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The demand for energy resources is constantly increasing. That means need more fossil fuels to provide them. People consume a lot of food and this produces many wastes. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a new technological method with the potential to generate bioelectricity by the action of electrogenic bacteria on food wastes while reducing the amount of food wastes. This study investigated the possibility of usage of real restaurant wastewater as a fuel (substrate) for microbial fuel cell and its effects on the bacterial consortium attached to the electrodes. Mathematical (R 2  > 0.96) and statistical (R 2  > 0.99) models were conducted for the MFC performance focusing on the polarization curves. The study demonstrated that the highest COD removal (88.69%) in the semi-batch mode and (99.64%) in continuous mode, and power density (10.9 mW/m 2 ) and (56.8 mW/m 2 ) in semi-batch and continuous mode, respectively. The Bacterial diagnosis for anodophilic biofilm showed important differences in distribution and density of a heavy growth consortium after operation. This research offers restaurants an eco-friendly solution. This is because it demonstrates the benefits of using their own wastewater for power generation, reducing costs and saving the environment., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-024-01291-w., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestsThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© Association of Microbiologists of India 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Cefiderocol (FDC), a novel siderophore drug, is active against Gram-negative bacteria producing carbapenemases, including metallo-beta-lactamases. The objective of this study is to compare the in vitro activity of FDC with ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA), CZA/aztreonam (AT) combination, and colistin (CST), in clinical isolates of meropenem-resistant (MER-R) Klebsiella pneumoniae . From the 2,052 clinical specimens submitted for culture testing, 245 K . pneumoniae isolates were recovered within a 6-month period in 2021. One hundred three non-duplicate, non-outbreak, MER-R (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC >4 µg/mL) strains were included in the study. Identification and susceptibility were performed using VITEK-2 (bioMérieux). Meropenem-susceptible isolates ( n = 10) served as controls. For FDC, broth microdilution (BMD) was performed after in-house standardization. Disk diffusion (Liofilchem, Italy) and broth microdilution (ComASP, STC, Liofilchem, Italy) were used for susceptibility testing of CZA and CST, respectively. Synergy testing for CZA and AT was performed using disk approximation method. CLSI breakpoints were used for the interpretation of the results. For FDC, MIC 50 and MIC 90 were 2 and 8 µg/mL, respectively. A total of 80% of isolates were susceptible to FDC, 26.2% of isolates were susceptible to CZA, synergy testing with CZA/AT was positive for 74 (72%) of the isolates, and 89.3% were intermediate to CST. Nine (8.7%) were susceptible only to FDC. FDC is active in vitro against MER-R K. pneumoniae >CZA/AT > CZA > CST , as observed in this study, applying CLSI criteria. Clinico-microbiological studies should be performed to assess the clinical efficacy of this novel drug in this region with a high prevalence of carbapenem resistance among Gram-negative organisms. IMPORTANCE Management of infections with multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major challenge in hospital settings, with few treatment options. In this study, the authors aim to assess the in vitro susceptibility of these clinical isolates to cefiderocol, a novel siderophore. Comparators are colistin, ceftazidime-avibactam, and ceftazidime-avibactam/aztreonam synergy, which are currently available options for treatment in this region. Baseline-resistance rates against cefiderocol are higher than those in the previously published studies, with MIC50 and MIC90 at 2 and 8 µg/mL, respectively.

Previous studies have shown that not all cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) adhere to recommended guidelines on intertemporal discounting. This analysis investigates adherence in a sample of over 2000 CEAs from seven countries. Guideline discount rates were retrieved for Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand and the UK. Data on the rates applied in published CEAs were retrieved from the Tufts CEA Registry from the sample countries within the periods covered by the discounting guidelines. The relationship between adherence and candidate explanatory factors were assessed using logistic regression. The analysis appraised 2270 CEAs. The overall rate of adherence to discounting recommendations was 79%. Country-specific adherence ranged from 28% in New Zealand to 87% in Belgium and the UK. Adherence in Australia and Canada was 73% and 66%, respectively. Adherence is statistically significantly higher in more recent studies, countries currently applying differential discounting and manufacturer-sponsored studies. Relative to the reference case of Australia, adherence is statistically significantly higher in the UK and lower in Canada and New Zealand. There is notable variation in the rates of adherence to discounting recommendations between countries and over time. Incomplete adherence raises concerns regarding the comparability of evidence between studies. In turn, this raises concerns regarding equity of access to scarce healthcare resources. Journal editors should ensure that adherence to discounting recommendations is assessed as part of the peer review process.

