Autoanalyzer Research Articles

Increased angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) level is associated with the cardiovascular risk in diabetes

Objectives: Increased plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels are associated with cardiovascular risk in diabetes and therapeutic targets. ACE2 is an endogenous regulator of the renin-angiotensin system and is important in various cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to investigate the association between increased ACE2 levels and cardiovascular risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly those with CVD. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, subjects were classified into 3 groups. Each Group has 87 individuals. Group I was considered as controls, Group II was considered as diabetes, and Group III was considered as diabetes with heart disease who attended the master health checkup, cardiology and general medicine OP in the tertiary care centre. The serum ACE, ACE2, oxidized-low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and highly sensitive c-reactive were examined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, and the lipid levels were measured using the AU 480 (Auto analyser). Results: The study found that mean plasma ACE, ACE2, ACE/ACE2 ratio, ox-LDL, and high-sensitivity-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were significantly higher in group III than compared to group II and group I (P < 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between ACE2, ACE, ACE/ACE2 ratio, hs-CRP, and ox-LDL in patients with group III. Linear regression analysis showed a strong association of ACE2 with hs-CRP, ox-LDL and ACE. Conclusion: The study concludes that increased ACE2 levels may be associated with the risk of CVD in T2DM, especially in those with coronary heart disease. These findings suggest the possibility of independent risk assessment in diabetic patients.

Advancing Anemia Screening: Performance of the Aspen Hb Meter Compared to Standard Methods

Anemia, a global health concern with significant prevalence in low- and middle-income countries, poses serious challenges for women of reproductive age, particularly in resource-constrained environments. Early and accurate hemoglobin estimation is critical for timely intervention; however, traditional methods like the cyanmethemoglobin assay and automated hematology analyzers are impractical in decentralized settings. This study evaluates the performance of the Aspen Hb meter, a portable, spectrophotometry-based device, against the Serachem SC-60+ auto hematology analyzer. Hemoglobin levels from 1,280 adult females were analyzed, showing a strong correlation (R² = 0.977) and clinically acceptable agreement in Bland-Altman analysis. The Aspen Hb meter achieved a sensitivity of 98.14%, specificity of 95.80%, and accuracy of 97.57%, with minimal diagnostic errors. Its portability, rapid response, and cost-effectiveness highlight its utility in point-of-care diagnostics and public health programs. This device offers a scalable solution for improving anemia screening and management in low-resource settings, particularly in maternal health initiatives.

Continuous Characterization of Insoluble Particles in Ice Cores Using the Single-Particle Extinction and Scattering Method.

This study presents the integration of the single-particle extinction and scattering (SPES) method in a continuous flow analysis (CFA) setup. Continuous measurements with the instrument allow for the characterization of water-insoluble particles in ice cores at high resolution with a minimized risk of contamination. The SPES method can be used to investigate particles smaller than 1 μm, which previously could not be detected by instruments typically used in CFA. Moreover, the SPES method provides not only the particle concentration and size distribution but also the effective refractive index. We show that nonabsorbing mineral particles and absorbing particles from both wildfires and fossil fuel burning can be detected with the SPES method in shallow ice cores from North-East Greenland. The concentration record retrieved with SPES correlates well with established methods used in continuous measurements of dust content in ice cores. Year-to-year variations in the number distribution of the diameter are only detectable by stacking annual layers because of the low nonabsorbing particle concentration of late Holocene ice of approximately 6 × 104 mL-1. The median diameter in the bottom 20 m of the EGRIP-S7 core is found to be 0.75 μm (0.72 μm) during the annual maximum (minimum) in dust concentration.

