Retrograde semaphorin-plexin signalling drives homeostatic synaptic plasticity.

Homeostatic signalling systems ensure stable but flexible neural activity and animal behaviour. Presynaptic homeostatic plasticity is a conserved form of neuronal homeostatic signalling that is observed in organisms ranging from Drosophila to human. Defining the underlying molecular mechanisms of neuronal homeostatic signalling will be essential in order to establish clear connections to the causes and progression of neurological disease. During neural development, semaphorin-plexin signalling instructs axon guidance and neuronal morphogenesis. However, semaphorins and plexins are also expressed in the adult brain. Here we show that semaphorin 2b (Sema2b) is a target-derived signal that acts upon presynaptic plexin B (PlexB) receptors to mediate the retrograde, homeostatic control of presynaptic neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction in Drosophila. Further, we show that Sema2b-PlexB signalling regulates presynaptic homeostatic plasticity through the cytoplasmic protein Mical and the oxoreductase-dependent control of presynaptic actin. We propose that semaphorin-plexin signalling is an essential platform for the stabilization of synaptic transmission throughout the developing and mature nervous system. These findings may be relevant to the aetiology and treatment of diverse neurological and psychiatric diseases that are characterized by altered or inappropriate neural function and behaviour

Encouraging Optimal Aging through a Lifestyle Based on Islamic Psychospiritual Science

Ageing is an inevitable natural process that can give rise to concerns at both individual and societal levels if strategic planning is not in place to address the associated changes and ensure the well-being and satisfaction of this population. This article aims to explore the significance of healthcare for the elderly and the application of Islamic psychospiritual science in promoting healthy ageing by emphasizing lifestyle factors. The research employed a survey instrument administered to 307 randomly selected respondents, including elderly individuals and caregivers. The study was conducted across Malaysia from February 2022 to April 2022. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 software. The study findings indicate that all the elements encompassing an Islamic psychospiritual lifestyle, including the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects, hold great significance. The Cronbach's alpha (α) score for this study was calculated at 0.934, indicating a high level of internal consistency. The results of this study offer valuable insights for family members, caregivers, welfare organizations, nursing homes, and other entities involved in elderly care. These findings can guide the optimization of care aspects, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the study's outcomes can inform the development of modules or guidelines for elderly care, facilitating the caregiving process

In vitro antibacterial and radical scavenging activities of Malaysian table salad

Six types of table salad (ulam) namely Mentha arvensis (mint), Lactuca sativa var capitata (cabbage lettuce), Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (winged bean), Pluchea indica Less. (beluntas), Premna cordifolia (bebuas) and Limnocharis flava L. buchenau (yellow velvetleaf) were investigated for their antimicrobial and radical scavenging activities. In addition, total phenolic content (TPC) test was also carried out for the six plants. All the plants were extracted successively with dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol (EtOH). The results showed that the DCM and EtOH extracts of L. flava displayed good antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. The EtOH extract of this plant was the only one that showed inhibition against Candida albicans. P. tetragonolobus had the highest scavenging activity in both extracts, while the ethanolic extract of P. indica showed the highest phenolic contents (56.287 μg/mg). The total phenolic contents of the extracts ranged from 56.287 to 46.461 μg/mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE/g dry extract). The results showed that some table salads (ulam) possess antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and therefore, could be used as a natural preservative ingredient in food and/or pharmaceutical industries.Key words: Table salad, antimicrobial, antioxidant, disc diffusion, total phenolic content

EC-BLAST: a tool to automatically search and compare enzyme reactions.

