FK228 recovers thiram-induced tibial dyschondroplasia in chicken via hypoxia inducible factor-1α

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a disease of many avian species characterized by an enlarged and avascular lesion in the proximal tibiotarsal bone. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) inhibition on thiram- induced TD using synthetic medicine FK228 and the association between HIF-1α and heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90). One hundred and fifty broiler chicks were equally divided into 3 groups: control; thiram fed; and FK228 treatment. Expressions of HIF-1α and Hsp90 genes were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) on day 10 and 14 post-hatch. Western blot analysis of HIF-1α and Hsp90 gene was performed to measure the protein levels at the end of the experiment. Results showed that HIF-1α and Hsp90 levels were significantly (P less than 0.05) up-regulated in the thiram group as compared to the control group. Meanwhile, FK228 (HIF-1α inhibitor) significantly (P less than 0.05) down- regulated the mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1α and Hsp90, restored the size of growth plate and diminished lameness. In conclusion, HIF-1α and Hsp90 play an important role in the formation of avascular growth plate and there is a direct relationship between HIF-1α and Hsp90 for the progression of TD pathogenesis. Therefore, HIF- 1α may prevent and control TD in broiler chickens.

Dengue virus serotypes and epidemiological features of dengue fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Dengue infection has become a major public health threat in Pakistan, causing several outbreaks from 1994 to 2012. This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine viral serotypes responsible for major outbreak of dengue fever in Faisalabad, Pakistan during 2011. Total 50 patients (37 males and 13 females) reported within 2-4 days of onset of fever, positive for dengue NS1 antigen, were recruited for this study. The median age of the patients was 29 years. Laboratory findings indicate thrombocytopenia in 92.0%, decreased hemoglobin in 48.0%, and leukopenia in 38.0% patients at the time of admission. Liver enzymes were elevated in 100.0% patients. ALT levels were 7.0 times higher, while AST levels were 7.3 times higher than the normal values in dengue patients. Molecular epidemiology of the dengue fever revealed co-circulation of three different DENV serotypes in Faisalabad population. Among them 82.4% were positive for DENV2; 5.8% with DENV3; and 11.7% were reported with DENV4. Co-circulation of three different DENV serotypes in the city is an alarming situation, which could result in a more severe outbreak of DF (DHF/DSS) in the future.

First characterization of immunogenic conjugates of Vi negative Salmonella Typhi O-specific polysaccharides with rEPA protein for vaccine development

Efficacious typhoid vaccines for young children will significantly reduce the disease burden in developing world. The Vi polysaccharide based conjugate vaccines (Vi-rEPA) against Salmonella Typhi Vi positive strains has shown high efficacy but may be ineffective against Vi negative S. Typhi. In this study, for the first time, we report the synthesis and evaluation of polysaccharide-protein conjugates of Vi negative S. Typhi as potential vaccine candidates. Four different conjugates were synthesized using recombinant exoprotein A of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (rEPA) and human serum albumin (HSA) as the carrier proteins, using either direct reductive amination or an intermediate linker molecule, adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH). Upon injection into mice, a significantly higher antibody titer was observed in mice administrated with conjugate-1 (OSP-HSA) (P=0.0001) and conjugate 2 (OSP-rEPA) (P≤0.0001) as compared to OSP alone. In contrast, the antibody titer elicited by conjugate 3 (OSPADH-HSA) and conjugate 4 (OSPADH-rEPA) were insignificant (P=0.1684 and P=0.3794, respectively). We conclude that reductive amination is the superior method to prepare the S. Typhi OSP glycoconjugate. Moreover, rEPA was a better carrier protein than HSA. Thus OSP-rEPA conjugate seems to be efficacious typhoid vaccines candidate, it may be evaluated further and recommended for the clinical trials.

Long-term follow-up of patients with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C: does viral clearance mean cure?

Up to 40% of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies are negative for HCV RNA at initial evaluation. If there is a risk of viral re-activation, long term follow-up is required with attendant financial, psychological and medical implications. We investigated the risk of re-activation in the Irish anti-D cohort. Information was obtained from the national hepatitis C database which includes data on patients infected by anti-D immunoglobulin in two large outbreaks, 1977-9 and 1991-94. As part of a screening programme, starting in 1994, 64,907 females exposed to anti-D immunoglobulin were evaluated. Three hundred and forty-seven were found to be antibody positive but HCV RNA negative at initial assessment. 93% had subsequent RNA tests. There was no evidence of HCV recurrence in patients whose infection resolved spontaneously. It appears that two initial sequential negative results for HCV RNA are sufficient to confirm spontaneous viral clearance and probable cure of hepatitis C virus infection.

