Biochemical and haematological profiles of black Bengal goat in Mymensingh sadar of Bangladesh

The aim of the present study was to know the normal haemato- biochemical profiles of black Bengal goats in Bangladesh. Blood samples were collected from Jugular vein of 20 Black Bengal goats which were divided into 5 groups (4 goats in each group) on the basis of age, sex, nutritional and feeding status. The whole blood was analyzed for hematology, plasma and serum samples for biochemical analysis. The results of the present study demonstrate the normal haemato-biochemical values of the Black Bengal goat breeds with their age specificity. Total RBC (15.15 ± 1.29 million/cumm), haemoglobin (7.04 ± 1.02 g/dl), total WBC (11.64 ± 1.12), differential leukocyte counts of neutrophils (70.89 ± 2.06%), lymphocyte (23.79 ± 1.69%), eosinophil 2.1%), basophil (2.3%), MCV (35.04 ± 0.47) and PCV (26.98 ± 1.49%). This study also reveals the normal bio-logical profile counts as total protein (69.47±2.31 g/L), Albumin (42.47 ± 2.31g/L), Globulin (27.32g/L), Phosphorus (3.46 ± 1.19), blood Urea (22.97 ± 0.58), Creatinine (0.645mg/dl), ALT (20.32U/L), ALP (91.59 U/L), GGT (37.46 U/L), IgG (18.91 ± 1.14 g/L), IgM ( 2.87 ± 0.18g/L), gA (.031 ± 0.12g/L) and IL-6 (1.69±0.15g/ml). The study found higher number of RBC (million/cumm), WBC (Thousands/cumm), and PCV% in the goats of age 3 years and above (18.02 ± 1.27, 14.72 ± 1.19, and 28 ± 3.2), respectively. Besides, Neutrophils% and total protein was found higher (76.289 ± 14.5%, 77.52 ± 8.43 g/L), respectively in the Black Bengal goats of 6 months to 1 year age. Present results stated some significant variation of parameters between goats of various ages; on the other hand, some shows no significant variation at all. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.8(3): 329-337, December 2021

Laboratory-Based Cytological and Biochemical Profile of Cerebrospinal Fluid for Children With Acute Bacterial Meningitis in Bangladesh

An attempt was made to analyze the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for a cytological and biochemical profile to identify etiological agents from children with suspected acute bacterial meningitis. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 371 suspected meningitis cases were examined, and the highest bacterial meningitis was found in 52(14.0%) cases in this study. Among a total of 371 samples of CSF, 272(73.3%) were crystal clear, 52(14.0%) were moderately turbid, 47(12.7%) highly turbid. The total leukocyte cell count of the CSF was proportionate to the turbidity. In the case of crystal clear CSF’s, total leukocyte counts (TLC) were normally ranging from <5 to 45 per mm3 with predominant lymphocytes. Moderately turbid fluid showed 46 to 500 cells per mm3 and highly turbid fluid showed from 501 to more than 10,00 cells/mm3. In the latter cases, differential counts demonstrated polymorphonuclear predominance. In addition, about 100% (52 cases) of positive and 12.5% (40/319) of negative cases had CSF protein concentration >100 mg/dL. CSF protein concentration greater than 100 mg/dl and sugar level below 40 mg/dl were considered as suspected bacterial meningitis in this study. Surprisingly, the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) values were found to be >40 mg/dL in both culturally positive and negative cases. Most of meningitis positive cases showed increased total cell counts as well as protein concentration, and decreased serum sugar concentrations. J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 47(2): 137-147, December 2021

Predictors of the development of hepatorenal syndrome

Objective. To identify the predictors of the development of hepatorenal syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis.Materials and methods. We analyzed the medical records of 79 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. The laboratory research included general and biochemical blood tests. The general blood test measured erythrocyte and leukocyte counts. The biochemical blood test measured the content of ALT (U/L), AST (E/L), total bilirubin (μmol/L), direct bilirubin (μmol/L), indirect bilirubin (μmol/L), alkaline phosphatase (U/L), albumin (g/L), urea (mmol/L), creatinine (mmol/L), cholesterol (mmol/L).Viral hepatitis markers were determined for all the patients.Results. The predictors of the development of hepatorenal syndrome were identified: increased leukocyte count, increased total and indirect bilirubin levels, urea level and decreased erythrocyte count and albumin level. The most specific predictors were the amount of indirect bilirubin (98 %) and the content of albumin in the serum (89.8 %), and the most sensitive predictors were AST (96.7 %) and the content of red blood cells and creatinine (73.3 %).Conclusion. The most significant predictors of the development obtained will contribute to the diagnosis of the development of hepatorenal syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Shift Work Predicts Increases in Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein, Interleukin-10, and Leukocyte Counts in a Cross-Sectional Study of Healthy Volunteers Carrying Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation

The disruption of inflammatory responses is a potential mechanism behind the harmful effects of shift work and is associated with increased risk of hypertension, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. These responses are linked to the proliferation of leukocytes in shift workers, suggesting a systemic signal as a potential mediator. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between systemic inflammation, leukocyte counts, and systemic endotoxemia in samples from a diverse cohort of day workers and shift workers. Participants (normothermic and normotensive) were healthy volunteers, non-smoking, and drug- and medication-free. The following outcomes were measured: C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, leukocyte counts (monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils), and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). Risk factors that increase systemic inflammation, such as blood pressure, sleep loss, and cortisol, were also assessed. The results indicated that shift workers slept significantly less than day workers and had significantly increased concentrations of all of the cytokines measured as well as plasma cortisol. Regression models found that after controlling for covariates, shift-work exposure predicted the significant increase observed in IL-10, leukocyte counts, and LBP. Our results suggest that acute increases in low-grade systemic endotoxemia are unresolved during chronic shift-work exposure. This ongoing immune challenge may underlie the disrupted inflammatory responses characteristic of shift-work-related pathologies. Systemic endotoxemia may represent a novel target to investigate the early effects of exposure to shift-work schedules.

CLINICAL FEATURES OF THE COURSE OF COVID-19 IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN OF VARIOUS AGES

Despite the global prevalence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the study of the disease around the world, there are many questions about the clinical course, diagnosis and prevention of new infection. There is even less research on the course of COVID-19 infection in children than in adults. The variability of symptoms in children, their frequency, severity, and prognostic value are not well understood. In order to analyze the nature of the course of COVID-19 in children of different ages, a single-center prospective open continuous controlled study was carried out, which included patients under the age of 18 years, hospitalized for one month (May 2020) with COVID-19 infection at the Urals Scientific and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Care of the Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation (Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia). The study was approved by the local ethics committee. Materials and methods of research: on the basis of the Ural Scientific Research Institute for Maternal and Child Care, 107 children 0–17 years old with mild and moderate forms of COVID-19 infection were examined. More than 70% of admitted patients are infants and preschool children. Results and discussions: the intrafamilial focus became the main source of infection. The most frequent clinical manifestations on admission were cough, pyrexia, catarrhal symptoms; on the 5–6th day, the appearance of gastrointestinal syndrome in the form of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting was noted more often in children under 3 years of age. The asymptomatic course of COVID-19 infection was observed more often in schoolchildren (up to 67% of adolescents 13–17 years old). In patients under 1 year of age, asymptomatic course was noted much less frequently (37.5%). In children under 3 years of age, pneumonia was more often confirmed (up to 33%) and gastrointestinal syndrome in the form of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting (up to 50% of patients under 1 year of age). According to laboratory data, in children under 3 years old, a decrease in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit was more often observed, and in schoolchildren and adolescents (7–17 years old) – a decrease in leukocyte counts, lymphopenia. Conclusion: In the analysis of the course of COVID-19 infection in children of different ages, a hypothesis about two variants of clinical manifestations has been put forward. In the first variant, pneumonia with COVID-19 was characterized by persistent, poorly controlled fever, severe symptoms of intoxication, impaired microcirculation, changes in the electrocardiogram, more pronounced changes in indicators of general and biochemical blood tests. In the second variant, pneumonia was tolerated by children more easily, was characterized by less pronounced symptoms of intoxication, inhibited by hyperthermia, but patients had positive PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 longer. Our study did not establish the relationship between the pneumonia variant and the age and gender of the patients, but there may be a need for further research.

A case of improvement of clozapine-induced low leukocyte counts by adenine, cepharanthin and ninjin-yoei-to in a patient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Background Although clozapine is the optimal drug for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, the drug has harmful adverse effects such as leukopenia. Adenine and cepharanthine are known to be effective for radiation- or drug-induced leukopenia. Furthermore, ninjin-yoei-to, a Chinese herbal medicine, augments the production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Thus, these drugs may be useful for clozapine-induced leukopenia. Case presentation A 21 years-old woman with schizophrenia was hospitalized for initiation of clozapine treatment. Despite concomitant use of adenine, cepharanthine, and lithium carbonate having activities of increasing leukocytes, a decrease in leukocyte counts occurred after the initiation of clozapine. Additional administration of ninjin-yoei-to increased leukocyte counts, which prevented the development of leukopenia. Conclusions This is the first case that concomitant use of adenine, cepharanthin, and ninjin-yoei-to exhibited the effectiveness of reversing the decrease in leukocytes caused by clozapine. Monitoring leukocyte counts and preventing leukopenia are essential for successful treatment with clozapine for refractory schizophrenia. These medicines may be a potential option for preventing clozapine-induced leukopenia.

