Recovery,reusability and stability studies of beta cyclodextrin used for cholesterol removal from shrimp lipid

Beta cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used for cholesterol removal from shrimp lipid using ethyl acetate and water as solvents. The cholesterol incorporating β-CD complex (β-CD–CL) was collected and β-CD recovery was performed using a β-CD–CL : ethanol mixture (1 : 15 ratio) with the aid of ultrasonication and a water bath at 55 °C for 40 min. Recycled β-CD (R-β-CD) was compared with pure β-CD (P-β-CD) for the reusability of cholesterol removal from shrimp lipid. R-β-CD showed 94% cholesterol removal, while 95% was achieved for P-β-CD. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed a slight decrease in the melting point of R-β-CD. Nevertheless, FTIR and NMR results revealed that functional groups and the proton spectrum of R-β-CD was negligibly altered. Fatty acid contents of treated oil were slightly higher when treated with R-β-CD than those of the lipid subjected to P-β-CD treatment. Reusability of β-CD could be achieved as confirmed by the maintained capacity in cholesterol removal and unaltered structure.

Beta cyclodextrin (β-CD) used for cholesterol removal from shrimp lipid was reused after the cholesterol bound with β-CD was removed. Efficenicy of recycled β-CD was similar to pure β-CD.     

Validation of the Thai Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for screening postpartum depression

This study aimed to validate and determine an appropriate cut-off score on the Thai Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as a screen for postpartum depression. A prospective cohort of postpartum women at 6-8 weeks were tested using the EPDS and clinically interviewed by psychiatrists to establish a DSM-IV diagnosis of major or minor depressions in a university hospital in Southern Thailand. Of 351 postpartum women interviewed, 38 postpartum women met the criteria for depressive disorders, major depression in four women (1%) and minor depressive disorder in 34 women (10%). The area under the curve was 0.84 (95% confidence interval 0.76-0.91). Using an EPDS cut-off sum score of 6/7, major and/or minor depression was detected with a sensitivity of 74%, specificity of 74%, positive predictive value of 26% and negative predictive value of 95%. When the cut-off score was higher, the sensitivity was lower but the specificity was higher. The Thai version of the EPDS is a valid self-report instrument and is useful in Thailand where no other screening instrument for postpartum depression is available.     

Cytotoxicity of polymerized commercial cyanoacrylate adhesive on cultured human oral fibroblasts

Cyanoacrylate (CA) has been used as both a commercial and tissue adhesive. Dentists may have had the experience of patients repairing their own acrylic-based dentures using a cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive known as 'super glue'. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of commercial CA adhesives when fully polymerized, as well as the toxicity of substances released from polymerized commercial CA adhesives after incubation of these materials for various periods of time. Toxicity was tested on cultured oral fibroblasts. Dead cells found around the various CA-coated filter papers constituted inhibitory zones which varied from 200-1000 microns and which persisted for two weeks. Control oral fibroblasts grew to approach the wax-coated filter paper. Cell viability testing using MTT and crystal violet staining methods supported the conclusion that polymerized CA-coated filter paper released substances that are toxic to cells, while wax-coated filter paper gave the same result as the control. The crystal violet staining method was also used to investigate the cytotoxicity of various CA materials after incubation for one, three, seven and 14 days and showed that CA continued to release cytotoxic substances at about the same level for at least two weeks. It can be concluded that, if CA adhesive is used for repair of broken dentures, it will release substances which are toxic to human oral fibroblast cells. This release of substances may persist for at least two weeks.     

Highly virulent Marek’s disease virus strains affect T lymphocyte function and viability of splenocytes in commercial meat-type chickens

ABSTRACT

In previous studies, we have demonstrated that very virulent plus Marek’s disease viruses (vv+MDV) are highly immunosuppressive in commercial meat-type chickens. The specific objectives of this work were to evaluate if vv+MDV immunosuppression (MDV-IS) is induced by reduction of lymphocyte responsiveness and/or viability. Three experiments were conducted to (i) compare vv+MDV 686 with a partially attenuated 686-BAC; (ii) compare vv+MDV strains (648A and 686) with vMDV (GA) and vvMDV (Md5); and (iii) compare chickens vaccinated with Md5-BACΔMEQ and with CVI988?+?HVT. In each experiment, spleens were collected at 28–30 days post infection and lymphocytes were isolated and investigated in three ways: their proliferative response to Concanavalin A (ConA) was analysed by MTT proliferation assay; cell death, and expression of CD45 and MHC-I was studied by flow cytometry; and MHC-IA and β-2 microglobulin (B2M) expression was evaluated by real time RT-PCR. Splenocytes of chickens inoculated with vv+MDV were severely impaired to proliferate when exposed to ConA. Furthermore, vv+MDV induced severe splenocyte death that did not occur after infection with v or vvMDV strains. Vaccination with CVI988?+?HVT, and at less level with Md5-BACΔMEQ reduced these negative effects. This is in contrast to our previous results in which Md5-BACΔMEQ but not CVI988?+?HVT protected against MDV-IS suggesting that although cell death and decrease lymphocyte function seem to be related to MDV virulence and certainly will be associated with immunosuppression, they might not fully explain the previously reported MDV-IS.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

