Showing papers by "Mahidol University published in 2005"
TL;DR: It is estimated that there were 515 (range 300–660) million episodes of clinical P. falciparum malaria in 2002, up to 50% higher than those reported by the World Health Organization and 200% higher for areas outside Africa, reflecting the WHO's reliance upon passive national reporting for these countries.
Abstract: Interest in mapping the global distribution of malaria is motivated by a need to define populations at risk for appropriate resource allocation and to provide a robust framework for evaluating its global economic impact. Comparison of older and more recent malaria maps shows how the disease has been geographically restricted, but it remains entrenched in poor areas of the world with climates suitable for transmission. Here we provide an empirical approach to estimating the number of clinical events caused by Plasmodium falciparum worldwide, by using a combination of epidemiological, geographical and demographic data. We estimate that there were 515 (range 300-660) million episodes of clinical P. falciparum malaria in 2002. These global estimates are up to 50% higher than those reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 200% higher for areas outside Africa, reflecting the WHO's reliance upon passive national reporting for these countries. Without an informed understanding of the cartography of malaria risk, the global extent of clinical disease caused by P. falciparum will continue to be underestimated.
2,825 citations
TL;DR: Redefinition of obesity based on waist-to-hip ratio instead of BMI increases the estimate of myocardial infarction attributable to obesity in most ethnic groups.
2,742 citations
TL;DR: Artesunate should become the treatment of choice for severe falciparum malaria in adults because it is more rapidly acting than intravenous quinine in terms of parasite clearance and is simpler to administer.
944 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define the core characteristics underlying this approach to school leadership and management based upon both policy, research, and practice in school leadership, and the increasing global emphasis on accountability seems to have reignited interest in instructional leadership.
Abstract: One lasting legacy of the effective schools movement was the institutionalization of the term “instructional leadership” into the vocabulary of educational administration. Evidence from other recent reviews of the literature on principal leadership (e.g., Hallinger, 2001; Hallinger & Heck 1996; Southworth, 2002) suggest that twenty years later, the instructional leadership construct is still alive in the domains of policy, research, and practice in school leadership and management. Indeed, since the turn of the twenty-first century, the increasing global emphasis on accountability seems to have reignited interest in instructional leadership. This paper ties together evidence drawn from several extensive reviews of the educational leadership literature that included instructional leadership as a key construct (Hallinger, 2001, 2003b; Hallinger & Heck, 1996b; Southworth, 2002). The paper will seek to define the core characteristics underlying this approach to school leadership and management based upon both...
877 citations
TL;DR: A process for pooling results from population‐based molecular association studies which consists of checking Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium using chi‐square goodness of fit and performing sensitivity analysis with and without studies that are in HWE is proposed.
Abstract: Although population-based molecular association studies are becoming increasingly popular, methodology for the meta-analysis of these studies has been neglected, particularly with regard to two issues: testing Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), and pooling results in a manner that reflects a biological model of gene effect We propose a process for pooling results from population-based molecular association studies which consists of the following steps: (1) checking HWE using chi-square goodness of fit; we suggest performing sensitivity analysis with and without studies that are in HWE (2) Heterogeneity is then checked, and if present, possible causes are explored (3) If no heterogeneity is present, regression analysis is used to pool data and to determine the gene effect (4) If there is a significant gene effect, pairwise group differences are analysed and these data are allowed to 'dictate' the best genetic model (5) Data may then be pooled using this model This method is easily performed using standard software, and has the advantage of not assuming an a priori genetic model
577 citations
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich1, University at Buffalo2, University of Queensland3, Federal University of São Paulo4, Umeå University5, National University of Singapore6, Mahidol University7, University of Toronto8, Rambam Health Care Campus9, Lille University of Science and Technology10, Juntendo University11, Capital Medical University12
TL;DR: The International Expert Group (IEG) as mentioned in this paper has been formed to provide recommendations on the compositional requirements for a global infant formula standard, based on scientific analysis and taking into account existing scientific reports on the subject.
