Detection of novel polymorphisms in the mitochondrial DNA D-Loop hypervariable region HVI from 400 healthy unrelated individuals from central and North-central Iraq

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a small circular genome located within the mitochondria in the cytoplasm of the cell and a smaller 1.2 kilobase pair fragment, called the control region (D-loop). The aims of this research were to study this region by using the Sanger sequencing technique and establishthe degree of variation characteristic of a fragment. FTA® Technology (FTA™ paper DNA extraction) was utilized to extract DNA. PCR products were purified by EZ-10 spin column then sequenced and detected by using the ABI 3730xL DNA Analyzer. Novel polymorphisms discovered at positions 16037, 16075, 16104 and 16201 in future may be suitable sources for identification purpose.Key words: D-loop, frequency, north-central Iraq, mitochondrial DNA,  polymorphism

THE VIABILITY OF HALAL FOOD INDUSTRY FOR BRUNEI ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION: SWOT ANALYSIS

There has been a growing interest in research for halal industry as the market has seen a tremendous growth in the global market and develops a strong presence in developed countries. With the halal industry being worth of US$1.2 trillion worldwide or US$650 billion alone in the food sector, vast opportunities in the global halal food industry for Brunei to use in order to diversify its economy. Brunei has been prioritised economic diversification as a mean to economic development; however, it has not shown any successful result so far. For a long period, Brunei has sustained its high dependency on oil and gas sector, in which economic diversification is a key to lower down the current dependency. Brunei Halal brand was established as one of attempts to help push forward Brunei's halal industry and supply the amount of halal certified food to the global Muslim population. In addition, owing to strong religious identity and principle, Brunei halal gained a reputable status to international and Islamic standards. The attempt of this paper is to assess the viability of the halal food industry as a source for economic diversification of Brunei with understanding of the current status of Brunei halal food industry by SWOT analysis. This study conducted semi-structured interview with respondents who are stakeholders in halal food industry to obtain further data in addition to data collected from secondary sources

Capillary-valve-based fabrication of ion-selective membrane junction for electrokinetic sample preconcentration in PDMS chip

In this paper, we report a novel method for fabricating ion-selective membranes in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/glass-based microfluidic preconcentrators. Based on the concept of capillary valves, this fabrication method involves filling a lithographically patterned junction between two microchannels with an ion-selective material such as Nafion resin; subsequent curing results in a high aspect-ratio membrane for use in electrokinetic sample preconcentration. To demonstrate the concentration performance of this high-aspect-ratio, ion-selective membrane, we integrated the preconcentrator with a surface-based immunoassay for R-Phycoerythrin (RPE). Using a 1× PBS buffer system, the preconcentrator-enhanced immunoassay showed an approximately 100× improvement in sensitivity within 30 min. This is the first time that an electrokinetic microfluidic preconcentrator based on ion concentration polarization (ICP) has been used in high ionic strength buffer solutions to enhance the sensitivity of a surface-based immunoassay.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (CA119402)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (EB005743

Colossal magnetocapacitance and scale-invariant dielectric response in phase-separated manganites

Thin films of strongly-correlated electron materials (SCEM) are often grown epitaxially on planar substrates and typically have anisotropic properties that are usually not captured by edge-mounted four-terminal electrical measurements, which are primarily sensitive to in-plane conduction paths. Accordingly, the correlated interactions in the out-of-plane (perpendicular) direction cannot be measured but only inferred. We address this shortcoming and show here an experimental technique in which the SCEM under study, in our case a 600 Angstrom-thick (La1-yPry)0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LPCMO) film, serves as the base electrode in a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) trilayer capacitor structure. This unconventional arrangement allows for simultaneous determination of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) associated with dc transport parallel to the film substrate and colossal magnetocapacitance (CMC) associated with ac transport in the perpendicular direction. We distinguish two distinct strain-related direction-dependent insulator-metal (IM) transitions and use Cole-Cole plots to establish a heretofore unobserved collapse of the dielectric response onto a universal scale-invariant power-law dependence over a large range of frequency, temperature and magnetic field.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures, Supplementary section included, Submitted to Nature Physic

Facteurs de Risque, Epidémiologie et Prise en Charge de la Grossesse Extra-utérine Rompue (GEUR) au Service de Gynécologie et d’Obstétrique de l’Hôpital National Ignace Deen du CHU de Conakry en 2022

Introduction : urgence gynécologique fréquente, découverte fortuite aux urgences médicales et ou chirurgicales dans un tableau d’anémie. L’objectif de ce travail était d’étudier les facteurs de risque, épidémiologie, et prise en charge de la grossesse extra-utérine rompue au service de gynécologie et d’obstétrique de l’hôpital national Ignace Deen du CHU de Conakry en 2022. Méthodes : il s’agissait d’une étude descriptive transversale à recrutement rétrospectif. Elle a été menée au service de gynécologie et d’obstétrique de l’hôpital national Ignace Deen du CHU de Conakry du 1er janvier  2019 au 31 Décembre 2022 soit une période de trois ans. Ont été étudiées les variables se rapportant aux facteurs de risque, épidémiologie, et la prise en charge de la GEUR dans notre contexte de travail. Nous avons utilisé le logiciel Excel pour l’analyse des données. Résultats : fréquence de la GEUR dans notre étude était 1,26 % sur l’ensemble des interventions gynécologiques, les tranches d’âge les plus représentées étaient celles de 20-24 ans et 30-34 ans dans 32,69%, plus de la moitié était célibataire 69,23%, sans profession, non scolarisé respectivement 64,23% et 42,31%, primipares dans 49,04%.  Parmi les facteurs de risque (FDR) retrouvés dans notre série, figuraient les antécédents de :  l’infection génitale 46,15%, les fausses couches spontanées 10,58%, la contraception par microprogestatif 16,34%. La prise en charge a été exclusivement chirurgicale (100%), associée à la transfusion sanguine comme moyen de réanimation dans 95,16%. Conclusion : la grossesse extra-utérine rompue est une urgence médicochirurgicale fréquente, le diagnostic précoce traine les pas dans les pays à faibles ressources.   Introduction : a frequent gynecological emergency, discovered incidentally in medical and/or surgical emergencies in the setting of anemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors and management of ectopic pregnancy in the gynecology and obstetrics department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital of Conakry University Hospital in 2022. Methods : This was a descriptive study with retrospective recruitment. It was conducted at the gynecology and obstetrics department of the CHU Ignace Deen national hospital in Conakry from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022, a three-year period. Variables relating to risk factors, epidemiology and management of GEUR in our working context were studied. We used Excel software for data analysis. Results : The frequency of GEUR in our study was 1.26% of all gynaecological procedures, the most represented age groups were 20-24 and 30-34 years with 32.69%, more than half were single 69.23%, without profession, not in school respectively 64.23% and 42.31%, primiparous in 49.04%.  Among the risk factors found in our series were a history of : genital infection 46,15%, spontaneous miscarriage 10.58%, microprogestogen contraception 16.34%. Management was exclusively surgical (100%), associated with blood transfusion as a means of resuscitation in 95.16% Conclusion : Ruptured ectopic pregnancy is a frequent medico-surgical emergency, early diagnosis is lagging behind in low-resource countries

Effect of cyclosporine on hepatic cytosolic estrogen and androgen receptor levels before and after partial hepatectomy

