The effects of Pb on sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation of men investigated for infertility.

Background Lead (Pb) is one of the metals most prevalent in the environment and is known to cause infertility and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation. This study aimed to determine the association between seminal plasma Pb and sperm DNA fragmentation in men investigated for infertility. Methods Male partners (n = 300) of couples investigated for infertility were recruited after informed consent was obtained. Sperm parameters were assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Seminal plasma Pb was estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after digestion with nitric acid. Results In Pb-positive and -negative groups the sperm parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were compared using independent sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test, respectively. The mean [standard deviation (SD)] age and duration of infertility were 34.8 (5.34) years and 45.7 (35.09) months, respectively, and the mean Pb concentration was 15.7 µg/dL. In Pb positives compared to Pb negatives the means (SD) of sperm count, progressive motility viability and normal morphology were lower (p > 0.05) but the DNA fragmentation was significantly higher 39.80% (25.08) than Pb negatives 22.65% (11.30). Seminal plasma Pb concentration and sperm DNA fragmentation had a positive correlation (r = 0.38, p = 0.03). A negative correlation was observed between sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm concentration, progressive motility, total motility and viability. When the DNA fragmentation was ≥30% sperm concentration and viability decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusions Pb in seminal plasma had a significant effect on sperm DNA fragmentation but not with other sperm parameters.

Plasma glucose in screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes: how much is too much? Analysis of fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance test in Sri Lankans.

BACKGROUND: Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is the most commonly used screening tool for diabetes in Sri Lanka. Cut-off values from American Diabetes Association recommendations are adopted in the absence of local data. We aimed to establish FPG cut offs for Sri Lankans to screen for diabetes and pre-diabetes. METHODS: Data on FPG and diabetes/pre-diabetes status were obtained from Sri Lanka Diabetes and Cardiovascular Study (SLDCS), a community based island wide observational study conducted in 2005-6. Sensitivity specificity and area under the ROC curve were calculated for different FPG values. RESULTS: Study included 4014 community dwelling people after excluding people already on treatment for diabetes or pre-diabetes. Mean age was 45.3 (± 15) years and 60.4% were females. FPG cut off of 5.3 mmol/L showed better sensitivity and specificity than 5.6 mmol/L in detecting diabetes (87.8% and 84.4% Vs 80.8% and 92.1%) and pre-diabetes (54.7% and 87.0% Vs 43.8% and 94.2%). CONCLUSIONS: A lower FPG cut off of 5.3 mmol/L has a better sensitivity and acceptable specificity in screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes in Sri Lankan adults.

Draft Macronuclear Genome Sequence of the Ruminal Ciliate Entodinium caudatum.

The transcriptionally active macronucleus of a ruminal ciliate, Entodinium caudatum MZG-1, was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore MinION platforms. This is the first draft macronuclear genome sequence of a ruminal protozoon, and the genomic information will provide useful insight into the metabolism, physiology, and ecology of ruminal ciliates.

Restriction site associated DNA (RAD) for de novo sequencing and marker discovery in sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fab. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

We present the development of a genomic library using RADseq (restriction site associated DNA sequencing) protocol for marker discovery that can be applied on evolutionary studies of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis, an important South American insect pest. A RADtag protocol combined with Illumina paired-end sequencing allowed de novo discovery of 12 811 SNPs and a high-quality assembly of 122.8M paired-end reads from six individuals, representing 40 Gb of sequencing data. Approximately 1.7 Mb of the sugarcane borer genome distributed over 5289 minicontigs were obtained upon assembly of second reads from first reads RADtag loci where at least one SNP was discovered and genotyped. Minicontig lengths ranged from 200 to 611 bp and were used for functional annotation and microsatellite discovery. These markers will be used in future studies to understand gene flow and adaptation to host plants and control tactics.

Viruses in maize and Johnsongrass in southern Ohio.

The two major U.S. maize viruses, Maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) and Maize chlorotic dwarf virus (MCDV), emerged in southern Ohio and surrounding regions in the 1960s and caused significant losses. Planting resistant varieties and changing cultural practices has dramatically reduced virus impact in subsequent decades. Current information on the distribution, diversity, and impact of known and potential U.S. maize disease-causing viruses is lacking. To assess the current reservoir of viruses present at the sites of past disease emergence, we used a combination of serological testing and next-generation RNA sequencing approaches. Here, we report enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and RNA-Seq data from samples collected over 2 years to assess the presence of viruses in cultivated maize and an important weedy reservoir, Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense). Results revealed a persistent reservoir of MDMV and two strains of MCDV in Ohio Johnsongrass. We identified sequences of several other grass-infecting viruses and confirmed the presence of Wheat mosaic virus in Ohio maize. Together, these results provide important data for managing virus disease in field corn and sweet corn maize crops, and identifying potential future virus threats.

Apolipoproteins in diabetes dyslipidaemia in South Asians with young adult-onset diabetes: distribution, associations and patterns.

BACKGROUND: Apolipoproteins B (apoB) and AI (apoAI) are strong predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We describe apolipoprotein distributions and their associations with lipids and diabetes subtype in diabetic young adult South Asians. METHODS: In 995 subjects with diabetes, we measured fasting total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), triglycerides (TG), apoB and apoAI, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) and non-HDLC (NHDLC) were calculated. We compared values in subjects aged 15-50 y from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). RESULTS: Median age and duration of diabetes were 38 (range 14-45) and 4 (0-24) y. Men had significantly higher TC, TG, NHDLC, TC/HDLC, apoB/AI and NHDLC/apoB, and lower apoAI than women. Compared with the reference group, patients with type 1 diabetes had lower TG, apoB:apoAI and HDLC:apoAI, and higher HDLC and apoAI. Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher TG, TC, LDLC, NHDLC, TC:HDL, apoB, apoAI and apoB:apoAI, and lower HDLC, LDLC:apoB and HDLC:apoAI. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, 54% had high apoB (>1.2 g/L) and 33% also had high TG (>1.5 mmol/L). Measures of obesity (body mass index and waist circumference) were weakly correlated with lipid and apoprotein parameters, suggesting a modest contribution to dyslipidaemia. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of young adult Sri Lankan patients with type 2 diabetes has a low LDLC:apoB and high apoB and/or TG, suggesting that these patients are at increased risk of CVD.

Serum insulin patterns and the relationship between insulin sensitivity and glycaemic profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum insulin levels and insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in relation to their glycaemic status. DESIGN: An observational study. SETTING: A tertiary-level reproductive health centre in Sri Lanka. SAMPLE: Infertile women diagnosed as having PCOS (n=168) on the basis of the Rotterdam criteria were included in the study. METHODS: Glycaemic status and serum insulin values were assessed at fasting and at 2 hours after a 75-g oral glucose load and stratified as diabetes mellitus (DM) (10.12%), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (23.21%) and normoglycaemia (66.67%). The normoglycaemic group was restratified as groups A (10.7%), B (79.5%) and C (9.8%) on the basis of serum insulin levels, with group A having the lowest and group C the highest values. The Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) scores of women with DM and IGT and those in groups A, B and C in the normoglycaemic category were compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Insulin sensitivity in these groups of women. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) exceeded 23 kg/m(2) in 77.38% of the women. In normoglycaemic women with PCOS, insulin sensitivity was highest in group A. In groups B and C, insulin sensitivities corresponded to those found for women with IGT and DM respectively. This pattern was also reflected in the BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Normoglycaemic women with PCOS are heterogeneous regarding insulin sensitivity. The treatment offered to those with DM and IGT could be extended to subgroups B and C of normoglycaemic subjects. Normoglycaemic women with PCOS with high insulin sensitivity (group A) would not qualify for this treatment.

Intraindividual variation in serum thyroid hormones, parathyroid hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1.

BACKGROUND: Biological variation of an analyte is an important determinant of its usefulness. Intraindividual variation in serum thyroid hormones, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in healthy subjects was determined in this study. METHODS: Blood samples were taken at weekly intervals for six weeks from 10 healthy subjects and analysed for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), PTH and IGF-1. RESULTS: Intraindividual variations for serum FT4 and FT3 were <5.0%, IGF-1 9.4% and TSH and PTH 25.1% and 25.9%, respectively. Index of individuality was lowest for FT4 (0.42) and FT3 (0.38), and highest for PTH (1.09). CONCLUSION: Intraindividual variation for FT4, FT3 and IGF-1 are low.

Prevalence and projections of diabetes and pre-diabetes in adults in Sri Lanka--Sri Lanka Diabetes, Cardiovascular Study (SLDCS).

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes (impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance) in adults in Sri Lanka. Projections for the year 2030 and factors associated with diabetes and pre-diabetes are also presented. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2005 and 2006. A nationally representative sample of 5000 adults aged >or= 18 years was selected by a multi-stage random cluster sampling technique. Fasting plasma glucose was tested in all participants and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in non-diabetic subjects. Prevalence was estimated for those > 20 years of age. RESULTS: Response rate was 91% (n = 4532), males 40%, age 46.1 +/- 15.1 years (mean +/- standard deviation). The age-sex standardized prevalence (95% confidence interval) of diabetes for Sri Lankans aged >or= 20 years was 10.3% (9.4-11.2%) [males 9.8% (8.4-11.2%), females 10.9% (9.7-12.1%), P = 0.129). Thirty-six per cent (31.9-40.1%) of all diabetic subjects were previously undiagnosed. Diabetes prevalence was higher in the urban population compared with rural [16.4% (13.8-19.0%) vs. 8.7% (7.8-9.6%); P < 0.001]. The prevalence of overall, urban and rural pre-diabetes was 11.5% (10.5-12.5%), 13.6% (11.2-16.0%) and 11.0% (10.0-12.0%), respectively. Overall, 21.8% (20.5-23.1%) had some form of dysglycaemia. The projected diabetes prevalence for the year 2030 is 13.9%. Those with diabetes and pre-diabetes compared with normal glucose tolerance were older, physically inactive, frequently lived in urban areas and had a family history of diabetes. They had higher body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Insulin was prescribed to 4.4% (2.7-6.1%) of all diabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: One in five adults in Sri Lanka has either diabetes or pre-diabetes and one-third of those with diabetes are undiagnosed.

