Significant Reduction Effect Research Articles

Energy performance analysis of GE-F5 gas turbines at off-design conditions by applying an innovative convergent–divergent system for the inlet air cooling

Ambient air temperature increase, in a gas power plant, causes the intake air mass flow rate to be decreased and can have a significant reducing effect on output power and efficiency. To compensate for this reduction, at different climate conditions, various systems can be used to cool the inlet air. To predict the performance of a gas turbine at off-design conditions (by changing surrounding conditions and/or the air cooling method), modeling of the unit performance is required. Due to the high consumption of water and electricity in the conventional cooling systems, in this paper, in addition to introducing an off-design algorithm, governing equations of each cycle elements were inferenced by their characteristic curve. By developing code in MATLAB software, the effect of applying a novel convergent–divergent system on GE-F5 gas units in Yazd Zanbagh power plants was studied. The results show that in a temperature range between 14 and 50 °C, for each degree decrease in ambient air temperature, an approximately 8.99 kW increase in output power can be obtained. The main advantage of this system is the capability of its application in both dry and humid regions. In addition, the refrigerant medium is not required, which makes this system desirable to use in arid areas.

Chrysin Effect in Prevention of Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rat.

Acetaminophen is a commonly used analgesic drug that induces hepatotoxicity at high doses and produces the acetaminophen metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) through oxidase isoenzyme system. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoid chrysin has been reported in different studies. The present study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of chrysin on acute acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of chrysin on fibroblast cells was evaluated using MTT assay, and then, 54 rats were divided into nine groups of six, and acetaminophen (1500 mg/kg) was administered in all groups except for the control group, second and the seventh groups (40 mg/kg), and all groups were treated with chrysin for 14 days. Liver enzymes, inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-2, and total antioxidant activity were measured in serum while liver tissue was histopathologically examined. Based on the MTT assay results, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 μg/mL chrysin had no adverse effects on healthy fibroblast cells (P < 0.05). Chrysin decreased the level of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP), which were previously increased after the use of acetaminophen (p < 0.05). The hepatoprotective effect and total antioxidant capacity increased in a dose-dependent manner and the effect of the highest concentration of chrysin was equal to the effect of silymarin (P < 0.05). TNF-α in groups 4 to 6 decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P = 0.04), and chrysin did not show any significant reducing effect on IL-2 compared to silymarin. Chrysin prevents the necrosis and injury of acute acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by decreasing liver enzymes and TNF-α and increasing total antioxidant capacity and protecting the liver tissue.

The Effect of Cashew Nut on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (P06-117-19)

ObjectivesPreventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the top priority in public health. Hyperlipidemia and hypertension are key contributors to CVD which can be easily modified with dietary and lifestyle interventions. The aim of our metaanalysis was to evaluate effects of cashew nut consumption on blood lipids and blood pressure. MethodsA systematic search was conducted in medical databases. Randomized clinical trials evaluating effects of cashew nuts on either blood lipids, blood pressure or both were eligible for quantitative analysis. Review manager was used for pooling data and metaanalysis. ResultsThe meta-analysis used data from five studies with 246 participants receiving cashew nut and 235 receiving placebo. Overall analysis showed a statistically significant reducing effect of cashew nut consumption on TG [WMD: –14.39, 95% CI (–27.30, –1.49), Heterogeneity: Tau2 = 153.11; Chi2 = 22.70, df = 4 (P = 0.0001); I2 = 82%). Weighted mean difference with random effects model in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were decreased significantly in intervention groups than the control groups by 4.06 mm/Hg and 1 mm/Hg in SBP [95% CI, (–5.12, –3.01), Heterogeneity: Tau2 = 0.00; Chi2 = 0.25, df = 2 (P = 0.88); I2 = 0%] and DBP [95% CI, (–1.65, –0.35), Heterogeneity: Tau2 = 0.00; Chi2 = 1.30, df = 2 (P = 0.52); I2 = 0%], respectively. However, no statistically significant changes of other cardiovascular risk markers including TC (WMD: –1.89, 95% CI [–9.17, 5.39], P = 0.61), LDL-C (WMD: –5.49, 95% CI [–16.76, 5.78], P = 0.34) and HDL-C. (WMD: –0.67, 95% CI, [–2.54, 1.19], P = 0.48) were observed after cashew nut consumption.We investigated the publication bias of the meta-analysis by performing Egger and Begg’s tests which did not indicate the presence of potential publication bias (intercept: –0.33; standard error: 2.36; 95% CI: –7.85, 7.18; t = 0.14, df = 3; two-tailed p = 0.89). ConclusionsIn conclusion, this metaanalysis of clinical trials shows that incorporating cashews can improve TG levels as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure with no significant effects on other cardiometabolic factors (i.e., TC, HDL-C, and LDL-C). Further studies are warranted with different calories and dietary compositions. Funding Sourcesn/a.

