SARS-CoV2 Nsp3 protein triggers cell death and exacerbates amyloid β42-mediated neurodegeneration

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202406000-00044/inline-graphic1/v/2023-10-30T152229Z/r/image-tiff

Infection caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) virus, responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, induces symptoms including increased inflammatory response, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), cognitive dysfunction like brain fog, and cardiovascular defects. Long-term effects of SARS-CoV2 COVID-19 syndrome referred to as post-COVID-19 syndrome on age-related progressive neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease remain understudied. Using the targeted misexpression of individual SARS-CoV2 proteins in the retinal neurons of the Drosophila melanogaster eye, we found that misexpression of nonstructural protein 3 (Nsp3), a papain-like protease, ablates the eye and generates dark necrotic spots. Targeted misexpression of Nsp3 in the eye triggers reactive oxygen species production and leads to apoptosis as shown by cell death reporters, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and dihydroethidium staining. Furthermore, Nsp3 misexpression activates both apoptosis and autophagy mechanism(s) to regulate tissue homeostasis. Transient expression of SARS-CoV2 Nsp3 in murine neuroblastoma, Neuro-2a cells, significantly reduced the metabolic activity of these cells and triggers cell death. Misexpression of SARS-CoV2 Nsp3 in an Alzheimer’s disease transgenic fly eye model (glass multiple repeats [GMR]>amyloid β42) further enhances the neurodegenerative rough eye phenotype due to increased cell death. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV2 utilizes Nsp3 protein to potentiate cell death response in a neurodegenerative disease background that has high pre-existing levels of neuroinflammation and cell death.

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic response of the seeds of Amomum subulatum roxb and Vitex negundo

Abstract The current study was designed to check the anthelmintic activities of some local plants. Seeds of Amomum (A.) subulatum and Vitex (V.) negundo in different solvents were subjected to in vitro (adult motility assay; AMA and egg hatch assay; EHA) and in vivo (faecal egg count reduction test; FECRT) anthelmintic activity testing protocols using Haemonchus (H.) contortus as an experimental model. The results of AMA, EHA, and FECRT were statistically analysed through linear regression and Duncan multiple range test. In AMA test, at 50 mg mL-1 concentration, the percent mortality of H. contortus was higher in A. subulatum than V. negundo, whereas, in EHA test, A. subulatum was proven better ovicidal (LC50=14.2 µg mL-1) than V. negundo (LC50= 65.7405 µg mL-1). The FECRT also indicated the better efficacy of A. subulatum than V. negundo against natural infection of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites. The crude powder of plants used in this study showed 29.6% to 57.7% anthelmintic. The reduction rate was found higher for A. subulatum (3 g kg-1) as compared to V. negundo (7 g kg-1). Reagrding efficacy analysis of solvents used for plants extract, ethyl acetate and chloroform were found better in increasing ovicidal activity in adult worms (in vitro testing), whereas, the crude aqueous methanol was found better than the crude powders in in vivo testing. It will be beneficial to document the indigenous knowledge to standard scientific procedures for their validation. This study will help to motivate the farmers to make a better choice of cultivation of the indigenous plants because of their varying efficacies as an alternative preventive approach against the GI parasitic infections.

Early weaning and biological sex shape long-term immune and metabolic responses in pigs

During the early pre and postnatal life, host and environmental factors can impart a major influence on immune development, thus shaping lifelong disease resistance. Two major factors known to influence immune function and mortality in animals and people are early life stress and biological sex. How these two factors interact to shape long-term immune development and later life disease risk is poorly understood. Here we investigated how early weaning, a common early life stressor in pigs, and biological sex impacts long-term systemic inflammatory responses and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) activation later in life. Ten-week-old female (F), intact-male (IM) and castrated-male (CM) pigs that were randomly assigned to early weaning (EW) and later weaning (LW) (at 15 or 28 days of age, respectively) were intramuscularly injected with either saline vehicle or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce a systemic inflammatory response. Complete blood counts (CBC), proinflammatory cytokines, cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, and rectal temp were measured at 0 h, 2 h, and 4 h post-LPS challenge. At 4 h post-LPS, peritoneal fluid (PF) and white blood cells (WBC) were collected for differential analysis. LPS challenge significantly increased rectal temp and plasma cortisol level in all treatment groups. Together, the CBC results and immune cell counts in peritoneal cavity indicated that EW-F exhibited greater systemic immune response characterized by increased neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and enhanced neutrophil trafficking to the peritoneal cavity. Early weaning had an opposite effect on IM and CM pigs, which exhibited a suppressed LPS-induced neutrophil migration. Early weaning induced significantly greater cortisol responses only in IM pigs indicating a heightened HPA axis responses in EW-IM. how early weaning and biological sex affect immune and stress responses in pigs. Together, these results demonstrate that early weaning and biological sex and castration shape later life immune responses in pigs and provides insight into potential mechanisms driving sex differences in later life inflammatory disease risk and mortality.