Aflatoxin, proximate composition and mineral profile of stored broiler feed treated with medicinal plant leaves

OBJECTIVES

In the present investigation, the Morus alba (M. alba), Vitis vinifera (V. vinifera), Ficus religiosa (F. religiosa) and Citrus paradisi (C. paradisi) leaves anti-aflatoxigenic activities were evaluated in Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) inoculated feed.

METHODS

The broiler feed inoculated with A. flavus was treated with selected medicinal plant leaf powder (5%, 10% and 15% w/w) and stored for the period of six months at 28°C and 16% moisture. The aflatoxins (AFTs) were estimated at the end of each month by Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) method along with proximate composition and mineral contents.

RESULTS

Plant leaves controlled AFTs efficiently without affecting the feed proximate composition and mineral contents. The M. alba leaves completely inhibition (100%) the AFTs (B₁ and B₂) in feed at very low concentration (5%). Other plants also showed significant (P<0.05) inhibition of AFTs production without affecting the feed quality over the storage period of six months.

CONCLUSION

Based on promising efficiency of selected medicinal plant leaves, A. flavus produced AFTs could possibly be controlled in stored poultry feed.

Ambulatory screening of diabetic neuropathy and predictors of its severity in outpatient settings

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic neuropathy is one of the most common causes of chronic neuropathic symptomatology and the most disabling and difficult-to-treat diabetic microangiopathic complication. The neuropathies associated with diabetes are typically classified into generalized, focal and multifocal varieties. There exists a scarcity of literature studying the correlation of different patient- and disease-related variables with severity of neuropathy.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to delineate the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy in type 2 diabetes, describe its characteristics and find out predictors of its severity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eight hundred consecutive diabetic patients presenting to outpatient department (OPD) of Khan Research Labs (KRL) General Hospital and Centre for Diabetes and Liver diseases, Islamabad, during March-June, 2015 were made to complete a self-administered questionnaire (Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument-MNSI) and underwent a thorough physical examination according to MNSI protocols. A score of >2 was considered to be diagnostic for DPN. Patient and disease variables were noted. MNSI score was used as an index of severity of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Correlation of several patient- and disease-related variables with the severity of DPN was determined using multivariate regression.

RESULTS

Out of a total 800 patients screened, 90 (11.25%) were found to have diabetic neuropathy. Of these 90, 45.5% were males, the median age was 54.47 ± 10.87 years and the median duration of diabetes was 11.12 ± 9.8 years. The most common symptom was found to be numbness (63.6%) followed by generalized body weakness (61.5%). The common findings on physical examination were dry skin/callus (38.7%) and deformities (14.7%). Duration of diabetes was found to be the strongest predictor for development and severity of diabetic neuropathy followed by glycemic controls (HbA1c values) and age.

CONCLUSION

Duration of diabetes rather than diabetic controls predicts better the development and severity of diabetic neuropathy indicating a failure of intensive treatment to avert such complications.

The beam energy feedback system for Beijing electron positron collider II linac

A beam-energy feedback system has been developed for the injection linac to meet the beam quality needed for the Beijing electron positron collider II storage ring. This paper describes the implementation and commissioning of this system in detail. The system consists of an energy measurement unit, application software, and an actuator unit. A non-intersecting beam energy monitor was developed to allow real-time online energy adjustment. The beam energy adjustment is achieved by adjusting the output microwave phase of the RF power source station. The phase control mechanism has also been modified, and a new control method taking the return difference of the phase shifter into account is used to improve the system's performance. This system achieves the design aim and can adjust the beam center energy with a rate of 2 Hz. With the energy feedback system, the stability of the injection rate is better; the fluctuation range is reduced from 20 mA/min to 10 mA/min, while the stability of the beam center energy is maintained within ±0.1%.

Hepatoprotective potential of glyceryl trinitrate against chemically induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury in rats

Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) has been used widely as a potent vasodilator to treat heart conditions, such as angina pectoris and chronic heart failure. This study aims to elucidate the effect of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) administration, using GTN, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in rats. The results obtained demonstrated that NO generated by the administration of GTN affords protection against CCl4-induced oxidative stress and liver injury. Administration of CCl4 resulted in a significant ( p < 0.001) increase in lipid peroxidation and tissue damage markers (aspartate and alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase) release in serum. Parallel to these changes, CCl4 also caused downregulation of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and several fold induction in γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. Subsequent administration of GTN resulted in significant ( p < 0.001) recovery of GSH-metabolizing enzymes in a dose-dependent manner. Further, administration of NO inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), exacerbated CCl4-induced oxidative tissue injury. Overall, the study suggests that GTN might suppress oxidant-induced tissue injury and hepatotoxicity in rats.

First reported finding of a Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in a patient post Liver Transplant

The case history of a liver transplant recipient is presented, who presented with acute dyspnoea after an innocuous fall. His early management was complicated and he was eventually diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. This is the first such case report in the literature.