Synthesis and crystal structure of a heterobimetallic cadmium–sodium complex of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-trione, [CdNa2(C3H2N3O3)4(H2O)8]

Heterobimetallic crystals of a cadmium–sodium complex of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-trione, namely, μ-aqua-1:2κ2 O:O-heptaaqua-1κ3 O,2κ2 O,3κ2 O-bis(μ-4,6-dioxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1,3,5-triazin-2-olato)-1:2κ2 O 2:N 1;2:3κ2 N 1:O 2-bis(4,6-dioxo-1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1,3,5-triazin-2-olato)-1κO 2,3κO 2-2-cadmium-1,3-disodium, [CdNa2(C3H2N3O3)4(H2O)8], were grown by the single gel diffusion technique. The asymmetric unit of the title compound comprises four 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-trione ligands, two sodium atoms and one cadmium atom. Of the four ligands, two are monodentately coordinated to two Na atoms. The third ligand is coordinated bidentately to one Na and the Cd atom and the fourth is also coordinated bidentately to the Cd atom and the other Na atom. All the metal atoms are six-coordinate with a distorted octahedral geometry. The water molecules bridge the Na atoms, constructing coordination polymer chains along the a axis and hence are linked by two Cd and one Na coordinations through the cyanuric acid ligands present in the coordination polymer chains, generating a two-dimensional coordination polymer in the (110) plane. The polymer formation is further assisted by means of many intermolecular and intramolecular N—H...O, O—H...O and O–H...N hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and the ligands.

Theory of Charged Gels: Swelling, Elasticity, and Dynamics

The fundamental attributes of charged hydrogels containing predominantly water and controllable amounts of low molar mass electrolytes are of tremendous significance in biological context and applications in healthcare. However, a rigorous theoretical formulation of gel behavior continues to be a challenge due to the presence of multiple length and time scales in the system which operate simultaneously. Furthermore, chain connectivity, the electrostatic interaction, and the hydrodynamic interaction all lead to long-range interactions. In spite of these complications, considerable progress has been achieved over the past several decades in generating theories of variable complexity. The present review presents an analytically tractable theory by accounting for correlations emerging from topological, electrostatic, and hydrodynamic interactions. Closed-form formulas are derived for charged hydrogels to describe their swelling equilibrium, elastic moduli, and the relationship between microscopic properties such as gel diffusion and macroscopic properties such as elasticity. In addition, electrostatic coupling between charged moieties and their ion clouds, which significantly modifies the elastic diffusion coefficient of gels, and various scaling laws are presented. The theoretical formulas summarized here are useful to adequately capture the essentials of the physics of charged gels and to design new hydrogels with specified elastic and dynamical properties.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of S. cumini Seed Extract on Gelatinase-B (MMP-9) Regulation against Hyperglycemic Cardiomyocyte Stress

Black berry (Syzygium cumini) fruit is useful in curing diabetic complications; however, its role in diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy is not yet known. In this study, we investigated the regulation of gelatinase-B (MMP-9) by S. cumini methanol seed extract (MSE) in diabetic cardiomyopathy using real-time PCR, RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, gel diffusion assay, and substrate zymography. The regulatory effects of MSE on NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6 were also examined. Identification and estimation of polyphenol constituents present in S. cumini extract were carried out using reverse-phase HPLC. Further, in silico docking studies of identified polyphenols with gelatinase-B were performed to elucidate molecular level interaction in the active site of gelatinase-B. Docking studies showed strong interaction of S. cumini polyphenols with gelatinase-B. Our findings indicate that MSE significantly suppresses gelatinase-B expression and activity in high-glucose- (HG-) stimulated cardiomyopathy. Further, HG-induced activation of NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6 was also remarkably reduced by MSE. Our results suggest that S. cumini MSE may be useful as an effective functional food and dietary supplement to regulate HG-induced cardiac stress through gelatinase.

Anti-Urolithiatic Activity of Silver Nanoparticles of Terminalia Chebula Bark

The potential inhibitory action of herbals plays an indispensable role in modern medicine. The struvite crystal is an infectious stone related to urinary tract infection, hence the present study highlighted the anti-urolithiatic potential of Terminalia chebula bark mediated silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles formation was confirmed by SPR band at 437nm. FT-IR spectroscopic studies suggested that phytoconstituents are primarily responsible for the reduction and capping of silver nanoparticles. TEM and XRD analysis revealed that the uniformity in shape and crystalline nature of T. chebula mediated silver nanoparticles. The single gel diffusion method was adopted to found the inhibition action of T.chebula mediated silver nanoparticles in struvite crystals. The inhibition efficiency was found to be 87.9 %, indicated that T. chebula mediated silver nanoparticles was a good inhibitor for the struvite crystals. The shift in band values of FTIR spectra confirms that the phyto constituents present in T. chebula bark is responsible for the anti-urolithiatic activity.

ŞEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUS INFECTION IN GREY BREASTED HELMET GUINEA FOWLS (Numida meleagris galeata Pallas) IN AN ARID ZONE OF NIGERIA

A survey of guineafowl sera from Maiduguri area of Borno State for antibody to infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus was carried out between the months of January to April, 1991. Agar gel diffusion precipitation test (AGDT) was the serological method employed for the investigation. Out of the total of 196 sera tested, only 16 were found to contain precipitating antibodies to IBD. This represents 9.1% infection rate.