Effect of Calcium‑Vitamin D Co‑Supplementation on Insulin, Insulin Sensitivity, and Glycemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of calcium-vitamin D co‑supplementation on insulin, insulin sensitivity, and glycemia. A systematic search was carried out in Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane library without any language and time restriction up to 12 August 2018, to retrieve the RCTs, which examined the effect of calcium and vitamin D co-supplementation on fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, HOMA-B, HOMA-IR, and QUICKI. Meta-analyses were carried out using a random effects model, and I2 indexes were used to evaluate the heterogeneity. Search yielded 2225 publications. Twelve RCTs with 4395 patients were eligible. Results demonstrated that calcium and vitamin D co‑supplementation had significantly reducing effects on FBG, HOMA-IR and circulating levels of insulin. As the subgroup analysis demonstrated, short-term (≤12 weeks) calcium and vitamin D co‑supplementation had a significant reducing effect on FBG. However, beneficial effects of calcium and vitamin D co‑supplementation on circulating level of insulin and HOMA-IR were seen in both short-term and long-term (>12 weeks) supplementations. Furthermore, we found that high doses of vitamin D and calcium co-supplementation (vitamin D≥2000 mg/day and calcium≥1000 mg/day) had significantly reducing effects on FBG, HOMA-IR and insulin. Present meta-analysis indicated the beneficial effects of high-dose and short-term combined vitamin D and calcium supplementation on insulin, insulin resistance and glycemia; however, further large-scale RCTs with adequate and multiple dosing schedules are needed.

Effect of aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) on ACS and ACO genes expression and the vase life of alstroemeria cut flower

Aging in the limbs is divided into two categories: ethylene-sensitive limbs, and ethylene-insensitive limbs. Extracellular synthesis of ethylene in the first group is carried out through a specific biochemical pathway that results from flower development and pollination. The present study aims to explore the effects of aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) on the expression of ethylene biosynthesis pathway genes (1-aminocyclopropane-1- carboxylate synthase (ACS) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (ACO)) and the vase life of the Alstroemeria cut flowers ‘Mayfair’ and ‘Frosty’ varieties. Also, the effect of AOA on at the rates of 0, 50, 100 and 150 mg/l was studied on the morphological and physiological traits. The comparison of the vase life of Mayfair and Frosty showed that Frosty had a longer vase life than Mayfair. Frosty exhibited lower levels of cell degradation, higher relative water content, more chlorophyll content, more total soluble solids, and higher peroxidase level than Mayfair. Higher AOA levels were significantly associated with higher activity of catalase and peroxidase, so that the 150 mg/l AOA had the greatest effect on the activity of these two enzymes. Also, the increase in AOArate to 150 mg/l resulted in the retention of leaf chlorophyll and the reduction of leaf chlorosis percentage in both studied varieties.The results indicated that the highest ACO and ACS gene transcripts were related to the 7th flower opening stage. The use of AOA was effective in reducing the gene expression in Frosty. Also, the application of 150 mg/l AOA had a significant reducing effect on the expression of the ACS gene in Frosty.