Estrogen and androgen receptors within the liver have been reported to modulate the hepatic regenerative response to partial hepatectomy. Moreover, cyclosporine has several untoward effects that might occur as a consequence of alterations in sex hormone activity. To evaluate these questions the following experiments were performed. Estrogen and androgen receptors in cytosol were quantitated in livers of rats treated with cyclosporine or olive oil vehicle before and after partial hepatectomy or a sham operation. Ornithine decarboxylase activity and thymidine kinase activity were assessed as indices of hepatic regeneration. Preoperative levels of estrogen receptor activity in the hepatic cytosol were significantly greater in rats treated with cyclosporine as compared to vehicle treated controls (P<0.01). In contrast, preoperative levels of androgen receptor activity in the cyclosporine-treated and vehicle-treated animals were similar. Following partial hepatectomy, a reduction in the activity of both sex hormone receptors in the hepatic cytosol was observed and was compatible with results described previously in normal animals. Unexpectedly the preoperative levels of ornithine decarboxylase (P<0.01) and thymidine kinase activity (P<0.01) were significantly greater in the rats treated with cyclosporine as compared to the vehicle treated controls. As expected, ornithine decarboxylase activity (at 6 hr) and thymidine kinase activity (at 24 hr) rose and peaked in response to a partial hepatectomy but were significantly greater (P<0.05) in the rats treated with cyclosporine as compared to the vehicle. These results show that cyclosporine treatment causes an increase in the hepatic content of estrogen receptor activity that is associated with an enhanced potential for a regenerative response. These effects of cyclosporine treatment on the sex hormone receptor levels in liver may explain the mechanisms responsible for some of the untoward effects of treatment with this agent. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation

Phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and enhance host health

There are heightened concerns globally on emerging drug-resistant superbugs and the lack of new antibiotics for treating human and animal diseases. For the agricultural industry, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to replace antibiotics for food-producing animals, especially poultry and livestock. The 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics was held at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, France, December 12-15, 2016 to discuss recent scientific developments on strategic antibiotic-free management plans, to evaluate regional differences in policies regarding the reduction of antibiotics in animal agriculture and to develop antibiotic alternatives to combat the global increase in antibiotic resistance. More than 270 participants from academia, government research institutions, regulatory agencies, and private animal industries from >25 different countries came together to discuss recent research and promising novel technologies that could provide alternatives to antibiotics for use in animal health and production; assess challenges associated with their commercialization; and devise actionable strategies to facilitate the development of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) without hampering animal production. The 3-day meeting consisted of four scientific sessions including vaccines, microbial products, phytochemicals, immune-related products, and innovative drugs, chemicals and enzymes, followed by the last session on regulation and funding. Each session was followed by an expert panel discussion that included industry representatives and session speakers. The session on phytochemicals included talks describing recent research achievements, with examples of successful agricultural use of various phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives and their mode of action in major agricultural animals (poultry, swine and ruminants). Scientists from industry and academia and government research institutes shared their experience in developing and applying potential antibiotic-alternative phytochemicals commercially to reduce AGPs and to develop a sustainable animal production system in the absence of antibiotics.Fil: Lillehoj, Hyun. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Liu, Yanhong. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Calsamiglia, Sergio. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Fernandez Miyakawa, Mariano Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Chi, Fang. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Cravens, Ron L.. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Oh, Sungtaek. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Gay, Cyril G.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; Argentin

Src Dependent Pancreatic Acinar Injury Can Be Initiated Independent of an Increase in Cytosolic Calcium

Several deleterious intra-acinar phenomena are simultaneously triggered on initiating acute pancreatitis. These culminate in acinar injury or inflammatory mediator generation in vitro and parenchymal damage in vivo. Supraphysiologic caerulein is one such initiator which simultaneously activates numerous signaling pathways including non-receptor tyrosine kinases such as of the Src family. It also causes a sustained increase in cytosolic calcium- a player thought to be crucial in regulating deleterious phenomena. We have shown Src to be involved in caerulein induced actin remodeling, and caerulein induced changes in the Golgi and post-Golgi trafficking to be involved in trypsinogen activation, which initiates acinar cell injury. However, it remains unclear whether an increase in cytosolic calcium is necessary to initiate acinar injury or if injury can be initiated at basal cytosolic calcium levels by an alternate pathway. To study the interplay between tyrosine kinase signaling and calcium, we treated mouse pancreatic acinar cells with the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate. We studied the effect of the clinically used Src inhibitor Dasatinib (BMS-354825) on pervanadate or caerulein induced changes in Src activation, trypsinogen activation, cell injury, upstream cytosolic calcium, actin and Golgi morphology. Pervanadate, like supraphysiologic caerulein, induced Src activation, redistribution of the F-actin from its normal location in the sub-apical area to the basolateral areas, and caused antegrade fragmentation of the Golgi. These changes, like those induced by supraphysiologic caerulein, were associated with trypsinogen activation and acinar injury, all of which were prevented by Dasatinib. Interestingly, however, pervanadate did not cause an increase in cytosolic calcium, and the caerulein induced increase in cytosolic calcium was not affected by Dasatinib. These findings suggest that intra-acinar deleterious phenomena may be initiated independent of an increase in cytosolic calcium. Other players resulting in acinar injury along with the Src family of tyrosine kinases remain to be explored. © 2013 Mishra et al