Technical note: High-resolution analyses of concentrations and sizes of refractory black carbon particles deposited in northwestern Greenland over the past 350 years – Part 1: Continuous flow analysis of the SIGMA-D ice core using the wide-range Single-Particle Soot Photometer and a high-efficiency nebulizer

Abstract. Ice cores can provide long-term records of refractory black carbon (rBC), an important aerosol species closely linked to the climate and environment. However, previous studies of ice cores only analyzed rBC particles with a diameter of < 500 nm, which could have led to an underestimation of rBC mass concentrations. Information on the size distribution of rBC particles is very limited, and there are no Arctic ice core records of the temporal variation in rBC size distribution. In this study, we applied a recently developed improved technique to analyze the rBC concentration in an ice core drilled at the SIGMA-D site in northwestern Greenland. The improved technique, which uses the modified Single-Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) and a high-efficiency nebulizer, widens the measurable range of rBC particle size. For high-resolution continuous analyses of ice cores, we developed a continuous flow analysis (CFA) system. Coupling of the improved rBC measurement technique with the CFA system allows accurate high-resolution measurements of the size distribution and concentration of rBC particles with a diameter between 70 nm and 4 µm, with minimal particle losses. Using this technique, we reconstructed the size distributions and the number and mass concentrations of rBC particles during the past 350 years. On the basis of the size distributions, we assessed the underestimation of rBC mass concentrations measured using the conventional SP2s. For the period 2003–2013, the underestimation of the average mass concentration would have been 12 %–31 % for the SIGMA-D core.

Evaluating the predictive power of combined gene expression dynamics from single cells on antibiotic survival.

Heteroresistance can allow otherwise drug-susceptible bacteria to survive and resume growth after antibiotic exposure. This temporary form of antibiotic tolerance can be caused by the upregulation of stress response genes or a decrease in cell growth rate. However, it is not clear how expression of multiple genes contributes to the tolerance phenotype. By using fluorescent reporters for stress related genes, we conducted real time measurements of expression prior to, during, and after antibiotic exposure. We first identified relationships between growth rate and reporter levels based on auto and cross correlation analysis, revealing consistent patterns where changes in growth rate were anticorrelated with fluorescence following a delay. We then used pairs of stress gene reporters and time lapse fluorescence microcopy to measure the growth rate and reporter levels in cells that survived or died following antibiotic exposure. Using these data, we asked whether combined information about reporter expression and growth rate could improve our ability to predict whether a cell would survive or die following antibiotic exposure. We developed a Bayesian inference model to predict how the combination of dual reporter expression levels and growth rate impact ciprofloxacin survival in Escherichia coli . We found clear evidence of the impact of growth rate and the gadX promoter activity on survival. Unexpectedly, our results also revealed examples where additional information from multiple genes decreased prediction accuracy, highlighting an important and underappreciated effect that can occur when integrating data from multiple simultaneous measurements.

Spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis snails spread in Suzhou City of Jiangsu Province from 2016 to 2023

To investigate the Oncomelania hupensis snails spread and its spatio-temporal clustering characteristics in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province from 2016 to 2023, so as to provide insights into precision control of O. hupensis snails in the City. O. hupensis snail surveillance data in Suzhou City from 2016 to 2023 were collected, and the areas of O. hupensis snail spread and areas of emerging and re-emerging snail habitats were retrieved. The spatial distribution characteristics and clustering types and locations of environments with O. hupensis snail spread were investigated using global and local spatial auto correlation analyses with the software ArcGIS 10.7, and the clustering and cluster areas of O. hupensis snail spread were identified in Suzhou City using spatio-temporal scans with the software SaTScan 10.0.2. O. hupensis snail spread covered an area of 677 171 m2 in Suzhou City from 2016 to 2023, including 376 230 m2 emerging snail habitats and 300 941 m2 re-emerging snail habitats. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed overall clustering of O. hupensis snail spread in Suzhou City from 2016 to 2023 (Moran's I = 0.066, P = 0.007), and there were spatial clustering of areas with O. hupensis snail spread in 2019 (Moran's I = 0.086, P = 0.001) and 2021 (Moran's I = 0.045, P = 0.003). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed clusters of O. hupensis snail spread in Suzhou City from 2016 to 2023, with high-high clusters in Guangfu Township and Dongzhu Street, and the high-high clusters of O. hupensis snail spread were mainly distributed in southwestern Suzhou City. Spatio-temporal scans identified two clusters of areas with O. hupensis snail spread and areas of re-emerging snail habitats in Suzhou City from 2016 to 2023, with large clustering areas found in Guangfu Township, Dongzhu Street, Tong'an Township and Wangting Township [relative risk (RR) = 22.34, log likelihood ratio (LLR) = 163 295.32, P < 0.001] and small clustering areas in Xukou Township, Mudu Township and Xiangshan Street (RR = 2.73, LLR = 921.92, P < 0.001). There was spatial clustering of O. hupensis snail spread in Suzhou City from 2016 to 2023. Improved quality of O. hupensis snail control and intensified management of environments at a high risk of O. hupensis snail spread are recommended in Suzhou City.

