Complete mitochondrial genome of yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius hasta)

Yellowfin goby (Acanthogobius hasta) belongs to the Perciformes Gobiidae. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of A. hasta. The complete mitochondrial genome was determined to be 16,663 bp in length including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and 1 control region. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. gueldenstaedti provides basic genome data for relative studies on Acipenseriformes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Microdevario kubotai (Cypriniformes:Cyprinidae:Danioninae:Microdevario)

The traditional polymerase chain reaction method was employed to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of Microdevario kubotai. The mitogenome was determined to be a 16,566 bp long circular molecule. It contained the typical complement of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs. This is first report on the complete mitogenome sequence of M. kubotai.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Channa marulius (Perciformes: Channidae: Channa)

The traditional polymerase chain reaction method was employed to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of Channa marulius from Pakistan. The mitogenome was determined to be 16,569 bp in length. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs. This is the first report on the complete mitogenome sequence of C. marulius.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedti)

Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedti) belongs to the Acipenseriformes Acipenseridae. In this study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of A. gueldenstaedti from National Sturgeon Hatchery, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences. The circular mitochondrial genome was determined to be 16,595 bp in length including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and 1 control region. The complete mitochondrial genome of A. gueldenstaedti provides basic genome data for relative studies on Acipenseriformes.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Rasbora borapetensis (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae: Rasbora)

The traditional polymerase chain reaction method was employed to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of Rasbora borapetensis. The mitogenome was determined to be a 16,510 bp long circular molecule. It contained the typical complement of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs. This is first report on the complete mitogenome sequence of R. borapetensis.

Tissue metal distribution and risk assessment for important fish species from Saudi Arabia

The concentrations of nine heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mn, As and Fe) in the muscle tissue of four fish species (Oreochromis niloticus, Clarias gariepinus, Poecilia latipinna and Aphanius dispar dispar) collected from Wadi Hanifah were detected in two different seasons. The concentrations of the studied heavy metals, except for Cd, Pb, Ni and Cu in A. d. dispar and P. latipinna, were found to be below the safe limits recommended by various authorities and thus provide an indication of the extent of pollution of these metals. The present study also demonstrates that Zn and Cr were the most and least accumulated metals, respectively, in the studied fish muscle tissues. From the standpoint of human health, this study suggests that there is a possible health risk to consumers due to the current consumption rate of A. d. dispar and P. latipinna in Saudi Arabia.

Pesticides in the River Ravi and its tributaries between its stretches from Shahdara to Balloki Headworks, Punjab-Pakistan

The present study investigated the presence and potent source of pesticides and specific pesticide bearing effluent release points on the River Ravi, between the Shahdara and Balloki Headworks. Pakistan has banned the use of organochlorine and nitrogen containing pesticides, yet no attention has been paid to the continuous monitoring and assessment of these banned pesticides to make sure that they are not being used in practice. Levels of selected organochlorine and nitrogen containing pesticide residues were assessed in water collected from 18 sampling sites on the River Ravi and its tributaries using a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). All water samples were found to be contaminated with varying concentrations of pesticide residues. However, levels of pesticides were below the tolerance limits suggested in national and international standards. Pesticide concentrations in the water of river sites ranged from 0.034 to 0.045 microg/L for DDT, 0.033 to 0.046 microg/L for DDE, 0.108 to 0.123 microg/L for endosulfan and 0.028 to 0.040 microg/L for carbofuran. In tributaries, pesticide concentrations ranged from 0.0468 to 0.0685 microg/L for DDT, 0.0390 to 0.0637 microg/L for DDE, 0.111 to 0.147 microg/L for endosulfan and 0.0396 to 0.0631 microg/L for carbofuran. The results show pesticide concentrations in river water in the order: endosulfan > DDE > DDT > carbofuran. Pesticide concentrations in tributary waters decreased in the order: endosulfan > DDT> DDE > carbofuran. After Degh Fall and After Hudiara Nulla Fall river sampling sites were severely contaminated while, among the tributaries, Degh Fall and Hudiara Drain were severely contaminated with DDT, DDE, endosulfan and carbofuran. Constant monitoring programs should to be initiated to reform the present situation.

