MOSP - Macao Scientific Publishers

Research Article

Molecular studies on the immobility of genomic construction in the random mating population

A.E.Elkomy, Hanan.H.Ghanem and Elsayed E. Hafez

Abstract: Random population studies are very important to estimate the environmental factors in nutritional, physiological and breeding experiments. Studying the quantitative traits, consisting of genetic, environmental factors and interaction between them is very important as well. In a random population study, the genetic variation for 50 chicken individuals (Mandarah strain) of three successive generations was examined using differential display technique. The difference between the generations was measured by the change of DNA frequencies for the random population. Age at sexual maturity was changed during the three generations, but these differences were not significant. The body weight at sexual maturity (BWSM) of the 2nd and the 3rd generations was decreased significantly compared with the 1st generation. Whenever this decrease was not frequent, although, the egg number (EN), egg mass (EM) and rate of laying (RL) were not constant over generations, differences between the generations were highly significant for EN and EM only. In addition, comparative analysis based on the molecular levels and genotype stability clarified the genetic variations between the examined groups (females or males). Eleven bands with different molecular weights were observed in case of females in comparison to only 9 bands in case of the males. Phylogenetic studies revealed that, there was a genetic variability between females of the 1st generation. Furthermore, low level of similarity was observed between the 2nd generation in respect to the 1st and 3rd generations. Genetic similarity between females and males of the 2nd and the 3rd generations was 55%. It could be concluded that the differences in egg production trait, which was found among generations, may be due to indirect or natural selection.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Differential display, random mating, chicken and random population.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Status of the levels of lead and selected trace elements in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Abeokuta, Nigeria

Babalola O. O*, Ojo L. O and Akinleye A.O

Abstract: The study investigated the status of lead and selected mineral elements (copper, zinc and chromium) in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients, so as to establish the possible interactive connections of these metals with the disease and with each other in diabetic patients. Thirty-one patients (15 male and 16 female), clinically diagnosed for type-2 Diabetes mellitus at Sacred Heart Hospital, Abeokuta, Nigeria, participated in the study. Twenty-six apparently healthy individuals (14 male and 12 female) served as control group. Blood samples of all the subjects were collected after an overnight fasting for the determination of blood glucose, lead, zinc, copper and chromium. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) was determined by glucose oxidase-peroxidase assay to confirm the status of the patients and the controls while metals’ concentrations were measured with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The mean FBS concentrations of the diabetic group were significantly higher (p[...] Read More.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, lead, fasting blood sugar, trace elements.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Biochemical characterization of two -mannosidases from breadfruit (Artocarpus communis) seeds

Amedée Pascal Ahi, Jean Tia Gonnety, Betty Meuwiah Faulet, Lucien Patrice Kouamé and Sébastien Niamké*.

Abstract: The importance of -mannosidases in glycoproteins processing and their application in food and pharmaceutical industry led us to further explore plant -mannosidases. Thus, two -mannosidases were purified from matured breadfruit (Artocarpus communis) seeds, by successive chromatography on Diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose CL-6B and Sephacryl S-200 HR to apparent homogeneity. The two isoenzymes named Ma and Mb had native molecular weights of approximately 75 and 60 kDa, respectively. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate- polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of these -mannosidases resolved a single protein band with molecular weights estimated to be 75 kDa for isoform Ma and 61 kDa for Mb. Breadfruit -mannosidases had optima pH (5.6) and temperature (60°C), and appeared to be stable in presence of some detergents such as Hexansulfonic acid sodium salt, Polyoxyethylen-9-lauryl ether, Nonidet P40, Triton X-100 as well as Ca2+ and Zn2+. The effect of -mannosidase inhibitors on the two isoenzymes showed that swainsonine and 1,4- dideoxy-1,4-imino mannitol at 0.01 mM totally inhibited their hydrolytic activity, while kifunensine and deoxymannojirimycin at the same concentration had no effect on these enzymes. Substrate specificity tests revealed that the enzymes exerted only -mannosidase activity and cleaved - (1,2); -(1,3) and -(1,6) linked mannobiose. Since breadfruit seed -mannosidases were sensitive to furanose transition state analogs such as swainsonine and 1,4- dideoxy- 1,4- imino mannitol and showed broad substrate specificity, these enzymes would belong to class II -mannosidases.[...] Read More.

