bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Let’s do things on our own …”: Gender and class dynamics during the quest to restore Inanda Seminary’s financial integrity, 1999-2001
Authors: Couper Scott E.
Published: August 2023

During the 1990s, decades of disinvestment caused by Bantu Education prohibited Inanda Seminary from competing equally with other previously advantaged Whites-only private and former public ‘Model C’ schools within South Africa’s new democratic dispensation. In December 1997, after decades of institutional corrosion, the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa decided to close the Seminary. Yet, the Seminary opened in January 1998 under new management composed entirely of middle-class alumnae determined to breathe new life into the school still teetering precariously. This article chronicles three years, 1999 to 2001, thereby documenting the school’s ultimate defeat over and recovery from Bantu Education. Though Inanda Seminary’s middle-class alumnae saved it from closure, its more elite graduates did not initially feature prominently in the school’s financial stabilisation. Rather, men, both serving the church and government (most notably, Nelson Mandela), intervened and provided the crucial financial and infrastructural impetus to salvage the school from the wreck of ecclesiastic decay and establish it as a Section 21 private company. The article explores if and why gender and class dynamics likely played a role in the events leading to the school’s resuscitation. Today, the Seminary is again an extraordinary pioneering school providing quality education to black South African girls.
Hidden histories of GORDONIA land dispossession and resistance in the Northern Cape, 1800-1990
Authors: Van Eeden Elize S.
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Verwoerd: Só onthou ons hom (hersiene uitgawe)
Authors: Blom Melanda
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
Die geldgeskiedenis van die Vrystaat, 1854-1902, met spesiale verwysing na die numismatiese versameling van die Nasionale Museum in Bloemfontein
Authors: Havenga Sudré , Wessels André
Published: August 2023

This article deals with the money history of the republic of the Orange Free State (1854-1902), and uses specific examples from the numismatic collection of the National Museum, Bloemfontein. The Free State never had its own coinage. With the exception of Free State “good fors”, which were used to combat a shortage in coins, the republic had to make use of British and Transvaal coins. The idea of an own coinage was, however, raised on more than one occasion. A German firm by the name of Otto, Nolte Co. submitted to the Free State government a quote and even went so far as to send six pattern coins to the government for approval. However these coins were never approved and therefore never coined. Some pattern pieces can still be found today, for example a one penny pattern coin from 1888 in the numismatic collection of the National Museum, Bloemfontein. These pattern pieces are unique and sought after by collectors. In 1865 the government of the Orange Free State issued the republic’s first inconvertable paper money to the value of £30 000. These government notes, of which the first issue was printed on blue paper, were known as “blue backs”. The State President, JH Brand, was supposed to sign all of the 30 000 notes that were issued but in the end only signed 6 700. This article clearly shows how important a role museums play in preserving a country’s history, and at the same time the article emphasises the kaleidoscopic nature of Cultural History.
The politicisation of health in Zimbabwe: The case of the cholera epidemic, August 2008-March 2009
Authors: Masakure Clement
Published: August 2023

In this article the case of the August 2008 to March 2009 cholera epidemic is used to examine the intersections between health and politics in Zimbabwe. The focus is on the different narratives deployed by the mainstream opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change under Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) and the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU -PF) to explain the causes of, and responses to the cholera epidemic which emerged in the immediate aftermath of the disputed June 2008 presidential runoff. An analyses of how regional governments, especially South Africa, responded to the cholera outbreak is made. The opposition argued that the epidemic was a clear indicator of government’s mismanagement. On the other hand, public intellectuals aligned to ZANU-PF and government ministers invoked conspiracy theories and blamed external forces for the epidemic. South Africa and the region saw it through a humanitarian crisis lens. In the discussion the varied narratives explaining the causes of the outbreak and responses to the cholera epidemic exposed ongoing internal and external political contestations are noted. The epidemic seems to have become inextricably entangled with discourses revolving around political governance, human rights problems and the struggles over political power between the ruling party and opposition parties.
Dors geles oor die Dorsland: Berigte uit Die Dorsland en ander pioniersgemeenskappe; Meer oor PJ van der Merwe
Authors: Stemmet Jan-Ad
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
The Reverend Kenneth Mosley Spooner: African-American missionary to the BaFokeng of Rustenburg district, South Africa, 1915-1937
Authors: Mbenga Bernard K.
Published: August 2023

This article examines the missionary and educational work and impact of Kenneth Spooner, an African-American missionary among the BaFokeng African community in Rustenburg district, South Africa from 1915 to 1937. Originally from Barbados, Spooner immigrated to the USA from where he came to South Africa as an International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) missionary. Spooner’s church became very popular among the African communities of Rustenburg. His school, for example, for the first time in the region used English as a medium of teaching, unlike the much older German Lutheran Church school’s teaching medium of Setswana; in the mid-1910s in rural South Africa, a black man preaching only in English, with another black person interpreting into an African language, was a spectacle – and another of Spooner’s draw-cards. The article situates Spooner and his work in the sociopolitical context of agitation by white politicians for more and stronger racial discrimination and segregation.
Market and entrepreneurial vision: The case of two family businesses in South Africa
Authors: Van Eeden-Allen Suzanne , Verhoef Grietjie
Published: August 2023

