Immunohistochemical analysis of the vitellogenin response in the liver of Atlantic salmon exposed to environmental oestrogens

Induction of vitellogenin (Vtg) in oviparous vertebrates has been used as a biomarker of response for environmental oestrogens. This study reports the cellular localization of oestrogen- and xenoestrogen-induced Vtg synthesis in the liver of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Paraffin-embedded liver sections were incubated with homologous monoclonal antibody against Atlantic salmon Vtg. Following intraperitoneal (ip) exposure of fish to estradiol-17beta E₂; 5 mg kg-1 or 4-nonylphenol NP; 125 mg kg-1, Vtg induction was primarily demonstrated immunohistochemically in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, endothelial cells and within hepatic sinusoids. Vtg staining of hepatocytes was not evenly distributed, as there was a high degree of polarization toward the sinusoid. The intensity of positive Vtg staining was stronger in the liver sections of E₂-treated fish, compared with NP-treated fish. Hepatocytes of E₂-, NP- and vehicle (control)-treated fish showed normal cellular structures, thus showing no evidence of histopathological changes. In parallel, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot analysis of plasma Vtg levels show significant induction of Vtg in E₂- and NP-treated fish, as compared with untreated (control) fish. The present study demonstrates the applicability of immunohistochemistry in studies of cellular structures, processes and responses of fish exposure to oestrogen and oestrogen-mimicking compounds.     

Influence of season on leaf litter ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) diversity in the locality of Minko'o (Southern,Cameroon)

Seasonality is known to influence ant activity in many tropical rain forests in the world such as South America and Africa. We surveyed ant fauna in the leaf litter in the locality of Minko'o. The work aimed to evaluate the effect of seasonal variation on the diversity and composition of litter ants. Ants were sampled from November 2015 to June 2017, using four sampling methods: visual capture, bait, pitfall trap and extraction. Species richness, Shannon diversity index and analysis of similarities were used to characterise diversity of ant communities between seasons. We collected 306 ant species, shared out between 56 genera and 11 subfamilies. Subfamilies Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae, Formicinae, Dorylinae, Cerapachyinae and Pseudomyrmecinae occurred in all the seasons. Species richness was highest in major dry season with 243 species followed by minor rainy season with 188, major rainy season with 177 species and finally minor dry season that recorded the lowest with 155 species. Kruskal–Wallis test showed that ant species richness did not differ between seasons (p > 0.05). Species diversity index indicated that diversity was the highest during minor dry season (H′ = 4.24), followed by the major dry season (H′ = 4.23), minor rainy season (H′ = 4.21) and lowest during major rainy season (H′ = 4.06). Eight most frequents ants have been recorded: Axinidris sp.1, Camponotus flavomarginatus, Monomorium guineense, Myrmicaria opaciventris, Odontomachus troglodytes, Carebara perpusilla, Paltothyreus tarsatus and Pheidole megacephala. Assessment of the seasonal effect on diversity reveals that dry season is richer and more diverse than rainy season and the season significantly influence the diversity of litter ants.     

Anthropogenic and Natural Disturbance Differentially Affect Sagebrush Bird Habitat Use

North American sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-obligate birds are experiencing steep population declines due in part to increased disturbance, mainly human-caused, across their range. At the eastern edge of the sagebrush steppe, this issue may potentially be exacerbated because of natural disturbance by black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Our goal was to compare local and landscape models of habitat use by greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), Brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri), and sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) with models including effects of natural (i.e., prairie dog) and anthropogenic disturbance. We used a combination of field data collection, and state and national datasets for the Thunder Basin National Grassland, eastern Wyoming, USA, to understand the factors that influence lek attendance by sage-grouse and habitat use by 2 passerines in this system. For all 3 species, models including big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) cover at local and landscape scales were the most competitive among univariate models, supporting the paradigm that sagebrush is key for these species. Models including anthropogenic disturbance (well density, road density) explained more variation than models of prairie dog disturbance alone for 2 of the 3 species, but long-term disturbance by prairie dogs did reduce abundance of Brewer's sparrows. Although long-term prairie dog disturbance has the potential to reduce sagebrush cover for sagebrush-obligate birds, such events are likely rare because outbreaks of plague (Yersina pestis) and lethal control on borders with private land reduce prairie dog disturbance. Conversely, anthropogenic disturbance is slated to increase in this system, suggesting potentially accelerated declines for sagebrush birds into the future. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.     

Germline Mutations in NFKB2 Implicate the Noncanonical NF-κB Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by antibody deficiency, poor humoral response to antigens, and recurrent infections. To investigate the molecular cause of CVID, we carried out exome sequence analysis of a family diagnosed with CVID and identified a heterozygous frameshift mutation, c.2564delA (p.Lys855Serfs^∗7), in NFKB2 affecting the C terminus of NF-κB2 (also known as p100/p52 or p100/p49). Subsequent screening of NFKB2 in 33 unrelated CVID-affected individuals uncovered a second heterozygous nonsense mutation, c.2557C>T (p.Arg853^∗), in one simplex case. Affected individuals in both families presented with an unusual combination of childhood-onset hypogammaglobulinemia with recurrent infections, autoimmune features, and adrenal insufficiency. NF-κB2 is the principal protein involved in the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, is evolutionarily conserved, and functions in peripheral lymphoid organ development, B cell development, and antibody production. In addition, Nfkb2 mouse models demonstrate a CVID-like phenotype with hypogammaglobulinemia and poor humoral response to antigens. Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy of transformed B cells from affected individuals show that the NFKB2 mutations affect phosphorylation and proteasomal processing of p100 and, ultimately, p52 nuclear translocation. These findings describe germline mutations in NFKB2 and establish the noncanonical NF-κB signaling pathway as a genetic etiology for this primary immunodeficiency syndrome.     

How Do Urban Indian Private Practitioners Diagnose and Treat Tuberculosis? A Cross-Sectional Study in Chennai

Setting

Private practitioners are frequently the first point of healthcare contact for patients with tuberculosis (TB) in India. Inappropriate TB management practices among private practitioners may contribute to delayed TB diagnosis and generate drug resistance. However, these practices are not well understood. We evaluated diagnostic and treatment practices for active TB and benchmarked practices against International Standards for TB Care (ISTC) among private medical practitioners in Chennai.

Design

A cross-sectional survey of 228 practitioners practicing in the private sector from January 2014 to February 2015 in Chennai city who saw at least one TB patient in the previous year. Practitioners were randomly selected from both the general community and a list of practitioners who referred patients to a public-private mix program for TB treatment in Chennai. Practitioners were interviewed using standardized questionnaires.

Results

Among 228 private practitioners, a median of 12 (IQR 4–28) patients with TB were seen per year. Of 10 ISTC standards evaluated, the median of standards adhered to was 4.0 (IQR 3.0–6.0). Chest physicians reported greater median ISTC adherence than other MD and MS practitioners (score 7.0 vs. 4.0, P<0.001), or MBBS practitioners (score 7.0 vs. 4.0, P<0.001). Only 52% of all practitioners sent >5% of patients with cough for TB testing, 83% used smear microscopy for diagnosis, 33% monitored treatment response, and 22% notified TB cases to authorities. Of 228 practitioners, 68 reported referring all patients with new pulmonary TB for treatment, while 160 listed 27 different regimens; 78% (125/160) prescribed a regimen classified as consistent with ISTC. Appropriate treatment practices differed significantly between chest physicians and other MD and MS practitioners (54% vs. 87%, P<0.001).

Conclusion

TB management practices in India’s urban private sector are heterogeneous and often suboptimal. Private providers must be better engaged to improve diagnostic capacity and decrease TB transmission in the community.     

Equity in Health Care Financing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Evidence from Studies Using Benefit and Financing Incidence Analyses

IntroductionHealth financing reforms in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) over the past decades have focused on achieving equity in financing of health care delivery through universal health coverage. Benefit and financing incidence analyses are two analytical methods for comprehensively evaluating how well health systems perform on these objectives. This systematic review assesses progress towards equity in health care financing in LMICs through the use of BIA and FIA.ConclusionStudies evaluated in this systematic review indicate that health care financing in LMICs benefits the rich more than the poor but the burden of financing also falls more on the rich. There is some evidence that primary health care is pro-poor suggesting a greater investment in such services and removal of barriers to care can enhance equity. The results overall suggest that there are impediments to making health care more accessible to the poor and this must be addressed if universal health coverage is to be a reality.     

Does Grazing Matter for Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in the Western North American Great Plains?

Ecosystems - Considerable uncertainty remains regarding grazing-induced influences on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in semiarid grassland ecosystems due to three important complications...     

Developing and applying a macroinvertebrate‐based multimetric index for urban rivers in the Niger Delta,Nigeria

Urban pollution of riverine ecosystem is a serious concern in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. No biomonitoring tool exists for the routine monitoring of effects of urban pollution on riverine systems within the region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and apply a macroinvertebrate‐based multimetric index for assessing water quality condition of impacted urban river systems in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Macroinvertebrate and physicochemical samples were collected from 11 stations in eight river systems. Based on the physicochemical variables, the stations were categorized into three impact categories namely least impacted stations (LIS), moderately impacted stations (MIS) and heavily impacted stations (HIS). Seventy‐seven (77) candidate metrics were tested and only five: Hemiptera abundance, %Coleoptera + Hemiptera, %Chironomidae + Oligochaeta, Evenness index and Logarithm of relative abundance of very large body size (>40–80 mm) were retained and integrated into the final Niger Delta urban multimetric index (MINDU). The validation dataset showed a correspondence of 83.3% between the index result and the physicochemically‐based classification for the LIS and a 75% correspondence for the MIS. A performance of 22.2% was recorded for the HIS. The newly developed MINDU proved useful as a biomonitoring tool in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and can thus be used by environmental managers and government officials for routine monitoring of rivers and streams subjected to urban pollution.     

Field bean protease inhibitor preparations,unlike methotrexate,can completely suppress Yoshida sarcoma tumor in rats

Protease inhibitor preparations (PIP) with antitryptic and antichymotryptic activities, isolated from field bean legume as well as doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide could effectively suppress the growth of Yoshida sarcoma ascites tumor cells transplanted in adult rats and prevent their death. As against this, methotrexate and heat-inactivated PIP were ineffective in such rats at varied doses of treatment tried. The percent survival of animals appeared to be related to the purity, treatment mode and the dose of PIP used. Zymographic analysis of the trypsin activated sarcoma cell homagenate revealed the presence of six protease bands in the molecular weight range of 51kD to 206kD. Prolonged interactions of such zymograms with protease inhibitors such as 20mM EDTA or 5mM diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DIFP) or 400 · μg/ml of PIP in reaction buffer indicated that these are not metalloproteases but serine proteases whose activities are inhibited by PIP and DIFP. Since proteases are involved in cell growth regulation and cell transformation, we hypothesize a positive relationship between the field bean protease inhibitor;s blocking action on tumor cell proteases and its tumor suppressing activity