Hermetia illuciens, commonly known as black soldier fly (BSF) can convert organic biomass into manure and insect biomass into protein and fat. Currently, in the waste management industry, BSF larvae are predominantly used to convert valorized organic substrates into fertilizer and to produce biogas. They are also alternatively used as viable protein substitutes for animal feed as well as human consumer products. The treatment of organic wastes before BSFL consumption indicated a positive stimulation in the biomass conversion rate, larval growth rate and overall larval performance parameters. The current study was designed to analyze the effect of the bio-stimulation-based pre-treatment strategy of the feed on performance parameters, such as larval weight, larval survival rate, substrate reduction by pre-treatment of biowaste for better growth, efficient performance, and good biomass composition in BSFL. In our study, we noticed significant up- and downregulation of several larval parameters by assessing substrate composition, larval growth parameters and substrate reduction rate. The bio-stimulated waste showed larval weight gain when compared to larvae grown in control feed. The heat pretreated waste was not suitable for larval growth as the parameters assessed were observed to be declined. Further investigations are needed to comprehend how BSFL reared on pretreated substrates enhances the nutritional composition of larvae.

Hermetia illuciens, commonly known as black soldier fly (BSF) can convert organic biomass into manure and insect biomass into protein and fat. Currently, in the waste management industry, BSF larvae are predominantly used to convert valorized organic substrates into fertilizer and to produce biogas. They are also alternatively used as viable protein substitutes for animal feed as well as human consumer products. The treatment of organic wastes before BSFL consumption indicated a positive stimulation in the biomass conversion rate, larval growth rate and overall larval performance parameters. The current study was designed to analyze the effect of the bio-stimulation-based pre-treatment strategy of the feed on performance parameters, such as larval weight, larval survival rate, substrate reduction by pre-treatment of biowaste for better growth, efficient performance, and good biomass composition in BSFL. In our study, we noticed significant up- and downregulation of several larval parameters by assessing substrate composition, larval growth parameters and substrate reduction rate. The bio-stimulated waste showed larval weight gain when compared to larvae grown in control feed. The heat pretreated waste was not suitable for larval growth as the parameters assessed were observed to be declined. Further investigations are needed to comprehend how BSFL reared on pretreated substrates enhances the nutritional composition of larvae.

SARS-CoV-2 stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Matrix metalloproteinases- 9 (MMP-9) performs a crucial physiological role. In addition to its role in the molecular basis of lung fibrosis, this enzyme may also play a part in the “cytokine storm,” which may represent one of the potential scenarios during coronavirus infection. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) are well-known for their ability to regulate MMP activity during remodeling of the extracellular matrix. As cytokines, they are also thought of as signaling molecules that impact on a wide range of biological processes. This study aimed to investigate the link between each of MMP-9 and TIMP-1, and COVID19 disease. A total of 58 COVID-19 patients and 30 apparently healthy adults enrolled in this study. The ORF1ab, E and N genes of SARS-CoV-2 were detected using multiplex real-time PCR, while the ELISA technique was used to estimate the level of serum MMP-9, TIMP-1, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The study results demonstrated higher concentrations of MMP-9 in COVID-19 patients (2810 ± 1160 pg/ml) compared to controls (2110 ± 850 pg/ml), with non-significant differences (p=0.002). Unlike, TIMP-1, showed considerably higher levels in the patient’s group (541.53 ± 201.42 pg/ml) than in controls (276.33 ± 67.26 pg/ml) with high significant differences (p = 0.001). Considering this study, TIMP-1 in COVID patients most likely play an important role in inflammatory response. Its clinical utility as a biomarker may be insufficient, but it provides a useful data in the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Hypothyroidism is a disorder in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone to maintain normal physiological function. Low thyroid hormone levels make it difficult for cells in the body to get enough thyroid hormone, resulting in a slowed metabolism. There are various reasons for the prevalence of autoimmune disease and radiation therapy. Excess or deficiency of iodine causes thyroiditis. Because lipids are hydrophobic, they cannot transport fats like cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides through the bloodstream. Instead, they bind to proteins to produce lipoproteins, which carry fats such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids throughout the body. This study evaluated the levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxin (T4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in 25 patients and 25 healthy individuals using the EIA technique. The study found that hypothyroidism patients have higher TSH levels than healthy controls, while their T3 and T4 levels are lower than healthy controls. When hypothyroidism patients were compared to healthy controls, there was a significant increase in the mean levels of all lipids except for high-density lipoprotein. We concluded that the TSH levels in hypothyroidism patients were significantly higher than in the control group. In addition, these patients have an abnormal lipid profile, with significantly higher levels of TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL.

Anthracnose is one of the most devastating fungi causing twig dieback and postharvest fruit decay. Present study was aimed to identification of anthracnose fungus. Infected leaves of Citrus limon were collected and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) media for pathogenic fungus isolation. The isolated fungal pure culture was characterized by physiological and morphological characterization methods. Biological control measures of the fungus were evaluated by disc diffusion methods. The highest growth and development of isolated fungus was detected in PDA media at pH 7 in fructose as the best carbon source and 0.05gm NaCl concentrations at 37°C. Pathogenicity potency of isolate was performed on lemon, orange and malta, and showed typical anthracnose symptoms after incubation at 25°C for 5 days. For antifungal activity, 200µgm/disc methanolic extract of Psidium guajava showed 14.33±0.66 mm inhibition zone against the isolated fungus. From the present investigations, identified anthracnose causing fungus and it’s controlling techniques may help for further research for the isolation of drugs related compound for controlling this disease.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common types of endocrine syndromes in women, where the disease is described as chronic anovulation and hyperandrogenism, which was characterized by the formation of small cysts (fluid-filled sacs) in the ovaries. This study was carried out to introduce knowledge when plasma and erythrocytes portions were chosen to compare the antioxidant and oxidant status of PCOS patients treated or without treatment with metformin. Samples included 75 women diagnosed with PCOS according to Rotterdam criteria. The control group included healthy volunteers with regular menstrual cycles and with no symptoms of hyperandrogenism. Total antioxidants capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and Cu\Zn SOD enzyme activity were examined in both plasma and erythrocytes. The activity of the Cu\Zn SOD enzyme was determined based on the ability of the enzyme to inhibit the autoxidation of pyrogallol. Body mass index (BMI), hormonal tests (LH and FSH) showed significant differences in PCOS patients as compared to control. In both plasma and erythrocyte, TAC levels were significantly decreased in PCOS patients. Though the activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly higher in plasma and erythrocytes in patients. On the other hand, PCOS patients showed significantly higher levels of TOS in plasma, while erythrocytes did not show any significant differences. In addition, metformin treatment significantly decreased levels of TAC, TOS and SOD1 activity in PCOS patients. Considering all, it is concluded that both TOS and SOD1 activity introduce the same pattern in blood samples, TAC displays a different line of responses which can be due to the crucial role of SOD1 as an antioxidant factor.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common causes of death among men and women worldwide. It is predicted that by 2030 around 23.3 million people will die as a consequence of CVD. There are numerous risk factors for CVD. The goal of this study is to examine the cardiovascular clinical and biochemical parameters of hospitalized CVD patients, as well as to assess the most common risk factors. Seventy-two known healthy individuals were randomly allocated to the control group (male 47 and female 25). We collected data through a questionnaire from 154 CVD patients as a study group (male 108 and female 46). Cardiovascular status was assessed using clinical parameters like hypertension, chest pain, shortness of breathing, pain in the arm, and biochemical parameters like lipid profile, RBS, creatinine, and an electrolyte panel. Inter- and intra-group comparison was performed. A total of 154 hospitalized CVD patients were analyzed (male 108 female 46) The most significant age group for males was observed as 56-65 years (mean 60) and for females was 38-48 (mean 43) years. A highly statistically significant increase was observed in total cholesterol and LDL in males than in females, but a decrease in TG than in females. Changes were also observed in other cardiovascular biochemical and clinical parameters. There was a significant difference in smoking status, physical activity, lipid panel, and other biochemical parameters among males and females. It is concluded that studies investigating the observed sex differences in traditional risk factor effects would not only help us better understand the etiology of CVD but also help us understand how to prevent it.

Dengue fever is a devastating mosquito-borne illness that has claimed the lives of countless people. The virus responsible for this disease is a member of the Flaviviridae family, which produces positive-stranded RNA. Dengue fever is an exquisite viral fever caused by the bite of an Aedes mosquito carrying one of four serotypes of dengue virus. This virus is transmitted via a vertical route utilizing a comprehensively unique system. Unfortunately, no effective vaccine has yet been developed to eradicate this disease. This study employed computational methods to design and propose a multi-epitope vaccine against dengue virus in Asia. This study utilized various immunoinformatics databases to predict potent epitopes on the envelope protein of the dengue virus using in silico methods. We identified a total of 14 epitopes from the target envelope protein by assessing their ability to induce both innate and acquired immunity through T- and B-lymphocyte-mediated responses. Because dengue virus is an RNA virus, epitope conservation was considered, and all selected epitopes were 100 percent conserved. The antigenicity of the final component of the multi-epitope vaccine was 0.7055. To improve the stability of the vaccine protein, disulfide engineering was performed in a region with high mobility. Additionally, codon adaptation and in silico cloning ensure that the proposed subunit vaccine will be expressed at a higher level in E. coli. In order to evaluate the binding free energy and stability of the combination, the vaccine protein and TLR-4 receptor were subjected to a molecular docking simulation. In order to establish active immunity against the dengue virus, the proposed in silico vaccine must be tested for safety and immunogenicity.

Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and nutraceuticals. Phytochemicals, also known as phytonutrients, are chemical compounds that are present in fruits, vegetables, and other plants and can be broadly classified into carbohydrates, terpenoids, phenolics, lipids, alkaloids, and other nitrogen-containing compounds. Waste generation is a global problem and vegetable wastes that contain the same or higher amount of phytonutrients as the vegetable itself are discarded on daily basis leading to additional waste biomass. The unused portion of broccoli is considered to be waste which includes the stalk and the leaves, rotten and scraped portions of the vegetable. Only the fragile stems closest to the florets are eaten, while the lignified bottom stem of the vegetable is discarded. Approximately 30% of vegetable loss is generated at retail and consumer levels including post- harvest and processing. These wastes possess various nutrients and multiple bioactive compounds such as phytochemicals (phenolics, glycosylates, carotenoids, and flavonoids). Broccoli waste has an enormous amount of these nutrients and nutraceuticals which have a wider range of applications in food supplements, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic industries. The phytochemicals from the leaf and stalk were extracted using the maceration process, and the stalk extract had stronger antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity at a concentration of 500 g/ml. It also showed good anti-microbial activity at 300 µg/ml proving it to be a potential source of important bioactive compounds and implying the presence of anti-aging and anti-acne activity.

Biofilms are composed of more than one species and are often called polymicrobial biofilms, so research is needed on the formation of polymicrobial biofilms, especially between fungi and bacteria. This study aimed to analyze the total biomass and metabolic activity of biofilms formed from the interaction of fungi (Candida tropicalis) with various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Bacterial and fungal cultures were suspended in tryptic soy broth (TSB) medium, and biofilm was cultivated in two 96-well microplates for 48 hours at 37°C. The crystal violet assay was used to detect the total biomass biofilm, and the tetrazolium salt (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, or MTT) assay was used to obtain the metabolic activity of biofilm with the optical density (OD) value using an ELISA reader. The results of this study obtained significant data from both parameters. The highest average value was found in the C. tropicalis treatment group (2,412 ± 0.825 on the biomass test results; 1,525 ± 0.473 on the metabolic activity test results), while the lowest was seen in the S. aureus treatment group (0.512 ± 0.224 in the biomass test results; 0.978 ± 0.349 in the metabolic activity test results). In conclusion, it was confirmed that biofilm biomass could be generated strongly in each treatment in the total biomass parameter, while metabolic activity data suggested that each treatment could carry out cell proliferation.

The dramatic rise of global incidence of dengue infection has generated an urgent yet an unmet need for an accurate and validated diagnostic test for DENV infection. A total of 81 serum samples were enlisted to dengue NS1 ICT test and dengue NS1 ELISA test and oxidative stress markers including NO, MDA and SOD activity were measured. Out of 81 samples, 41 were found positive by ELISA (DENV group; n=41) whereas 28 were found positive by ICT test. Out of 81 samples; 40 were found negative (control group; n=40) by ELISA whereas 53 were found negative by ICT test. There were 28 samples which were found positive by both ICT and ELISA test. There were 40 samples which were found negative by both ICT and ELISA. The sensitivity and specificity of ICT test were 68.29% and 100% when compared with ELISA. The positive cases of dengue were confirmed by platelet count having significantly higher level of platelet counts (P<0.0001) in dengue patients compared to that of control. Dengue patients had significantly higher levels of NO (P=0.0007), MDA (P<0.0001) and SOD activity (P<0.0001) compared to those of control. Among dengue patients, a positive correlation was found between MDA level and hematocrit percentage (R2 = 0.8107; P<0.001) and between MDA level and NO level (R2 = 0.4954; P<0.001). The study has unveiled that though the rapid ICT test is cost-effective and with satisfactory specificity, the sensitivity is not up to the mark and possibility of misdiagnosis by this rapid test kit is significant.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease that is certainly preventable and treatable and is caused due to the continuous exposure to noxious substances and toxic gases and is characterized by airflow limitation and chronic inflammation in the lungs coupled with persistent symptoms in the respiratory tract leading to obstructive bronchiolitis and parenchymal emphysema. The incidence and progression of COPD is a complicated pathological phenomenon, and the overall severity is due to its exacerbations and comorbidities in individuals. Further, COPD is a major contributor to the global years of life lost and by 2030 it would be the third leading causes of mortality in the world. Also, knowledge on COPD, its associated conditions, and the clinical understanding of the disease date back to the 16th century. The prevalence, morbidity and mortality may vary across the globe based on their exposure to smoking, tobacco, occupational pollutants, indoor pollution, outdoor air pollution, gender, age, and genetic inheritance. Considering the continuous exposure to toxic substances and aging of the general population, the burden and prevalence of COPD are estimated to increase substantially in the coming years. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients with pre-existing COPD conditions suffer from severe disease progression and delay in recovery.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor in women and the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. This work was conducted to estimate the roles of oxidative stress, vitamin B12, homocysteine (HCY), and DNA methylation in BC disease progression. Sixty BC patients (age range 33–80 years) and 30 healthy controls were recruited for this study. Patients with BC were split to group 1 consisted of stage II BC women (low level), and group 2 consisted of patients in stages III and IV (high level). Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3), HCY, and vitamin B12 levels in the study groups were measured. Also, the 5-methylcytosine (5mC) global DNA methylation levels were evaluated. The results showed a significant increase in HCY, and MDA in BC patients compared to healthy controls, with evident increases observed in those with advanced-stage BC (stages III and IV). They were accompanied by significantly reduced levels of 5mC, with a positive correlation between 5mC and the different stages of BC. Also, patients in advanced stages and those with a poor prognosis were exposed to low levels of vitamin B12 and GPX3 (except for the patients in stage IV, which showed increased GPX3 levels). The findings of this study suggest that the differences in global DNA methylation levels at the various phases may be used as a risk factor for developing BC, which indicates the involvement of GPX3 and HCY in BC progression.