The question of “why do some family enterprises survive into successive generations, while other succumb to contextual constraints?” elicited different responses. Explanations vary from that it might be inherent to the industry, or the structure of the firm, or simply market opportunism. In seeking a deeper insight on the impact of industry or structural constraints in the general area of family businesses, this article considers the local South African shoe industry. The article reflects on the history of footwear manufacture in South Africa; how it started and grew from cottage industries to a more main stream, modern manufacturing industry. The article attempts to place this industry and its development in a broader current context by considering the impact of exogenous factors, namely globalisation and cheap shoe imports from the East on the South African footwear industry. To investigate the impact of the aforementioned constraints, the article discusses the birth and growth of two footwear manufacturing family businesses – one operating in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape Province, the other one in Kwazulu-Natal Province – and considers the divergent development trajectories, different styles of management and subsequently, the completely different outcomes of these footwear manufacturing family enterprises.
Editorial Vol 85 (2020)
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: August 2023

No abstract available.
The effect of bladder function on the efficacy of transurethral prostatectomy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a retrospective, single-center study
Authors: Li Jin , Yi Xian-Yan-Ling , Chen Ze-Yu , Chen Bo , Huang Yin , Liao Da-Zhou , Wang Pu-Ze , Cao De-Hong , Ai Jian-Zhong , Liu Liang-Ren
Published: August 2023

We investigated the impact and predictive value of bladder function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on the efficacy of transurethral prostatectomy. Symptomatic, imaging, and urodynamic data of patients who underwent transurethral prostatectomy at West China Hospital of Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) from July 2019 to December 2021 were collected. Follow-up data included the quality of life (QoL), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and IPSS storage and voiding (IPSS-s and IPSS-v). Moreover, urinary creatinine (Cr), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and prostaglandin estradiol (PGE2) were measured in 30 patients with BPH and 30 healthy participants. Perioperative indicators were determined by subgroup analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Among the 313 patients with BPH included, patients with severe micturition problems had more improvements but higher micturition grades postoperatively than those with moderate symptoms. Similarly, good bladder sensation, compliance, and detrusor contractility (DC) were predictors of low postoperative IPSS and QoL. The urinary concentrations of BDNF/Cr, NGF/Cr, and PGE2/Cr in patients were significantly higher than those in healthy participants (all P < 0.001). After evaluation, only DC was significantly related to both urinary indicators and postoperative recovery of patients. Patients with good DC, as predicted by urinary indicators, had lower IPSS and IPSS-v than those with reduced DC at the 1st month postoperatively (both P < 0.05). In summary, patients with impaired bladder function had poor recovery. The combined levels of urinary BDNF/Cr, NGF/Cr, and PGE2/Cr in patients with BPH may be valid predictors of preoperative bladder function and postoperative recovery.
Novel variants in DNAH6 cause male infertility associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) and ICSI outcomes
Authors: Shao Zhong-Mei , Zhu Yu-Tong , Gu Meng , Guo Sen-Chao , Yu Hui , Li Kuo-Kuo , Tang Dong-Dong , Xu Yu-Ping , Lv Ming-Rong
Published: August 2023

Variations in the dynein axonemal heavy chain gene, dynein axonemal heavy chain 6 (DNAH6), lead to multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella. Recent studies have reported that these deficiencies may result in sperm head deformation. However, whether DNAH6 is also involved in human acrosome biogenesis remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate DNAH6 gene variants and their potential functions in the formation of defective sperm heads and flagella. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on a cohort of 375 patients with asthenoteratozoospermia from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Hefei, China). Hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to analyze the sperm morphology and ultrastructure. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis were conducted to examine the effects of genetic variants. We identified three novel deleterious variants in DNAH6 among three unrelated families. The absence of inner dynein arms and radial spokes was observed in the sperm of patients with DNAH6 variants. Additionally, deficiencies in the acrosome, abnormal chromatin compaction, and vacuole-containing sperm heads were observed in these patients with DNAH6 variants. The decreased levels of the component proteins in these defective structures were further confirmed in sperm from patients with DNAH6 variants using Western blot. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, the partner of one patient with a DNAH6 variant achieved successful pregnancy. Overall, novel variants in DNAH6 genes that contribute to defects in the sperm head and flagella were identified, and the findings indicated ICSI as an effective clinical treatment for such patients.
Analysis of Transfusion Support in Dengue Epidemic in Military Setting of Sri Lanka
Authors: Kumarage Samantha , Jayamanna Roshan , Mahendra Isanka
Published: August 2023

Background:

Severe dengue affects most Asian and Latin American countries and becomes a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children and adults in these regions. During the year 2017, a total of 186,101 suspected dengue cases were reported, and as of May 24, 2018, a total of 19,459 suspected dengue cases were reported to the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka with over 320 deaths in 2017 and 202 deaths in 2018. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the blood and component transfusion for the dengue patients and the routine inventory management at our blood bank were affected by the nonfollowed transfusion guidelines in dengue management of Sri Lanka.

