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LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN LEVELS IN HIV-INFECTED ADULTS WITH SEPSIS COMPARED TO HEALTHY HIV- INFECTED CONTROLS: Reduced lipoptorein levels in septic HIV infected adults
No full textBackground: In acute sepsis, reduced lipid and lipoprotein levels occur in HIV negative patients, in particular, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL–c) levels are inversely correlated with sepsis severity and increased mortality. However, due to the limited data describing lipid and lipoprotein levels in septic HIV–infected individuals we aimed to investigate the changes in this subgroup.
Materials and Methods: A prospective cross–sectional observational study of HIV–infected patients comparing admitted HIV – infected patients with sepsis to healthy controls from the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic. Non fasting - lipograms, ART use, diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), markers of infection, renal function and mortality outcome to 3 months post discharge were reviewed.
Results: Total cholesterol (TC), low–density lipoprotein (LDL–c) and HDL-c were all significantly lower in the sepsis group (p < 0.001). HDL–c was significantly associated with a higher white cell count (p = 0.018), higher C– reactive protein (p = 0.036) and low serum albumin (p < 0.001). In those with active TB (55%) HDL–c was reduced even further (0.55 vs. 0.72mmol/L, p = 0.013). Acute kidney injury (p = 0.560) and mortality at discharge (p = 0.097) or 3 months follow up (p = 0.953) was not associated with reduced HDL–c.
Conclusion: Septic HIV–infected patients had significantly reduced lipid and lipoprotein levels at admission. Of note however, a low HDL–c was associated with markers of infection and reductions in HDL–c was more marked in those with active T
ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIRADICAL PROPERTIES OF HAMMADA SCOPARIA (POMEL) ILJIN
Full text linkBackground: Hammada scoparia (Pomel) Iljin (HS), is commonly used by traditional healers in Morocco against microbial and fungal infections. We studied antimicrobial, antifungal and antiradical effects of organic extracts in vitro in order to confirm traditional utilization after phytochemical screening.
Materials and methods: Aerial parts of HS have been extracted by hydro-distillation using Clevenger-type apparatus, and the chemical composition was realized by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS). The antioxidant activity has been evaluated using DPPH test, while the antimicrobial tests of HS extract were conducted on twenty-eight bacterial strains and antifungal on twelve fungal strains.
Results: Chemical characterization of HS essential oils (EO) confirmed the presence of carvacrol (82,28%), p-cymene (2,52%), γ-terpinene (2,18%) and Z-caryophyllene (2,04%). Antimicrobial tests of HS extract showed a moderate antibacterial activity without antifungal effect. In addition, HS exhibited a very powerful antiradical activity with IC50 = 1,2 mg/ml compared to that of ascorbic acid (IC50 = 0,5 mg/mL) and butylated hydroxyanisole (0,8 mg/mL).
Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that HS directly inhibits the growth of microorganisms in vitro, and further validates its traditional use as an antiseptic by traditional Moroccan healers
PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL FORMS OF MALARIA AMONG FEBRILE HIV-INFECTED CHILDREN SEEN AT USMANU DANFODIYO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOKOTO, NIGERIA
Full text linkBackground: Malaria and HIV infections are major health problems facing the world today. Sub-Saharan Africa with 10 percent of world’s population harbors more than half the burden of the scourge. The present study determined the prevalence and clinical forms of malaria among febrile HIV-infected children aged 3months to 15years, seen in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study among febrile HIV-infected children and their control cohort were carried out between May and October 2016. The participants had the following investigations: malarial parasite, packed cell volume, random blood sugar, retroviral test.
Results: A total of 140 febrile HIV-infected children aged 3 months to 15 years and 140 febrile HIV-negative age- and gender-matched children were recruited; 100 of the HIV-infected children were on ART and cotrimoxazole. The prevalence of malaria among the febrile HIV-infected children was 71.4% (100/140) which was significantly lower than the prevalence of 94.3% (132/140) among the control group (χ2 27.72, p=0.001). Among the febrile HIV-infected children that had malaria, 54(54.0%) had uncomplicated malaria while 46(46.0%) had severe malaria. Of the 132 controls that had malaria, 48(36.4%) had uncomplicated malaria and 84(63.6%) had severe malaria (χ2 =7.184, p=0.007).
Conclusion: Malaria is a problem in HIV-infected children. Since nearly half of the febrile HIV-infected children had severe form of malaria, it is recommended that health promotion, intermittent malaria prophylaxis, early diagnosis and prompt effective treatment should be instituted for HIV-infected children. This may prevent severe form of malaria and its attendant mortality
PREVALENCE OF PORCINE CYSTICERCOSIS AMONG SCAVENGING PIGS IN WESTERN KENYA
Full text linkBackground: Porcine Cysticercosis (PC) infection is globally classified as a neglected and re-emerging tropical disease. The disease may be endemic in Western Kenya yet smallholder farmers continues to practice scavenging pig production, thereby posing public health risk. This study determined the prevalence of PC infection at the farms and slaughter slabs in a cross-sectional survey in two Counties (Busia and Kakamega) of Western Kenya.
