Hormones Can Influence Antibiotic Susceptibilities Even in Mono- and Co-Culture Conditions

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are known as important nosocomial infectious agents also their co-infections are commonly seen in some patient groups. It is well known that host factors such as hormones have roles in modulation of growth, pathogenesis and susceptibilities to antimicrobials. In our study, the influences of norepinephrine (NE) and melatonin (MEL) on antibiotic susceptibilities were examined in mono and co-culture conditions. Methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ATCC 43300 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 were investigated to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of ciprofloxacin and gentamicin in the absence/presence of NE (0.0017 and 0.04μg/mL) and MEL (6 and 60 pg/mL) by microdilution method in mono and co-culture. It was found that hormones decreased (among 2-64 fold) MIC and MBC values of both antibiotics for MRSA. However, it was shown that hormones had no effect on MIC values of both antibiotics for P. aeruginosa. MIC and MBC values of both antibiotics for co-culture were found to be reduced compared to monoculture of MRSA; were found to be increased compared to monoculture of P. aeruginosa. Whereas, hormones decreased MIC values of both antibiotics in co-culture conditions. Our results suggest that both hormones decreased MIC values and it seems that hormones could influence antibiotic susceptibilities in a strain-dependent manner.

Spontaneous Cormophytes from the Romanian Flora Known as Medicinal Plants in Other Countries?

Romania's medicinal flora is an important source of raw material for pharmacological research and drug production. By consulting the pharmacological literature on authenticated scientific sources such as Google Scholar, 15 species of medicinal plants existing in the Romanian flora, but not used in the traditional Romanian medicine, were identified. In accordance with the World Health Organization's call on all countries to use traditional medicine in primary care, we set out to help complete the list of medicinal plants in Romania using information from traditional medicine in other countries.

Evaluating the Performance of Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) In Various Vegetation Regions of the Ethiopian Highlands

This paper focuses on the environment of Ethiopia, a country highly sensitive to droughts severely affecting vegetation. Vegetation monitoring of Ethiopian Highlands requires visualization of environmental parameters to assess droughts negatively influencing agricultural sustainable management of crops. Therefore, this study presented mapping of several climate and environmental variables including Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). The data were visualized and interpreted alongside the topographic data to evaluate the environmental conditions for vegetation. The datasets included WorldClim and GEBCO and Digital Chart of the World (DCW). Research has threefold objectives: i) environmental mapping; ii) technical cartographic scripting; iii) data processing. Following variables were visualized on seven new maps: 1) topography; 2) soil moisture; 3) T °C minimum; 4) T °C maximum; 5) Wind speed; 6) Precipitation; 7) Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). New high-resolution thematic environmental maps are presented and the utility of GMT for mapping multi-source datasets is described. With varying degrees of soil moisture (mean value of 15.0), min T°C (−1.8°C to 24°C), max T°C (14.4°C to 40.2°C) and wind speed (0.1 to 6.1 m/s), the maps demonstrate the variability of the PDSI fields over the country area (from −11.7 to 2.3) induced by the complex sum of these variables and intensified by the topographic effects notable over the Ethiopian Highlands which can be used for vegetation analysis. The paper presents seven new maps and contributes to the environmental studies of Ethiopia.

Effects of Plant Growth Retardants on Development of Poinsettia ”Christmas Feeling” Cultivar

The poinsettias were cultivated years ago as medicinal and ornamental plants, too; but in the recent time are in the light of world flower assortment surprising with new shapes and colors in the cold season. The ornamental values of these plants are given by bracts which can have the same size as foliage leaves or even larger. The tendency of floral industry consists in obtaining high quality ornamental plants with superior marketable price. In these regards, the role of plant growth retardants in regulating the growth of poinsettia is important to obtain healthy, compact bushes and extended decoration period. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the effects of plant growth retardants on poinsettia. Five treatments with different retardants were applied as drench or spray. In the experiment four replicates and a total of 144 poinsettias were used. Treatments with paclobutrazol (60 mg/l sprayed), daminozide (2500 mg/l sprayed) and chlormequat chloride (1000 mg/l sprayed), showed the best results in case of marketability.

An Overview of Urban Park Development in Zhengzhou, China

As essential elements of green spaces and social spaces in cities, urban parks significantly improve the quality of life and promote urban sustainability. Research on the development process of urban parks can be meaningful for coping with the current issues and future opportunities facing cities. This study takes Zhengzhou as the case aiming to outline the development process and characteristics of urban parks within the city. We adopted the empirical analysis to review the evolution processes and trends of Zhengzhou’s urban parks from the perspective of implementation approaches, spatial layout, and functions and uses. Results reveal four subsequent phases: the emergence phase (1949–1977), the growth phase (1978–1996), the acceleration phase (1997–2012), and the promotion phase (after 2012), according to the periods of urban development and the opportunities for green space development. The discussion includes development issues and strategies regarding land use approaches, user group needs, and public participation. The findings may help formulate adaptive and effective policies and planning tools for urban parks and provide a basis for further research on urban parks and Zhengzhou’s road to the ideal “Park City”.

Inclusion Complex of Gedunin-2-Hydroxypropyl-Β-Cyclodextrin Prepared by Kneading and Freeze-Drying Methods: Synthesis and Structural Characterization

The potential application of gedunin, a pharmacologically active limonoid, is limited in medicine because it has poor aqueous solubility. This study was aimed at preparation and characterization of an inclusion complex of gedunin and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBD) to increase the solubility in aqueous solvents and thus enhance the possibility of pharmaceutical formulation and oral administration of gedunin. Inclusion complex of gedunin isolated from Entandrophragma angolense heartwood with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBD) was prepared using freeze-drying and kneading methods. The gedunin-2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin complex (GCD) was characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Elemental analysis indicated that gedunin and HBD formed 1:1 stoichiometric inclusion complex. Results of FT-IR indicated that gedunin was stabilized in HBD cavity by intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. 1H-NMR revealed that the entire gedunin molecule was not trapped into the core of the HBD. Nevertheless, the fraction trapped may be sufficient to enhance the apparent solubility of gedunin. XRD results showed the formation of new solid crystalline phase. The results obtained by different characterization techniques clearly indicated that both kneading and freeze-drying methods led to inclusion complex formation which may enhance oral administration of gedunin.

Ecosystem Services of Hospital Gardens - Based on Microclimate Analyses of Green and Blue Garden Elements

The increasing urbanization process of the last decades has resulted in negative impacts and changes in the quality of the urban environment, as reflected in mortality and morbidity data (Páldy, 2018). The quality of the environment, the urban climate, the increased frequency and duration of extreme weather events, ultimately threaten human well-being. To design and build liveable cities, the quality of the urban environment must be improved, and improving micro- or local climate is an important factor in this. Increasing the proportion and quality of biologically active surfaces, i.e. the ecosystem services provided by green spaces, is one of the most effective tools for urban conditioning and enhancing human well-being. Determining the proportions of the green area, the design of vegetation, the choice of pavements and microarchitectures all determine the microclimate of an open-space. This has been confirmed by a large body of research and implemented work, but it is also important for designers to make a preliminary prediction of the impact of any intervention on the climatic conditions of the design site. These predictions will help cost-effective designing to determine which intervention will result in climate change. This research uses two specific examples to examine the effectiveness of each landscape designing tool and to show which designing tool produces what and how much climatic impact. For these studies, we used a climate modeling program (ENVI-MET), which runs simulations to infer the climate modifying effects of landscape planning tools. In the course of the research, we have shown that the local climate of hospital gardens could be significantly influenced by favorable, environmental-friend paving, a higher green cover ratio, and a well-developed and sufficiently dense tree canopy, and various water features.

Effect of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on Some Physical and Bioactive Compounds of ‘Iceberg’ Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.)

The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is a recent concerned application in the indoor crop system of the modern plant production. In our research, we evaluated the influence of four monochromic LED lights including 100% White (W), Yellow (Y), Red (R) and Blue (B) in comparison to solar lightening condition (GR) as a control. In this regard, some morphological characteristics and biochemical content of the common outdoor ‘Iceberg’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was measured. The results show that leaf length, leaf area and total head weight were significantly greater in the plants grown under B LED, while all the other physical parameters were significantly higher in the plants grown under GR environmental conditions. On the other hand, chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoids (Car), and nitrate content were also influenced by different light treatments. Plants grown under LED light treatment resulted in significantly higher chlorophyll content compared to the control. However, significantly greater carotenoid content was in the plants grown under GR condition. The highest total chlorophyll content was recorded under B and R LED, whereas the lowest was in the GR condition. The lowest nitrate content in the blade and petiole was recorded in the plants grown under Y LED, while the highest nitrate content was recorded in the GR. Based on our result, it is possible to grow and improve some quality parameters of common outdoor ‘iceberg’ lettuce under LED where the solar light is limited or unavailable. Thus, plants performed better under GR light conditions than monochromic LEDs; however, some LED lights could improve some quality parameters and biochemical contents in the ‘iceberg’ lettuce variety.

Investigation of HRPF2 Gene Deletion in Plasmodium Falciparum in Northwestern Nigeria

Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) plays an important role in malaria management and control. The Pf HRP2 based RDT kit is the most widely used RDT for malaria diagnosis in Nigeria but is affected by the deletion of HRP2 gene in Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Therefore, identifying the prevalence and distribution of Plasmodium falciparum parasites with deleted Pf HRP2 is important for malaria control. Pf HRP2 gene deletion was assessed in this study by first carrying out Giemsa stained thick blood film microscopy and Pf HRP2 RDT strip test. The samples were further analyzed for molecular examination by PCR assay for multiple single–copy genes (Pf Cox3, Pf HRP2, Pf HRP3 and Pf Beta tubulin). This study found the existence of eight (8) Plasmodium falciparum isolates lacking the HRP2 gene in the samples analyzed, this necessitates the need to develop a unique RDT Kit targeting other housekeeping genes unique for Plasmodium falciparum with far greater sensitivity than the current ones as to reduce the chances of false negative RDT result as well as developing unique RDT Kits targeting both PfHRP2 and PfHRP3 genes concomitantly in order to reduce the chances of having a false positive RDT results.

Perspectives on Antiviral Drugs Development in the Treatment of COVID-19

The main objective of this review is to highlight the urgent development of new antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. Antiviral medication against SARS-CoV-2 comprises only remdesivir as an approved drug. Scientists are making considerable efforts to identify other effective antivirals. Investments into the de novo design of new drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 virus are few. Molnupiravir proved to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and is very close to approval. Pfizer’s two new compounds (PF-07321332, oral administration and PF-07304814, systemic administration) are in the early stages of development. Two types of methods are preferred to discover new antivirals in a short period. Repositioning of approved drugs for antiviral effect conducted to some clinical results for favipiravir, lopinavir/ritonavir, danoprevir/ritonavir, umifenovir, hydroxychloroquine, camostat and nafamostat. Virtual screening of known molecules’ libraries indicated several compounds that were tested or are being tested in clinical trials. In conclusion, only a few innovative antiviral molecules are in various stages of development. However, the repositioning of many known compounds is being studied, including using virtual screening. The pharmaceutical industry is adapting and reinventing itself so that humanity can face a new pandemic in the future.