There are sex-dependent differences in hematological and biochemical variables in adulthood attributed to the predominant effects of testosterone in males and estrogen in females. The Twin Testosterone Transfer (TTT) hypothesis proposes that opposite-sex females may develop male-typical traits due to exposure to relatively higher levels of prenatal testosterone than same-sex females. Additionally, prenatal testosterone exposure has been suggested as a correlate of current circulating testosterone levels. Consequently, opposite-sex females might exhibit male-typical patterns in their hematological and biochemical variables. Despite this hypothesis, routine laboratory investigations assign the same reference range to all females. Our cross-sectional study, conducted in Tamale from January to September 2022, included 40 twins, comprising 10 opposite-sex (OS) males (25%), 10 OS females (25%), and 20 same-sex (SS) females (50%), all aged between 18 and 27 years. Fasting venous blood samples were collected and analyzed using automated hematology and biochemistry laboratory analyzers. Results indicated that levels of hemoglobin, serum creatinine, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total protein, globulins, and total testosterone were significantly higher in OS males than OS females. Conversely, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher in OS females than OS males. Unexpectedly, levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total testosterone were significantly higher in SS females than OS females. Contrary to expectations, opposite-sex females did not exhibit male-typical patterns in their hematological and biochemical variables. This suggests that the TTT effect may not occur or may not be strong enough to markedly affect hematological and biochemical variables in OS females.

This study is a comparative analysis of the biochemical, hormonal, and mineral compositions of follicular fluid in preovulatory and cystic follicles of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). In total, reproductive tracts from 215 buffalo along with intact ovaries were collected randomly from an abattoir. The incidence of cystic conditions found in this study was 3.72% (8/215), involving the right ovary in 62.5% of instances and the left ovary in 37.5% of instances during the non-breeding season. Follicular fluid was aspirated from preovulatory follicles (12–15 mm diameter, oestrogen-active, follicular phase or stage IV corpus luteum on one of the two ovaries, n = 10) and cystic follicles (at least 20 mm diameter, no corpus luteum on any one of the two ovaries, n = 8). The follicular fluid samples were assayed for biochemical components (uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, total protein, glucose, ascorbic acid, and alkaline phosphatase), hormones (progesterone, estradiol, and insulin), and minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and cobalt). Cystic follicles had greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, cholesterol, progesterone, copper, zinc, and cobalt, and lesser (P < 0.05) concentrations of uric acid, glucose, ascorbic acid, estradiol, insulin, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus compared with preovulatory follicles. These results indicated the marked differences in follicular fluid composition between preovulatory and cystic follicles in buffalo. Some of the changes were indicative of oxidative stress and disturbed steroidogenesis, two important mechanisms shown to be associated with cystic ovarian disease in various species. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether these differences are directly or indirectly involved in the formation of cystic follicles or are mere manifestations of the condition.

This study investigated the effects of pretreatment with antioxidants, kaempferol, and zinc gluconate on serum biochemical changes and impairment in body weight gain following noise-exposure in Wistar rats. Thirty-five animals were evenly grouped into five cohorts: Groups II, III, IV, and V were exposed to noise stress, induced by exposing rats to 100 dB (4 hr/day) for 15 days, from days 33 to 48 after starting the drug treatments. Treatment with kaempferol and/or zinc mitigated noise-induced deficits in body weight gain, and levels of serum lipid and protein fractions. The combined treatment significantly (p < .05) decreased malondialdehyde concentration in kaempferol + zinc gluconate treated group, compared to the group administered deionized water + noise. This result demonstrates that biochemical dyshomeostasis and lipid peroxidation may be involved in the molecular mechanism underlying noise stress and the assortment of kaempferol and zinc gluconate produced an improved mitigating outcome in Wistar rats.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), originated in the Indo-Malayan region, is now widely distributed across the tropics of Asia, Africa, America and Australia. It was domesticated in India and China, which represent the centre of origin of the species. Cultivated ginger though sterile, exhibits variations in rhizome and vegetative characters. The crop is gaining importance as a curative agent for a variety of ailments. Yield and quality traits (such as essential oil, fibre and oleoresin contents) along with volatile and non-volatile constituents are important determinants of the commodity's end product. Cultivar diversity for yield and morphological features is well known in ginger with few primitive types having excellent quality. However, the common name(s) of ginger cultivars are confusing and have resulted in geographical bias in its ex situ conservation. Most of the molecular/biochemical marker studies reported in ginger show low levels of polymorphism in contrast to plentiful phenotypic variability recorded in the species. The large influence of environmental factors on the content of key compounds, lack of seed set and confusion of the common names are the leading constraints to further varietal improvement of ginger. As tailor-made ginger varieties assume future significance these aspects will have relevance.

