Biosorption potential of lead tolerant fungi isolated from refuse dumpsite soil in Nigeria

Metals are non-biodegradable and recurrent in the environs. Heavy metals tolerant fungiwere isolated from refuse dumpsite soil using pour plate method. These fungiwere identified as Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenumandRhizomucor sp. The fungal isolates were screened for cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) with concentration of 200ppm, 400ppm and 600ppm. Aspergillus nigerand Penicillium chrysogenumshowed high tolerance for the metals in contrast to the control. The fungiwith high tolerance were used for biosorption study. However, Penicillium chrysogenumshowed higher lead removal or biosorption potential of 1.07ppm, 3.35ppm and 4.19ppm as compared with Aspergillus nigerwith lead removal of 0.67ppm, 3.11ppm and 3.79ppm at 5th, 10thand 15thday respectively. One-way Analysis of Variance was used to interpret the data generated from the biosorption study which revealed that there was no significant different (p>0.05)between the lead removal of Aspergillus nigerandPenicillium chrysogenumon the 5thday but there was significant difference (p<0.05)in the lead removal of Aspergillus nigerand Penicillium chrysogenumon the 10thand 15thday. This study suggests the use of these fungal isolates for removal and biotreatment of heavy metal contaminated and polluted environment.

Pseudo hypoaldosteronism type 1B due to novel deletion mutation in SCNN1A gene

Pseudo hypoaldosteronism type 1B (PHA1B) is a systemic form of salt wasting. Children present after the first week of life with typical symptoms of an adrenal crisis. PHA1B is caused by autosomal recessive homozygous mutations in genes encoding epithelial sodium channels (ENaC) subunits ?, ? and ?. ENaC are widespread and present in renal tubules, airways, colon, sweat and salivary glands. Electrolyte imbalance is significant with severe hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. In early life until approximately one year of age electrolytes remain unstable despite active management but then gradually improve. The mainstay of treatment is high dose salt replacement, sodium bicarbonate and sodium polystyrene therapy. The adequate treatment and monitoring can result in normal physical and psychomotor development. We present a case of PHA1B with severe intractable electrolyte imbalances in neonatal period. The genetic sequence revealed a novel homozygous deletion mutation in exon 4 of the SCNN1A gene (c.942delC, p.N315Tfs*16).

Biomass quality of Scenedesmus sp. cultivated in wet market wastewater

@#Aim:This study aims to assess the wet market wastewater efficiency as Scenedesmussp. biomass production medium based on the physical and chemical characteristic as well as the biomass compositions. Methodology and results:The experiments were set up in transparent glass tank (40 L) containing 20 L of wastewater. The efficiency of different concentrations (10, 15, 20 and 25%) of wet market wastewater diluted with distilled water was compared to Bold Basal Medium (BBM). The biomass was harvested after 12 days of the incubation period by centrifugation. The quantity of biomass yielded was estimated based on the microalgae cell concentrations, while quality of biomass yield was determined by GC-MS. The nutrient contents of the raw wet market wastewater were in the range required for microalgae growth. The wastewater with 20% of dilution exhibited high efficiency for Scenedesmussp. growth in comparison to BBM (4×107vs.1 ×106cell/mL respectively). The main compounds in the microalgae biomass included cycloheptane, cyclododecanol, 1-ethenyl-acetate, 2-trifluoroacetoxypentadecane and 9-octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester.Conclusion, significance and impact of study:Scenedesmussp. biomass can be produced using the wet market wastewate

The Impact of Physical Activity on Health Care Student Academic Performance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: It is assumed that the students of health care colleges have a greater knowledge about healthy lifestyle and dietary habits when compared to other students. The main goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and effect of exercise on the academic performance of the health care students. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 376 male healthcare students at King Saud University in Riyadh from Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in the period from December 2014 until March 2015. The study population was selected by multistage random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. A pilot study was conducted to test its feasibility. A statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 was used for data analysis. Results: 56.6% of the subjects were found to be physically active. Those who did not perform exercise, lack of time (55.8%) and lack of interest (36.2%) appeared to be the two most common Muath Ibrahim Alsabih, Hussein Saad Amin, Ali Saeed Alrawdhan, Fahad Yousef Alturki, Abdulrahman Mansour Alakeel, Yasser Abdulaziz Alrumih, Ahmed Saleh Allohidan, Ammar Abdullah Naji, Naif Abdulrahman Alarjani. The Impact of Physical Activity on Health Care Student Academic Performance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. IAIM, 2018; 5(2): 30-37. Page 31 causes for not exercising. The effect of physical activity on academic performance was found to be statistically significant in only two domains which were being less likely to be being late to the classes (P.026) and relatively better concentration during lectures (P.001). Conclusion: The study included that a significant positive effect of exercise was found on two domains of academic performance, namely better concentration in classes and punctuality in attending lectures, but with no significant effect on GPA of students.

