Effect of stocking density on performance, survival and nutrient composition of super worm Zophobas Morio (Coleoptera:Tenebrionidae).

As the global demand for animal protein continues to increase, the need for sustainable and resource-efficient alternatives for animal feed becomes increasingly paramount. Insects have gained significant attention as promising candidates to support the sustainable development of the feed industry, and their utilization in animal feed has seen substantial growth in recent years. Therefore, this study was conducted to optimize the superworm (Zophobas morio) larvae rearing stocking density on the biomass production, survival, and nutrient composition. Two-weeks-old Z. morio larvae were maintained at 25 ± 2 oC and 70% relative humidity, and at densities of 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.25 cm2 space per larva, respectively. The insects reared with a density of 1.25 cm2 per larvae had higher feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG) (P < 0.05). However, better feed conversion efficiency (FCE) was recorded with a density of 0.75 cm2 per larvae (P < 0.05). The survival significantly increased with increasing the density per larvae (P < 0.05). High survival of Z. morio larvae was recorded at density of 1 and 1.25 cm2 per larvae. The dry matter and fat contents of Z. morio larvae were higher at density of 0.5 cm2 per larvae (P < 0.05). However, the protein content was higher at density of 1 and 1.25 cm2 per larvae (P < 0.05). Moreover, the ash content was higher at 0.5, 0.75, and 1.25 cm2 per larvae (P < 0.05). This study highlights that Z. morio larvae rearing stocking density has a profound influence on growth performance, survival and its nutrient composition.

Relationship Of Lipids, C-Reactive Protein And Sialic Acid In The Healthy Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Raised levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are major risk factors for atherosclerosis, which can lead to coronary heart disease. Both the CRP and Sialic Acid levels are elevated in response to acute as well as chronic inflammatory conditions. This study was conducted to determine the serum lipid profile, CRP and Sialic Acid levels and their relationship with each other in healthy individuals. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed by the Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS), Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar. Two hundred healthy subjects in the age group of 18-50 years of either gender was recruited through consecutive sampling. Blood sampling were taken from all the participants and analysed each for serum lipid profile, CRP and Sialic Acid levels through standardized methods. RESULTS: A total of 200 individuals were included, 53.5% being male. Mean age was 33.39±9.76 years. Mean height was 167.86±10.8 cm. Mean weight was 66.87±11.39kg. Mean Hip-Waist ratio was 0.93±0.16 whereas mean BMI was 24.12±3.65. The simultaneous raised levels of serum lipids, CRP and Sialic Acid were observed more commonly in females as compared to males. CRP and Sialic Acid has got statistically significant correlation with HDL. Sialic Acid had statistically significant correlation with triglycerides in the study population with a significant p-value (<0.05), while having a non-significant correlation with total cholesterol and LDL. CRP had got significant correlation with total cholesterol and LDL and non-significant correlation with triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that serum CRP and Sialic Acid had a significant negative correlation with serum HDL. A significant positive correlation was found between serum Sialic Acid and triglycerides. CRP and Sialic Acid though expensive but are useful predictors of atherosclerotic disease.

C-Reactive Protein Level In Coronary Artery Disease And Its Correlation With Serum D-Dimer.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein concentration has continuous associations with risk of coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke and death from several cancers. In addition, several studies have shown that CRP could be used to predict first ever myocardial infarction and stroke in healthy subjects, as well as outcome in acute setting. High levels of another biomarker, D-dimer, have been found to be independently associated with occurrence of coronary events. METHODS: This correlational study was carried out at the Department of Cardiology, Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, in collaboration with the department of Biochemistry Postgraduate Medical Institute Lahore from 15th July 2013 to 15th May 2014. Patients aged 30 years or more of either gender having coronary artery disease was included in the study. Their serum D-dimer levels and Creactive protein levels were measured for correlation with coronary artery disease. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients of CAD were included in this study. Out of these 30 (60%) were males and 20 (40%) were females. Elevated CRP levels and D-dimer levels were noted in all of these patients. Pearson correlation coefficient test was performed on both CRP and D-dimer levels. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to be r= -0.1522 and when a p value was calculated, it was found to be 0.292 which implied that the results were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is no correlation between CRP levels and D-dimer levels in patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Smoking on treatment outcomes among tuberculosis patients.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a risk factor not only for the development of cancer and coronary heart disease but also for tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking in patients with TB, identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with smoking and to evaluate TB treatment outcomes in the smokers. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study of patients with TB was conducted at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. All patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB and those coinfected with HIV, hepatitis or diabetes mellitus were included in the study. The patients were categorized into smokers and nonsmokers. Treatment outcomes were evaluated by smear testing at the end of the treatment. RESULTS: Of 472 enrolled subjects, 68 (14.4%) were smokers. The prevalence of smoking among male and female patients with TB was 11.8% and 2.5%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the gender, age group and marital status of patients with TB were associated with smoking. The results indicated that patient gender (P = 0.05), age: 15 to 24 years (P = 0.05) and age >55 years (P = 0.004) were risk factors associated with smoking among TB patients. Of the 68 smokers with TB, the treatment outcomes among 54 patients (79.4%) were unsuccessful. The treatment outcomes was statistically significantly associated with smoking (odds ratio: 2.58, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current study proved smoking to be one of the main factors associated with the occurrence of TB and significantly reducing the outcomes of TB therapy.

Correlation of three immunohistochemically detected markers of neuroendocrine differentiation with clinical predictors of disease progression in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: The importance of immuno-histological detection of neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic adenocarcinoma with respect to disease at presentation and Gleason grade is gaining acceptance. There is limited literature on the relative significance of three commonly used markers of NE differentiation i.e. Chromogranin A (CgA), Neuron specific enolase (NSE) and Synaptophysin (Syn). In the current work we have assessed the correlation of immuno-histological detection of neuroendocrine differentiation in prostatic adenocarcinoma with respect to disease at presentation and Gleason grade and to determine the relative value of various markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive samples of malignant prostatic specimens (Transurethral resection of prostate or radical retropubic prostatectomy) from 84 patients between January 1991 and December 1998 were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining (PAP technique) using selected neuroendocrine tumor markers i.e. Chromogranin A (CgA), Neuron specific enolase (NSE), and Synaptophysin (Syn). According to the stage at diagnosis, patients were divided into three groups. Group (i) included patients who had organ confined disease, group (ii) included patients with locally invasive disease, and group (iii) with distant metastasis. NE expression was correlated with Gleason sum and clinical stage at presentation and analyzed using Chi-Square test and one way ANNOVA. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 70 +/- 9.2 years. Group I had 14 patients, group II had 31 patients and group III had 39 patients. CgA was detected in 33 cases, Syn in 8 cases, and NSE in 44 cases. Expression of CgA was seen in 7% of group I, 37% in group II and 35% of group III patients (p 0.059). CgA (p 0.024) and NSE (p 0.006) had a significantly higher expression with worsening Gleason grade. CONCLUSION: CgA has a better correlation with disease at presentation than other markers used. Both NSE and CgA had increasing expression with worsening histological grade this correlation has a potential for use as a prognostic indicator. Limitations in the current work included small number and retrospective nature of work. The findings of this work needs validation in a larger cohort.