ZFP36 ring finger protein like 1 significantly suppresses human coronavirus OC43 replication

CCCH-type zinc figure proteins (ZFP) are small cellular proteins that are structurally maintained by zinc ions. Zinc ions coordinate the protein structure in a tetrahedral geometry by binding to cystine-cystine or cysteines-histidine amino acids. ZFP's unique structure enables it to interact with a wide variety of molecules including RNA; thus, ZFP modulates several cellular processes including the host immune response and virus replication. CCCH-type ZFPs have shown their antiviral efficacy against several DNA and RNA viruses. However, their role in the human coronavirus is little explored. We hypothesized that ZFP36L1 also suppresses the human coronavirus. To test our hypothesis, we used OC43 human coronavirus (HCoV) strain in our study. We overexpressed and knockdown ZFP36L1 in HCT-8 cells using lentivirus transduction. Wild type, ZFP36L1 overexpressed, and ZFP36L1 knockdown cells were each infected with HCoV-OC43, and the virus titer in each cell line was measured over 96 hours post-infection (p.i.). Our results show that HCoV-OC43 replication was significantly reduced with ZFP36L1 overexpression while ZFP36L1 knockdown significantly enhanced virus replication. ZFP36L1 knockdown HCT-8 cells started producing infectious virus at 48 hours p.i. which was an earlier timepoint as compared to wild -type and ZFP36L1 overexpressed cells. Wild-type and ZFP36L1 overexpressed HCT-8 cells started producing infectious virus at 72 hours p.i. Overall, the current study showed that overexpression of ZFP36L1 suppressed human coronavirus (OC43) production.

Developmental alterations of intestinal SGLT1 and GLUT2 induced by early weaning coincides with persistent low-grade metabolic inflammation in female pigs

Early-life adversity (ELA) is linked with the increased risk for inflammatory and metabolic diseases in later life, but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Intestinal epithelial glucose transporters sodium-glucose-linked transporter 1 (SGLT1) and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) are the major route for intestinal glucose uptake but have also received increased attention as modulators of inflammatory and metabolic diseases. Here, we tested the hypothesis that early weaning (EW) in pigs, an established model of ELA, alters the development of epithelial glucose transporters and coincides with elevated markers of metabolic inflammation. The jejunum and ileum of 90-day-old pigs previously exposed to EW (16 days wean age), exhibited reduced SGLT1 activity (by ∼ 30%, P < 0.05) than late weaned (LW, 28 days wean age) controls. In contrast, GLUT2-mediated glucose transport was increased (P = 0.003) in EW pigs than in LW pigs. Reciprocal changes in SGLT1- and GLUT2-mediated transport coincided with transporter protein expression in the intestinal brush-border membranes (BBMs) that were observed at 90 days and 150 days of age. Ileal SGLT1-mediated glucose transport and BBM expression were inhibited by the β-adrenergic receptor (βAR) blocker propranolol in EW and LW pigs. In contrast, propranolol enhanced ileal GLUT2-mediated glucose transport (P = 0.015) and brush-border membrane vesicle (BBMV) abundance (P = 0.035) in LW pigs, but not in EW pigs. Early-weaned pigs exhibited chronically elevated blood glucose and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and adipocyte hypertrophy and upregulated adipogenesis-related gene expression in visceral adipose tissue. Altered development of intestinal glucose transporters by EW could underlie the increased risk for later life inflammatory and metabolic diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY These studies reveal that early-life adversity in the form of early weaning in pigs causes a developmental shift in intestinal glucose transport from SGLT1 toward GLUT2-mediated transport. Early weaning also induced markers of metabolic inflammation including persistent elevations in blood glucose and the inflammatory marker CRP, along with increased visceral adiposity. Altered intestinal glucose transport might contribute to increased risk for inflammatory and metabolic diseases associated with early-life adversity.