Inflammation occurs during a cascade reaction to cause damage to the tissues. Increased oxidant and cytokine expression were observed in the damaged tissues. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be a chronic and lethal disease of inflammation in gastro enteric tissue characterized by intestinal inflammation. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of the peptide from Momordica dioica in treating ulcerative colitis. The isolated protein was digested with trypsin enzyme and the hydrolyzed peptide were analyzed using LCMS where the peak obtained at 678.67Da at 17mins and MALDI-TOF analysis which showed similar peaks at 3388.7Da. The results from the MTT assay showed the IC50 value of the peptide at 100µg/mL. Similarly, the acridine orange staining showed decreased green-fluorescent nuclei cells than red fluorescent acidic vesicular organelles indicating autophagy-dependent cell death. The peptide displayed a cell viability effect on Colo-205 cells at 100 µg/mL when compared to the control. In the acute toxicity test, the mice were orally receiving peptide at a dose of 50-250 mg/kg BW for 14 days. The significant adverse effects were evident at a dose of 250mg/kg BW indicating that the LD50 value is lesser than 250 mg/kg. Based on the results obtained from this study, the peptide with a molecular mass of 3388.7Da exhibited an increased rate of cytotoxicity and autophagy induction in cancer cells at the concentration of 100 µg/mL. Therefore, the peptide can be further used for the formulation of anticancer drug for treating ulcerative colitis conditions.

There are few prostate cancer prognostic biomarkers. However, clinical difficulties in distinguishing between aggressive and non-aggressive tumors have been observed. CD73 is a 70-kDa glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked ecto-enzyme that reduces antitumor immunity in mouse models of tumor, particularly prostate cancer. It’s believed to be a promising biomarker for predicting the clinical development and prognosis of certain tumor types. Its function in prostate cancer, however, is unknown. This study aims to investigate the hypothesis that CD73 may be used as a biomarker in prostate cancer diagnosis and/or prognosis. Nuclear and cytoplasmic CD73 staining has been evaluated by immunohistochemistry using benign and malignant prostate tissues. The immunohistochemical study showed nuclear and cytoplasmic CD73 staining in cancerous and non-cancerous prostate tissues. Increased CD73 staining was shown in prostate cancer tissues compared to benign prostate tissues. A negative association between CD73 expression and Gleason scores has been observed. However, increased cytoplasmic CD73 staining was significantly associated with increasing tumor size. This finding suggests that CD73 may have a role in cancer development or aggressiveness, indicating that more research is needed to better understand its function and determine whether it might be used as a diagnostic biomarker for prostate cancer.