Abstract: The Codex Alimentarius Commission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) develops food standards, guidelines and related texts for protecting consumer health and ensuring fair trade practices globally. The major part of the world's population lives in more than 160 countries that are members of the Codex Alimentarius. The Codex Standard on Infant Formula was adopted in 1981 based on scientific knowledge available in the 1970s and is currently being revised. As part of this process, the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses asked the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition to initiate a consultation process with the international scientific community to provide a proposal on nutrient levels in infant formulae, based on scientific analysis and taking into account existing scientific reports on the subject. ESPGHAN accepted the request and, in collaboration with its sister societies in the Federation of International Societies on Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, invited highly qualified experts in the area of infant nutrition to form an International Expert Group (IEG) to review the issues raised. The group arrived at recommendations on the compositional requirements for a global infant formula standard which are reported here.
540 citations
TL;DR: Eight virus isolates that were nonpathogenic in ducks replicated and transmitted efficiently to naïve contacts, suggesting that highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses causing minimal signs of disease in ducks can propagate silently and efficiently among domestic and wild ducks in Asia and that they represent a serious threat to human and veterinary public health.
Abstract: Wild waterfowl are the natural reservoir of all influenza A viruses, and these viruses are usually nonpathogenic in these birds. However, since late 2002, H5N1 outbreaks in Asia have resulted in mortality among waterfowl in recreational parks, domestic flocks, and wild migratory birds. The evolutionary stasis between influenza virus and its natural host may have been disrupted, prompting us to ask whether waterfowl are resistant to H5N1 influenza virus disease and whether they can still act as a reservoir for these viruses. To better understand the biology of H5N1 viruses in ducks and attempt to answer this question, we inoculated juvenile mallards with 23 different H5N1 influenza viruses isolated in Asia between 2003 and 2004. All virus isolates replicated efficiently in inoculated ducks, and 22 were transmitted to susceptible contacts. Viruses replicated to higher levels in the trachea than in the cloaca of both inoculated and contact birds, suggesting that the digestive tract is not the main site of H5N1 influenza virus replication in ducks and that the fecal-oral route may no longer be the main transmission path. The virus isolates' pathogenicities varied from completely nonpathogenic to highly lethal and were positively correlated with tracheal virus titers. Nevertheless, the eight virus isolates that were nonpathogenic in ducks replicated and transmitted efficiently to naive contacts, suggesting that highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses causing minimal signs of disease in ducks can propagate silently and efficiently among domestic and wild ducks in Asia and that they represent a serious threat to human and veterinary public health.
465 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a data-space variant of the Occam approach is used for 3D magnetotelluric (MT) minimum structure inversion, where matrix dimensions depend on the size of the data set, rather than the number of model parameters.
413 citations
TL;DR: Plasma PfHRP2 concentrations may be used to estimate the total body parasite biomass in acute falciparum malaria, and suggested that admission to hospital with uncomplicated malaria often follows schizogony—but in severe malaria is unrelated to stage of parasite development.
Abstract: Background
In falciparum malaria sequestration of erythrocytes containing mature forms of Plasmodium falciparum in the microvasculature of vital organs is central to pathology, but quantitation of this hidden sequestered parasite load in vivo has not previously been possible. The peripheral blood parasite count measures only the circulating, relatively non-pathogenic parasite numbers. P. falciparum releases a specific histidine-rich protein (PfHRP2) into plasma. Quantitative measurement of plasma PfHRP2 concentrations may reflect the total parasite biomass in falciparum malaria.
Methods and Findings
We measured plasma concentrations of PfHRP2, using a quantitative antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in 337 adult patients with falciparum malaria of varying severity hospitalised on the Thai–Burmese border. Based on in vitro production rates, we constructed a model to link this measure to the total parasite burden in the patient. The estimated geometric mean parasite burden was 7 × 1011 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.8 × 1011 to 8.5 × 1011) parasites per body, and was over six times higher in severe malaria (geometric mean 1.7 × 1012, 95% CI 1.3 × 1012 to 2.3 × 1012) than in patients hospitalised without signs of severity (geometric mean 2.8 × 1011, 95% CI 2.3 × 1011 to 3.5 × 1011; p < 0.001). Parasite burden was highest in patients who died (geometric mean 3.4 × 1012, 95% CI 1.9 × 1012 to 6.3 × 1012; p = 0.03). The calculated number of sequestered parasites increased with disease severity and was higher in patients with late developmental stages of P. falciparum present on peripheral blood smears. Comparing model and laboratory estimates of the time of sequestration suggested that admission to hospital with uncomplicated malaria often follows schizogony—but in severe malaria is unrelated to stage of parasite development.