• vv+MDV induces extensive death in splenocytes in meat-type chickens 28–30?dpi.

• vv+MDV impairs lymphocyte function in meat-type chickens 28–30?dpi.

• Vaccination protects against splenocyte death and reduced lymphocyte function.

• Cell lysis and reduced lymphocyte function do not fully explain MDV-IS.

     

Family-based intervention by pharmacists for type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial

Objectives

To investigate the effectiveness of family intervention for type 2 diabetes and to examine predictors of glycaemic control.

A survey into process and worker's characteristics in the wood furniture industry in Songkhla Province, southern region of Thailand

A cross-sectional survey of the wood furniture industry was conducted in southern Thailand in February 1993. The aim was to examine the manufacturing process, occupational hazards at the workplace, workers' demographic characteristics, period of employment, incidence rate of work related injury and some reproductive history of workers. Altogether 69 managers and 1,000 workers participated in the study. There are 2 main types of wood industry, rubberwood and hardwood. The rubberwood industry is semi-automated with advanced technology, has a female-dominated workforce of 200-300 workers per factory and overseas-market orientation. The hardwood industry is based in small-scale workplaces ranging from 20 to 60 workers, domestic-market orientation and has a male-dominated workforce. Most of the workers were young, single, of low education and were high turnover rate laborforce, with arduous work and long working hours per week. Solvent was the most frequent chemical exposure. The person-year incidence of chemical exposure in female workers was higher than in male workers for every group of chemicals. The incidence of accidents was twice as high as the official rate. The standardized fertility ratio of female wood workers was only 51.6% of that of the Thai female population. There was a high abortion rate among women who became pregnant inside the wood industry compared to that among pregnancies outside the wood factory. Wood industry workers were exposed to occupational hazards and accident-prone work conditions.     

Clinical efficacy of Qili Qiangxin Capsule combined with exercise rehabilitation in the treatment of chronic heart failure

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Qili Qiangxin Capsule combined with cardiac exercise rehabilitation on patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).MethodsA total of 93 CHF patients admitted to Shanghai's Putuo District Central Hospital from March 2021 to December 2021 were included in the study and were randomly divided into the control group (46 cases) and the intervention group (47 cases). The control group received routine treatment, and the intervention group was treated with Qili Qiangxin Capsule as well as cardiac exercise rehabilitation that was routine for patients with CHF. The total effective rate, 6-min walking distance, left ventricular ejection fraction, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter were compared in terms of the two groups.ResultsAfter three months of treatment, when compared with the control group, the total effective rate of the treatment on the patients in the intervention group increased significantly (87.23% vs 63.04%; P < 0.05). The 6-minute walking distance, BNP level, and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter improved more drastically in the intervention group than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the other indicators before and after treatment (P > 0.05).ConclusionQili Qiangxin Capsule combined with cardiac exercise rehabilitation can significantly improve cardiac and motor function in patients with CHF.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus-related pancreatitis in children

We report on three patients who developed four episodes of acute pancreatitis while their systemic lupus erythematosus was active and being treated with prednisolone. In all three, gastritis was first considered and treated due to abdominal pain, vomiting, and epigastric tenderness, but their symptoms did not improve. Then pancreatic enzymes were measured, which confirmed pancreatitis. Imaging studies showed an enlarged pancreas in one case, a normal pancreas in two cases, and a focal hypodense nonenhancing parenchyma in one case. Corticosteroids were prescribed for both active SLE and SLE-related pancreatitis. Pulse methylprednisolone was prescribed in one episode, increasing oral prednisolone in one episode, and the same dose of prednisolone continued in the other two episodes. All cases recovered without complications. SLE-related pancreatitis should be considered in SLE patients when the SLE is active and a patient develops abdominal pain and vomiting.