Methods:

This retrospective descriptive study analyzed the distribution of relative frequencies of variables in the requests received and tangible transfusions done from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017.

Results:

A total of 717 transfusion requests received from the confirmed dengue patients in 2017. In this cohort, 73 requests were for dengue fever, 494 requests for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), 97 requests for DHF leaking phase, 46 requests for DHF critical phase, and 7 requests for dengue shock syndrome.

Conclusions:

Even though 60% of the actual transfusion requests followed the guidelines of the dengue management, 40% (13 requests) violated the guidelines in the actual transfusions. However, compared to the 717, total requests for transfusions this number is very minimal (0.97%). Of 3601 inventories managed at blood bank during 2017, additional dengue-related 717 requests, less than 1% violated the guidelines of transfusion requests according to the current guidelines of dengue management. No extra burden was created to inventory management due to nonfollowed guidelines. An unusual preponderance of transfusion requirements of AB patients was highlighted. Comparing the published data, dengue management at our hospital is exemplary.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Phyllanthus amarus Seeds and their Antibacterial Activity Assessment
Authors: Joseph Jerrine , Keren Deborah S , Raghavi R , Mary Shamya A , Aruni Wilson
Published: August 2023

Background:

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has been gaining popularity due to its advantages over chemical synthesis. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by using an aqueous solution of Phyllanthus amarus leaves extract as a reducing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using the spectroscopic techniques. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) study confirmed that the seed extract also stabilized the surface of the AgNPs by acting as a capping agent. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the plant NPs was also assessed. The synthesized nanoparticles as well as P. amarus plant extract were separately tested to examine their antibacterial activities. The activities were tested against various microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus. The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the green synthesis of nanoparticles using P. amarus seeds and their antibacterial activity assessment.

Method:

Collection and preparation of seed extract, synthesis of AgNPs, characterization of AgNPs using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorbance spectroscopy and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, determination of antibacterial activity using pathogens. All in vitro assay data signify the mean ± standard deviation of triplicates was calculated by using the MS word document.

Results:

The reduction of silver nitrate using the plant leaf extract was viewed by the color change in the reaction solutions. The maximum absorbance peak was seen at 400 nm for P. amarus seed extract using UV-Vis spectroscopy and FTIR measurements were carried out for the AgNPs synthesized by the plant extracts. The extracts of P. amarus seeds showed potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and negative bacteria.

Conclusions:

The biosynthesized AgNPs using P. amarus seed extract proved to be excellent agent against pathogens. The present study showed a simple, rapid, and economical route to synthesize AgNPs. The use of P. amarus has the added advantage that this seed can be used by nanotechnology processing industries.
Modified VGG Deep-Learning Architecture for COVID-19 Classification Using Chest Radiography Images
Authors: Anand R. , Sowmya V. , Menon Vijaykrishna , Gopalakrishnan A. , Soman K. P.
Published: August 2023

Background:

The world faced a deadly disease encounter by the starting of 2020, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Due to the rapid increase in the counts of COVID cases, the WHO declared the COVID-19 as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Among the different screening techniques available for COVID-19, radiography of the chest is one of the efficient way for disease detection. While other disease detection techniques take time, radiography takes less time to identify because of the abnormalities caused by the disease in the lungs.

Methods:

In the rapid development era of artificial intelligence and deep-learning techniques, various models are being developed for COVID disease detection. COVID-19 can be easily detected from Chest X-ray images and the pretrained models yield high accuracy with small dataset.

Results:

In this paper, one of the standard deep-learning architectures, VGGNet, is modified for classifying chest X-ray images under four categories. The proposed model uses open source dataset that contains 231, 2503, 1345, and 1341 images of four classes such as COVID, bacterial, normal, and viral chest radiography images, respectively.

Conclusion:

The performance matrices of the proposed work were compared with the five benchmark deep-learning architectures namely VGGNet, AlexNet, GoogLeNET, Inception-v4, and DenseNet-201.
Histopathological Changes in Placenta in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertensive Patients and Correlation with Fetal Outcome – A Tertiary Care Hospital Study
Authors: Samaddar Aparajita , Roy Utso Guha , Saha Ipsita , Mangal Srishtidhar
Published: August 2023

Background:

The placenta, fetus, and mother form a composite functional equilibrium during prenatal period. The dysfunction of placenta often leads to preeclampsia/eclampsia. They remain the major causes of maternal and perinatal mortality. It has been revealed that there is a clear relationship between placental pathology and intrauterine growth restriction in preeclampsia. Aim of this study was to evaluate the histomorphological changes of placenta in pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders and to compare those with normal placenta and to correlate the findings with foetal outcome in terms of APGAR score and birth weights of newborn babies.

