In this study, the effect of Moringa oleifera extracts were investigated on an immunosuppressed model of cyclophosphamide-induced Swiss mice. M. oleifera seed and root extracts (2.0 g kg
−1
body wt) ...were administered orally for 7 consecutive days; cyclophosphamide (CP) (200 mg kg
−1
i.p.) was administered by IV on the 4
th
day. Results indicated that the extracts of the M. oleifera seeds and roots ameliorated the immunosuppressive effects of CP on delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, leukocyte counts, relative organ weight, IgM concentration, serum TNF-α assay and micro-histological images. This study demonstrated in vivo the therapeutic effect of M. oleifera on the immune response in clinical application.
Background
The COVID‐19 pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 remains public health burdens and many unresolved issues worldwide. Molecular assays based on real‐time RT‐PCR are critical for the detection of ...SARS‐CoV‐2 in clinical specimens from patients suspected of COVID‐19.
Objective
We aimed to establish and validate an in‐house real‐time RT‐PCR for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2.
Methodology
Primers and probes sets in our in‐house real‐time RT‐PCR assay were designed in conserved regions of the N and E target genes. Optimized multiplex real‐time RT‐PCR assay was validated using the first WHO International Standard (NIBSC code: 20/146) and evaluated clinical performance.
Results
The limit of detection validated using the first WHO International Standard was 159 IU/ml for both E and N target genes. The evaluation of clinical performance on 170 clinical samples showed a positive percent agreement of 100% and the negative percent agreement of 99.08% for both target genes. The Kappa value of 0.99 was an excellent agreement, the strong correlation of Ct values observed between two tests with r2 = 0.84 for the E gene and 0.87 for the N gene. Notably, we assessed on 60 paired saliva and nasopharyngeal samples. The overall agreement was 91.66%, and Kappa value of 0.74 showed a high agreement between two types of samples. When using nasopharyngeal swabs as the reference standard, positive percent agreement, and negative percent agreement were 91.83% and 90.90%, respectively.
Conclusion
In the present study, we established and validated an in‐house real‐time RT‐PCR for molecular detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 in a resource‐limited country.
Background The BRAF.sup.V600E gene encodes for the mutant BRAF.sup.V600E protein, which triggers downstream oncogenic signaling in thyroid cancer. Since most currently available methods have focused ...on detecting BRAF.sup.V600E mutations in tumor DNA, there is limited information about the level of BRAF.sup.V600E mRNA in primary tumors of thyroid cancer, and the diagnostic relevance of these RNA mutations is not known. Methods Sixty-two patients with thyroid cancer and non-malignant thyroid disease were included in the study. Armed with an ultrasensitive technique for mRNA-based mutation analysis based on a two step RT-qPCR method, we analysed the expression levels of the mutated BRAF.sup.V600E mRNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of thyroid tissues. Sanger sequencing for detection of BRAF.sup.V600E DNA was performed in parallel for comparison and normalization of BRAF.sup.V600E mRNA expression levels. Results The mRNA-based mutation detection assay enables detection of the BRAF.sup.V600E mRNA transcripts in a 10,000-fold excess of wildtype BRAF counterparts. While BRAF.sup.V600E mutations could be detected by Sanger sequencing in 13 out of 32 malignant thyroid cancer FFPE tissue samples, the mRNA-based assay detected mutations in additionally 5 cases, improving the detection rate from 40.6 to 56.3%. Furthermore, we observed a surprisingly large, 3-log variability, in the expression level of the BRAF.sup.V600E mRNA in FFPE samples of thyroid cancer tissue. Conclusions The expression levels of BRAF.sup.V600E mRNA was characterized in the primary tumors of thyroid cancer using an ultrasensitive mRNA-based mutation assay. Our data inspires further studies on the prognostic and diagnostic relevance of the BRAF.sup.V600E mRNA levels as a molecular biomarker for the diagnosis and monitoring of various genetic and malignant diseases. Keywords: Thyroid cancer, BRAF mutation, mRNA mutation assay, Diagnosis
Nb-doped TiO2 (TNO) thin films were prepared by annealing at 300°C for 30min after a magnetron-sputter process. A laser-irradiated post-annealing Raman scattering analysis indirectly showed the ...possible formation of small size anatase TNO clusters within the thin film matrix Although the TNO thin films were not crystallized, oxygen vacancies were created by adding H2 into the sputter gas during the deposition process. This improved the conductivity and carrier concentration of the thin films. As the ratio of H2 in sputter gas is f(H2) = H2/Ar+H2 = 10%, the carrier concentration of the amorphous TNO thin film reached 1022 (cm−3) with the resistivity being about 10−2 (Ω.cm). Even though a new methodology to decrease the fabrication temperature is not presented; this study demonstrates an efficient approach to shorten the annealing process, which ends prior to the crystallization of the thin films. Besides, in situ H2 addition into the sputter atmosphere is proven to be a good solution to enhance the electrical conductivity of semiconductor thin films like TNOs, despite the fact that they are not well crystallized.
The brown planthopper (BPH) is a crucial pest of rice in tropical zones like the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. It economically causes severe loss to the rice harvest via direct nutritional depletion. Many ...studies address the BPH surveillance by using networks of wireless sensors that are mounted on light traps. However, these approaches have not been confirmed as effective deployment due to inoperative light traps’ locations. The problem is that the geographical area of towns is not identical, leading to unnecessary redundancy of sensors and light traps. Our aim in this article is to optimize the locations of BPH sensor networks by utilizing cellular automata and honeycomb architecture which have not been affected by the spatial characteristic geographically. The authors have made several contributions regarding the mentioned problem by (i) quantitatively proving that the deployment cost of BPH sensor networks is significantly reduced, and consequently (ii) optimizing the BPH sensor network. Therefore, the appropriate configuration of the network is maintained in any circumstances. The experiments have been performed on BPH surveillance networks in Hau Giang, a substantial rice province in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.
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