The trace elements and minerals in Terminalia pallida fruit ethanolic extract (TpFE) were determined by the instrument inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and the cardioprotection of TpFE against isoproterenol (ISO)-administered rats was studied. Rats were pretreated with TpFE (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg bw) for 30 days, with concurrent administration of ISO (85 mg/kg bw) for two consecutive days. The levels of trace elements and minerals in TpFE were below the permitted limits of World Health Organization standards. ISO administration significantly increased the heart weight and cardiac marker enzymes in serum, xanthine oxidase, sodium, and calcium in the heart, whereas significantly decreased body weight, reduced glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and potassium in the heart. Oral pretreatment of TpFE significantly prevented the ISO-induced alterations. This is the first report that revealed the determination of trace elements and mineral nutrients of TpFE by ICP-MS which plays a principal role in the herbal drug discovery for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the one of the major causes of death worldwide, however the molecular mechanisms hidden under this disease conditions remain unknown. This demands serious attention to unravel the molecular mechanisms to identify the therapeutic strategies either to prevent or to control MI. Ayurveda is becoming one of the best alternatives for the modern medicines. On the other hand, Vitex negundo is one of the medicinally important plants used for various diseases and to date, its cardioprotective role is not fully elucidated. In the present study, we made an attempt to understand the cardiac signaling cascade of Akt1 and NF-κB in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced MI, and targeting these signaling molecules by using V. negundo leaf ethanolic extract (VNE). Our findings demonstrate that VNE significantly protects the ISO-induced MI by regulating NF-κB and Akt1experssion in rats., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading major health problem with increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. The present study investigates isoproterenol (ISO) induced MI and the beneficial role of Aegle marmelos fruit extract (AMFE) in rats. Our results indicated the significant augmentation of plasma nitric oxide (NOx) levels, C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, apolipoprotein B (apo-B), cardiac tissue lipid peroxidation and liver 3-hydroxy-3 methyl glutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity in ISO treated rats (85mg/kg b.wt) with a concomitant decrease in plasma apolipoprotein A1 (apo-A), lipase activity, paraoxonase-1 activity and cardiac tissue taurine levels when compared with controls. However, pretreatment of ISO administered rats with AMFE (150mg/kg b.wt/day for 45 days) markedly brought the observed alterations toward near normal level indicating its protective role against MI. Further, we have extended our studies to study the interaction of important phytocompounds, marmesin, marmin, umbelliferone and impertonin, present in AMFE with key enzymes, HMG-CoA reductase, iNOS, lipoprotein lipase and paraoxonase using AutoDock4. Molecular docking analysis indicated that HMG-CoA reductase, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and lipoprotein lipase formed a strong enzyme ligand complex with impertonin. While the marmesin showed strong interaction with paraoxonase enzyme. In conclusion, our results suggest that AMFE acts as a strong protective agent against ISO-induced MI, and the bioactive compounds are responsible for this protective action which is confirmed by molecular docking studies., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this research is to study the mitochondria non-coding region by using Sanger sequencing technique and establish the degree of variation characteristic of a fragment. FTA® Technology (FTA™ paper DNA extraction) is utilized to extract DNA. A portion of a non-coding region encompassing positions 438 to 574 for HVIII amplified in accordance with the Anderson reference sequence. PCR products purified by EZ-10 spin column were then sequenced and detected by using the ABI 3730xL DNA analyzer. The new polymorphic positions 469 and 482 that are described in this study may in future be suitable sources for identification purpose. The data obtained can be used to identify variable nucleotide positions characterized by frequent occurrence, most promising for identification variants.

Background: Nutmeg a well-known spice used as a folk medicine in India to treat stomach ailments. Worldwide it is commonly used for food preservation and fragrance. Abundant references were given for nutmeg in ayurveda, unani, and siddha as a single drug or as an important constituent in formulations., Objective: In the present study, nutmeg aqueous extract (NMAET) was evaluated against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress., Materials and Methods: Antioxidant enzymes, liver functions tests, and lipid profile tests were performed using standard procedures. Histological examination of liver was done by fixing in formaldehyde solution and hematoxylin staining., Results: Oral administration of NMAET effectively inhibited the ISO-induced changes in the activities of hepatic marker and antioxidant enzymes in plasma and heart tissue along with lipid peroxidation levels. The liver sections of ISO administered rats showed massive fatty changes, necrosis, ballooning degeneration, and broad infiltration of the lymphocytes and the loss of cellular boundaries; these changes were completely absent in groups treated with extract. Analysis of variance and Duncan's Multiple Range tests were used to perform statistical analysis., Conclusion: Results suggest that the NMAET possess significant potential as hepatoprotective and antioxidative agent against ISO-induced damage in rats.

Myocardial infarction is a major public health concern and the leading cause of death throughout the world. The present study investigates the ability of Aegle marmelos fruit extract to prevent pathological changes and oxidative stress after isoproterenol induced myocardial infarction in rats. In vitro studies showed that Aegle marmelos fruit extract possesses antioxidant activity. Administration of isoproterenol (85 mg/kg body weight) to rats resulted in significantly elevated plasma transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase, however, cardiac tissue analyses showed decreased activity of the above enzymes compared to experimental control rats. Further, isoproterenol administration significantly increased plasma and cardiac tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lowered the activities of cardiac tissue superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase when compared to control groups. Pretreatment with Aegle marmelos fruit extract at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight for a period of 45 days significantly prevented the observed alterations. Our data suggest that Aegle marmelos fruit extract exerts its protective effect by decreasing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and elevating antioxidants status in isoproterenol treated rats. Both biochemical and histopathological results in the isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction model emphasize the beneficial action of Aegle marmelos fruit extract as a cardioprotective agent.

The non-availability of reliable and standardized drugs, their high cost, and ambiguity in the identity of the ingredients used are a few of the major problems encountered today in the utilization of compound drugs in Ayurveda. There is thus an urgent need to reemphasize the use of single plant drug formulations recorded in the classical texts. The present study is an attempt to list out all the single plant drugs mentioned in the treatment of various Netrarogas from the classical texts of Ayurveda and to fix their proper botanical identity. The study of 7 classical texts has revealed that there are 41 single plant drugs in 80 preparations for treating 9 lakshanas and 29 rogas. They have been correlated with their botanical identities based on nomenclature correlation studies published over the last century. The drugs are arranged alphabetically with their botanical names, habit, indications, parts used, method of preparation, mode of administration and the reference, A primary analysis has also been made on the nomenclature, qualities and applications of the drugs.

Plasma and lipoprotein distribution of cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia associated with moderate hypothyroidism and after Anna Pavala Sindhooram (APSm) therapy in rat models. Feeding atherogenic diet increased all the three lipoprotein classes (HDL, LDL and VLDL). When APSm was administered for 90 days at a dose of 30 mg/rat/day, orally with and without atherogenic diet, it brought down the already raised levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in LDL and VLDL. Histological studies on the aorta revealed that APSm therapy produces regression of the atherosclerotic lesions.