Trade-off between somatic and germline repair in a vertebrate supports the "expensive germ line" hypothesis

The disposable soma theory is a central tenet of the biology of aging where germline immortality comes at the cost of an aging soma [T. B. L. Kirkwood, Nature 270, 301–304 (1977); T. B. L. Kirkwood, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 205, 531–546 (1979); T. B. L. Kirkwood, S. N. Austad, Nature 408, 233–238 (2000)]. Limited resources and a possible trade-off between the repair and maintenance of the germ cells and growth and maintenance of the soma may explain the deterioration of the soma over time. Here we show that germline removal allows accelerated somatic healing under stress. We tested “the expensive germ line” hypothesis by generating germline-free zebrafish Danio rerio and testing the effect of the presence and absence of the germ line on somatic repair under benign and stressful conditions. We exposed male fish to sublethal low-dose ionizing radiation, a genotoxic stress affecting the soma and the germ line, and tested how fast the soma recovered following partial fin ablation. We found that somatic recovery from ablation occurred substantially faster in irradiated germline-free fish than in the control germline-carrying fish where somatic recovery was stunned. The germ line did show signs of postirradiation recovery in germline-carrying fish in several traits related to offspring number and fitness. These results support the theoretical conjecture that germline maintenance is costly and directly trades off with somatic maintenance

Effect of chitosan biopolymer and UV/TiO2 method for the de-coloration of acid blue 40 simulated textile wastewater

The purpose for this study is to de-color C.I. Acid Blue 40 simulated textile wastewater using chitosan and UV/TiO2 system. The methodology is to use chitosan biopolymer and UV/TiO2 to degrade textile wastewater and to measure the color removal by UV-visible spectrophotometer. The operational parameters are chitosan, TiO2, pH and reaction time. From the laboratory investigations, different efficiencies were observed according to different removal operating levels. Single chitosan of 2500 ppm dose was used to remove Acid Blue 40 textile wastewater and to obtain a better efficiency. TiO2 alone with UV light was also used with the dose of 2500 ppm to obtain a better efficiency. In acidity, both chitosan and TiO2 obtain better efficiencies under pH 4 operational condition. The best combination for UV/TiO2 system to de-color the 50 ppm Acid Blue 40 textile wastewater was TiO2 2500 ppm concentration with UV illumination at pH 4. The result shows that the de-colorization efficiency reached 98.8% elimination after 210 min of reaction time.Keywords: Chitosan biopolymer, UV/TiO2, Acid Blue 40, textile wastewater, spectrophotometerAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(34), pp. 5575-5580, 23 August, 201

Synthesis, formation and characterization of ZnTiO3 ceramics,Ceram

Abstract Zinc titanate (ZnTiO 3 ) powders of perovskite structure were synthesized by conventional solid state reaction using metal oxides. Powders of ZnO and TiO 2 in a molar ratio of 1:1 were mixed in a ball mill and then heated at temperatures from 700 to 1000 • C for various time periods in air. The crystallization temperature of ZnTiO 3 powder was ∼820 • C, activation energy for crystallization was ∼327.14 kJ/mol and for grain growth was ∼48.84 kJ/mol. A transition point was observed when the electrical resistivity was measured versus temperature. Like some ferroelectric materials, a PTCR behavior above the transition temperature was observed with Curie temperature of ∼5 • C

Use of Ceftriaxone in Treating Cognitive and Neuronal Deficits Associated With Dementia With Lewy Bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is caused by accumulation of Lewy bodies, destruction of mitochondria, and excess of glutamate in synapses, which eventually leads to excitotoxicity, neurodegeneration, and cognitive impairments. Ceftriaxone (CEF) reduces excitotoxicity by increasing glutamate transporter 1 expression and glutamate reuptake. We investigated whether CEF can prevent cognitive decline and neurological deficits and increase neurogenesis in DLB rats. Male Wistar rats infused with viral vector containing human alpha-synuclein (α-syn) gene, SNCA, in the lateral ventricle were used as a rat model of DLB. CEF (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was injected in these rats for 27 days. The active avoidance test and object recognition test was performed. Finally, the brains of all the rats were immunohistochemically stained to measure α-syn, neuronal density, and newborn cells in the hippocampus and substantia nigra. The results revealed that DLB rats had learning and object recognition impairments and exhibited cell loss in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system, and hippocampal CA1, and dentate gyrus (DG). Additionally, DLB rats had fewer newborn cells in the DG and substantia nigra pars reticulata and more α-syn immune-positive cells in the DG. Treatment with CEF improved cognitive function, reduced cell loss, and increased the number of newborn cells in the brain. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing that CEF prevents loss of neurogenesis in the brain of DLB rats. CEF may therefore has clinical potential for treating DLB

