Real-time assessment of bacteriophage T3-derived antimicrobial activity against planktonic and biofilm-embedded Escherichia coli by isothermal microcalorimetry

Bacterial biofilms, highly resistant to the conventional antimicrobial therapy, remain an unresolved challenge pressing the medical community to investigate new and alternative strategies to fight chronic implant-associated infections. Recently, strictly lytic bacteriophages have been revalued as powerful agents to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria even in biofilm. Here, the interaction of T3 bacteriophage and planktonic and biofilm Escherichia coli TG1, respectively, was evaluated using isothermal microcalorimetry. Microcalorimetry is a non-invasive and highly sensitive technique measuring growth-related heat production of microorganisms in real-time. Planktonic and biofilm E. coli TG1 were exposed to different titers of T3 bacteriophage, ranging from 10² to 10⁷ PFU/ml. The incubation of T3 with E. coli TG1 showed a strong inhibition of heat production both in planktonic and biofilm already at lower bacteriophage titers (10³ PFU/ml). This method could be used to screen and evaluate the antimicrobial potential of different bacteriophages, alone and in combination with antibiotics in order to improve the treatment success of biofilm-associated infections.     

Potato Disc Bioassay for Some Jordanian Medicinal Plants

Fifteen different plants representing different species, genera and families were used to test the effect of their aqueous extracts on tumor inhibition with a rapid, inexpensive, safe, animal sparing technique, and statistically reliable prescreen for in vivo murine leukemia antitumor activity, which is known as potato disc technique. The inoculum used contains the extract with the bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) that was known to cause crown gall tumor to different plant species especially dicotyledons and some gymnosperms. After 12 to 21 days of incubation the tumors appeared and were counted, and the maximum inhibition was then calculated. Thirteen species out of fifteen showed a good antitumor effect, and three of them showed a maximum inhibition of 80%. More experiments are necessary to determine the exact mechanism of action.     

Anti-Diarrheal Activity and Toxicity of Learng Pid Samud Recipe

Learng Pid Samud (LPS) recipe is a traditional remedy in Thai folk medicine to ease the common diarrhea. The anti-diarrheal potential of LPS recipe was herein examined in vitro using a guinea-pig ileum model. The LPS exerted an inhibitory effect on acetylcholine-induced smooth muscle contraction in the guinea pig ileum. Significantly, not only did the LPS reduce the total amount of feces in the induced diarrhea rats, but also the intestinal transit in the charcoal meal test. A single oral administration with the recipe at 5,000 mg/kg did not cause acute toxicity and the daily oral administration (1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg) for 90 days in rats did not produce any toxic signs and symptoms. In conclusion, the Learng Pid Samud recipe remedy is evidently safe and effective for the anti-diarrheal treatment which supports its therapeutic uses in the alternative medicine.     

HEPATOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AMOORA ROHITUKA

Abstract

Antihepatotoxic activity of a resuspended residue of the alcohol extract of Amoora rohituka W & A. (Meliaceae) was studied in rats with hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride (1 ml/kg, i.p.) was administered twice a week for 3 weeks and an extract of A. rohituka (50 mg/kg/day) was given orally for the same period. The rats were sacrificed 24 h after the last CC1₄ challenge. Carbon tetrachloride induced elevations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (CPT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and total plasma bilirubin concentration as well as depression of total plasma cholesterol concentration were reduced significantly by the concurrent treatment of rats with A. rohituka suspension. Changes in the histological architecture of the liver produced by CC1₄ where also protected by the administration of A. rohituka suspension. These results indicate that A. rohituka suspension possesses hepatoprotective action.     

Inhibitory Effects of Saussurea involucrata. Against Melanogenesis of Mouse-Derived Melanocyte Cells

Abstract

Extracts and fractions from the aerial parts of herbal materials of Saussurea involucrata. Kar et Kir ex Maxim (Compositae) were investigated for their whitening activity against mouse-derived immortalized melanocyte cell line. The extract of wild herbs (FS2) possessed a better inhibition (28.2% growth) against melanin cells than that (46.7%) of cultivated herbs (FS1). The whole extracts and middle-polar partitioning fraction show the inhibitory effects, whereas the water-soluble parts show a poor activity in the same assay.     

