Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation induced changes in the expression of circulatory miRNA in bovine follicular fluid and blood plasma

Background

Despite its role in increasing the number of offspring during the lifetime of an individual animal, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) may have detrimental effects on oocyte development, embryo quality and endometrial receptivity. Circulating miRNAs in bio-fluids have been shown to be associated with various pathological conditions including cancers. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of COH on the level of extracellular miRNAs in bovine follicular fluid and blood plasma and elucidate their mode of circulation and potential molecular mechanisms to be affected in the reproductive tract.

Method

Twelve simmental heifers were estrous synchronized and six of them were hyperstimulated using FSH. Follicular fluid samples from experimental animals were collected using ovum pick up technique at day 0 of the estrous cycle and blood samples were collected at day 0, 3 and 7 of post ovulation. The expression profile of circulatory miRNAs in follicular fluid and blood plasma were performed using the human miRCURY LNA? Universal RT miRNA PCR array system. A comparative threshold cycle method was used to determine the relative abundance of the miRNAs.

Results

A total of 504 and 402 miRNAs were detected in both bovine follicular fluid and blood plasma, respectively. Of these 57 and 21 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in follicular fluid and blood plasma, respectively derived from hyperstimulated versus unstimulated heifers. Bioinformatics analysis of those circulating miRNAs indicated that their potential target genes are involved in several pathways including TGF-beta signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, pathways in cancer and Oocyte meiosis.Moreover, detail analysis of the mode of circulation of some candidates showed that most of the miRNA were found to be detected in both exosomal and Ago2 protein complex fraction of both follicular fluid and blood plasma.

Conclusion

Our data provide the consequence of hyperstimulation induced changes of extracellular miRNAs in bovine follicular fluid and blood plasma, which may have a potential role in regulating genes associated not only with bovine ovarian function but also involved in altering various physiological in bovine oocytes, embryos and modulating reproductive tract environment.

     

Laboratory malaria diagnostic capacity in health facilities in five administrative zones of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Objectives and methods Quality laboratory services are a requisite to guide rational case management of malaria. Using a pre‐tested, standardized assessment tool, we assessed laboratory diagnostic capacity in 69 primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities as well as specialized laboratories in five administrative zones in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, during February and March 2009. Results There was marked variability in laboratory diagnostic capacity among the facilities assessed. Of 69 facilities surveyed, 53 provided both comprehensive malaria laboratory diagnosis and outpatient treatment services, five provided malaria microscopy services (referring elsewhere for treatment), and 11 primary care health posts provided rapid diagnostic testing and outpatient malaria treatment. The facilities’ median catchment population was 39 562 and 3581 people for secondary/tertiary and primary health facilities, respectively. Depending on facility type, facilities provided services 24 h a day, had inpatient capacity, and access to water and electricity. Facilities were staffed by general practitioners, health officers, nurses or health extension workers. Of the 58 facilities providing laboratory services, 24% of the 159 laboratory staff had received malaria microscopy training in the year prior to this survey, and 72% of the facilities had at least one functional electric binocular microscope. Facilities had variable levels of equipment, materials and biosafety procedures necessary for laboratory diagnosis of malaria. The mean monthly number of malaria blood films processed at secondary/tertiary facilities was 225, with a mean monthly 56 confirmed parasitologically. In primary facilities, the mean monthly number of clinical malaria cases seen was 75, of which 57 were tested by rapid diagnostic test (RDTs). None of the surveyed laboratory facilities had formal quality assurance/quality control protocols for either microscopy or RDTs. Conclusions This is the first published report on malaria diagnostic capacity in Ethiopia. While our assessment indicated that malaria laboratory diagnosis was available in most facilities surveyed, we observed significant gaps in laboratory services which could significantly impact quality and accessibility of malaria diagnosis, including laboratory infrastructure, equipment, laboratory supplies and human resources.     