Interaction between biological sex and early life adversity on gastrointestinal (GI) immune development

Early postnatal life represents a critical window of GI immune development when lifelong immune function is shaped. Yet, little is known on how early life events impact long-term immune development in animals and people. Based on our previous research, we investigated how biological sex and early weaning (EW) stress interact to shape long-term GI immune development in the pig. Female (F), male intact (MI) and male castrated (MC) piglets (Yorkshire-cross) were weaned at 17 d (EW) or at 26 d of age (Later weaning; LW). At 77 d of age, tissue samples were harvested for RNA-seq, qPCR, and immunoassays. Serum cytokine and ileal mucosal IgG responses were measured following oral and intramuscular vaccination for Lawsonia intracellularis (LI) and PCV2, respectively. Compared with LW pigs, EW MC and MI pigs had reduced body weight gain (P&lt;0.05). The impact of biological sex and EW were observed in vaccine responses. Serum from F showed higher PCV2-specific IgG titers and LI-antibody levels compared with MC and MI pigs. EW F had higher IgG titers in response to vaccination compared with LW F. In contrast, EW MC had suppressed antibody titers compared with LW MC. Pathway analysis of RNA-seq data from ileal mucosa revealed enrichment of genes associated with increased in immune-related pathways (e.g. inflammation) in EW F. In contrast, EW MC exhibited enrichment for genes associated with a down-regulation of immune response (e.g. immune cell migration). Together, these studies showed that biological sex and EW have a major impact on GI immune development in the pig. An understanding of the role and underlying sex-specific mechanisms driving altered immune development in EW pigs could reveal new targets for enhancing early and long-term immune development.

352 Feeding treated wheat straw to weaned pigs improves feed efficiency and impacts mucosal and system immune parameters

A management challenge on swine farms is the successful weaning of piglets. Recently, the management of weaning has become more challenging with society’s goal to diminish antimicrobial use. Dietary fiber is increasingly thought important for improving the gastrointestinal development and function, health and the growth performance of the young animal. The objective was to evaluate the effects of feeding treated wheat straw (TWC, with acid, heat, and calcium carbonate) to weaned pigs. At 27.1 ± 1.3 d of age, 108 crossbred (PIC 327 x Yorkshire) pigs were weaned and randomly allotted to 3 treatments: 1) control, 2) 5% TWS, and 3) 10% TWS. Treatments were imposed over 3 nursery phases (7, 7 and 14 d, respectively). All diets met or exceed the nutrient requirements of NRC (2012) and were isocaloric within each phase. No antibiotic was fed, and neither were pharmacological amounts of copper or zinc. There were 6 pens (6 pigs per pen) per treatment. Pig gains were maintained, and feed efficiency improved with TWS in the diet (Table 1). Relative to controls, inclusion of TWS tended to increase (P = 0.12) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression in peripheral blood circulating monocytes (PBMC), an index of enhanced antigen presentation to the immune system, which may reflect an enhanced development of immune function. A trend (P = 0.10) for lower serum IgA levels (marker of mucosal immunity) was observed in pigs fed 10% TWS, compared with other treatments. Overall these data suggest that dietary TWS benefited growth performance and influenced mucosal and systemic immune measures which may provide benefits to health.

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191 Early weaning in pigs induces long-term alterations in intestinal nutrient transporter function and expression partially via beta adrenergic enteric neural receptors

Early weaning (EW) has negative impacts on performance and health that persist from wean-to-finish. The mechanisms linking EW and lifetime performance reductions are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to investigate whether EW influences the long-term development of intestinal epithelial nutrient transporter function and expression and the potential mechanisms. Yorkshire gilts were split-weaned from their sows at 15 d (EW) or 28 d of age (Late Weaning; LW) and transferred to an on-site nursery room. All pigs received the same diets in a standard phase feeding program and were euthanized at 75 d of age. Mid-jejunum and distal ileum were mounted on Ussing chambers to evaluate Na+-dependent glucose and amino acid (AA) transporter function, measured as nutrient-induced changes in short circuit current (Isc). EW gilts exhibited reduced capacity for electrogenic transport of glucose (by ~30%; P < 0.05) and glutamate, glutamine, and alanine by (~ 30–35%; P < 0.05), compared with LW pigs. In contrast, jejunal and ileal lysine transporter function was upregulated (by 110% and 25%, respectively; P < 0.05) in EW pigs. Epithelial expression for glucose transporter (SGLT1) was reduced (P < 0.05) while glucose/fructose transporter (GLUT2), fructose transporter (GLUT5) and lysine transporters (B0AT1, CAT1, and ATB0, +) were enhanced in the EW jejunum. No differences observed in villus morphology between EW and LW pigs. Pretreatment of ileal mucosa on Ussing chambers with the Na+ channel blocker (Tetrodotoxin) or the β-adrenergic receptor blocker (Propranolol) augmented glucose, lysine and alanine transporter function in EW but not LW pigs. Together, these data show that EW in gilts induces lasting and divergent alterations in intestinal nutrient transporter function and expression which is mediated in part by the enteric nervous system and β-adrenergic receptor pathways. These new findings may explain why EW pigs exhibit lasting deleterious impacts on performance. Further mechanism-based investigations could reveal new targets for optimizing performance in EW pigs throughout the production lifespan.