Aedes spp. are the primary vectors of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. To date, neither an approved vaccine nor a drug that can definitively prevent or treat these diseases. Vector control continues to be an essential method of disease prevention. Plant-based insecticides are an alternative to chemical insecticides because they are less toxic to non-target insects and degrade more quickly. The Papuan people have used Pangi leaves for generations as a potent natural chemical against head lice and mosquito larvae. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of pangi (Pangium edule) leaf extract as a biolarvicide and mosquito repellent. Fresh pangi leaves were extracted with water by using a blender to pulverize the leaves. One-way ANOVA was used to examine the variance in mortality rates, and the LC50 value was calculated for probit analysis. Dead larvae were identified and counted. In addition to testing the effectiveness of the extracts as biolarvicide, the extract was also tested as potential insect repellents. The findings demonstrated that pangi leaf extract can kill mosquito larvae. The concentration of the extract affected larval mortality. Furthermore, the extract demonstrated its effectiveness as an insect repellent. Pangi leaf extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolic compounds, and cyanide compounds, with alkaloids being the most abundant. The study found that there was a direct correlation between the concentration of the insecticide and the number of dead Aedes spp. larvae. The LC50 probit test revealed that pangi leaf extract belongs to the category of toxic substances. Several compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and cyanide, may be responsible for the toxicity of pangi leaf extract. Thus, pangi leaf extract might be established as a means of overcoming numerous health issues caused by mosquito vectors.

Infectious diseases remain a global health challenge as result of antimicrobial resistance. The use of natural products has revealed a potential source of alternative antimicrobial agents. The aim of this research was to evaluate the antibacterial activities and the phytoconstituents of Tragia brevipes against pathogenic bacteria. The crude extracts of leaves, roots and stems were obtained using polar and non-polar solvents and the antibacterial assay was performed using agar well diffusion and disc diffusion methods. The results showed that in the leaves and roots, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, phenols, tannins, and resins were present whereas in the stem, flavonoids, glycosides, and resins were present. Only S. aureus ATCC43300, E. coli ATCC25922 did not show inhibition zone to all plant parts. P. aeruginosa ATTCC27853 showed the highest inhibition zone compared to other bacteria. It was observed that methanolic extract has a great potential antimicrobial activity, followed by distilled water extracts. The combination of plant extracts showed a marked synergic effect. The two-way ANOVA showed a statistical difference in the mean zone of inhibition obtained among bacteria and leaves (f = 2.3478, p < 0.05), roots (f = 2.3478, p < 0.05) whereas stem extracts difference was between solvents and tested bacteria (f = 3.4923, p < 0.05). T. brevipes could be a potential candidate in the treatment of bacterial infection as a source of novel antimicrobial agents. Further studies are recommended to isolate the active ingredients and investigate pharmacological properties of T. brevipes.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the leading cause of hospitalization due to bacterial infection, and the frequency of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates from these infections is increasing worldwide. The current study aims to isolate and characterize antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and their antibiogram typing from urine samples of humans. From April to December 2019, a total of 60 human urine samples were collected aseptically and treated to primary isolation by propagation in nutrient broth followed by culture on various agar media. Gram’s staining, string techniques, biochemical characterization, PCR, and Sanger sequencing were performed to confirm E. coli. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique was used to test the susceptibility of all bacterial strains to thirteen typically prescribed antibiotics. The overall prevalence of E. coli in UTI was 66.67%. Three variations were noted in E. coli, all of which were single substitutions (A>T, C>T, and T>A). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA revealed that the E. coli discovered in this study belonged to the genus Escherichia but was distinct from those identified in other countries. The antibiograms revealed that all the isolates (100%) were resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin; 94.87% to doxycycline; 79.16% to gentamycin; 75.48% to ciprofloxacin; 73.07% to erythromycin; 71.66% to levofloxacin; 47.36% to ceftriaxone; and 46.66% to tetracycline. In contrast, all E. coli strains were sensitive to amikacin (95%), vancomycin (92.50%), and azithromycin (92.50%). People with a UTI often have multidrug-resistant E. coli in their urine samples, which calls for a one-health strategy to deal with this rapidly changing condition.

Pangasius catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) is popularly cultured in Bangladesh, but the farmers usually suffer financial losses due to their low market price. Development of new value-added products will enhance its popularity and acceptability to the consumers. This study was conducted to develop smoked products from pangasius catfish, to evaluate their quality and shelf-life at ambient (30-35°C) and refrigeration temperatures (4°C). Two treatments, dipped for 15 min in 10% (T1) and 15% (T2) salt solutions, and one untreated control were maintained. The smoking was conducted at 70-75°C in an improved traditional smoking kiln. The products were then sealed in polybags and stored separately at ambient and refrigeration temperatures. The sensory quality, proximate composition, salt content, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) values, and viable bacterial counts were determined. The products stored at ambient temperature were rejected on day 5, 7 and 9; and those kept at refrigeration temperature, on day 28, 35, and 42, respectively for control, T1, and T2. Significant differences in proximate compositions were observed between products of different treatments, storage conditions, and storage periods. The TVB-N values were increased rapidly in control followed by the T1 samples, compared to T2 samples. Viable bacterial counts of the smoked products were gradually increased with the increasing storage periods. Considering all the assessed parameters, the T2 products were better in quality with longer shelf-life than those of control and T1. As consumers’ preference towards new fishery products has been changing, smoked products from pangasius catfish will be preferred for their taste, less bones, and higher shelf-life.