Continuous-flow analysis of nitrogen compounds in environmental water using a copper–zinc reduction coil

The copper–cadmium reduction method has been applied to determine nitrogen compounds in heavily contaminated environmental water. However, there is an international demand to reduce the use of cadmium because it is harmful to humans and environment. Hence, a copper–zinc reduction continuous flow analysis system without using cadmium was developed for nitrogen-compound determination. However, the effects of seawater contaminants on this analytical method remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, the effects of contaminants on the developed method are investigated, and the applicability of the method to environmental water analysis is examined. Resultantly, interference due to magnesium precipitation is confirmed; however, this could be prevented by adjusting the concentration of the analytical reagent, i.e.,. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium. The measurement of certified reference materials under the new conditions, with precipitation countermeasures, show good results, with an accuracy of over 96 %. Additionally, a recovery study using actual environmental water afforded good results, with recovery of >95 % for all samples. These results indicate that the proposed method is an excellent, cadmium-free analytical method capable of analyzing environmental water as effectively as conventional methods.

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurements for high-resolution chemical ice core analyses with a first application to an ice core from Skytrain Ice Rise (Antarctica)

Abstract. Conventional methods of inorganic impurity analysis do not provide high enough depth resolution for many scientific questions in ice core science. In this study, we present a setup of laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for high-resolution glacier ice impurity analysis to the sub-millimetre scale. This setup enables ice core chemical impurity analysis to a depth resolution of ∼182 µm while consuming only very small amounts of ice. The system performs simultaneous analysis of sodium, magnesium and aluminium incorporated in the ice matrix. In this case study within the framework of the WACSWAIN (WArm Climate Stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the last INterglacial) project, our method is applied to a selection of samples from the Skytrain ice core (West Antarctica) over a total length of 6.7 m consisting of about 130 single samples. The main goal of this study is to use the new LA-ICP-MS method to extract meaningful climate signals on a depth resolution level beyond the limits of continuous-flow analysis (CFA). A comparison between low-resolution CFA data and the high-resolution LA-ICP-MS data reveals generally good agreement on the decimetre scale. Stacking of parallel laser measurements together with frequency analysis is used to analyse the high-resolution LA-ICP-MS data at millimetre resolution. Spectral analysis reveals that despite effects of impurity accumulation along ice crystal grain boundaries, periodic concentration changes in the Skytrain ice core on the millimetre scale can be identified in ice from 26.8 ka (kiloyears before present, i.e. 1950 CE). These findings open new possibilities for climate data interpretation with respect to fast changes in the last glacial period and beyond, for example within the Beyond EPICA oldest-ice project.