Methodology: Two hundred and eighty-seven (287) heparinized blood samples were collected at the farm from 162 householdsin 7 villages and 113 pigs from 5 slaughter slabs. The prevalence of PC was detected through meat inspection at slaughter and the prevalence of Taenia solium antigen determined using the ApDia Ag-ELISA test at the farms and slaughter slabs.
Results: At meat inspection, the PC prevalence was 1.8% while the prevalence of Taenia Species cysts detected with Ag-ELISA test was 3.8% at the farms and 5.3 % at the slaughter slabs. The Ag-ELISA test had sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 19.79– 100.00) and specificity of 96.4% (95% CI: 90.49– 98.84).
Conclusion: The PC prevalence levels observed among scavenging pigs in western Kenya should be a cause of public health risk concern. This observation warrants enforcing mandatory pig confinement and use of latrines at the farms and meat inspection at local slaughter slabs. Further studies are recommended to identify different Taenia species in cysticercoids pigs in the region, which the present study could not differentiate
HIV-ASSOCIATED NON HODGKIN LYMPHOMA: A CASE SERIES STUDY FROM TURKEY
Full text linkBackground: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a global health concern with major risks for opportunistic infections and predisposition to malignancies including Kaposi sarcoma associated with Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) commonly associated with Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). Although the exact mechanisms of predisposition to certain malignancies are unclear, HIV (+) cancer patients typically have poorer prognosis.
Materials and Methods: We included all five HIV positive NHL patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and chemotherapy in our clinic and aim to determine their follow-up outcomes associated with ART.
Results: The use of ART in conjunction with chemotherapy regimens lead to better therapeutic outcome in our cases with no mortality over three years of follow-up despite high rates of poor prognostic factors and studies demonstrating 1-year survival rates of approximately 30% in HIV-associated lymphoma. No significant adverse effect has been recorded.
Conclusion: We recommend use of ART along with chemotherapy regimens in HIV positive lymphoma patients for better treatment response
PREVALENCE IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DERMATOPHYTES CAUSING TINEA CAPITIS IN A LOCALITY IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA
Full text linkBackground: Tinea capitis impacts negatively on the health of children, consequently affecting their education. Its prevalence is unknown in many African communities. Tinea capitis is faced with therapeutic challenges as resistance to all classes of antifungal agents continues to emerge. This study determined the prevalence, identified dermatophytes of tinea capitis in Okelele community in North Central Nigeria and evaluated the susceptibility of isolates to selected antifungal drugs. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and one pupils from seven primary schools in the locality who gave assent and those with parental consent were recruited into the study. Scalp scrapings and hairs were collected from participants and subjected to microscopy and culture. Isolates identified by colonial morphology and micromorphology were subjected to disk diffusion antifungal susceptibility testing. Results: Two hundred and twenty-eight of the participants had mycologically proven tinea capitis giving a prevalence of 75.7%. The dermatophytes identified were T. rubrum (68.0%), M. ferrugineum (22.0%), T. mentagrophytes (8.0%) and T. verrucosum (2.0%). Resistance observed with these isolates was as low as 21.2% to as high as 100% while sensitivity ranged from 78.8% to 100%. Only large family size significantly influenced the occurrence of tinea capitis among the risk factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of tinea capitis from this study is high. T. rubrum being anthropophilic and the predominant dermatophyte identified corroborates large family size as an important risk factor. Antifungal resistance as a cause of therapeutic failure was demonstrated by some isolates in this study
CALLUS INDUCTION OF Sonchus arvensis L. AND ITS ANTIPLASMODIAL ACTIVITY
Full text linkBackground: Malaria is health global problem that emphasizes the urgent need for new drugs. Tempuyung (Sonchus arvensis L.) has many potential compounds. As the plant is originally found wild, it is important to reproduce its secondary metabolites by tissue culture. The objectives of this study were to look for effective methods to induce callus from leaf explants of Sonchus arvensis L. and to test in-vitro antiplasmodial activity. Materials and Methods: The leaves and petioles cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) solid medium supplemented with indole acetic-3-acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and benzyl amino purine (BAP), in light and dark incubation. The best results obtained from callus induction were then treated by sucrose with several concentrations (1- 5%). The best results from callus induction were then extracted with methanol for the antiplasmodial test by Trager and Jensen method. It against 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum.Results: The combination of 1mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L BAP in dark incubation was the best treatment for callus induction of tempuyung. It produced the best quality of callus and the shortest period for callusing. Sucrose treatment had various effects of leaves callusing but no effect for petioles callusing, whereby 4% sucrose was the best treatment for leaves callusing in dark incubation. The methanol extract of the best callus had antiplasmodial activity with IC50=0.343 µg/mL.Conclusion: Methanol extract of tempuyung callus is feasible to be developed as antimalaria drug by continuing research to the next ste
IN VITRO ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITY AND TOXICITY STUDIES OF JOHAR (CASSIA SIAMEA) LEAVES FROM THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS
Full text linkBackground: Antimalarial activity of Cassia siamea leaves has been proven by the active compound that has been found, i.e. Cassiarin A. It is known that the quantity of the content of a compound that has the potential as a raw material for medicine can be influenced by various factors including differences in plant origin. This study aims at comparing the antimalarial activity and toxicity of C.siamea leaves from three regions with different meters location values above sea level (asl), i.e Pariaman (1,000 m asl), Palu (60 m asl), and Surabaya (2 m asl).
