Resumo Nigella sativa é conhecida pelo perfil de segurança, contendo uma grande variedade de compostos antivirais úteis. A principal protease (Mpro, 3CLpro) da síndrome respiratória aguda grave 2 (SARS-CoV-2) está sendo considerada como um dos alvos virais mais atraentes, processando as poliproteínas durante a patogênese e replicação viral. Na presente investigação analisamos a potência do componente ativo, timoquinona (TQ) de Nigella sativa contra SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. As estruturas de TQ e Mpro foram recuperadas de PubChem (CID10281) e Protein Data Bank (PDB ID 6MO3), respectivamente. O Mpro e o TQ foram acoplados e o complexo foi submetido a simulações de dinâmica molecular (MD) por um período de 50ns. O efeito de dobramento de proteínas foi analisado usando o raio de giração (Rg) enquanto a estabilidade e a flexibilidade foram medidas usando a raiz quadrada média dos desvios (RMSD) e a raiz média quadrada da flutuação (RMSF), respectivamente. Os resultados da simulação mostram que o TQ está exibindo boa atividade de ligação contra o SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, interagindo em muitos resíduos presentes no sítio ativo (His41, Cys145) e também o Glu166, facilitando o formato da bolsa. Além disso, são necessárias abordagens experimentais para validar o papel do TQ contra a infecção pelo vírus. O TQ está interferindo nos resíduos de manutenção do bolso, bem como no sítio ativo do vírus Mpro, que pode ser usado como um potencial inibidor contra o SARS-CoV-2 para um melhor gerenciamento da Covid-19.

Abstract Nigella sativa is known for the safety profile, containing a wealth of useful antiviral compounds. The main protease (Mpro, 3CLpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is being considered as one of the most attractive viral target, processing the polyproteins during viral pathogenesis and replication. In the current investigation we analyzed the potency of active component, thymoquinone (TQ) of Nigella sativa against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The structures of TQ and Mpro was retrieved from PubChem (CID10281) and Protein Data Bank (PDB ID 6MO3) respectively. The Mpro and TQ were docked and the complex was subjected to molecular dynamic (MD) simulations for a period 50ns. Protein folding effect was analyzed using radius of gyration (Rg) while stability and flexibility was measured, using root means square deviations (RMSD) and root means square fluctuation (RMSF) respectively. The simulation results shows that TQ is exhibiting good binding activity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, interacting many residues, present in the active site (His41, Cys145) and also the Glu166, facilitating the pocket shape. Further, experimental approaches are needed to validate the role of TQ against virus infection. The TQ is interfering with pocket maintaining residues as well as active site of virus Mpro which may be used as a potential inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2 for better management of COVID-19.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia dos antibióticos comuns contra diferentes microrganismos em bovinos aparentemente saudáveis na província de Shandong e seus subúrbios. Um total de 220 amostras de esfregaço nasal foi coletado e cultivado para avaliação bacteriológica. Todos os isolados de bactérias após identificação preliminar foram submetidos a estudos de antibiograma seguindo o método de difusão em disco. Verificou-se no estudo que E. coli é o isolado mais comumente associado (21%), seguido por Klebsiella spp. (18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13%), Salmonella spp. (15%), Shigella spp (12%) e Proteus spp (11%). Enquanto os estudos de antibiograma revelaram que o maior número de isolados bacterianos apresentou resistência à Ampicilina (95%), seguido por Augmentin (91%), Cefuroxima (85%) e Tetraciclina (95%) de (Escherichia coli e Klebsiella spp). No caso de Pseudomonas spp. e Salmonella, a maior resistência foi apresentada pela Ampicilina (90%) seguida pela Amoxicilina + Ácido Clavulânico (80%), Cefixima (90%) e Eritromicina (80%). Em Shigella spp e Salmonella spp, a maior resistência foi demonstrada por Amoxicilina, Ceftazidima, Augmentina (60%) e Amoxicilina + Ácido Clavulânico (50%). Conclui-se que estudos de antibiograma in vitro de isolados bacterianos revelaram maior resistência para Ampicilina, Augmentina, Cefuroxima, Cefixima, Tetraciclina, Eritromicina e Amoxicilina + Ácido Clavulânico. Os altos índices de resistência a antibióticos múltiplos (MARI) observados em todos os isolados neste estudo variaram de 0,6 a 0,9. O valor MARI de > 0,2 sugere várias bactérias resistentes a antibióticos e indica a presença de bactérias altamente resistentes.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of common antibiotics against different microorganisms in apparently healthy cattle in Shandong province and its suburb. A total of 220 nasal swab samples were collected and cultured for bacteriological evaluation. All the bacteria isolates after preliminary identification were subjected to antibiogram studies following disc diffusion method. It was found in the study that E. coli is the most commonly associated isolate (21%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13%), Salmonella spp. (15%), Shigella spp (12%), and Proteus spp (11%). While the antibiogram studies reveled that highest number of bacterial isolates showed resistance to Ampicillin (95%), followed by Augmentin (91%), Cefuroxime (85%) and Tetracycline (95%) of (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp). In the case of pseudomonas spp. and Salmonella the highest resistance was showed by Ampicillin (90%) followed by Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid (80%), Cefixime (90%), and Erythromycin (80%). In Shigella spp and Salmonella spp highest resistance was showed by Amoxicillin, Ceftazidime, Augmentin (60%), and Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid (50%). It is concluded that in vitro antibiogram studies of bacterial isolates revealed higher resistance for Ampicillin, Augmentin, Cefuroxime, Cefixime, Tetracycline, Erythromycin, and Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid. The high multiple Antibiotics resistance indexes (MARI) observed in all the isolates in this study ranging from 0.6 to 0.9. MARI value of >0.2 is suggests multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria and indicate presence of highly resistant bacteria.

