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Effect of Particle Size on the Kinetic Parameters of the Deproteinization Process of Galactose Supplemented Shrimp Shells by Aspergillus niger
No full textThe aim of the research was to evaluate the ability of the fungus Aspergillus niger to carry out the deproteinization of shrimp shells supplemented with galactose as a carbon source and study the effect of the particle size of the shrimp shells on the kinetic parameters of the deproteinization process. Grounding of the shells resulted in a higher specific growth rate of A. niger and enhanced protease production by 2.6 fold. The temperatures of the shrimp shells and exhaust gas declined at the beginning as the heat losses from the bioreactor (due to evaporation) were higher than the heat generated by the metabolic activity. After 24h, the temperature of the shrimp shells and exhaust gas started to rise as a result of increased metabolic activity. Temperature peaks of 38.3 °C and 37.8 °C for the shrimp shells and 29.1 ºC and 29.0 ºC for the exhaust gas were noticed after 60 and 72 h of deproteinization for the ground and intact shrimp shells, respectively. There were no temperature gradients in the radial or axial direction because of mixing. The pH first decreased with time due to production of acid protease and then increased due to the buffering capacity of the calcium carbonate released from shrimp shells and the production of ammonium nitrogen. A significant reduction in the moisture content was noticed during the deproteinization process. In order to maintain the moisture in the bioreactor at the desired level, the exhaust gas should be passed through a condensation tower and the recovered water be pumped back into the bioreactor through the aeration tube. The galactose concentration decreased with time and the rate of galactose utilization was significantly higher in case of ground shrimp shells. Size reduction results in higher surface area and shorter pathways for nutrients diffusion. The protein removal efficiency (30.45% - 33.23%) did not correspond to the protease production. This could be a result of unsuitable pH and temperature conditions for the hydrolysis of shells proteins. The chitin concentration increased over time from the initial value of 16.59 % to final values of 21.99 %and 22.68% for the intact and ground shells, respectively. The color of the intact and ground shells was pale pink-orange with some tan patches. Some of the ground shrimp shells agglomerated and formed small balls. This problem was not observed with the intact shells. The ground shells had more white precipitants which were believed to be a result of break down of substances from the shell matrix
Complementary Role of Neopterin and the IL-28B Polymorphism in Predicting Antiviral Response in Genotype 4 Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Patients
No full textBackground and Aims: Neopterin, a water-soluble stable byproduct of the first reaction of the GTPCH induced inhibition of the pteridines biosynthesis, is used as a marker of interferon-induced GTPCH activation suggesting its use as a marker of response to anti-viral therapy. IL28B polymorphism is an established predictor of response to pegylated interferon-Ribavirin therapy. The aim of the study is to verify the role of pretreatment serum neopterin level with or without IL28B polymorphism in predicting the rate of SVR in genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.Patients and Methods: This prospective cohort study included 102 treatment naïve genotype 4 CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon/ribavirin therapy. Pretreatment IL28B rs12979860 C/T polymorphism and serum neopterin level were determined.Results: SVR was achieved in 65/102 (63.7%) patients. Regarding IL28B genotypes, 20% of CC genotype (4/20), 39% of TC genotype (20/51), and 42% of TT genotype (13/31) were non responders. A cutoff level of serum neopterin >18.68 nmol/L (AUC=0.695) predicted 29/37 (78.4%) non-responders. The favorable IL28B genotype (CC) was good predictor of response irrespective of serum neopterin level. Adding serum neopterin with cutoff > 18.68 nmol/L to the unfavorable IL28B genotypes (CT/TT) improves the prediction rate of non-responders [33/82 (40.2%) versus 25/33 (75.8%)], with 75.8% sensitivity, 63.2% specificity, 58% PPV and 79.5% NPV (P=0.001).Conclusion: High serum neopterin level could improve the predictive value for non-responders in CHC patients with unfavorable IL28B genotypes (CT/TT) suggesting their allocation to the more expensive IFN-free regimens
Bronchodilator and Positive Inotropic Activity of Pyridazine Compound Zardaverine as a Phosphodiesterase Isozymes Inhibitor
No full textThe zardaverine is a pyridazinone derivative that has been initiated as an effective broncho-dilatory agent. It is also uses as a positive inotropic agent. The effect of zardaverine is due to the inhibition of phasphodiestrase (PDE) activity. The zardaverine acts on the different PDE isozymes and showed selective PDE-III and PDE-IV isozymes inhibitory activity. The zardaverine reduced the cyclic GMP-controllable PDE III isoenzyme and the rolipram- controllable PDE-IV isoenzyme from canine trachea and human polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells. The zardaverine influenced the calmodulin-motivated PDE-I isoenzyme, the cGMP-motivated PDE-II isoenzyme and the cGMP-specific PDE-V isoenzyme slightly at level up to 100 µM. The zardaverine inhibited the ADP-induced human platelets aggregation. This reduction was synergistically increasing by the adenylate cyclase activators like prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and forskolin. The zardaverine was reduced the zymosan-induced superoxide anion formation in human PMN cells. This activity was raised by adenylate cyclase activators
QSAR and Docking Studies on 1,1-Dioxo-2H-benzothiadiazines Acting as HCV NS5B Polymerase Inhibitors
No full textQuantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and molecular modeling studies have been made on a large series of 1,1-dioxo-2H-benzothiadiazines acting as HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors. A multiple linear regression analysis has pointed out that the polymerase inhibition activity of compounds would be largely controlled by their polarizability, van der Waals volume, and the presence of sulfur and nitrogen atoms in them. The docking study indicated that increasing the number of H-bond donors and acceptors in the molecules as well as putting some hydrophobic groups at proper sites in them would be highly advantageous for their activity
Challenges in the Management of Laryngeal Cancer in Ile-Ife: Any Emerging Pattern?
