17 research outputs found
Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections among Pregnant Women in Central Sudan
Background: The epidemiology of viral hepatitis and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during pregnancy is of great importance for health planners and program managers. However, few published data on viral hepatitis and HIV are available in Sudan especially during pregnancy.Objectives: The current study was conducted to investigate seropositivity of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV among pregnant women in central Sudan.Materials and methods: A cross sectional study was conducted where 396 pregnant women were investigated for the presence of hepatitis B, C and HIV. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect HBsAg and anti-HCV. Antibodies to HIV were detected by three different methods as per Strategy III of the National AIDS Control Organization by utilizing different systems of testing to make a diagnosis of HIV.Results: Twenty (5.1%), five (1.3%), and six (1.5%) women were seropositive for HBsAg anti- HCV antibodies and HIV, respectively. One (0.003 %) woman was seropositive for both HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies. While age, parity, were not associated with seropostivtiy of HBsAg, home delivery was the only significant risk factor for seropostivtiy of HBsAg (OR=4.5 (95% CI=1.2-16.7)Conclusion: Prevalence of HBV and HCV among pregnant women in this setting is in the intermediate zone of endemicity. This is alarming and should draw medical authorities’ attention if vertical transmission is to be reduced.Key words: Sudan, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, seropositivity, Pregnancy
Mechanisms of Cardioprotective Effect of Aged Garlic Extract Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Rapeseed oil‑rich diet alters hepatic mitochondrial membrane lipid composition and disrupts bioenergetics
Diet is directly related with physiological alterations
occurring at a cell and subcellular level. However,
the role of diet manipulation on mitochondrial physiology
is still largely unexplored. Aiming at correlating diet with
alterations of mitochondrial membrane composition and
bioenergetics, Wistar-Han male rats were fed for 11, 22 and
33 days with a rapeseed oil-based diet and mitochondrial
bioenergetics, and membrane composition were compared
at each time point with a standard diet group. Considerable
differences were noticed in mitochondrial membrane lipid composition, namely in terms of fatty acyl chains and relative
proportions of phospholipid classes, the modified diet
inducing a decrease in the saturated to unsaturated molar
ratio and an increase in the phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine
molar ratio. Mass spectrometry lipid
analysis showed significant differences in the major species
of cardiolipin, with an apparent increased incorporation
of oleic acid as a result of exposure to the modified
diet. Rats fed the modified diet during 22 days showed
decreased hepatic mitochondrial state 3 respiration and
were more susceptible to Ca2+-induced transition pore
opening. Rapeseed oil-enriched diet also appeared to promote
a decrease in hydroperoxide production by the respiratory
chain, although a simultaneous decrease in vitamin E
content was detected. In conclusion, our data indicate that
the rapeseed oil diet causes negative alterations on hepatic
mitochondrial bioenergetics, which may result from membrane
remodeling. Such alterations may have an impact not
only on energy supply to the cell, but also on drug-induced
hepatic mitochondrial liabilities.The project was supported by the Foundation
for Science and Technology with FEDER/COMPETE/National
Budget funds (research grants PTDC/QUI–QUI/101409/2008 to P. J.
O., PTDC/QUI-BIQ/103001/2008 to A. S. J. and strategic grant PEst-
C/SAU/LA0001/2011to the CNC). J. P. M. and A. M. S. acknowledge
FCT for Ph.D. grants SFRH/BD/37626/2007 and PTDC/AGRALI/
108326/2008, respectively
Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke
Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease