Evaluation of Heavy Metal Status of Water and Soil at Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ondo State Nigeria.

The concentration levels of selected heavy metals, (Cu, Cd, Zn, As and Cr) were determined in the soil (μg/g) and water (ppm) samples collected at Ikogosi Warm Spring, Ekiti State, Nigeria. After digestion, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was employed for the determination. The study area was at Latitude of 7o 35' 38.9'', Longitude of 4o 58' 52.6'' and at average elevation of 479m above mean sea level (msl). The average concentrations (μg/g) of the heavy metals in the soil are Cu (5.29), Cd (1.50), Zn (46.72), As (10.50) and Cr (339.78). The average concentrations (ppm) of the heavy metals in the water are Cu (4.8), Cd (0.15), Zn (4.17), Ar (0.57) and Cr (1.46). The mercury was below detection limit for both soil and water samples. In the overall, the average concentration of chromium is the highest in the soil with concentration of 339.78 μg/g (an average of 84.27%) and cadmium having the lowest with value of 1.50 μg/g (an average of 0.37%). When average concentration of heavy metal in the water was considered, copper had the highest level with concentration of 4.80ppm (an average of 43.01%) and cadmium had the lowest concentration with value of 0.15ppm (an average of 1.43%). Comparison of these results showed that, their mean levels are within the standard values obtained in Nigeria and some developed countries.Key words: Soil, Water, AAS, Heavy metals, Average concentration

Correlation between placenta and umbilical cord morphplogy and perinatal outcome in singleton deliveries at term in a Nigerian tertiary health centre

Context: The ability of the fetus to grow and thrive in-utero depends on a number of factors of which the placenta is a contributor. The umbilical cord is an essential organ connecting the fetus to the placenta and a healthy placenta is essential for good perinatal outcome.Objectives: The study aims at determining the relationship between the morphology of the placenta and umbilical cord and perinatal outcome in singleton deliveries at term in a Nigerian hospital.Study design:This is a cross-sectional study involving the analysis of placentae and umbilical cords of three hundred and five neonates delivered in the Federal Medical Centre, Owo who met the inclusion criteria. Immediately after each delivery, the umbilical cord was clamped and severed five centimetres from its attachment to the neonate. The rest of the umbilical cord from the cut end to its insertion on the placenta was measured in centimetres and five centimetres of the umbilical cord attached to the neonate was added to get the entire length of the umbilical cord. Other parametersinvolving the morphology of the umbilical cord and placentae were also noted.Outcome measures: Correlation between the morphological parameters of the umbilical cord, placenta and the neonatal factors such as Apgar scores, birth weight, length of the baby, admission into Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its indication were determined.Results: Three hundred and five women had their babies' placentae and umbilical cords examined and also had other records complete. There were 270 umbilical cords out of the 305 recruited with normal coiling index range of 0.17-0.20 coils per centimetres giving an incidence of 88.5%. There was a positive correlation between birth weight and placenta weight (r = 0.466; p value <0.001); there was also a positive correlation between birth length and umbilical cord length (r = 0.130; p value <0.024); likewise there was a positive correlation between umbilical cord coiling index and some parameters of assessing perinatal outcome like the Apgar scores at first and fifth minute (r = 0.137; p value 0.024 and r = 0.84; p value 0.167 respectively) while it had a negative correlation with birth weight (r = -0.130;p = 0.024) .Conclusion: The findings from this study contribute significantly to knowledge and have also helped to establish the correlation between the intrauterine and extrauterine wellbeing

Selective AKR1C3 inhibitors do not recapitulate the anti-leukaemic activities of the pan-AKR1C inhibitor medroxyprogesterone acetate

Background: We and others have identified the aldo-keto reductase AKR1C3 as a potential drug target in prostate cancer, breast cancer and leukaemia. As a consequence, significant effort is being invested in the development of AKR1C3-selective inhibitors. Methods: We report the screening of an in-house drug library to identify known drugs that selectively inhibit AKR1C3 over the closely related isoforms AKR1C1, 1C2 and 1C4. This screen initially identified tetracycline as a potential AKR1C3-selective inhibitor. However, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance studies identified that the active agent was a novel breakdown product (4-methyl(de-dimethylamine)-tetracycline (4-MDDT)). Results: We demonstrate that, although 4-MDDT enters AML cells and inhibits their AKR1C3 activity, it does not recapitulate the anti-leukaemic actions of the pan-AKR1C inhibitor medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). Screens of the NCI diversity set and an independently curated small-molecule library identified several additional AKR1C3-selective inhibitors, none of which had the expected anti-leukaemic activity. However, a pan AKR1C, also identified in the NCI diversity set faithfully recapitulated the actions of MPA. Conclusions: In summary, we have identified a novel tetracycline-derived product that provides an excellent lead structure with proven drug-like qualities for the development of AKR1C3 inhibitors. However, our findings suggest that, at least in leukaemia, selective inhibition of AKR1C3 is insufficient to elicit an anticancer effect and that multiple AKR1C inhibition may be required