No full textBackground: We undertook this study to detect emerging pattern in the challenges in managing patients with laryngeal cancer in our setting.Methodology: We review the 16 patients with histologically confirmed laryngeal carcinoma managed at the Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck surgery Department of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2013.Result: There were 11 males and 5 females with mean age of 58.0 years. Three (18.8%) patients who were all males had history of smoking. History of significant alcohol intake was found in 4 (25.0 %) males and 1 (6.3%) female. Fifteen (93.8%) patients presented as an emergency with airway obstruction necessitating emergency tracheostomy. Eight (50.0%)patients had total laryngectomy as primary treatment modality and 1 (6.25%) patient had radical radiotherapy as her primary treatment modality. Six (37.5%) patients refused further treatments after their initial emergency Tracheostomy, Laryngoscopy and Biopsy and were subsequently lost to follow up.One (6.35%) patient died before commencement of definitive treatment.Among the laryngectomy group, 2 (12.5%) died on admission, 2 (12.5%) was lost to follow up and1 (6.25%) had stoma recurrence; Three (18.75%) patients are alive. All the patients with loco-regional failure had it within 18 months with only 1 (6.25%) survival at 2 years.Conclusion: Late presentation and treatment refusal remain the major challenges in this study. There is thus an urgent need for health education to promote early presentation
Does the Method of Inferior Turbinate Surgery Affect the Development of Empty Nose Syndrome
No full textEmpty Nose Syndrome (ENS) is a poorly understood iatrogenic syndrome that may follow surgery involving turbinate reduction. In the author’s experience, procedures which spare the mucosa are less likely to create ENS. Mucosal damage, rather than the sheer volume of tissue loss, appears to be of critical importance in ENS. Turbinate reduction is often appropriate therapy, but conservative mucosal sparing techniques should be employed
Making Strides Towards Better Mental Health Care in Peru: Results from a Primary Care Mental Health Training
No full textOur program attempted to improve attitudes and confidence of Peruvian primary care physicians (PCPs) providing mental health care. The training program underwent an evaluation to determine impact of sustained confidence in performing medical and psychiatric procedures, and application of learned skills. Fifty-two Peruvian primary care practitioners were trained at the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT) over a two-week period. There was significant improvement in PCPs’ confidence levels of performing psychiatric procedures (counseling, prescribing medications, psychiatric diagnosis, assessing the risk for violence, and treating trauma victims) when comparing baseline and post-two-week to one year follow-up. When comparing post-two-week and one-year follow-up quantitative measures, confidences levels went slightly down. This may be an implication that the frequency of trainings and supervisions are needed more frequently. In contrast, qualitative responses from the one-year follow-up revealed increase in victims of violence clinical care, advocacy, awareness, education, training, policy changes, accessibility of care, and sustainment of diagnostic tools. This study supports the feasibility of training PCP’s in a culturally effective manner with sustainability over time
ACPA and Future Onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis Among Individuals With Undifferentiated Arthritis and Arthritis Free Individuals: A Systematic Review of Cohort Studies
No full textObjective: Antibodies against anti-cyclic citrullinated proteins (ACPA) have been suggested as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A systematic review of the literature was conducted to determine the relationship between ACPA antibodies and future RA development and to identify the methodological limitations in order to guide the design of any future cohort study in this field.Materials and Methods: Web of Science, Pub Med, and EMBASE databases were searched. A data extraction and quality assessment form was developed based on the ACROBAT-NRSI (“A Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool - for Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions) and STROBE statement. Our initial searches produced 1,396 titles, which were reviewed by title and abstract. Thirty seven studies were selected for full text review and eleven studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria.Results: Qualitative synthesis of the included studies revealed a consistent positive association between ACPA and future RA development. The unadjusted HR comparing ACPA positive and negative groups ranged from 2.46 to 223.1, while the unadjusted OR ranged 1.09 to 46.7. Only one study reported an unadjusted RR of 2.75.Conclusion: The review indicated that the presence of ACPA in patients with undifferentiated arthritis and healthy subjects predicts future onset of RA
Atherosclerosis in 2015: Hypotheses and Viewpoints. Our Comments, Assertions and the Realities
No full textFormation of atherosclerotic and calcified plaque begins and grows up not only beneath the endothelium (intimae), but also in the adventitial subepithelium on the coronary arteries.A new innovative combined drug (polypill) certainly releases, regresses and prevents of formation of the atherosclerotic and calcified plaque of arteries
Current Perspectives in Cardiovascular Medicine
No full textCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States accounting for approximately 31% of all deaths. There have been significant accomplishments in the diagnosis and treatment of CVD; however, these advances have mostly occurred in the application of cutting edge technology, pharmacotherapy, and surgical techniques to treat the manifestations and symptoms of the disease. Developments in outcomes research and those in atherosclerosis and genetics, as well as in the control of risk factors for CVD are discussed