Journal of Coastal Life Medicine

757-759

Authors: Ming-Qiang Chen, Gang Yu, Zhen-Hua Ma, You-Ning Li, Kong-Wu Xing, Li Wang

Objective: To evaluate the impact of salinity changes in the rearing environment on the haemocyte activities of pearl oyster Pinctada martensii (P. martensii). Methods: Three salinity treatments including 12‰, 22‰, and 32‰ were tested. Haemocyte mortality rate and neutral red retention (NRR) assay were used to investigate the impact of rearing salinity on the haemocyte activities of pearl oyster. Results: Results from the present study indicated that salinity significantly affected the haemocyte mortality rate of P. martensii. The highest haemocytes mortality rate was observed in the 12‰ treatment, and the lowest mortality rate was observed in the 32‰ treatment. NRR time was also significantly affected by the salinity. The highest NRR time was observed in the 32‰ treatment, and the lowest NRR time was observed in the 12‰ treatment. Conclusions: Results from the present study indicated that salinity < 22‰ had significant impact on the haemocyte mortality rate and NRR time. Reducing the environmental salinity will pose an additional stress and may also reduce the defense capacities of P. martensii and make them more susceptible to parasites and bacteria.

765-774

Authors: Muhammet Turkoglu

This study focused on daily variations and harmful algal bloom features of toxic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima (Ehrenberg) F. Stein (P. lima), 1878 in middle summer period (9th July–6th August 2013) in the Dardanelles. Harmful algal bloom of P. lima was recorded for the first time in the Turkish Straits System. Density of P. lima reached to 2.40 × 106 cells/L and exhibited four excessive blooms over 1.0 × 106 cells/L during the study. The contribution of P. lima to both Prorocentrum spp. and dinoflagellates reached to 100%, particularly at the moment of the harmful algal bloom attested by regresion (R ≥ 0.70) and correlation findings (R ≥ 0.80). Nutrient concentrations were lower than previous levels due to excessive blooms. Concentrations of NO- 2 + NO- 3, PO-3 4 and SiO4 varied between 0.20 and 0.78 µmol/L [(0.44 ± 0.17) µmol/L], 0.08 and 0.18 µmol/L [(0.12 ± 0.03) µmol/L] and 0.25 and 0.65 µmol/L [(0.41 ± 0.09) µmol/ L] respectively. During the bloom, nutrient ratios were more different than redfield ratios due to eutrophication (NO- 2 + NO- 3/PO-3 4 = 4.04 ± 1.74; SiO4/PO-3 4 = 3.79 ± 1.24; SiO4/NO- 2 + NO- 3 = 1.04 ± 0.36). Chlorophyll a concentration reached to 8.52 µg/L (average: 4.82 ± 2.29 mg/L) in the bloom period. Temperature [(24.70 ± 0.44) °C], salinity [(22.9 ± 0.49) ppt], pH (8.23 ± 0.15) and dissolved oxygen levels (7.35 ± 0.60 mg/L) were approximately constant. The compact bloom of P. lima, similar to excessive blooms of other dinoflagellates and diatoms, was associated not only with eutrophication, but also with ocean warming interactions. Results revealed that it will be possible to reach to millions of cell number of P. lima (2.40 × 106 cells/L)in eutrophied waters characterized by high chlorophyll a biomass (8.52 µg/L).

779-783

Authors: Somayeh Rastegar, Mohsen Gozari

Objective: To evaluate the antifungal and the radical scavenging capacity related to antioxidant potential of ethanol and water extracts of leaves of Rhizophora mucronata (R. mucronata) and Avicennia marina (A. marina) mangrove plant species against five postharvest pathogenic bacteria. Methods: In vitro assessment of antioxidant and antifungal activities was evaluated in this present study for both aqueous and ethanol extracts prepared from leaves of A. marina and R. mucronata. The antioxidant activities of these mangroves were evaluated by using reducing power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assays with butylated hydroxytoluene and L-(+)- ascorbic acid as standards. Results: The result showed that the antioxidant activities of all extracts increased with increasing concentration of extracts. However, the ethanol extracts of both species showed the highest antioxidant activities. Antimicrobial tests were then carried out by the disk diffusion method. The ethanol extracts of both species showed antifungal activities on Penicillium purpurogenum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata and Penicillium italicum. However, none of the water extracts exhibited antifungal activity on the studied fungi. Among all the pathogens, tested Aspergillus flavus was the most resistant fungi. Different concentrations of extracts from A. marina and R. mucronata showed different amounts of control against tested fungal strains. Conclusions: This study indicated that mangrove species has natural antioxidant and antifungal properties.

