H9N2 avian influenza virus dispersal along Bangladeshi poultry trading networks

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 is endemic in Bangladesh's poultry population. The subtype affects poultry production and poses a potential zoonotic risk. Insufficient understanding of how the poultry trading network shapes the dissemination of avian influenza viruses has hindered the design of targeted interventions to reduce their spread. Here, we use phylodynamic analyses of haemagglutinin sequences to investigate the spatial spread and dispersal patterns of H9N2 viruses in Bangladesh's poultry population, focusing on its two largest cities (Dhaka and Chattogram) and their poultry production and distribution networks. Our analyses suggest that H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus lineage movement occurs relatively less frequently between Bangladesh's two largest cities than within each city. H9N2 viruses detected in single markets are often more closely related to viruses from other markets in the same city than to each other, consistent with close epidemiological connectivity between markets. Our analyses also suggest that H9N2 viruses may spread more frequently between chickens of the three most commonly sold types (sunali-a cross-bred of Fayoumi hen and Rhode Island Red cock, deshi-local indigenous, and exotic broiler) in Dhaka than in Chattogram. Overall, this study improves our understanding of how Bangladesh's poultry trading system impacts avian influenza virus spread and should contribute to the design of tailored surveillance that accommodates local heterogeneity in virus dispersal patterns.

The nuclear export protein XPO1 - from biology to targeted therapy

Exportin 1 (XPO1), also known as chromosome region maintenance protein 1, plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis via the regulated export of a range of cargoes, including proteins and several classes of RNAs, from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Dysregulation of this protein plays a pivotal role in the development of various solid and haematological malignancies. Furthermore, XPO1 is associated with resistance to several standard-of-care therapies, including chemotherapies and targeted therapies, making it an attractive target of novel cancer therapies. Over the years, a number of selective inhibitors of nuclear export have been developed. However, only selinexor has been clinically validated. The novel mechanism of action of XPO1 inhibitors implies a different toxicity profile to that of other agents and has proved challenging in certain settings. Nonetheless, data from clinical trials have led to the approval of the XPO1 inhibitor selinexor (plus dexamethasone) as a fifth-line therapy for patients with multiple myeloma and as a monotherapy for patients with relapsed and/or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma. In this Review, we summarize the progress and challenges in the development of nuclear export inhibitors and discuss the potential of emerging combination therapies and biomarkers of response.

Temperature changes alter the acute toxicity responses of cypermethrin in Zebrafish

The study was carried out to determine the effect of temperature changes on acute toxicity of pyrethroid pesticide cypermethrin in zebrafish. A two-day renewal bioassay system for 96h was conducted to find out LC50 value of cypermethrin at two temperature regimes i.e. 25°C and 30°C considering as T1 and T2, respectively. During the determination of LC50 in both temperatures, blood glucose (mg/dL) levels were measured at lower concentration (0.25 µg/L) of cypermethrin. The results of acute toxicity test at 96h LC50 values were calculated through probit analysis. It was found that 96h LC50 for T1 and T2 groups were about 2.1 and 1.4 µg/L, respectively. Significantly lower LC50 of cypermethrin at T2 compared to T1 showed that higher temperature increased the toxicity of cypermethrin. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in blood glucose level (mg/dL) in 0.25 µg/L compared to 0 µg/L concentration of cypermethrin at both treatments. Dissolved oxygen decreased and free CO2 increased significantly (P<0.05) with increasing temperature, while the pH of the water was almost unchanged throughout the study period. The present study indicated the impact of increased temperature on pesticide toxicity in the aquatic ecosystem.Progressive Agriculture 29 (1): 64-70, 2018 

Phenotypic Characteristics of Commercial Layer Strains, ISA Brown and Hisex Brown

The study was conducted to observe and compare the phenotypic characteristics of ISA brown and Hisex brown commercial layer strains. A total of 200 birds were examined out of 36000 in a commercial layer farms at Chandonysh upazila (sub-district) of Chittagong district, Bangladesh during the period of July to December, 2013. Observable difference was found in several phenotypic characteristics like plumage, beak, shank, egg, comb color and comb type between ISA brown and Hisex brown. In ISA brown shank length (cm), egg weight (gm) and body weight (gm) was 3.32±0.01, 59.44±0.47 and 1846.60±11.18 respectively where in case of Hisex brown it was 3.11±0.00, 55.82±0.45 and 1769.10±33.90. Significant (P<0.05) difference was found in shank length (cm), egg weight (gm) and body weight (gm). In ISA brown beak length and age at first lay was 2.02±0.01 and 141±0.51 respectively, On the other hand for Hisex brown, it was 2.02 ± 0.01 and 141 ± 0.58. There was no Significant (P>0.05) difference between the strains in respect of shank length, egg weight and body weight. Some innate characteristics of studied strains differentiate them and any improvement program of commercial layer strains should be incorporate production objectives and trait performance of the society.International Journal of Natural Sciences (2015), 5(2) 41-45