Validation of a Feed Protocol in a Mouse Model That Mimics Marasmic Malnutrition

Host nutritional status directly interferes with immunity and/or susceptibility to infectious diseases. To understand the mechanisms behind this relationship, the use of animal models and feeding protocols is necessary. In the literature, studies reporting marasmic malnutrition in mice are not common. In this context, the objective of this study was to validate a feed methodology that mimics marasmic malnutrition, examining the nutritional, biochemical, and hematological status in BALB/c mice. Weaned BALB/c mice were or were not fed a Restricted diet (36.26% carbohydrate, 8.79% protein, 4.95% fat, and 7.62 kJ/100 g). Some malnourished mice underwent a refed process with a Control diet (65.93% carbohydrate, 24.18% protein, 9.89% fat, and 15.24 kJ/100 g). The nutritional status of the mice was evaluated through phenotypic markers and hematological and biochemical parameters. Our results showed that the Restricted diet was able to induce mild malnutrition in mice, resulting in mouse weight loss of 12%, which could be reversed after refeeding. Malnourished mice demonstrated slow body growth and low body mass index (BMI) values. Malnourished mice also showed physical and behavioral changes, a reduction of 47.5% in leukocyte counts and a 2-fold increase in cholesterol levels. In conclusion, our feeding protocol was able to generate mild malnutrition and cause changes in the nutritional status of mice that could be similar to those observed in marasmic malnutrition.

Melanocortin 1 Receptor Deficiency in Hematopoietic Cells Promotes the Expansion of Inflammatory Leukocytes in Atherosclerotic Mice

Melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1-R) is expressed in leukocytes, where it mediates anti-inflammatory actions. We have previously observed that global deficiency of MC1-R signaling perturbs cholesterol homeostasis, increases arterial leukocyte accumulation and accelerates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout (Apoe-/-) mice. Since various cell types besides leukocytes express MC1-R, we aimed at investigating the specific contribution of leukocyte MC1-R to the development of atherosclerosis. For this purpose, male Apoe-/- mice were irradiated, received bone marrow from either female Apoe-/- mice or MC1-R deficient Apoe-/- mice (Apoe-/- Mc1re/e) and were analyzed for tissue leukocyte profiles and atherosclerotic plaque phenotype. Hematopoietic MC1-R deficiency significantly elevated total leukocyte counts in the blood, bone marrow and spleen, an effect that was amplified by feeding mice a cholesterol-rich diet. The increased leukocyte counts were largely attributable to expanded lymphocyte populations, particularly CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, the number of monocytes was elevated in Apoe-/- Mc1re/e chimeric mice and it paralleled an increase in hematopoietic stem cell count in the bone marrow. Despite robust leukocytosis, atherosclerotic plaque size and composition as well as arterial leukocyte counts were unaffected by MC1-R deficiency. To address this discrepancy, we performed an in vivo homing assay and found that MC1-R deficient CD4+ T cells and monocytes were preferentially entering the spleen rather than homing in peri-aortic lymph nodes. This was mechanistically associated with compromised chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5)-dependent migration of CD4+ T cells and a defect in the recycling capacity of CCR5. Finally, our data demonstrate for the first time that CD4+ T cells also express MC1-R. In conclusion, MC1-R regulates hematopoietic stem cell proliferation and tissue leukocyte counts but its deficiency in leukocytes impairs cell migration via a CCR5-dependent mechanism.

Determination of Impact of Acute and Chronic Administration of Aqueous Root Extract of E. Tremula (Burburwa) on some Haematological parameters in Wistar Albino Rats

Eragrostis tremula (Burburwa) is an herbal plant native to tropical Africa, India and Myanmar. It is found in sandy soils and abandoned cultivations. It is used locally for sweeping, used as fodder for cattle and extensively being used in traditional medicine practice without assessing its safety. This study investigated the impact on blood cells (WBCs) on chronic/acute use of aqueous root extract of Eragrostis tremula among males/females wistar rats. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrate, phenols, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and diterpene. Lorke's method was used for oral acute toxicity study (LD50 determination). A total of 20 wistar rats were used, divided into four groups of five rats each. Group I was control and administered with distilled water, Group II, Group III and Group IV were respectively administered with 200 mg, 400 mg and 800 mg of the extract per kilogram body weight, for 21 days. The result of acute oral toxicity study was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. Total and differential (neutrophil, lymphocyte, and mixed cells) leukocyte counts were analysed. Eragrostis tremula aqueous root extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased lymphocyte and total leukocyte counts, but no significant changes (p>0.05) were observed in neutrophil and mixed cells count when the treated groups were compared with the control group. In conclusion, the findings of the present study have shown that, aqueous root extract of Eragrostis tremula has impact on lymphocyte and total leukocyte count in the wistar rats which is dependent on dose of the extract. The extract at high doses increases the lymphocyte and total leukocyte counts of the treated groups.