Characterizing the Diverse Cells that Associate with the Developing Commissures of the Zebrafish Forebrain

During embryonic development of bilateral organisms, neurons send axons across the midline at specific points to connect the two halves of the nervous system with a commissure. Little is known about the cells at the midline that facilitate this tightly regulated process. We exploit the con served process of vertebrate embryonic development in the zebrafish model system to elucidate the identity of cells at the midline that may facilitate postoptic (POC) and anterior commissure (AC) development. We have discovered that three differentgfap+ astroglial cell morphologies persist in contact with pathfinding axons throughout commissure formation. Similarly, olig2+ progenitor cells occupy delineated portions of the postoptic and anterior commissures. These early olig2+ progenitors demonstrate glial-like morphologies despite the lack of a myelination marker. Moreover, we conclude that both the gfap+ and olig2+ progenitor cells give rise to neuronal populations in both the telencephalon and diencephalon. Interestingly, these varied cell populations showed significant developmental heterochrony between the telencephalon and diencephalon. Lastly, we also showed that fli1a+ mesenchymal cells migrate along the presumptive commissure regions before and during midline axon crossing. Furthermore, following commissure maturation, specific blood vessels formed at the midline of the POC and immediately ventral and parallel to the AC. This comprehensive account of the cellular populations that correlate with the timing and position of commissural axon pathfinding has supported the conceptual modeling and identification of the early forebrain architecture that may be necessary for proper commissure development

Characterizing the diverse cells that associate with the developing commissures of the zebrafish forebrain

During embryonic development of bilaterally symmetrical organisms, neurons send axons across the midline at specific points to connect the two halves of the nervous system with a commissure. Little is known about the cells at the midline that facilitate this tightly regulated process. We exploit the conserved process of vertebrate embryonic development in the zebrafish model system to elucidate the identity of cells at the midline that may facilitate postoptic (POC) and anterior commissure (AC) development. We have discovered that three different gfap+ astroglial cell morphologies persist in contact with pathfinding axons throughout commissure formation. Similarly, olig2+ progenitor cells occupy delineated portions of the postoptic and anterior commissures where they act as multipotent, neural progenitors. Moreover, we conclude that both gfap+ and olig2+ progenitor cells give rise to neuronal populations in both the telencephalon and diencephalon; however, these varied cell populations showed significant developmental timing differences between the telencephalon and diencephalon. Lastly, we also showed that fli1a+ mesenchymal cells migrate along the presumptive commissure regions before and during midline axon crossing. Furthermore, following commissure maturation, specific blood vessels formed at the midline of the POC and immediately ventral and parallel to the AC. This comprehensive account of the cellular populations that correlate with the timing and position of commissural axon pathfinding has supported the conceptual modeling and identification of the early forebrain architecture that may be necessary for proper commissure development

Association between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio with the severity of coronary artery diseases

Background: Coronary artery disease is a type of heart disease where the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This study aimed to evaluate the association between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the severity of coronary artery diseases. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Cardiology, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Chattogram, Bangladesh during the period from 1 July 2020 to 31 June 2021. 160 patients undergoing elective coronary angiography with the symptoms of coronary artery disease were enrolled in this study. A purposive sampling technic was used. The association between NLR and Gensini score was assessed using Pearson’s or Spearman’s correlation analysis as appropriate. All data were processed, analyzed and disseminated by using MS Excel and SPSS version 23.0 program as per necessity. Results: The mean (±SD) Gensini score of our participants was 42.75 (±29.50) and the mean (±SD) NLR (Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) was 2.38 (±1.11). In this study, the AUROC for NLR was found as 0.851 with a P-value of <0.001, indicating a statistically significant association of NLR with the severity of CAD. The scatter dot diagram showed the correlation between NLR and Gensini score. Both the variables were positively correlated and the degree of correlation was found statistically significant (r=0.44; p<0.001) by Pearson’s correlation test. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a high level of NLR had an independent association with severe CAD (with OR being 3.308) along with dyslipidemia. Conclusion: High blood NLR is associated with the severity of CAD and it may be useful for predicting angiographically severe disease

