Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences最新文献

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a well-recognized vascular complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. Unless immediate measures are taken some patients end up with amputation. The hallmarks of DFU are hyperglycemia, neuropathy, ischemia and infection (Andrew). Recent studies confirmed the role of low serum arginine in the development of foot ulcer in diabetic patients. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between low serum magnesium and diabetic foot ulcer and to identify the incidence of low plasma arginine levels in diabetic patients with DFU in Sudan. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A total of 120 subjects were recruited in this study and were divided into three groups, namely, diabetic with foot ulcer (group-I), diabetic without foot ulcer (group-II) and non-diabetic healthy subjects (group-III). These subjects were investigated for FBS, HbA1c and serum arginine. Data were analysed using SPSS (28th release). <b>Results:</b> Analysis of the results obtained showed significantly marked reduced plasma arginine levels in group I than the other two groups where mean plasma arginine level was 12.08, 49.25 and 94.1 micromole/L, respectively. There was no statistical difference between the duration of diabetes and DFU in diabetic patients with DFU and diabetic patients without DFU, as well as levels of HbA1c (p-value 0.457, 0.89) respectively. <b>Conclusion:</b> The low serum arginine levels were significantly associated with foot ulcers in diabetic patients and play an important role in the development of diabetic foot ulcers.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Liver fibrosis (LF) is a most common pathological process characterized by the activation of hepatocytes leading to the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Hypoxia precondition treated in MSCs (H-MSCs) could enhance their immunomodulatory and regeneration capability, through expressing robust anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, known as H-MSCs secretome (SH-MSCs) that are critical for the improvement of liver fibrosis. However, the study regarding the efficacy and mechanism of action of SH-MSCs in ameliorating liver fibrosis is still inconclusive. In this study, the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism for SH-MSCs in the treatment of liver fibrosis were investigated. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A rat model with liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄ was created and maintained for 8 weeks. The rats received intravenous doses of SH-MSCs and secretome derived from normoxia MSCs (SN-MSCs), filtered using a tangential flow filtration (TFF) system with different molecular weight cut-off categories, both at a dosage of 0.5 mL. The ELISA assay was employed to examine the cytokines and growth factors present in both SH-MSCs and SN-MSCs. On the ninth day, the rats were euthanized and liver tissues were collected for subsequent histological examination and analysis of mRNA expression. <b>Results:</b> The ELISA test revealed that SH-MSCs exhibited higher levels of VEGF, PDGF, bFGF, IL-10, TGF-β and IL-6 compared to SN-MSCs. <i>In vivo</i>, administration of SH-MSCs notably decreased mortality rates. It also demonstrated a reduction in liver fibrosis, collagen fiber areas, α-SMA positive staining and relative mRNA expression of TGF-β. Conversely, SN-MSCs also contributed to liver fibrosis improvement, although SH-MSCs demonstrated more favorable outcomes. <b>Conclusion:</b> Current findings suggested that SH-MSCs could improve CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis and decrease α-SMA and TGF-β expression.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Anthracnose in shallot contributes to significant losses. To solve this issue, silica nanoparticles, in combination with <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> and <i>Bacillus thuringiensis</i> were used together. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> <i>In vitro</i> antagonistic test of <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> B-27 with <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> was carried out using dual culture and co-culture methods. Treatment in greenhouse experiments was carried out using single application of silica, <i>B. thuringiensis</i>, <i>B. velezensis</i>, a combination of <i>B. thuringiensis</i> and <i>B. velezensis</i> and a combination of <i>B. thuringiensis</i>, <i>B. velezensis</i> and silica. Detection of <i>B. velezensis</i> in the roots of shallot plants was carried out by PCR using a pair of specific primers. <b>Results:</b> <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> was able to inhibit the growth of <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> mycelium <i>in vitro</i>, both in the dual culture and co-culture methods, by 62.8 and 77.17%, respectively. Treatment of <i>B. thuringiensis</i> and <i>B. velezensis</i>, either individually or in combination with silica, could reduce the intensity of anthracnose disease by 20% each and stimulate the growth of shallot plants. The PCR detection using specific primers on the roots of shallot plants showed that <i>B. velezensis</i> was detected with a DNA band length of ±576 bp. <b>Conclusion:</b> <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> can inhibit the growth of <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> mycelium <i>in vitro</i>. Applying <i>B. velezensis</i>, <i>B. thuringiensis</i> and silica can reduce the intensity of anthracnose disease, promote plant growth and increase plant productivity. Furthermore, <i>B. velezensis</i> was detected in the roots of shallot plants, revealing that the bacteria are well-established.