Materials and Methods:

This was an analytical cross-sectional study. We included 50 pregnant women with pregnancy induced hypertension as cases and 50 normotensive pregnant women as controls. Specimens of placenta from each cases and controls were collected after delivery and processed by routine histopathology technique. We looked for morphological and histological changes in placenta. We also collected the data on APGAR scores, birth weight and fetal death, if any. Microsoft Excel 2013 and Minitab version 17 were utilized for statistical analysis.

Results:

We found statistically significant reduction in placental weight, diameter and thickness among cases compared to controls and there is also a strong correlation with the histopathological changes of placenta in hypertensive mothers to fetal weight. Birth weights of newborns to hypertensive mothers were significantly lower than those of normotensive mothers.

Conclusion:

Hypertensive disorders of Pregnancy causes significant histomorphological changes in placenta leading to adverse foetal outcome.
Spectrum of Bacterial Conjunctivitis in Southern Pakistan
Authors: Fatima Tazeen , Malik Faisal Riaz , Ahmed Ayesha , Khan Erum , Shakoor Sadia
Published: August 2023

Background:

Bacterial conjunctivitis contributes largely to ocular morbidity in both developed and developing countries. The spectrum of conjunctivitis is influenced by geographic and climatic factors. One previous report from Pakistan had shown adenoviruses to be predominantly responsible for keratoconjunctivitis, however little is known about the bacterial agents responsible for conjunctivitis. In this study, we report the microbial etiology of bacterial conjunctivitis by performing a 10-year retrospective review of laboratory data.

Methods:

All conjunctival cultures received at the Aga Khan University Clinical Microbiology Laboratory from 2004 to 2013 with bacterial growth were identified through a laboratory database. Information on patients' demographic characteristics, identification of organisms, and antibiotic susceptibility was obtained from an archived database of laboratory records. Data were entered and analyzed in MS Excel.

Results:

A total of 1534 conjunctival culture samples were received at the clinical microbiology laboratory during the 10-year study period (2004–2013), of which 375 showed bacterial growth. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most common bacterial cause of conjunctivitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae was seen predominantly in children aged 0–14 years. Higher trends of resistance were noticed for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin.

Conclusions:

The bacterial profile of ocular surface cultures from patients with conjunctivitis showed prevalence of S. aureus in all ages and S. pneumoniae in children, with pseudomonal infections common in older age groups, likely associated with the use of contact lenses. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed high level of resistance to topical antibiotics. Studies designed to address the challenges of antibiotic susceptibility testing against topical antibiotics are needed to inform empiric treatment guidelines in various age groups.
Unmasking Previously Unrecognized Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Using Continuous Wave Doppler Using Continuous Wave Doppler Imaging
Authors: Nair Rajesh , Sud Rahul , Swamy Ajay , Patra Vikram
Published: August 2023

Background:

It is well established that a significant number (30%) of patients suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD) also have underlying peripheral artery disease (PAD) as the only underlying risk factor. They are at increased risk of myocardial infarction as multiple vascular beds beyond the extremities are likely to be affected by atherosclerosis. A large percentage of high-risk patients with the coexistent disease may not be diagnosed with underlying PAD, as they were largely asymptomatic. This study aims to assess the prevalence of previously unrecognized PAD among patients with CAD, the risk association for various risk factors for CAD and PAD and also to determine the relationship between the presence of PAD and severity of CAD.

Methods:

A 3 years randomized, prospective, cross-sectional study done at Command Hospital Airforce Bangalore, India on patients of CADs, who were planned to undergoing coronary angiogram, were evaluated for the presence of PAD in lower extremities. The interactions between risk factors, Ankle Brachial Index (ABI), and CAD were examined by multiple stepwise regression analysis.

Results:

A total of 300 patients were studied. PAD has a prevalence of 14% in patients with CAD and it was strongly associated with disease severity. There was statistically significant association in patients with CAD which coexistent PAD with age (P = 0.001), smoking (P = 0.014), hypertension (P = 0.015), diabetes (P = 0.043), obesity (P= 0.004), history of previous cerebrovascular accident (P = 0.0138), number of coronaries involved (P = 0.02) and low-density lipoprotein (P = 0.001) levels as compared to CAD not associated with PAD.

Conclusions:

The high prevalence of PAD in patients who have CAD confirms the importance of active screening for PAD using ABI and requires aggressive management. We emphasize that clinicians should keep in mind that CAD patients would have other co-morbid vascular manifestations like PAD in order to minimize morbidity and mortality in these patients.
Hematological Analysis of Blood Cells and Isolation of Pathogenic Microorganisms From Second-Degree Flame Burn Patient with the Prevalence of Multidrug Resistance Traits
Authors: Shahriar Asif , Ahmed Hossain , Mahmud Aar Rafi
Published: August 2023

