Evidence Based

Eleven essential oils (EOs) were evaluated for their antibacterial properties, against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) and E. coli O157:H7. EOs were introduced into Brain Heart Infusion agar (BHI) (15ml) at a concentration of 0.25 to 2% (vol/vol) to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for each pathogen evaluated. Results showed that the most active essential oils against bacteria tested were thyme oil, with MIC90 and MBC90 for the VRA strains of 0.25% and 0.5%, respectively. Eucalyptus, juniper and clove oils were the least potent agent, with MIC90 and MBC90 of 2%. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of these EO were evaluated against VRE and E. coli O157:H7, experimentally inoculated (103 cfu/g) in Feta soft cheese and minced beef meat, which was mixed with different concentrations (0.1%, 0.5% and 1%) of the EO and stored at 7 ºC for 14 days. Out of eucalyptus, juniper, mint, rosemary, sage, clove and thyme oils tested against target bacteria sage and thyme showed the best results. Clove and mint did not show any effect on VRE and E. coli O157:H7 in both kinds of studied foods. The addition of thyme oil at concentrations of 0.5 and 1% caused best significant reduction in the growth rate of VRE and E. coli O157:H7 in cheese and meat at 7 ºC. It is concluded that selected plant EOs can act as potent inhibitors of both microorganisms in a food product. The results revealed the potential of thyme oil as a natural preservative in feta soft cheese and minced beef meat against VRE and E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

The studies on metabolic compound of Andrographis paniculata shows that it possess potential anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. The aqueous extract of leaf samples was qualitatively analyzed for the presence of phytochemicals and it was conformed that the plant extract contain metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, aminoacids. The plant extract showed potential antibacterial activity. The chromatographical nalysis revealed the presence of possible metabolites. The purified active compounds through TLC and crude plant extract were subjected to analyze the anti-inflammatory activity and shows potent inhibitory activity against the adverse effects of the inflammation such as tissue damage and protein denaturation.

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional approach in which students in small groups engage in an authentic, ill-structured problem, and must (1) define, generate and pursue learning issues to understand the problem, (2) develop a possible solution, (3) provide evidence to support their solution, and (4) present their solution and the evidence that supports it (Barrows, How to design a problem-based curriculum for the preclinical years. Springer Publishing, New York, 1985). However, research has shown that novice problem-solvers and learners without deep content knowledge have difficulty developing strong evidence-based arguments (Krajcik et al., J Learn Sci 7:313–350, 1998a; Reiser, J Lear Sci 13(3):273–304, 2004). In this paper, we discuss the components of (e.g., claims and evidence) and processes of making (e.g., define problem and make claim) evidence-based arguments. Furthermore, we review various scaffolding models designed to help students perform various tasks associated with creating evidence-based arguments (e.g., link claims to evidence) and present guidelines for the development of computer-based scaffolds to help middle school students build evidence-based arguments.

The visible landscape is believed to affect human beings in many ways, including aesthetic appreciation and health
and well-being. The aim of this paper is to analyse the range of landscapes used in environmental psychology studies,
and the evidence of health effects related to viewing these landscapes. A literature review of publications linking
landscapes and health effects was conducted. This reported evidence of health and well-being effects related to
exposure to visual landscapes. The results of the review include an overview of the types of landscape used in the
studies, the evidence on health effects, the methods and measures applied and the different groups of respondents. The
analysis reveals a predominance of studies using only coarse categories of landscapes. Most landscape representations
have been classed as ‘‘natural’’ or ‘‘urban’’. Few studies were found to use subcategories within these groups.
Generally, the natural landscapes gave a stronger positive health effect compared to urban landscapes. Urban
landscapes were found to have a less positive and in some cases negative effect on health. Three main kinds of health
effects have been identified in the study; short-term recovery from stress or mental fatigue, faster physical recovery
from illness and long-term overall improvement on people’s health and well-being.
The study provides an overview of the relationships between health and landscapes arranged in an accessible format,
identifying gaps in our knowledge requiring further research. The identification of quantifiable landscape attributes
that affect health is seen as an important factor in enabling future landscape design to be of benefit to human health.

An estimated 40% of chronic lumbosacral spinal pain is attributed to the discus intervertebralis. Degenerative changes following loss of hydration of the nucleus pulposus lead to circumferential or radial tears within the annulus fibrosus. Annular tears within the outer annulus stimulate the ingrowth of blood vessels and accompanying nociceptors into the outer and occasionally inner annulus. Sensitization of these nociceptors by various inflammatory repair mechanisms may lead to chronic discogenic pain. The current criterion standard for diagnosing discogenic pain is pressure-controlled provocative discography using strict criteria and at least one negative control level. The strictness of criteria and the adherence to technical detail will allow an acceptable low false positive response rate. The most important determinants are the standardization of pressure stimulus by using a validated pressure monitoring device and avoiding overly high dynamic pressures by the slow injection ra...

This review describes pharmacologically active compounds from mushrooms. Compounds and complex substances with antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antiallergic, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective and central activities are covered, focusing on the review of recent literature. The production of mushrooms or mushroom compounds is discussed briefly.

Cancer is caused by multiple genetic alterations leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation through multiple pathways. Malignant cells arise from a variety of genetic factors, such as mutations in tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) that are involved in regulating the cell cycle, apoptosis, or cell differentiation, or maintenance of genomic integrity. Tumor suppressor mouse models are the most frequently used animal models in cancer research. The anti-tumorigenic functions of TSGs, and their role in development and differentiation, and inhibition of oncogenes are discussed. In this review, we summarize some of the important transgenic and knockout mouse models for TSGs, including Rb, p53, Ink4a/Arf, Brca1/2, and their related genes.