COVID-19 Antibody Surveillance Among Healthcare Workers in A Non-COVID designated Cardiology Centre

BACKGROUND: Reports on healthcare worker antibody response to COVID-19 infection are scarce. We aim to determine theCOVID-19 antibody prevalence among healthcare workers in a cardiology centre and the relationship between case definitioncriteria with the COVID-19 antibody result. METHODS: Convenience sampling was applied. Healthcare workers in SarawakHeart Centre (SHC) cardiology, radiology, and emergency unit were recruited. A survey form on clinical symptoms and closecontact history was distributed. HEALGEN COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid test was performed using serum/ whole blood specimen.Staff with positive COVID-19 antibody results were referred to the infectious disease specialist for assessment. RESULTS: Atotal of 310 staff were screened. 220(71%) were female, and the mean age was 36±7.7 years old. 46(14.8%) staff reported havingclinical symptoms at some stage from the end of January 2020 to the time of this surveillance. Number of staff who had a historyof overseas travel, close contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients, or had visited places with identified COVID-19 clusterswere 4(1.3%), 24(7.7%) and 24(7.7%) respectively. There were 14 staff (4.5%) with positive tests positive, 2 for IgM, and 12for IgG. All those with positive antibody were subsequently tested negative with RT-PCR test. The history of having clinicalsymptoms and exposure to COVID-19 cluster area were independently associated with a positive IgG result. CONCLUSION:The application of COVID-19 antibody serology rapid tests could determine true exposure of staff to the infection and allowus to reassess existing measures of infection control within the hospital

Clinical Outcomes and Predictors of Improved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction due to Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement is the cornerstone of LV reverse remodelling. It prognosticates heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). There is limited data on the clinical factors that predict LVEF improvement among non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients in Malaysia. Objective: To determine the 3-year outcomes and predictors of LVEF improvement in patients with (NICM) and HFrEF. Materials & Methods: We recruited patients with NICM and HFrEF (LVEF <40%) between 2016 and 2018. NICM was defined as HF with 1) normal coronary arteries or 2) any coronary artery stenosis not involving the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) and without transmural fibrosis in the LAD territory from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to account for the impaired LVEF. Clinical and imaging parameters were assessed using logistic regression statistics to determine the predictors of LVEF improvement. LVEF improvement is defined as a recovery of EF to > 40% with at least a 10-point increment from baseline. The clinical outcomes at three year were 1) change in NYHA class and 2) composite of all-cause mortality, unscheduled clinic or emergency department visits, readmission and/or ventricular arrhythmia. Results: 43 patients were recruited. The mean duration of follow-up and echocardiographic assessment interval were 46 and 23 months, respectively. The cohort had a mean age of 46±13 years, and were mostly male (72%). More patients had NYHA 1 at the end of the study (37% vs 86%). 11 patients (25%) recorded composite outcomes. 62.8% had LVEF improvement. Patients with LVEF improvement had a lower incidence of late gadolinium enhancement (51.7% vs 85.7%, odds 5.6 ,p=0.045) and midwall fibrosis on CMR (18.5% vs 62.5%, odds 7.3, p=0.003). LVEF improvement did not affect the functional NYHA recovery (92% vs 81%, p=0.28). Patients with less LVEF improvement had higher incidence of composite outcome (18.5% vs 37.5%, p=0.168). Other characteristics were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion: Patients with NICM and LVEF improvement had lower composite outcome. Absence of late gadolinium enhancement, particularly midwall fibrosis was an independant predictor of LVEF improvement. This underscores the importance of CMR tissue characterisation to refine the prognostication of NICM patients