Conclusion
Plasma PfHRP2 concentrations may be used to estimate the total body parasite biomass in acute falciparum malaria. Severe malaria results from extensive sequestration of parasitised erythrocytes.
413 citations
TL;DR: Undiluted oils of Cymbopogon nardus (citronella), Pogostemon cablin (patchuli), Syzygium aromaticum (clove) and Zanthoxylum limonella (Thai name: makaen) were the most effective and provided 2 h of complete repellency.
Abstract: The mosquito repellent activity of 38 essential oils from plants at three concentrations was screened against the mosquito Aedes aegypti under laboratory conditions using human subjects. On a volunteer's forearm, 0.1 mL of oil was applied per 30 cm2 of exposed skin. When the tested oils were applied at a 10% or 50% concentration, none of them prevented mosquito bites for as long as 2 h, but the undiluted oils of Cymbopogon nardus (citronella), Pogostemon cablin (patchuli), Syzygium aromaticum (clove) and Zanthoxylum limonella (Thai name: makaen) were the most effective and provided 2 h of complete repellency.
From these initial results, three concentrations (10%, 50% and undiluted) of citronella, patchouli, clove and makaen were selected for repellency tests against Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles dirus. As expected, the undiluted oil showed the highest protection in each case. Clove oil gave the longest duration of 100% repellency (2–4 h) against all three species of mosquito. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
395 citations
Mahidol University1, University of Newcastle2, University of Leicester3, John Hunter Hospital4, Waikato Hospital5, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute6, Queen's University7, University of Washington8, The Chinese University of Hong Kong9, University of Aberdeen10, deCODE genetics11, Tel Aviv University12
TL;DR: Haplotype analysis suggests that there may be an interaction between the two sites, with a lower risk of asthma associated with the Glu27 allele (compared with Gln27), and that this risk is modified by the allele at position 16.
Abstract: A number of studies have investigated two common polymorphisms in the beta(2)-adrenoceptor gene, Arg/Gly16 and Gln/Glu27, in relation to asthma susceptibility. The authors performed a meta-analysis of each polymorphism, as well as haplotype analysis, for adult and pediatric populations separately, using published data, supplemented by additional data requested from the original authors. Individual analysis detected no effect of Arg/Gly16 in adults but did suggest a recessive protective effect of Gly16 for children, with an odds ratio of 0.71 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53, 0.96) compared with the other genotypes. Results for Gln/Glu27 in adults seem to indicate that heterozygotes are at decreased risk of asthma than either homozygote (odds ratio = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.87), although the studies are heterogeneous; in children, the Glu/Glu genotype has a decreased risk of asthma (odds ratio = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.99) compared with the other genotypes. Despite the proximity of these two polymorphic sites, the linkage disequilibrium coefficient of 0.41 was not high (p < 0.001). Haplotype analysis suggests that there may be an interaction between the two sites, with a lower risk of asthma associated with the Glu27 allele (compared with Gln27), and that this risk is modified by the allele at position 16.
TL;DR: In this paper, a fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) was produced from fish soluble concentrate (FSC), a byproduct from canned fish industry, by using Flavourzyme™ and Kojizyme™.
TL;DR: The results indicate that CD209 has a crucial role in dengue pathogenesis, which discriminates between severe d Dengue fever and denge hemorrhagic fever, which may have consequences for therapeutic and preventive strategies.