Keywords: -mannosidases, Artocarpus communis, breadfruit, purification, characterization.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Determination of the glycemic index of steamed cakes using two different legumes 'bambara nut (Vigna subterranean) and cowpea (Vigina unguiculata)'

Onimawo I. A.*, Ijeh I., Ukoha U. and Nwachukwu G. T.

Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the blood glucose response and glycemic index of food for diabetics and non-diabetics. The subjects comprised of 10 diabetics and 7 non-diabetics. The results of the physical characteristics showed that the diabetic subjects were on the average older (age bracket between 51 and 70years) than the non-diabetics (18 and 23years) . The Body mass index (BMI) values indicated that over 90% of the diabetics were obese while the non-diabetics were on the average normal. Results also showed that the blood glucose response of the diabetics were significantly higher (P[...] Read More.

Keywords: Glycemic index, diabetics, blood glucose response, bread, okpa and moin - moin

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Biochemical assessment of the effects of crude oil contaminated catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on the hepatocytes and performance of rat

T. O. Sunmonu* and O. B. Oloyede

Abstract: Biochemical investigations were carried out to assess the effect of consumption of crude oil contami-nated catfish on the hepatocytes and performance of rat. Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (n = 120) were grouped into 6 of 20 catfish each and held for 30 h in 5 different mixtures of crude oil polluted water (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% v/v). Catfish in the control group were held in borehole water. At the expira-tion of 30 h, the catfish were harvested and used to formulate diet. Albino rats (n = 60) were grouped into 6 of 10 rats each and fed on the formulated diet for a period of 30 days. Compared with the control, the result showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the average daily feed intake in all the groups of rats. However, a significant reduction (p[...] Read More.

Keywords: Crude oil, hepatocytes, catfish, albumin, globulin, bilirubin.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Altered plasma hexose sugar metabolism in sickle cell anaemia

Chidi G. Osuagwu and Chika U. Mbeyi

Abstract: Theoretical suggestion that the metabolism and plasma levels of some hexoses (glucose and fructose) in sickle cell anaemia could be altered was investigated. The levels were determined for 35 normal (HbAA) and for the three sickle cell states (32 HbAS; 35 HbSS, and 33 HbSS-in-crisis, HbSSc). The enzymatic glucose-oxidase method was employed in glucose estimation. The reaction of fructose with indole-3-acetic acid to yield a coloured product was exploited in the estimation of fructose. Mean plasma glucose was found to be highest in the HbSSc state (84.80 ± 4.10 mg/dl), followed by HbSS (78.59 ± 4.20 mg/dl), HbAS (74.80 ± 6.20 mg/dl) and lowest in HbAA (70.10 ± 0.05 mg/dl). The differences between the normal and all the disease states are significant (between HbAS and HbAA, for example: t =2.2717; df = 65; p < 0.05). The reverse order was observed with respect to fructose concentrations: lowest in HbSSc (0.99 ± 0.05 mg/dl), HbSS (1.09 ± 0.05 mg/dl), HbAS (1.25 ± 0.05 mg/dl), and highest in HbAA (1.32 ± 0.08 mg/dl). Regression of glucose on fructose showed positive correlation in the HbAA group (r = 0.7900; df = 33; p < 0.001), no correlation in the HbAS group (r = - 0.0193; df = 30; p > 0.20), and negative correlation in the HbSS group (r = - 0.3191; df = 65; p < 0.001). The differences between the ‘Glucose-to-Fructose Ratio’ for the different states are very significant (p[...] Read More.

Keywords: Hexose, anergy, glucose, fructose, spermatozoa, energy metabolism, metabolic control, sickle cell anaemia, glucose-to-fructose ratio.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Short Communication

Garcinia kola extract reduced cisplatin-induced kidney dysfunction in rats

Okoko Tebekeme and Awhin Ejiro Prosper

Abstract: The effect of Garcinia kola extract on cisplatin-induced renal insufficiency in rats was studied. A total of fifteen rats were used for the study and were split into three groups of five rats per group. Rats in group I were normal controls. Renal insufficiency was induced in rats of groups II and III by a single intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.w.). After three days, rats in group III received a daily dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. of the extract orally for another seven days. Renal insufficiency was later assessed by serum urea, serum creatinine and urine protein levels. The results showed that the levels of the measured parameters which were elevated as a result of the cisplatin administration were brought to near normal levels by the G. kola seed extract. This indicates that G. kola possessed significant potentials of ameliorating mild kidney insufficiency induced by the anticancer drug, cisplatin.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Garcinia kola, cisplatin, renal insufficiency, urea, creatinine.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Effect of carbon sources on cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) production by Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501

