A hybrid of ant colony optimization and flux variability analysis to improve the production of l-phenylalanine and biohydrogen

In silico metabolic engineering has shown many successful results in genome - scale model reconstruction and modification of metabolic network by implementing reaction deletion strategies to improve microbial strain such as production yield and growth rate. While improving the metabolites production, optimization algorithm has been implemented gradually in previous studies to identify the near - optimal sets of reaction knockout to obtain the best results. However, previous works implemented other algorithms that differ than this study which faced with several issues such as premature convergence and able to only produce low production yield because of ineffective algorithm and existence of complex metabolic data. The lack of effective genome models is because of the presence thousands of reactions in the metabolic network caused complex and high dimensional data size that contains competing pathway of non - desirable product. Indeed, the suitable population size and knockout number for this new algorithm have been tested previously. This study proposes an algorithm that is a hybrid of the ant colony optimization algorithm and flux variability analysis (ACOFVA) to predict near - optimal sets of reactions knockout in an effort to improve the growth rates and the production rate of L - phenylalanine and biohydrogen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp PCC6803 respectively

Midline or Retroperitoneal Approach in Operating on a Retroperitoneal Tumour: A Surgical Dilemma

Retroperitoneal tumors are rare form of tumors arising from the retroperitoneal space and account for 10-15% of soft tissue sarcoma.1,2 Liposarcoma represent 0.1% of all cancers 3 and arise mostly from the mesenchyme usually located in muscles, fat and connective tissue. 4 It is a high grade tumor with high propensity for recurrence.1 80% of patientspresent with asymptomatic abdominal distension in their 5th - 6th decade of life.4 Liposarcoma tend to present as a huge mass posing a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma especially with regards to its position and surgical approach

Evaluation of gut modulatory and bronchodilator activities of Amaranthus spinosus Linn.

Background The aqueous-methanolic extract of Amaranthus spinosus (A. spinosus Linn.,) whole plant, was studied for its laxative, spasmolytic and bronchodilator activities to validate some of its medicinal uses. Methods The crude extract of A. spinosus was studied in-vivo for bronchodilator and laxative activities and in-vitro using isolated tissue preparations which were mounted in tissue baths assembly containing physiological salt solutions, maintained at 37°C and aerated with carbogen, to assess the spasmolytic effect and to find out the possible underlying mechanisms. Results In the in-vivo experiments in mice, the administration of A. spinosus increased fecal output at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg showing laxative activity. It also inhibited carbachol-induced bronchospasm in anesthetized rats at 1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/kg indicative of bronchodilator activity. When tested on isolated gut preparations, the plant extract showed a concentration-dependent (0.01-10.0 mg/ml) spasmogenic effect in spontaneously contracting rabbit jejunum and guinea-pig ileum. The spasmogenic effect was partially blocked in tissues pretreated with atropine (0.1 μM). When tested on K+ (80 mM)-induced sustained contractions in isolated rabbit jejunum, the plant extract caused complete relaxation and also produced a shift in the Ca++ concentration-response curves (CRCs) towards right, similar to diltiazem. In rabbit trachea, the plant extract completely inhibited K+ (80 mM) and carbachol (CCh, 1 μM)-induced contractions at 1 mg/ml but pretreatment of tissue with propranolol (1 μM), caused around 10 fold shift in the inhibitory CRCs of the plant extract constructed against CCh-induced contraction. The plant extract (up to 0.3 mg/ml) also increased both force and rate of spontaneous contractions of isolated guinea-pig atria, followed by relaxation at higher concentration (1.0-5.0 mg/ml). The cardio-stimulant effect was abolished in the presence of propranolol, similar to that of isoprenaline. Activity-directed fractionation revealed that the spasmolytic component(s) was separated in the organic fraction, whereas the spasmogenic component was concentrated in the aqueous fraction. Conclusion These results indicate that A. spinosus possesses laxative activity partially mediated through cholinergic action. The spasmolytic effect was mediated through calcium channel blocking (CCB), while bronchodilator activity through a combination of β-adrenergic and CCB pathways, which may explain the traditional uses of A. spinosus in gut and airways disorders

Inflammatory Pseudotumour of Stomach in an old lady: a rare case report

Inflammatory pseudotumour (IPT) is a rare benign solid tumor in adults and children. The prevalence, etiology and pathogenesis of this condition are still uncertain. Despite the use of modern laboratory techniques and imaging, it is often difficult to make the diagnosis of IPT. Besides, occasionally the nonspecific morphological appearance and clinical presentation of the mass may mimic other more common primary or secondary neoplasms. IPT is commonly encountered in the lung and mediastinum. Other sites include abdomen (liver, pancreas, stomach, omentum), retroperitoneum, pelvis (bladder) and extremities in children. We report a rare case of gastric inflammatory pseudotumour in a 65-year-old female patient. Clinical presentations and its management along with review of literatures are presented

Anthelmintic activity of Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica against gastrointestinal nematodes of wild sheep

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) are serious issue for health of wild sheep kept in captivity. Chemically synthesized anthelmintics are regularly used to control these parasites. In recent years anthelmintic resistance and remnant of drugs in animal products leads to use of medicinal plants as alternative to anthelmintics. In current study, the efficacy of aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic dried leaf extracts of medicinal plants Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica were tested for in vitro ovicidal and larvicidal activities against Haemonchus, Trichuris, Coccidia and Trichostrongylus; naturally acquired nematodes isolated from wild sheep (Ovis orientalis orientalis). Six concentrations of these plants extract (1.56, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/ml) were evaluated using egg hatching assay (EHA) and larval development assay (LDA) in three replicates. To compare treatment effects, untreated and treated (0.1% ivermectin) controls were used. The aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic leaf extracts showed anthelmintic activities against isolated genera of nematodes but the inhibition was  maximum (99%) in ethanol extract of M. oleifera followed by methanol extract (97%) at maximum concentration tested at (50mg/ml). The overall findings of this study shows that Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica leaf extracts possess significant anthelmintic efficacy against GINs of sheep and these could be a natural alternative to synthetic anthelmintics to treat the worm infections in animals

Critical retrospective analysis of various types of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) at HUSM (2006-2007)

To find the true incidence of various types of Bladder dysfunction (NLUTD) among neurological, neuro surgical lesions and post OBG status during 2006-2007 at HUSM

Intravesical electrical stimulation of the bladder – animal model study in HUSM

To study the effects of intravesical eletrical stimulation of rabbit’s bladder and to apply the principle in human hypocontractile bladder as a method of bladderbiofeedback training

Trancutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation (tptns): a promising method of management of neurogenic overactive bladder

To determine TPTNS is effective as less invasive form of neuromodulatory method either as a direct therapy for certain overactive bladder or as a preliminary evaluation for sacral root neuromodulation as a permanent method subsequently