Study Of Calcium Magnesium And Phosphorus In Hypothyroidism - A Case Control Study

Background: Thyroid disorders are the most common endocrine abnormality in the world secondary to diabetes mellitus. Thyroid hormones are essential for growth, neuronal development, reproduction and regulation of energy metabolism. It influences the metabolism of all substrates including minerals. Many studies have shown that mineral metabolism is frequently disturbed in thyroid disorders. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on sixty newly confirmed hypothyroid cases based on the thyroid profile and sixty euthyroid cases were recruited as controls. Blood samples were collected from all the patients for the estimation of serum T3, T4, FT3, FT4, TSH, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium by auto analyzer method. Modified spectrophotometric micro-method was used to measure Serum copper using Bathocuprine Disulphonate Disodium Salt (BCDS) and Guanidine hydrochloride salt. The Statistical software namely SPSS 18.0, and R environment ver.3.2.2 were used for the analysis of the data. Results: It was found that the levels of serum sodium, potassium and calcium were significantly decreased in cases than the controls. Serum magnesium and phosphorus were significantly elevated in cases than controls. Conclusion: Serum calcium, magnesium and phosphorous levels are significantly altered in patients having hypothyroidism. Thyroid diseases have wide spread systemic manifestations including their effects on bone and mineral metabolism. Also thyroid hormone affects the glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow, tubular reabsorption and excretion of minerals which have direct effect on Calcium, Magnesium and phosphorous level. Thus monitoring of these minerals in hypothyroid patient will be of great benefit in improving clinical manifestation and can be treated appropriately

Myeloprotective potential of leaves extract fractions of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in myelo suppression

Chemotherapy has been associated with myelosuppression. Myeloprotection is the main remedy to myelosuppression. Nature has been endowed with natural molecules rich in therapeutic components and one of such nature is Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (CA) which has been reported to be rich in antioxidants. The aim of the study was to investigate myelo-protective potential of CA in myelo-suppressed animal model. Albino rats (n = 32) were divided into 8 groups of 4 rats each labelled A-H out of which 7 groups (B-H) were induced intraperitoneally for myelosuppression with cyclophosphamide (CP) and only 6 groups (C-H) were treated with CA extracts for four weeks. Group A served as normal control, groups B-H was induced for myelosuppression with cyclophosphamide. Group B served as myelo-suppressed control, groups C, D and E, received 100mg/kg body weight (bw) methanol fractions of CA while groups F, G and H received 200mg/kg body weight methanol fractions of CA. Two milliliters of blood were collected into ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid containers for total white blood cell count and absolute granulocyte count on days 3, 12 and 21 using mindray auto analyser BC-360. On day 30, bone marrow (BM) was harvested from one rat per group for BM examination and cellularity. Following administration of (CP), myelosuppression set in as observed in significant decreased (P &lt; 0.05) in total white blood cell (TWBC) count and absolute granulocyte count. Extract fractions of CA caused significant increase (P &lt; 0.05) in TWBC count and absolute granulocyte count in all the treated groups on days 12 and 21 compared with baseline. Bone marrow cellularity of all the treated groups revealed normal myeloid erythroid ratio indicating normal marrow cellularity. The findings in this study suggested myelo-protection by Cnidoscolus aconitifolius against cyclophosphamide induced myelosuppression.

Review of recent advances in Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) technique for polar and alpine ice cores

Continuous Flow Analysis (CFA) systems, originally designed for field analyses of trace chemical species in ice cores, have seen significant innovations over the past decade, particularly through the integration of new spectrometric (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometers, Laser Absorption Spectrometers) and chromatographic techniques (Ionic Chromatography, Gas Chromatography and Liquid Chromatography). This paper reviews recent technical and methodological advances in CFA adopted by leading laboratories worldwide for the high-resolution detection of trace elements, major ions, isotopic and gaseous species in polar and alpine ice cores, exploring the strengths and limitations of different couplings, and discussing potential future enhancements.

