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Risk Association between Human Leucocyte Antigens (HLA) and Cervical Neoplasia in Kenyan Women
Get PDFCervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide (Franco et al, 2003). Epidemiological studies have shown a strong link between human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and the development of cervical cancer (Franco et al, carcinogenic process (Chan et al, 2005). Most HPV infections are transient and regress spontaneously and only a minority of women develops persistent infection that with time may evolve into cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and/or progress to invasive cervical cancer(Villa, 1997; Franco et al, 1999).Given that host immune response to HPV is thought to be an important determinant of HPV acquisition and progression to high-grade cervical lesions and cancer, it is plausible that human leucocyte antigen (HLA) variations may affect pathogenesis of cervical neoplasia (Beskow et al, 2005; Clerici et al, 1997; Hildesheim et al, 1997). The major histocompatibility complex is a highly polymorphic gene cluster on the short arm of chromosome six. The genes in this cluster are divided into three classes with different roles in immune responses. HLA gene polymorphisms result in variations in peptide-binding cleft, therefore influencing the antigens bound and presented to T cells (Beskow et al, 2005; Wang e al, 2005). The HLA class I genes (HLAA, -B, and –C) present foreign antigens to CD8+ Cytotoxic T lymphocytes, while class II genes (HLA-DR, - DQ and –DP) present antigenic peptides to CD4+ T helper cells and are important in host immune responses to viruses and other pathogens (Wang et al, 2001)
Employee Stress and Performance of Companies Listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange
Get PDFStress is a universal phenomenon that manifests itself among workers as a result of pressures originating from the workplace and outside the workplace. Academicians and Human Resources practitioners are concerned about the impact of stress on corporate performance. It is therefore important to understand stress and how it manifests itselfamong employees and how it finally affects corporate performance. Data was collected from 32 corporations listed at the NSE and was analyzed using descriptive and multivariate techniques. The empirical results found that stress had positive influence on corporate performance. The relationship between stress and physiological, psychological and behavioral manifestation was also positive. These finding can providethe direction for Human Resource Managers on how well to handle employee stress and formulate the best decisions to enhance corporate performance.Key Words: Work Stress, Non Work Stress, Stress Manifestation, Corporate Performance
Mitigating African Conflicts Through Securitization of Development
Get PDFThe 1990s introduced profound shifts in the realm of peace and security in Africa. With the demise of the Cold War, the East-West tension eased considerably. South Africa and Namibia installed democratically elected governments. Mozambique achieved relative peace and stability after decades of warring struggles (Rugummamu and Osman 2003)
Workforce Diversity Management and Employee Performance in The Banking Sector in Kenya
Get PDFThe rapid growth in the Banking industry has posed several challenges such as workforce diversity which is a natural phenomenon that has both negative and positive impacts on employee performance depending on how well it is managed. This has affected the commercial banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions, and even the Micro-Finance sector. It is in this context that this Research investigated the effects of workforce diversity management on employee performance in the Banking industry in Kenya. Descriptive survey research design was used. The target population included all the 4000 employees of the bank. Nairobi region was purposively selected because of nearness to the researchers, accessibility, and time limit. The respondents were selected using stratified random sampling technique from 3 branches in Nairobi region. The study revealed that the Bank had strategies such as balanced recruitment, support to minority groups, diversity training and equal employment opportunities. Other than an employee’s level of education and performance ability, there was no other workforce diversity variable that determined an employee’s compensation. Workforce diversity was found to affect employee performance at varying degrees considering both managers and non-managerial employees of the Bank. The managers registered a greater impact while the impact was less among the non-managerial employees. The various tests of hypotheses showed a significant level of association between employee performance and the mean productivity levels of the bank workforce when categorized by gender, age and level of education.Key words: Workforce, Diversity Management, Banking Sector, Keny
Current trends of Traditional Herbal Medicine Practice in Kenya: A review