Weaning and postnatal age influence the early time course and nature of intestinal mast cell activation and mucosal inflammation in a porcine model of early life adversity

Early life adversity (ELA) is a risk factor for later life emergence of functional and inflammatory GI disorders in people and animals. In this study, we compared the early GI immune responses in male piglets exposed to early weaning (EW) at 16–18 d of age, a form of ELA we’ve previously shown result in altered GI developmental and health trajectories similar to ELA in humans, with that of late weaned piglets (LW: 28 d of wean age). RNA transcriptome analysis of ileal mucosa at 24h post-weaning revealed that EW pigs exhibited a greater number of differentially expressed genes (765 vs 110 genes, for EW and LW piglets, respectively), characterized by a large number of upregulated genes associated with immune cell trafficking and inflammation. Mast cells (MC), stress-sensitive innate immune cells which orchestrate the immune response, were acutely activated in EW and LW pigs but in a differential manner. Compared with LW piglets, EW piglets exhibited higher levels of serum histamine which coincided with a downregulation in the gene expression of histamine degrading enzymes, DAO and HNMT in intestinal mucosa. Mast cell tryptase (MCT7) and chymase (CMA1) gene expression were upregulated in ileal and colonic mucosa (within 3h post-weaning) in both EW and LW piglets; however, this response was greater in LW pigs. Together, these data show that weaning stress in piglets induces rapid GI MC activation which precedes immune cell recruitment and intestinal inflammation and that postnatal age has a significant influence on the level and nature of this response. Further investigation of how EW and LW piglets differentially regulate early GI immune responses is expected to provide new insight into the mechanisms of GI and immune disorders associated with ELA.

Mast cell corticotropin-releasing factor subtype 2 suppresses mast cell degranulation and limits the severity of anaphylaxis and stress-induced intestinal permeability

BACKGROUND

Psychological stress and heightened mast cell (MC) activation are linked with important immunologic disorders, including allergy, anaphylaxis, asthma, and functional bowel diseases, but the mechanisms remain poorly defined. We have previously demonstrated that activation of the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system potentiates MC degranulation responses during IgE-mediated anaphylaxis and psychological stress through corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 1 (CRF₁) expressed on MCs.

OBJECTIVE

In this study we investigated the role of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor subtype 2 (CRF₂) as a modulator of stress-induced MC degranulation and associated disease pathophysiology.

METHODS

In vitro MC degranulation assays were performed with bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) derived from wild-type (WT) and CRF₂-deficient (CRF₂^-/-) mice and RBL-2H3 MCs transfected with CRF₂-overexpressing plasmid or CRF₂ small interfering RNA. In vivo MC responses and associated pathophysiology in IgE-mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis and acute psychological restraint stress were measured in WT, CRF₂^-/-, and MC-deficient Kit^W-sh/W-sh knock-in mice.

RESULTS

Compared with WT mice, CRF₂^-/- mice exhibited greater serum histamine levels and exacerbated IgE-mediated anaphylaxis and colonic permeability. In addition, CRF₂^-/- mice exhibited increased serum histamine levels and colonic permeability after acute restraint stress. Experiments with BMMCs and RBL-2H3 MCs demonstrated that CRF₂ expressed on MCs suppresses store-operated Ca²⁺ entry signaling and MC degranulation induced by diverse MC stimuli. Experiments with MC-deficient Kit^W-sh/W-sh mice systemically engrafted with WT and CRF₂^-/- BMMCs demonstrated the functional importance of MC CRF₂ in modulating stress-induced pathophysiology.