Usefulness of clinical prediction rules, D-dimer, and arterial blood gas analysis to predict pulmonary embolism in cancer patients

Objectives: Pulmonary embolism [PE] is seven times more common in cancer patients than non-cancer patients. Since the existing clinical prediction rules [CPRs] were validated predominantly in a non-cancer population, we decided to look at the utility of arterial blood gas [ABG] analysis and D-dimer in predicting PE in cancer patients

Methods: Electronic medical records were reviewed between December 2005 and November 2010. A total of 177 computed tomography pulmonary angiograms [CTPAs] were performed. We selected 104 individuals based on completeness of laboratory and clinical data. Patients were divided into two groups, CTPA positive [patients with PE] and CTPA negative [PE excluded]. Wells score, Geneva score, and modified Geneva score were calculated for each patient. Primary outcomes of interest were the sensitivities, specificities, positive, and negative predictive values for all three CPRs

Results: Of the total of 104 individuals who had CTPAs, 33 [31.7%] were positive for PE and 71 [68.3%] were negative. There was no difference in basic demographics between the two groups. Laboratory parameters were compared and partial pressure of oxygen was significantly lower in patients with PE [68.1 mmHg vs. 71 mmHg, p = 0.030]. Clinical prediction rules showed good sensitivities [88?100%] and negative predictive values [93?100%]. An alveolar-arterial [A-a] gradient > 20 had 100% sensitivity and negative predictive values

Conclusions: CPRs and a low A-a gradient were useful in excluding PE in cancer patients. There is a need for prospective trials to validate these results

Immunohistochemical expression of p53 and p21 in gliomas: a clinicopathological study

To evaluate p53 and p21 proteins over expression in gliomas and their relation to some clinico-pathological parameters. From September 2009 to July 2010, a formalin fixed, paraffin embedded blocks of 60 gliomas cases were collected in addition to 44 astrocytomas, 5 oligodendrogliomas, 2 oligoastrocytomas, and 9 ependymomas. These cases were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using streptavidin-biotin method. Overall, 53% of gliomas were positive for p53; these cases formed 66% of astrocytomas, 20% of oligodendrogliomas and 100% of oligoastrocytomas. In contrast to astrocytomas, all ependymoma cases were negative for p53 protein. There was a significant association of p53 expression with patient's age and tumor site. On the other hand, p21 expression was positive in 25% of gliomas; they comprised 23% of astrocytomas, 40% of oligodendrogliomas, 50% of oligoastrocytomas and 22% of ependymomas. Both p53 and p21 expressions seemed to be raising from low to high grades astrocytoma but they did not reach level of significance. The results of the present study suggest that p53 overexpression is common in gliomas and p21 expression is less common. There was a trend of both marker expressions increasing with higher grades

Detection of Babesia bovis in blood samples and its effect on the hematological and serum biochemical profile in large ruminants from Southern Punjab

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the presence of Babesia bovis (B. bovis) in large ruminants in southern Punjab and its effect on hematological and serum biochemical profile of host animals.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples were collected from 144 large ruminants, including 105 cattle and 39 buffaloes, from six districts in southern Punjab including Multan, Layyah, Muzaffar Garh, Bhakar, Bahawalnagar and Vehari. Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires. Different blood (hemoglobin, glucose) and serum (ALT, AST, LDH, cholesterol) parameters of calves and cattle were measured and compared between parasite positive and negative samples to demonstrate the effect of B. bovis on the blood and serological profile of infected animals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>27 out of 144 animals, from 5 out of 6 sampling districts, produced the 541-bp fragment specific for B. bovis. Age of animals (P=0.02), presence of ticks on animals (P=0.04) and presence of ticks on dogs associated with herds (P=0.5) were among the major risk factors involved in the spread of bovine babesiosis in the study area. ALT concentrations were the only serum biochemical values that significantly varied between parasite positive and negative cattle.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>: This study has reported for the first time the presence of B. bovis in large ruminant and the results can lead to the prevention of babesiosis in the region to increase the livestock output.</p>

Fetal femoral length as a parameter for estimation of fetal weight using ultrasound

The fetal femoral length [FFL] can be a factor in calculating the fetal weight [FW] via ultrasound. Its size and ease of measurement makes the femur the long bone of choice in predicting fetal weight. This study was designed to find a simplified and accurate method to estimate FW in Sudanese ladies with healthy and singleton pregnancy. A total of 230 healthy pregnant ladies with an age that ranged between 18 to 42 years with normal and well being, singleton pregnancy, had transabdominal ultrasound in order to estimate FW using Shephard equation. FW can be estimated accurately and easily by using the following formula that use a single biometric measure which is [FW [g] = 14.714 x FFL[cm] - 188.56] with a correlation factor R[2]=0.9587 that indicates a positive linear correlation between FW in grams and FFL in centimeters. Obtained equation is an accurate and simplified method when compare to other complicated equations used in estimation of fetal weight

Effect of planting dates on stages and some characteristics of growth of four sunflower hybrids [Helianthus annus L.]