The food consumers and stakeholders of Bangladesh have limited knowledge and perception over genetically modified (GM) foods. As no studies have been done regarding this among the Bangladeshi educated people on a large scale, hence this study aims to determine the level of knowledge and attitude regarding GM foods; and to explore the related factors as well. A cross-sectional survey was done with a close-ended questionnaire in the four largest divisions of Bangladesh where respondents were above 18 years of age and completed at least higher secondary level education. It was observed that among the total 614 respondents, 24.8% had no acquaintance with GM food. Of the remaining 462 respondents, 41.8% had better knowledge and 30.7% had positive attitude. The level of knowledge significantly varied with respondents’ gender, occupation, monthly income, educational status, and discipline studied where male, pharmaceutical workers, respondents with monthly income of 50001-100000 BDT, science studied respondents had significantly better knowledge than their counterparts. Similarly, respondents’ attitude on GMOs significantly differed with gender, occupation, monthly income, and education in which positive attitude were shown by respondents with better knowledge. Finally, logistic regression analysis showed that female and business studied respondents had significantly less likely to have better knowledge and positive attitude than reference group, while respondents with monthly income between 50001-100000 BDT had more likely to have better knowledge and positive attitude, and NGO workers had more likely to have positive attitude than references. Thus, this study will help the policymakers of Bangladesh to perceive the current scenario of public demands on GM foods.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a widespread endocrine-reproductive-metabolic condition with severe implications for females’ health. The role of four essential parameters on PCOS, including human leukocyte antigens (HLA) represented by the HLA-B*0702 allele, anti-follicle stimulating hormone (anti-FSH) antibodies, anti-luteinizing hormone (anti-LH) antibodies, and vitamin D3 was investigated. A total of 100 samples were collected from Kurdish women attended the maternity teaching hospital and some private hospitals/laboratories in Erbil City from October 2021 to January 2022. The samples were genotyped using a PCR-based technique with specific sequence primers. The levels of anti-FSH and anti-LH antibodies were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while vitamin D3 levels were measured by an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) test on Cobas e411 immunoassay system. The odds ratio (OR) of 2.167 at a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.8167 to 6.330, indicated an essential link between the HLA-B*0702 allele and a risk of PCOS. Anti-FSH and anti-LH antibodies were significantly greater in PCOS patients, notably infertile women, than in healthy controls. A significant positive linear correlation was observed between antibodies against FSH and LH in patients. Most patients had hypovitaminosis D3 with a significant difference compared to controls. The results indicate that the HLA-B*0702 allele is associated with PCOS susceptibility and could be used as an immunogenetic marker. Besides, it supports the idea that anti-FSH, and anti-LH antibodies are naturally presence antibodies in PCOS patients instead of signs for autoimmunity. It also suggests that women suffer from PCOS are more prone to develop vitamin D3 deficiency.

Exercise training has the potential for inducing enhancements in peripheral circulation, which can play important preventive and therapeutic roles in peripheral circulatory diseases. However, the relevant published studies show conflicting and inconclusive results. Furthermore, useful or optimum ambient temperature for this purpose has not yet been established. Therefore, we investigated the acute responses in peripheral circulation from exposure of healthy subjects to treadmill exercise under different ambient temperatures; A total of 12 young adult volunteers (males 6, females 6) randomly underwent three sessions of treadmill exercise for 30 min under three different ambient temperatures (10°C, 20°C, and 30°C), at a predetermined exercise intensity. Before and after the intervention, leg skin blood flow (SBF) was measured by laser speckle flowgraphy and hand skin temperature (ST), by digital thermometry; After the cessation of treadmill exercise, compared to the corresponding baseline values, a significant increase in SBF was observed under all ambient temperature conditions (P<0.005). During intervention, ST showed a significant decrease at 10th min of intervention under all ambient temperatures (P<0.005) with a subsequent increasing trend in it. After intervention, a significant increase in ST was observed under 20°C condition only (P<0.05). Also, after intervention, the observed increase in systolic blood pressure was less significant under 20°C condition; Treadmill exercise appears to be a useful intervention modality in inducing improvements in peripheral circulation. However, exposure to treadmill exercise at or near 20°C ambient temperature might be recommended for the purpose.

