Expression of Cyclin D1 in Urothelial Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder and its Association with Tumour Grade

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common malignancy of urinary bladder. It is the 9th leading cause of death worldwide and second most common genitourinary malignancy among male. Incidence is increasing in developing countries like Bangladesh. About 80% of patients are found between 50 to 80 years of age. It is 3-4 times more common in male than in female. Determination of therapeutic strategy and prediction of progression of urothelial carcinoma is a major clinical challenge. Treatment of urothelial carcinoma still now mostly depends on pathological stages. Amplification or genomic alteration of Cyclin D1 (a proto-oncogene) may cause protein overexpression which is frequently realized as a clonal pathology in various human neoplasms including bladder cancer. Evaluation of Cyclin D1 expression is promising for guiding therapeutic strategies, risk stratification and prediction of tumor progression. The aim of the study was to determine the expression of Cyclin D1 in urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder and its association with tumour grade. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Department of Pathology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2019 to June 2021. Histomorphologically diagnosed 51 urothelial carcinomas were included. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Immunostaining with Cyclin D1 antibody was also done. Relevant information was collected and recorded in a predesigned data sheet. Statistical analysis was carried out as required. Mean age ±SD was 57.8±10.55 years. Male female ratio was 4.6:1. In this study 39(76.5%) patients were smoker. Regarding clinical presentations 36(70.6%) patients presented with painless hematuria alone. Lateral wall (64.7%) was the most frequent tumor location. Among 51 cases, 38(74.5%) cases were high grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) and 13(25.5%) cases were low grade urothelial carcinoma (LGUC). Considering Cyclin D1 expression, most of the LGUC cases showed high level of expression by both percentage (84.6%) and intensity (84.6%). Most of the HGUC cases showed low level of expression by both percentage (63.2%) and intensity (60.5%). Cyclin D1 showed significant inverse association with HGUC (p<0.05). In urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder, Cyclin D1 expression was decreased with increasing grade of the tumor. Cyclin D1 expression was inversely associated with tumour grade.

Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of okra mucilage and its antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effect in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a traditionally important vegetable herb used to treat numerous illnesses, including diabetes mellitus, in many rural parts of Bangladesh and the South Asian subcontinent. However, the scientific evidence for the aforementioned properties has not been adequately validated. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the antidiabetic, antilipidemic activity of okra mucilage powder, and to compare its effectiveness with the isolated peel-seed of okra after mucilage extraction in Swiss albino mice. After extraction, both mucilage and peel-seed were made into powder. In addition, crude protein, mineral contents, and in vitro antioxidant activity of mucilage and peel-seed powder were assessed. After acute toxicity test, methanolic extracts of both powders were administered to alloxan-induced diabetic mice for 3 weeks. Blood glucose levels were assessed weekly. Finally, blood samples were collected on day 21 to estimate blood glucose level, total protein (TP), and lipid profile levels. Okra mucilage powder showed less amount of protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and iron compared with peel-seed powder. In terms of antioxidant activity, the IC50 value and total phenolic content were found higher in okra mucilage powder in contrast to peel-seed powder. However, total flavonoid content was higher in peel-seed powder than mucilage powder. Three-week administration of mucilage and peel-seed suspensions at a dose of 150 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg significantly (p < .05) reversed the abnormal changes of bodyweights, water consumption, feed consumption, and fasting blood glucose levels of diabetic subjects. Cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins, high-density lipoproteins, and total protein were found to be significantly (p < .05) improved after mucilage and peel-seed treatment. Thus, Okra can be recommended as a potential source of antidiabetic drug candidate for the effective management of diabetes mellitus and its complications.

Effects of vitamin E, an oil blend and L-Arginine on breast meat from broiler chickens

The study examined the effects of supplementing vitamin E on the fatty acid profile and breast meat quality of broilers fed diets containing an oil blend and L-Arginine. Two hundred sixteen Cobb 500 one-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to six treatments, namely T1: 6% palm oil (control); T2: blend of 4% palm oil and 2% sunflower oil + 0.25% L-Arginine (positive control); T3: T2 with 20 mg/kg vitamin E added; T4: T2 with 50 mg/kg vitamin E added; T5: T2 with 100 mg/kg vitamin E added; and T6: T2 supplemented with 150 mg/kg vitamin E. Relative to T1, the other diets increased growth rate and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) similarly. Linoleic, arachidonic, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were greater and palmitic and saturated fatty acids were lower in the meat of birds fed T2–T6 relative to T1. Supplementation of vitamin E reduced drip loss (DL) and increased redness, tenderness, free thiol content, and the oxidative stability of meat during storage at 4 °C. Regardless of diet, free thiol, redness and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) value decreased significantly, whereas the carbonyl content, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and DL of breast meat increased over the ageing period. In conclusion, relative to T1, the other diets were effective in improving growth performance and meat quality during post-mortem storage Key words: fatty acid profile, free thiol, lipid oxidation, palm oil, protein oxidation, sunflower oil

