Syncope on presentation is a surrogate for submassive and massive acute pulmonary embolism

Introduction

There are conflicting data regarding the prognostic value of syncope in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Impact of dietary solvents on flexural properties of bulk-fill composites

Objective

This study investigated the effect of dietary solvents on flexural strength and modulus of bulk-fill composites.

Biogenesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Pandanus odorifer leaf extract: anticancer and antimicrobial activities

The continuously increasing incidence rates of cancer and infectious diseases are open threats to the sustainable survival of animals and humans. In the last two decades, the demands of nanomaterials as modern therapeutic agents have increased. In this study, biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were developed from aqueous Pandanus odorifer leaf extract (POLE) and characterized using modern methods and tools, such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy, which indicated the formation of very pure, spherical NPs approximately 90 nm in size. The anticancer activity of the ZnO NPs was evaluated by MTT and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays in MCF-7, HepG2 and A-549 cells at different doses (1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 μg ml⁻¹). Moreover, the morphology of the treated cancer cells was examined by phase contrast microscopy. The results suggest that the synthesized ZnO NPs inhibited the growth of the cells when applied a concentration from 50–100 μg ml⁻¹. Moreover, the biogenic ZnO NPs were analysed as an antimicrobial agent against pathogenic bacteria. The highest antibacterial activity was observed against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (26 nm) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (24 mm) at 50 μg per well. Complete bacterial growth (100%) vanished 100% upon treatment with ZnO NPs at 85 μg ml⁻¹. Overall, POLE mediated derived biogenic ZnO NPs could serve as a significant anticancer and antimicrobial agent and be used in the development of novel drugs and skin care products.

The continuously increasing incidence rates of cancer and infectious diseases are open threats to the sustainable survival of animals and humans.     

Formulation and Evaluation of Yemeni Potash Alum as Hydrophilic Topical Preparations Against Candidiasis and Aspergillosis

BackgroundSkin and soft tissue infections are frequent; Candidiasis and Aspergillosis are the most common cutaneous fungal infections. Yemeni alum (Aluminium Potassium Sulphate) is a natural mineral with antifungal and antibacterial properties.ObjectiveThis study aimed to confirm Yemeni alum's antifungal effectiveness against selected fungal strains and develop useful topical formulations.MethodsUsing different alum concentrations, we prepared twenty-three formulations, including four non-adjusted aqueous solutions, eight adjusted pH aqueous solutions, eight glycerite solutions, and three Oil/Water cream formulations. Then, we examined the antifungal activity against the suggested fungus. The animal skin irritation test evaluated the local skin sensitivity reactions that might happen upon using the formulations we prepared on the intact animal's skin. Additionally, this study also included six weeks of stability testing to estimate the expected shelf life (t90) of the selected formulations.ResultsAlum exerted antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus. The animal's skin was not irritated by any of the formulations examined. The 5% alum aqueous solution and the 10% alum Oil/Water cream exhibited promising results among all tested formulations. The approximate formulation's shelf-lives (t90) were 2 and 1.52 years with alum content (%) ranging between 105.75 to 106.02 %, respectively.ConclusionBased on the results we found, 10% alum Oil/Water cream is a promising formulation for large-scale manufacture.     

Inhibition of the adenylyl cyclase toxin,edema factor,from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus anthracis</Emphasis> by a series of 18 mono- and bis-(M)ANT-substituted nucleoside 5′-triphosphates

Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax disease and exerts its deleterious effects by the release of three exotoxins, i.e. lethal factor, protective antigen and edema factor (EF), a highly active calmodulin-dependent adenylyl cyclase (AC). Conventional antibiotic treatment is ineffective against either toxaemia or antibiotic-resistant strains. Thus, more effective drugs for anthrax treatment are needed. Our previous studies showed that EF is differentially inhibited by various purine and pyrimidine nucleotides modified with N-methylanthraniloyl (MANT)- or anthraniloyl (ANT) groups at the 2′(3′)-O-ribosyl position, with the unique preference for the base cytosine (Taha et al., Mol Pharmacol 75:693 (2009)). MANT-CTP was the most potent EF inhibitor (K _i, 100 nM) among 16 compounds studied. Here, we examined the interaction of EF with a series of 18 2′,3′-O-mono- and bis-(M)ANT-substituted nucleotides, recently shown to be very potent inhibitors of the AC toxin from Bordetella pertussis, CyaA (Geduhn et al., J Pharmacol Exp Ther 336:104 (2011)). We analysed purified EF and EF mutants in radiometric AC assays and in fluorescence spectroscopy studies and conducted molecular modelling studies. Bis-MANT nucleotides inhibited EF competitively. Propyl-ANT-ATP was the most potent EF inhibitor (K _i, 80 nM). In contrast to the observations made for CyaA, introduction of a second (M)ANT-group decreased rather than increased inhibitor potency at EF. Activation of EF by calmodulin resulted in effective fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from tryptophan and tyrosine residues located in the vicinity of the catalytic site to bis-MANT-ATP, but FRET to bis-MANT-CTP was only small. Mutations N583Q, K353A and K353R differentially altered the inhibitory potencies of bis-MANT-ATP and bis-MANT-CTP. The nucleotide binding site of EF accommodates bulky bis-(M)ANT-substituted purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, but the fit is suboptimal compared to CyaA. These data provide a basis for future studies aiming at the development of potent EF inhibitors with high selectivity relative to mammalian ACs.