Search

Objectives: This research aims to comparatively investigate the capability of resveratrol (RES) and RES analogues, oxyresveratrol (Oxy-RES) and dihydrooxyresveratrol (DHoxy-RES), to potentiate doxorubicin (DOX) effects against lung carcinoma epithelial cells., Methods: All experiments were performed on lung carcinoma cell lines (A549) with DOX combination between DOX and RES or RES analogues. Cell viability or growth inhibitory effect was assessed by MTT assay and genes associated with survival and metastasis were monitored by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)., Results: DOX obviously demonstrated cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activities against A549 cells. Expression of gene-associated with both activities was potentiated by RES and RES analogues. Oxy-RES showed highest capability to potentiate DOX effects. DHoxy-RES showed nearly no effect to DOX activities., Conclusions: These results provided an important basis of DOX combination with RES analogues, especially Oxy-RES, for better therapeutic effect. Further studies in human should be performed on exploring combination of DOX and Oxy-RES.

Background: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of bacterial seafood-borne gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. To ensure seafood safety and to minimize the occurrence of seafood-borne diseases, early detection of total V. parahaemolyticus (pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains) and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus ( tdh + and/or trh1 + and/or trh2 + ) is required. This study further improved a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay using xylenol orange (XO), a pH sensitive dye, to transform conventional LAMP into a one-step colorimetric assay giving visible results to the naked eye. LAMP-XO targeted rpoD for species specificity and tdh, trh1 , and trh2 for pathogenic strains. Multiple hybrid inner primers (MHP) of LAMP primers for rpoD detection to complement the main primer set previously reported were designed by our group to maximize sensitivity and speed., Methods: Following the standard LAMP protocol, LAMP reaction temperature for rpoD , tdh , trh1 , and trh2 detection was first determined using a turbidimeter. The acquired optimal temperature was subjected to optimize six parameters including dNTP mix, betaine, MgSO 4 , Bst 2.0 WarmStart DNA polymerase, reaction time and XO dye. The last parameter was done using a heat block. The color change of the LAMP-XO result from purple (negative) to yellow (positive) was monitored visually. The detection limits (DLs) of LAMP-XO using a 10-fold serial dilution of gDNA and spiked seafood samples were determined and compared with standard LAMP, PCR, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays. Subsequently, the LAMP-XO assay was validated with 102 raw seafood samples and the results were compared with PCR and qPCR assays., Results: Under optimal conditions (65 °C for 75 min), rpoD -LAMP-XO and tdh -LAMP-XO showed detection sensitivity at 10 2 copies of gDNA/reaction, or 10 folds greater than trh1 -LAMP-XO and trh2 -LAMP-XO. This level of sensitivity was similar to that of standard LAMP, comparable to that of the gold standard qPCR, and 10-100 times higher than that of PCR. In spiked samples, rpoD -LAMP-XO, tdh -LAMP-XO, and trh2 -LAMP-XO could detect V. parahaemolyticus at 1 CFU/2.5 g spiked shrimp. Of 102 seafood samples, LAMP-XO was significantly more sensitive than PCR ( P < 0.05) for tdh and trh2 detection and not significantly different from qPCR for all genes determined. The reliability of tdh -LAMP-XO and trh2 -LAMP-XO to detect pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus was at 94.4% and 100%, respectively., Conclusions: To detect total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus , at least rpoD -LAMP-XO and trh2 -LAMP-XO should be used, as both showed 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. With short turnaround time, ease, and reliability, LAMP-XO serves as a better alternative to PCR and qPCR for routine detection of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood. The concept of using a one-step LAMP-XO and MHP-LAMP to enhance efficiency of diagnostic performance of LAMP-based assays can be generally applied for detecting any gene of interest., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Lamalee et al.)

Background: Bergamot essential oil (BEO) possesses sedation and anxiolytic properties similar to diazepam. After long period of exposure to stressors, including restrained stress, depressive-like behavior can be produced. BEO has been suggested to reduce depression. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting this property., Objective: To investigate the effect of BEO in chronic stressed rats on: 1) behavior related depressive disorder, 2) hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis response, and iii) brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels in hippocampus., Material and Method: Male Wistar rats, weighing 200 to 250 g, were induced chronic restrained stress 15 minutes dailyfor two weeks. For the next two weeks, these rats were divided intofour groups, control-i.p., fluoxetine-i.p., control-inhale, and BEO-inhale. Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg i.p.) or saline was intraperitoneally administered daily while 2.5% BEO or saline was inhaled daily. At the end of the treatment, rats were assessed for depressive-like behavior using the forced swimming test (FST). After the behavioral test, the animals were immediately decapitated and trunk blood samples were collected for the measurement ofcorticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and hippocampus was dissected and stored in afreezer at -80 °C until assay for BDNF protein., Results: BEO andfluoxetine significantly decreased the immobility time in the FST (p < 0.05). Fluoxetine tended to decrease serum corticosterone and significantly (p < 0.05) decreased serum ACTH while BEO had no effect on these two stress hormones. For BDNF protein determination, neither BEO norfluoxetine had any effect on BDNF protein levels in hippocampus compared to their controls., Conclusion: The inhalation ofBEO decrease behavior related depressive disorder similar tofluoxetine but has no effect on HPA axis response and BDNF protein levels in chronic restrained stress.

A multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection and differentiation of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari was developed and validated to assess the occurrence of these bacteria in fresh chicken meat and by-products in Bangkok, Thailand, by using a new combination of four previously published PCR primers for C. jejuni, C. coli, C. lari, and a universal 16S rDNA gene as an internal control. The specificity was determined by using 13 strains of other bacteria. With pure culture DNA, the detection limit was 0.017 ng/PCR for C. jejuni and C. coli and was 0.016 ng/PCR for C. lari. It can detect 10 CFU of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari in 2 g of chicken meat within a 16-h enrichment time. Our multiplex PCR assay was applied for identification of Campylobacter spp. in 122 supermarket samples and 108 fresh market samples. Of the 230 samples evaluated by multiplex PCR, 54.0, 3.3, and 10.7% of supermarket samples were positive for C. jejuni, C. coli, and mixed C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively, and 56.5 and 33.3% of fresh market samples were positive for C. jejuni and mixed C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively. No sample was positive for C. lari. Fresh market samples had significantly higher C. jejuni and C. coli contamination than those from supermarkets (relative risk: 1.3; P = 0.0001). Compared with the culture method (a gold standard), the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of multiplex PCR were 97.7, 86.8, 96.1, 92.0, and 95.2%, respectively. No significant difference was observed between results from two methods (P = 0.55). Therefore, the established multiplex PCR was not only rapid and easy to perform but had a high sensitivity and specificity to distinguish between C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari, even in samples containing mixed contamination. Our study indicated that fresh chicken meat and by-products from fresh markets were significantly less hygienic than those from supermarkets.

Vetiver essential oil (VEO) has been used in aromatherapy for relaxation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of VEO on an anxiety-related behavioural model (the elevated plus-maze, EPM) and immediate-early gene c-fos in amygdala, known to be involved in anxiety. Male Wistar rats were administered diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.) for 30 min or inhalated with VEO (1%, 2.5% or 5% w/w) for 7 min prior to exposure to the EPM. Then, the effects of 2.5% VEO, the anxiolytic dose, on c-fos expression in amygdala were investigated. The rats given either 2.5% VEO or diazepam exhibited an anxiolytic-like profile in the EPM. VEO and diazepam significantly increased c-fos expression in the lateral division of the central amygdaloid nucleus (CeL). Therefore, the anxiolytic properties of VEO might be associated with altering neuronal activation in CeL. However, future studies are needed to investigate the precise mechanism of action of VEO.

Bergamot essential oil (BEO), Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn. (Rutaceae), is used widely in aromatherapy to reduce stress and anxiety despite limited scientific evidence. A previous study showed that BEO significantly increased gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in rat hippocampus, suggesting potential anxiolytic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of BEO (1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% w/w) administered to rats on both anxiety-related behaviours (the elevated plus-maze (EPM) and hole-board tests) and stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone in comparison with the effects of diazepam. Inhalation of BEO (1% and 2.5%) and injection of diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly increased the percentage of open arm entries on the EPM. The percentage time spent in the open arms was also significantly enhanced following administration of either BEO (2.5% and 5%) or diazepam. Total arm entries were significantly increased with the highest dose (5%), suggesting an increase in locomotor activity. In the hole-board test, 2.5% BEO and diazepam significantly increased the number of head dips. 2.5% BEO and diazepam attenuated the corticosterone response to acute stress caused by exposure to the EPM. In conclusion, both BEO and diazepam exhibited anxiolytic-like behaviours and attenuated HPA axis activity by reducing the corticosterone response to stress., (Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Gifted children have more depression than normal children because of their expectation to be the first., Objective: Compare depression between gifted children and normal children., Material and Method: The subjects, aged 9-12 years from Patai School, were 40 gifted children and 40 normal children. Their depression conditions were evaluated by using CDI score and taking saliva sample for cortisol measurement., Results: The prevalence of depression by CDI score in 40 gifted children was 37.5% and the prevalence of depression by CDI score in normal children was 27.5%. The data was analysed by Chi-square test and the result was not statistical significant (p > 0.05). The mean salivary cortisol level in 39 gifted children was 4.91 nmol/l (SD = 2.12) and the average salivary cortisol level in 38 normal children was 4.14 nmol/l (SD = 1.92). The data was analysed by unpaired t-test and the result was not statistical significant (p > 0.05). There was no correlation between salivary cortisol and CDI score (r = -0.194)., Conclusion: Gifted children do not have more depression than normal children. However, a larger sample size should be considered in the future study.