Phase-coherent transport in graphene quantum billiards.

As an emergent electronic material and model system for condensed-matter physics, graphene and its electrical transport properties have become a subject of intense focus. By performing low-temperature transport spectroscopy on single-layer and bilayer graphene, we observe ballistic propagation and quantum interference of multiply reflected waves of charges from normal electrodes and multiple Andreev reflections from superconducting electrodes, thereby realizing quantum billiards in which scattering only occurs at the boundaries. In contrast to the conductivity of conventional two-dimensional materials, graphene's conductivity at the Dirac point is geometry-dependent because of conduction via evanescent modes, approaching the theoretical value 4e(2)/pih (where e is the electron charge and h is Planck's constant) only for short and wide devices. These distinctive transport properties have important implications for understanding chaotic quantum systems and implementing nanoelectronic devices, such as ballistic transistors.

Hypertriglyceridaemia and malignancy.

Severe hypertriglyceridaemia is a rare presentation usually associated with acute pancreatitis. We present two case reports of severe hypertriglyceridaemia occurring in patients with previous autoimmune disease and haematological and solid malignancies but no evidence of prior or concurrent pancreatitis or hyperlipidaemia. These case reports illustrate that haematological and solid organ malignancies and autoimmunity may be relevant as exacerbating factors in the presentation of severe type IV or V hypertriglyceridaemia.

Cell-free plasma DNA as a prognostic marker in intensive treatment unit patients.

Recent evidence suggests that cell-free plasma DNA has potential use as a prognostic marker in many clinical settings. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of cell-free plasma DNA in the prediction of clinical outcome in intensive treatment unit (ITU) patients. Cell-free plasma DNA was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the beta-globin gene and SOFA score, APACHE II score, CRP concentrations, and clinical outcome (duration of stay, ventilation time, and mortality) were noted in 94 patients on admission to the ITU. The median plasma DNA concentration in ITU patients was 5493 GE/mL and this was significantly (P <0.001) higher than the DNA concentration in healthy subjects (1970 GE/mL). DNA concentration demonstrated a significant correlation with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.363) concentration and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) (r = 0.360) score (P <0.001 for both by Pearson correlation) but not with Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II) score. Patients on ventilation had significantly higher DNA concentrations compared to nonventilated patients (7362 GE/mL versus 4479 GE/mL; P = 0.004). The median DNA concentration in nonsurvivors was 9148 GE/mL, and this was 2.3-fold greater than that in survivors (3921 GE/ml, P <0.001). ROC analysis of the data indicated a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 80% when DNA concentration of 6109 GE/mL was taken as a predictor of death. The data suggest that cell-free plasma DNA concentration is potentially useful as a prognostic marker in ITU patients.

Management of men with a first episode of acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the existing management protocol of patients presenting with acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement on clinical efficacy and surgical practice. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: The Urology Unit at the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Galle. PATIENTS: 100 consecutive patients with a first episode of acute urinary retention due to a clinically benign enlarged prostate. MEASUREMENTS: Success of voiding urine after one week of treatment with an alpha adrenoceptor blocker (prazosin). Incidence of subsequent urinary retention during the follow up period of 6 months despite continuing treatment with the drug. RESULTS: Of the 94 patients who completed the follow up period of 6 months, 56 voided successfully after the initial trial without catheter at one week. However, 12 of them developed urinary retention during the follow up and required surgery. CONCLUSION: Treatment with an alpha adrenoceptor blocker followed by a single trial without catheter can avoid prostatic surgery in 40% of patients with acute urinary retention due to benign prostatic enlargement.

Abnormal Freezing of Milk Caused by Ice-Nucleating Bacteria.

Cultures of ice nucleating bacteria isolated from raw producer bulk milk were gram negative rods, mostly Pseudomonas fluorescens . Milk samples from which the cultures were isolated prefroze during supercooling in the cryoscopic test of freezing point. Grown under conditions of restricted nutrition, cells transferred to normally freezing samples imparted the ice nucleating factor.