Biochemical and hematological changes among anemic and non-anemic pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at the Bolgatanga regional hospital,Ghana

Background

Anemia in pregnancy may not only be associated with maternal morbidity and mortality but can also be detrimental to the fetus. A definitive diagnosis of anemia is a pre-requisite to unravelling possible cause(s), to allow appropriate treatment intervention. It is hypothesised that measured hemoglobin (HGB), complemented by biochemical and other hematological parameters would enhance anemia diagnosis.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study among 400 pregnant women comprising 253 anemic and 147 non-anemic pregnant women, attending an antenatal clinic at Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Ghana. Venous blood was collected and hemoglobin genotype, complete blood count and biochemical parameters [ferritin, iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TfS), C-reactive protein (CRP) and bilirubin] were determined. Thick blood films were prepared for malaria parasitemia, while early morning stool and midstream urine samples were examined for enteric and urogenital parasites, respectively.

Results

There were significantly reduced levels of HGB (p?<?0.0001), HCT (p?<?0.0001), MCV (p?<?0.0001), iron (0.0273), ferritin (p?=?0.018) and transferrin saturation (0.0391) and increased WBC (p?=?0.006), RDW (p?=?0.0480), TIBC (p?=?0.0438) and positivity of CRP in anemic, compared to non-anemic pregnant women. Anemic women were associated with increased proportion of hemoglobinopathies (AS, SS and SC), Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma hematobium and intestinal parasite infections.

Conclusion

Anemic pregnant women are associated with a significant derangement in hematological and iron indices that implicate iron deficiency. This was influenced by hemoglobinopathies and parasitic infections.

     

Genome analyses reveal the hybrid origin of the staple crop white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata)

White Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata) is an important staple tuber crop in West Africa. However, its origin remains unclear. In this study, we resequenced 336 accessions of white Guinea yam and compared them with the sequences of wild Dioscorea species using an improved reference genome sequence of D. rotundata. In contrast to a previous study suggesting that D. rotundata originated from a subgroup of Dioscorea praehensilis, our results suggest a hybrid origin of white Guinea yam from crosses between the wild rainforest species D. praehensilis and the savannah-adapted species Dioscorea abyssinica. We identified a greater genomic contribution from D. abyssinica in the sex chromosome of Guinea yam and extensive introgression around the SWEETIE gene. Our findings point to a complex domestication scenario for Guinea yam and highlight the importance of wild species as gene donors for improving this crop through molecular breeding.

Yams (Dioscorea spp.) are major starchy tuber crops that are widely consumed in the tropics. Ten yam species are cultivated worldwide, including Dioscorea alata in Southeast Asia, Dioscorea trifida in South America, and Dioscorea rotundata in West and Central Africa (1). D. rotundata, also known as white Guinea yam, is the most important species in West and Central Africa, an area accounting for 92.5% of global yam production in 2018 (http://www.fao.org/statistics). Beyond its nutritional and food value, Guinea yam is also important for the culture of West African people (2).Despite the considerable importance of Guinea yam, its origin has been elusive. There are two types of Guinea yam: white Guinea yam (D. rotundata) and yellow Guinea yam (Dioscorea cayenensis). D. cayenensis is thought to be a triploid species of hybrid origin, with D. rotundata as the maternal parent and Dioscorea burkilliana as the paternal parent (3, 4). In turn, the triploid D. rotundata is thought to be a hybrid between D. rotundata and Dioscorea togoensis (4). However, the origin of diploid D. rotundata, which accounts for the majority of Guinea yam production (4), has been ambiguous. Two wild species are candidate progenitors of diploid D. rotundata: the savannah-adapted wild species Dioscorea abyssinica and the rainforest-adapted wild species Dioscorea praehensilis (3–10). The geographical distributions of D. abyssinica and D. praehensilis overlap slightly (SI Appendix, Fig. S1). Based on morphological evaluation, Coursey proposed that D. rotundata might be a hybrid between the two species (8). However, other reports have indicated that the origin of Guinea yam is ambiguous due to the small number of markers (3–7), introgression (6, 7), or incomplete lineage sorting (7).The whole-genome sequence of Guinea yam has been reported (11). A recent genome study involving 86 D. rotundata, 47 D. praehensilis, and 34 D. abyssinica accessions suggested that diploid D. rotundata was domesticated from D. praehensilis (10). Here we addressed this hypothesis using an expanded set of genomes from cultivated and wild Dioscorea species.In this study, we generated an improved version of the Guinea yam reference genome and used it to analyze the genomes of 336 accessions of D. rotundata and its wild relatives. Based on these analyses, we attempted to reveal the history of Guinea yam domestication. Our results suggest that diploid D. rotundata was most likely derived from homoploid hybridization between D. abyssinica and D. praehensilis. By evaluating the genomic contributions of each parental species to D. rotundata, we revealed greater representation of the D. abyssinica genome in the sex chromosome of D. rotundata and a signature of extensive introgression in the SWEETIE gene on chromosome 17.     

Immunoproteomics Identification of Major IgE and IgG4 Reactive Schistosoma japonicum Adult Worm Antigens Using Chronically Infected Human Plasma

Immunoepidemiological studies from endemic areas have revealed age-dependent resistance correlation with increased level of IgE and decreased level of IgG4 antibodies in responses to schistosomes’ soluble worm antigen. However, there have been limited studies on analyses of major antigens that provoke IgE and IgG4 immune response during chronic stage of schistosomiasis. In this study, for the first time, immunoproteomics approach has been applied to identify S. japonicum worm antigens in liquid fractions that are recognized by IgE and IgG4 antibody using plasma from chronically infected population. ProteomeLabPF 2D fractionated 1-D and 2-D fractions of SWA antigens were screened using pooled high IgE/IgG4 reactive plasma samples by dot-blot technique. In 1-D fractions, IgE isotype was detected by fewer antigenic fractions (43.2%). The most recognized isotype was IgG3 (79.5%) followed by IgG1 (75.0%) and IgG4 (61.4%). Liquid chromatography MS/MS protein sequencing of reactive 2-D fractions revealed 18 proteins that were identified, characterized and gene ontology categories determined. 2-D fractions containing proteins such as zinc finger, RanBP2-type, domain-containing protein were strongly recognized by IgE and moderately by IgG4 whereas fractions containing proteins such as ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme and cytosolic II 5''-nucleotidase strongly recognizing by IgG subclasses (IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4) but not IgE. By this study, a simple and reproducible proteomic method has been established to identify major immunoreactive S. japonicum antigens. It is anticipated that this will stimulate further research on the immunogenicity and protective potential of proteins identified as well as discovery of novel compounds that have therapeutic importance.     

Quadricuspid aortic valve: a case report and review of the literature

Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare congenital anomaly that can present as aortic insufficiency later in life. We report a case of aortic regurgitation associated with a QAV, treated by aortic valve replacement. The patient presented with breathlessness, lethargy and peripheral oedema. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance revealed abnormal aortic valve morphology and coronary angiography was normal. The presence of a quadricuspid aortic valve was confirmed intra-operatively. This was excised and replaced with a bioprosthetic valve and the patient recovered well postoperatively. Importantly, the literature indicates that specific QAV morphology and associated structural abnormalities can lead to complications. Hence, early detection and diagnosis of QAV allows effective treatment. Aortic valve surgery is the definitive treatment strategy in patients with aortic valve regurgitation secondary to QAV. However, the long-term effects and complications of treatment of this condition remain largely unknown.