Burns are traumatic injuries that can occur in the home or workplace. It is a type of injury to flesh or skin caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, or radiation. The aims of this study to identified drug resistance traits of microorganisms, which is lead to wound infection after burn injury and causes hematological imbalanced of blood cells that are lead to the immune response against these pathogenic strains. The patient was burned by flame and seriously injured, with 24% tissue damaged. The whole blood was collected for complete blood count and peripheral blood film to analyze the components and morphological shape of blood cells. In addition, the wound samples were collected from wound infected sites to isolation and identification of microbial contamination as well as the study of antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance traits of microbes which are intensively involved in wound infection along with skin tissue damage. Among the complication period, the patient was seriously infected by pathogenic bacteria with viable bacterial count with log 107 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL. The predominant pathogens were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus spp. Most of the pathogens were found as drug-resistant, notably against second- and third-line antibiotics. The serious complication of microbial infection during the wound healing period was lead to increase white blood cells range along with terribly lower than the normal range of hemoglobin at 6.8 g/dl. Furthermore, the abnormal morphology of red blood cells was noted as an iron deficiency complication of the patient. Bacterial infection of the postburn patient is alarming for quick treatment. Most of the pathogens are rarely sensitive against most commercial antibiotics. Hence, bacterial colonization is the main threat for the burn-injured patient, which prohibits the immune response against in vivo infection.
Serum Levels of Interleukin-6, Ferritin, C-Reactive Protein, Lactate Dehydrogenase, D-Dimer, and Count of Lymphocytes and Neutrophils in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Kadhim Ali Saad , Abdullah Younus Jasim
Published: August 2023

Background:

Since its first emergence in Wuhan city, China, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which is responsible for the pandemic COVID-19, has become a significant health problem all over the world affecting over 2.1 million people globally.

Methods:

The current study aimed to investigate serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer as well as lymphocytes and neutrophils count in COVID-19 patients, and to clarify the correlation of these parameters with disease severity and progression. For these purposes, (100) patients with COVID-19 (confirmed by polymerase chain reaction) and (20) apparently healthy people (with matched age and sex) were included in the current study and considered as a control group.

Results:

All study population (patients and control) were subjected to the evaluation of serum levels of IL-6, ferritin, CRP, LDH, D-dimer, as well as lymphocytes and neutrophils, count. COVID-19 patients showed a significant elevation in the levels of all parameters included in this study when compared with healthy controls. We also found that all of IL-6, ferritin, CRP, LDH, D-dimer are significantly associated with the severity of the COVID-19 symptoms.

Conclusion:

Lymphopenia and increased neutrophils were also effectively correlated with disease progression. In line with these results, we concluded a proportional correlation between the aforementioned parameters and COVID-19 suggesting the uses of these tests to the diagnosis of critical cases.
Variability in Linear Polypeptide Stabilizes Proteoglycan Than Zinc Finger Protein in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Rajamani Karthikeyan D
Published: August 2023

Background:

Structural and physicochemical topologies of proteins play a considerable role in differentiating the functional properties of the biological system. We aimed to study the physicochemical similarities, structural and functional differences of versican (VCAN) and early growth response (Egr) proteins involved in vascular injuries. Methods: For the primary structure prediction, the proteomic tools Expasy's Protparam is used, likewise, for secondary structure and content prediction SOPM and SOPMA tool is used. The transmembrane regions in VCAN and EGR proteins are predicted through SOSUI (Classification and Secondary Structure Prediction of Membrane Proteins) server. The CYSREC tool is used to identify the presence of disulphide bonds in all the VCAN and EGR proteins, additionally through homology modelling the disulphide bonds are visualized and structure of the modelled proteins are validated through Rampage (Ramachandran plot), ProQ (Protein Quality Server) and ProSA (Protein Structure Analysis) server.

Results:

VCAN and Egr proteins resemble hydrophilic in nature, similarly negative score of the grand average of hydropathicity index confirms hydrophilic nature. The maximum molecular weight for VCAN is observed as 39265 and 61623 Dalton for EGR protein. VCAN proteins showed a higher level of basic residues except Q86W61, while all the Egr proteins were acidic residues. The extinction coefficient (EC) has unique absorbance at 280 nm wavelength. Based on the aliphatic index (AI ≥ 45) and instability index (II ≥ 40) most of the VCAN and Egr proteins were unstable. The Classification and Secondary Structure Prediction of Membrane Proteins server classifies all Egr and few VCAN and proteins are soluble nature. Secondary structure content prediction and SOPM server show most of the VCAN proteins are beta sheets and many Egr proteins are alpha-helical, while few with mixed structures. Besides these differences, the VCAN protein stability was identified by most probable disulfide (SS) bridges using CYS_REC tool and confirmed by homology modeling in tertiary structure. Whereas the probable disulfide bonds in Egr proteins were not identified.

Conclusion:

The findings with these functional and structural properties will add an extra room in understanding their dual role.
Detection of Human Papilloma Virus in Prostate Tissue from Prostatic Cancer Patients in AL Najaf, Iraq
Authors: Al Ramahy Anwar Abd Hashim
Published: August 2023

Background:

The prostatic tumor was the third form of cancer in males being >55 years of age, after the pulmonary and colon cancer. The prostate was infected by many viruses causing repeated or chronic inflammation or enhance carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the prostate tissue of patients with prostate cancer.

