) and coefficient of delay in labor till vaginal delivery (VD) in obese versus (vs) non-obese groups. Adjustment for gestational age, parity, Bishop Score, membrane rupture and amniotic fluid index was done in both regression analyses.
Results
CS rate was significantly higher in obese group 26.4 vs 15.9%; difference in proportion (95% CI) 0.1 (0.01, 0.19);
P
value 0.02. 106 (73.6%) obese women and 121 (84.1%) non-obese women delivered vaginally. In addition, the duration till VD was significantly higher in obese group (22 vs 19 h,
P
value 0.01). After adjustment for possible confounding factors, the CS was still higher in the obese group in comparison to non-obese group (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.1, 3.7;
P
value 0.02). This finding suggested that obesity was an independent factor for failure of IOL. In addition, after adjustment for these confounders, obesity had the risk of increasing labor duration by 2.3 h (95% CI 0.1, 4.5) in cases that ended in VD.
Conclusion
Based on our results, we conclude that there is a higher risk of CS in obese postdate pregnant women undergoing IOL in comparison to non-obese counterparts. Therefore, obstetricians should pay more attention to advising pregnant women about optimal weight gain during pregnancy and counseling about the chances of VD in cases of IOL.
ClincalTrial.gov ID
NCT02788305.
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•Cellulose-magnetite nanocomposites were fabricated.•Nanocellulose was functionalized using different organic and inorganic acids.•Functionalized nanocellulose derivatives and ...cellulose-magnetite nanocomposites were characterized.•The catalytic activity of the fabricated materials was evaluated for esterification.•Oleic acid and methanol were used for the production of methyl oleate ester (biodiesel).
Cellulose-magnetite nanocomposites were fabricated via the adsorption of magnetite onto the surfaces of functionalized nanocellulose, using different organic and inorganic acids. The properties of functionalized nanocellulose derivatives and cellulose-magnetite nanocomposites were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), magnetic properties measurements, and thermal analysis. The catalytic activity of the functionalized nanocellulose and cellulose-magnetite nanocomposites was evaluated towards the esterification of oleic acid with methanol for the production of methyl oleate (biodiesel). The sulfonated cellulose-magnetite nanocomposite (MSNC) showed the highest catalytic activity toward the esterification reaction (96%) due to the high dispersion of the Lewis acid sites resulted from the impregnation of magnetite (0.98 wt%) in addition to the already presented Brönsted acid sites in the surface of the nanocellulose.
Lithic residue analysis is traditionally based upon the morphological identification of microresidues preserved on the surfaces of stone tools. In order to improve the reliability of these ...identifications, we apply multiple techniques beyond morphological description to characterize the residues on stone tools from Hummal, Syria. We first document the residues using visible light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and then characterize them using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared microscopy, and confocal Raman microscopy. Our analyses confirm that some of the residues are bitumen. X-ray diffraction analysis of associated sediments is used to identify the other residues.
•A new methodology of lithic residue analysis is presented.•It is applied to Middle Paleolithic stone tools from Hummal, Syria.•Lithic residues are characterized using microscopy, elemental analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy.•Sediments are analyzed using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.•These methods document the presence of bitumen residues as well as authigenic minerals on the lithics.
Marine natural products have achieved great success as an important source of new lead compounds for drug discovery. The Red Sea provides enormous diversity on the biological scale in all domains of ...life including micro- and macro-organisms. In this review, which covers the literature to the end of 2019, we summarize the diversity of bioactive secondary metabolites derived from Red Sea micro- and macro-organisms, and discuss their biological potential whenever applicable. Moreover, the diversity of the Red Sea organisms is highlighted as well as their genomic potential. This review is a comprehensive study that compares the natural products recovered from the Red Sea in terms of ecological role and pharmacological activities.
This retrospective observational online study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdown on female sexual functions and reproductive health. It included ...409 sexually active females. The sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The reproductive life was assessed by a structured self-administered questionnaire modified from Egypt Demographic and Health Survey. The study revealed a significant decrease in the overall FSFI score during the pandemic lockdown compared to the pre-pandemic score (19.3 ± 6 vs. 21.3 ± 6.4, P<0.001). Below half (41.6 %) of women were using contraception methods during the pandemic, while 27.9% had stopped taking contraception during the pandemic, 30.6% (57/186) of the pregnant women only tended to get pregnant. So, the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdown were associated with an elevated risk for female sexual dysfunction and altered women's reproductive health quality. Heath system should therefore develop new methods to provide basic reproductive health service, family planning services, and to ameliorate the female sexual function during COVID-19 pandemic including consults with physicians, counsellors, and psychologists, as well as health education programs, either in person or virtually via telemedicine. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 269: 64-75).
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