Gestational Exposure to Pesticides Induces Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation in Offspring that Persist at Adult Age in an Animal Model

Elvis Ngwa Ndonwi,Barbara Atogho-Tiedeu,Eric Lontchi-Yimagou,Tijjani S. Shinkafi,Dieudonne Nanfa,Eric V. Balti,Routray Indusmita,Amena Mahmood,Jean-Claude Katte,Armand Mbanya,Tandi Matsha,Jean Claude 한국독성학회 2019 Toxicological Research Vol.35 No.3

Pesticide exposure may induce biochemical alterations including oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. However, in the context of developmental origin of health and disease, putative trans-generational effect of exposure to pesticides are insufficiently studied. We therefore aimed to evaluate the biochemical effect of gestational exposure to four pesticides on female Wistar rats and their offspring at adult age. We studied 30 female nulliparous Wistar rats divided into 5 equal groups. Group 1 served as the control group and received distilled water while group 2, 3, 4 and 5 received orally pesticide 1 (imidacloprid), pesticide 2 (chlorpyrifos), pesticide 3 (imidacloprid + lambda cyhalothrin) and pesticide 4 (oxamyl) respectively once daily throughout gestation at a dose equivalent to 1/10 lethal dose 50. The mothers were followed up until one month post gestation. The offspring were followed up from birth until adult age (12 weeks). In all animals at each time point we evaluated malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative stress and liver function enzymes. There was similar variation of total body weight in all the groups during and after gestation. However, Female Wistar rats of the exposed groups had significant alterations in liver SOD (−30.8% to +64.1%), catalase (−38.8% to −85.7%) and GSH (−29.2% to −86.5%) and; kidney catalase (> 100%), GSH (> 100%). Moreover, MDA, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels were significantly higher in pesticide exposed rats compared to the control group. Similar alterations in antioxidant enzymes, MDA and liver function enzymes were observed in offspring of treated rats evidenced at weaning and persisting until adult age. Exposure to pesticides causes oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in exposed female Wistar rats and their offspring. The persistence in offspring at adult age suggests transgenerational adverse effects.

Genotypic Screening of North Korean Rice Varieties (Oryza spp) for Phosphorus Deficiency Tolerance by GWAS Analysis and Candidate Gene Analysis

( Akwo Elvis Nforten ),( Prof Soo-cheul Yoo ) 한국농공학회 2020 한국농공학회 학술대회초록집 Vol.2020 No.-

Identification and selection for P-deficiency tolerance genotypes of rice-based on phenotypic performance alone are less reliable and might delay progress in breeding works for sustainability. The recent advent of molecular markers or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) can be used to identify P-deficiency tolerant rice genotypes. The current study aimed to assess and confirm phenotypic and genotypic variations in P-deficient tolerance in the selected susceptible and tolerant North Korean indigenous rice varieties (including the control) in order to exploit and display trait ability to low-P tolerance in hydroponic rice improvement. It is equally intended to standardize an efficient and effective protocol for identification and selection of tolerant genes using GWAS (Genome Wide Association Studies) which are hypothesis free methods for identifying associations between genetic regions (loci) and traits for proper growth and regeneration genotype under hydroponic culture for low P. 23 genotypes of North Korean rice were selected based on P deficiency tolerance and grown in the green house under hydroponics for 5weeks and traits such as Tiller Number (TN), Plant Height (PH) Root Length (RL), Shoot Length (SL), Root Dry Weight (RDW), Shoot Dry Weight (SDW) and Plant Weight (PW) were recorded. Two treatment levels of phosphorus that is 10 ppm and 1ppm for normal and P-deficient conditions respectively were introduced every week into hydroponics medium including the addition of other macro and micro nutrients in the solutions. The pH was maintained at 5.5 every week. Experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block designs with 3 replications. Leaf samples of these rice genotypes were equally taken for DNA extraction and the quantitative trait loci that confers P deficiency in some North Korean rice genotypes was identified as Pup1 (using pup 1 markers) that helps rice increase P uptake. GWAS was also used to identify and select candidate genes responsible for low P tolerance.