Conventional remedies for managing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related cognitive deficits are not curative but relieve the symptoms and cause adverse side effects. Alternatively, use of herbal therapies to manage cognitive illnesses has increased substantially. Vigna unguiculata is commonly utilized for nutritional benefits and management of neurological disorders in herbal medicine. The present study evaluated cognitive enhancing potential of V. unguiculata leaf aqueous extract in mice with ketamine-induced AD-like cognitive deficits. Cognitive performance indicated by step-through latency was assessed using passive avoidance test. Anti-acetylcholinesterase (anti-AChE) and antioxidant potential of the extract were determined using brains of the test animals. Further, phytochemical constituents of the extracts were determined using LC-MS. Aqueous extract of V. unguiculata leaf demonstrated significant prowess in combating cognitive deficits in the test animals. This was evidenced by significantly higher (p<0.001) step-through latencies in extract-treated mice than the untreated cognitively damaged mice. Moreover, cognitively impaired mice given the studied extract exhibited significantly less (p<0.001) malondialdehyde levels and AChE activity than the negative control mice. This result confirmed antioxidant and anti-AChE properties of V. unguiculata, indicating its potential to attenuate oxidative stress in the brain and augment cholinergic transmission. Notably, some conventional therapies for cognitive disorders, especially AD, are AChE inhibitors. The studied extract contained phytocompounds such as flavonoids and phenolics with confirmed antioxidant and anti-AChE activities, thus, its cognitive enhancing efficacy could be attributed to these phytoconstituents. Collectively, this study upholds V. ungiculata usefulness in management of cognitive illnesses.

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), a multifunctional growth factor secreted by platelets, endothelial and cancer cells, functions as an efficient and accurate biomarker. PDGF- BB has been employed in various therapeutic applications. Tuning its bioactivity via a specific binding ligand could enhance the PDGF-BB functionality. Aptamer, a single-stranded oligonucleotide that exhibits a selective binding to PDGF-BB, is the molecule of our interest. This research aims to evaluate the PDGF-BB aptamer binding by growth factor-coated particles. PDGF-BB-coated particles were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and aptamer binding evaluation was investigated by flow cytometry. To optimize the condition for binding evaluation, the washing cycle and concentration of PDGF-BB, polystyrene particle (PS) and aptamer were studied using flow cytometer. Based on the flow cytometry results, the concentration of PDGF-BB showed an optimal level on the number of fluorescent particles. The percentage of fluorescent particles increased when the washing cycle was reduced, and the particle concentration was decreased. The percentage of fluorescent particles also increased proportionally with the aptamer concentration. Using a flow cytometer to detect fluorescent signal from growth factor-coated particle is a promising strategy to study biomolecular binding.

Atherosclerosis is caused by an inflammatory process in the endothelium due to an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant agents that often occurs in Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Antioxidants that function to neutralize superoxide can be used to prevent atherosclerosis in DM. Piper crocatum leaves shows an unknown antioxidant effect on the atherosclerosis process. The aim of this study was to determine the effect Piper crocatum leaves extract on the severity of atherosclerosis in diabetic rats. Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly distributed into 6 groups such as HC (healthy control), NC (diabetic-no therapy), PC (metformin 45 mg/kg), PC200, PC300, and PC400 (Piper crocatum leaves extract 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg/day). Blood sampling and histopathological analysis were performed after 14 days of treatment. MDA was measured using the TBARS method. The severity of atherosclerosis of the rat carotid artery was observed from tissue stained with haematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. Dose dependent treatment of Piper crocatum leaves extract decreased the blood glucose and MDA levels in the PC200, PC300, and PC400 groups compared to group NC while the body weight was increased. The study showed a decrease in the severity of atherosclerosis in groups PC200, PC300, PC400 compared to groups NC. In conclusion, Piper crocatum leaves extract may influence in decreasing blood glucose, MDA, and severity of atherosclerosis in diabetic rats.

At relatively low concentrations in the diet, molasses is extensively used as a vital energy supplement to improve growth, meat quality, and general health condition. However, there is little information on feeding molasses to steers: that’s why the study sought to determine the effects of urea molasses supplementation on growth performance and hemato-biochemical parameters. Twenty Sahiwal steers between 1.5 and 2 years old were divided into two groups (n=10); steers of group A received untreated straw (Control), while steers of group B received urea molasses straw (UMS). The body weight of the steers was measured at every 15 days intervals, and after 90 days of the experimental period blood samples were collected and serum was prepared for hemato-biochemical analysis. The result revealed that body weight of the UMS-treated steers increased significantly from day 15 to day 90 of the experiment compared to the untreated control. UMS induced a significant increase in hematological parameters such as TEC (p<0.01), Hb (p<0.01), and PCV (p<0.05), whereas there were no alterations in TLC and DLC values. Further, UMS treated group showed no significant changes in biochemical parameters such as AST, ALT, and lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL, LDL) while urea and creatinine levels increased significantly (p<0.05). Therefore, it could be suggested that UMS had beneficial effects on growth performance and hemato-biochemical parameters in Sahiwal steers.