Methods:

Prostate tissue samples were collected from paraffin embedding block of 70 patients diagnosed with HPV from archives of AL-Sadder Hospital in AL-Najaf City and some archives of private histopathology laboratories from January 2016 to December of the same year. We investigated the presence of HPV DNA using the polymers chain reaction technique polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results:

The sample size was 60 patients and 10 as control. The number of benign patients is 40/60 (66.7%), whereas the number of malignancies patients is 20/60 (33.3%). There are 13/60 prostatic patients who have HPV. Eight patients of them have a malignancy prostatic tumor and five with a benign prostatic tumor. There is a highly significant association between HPV and malignancy compared with the benign prostatic disease (P = 0.016). PCR results were showed a highly significant specificity (P < 0.001) to detect the presence of HPV in malignancy and benign prostatic disease. PCR results showed a highly significant specificity (P < 0.001) to detect the presence of HPV in malignancy and benign prostatic disease.

Conclusions:

Our study showed an association between prostatic disease and the presence of HPV DNA in samples, but there is a highly significant difference in HPV prevalence between the malignant prostate cancer and benign prostate tissue samples.
Antimicrobial Traits of Different Medicinal Plants Locally Available in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossaini Farzana , Das Nayan Chandra , Hossaini Fahamida , Acharjee Mrityunjoy , Munshi Saurab Kishore
Published: August 2023

Background:

Medicinal plants have been commonly used in traditional medicine against different ailment from ancient time. The present study was an attempt to determine the anti-bacterial traits of commonly available medicinal plants, especially having topical uses.

Methods:

A total of four types of locally available medicinal plant samples inclusive of Turmeric (Curcuma longa, rhizome), Marigold (Tagetes minuta, leaves), Durva Grass (Cynodon dactylon, whole plant), and Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, leaves) were collected. Crude, hot water, and solvent (ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the samples) were tested for their antimicrobial traits by agar well-diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of each sample was determined by the microdilution technique. Microbiological quality of the samples was also checked.

Results:

Microbial contaminations were found in all the samples. Beside viable bacteria and fungi, all samples contained Staphylococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. The proliferation of Klebsiella spp. was observed in the majority of the samples. Notable antimicrobial activities were exhibited by the medicinal plant parts tested in this study. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed remarkable efficiency in eliminating the growth of tested bacterial isolates although crude and hot water extracts projected no considerable inhibitory effects. The majority of the samples had a MIC value at 12 mg/mL.

Conclusion:

The findings of the present study reveal that the medicinal plant samples had remarkable antimicrobial traits which portray their potential for the commercial application against different infectious diseases.
Nitrate-Nitrite Toxicosis Associated with Duckweed (Portulaca Oleracea L.) (Portulacaceae) Consumption in a Herd of Sheep in Kenya
Authors: Nguta Joseph Mwanzia
Published: August 2023

Background:

Nitrate-nitrite toxicosis associated with the consumption of duckweed (Portulaca oleracea L.) (Portulacaceae) was diagnosed in a small herd comprising of 11 sheep in Korayo Sub Location, Rangwe Sub County of Homabay County in Kenya.

Methods:

The clinical signs were dyspnea, froth from the mouth, labored breathing, incoordination, tachycardia, increased urination, neck, fore and hind limb distension, aggressive movements, bloat, convulsions, and coma, before death.

Results:

All the 11 sheep died of intoxication before institution of therapy. Brownish mucous membranes and chocolate colored and poorly clotted blood were the significant necropsy observations. Mild pulmonary edema was characterized by the presence of limited froth in the trachea and bronchioles. At postmortem, the liver of the sheep was grossly congested, and the cardiac pericardium was inflamed. There was gastritis, enlarged, and congested kidneys with pin-point hemorrhages. Diphenylamine tests carried out on the fed duckweed and on ruminal duckweed contents were positive for nitrates. Duckweed (Portulaca oleracea) fed on sheep had 7.4% nitrate on dry matter basis (DM), whereas ruminal contents had 5.38% nitrate on DM basis. Chocolate-colored blood collected during postmortem had a methemoglobin fraction of 86%. Nitrate levels in pastures of 0.5% and above have been shown to be potentially dangerous, with acute poisoning likely to occur at times when the levels are above 1%. Death in sheep can occur when blood methemoglobin levels are in the range of 67%–90%.

Conclusion:

The observations from the present study are indicative of death in a herd of sheep due to nitrate-nitrite poisoning associated with the consumption of duckweed (Portulaca oleracea).
Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Strains in Sonipat Region of Haryana in India
Authors: Malik Shikha , Rana Jogender Singh , Nehra Kiran
Published: August 2023

Background:

To study the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains in Sonipat region of Haryana in India. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most widespread infections, caused most frequently by Escherichia coli. The past few years have witnessed a rapid rise in the spread of high antibiotic-resistant forms of these uropathogenic E. coli (UPECs).

