Frequency of ABO/Rhesus (D) blood groupings and ethnic distribution in the Greater‐Accra region of Ghana,towards effective blood bank inventory

Knowledge on blood group phenotypes is of key importance in clinical practice. It used in blood transfusion practice to determine the direction of recruitment of voluntary donors as required for each population within a country, and for disease association and population genetics studies. This study aimed at reporting the frequency of ABO and Rhesus (Rh) groups in the population of the Greater‐Accra region of Ghana and amongst their various ethnic groups. A retrospective study in 11 main hospitals within the region was done. Data collected provided information on the blood group status of persons (both blood donors and recipients) who visited the selected hospitals. Medical records used were within the years 2012–2017. A total of 42,317 (26,802 males and 15,515 females) data were retrieved and analysed. The frequencies of the blood groups O, A, B and AB were 50.0%, 24.3%, 20.7% and 5.0%, respectively. Rhesus‐positive to negative ratio was 93.2%/6.2%. Frequencies of blood group O was highest (49.1%–53.6%) in all ethnic groups. The second most dominant blood group was B (24.2%–25.4%) in the Ga‐Adamgbe, Akan and Ewe ethnic groups, whilst blood group A (25.0%–26.9%) was the second most dominant in the Northerners and non‐Ghanaians. Blood group distribution amongst gender and different age groups showed no significant differences but followed the same pattern for the general population. The study provides data on the ethnic distribution and frequency of ABO and Rhesus blood groupings in the Greater‐Accra region of Ghana. It also informs the need for blood banks in the region to increase the proportion of stockpiled Rhesus‐positive blood groups especially for O, B and A that may be high in demand.     

表皮生长因子对恒河猴移植牙牙周组织

目的探讨表皮生长因子（epidermal growth factor，EGF）是否具有促进恒河猴移植牙牙周组织再生修复的作用。方法以2只生长期恒河猴的15颗恒牙为研究对象。全麻下拔出牙齿，分别放入5ng／ml和10ng／mlEGF、Hank’s液、生理盐水中浸泡0．5小时，拔除对侧同名牙，将实验和对照牙分别移植到对侧同名牙位拔牙窝，钢丝固定。3个月后处死动物，处理标本，组织病理学观察。结果5ng／ml和10ng／mlEGF组的牙周膜内可见粗大的牙周膜纤维，功能排列好，成纤维细胞多见。Hank’s液组牙周膜纤维也较粗大，但未形成功能排列，成纤维细胞多见。生理盐水组牙周膜纤维水肿，功能排列不好，成纤维细胞少见。5ng／ml、10ng／mlEGF组和Hank’s液组都出现龈沟加深和龈沟上皮、结合上皮的增生，生理盐水组牙龈正常。各组均出现牙骨质吸收。5ng／mlEGF组可见牙骨质修复，在牙骨质内有穿通纤维形成。10ng／mlEGF组、Hank’s液组、生理盐水组未发现牙骨质修复。各组均有牙槽骨吸收。5ng／mlEGF组、Hank’s液组、生理盐水组均呵见成骨细胞及成骨，10ng／mlEGF组未见成骨。结论EGF（5ng／ml与10ng／m1）能促进恒河猴移植牙牙周成纤维细胞的增殖但会引起牙龈增生，EGF促进牙周膜纤维增殖的能力比Hank’s液强，Hank’s液促进牙周膜纤维增殖的能力强于生理盐水。     