Plasma glucose, HbA1c, insulin and lipid profile in Sudanese type 2 diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease: a case control study

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its consequences are a serious global public health issue. By 2030, the number of people with type 2 diabetes is predicted to reach 439 million. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the plasma levels of glucose, HbA1c, insulin, and lipid profile in Sudanese T2DM patients. Methods: This case control study included 165 Sudanese patients with diabetic type 2 and a cardiovascular condition as cases and 165 diabetic type 2 volunteers without a cardiovascular disorder as controls. The concentrations of plasma glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profile were assessed using a Mindray BS-480 auto-chemistry analyzer, and insulin was analyzed using a Cobase 411 auto analyzer. The collected data were analyzed using statistical tools for social science computer programs (SPSS version 21). Results: According to the findings, (59.4%) of patients between the ages of (50-69). Females made up 50.9%. (38.2%) of patients had an illness duration of between (8-15 years). (41.8%) of individuals did not have hypertension. There was a substantial rise in BMI, FBG, HbA1c, HDL-C, and insulin among diabetics with cardiovascular disease compared to diabetics without cardiovascular disease (p-value = 0.001, 0.000, 0.018, and 0.000). Females had significantly higher blood TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and BMI than males (p-values = 0.000, 0,001, and 0.000, respectively). There were significant positive correlation between FBS, HBA1c, insulin and duration of disease (r=0.155, p, value=0.005) (r=0.160, p, value=0.004)(r=0.103, p. value=0.061)respectively, while there were significant negative correlation between TC, TG,LDL-C, HDL-C and duration of disease (r=-0.152, p, value= 0.006)(r=-0.023, p, value=0.678)(r=-0.113, p, value= 0.040)(r=-0.145, p, value=0.008)respectively. Conclusion: When comparing diabetics with cardiovascular disease to diabetics without cardiovascular disease, there was a substantial rise in BMI, FBG, HbA1c, HDL-C, and insulin. FBS, HBA1c, insulin, and illness duration all had a strong positive connection.

Kausalitas Antara Variabel Makro dan Stunting di Sumatera Barat Periode 2021 -2023

This research intends to look at the causal relationship between stunting, unemployment, poverty, income inequality, human development index in West Sumatra for the period 2021 - 2023. The type of data used is secondary data in the form of panel data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and the Indonesian Nutrition Status Survey from 2021 to 2023 mapping of 19 regencies/cities in West Sumatra. The data analysis used is vector auto regression analysis (VAR) and vector error correction model (VECM). In inductive analysis there are several tests, namely Optimum Lag Test, Model Stability Test, Johansen Cointegration Test, Granger Causality Test (Granger Causality), VECM Estimation, Impulse Response Function (IRF) Analysis, Forecast Error Variance Decomposition (FEVD) The results of this study show that there is a significant relationship between the human development index and income inequality. There is a significant relationship between unemployment and poverty and income inequality significant relationship between stunting and HDI, poverty, income inequality and unemployment.

Continuous Power Flow Analysis in the Trigonometric Circle

Continuous Power Flow Analysis in the Trigonometric Circle

Gender Differences in the Effects of Cadmium Exposure on Hematological Parameters in Wistar Rats

This study aims to investigate the gender dimorphism in cadmium exposure on hematological parameters in male and female Wistar rats. Twenty Wistar rats (120g-150g) were divided into four groups: male control, male cadmium-treated, female control, and female cadmium-treated. Cadmium chloride (50 mg/kg) was administered orally to the experimental groups for 45 days. Hematological parameters were analyzed using an auto hematological analyzer. Data were statistically evaluated using two-way ANOVA with significance set at p &lt; 0.05. Cadmium exposure significantly increased white blood cell (WBC) counts in male rats compared to controls, with notable decrease in neutrophils and an increase in lymphocytes. Female rats showed significant increase in monocyte and basophil levels. Furthermore, red blood cell (RBC) parameters showed significant reductions in hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) in female cadmium-treated rats. No significant effects were observed on platelet count or distribution width in both male and female rats. The study concluded there are gender-specific hematological alterations due to cadmium exposure in Wistar rats. These findings underscore the need for gender-specific approach in the understanding and amelioration of cadmium toxicity.

Pengaruh Kebijakan Moneter dan Fiskal terhadap Pengangguran di Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of monetary policy as seen from the BI Rate and the money supply (M2, and fiscal policy as seen from government spending and tax revenue in influencing the unemployment rate in Indonesia. The approach used in this research is quantitative. The data used are the BI Rate, the money supply (M2), government spending, tax revenue and unemployment in the form of time series data in an annual form from 1995 to 2019. The method used in this study is the Vector Auto analysis model. Regression (VAR). The stages used in this research test are a stationarity test, optimum lag test, VAR stability test, impulse response test, and variance decomposition test. The results of the impulse response indicate that the unemployment variable responds most to the shock of the interest rate variable (monetary policy) compared to other variables. The results of variance decomposition indicate that the contribution given by the BI Rate to the unemployment rate is the most significant relative to the contribution given by the variable money supply (M2), government spending, and tax revenue.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis: A biochemical investigation into the diagnostic utility of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) levels and the SAM/SAH ratio

BackgroundThe balance between SAM and SAH ratios is critical for cellular methylation capacity such that a decrease in this ratio signals decrease the methylation potential, impacting cellular functions. In Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), impaired methylation processes are prominent, disrupting essential methyl group transfers crucial for DNA methylation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and detoxification. This disturbance affects gene expression and neural function, contributing to ASD development. This paper aims to explore ASD's pathogenesis by investigating biochemical parameters linked to the methylation cycle. For this purpose, some laboratory parameters are employed to aid in the understanding of potential laboratory abnormalities in ASD in children aged 2 to 8 years. Materials and MethodsThis study included a cohort of 43 children aged 2 to 8 years diagnosed ASD, alongside a control group of 43 age-and gender-matched healthy subjects. The serum of blood samples taken was used to measure biochemical factors. Specimens were processed using ELISA instrumentation and hemogram auto analyzers. The study conducted a statistical comparison between the ASD-diagnosed subjects and healthy controls, focusing on levels of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM), S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH), Glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT), and platelet counts. RESULTSThe levels of SAH and platelets were significantly higher in the case group compared to the control group. Conversely, levels of SAM, as well as the SAM/SAH ratio, were found to be significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the levels of GNMT when compared (p > 0.05). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that the diagnostic performance for SAM had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.876, with a cut-off point determined at 286.9 ng/mL, yielding a sensitivity of 85 % and a specificity of 75 %. For SAH, the AUC was calculated to be 0.671, with a cut-off point set at 0.49 ng/mL, resulting in a sensitivity and specificity of 64 %. The SAM/SAH ratio demonstrated an AUC of 0.806, with the cut-off point established at 576.3, leading to a sensitivity and specificity of 72 %. A significant negative correlation was detected between the scores of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) and both SAM levels and the SAM/SAH ratio. The analysis indicated that an increase of one unit (1 ng/mL) in SAM levels is associated with a decreased autism risk by a factor of 1/0.914 = 1.1 %, whereas an increase of one unit (1 × 103/µL) in platelet count is associated with an increased autism risk by a factor of 1.019 %. Regarding glycine N-methyltransferase, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. ConclusionFollow-up studies with larger samples will be needed to better understand the potential for SAM, SAH, and SAM/SAH as a potential biomarker, at least for a subset of those with ASD. The correlation between these markers and the total score on the M-Chat raises further interest in this possibility. The correlation between these markers and the total score on the M-Chat further supports their utility as clinical biochemical laboratory parameters that could aid in the diagnosis of ASD.