Evolving antithrombotic treatment patterns for patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation

Objective We studied evolving antithrombotic therapy patterns in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 additional stroke risk factor between 2010 and 2015.Methods 39 670 patients were prospectively enrolled in four sequential cohorts in the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF): cohort C1 (2010–2011), n=5500; C2 (2011–2013), n=11 662; C3 (2013–2014), n=11 462; C4 (2014–2015), n=11 046. Baseline characteristics and antithrombotic therapy initiated at diagnosis were analysed by cohort.Results Baseline characteristics were similar across cohorts. Median CHA2DS2-VASc (cardiac failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled)-vascular disease, age 65–74 and sex category (female)) score was 3 in all four cohorts. From C1 to C4, the proportion of patients on anticoagulant (AC) therapy increased by almost 15% (C1 57.4%; C4 71.1%). Use of vitamin K antagonist (VKA)±antiplatelet (AP) (C1 53.2%; C4 34.0%) and AP monotherapy (C1 30.2%; C4 16.6%) declined, while use of non-VKA oral ACs (NOACs)±AP increased (C1 4.2%; C4 37.0%). Most CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2 patients received AC, and this proportion increased over time, largely driven by NOAC prescribing. NOACs were more frequently prescribed than VKAs in men, the elderly, patients of Asian ethnicity, those with dementia, or those using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and current smokers. VKA use was more common in patients with cardiac, vascular, or renal comorbidities.Conclusions Since NOACs were introduced, there has been an increase in newly diagnosed patients with AF at risk of stroke receiving guideline-recommended therapy, predominantly driven by increased use of NOACs and reduced use of VKA±AP or AP alone.</div

Effects of Thyroxine Exposure on Osteogenesis in Mouse Calvarial Pre-Osteoblasts

The incidence of craniosynostosis is one in every 1,800-2500 births. The gene-environment model proposes that if a genetic predisposition is coupled with environmental exposures, the effects can be multiplicative resulting in severely abnormal phenotypes. At present, very little is known about the role of gene-environment interactions in modulating craniosynostosis phenotypes, but prior evidence suggests a role for endocrine factors. Here we provide a report of the effects of thyroid hormone exposure on murine calvaria cells. Murine derived calvaria cells were exposed to critical doses of pharmaceutical thyroxine and analyzed after 3 and 7 days of treatment. Endpoint assays were designed to determine the effects of the hormone exposure on markers of osteogenesis and included, proliferation assay, quantitative ALP activity assay, targeted qPCR for mRNA expression of Runx2, Alp, Ocn, and Twist1, genechip array for 28,853 targets, and targeted osteogenic microarray with qPCR confirmations. Exposure to thyroxine stimulated the cells to express ALP in a dose dependent manner. There were no patterns of difference observed for proliferation. Targeted RNA expression data confirmed expression increases for Alp and Ocn at 7 days in culture. The genechip array suggests substantive expression differences for 46 gene targets and the targeted osteogenesis microarray indicated 23 targets with substantive differences. 11 gene targets were chosen for qPCR confirmation because of their known association with bone or craniosynostosis (Col2a1, Dmp1, Fgf1, 2, Igf1, Mmp9, Phex, Tnf, Htra1, Por, and Dcn). We confirmed substantive increases in mRNA for Phex, FGF1, 2, Tnf, Dmp1, Htra1, Por, Igf1 and Mmp9, and substantive decreases for Dcn. It appears thyroid hormone may exert its effects through increasing osteogenesis. Targets isolated suggest a possible interaction for those gene products associated with calvarial suture growth and homeostasis as well as craniosynostosis. © 2013 Cray et al