Abstract: Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are mosquito-borne viral diseases. Dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN1, encoded by CD209), an attachment receptor of dengue virus, is essential for productive infection of dendritic cells. Here, we report strong association between a promoter variant of CD209, DCSIGN1-336, and risk of dengue fever compared with dengue hemorrhagic fever or population controls. The G allele of the variant DCSIGN1-336 was associated with strong protection against dengue fever in three independent cohorts from Thailand, with a carrier frequency of 4.7% in individuals with dengue fever compared with 22.4% in individuals with dengue hemorrhagic fever (odds ratio for risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever versus dengue fever: 5.84, P = 1.4 x 10(-7)) and 19.5% in controls (odds ratio for protection: 4.90, P = 2 x 10(-6)). This variant affects an Sp1-like binding site and transcriptional activity in vitro. These results indicate that CD209 has a crucial role in dengue pathogenesis, which discriminates between severe dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. This may have consequences for therapeutic and preventive strategies.
TL;DR: The authors discusses the role of research reviews and compendia in educational leadership and management as a field of study between 1990 and the present, and discusses the importance of compendias in this field.
Abstract: This article comments on the state of research in educational leadership and management as a field of study between 1990 and the present. We discuss the role of research reviews and compendia in th...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the antimicrobial properties of Thai medicinal plants against pus-forming bacteria and found that Garcinia mangostana extract had the greatest antimicrobial effect. But the results from the disc diffusion method showed that 13 medicinal plants could inhibit the growth of Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
TL;DR: In contrast to disseminated infection documented in other mammals and birds, H5N1 viral replication in humans may be restricted to the lung and intestine, and the major site of H5E viruses replication in the lung is the pneumocyte.
Abstract: Tissue tropism and pathogenesis of influenza A virus subtype H5N1 disease in humans is not well defined. In mammalian experimental models, H5N1 influenza is a disseminated disease. However, limited previous data from human autopsies have not shown evidence of virus dissemination beyond the lung. We investigated a patient with fatal H5N1 influenza. Viral RNA was detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction in lung, intestine, and spleen tissues, but positive-stranded viral RNA indicating virus replication was confined to the lung and intestine. Viral antigen was detected in pneumocytes by immunohistochemical tests. Tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA was seen in lung tissue. In contrast to disseminated infection documented in other mammals and birds, H5N1 viral replication in humans may be restricted to the lung and intestine, and the major site of H5N1 viral replication in the lung is the pneumocyte.
TL;DR: The Thailand viruses contained more avian-specific residues than the 1997 Hong Kong H5N1 viruses, suggesting that the virus may have adapted to allow a more efficient spread in avian species.
Abstract: The complete genomes of three human H5N1 influenza isolates were characterized, together with the haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes from two additional human isolates and one chicken isolate. These six influenza isolates were obtained from four different provinces of Thailand during the avian influenza outbreak in Asia from late 2003 to May 2004. All six Thailand isolates contained multiple basic amino acids at the cleavage site in the HA gene. Amino acid residues at the receptor-binding site of the five human viruses were similar to those of the chicken virus and other H5N1 viruses from Hong Kong. The presence of amantadine resistance in the Thailand viruses isolated during this outbreak was suggested by a fixed mutation in M2 and confirmed by a phenotypic assay. All genomic segments of the Thailand viruses clustered with the recently described genotype Z. The Thailand viruses contained more avian-specific residues than the 1997 Hong Kong H5N1 viruses, suggesting that the virus may have adapted to allow a more efficient spread in avian species.
TL;DR: The prevalence of six major-risk behaviors in adolescents in Bangkok was significantly high and several risk factors were identified, the knowledge from which may help to form preventive measures in this population.
TL;DR: This review provides some examples and perspectives of how proteomics can be applied to nephrology and how experimental data can be linked to physiology, functional significance and clinical applications.
