Mineral Elements Content of some Coarse Grains used as staple Food in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Analysis of mineral elements were carried out on some coarse grains used as staple food in Kano metropolis. The levels of Magnesium, Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Copper and Zinc were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), and that of Sodium and Potassium were obtained using flame photometer (FES). The result of the study shows that the mean results of the mineral elements ranged in mg/kg from 62.50±0.55 - 84.82±0.74 sodium, 73.33±0.35 - 317±0.10 magnesium, 89.22±0.26 - 193.33±0.19 potassium, 70.00±0.52 - 186.67±0.29 calcium, 1.00±0.11 - 20.50±1.30 manganese, 25.00±0.11 - 80.50±0.36 iron. 4.00±0.08 - 13.00±0.24 copper and 15.00±0.34 - 50.50±0.24 zinc. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in levels of sodium, potassium and calcium between the varieties of coarse grains whereas no significant differences (p>0.05) occur in levels of magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc between the varieties of coarse grains. In comparison with Recommended Dietary Allowances of essential and trace metals set by international standard organizations, the coarse grains analyzed in this work contribute little to the provision of essential and trace elements requirements.Keywords: Mineral Elements, Coarse Grains, Staple Food, Kano, Nigeria

Categorical data analysis using SPSS for periodontology

Statistics is a very powerful tool for data measurement. It can give meaning to meaningless numbers. On the basis, data can be classified as categorical or continuous. This book focuses on categorical data analysis. Categorical data classifies an observation to one or more categories. To get a clear understanding on how to analyze categorical data, this book emphasizes on categorical data analysis, especially for all beginners among dental students, dental researchers and dental lecturers. It is a compulsory method of analysis that researchers should learn, as it provides core skills that will be very useful for conducting categorical data analysis. Besides that, this book gives the researchers an idea on how to design a study that will optimize the output of the research study

Effect of FGF-2 and PDGF-BB on a co-culture of human gingival fibroblasts and umbilical vein endothelial cells

Gingival recession can be treated by root coverage procedure with tissue graft. The ideal gingiva graft should mimic the properties of the native gingiva. Gingival fibroblasts are main cells that reside in human gingiva, while the endothelial cells are the basis for blood vessel formation. The co-culture of these cells, will help in better understanding of gingival tissue regeneration. This study was aimed to determine the effects of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and plateletderived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) on a co-culture of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In this in vitro experimental study, the medium for the establishment of monolayer and coculture of these cells were first optimised. Then, the optimal concentrations of these growth factors were determined by assessing the cell viability using MTT assay. Next, to study the stimulatory effect of these growth factors, both HGF and HUVECs were co-cultured and gene expression analysis for fibroblast and angiogenic biomarkers was assessed using Real-Time RT-PCR. Cell viability assay showed that the effect of FGF-2 on HGF was dose-dependent and was optimum at a concentration of 5 ng mL-1, while that of PDGF-BB on HUVEC was optimum at a concentration of 20 ng mL-1. The stimulatory effect of FGF-2 and PDGF-BB was further supported by the Real-Time PCR results which showed that there is a significant expression of VIM, COL1A1, FN, CD31, VE-Cadherin, and vWF in the treatment group of both cells after three days of co-culture experiment, compared to control group. This study indicates a possible synergistic effect of FGF-2 and PDGF-BB growth factors in a co-culture of HGF and HUVEC leading to proangiogenic activity