Nwodo-Chinedu, S.*, Okochi, V. I., Smith, H. A., Okafor, U. A., Onyegeme-Okerenta, B. M. and Omidiji, O.

Abstract: The effects of glucose, crystalline cellulose and sawdust of Mitragyna cilata on the growth and cellulase production, inferred from cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity, of Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501 was determined. Glucose-containing media gave the highest mycelia weight of 1.78 mg mL-1 in 120 h of incubation. This is about 3.5 – 4.5 times the maximum weights of 0.51 and 0.40 mg mL-1 respectively obtained from the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. The cultures containing crystalline cellulose and sawdust produced extracellular protein with cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity whereas glucose-containing cultures yielded very low protein and no significant cellulase activity. Maximum protein content of 0.02, 0.13 and 0.46 mg mL-1 respectively were obtained from the cultures containing glucose, cellulose and sawdust. Peak cellulase activity values of 100.0 and 92.2 Units L-1 respectively were obtained for the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. There is a correlation between the protein released and cellulase activity of the culture filtrates. P. chrysogenum PCL501 produces extracellular proteins with significant cellulase activity in media containing cellulose and sawdust but not in glucose- containing medium. Sawdust is indicated as a good inducer of cellulase activity in the organism. The waste cellulosic material can be used as low-cost carbon source for commercial cellulase production.[...] Read More.

Keywords: P. chrysogenum PCL501, growth, cellulase activity, glucose, cellulosic materials.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Analysis of phenolic compounds in Ugandan sweet potato varieties (NSP, SPK AND TZ)

Agnes M. Nandutu, Mike Clifford* and Nazlin K. Howell

Abstract: Sweet potato varieties: Nsp, Tz and Spk obtained from Uganda were used in this study. Several phenolic compounds were identified on the basis of their mass spectra in full scan mode and the pattern of their fragmentation. The major compounds found were caffeoylquinic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid, coumaroylquinic acid, feruloylquinic acid and caffeoylferuloylquinic acids. This is the first time that caffeoylferuloylquinic isomers have been identified in sweet potato samples.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Sweet potato, phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acids

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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Research Article

Sickle-cell anaemia in Nigeria: dermatoglyphic analysis of 90 cases

Oladipo GS*, Olabiyi O, Oremosu AA, Noronha CC, Okanlawon AO and Paul CU.

Abstract: Dermatoglyphic analysis of 90 Sickle-cell Anaemia cases and 90 normal subjects was carried out in this study. It involved the digital patterns, ATD angle, A – B ridge count, axial triradius, digital triradius and palmar crease on the hands. 58.44% of the digital patterns in sickle-cell cases were ulnar loop as against 60.14% in the normals. The percentage of Whorl, arch and radial loop in Sickle-Cell group were 31.64%, 8.23% and 2.98% respectively as against 27.47%, 10.43% and 1.98% in the normals. The mean ATD values were 41o and 40o for the normal and sickle-cell groups respectively. The mean A – B ridge counts was 33.1 in sickle-cell group and 33.5 in the normals. No axial triradius was found in t iii (along the distal transverse crease) position in both groups. Most of the triradii were found in position ti (along or close to the thenar crease) in both groups. Only 3.6% of normals and 2.9% sickle-cell cases were found in tii (along the proximal transverse crease) position. The mode of the frequency distribution of digital triradii of normals was 13 while they were 11, 14 and 15 for sickle-cell group. The means were 11.89 and 12.32 respectively. No Simean crease was found in both groups; however, 2.2% of the 90 sickle-cell cases had Sidney creases. The above-mentioned values were not statistically different when the two groups were subjected to appropriate statistical tests.[...] Read More.

Keywords: Dermatoglyphics, sickle-cell anaemia, Nigeria.

2007, 6(1), 1-6;

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