We present EC-BLAST (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/thornton-srv/software/rbl/), an algorithm and Web tool for quantitative similarity searches between enzyme reactions at three levels: bond change, reaction center and reaction structure similarity. It uses bond changes and reaction patterns for all known biochemical reactions derived from atom-atom mapping across each reaction. EC-BLAST has the potential to improve enzyme classification, identify previously uncharacterized or new biochemical transformations, improve the assignment of enzyme function to sequences, and assist in enzyme engineering

Modulations of cell cycle checkpoints during HCV associated disease

Background Impaired proliferation of hepatocytes has been reported in chronic Hepatitis C virus infection. Considering the fundamental role played by cell cycle proteins in controlling cell proliferation, altered regulation of these proteins could significantly contribute to HCV disease progression and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to identify the alterations in cell cycle genes expression with respect to early and advanced disease of chronic HCV infection. Methods Using freshly frozen liver biopsies, mRNA levels of 84 cell cycle genes in pooled RNA samples from patients with early or advanced fibrosis of chronic HCV infection were studied. To associate mRNA levels with respective protein levels, four genes (p27, p15, KNTC1 and MAD2L1) with significant changes in mRNA levels (\u3e 2-fold, p-value \u3c 0.05) were selected, and their protein expressions were examined in the liver biopsies of 38 chronic hepatitis C patients. Results In the early fibrosis group, increased mRNA levels of cell proliferation genes as well as cell cycle inhibitor genes were observed. In the advanced fibrosis group, DNA damage response genes were up-regulated while those associated with chromosomal stability were down-regulated. Increased expression of CDK inhibitor protein p27 was consistent with its mRNA level detected in early group while the same was found to be negatively associated with liver fibrosis. CDK inhibitor protein p15 was highly expressed in both early and advanced group, but showed no correlation with fibrosis. Among the mitotic checkpoint regulators, expression of KNTC1 was significantly reduced in advanced group while MAD2L1 showed a non-significant decrease. Conclusion Collectively these results are suggestive of a disrupted cell cycle regulation in HCV-infected liver. The information presented here highlights the potential of identified proteins as predictive factors to identify patients with high risk of cell transformation and HCC development

The Role of Islamic Psychospiritual in Building Self-Resilience of Cancer Caregivers

The global community is increasingly recognizing the integration of health science with religion and spirituality. In Malaysia, the field of Islamic psychospiritual science, which combines psychology with spirituality and Islamic teachings, has garnered significant research attention, particularly in addressing the challenges faced by cancer caregivers. These caregivers, often referred to as "hidden patients," experience a range of difficulties including physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and financial burdens that adversely affect their quality of life. However, society tends to prioritize the health and well-being of the patients over that of the caregivers. In reality, caregivers place the needs of the patients above their own in all aspects. Spiritual, religious, and emotional distress are prevalent concerns for both patients and caregivers during the crisis of cancer, which is often associated with mortality. Hence, the objective of this article is to explore the role of Islamic psychospiritual knowledge in supporting cancer caregivers, specifically in addressing their spiritual, religious, and emotional well-being. The data collection process utilizes library methods based on key findings from previous studies, while data analysis is conducted using a thematic analysis approach. The findings of this study indicate that religious aspects emphasized in Islamic psychospiritual disciplines can enhance caregivers' resilience in effectively managing various cancer-related challenges, thereby improving their overall quality of life. Hence, the significance of the spiritual and religious dimension, which acts as a protective factor, should not be disregarded. Lastly, this article proposes the provision of spiritual and religious educational materials within medical settings as valuable resources for cancer caregivers to reinforce their own well-being

Alternative splicing of barley clock genes in response to low temperature:evidence for alternative splicing conservation

Alternative splicing (AS) is a regulated mechanism that generates multiple transcripts from individual genes. It is widespread in eukaryotic genomes and provides an effective way to control gene expression. At low temperatures, AS regulates Arabidopsis clock genes through dynamic changes in the levels of productive mRNAs. We examined AS in barley clock genes to assess whether temperature-dependent AS responses also occur in a monocotyledonous crop species. We identify changes in AS of various barley core clock genes including the barley orthologues of Arabidopsis AtLHY and AtPRR7 which showed the most pronounced AS changes in response to low temperature. The AS events modulate the levels of functional and translatable mRNAs, and potentially protein levels, upon transition to cold. There is some conservation of AS events and/or splicing behaviour of clock genes between Arabidopsis and barley. In addition, novel temperature-dependent AS of the core clock gene HvPPD-H1 (a major determinant of photoperiod response and AtPRR7 orthologue) is conserved in monocots. HvPPD-H1 showed a rapid, temperature-sensitive isoform switch which resulted in changes in abundance of AS variants encoding different protein isoforms. This novel layer of low temperature control of clock gene expression, observed in two very different species, will help our understanding of plant adaptation to different environments and ultimately offer a new range of targets for plant improvement

A systematic review of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer education and peer support in prisons.