Growth Performance, Cytokine Expression, and Immune Responses of Broiler Chickens Fed a Dietary Palm Oil and Sunflower Oil Blend Supplemented With L-Arginine and Varying Concentrations of Vitamin E

This study set out to examine the combined effects of the supplementation of a dietary palm oil (PO) and sunflower oil (SO) blend, 0. 25% L-Arginine (L-Arg), and different levels of vitamin E (Vit E) on growth performance, fat deposition, cytokine expression, and immune response in broilers. A total of 216 1-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb500) were randomly distributed into six dietary groups as follows: Diet 1: 6% palm oil (negative control); Diet 2: PO and SO blend (4% palm oil and 2% sunflower oil) + 0.25% L-Arg (positive control); Diet 3: (PO and SO blend + 0.25% L-Arg) + 20 mg/kg Vit E; Diet 4: (PO and SO blend + 0.25% L-Arg) + 50 mg/kg Vit E; Diet 5: (PO and SO blend + 0.25% L-Arg) + 100 mg/kg Vit E; and Diet 6: (PO and SO blend + 0.25% L-Arg) + 150 mg/kg Vit E. Weight gain and serum IgG and IgM increased while feed conversion ratio, fat deposition, and plasma cholesterol decreased in broilers fed Vit E with the oil blend and L-Arg, compared to those fed the negative control (Diet 1). Expression of IFN and TNF-α were reduced, whereas TGF-ß1 was up-regulated as the level of Vit E increased in the broiler diets. In summary, the combination of oil blend, L-Arg, and Vit E at a level of 50 mg/kg increased the performance and altered the expression of cytokines that may positively influence immune function in broiler chickens.

Dietary supplementation with L-arginine and combinations of different oil sources beneficially regulates body fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression, growth performance and carcass yield in broiler chickens

Context Broiler meat with excessive of fat and saturated fatty acids content has serious health implication for consumers. The accumulation of abdominal fats in broiler chickens constitutes a loss of dietary energy and also reduces carcass yield. Oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids and l-arginine are effective for reducing fat deposition and improve meat quality. Aims The aim of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation of l-arginine (l-Arg) with four combinations of palm oil (PO) and sunflower oil (SO) on growth performance, carcass yield, fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression and blood lipid profile in broiler chickens. Methods A total of 180 1-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments as: T1, 6% PO (control); T2, 6% PO + 0.25% l-Arg; T3, 4% PO + 2% SO + 0.25% l-Arg; T4, 2% PO + 4% SO + 0.25% l-Arg; and T5, 6% SO + 0.25% l-Arg. Key results Birds fed l-Arg and combinations of PO and SO had higher weight gain at starter and finisher period compared with the control. The carcass yield increased, and relative abdominal fat reduced in broiler fed with combinations of l-Arg and increased level of SO in the diet. The concentration of oleic, palmitoleic and total monounsaturated fatty acids in liver tissue decreased by addition of l-Arg in broiler diet. The palmitic and total saturated fatty acid decreased, and total unsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in liver tissue when PO replaced progressively by SO supplemented with l-Arg in the diet. The acetyl-CoA carboxylase , stearoyl-CoA desaturase and fatty acid synthetase gene expression tended to decrease by supplementation of l-Arg with an increased level of SO compared with control. Conclusion Supplementation with l-Arg and combination of PO and SO at the ratio of 4:2 could inhibit lipogenesis and subsequent lower abdominal fat deposition and enhance growth performance and carcass yield in broiler chickens. Implications Ratio of PO and SO, 4:2 with l-Arg supplementation in the dietary of broiler chickens can contribute to a better growth performance, lesser fat deposition and greater carcass yield.

Fatty acid composition, fat deposition, lipogenic gene expression and performance of broiler fed diet supplemented with different sources of oil

The present study assessed the effect of feeding palm oil (PO), sunflower oil (SO) and their combination on performance, fat deposition, fatty acid composition and lipogenic gene expression of broilers reared for 42 days. A total of 144 1-day-old broilers (Cobb500) were randomly allotted into four treatment diets with each having six replicates of six chicks in each replicate following a completely randomized design. Live weight gain and feed efficiency was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in birds fed with a combination of oil sources compared to controls. Birds fed with the combination of oil and SO alone had higher carcass yield and lower abdominal fat. Higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and lower concentrations of palmitic acid and saturated fatty acid (SFA) was found in birds fed SO alone and combinations of SO and PO. Furthermore, the outcomes showed that birds fed diet supplemented with SO and the combination of SO and PO down-regulated gene expression of key hepatic lipogenic enzymes of fatty acids synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD). These findings suggest that the diet containing the combination of 2% PO and 4% SO may reduce hepatic lipogenesis, as well as lower abdominal fat content of broilers.

