Establishment of Adult Reference Values For Some Biochemical Analytes in A Rwandan Population

Objectives: To establish the reference values for some routinely performed biochemical analytes in CHUK.Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.Settings: National Center for Blood Transfusion, Rwanda and Kigali University Teaching Hospital,  Laboratory Department. This study was conducted during the period between 15th September 2014 and 23rd February in 2015.Subjects: Blood donors donating blood at National Center for Blood Donation, and recruited by mobile teams across the country.Results: Median (Reference values:2.5th and 97.5th percentiles) for male and female respectively: Bilirubin Direct,3.9(2-6.9) and 3.9(2.6-6.5) μmol/L; Bilirubin Total,10.3(4.8-21.6) and 10.4(5.9-17.3) μmol/L; Aspartate Aminotransferase, 27.8(16.1-49.2) and 26.7(16.8-45.1) U/L;Urea,3.2(1.3-5.8) and 3.1(1.4-5.2)mmol/L; Glucose, 5.0(3.2-7.7) and 4.6(3.1-6.7) mmol/L; Total Proteins, 76.8(68.2-87.7) and 76.9(66.6-85.7)g/L; Albumin, 46.4(39.7-55.5) and 46.7(40-54.5) g/L; Alanine Aminotransferase,  17.1(7.2-36.2) and 16.0(7.3-33.9) U/L; Gamma Glutamyltransferase, 20.3(8-75.6) and 21.1(7.1-63.3) U/L; Alkaline Phosphatase, 74.3(43.8-145.7) and 73.5(50.3-135.4) U/L; Creatinine, 84.4(65.2- 107.1) and 81.1(62.5-98.6) μmol/L; Sodium, 139.0(134.5-145.5) and 141.0(134.5-146.5) mmol/L; Potassium, .4.4(3.7-5) and 4.3(3.5-5.0) mmol/L; Chloride, 95.7(89.9-104.2) and 99.3(90.6-103.1) mmol/L;  Magnesium, 0.9(0.7-1.0) and 0.9(0.7-1) mmol/L; Phosphate, 1.1(0.8-1.5) and 1.2(0.7-1.6) mmol/L.Conclusion: The results of our study on Clinical Chemistry parameters are similar to those published in other African countries, with variations due to the diet and geographical location. This study has shown that a strict adherence to reference ranges developed from industrialised countries could qualify many healthy Rwandans as pathological cases, and also exclude them from participating in clinical trials. Compared to other reference ranges established, reference values in our study presented remarkably low levels of urea which may be due to the diet low in proteins generally in Rwandan population

US agricultural university students\u27 mental well-being and resilience during the first wave of COVID-19: Discordant expectations and experiences across genders

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic\u27s first wave led to declining mental health and life satisfaction outcomes for college students, especially women. While women in undergraduate agricultural programs outperformed men academically prior to and during the pandemic, the achievement may have come at personal cost, especially for those women with fewer personal and environmental resiliency resources. Our research objective was to expand on personal, social, and environmental factors linked with lower mental health and life satisfaction scores for students in agriculture during the pandemic. We measured the influence of such factors across gender-based mental health and life satisfaction outcomes. Our data were collected from 2030 students using an on-line survey across six land-grant university college of agriculture in agriculturally as many distinct regions of the United States. We estimated OLS and Ordered Probit models of their mental health and life satisfaction self-assessments. Our findings reveal students\u27 mental health and life satisfaction were reduced due to a paucity of personal (e.g., less future orientation or graduate school aspirations, food and housing insecurity, and personal health risks) and environmental (e.g., lower quality on-line learning experiences, isolation, family health risk, discrimination experiences) resiliency resources. Our results suggest women were more likely than men to be adversely affected by reduced resiliency resources. These findings suggest university emergency response policies need to address students\u27 needs for housing and food security, on-line course development and delivery, tele health and mental health resources, broad social inclusion and diversity to decrease risk of female attrition and support all students in agricultural degree programs

Effect of anastrozole on masculinization in ornamental fish, dwarf gourami, Trichogaster lalius (Hamilton, 1822)