Abstract: During the past few years, proteomics has been extensively applied to various fields of medicine including nephrology. Current applications of renal and urinary proteomics are to better understand renal physiology, to explore the complexity of disease mechanisms, and to identify novel biomarkers and new therapeutic targets. This review provides some examples and perspectives of how proteomics can be applied to nephrology and how experimental data can be linked to physiology, functional significance and clinical applications. In some instances, proteomic analysis can be utilized to generate a new hypothesis from a set of candidates that are obtained from expression studies. The new hypothesis can then be addressed rapidly by conventional molecular biology methods, as demonstrated by identification of an altered renal elastin-elastase system in diabetic nephropathy and alterations in the renal kallikrein-kallistatin pathway in hypoxia-induced hypertension. The strengths and limitations of proteomics in renal research are summarized. Optimization of analytical protocols is required to overcome current limitations. Applications of proteomics to nephrology will then be more fruitful and successful.
TL;DR: The antioxidant capacities of the Soxhlet methanolic extracts were determined, and indicates that Tamarind may be an important source of cancer chemopreventive natural products in tropical regions.
TL;DR: The rising prevalence of decreased kidney function in this population resulted mainly from the increasing prevalence of the risk factors in the population and Screening to detect decreased kidneys function and early intervention to modify the associated risk factors should be considered in otherwise healthy individuals.
Abstract: End-stage kidney disease has become an increasing burden in all regions of the world. However, limited epidemiologic data on chronic kidney disease in Southeast Asian populations are available. Therefore, a cohort study over a period of 12 yr (1985 to 1997) in 3499 employees of the Electric Generation Authority of Thailand, aged 35 to 55 yr, was conducted to determine the prevalence of decreased kidney function and risk factors associated with future development of decreased kidney function. The prevalence of decreased kidney function (GFR 159 mmHg), 1.82 (1.12 to 2.98) for hyperuricemia (>6.29 mg/dl), 1.68 (1.02 to 2.77) for elevated body mass index (>24.9 kg/m 2 ) compared with subjects with systolic BP <140 mmHg, serum uric acid <4.5 mg/dl, and body mass index 20.8 to 22.8 kg/m 2 . The rising prevalence of decreased kidney function in this population resulted mainly from the increasing prevalence of the risk factors in the population. Screening to detect decreased kidney function and early intervention to modify the associated risk factors should be considered in otherwise healthy individuals. Future studies are also necessary to determine whether implementation of these measures results in a reduction of ESRD incidence in the population.
TL;DR: The data suggest that posaconazole, as an oral medication, has clinical activity against fungal infections of the CNS and may provide a valuable alternative to parenteral therapy in patients failing existing antifungal agents.
Abstract: Objectives: A multinational, multicentre, open-label clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacyof posaconazole,anextended-spectrum triazole antifungalagent,in subjects withinvasive fungal infections who had refractory disease or who were intolerant of standard antifungal therapy. In this subanalysis, we report on those subjects in this trial who had a fungal infection that involved the CNS. Methods: Subjects received posaconazole oral suspension 800 mg/day in divided doses for up to 1 year; however,subjectscouldreceiveadditionaltherapyaspartofatreatment-useextensionprotocol.Ablinded, third-party data review committee determined subject eligibility and outcome. Results: Of the 330 subjects who enrolled in the study, 53 had infections of the CNS, of which 39 were consideredevaluableforefficacy.Mosthadrefractorydisease(37of39)andunderlyingHIVinfection(29of 39). Twenty-nine subjects had cryptococcal infections, and 10 had infections caused by other fungal pathogens[Aspergillusspp.(four),Pseudallescheriaboydii(two),Coccidioidesimmitis(one),Histoplasma capsulatum(one),Ramichloridiummackenziei(one),andApophysomyceselegansplusaBasidiomycetes sp. (one)]. Successful outcomes were observed in 14 of 29 (48%) subjects with cryptococcal meningitis and five of 10 (50%) subjects with CNS infections due to other fungal pathogens. Posaconazole was well tolerated. Conclusions: These data suggest that posaconazole, as an oral medication, has clinical activity against fungal infections of the CNS andmay provide a valuablealternative to parenteral therapy in patients failing existing antifungal agents.
TL;DR: A better understanding of the pharmacodynamics of intermittent presumptive treatment, says White, will guide more rational policymaking.