RNA-SSPT: RNA Secondary Structure Prediction Tools

The prediction of RNA structure is useful for understanding evolution for both in silico and in vitro studies. Physical methods like NMR studies to predict RNA secondary structure are expensive and difficult. Computational RNA secondary structure prediction is easier. Comparative sequence analysis provides the best solution. But secondary structure prediction of a single RNA sequence is challenging. RNA-SSPT is a tool that computationally predicts secondary structure of a single RNA sequence. Most of the RNA secondary structure prediction tools do not allow pseudoknots in the structure or are unable to locate them. Nussinov dynamic programming algorithm has been implemented in RNA-SSPT. The current studies shows only energetically most favorable secondary structure is required and the algorithm modification is also available that produces base pairs to lower the total free energy of the secondary structure. For visualization of RNA secondary structure, NAVIEW in C language is used and modified in C# for tool requirement. RNA-SSPT is built in C# using Dot Net 2.0 in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional edition. The accuracy of RNA-SSPT is tested in terms of Sensitivity and Positive Predicted Value. It is a tool which serves both secondary structure prediction and secondary structure visualization purposes.

Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil: antiproliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities

The aim of this work was to investigate and compare the antiproliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil, native to Pakistan. The essential oil content from the leaves of R. officinalis was 0.93 g 100g^-1. The GC and GC-MS analysis revealed that the major components determined in R. officinalis essential oil were 1,8-cineol (38.5%), camphor (17.1%), α-pinene (12.3%), limonene (6.23%), camphene (6.00%) and linalool (5.70%). The antiproliferative activity was tested against two cancer (MCF-7 and LNCaP) and one fibroblast cell line (NIH-3T3) using the MTT assay, while, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the reduction of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and measuring percent inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The disc diffusion and modified resazurin microtitre-plate assays were used to evaluate the inhibition zones (IZ) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of R. officinalis essential oil, respectively. It is concluded from the results that Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil exhibited antiproliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Effect of nibbling and gorging dietary regimens on weight and lipid profile in rat

To investigate the effects of nibbling and gorging dietary regimens on weight and lipid profiles in rat, thirty female Wistar rats, after 10 day acclimatization period, were weighed and randomly assigned into two equal groups. They were fed the same food for 60 days as eight meals at 2 h intervals starting from 6 pm (nibbling group) or as two meals at 9 pm and 6 am (gorging group). The serum lipid levels and weight of animals were determined before and after the intervention. The body weight in two groups increased significantly (p < 0.001) during the period of study but there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference between two groups before and after the intervention. Nibbling regimen caused a reduction in the serum Total Cholesterol (TC), triglyceride and LDL-C levels, whereas these parameters increased during gorging diet. However, none of these changes were significant. There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in TC and LDL-C levels in nibbling diet compared to gorging one. According to obtained results, nibbling regimen has better effect on lipid profile than gorging one in rat.

Awareness and Practice of Cervical Cancer Screening among Female Health Professionals in Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer, although largely preventable, remains the most common cause of cancer mortality among women in the developing world. Other members of the community see health care workers as models, therefore their attitudes and actions are predictors of societal health behaviour.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding prevention of cervical cancer among female health professionals in a secondary health facility in Kano, Nigeria.

METHODS

A structured questionnaire was administered on 230 female respondents in the various health professions including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and laboratory technologists in Murtala Mohammed Specialist hospital, Kano.

RESULTS

Over 60% of the respondents were able to correctly identify all the important aetiological factors associated with cervical cancer, while a similar figure knew the important signs and symptoms of the disease. Up to 94.7% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards Pap smear while 8.2% disapproved of it. Only 20.8% of the respondents have had a Pap smear done previously. Married respondents were more than four times likely to have had a previous Pap smear compared to their single counterparts. (X(2) = 13.3 df=1 P = 0.0003)[O.R=4.8, 95% confidence interval= 1.9 -14.4]. In contrast, religion appeared to have no significant influence on the practice (X(2)= 0.87 df=1 P=0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a moderately high level of knowledge of cervical cancer screening and positive attitude towards it, the uptake of Pap smear was low. There is a need for continuing education to improve uptake of these services by health professionals so as to serve as a motivating factor for the public. Key words: cervical cancer screening, pap smear, female health workers, knowledge, practices.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on serum lipid profiles in normal and hyperlipidemic subjects

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