Upregulation of p16INK4A in Peripheral White Blood Cells as a Novel Screening Marker for Colorectal Carcinoma.

ObjectiveScreening of colorectal cancer (CRC) is important for the early detection. CRC is relating to aging and immuno-senescence. One such senescent marker is p16INK4A expression in immune cells. The objective of the study is to investigate the protein expression of p16INK4A in peripheral white blood cells as a screening marker for colorectal cancer.MethodsA case-control studies were conducted. Cases were patients with colorectal cancer and controls were matched with cases based on age and sex. Peripheral blood was collected from patients and controls and the protein p16INK4A was measured with immunofluorescent techniques. The p16INK4A levels from cases and controls were evaluated using ROC analysis to be used as a screening marker in CRC patients. Mean fluorescent intensity of p16INK4A of cases and controls were analyzed in CD45+, CD3+ or CD14+ cells. The p16INK4A levels of cases were also correlated with clinical data.ResultStatistically significant increased expression of p16INK4A levels were found in cases compared to controls. p16INK4A in peripheral immune cells had 78% sensitivity and 71% specificity which can possibly be used as a diagnosis tool for colorectal cancer. P16INK4A-positive cell percentage and mean florescent intensity were significantly higher in CD45+ cells, CD3 positive cells and CD14 positive cells. No significant correlation was observed with the clinical data and p16INK4A level of CRC patients.ConclusionThe significant increase of p16 INK4A expression level in peripheral immune cells represents potential for use as a CRC screening marker

Age Related Changes in Hematological Values of Myanmar Local Puppies

The hematological parameters were used to monitor the health status and its components also changed according to the ages. However, there were no reports for this issues in Myanmar local dogs. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the age-related changes on the hematological parameters of local puppies in Myanmar. Ten local puppies with the age of 2-3 month old were used in this experiment, which was lasted for 8 weeks.The daily clinical examinations were conducted throughout the entire experimental period for general health check-up. Haematological parameters (Total WBC count and its differential counts, and RBC, HCT, MCV, HGB, MCH, MCHC and platelets) were measured bi-weekly with Abacus Vet-5 automate haematology analyser. According to the results, the total WBC and eosinophil counts were not significantly different (P>0.05), while lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and basophils were significantly different (P<0.05) with the aging of experimental animals. The values of RBC, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC and platelets were not significantly different (P>0.05) throughout the experimental periods. Thus, the age-related changes were observed on cell counts of lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils in Myanmar local puppies

A Study of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the Environment of Farms in Thanlyin and Hmawbi Townships, Myanmar.

Melioidosis is a tropical infection, first described in Myanmar but now rarely diagnosed there, which is widespread in Southeast Asia. The infection is predominantly acquired by people and animals through contact with soil or water. This study aimed to detect the causative organism, Burkholderia pseudomallei, in environmental samples from farms in Thanlyin and Hmawbi townships near Yangon, Myanmar. One hundred and twenty soil samples and 12 water samples were collected and processed using standard microbiological methods. Burkholderia species were isolated from 50 of the 120 (42%) soil samples but none of the water samples. Arabinose assimilation was tested to differentiate between B. pseudomallei and the nonpathogenic Burkholderia thailandensis, and seven of 50 isolates (14%) were negative. These were all confirmed as B. pseudomallei by a species-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This is the first study to detect environmental B. pseudomallei in Myanmar and confirms that melioidosis is still endemic in the Yangon area

Replacement Policies of Items

This paper discusses two categories of replacement techniques to determine the best replacement strategies for the items that deteriorate with time and those do not deteriorate but fail suddenly. These models are discussed with respect to the parameters like maintenance cost, time and value of money

Preparation of Fungal and Bacterial Spores’ formation Slides

Spores’ formation slides of microorganisms are useful as teaching aids for upper secondary students, undergraduate student and researchers especially for the Microbiology specialization. In the agriculture and clinical laboratories, studies on spores’ formation slides play an important role for identifying their cells or spores structure. In this study, seven bacteria were isolated from litter soil, Botany garden, University of Yangon. Bacterial spores’ formation such as Cocci, Diplococci, Staphylococci, Coccobacilli, Bacilli, Diplobacilli and Streptobacilliwere studied. And also seven fungi including Rhizoctonia, Trichoderma, Paecilomyces, Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Culvularia species were purified and cultured on Czapekdox agar medium. The characteristics of spores’ formation of fungi were then studied under microscope using Lactophenol Cotton Blue. In addition, spores’ formation slides of 2 different yeasts from toddy juice and bean sprout pickle were prepared and studied by Gram staining method. The qualified prepared slides will be beneficial for teaching and learning microbiology in the academic as well as research area

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism at +276 G>T of the Adiponectin Gene and Plasma Adiponectin Level in Myanmar Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Abstract Objective. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at rs 1501299 (SNP+276 G&gt;T) of the adiponectin gene and plasma adiponectin levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Myanmar. Methodology. One hundred T2DM patients and 104 non-diabetic subjects were included in this cross-sectional analytical study. Genotype frequencies were determined by polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Plasma adiponectin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result. Genotype frequencies (GG, GT, TT) of SNP+276 in diabetic patients were 39%, 48% and 13%, respectively. The GT and TT genotypes were more frequent in T2DM patients (OR 1.98, 95% CI, 1.10-3.55; p=0.02 and OR 4.07, 95% CI, 1.34-12.3; p=0.01), respectively. The T allele of SNP+276 was significantly associated with T2DM (OR 1.96, 95% CI, 1.27-3.01; p=0.002). Mean plasma adiponectin level was significantly lower than in T2DM patients (27.41&plusmn;16.7 &mu;g/mL) compared to non-diabetic subjects (37.19&plusmn;26.77 &mu;g/mL) (p=0.002). Conclusion. SNP+276 at rs 1501299 of the adiponectin gene was associated with type 2 diabetes and low plasma adiponectin levels in this Myanmar population.</p

Changes in immune cell subtypes during ageing.

BackgroundThe immune system comprises many different types of cells, each with different functions and properties during immune defence. The numbers and types of immune cells in the circulation is highly dynamic and regulated by infections, ageing and certain types of cancers. It is recognised that immune function decreases during ageing, but the biological age at which these functional changes occur is variable, and how ageing affects the different sub-types of lymphocytes, monocytes and NK cells in the circulation is not fully defined.MethodsIn this study, we recruited 24 healthy volunteers over the age range of 23y to 89y and measured the numbers of different subclasses of circulating cells by immuno-phenotyping and flow cytometry.ResultsWe show increased monocyte:lymphocyte ratios in a > 50y cohort and most T cell subsets were decreased, except for CD4+ cells, which were increased in this cohort. In addition, there was NK cell expansion and increased HLA-DR+ T cells, but decreased numbers of classical monocytes and increased numbers of CD4+ monocytes in this >50y cohort.ConclusionsThese data indicate that healthy ageing is associated with changes in both the major cell groups but also individual subclasses of cells, and these are likely to result from continuous immune challenge and impaired development