In ornamental fishery, for commercialization and efficient propagation of fish species in demand, controlling their sex, male or female, plays an important role as it influences reproduction, growth and product quality. In one such common aquarium fish, dwarf gourami, Trichogaster lalius (Hamilton, 1822), males look more attractive and fetch better market price encouraging masculinization of this species. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of anastrozole on masculinization potential in T. lalius. The experiment consisted of two trials, in trial 1; anastrozole was incorporated into feed at 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg and fed to first feeding fry for 50 days. In trial 2, immersion treatment of anastrozole was carried out at different doses of 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 μg/L for 3 h each on 3rd, 5th and 8th day of post-hatching. Oral administration of anastrozole resulted in 90.32% masculinization at 200 ppm and the immersion treatment of anastrozole produced 100% masculinization at 1000 μg/L. Histological sections indicated that the anastrozole treatments suppressed ovarian development, leading to the atretic oocytes. However, the testicular development was unaffected. Testosterone level increased whereas estradiol level decreased with increased dose of the chemical. Cortisol level also showed a significant increase in male with increased doses of anastrozole, indicating stress which in turn helped to synthesize the testosterone. The results show that the immersion treatment of anastrozole is more effective than oral administration in inducing masculinization in T. lalius

Mucin 13 expression correlates with tumor development in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis due to ineffective therapeutic modality and lack of early diagnostic marker. Accumulating studies have shown that elevated expression of mucin 13 as potential oncogene and predictive biomarker for various cancer. However, very little is known about its expression and function for development and progression of HCC Objective: To investigate mucin 13 expression in chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma model. Methodology: Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) and 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) induced method was employed for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Male Wistar rats. Serum and tissues were collected at regular interval of time and routinely validated for liver cancer stages. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Molecular docking studies were performed to study the interaction of mucin 13 and DEN. Results: Our results demonstrate hepatocellular adenoma as observed by histopathological analysis. Biochemical analysis showed a progressive increase in the levels of serum ALT, AST and ALP, suggesting the development and progression of hepatocellular damage. Notably, mucin 13 expression gradually elevated during consecutive stages of hepatocellular carcinoma. Interestingly, an increase in nuclear localization of mucin 13 was observed in treated group as compared to control group. In situ hybridization analysis showed that a decrease in miR-132 and miR-145, which are inversely related with mucin 13 expression. Moreover, DEN efficiently binds mucin 13 with high affinity and thus stabilize it as demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. Conclusion: These results suggest that mucin 13 expression is closely associated with hepatocarcinogenesis and could serve as a predictive candidate biomarker for HCC

Mucin 13 expression is an early indicator of hepatocellular carcinoma development

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis due to ineffective therapeutic modality and lack of an early marker for diagnosis. Studies show that increased mucin 13 (MUC13) expression as a possible oncogene and predictive biomarker for various cancers has been shown. But its expression and role in the development of HCC is very little known. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the MUC13 expression in chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma model. Methodology: Male Wistar rats were subjected to a DEN and 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) induced method for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Serum and tissues were collected at regular intervals and routinely validated for various stages of liver cancer. On formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were performed. The molecular interaction of mucin 13 and DEN were also performed using in silico analysis. Results: Histopathological analysis of liver tissues revealed the development of hepatocellular carcinoma with successive stages in chemically induced model HCC. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed a progressive increase in serum ALT, AST, and ALP levels, indicating the development and progression of hepatocellular damage. Notably, mucin 13 expression gradually increased during the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. The treated group showed an increase in nuclear localization of mucin 13 as compared to the control group. In situ hybridization analysis revealed a reduction in miR-132 and miR145, both of which are inversely related to mucin 13 expression. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis showed that DEN efficiently binds mucin 13 with high affinity and thus stabilizes it. Conclusion: These findings suggest that mucin 13 expression is linked to hepatocarcinogenesis and could be used as a candidate biomarker for HCC

Significance of water pH and hardness on fish biological processes: A review

The success of any aquaculture endeavour broadly depends on water quality. Water quality determines to a great extent the success or failure of aquaculture operation. Optimum water quality is considered necessary for any aquaculture operation as it influences the productivity of production system. In the present review, the role of major abiotic factors such as water pH and hardness on the biological processes of fish like growth, survival, reproductive performance and embryology has been discussed

Embryonic Development of Discus, Symphysodon aequifasciatus Pellegrin, 1904 in Indian Condition

