A morphometric study of the mandibular foramen in dry adult human mandibles in a black malawian population

The inferior alveolar nerve block(IANB) technique is a common technique performed on patients in dental surgery, placement of mandibular implants and other procedures involving the mandible. Precise identification of the mandibular foramen (MF) is essential for dental surgeons to accurately administer local anesthetics. Inaccurate localization of the mandibular foramen may result in IANB failure and injury to neurovascular tissues. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the precise location of the MF from various anatomical land marks in dry adult human mandibles of Malawian population. The study was conducted on 29 dry adult human mandibles of unknown sex of Malawian origin from the Anatomy Division collection of human skeletons housed in the Biomedical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Malawi. To determine the position of the mandibular foramen, distances from mandibular foramen to anterior margin, posterior margin, mandibular notch, gonial angle and mandibular base using a Vernier caliper were measured. The mean distance of the MF from posterior margin of mandibular ramus was 11.26± 1.22 mm (right side) and 11.47± 1.35 mm (left side), from the anterior margin 20.85± 3.12 mm (right side) and 20.85± 3.22 mm (left side) mandibles. The mean distance between mandibular notch (MN) and MF was 23.87± 2.61 mm (right side) and 23.53 ± 2.65 mm (left side). The mean distance between mandibular base(MB) and MF for the right and left were 28.47 ± 2.90 mm and 27.85 ± 2.99 mm respectively. The inferior limit of the mandibular foramen was located at 24.69 ± 3.65 mm (right side) and 24.25 ± 2.77 mm (left side) to the angle (AG) of the mandible. The findings of this study show that the anterior margin mean distance from the MF for both right and left mandibles seem to be bilateral symmetrical suggesting the interpretation that the needle for IANB could be inserted at about 21 mm from the anterior margin to the MF in an adult of Malawian origin during surgery.</p

Aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera reduced intracellular ROS production, DNA fragmentation and acrosome reaction in Human spermatozoa in vitro

The effects of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (MO) on human sperm functions and integrity was studied in vitro. Semen was obtained by masturbation after 3–5 days' abstinence from 34 healthy donors in Western Cape, South Africa. Liquefied semen was washed in human tubular fluid supplemented with 1% bovine serum albumin (HTF-BSA;1:5) with 10 min centrifugation at 300 g. Sperm suspensions were subsequently incubated with MO extract (0.625, 6.25, 62.5 and 625 µg/ml) for 1 hr, where HTF-BSA served as control. Sperm motility, vitality, DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, capacitation and acrosome reaction were assessed. Sperm motility, vitality, mitochondrial membrane potential and capacitation remained unchanged (p >.05). A dose-dependent decrease in sperm reactive oxygen species production (p <.0001), DNA fragmentation (p <.0001) and acrosome reaction (p <.001) was observed. An increase in the percentage of non-capacitated sperm (p <.01) was noted at 625 µg/ml

The effects of HAART on the expression of MUC1 and P65 in a cervical cancer cell line, HCS-2

Cervical cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer globally and it is one of three AIDS defining malignancies. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is a combination of three or more antiretroviral drugs and has been shown to play a significant role in reducing the incidence of some AIDS defining malignancies, although its effect on cervical cancer is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cervical cancer and HAART. This was achieved by studying the expression of two signalling molecules expressed in cervical cancer; MUC1 and P65. Following the 24-hour treatment of a cervical cancer cell line, HCS-2, with drugs, which are commonly used as part of HAART at their clinical plasma concentrations, real-time qPCR and immunofluorescence were used in order to study gene and protein expression. A one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey-Kramer post-hoc test was conducted using JMP 11 software on both sets of data. The drug classified as a protease inhibitor (PI) (i.e. LPV/r) reduced MUC1 and P65 gene and protein expression more than the other drug tested. PIs are known to play a significant role in cell death; therefore, the cells were thought to be more susceptible to cell death following treatment with PIs. In conclusion, the drugs used, especially the PI showed some anticancer effects by facilitating cell death through decreased gene and protein expression of MUC1 and P65 and present promising agents for cancer treatment.</p

Effects of HIV protease, nucleoside/non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors on Bax, Bcl-2 and apoptosis in two cervical cell lines

