Population genetic data for 12 X-STR loci in the Central Saudi region using investigator Argus X-12 amplification kit

BACKGROUND

X-chromosome short tandem repeat (X-STR) markers are important in forensic identity investigations and kinship analysis.

SUBJECT AND METHODS

In the current study, the distribution of 12 X-STR loci located in four linkage groups was evaluated using Investigator^® Argus X-12 Amplification Kit in 200 unrelated healthy individuals (105 males and 95 females) from the central region of Saudi Arabia in order to develop an allelic frequency database for the markers included in the kit.

RESULTS

DXS10146 locus was the most informative with 21 alleles, while DXS8378 locus was the least with five alleles. Forensic parameters showed that all X-STRs loci, either as individual markers or as linkage groups, provide genetic information with high discrimination that is appropriate for forensic purposes with polymorphism information content (PIC), power of exclusion (PE), and paternity index (PI) varying from 0.61211 to 0.917979, 0.38722 to 0.842949, and 0.038416 to 0.16367, respectively. The pairwise genetic distance fixation index (Fst) results showed that the Saudi population is genetically closer to the Egyptian and Emirati populations and distant to the Turkish population.

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed that Investigator^® Argus 12 X-STR kit would support the forensic application, kinship testing involving female offspring, and human identification in the Saudi population.

Honey and its nutritional and anti-inflammatory value

Inflammation is the main key role in developing chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases which possess a huge challenge for treatment. With massively compelling evidence of the role played by nutritional modulation in preventing inflammation-related diseases, there is a growing interest into the search for natural functional foods with therapeutic and preventive actions. Honey, a nutritional healthy product, is produced mainly by two types of bees: honeybee and stingless bee. Since both types of honey possess distinctive phenolic and flavonoid compounds, there is recently an intensive interest in their biological and clinical actions against inflammation-mediated chronic diseases. This review shed the light specifically on the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of honey polyphenols and highlight their roles in targeting inflammatory pathways in gastrointestinal tract disorders, edema, cancer, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and gut microbiota.

Acute Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Induced by Lipopolysaccharide and the Ameliorative Effect of Stingless Bee Honey

BACKGROUND

Systemic acute inflammation is the hallmark of sepsis and is associated with multiple organ dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the potential of Stingless Bee Honey (SBH) to suppress lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic acute inflammation in rats and to reveal the probable mechanism of action.

METHODS

Rats received 4.6 and 9.2 g/kg SBH for 7 days followed by a single injection of LPS after which blood samples were taken 6h later.

RESULTS

LPS induced liver, kidney, heart, and lung injury, were manifested by increased serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, creatine kinase, creatinine, and urea, along with multiple histological alterations, particularly leukocyte infiltration. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were elevated in the serum, and NF-κB p65, p38 MAPK, and HMGB-1 were significantly increased in different tissues of LPS-challenged rats. SBH prevented tissue injury, ameliorated pro-inflammatory cytokines, and suppressed NF-κB p65, p38 MAPK, and HMGB-1 in rats that had received LPS. In addition, SBH diminished reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative DNA damage, and enhanced glutathione and Nrf2 in LPS-treated rats.

CONCLUSION

SBH prevents systemic acute inflammation by suppressing NF-κB, p38 MAPK, HMGB-1, oxidative stress, and tissue injury in rats. Thus, SBH may represent an effective anti-inflammatory nutraceutical, pending further mechanistic studies.