Phytoplankton is one of the most important primary producers in aquatic ecosystems and is a good indicator of water quality. This research assesses the phytoplankton composition and diversity in Lagos Lagoon from January to October 2017 to understand the impact of physicochemical parameters on phytoplankton dynamics. Independent variables, such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutrient concentration, and salinity, were evaluated to examine their relationship with phytoplankton density and diversity. Findings reveal significant correlations between water quality parameters and phytoplankton dynamics, with temperature positively influencing growth rates, dissolved oxygen enhancing diversity, and turbidity negatively affecting distribution. Nutrient concentrations altered species composition, while higher salinity levels reduced phytoplankton abundance. These results highlight the importance of maintaining water quality for ecosystem health. Limitations such as relying on one-year data and sampling biases suggest that future studies should incorporate multi-year datasets and advance methodologies for an even deeper understanding. The study will be of benefit to understanding aquatic ecosystem management, further emphasizing the need for sustainable water quality practices.
This research work is concerned with the effect of e-cigarette smoke on the antioxidant defense system in rats, using GPx and CAT as the marker enzymes. The quantitative study investigated the effects of different nicotine concentrations (3, 6, and 9 mg) over a period of 30 days. Five hypotheses were developed to study the relationship between nicotine exposure, GPx and CAT levels, total oxidative stress, and metabolic rates. The results of these findings confirmed that high concentrations of nicotine significantly decrease GPx and CAT activity, enhance oxidative stress, and modify metabolic stability. Such an effect demonstrates the dangers from the perspective of e-cigarettes smoking and underlines a significant necessity for further scientific investigations on long-term implications from its influence on antioxidant systems and metabolic functions. Thus, the paper discusses essential biochemical consequences of cigarette use and emphasizes the role of antioxidant defenses in compensating for oxidative stress.
Preeclampsia is a major hypertensive disorder in pregnancy that negatively alters maternal and fetal health outcomes. This study explored the role of G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in the preeclamptic placenta by examining their expression profiles and functional effects. Differential GPCRs expression between healthy and preeclamptic placentae is determined by RNA sequencing data, and further focused on adhesion and atypical chemokine receptors. Findings indicate that changes in GPCR expression have significant implications in placental functions such as trophoblast invasion, angiogenesis, and inflammatory responses. This offers hope for the development of therapies toward the improvement of the current management of preeclampsia. It represents a comprehensive analysis and shows necessity for further research in such pathways and therapeutic interventions in aspects of maternal-fetal health outcomes.
This research aims to discuss the role of phytochemicals as dietary additives in enhancing dairy cow performance, including antioxidative, antimicrobial, reproductive, and fermentation-modifying effects. Based on five research questions, this research explores the molecular mechanisms through which phytochemicals improve the health and productivity of dairy animals. Data for this qualitative research were collected using literature reviews, experimental studies, and molecular docking analyses. Key findings reveal that phytochemicals reduce oxidative stress, improve pathogen resistance, enhance reproductive health, and modify ruminal fermentation to reduce methane emissions. However, variability in outcomes due to genetic and environmental factors highlights the need for optimized concentration guidelines. This research emphasizes the potential of phytochemicals to support sustainable agricultural practices by improving dairy output while addressing challenges in standardization and generalizability. Future studies should involve various conditions and mixed-method approaches to further validate and refine the strategies of phytochemical supplementation.
This research aims to find the cytotoxic effects of 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) and its derivatives, namely 6-Hydroxy-2-Mercaptopurine (6H2MP) and 2-Amino-9-butyl-6-Mercaptopurine (2A9B6-MP), on HepG2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. It utilizes quantitative methods to research cell viability via MTT assays at different concentrations of these compounds. The outcome showed that 6-MP has strong cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells, with MCF-7 being more resistant. Comparison studies suggested that 6-MP was more potent than its derivatives. The results have underlined the potential use of 6-MP in the treatment of liver cancer and point to a need for further research in molecular mechanisms and in vivo validations.