This work was designed to study the effect of planting dates on the growth stages and some growth characteristics of four sunflower hybrids [Helianthus annus L.]. An experiment was conducted at Nasser's Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Tuban Delta, Lahej Governorate,Yemen,during each of the two agricultural seasons 2002/2003 and 2003/2004. Each experiment contained twelve treatments which were the combination of three planting dates [10 September, 10 December and 10 February] and four sunflower hybrids [Aranda, Sunbro, Sunloca and Melody].A split-plots design with three replications was utilized. Plating dates were allotted to the main plots, while hybrids of sunflower were devoted to the sup-plots The experimental unit of the area was of 7.2m[2], containing 6 rows [2m long and 60 cm apart].The experimental results revealed the following finding: there were significant effects of planting dates and sunflower hybrids on the growth stages at two growing seasons. In context, the results indicated that planting dates at either 10 September or 10 February led to significantly decreased number of days from plating to 50% appearing of head-flower, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% physiological maturity and harvest in two seasons. In contrast, results mentioned that planting dates at 10 September and 10 February gave significant increase in plant height and number of leaves per plant at two growing seasons, while stem diameter was significantly increased in the second seasons only. With respect to sunflower hybrids the results showed that all sunflower hybrids had significant effect on the number of days to 50% appearing of head-flower [capitulum's], flowering physiological maturity and harvest in two seasons. Noteworthy, the results showed that Sunbro and Sunloca of sunflower hybrids gave the earlier plant growth stage compared with other hybrids at both growing seasons. The interaction effect between planting dates and sunflower hybrids was significantly affected in all different stages of plant growth except days to 50% flowering stages in both seasons, while the interaction effect between planting dates and sunflower hybrids could not reach the level of significance with respect to plant, stem diameter and number of leaves per plant. The interaction of the Sunloca and Sunbro sunflower hybrids planted 10 February gave the earlier days from planting to 50% appearing of head-flower, 50% flowering, 50% physiological maturity and harvest in both growing seasons

Evaluation of endoscopic versus serologic and histopathologic changes in the diagnosis of celiac disease

To evaluate the endoscopic versus serologic and histopathologic changes in the diagnosis of celiac disease and to correlate the endoscopic changes with the degree of mucosal damage. Seventy two patients with symptoms of chronic diarrhea, 38 females whose ages ranged from 11 to 60 years and 34 males whose ages ranged from 10-59 years were tested for anti-tissue transglutaminase after they underwent upper gastroduodenoscopy. Duodenal mucosa was visualized carefully for any changes of celiac disease. Four endoscopic biopsies were taken from each patient and sent for histopathologic examination.Duodenal biopsies were classified according to modified. Marsh's classification. Among the 72 patients who were enrolled in the study, 28 patients tested positive for anti tissue transglutaminase, 47 patients had histopathologic changes, 26 patients who had both anti tissue transglutaminase and histopathologic changes were classified as celiac patients, among them 19 patients had endoscopic changes. The sensititvity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of endoscopic changes were [73.07%], [86.95%], [76%], and [85.1%], respectively. The endoscopic appearance of the duodenum may be predictive of the severity of mucosal damage; but overall, the endoscopic changes have a wide range of sensitivity because the endoscopic findings had been normal in the presence of minor mucosal changes. Anti tissue transglutaminase was well correlated with histopatholgic changes in celiac disease

Does malaria during pregnancy affect the newborn?

To investigate the effect of malarial infection during pregnancy on the newborn. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital [AKUH], Karachi, using in-patient hospital records over an 11-year period from 1988 to 1999. The incidence of preterm delivery, low birth weight [LBW] and intrauterine growth retardation [IUGR] in 29 pregnant women with malaria, was compared with that in 66 selected pregnant women without malaria, who delivered at the AKUH during the same time period. Pregnant women with malaria had a 3.1 times greater risk of preterm labor [p=0.14]. They were more likely to be anaemic compared to women without malaria [RR=2.9, 95% CI=1.6-5.4] and had a significantly lower mean haemoglobin level [p=0.0001]. Maternal malaria was significantly associated with LBW babies [p=0.001]. The mean birth weight of infants born to pregnant women with malaria was 461 g less [p=0.0005]. No significant association was, however, found between malarial infection during pregnancy and IUGR [p=0.33]. Malarial infection during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcome. It is significantly associated with maternal anaemia and LBW infants. Appropriate measures must, therefore, be taken to prevent malaria during pregnancy, especially in endemic areas