218 research outputs found
Purified ACE attenuates smokeless tobacco-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the oral mucosa
No full text Gao, Xiao-pei, Hideyuki Suzuki, Christopher O. Olopade, Sergei Pakhlevaniants, and Israel Rubinstein. Purified ACE attenuates smokeless tobacco-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the oral mucosa. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(1): 74–81, 1997.—The purpose of this study was to determine whether purified angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) attenuates smokeless tobacco extract (STE)-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the in situ oral mucosa. By using intravital microscopy, we found that suffusion of an aqueous extract of smokeless tobacco elicited significant concentration-dependent leaky site formation and increase in clearance of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (mol mass, 70 kDa) from the hamster cheek pouch ( P< 0.05). Suffusion of purified rabbit lung ACE significantly attenuated these responses in a concentration-dependent fashion ( P < 0.05). These effects were specific because purified ACE also significantly attenuated the increase in macromolecular efflux elicited by bradykinin, which is produced in the cheek pouch during suffusion of STE, but did not attenuate the increase elicted by adenosine. Moreover, suffusion of heat-inactivated purified ACE and purified superoxide dismutase had no significant effects on STE- and bradykinin-induced responses. Collectively, these data suggest that exogenous ACE attenuates STE-induced increase in macromolecular efflux from the in situ oral mucosa, in part, by promoting local bradykinin catabolism. </jats:p
Building local capacity for genomics research in Africa: recommendations from analysis of publications in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2004 to 2013
No full textBackground: The poor genomics research capacity of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) could prevent maximal benefits from the applications of genomics in the practice of medicine and research. The objective of this study is to examine the author affiliations of genomic epidemiology publications in order to make recommendations for building local genomics research capacity in SSA. Design: SSA genomic epidemiology articles published between 2004 and 2013 were extracted from the Human Genome Epidemiology (HuGE) database. Data on authorship details, country of population studied, and phenotype or disease were extracted. Factors associated with the first author, who has an SSA institution affiliation (AIAFA), were determined using a Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The most commonly studied population was South Africa, accounting for 31.1%, followed by Ghana (10.6%) and Kenya (7.5%). About one-tenth of the papers were related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer (6.1%) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) (4.3%). Fewer than half of the first authors (46.9%) were affiliated with an African institution. Among the 238 articles with an African first author, over three-quarters (79.8%) belonged to a university or medical school, 16.8% were affiliated with a research institute, and 3.4% had affiliations with other institutions. Conclusions: Significant disparities currently exist among SSA countries in genomics research capacity. South Africa has the highest genomics research output, which is reflected in the investments made in its genomics and biotechnology sector. These findings underscore the need to focus on developing local capacity, especially among those affiliated with SSA universities where there are more opportunities for teaching and research
Building capacity for sustainable research programmes for cancer in Africa.
No full textCancer research in Africa will have a pivotal role in cancer control planning in this continent. However, environments (such as those in academic or clinical settings) with limited research infrastructure (laboratories, biorespositories, databases) coupled with inadequate funding and other resources have hampered African scientists from carrying out rigorous research. In September 2012, over 100 scientists with expertise in cancer research in Africa met in London to discuss the challenges in performing high-quality research, and to formulate the next steps for building sustainable, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary programmes relevant to Africa. This was the first meeting among five major organizations: the African Organisation for Research and Training in Africa (AORTIC), the Africa Oxford Cancer Foundation (AfrOx), and the National Cancer Institutes (NCI) of Brazil, France and the USA. This article summarizes the discussions and recommendations of this meeting, including the next steps required to create sustainable and impactful research programmes that will enable evidenced-based cancer control approaches and planning at the local, regional and national levels
Establishment of a Standing Ethics/institutional Review Board in a Nigerian University: A Blueprint for Developing Countries
No full textAn ethics/institutional review board(IRB) was established according to International standards at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. To achieve this, a private-public partnership was developed to support a review of prevailing practice and the development of necessary infrastructure for an effective IRB. An internationally registered and well-constituted IRB with a federal-wide assurance (FWA) from the National Institute of Health in the United States was established within a year. Over a 3-year period, the number of proposals reviewed increased by 150% while time to approval decreased by 62%. International collaboration and external research funding has increased substantially. These findings support our initial supposition that the development of a properly functioning IRB can be a catalyst for increased research productivity at academic centers in developing countries while ensuring the protection of vulnerable human research subjects. The University of Ibadan is now assisting other academic Institutions in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa with the establishment of their own IRBs
Assessment of humoral immunity and nutritionally essential trace elements in steady-state sickle cell disease Nigerian children before and after Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccination
No full textBackground:. Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are particularly prone to pneumococcal infection and administration of Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccine in Nigerian children with SCD is yet to be wide spread. This call for the need to study humoral immune responses stimulated by Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccine in SCD children to confirm the benefit or otherwise for the use of Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccine.
Method:. The levels of humoral (innate and adaptive) immune factors and associated nutritionally essential trace elements were determined following Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccination of 23 Nigerian children with SCD. Serum innate humoral immune factors [Complement factors (C1q and C4), transferrin, ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP)] and adaptive humoral immune factors [IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE] were determined using ELISA. Nutritionally essential trace elements such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were measured also using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
Results:. The serum levels of certain innate humoral immune factors (ferritin, CRP, and C4), only one adaptive humoral immune factors (IgE), and essential trace elements (Fe, Zn, and Cu) were significantly elevated in children with SCD post Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccination when compared to prevaccination levels.
Conclusion:. Vaccination of children with SCD with Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccine was associated with increased levels of more innate humoral immune factors than adaptive factors. This study thus supports the administration of Prevenar 13 pneumococcal vaccination to children with SCD
Household biomass fuel use, asthma symptoms severity, and asthma underdiagnosis in rural schoolchildren in Nigeria: a cross-sectional observational study
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