Somatic chromosomes of the Bornean Sambar deer and Rusa deer interspecific hybrids

Problem statement: Hybridization has potential benefits to the Malaysian farmed deer industries in terms of increased growth rate and increased proportion of muscle and an improved alignment of feed supply and annual energy requirement. Species or subspecies of different chromosome constitution could mate to produce healthy hybrid offspring in a normal ratio of males and females. If any of the hybrid offspring were sterile, the sterile offspring would be the heterogametic offspring. The study investigated the use of chromosome banding method to detect chromosomal variation and to define the chromosome homology and the possibility of the Bornean Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor brookei) and Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) hybrids to reproduce. Approach: Samples were collected from the Livestock Breeding Station, Sabrang, Keningau, Sabah, East Malaysia. The animals studied consisted of two deer subspecies namely the Bornean Sambar deer, Rusa deer and their hybrids. The karyotypes of the Bornean Sambar deer, Rusa deer and their F1 hybrids have been investigated by solid giemsa staining, G-banding and Ag-NOR banding techniques. Results: Rusa and Bornean Sambar have different chromosome number; 60 and 62 respectively, but share the same fundamental number of chromosome arm, 70. The hybrids have 2n = 61, consisting of 9 metacentric to submetacentric autosomes and 24 pairs of acrocentric autosomes with two acrocentrics and one submetacentric chromosome being unpaired. The morphology of the sex chromosomes in the F1 hybrids was similar to that of the parental species. The Ag-NOR pattern and the conventional Giemsa staining of chromosomes were effective as markers in the characterization of the karyotypes of the parental lines and hybrids because of the presence of active NORs on different chromosomes of different species. G-band, in contrast, showed complete homology in the presence of euchromatic bands and heterochromatin blocks respectively on each chromosome, suggesting that the two species have few genetic differences. Conclusion: In the present study, natural mating between Bornean Sambar deer and Rusa deer were conducted and the number and chromosomal location of the nucleolar organizer regions in their offsprings were analyzed by the silver staining method. Apart from that, the interspecific dissimilarities with regards to chromosome number and morphology are less extensive and the production of chromosomally balanced gametes could be expected

Some physical characteristics of Sambar Deer (Cerous unicolor)

Weights and body measurements of 115 sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) from three states of Malaysia were analysed. The deer range in age from three weeks to seven years old. They were divided into groups and allowed to graze the fenced up paddocks. The deer which were raised in an environment similar to their natural habitat had the heaviest body weight (100.18 kg). The effects of location and partial regression of body height, body length and heart girth, had highly significant (p<.00l) effects on body weight. The partial regression coefficients for body weight, body length and heart girth were 0.91, 0.84 and 1.00, respectively

Socio-demographic characteristics and safety practices in pesticide applicators in Zangiabad area, Iran

Iran is the largest producer of pistachios in the world and farmers apply chemicals in pistachio orchards to pest control. A high risk of occupational human exposure to pesticides may occur in applicators if they do not practice adequate protective measures. The present study was designed to determine socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of safety practices and use of protective measures for applicators to avoid pesticide contamination. Structured face-to-face interviews were conducted and a questionnaire was administered to obtain information on characteristics such as environmental exposure, personal characteristics, lifestyle factors and agricultural work practices. There was a significant difference in educational level between cases and controls (α < 0.05) and cases had a generally lower educational level than controls. Among the pesticides that were used for pistachio pest control, amitraz was dominant. The most common form of packaging used to pesticides, especially amitraz, in the study area was COEX, Aluminum, and PET. In order to dispose of empty containers, most of the farmers sell empty containers for recycling, but it is not clear who buys them and how they are recycled. Health effects of pesticides underscore the importance of alternative methods for pest management to reduce pesticide exposure

Assessment of stress and its risk factors among primary school teachers in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Introduction: This cross-sectional study determined the workplace stressors, stress levels, mental health status and their influencing factors, among primary school teachers in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Methodology: Nine primary schools in Klang Valley which fulfil the inclusive criteria were randomly selected from a list obtained from the Ministry of Education website. Two hundred and seventy two teachers from the selected school, volunteered to participate in the study. A questionnaire was used to determine socio-demographic background, working information and medical history. Teacher Stress Inventory was used to measure the stressor and stress levels; while General Health Questionnaire was used to measure the mental health status. Result: Results showed that most of the teachers experience moderate stress level (71.7%) and only 12.1% had low mental health status. Student misbehaviour was the main stressor in the school environment (mean= 2.62). Gender (p=0.001) and workload (p=0.002) showed a significant contributing factors toward mental health status. Conclusion: These primary school teachers experience stress mainly due to the student misbehaviour and the mental well-being were influenced by the workload and gender. Women teachers with heavy workload had relationship with lower mental health status

Pridonosi li polimorfizam gena GSTP1 oštećenju genoma uzrokovanom starenjem i profesionalnom izloženosti?