Knowing is believing: information and attitudes towards physical activity during pregnancy

Physical activity is safe for most pregnant women and improves maternal fitness and birth outcomes. Yet, despite evidence of benefit, prevalence rates are low. Research in other populations suggests that attitudes and information are associated with physical activity. We examined the sources and types of information that women receive about physical activity during pregnancy and their association with attitudes towards prenatal physical activity. We also investigated whether particular groups of women are more likely to receive physical activity information. Questionnaires were completed by 179 ethnically and socio-economically diverse pregnant women. Women who were younger, unpartnered, less educated and had less income were less likely to report receiving information about prenatal physical activity. Receipt of information concerning benefits and risks of activity, risks of inactivity and specific techniques was associated with more favourable attitudes towards physical activity. Women who perceived low risk of birth complications also held more favourable attitudes. Some viewed all forms of physical activity as dangerous. Results suggest that providing information about benefits and risks of prenatal physical activity may motivate pregnant women to practice better health behaviours.     

Natural Environments,Obesity, and Physical Activity in Nonmetropolitan Areas of the United States

Purpose: To assess the associations of the natural environment with obesity and physical activity in nonmetropolitan areas of the United States among representative samples by using 2 indices of outdoor activity potential (OAP) at the county level. Methods: We used the data from 457,820 and 473,296 noninstitutionalized adults aged over 18 years for obesity and physical activity, respectively, from the 2000‐2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The OAP indices were (1) a recreational opportunity index based on 24 variables related to outdoor physical activity, such as the number of facilities available for walking, biking, hiking, and swimming derived from the 1997 National Outdoor Recreation Supply Information System; and (2) a natural amenities index which was based on physical and social environmental characteristics, such as climate, topographic relief, land cover, and tourism. We fitted logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations to control for county level intracorrelation and tested each index separately to assess its relationship with obesity and physical activity. Findings: Recreational opportunities were higher in areas with greater natural amenities. After controlling for individual‐level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, the prevalence of obesity decreased and propensity for physical activity increased with increasing levels of both recreational opportunities and natural amenities. Conclusions: Multiple indices of OAP based on characteristics of the built, natural and social environments were associated with decreased obesity and increased physical activity in nonmetropolitan areas. Public health interventions should consider the opportunities and limitations offered by the natural environment for promoting physical activity and reducing obesity in rural areas.     

Essential Oils of Annual Sideritis Species Growing in Turkey

Water distilled essential oils of five annual Sideritis species collected from different regions of Turkey were analysed by GC/MS. Results are tabulated and compared with main components of the essential oils of perennial Sideritis species from Turkey.     

A meta-meta-analysis of the effect of physical activity on depression and anxiety in non-clinical adult populations

Amidst strong efforts to promote the therapeutic benefits of physical activity for reducing depression and anxiety in clinical populations, little focus has been directed towards the mental health benefits of activity for non-clinical populations. The objective of this meta-meta-analysis was to systematically aggregate and quantify high-quality meta-analytic findings of the effects of physical activity on depression and anxiety for non-clinical populations. A systematic search identified eight meta-analytic outcomes of randomised trials that investigated the effects of physical activity on depression or anxiety. The subsequent meta-meta-analyses were based on a total of 92 studies with 4310 participants for the effect of physical activity on depression and 306 study effects with 10,755 participants for the effect of physical activity on anxiety. Physical activity reduced depression by a medium effect [standardised mean difference (SMD) = ?0.50; 95% CI: ?0.93 to ?0.06] and anxiety by a small effect (SMD = ?0.38; 95% CI: ?0.66 to ?0.11). Neither effect showed significant heterogeneity across meta-analyses. These findings represent a comprehensive body of high-quality evidence that physical activity reduces depression and anxiety in non-clinical populations.