CONCLUSIONS

MC CRF₂ is a negative global modulator of stimuli-induced MC degranulation and limits the severity of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis and stress-related disease pathogenesis.

Weaning stress and gastrointestinal barrier development: Implications for lifelong gut health in pigs

The gastrointestinal (GI) barrier serves a critical role in survival and overall health of animals and humans. Several layers of barrier defense mechanisms are provided by the epithelial, immune and enteric nervous systems. Together they act in concert to control normal gut functions (e.g., digestion, absorption, secretion, immunity, etc.) whereas at the same time provide a barrier from the hostile conditions in the luminal environment. Breakdown of these critical GI functions is a central pathophysiological mechanism in the most serious GI disorders in pigs. This review will focus on the development and functional properties of the GI barrier in pigs and how common early life production stressors, such as weaning, can alter immediate and long-term barrier function and disease susceptibility. Specific stress-related pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for driving GI barrier dysfunction induced by weaning and the implications to animal health and performance will be discussed.

Developing polymer-drug complex based toll-like receptor (TLR-2/TLR-4) antagonist for modulating gut innate immune system to prevent/treat IBD and colon cancer

Continuous inflammation in the colon often leads to chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer. Recent evidence strongly suggests the role of Toll-Like Receptors 2 and 4 in the etiology of aforementioned diseases. Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of TLR-2/TLR-4 has been a new promising strategy for preventing inflammation in IBD and colorectal cancer. In the current study, we have developed a novel polymer-drug complex (Ora-Curcumin) as a TLR-2/TLR-4 antagonist to modulate the gut innate immune system. Ora-Curcumin is a molecular complex of curcumin with a hydrophilic polymer Eudrgit® S100 prepared by nano-precipitation. Ora-curcumin is more water soluble (~1000 times) and stable than curcumin in aqueous buffers. It is water soluble only at pHs above 6.8. Therefore, once consumed orally, it is expected to be soluble and functionally available only at the luminal side of the colon where the pH reaches 6.8. In addition, Ora-Curcumin was potent TLR-4 antagonist that significantly inhibited the release of IL-8 and TNF-a from TLR-4 expressing human kidney epithelial cells (HEK293TLR4YFP-MD2) and mouse dendritic cells, respectively, in response to TLR stimulation with Monophosphoryl Lipid A (MPLA) or dead E. coli. The in-vivo potential of Ora-Curcumin in modulation of acute inflammation and intestinal microbiome is currently in progress. To this end, we have developed a unique polymer based water soluble TLR-2/TLR-4 antagonist which also provides enhanced local delivery to colon to prevent or treat IBD and colorectal cancer. As an anti-bacterial and by altering host immune system to control inflammation, Ora-Curcumin is also expected to modulate colon microbiome and improve GI health.

Discovery of inulin acetate as a novel immune-active polymer and vaccine adjuvant: synthesis, material characterization, and biological evaluation as a toll-like receptor-4 agonist

Vaccine adjuvants are an essential part of modern vaccine design, especially against intracellular pathogens such as M. tuberculosis, malarial parasite, HIV, influenza virus and Ebola. The present work offers a unique approach to designing novel vaccine adjuvants by identifying polymers that mimic "pathogen associated molecular patterns" (PAMPS) and engineering an immune-active particulate vaccine delivery system that uses the polymer. By using this strategy, we report the discovery of the first plant polymer based toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) agonist, inulin acetate (InAc). InAc was synthesised from the plant polysaccharide inulin. Inulin acetate as a polymer and particles prepared using InAc were characterised using various physicochemical techniques. The TLR-4 agonistic activity of InAc was established in multiple immune, microglial, dendritic, peripheral blood mononuclear (human and swine) and genetically modified epithelial cells (HEK293) that exclusively express TLR-4 on their surface. InAc activated all the above-mentioned cells to release proliferative cytokines; however, InAc failed to activate when the were cells either pre-incubated with a TLR-4 specific antagonist or isolated from mice deficient in adapter proteins involved in TLR signalling (Mal/MyD88). Antigen encapsulated microparticles prepared with TLR-4 agonist InAc mimicked pathogens to offer improved antigen delivery to dendritic cells compared to soluble antigen (47 times) or antigen encapsulated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) particles (1.57 times). In conclusion, InAc represents a novel polymer-based modern vaccine adjuvant targeting specific signalling pathways of the innate immune system, which could be formulated into a platform vaccine delivery system against cancer and viral diseases.