Financialization and sluggish fixed investment in Chinese real sector firms

China's economy has been slowing down over the past decade since 2007, with real investment posting obviously sluggish growth, in contrast to a rising trend of financialization in non-financial firms. Using firm-level panel data, this paper examines the impacts of firms' financialization on real investment in China with an extended portfolio choice model. Empirical results show that firms' financialization has an economically and statistically significant reducing effect on their real investment. Unlike the existing literature, however, we find that the return gap between real and financial investments plays a limited role in affecting real investment.

소도구를 이용한 목 스트레칭 및 복부 운동이 통증, 스트레스, 혈액순환 변인에 미치는 영향

Pain, stress, and blood circulatory disturbances have a great impact on daily life as well as physical and mental health. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of neck static stretching using tools and sit-ups (NSS & SU) on the pain (head, neck and shoulder), stress levels and blood circulation variables. For this purpose, 53 men (32 males and 21 females) were subjectedo to NSS & SU, which consisted of neck static stretching by use of 2 tools each for 10 minutes and sit-ups to perform at full speed for 1 minute. Exercise treatment was applied once for 50 minutes, 4 times a week for 4weeks. Pain intensity was measured using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). SA-3000P was used for measuring stress level, and FT-750 was used for measuring blood circulatory variables. Paired t-test was used to analyze the difference between the measurements before and after NSS & SU. Corresponding sample correlation coefficients were calculated to investigate the correlation between measurements before and after NSS & SU. The results of this study were as follows. First, NSS & SU related to the significant reduction of head, neck and shoulder pain levels. There was a significant correlation between the pain scores of the head, neck and shoulder pain before and after NSS & SU. Second, NSS & SU lowered stress index and stress resistance significantly. There was no significant correlation between stress index before and after NSS & SU, but there was a significant correlation between stress resistance before and after exercise treatment. Third, NSS & SU had no significant efefct on hemodynamic variables (TP-KS, PRP, TPR). There was no significant correlation between measurement values of hemodynamic variables before and after NSS & SU. In summary, NSS & SU showed significant reducing effects on pain and stress level. However, NSS & SU did not have a significant effect on hemodynamic variables. The pain levels of human body (head, neck and shoulder) before and after the NSS & SU showed a high correlation and a stable correlation between the measurement periods. Among the stress indicators, the stress index was variable depending on the timing of measurement, but the stress resistance showed low variability. Therefore, stress resistance is a more stable stress indicator than stress index. It is necessary to note that hemodynamic variables may be factors of variability when performing measurements to determine the effectiveness of any exercise treatments.

Multilateral Trade Liberalization and Terms of Trade Volatility

The world has experienced in recent years a rising anti-trade and anti-globalization sentiment, which would likely jeopardize recent efforts by the international trade community, in particular Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to promote multilateral trade liberalization (MTP). The current article investigates the impact of MTP on countries’ terms of trade volatility. Results based on a large panel dataset suggest that MTP exerts a significant reducing effect on countries’ terms of trade volatility. However, this impact appears to be dependent on countries’ development level. The take-home message is that greater cooperation on trade matters, including among WTO Members would help promote multilateral trade liberalization, which would surely contribute to reducing terms of trade volatility, for the benefits of all countries, in particular developing economies.

Determinants of credit risk in the banking system in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper investigates the macroeconomic determinants of credit risk in the banking system of 22 Sub-Saharan African economies. We measure credit risk as the ratio of non-performing loans to total gross loans (NPLs) and employ dynamic panel data methods over the period 2000–2016. Using a variety of specifications, the results show that an increase in real GDP growth rate has a statistically and economically significant reducing effect on the ratio of non-performing loans to total gross loans. Furthermore, inflation rate, domestic credit to private sector by banks as a percent of GDP, trade openness, VIX as a proxy of global volatility, and the 2008/2009 global financial crisis, all have positive and significant impact on NPLs.

Effect of cell culture medium additives on color and acidic charge variants of a monoclonal antibody.