791-794

Authors: Babar Habib, Muhammad Asif Habeeb

Objective: To find out the antibacterial activity of Valeriana jatamansi (V. jatamansi) rhizomes against the extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing isolates of Enterobacteriaceae family. Methods: Confirmation of ESBLs producing Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Hafnia alvei isolated from urinary tract infections was performed by double disc diffusion assay. Antimicrobial susceptibility of all ESBLs producing isolates was determined by disc diffusion method following guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Successive extraction of rhizomes of V. jatamansi was performed with hexane, chloroform and methanol using Soxhelt apparatus. These extracts were tested against the ESBLs producing isolates using well diffusion method. Results: Hexane extract showed significant results as compared to chloroform and methanol extracts with the maximum zone of inhibition (21 mm) while ciprofloxacin and amikacin were used as standard drugs. Conclusions: Findings of the study suggested that hexane extract of V. jatamansi can be used in combination with other antibiotics as alternative treatment for urinary tract infections caused by ESBLs producing strains of Enterobacteriaceae.

802-808

Authors: Christopher Ekpenyong, Eme Osim

Objective: To accurately evaluate the effect of lemongrasses tea (LGT) on blood pressure (BP) indices in normal humans. Methods: A total of 105 participants were sub-divided into 3 groups with 35 in each group and they were administered with LGT prepared from 2, 4 or 8 g of the lemongrass leaf powder (LP) for 30 days, respectively. They were evaluated for various BP indices and other clinical and biochemical parameters at days 0, 10 and 30 after the administration of LGT using standard methods. Results: At day 10, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were lower than baseline levels. The mean arterial pressure was slightly reduced, while pulse pressure and heart rate (HR) significantly increased in subjects administered with LGT prepared from 4 or 8 g of the LP. At day 30, systolic blood pressure and DBP remained decreased in participants administered with LGT prepared from 4 g of the LP. DBP normalized in participants administered with LGT prepared from 4 g of the LP. The mean arterial pressure and HR decreased further in participants administered with LGT prepared from 8 g of the LP, but HR normalized in subjects treated with LGT prepared from 4 g of the LP. Pulse pressure almost returned to baseline level. Conclusions: Ingestion of LGT may be associated with decreased BP indices in normotensive humans due to its varied bioactive constituents and their activities.

813-815

Authors: Sunil Pandey, Bivek Timalsina

Objective: To ascertain the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of bacteria from urinary tract infections. Methods: A retrospective analysis of bacterial pathogens and antibiogram was done in Helping Hands Community Hospital Laboratory from August to November, 2014. Results: The prevalence of bacterial isolates was higher among females (44.70%) than males (31.34%) (P < 0.001). The most common bacteria were Escherichia coli 35 (59.32%), followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus 5 (8.47%), Salmonella enterica 4 (6.78%), Proteus mirabilis 2 (3.39%), Proteus vulgaris 2 (3.39%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 2 (3.39%), Salmonella typhi 2 (3.39%), Pseudomonas species 2 (3.39%), Staphylococcus aureus 2 (3.39%), Citrobacter species 2 (3.39%), Acinetobacter baumannii 1 (1.69%), Acinetobacter species 1 (1.69%), Proteus vulgaris 1 (1.69%). Conclusions: Most Gram-positive isolates were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, gentamycin and norfloxacin, and they are considered as appropriate microbials for empirical treatment of urinary tract infections.

824-832

Authors: Huma Qureshi, Muhammad Arshad, Wajiha Seerat, Faryal Kabir, Sammer Fatima

Reactive oxygen species damage cellular proteins and lipids or form DNA adducts when present in high concentration that promotes carcinogenic activities. Plants have been the primary therapy for such ailments since ancient times. This paper reviews some medicinal plants having antioxidant activities useful for healing cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neuro-protection. A brief overview of the use of medicinal plants and their main constituents effective against reactive oxygen species-based diseases are presented. This overview will attract the interest of investigators aiming at the design of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of various reactive oxygen species-based conditions.

838-840

Authors: Li-Jing Peng, Shuaibah Abdul Ghani, May May Choo, Syed Shoeb Ahmad, Nor Haizura Bt Abd Rani

We aim to report an uncommon presentation of retinoblastoma and its management. A 4-yearold boy presented with left eye pain for 1 week with eye redness after being hit by a ball. On examination, the visual acuity in his right eye was 6/6 and left eye was no perception to light. The conjunctiva in his left eye was injected and cornea was edematous. There was pseudohypopyon inferiorly. Lens was opaque and there was no fundus view. Intraocular pressure was 50 mmHg. Patient was initially treated as phacolytic glaucoma with severe inflammation. B scan showed intralesional calcification with retinal detachment. CT orbit showed left intraocular mass with calcification and optic nerve involvement. Thus, our final diagnosis was left eye retinoblastoma. Patient was performed a enucleation with chemotherapy in left eye. One year after the treatment, there was no local and distant invasion of the tumor. Anterior inflammation is a rare form of masquerade syndrome associated with retinoblastoma.