Malaysian and Italian trend line for Covid-19: A study on trend analysis

The first objective of this study was to evaluate trend line pattern, obtain the appropriate statistical equation model, and predict individual numbers infected by Covid-19. The second objective is to obtain a predictive equation model and forecast death rate for Malaysia and Italy. Malaysia's first positive case Covid-19 recorded January 24, 2020, consisting of three cases. Collected from January 24 to March 29, 2020. Sixty-six day-observations, based on their trend line pattern, earned special attention. Although the first positive case was identified on January 31, 2020, involving two patients. From January 31 to March 29, 2020, approximately 59 observations were collected from Italy. On 18 March 2020, the pattern will contrast with the Malaysian Movement Control Order (MCO). Malaysia and Italy collect death figures. A similar methodology will be applied to find the best-fitted model that fits both countries' death-number scenario. In Italy, the number of Covid-19-infected patients rises and meets quadratic trend line patterns. This induces extreme public distress and diversion. The quadratic trend line series analysed individual Covid-19-infected results. After March 18, 2020, it will continue to use a linear pattern. However, trend deaths also follow quadratic trend line pattern. Trend-line quadratic matched Italy's results. The quadratic line-of-trend model projection demonstrated dominance in estimating infected Covid-19. The quadratic death line from daily death collection data also showed superiority in estimating death number. The fitted quadratic model is better fitted in the Malaysian case, but the pattern shifts to linear trend line after MCO is implemented

cExternal beam radiation results in minimal changes in post void residual urine volumes during the treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the impact of external beam radiation therapy (XRT) on weekly ultrasound determined post-void residual (PVR) urine volumes in patients with prostate cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>125 patients received XRT for clinically localized prostate cancer. XRT was delivered to the prostate only (n = 66) or if the risk of lymph node involvement was greater than 10% to the whole pelvis followed by a prostate boost (n = 59). All patients were irradiated in the prone position in a custom hip-fix mobilization device with an empty bladder and rectum. PVR was obtained at baseline and weekly. Multiple clinical and treatment parameters were evaluated as predictors for weekly PVR changes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean patient age was 73.9 years with a mean pre-treatment prostate volume of 53.3 cc, a mean IPSS of 11.3 and a mean baseline PVR of 57.6 cc. During treatment, PVR decreased from baseline in both cohorts with the absolute difference within the limits of accuracy of the bladder scanner. Alpha-blockers did not predict for a lower PVR during treatment. There was no significant difference in mean PVR urine volumes or differences from baseline in either the prostate only or pelvic radiation groups (p = 0.664 and p = 0.458, respectively). Patients with a larger baseline PVR (>40 cc) had a greater reduction in PVR, although the greatest reduction was seen between weeks one and three. Patients with a small PVR (<40 cc) had no demonstrable change throughout treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Prostate XRT results in clinically insignificant changes in weekly PVR volumes, suggesting that radiation induced bladder irritation does not substantially influence bladder residual urine volumes.</p

The transfer and fate of Pb from sewage sludge amended soil in a multi-trophic food chain: a comparison with the labile elements Cd and Zn

The contamination of agroecosystems due to the presence of trace elements in commonly used agricultural materials is a serious issue. The most contaminated material is usually sewage sludge, and the sustainable use of this material within agriculture is a major concern. This study addresses a key issue in this respect, the fate of trace metals applied to soil in food chains. The work particularly addresses the transfer of Pb, which is an understudied element in this respect, and compares the transfer of Pb with two of the most labile metals, Cd and Zn. The transfer of these elements was determined from sludge-amended soils in a food chain consisting of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea), the mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) and a predatory beetle (Coccinella septempunctata). The soil was amended with sludge at rates of 0, 5, 10 and 20 % (w/w). Results showed that Cd was readily transferred through the food chain until the predator trophic level. Zn was the most readily transferred element in the lower trophic levels, but transfer to aphids was effectively restricted by the plant regulating shoot concentration. Pb had the lowest level of transfer from soil to shoot and exhibited particular retention in the roots. Nevertheless, Pb concentrations were significantly increased by sludge amendment in aphids, and Pb was increasingly transferred to ladybirds as levels increased. The potential for Pb to cause secondary toxicity to organisms in higher trophic levels may have therefore been underestimated

Tamoxifen metabolism predicts drug concentrations and outcome in premenopausal patients with early breast cancer

Tamoxifen is the standard-of-care treatment for estrogen receptor-positive premenopausal breast cancer. We examined tamoxifen metabolism via blood metabolite concentrations and germline variations of CYP3A5, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 in 587 premenopausal patients (Asians, Middle Eastern Arabs, Caucasian-UK; median age 39 years) and clinical outcome in 306 patients. N-desmethyltamoxifen (DM-Tam)/(Z)-endoxifen and CYP2D6 phenotype significantly correlated across ethnicities (R2: 53%, P&lt;10?77). CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 correlated with norendoxifen and (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen concentrations, respectively (P&lt;0.001). DM-Tam was influenced by body mass index (P&lt;0.001). Improved distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) was associated with decreasing DM-Tam/(Z)-endoxifen (P=0.036) and increasing CYP2D6 activity score (hazard ratio (HR)=0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43–0.91; P=0.013). Low (&lt;14?nM) compared with high (&gt;35?nM) endoxifen concentrations were associated with shorter DRFS (univariate P=0.03; multivariate HR=1.94; 95% CI, 1.04–4.14; P=0.064). Our data indicate that endoxifen formation in premenopausal women depends on CYP2D6 irrespective of ethnicity. Low endoxifen concentration/formation and decreased CYP2D6 activity predict shorter DRFS

Mislocalization of XPF-ERCC1 Nuclease Contributes to Reduced DNA Repair in XP-F Patients

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is caused by defects in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway. NER removes helix-distorting DNA lesions, such as UV–induced photodimers, from the genome. Patients suffering from XP exhibit exquisite sun sensitivity, high incidence of skin cancer, and in some cases neurodegeneration. The severity of XP varies tremendously depending upon which NER gene is mutated and how severely the mutation affects DNA repair capacity. XPF-ERCC1 is a structure-specific endonuclease essential for incising the damaged strand of DNA in NER. Missense mutations in XPF can result not only in XP, but also XPF-ERCC1 (XFE) progeroid syndrome, a disease of accelerated aging. In an attempt to determine how mutations in XPF can lead to such diverse symptoms, the effects of a progeria-causing mutation (XPFR153P) were compared to an XP–causing mutation (XPFR799W) in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant XPF harboring either mutation was purified in a complex with ERCC1 and tested for its ability to incise a stem-loop structure in vitro. Both mutant complexes nicked the substrate indicating that neither mutation obviates catalytic activity of the nuclease. Surprisingly, differential immunostaining and fractionation of cells from an XFE progeroid patient revealed that XPF-ERCC1 is abundant in the cytoplasm. This was confirmed by fluorescent detection of XPFR153P-YFP expressed in Xpf mutant cells. In addition, microinjection of XPFR153P-ERCC1 into the nucleus of XPF–deficient human cells restored nucleotide excision repair of UV–induced DNA damage. Intriguingly, in all XPF mutant cell lines examined, XPF-ERCC1 was detected in the cytoplasm of a fraction of cells. This demonstrates that at least part of the DNA repair defect and symptoms associated with mutations in XPF are due to mislocalization of XPF-ERCC1 into the cytoplasm of cells, likely due to protein misfolding. Analysis of these patient cells therefore reveals a novel mechanism to potentially regulate a cell's capacity for DNA repair: by manipulating nuclear localization of XPF-ERCC1

Human activity learning for assistive robotics using a classifier ensemble

Assistive robots in ambient assisted living environments can be equipped with learning capabilities to effectively learn and execute human activities. This paper proposes a human activity learning (HAL) system for application in assistive robotics. An RGB-depth sensor is used to acquire information of human activities, and a set of statistical, spatial and temporal features for encoding key aspects of human activities are extracted from the acquired information of human activities. Redundant features are removed and the relevant features used in the HAL model. An ensemble of three individual classifiers—support vector machines (SVMs), K-nearest neighbour and random forest - is employed to learn the activities. The performance of the proposed system is improved when compared with the performance of other methods using a single classifier. This approach is evaluated on experimental dataset created for this work and also on a benchmark dataset—the Cornell Activity Dataset (CAD-60). Experimental results show the overall performance achieved by the proposed system is comparable to the state of the art and has the potential to benefit applications in assistive robots for reducing the time spent in learning activities