Comparative chromosome painting discloses homologous Segments in distantly related mammals

Comparative chromosome painting, termed ZOO-FISH, using DNA libraries from flow sorted human chromosomes 1,16,17 and X, and mouse chromosome 11 discloses the presence of syntenic groups in distantly related mammalian Orders ranging from primates (Homo sapiens), rodents (Mus musculus), even-toed ungulates (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis and Muntiacus reevesi) and whales (Balaenoptera physalus). These mammalian Orders have evolved separately for 55-80 million years (Myr). We conclude that ZOO-FISH can be used to generate comparative chromosome maps of a large number of mammalian species

The use of nanocrystal quantum dot as fluorophore reporters in molecular beacon-based assays

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Induction of protein catabolism in myotubes by 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid through increased expression of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway

The potential role of 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15(S)-HETE) as an intracellular signal for increased protein catabolism and induction of the expression of key components of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway induced by a tumour cachectic factor, proteolysis-inducing factor has been studied in murine C2C12 myotubes. 15(S)-HETE induced protein degradation in these cells with a maximal effect at concentrations between 78 and 312 nM. The effect was attenuated by the polyunsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). There was an increase in 'chymotrypsin-like' enzyme activity, the predominant proteolytic activity of the proteasome, in the same concentration range as that inducing total protein degradation, and this effect was also attenuated by EPA. 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid also increased maximal expression of mRNA for proteasome subunits C2 and C5, as well as the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, E214k, after 4 h incubation, as determined by quantitative competitive RT-PCR. The concentrations of 15-HETE affecting gene expression were the same as those inducing protein degradation. Western blotting of cellular supernatants of myotubes treated with 15(S)-HETE for 24 h showed increased expression of p42, an ATPase subunit of the regulatory complex at similar concentrations, as well as a decrease in expression of myosin in the same concentration range. 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid activated binding of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the myotube nucleus and stimulated degradation of 1-κBα. The effect on the NF-κB/1-κBα system was attenuated by EPA. In addition, the NF-κB inhibitor peptide SN50 attenuated the increased chymotrypsin-like enzyme activity in the presence of 15(S)-HETE. These results suggest that 15(S)-HETE induces degradation of myofibrillar proteins in differentiated myotubes through an induction of an increased expression of the regulatory components of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway possibly through the intervention of the nuclear transcription factor NF-κB, and that this process is inhibited by EPA. © 2003 Cancer Research UK

Metabolic inactivation of estrogens in breast tissue by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes: an overview

The breast tissue is the site of major metabolic conversions of estradiol (E(2)) mediated by specific cytochromes P450 hydroxylations and methylation by catechol-O-methytransferase. In addition to E(2 )itself, recent findings highlight the significance of 4-hydroxylated estrogen metabolites as chemical mediators and their link to breast cancer development and progression, whereas, in opposition, 2-methoxylated estrogens appear to be protective. Recent data also indicate that breast tissue possesses enzymatic machinery to inactivate and eliminate E(2 )and its oxidized and methoxylated metabolites through conjugation catalyzed by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), which involves the covalent addition of glucuronic acid. In opposition to other metabolic pathways of estrogen, the UGT-mediated process leads to the formation of glucuronides that are devoid of biologic activity and are readily excreted from the tissue into the circulation. This review addresses the most recent findings on the identification of UGT enzymes that are responsible for the glucuronidation of E(2 )and its metabolites, and evidence regarding their potential role in breast cancer

Perceived crime and traffic safety is related to physical activity among adults in Nigeria

Background: Neighborhood safety is inconsistently related to physical activity, but is seldom studied in developing countries. This study examined associations between perceived neighborhood safety and physical activity among Nigerian adults. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, accelerometer-based physical activity (MVPA), reported walking, perceived crime and traffic safety were measured in 219 Nigerian adults. Logistic regression analysis was conducted, and the odds ratio for meeting health guidelines for MVPA and walking was calculated in relation to four safety variables, after adjustment for potential confounders. Results: Sufficient MVPA was related to more perception of safety from traffic to walk (OR = 2.28, CI = 1.13-6.25) and more safety from crime at night (OR = 1.68, CI = 1.07-3.64), but with less perception of safety from crime during the day to walk (OR = 0.34, CI = 0.06- 0.91). More crime safety during the day and night were associated with more walking. Conclusions: Perceived safety from crime and traffic were associated with physical activity among Nigerian adults. These findings provide preliminary evidence on the need to provide safe traffic and crime environments that will make it easier and more likely for African adults to be physically active