Nutrient Density and Microbial Safety of Open-Air-Dried Beef Meat and Its Biochemical and Organ Histopathology Effects in Albino Rats: A Promising Ingredient for Complementary Food Formulation.

Introduction: Dried beef meat is a major source of essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins that are digestible and absorbable, thus could be a potential source of nutrients in complementary food formulations. Composition, microbial safety, and organ function tests were analyzed, and histopathological effect of air-dried beef meat powder was determined in rat model. Methods: Three groups of diets were given for the three groups of animals: (1) standard rat diet, (2) meat powder+standard rat diet (1 : 1 formulation), and (3) dried meat powder. A total of 36 Wistar albino rats (18 males and 18 females) of 4-8 weeks old were used and randomly assigned to the experiments. After acclimatization for one week, the experimental rats were followed for 30 days. Microbial analysis, nutrient composition, organ histopathology (liver and kidney), and organ function tests were conducted from serum samples taken from the animals. Results: Protein, fat, fiber, ash, utilizable carbohydrate, and energy contents of meat powder on a dry weight basis were 76.12 ± 3.68, 8.19 ± 2.01, 0.56 ± 0.38, 6.45 ± 1.21, 2.79 ± 0.38 g/100 g, and 389.30 ± 3.25 kcal/100 g, respectively. Meat powder could be also a potential source of minerals such as potassium (766.16 ± 77.26 mg/100 g), phosphorus (150.35 ± 16.26 mg/100 g), calcium (18.15 ± 7.80 mg/100 g), zinc (3.82 ± 0.10 mg/100 g), and sodium (123.76 ± 32.71 mg/100 g). Food intakes were lower in MP group compared to the others. According to organ histopathology results, animals fed with the diet have shown normal values, except rise in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and creatine kinase (CK) in groups fed with meat powder. The results of organ function tests were all within the acceptable ranges and comparable with their counterpart control groups. However, some of the microbial contents of the meat powder were not within the recommended level. Conclusion: Dried meat powder has a higher amount of nutrients, which would be a potential recipe in complementary food preparation that can support to reduce child malnutrition. However, further studies need to be conducted on the sensory acceptability of formulated complementary foods containing dried meat powder; also, clinical trials are aimed at observing the effect of dried meat powder on child linear growth.

Prenatal developmental toxicity study of herbal tea of Moringa stenopetala and Mentha spicata leaves formulation in Wistar rats.

Background: Moringa stenopetala and Mentha spicata have long been used to treat diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other ailments. Herbal tea of M. stenopetala and Mentha spicata leaves formulation showed better antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities. This study investigated the prenatal developmental toxicity potential of the herbal tea of M. stenopetala and M. spicata leaves blend in rats. Methods: Wistar pregnant rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n = 8). Group I (control) dams received distilled water. Group II-IV dams were treated with 559.36, 1118.72, and 2237.44 mg/kg of herbal tea of M. stenopetala and Mentha spicata leaves formulations, respectively, during days 5-19 of gestation. Maternal mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, and food consumption were recorded. On gestation day 20, cesarean sections were performed, and maternal parameters of systemic toxicity (e.g., body weight, serum biochemistry, organ weight, and macro-pathology) as well as reproductive toxicity (e.g., number of corpora lutea, implantations, resorptions (early/late), pre/postimplantation losses, number of fetuses (live/dead), and fetal body weights, length, and their sex ratio) were evaluated. Fetuses were further examined for external, soft tissue, and skeletal alterations. Results: No herbal tea-related maternal deaths or overt toxic symptoms were observed. The measured maternal systemic and reproductive toxicity parameters showed no herbal tea-associated significant alterations at any dosage levels. Moreover, there were no overt toxic effects of the herbal tea on the fetal external, visceral, or skeletal prenatal growth and development. Conclusion: The study findings demonstrated that the herbal tea of M. stenopetala and M. spicata leaves blend could be relatively safe/low toxic to pregnant rats and developing fetuses. The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of herbal tea for maternal toxicity, fetotoxicity, and teratogenicity in rats is estimated to be > 2237.44 mg/kg/day.

Establishment of Reference Intervals for Serum Protein Electrophoresis of Apparently Healthy Adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Even though several factors affect reference intervals (RIs), company-derived values are currently in use in many laboratories worldwide. However, few or no data are available regarding serum proteins RIs, especially in resource-limited countries such as Ethiopia. Objective: To establish RIs for serum protein electrophoresis of apparently healthy adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 297 apparently healthy adults from April to October 2019 in four selected sub-cities (Akaki, Kirkos, Arada, and Yeka) of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Laboratory analysis of collected samples was performed using the Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing analyzer, while statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23 and Med-Calc software. The Mann-Whitney test was used to check partitions. A non-parametric method of reference range establishment was performed as per CLSI guideline EP28A3C. Results: The established RIs were: albumin 53.83-64.59%, 52.24-63.55%; alpha-1 globulin 3.04-5.40%, 3.44-5.60%; alpha-2 globulin 8.0-12.67%, 8.44-12.87%; and beta-1 globulin 5.01-7.38%, 5.14-7.86%. Moreover, the albumin to globulin ratios were 1.16-1.8 and 1.09-1.74 for males and females, respectively. The combined RIs for beta-2 globulin and gamma globulin were 2.54-4.90% and 12.40-21.66%, respectively. Conclusion: The established reference interval for serum protein fractions revealed gender-specific differences, except for beta-2 globulin and gamma globulin.

Evaluation of Sigma Metrics and Westgard Rule Selection and Implementation of Internal Quality Control in Clinical Chemistry Reference Laboratory, Ethiopian Public Health Institute.

Clinical laboratories are mandated to deliver accurate, reliable, timely and correctly reported result which, used in decision making for disease screening, diagnosis and monitoring. With aid of six sigma principles and metrics it is possible to assess the quality laboratory process and the quality control that is needed to ensure that the desired quality is achieved. Thus, this study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of biochemical parameters by calculating the sigma metrics of individual parameters using internal quality control (IQC) and Proficiency Testing (PT) results. The sigma metrics of 21 clinical chemistry parameters were calculated from COBAS 6000 analyzer with internal quality control (IQC) materials and external quality assurance scheme (EQAS) performance in national clinical chemistry laboratory for the period of six months. We obtained an excellent performance (≥ 6 sigma) for test parameters amylase pancreatic, amylase total, HDL, magnesium, AST, triglyceride, total bilirubin and ALT in both levels of quality control. Urea, creatinine and chloride were failed to meet the minimal sigma performance for both level 1 and 2. Sigma values of 3-6 were observed for ALP, Direct bilirubin, total protein, albumin, glucose, potassium, and phosphate with both levels of quality control. Though, stringent IQC strategy is not mandatory for analytes that scored sigma value ≥ 6. However, continuous monitoring quality control is required for renal function tests and process improvement will be designed for those with poor sigma values.

Comparison of Selected Clinical Chemistry Assay Results by two Analyzers: Cobas 6000 (c501) and Cobas Integra 400 Plus.

BACKGROUND: Comparison of assay results is very important for having a comparable backup analyzer to provide a quality laboratory service without interruption. Even though, several factors affect assay results by different instruments, little or no data is available regarding assay results comparison between Cobas 6000 (c501) and Cobas integra 400 plus in the study area. Thus, the present study was aimed to compare assay results of two fully auto-mated clinical chemistry analyzers: Cobas 6000 (c501) and Cobas Integra 400 Plus at the National Clinical Chemistry Reference Laboratory of Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: The assay results for the 20 selected clinical chemistry parameters were obtained from 52 randomly selected samples on Cobas 6000 (c501) and Cobas integra 400 plus. Statistical analysis was done using Med-Calc software. The 2019 CLIA proposed acceptance limits for proficiency testing were used to check bias or difference obtained from correlation and regression analysis. RESULTS: Assay results comparison revealed almost perfect data correlations among all selected clinical chemistry parameters: Albumin, ALP, ALT, Alpha-amylase (AMYL), AST, Direct bilirubin, Total bilirubin, Total cholesterol, Creatine kinase, Creatine kinase MB-subunit, Creatinine, GGT, Glucose, HDLC4, LDH, Phosphate, Total Protein, Triglycerides, Uric acid, and Urea, on both analyzers with coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 98.9% to 99.99% and coefficient of correlation (r) ranging from 99.4% to 100%, depicting the precision and reliability of assay results, standardization, and system equivalency. Moreover, the calculated bias/difference is lower than both CLIA total allowable error and CLIA allowable error. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, regression/correlation analysis and calculated bias or difference revealed almost equivalent data representation of both analyzers as per the CLIA standard, thus showing that both fully automated analyzers are standardized and properly calibrated to be used simultaneously and inter-changeably as the main and back up analyzers for selected clinical chemistry parameters analyzed at the clinical chemistry reference laboratory.

Evaluation of the Diuretic Activity of Aqueous and 80% Methanol Extracts of Croton macrostachyus(Euphorbiaceae) Leaves in Saline-Loaded Rats.

BACKGROUND: Croton macrostachyus (Euphorbiaceae) extract is a folk medicine traditionally used for treating a number of disorders, including edematous conditions. The present study aimed to evaluate the diuretic effects of aqueous and 80% methanol leaf extracts of Croton macrostachyus in saline-loaded rats. METHODS: Rats of either sex were randomly assigned into eight groups of eight animals per group. The animals were treated with vehicle (distilled water), standard (furosemide 10 mg/kg), and three doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of aqueous and 80% methanol leaf extracts after loading of normal saline (15 mL/kg). Then, urine volume, electrolyte concentration, and pH were measured as parameters of evaluation. Concentrations of urinary Na+ K+, and Cl- were determined and Na+:K+ and Cl-:Na+ + K+ ratios calculated to reveal possible mechanisms. RESULTS: The aqueous extract at 200 mg/kg had produced significant diuresis by hour 3, while the same dose of 80% methanol extract had produced substantial diuresis by the end of hour 4. Both extracts at 400 mg/kg produced significant diuresis from hour 2 to hour 5. In terms of effect on electrolysis, 400 mg/kg aqueous extract produced significant natriuresis, and a kaliuresis effect was observed for both extracts at higher doses and 200 mg/kg aqueous extract. CONCLUSION: The findings collectively indicated that both aqueous and 80% methanol extract showed significant diuretic activity, thereby justifying the plant's traditional use as a diuretic agent.