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Understanding the biology of fish is crucial for ensuring the sustainable management and conservation of their biodiversity. The objective of this study was to observe the condition factors and length-weight relationships of <i>Cyprinus carpio</i>, which can provide valuable insights into the ecological and nutritional conditions of aquatic animals. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Condition factor (CF) and length-weight relationship (LWR) for 100 specimens of <i>C. carpio</i> collected from the Anzali Lagoon 2016 (April to August) were studied. To determine the size of each fish, the total length using a caliper with a precision of 0.1 mm and the weight using a balance with an accuracy of 0.1 g was measured. Differences were analyzed using ANOVA with the Tukey's <i>post hoc</i> test. In order to evaluate the differences in sexes each month, a non-parametric Chi-square test was employed. <b>Results:</b> The total length and body weight of <i>C. carpio</i> ranged from 9.1-53.8 cm and 110.3-5565.2 g, respectively. It was observed that there is a strong positive correlation between length and weight (r = 0.96). The results revealed they had a negative allometry growing rate. In the condition factors, there were no significant differences between male and female specimens (p>0.05). The observed sex ratio suggests no significant difference between males and females (p>0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> The Anzali Lagoon population of <i>C. carpio</i> exhibited allometric growth, as evidenced by a strong correlation between length and weight represented by a high "r" value.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The trash produced by boiling silkworm cocoons during the degumming process still retains useful amino acids, such as sericin and fibroin, that can repair skin damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet light. This study seeks to examine the impact of utilising degumming silkworm cocoons (DSC) gel, derived from boiling waste, on the healing process of rat skin that has been subjected to Ultraviolet (UV) light, as well as the determination of the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) value. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The research used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatment groups, namely the positive control, avobenzone, the group without avobenzone and DSC gel and the administration of DSC gel at 20, 40 and 60% for 14 days. The research used 25 male rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>). Skin tissue was prepared for microscopical examination using the paraffin method combined with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining. The data were analyzed statistically with the one-way ANOVA test and continued with the <i>post hoc</i> Duncan's test. Non-parametric data were carried out by the Kruskal Wallis test and continued with the Mann Whitney test. <b>Results:</b> The degumming silkworm cocoons (DSC) gel had a fairly high SPF value with an extra protection category of 7.10 at a concentration of 60%. The DSC gel had the potential to accelerate the recovery of skin as observed by the test subjects showing no wrinkles and redness. An increase in epithelial thickness and a decrease in melanocyte cells were also obtained from the treatment. Increasing the concentration of DSC gel also improved the skin recovery exposed to ultraviolet light. <b>Conclusion:</b> The effective and efficient concentration of cocoon degumming waste gel is 40-60%. The ability of silkworm cocoon degumming waste to rejuvenate UV-exposed skin suggests its future application as a topical preparation for promoting skin health.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> The <i>Helarctos malayanus</i> is the sole bear species-living in Indonesia (Sumatra and Borneo). The available biological data for sun bears (<i>H. malayanus</i>) in Sumatra is limited, especially for morphological and genetic data. A morphological approach is difficult to do. Therefore, a molecular approach is the most likely choice. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out on <i>H. malayanus</i> in Central Sumatra (Dharmasraya, South Solok and Riau) using the Cytochrome B gene. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Blood samples from three individuals of <i>H. malayanus</i> were obtained at the Sumatran Tiger Rehabilitation Center, Dharmasraya. Three <i>H. malayanus</i> Central Sumatra sequences and 62 GenBank sequences were used in the analysis. The DNA sequences were analyzed using the DNA Star, AliView, Bioedit, DNA SP, haplotype network, IQ Tree and MEGA software. <b>Results:</b> Forty-one haplotypes were identified in 65 sequences, with 17 haplotypes belonging to <i>H. malayanus</i>. Haplotype network analysis divides <i>H. malayanus</i> into Haplogroup I (Sundaland) and Haplogroup II (Mainland). All individuals of <i>H. malayanus</i> in Central Sumatra have the same haplotype as Peninsular Malaysia sequence. The sun bear (<i>H. malayanus</i>) has a monophyletic relationship with other bear species. The <i>H. malayanus</i> has a higher genetic distance between the two lineages (1.0-2.3%) than the genetic distance within the subpopulations of each lineage. <b>Conclusion:</b> The study results supported sun bear (<i>H. malayanus</i>) divided into two different lineages: Mainland (subcluster 1) and Sundaland (subcluster 2 and 3). The geographic isolation causes the absence of gene flow, which results in high genetic distance between sun bears (<i>H. malayanus</i>) in Sundaland and Mainland lineages.