Democratization and Authoritarianism in the Information Age

Kim Elvis H 한국외국어대학교 국제지역연구센터 2021 International Area Studies Review Vol.24 No.3

The outbreak of the Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa reignited the debate over the possibilities of democratization, with much attention paid to the roles of the internet. This paper attempts to answer the questions of whether the expansion of the internet leads to democratization and how calls for democratization during the Arab Spring produced contrasting results in Tunisia and China. The time-series cross-sectional analysis based on data of 166 countries suggests that the annual change of internet penetration is positively associated with a country’s Polity score and that the existing level of the penetration has a slightly negative effect on democratization, though the inclusion of the internet does not visibly improve the explanatory power of the models. The case study comparing Tunisia and China closely examines the multifaceted relationship between the internet and democratization and shows that the internet alone cannot determine the direction of political change. Rather, it is spatially and temporally situated state and societal actors who collectively determine the process and outcome of politics.

Suppressed epidemics in multirelational networks

Xu, Elvis H. W.,Wang, Wei,Xu, C.,Tang, Ming,Do, Younghae,Hui, P. M. American Physical Society 2015 Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and so Vol.92 No.2

Comparison of the Operational Speed of Hard-wired and IEC 61850 Standard-based Implementations of a Reverse Blocking Protection Scheme

Mkhululi Elvis Siyanda Mnguni,Raynitchka Tzoneva 대한전기학회 2015 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.10 No.3

This paper focuses on the reverse blocking busbar protection scheme with aim to improve the speed of its operation and at the same time to increase operational reliability, flexibility and stability of the protection during external and internal faults by implementation of the extended functionality provided by the IEC61850 standard-based protective Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs). The practical implementation of the scheme by the use of IEC 61850 standard communication protocol is investigated. The proposed scheme is designed for a radial type of a distribution network and is modeled and simulated in the DigSILENT software environment for various faults on the busbar and its outgoing feeders. A laboratory test bench is built using three ABB IEDs 670 series that are compliant with the IEC 61850 standard, CMC 356 Omicron test injection device, PC, MOXA switch, and a DC power supplier. Two types of the reverse blocking signals between the IEDs in the test bench are considered: hard wired and Ethernet communication by using IEC 61850 standard GOOSE messages. Comparative experimental study of the operational trip response speeds of the two implementations for various traffic conditions of the communication network shows that the performance of the protection scheme for the case of Ethernet IEC 61850 standard-based communication is better.

Anti-Oxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Ziziphus mucronata Fruit Extract Against Dimethoate-Induced Toxicity

Tebogo Elvis Kwape,Padmaja Chaturvedi,Macharia Kamau,Runner Majinda 대한약침학회 2013 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.16 No.1

Objective: The study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of Ziziphus mucronata (ZM) fruit extract. Methods: The different types of fruit extract were prepared by soaking the dry powdered fruit in different solvents followed by rotary evaporation. Each extract was tested for its phenol content and antioxidant activities. An in vivo study was performed in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Thirty adult male SD rats (aged 21weeks) were divided into six groups of five rats each and treated as follows: The normal control (NC) received distilled water while the dimethoate control (DC)received 6 mg/kg.bw.day-1 dimethoate dissolved in distilled water. The experimental groups E1, E2, E3, and E0 received dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (100mg/kg.bw-1), dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (200mg/kg.bw-1), dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (300mg/kg.bw-1), and ZMFM (300 mg/kg.bw-1) only. Both the normal control and the dimethoate control groups were used to compare the results. After 90 days, rats were sacrificed, blood was collected for biochemical assays, and livers were harvested for histological study. Results: High phenol content was estimated, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH)spectrophotometric, thin layer chromatography (TLC)and 2, 2-Azobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assays showed a high antioxidant activity among the extracts. The preventive effects observed in the E1, E2 and E3 groups proved that the extract could prevent dimethoate toxicity by maintaining normal reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and E,superoxide dismutase, catalase, cholineasterase and lipid profiles. The preventive effect was observed to be dose dependent. The EO group showed no extractinduced toxicity. Histological observations agreed with the results obtained in the biochemical studies. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that ZM methanol fruit extract is capable of attenuating dimethoate-induced toxicity because of its high antioxidant activity.

