Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves the narrowing of the lung airways and excessive mucus production. Resveratrol (RES), a polyphenolic stilbene, is known to control asthmatic attacks via different molecular mechanisms. However, no studies have examined the effect of resveratrol on the microbiome in the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. In this study, we induced asthma in BALB/c mice by injecting OVA followed by 7 days treatment with RES. Plethysmography showed that the expiratory resistance in the lung tissue was significantly reduced in the RES treated group, while mean volume, peak expiratory flow, and frequency of respiration was increased. Histopathological examination of the lungs of the RES-treated group showed significant reduction in inflammatory cell infiltration and led to restoration of normal lung tissue architecture. In addition, there were significant increases in the expression of the genes encoding tight-junction molecules (claudin-1 and cadherin-18) in the RES-treated group. We performed 16S rRNA microbial analysis of cecal flushes and pulmonary tissues, which showed that RES treatment alters the gut microbiome by significantly increasing the level of Bacteroides acidifaciens spp. compared to disease controls. In addition, there was a significant increase in Akkermansia muciniphila (AM) species within the lungs after RES treatment. AM is a gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacterium known to induce mucus degradation. Since asthma is characterized by an increase in mucus in the lungs, we concluded that RES improves asthma in OVA-induced mouse model by significantly increasing AM and preventing mucus build-up in the lungs.
A piezoelectric cantilever beam with a tip mass at its free end is a common energy harvester configuration. This article introduces a new principle of designing such a harvester that increases the generated power without changing the resonance frequency of the harvester: the attraction force between two permanent magnets is used to add stiffness to the system. This magnetic stiffening counters the effect of the tip mass on the efficient operation frequency. Five set-ups incorporating piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers of the same type in different mechanical configurations are compared theoretically and experimentally to investigate the feasibility of this principle: theoretical and experimental results show that magnetically stiffened harve
... Show MoreOBJECTIVE: To determine the preferred specialties of graduated medical doctors working in Basra, and determine the factors behind their preferences. METHODS: The study was conducted in 38 primary health care centres and seven hospitals in Basra from January-June 2014. A cross-sectional study was adopted with the use of a self-administered questionnaire form. Two hundred ninety six graduated doctors were agreed to participate. Chisquare test and logistic regression were used to test the association between deciding a future speciality and influencing factors. RESULTS: The most preferred specialties were radiology and ultrasound, gynaecology and obstetrics, surgery, internal medicine, dermatology and paediatrics. Clinical specialties were sta
... Show MoreBackground: Biologic mechanisms of the form-function interaction are one of important component of orthodontic diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to search for the statistical associations between natural postural and craniofacial morphologic variables of the head. Materials and methods: The sample comprised natural head posture (NHP) cephalograms of 90 subjects, aged 18 to 25 years. Interpretation of the facial structure was made by using both intracranial and the extra-cranial reference lines in AutoCAD computer program. Results The measures of anteroposterior maxillary position, SNA showed a low negative correlations with the anterior cranial base angulation to true vertical (SN.Ver) and with the cranio-cervical position of the head
... Show MoreThis research is a result of other studies made about the iraqi public and its relationship with different states institutions, until recently, such studies were almost non-existent. The main characteristic that distinguishes scientific research is that it involves a specific problem that needs to be studied and analysed from multiple aspects. What is meant by identifying the problem, is to limit the topic to what the researcher wants to deal with, rather than what the title suggests as topics which the researcher doesn’t want to deal with. The problem of this research is the absence of thoughtful and planned scientific programs to build a positive mental image of the institutions of the modern state in general and the House of Represe
... Show MoreNinety eight mobile samples, (54) galaxy phone and (44) I phone, were swabbed for bacterial culture determination by culturing on MacConky agar , Blood agar , Mannitol salt agar , Muller Hinton agar .Staphylococcuswas the highest frequent isolated bacteria from Galaxy phone (33%) and I phone (37%). This study revealed that galaxy phone appears less contaminated with bacteria, the ratio of non-contaminated devices is (44%) when compared with I phone (9%). Sensitivity test showed that Ogmintin have the lowest effect on Staphylococcusisolated from both type of devices while cefitriaxone have the highest effect. DNA of isolate from galaxy 31 that exhibit highest resistance against antibiotics was extracted and 16S rRNA gene was polymerized by P
... Show MoreFUZZY CONTROLLERS F'OR SINGLE POINT CONTROLLER-I (SPC-l) SYSTEMS
The photostabilization? of poly vinyl chloride (PVC) ? films has been investigated by using diamine derivatives. The? (PVC) films were? contained 0.5% weight? of diamine derivatives which prepared by the method of casting. The photostabilizations? ?of these compounds were determined by monitoring the carbonyl index value with irradiation time. Also, the effect ?of concentrations of additives (range 0.1-0.5wt) on the rate of photostabilization? process was studied. Therefore we found? that a increased photostabilization rates was increase with increasing? concentrations of compound. Besides, the influence? on film thickness? of photostabilization process was also studied; ?and the results? showed that? the increasing of film thickness incr
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to synthesize selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using aqueous extract of black currant as a reducing agent. The green synthesized black currant selenium nanoparticles (BCSeNPs) were identified by color change. The characterization of SeNPs was achieved by Ultraviolet-visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X–ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These tests were used to detect: stability, morphology, size, crystalline nature, and functional groups present on the surface of BCSeNPs. The results revealed appearance of the brick-red color indicating the specific color of selenium nanoparticles, and UV-Vis spectroscopy showed band absorbanc
... Show MoreResveratrol is polyphenolic compound has many biochemical and biological effects on several organs. Therefore, resveratrol can be used to treat many diseases. The aim was to evaluate resveratrol safety when used in a parenteral single bolus dose. This study was conducted on 60 mice (30 males and 30 females). Each male and female mice divided into 6 groups (five mice per group). All mice groups given 1% DMSO and five different doses of resveratrol (5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.312) gm/kg intraperitonially given to five groups respectively. The mice were continuously monitored during 14 days. The number of deaths, changes in general behavior, changes in physiological activity, and signs of toxicity were reported. On day 15 blood was
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