Molecular Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing O177 Isolates, Their Antibiotic Resistance, and Virulence Profiles From Broiler Chickens.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) as a bacterium that can cause severe food-borne diseases. Common sources of infection include undercooked meat products and faecal contamination in vegetables. This study aimed to isolate, identify and assess the virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles of STEC isolates from broiler chicken faeces.

Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Anti-Tuberculosis Properties of Selected Fabaceae Medicinal Plants through in vitro Studies.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is among the top ten causes of death in South Africa and worldwide and remains a high priority of the World Health Organization. South Africa has a rich tradition for using medicinal plants to treat various diseases, including TB; however, the safety and efficacy of these plants require thorough investigation and confirmation. This study examined the anti-inflammatory and anti-TB activities of three indigenous medicinal plants against two strains of TB.

African walnut () oil promotes glucose uptake while improving energy metabolism and steroidogenesis and maintaining surface architecture in rat testes.

Background: African walnut () oil (AWO) has been reported for its nutritional and medicinal properties and has been employed for the management of metabolic diseases including hyperglycemia-mediated ailments.

Objective: In the present study, AWO was investigated for its ability to stimulate glucose uptake and its effect on energy metabolism, steroidogenesis, and tissue morphology in isolated testes of Wistar rats.

Methods: Isolated testes were incubated with AWO (30-240 μg/mL) in the presence of 11.

Clinical diagnostic reference levels and image quality metrics for CT in oncology patients.

Background: In CT, the volumetric CT dose index (CTDI), dose-length product (DLP) and patient's size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) are used as diagnostic reference level (DRL) metrics.

Objectives: To develop clinical local DRL values for CT chest-abdomen-pelvis (CAP) examinations using the CTDI, DLP and SSDE, and to determine the image quality achieved.

Method: In total, 201 cancer patients were included in the study.

Computational and theoretical insights into the cytotoxic prospects of compounds isolated from against Leukemia.

The present study investigated the cytotoxic prospects of isolated compounds from against leukemia, using computational tools. Comprehensive literature searches revealed only buchaninoside, mutangin, methyl 3β-acetoxy-11α, 19α, 28-trihydroxyurs-12-en-23-oic acid, 3β, 11α, 19α-trihydroxyurs-12-en-23, 28-dioic acid, 3β-acetoxy-19α, 24, 28-trihydroxyurs-12-ene, 3-oxo-19α,28-dihydroxyurs-12-en-24-oic acid, and elabunin have been isolated from . The compounds were subjected to Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Molecular Dynamics (MD) analyses, with Fms-like tyrosine kinase (FLT3) and catalytic binding sites of Murine Leukemia Virus (MLV) as the target proteins in lukemia.

Insight into the molecular mechanism of anti-breast cancer therapeutic potential of substituted salicylidene-based compounds using cell-based assays and molecular docking studies.

Targeting oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathways is an effective cancer prevention and therapy approach. The mechanism of action of synthesized salicylidene-based compounds was investigated in regulating key molecular targets of breast cancer development. Compounds (1), (4), (5), and (7) were found to be more cytotoxic to MCF-7 and 4T1 cells compared to non-cancerous Chang liver cells, while these compounds were cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231 cells, but with poor selectivity.

A Review of Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Microbial Infections in Angola.

The use of medicinal plants in the management of microbial infections is significant to the health of the indigenous people in many Angolan communities. The present study provides a comprehensive overview of medicinal plants used for the management of microbial infections in Angola. Relevant information was extracted from research articles published and associated with the use of medicinal plants in the management of microbial infections in Angola (from January 1976 to November 2023).

Chemical and Resistive Switching Properties of Extract-Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite: A Potential Active Layer for Biodegradable Memory Devices.

Biodegradable electronic devices play a crucial role in addressing the escalating issue of electronic waste accumulation, which poses significant environmental threats. In this study, we explore the utilization of a methanol-based extract of the plant blended with a carboxymethyl cellulose biopolymer to produce a biodegradable and environmentally friendly functional material for a resistive switching memory system using silver and tungsten electrodes. Our analyses revealed that these two materials chemically interact to generate a perfect composite with near semiconducting optical bandgap (4.

Epicatechin Isolated from Sonn. (Litchi) Fruit Peel Ethyl Acetate Extract Modulated Glucose Uptake in Chang Cells and Suppressed ROS Production in RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Bioactive flavonoid epicatechin has been reported in the peel of litchi fruit but isolated from its hydroalcoholic extracts. This study isolated epicatechin with cellular glucose uptake modulatory and ROS production inhibitory properties from the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract using a bioassay-guided approach. The fruit peel was defatted with hexane and sequentially extracted using dichloromethane (DCM), EtOAc, methanol (MeOH) and water.