This manuscript summarizes the effect of certain cell culture medium additives on antibody drug substance coloration and acidic charge variants. It has been shown previously that B-vitamins and iron in the cell culture medium could significantly impact color intensity. In this manuscript, we detail the effect of several other cell culture components that have been shown to impact coloration. It is shown that if cystine is used instead of cysteine in the cell culture medium, coloration was reduced. Hydrocortisone has been shown to reduce coloration and boost specific productivity. The effect of a peptone/hydrolysate on coloration was investigated in cell culture experiments, which showed its use can lead to reduced coloration. Mechanisms by which these compounds influence coloration will be briefly discussed. Since it has been previously shown that antibody oxidation could potentially lead to coloration, the current effort was focused on screening for specific antioxidant additives to the culture medium to reduce coloration. An in-vitro incubation model was used to screen antioxidant compounds, several of which were found to significantly reduce antibody color, while some led to significantly increased color. Hypotaurine and carboxymethylcysteine, which had the most significant color reducing effect in the incubation study, were further tested in small-scale bioreactor cell culture experiments. These studies demonstrated that these compounds lead to reduced coloration in cell culture without affecting cell growth and titer. Hypotaurine, hydrocortisone, peptone, and cystine were also shown to reduce the acidic charge variant levels, which was previously shown to correlate with color. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2018 © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:1298-1307, 2018.

Effect of different treatment on the proximate and antinutritional content of Nigerian cashew apple residue

Abstract In this study, cashew apple residue (CAR) was subjected to various treatments (boiling, soaking and fermentation), thereafter, proximate composition and anti-nutrient content were determined. Fermentation significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased the protein content of the CAR by 56.07% and reduced the carbohydrate content to 42.49%. Moreover, soaking and fermentation significantly reduced phytate content of the CAR from 0.4123% to 0.2504% and 0.1106% respectively; all the treatments significantly reduced the oxalate content while boiling and soaking had a significant reducing effect on the tannin content of the CAR. These suggest that pre-treated cashew apple residue may be used for animal feed formulation.

EFFECT OF STICK SWEET CHERRY EXTRACTS (PRUNUS (SP)) ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN ALBINO MICE AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACTERIA

Background:The sweet cherry (Prunus avium L) has a wide variety of secondary metabolites, which has biochemical and biological activity and used as potential source of a drug. There is no data published on stick cherry extract effect on enzymes activities, kidney function test, inflammatory marker and minerals. As well as on antimicrobial activity of stick cherry extract for inhibition the growth of pathogenic bacteria of different types. Objective: To illustrate the effect of ethanolic stick sweet cherry extract on serum enzyme activities; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate transaminase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and the concentration of urea, uric acid, creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP) also potassium, calcium in serum of albino mice as well as to investigate antimicrobial activity of the extract to inhibit the growth of different types of pathogenic bacteria. Methods: A total of 28 albino mice were classified into three groups, the first control group (G1) consist of 8 animals treated with 0.2 ml/day distilled water, second group (G2) comprised of 10 animals treated with 30 mg/Kg/day of stick cherry extract, third group (G3) formed of 10 animals treated with 100 mg/Kg/day of extract. Results: There was statistically significant reducing effect in serum enzyme activities of LDH, CK (P˂0.001) at 30 and 100 mg/Kg/day, and significant change in serum AST at low and high concentration. There is remarkable change in concentration of urea, uric acid, creatinine and increase in potassium and calcium (P˂0.001). The result of antimicrobial activity of stick sweet cherry extracts show inhibition the growth of pathogenic bacteria, different types which involves; (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherishia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgarweris, Serratiam arcescens). This indicates that the chloroform extract was active against the most pathogenic bacteria at all the concentration used and was more than ethanol extracts. Conclusion: Orally administration of sweet stick cherries extracts to albino mice animals caused a potential difference in different biochemical parameters, enzyme activities, LDH, AST, CK, concentration of urea, uric acid and creatinine, C-reactive protein. Those are risk factors for different diseases, inflammatory, oxidative stress, heart disease. This could be minimized or prevented by polyphenols of cherries stick extract. Keywords: Prunus, Creatine kinase, Sweet cherry, CRP, Potassium, Escherichia coli Citation: Saleem MNMN. Effect of Stick Sweet Cherry Extracts (Prunus (SP)) on some biochemical markers in Albino Mice and Biological Activities in Different Types of Bacteria. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(2): 114-124. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.2.2

Effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on C-reactive protein level: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials

Background and aimThe aim of this meta-analysis was to assess effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in clinical trial studies. Methods and resultsA systematic search was carried out on clinical trial studies published in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases completed by manual search on reference list of eligible studies accomplished by November 4, 2017. Of a total number of 508 studies found in the first step of literature search, only 11 were included with 264 participants in supplementation groups and 287 in control groups. Estimated pooled random effects size analysis showed a significant reducing effect of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on CRP level (−0.72 mg/l, 95% CI; −1.4, −0.04; P = 0.03) with a significant heterogeneity between the selected studies. Sub-group analysis showed that alpha-lipoic acid supplementation could significantly reduce serum CRP level when the baseline CRP level was greater than 3 mg/l (−1.02 mg/l, 95% CI: −1.3, −0.73) and when trial duration was >8 weeks (−0.99 mg/l, 95% CI: −1.29, −0.70). Results of subgroup analysis also showed that alpha lipoic acid supplementation could decrease CRP level only in non-diabetic patients (−1.02 mg/l, 95% CI: −1.31, −0.74). ConclusionsResults of the current meta-analysis study showed that alpha-lipoic acid supplementation could significantly decrease CRP level in patients with elevated levels of this inflammatory marker.

Study efficiency of poultry litter and kinetin in reduced effects of saline water in Vicia faba

Soil salinity reduces water availability of plant roots via negative (low) osmosis potential, as well as decrease of germination dynamics of plant seeds by ionic toxicity of Na and Cl, differences in fruit-set, yield, photosynthetic rates, stomata conductance, total chlorophyll content, proline, The study was conducted to alleviate salt stress in some growth parameters and nutrients uptake with some enzyme activities in broad been plants, Kinetin was used at (40 mg/liter), poultry litter with 5 ton / hectare and the quality of irrigation water in three levels (1.3, 4.1and 8.3) dS.m-1, results show that the water salinity increased the electrical conductivity of the soil also POX, catalase activity, Na and proline was elevated with increment salinity levels, while the plant height, dry weight of shoot, yield, NPK contents in leaves and K/Na ratio were decreased with elevation of salt stress. The poultry and Kinetin applications alleviated negative effects of saline water but the poultry litter caused significant reductive of the deleterious negative effects of saline water., the conclusion of this results that poultry fertilizer gave positive results in improving the growth, yield and NPK contents with significant reducing effects in the Na contents, proline contents, POX and CAT activity in leaves, while the treatment with kinetin did not give significant differences, especially with growth, yield and plant content of NPK contents in leaves.

Effects of supplementation with quercetin on plasma C-reactive protein concentrations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Promising experimental studies suggest that quercetin has potential anti-inflammatory effects. However, the results of current clinical trials on quercetin's effects on the C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive inflammatory biomarker, are ambiguous. We conducted a meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to resolve this inconsistency and quantify the net effect of quercetin on circulating CRP concentrations. A systematic search was performed in several databases including SCOPUS, PubMed-Medline and Google Scholar until 16 June 2016. We used a random-effects model in combination with weight mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for data analysis. Standard methods were used for the assessment of heterogeneity, meta-regression, sensitivity analysis and publication bias. The meta-analysis of seven RCTs (10 treatment arms) showed a significant reduction of circulating CRP levels (WMD: -0.33 mg/l; 95% CI: -0.50 to -0.15; P<0.001) following quercetin supplementation. In the subgroup analysis, a significant reducing effect was observed in trials with ⩾500 mg/day dosage (WMD: -0.34 mg/l; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.16; P⩽0.001) and in those with CRP <3 mg/l (WMD: -0.34 mg/l; 95% CI: -0.51, -0.18; P⩽0.001). In meta-regression, there was no association between changes in CRP concentrations, dose of supplementation and CRP baseline values. Our findings showed a significant effect of quercetin supplementation on the C-reactive protein-especially at doses above 500 mg/day and in patients with CRP <3 mg/l.