Evaluation of anti-bacterial activity of Dashapushpam in the form of Ghritham

The state Kerala in India is famous for its plant resource both culturally and medicinally. There is a cluster of ten sacred medicinal plants commonly known as Dashapushpam. These herbs are of great importance in the cold rainy season. Each plant of this group possesses many medicinal values. There are many formulations using these herbs. Ancient people knew the value of using these herbs in a cluster, so they included them in their diet to improve immunity in the monsoon season. There are many Ayurvedic texts which mention the uses of these sacred herbs. Formulations that use all the members of Dashapushpam are rare. The Dasapushpagritham is one such formulation taken from the text vishavaidhya jyostnika. The present work intends to evaluate the anti-bacterial property of Dashapushpam when used in an Ayurvedic formulation known as Dasapushpa Ghritham. The bacterial strains used as the test micro-organisms for the study was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus. The method of the anti-bacterial evaluation was done through agar-gel diffusion technique. The samples including the plant extracts possessed a varying level of anti-bacterial activity against these two bacteria, and their values obtained were compared with standard antibiotic amoxicillin. Based on these results, it was concluded that the anti-bacterial property of the Ayurvedic drug Dasapushpa Ghritham has significant value when compared to the drug base and other individual plant extracts. Hence the present study proves the significant usage of the Dashapushpam plants in various therapeutics used as an anti-microbial agent.

Prevalence of selected viral infections in various age groups of village chickens in Borno State, Nigeria

A preliminary survey for antibodies against some selected viruses in village chickens of various age groups was carried out in Borno State, Nigeria. Three hundred and twenty samples consisting of 160 sera from adult chickens, 60 sera from chicks and 100 yolk samples from embryonated en eggs were tested against Newcastle disease (ND), influenza (FLU) A and B viruses, and egg drop syndrome (EDS) - 76 viruses using haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test; and infectious bursal disease (IBD) virus using the agar gel diffusion test (AGDT). Eighty-five percent of the samples tested positive to one or more viruses, with IBD having the highest percentage prevalence (45.7%) followed by FLU A (26.5%), ND (22.4%), EDS-76 (19.3%) and FLU B (0%). The percentage of mixed infectious among different age groups was highest among chicks. The importance of village chickens in the spread and maintenance of viral diseases of poultry are discussed from an epidemiological point of view.

HUMANIZED MODEL OF ISOLATED SUSPENSION CULTIVATION OF HEMATOPOIETIC PROGENITOR CELLS FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF IONIZING RADIATION INFLUENCE IN VIVO

Objective: development of the humanized system for cells cultivation outside the human organism (human–mouse) and investigation of the influence of ionizing radiation in increasing doses on the colony-forming ability of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Materials and methods. Bone marrow samples of individuals without blood system diseases were cultivated in gel diffusion chambers with semi-solid agar in the abdominal cavity of CBA mice exposed to ionizing radiation action. Cell aggregates, which were obtained in the culture of diffusion chambers in vivo, were counted and colony-forming efficiency of bone marrow cells was determined. Results. We revealed the stimulation of colony forming under the action of ionizing radiation in increasing doses on the animals-recipients of the chambers, which indirectly indicates the synthesis of colony-stimulating factor in the mice organism and its permeation into the diffusion chambers with human bone marrow cells. The effect of cytostatics action on the mice organism was investigated, which in experimentally selected dose cause stimulation of colony forming in cell cultures, both 24 hours and 2 hours after administration. Conclusions. The ability of hematopoietic progenitor cells of bone marrow to form colonies and clusters was evaluated during the cultivation in semi-solid agar in gel diffusion chambers in vivo, as well as the association with the number of explanted cells in the appropriate range was established, which indicates the clonal nature of cell aggregates growth in culture. It was shown that the treatment of animals the day prior to experiment with administration of cytostatics is comparable to the action of ionizing radiation and can be used to study hematopoiesis in «human–mouse» system. Key words: hematopoietic progenitor cells, internal roentgen radiation, cytostatics, cell culture in gel diffusion chambers in «human–mouse» system.

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Persons With Predisposing Factors is Dominated by Non-vaccine Serotypes in Southwest Sweden

Background: The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV7 was introduced in Southwest Sweden in the child vaccination program in 2009, followed by PCV13 in 2010 and PCV10 in 2015. In this study we assessed the pneumococcal serotype distribution in relation to predisposing factors, clinical manifestations and outcome during seven years after PCV introduction. Methods: Clinical data from 1,278 patients with 1,304 episodes of IPD between January 2009 and December 2015 in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, were retrospectively collected from medical records. Pneumococcal isolates were serotyped by gel diffusion and/or Quellung reactions performed at the Public Health Agency in Sweden. Results: With the exception of serotype 3, the prevalence of PCV13 serotypes decreased during the study period, from 76% of all IPD episodes in 2009 to 25% in 2015 (p<0.001) while non-PCV13 serotypes increased, mainly among patients ≥ 65 years and in patients with predisposing factors (p<0.001 for both). Patients with predisposing factors were more likely to have IPD caused by a serotype not included in PCV13 rather than a vaccine-included serotype. Serotype 3 was associated with intensive care unit admissions while serotype 1 and 7F caused IPD among healthier and younger patients. PCV13 serotypes were associated with invasive pneumonia, and non-PCV13 serotypes were associated with bacteremia with unknown focus and with manifestations other than pneumonia or meningitis. Conclusions: Non-PCV13 serotypes caused the majority of IPD cases in Southwest Sweden, especially in patients ≥65 years and in patients with predisposing factors. Serotype 3, included in PCV13, was prevalent and often caused severe disease.

Antibacterial Activity of Indian Spices Against Escherichia coli

The aim of the present investigation is to study the antibacterial activity of Indian spices such as clove, garlic, ginger, and two forms of tea that is a granular form of leaf and dust form of tea and green leaf tea. The antibacterial assay was done by collecting the concentrate of the spices, and the leaves extract against the test strain Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by agar gel diffusion inhibition technique. Since the zone of inhibition was observed in the case of all spices, clove, ginger, garlic showed a good inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Tea extracts were effective on Escherichia coli.