Bovine natural killer cells are infected by BVDV and the infection results in changes in phenotype and activation markers (P6128)

Bovine viral diarrhea virus infection results in immunosuppression and persistence infection of fetuses. Understanding the interaction between BVDV and NK cells is important to understand the ability of the virus to establish its infection especially through placental barrier to generate persistently infected animals. In this study, we demonstrated that BVDV is able to infect bovine NK cells by detecting the presence of BVDV RNA level up to 24 hours post infection without any increase in RNA levels over time. We also confirmed that although BVDV viral RNA was present, there was neither infectious virus release at any time post infection nor decrease in cell viability due to infection. Using immunofluorescence staining of NK cells with a mAb specific for BVDV E2 protein, we demonstrated the presence of BVDV E2 proteins in NK cells. The effect of BVDV strains that differ in its virulence or biotype on NK activation marker CD25 and phenotype markers CD2, NKp46 and the granule protein granulysin was determined. Highly virulent BVDV strains significantly decreased surface expression of each of these markers with a slight increase in the total number of cells expressing the markers 24 hour post infection. On the other hand less virulent strains increased significantly the percent of expression but with a slight decrease in the number of cells expressing the markers.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation of low birth weight term Indian infants from birth on cytokine production at 6 months

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with impaired resistance to infection, which may be mediated by alterations in cytokine responses. We investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation to infants on whole blood in-vitro cytokine production and on the inflammatory marker, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP).

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Blood samples were taken at 6 months of age from infants participating in the DIVIDS (Delhi Infant Vitamin D Supplementation) randomized controlled trial of weekly vitamin D supplements (1400 IU = recommended intake) from birth to 6 months with the aim of decreasing mortality and severe morbidity. We measured plasma CRP and whole blood in-vitro production of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interferon-γ (INFγ), interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-13 following no stimulation or stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or phytohemagglutinin.

RESULTS

Although the intervention improved vitamin D status in a severely deficient population, there were no differences between treatment groups in plasma CRP or in the production of any of the cytokines in either unstimulated or stimulated cultures. Recent illness had limited association with immunological markers. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were not associated with CRP or production of any cytokines.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D supplementation did not affect plasma CRP or whole blood cytokine production of vitamin D-deficient low birth weight infants. This is consistent with the lack of effect of vitamin D on mortality and severe morbidity among infants in the DIVIDS trial.

CEPHEUS SA: a South African survey on the undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia

AIM

The aim of the CEntralised Pan-South African survey on tHE Under-treatment of hypercholeSterolaemia (CEPHEUS SA) was to evaluate the current use and efficacy of lipidlowering drugs (LLDs), and to identify possible patient and physician characteristics associated with failure, if any, to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets.

METHODS

The survey was conducted in 69 study centres in South Africa and recruited consecutive consenting patients who had been prescribed LLDs for at least three months. One visit was scheduled for data collection, including fasting plasma lipid and glucose levels. Physicians and patients completed questionnaires regarding their knowledge, awareness and perceptions of hypercholesterolaemia and the treatment thereof.

RESULTS

Of the 3 001 patients recruited, 2 996 were included in the final analyses. The mean age was 59.4 years, and 47.5% were female. Only 60.5 and 52.3% of patients on LLDs for at least three months achieved the LDL-C target recommended by the NCEP ATP III/2004 updated NCEP ATP III and the Fourth JETF/South African guidelines, respectively. Being male, older than 40 years, falling into the lower-risk categories, compliance with the medication regimen, and patient knowledge that the LDL-C goal had been reached, were associated with the highest probability of attaining LDL-C goals.

CONCLUSION

The results of this survey highlight the sub-optimal lipid control achieved in many South African patients taking lipid-lowering therapy.

Effect of air pollution on peri-urban agriculture: a case study

Peri-urban agriculture is vital for the urban populations of many developing countries. Increases in both industrialization and urbanization, and associated air pollution threaten urban food production and its quality. Six hour mean concentrations were monitored for SO(2), NO(2) and O(3) and plant responses were measured in terms of physiological characteristics, pigment, biomass and yield. Parameter reductions in mung bean (Vigna radiata), palak (Beta vulgaris), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and mustard (Brassica compestris) grown within the urban fringes of Varanasi, India correlated directly with the gaseous pollutants levels. The magnitude of response involved all three gaseous pollutants at peri-urban sites; O(3) had more influence at a rural site. The study concluded that air pollution in Varanasi could negatively influence crop yield.