Methods:

In the current study, a total of 53 UPEC isolates from patients of all age groups were collected from Sonipat and its adjoining areas from September 2017 to April 2018. All the uropathogens were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility profiling using a set of 23 antibiotics and confirmed using standard microbiological procedures. The isolates which exhibited high degree of multidrug resistance (MDR) were characterized at molecular level using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Results:

The evaluation of age- and gender-wise prevalence of UTI revealed that women (77.3%) were more susceptible to infection as compared to men (22.6%). It was observed that 83% of the collected UPEC isolates exhibited MDR pattern. The isolates exhibited maximum resistance to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones; and the highest susceptibility (100%) was shown toward tigecycline, followed by 96.2% to colistin, 90.5% to amikacin, 86.7% to fosfomycin, and 84.9% to nitrofurantoin.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that the prevalence of MDR pathogens is high in studied region. For empirical antibiotic therapy, amikacin, fosfomycin, and nitrofurantoin should be preferred; and for MDR uropathogens, colistin, and tigecycline should be recommended.
Evaluation of Transbronchial Needle Aspiration Samples from Sarcoidosis Patients for the Presence of Mycobacterium
Authors: Kiani Arda , Rouzpeykar Razieh , Idani Esmaeil , Varahram Mohammad , Kazempour-Dizaji Mehdi , Taghavi Kimia , Abedini Atefeh
Published: August 2023

Background:

Tuberculosis (TB) and sarcoidosis are two chronic, systemic, and granulomatous diseases that have similar pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations. Given the similarities between the two diseases, it is suggested that the Mycobacterium genome may play a role in sarcoidosis. Identification of Mycobacterium species isolated from sarcoidosis patients optimizes the treatment process of patients. The present study investigates biopsy tissue samples from patients with sarcoidosis for the presence of Mycobacterium in the tissues.

Methods:

This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on all sarcoidosis patients referred to Masih Daneshvari Hospital during 2017–2018 (401 patients). All patients who were outpatients or hospitalized in the bronchoscopy ward of Masih Daneshvari Hospital underwent transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA). The cause of the TBNA procedure in patients was the presence of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy in patients. Out of 401 patients with sarcoidosis, five patients showed positive smear or culture for Mycobacterium and were excluded from the study. Finally, 396 patients were included in the study.

Results:

The majority of participants in the present study were female (56.1%) with a mean age of 48.2 years and a mean ACE index of 73.4. Hypertension was found in16.2% of patients with sarcoidosis. 16.4% of patients had hyperlipidemia and 4.3% of patients had a history of ischemic heart disease. Redness of the eyes was seen in 13.1% of patients and 12.4% of the patients had diabetes. Also, 43.4% of the patients had skin lesions. Out of a total of 396 patients with sarcoidosis in the present study, 3.5% of the lymph and lung tissues of sarcoidosis patients (who were not infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis by clinical signs and culture) contained amplifiable MTB DNA.

Conclusion:

In the present study and many previous related studies, the Mycobacterium genome has been observed in lymph node samples of mediastinal nodes and lung tissue of sarcoidosis patients. One of the strengths of the present study, which can make the results very reliable, is the high sample size in this study. It is suggested that similar studies with the use of control groups in large samples, investigate the presence of the Mycobacterium genome and its type in sarcoidosis patients.
Therapeutic Management of Hypovitaminosis A and Zinc Deficiency in a Lactating Cow from a Small Dairy Herd in Muranga County, Kenya
Authors: Nguta Joseph Mwanzia
Published: August 2023

Background:

Hypovitaminosis A and zinc deficiency were diagnosed in a 7-year-old Friesian cow from a small milking herd comprising of thirty Friesian cows in a zero grazing unit in Muranga County in Kenya, on Friday, November 15, 2019. The cow was weighing approximately 500 kilograms and had calved four months ago. The daily production of milk was tweny five litres. The cow had a history of sudden inappetance, reduced weight, sternal recumbency, convulsions and heavy lacrymation. Clinical examination revealed slight clouding of the cornea, and dilated pupils which did not respond to light. The menace response was almost absent but palperal and corneal reflexes were present. The cow was not apparently blind.

Methods:

The clinical examination of the skin revealed a fungal infection. Skin scrapings and hair from the lesions were examined for fungal species by direct microscopy in 10% KOH and lactophenol. Collected samples were inoculated on mycobiotic agar. The inoculum was incubated at 28°C for two to six weeks and examined for colony formation. Culture examination revealed Trichophyton verrucosum as the cause of dermatophytosis. Blood sample was taken from the cow into a vial containing heparin for spectrophotometric estimation of vitamin A and serum zinc concentrations.

