20 research outputs found
Association of MTR A2756G Gene Polymorphism with Risk of Head and Neck Cancer
No full textObjective: To perform genotyping for MTR A2756G polymorphism and identification of risk factors associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
Study Design: Cross section, comparative study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Biochemistry of Quaid-i- Azam University, Islamabad from October 2014 to August 2015.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 292 diagnosed patients HNSCC and 324 normal individuals without any history of cancer were enrolled. Blood samples of patients and controls were collected in ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) and DNA was extracted using conventional method. All samples were genotyped for the MTR A2756G polymorphism using PCR-RFLP. Frequency of polymorphism was compared between HNSCC patients andcontrols. MultipleLogisticRegression(MLR)andchi-squaretestwasperformedtoexaminetheassociation of MTR A2756G polymorphism with risk factor.
Results: Chi-square test of independence showed statistically significant difference among the variables of age, smoking and MTR A2756G genotype (p-value 60 years (adjusted OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.7 – 7.3), MTR 2756 AG genotype (adjusted OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3 – 3.5) is associated with increased risk of HNSCC.
Conclusion: The results suggest that the genetic polymorphism MTR A2756G is associated with the occurrence of HNSCC in the Pakistani population while the individuals between 40 to 50 years of age and those who are smokers are at a greater risk of developing HNSCC
Designing and developing a smart commuting application to support healthy lifestyles
No full textObesity is one of the great challenges of modern civilization. Heart disease, diabetes and other conditions related to obesity are already a major problem. People become lazy when encouraged to use their own car instead of public transport or walking to work: this leads to more problems, such as traffic congestion, pollution and parking issues. The aim of this thesis is to design and develop the basic required characteristics, functionalities, options and features of an application which can be used by companies to provide incentive to their employees and provide analytics about the wellbeing of these employees. It is all about incentivizing people and organizations to make choices that have a positive impact on the environment. The mobile application Cleancentive was designed, developed and tested for companies so they can support their employees with their physical health activities.
The study shows that while testing the application, the daily routine and lifestyle of the author was benefitted, bringing more energy for the day and also increasing productivity. It was also found that incentive models may need to be customised on a company-by-company basis to find out which model works best for them, always bearing in mind that people tend to get motivated and excited when they’re getting some kind of financial reward
The Beloved of Emperor SHAHJAHAN of the MOGHAL DYNASTY JAHAN ARA BEGUM, As a Writer: خاندان مغلیہ کے تاجدارشاہجہاں کی نورِچشم جہاں آراء بیگم بطور ادیبہ
No full textJahan Ara Begum was the daughter of Emperor ShahJahan of the Mughal dynasty. She was a writer, with a greater inclination towards spirituality. She wrote “Monis-e-Arwah” and “Sahbiya” treatises about revered saints. Monis-e-Arwah” is a compilation of the sayings and incidents related to the Chishti Saints, where her second work is one in which Jahan Ara Begum reflected on her own spiritual life. A manuscript of this book is available in a library of Ahmadabad, while another is housed in the Asifia Library.
These treatises are adorned with all the beauties of language and expressions. In terms of interest, they hold significant importance the efforts of a Princess from the Royal family as an author are commendable. In these literary treatises, the expressions of sincerity, realism, self-discovery, emotional states, sentiments and observations are presented with great subtlety. In her writings, all the qualities of thoughts and artistry, vivid imagery devotion and captivating styles of expression are present
Role of Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Psychosocial Deprivation among Females Patients
No full textBackground: Patients with rare diseases such as congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) are often challenged to be isolated, lack proper medical care and face negative social consequences. Furthermore, pubertal development is the period of rapid and nearly simultaneous transformation of biological, physical, social, and psychological domains of an individual. Hence, the process of personal transformation is also affected in children with pubertal delay. Due to delay in the growth process, the individual looks different from her or his peers and may have negative consequences on the psychological and social interactions. Objective: The disparities in the growth and development may cause an increase in psychosocial problems and negative peer relationship. Hence, this study was designed to observe psychosocial consequences of delayed puberty in female with CHH. Design: Cross sectional study. Place & duration of study: The data were collected from CHH patients visiting public sector hospitals over a period of 18 months. Patients & Methods: The demographic information, complete medical history, psychological and psychosocial symptoms of the 52 female CHH patients were recorded on the questionnaire. Results: The present study demonstrated that most of the patients were frustrated due to poor body image, low self-esteem, feeling themselves behind the peers, and were with complaints of depression and anxiety. The other psychological symptoms include anger, irritability, loneliness, eating and sleeping disturbances. Conclusion: It was concluded that the delayed sexual maturation has resulted in frustration, low self-esteem and increased anxiety and depression in cohort of local females with CHH
Genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. isolated from human stool samples in Switzerland
No full textIn a study to estimate the frequency of Cryptosporidium infections in Switzerland, stool samples from patients found to be positive for Cryptosporidium spp. by modified Ziehl-Neelson staining and fluorescence microscopy were used for genotyping experiments. With 9 of 12 samples, DNA extraction and subsequent genotyping was successful. All Cryptosporidium-isolates belonged to the bovine genotype. In one stool sample, two strains of Cryptosporidium were demonstrated, suggesting a mixed infection. In comparison with reference strains from calves, one of the isolates showed a full sequence identity and the other a similarity of 97.5%. The fact that only bovine genotypes were detected suggests, that cryptosporidiosis must primarily be considered as a zoonotic disease in Switzerland. This is in contrast to other countries, where the human genotype of C. parvum was shown to dominate the epidemiological situation. The results of our study are supported by the previous finding, that two of the analysed strains originated from patients who used to consume raw milk or raw cream, a known risk factor for cryptosporidiosis
The early development of the thought of Christos Yannaras
No full textEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Isolates of `Candidatus Nostocoida limicola¿ Blackall et al. 2000 should be described as three novel species of the genus Tetrasphaera, as Tetrasphaera jenkinsii sp. nov., Tetrasphaera vanveenii sp. nov. and Tetrasphaera veronensis sp. nov
No full textDespite differences in their morphologies, comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed high levels of similarity (> 94 %) between strains of the filamentous bacterium 'Candidatus Nostocoida limicola' and the cocci Tetrasphaera australiensis and Tetrasphaera japonica and the rod Tetrasphaera elongata, all isolated from activated sludge. These sequence data and their chemotaxonomic characters, including cell wall, menaquinone and lipid compositions and fingerprints of their 16S-23S rRNA intergenic regions, support the proposition that these isolates should be combined into a single genus containing six species, in the family Intrasporangiaceae in the Actinobacteria. This suggestion receives additional support from DNA-DNA hybridization data and when partial sequences of the rpoC1 gene are compared between these strains. Even though few phenotypic characterization data were obtained for these slowly growing isolates, it is proposed, on the basis of the extensive chemotaxonomic and molecular evidence presented here, that 'Candidatus N. limicola' strains Ben 17, Ben 18, Ben 67, Ben 68 and Ben 74 all be placed into the species Tetrasphaera jenkinsii sp. nov. (type strain Ben 74(T) = DSM 17519(T) = NCIMB 14128(T)), 'Candidatus N. limicola' strain Ben 70 into Tetrasphaera vanveenii sp. nov. (type strain Ben 70(T) = DSM 17518(T) = NCIMB 14127(T)) and 'Candidatus N. limicola' strains Ver 1 and Ver 2 into Tetrasphaera veronensis sp. nov. (type strain Ver 1(T) = DSM 17520(T) = NCIMB 14129(T))
A baseline study of the occurrence of non-indigenous species in Danish harbours
No full textProject Manager/Main Author Jesper H. AndersenWe report the first ever nation-wide study of the occurrence of non-indigenous species in Danish harbours. The sampling was car-ried out using both conventional and biomolecular methods (eDNA). In total, 16 harbours were covered – Esbjerg and Aarhus, the two largest harbours in Denmark, with intensive sampling and 14 harbours with a reduced programme. 26 non-indigenous species were recorded using conventional sampling and 13 species were recorded using eDNA-based methods. Excluding overlapping rec-ords, we have recorded a total of 34 non-indigenous species in the 16 harbours studied. Based on the results, we conclude the following: 1) more non-indigenous species are found in the western parts of Denmark (North Sea region) then in the eastern parts (Baltic Sea), and 2) a few species previously unseen in Danish marine waters were recorded, i.e. the two bristle worms Eteone het-eropoda (fam. Phyllodocidae) and Streblospio benedicti (fam. Spionidae). Further, we provide a proof-of-concept regarding the overarching objectives of the MONIS 1-3 projects and the eDNA-based test systems developed. The results constitute a baseline for future studies in Danish ports and other hotspot areas.publishedVersio
Dickdook leshon gnebreet. A grammar of the Hebrew tongue, [electronic resource] : being an essay to bring the Hebrew grammar into English, to facilitate the instruction of all those who are desireous of acquiring a clear idea of this primitive tongue by their own studies; in order to their more distinct acquaintance with the sacred oracles of the Old Testament, according to the original. And published more especially for the use of the students of Harvard-College at Cambridge, in New-England. [Two lines of Hebrew text] Composed and accurately corrected, by Judah Monis, M.A.