Gestational Exposure to Pesticides Induces Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation in Offspring that Persist at Adult Age in an Animal Model

Ndonwi, Elvis Ngwa,Atogho-Tiedeu, Barbara,Lontchi-Yimagou, Eric,Shinkafi, Tijjani S.,Nanfa, Dieudonne,Balti, Eric V.,Indusmita, Routray,Mahmood, Amena,Katte, Jean-Claude,Mbanya, Armand,Matsha, Tandi,M Korean Society of ToxicologyKorea Environmental Mu 2019 Toxicological Research Vol.35 No.3

Pesticide exposure may induce biochemical alterations including oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. However, in the context of developmental origin of health and disease, putative trans-generational effect of exposure to pesticides are insufficiently studied. We therefore aimed to evaluate the biochemical effect of gestational exposure to four pesticides on female Wistar rats and their offspring at adult age. We studied 30 female nulliparous Wistar rats divided into 5 equal groups. Group 1 served as the control group and received distilled water while group 2, 3, 4 and 5 received orally pesticide 1 (imidacloprid), pesticide 2 (chlorpyrifos), pesticide 3 (imidacloprid + lambda cyhalothrin) and pesticide 4 (oxamyl) respectively once daily throughout gestation at a dose equivalent to 1/10 lethal dose 50. The mothers were followed up until one month post gestation. The offspring were followed up from birth until adult age (12 weeks). In all animals at each time point we evaluated malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative stress and liver function enzymes. There was similar variation of total body weight in all the groups during and after gestation. However, Female Wistar rats of the exposed groups had significant alterations in liver SOD (-30.8% to +64.1%), catalase (-38.8% to -85.7%) and GSH (-29.2% to -86.5%) and; kidney catalase (> 100%), GSH (> 100%). Moreover, MDA, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels were significantly higher in pesticide exposed rats compared to the control group. Similar alterations in antioxidant enzymes, MDA and liver function enzymes were observed in offspring of treated rats evidenced at weaning and persisting until adult age. Exposure to pesticides causes oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in exposed female Wistar rats and their offspring. The persistence in offspring at adult age suggests transgenerational adverse effects.

Metabolic effects of exposure to pesticides during gestation in female Wistar rats and their offspring: a risk factor for diabetes?

Ndonwi Elvis Ngwa,Atogho-Tiedeu Barbara,Lontchi-Yimagou Eric,Shinkafi Tijjani S.,Nanfa Dieudonne,Balti Eric V.,Katte Jean Claude,Mbanya Armand,Matsha Tandi,Mbanya Jean Claude,Shakir Ali,Sobngwi Eugene 한국독성학회 2020 Toxicological Research Vol.36 No.3