ABSTRACT Background: The aim of parapelvic cyst treatment is to have complete drainage of cyst fluid and prevent its further compression of the kidney and collective system. This study explores the efficacy and safety of surgical approaches with holmium laser ureteroscopic internal drainage in the treatment of parapelvic cyst. Methods: The compression effect of parapelvic cyst on the renal collective system was observed by rigid ureteroscope using retrograde ureteroscopic technology. With direct vision, the cyst wall on the obvious parapelvic compression site was cut. The diameter of the cyst wall cut was about 1 cm. The internal drainage was obtained by double-J tubes. When the cyst was in the inferior pole of kidney or where the rigid ureteroscope could not reach, a flexible ureteroscope was used. Results: In 28 cases of operation, 27 cases were successful. The cyst treatment time was eight to 40 minutes (average 26 minutes). During the operation, no massive haemorrhage, damage of nearby organ and ureter, or other complications happened. Time of follow-up was 10–72 months (average 39 months). The results of follow-up showed that in 22 cases, the cyst disappeared; the diameter of the cyst in four cases was reduced by more than half, and one case recurred. Conclusion: The treatment of parapelvic cyst by internal drainage operation using holmium laser and ureteroscopy was effective. The operation was safe with few complications.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: El objetivo del tratamiento de quiste parapélvico es lograr el drenaje completo del líquido del quiste y prevenir su compresión ulterior del riñón y el sistema colectivo. Este estudio explora la eficacia y seguridad de los abordajes quirúrgicos cn drenaje interno mediante ureteroscopia con láser de holmio en el tratamiento de quiste parapélvico. Métodos: El efecto de la compresión del quiste parapélvico del sistema colectivo renal fue observado mediante ureteroscopio rígido utilizando la tecnología ureteroscópica retrógrada. Con visión directa, la pared del quiste fue cortada en el sitio obvio de la compresión parapélvica. El diámetro de la pared del quiste cortada era alrededor de 1 cm. El drenaje interno se obtuvo con catéteres doble J. Cuando el quiste estaba en el polo inferior del riñón o donde no podía llegar el ureteroscopio rígido, se utilizaba un ureteroscopio flexible. Resultados: De 28 casos de operación, 27 casos tuvieron éxito. El tiempo de tratamiento del quiste fue de ocho a 40 minutos (un promedio de 26 minutos). Durante las operaciones, no hubo hemorragias masivas, daños de órganos y uréteres, u otras complicaciones. El tiempo de seguimiento fue de 10 a 72 meses (un promedio de 39 meses). Los resultados del seguimiento mostraron que en 22 casos, el quiste desapareció. En cuatro casos, el diámetro del quiste se redujo en más de la mitad, y reapareció en uno de los casos. Conclusión: El tratamiento de quiste parapélvico por operación de drenaje interno con láser de holmio y ureteroscopia fue eficaz. La operación fue segura con pocas complicaciones.

This paper proposes an improved watermarking algorithm based on DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). We carried out the algorithm as described as follows. First, we extended both rows and ranks of the watermark by using the proposed method before the embedding stage. After expansion, Sine chaotic system is employed in encrypting the watermark. In the embedding stage, an effective and adaptive embedding method is proposed to embed the watermark into the blocked DCT coefficients. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm in this paperworks well in resisting both geometry attack and noise attack. It also does well in recovering the watermark after stego image suffered from JPG compression.

Myocardial ischemic preconditioning up-regulated protein 1 (Mipu1), a novel zinc finger protein, was originally cloned using bioinformatic analysis and 5' RACE technology of rat heart after a transient myocardial ischemia/reperfusion procedure in our laboratory. In order to investigate the functions of Mipu1, the recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pQE31-Mipu1 was constructed and transformed into Escherichia coli M15(pREP4), and Mipu1-6His fusion protein was expressed and purified. The identity of the purified protein was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The molecular mass of the Mipu1 protein was 70.03779 kDa. The fusion protein was intracutaneously injected to immunize New Zealand rabbits to produce a polyclonal antibody. The antibody titer was approximately 1:16,000. The antibody was tested by Western blotting for specificity and sensitivity. Using the antibody, it was found that Mipu1 was highly expressed in the heart and brain of rats and was localized in the nucleus of H9c2 myogenic cells. The present study lays the foundation for further study of the biological functions of Mipu1.