Effects of Fish Cage Culture on Water and Sediment Quality in the Gorge Area of Lake Volta in Ghana: A Case Study of Lee Fish Cage Farm

The study determined the impacts of fish cage farming on the gorge area of Lake Volta. Water and sediment samples were collected from six sites in the Lee Cage Farm; four from sections with cages and two from about 1300 m upstream of the farm which served as the control. Water quality variables monitored were pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonia-nitrogen, orthophosphate, faecal coliforms and total coliforms. Variables monitored in the sediment were organic matter, total carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus. There were variations in water quality between the farmed and control sites but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). The mean counts of total coliform in the water ranged from 940 - 3318 cfu/100 ml while faecal coliforms ranged from 113 - 552 cfu/100 ml at the farmed site. The mean total coliform count at the control site ranged from 837 - 6960 cfu/100 ml while the faecal coliforms ranged from 48 - 120 cfu/100 ml. Therefore, there was significant variation between the faecal coliforms count at the two sites (p = 0.046). The results suggest that the general microbiological quality of the water at the study area was unacceptable

Cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines exposed to an extract of the seed kernel of Mangifera pajang (bambangan).

An extract of Mangifera pajang kernel has been previously found to contain a high content of antioxidant phytochemicals. The present research was conducted to investigate the anticancer potential of this kernel extract. The results showed that the kernel crude extract induced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 (hormone-dependent breast cancer) cells and MDA-MB-231 (non-hormone dependent breast cancer) cells with IC50 values of 23 and 30.5μg/ml, respectively. The kernel extract induced cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells at the sub-G1 (apoptosis) phase of the cell cycle in a time-dependent manner. For MDA-MB-231 cells, the kernel extract induced strong G2-M arrest in cell cycle progression at 24. h, resulting in substantial sub-G1 (apoptosis) arrest after 48 and 72. h of incubation. Staining with Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide revealed that this apoptosis occurred early in both cell types, 36. h for MCF-7 cells and 24. h for MDA-MB-231cells, with 14.0% and 16.5% of the cells respectively undergoing apoptosis at these times. This apoptosis appeared to be dependent on caspase-2 and -3 in MCF-7 cells, and on caspase-2, -3 and -9 in MDA-MB-231 cells. These findings suggest that M. pajang kernel extract has potential as a potent cytotoxic agent against breast cancer cell lines

Cytotoxicity and polyphenol diversity in selected parts of Mangifera pajang and Artocarpus odoratissimus fruits.

Purpose Research on cancer chemopreventive properties of fruits has increased in recent years. Polyphenols have been suggested to exert such effects. The purpose of this paper is to determine the cytotoxic activity of Mangifera pajang (bambangan) and Artocarpus odoratissimus (tarap) crude extracts against selected cancer cell lines (i.e. ovarian, liver and colon cancer) and to compare the amount of selected polyphenols (phenolic acids, flavanones, flavonols and flavones) in the kernel, peel and flesh of M. pajang; and the seed and flesh of A. odoratissimus. Design/methodology/approach Cytotoxicity activity of the extracts are investigated using MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay while polyphenols are determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Findings The results show that only the kernel and peel extracts from M. pajang display cytotoxic activity in liver and ovarian cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 34.5 to 92.0  μg/ml. The proliferation of colon cancer cell line is inhibited only by the kernel of M. pajang with IC50 value of 63.0  μg/ml. The kernel and peel from M. pajang contains a broad range of polyphenol phytochemicals which might be responsible for the cytotoxicity activity against selected cancer cell lines. Originality/value Previous reports have indicated that both M. pajang and A. odoratissimus contain high antioxidant properties. This study further determines the phytochemicals profiling in both fruits, which might contribute to the antioxidant activity. Besides that, the result from this study shows that the waste of the fruits (i.e. kernel and peel) contain superior phenolic phytochemicals and display better anticancer potential compared to the flesh; suggests the use of them in health‐industry application. Utilization of all parts of the fruits (i.e. flesh, seed, kernel and peel) for the development of nutraceutical and functional food application is suggested