A Methanol Extract of Adansonia digitata L. Leaves Inhibits Pro-Inflammatory iNOS Possibly via the Inhibition of NF-κB Activation

This study examined the total polyphenol content of eight wild edible plants from Ethiopia and their effect on NO production in Raw264.7 cells. Owing to its relatively high polyphenol concentration and inhibition of NO production, the methanol extract of Adansonia digitata L. leaf (MEAD) was subjected to detailed evaluation of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidant effects were assessed by measuring free-radical-scavenging activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and oxygen-radical-absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays, while anti-inflammatory effects were assessed by measuring inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In the ORAC assay, MEAD was 10.2 times more potent than vitamin C at eliminating peroxyl radicals. In DPPH assay, MEAD also showed a strong ROS scavenging effect. MEAD significantly inhibited iNOS activity (IC₅₀=28.6 μg/ml) of LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. We also investigated the relationship between iNOS expression and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. MEAD inhibited IκBα degradation and NF-κB translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells without significant cytotoxic effects, as confirmed by MTT assay. These results suggest that MEAD inhibits anti-inflammatory iNOS expression, which might be related to the elimination of peroxyl radicals and thus the inhibition of IκBα-mediated NF-κB signal transduction.     

Inhalation with bronchodilator combination effective in reducing length of hospital stay in children with pneumonia

Objective

This study aimed to examine the correlation between inhalation therapy and length of hospital stay in children under age of five with pneumonia.

Adherence to antihypertensive treatment and associated factors among patients on follow up at University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an overwhelming global challenge with high morbidity and mortality rates. In Ethiopia 6% and Addis Ababa, 30% of the population has been estimated to have hypertension. Poor adherence is associated with bad outcome of the disease and wastage of healthcare resources. In Ethiopia, particularly in the study area little is known about treatment adherence and associated factors. Therefore this study aimed to assess adherence to antihypertensive therapy and associated factors among HTN patients on follow up at University of Gondar Referral Hospital. METHOD: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 384 participants. A structured standard questionnaire was used after some modifications. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale was used for labeling patients as adherent or non-adherent. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16. RESULTS: Only 64.6% of the study subjects were found to be adherent to their treatment. Sex (AOR=0.48, 95%CI = 0.28, 0.82), knowledge about HTN and its treatment (AOR=6.21, 95%CI=3.22, 11.97), distance from the hospital (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI =1.19-3.43) and co morbidity (AOR=2.5, 95%CI=1.01, 6.21) variables were found significantly associated with treatment adherence. Conclusion and Recommendations: Only 64.6% of the study subjects were found to be adherent to their treatment. Factors such as sex, distance from the hospital, number of co morbidities, Knowledge about HTN and its treatment were associated with adherence behavior of patients. Early diagnosis and management of co morbidities, adherence counseling and patient education about the disease and its treatment are important to improve adherence status of patients.     

The occurrence and driver characteristics associated with motor vehicle injuries in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Ethiopian documentation of the occurrence and determinants of motor vehicle related morbidity and mortality is sparse. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the incidence of hospital treated motor vehicle injuries (MVI) in Addis Ababa and driver characteristics associated with involvement in a MVI. The study was conducted over a 12-week period in the autumn of 1988. Over 91% of MVI involved pedestrians. The overall MVI incidence density rate was 279.4 per 100,000 person years and the mortality rate was 17.6 per 100,000 population per year. Road accident injury and fatality rates were 946 and 59.5 respectively per 10,000 registered vehicles. Overall years of person life lost was 595 per 100,000 person-years exposure. Significantly increased odds of exposure among drivers inflicting a MVI were found for younger age, fewer years driving experience, male gender, and those driving newer, government owned, and mass transit vehicles.     

