Frequency of Cryptococcal Meningitis in HIV-1 Infected Patients in North Central Nigeria

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is the most common severe life threatening fungal infection in AIDS patients. It is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. There is paucity of data on the prevalence of CM in Nigeria. We aimed to determine the frequency of CM, the clinical presentation and immunological profile.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), A total of 100 HIV-1 infected patients suspected of having meningitis or meningoencephalitis were subjected to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis (including Indian ink preparation and fungal culture by conventional methods) and CD4 count was determined using flow cytometry (count bit Y-R 1004 Partec Muster Germany).Results: The freguency of CM was 36% in our cohort. The commonest clinical presentation included headache (100.0%), neck stiffness (77.8%), fever (72.0%), vomiting (55.6%), personality changes (55.6%), photophobia (27.8%) and convulsions (27.8%). The mean duration of symptoms was 24 ±22 days with a median of 17 days. The mean CD4 count was 89±60 cells/mm3 with a median of 82 cells/mm3.Conclusion: The high prevalence of CM and the associated severe immunosuppression underscores the importance of early diagnosis of HIV infection which may reduce the incidence of CM. There is the urgent need for access to Amphotericin B and fluconazole in resource constrained settings in addition to a wide access to HAART.Key words: Cryptococcal meningitis, HIV, North central Nigeri

The Translator’s Faithfulness: A Case of the English Version of Sembene Ousmane’s Money Order

Translation plays a prominent role in the teaching and learning of foreign languages as well as literature. This discipline which could be said to be as old as man himself has always subjected man’s brain to a rigorous linguistics exercise that brings to fore the complex nature of language. It is, therefore, easy to assert that the process of rendering the message of a language into another requires a great deal of intellectual creativity. This study highlights the constraints and the diverse mechanisms the translator has to consider in order to convey the message without mutilating the meaning intended to the target public. The translator is either a faithful one or a betrayer. It is always believed that translating is falsehood. In the case of Le Mandat of Sembène Ousmane, translated to Money Order, some of these constraints and problems a translator faces are exemplified

QMC-D and Nano Tweezer Measurements to Characterize the Effect of soil cellualse on the depositon of PEG-coated TiO2 Nanoparticles in Model Subsurface Environments

Upon release to the environment, engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) undergo several chemical, physical and biological transformations that may affect their fate, transport, and bioavailability. The impact of ENP transformations (e.g., coating with natural organic matter or heteroaggregation with natural colloids) on ENP fate and transport has been systematically examined; however, the influence of soil enzymes that are ubiquitous in soils has not been considered. In this study, we examined the effect of a model extracellular soil enzyme (cellulase) – either free in an artificial porewater or adsorbed on a model aquifer grain (silica) surface – on the deposition kinetics of polyethylene glycol-coated titanium dioxide nanoparticles (PEG-nTiO2). A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used to study the interaction of PEG-nTiO2 with bare and cellulase-coated silica surfaces as well as in the presence of free cellulase over a range of sodium chloride concentrations. Significant reduction in PEG-nTiO2 deposition rates was observed in the presence of cellulase indicative of strong repulsive interactions between the nanoparticles and the layer of cellulase adsorbed on the silica surface. QCM-D observations were supported by measurements of the PEG-nTiO2–surface interaction energies using an optical NanoTweezer apparatus revealing more repulsive particle–surface interaction energies for the cellulase-coated silica. QCM-D measurements also indicated formation of more viscoelastic films in the presence of cellulase compared to bare silica except at the lowest ionic strength (IS) studied (10 mM NaCl). Overall, this work shows the potential for increased mobility of ENPs in subsurface environments in the presence of extracellular soil enzymes, motivating the need for further studies on the fate and behaviour of ENPs in the presence of these ubiquitous biomolecules

Outcome of an educational training programme on blood glucose monitoring among nurses in the management of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycemia

Introduction. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that can lead to an increased length of hospital stay, delayed healing, and exacerbation of co-morbidities with complications arising if not properly managed. Better understanding and maintenance of normal blood glucose by nurses can positively influence care outcomes. The study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge on the management of diabetes and skills in blood glucose monitoring. Materials and method. A structured pre- and post-questionnaire was used to assess nurses’ knowledge on the management of diabetes, and a structured checklist was used to assess their skills in blood glucose monitoring. Three hundred and thirty- eight (338) participants directly involved in the provision of care to diabetic patients were randomly selected for the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results. The study revealed that 58.9% of the respondents scored above the mean score of 33.1±3.5 during pre-assessment, which shows they had a good baseline knowledge of blood glucose. A post-intervention finding showed 64.8% scored above the mean score of 36.3±3.1. Assessment of nurses’ knowledge of blood glucose monitoring proficiency showed that 70.1% scored above the mean score of 11.4. Conclusions. The educational intervention programme with a practical training session was an effective method of approach for improving blood glucose management among the participants. However, it is recommended that protocols and practice guidelines should be placed at strategic locations, and methods of empowering nurses, such as providing them with equipment needed to sustain this practice, should be heightened