No full textThe first Hebrew grammar printed in America.Three words in Hebrew at head of title.Dedicated to Jonathan Belcher and Benjamin Wadsworth."Errata."--verso of title page.Signatures: [A]p2s B-2Bp2sEvans,Sabin,Electronic reproduction.English Short Title Catalog,Reproduction of original from Boston Public Library
Characterisation of Cryptosporidium growth and propogation in cell free environments
No full textCryptosporidium is an enteric parasite that has a global impact on the health and survival of millions of people and animals worldwide. The resistant oocyst stage of the organism's life cycle is excreted in the faeces of infected animals and humans and can contaminate sources of drinking water. Cryptosporidium currently represents the major public health concern of water utilities in developed nations as the oocysts produced by Cryptosporidium are extremely hardy, easily spread via water, resistant to chlorine and are difficult to inactivate or remove from water intended for consumption without the use of filtration.
Recent developments in the in vitro cultivation have revealed that C. parvum can complete its life cycle in media devoid of host cells, which highlights the paucity of knowledge about the developmental biology of this parasite. This finding supports other biological and phylogenetic analysis suggesting that Cryptosporidium has a closer affinity with gregarines than with the coccidia. This thesis investigates the growth and propagation of Cryptosporidium in cell free environments.
A current limitation of host cell-free cultivation is the difficulty involved in visualising the life-cycle stages as they are very small in size and morphologically difficult to identify and dispersed throughout the media. This is in contrast to conventional cell culture methods for Cryptosporidium, where it is possible to focus on the host cells and view the foci of infection on the host cells. Three specific and three non-specific techniques for visualising C. parvum life-cycle stages in cell-free culture were compared; antibody staining using anti-sporozoite and anti-oocyst wall antibodies (Sporo-Glo™ and Crypto Cel), fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) using a Cryptosporidium specific rRNA oligonucleotide probe and the non-specific dyes; texas red, carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) and 4,6’ diamino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). Results revealed that a combination of Sporo-Glo™ and Crypto Cel staining resulted in easy and reliable identification of all life cycle stages.
This thesis reports for the first time the completion of the life cycle of C. hominis in cell-free culture and multiplication of the parasite via qPCR. Individual life cycle stages were characterised using Cryptosporidium-specific antibody staining (Sporo-GloTM) and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) staining on cultures inoculated with excysted oocysts and purified sporozoites. In both cultures, C. hominis successfully proliferated and completed its life cycle, however development in cultures inoculated with purified sporozoites lagged behind cultures inoculated with excysted oocysts. Some novel findings of the study include the visualisation of pairing and multiple associations between various developmental stages in a process similar to syzygy and the formation of Cryptosporidium stages (trophozoites and meronts) inside the oocysts without excystation. qPCR analysis revealed a 5-6-fold amplification of parasite DNA. Future studies are required to improve the amplification of the parasite.
Chapter 5 describes the complete development of all life cycle stages of Cryptosporidium parvum (cattle genotype) in water. This is the first report in which Cryptosporidium is shown to develop and complete its life cycle in water. Amplification of parasite numbers in water was quantified using oocyst counts and quantitative PCR (q-PCR). Daily monitoring by microscopy revealed that some oocysts, when placed in tap or rain water and incubated at 4, 15, 24 and 37°C, would excyst, releasing sporozoites resulting in continuation of the life cycle and production of new oocysts. Manual oocyst counts and qPCR analysis at days 0, 3, 6, 9 and12, when compared with the initial inoculum, showed a small but significant increase in oocyst numbers and oocyst equivalents, respectively.
A study was also conducted to determine if meront and merozoite life cycle stages derived from C. parvum oocysts incubated in rain water at 24°C were infective to neonatal ARC/Swiss mice. Each mouse was inoculated with approximately 25,000 meronts and merozoites, meronts were counted as ‘1’ stage. An estimated 1.1 x106 oocysts were recovered from 6 mice, therefore on average of 183,333 oocysts per mouse was recovered. This represents a 7.3 fold increase from the number of stages, which were inoculated into the mice. This study provided some evidence that meront and merozoite life cycle stages are capable of causing infection in neonatal mice. This is the first report of life cycle stages of Cryptosporidium other than the oocyst causing infection, however further research is required to confirm this.
The finding of this thesis will greatly assist in our understanding of the developmental biology of Cryptosporidium, its position within the Apicomplexa and its relationship to gregarine protozoa