Early detection and/or characterization of cancer-associated biomarkers have revolutionized the personalized treatment approach of cancer to date. Therefore, this study was designed to access the prevalence of suspected cancer biomarkers from northeastern part of Bangladesh. A total of 892 patients’ data were analyzed in a cross-sectional manner and the collection period was 2017 to 2019. An ELISA-based chemiluminescent microparticle immune assay was used to detect serum cancer biomarkers. An unpaired t-test was used to compare the independent variables. Data were clustered into four categories: group1 (10-17 yr, adolescent), group2 (18 to 35 yr, young adult), group3 (36 to 55 yr, middle), and group4 (>55 yr, older adult). Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was higher in group4 than group3 (8.422 ± 1.423 vs 3.884 ±1.15 ng/ml). Cancer antigen (CA)-125 is significantly higher in females with age > 35 yr (older and middle) than at age <35 yr (young adult and adolescent). No significant difference in AFP was found among the four age groups while sexual disparity has shown a statistically significant difference. Both males and females from group4 were showing a higher expression level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (96.94 ± 54.02 and 48.23 ± 25.45 ng/ml, respectively) though gender-wise test frequency was same. CA19-9 was high in group4 whereas no correlation was found between the gender variation. Thus, the study has shown that level of PSA, CA-125, CEA and CA19-9 were upregulated in older peoples, while AFP was higher in male than female.

Rumex dentatus is a medicinal plant with a variety of bioactive components that can be used to treat infections and multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbes. Infections caused by MDR microbes may pose a real threat and the available antibiotics can no longer be used to control or kill those bacteria. Thus, the study aimed to ascertain the antibacterial activity of Rumex dentatus leaf extract and identify a potent compound that can be used as a drug developmental agent may against Staphylococcus aureus. Disc diffusion method, mortality assay of brine shrimp, and DPPH free radical scavenging assay were carried out for in vitro analysis. Standard computational tools and servers such as Pymol, PyRx, and Discovery Studio were used for carrying out the in-silico studies. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the infected area of eczema sufferers and identified through morphological, biochemical, and 16SrRNA sequence analysis. Rumex dentatus leaf extract was diluted with methanol and it showed the maximum zone of inhibition (14.33 ± 0.68 mm) after applying it against Staphylococcus aureus at the dose of 150µg/disc. Furthermore, the extract revealed remarkable antioxidant activity and the death rate of brine shrimp and leaf extract concentration were positively connected. Finding pharmacological targets with a high affinity for the FosB (4nb2) protein, which controls antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, was done via molecular docking. 1-alpha-18O-1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (CID-5280453), androstan-3-ol, 9-methyl-(3 beta,5 alpha) (CID-22215820), phenylacetaldehyde (CID-998), and benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxy- methyl ester (CID-62603) substances had binding energies of -6.8 Kcal/mol, -6.6 Kcal/mol, -5.6 kcal/mol, and -5.5 kcal/mol, respectively. As an organic source of medicines, Rumex dentatus leaf extract could be used to combat the antimicrobial-resistant pathogen.

Different plants are traditionally applied in the treatment of different diseases, including chest pains, hypertension, and inflammation, among others. This study scientifically evaluated the curative treatment effects of X. americana and P. capensis leaf aqueous extracts in rats induced with myocardial infarction. The rats were randomly distributed as follows: Normal control group, consisting of rats treated with oral normal saline; Negative control group, comprising rats induced with MI and treated with normal saline; Positive control group, consisting of rats induced with MI and orally treated with propranolol (10 mg/Kg bw); and three experimental groups consisting of rats induced with MI and treated with plant extracts at dose levels 150, 200 and 250 mg/Kg bw. This study’s findings demonstrated that there was a significant reduction in the amounts of cTnT, LDH-1, CK-MB, T-cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-c, and malondialdehyde, as well as a significant increase in levels of HDL-c, catalase, SOD, and glutathione peroxidase among rats treated with propranolol and plant extracts as compared to the negative control rats. Additionally, LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, and phenolics, which could explain the observed cardiocurative effects. This study concluded that aqueous leaf extracts of X. americana and P. capensis possess cardiocurative activities in rats with myocardial infarction. However, further studies on isolated fractions of the phytochemicals present are recommended. This study provides preliminary data useful in the development of pure and safe cardioactive compounds.