Aktivitas Antioksidan Dan Efek Sitotoksik Ekstrak Kola (Cola Nitida) Pada Kulter Sel Kanker Hati (HepG-2)

Liver cancer is one among cancers with increasing incidence in the world. Cola fruit (Cola nitida) is a fruit that is rich in properties and has been known since the Dutch colonial era. This fruit contains ingredients such as those contained in tea and chocolate such as methylxanthine and its derivatives. This study aims to determine the content of antioxidants and cytotoxic effects of cola fruit extracts obtained from Indonesia and Malaysia on liver cancer cell lines. Antioxidant content of fruit extracts of cola was assessed using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl hydrate) and cytotoxic effects were studied using MTT (3 - (4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)diphenyltetrazolium bromide -2.5) on human liver cancer cell lines (HepG2). The results showed that cola fruit from Malaysia contained high antioxidant with the IC50 value of 37.2 ?g/mL whereas IC50 of value of its Indonesias cola fruit was 66.0 ug / mL. The similar results have been shown in the cytotoxic test using HepG-2 liver cancer cell lines. Malaysias cola fruit extract has a smaller IC50 value of 6.5 ?g / mL while the fruit extract of Indonesias cola showed IC50 value of 39.5 ?g / mL. These values indicates that the fruit extract of cola is a potential anticancer activities especially on liver cancer. Further studies are required to clarify this hypothesis

Evaluation of oxidative stress and glycaemic control status in response to soy in older women with metabolic syndrome

Background: Little evidence exists about the effects of soy on glycemic control and oxidative stress in elderly women with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to ascertain the effects of soy on fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, homeostasis model of assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) on these individuals. Methods: A 12-week randomized clinical trial was conducted on 75 women between 60-70 years of age with MetS in rural health clinics around Babol, Iran in 2009. The participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups of soy-nut, Textured Soy Protein (TSP) or control. Measurements were obtained before and after intervention. Results: The soy-nut improved FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, MDA and TAC significantly after intervention (p<0.05); whereas, TSP established a significant decrease in serum insulin and MDA and increase in TAC compared to the control group (p<0.05). Comparing changes in means showed significant differences among all glucose control parameters, MDA and TAC in the treatment groups to the control group (p<0.001). The comparison of the treatments in the two groups showed that the mean changes in FBG, insulin and HOMA-IR levels in soy-nut group was significantly higher than TSP group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Both kinds of soy improved the oxidative stress and glycemic control status, but the soy-nut contributed more effectively than TSP. Therefore, it can be claimed that a moderate daily intake of soy may be a safe, cheap and practical way for the simultaneous improvement of oxidative stress and insulin resistance in elderly women with MetS

Lung cancer diagnosed following an emergency admission: exploring patient and carer perspectives on delay in seeking help

Purpose Compared to others, patients diagnosed with lung cancer following an emergency, unplanned admission to hospital (DFEA) have more advanced disease and poorer prognosis. Little is known about DFEA patients’ beliefs about cancer and its symptoms or about their help-seeking behaviours prior to admission. Methods As part of a larger single-centre, prospective mixed-methods study conducted in one University hospital, we undertook qualitative interviews with patients DFEA and their carers to obtain their understanding of symptoms and experiences of trying to access healthcare services before admission to hospital. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Framework analysis was employed. Results Thirteen patients and 10 carers plus 3 bereaved carers took part in interviews. Three patient/carer dyads were interviewed together. Participants spoke about their symptoms and why they did not seek help sooner. They described complex and nuanced experiences. Some (n = 12) had what they recalled as the wrong symptoms for lung cancer and attributed them either to a pre-existing condition or to ageing. In other cases (n = 9), patients or carers realised with hindsight that their symptoms were signs of lung cancer, but at the time had made other attributions to account for them. In some cases (n = 3), a sudden onset of symptoms was reported. Some GPs (n = 6) were also reported to have made incorrect attributions about cause. Conclusion Late diagnosis meant that patients DFEA needed palliative support sooner after diagnosis than patients not DFEA. Professionals and lay people interpret health and illness experiences differently

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat