I n t r o d u c t i o n: A high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been reported to be a strong biomarker of inflammation.
A i m: We sought to evaluate the impact of NLR on long-term all-cause and cardio-vascular (CV) mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
Ma t e r i a l a n d Me t h o d s: A total of 84 chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5 patients with 54 of them on HD, with a median age of 61.5 (51.3–74.8) years were enrolled. The association between NLR and clinical biomarkers was investigated. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to find significant predictors of all-cause and CV mortality at follow-up.
R e s u l t s: The median NLR (interquartile range) was 3.0 (2.1–4.1). Patients with NLR ≥3.9 (the highest tertile) had higher five-year all-cause mortality then remaining patients (53.6% vs. 30.4%; p = 0.039). On the contrary, only a trend towards increased CV mortality was observed (25.0% vs. 42.9%; p = 0.10). NLR ≥3.9 was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality at five years [hazard ratio (95%CI): 2.23 (1.10– 4.50); p = 0.025] in Cox regression model adjusted for age, gender, and diabetes status. Similarly, while using NLR as continuous variable a significant association between NLR and all-cause mortality was confirmed even after adjustment for covariates [hazard ratio per 1 unit increase (95%CI): 1.26 (1.06–1.51); p = 0.009] with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.64. Correlations between NLR and WBC, concentration of fibrinogen, albumin were observed.
C o n c l u s i o n s: Asymptomatic inflammation measured by NLR showed an association with long-term all-cause mortality in stage 5 CKD patients, even while white blood cell count was in the normal range.
Laboratory studies were carried out on the effects of an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation of Azadirachtin (AZ) (6 g a.s./l EC) on four major cotton pests in Senegal: Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Helicoverpa armigera Hϋbner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). In both S. littoralis (SL) and H. armigera (HA), larval weight loss was observed 48 h after treatment. Appreciable weight gain was only observed in SL larvae at dosages of 0.05 and 0.1 g a.s. /l AZ, 72 h after treatment. In both SL and HA, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the control larvae and those treated with 0.1 to 1.5 g a.s. /l AZ. At a dosage of 1.5 g a.s./l, AZ caused 60% mortality in SL and 0% mortality in HA, 72 h after treatment. The treatment with AZ at dosages of 0.05 and 1.5 g a.s./l resulted in 50 and 30% malformation in SL and HA pupae respectively. The duration of development from the IV instar larva to pupa in both lepidopterans increased progressively with AZ dosage. SL was more susceptible to AZ than HA. No growth disrupting effects were observed in A. gossypii (AG) and T. urticae (TU) where EC50 values of 1.49 and 1.36 g a.s./l AZ respectively were obtained. The implications of the effects of AZ on further field trials against cotton pests are discussed.
Maternal mortality has posed a great problem in the health sector of most African countries. Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio remains high despite efforts made to meet millennium development goal 5 (MDG5). This study used the Lagos state community health survey 2011 and the Lagos state health budget allocations 2011 to examine the effect of government expenditure on maternal mortality ratio. Factors like inadequate transportation facilities, lack of awareness, inadequate infrastructures, which contribute to high maternal mortality rate, can be traced back to revenue though under different ministries. The other ministries need to work and support the ministry of health in the fight against maternal, especially in Lagos state. Secondary data was compiled from the state budget, records of death in different local governments in the state and relevant reviewed literature. Regression analysis was used to analyze the hypothesis and it was discovered that government expenditure does not have a significant effect on maternal mortality based on the R-square coefficient. However, correlation coefficient gives a contrasting result. Hence, further research work, government expenditure from other local government areas need to be taken into consideration to arrive at a valid conclusion. It is difficult to ascertain how much of the revenue allocated was put to appropriate use, due to a high level of corruption.
I n t r o d u c t i o n: Fecal calprotectin (FC) rises significantly in intestinal inflammation accompanied by neutrophil activation — such as Clostridium diffi cile infection (CDI). The aim of the study was to evaluate the benefi t of FC testing in assessing the severity of CDI.
Ma t e r i a l s a n d M e t h o d s: The study group included 76 patients with CDI hospitalized in the Jagiellonian University Hospital in Krakow from July 2017 till January 2018. FC levels were measured using an EIA (Enzyme Immunoassay). Demographic, clinical information and blood tests were recorded using standardized data collection forms. The selection of patients into non-severe and severe groups was carried out in accordance with the ESCMID criteria (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) and some modifications to those criteria were proposed.
