Methylated DNA/RNA in Body Fluids as Biomarkers for Lung Cancer

DNA/RNA methylation plays an important role in lung cancer initiation and progression. Liquid biopsy makes use of cells, nucleotides and proteins released from tumor cells into body fluids to help with cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Methylation of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has gained increasing attention as biomarkers for lung cancer. Here we briefly introduce the biological basis and detection method of ctDNA methylation, and review various applications of methylated DNA in body fluids in lung cancer screening, diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and treatment prediction. We also discuss the emerging role of RNA methylation as biomarkers for cancer.     

Effect of geographical access to health facilities on child mortality in rural Ethiopia: a community based cross sectional study

Background

There have been few studies that have examined associations between access to health care and child health outcomes in remote populations most in need of health services. This study assessed the effect of travel time and distance to health facilities on mortality in children under five years in a remote area of rural north-western Ethiopia.

Methods and Findings

This study involved a randomly selected cross sectional survey of 2,058 households. Data were collected during home visits to all resident women of reproductive age (15–49 years). A geographic information system (GIS) was used to map all households and the only health centre in the district. The analysis was restricted to 2,206 rural children who were under the age of five years during the five years before the survey. Data were analysed using random effects Poisson regression. 90.4% (1,996/2,206) of children lived more than 1.5 hours walk from the health centre. Children who lived ≥1.5 hrs from the health centre had a two to three fold greater risk of death than children who lived <1.5 hours from the health centre (children with travel time 1.5–<2.5 hrs adjusted relative risk [adjRR] 2.3[0.95–5.6], travel time 2.5–<3.5 hrs adjRR 3.1[1.3–7.4] and travel time 3.5–<6.5 hrs adjRR 2.5[1.1–6.2]).

Conclusion

Distance to a health centre had a marked influence on under five mortality in a poor, rural, remote area of Ethiopia. This study provides important information for policy makers on the likely impact of new health centres and their most effective location in remote areas.     

Effects of sex and dietary phosphorus level on the apparent metabolizable energy and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens

The influence of sex of broilers and dietary phosphorus (P) level on energy utilization and apparent ileal digestibility of N, P and phytate-P were investigated. The AME_N was determined using 3- and 6-week old broilers, while the apparent ileal digestibility were determined only with 6-week old birds. Sex of broilers had no effect on the AME_N values determined during week 3. During week 6, the AME_N values for male broilers were higher (P?0.01) than those for the females. An interaction (P?0.05) between sex and dietary P level was also observed. AME_N values determined with male broilers were lower in the adequate-P diet compared to those in the low-P diet, whereas no effect of P level was observed in females. Female broilers tended (P?0.10) to have a higher ileal N digestibility than the males, but a significant (P?0.01) sex ×?P level interaction was observed. Males receiving the adequate-P diet had a lower N digestibility than those receiving the low-P diet, whereas the opposite was true in the females. Ileal phytate P degradation in males was higher than in females (0.282 vs. 0.234), but the differences were not significant. Increasing dietary P level increased ileal P digestibility in both the males and females, but the improvements were greater in the females, as indicated by a significant sex × P level interaction.     

Natural occurrence of aflatoxin B<Subscript>1</Subscript> in some Indonesian food and feed products in Yogyakarta in year 1998–1999

A survey was conducted between 1998–1999 to evaluate the level of aflatoxin B₁ (AfB₁) contamination in some selected Indonesian food products, mainly peanuts and peanut products for sale in supermarkets or traditional markets in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Quantitative analysis was carried out on 118 samples using the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique. The results indicate that (61.1%) samples were contaminated with AfB₁ at range 2.0 to 249.0 μg/kg. Approximately 50% of the baby food products analysed were contaminated with AfB₁ and the maximum level found was 7.0 μg/kg. In corn products and fermented products, AfB₁ was detected in 66.7 and 50.0% of samples, respectively. A level as high as 5.6 μg/kg of AfB₁ was found in the corn and 6.0 μg/kg in fermented product. AfB₁ was also detected in all rice products, feed products, and other processed products at levels of up to 7.0, 27.0, and 26.0 μg/kg, respectively.