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> An increase in the consumption of robusta coffee resulted in an increase in waste from coffee, one of the coffee wastes, namely coffee bean skins or cascara. Robusta coffee cascara contains 1-1.3 g of caffeine which causes side effects, such as insomnia and seizures etc. So this research aims to reduce the caffeine content in cascara by using <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>. Using optimum conditions and capabilities. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The experiment was conducted from May to August, 2022 in the Pharmacy Laboratory, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Pakuan, Indonesia. Before optimizing, cascara was extracted using the ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) method, validated by the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method to determine caffeine content and a paired sample t-test was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). <b>Results:</b> It showed that in validating the HPLC method, the wavelength of caffeine in cascara was 272 nm. The mobile phase was a mixture of methanol-water (adjust orthophosphate). The pH (2.4) (45:55), obtained the optimum decaffeination conditions at the concentration of bacteria <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> 6% and a long incubation time of 24 hrs resulted in a decrease in caffeine content of 51.3843±0.2503%. <b>Conclusion:</b> The results of the paired sample t-test indicate that the concentration of bacteria <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and incubation time significantly influence caffeine levels.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Stevia (<i>Stevia rebaudiana</i>), often known as sweet leaf, is a perennial plant and a member of the Asteraceae family. The commercial version of stevia leaf powder, known as Steviana, is one of the most popular natural sweeteners in use today. The current study aimed to analyze the activities of gut digestive enzymes, intestinal oxidative state and intestinal histological structure in stevia-fed rats. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> In this study, male rats were given Steviana and the oxidative condition of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), the activities of certain digestive enzymes and the histomorphology of the GIT were examined. Animals used in experiments were split into 2 groups: Control and treated groups. For four consecutive weeks, the treatment group received a daily oral intake of 5 mg kg¹ b.wt., of Steviana solution. At the end of the trial, serum, pancreas and intestinal tissue samples were taken. <b>Results:</b> The Steviana sweetener has a strong antioxidative effect on both blood and intestinal tissue. Both sample types showed a decrease in malondialdehyde levels and a marked increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities compared to control samples. In samples of blood, pancreas and intestinal contents, the activities of digestive enzymes including α-amylase, lipase and protease were significantly elevated in Steviana-treated rats. In addition, histological analysis of the small intestine showed that in rats given Steviana sweetener, intestinal glandular crypt depth was more pronounced compared to the control animals. <b>Conclusion:</b> In summary, consumption of Steviana appears to enhance digestion and absorption processes through antioxidative effects, improving the health of the local GIT and subsequently accelerating the rate of synthesis and release of endogenous digestive enzymes. Another aspect that enhances the digestion and absorption process is the change in the histological structure of the intestinal glands, as shown by an increase in the crypt depth.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Cerebellar fluorosis is a health issue associated with excessive exposure to fluoride (F) either in direct or indirect ways as pesticides, drinking water and caries preventing prescriptions. It is characterized by elevation in oxidative stress, inflammation, demyelination and Purkinje cell loss. <i>Moringa oleifera</i> (M), is a widely cultivated plant used as a health-booster agent in modulating various disorders because of its high content of vitamins and minerals. The beneficial effect of moringa against fluoride-induced cerebellar toxicity in pregnant rats was investigated in this study. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Twenty pregnant rats were administered daily 300 mg kg¹ <i>M. oleifera</i> aqueous extract incorporated with 10 mg kg¹ of F intoxication from the 1st day of gestation until the 20th day. Following the termination of the trial, sera were collected and cerebellar tissue was removed for further examinations, along with the assessment of maternity. <b>Results:</b> The <i>M. oleifera</i> significantly normalized serum FSH, LH, progesterone, dopamine and serotonin levels of F-intoxicated mothers. Additionally, <i>M. oleifera</i> markedly prevented the lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation indicated by the tail length and moment in comet assay (-34.4 and -75.3%, respectively, when compared to the fluoride intoxicated group), while sustaining the levels of SOD and CAT revealing its antioxidant activity. The <i>M. oleifera</i> regressed the cerebellar α-amylase (-25.4%) and acetylcholinesterase activity (-40.6%), also attenuated GFAP (-73.4%, p<0.0001), synaptophysin level (216.6%, p<0.0001) and IL-6 expression (-91.2%) comparing to fluoride only treated mothers. <b>Conclusion:</b> Histological and ultrastructural examinations confirmed the recuperating effects of <i>M. oleifera</i> on mothers' cerebellar tissue intoxicated with fluoride indicated by intact folia and restored Purkinje cells number and architecture. The maternal study emphasized the anti-abortifacient activity of moringa against fluoride induced-fetotoxicity.