Abstract: A better understanding of the pharmacodynamics of intermittent presumptive treatment, says White, will guide more rational policymaking
TL;DR: Estimating a model of prospective migration among men and women in Thailand finds that trips and duration of time away have distinct influences upon migration; that householdlevel migrant networks are more influential than village level migrant networks; that female migrant networks and male migrant networks have different influences on migration outcomes.
Abstract: Employing longitudinal data from Thailand to replicate studies of cumulative causation, we extend current knowledge by measuring frequency of trips, duration of time away, level of network aggregation (village or household), and sex composition of migrant networks to estimate a model of prospective migration among men and women in Thailand. We find that trips and duration of time away have distinct influences upon migration; that household level migrant networks are more influential than village level migrant networks; that female migrant networks and male migrant networks have different influences upon migration outcomes; and, that migrant social capital influences men and women's migration differently. Our elaboration provides significant quantitative evidence as to how gender and family variously imbue migration dynamics.
TL;DR: Transplantation results confirmed that a subpopulation of SSCs expresses GFRA1, but also that the stem cell pool is heterogeneous with respect to the level of GFRA2 expression, and Interestingly, POU5F1-positive cells were enriched nearly 15-fold in theGFRA1-selected fraction, possibly suggesting heterogeneity of developmental potential within the stemcell pool.
Abstract: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for spermatogenesis, and these adult tissue stem cells balance self-renewal and differentiation to meet the biological demand of the testis. The developmental dynamics of SSCs are controlled, in part, by factors in the stem cell niche, which is located on the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules situated among Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells produce glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and disruption of GDNF expression results in spermatogenic defects and infertility. The GDNF signals through a receptor complex that includes GDNF family receptor a1 (GFRA1), which is thought to be expressed by SSCs. However, expression of GFRA1 on SSCs has not been confirmed by in vivo functional assay, which is the only method that allows definitive identification of SSCs. Therefore, we fractionated mouse pup testis cells based on GFRA1 expression using magnetic activated cell sorting. The sorted and depleted fractions of GFRA1 were characterized for germ cell markers by immunocytochemistry and for stem cell activity by germ cell transplantation. The GFRA1-positive cell fraction coeluted with other markers of SSCs, including ITGA6 and CD9, and was significantly depleted of KIT-positive cells. The transplantation results confirmed that a subpopulation of SSCs expresses GFRA1, but also that the stem cell pool is heterogeneous with respect to the level of GFRA1 expression. Interestingly, POU5F1-positive cells were enriched nearly 15-fold in the GFRA1-selected fraction, possibly suggest
TL;DR: In this paper, a unique longitudinal and prospective approach is used to analyze the social embeddedness of rural-urban Thai migrants and their subsequent migration, finding that urban-integrated migrants with diverse social support ties in the urban destination who reside in village enclaves and households that promote social adaptation and incorporation tend to be found again in urban destinations 6 years later.
Abstract: A unique longitudinal and prospective approach is used to analyze the social embeddedness of rural–urban Thai migrants and their subsequent migration. More than any one particular social tie it is the configuration of social ties at multiple levels that influences whether migrants experience their destination as integrative and a place for settlement or not. Social ties at multiple levels and from multiple sources weave into a social fabric that surrounds migrants in destination contexts shaping their migration trajectories. The findings show that urban-integrated migrants with diverse social support ties in the urban destination who reside in village enclaves and households that promote social adaptation and incorporation tend to be found again in urban destinations 6 years later. By comparison semi-integrated and urban-isolated migrants whose social support ties community structures and households provide relatively weak links and support within the urban setting exhibit stronger tendencies to return to their villages of origin or to migrate onward from their initial destination. The findings suggest that migrants’ mobility pathways—whether they settle in their current destination return to their villages of origin or make additional movements onward— depend on the organization of urban social relations and migrants’ positions therein. (authors)
TL;DR: In this article, the gelatinization of cationic tapioca starch embedded in gum matrices was investigated by using a Rapid Visco-Analyzer (RVA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and rheometer.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Ninety-six ethanolic extracts from various parts of 84 Thai plant species were tested for their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, finding that extracts from Rhinacanthus nasutus, Derris elliptica, Trigonostemon reidioides, Homalomena aromatica, Stemona tuberosa and Acorus calamus possessed high larv suicidal activity.
