Research Article
Acute Lead Exposure Weakens Myocardial Contractile Function and the Therapeutic Effect of Alpha Lipoic Acid
Zhengyi Zhou,
Zhuo Tang,
Zihao Dai,
Shuhe Xu,
Yujie Ge,
Yuemin Ding*
,
Xiong Zhang
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
106-110
Received:
16 September 2025
Accepted:
22 October 2025
Published:
22 November 2025
Abstract: This study comprehensively utilized toad hearts and myocardial cell models to explore the effects of acute lead exposure on myocardial contractile function and the therapeutic effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA). The results showed that lead acetate (PbAc) dose dependently inhibited the contractile function of toad hearts. Acute treatment with 50, 150, and 450 mM PbAc reduced the amplitude of heart contraction to 92.8%, 78.0%, and 69.7% of the control before medication (P<0.01), respectively, and reduced heart rate to 92.4%, 92.5%, and 54.9% of the control before medication (P<0.05). After treatment with a middle concentration of PbAc (150 mM) for 24 hours, the cell viability of H9c2 decreased to 71.9% of the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the lead exposure group, ALA at a concentration of 10 μM significantly improved cardiac contractile function, increasing the amplitude of cardiac contractions and heart rate to 109.4% and 134.2% of the control, respectively (P<0.05). Correspondingly, ALA at a concentration of 20 μM increased the cell viability of H9c2 to 112.6% of the control group (P<0.05). This study indicates that PbAc can significantly inhibit myocardial contractility and reduce cell viability, while ALA can antagonize lead induced myocardial injury and has significant cardioprotective potential.
Abstract: This study comprehensively utilized toad hearts and myocardial cell models to explore the effects of acute lead exposure on myocardial contractile function and the therapeutic effect of alpha lipoic acid (ALA). The results showed that lead acetate (PbAc) dose dependently inhibited the contractile function of toad hearts. Acute treatment with 50, 15...
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Research Article
Sheep Farming Practices and Constraints in Ouaddaï Province, Eastern Chad
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
111-120
Received:
24 October 2025
Accepted:
4 November 2025
Published:
11 December 2025
Abstract: A study was conducted to examine production practices and identify constraints in sheep farming in the Ouaddaï province of eastern Chad. This study, carried out between October and December 2023, surveyed 380 farmers across four departments of the Ouaddaï province using semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, and direct observation. The results show that the farmers interviewed in the study area are predominantly from Maba (42.10%), and the majority are male (76.05%) and married (57.89%). Most have a primary school education (75.79%). The average age of the respondents was 39 ± 19 years, ranging from 15 to 65 years. Nearly half of the farmers acquired their livestock through purchase (48%) or inheritance (32%). The main objectives of sheep farming in the province are selling livestock (58%) and self-consumption (20%). Sheep are raised using an extensive, free-range system (86.31%) in areas with poor-quality pastures. Most farmers supplement the animals' basic feed (76%). According to our respondents, the main constraints to sheep farming in the area are the lack of water points (55%), pasture (30%), and disease and theft (10%). To improve sheep farming in the Ouaddaï province, it is essential to train farmers and address the main constraints that limit its development in order to boost their zootechnical and reproductive performance.
Abstract: A study was conducted to examine production practices and identify constraints in sheep farming in the Ouaddaï province of eastern Chad. This study, carried out between October and December 2023, surveyed 380 farmers across four departments of the Ouaddaï province using semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, and direct observation. The results...
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Research Article
Diversity, Population Dynamics, and Damage Intensity of Insect Pests Associated with Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in Southwestern Côte d’Ivoire Industrial Plantations
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 6, December 2025
Pages:
121-137
Received:
14 November 2025
Accepted:
9 December 2025
Published:
30 December 2025
Abstract: Understanding the composition and dynamics of insect pest communities is crucial for developing effective and sustainable management strategies in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) production systems. This study provides an updated inventory and ecological analysis of insect pests associated with industrial oil palm plantations in southwestern Côte d’Ivoire. The objective was to characterize pest diversity, abundance, and damage intensity across plantations of different phenological stages. Sampling was conducted during the late rainy to early dry season (March to July 2024) across three strata: Young Non-Productive Crops (YNPC), Young Productive Crops (YPC), and Mature Crops (MC). A total of 30,380, 717, and 882 palms were respectively examined in these strata. Insects were collected from a single frond per tree and identified using both morphological keys and image-recognition tools, with confirmation at the Entomology and Agricultural Zoology Laboratory of INP-HB (Yamoussoukro). Ecological indices, including species richness (S), Shannon diversity (H′), evenness (E), and similarity (Jaccard and Sørensen), were calculated to compare community structures. Ten pest species belonging to nine families and three orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera) were recorded. Species composition varied markedly with plantation age. Oryctes monoceros dominated in YNPC (Ar = 100%), Zonocerus variegatus in YPC (Ar = 72.14%), and Coelaenomenodera lameensis in MC (Ar = 91.70%). Species richness and diversity increased with age (S = 1 to 8; H′ = 0 to 0.72), whereas evenness remained low (E ≤ 0.24), indicating strong dominance by a few species. Similarity indices revealed complete faunal turnover between young and mature strata, confirming a clear ecological succession. Multivariate analyses revealed near-complete faunal turnover between strata (ANOSIM R = 1.0, p = 0.001), with hierarchical clustering perfectly grouping plots according to plantation age. Damage intensity followed the same trend: minimal in YNPC (mainly due to O. monoceros), moderate in YPC, and severe in MC, where C. lameensis caused up to 78.68% moderate and 2.49% severe damage. These results demonstrate that pest pressure and community complexity increase with the maturity of oil palm. Effective pest management, therefore, requires a phenology-based integrated approach, combining preventive measures in young plantations with regular entomological monitoring and biological or selective chemical control in mature ones. Continuous surveillance and the conservation of natural enemies are crucial for enhancing the ecological resilience and sustainability of Ivorian oil palm agroecosystems.
Abstract: Understanding the composition and dynamics of insect pest communities is crucial for developing effective and sustainable management strategies in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) production systems. This study provides an updated inventory and ecological analysis of insect pests associated with industrial oil palm plantations in southwestern Côt...
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