Gender Difference of Alanine Aminotransferase Elevation May Be Associated with Higher Hemoglobin Levels among Male Adolescents

BACKGROUND: To explore the gender difference of ALT elevation and its association with high hemoglobin levels. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 3547 adolescents (2005 females, mean age of 16.5?.3 years) who were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen received health checkups in 2006. Body mass index (BMI), levels of hemoglobin, ALT and cholesterol were measured. ALT >42 U/L was defined as elevated ALT. Elevated ALT levels were detected in 112 of the 3547 participants (3.3%), more prevalent in males than in females (5.4% vs. 1.4%, p<0.001). Hemoglobin levels had a significant linear correlation with ALT levels in both genders. Abnormal ALT started to occur if hemoglobin >11 g/dl in females or >13.5 g/dl in males, but the cumulative cases of elevated ALT increased more quickly in males. Proportion of elevated ALT increased as either the BMI or hemoglobin level rise, more apparent in male adolescents. Logistic regression modeling showed odds ratio (95% confidence interval) were 24.7 (15.0-40.6) for BMI ≥27 kg/m(2); 5.5 (2.9-10.4) for BMI 24-27 kg/m(2); 2.7 (1.3-5.5) for Q5 (top 20th percentile) hemoglobin level; and 2.6 (1.6-4.1) for male gender. Further separately fitting the logistic models for two genders, the significance of Q5 hemoglobin level only appeared in the males. CONCLUSIONS: High hemoglobin level is a significant risk factor of ALT elevation after control hepatitis B, obesity and gender. Males have greater risk of abnormal liver function which may be associated with higher hemoglobin levels

Characterizing and Prognosticating Heart Failure with Improved Ejection Fraction Using NT-proBNP, Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Global Longitudinal Strain

Background: Heart failure with improved ejection fraction (HFiEF) is a novel heart failure (HF) subgroup. There are sparse data on using NT-proBNP, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) to characterize and prognosticate HFiEF patients. Objectives: (1) To determine the level and correlation between NT-proBNP, GDF-15 and GLS in HFiEF patients. (2) To examine the correlation of each marker with NYHA, MAGGIC prognostic score, HF etiologies, comorbidities status, degree of LVEF/ LV end-diastolic diameter change from baseline and diastolic dysfunction. (3) To look for association of each marker with follow-up LVEF change and 1-year composite mortality or HF events outcome. Materials & Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study in Sarawak Heart Centre HF clinic. 53 HfiEF patients who had NT-proBNP and GDF15 tests performed were selected. This cohort had no HF events in the past 6 months during the blood tests. Clinical characteristics, echocardiography parameters, and 1-year composite clinical outcome were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 52 years old and 81% were male. The cohort was highly comorbid (hypertension 71%; diabetes 45.3%; AF 17.3%). Most of the patients (87%) were asymptomatic by NYHA (I) and low rate of composite outcome was observed, 5.7%. The mean NT-proBNP, GDF-15, GLS were 357 pg/ml, 1572 pg/ml, and -12.1% respectively. There were significant moderate correlation between GDF15 with NT-proBNP (r=0.414) and NT-proBNP with GLS (r=-0.351). Higher NT-proBNP and GDF15 levels were associated with poorer MAGGIC prognostic scores (r=0.549, 0.41 respectively). NT-proBNP was the only marker associated with a higher degree of LVEF improvement compare to baseline echocardiography. NT-proBNP was also related to severe diastolic echo parameters. Hypertension and diabetes were strongly associated with higher elevated GDF15 levels. The lower mean GLS level was significantly associated with the presence of composite outcome (-6.45% vs -12.47%, p=0.0). Patients with NT-proBNP levels below the median cutoff had favourable follow-up LVEF improvement (+9.73%, p=0.035). Conclusion: In our HFiEF study cohort, NT-proBNP best correlate and prognosticate future LV remodelling. GDF15 was closely related to systemic illnesses such as diabetes. The role of GLS in our HFiEF cohort remains uncertain

Experimental Evolution of Life-history : Testing the Evolutionary Theories of Ageing