Impact of national immunization days on polio-related knowledge and practice of urban women in Bangladesh

Bangladesh began to hold National Immunization Days (NIDs) from 1995 as part of the country's goal to eradicate poliomyelitis by the turn of the century. The NIDs brought together government agencies, the media, voluntary organisations and individual volunteers in social mobilization and service delivery activities. This paper assesses the impact of the first two polio NIDs in terms of the immunization coverage and change in knowledge about the disease among women living in Dhaka city, the capital of the country. Data were collected through pre- and post-NID cross-sectional surveys in a sample of one area of Dhaka city which included slum and non-slum households. Knowledge data were collected from 525 women with at least one child aged less than five years. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) coverage during NIDs was obtained from 720 children. Knowledge of polio as a vaccine preventable disease increased after NIDs among both slum and non-slum women. The knowledge gap between the two groups was significantly reduced. Field workers, who regularly visit women at their homes to promote health and family planning services, were the main source of information for the slum women while television was cited as the most important source of information by non-slum women. The study revealed that 88% of children under five years received at least one dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV) during NIDs, and 67% received two stipulated doses with no significant differences between slum (65%) and non-slum (69%) groups. In addition, 68% of the children contacted during the NIDs were given vitamin A supplementation. The study suggests that strategies like NID can be effectively used to tap into community resources and to generate political commitments for health programmes.

A new EPI strategy to reach high risk urban children in Bangladesh: urban volunteers

Many community based outreach programs in low income countries utilize illiterate women to provide health services. However, illiteracy may present special problems in immunization or other programs requiring extensive record-keeping and follow-up. In a trial involving twenty-nine volunteers from urban slum communities in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a community-based referral and record-keeping system for use by semi-literate and illiterate volunteers in immunization outreach activities was evaluated over a thirteen month period. The women were uniformly, regardless of literacy, able to use the system to effectively refer and follow-up clients. Although volunteer performance as measured by numbers of referrals was below initial targets, completion rates were high; 87% of children and 96% of women referred completed the full series of immunizations. By facilitating active community participation, the system provides a feasible approach to reducing the high drop-out rates currently associated with immunization programs.

Parasitic, bacterial and viral pathogens isolated from diarrhoeal and routine stool specimens of urban Bangladeshi children

Few data exist in Bangladesh on longitudinal, community-based studies of bacterial or parasitic pathogens identified in routine and diarrhoeal stools of urban dwelling children. We undertook the following study on 343 children of age less than 6 years who resided in one of 51 slum settings in Dhaka, Bangladesh, between October 1984 and February 1986. Specimens from diarrhoeal episodes and from routine stools obtained at 3-monthly intervals were examined for parasites, rotavirus and pathogenic bacteria. Parasites were isolated from 509 (51%) of the 1006 routine stools and from 95 (42%) of the 225 diarrhoeal stools. Isolation rates steadily increased with age. Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura accounted for approximately 80% of all parasitic isolates in routine and diarrhoeal stools. Giardia lamblia was isolated from 11% diarrhoeal stools. Entamoeba histolytica was an uncommon isolate (less than 1%). Bacterial pathogens were identified in 55 (24%) of the diarrhoeal stools but were identified in only 164 (16%) of the 1028 routine stools examined (P less than 0.01). Toxigenic Escherichia coli, Shigellae and Campylobacter were the most frequent isolates from diarrhoeal and routine specimens. This pathogen profile appears to be more in keeping with that from urban settings in other developing countries than from rural Bangladesh, suggesting that extrapolations from rural-based data should not be made for urban settings.

Comparability of results obtained by two-week home maintained diarrhoeal calendar with two-week diarrhoeal recall

Many community based studies of diarrhoea in the developing world employ face-to-face interviews to obtain diarrhoeal histories. An alternative recording device that preserved the accuracy but avoided the expense and time commitment of the interview would be extremely valuable. To evaluate the comparability of episodes of diarrhoea obtained from a home-maintained two-week calendar with those histories given in response to a two-week health recall interview in a largely uneducated population, we studied approximately 1500 families for six months in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The diarrhoea records obtained for children by the two methods were highly comparable (Kappa value 0.83). The comparability was not impaired either by lack of maternal education nor by increased numbers of children in the household. We conclude that the two-week home maintained diarrhoea calendar offers comparable results with the two-week recall and in certain situations could be a useful substitute.