Results:

Vitamin A and serum zinc concentrations were 5.12 μg/dl and 3.24 μg/L, respectively. The reference serum values for vitamin A are in the range of 15.4 to 32.3 μg/dl, while reference serum zinc levels are in the range of 6-12 μg/L for optimum physiologic functioning in dairy cattle. On the basis of history, clinical examination and significantly low serum vitamin A and zinc levels, the lactating friesian cow was diagnosed to be suffering from combined hypovitaminosis A and zinc deficiency. The dairy cow was therapeutically managed through administration of zinc sulphate orally, at a dosage rate of 1 gram per week for six weeks, administration of vitamin A at a dosage rate of 30,000 international units (IU), deep intramuscularly, once daily for seven days, and intramuscular administration of 3 mls of BelamylR, once daily for seven days. The body parts with lesions caused by T. verrucosum were treated through topical administration of zinc oxide ointment once daily for twenty one days. Following treatment of the lactating cow, significant improvement was observed in terms of disappearance of lachrymation, corneal clouding, sternal recumbency, skin lesions and convulsions. The appetite also returned to normal. All the other cows in the farm were supplemented with vitamin A and zinc. The client was also advised to include fresh napier and bermuda grass in the cattle diet, since they have been shown to contain adequate levels of beta carotene and zinc.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, zinc and vitamin A supplementation may be of benefit for recovery of cows from sternal recumbency and dermatophytosis.
Impact of Proinflammatory Cytokines
Authors: Al-Muhana Ismael Raheem , Ahmed Mohanad Mohsin , Al-Muhana Ishaq Raheem , AL-Hasan Baraa Akeel
Published: August 2023

Background:

The cytokine storm and specific biochemical results were both observed during Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The aim of this study was to see if there was any correlation between biochemical findings and cytokine levels.

Methods:

A total of 65 COVID-19 patients, including 32 males and 33 females with ages between (16 and 90 years) were enrolled in this study. Between December 2020 and February 2021, these patients were admitted to Al-Amal Specialized Hospital or ward of COVID-19 care in Al-Sader Hospital. These patients were classified into severe/critical (43 cases), mild/moderate (22 cases) according to the guidelines released by National Health World depending on SpO2 percentage. The biochemical indices were measured using FUJI DRI-CHEM NX500 automated clinical chemistry analyzer (FUJIFILM, Japan). The proinflammatory cytokine (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-1α, and IL-1β) were measured using ELISA technique.

Results:

IL-6 serum levels were negatively correlated with SpO2 (P = 0.002, R = - 0.372) and serum albumin (P = 0.034, R = - 0.301). IL-1α serum levels showed significant negative correlation with serum albumin levels (P = 0.039, R = - 0.259). Furthermore, a positive correlation found between IL-1β serum with serum levels of both AST and LDH (P = 0.049; R = 0.255; P = 0.054; R = 0.320 respectively).

Discussion:

Increased IL-6 serum levels have a direct impact on SpO2 percentage and serum albumin. Whereas the elevated levels of both IL-1α and IL-1β are a possible cause of acute inflammation and liver damage in COVID-19.

Conclusions:

This study further confirms the growing evidence on the direct role of proinflammatory cytokines in the biochemical changes shown in COVID-19.
“Asymptomatic” plasmodium falciparum Parasitemia and Micronutrient Deficiencies among Pregnant Women in Oyo State
Authors: Azeez Mufutau Mosunmade , Akinbo Frederick Olusegun
Published: August 2023

Background:

Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia coupled with nutritional deficiencies, especially relating to micronutrients in pregnancy, may be a recipe for adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection and some micronutrient deficiencies among pregnant women in Oyo State.

Methods:

Three hundred and sixteen pregnant women aged 16–45 years and 100 apparently healthy nonpregnant women of the same age range serving as controls from the 3 senatorial districts of Oyo State were enrolled in this study after obtaining their consent. Blood samples were collected and examined for P. falciparum using RDT kit and Giemsa-stained film microscopy while the selected micronutrients – calcium, iron, copper, and zinc – were assayed with atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results:

P. falciparum was detected in 82 out of the 316 pregnant women studied representing a percentage prevalence of 25.95 while the prevalence rate was 1% (1 out of 100) among the nonpregnant control women (P < 0.0001). Factors that significantly impacted on P. falciparum prevalence were pregnancy status, age, gestational age, parity, and seasonal variations. Out of the 316 pregnant women studied, 27 (8.5%) and 35 (11.1%) were deficient in calcium and iron, respectively. However, 13 of the 82 parasitemic pregnant women (15.85%) had calcium micronutrient deficiency, with only 14 out 234 (5.98%) observed in nonparasitemic pregnant women (P < 0.0001). While 10 (12.19%) had iron deficiency among the parasitemic pregnant women, 25 (10.68%) had iron deficiency among the nonparasitemic pregnant women. The only parasitemic nonpregnant control out of the 100 had calcium and iron micronutrient deficiencies (100%) as against 24.24% and 20.24%, respectively, in nonparasitemic controls. Copper and zinc micronutrient deficiencies were not observed among the study subjects.

Conclusion:

Continuous health education with emphasis on compliance to dietary instructions and malaria prevention measures, monitoring parasitemic pregnant women till delivery, and including malaria testing in the routine laboratory tests for antenatal care are hereby advocated.