Protease inhibitors (PIs) and reverse transcriptase drugs are important components of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for treating human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Long-term clinical therapeutic efficacy and treatment compliance of these agents have been limited by undesirable adverse effects and their oncogenicity has been queried. This study investigated the effects of selected antiretroviral agents on the expression of key apoptotic regulatory genes; Bax and Bcl-2 in two cervical cell lines HCS-2 and NCE16IIA by real-time qPCR gene expression and immunocytochemistry. The anti-apoptotic effects of the PI-LPV/r were investigated by cell death detection ELISA and acridine orange staining. All the antiretroviral drugs and combinations tested had no effects on Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression and protein localisation in both cell lines. The protease inhibitors–LPV/r exhibited significant (P &lt; 0.05) inhibition of camptothecin-induced apoptosis in the cervical cancer HCS-2 cell line but not in the normal immortalised NCE16IIA cell line. This anti-apoptotic property of HIV protease inhibitors, although shown so far not to involve protein and RNA synthesis might promote the development of cancer

Focal adhesion proteins, vinculin and integrin β5, during early pregnancy in rat uterine epithelial cells:Anastrozole favors their normal distribution

An alternative superovulator to replace clomiphene citrate is needed as clomiphene citrate is associated with low pregnancy rates. Anastrozole is an effective superovulator, but it has not been well researched. In order to determine the effectiveness of anastrozole as a superovulator and to compare it with clomiphene citrate in similar situations, this study ascertained the effects of these drugs on the expression of the focal adhesion proteins, vinculin and integrin β5, which are uterine receptivity markers, in the uterine epithelial cells of day 1 and day 6 pregnant Wistar rats. The results show that vinculin and integrin β5 are co-localized at the base of the uterine epithelium at day 1 of pregnancy whereas at day 6, they disassemble from the basal focal adhesions and co-localize and significantly increase their expression apically (p≤0.0001). Moreover, there is a significant difference in the protein expression levels of vinculin and integrin β5 in uterine luminal epithelial cells between untreated (control) and chlomiphene citrate treated rats (p≤0.0001), anastrozole and chlomiphene citrate treated rats at day 6 (p≤0.0001) suggesting the interpretation that anastrozole seems to enhance their expression in order to perhaps assist in the implantation process of the blastocyst. The immunofluorescence experiments agree with the vinculin and integrin β5 gene expression findings in which at day 6 of pregnancy, vinculin and integrin β5 gene expression are significantly up-regulated in uterine luminal epithelial cells in the anastrozole treated group relative to the calibrator sample (p≤0.0001). These findings suggest that anastrozole is implantation friendly.</p

Anastrozole promotes implantation by altering the expression of Paxillin and FAK in rat luminal uterine epithelium,El anastrozol promueve la implantación alterando la expresión de paxilina y FAK en el epitelio uterino luminal de rata

An alternative hyper-ovulator inducer to replace clomiphene citrate (CC) is needed as it is unsuitable for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and is associated with low pregnancy rates. Anastrozole is an effective hyper-ovulator inducer, but has not been well researched. In order to determine the effectiveness of anastrozole as a hyper-ovulator inducer and to an extent compare it with CC in similar situations, this study ascertained the effects of these drugs on the expression of the focal adhesion proteins, paxillin and FAK, which are uterine receptivity markers in the surface luminal uterine epithelial cells of day 1 and day 6 pregnant Wistar rats. The results show that paxillin is localized in focal adhesions at the base of the uterine epithelial cells at day 1 of pregnancy whereas at day 6, paxillin disassembles from the basal focal adhesions and localizes and increases its expression apically. FAK is faintly expressed at the basal aspect of the uterine epithelial cells while moderately expressed at the cell-to-cell contact at day 1 in all groups from where it disassembles and relocates apically and becomes more intensely expressed at day 6 of pregnancy in untreated and anastrozole treated rats. Although paxillin is localized apically at day 6, its expression is significantly down-regulated with CC treatment suggesting its interference with the implantation process. These findings seem to suggest that anastrozole could favor implantation.</p

In vitro effects of aqueous extract of fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) on human sperm function

Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) is a herbal medicinal plant originally from South Africa's fynbos and well known for its medicinal effects in treating different medical conditions. Rooibos contains significant levels of antioxidants capable of inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen species, which may improve seminal parameters. This study focussed on investigating the direct effect of fermented rooibos on human sperm functions in vitro. Semen samples collected by masturbation from unproven fertile donors (n = 25) and infertile patients (n = 25) after 3–5 days’ abstinence were liquefied and centrifuged (300 × g; 10 min) in human tubular fluid medium containing 1% bovine serum albumin. Afterwards, semen samples (7.5 × 10 6/ml) were incubated at 37°C for one hour with aqueous extract of fermented extract in sperm preparation medium (0, 0.10, 1.0, 10 and 100 μg/ml) and assessed. Our data showed that fermented rooibos did not affect functional sperm parameters (motility, vitality, intracellular reactive oxygen species and acrosome reaction, p &gt;.05), in vitro except in the reduced percentage of intact mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation (p &lt;.05). The decrease in DNA fragmentation generates the possibility of using the extract in patients prior to assisted reproductive techniques.</p

Acid and Alkaline Phosphatase activities in the small intestine of the rat (Rattus norvegicus), bat (Eidolon helvum) and pangolin (Manis tricuspis)

Alkaline and Acid Phosphatase (ALP and ACP) activities were compared in the small intestine of the rat (Rattus norvegicus), bat (Eidolon helvum), and pangolin (Manis tricuspis) to observe possible modifications of their small intestine to different diets. Ten animals each of both sexes were used. Portions of their small intestine were homogenized and assayed spectrophotometrically for the activities of ALP, and ACP. ALP and ACP activities were significantly (at 95% confidence interval (p&lt;0.05) and consistently higher in the bat than in the rat and pangolin. High ALP activities in the bat explain why chyle transit time in the bat gut is short because ALP facilitates transport across intestinal mucosa. A higher ACP activity in the bat is because they help to "mop up" the phosphate ions produced as a result of ATP hydrolysis. It can be concluded that the small intestine of the rat, bat and pangolin, utilizes the phosphatases to different degrees

Aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera reduced intracellular ROS production, DNA fragmentation and acrosome reaction in Human spermatozoa in vitro

The effects of aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (MO) on human sperm functions and integrity was studied in vitro. Semen was obtained by masturbation after 3–5 days' abstinence from 34 healthy donors in Western Cape, South Africa. Liquefied semen was washed in human tubular fluid supplemented with 1% bovine serum albumin (HTF-BSA;1:5) with 10 min centrifugation at 300 g. Sperm suspensions were subsequently incubated with MO extract (0.625, 6.25, 62.5 and 625 µg/ml) for 1 hr, where HTF-BSA served as control. Sperm motility, vitality, DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, capacitation and acrosome reaction were assessed. Sperm motility, vitality, mitochondrial membrane potential and capacitation remained unchanged (p &gt;.05). A dose-dependent decrease in sperm reactive oxygen species production (p &lt;.0001), DNA fragmentation (p &lt;.0001) and acrosome reaction (p &lt;.001) was observed. An increase in the percentage of non-capacitated sperm (p &lt;.01) was noted at 625 µg/ml. The antioxidant properties of MO actively maintained basic sperm functions, inhibited excess sperm free superoxide production and preserved acrosome reaction and DNA integrity. Further studies are needed to confirm the effect of aqueous MO leaf extract on fertility potential.</p

The effects of two Nigerian made perfumes on the liver of adult wistar rat

The use of perfumes is becoming increasingly popular in our environment. Attention is therefore understandably being focused on the safety of these perfumes. Hence, this study aimed to determine changes in the anatomical parameters of the liver and the activities of the biomarker enzymes of the liver (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) following the exposure of the rats to two popularly used Nigerian made perfumes. Thirty-six Wistar rats were allocated into groups: A, B, C, D, E and F with each group consisting of six rats. Animals in groups C and D were exposed to the first and second perfumes by inhalation respectively for 77 days; animals in groups E and F were exposed to the first and second perfumes by inhalation respectively for a period of 154 days, while groups A and B animals served as the control groups for the periods of 77 days and 154 days, respectively. The rats were sacrificed at the end of each period of exposure after which blood was obtained for enzyme assay and the liver weights, liver volumes, liver weight/body weight ratio were evaluated. The results showed a significant decrease in the animals body weights, liver weights, liver volumes and liver weight/bodyweight ratios in the experimental groups of rats as compared to the control groups. There were also increases in the activities of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. It is concluded that these perfumes have a deleterious effect on the rat liver