The aim of our study was to see the effects of GSTP1 polymorphism on biomarkers of ageing, including micronuclei (MN), comet tail length, and relative telomere length in automobile repair workers, who are exposed to a broad spectrum of potential mutagens. The analysis was performed on buccal cells collected from occupationally exposed and non-exposed (control) subjects. Samples were analysed using cytogenetic and molecular methods, including restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), MN test, comet assay, and real-time PCR. The results confi rmed the DNA damaging effects of substances used in the mechanical workshops, but did not confirm the infl uence of GSTP1 gene polymorphism on DNA damage. However, further studies on both occupationally exposed and control populations are needed to understand the relationship between GSTP1 polymorphism and genome damage.Na populaciji radnika zaposlenih u radionicama za popravak automobila koji su svakodnevno izloženi različitim vrstama potencijalnih mutagena istražili smo utjecaj polimorfizma gena GSTP1 na vrijednosti biomarkera starenja, ključujući pojavu mikronukleusa (MN), dužinu repa kometa te relativnu dužinu telomera. Analize su provedene na stanicama bukalne sluznice, skupljenim od izloženih ispitanika i odgovarajuće neizložene (kontrolne) populacije. Uzorci su analizirani primjenom citogenetičkih i molekularnobioloških metoda, uključujući polimorfi zam restrikcijskih fragmenata na osnovi njihove duljine (engl. restriction fragment length polymorphism, RFLP), MN-test, komet-test, i lančanu reakciju polimerazom u stvarnom vremenu (engl. real-time PCR). Dobiveni nalazi potvrđuju da izloženost radnika mutagenima oštećuje njihovu DNA, ali nisu pokazali da polimorfi zam gena GSTP1 značajno utječe na razinu oštećenja DNA. Zbog malog broja ispitanika uključenog u ovo istraživanje za bolje razumijevanje odnosa između polimorfi zma gena GSTP1 i oštećenja DNA potrebna su daljnja istraživanja, i na profesionalno izloženim ispitanicima i na ispitanicima kontrolne populacije

The relationship between psychological distress with salivary á-amylase and physical symptoms among breast cancer survivors

Background and Aims: This study examined the stress levels, the stressors and biomarker such as Alpha (α)-Amylase enzyme which is secreted under distress conditions. The aim was to determine the relationship between these three variables. Methods: The study respondents were made up of cancer outpatients from 3 hospitals namely the Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Seberang Jaya and Johor Baru, Pantai Ipoh and Putrajaya. The Personal Stress Inventory (PSI) questionnaire was used to identify stressors, while the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to determine the psychological distress levels. The Salimentary Oral Swab (SOS) Technique was used to collect the saliva and then the Salivary α-Amylase Assay Kit was used to analyse for α amylase. Results: The majority of respondents were stressed due to their sensitive emotion and nervousness in their daily lives (68.7%), they had poor memory and short attention spans of carrying out job tasks (67.3%) as well as they were emotionally depressed (65.3%). Their poor memory and short attention span (p = 0.037), heavy work load and poor task delivery (p = 0.008) were predictors for distress using HADS. The salivary α-amylase concentration was significantly related to the stress levels (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Breast cancer respondents with musculoskeletal system related symptoms, with heavy work load and poor task delivery, as well as had poor memory and short attention span were at higher risk of experiencing psychological distress. The salivary α-amylase which had significant relationships with psychological distress was therefore, a potential biological indicator for distress, while the musculoskeletal system related symptoms from the PSI questionnaire were predictors for distress

Assessment of inhalation exposure to Amitraz among pesticide sprayers in Zangiabad, Iran

Orchard operations involve heavy use of pesticides to control pests and the potential for exposure of sprayers is high. When high pressure equipments for pesticide application are used, the potential for respiratory exposure is increased. The aim of this study was to assess the amitraz residue level in the individual breathing zone of the sprayers. Individual air samples of 70 amitraz sprayers have been collected using modified fitted with impinger acetonitrile as liquid sorbent. A sample size of 480 liters of air was collected in each case. The mean concentration of amitraz and its metabolite in the breathing area during the application were 11.51 and 1.35 ug/m3, respectively

Germinated brown rice (GBR) reduces the incidence of aberrant crypt foci with the involvement of β-catenin and COX-2 in azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in rats

Chemoprevention has become an important area in cancer research due to the failure of current therapeutic modalities. Epidemiological and preclinical studies have demonstrated that nutrition plays a vital role in the etiology of cancer. This study was conducted to determine the chemopreventive effects of germinated brown rice (GBR) in rats induced with colon cancer. GBR is brown rice that has been claimed to be richer in nutrients compared to the common white rice. The male Sprague Dawley rats (6 weeks of age) were randomly divided into 5 groups: (G1) positive control (with colon cancer, unfed with GBR), (G2) fed with 2.5 g/kg of GBR (GBR (g)/weight of rat (kg)), (G3) fed with 5 g/kg of GBR, (G4) fed with 10 g/kg of GBR and (G5) negative control (without colon cancer, unfed with GBR). GBR was administered orally once daily via gavage after injection of 15 mg/kg of body weight of azoxymethane (AOM) once a week for two weeks, intraperitonially. After 8 weeks of treatment, animals were sacrificed and colons were removed. Colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were evaluated histopathologically. Total number of ACF and AC, and multicrypt of ACF, and the expression of β-catenin and COX-2 reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in all the groups treated with GBR (G2, G3 and G4) compared to the control group (G1). Spearman rank correlation test showed significant positive linear relationship between total β-catenin and COX-2 score (Spearman's rho = 0.616, p = 0.0001). It is demonstrated that GBR inhibits the development of total number of ACF and AC, and multicrypt of ACF, reduces the expression of β-catenin and COX-2, and thus can be a promising dietary supplement in prevention of colon cancer