Plant-Derived Alkaloids as a Potential Source of Treatment for Colorectal Cancer over the Past Five Years: A Comprehensive Review.

The gastrointestinal cancer known as colorectal cancer (CRC) is caused by a variety of genetic and epigenetic alterations in the intestinal epithelium of the colon and rectum. It is becoming more common every year. In view of this significant progress, it is urgent and imperative for researchers to work more in this direction in order to improve this health situation that is a major concern for society.

"One Health" Perspective on Prevalence of ESKAPE Pathogens in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The leading cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide includes , , , , , and spp. (ESKAPE) infections. These bacteria are commonly isolated from clinical settings and linked to a number of potentially fatal diseases associated with hospitals.

Investigating the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Potentials of (Hochst.) Kuntze Extract against Some Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Molecular Markers.

Oxidative stress is a key factor that activates several transcription factors and mediators involved in the inflammatory pathways responsible for the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. Targeting the expression of these mediators represents a promising approach to preventing these diseases. leaf infusion is traditionally used for treating conditions such as inflammation and pain relief.

Evaluating the effectiveness of strategies for mitigating fatigue among construction workers in Abuja, Nigeria: a quantitative analysis.

Fatigue is one of the menaces that contribute to the rising number of construction-related accidents and fatalities in projects. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify several strategies that can be adopted to mitigate fatigue in construction projects. This was achieved through a quantitative study.

Maternal exposure to heat and its association with miscarriage in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A population-based cohort study.

Background: We sought to improve the current understanding of how climate change impacts women's reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: We investigated the relationship between maternal heat exposure and miscarriage (pregnancy ending before 20 weeks gestation) in a South African setting.

Design: Population-based cohort study.

Scaling up a Positive Safety Culture among Construction Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Ghana.

The Ghanaian construction industry faces challenges in managing safety, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that need more resources. This research addressed the critical need for a positive safety culture framework specifically designed for SMEs in Ghana. The study adopts the Delphi research approach, which involves a series of questionnaire 'rounds' to gather and refine information and develop a collaborative safety culture framework with SME stakeholders.

Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder 6 weeks and 6 months after ICU: Six out of 10 survivors affected.

Background: Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are being increasingly recognised as common adverse outcomes for critical illness survivors. These conditions can have lasting consequences on their wellbeing, ability to return to their pre-illness level of functioning and health-related quality of life. There is a paucity of South African data in terms of the psychological aspects of the post-intensive care unit (ICU) syndrome.

A teaching model for biomedical imaging informatics.

Introduction: Radiology played a leading role in the transformation of medicine to a digital environment. To ensure the smooth operation and managing workflow in a digital imaging environment, dedicated, well-trained individuals are needed. The objective of this study was to develop a teaching and learning model for imaging informatics.

Genetic Heterogeneity in Cowpea Genotypes ( L. Walp) Using DArTseq (GBS)-Derived Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.

Cowpeas ( L. Walp) have been credible constituents of nutritious food and forage in human and animal diets since the Neolithic era. The modern technique of Diversity Array Technology (DArTseq) is both cost-effective and rapid in producing thousands of high-throughputs, genotyped, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in wide-genomic analyses of genetic diversity.

A Comparative Analysis of Low and High SiC Volume Fraction Additively Manufactured SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) Composites Based on the Best Process Parameters of Laser Power, Scanning Speed and Hatch Distance.

Silicon carbide (SiC) exhibits intriguing thermo-physical properties such as higher heat capacity and conductivity, as well as a lower density than Ti6Al4V(ELI). These properties make SiC a good candidate for the reinforcement of Ti6Al4V(ELI) with respect to its use as a heat shield in aero turbines to increase their efficiency. The traditional materials used in aircraft structures were required to have a combination of good mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, and hardness and low weight, as well as low thermo-physical properties such as coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and thermal conductivity.

Influence of online searches for campaign messages on voting behaviour in Ghana.

This study ascertained the influence of political party campaign message information search on the behaviour of voters in Ghana. The researchers however conducted this study by applying the perspectives of consumer behaviour to voter behavior with an objective to examine how the behaviour of consumers (voters) is influenced by the search for information on election campaign messages in their decision-making process. The examination used quantitative research to determine the relationship between voting behaviour and political campaign with the cross-sectional survey deployed to collect data from 7203 voters in Accra.

Chitinases: expanding the boundaries of knowledge beyond routinized chitin degradation.

Chitinases, enzymes that degrade chitin, have long been studied for their role in various biological processes. They play crucial roles in the moulting process of invertebrates, the digestion of chitinous food, and defense against chitin-bearing pathogens. Additionally, chitinases are involved in physiological functions in crustaceans, such as chitinous food digestion, moulting, and stress response.