Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease which belongs to the family of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases. Historically, CJD diagnosis has been based on the combination of clinical features and in vivo markers, including CSF protein assays, MRI and EEG changes. Brain-derived CSF proteins, such as 14-3-3, t-tau and p-tau have been largely used to support the diagnosis of probable CJD, although with certain limitations concerning sensitivity and specificity of these tests. More recently, a new method for the pre-mortem diagnosis of sporadic CJD has been developed, based on the ability of PrPsc to induce the polymerization of protease-sensitive recombinant PrP (PrPsen) into amyloid fibrils, and is known as Real-Time Quaking- Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) assay allows the detection of > 1 fg of PrPsc in diluted CJD brain homogenate and a variety of biological tissues and fluids. In the present study, we did a meta-analysis on the liability of RT-QuIC method in the diagnosis of sporadic CJD, in comparison to 14-3-3 and Tau protein. Twelve studies were finally included in the statistical analysis which showed that RT-QuIC has a very high specificity and comparable sensitivity to 14-3-3 protein and Tau protein in the CSF, and hence can be used as a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of sporadic CJD.To ensure food security for the ever-increasing world's population, it is important to explore other alternatives for enhancing plant productivity. This study is aimed at identifying the putative plant growth-promoting (PGP) and endophytic gene clusters in root-associated endophytic microbes from maize root and to also verify if their abundance is affected by different farming practices. To achieve this, we characterize endophytic microbiome genes involved in PGP and endophytic lifestyle inside maize root using the shotgun metagenomic approach. Our results revealed the presence of genes involved in PGP activities such as nitrogen fixation, HCN biosynthesis, siderophore, 4-hydroxybenzoate, ACC deaminase, phenazine, phosphate solubilization, butanediol, methanol utilization, acetoin, nitrogen metabolism, and IAA biosynthesis. We also identify genes involved in stress resistance such as glutathione, catalase, and peroxidase. Our results further revealed the presence of putative genes involved in endophytic behaviors such as aerotaxis, regulator proteins, motility mechanisms, flagellum biosynthesis, nitrogen regulation, regulation of carbon storage, formation of biofilm, reduction of nitric oxide, regulation of beta-lactamase resistance, type III secretion, type IV conjugal DNA, type I pilus assembly, phosphotransferase system (PTS), and ATP-binding cassette (ABC). Our study suggests a high possibility in the utilization of endophytic microbial community for plant growth promotion, biocontrol activities, and stress mitigation. Further studies in ascertaining this claim through culturing of the beneficial isolates as well as pot and field experiments are necessary.Clozapine is one of the antipsychotic drugs for treating schizophrenia, but its cardiotoxicity was the primary obstacle for its clinical use, due to the unknown mechanism of clozapine-induced cardiotoxicity. In this study, we studied the cardiotoxicity of clozapine by employing zebrafish embryos. Acute clozapine exposure showed dose-dependent mortality with the LC50 at 59.36 μmol L-1 and 49.60 μmol L-1 when determined at 48 and 72 h post exposure, respectively. Morphological abnormalities like pericardial edema, incompletely heart looping, and bradycardia were detected after clozapine exposure in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Clozapine treatment also resulted in a slower heart rate and disturbed rhythm in zebrafish embryos. Maraviroc chemical structure Also, oxidative stress was observed after clozapine exposure by measurement of ROS (reactive oxygen species), MDA (a lipid peroxidation marker), antioxidant enzyme activities, and oxidative stress-related gene expression. The elevation of inflammation coincided with oxidative stress by the assay of inflammation-related genes expression accompanied by clozapine incubation. Collectively, the data indicate that clozapine might achieve cardiotoxic effect in zebrafish larva through increasing oxidative stress, attenuation in antioxidant defense, and up-regulation of inflammatory cytokines. The data could provide experimental explanations for myocarditis and pericarditis induced by clozapine in clinics, and help find an effective solution to reduce its cardiotoxicity. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease affecting the blood cell. As a chronic disease, schistosomiasis particularly impacts on the human host's haematological profile. We assessed here the impact of urogenital schistosomiasis on the full blood counts (FBC) as proxy diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis. A cross-sectional study was conducted among school children living in Lambaréné, Gabon. Schistosomiasis status was determined using urine filtration technique. EDTA blood samples were analysed using a Pentra ABX 60 analyzer. Compared to their infection-free counterparts, school children infected with Schistosoma haematobium displayed an altered FBC profile, with changes in all three blood cell lines. Adjusted for praziquantel intake, soil-transmitted helminthic infections and Plasmodium falciparum infection status, schistosomiasis was independently associated with a decreasing trend of mean haemoglobin (β = -0.20g/dL, p-value = 0.08) and hematocrit (β = -0.61%, p-value = 0.06) levels, a lower mean MCV (β = -1.50µm , p-value = 0.02) and MCH (β = -0.54pg, p-value = 0.04), and higher platelet (β = 28.2 10 /mm , p-value = 0.002) and leukocyte (β = 1.13 10 /mm , p-value = 0.0003) counts, respectively. Schistosomiasis is associated with a characteristic FBC profile of schoolchildren living in Lambaréné, indicating the necessity to consider schistosomiasis as a single cause of disease, or a co-morbidity, when interpreting FBC in endemic areas.Schistosomiasis is associated with a characteristic FBC profile of schoolchildren living in Lambaréné, indicating the necessity to consider schistosomiasis as a single cause of disease, or a co-morbidity, when interpreting FBC in endemic areas.