The effect of chitosan coating incorporated with ethanolic extract of propolis on the quality of refrigerated chicken fillet

Chitosan is considered as a functional packaging component for maintaining the quality and increasing the shelf life of perishable foods include meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and all cooked leftovers. The present study was conducted to evaluate edible coating of chitosan (2%) containing ethanolic extract of propolis (1% and 2%) on microbiological (mesophilic aerobic, psychrotrophic, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus counts), chemical (TBARS, TVN and Peroxide values) and sensory (odor, color, texture, taste, and overall acceptance) properties of chicken fillet. Microbial analysis showed that coating had a significant reducing effect on growth of bacteria during 12 days at 4 °C. Besides, the increase of TBARS, Total volatile nitrogen, and peroxide value of samples coated by chitosan and ethanolic extract of propolis was less than control group. According to our results, chitosan and propolis can be used to enhance the shelf life of fillet and maintain its quality. Practical applications Propolis is used for infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungus, and by single-celled organisms called protozoans. Propolis is also used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Ethanol extract of propolis improve the properties of chitosan edible coating in chicken fillet preservation. The chitosan coating incorporated with ethanolic extract of propolis can improve the microbial, chemical, and sensory quality of food and enhance the shelf life of them by synergistic effects.

English

Urocortin I (Ucn I), Ucn II and Ucn III are corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) - like peptides. Ucn I has a high affinity for CRF1 and CRF2 receptors. The function of Ucn in male reproduction has not yet been elucidated. Ucn I is present in rat testis with lower levels of Ucn II and III mRNA gene expressions. Therefore, it is suggested that Ucn I may play a role in the regulation of male reproductive action. This study is designed to find out the endocrine and reproductive effects of Ucn I in normal adult male rats through investigation of exogenous Ucn I effects on epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, testicular weight and sex hormone proi¬les. 24 normal adult male albino rats of 175 to 200 gm initial body weight were implemented in this study. Randomly, the rats were subdivided into four equal groups. Group (I): Vehicle-treated group in which control rats received 0.1 mL of normal saline for 42 days as Ucn I-treated groups. Rats in group II were divided into three equal subgroups. Group (IIA), (IIB) and (IIC): Ucn I-treated groups in which rats were given daily intraperitoneal injections of rat Ucn I at doses of 5, 10 and 20 μg/kg body weight respectively for 42 days. Rats were weighed. Serum testosterone and levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured, in addition to epididymal sperm count, sperm motility and testicular weight. Administration of Ucn I in dose dependant manner induced significant reducing effects upon body weight, testes weight, epididymal sperm count, sperm motility and serum testosterone levels of normal adult rats. Ucn I may possibly affect male infertility by induction of a significant decrease in epididymal sperm count, motility and serum testosterone levels that might be due to a direct effect of Ucn I on testicular tissue and the germ cells without direct involvement of hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis. Key words: Urocortin I, epididymal sperm count, sperm motility, testosterone, male rat.

Eradication of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Sclerotia from Soil Using Organic Waste Materials as Trichoderma Fungi Carriers

Abstract Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is considered as one of the most harmful soilborne pathogens, which reduces productivity of horticultural crops. Currently used chemical or biological methods for the eradication of S. sclerotiorum from a soil are not very effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of eradication of S. sclerotiorum sclerotia from a soil using the Trichoderma isolates, which were multiplied on the organic carriers prepared from agro-industrial wastes and by-products: WsA (wheat straw + apple pomaces), WsP (wheat straw + potato pulp) and T-GRAN (dry onion rind, apples and strawberry pomaces, rapeseed meal). The results showed that soil amendment with organic materials overgrown with the Trichoderma fungi had a significant reducing effect on S. sclerotiorum. Especially effective was the carrier WsA overgrown with T. virens TRS114, which completely prevented the survival of sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum regardless of the dose of application. Less effective was the WsP carrier. However, addition WsP overgrown with T. atroviride TRS40 at the 5% w/v, resulted in survival only 6.7% of sclerotia. In the greenhouse experiments with lettuce, the application of granulates T-GRAN into the soil had different impact on S. sclerotiorum depending on the conditions to the pathogen development. In conducive conditions, an addition of the organic substances without Trichoderma significantly decreased the yield of lettuce plants. A positive effect on the growth of plants was observed after the application of T-GRAN overgrown with Trichoderma.

