Assessment of Oxidative Stress in Peste Des Petits Ruminants (Ovine Rinderpest) Affected Goats

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate oxidative stress in goats affected with peste des petits ruminants (PPR). The experiment was designed to collect blood samples from PPR affected as well as healthy goats during a series of PPR outbreaks which occurred during February to April 2012 in different districts of Rajasthan state (India). Out of total 202 goats of various age groups and of both the sexes, 155 goats were PPR affected and 47 were healthy. Oxidative stress was evaluated by determining various serum biomarkers viz. vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and xanthine oxidase, the mean values of which were 1.71±0.09 µmol L-1, 13.02±0.14 µmol L-1, 2.22±0.09 µmol L-1, 3.03±0.07 µmol L-1, 135.12±8.10 kU L-1, 289.13±8.00 kU L-1, 6.11± 0.06 kU L-1 and 98.12±3.12 mU L-1, respectively. Each parameter analysis of variance showed highly significant effect (P=0.0001) of health status and age category. Further interaction between health status and age category was also highly significant (P=0.0001) for each parameter studied. The results indicated that vitamins A, C, E and glutathione levels depressed by 18.95%, 38.67%, 47.64%, and 47.39%, respectively and the serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and xanthine oxidase activities increased by 90.79%, 75.11%, 90.34%, and 44.06%, respectively in affected animals as compared to that in healthy ones. On the basis of the altered levels of serum biomarkers of oxidative stress it was concluded that the animals affected with PPR developed oxidative stress

Ambience-associated variation in serum biomarkers of oxidative stress in donkeys of arid tracts in India

An investigation was carried out in donkeys to discover serum biomarkers of oxidative stress during moderate and extremely hot conditions. Serum biomarkers included vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, glutathione reductase, xanthine oxidase, oxidase and peroxidase. These findings were compared with those obtained during the moderate conditions that served as a control. Serum vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione activity decreased significantly during hot conditions, while serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, glutathione reductase, xanthine oxidase, oxidase and peroxidase activities all increased significantly. It was concluded that hot ambient stress induced marked changes in the levels of biomarkers in the serum of donkeys, indicating oxidative stress

Assessment of Oxidative Stress in Peste des petits ruminants (Ovine rinderpest) Affected Goats

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate oxidative stress in goats affected with peste des petits ruminants (PPR). The experiment was designed to collect blood samples from PPR affected as well as healthy goats during a series of PPR outbreaks which occurred during February to April 2012 in different districts of Rajasthan state (India). Out of total 202 goats of various age groups and of both the sexes, 155 goats were PPR affected and 47 were healthy. Oxidative stress was evaluated by determining various serum biomarkers viz. vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and xanthine oxidase, the mean values of which were 1.71±0.09 µmol L-1, 13.02±0.14 µmol L-1, 2.22±0.09 µmol L-1, 3.03±0.07 µmol L-1, 135.12±8.10 kU L-1, 289.13±8.00 kU L-1, 6.11± 0.06 kU L-1 and 98.12±3.12 mU L-1, respectively. Each parameter analysis of variance showed highly significant effect (P=0.0001) of health status and age category.  Further interaction between health status and age category was also highly significant (P=0.0001) for each parameter studied. The results indicated that vitamins A, C, E and glutathione levels depressed by 18.95%, 38.67%, 47.64%, and 47.39%, respectively and the serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and xanthine oxidase activities increased by 90.79%, 75.11%, 90.34%, and 44.06%, respectively in affected animals as compared to that in healthy ones. On the basis of the altered levels of serum biomarkers of oxidative stress it was concluded that the animals affected with PPR developed oxidative stress

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress in Sheep Affected with Peste des petits ruminants

The aim of the investigation was to evaluate oxidative stress in sheep affected with peste des petits ruminants (PPR). Oxidative stress in the affected sheep was evaluated by determining various serum biomarkers viz. vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and xanthine oxidase, the mean values of which were 1.70±0.07µmol L-1, 13.00± 0.10 µmol L-1, 2.25 ±0.07 µmol L-1, 3.10 ±0.06 µmol L-1, 140.00 ±8.00 kU L-1, 294.22 ±9.91 kU L-1, 6.99± 0.05 kU L-1 and 100.10 ±3.00 m U L-1, respectively. The levels of vitamins A, C, E and glutathione decreased significantly (p≤0.05) and the serum catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and xanthine oxidase activities increased significantly (p≤0.05) in affected sheep as compared to that in healthy ones. On the basis of the altered levels of serum biomarkers of oxidative stress it was concluded that the animals affected with PPR developed oxidative stress. The findings suggested the relevance of periodic assessment of oxidative status in ruminants for healthier management through supplementation of proper antioxidants as supportive treatment in PPR and in healthy in-contact animals

Fuelling of TCA cycle in hepatic cells Marwari goat during ambient temperature associated stress