Star Anise Reverses Benzopyrene-Induced Immune Dysfunction in Rats

Background: Benzopyrene (B[a]P), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is known for its carcinogenic and immunotoxic effects, posing significant health risks upon exposure. Specific Background: Despite numerous studies, effective therapeutic strategies to mitigate B[a]P-induced toxicity remain limited. Star anise, a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory properties, holds potential as a protective agent against such toxicity. Knowledge Gap: The impact of star anise on B[a]P-induced immunotoxicity, particularly on hematological parameters, has not been thoroughly investigated. Aims: This study aimed to explore the effects of B[a]P intoxication and its treatment with star anise on hematological parameters in rats. Methods: Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups: Control, B[a]P, and varying doses of star anise (125 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg + B[a]P, 125 mg/kg + B[a]P, 130 mg/kg + B[a]P). Blood samples were analyzed using an auto blood analyzer. Results: While erythrogram parameters showed no significant differences among groups, B[a]P exposure significantly increased WBC parameters (Mid, Gran, L, and total WBC counts), indicating an inflammatory and immunosuppressive response. Treatment with star anise significantly reduced these parameters, suggesting its protective effects. Novelty: This study is the first to demonstrate the efficacy of star anise in mitigating B[a]P-induced leukocytosis and immune toxicity in rats. Implications: These findings highlight the potential of star anise as a therapeutic agent against B[a]P-induced immunotoxicity, warranting further investigation into its clinical applications. Highlights: Benzopyrene Exposure: Increases WBC parameters, indicating immune response. Star Anise Treatment: Reduces WBC counts, showing protective effects. Novel Findings: Star anise mitigates B[a]P-induced immunotoxicity in rats. Keywords: Benzopyrene, Star Anise, Hematological Parameters, Immunotoxicity, Rats

To study the haemoglobin levels in patients with hypomagnesemia suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To study the association of anemia with serum magnesium levels in diabetic type 2 patients. Study Design: Cross Sectional Retrospective study. Setting: Department of Physiology of Sindh University Jamshoro in collaboration with the Diabetic OPD of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad. Period: January 2022 to June 2022. Methods: The data size comprised 300 patients suffering from diabetes mellitus type 2. They were divided into two groups. The control group comprised of 160 type 2 DM patients with normal serum magnesium levels and the test group comprised of 140 patients with decreased serum magnesium levels. The serum magnesium level was determined by Roche C311 auto analyzer while the hemoglobin level was measured by Sahli’s hemoglobinometer. Results: Type 2 Diabetic patients with normal serum magnesium level shows 18.75% decrease haemoglobin level while Type 2 Diabetic patients with hypomagnesemia showed 32.15% decrease in haemoglobin level. The P value was 0.01. The odds ratio was 2.05. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus leads to hypomagnesemia and Hypomagnesia produces anemia due to hemolysis.

Analyzing the quality differences between healthy and moldy cigar tobacco leaves during the air-curing process through fungal communities and physicochemical components.

The air-curing process of cigar tobacco, as a key step in enhancing the quality of cigars, is often susceptible to contamination by mold spores, which severely constrains the quality of cigar tobacco. This study employed high-throughput Illumina sequencing technology and a continuous flow analysis system to analyze the differences between the microbial communities and physicochemical components of moldy and healthy cigar tobacco leaves. Furthermore, correlation analysis was performed to reveal the impact of mold on the quality of cigar tobacco. The differences between the microbial flora and physicochemical compositions of moldy (MC) and healthy (HC) tobacco leaves were analyzed, revealing significant disparities between the two groups. Aspergillus spp. represented the dominant mold in MC, with nine out of twelve isolated molds showing higher quantities on MC than on HC. Mold contamination notably decreased the total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total alkaloids (TA), starch, protein, and flavor constituents while increasing the total fatty acid esters (TFAA), which was accompanied by a shift towards weakly acidic pH in the leaves. Fungal community analysis indicated a significant reduction in the fungal operational taxonomic unit (OUT) numbers and diversity indices in MC, contrasting with the bacterial trends. Aspergillus exhibited significantly higher relative abundance in MC, with LEfSe analysis pinpointing it as the primary driver of differentiation. Furthermore, significant negative correlations were observed between Aspergillus and TP, starch, TA, and protein, while a significant positive association was evident with TFAA. Network analysis underscored the pivotal role of Aspergillus as the species influencing disparities between HC and MC, with its abundance serving as a critical determinant during the air-curing process. This study elucidated substantial quality distinctions between MC and HC during air-curing, with Aspergillus emerging as the key species contributing to leaf mold.