Paricalcitol Enhances the Chemopreventive Efficacy of 5-Fluorouracil on an Intermediate-Term Model of Azoxymethane-Induced Colorectal Tumors in Rats.

Colorectal cancer is a common cancer with high mortality rate. Despite being the standard anti-colorectal cancer drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) exhibits only limited therapeutic benefits. Herein, we investigated whether paricalcitol, a synthetic vitamin D analogue with potential antitumor properties, would enhance the chemopreventive efficacy of 5-FU on an intermediate-term (15 weeks) model of colorectal tumors induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in rats. After AOM injection, 5-FU was administered during the 9th and 10th weeks (12 mg/kg/day for 4 days, then 6 mg/kg every other day for another 4 doses), whereas paricalcitol (2.5 μg/kg/day; 3 days/week) was given from the 7th to the 15th week. At week 15, the animals were euthanized and their resected colons were examined macroscopically and microscopically. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure the transcription activities of Wnt, β-catenin, DKK-1, CDNK-1A, NF-κB, and COX-2 genes, and ELISA was used to quantify the protein levels of β-catenin, COX-2, HSP90, and VEGF. IHC was additionally used to measure β-catenin, HSP90, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Compared with their individual therapy, combination of 5-FU and paricalcitol showed more significant reducing effect on numbers of grown tumors and large aberrant crypts foci. Mechanistically, paricalcitol and 5-FU had cooperated together to repress the expression of procancerous Wnt, β-catenin, NF-κB, COX-2, iNOS, VEGF, and HSP-90 more, and to upregulate the expression of antitumorigenesis DKK-1 and CDNK-1A, compared with their monotherapies. Our findings suggest that combined use of paricalcitol with 5-FU exhibits an augmenting chemopreventive effect against colorectal tumors, and might potentially be useful for chemoprevention in colorectal cancer patients. Cancer Prev Res; 9(6); 491-501. ©2016 AACR.

Phaeobacter inhibens as probiotic bacteria in non-axenic Artemia and algae cultures

The growing aquaculture industry is in need for non-antibiotic based disease control strategies to reduce risk of bacteria developing and spreading antibiotic resistance. We have previously, in axenic model systems of live larval feed, demonstrated that bacteria from the Roseobacter clade can antagonize fish pathogens such as Vibrio anguillarum and Vibrio harveyi and that they can reduce larval mortality in challenge trials. However, in the aquaculture production, a natural microbiota is present at all stages and may affect the efficacy of the probiotic bacteria. The purpose of the present study was to determine if marine roseobacters in non-axenic systems were capable of antagonizing fish pathogenic vibrios. We added a controlled background microbiota of four bacterial strains to axenic Artemia and algae (Duniella) and these bacteria had a marginal but significant reducing effect on inoculated Vibrio anguillarum that grew to 107 in control samples but to a level 1–2 log lower in samples with background microbiota. The addition of the Roseobacter-clade bacteria, Phaeobacter inhibens, caused a significant reduction in growth of the pathogen that reached levels 3–4 log lower than in the control. In non-axenic natural Artemia and algae (Tetraselmis) received from an aquaculture unit, Vibrio anguillarum grew to 107CFU/ml but only reached 104CFU/ml when P. inhibens was also added. P. inhibens was added at a concentration 106CFU/ml in all systems and remained at this concentration at the end of the study, irrespective of the background microbiota. We therefore conclude that P. inhibens are indeed promising as probiotic bacteria in marine larvi-culture where it in natural live feed can suppress fish larval pathogens. Statement of relevanceWe and others have in several studies demonstrated the potential effect of probiotic bacteria in axenic or gnotobiotic models. Here, we for the first time present data that demonstrate that probiotic roseobacters also are efficient in non-axenic systems; even in commercial algae and Artemia from a commercial fish farmer. This adds further promise to probiotics as disease control in aquaculture.