The present study was launched to assess the effect of extreme ambient temperature associated stress on fuelling of TCA cycle in hepatic cells of Marwari goat. Based on the fact that whenever a hepatocyte needs fuel for TCA cycle, the activity of enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GD) increases making alpha-ketoglutarate available for TCA cycle, 600 apparently healthy Marwari goats of either sex, between 6 months to 3 years of age were screened and blood samples were collected during moderate, cold and hot ambient temperature periods to determine the serum glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme and glucose concentration. The mean value of serum GD was significantly (p≤0.05) higher during cold and hot ambient temperature periods in comparison to overall moderate mean value. However, the rise was greater in cold (2.20 times) than hot ambient temperature (1.19 times). The serum GD activity was higher in male and younger animals. Serum glucose concentration showed a reverse trend as compared to serum GD activity. The results indicated that in cold condition associated stress the fuelling to TCA cycle was more than moderate and hot ambient temperature periods. Serum GD activity was also found related with glucose homeostasis. Further the study has shown that variations in the enzyme levels are not always pathological and while interpreting clinical data, a clinician must consider these variations

CHANGES IN SERUM ENZYMES LEVELS ASSOCIATED WITH LIVER FUNCTIONS IN STRESSED MARWARI GOAT

Serum enzyme levels were determined in goats of Marwari breed belonging to farmers’ stock of arid tract of Rajasthan state, India. The animals were grouped into healthy and stressed comprising of gastrointestinal parasiticised, pneumonia affected, and drought affected. The serum enzymes determined were sorbitol dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, ornithine carbamoyl transferase, gamma-glutamayl transferase, 5’nucleotidase, glucose-6-phosphatase, arginase, and aldolase. In stressed group the mean values of all the enzymes increased significantly (p≤0.05) as compared to respective healthy mean value. All the enzymes showed highest values in the gastrointestinal parasiticised animals and least values in the animals having pneumonia. In gastrointestinal parasiticised animals maximum change was observed in G-6-Pase activity and minimum change was observed in malate dehydrogenase mean value. It was concluded that Increased activity of all the serum enzymes was due to modulation of liver functions directly or indirectly

Serum xanthine oxidase profile in stressed Marwari sheep from arid tracts in India

The present investigation was aimed to determine serum xanthine oxidase profile in stressed Marwari breed of sheep belonging to arid tracts in Rajasthan, India. Extreme hot and cold ambiences were considered as stress conditions to the animals. Blood samples were collected to obtain sera during moderate, extreme hot and cold ambiences. The mean value of serum xanthine oxidase during moderate ambience was 93.33±1.11 mU L-1.The mean value of serum xanthine oxidase was significantly (p≤0.05)higher during hot and significantly (p≤0.05) lower during cold ambiences as compared to moderate mean value serving as control. The sex and age effects were significant (p≤0.05) in all ambiences. The mean values were significantly (p≤0.05) higher in males than females. In each ambience the age effect showed a significant (p≤0.05) increase in the mean values being highest in the animals of 2.5-4.5 years of age. The effects of extreme ambiences were observed on the male and female animals of all age groups as revealed by various interactions studied viz. ambience X age; ambience X sex and age X sex (p≤0.01). Further sex effect was present in the animals of each age group. It can be concluded that serum xanthine oxidase can be used as an effective marker to assess oxidative stress in these animals. Mean values obtained from large number of animals during moderate ambience will help in providing physiological reference values for future research and clinical interpretations

Sunjammer

No abstract available

A retrospective study of cognitive function in doctors and dentists with suspected performance problems: an unsuspected but significant concern.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the performance assessments and cognitive function of practitioners referred to the National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS). DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Practitioners referred to NCAS for performance assessment due to suspected performance problems. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and nine practitioners over the age of 45 years referred to NCAS between 1 September 2008 and 30 June 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reasons for referral of practitioners and their characteristics; details of their assessments including screening for cognition using Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R); outcome of the process. RESULTS: Reasons for referral included 'clinical difficulties' and 'governance or safety issues'. Eighty-seven practitioners scored above 88 on ACE-R. Twenty-two were found to have an ACE-R score of ≤88. On further assessment, 14 of these 22 practitioners were found to have cognitive impairment. The majority of all practitioners were found to be performing below the expected level of practice for someone at their grade and specialty. Of those scoring ≤88 on the screening, only seven continued in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of practitioners scoring poorly on ACE-R were found to have cognitive impairment following detailed neuropsychological testing, the youngest aged 46 years. Many were working in isolation. Nearly all practitioners scoring poorly on ACE-R were international medical graduates; reasons for this are unclear. Performance assessment results showed persisting failings in the practitioners' record keeping and in their assessment of patients. Our findings highlight the need for increased vigilance and training of responsible officers to recognise performance problems and emphasise the importance of comprehensive assessment

Ontological support for managing non-functional requirements in pervasive healthcare

We designed and implemented an ontological solution which makes provisions for choosing adequate devices/sensors for remote monitoring of patients who are suffering from post-stroke health complications. We argue that non-functional requirements in pervasive healthcare systems can be elicited and managed through semantics stored in ontological models and reasoning created upon them. Our contribution is twofold: we enrich the elicitation process and specification of non-functional requirements within the requirements engineering discipline and we address the pervasiveness of healthcare software systems through the way of choosing devices embedded in them and users expectations in terms of having access to pervasive services personalized to their needs