Abstract: Ninety-six ethanolic extracts from various parts of 84 Thai plant species were tested for their larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Extracts from Rhinacanthus nasutus, Derris elliptica, Trigonostemon reidioides, Homalomena aromatica, Stemona tuberosa and Acorus calamus possessed high larvicidal activity, with LC50 values between 16.0 and 48.2 mg/l. Petroleum ether (PE) and methanol (MeOH) extracts were tested for their larvicidal activity against 4 mosquito vector species. The PE extract of R. nasutus exhibited larvicidal effects against Ae. aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles dirus and Mansonia uniformis with LC50 values between 3.9 and 11.5 mg/l, while the MeOH extract gave LC50 values of between 8.1 and 14.7 mg/l. D. elliptica PE extract showed LC50 values of between 11.2 and 18.84 mg/l and the MeOH extract exhibited LC50 values between 13.2 and 45.2 mg/l.
TL;DR: Analysis of primary sequences of the Staphylococcus epidermidis surface (Ses) proteins indicates that they have a structural organization similar to the previously described cell-wall-anchored proteins from S. aureus and other Gram-positive cocci, and western blot analyses of early-logarithmic and late-stationary in vitro cultures suggest that different regulatory mechanisms control the expression of the Ses proteins.
Abstract: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a ubiquitous human skin commensal that has emerged as a major cause of foreign-body infections. Eleven genes encoding putative cell-wall-anchored proteins were identified by computer analysis of the publicly available S. epidermidis unfinished genomic sequence. Four genes encode previously described proteins (Aap, Bhp, SdrF and SdrG), while the remaining seven have not been characterized. Analysis of primary sequences of the
Staphylococcus epidermidis
surface (Ses) proteins indicates that they have a structural organization similar to the previously described cell-wall-anchored proteins from S. aureus and other Gram-positive cocci. However, not all of the Ses proteins are direct homologues of the S. aureus proteins. Secondary and tertiary structure predictions suggest that most of the Ses proteins are composed of several contiguous subdomains, and that the majority of these predicted subdomains are folded into β-rich structures. PCR analysis indicates that certain genes may be found more frequently in disease isolates compared to strains isolated from healthy skin. Patients recovering from S. epidermidis infections had higher antibody titres against some Ses proteins, implying that these proteins are expressed during human infection. Western blot analyses of early-logarithmic and late-stationary in vitro cultures suggest that different regulatory mechanisms control the expression of the Ses proteins.
TL;DR: There was a large variation in the contents of gallic acid, corilagin, and ellagic acid in different plant tissues and cultivars and these three cultivars may be used in directed breeding and cultivation programs and to develop concentrated longan seed extracts to promote good health.
Abstract: Regular consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of some chronic diseases including various forms of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The health-promoting potential of these foods may be due, in part, to the phytochemical bioactive compounds present in the plants. Fruit of Euphoria longana Lam. (longan) are consumed throughout Asia and are a major crop in Thailand. In the present study phytochemicals were extracted with 70% methanol from peel, pulp, and seed tissues of longan fruit, and the major components were identified as gallic acid, corilagin (an ellagitannin), and ellagic acid. A high-through-put reversed phase HPLC method was developed to determine the content of these three compounds in different parts of the longan fruit and among different cultivars. The analyses showed that there was a large variation in the contents of gallic acid, corilagin, and ellagic acid in different plant tissues and cultivars. Seed contained the highest levels of the three phenolics, and pulp contained the lowest. Among commercial cultivars, Biewkiew and Edor contained the highest levels of gallic and ellagic acid while Srichompoo contained the highest content of corilagin. These three cultivars may be used in directed breeding and cultivation programs and to develop concentrated longan seed extracts to promote good health. Utilization of this byproduct material will support the use of thousands of tons of waste longan seeds after the production of canned longan pulp.