Get PDFThe use of herbal medicine is increasingly finding more relevance today, especially with the recognition that we are facing more challenges in the treatment of some medical conditions such as diabetes and cancer. To date, there are not many publications or records on the traditional herbal medicine use among the various Kenyan communities despite the widespread use. There is therefore an urgent need to document traditional medicines in Kenya for future reference and research. The main objective of this review is to examine the current state of traditional herbal medicine practise in Kenya, the challenges facing the sector and the possible solutions to streamline the practice and maximize on the benefits. The method adopted in this research involved the analysis of the available records on herbal medicine in Kenya from various sources including internet and the available books. This information was then compared with those in other countries with established systems in order to establish the existing inadequacies. The various efforts to document herbal medicine incorporate into mainstream healthcare and the legal framework was also reviewed. Key words: Herbal medicine, documentation, researc
Effect of some Artemisinin and Combination Therapy Regimens with and without Concomitant Administration of Phospholipids on the Levels of Plasma Aminotransferases and Bilirubin in Nigerian Male Subjects
No full textBackground: Previous studies in animal have shown that high doses of artemisinin caused injury to liver cells. Presently artemisinin and its derivatives such as artesunate (ART), and it’s combination therapy (ACT) has been adopted as the frontline drug for treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria without considering the effect it has on some major organs of the body. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ART when administered as a monotherapeutic agent and in combination as ACT on the plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and bilirubin (BIL) and the effect of concomitant administration of a hepatotonic phospholipid (PL) on such effects. Methodology: The prepared plasma samples were analyzed using the end point calorimetric method for each parameter as explained in the Randox kits manual. Results: Co-administration of ART with amodiaquine (AMQ), mefloquine (MFQ) and sulphadoxine/pyremethamine (SP) respectively, on the 4th day of the studies increased the mean plasma concentration of AST to 80.70%, 108.0% and 75.0% against 59% for ART alone; ALT increased to 104%, 33.0% and 43.30% against 25.05% for ART alone; total bilirubin (TBIL) increased to 80.0%, 78.88% and 98.91% against 17.6% for ART alone. The co-administration and post-administration of ART and the ACTs with 900mg and 1800mg daily dose of PL respectively reduced the levels of the AST, ALT and BIL by 65.0% and 97.0% of the increased values respectively on 4th day. Discussion: The results suggest that ART as a monotherapeutic agent has injurious effect on the liver, and this effect is aggravated when ART is used in ACTs, however, the co-administration with phospholipids cushions the adverse effects. Key words: Artesunate; Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT); Aminotransferases; Bilirubin; Phospholipid
Top Management Team Diversity, Involvement Culture and Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya
Get PDFThe study of the effect of Top Management Team (TMT) diversity on organization performance produces mixed results. This study investigated the effect of involvement culture on the relationship between TMT diversity and organization performance. The target respondents were the Heads of Human Resources in all the commercial banks in Kenya and out of the 43 targeted banks, 33 responded. The questionnaire was the maintool of data collection and the data was analyzed using regression analyses. Past studies have shown that the question as to whether diversity leads to organization performance depends of the performance measures used. Since past studies have shown mixed results on the effect of TMT diversity on organization performance, the study usedinvolvement culture as a moderating variable and found that it had a significant effect on the relationship between TMT diversity and organization performance. As a result, since most organizations have diversity at the TMT, they need to make deliberate efforts and invest in good management practices which enhance organization performance. Future studies can find out which other moderating variables have apositive effect on the relationship between TMT diversity and organizationperformance.Key Words: Top Management Team (TMT) Diversity, Involvement culture, Organization Performanc
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Lonchocarpus cyanescens root in mice - Supporting Information
No full textBackground: The root of Lonchocarpus cyanescens is one common remedy of the Ibibios of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria for the treatment of pain and inflammatory disorders. Objective: To study and validate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic potentials of the ethanol extract and fractions of L. cyanescens root in mice. Methodology: The ethanol extract and the partitioned fractions were tested using carrageenan-induced inflammation, xylene–induced ear oedema models as well as on pains induced chemically and thermally in mice. Results: L. cyanescens root extract and fractions demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects in all the models, suppressed acute oedema as well as exhibited dose and time dependent analgesic properties with butanol fraction showing the highest effects. Discussion: Since the extract and its fractions significantly affected oedema and pain in the various models of this study, it therefore justify the use of the root traditionally in the treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, pain, Lonchocarpus cyanescen