The experiment was conducted to investigate the embryonic development of discus (Symphysodon aequifasiatus) and determine the time required for major egg developmental stages and hatching. Regular observations were made using optical microscope and the images were recorded using a digital camera attached to the microscope. Important water quality parameters were kept optimal for the hatching of discus eggs. Newly laid eggs were oval-shaped and yellow in colour with an average diameter of 1.37 ± 0.14 mm. The embryonic development of fertilized eggs was divided into 16 stages and the development of each stage was recorded in times lapse. The result revealed that cleavage occurred after 1hr after fertilization followed by development of blastula and gastrula at 20.5 hr and 24 hr after fertilization respectively. The period of organogenesis started with the formation of embryonic notochord from 37.5 hrs after fertilization. The appearance of a defined head and tail of the embryo with 19 somites was observed at 40.0 hrs after fertilization, whereas heart beat along with blood circulation appeared after 55.5 hrs after fertilization. The eggs hatched after 69.06 hr after fertilization

High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin-I Is Elevated in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Independent of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Inflammation

We examined the hypothesis that cardiac-specific troponin-I (cTn-I), a biomarker of myocardial injury, is elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).RA patients have an increased incidence of heart failure (HF). Chronic myocardial injury in RA may be a mechanism for the development of HF.We compared cTn-I concentrations measured by high-sensitivity immunoassay in 164 patients with RA and 90 controls, excluding prior or active heart failure. We examined the relationship between cTn-I concentrations and cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation, and coronary artery calcium score (CACS), a measure of coronary atherosclerosis.cTn-I concentrations were 49% higher in patients with RA (median 1.15 pg/mL [IQR 0.73–1.92] than controls (0.77 pg/mL [0.49–1.28](P<0.001). The difference remained statistically significant after adjustment for demographic characteristics (P = 0.002), further adjustment for cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (P = 0.004), inflammatory markers (P = 0.008), and in a comprehensive model of CV risk factors and inflammatory markers (P = 0.03). In patients with RA, cTn-I concentrations were positively correlated with age (rho = 0.359), Framingham risk score (FRS) (rho = 0.366), and systolic blood pressure (rho = 0.248 (all P values ≤0.001)), but not with measures of inflammation or RA drug therapies. cTn-I was significantly correlated with CACS in RA in univariate analysis, but not after adjustment for age, race, sex and FRS (P = 0.79). Further model adjustments for renal function and coronary artery disease confirmed the significance of the findings.High-sensitivity cTn-I concentrations are elevated in patients with RA without heart failure, independent of cardiovascular risk profile and inflammatory markers. Elevated troponin concentrations in RA may indicate subclinical, indolent myocardial injury

Glutaredoxin-1 Overexpression Enhances Neovascularization and Diminishes Ventricular Remodeling in Chronic Myocardial Infarction

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of cardiac failure, including the modulation of neovascularization following myocardial infarction (MI). Redox molecules thioredoxin (Trx) and glutaredoxin (Grx) superfamilies actively maintain intracellular thiol-redox homeostasis by scavenging reactive oxygen species. Among these two superfamilies, the pro-angiogenic function of Trx-1 has been reported in chronic MI model whereas similar role of Grx-1 remains uncertain. The present study attempts to establish the role of Grx-1 in neovascularization and ventricular remodeling following MI. Wild-type (WT) and Grx-1 transgenic (Grx-1Tg/+) mice were randomized into wild-type sham (WTS), Grx-1Tg/+ Sham (Grx-1Tg/+S), WTMI, Grx-1Tg/+MI. MI was induced by permanent occlusion of the LAD coronary artery. Sham groups underwent identical time-matched surgical procedures without LAD ligation. Significant increase in arteriolar density was observed 7 days (d) after surgical intervention in the Grx-1Tg/+MI group as compared to the WTMI animals. Further, improvement in myocardial functional parameters 30 d after MI was observed including decreased LVIDs, LVIDd, increased ejection fraction and, fractional shortening was also observed in the Grx-1Tg/+MI group as compared to the WTMI animals. Moreover, attenuation of oxidative stress and apoptotic cardiomyocytes was observed in the Grx-1Tg/+MI group as compared to the WTMI animals. Increased expression of p-Akt, VEGF, Ang-1, Bcl-2, survivin and DNA binding activity of NF-κB were observed in the Grx-1Tg/+MI group when compared to WTMI animals as revealed by Western blot analysis and Gel-shift analysis, respectively. These results are the first to demonstrate that Grx-1 induces angiogenesis and diminishes ventricular remodeling apparently through neovascularization mediated by Akt, VEGF, Ang-1 and NF-κB as well as Bcl-2 and survivin-mediated anti-apoptotic pathway in the infarcted myocardium