Emphasis on physiological adaptations to environmental changes in the catfish (Siluroidei), is a rather recent development like that of their use in aquaculture. The siluroid fishes with smooth scaleless skin and sensory barbels are adapted to live in a variety of aquatic environments ranging from freshwater and brackishwater to swamps and marshes both in temperate and tropical regions. However, very little has been explored on their expected wide range of physiological adaptations. Most of the results obtained in siluroid fishes are similar to those reported for other teleosts such as cypriniform species. However, there are some air-breathing siluroids, found in the tropical areas, with accessory air-breathing organs. Besides tolerating periods of water deprivation, some of these fishes have been shown to possess-special physiological and biochemical adaptive mechanisms to tolerate a wide range of adverse physico-chemical conditions in the ambient environment. Some of the physiological adaptive mechanisms of Siluroidei in general, and air-breathing species in particular, to important physico-chemical factors such as oxygen,temperature, ammonia and xenobiotics are reviewed and discussed.

Vestibular schwannoma occurs both as a sporadic tumour and in the dominantly inherited familial cancer syndrome neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). The gene for NF2 has recently beenisolated on chromosome 22, and the demonstration of inactivating germline mutations in NF2 patients and NF2 associated tumours suggests that it acts as a tumour suppressor. The results of recent research in Cambridge suggest that somatic mutations of the NF2 tumour suppressor gene are a critical step in the pathogenesis of both familial and indeed non-familial unilateral sporadic vestibular schwannoma and that the mechanism of tumourigenesis complies with the ‘two-hit’ model. This paper represents a brief review of the current status of molecular biology in relation to vestibular schwannoma in particular and is discussed in relation to the molecular pathology of skull base tumours as a whole.

The anatomical and biochemical basis of resistance of Vigna vexillata (Benth) (Ace. TVNu 72) to Monica testulalis were investigated. An uncharacteristic network of fibrous structures was observed on the petal surface of TVNu 72 but not on those of the susceptible control, IT82D-716. Stems of TVNu 72 and IT82D-716 have thick and closely packed collenchyma cells. Both varieties have been identified as possessing resistance to stem feeding; however, IT82D-716 is susceptible to flower and pod damage. The distance between pod wall epicarp and mesocarp was significantly (P ≺ 0.05) smaller in IT82D-716, but cell and tissue arrangement were similar for both varieties.

Total sugar content in the pod wall and seed of TVNu 72 was higher (P ≺ 0.05) than in IT82D-716. Phenol content was lower (P ≺ 0.05) in the pod wall of TVNu 72 but the reverse was true for fresh and dry seeds. This suggests that neither phenol nor total sugar are involved in the resistance of TVNu 72 to M. testulalis. However, it seems that thick and compact collenchyma cells in the stems and Fibrous tissues on the petal surface contribute to the resistance in TVNu 72. The results are discussed in line with previous reports which indicate that trichomes are the principal factors in the resistance of TVNu 72 to M. testulalis.

Three cowpea cultivars, TVu 946, Ife Brown and Vita 1 were examined for resistance to the legume pod-borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer). TVu 946 was found to be the most resistant in both the flowering and pre-flowering stages, followed by Ife Brown and Vita 1, respectively. Field and screen-house experiments show that Maruca larvae caused significantly less damage on TVu 946 than on Ife Brown and Vita 1. In addition, larval survival and development on TVu 946 was the most negatively affected. Screenhouse experiments in a choice situation clearly show non-preference of TVu 946 for oviposition by adult Maruca females, and biochemical studies show evidence of antibiosis due to nutritional and antibiotic factor(s).