皮下注射MPTP诱导猕猴双侧慢性帕金森病模型的制作

目的探讨猕猴双侧慢性不可逆性帕金森病（PD）模型的制作方法。方法 4只猕猴分别采用不同剂量（0.1 mg/kg/d和0.4 mg/kg/d）和不同频率（每天一次和隔天一次）及不同次数皮下注射1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶（MPTP）制作PD模型,注射MPTP前后观察行为学表现并进行非人类灵长类PD评分量表（PPRS）评分。结果猕猴注射MPTP一段时间后开始出现PD症状,主要表现为倦怠、迟缓;继续给药PD症状会出现进行性快速加重导致后续动物因进食困难而死亡;若过早停止给药,则导致PD模型不稳定,动物症状可自愈。采用剂量为0.1 mg/kg/d的MPTP连续皮下注射14 d后,猕猴出现中度PD症状（PPRS评分为6~8分）时,改隔日注射一次,共4次,猕猴出现不可逆性PD症状,且可自主摄食并长期存活,是一个成功的模型。结论适量皮下注射MPTP可制作猕猴慢性、不可逆性、双侧PD模型,其更接近人PD的临床特征,且无需鼻饲喂养可长期存活。     

Spontaneous periodontitis is associated with metabolic syndrome in rhesus monkeys

Objective

The present study was designed to investigate (1) whether the non-human primate would be an appropriate animal model for the study of spontaneous periodontitis and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS), and (2) whether microRNAs (miRNAs) play roles in the co-development of metabolic disorders and periodontitis.

Design

Rhesus monkeys (aged 12–29 years) with or without MetS were analyzed for the prevalence of periodontitis. The potential mechanisms underlying the association between MetS and periodontitis were explored using miRNA profiling of the gingival tissues from the MetS monkey groups with or without periodontitis as well as the age-matched controls.

Results

Among the 57 rhesus monkeys examined, 18 were diagnosed with periodontitis according to the inclusion criteria, with an overall prevalence of 31.6%. Moreover, the prevalence of periodontitis was 8.3% in the control group, 18.2% in the at-risk group, and 44.1% in the MetS group. The C-reactive protein level was doubled in the MetS periodontitis group, compared to the non-periodontitis sub-groups. Most importantly, only 3 miRNAs were confirmed to be differentially expressed between the MetS periodontitis and non-periodontitis subgroups while other miRNAs showed similar expression profiles.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the monkey with MetS is an ideal model for studies of spontaneous periodontitis and its association with MetS. miRNA profiling using this unique model showed that miRNAs play roles in the co-development of MetS and periodontitis.     

Neuroendocrine control of the onset of puberty

This chapter is based on the Geoffrey Harris Memorial Lecture presented at the 8th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, which was held in Sydney, August 2014. It provides the development of our understanding of the neuroendocrine control of puberty since Harris proposed in his 1955 monograph (Harris, 1955) that “a major factor responsible for puberty is an increased rate of release of pituitary gonadotrophin” and posited “that a neural (hypothalamic) stimulus, via the hypophysial portal vessels, may be involved.” Emphasis is placed on the neurobiological mechanisms governing puberty in highly evolved primates, although an attempt is made to reverse translate a model for the timing of puberty in man and monkey to non-primate species.     

Effects of early maternal care on adolescent attention bias to threat in nonhuman primates

Attention bias towards threat using dot-probe tasks has mainly been reported in adults with stress-related disorders such as PTSD and other anxiety disorders, in some cases associated with early life stress or traumatic experiences. Studies during adolescence are scarce and inconsistent, which highlights the need to increase our understanding of the developmental processes that predict attentional biases, given that this is a time of emergence of psychopathology. Here, we use a translational nonhuman primate model of early life stress in the form of infant maltreatment to examine its long-term impact on attentional biases during adolescence using the dot-probe task and identify interactions with early life risk factors, such as prenatal exposure to stress hormones and emotional/stress reactivity during infancy. Maltreated animals showed higher reaction times to social threat than animals that experienced competent maternal care, suggesting interference of negative valence stimuli on attentional control and cognitive processes. Higher emotional reactivity during infancy in Maltreated animals predicted attention bias towards threat, whereas higher levels of prenatal cortisol exposure was associated with bias away (avoidance of) threat in maltreated and control groups. Our findings suggest that different postnatal experiences and early biobehavioral mechanisms regulate the development of emotional attention biases during adolescence.