Association of serum uric acid level with angiographic severity of coronary artery disease: a study in a tertiary care hospital, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major global health issue. Serum uric acid (SUA), a byproduct of purine metabolism, is linked to CAD development and progression. Elevated SUA levels are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and may indicate endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the study was to the observed associate serum uric acid level with the angiographic severity of CAD. Methods: This observational study was conducted at Chittagong medical college hospital in Bangladesh from October 2020 to September 2021. It included 130 patients and used unpaired t-tests to analyze the association between serum uric acid level and angiographic severity of CAD patients. Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional review board of Chittagong medical college and hospital. Results: A study of 130 patients found a significant relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and CAD (CAD), vessel involvement, and CAD severity (p=0.001). Patients with CAD had higher SUA levels (mean 5.26±1.32 mg/dL) compared to those without CAD (mean 4.22±1.03 mg/dL). A SUA level range of 3.94-6.58 mg/dL was associated with CAD presence. Gender also showed a highly significant association with SUA levels (p=0.001), while age, BMI, and smoking status did not show significant differences. Conclusions: A strong positive association has been found between serum uric acid level and the severity of CAD. The findings of this study approve the effectiveness of hyperuricemia as an emerging risk factor for CAD

Correlation between red cell distribution width and coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary cause of death in developed countries and is one of the leading causes of disease burden in developing countries. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 124 purposively selected patients who underwent elective CAG in the department of cardiology, Chittagong medical college hospital, Chattogram, from July 2020 to June 2021. SPSS 23.0 software was used for processing and analysis at the end of the data collection period. Results: According to the Gensini score, patients were categorized into two groups (score <30 and ≥30). There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning BMI, smoking, hypertension, DM, F/H of CAD, statin or beta-blocker use, or the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH MCHC, and creatinine. However, the mean age was older, and there were more males in the severe CAD group. The percentage of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in patients with Gensini score ≥30 than in patients with <30. RDW (OR: 2.629; 95% CI: 1.425-4.484; p=0.002) and age (OR: 1.058; 95%CI: 1.00-1.111; p=0.027) were independently correlated with the severity of CAD. The AUROC for red cell distribution width (RDW) was 0.915 with a p<0.001 for predicting CAD on CAG. It indicated a statistically significant association of RDW with the presence of CAD.  A cut-off value of 13.65% RDW had a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 84.2% for the prediction of CAD. There were no significant differences between patients with and without angiographic CAD for BMI, hypertension, DM, statin, or beta-blocker use, or of the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and creatinine. However, the mean age was older, and there were more males in the CAD group. The percentage with dyslipidemia, smoking, and F/H of CAD was significantly higher in patients with CAD than in patients without CAD. The data indicate that only RDW was independently correlated with the presence of CAD (OR: 2.593; 95% CI: 1.347-4.989; p=0.004). Conclusions: RDW is associated with the presence of CAD and suggests that it might be a readily available test for predicting coronary artery diseases

Development and Testing of a Field Diagnostic Assay for Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus

We have developed an immunochromatographic test for the diagnosis of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) under field conditions. The diagnostic assay has been tested in the laboratory and also under field conditions in Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Uganda. The test is carried out on a superficial swab sample (ocular or nasal) and showed a sensitivity of 84% relative to PCR. The specificity was 95% over all nasal and ocular samples. The test detected as little as 103 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infectious doses) of cell culture‐grown virus, and detected virus isolates representing all four known genetic lineages of peste des petits ruminants virus. Virus could be detected in swabs from animals as early as 4 days post‐infection, at a time when clinical signs were minimal. Feedback from field trials was uniformly positive, suggesting that this diagnostic tool may be useful for current efforts to control the spread of PPR

Examination of the role of Mycoplasma bovis in bovine pneumonia and a mathematical model for its evaluation

The authors screened 34 large cattle herds for the presence of Mycoplasma bovis infection by examining slaughtered cattle for macroscopic lung lesions, by culturing M. bovis from lung lesions and at the same time by testing sera for the presence of antibodies against M. bovis. Among the 595 cattle examined, 33.9% had pneumonic lesions, mycoplasmas were isolated from 59.9% of pneumonic lung samples, and 10.9% of sera from those animals contained antibodies to M.bovis. In 25.2% of the cases M. bovis was isolated from lungs with no macroscopic lesions. The proportion of seropositive herds was 64.7%. The average seropositivity rate of individuals was 11.3% but in certain herds it exceeded 50%. A probability model was developed for examining the relationship among the occurrence of pneumonia, the isolation of M. bovis from the lungs and the presence of M. bovis specific antibodies in sera