BACKGROUND: Prisoners experience significantly worse health than the general population. This review examines the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of peer interventions in prison settings. METHODS: A mixed methods systematic review of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness studies, including qualitative and quantitative synthesis was conducted. In addition to grey literature identified and searches of websites, nineteen electronic databases were searched from 1985 to 2012. Study selection criteria were: Population: Prisoners resident in adult prisons and children resident in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs). INTERVENTION: Peer-based interventions Comparators: Review questions 3 and 4 compared peer and professionally led approaches. OUTCOMES: Prisoner health or determinants of health; organisational/ process outcomes; views of prison populations. STUDY DESIGNS: Quantitative, qualitative and mixed method evaluations. RESULTS: Fifty-seven studies were included in the effectiveness review and one study in the cost-effectiveness review; most were of poor methodological quality. Evidence suggested that peer education interventions are effective at reducing risky behaviours, and that peer support services are acceptable within the prison environment and have a positive effect on recipients, practically or emotionally. Consistent evidence from many, predominantly qualitative, studies, suggested that being a peer deliverer was associated with positive effects. There was little evidence on cost-effectiveness of peer-based interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There is consistent evidence from a large number of studies that being a peer worker is associated with positive health; peer support services are also an acceptable source of help within the prison environment and can have a positive effect on recipients. Research into cost-effectiveness is sparse. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO ref: CRD42012002349

Willingness to Pay for Cancer Genetic Testing in a Tertiary Healthcare Centre

INTRODUCTION: Increasing use of predictive genetic testing to address hereditary cancer risk has been commonly assessed by cost sharing practices. Little is known about how demographics, knowledge, attitude and practices may influence these individuals’ willingness to pay for cancer genetic testing. The objective of this research was to determine factors associated with willingness to pay for cancer genetic testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 175 respondents in the oncology and day care unit in one of tertiary healthcare centre. The respondents comprised cancer patients, their family members and the community. RESULTS: A total of 117 (66.9%) participants were willing to pay for cancer genetic testing. Ninety three (79.5%) of respondents were willing to pay from their own pocket with a mean of MYR1201.77 (SD976.72) and 95 (54.3%) respondents were willing to pay, shared with insurance. There were significant associations between willingness to pay with status of respondent as patients or family members or community, gender, race, educational level, income, knowledge and attitude. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate factors associated with willingness to pay not only among cancer patients but also their family members and the community. These findings reveal that majority of respondents believe there is valuable personal benefit based on genetic risk information and they are willing to pay for it

Evaluation of host-derived volatiles for trapping Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopognidae) cause pain and distress through blood feeding, and transmit viruses that threaten both animal and human health worldwide. There are few effective tools for monitoring and control of biting midges, with semiochemical-based strategies offering the advantage of targeting host-seeking populations. In previous studies, we identified the host preference of multiple Culicoides species, including Culicoides impunctatus, as well as cattle-derived compounds that modulate the behavioral responses of C. nubeculosus under laboratory conditions. Here, we test the efficacy of these compounds, when released at different rates, in attracting C. impunctatus under field conditions in Southern Sweden. Traps releasing 1-octen-3-ol, decanal, phenol, 4-methylphenol or 3-propylphenol, when combined with carbon dioxide (CO2), captured significantly higher numbers of C. impunctatus compared to control traps baited with CO2 alone, with low release rates (0.1 mg h−1, 1 mg h−1) being generally more attractive. In contrast, traps releasing octanal or (E)-2-nonenal at 1 mg h−1 and 10 mg h−1 collected significantly lower numbers of C. impunctatus than control traps baited with CO2 only. Nonanal and 2-ethylhexanol did not affect the attraction of C. impunctatus when compared to CO2 alone at any of the release rates tested. The potential use of these semiochemicals as attractants and repellents for biting midge control is discussed