Prospect of Solid Waste Situation and An Approach of Environmental Management Measure (EMM) Model for Sustainable Solid Waste Management: Case Study of Dhaka City

Environmental Management Measure (EMM) model will be a well-designed approach for sustainable and effective solid waste management in Dhaka city. Environmental Management Measure (EMM) model has three instruments such as economic, regulatory and suasive which proposed in this paper. This paper discusses the situation of solid waste in Dhaka city as well as it offers environmental policy recommendations to concerned authorities including effective instruments to minimize the polluting behavior of individuals and industries and to recover the cost of pollution in the city. To improve solid waste management in Dhaka city, a combination of economic, regulatory and suasive instrument are recommended. The findings of the study will be helpful for policy maker, planner, implementer and other stakeholders towards adopting more effective strategy for management of solid waste in Dhaka city. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11601 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 99 - 111, 2012

Purification of household water using a novel mixture reduces diarrhoeal disease in Matlab, Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, one of the main causes of waterborne diseases is related to the use of contaminated surface water. This pilot study was conducted to determine the acceptability and effectiveness of a recently developed surface water purifying mixture to prevent diarrhoeal diseases in a rural community in Bangladesh. The mixture, using a combination of alum potash, bleaching powder and lime, is added to 15 l of surface water and mixed; the water becomes suitable for drinking after 30 min. A total of 420 households from 15 villages were provided with the mixture and were taught how to use it. Episodes of diarrhoeal disease from study families were determined from hospital records of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) in Matlab and were compared with diarrhoea episodes among 1613 control families who were not provided with the mixture. A total of 83 diarrhoeal patients were treated at Matlab Hospital from 1613 control families, but only one patient was treated for diarrhoea from among the intervention families. Among the intervention families, 73 families decided to shift from using tube well water to surface water using the mixture. The mixture could be used as a cheaper, easier and simpler point-of-use water treatment strategy in Bangladesh.

DNA damage, somatic aneuploidy, and malignant sarcoma susceptibility in muscular dystrophies

Albeit genetically highly heterogeneous, muscular dystrophies (MDs) share a convergent pathology leading to muscle wasting accompanied by proliferation of fibrous and fatty tissue, suggesting a common MD–pathomechanism. Here we show that mutations in muscular dystrophy genes (Dmd, Dysf, Capn3, Large) lead to the spontaneous formation of skeletal muscle-derived malignant tumors in mice, presenting as mixed rhabdomyo-, fibro-, and liposarcomas. Primary MD–gene defects and strain background strongly influence sarcoma incidence, latency, localization, and gender prevalence. Combined loss of dystrophin and dysferlin, as well as dystrophin and calpain-3, leads to accelerated tumor formation. Irrespective of the primary gene defects, all MD sarcomas share non-random genomic alterations including frequent losses of tumor suppressors (Cdkn2a, Nf1), amplification of oncogenes (Met, Jun), recurrent duplications of whole chromosomes 8 and 15, and DNA damage. Remarkably, these sarcoma-specific genetic lesions are already regularly present in skeletal muscles in aged MD mice even prior to sarcoma development. Accordingly, we show also that skeletal muscle from human muscular dystrophy patients is affected by gross genomic instability, represented by DNA double-strand breaks and age-related accumulation of aneusomies. These novel aspects of molecular pathologies common to muscular dystrophies and tumor biology will potentially influence the strategies to combat these diseases.

All kinds of muscular dystrophies (MDs) are characterized by progressive muscle wasting due to life-long proliferation of precursor cells of myo- (muscle), fibro- (connective tissue), and lipogenic (fat) origin. Despite discovery of many MD genes over the past 25 years, MDs still represent debilitating, incurable diseases, which frequently lead to premature death. Thus, it is imperative to gain novel insights into the underlying MD pathomechanisms. Here, we show that different mouse models for the most common human MDs frequently develop skeletal musculature-associated tumors, presenting as complex sarcomas, consisting of myo-, lipo-, and fibrogenic compartments. Collectively, these tumors are characterized by profound genomic instability such as DNA damage, recurring mutations in cancer genes, and aberrant chromosome copy numbers. We also demonstrate the presence of these cancer-related aberrations in dystrophic muscles from MD mice prior to formation of visible sarcomas. Moreover, we discovered corresponding genomic lesions also in skeletal muscles from human MD patients, as well as stem cells cultured thereof, and show that genomic instability precedes muscle degeneration in MDs. We thus propose that cancer-like genomic instability represents a novel, unifying pathomechanism underlying the entire group of genetically distinct MDs, which will hopefully open new therapeutic avenues.