Materials and Methods: The materials used in this study were Johar leaves from Pariaman, Surabaya, and Palu extracted with n-hexane, and 90% ethanol containing 1% tartaric acid. The antimalarial activity test was done with Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. The toxicity test applied MTT ELISA method.
Results: C.siamea leaf that had highest antimalarial activity came from Pariaman with IC50 value of 0.006μg/ml, then from Palu was 0.037μg/ml, and the lowest antimalarial activity was from Surabaya that was 0.09μg/ml . In testing the toxicity to get CC50, the highest toxicity came from Surabaya with CC50 value of 135.81μg/ml, Pariaman with CC50 value of 220.82 μg/ml, and the least toxic came from Palu with CC50 value of 235.52μg/ml .
Conclusion: C.siamea leaf obtained from Pariaman had a selectivity index value that satisfies the requirements of a promising antimalarial effect
PORCINE CYSTICERCOSIS RISKS: AWARENESS, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS ON SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG FARMERS, BUTCHER-OWNERS AND CONSUMERS IN WESTERN KENYA PORCINE CYSTICERCOSIS RISKS: AWARENESS, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS ON SAFETY PRACTICES AMONG FARMERS, BUTCHER
No full textBackground: The demand of pork has increased in the world with high need in animal protein in Africa. The pork safety and quality need to be improved up to reach the consumer trust and prevent them from Porcine Cysticercosis (PC) contamination. This study assessed the awareness, attitudes and safety practices for risk of PC among farmers, butcher-owners and consumers.
Methodology: Data was obtained using structured questionnaire in a cross sectional survey interviews with 280 respondents composed of 162 farmers, 26 butcher-owners and 92 consumers from two Counties (Busia and Kakamega) in Western Kenya. The extent of awareness, attitudes and safety practices were estimated using Chi - square test.
Results: Results reveal that a larger majority of farmers had low knowledge of pig management systems (82.7%), risks for PC transmission (78.4%) and Taenia solium parasite (75.9%). More of the butcher-owners associated high risk of PC infection with pork from slaughter slabs (69.3%) and from home slaughters (76.9%) but considered pork from eateries as safe (73.1%). For consumers, majority strongly agreed that pork sold (85.9%), from slaughter slabs (92.4%) and from butcheries (81.5%) are safe but pork from the eateries as less safe (64.1%).
Conclusion: Results indicate low knowledge of management and risk factors for PC transmission at production level in the study area while butcher-owners and consumers hold different views about where safe pork is found in the market. Therefore, public education about PC risks and pork safety is necessary among all stakeholders in the pork value chain in Western Kenya
NASAL CARRIAGE OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT PANTON VALENTINE LEUKOCIDIN POSITIVE STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS OF TUDUN-WADA, GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA
Full text linkBackground: Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL)-producing Staphylococcus aureus strains have been implicated in serious community-associated invasive infections and their increasing multidrug resistance is a major global health concern. Thus, we investigated the carriage of PVL gene and antimicrobial resistance profile of nasal S. aureus isolates from healthy adults in Tundu-Wada, Gombe State, Nigeria.
Methods: A total of 262 nasal samples of healthy adults were obtained and cultured. The isolates were identified as S. aureus by standard conventional methods and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of their 16S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disc diffusion technique and the presence of mecA and PVL genes was determined by PCR analysis.
Results: The overall nasal colonization of S. aureus was 17.6%. The prevalence of haemolysin and biofilm production among the isolates was 25 (54.3%) and 42 (91.3%) respectively. Only 2(4.3%) and 5(10.9%) possessed mecA and PVL genes respectively but none haboured these two genes. All the isolates were resistant to amoxicillin but were highly susceptible (93.7%) to gentamicin. The prevalence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) among the isolates was 45.7% and all PVL-producing isolates were MDR while one of the isolates with mecA gene exhibited extensively-drug resistance. The predominant antibiogram among MDR isolates was AML,SXT,E.
Conclusion: This is the first report of nasal colonization of MDR PVL-producing S. aureus in healthy adults in Gombe, Northeastern Nigeria. It highlights the importance of routine surveillance of healthy populations to provide useful strategies for containing the spread of virulent multidrug-resistant organisms within the community