Ageing reduces fitness, but how ageing evolves is still unclear. Evolutionary theory of ageing hinges on the fundamental principal that the force of natural selection declines with age. This principle has yielded two important predictions: 1) the evolution of faster ageing in populations under high rate of extrinsic mortality; and 2) the evolution of faster ageing in a sex that experiences higher rates of extrinsic mortality. However, an emerging new theory argues that when the extrinsic mortality is not random but instead selects on traits showing positive genetic correlation with lifespan, increased mortality should lead to the evolution of increased lifespan. Such condition-dependent mortality is also expected to increase the robustness in the population, resulting in increased deceleration of mortality in late-life. Similarly, high sex-specific mortality can result in increased sex-specific selection on traits that have positive pleiotropic effects on lifespan in the affected sex. This thesis is based on two experimental evolution studies in Caenorhabditis remanei. The first experiment was designed to disentangle the effects of the rate (high or low) and the source (random or condition-dependent) of mortality on the evolution of lifespan and ageing. Reduced lifespan evolved under high rate of random mortality, whereas high condition-dependent mortality, imposed by heat-shock, led to the evolution of increased lifespan (Paper I). However, while female reproduction increased under condition-dependent mortality, male reproduction suffered, suggesting a role for sexual antagonism in maintaining genetic variation for fitness (Paper II). Besides, long lifespan and high fecundity evolved at a cost of slow juvenile growth rate in females (Paper III). Moreover, high condition-dependent mortality led to the evolution of lower rate of intrinsic mortality in late-life (Paper IV). The second experiment showed that evolution of sexual dimorphism in lifespan is driven by the factors that cause sex-specific mortality and cannot be predicted from differences in mortality rate alone. Specifically, high condition-dependent mortality renders males less prone to ageing than females despite higher rates of male mortality (Paper V). The strength of this thesis is the reconfirmation of the earlier findings combined with support for the new theory. Rather than further complicating the matter, the inclusion of the new ideas should help explain some empirical results that are inconsistent with the classic theory, as well as provide a more comprehensive picture of ageing evolution

Experimental Evolution of Life-history : Testing the Evolutionary Theories of Ageing

Ageing reduces fitness, but how ageing evolves is still unclear. Evolutionary theory of ageing hinges on the fundamental principal that the force of natural selection declines with age. This principle has yielded two important predictions: 1) the evolution of faster ageing in populations under high rate of extrinsic mortality; and 2) the evolution of faster ageing in a sex that experiences higher rates of extrinsic mortality. However, an emerging new theory argues that when the extrinsic mortality is not random but instead selects on traits showing positive genetic correlation with lifespan, increased mortality should lead to the evolution of increased lifespan. Such condition-dependent mortality is also expected to increase the robustness in the population, resulting in increased deceleration of mortality in late-life. Similarly, high sex-specific mortality can result in increased sex-specific selection on traits that have positive pleiotropic effects on lifespan in the affected sex. This thesis is based on two experimental evolution studies in Caenorhabditis remanei. The first experiment was designed to disentangle the effects of the rate (high or low) and the source (random or condition-dependent) of mortality on the evolution of lifespan and ageing. Reduced lifespan evolved under high rate of random mortality, whereas high condition-dependent mortality, imposed by heat-shock, led to the evolution of increased lifespan (Paper I). However, while female reproduction increased under condition-dependent mortality, male reproduction suffered, suggesting a role for sexual antagonism in maintaining genetic variation for fitness (Paper II). Besides, long lifespan and high fecundity evolved at a cost of slow juvenile growth rate in females (Paper III). Moreover, high condition-dependent mortality led to the evolution of lower rate of intrinsic mortality in late-life (Paper IV). The second experiment showed that evolution of sexual dimorphism in lifespan is driven by the factors that cause sex-specific mortality and cannot be predicted from differences in mortality rate alone. Specifically, high condition-dependent mortality renders males less prone to ageing than females despite higher rates of male mortality (Paper V). The strength of this thesis is the reconfirmation of the earlier findings combined with support for the new theory. Rather than further complicating the matter, the inclusion of the new ideas should help explain some empirical results that are inconsistent with the classic theory, as well as provide a more comprehensive picture of ageing evolution