Assessment of heavy metals level in chicken with indeterminate analysis in localities of Lahore, Pakistan

The poultry industry is a significant source of animal protein, vitamins, and minerals, particularly through the consumption of chicken meat. In order to conduct the study, 100 samples of liver, chicken feed, and drinking water were collected in nearby areas of Lahore. The investigation aims to detect the presence of specific heavy metals in the collected samples. For this purpose, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to detect heavy metals after proper preparation of the samples. The experimentally observed data were analyzed through a novel statistical approach known as neutrosophic statistics. It was observed that copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were the most prominent metals detected with contamination above the safe limits (for chicken drinking water (Zn = 23.09±13.67 mg/L, Cu = 3.84±3.04 mg/L, Cd = 0.805±0.645 mg/L, Pb = 0.275±0.095 mg/L, As = 0.982±0.978 mg/L), for chicken feed (Zn = 2.705±0.715 mg/kg, Cu = 1.85±0.53 mg/kg, Cd = 3.065±1.185 mg/kg, Pb = 0.215±0.175 mg/kg, As = 0.68±0.22 mg/kg), and chicken's liver (Zn = 3.93±0.66 mg/kg, Cu = 1.2±0.52 mg/kg, Cd = 0.07±0.05 mg/kg, Pb = 0.805±0.775 mg/kg, As = 1.05±0.8 mg/kg)). Similarly, the statistical analysis leads that the findings emphasize the importance of monitoring and mitigating heavy metal contamination in the poultry industry to ensure the safety and quality of poultry products.

Assessment of lead, cadmium, and mercury levels in the breast milk in Pakistani women

The concentrations of potentially toxic metals like lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in healthy lactating mothers of Lahore city were estimated during 2020-2021 with the help of a flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS). Seventy samples of breast milk were collected from two different age groups, namely, G-1 (25-30 years) and G-2 (31-40 years). The results showed that Cd contents were below the detection limit of the measuring instrument; however, the Pb and Hg contents were detected with great ease. The mean concentrations of Pb and Hg in the G-1 corresponding to the age between 25 and 30 years were observed to be 1.914 ± 0.493 μg/L and 10.432 ± 3.249 μg/L, respectively. For the G-2 with an age limit between 31 and 40 years, the concentrations of Pb and Hg were estimated to be 2.045 ± 0.502 μg/L and 11.527 ± 3.231 μg/L, respectively. The T-test analysis of concentrations of these toxic metals indicated a significant correlation between the content levels of Pb and Hg (p < 0.05). The observed values of toxic metals were significantly more frequent than those suggested by WHO (World Health Organization). An increase in the concentrations of Pb and Hg is directly associated with the location of the target population. As a result, it is turned out that the majority of the lactating woman with significantly high levels of Pb and Hg belongs to industrial areas of Lahore. To avoid such conditions, residential areas must be at larger distances, in addition, to strictly abiding by the environmental policies of the government.

PRDM16, LRP1 and TRPM8 genetic polymorphisms are risk factor for Pakistani migraine patients

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a chronic neurovascular condition characterized by recurring attacks of pulsating headaches. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified many potential loci associated with migraine. To check the association of polymorphisms of PRDM16 (rs2651899), LRP1 (rs11172113), and TRPM8 (rs10166942) with migraine, the first time a case-control study was conducted in understudied Pakistani population.

METHODS

The study included 127 migraine patients (21 in migraine with aura and 106 with migraine without aura group) and 120 healthy control subjects from different areas of Punjab, Pakistan. Blood samples were collected from all the participants, and DNA was isolated from the lymphocytes by the modified organic method. Sanger's sequencing was done for PRDM16 (rs2651899), LRP1 (rs11172113), and TRPM8 (rs10166942) in all the samples to check the genotype. Logistic regression analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 to check the association of these SNPs with migraine susceptibility.

RESULTS

We found statistically significant differences between case and control group for PRDM16 (rs2651899) at genotypic level (p < 0.001), allelic level (p < 0.001; OR 3.088; 95% CI 2.082-4.579) and for dominant model (p < 0.001; OR 5.437; 95% CI 3.112-9.498). The major findings of this study suggested that PRDM16 rs2651899 is strongly associated with migraine in overall and subgroup analysis of genotypes. LRP1 (rs11172113) showed significant association with migraine except in subgroup comparison. A similar trend of association was found for TRPM8 (rs10166942) however, significant association was found only at the allelic level but no significant difference was seen at the genotypic level between case and control. One novel mutation c.67 + 4436_67 + 4438delA was also identified in the current study near LRP1 (rs11172113) polymorphic site.

CONCLUSION

In this first-ever replication report from Pakistan, PRDM16 (rs2651899) was found as a potential genetic marker in migraine susceptibility while LRP1 (rs11172113) and TRPM8 (rs10166942) showed partial association in subgroup analysis.

Anti-hepatotoxic effects of root and root callus extracts of Cichorium intybus L

The natural root and root callus extracts of Cichorium intybus were compared for their anti-hepatotoxic effects in Wistar strain of Albino rats against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic damage. The increased levels of serum enymes (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase) and bilirubin observed in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride were very much reduced in the animals treated with natural root and root callus extracts and carbon tetrachloride. The decreased levels of albumin and proteins observed in rats after treatment with carbon tetrachloride were found to increase in rats treated with natural root and root callus extracts and carbon tetrachloride. These biochemical observations were supplemented by histopathological examination of liver sections. Results of this study revealed that Cichorium intybus root callus extract could afford a better protection against carbon tetrachloride induced heptocellular damage as compared to the natural root extract.

The protective action of ethanolic ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract in cholesterol fed rabbits

The effects of ethanolic extract of ginger (200 mg/kg, p.o.) were studied in cholesterol fed rabbits. The marked rise in serum and tissue cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum lipoproteins and phospholipids that followed 10 weeks of cholesterol feeding, was significantly reduced by the ethanolic ginger extract and results were compared with gemfibrozil, a standard orally effective hypolipidaemic drug. The severity of aortic atherosclerosis as judged by gross grading was more marked in pathogenic, i.e. the hypercholesterolemic group, while animals receiving ginger extract along with cholesterol showed a lower degree of atherosclerosis. The results indicate that ginger is definitely an antihyperlipidaemic agent.

Effect of thyroid hormone (T3)-responsive changes in surfactant apoproteins on surfactant function during sepsis

BACKGROUND

Long surfactant phospholipids are altered during sepsis; the role of surfactant apoproteins is unknown. This study investigates the effect of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) on surfactant functional effectiveness and apoprotein transcriptional activity with or without T3 replacement.

METHODS

Male Sprague Dawley rats underwent sham laparotomy or CLP with or without T3 replacement. Lung compliance, surfactant adsorption, and surface tension were measured with a surfactometer. Surfactant apoproteins A, B, and C (SP-A, SP-B, SP-C) mRNA was quantified by Northern blot analysis.

RESULTS

Lung compliance was significantly decreased by sepsis; initial surface tension and adsorption values in CLP animals reflected apoprotein dysfunction. Sepsis decreased SP-A mRNA levels and increased SP-B mRNA; SP-C mRNA were unchanged. T3 treatment improved compliance, adsorption, and ST isotherms in septic animals.

CONCLUSION

T3 attenuated sepsis-induced surfactant dysfunction and SP-A and SP-B transcriptional changes during sepsis. This suggests an interaction between the thyroid, surfactant apoproteins, and lung surfactant functional effectiveness and requires further study.