The genetic basis of a plant-insect coevolutionary key innovation

Ehrlich and Raven formally introduced the concept of stepwise coevolution using butterfly and angiosperm interactions in an attempt to account for the impressive biological diversity of these groups. However, many biologists currently envision butterflies evolving 50 to 30 million years (Myr) after the major angiosperm radiation and thus reject coevolutionary origins of butterfly biodiversity. The unresolved central tenet of Ehrlich and Raven's theory is that evolution of plant chemical defenses is followed closely by biochemical adaptation in insect herbivores, and that newly evolved detoxification mechanisms result in adaptive radiation of herbivore lineages. Using one of their original butterfly-host plant systems, the Pieridae, we identify a pierid glucosinolate detoxification mechanism, nitrile-specifier protein (NSP), as a key innovation. Larval NSP activity matches the distribution of glucosinolate in their host plants. Moreover, by using five different temporal estimates, NSP seems to have evolved shortly after the evolution of the host plant group (Brassicales) ( approximately 10 Myr). An adaptive radiation of these glucosinolate-feeding Pierinae followed, resulting in significantly elevated species numbers compared with related clades. Mechanistic understanding in its proper historical context documents more ancient and dynamic plant-insect interactions than previously envisioned. Moreover, these mechanistic insights provide the tools for detailed molecular studies of coevolution from both the plant and insect perspectives.     

Epilepsy,poverty and early under-nutrition in rural Ethiopia

PurposeThe incidence of epilepsy in Ethiopia is high compared with industrialised countries, but in most cases the cause of epilepsy is unknown. Childhood malnutrition remains widespread. We performed a case–control study to determine whether epilepsy is associated with poverty and markers of early under-nutrition.MethodsPatients with epilepsy (n = 112), aged 18–45 years, were recruited from epilepsy clinics in and around two towns in Ethiopia. Controls with a similar age and gender distribution (n = 149) were recruited from patients and relatives attending general outpatient clinics. We administered a questionnaire to define the medical and social history of cases and controls, and then performed a series of anthropometric measurements. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate multivariate adjusted odds ratios. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate adjusted case–control differences for continuously distributed outcomes.ResultsEpilepsy was associated with illiteracy/low levels of education, odds ratio = 3.0 (95% confidence interval: 1.7–5.6), subsistence farming, odds ratio = 2.6 (1.2–5.6) and markers of poverty including poorer access to sanitation (p = 0.009), greater overcrowding (p = 0.008) and fewer possessions (p < 0.001). Epilepsy was also associated with the father's death during childhood, odds ratio = 2.2 (1.0–4.6). Body mass index was similar in cases and controls, but patients with epilepsy were shorter and lighter with reduced sitting height (p < 0.001), bitrochanteric diameter (p = 0.029) and hip size (p = 0.003). Patients with epilepsy also had lower mid-upper arm circumference (p = 0.011) and lean body mass (p = 0.037).ConclusionEpilepsy in Ethiopia is strongly associated with poor education and markers of poverty. Patients with epilepsy also had evidence of stunting and disproportionate skeletal growth, raising the possibility of a link between early under-nutrition and epilepsy.     

Addressing the Impact of Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries (NCDIs) in Ethiopia: Findings and Recommendations from the Ethiopia NCDI Commission

BackgroundNoncommunicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) are the leading causes of premature mortality globally. Ethiopia is experiencing a rapid increase in NCDI burden. The Ethiopia NCDI Commission aimed to determine the burden of NCDIs, prioritize health sector interventions for NCDIs and estimate the cost and available fiscal-space for NCDI interventions.MethodsWe retrieved data on NCDI disease burden and concomitant risk factors from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study, complemented by systematic review of published literature from Ethiopia. Cost-effective interventions were identified through a structured priority-setting process and costed using the One Health tool. We conducted fiscal-space analysis to identify an affordable package of NCDI services in Ethiopia.ResultsWe find that there is a large and diverse NCDI disease burden and their risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes (these conditions are NCDIs themselves and could be risk factors to other NCDIs), including less common but more severe NCDIs such as rheumatic heart disease and cancers in women. Mental, neurological, chronic respiratory and surgical conditions also contribute to a substantial proportion of NCDI disease burden in Ethiopia. Among an initial list of 235 interventions, the commission recommended 90 top-priority NCDI interventions (including essential surgery) for implementation. The additional annual cost for scaling up of these interventions was estimated at US$550m (about US$4.7 per capita).ConclusionsA targeted investment in cost-effective interventions could result in substantial reduction in premature mortality and may be within the projected fiscal space of Ethiopia. Innovative financing mechanisms, multi-sectoral governance, regional implementation, and an integrated service delivery approach mainly using primary health care are required to achieve these goals.