R e s u l t s: The studied population included 76 patients (39 men and 37 women) with CDI aged from 24 to 98 years (mean: 72). Median calprotectin level was 739 (Q25–Q75: 612–799 μg/g), characteristic of patients with colitis. A statistically signifi cant diff erence in FC concentration in patients with severe vs non-severe CDI was observed (severe — 770 vs non-severe — 659 μg/g, p = 0.009). FC directly correlated with platelets level; however, no correlation between FC level and the blood parameters prognostic for CDI (leukocyte, neutrophil count, albumin, creatinine levels) was found.
C o n c l u s i o n: FC level is an indication of ongoing intestinal inflammation in CDI patients. FC level significantly correlated with CDI severity, which demonstrates that FC could serve as a predictive marker for assessing CDI severity.
The subject of this study was Rhizopertha dominica F. population. The primary question referred to was the process of the lesser grain borer population spread depending on nutritional preferences of this species. The aim of performed laboratory experiments was to examine the adults’ ability to choose preferred kinds of food i conditions of free migration among them and to analyze the dynamics of population size. Sex ratio and the migration rate were also analyzed. Four types of food were used during the experiments: wheat, oat flakes, pearl barley and semolina. The experiments were conducted at 28°C and 60 ± 5% of relative humidity. Results of the study revealed that oat flakes were the most favourable nutriment for adult R. dominica whereas wheat grain was the most favourable for the population size since larvae were protected by grains and thus their increased number could survive. No population development in semolina was observed. It was the result of too small granulation of this food.
Perinatal calf mortality in dairy herds has been reported worldwide. The etiology of stillbirth is multifactorial, and can be caused by various species of bacteria and environmental factors. Among them some potential pathogens from the Mollicutes class such as Mycoplasma (M.) spp. and Ureaplasma (U.) diversum can be isolated from the bovine genital tract and other organs of the suspected cattle. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the bacteria belonging to the Molli- cutes class i.e. M. bovis, M. bovigenitalium, M. canadense, M. canis, M. arginini, M. bovirhinis, M. dispar, M. alkalescens and U. diversum could have an impact on perinatal calf mortality in selected Polish dairy farms. The material was: 121 stillborn calves (SB), 21 live born calves (C) and 131 cows (dams) from 30 Polish Holstein-Friesian herds. Samples were examined from all the SB calves’ and six control euthanized calves’ abomasal contents and lung samples collected during necropsy, and from the dams’ serum and placenta. In dams the serological ELISA, and in calves and placenta samples molecular PCR/denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, methods were used. Screening of dams’ sera for antibodies to M. bovis (ELISA) showed seven dams positive for M. bovis, whereas none of the nine examined Mollicutes microorganisms were detected in the placenta and calves.
The subject of this study was the lesser grain borer Rhizopertha dominica F. The aim of the experiments was to verify the hypothesis suggesting that the course of simultaneous vertical migration and horizontal spread of the R. dominica population is determined by nutritional and habitat selectivity. The following products were used as nutrients in the experiments: wheat, oat flakes, pearl barley and semolina. It was found that the course of a migration process is connected with nutritional preferences determined mainly by a nutrient type and its granulation. At the initial stage of the study the highest emigration was noted in the oat flakes. After a time the highest migration was directed to as follows: wheat, oat flakes, pearl barley and semolina. Females showed a higher migratory activity.
Studies on the relative toxicity of different bio-rational insecticides against second instar larvae and adults of onion thrips, Thrips tabaci were carried out on Experimental Farm and in the laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Suez Canal. Eight insecticides Dipel 2x, BioFly, Agrin, BioGuard, Spinosad, Neemix, Mectin and Match were all evaluated for their relative toxicity towards T. tabaci with recommended dose, half of recommended dose and quarter of recommended dose in the laboratory and only recommended dose under field conditions. Spinosad was the most toxic among the tested insecticides followed by Mectin, Match and Agrin when used against thrips adults. The respective values of LC50 of those insecticides were 0.048 cm/l, 0.070 cm/l, 0.079 cm/l and 0.137 g/l. Also, Spinosad was the most effective insecticide against second instar larvae followed descendingly by: Agrin, Match and Dipel 2x. Toxicity index values at LC50 level show such superior efficiency of Spinosad (100%) when applied against adults and second instar larvae of onion thrips under labora tory conditions. All insecticides under field conditions caused reduction of infestations of thrips. For the residual effect post application, all insecticides gave significant reductions in thrips numbers at the 21 day post treatment except for: Agrin and Match. Spinosad, Mectin, Neemix and BioFly gave the best control and continued to suppress thrips populations till 21 days after treatment. Spinosad was non harmful and Dipel 2x, Agrin were slightly harmful, BioGuard was significantly harmful whereas BioFly, Match and Mectin were very harmful to Orius albidipennis.