Some pesticides increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, but whether fetal exposure carries transgenerational risk remains unknown. We evaluated the metabolic effects of gestational exposure to chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid in female Wistar rats and their offspring. We studied female nulliparous Wistar rats, including six exposed to imidacloprid (IMI) and six to chlorpyrifos (CPF) once daily throughout gestation at 1/10 lethal dose 50, while six (control group) received distilled water. These were explored 1 month after the birth of the offspring, while their offspring were explored at weaning (4 weeks) and adult age (12 weeks). Blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile were determined at each stage, while glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NFkβ) protein expression was measured in skeletal muscle at the end of follow up. Exposure to pesticides was associated with significantly higher fasting glucose (+25.4 to 30.9%) and insulin (> 100%) levels, with > 100% increased insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), − 18.3 to − 21.1% reduced HDL-cholesterol and + 60.9 to + 102.6% increased LDL-cholesterol in mothers. GLUT4 expression was reduced by 28.9–42.3% while NFkβ expression increased by 32.8–35.4% in mothers. In offspring, similar abnormalities were observed at weaning (+ 18.4 to 67.4% fasting glucose, + 57.1 to 72.2% LDL-cholesterol, + 72.3 to 78.2% fasting insulin), persisting at adult age with decreased expression of GLUT4 (− 52.8 to 54.5%) and increased expression of NFkβ (+ 30.5 to 30.7%). Gestational exposure to imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos induces hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in female Wistar rats and their offspring. The effects on offspring persist until adult age, suggesting intergenerational adverse effects.

Comparison of the Operational Speed of Hard-wired and IEC 61850 Standard-based Implementations of a Reverse Blocking Protection Scheme

Mnguni, Mkhululi Elvis Siyanda,Tzoneva, Raynitchka The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2015 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.10 No.3

This paper focuses on the reverse blocking busbar protection scheme with aim to improve the speed of its operation and at the same time to increase operational reliability, flexibility and stability of the protection during external and internal faults by implementation of the extended functionality provided by the IEC61850 standard-based protective Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs). The practical implementation of the scheme by the use of IEC 61850 standard communication protocol is investigated. The proposed scheme is designed for a radial type of a distribution network and is modeled and simulated in the DigSILENT software environment for various faults on the busbar and its outgoing feeders. A laboratory test bench is built using three ABB IEDs 670 series that are compliant with the IEC 61850 standard, CMC 356 Omicron test injection device, PC, MOXA switch, and a DC power supplier. Two types of the reverse blocking signals between the IEDs in the test bench are considered: hard wired and Ethernet communication by using IEC 61850 standard GOOSE messages. Comparative experimental study of the operational trip response speeds of the two implementations for various traffic conditions of the communication network shows that the performance of the protection scheme for the case of Ethernet IEC 61850 standard-based communication is better.

Anti-Oxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Ziziphus mucronata Fruit Extract Against Dimethoate-Induced Toxicity

Kwape, Tebogo Elvis,Chaturvedi, Padmaja,Kamau, Macharia,Majinda, Runner KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE 2013 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.16 No.1

Objective: The study was carried out to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of Ziziphus mucronata (ZM) fruit extract. Methods: The different types of fruit extract were prepared by soaking the dry powdered fruit in different solvents followed by rotary evaporation. Each extract was tested for its phenol content and antioxidant activities. An in vivo study was performed in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Thirty adult male SD rats (aged 21 weeks) were divided into six groups of five rats each and treated as follows: The normal control (NC) received distilled water while the dimethoate control (DC) received 6 mg/kg.bw.day-1 dimethoate dissolved in distilled water. The experimental groups E1, E2, E3, and E0 received dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (100 mg/kg.bw-1), dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (200 mg/kg.bw-1), dimethoate (6 mg/kg.bw) + ZMFM (300 mg/kg.bw-1), and ZMFM (300 mg/kg.bw-1) only. Both the normal control and the dimethoate control groups were used to compare the results. After 90 days, rats were sacrificed, blood was collected for biochemical assays, and livers were harvested for histological study. Results: High phenol content was estimated, and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH) spectrophotometric, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and 2, 2-Azobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assays showed a high antioxidant activity among the extracts. The preventive effects observed in the E1, E2 and E3 groups proved that the extract could prevent dimethoate toxicity by maintaining normal reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin C and E, superoxide dismutase, catalase, cholineasterase and lipid profiles. The preventive effect was observed to be dose dependent. The EO group showed no extract-induced toxicity. Histological observations agreed with the results obtained in the biochemical studies. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that ZM methanol fruit extract is capable of attenuating dimethoate-induced toxicity because of its high antioxidant activity.