Predictors of Breast Cancer Treatment Outcomes in Kenyan Women
No full textBackground: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among Kenyan women. Worldwide data show that diverse factors including socio-economic status, co-morbidities, and expression of hormonal receptors, have effect on disease recurrence or metastasis following treatment. Most studies on breast cancer treatment outcomes have been undertaken in developed countries, and there is scarcity of data on predictive indicators of breast cancer treatment outcomes in Africa. Objective: This study was designed to determine the factors that predict the treatment outcomes in breast cancer patients in a Kenyan teaching and referral hospital. Methods: This hospital based retrospective descriptive study was designed to evaluate the effect of the occurrence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor and cancer stage among other factors on the outcome of breast cancer treatment. Patients diagnosed with breast cancer and who had their first visit at the KNH in the period 2007-2008 were identified. Quantitative variables were described with medians or means. Association effects were determined by use of Chi-square test. Categorical variables were summarized using proportions. The time to event analysis was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier product limit method. Results: The mean age of the 219 participants was 46.5 years (range 23 to 92 years), majority (36.1%) of whom were aged between 41 to 50 years. Most study participants had stage 2B (21.9%) cancer type, and the histological grade 3 breast cancer was predominant type (50.2%). Nearly half of the patients (46.1%) developed metastases. In bivariate analyses, cancer stage 2A (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.77) and stage 2B (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.21- 0.77), presence of estrogen receptors (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.77), presence of progesterone receptor (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.72), human epidermal growth factors (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.003 to 0.84), and those on hormonal treatment (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.62) were factors less likely to be associated with development of metastasis after treatment. In multivariate analysis, HIV positive status (OR 0.004, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.75), presence of estrogen (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.64) and human epidermal growth factors (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.91) receptors and obesity (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.91) were independent factors influencing development of metastasis after treatment. Conclusion: This study showed that development of metastasis after breast cancer therapy has associations with the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor -2 (HER-2) as well as the stage of diagnosis. This study demonstrates the need for enhanced screening for breast cancer to improve early diagnosis and the testing of ER, PR and HER-2 are crucial as they predict outcomes of therapy. Key words: Breast cancer, breast cancer treatment, cancer treatment outcomes, cancer treatment predictors
Investigation of In-Patient Prescribing Patterns of Oral Antidiabetic Drugs in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital
No full textBackground: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood. Absence or insufficient production of insulin and/or defective actions of insulin causes diabetes. Diabetics are at a higher risk of polypharmacy and more vulnerable to irrational prescribing. Methods: A non-interventional, prospective cross sectional study conducted at inpatient medicine department of K.S Hegde Charitable Hospital, Mangalore, India, with the objectives of collecting demographtc and disease details of diabetes patients, studying the pattern of oral hypoglycemic agents prescribed in type 2 diabetic patients and to assess the awarness of patients about diabetes , its medication and lifestyle modifications. A prospective study was carried out over a period of five months in medicine in-patient department. Results: A suitable data collection form was prepared and used to collect the required data. The knowledge of the patients was assessed by using a questionnaire. About 120 patients were recruited for the study. Among the study population 57.5% (69) were males. The majority of patients (48%) were in the age group of 41-60 years. About 49.2% of the patients have a history of diabetes less than 5 years. Conclusion: Metformin and glimepride was the most common drug used among the various oral antidiabetics prescribed. The present study found that majority of patients had knowledge about diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes, Oral antidiabetic agents, prescribing patterns, metformin, knowledg