Functional changes of the vasculature in HIV/AIDS patients on Haart and Haart Naïve HIV participants

The present study sought to explore the functional changes that occur in the vasculature of HIV positive participants of African origin in Mthatha district of South africa which might lead to increased risk in their cardiovascular system. Available literature shows that arterial stiffness plays an important role in cardiovascular events such as stroke, vasculitis and myocardial infarction. Measurement of (aortic pulse wave velocity; PWV) provides some of the strongest evidence concerning the prognostic significance of large artery stiffening. This study was aimed at investigating the relationship between anthropometry, age, E-Selectin level, cytokine levels, haemodynamic variables, blood counts and blood lipid profile with pulse wave velocity. Some traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as alcohol, and smoking were also taken into account. This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 169 participants (62 males and 107 females). 63 were HIV negative (group A), 54 HIV positive on treatment (group B), and 52 were HIV positive not on treatment (group C). Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was assessed using the Sphygmocor Vx. Statistically, ANOVA was used for variables with normal distribution and non parametric tests were used for variables with skewed distribution. Notable significant differences were seen in the means of the following variables across all the 3 groups. Conclusion: This study showed that HIV infected patients with or without antiretroviral therapy have increase arterial stiffness which is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The sphygmocor is an accurate, non invassive and useful tool in the evaluation of arterial stiffness and its use in clinical practice should be encouraged. PWV and the augmentation index (AIx) are the two major non- iv invasive methods of assessing arterial stiffness. Life style modification should be incorporated into the management of HIV patients so as the continuous monitoring of their haematological and lipid profile

EFFECTS OF VARYING LEVELS OF ORGANIC MANURE AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF Mansonia altissima (A. Chev.) SEEDLINGS

Mansonia altissima is a good source of timber usually known for its natural durability and medicinal potentials. This study is undertaken to investigate the effects of varying levels of organic manure and fertilizer application on the growth performance of Mansonia altissima seedlings. The organic manure used for this experiment is poultry manure, while the fertilizer application used is urea. The two treatments used are poultry manure and urea, at the levels of 0g (control), 0.1g, 0.3g, 0.5g, and 1g. Each of the levels for both poultry manure and urea was replicated 10 times. Result shows that poultry manure and urea applied improved the growth characteristics but varied significantly among the treatments. For poultry manure, leaf number, plant height and collar diameter, the highest mean value obtained are 11.20g, 22.76g and 10.04g when applied at 1g while 0.1g has the lowest value in all the parameters checked. The same parameters were also checked for urea and 1g performed best with the mean value of 10.80g, 22.08g and 9.32g. The study indicated that Mansonia altissima seedling responded well to the treatments applied and also suggest that the application of 1g of poultry manure and urea is the best for the optimum growth of Mansonia altissima

The smoking habits, attitudes towards smoking and knowledge regarding anti-smoking legislation of students in institutions of higher learning in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

Background : The study aimed to i) investigate the smoking habits of students attending tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) and ii) determine the knowledge of the students about the health hazards of smoking and their attitude towards current government anti-smoking legislation. Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study involving all seven tertiary institutions of learning in the ECP, viz. the Universities of Transkei, Fort Hare, Port Elizabeth and Rhodes University, and the Border, Eastern Cape and Port Elizabeth technikons. A total of 1 728 students were interviewed out of a student population of 30,080. Stratified random sampling was used to select the students. Two-way tables were used to test the independence of the variables and chi-square tests were applied. A ‘p' value of below 5% was used as a test of significance. Results: A total of 1 480 students completed the questionnaires (86%). The racial classification of the respondents was 79% Black, 13% White, 7% Coloured and 2% Indian. Twenty-six per cent of the students were smokers, of which 37% were male and 15% were female. Forty-five per cent of the Coloured students smoked, while the figures for Whites and Blacks were 26% and 25% respectively. Seventy per cent of the students smoked less than 10 cigarettes a day. Fifty-two per cent of the smokers said they wanted to stop smoking. Sixty-one per cent had been influenced to start smoking by their friends and only 13% were influenced by advertisements. Ninety-four percent agreed that smoking was dangerous to the smoker's health, while 73% responded that there was a relationship between mothers who smoke and low birth weight. Thirteen per cent thought the legislation was too tough, while 30% said it was good as it was. On measures to reduce smoking, 86% favoured restricting smoking in public places. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that smoking is prevalent in tertiary institutions of learning in the Eastern Cape Province. The demographic profile of the smokers reflects the national picture. The knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking is generally good. For full text, click here: South African Family Practice 2006; Vol.48(9):14-14

Gastric luminal epidermal growth factor is affected by diet

Objective. Diet is an area of major interest to those investigating the causes of cancer of the oesophagus in  the Transkei. This study looked at the associations between intragastric epidermal growth factor level, diet  and intragastric pH.Setting and subjects. A dietary survey was co-ordinated with studies of gastric luminal epidermal growth  factor and gastric fluid pH in 120 rural Transkeians.Results. Gastric fluid epidermal growth factor was associated with low dietary intake of animal products (p = 0.002) and vegetables (p = 0.026). There was no association with pH.Conclusion. A dietary subgroup has been identified in the Transkei population with high levels of epidermal  growth factor in the upper gastrointestinal lumen. This adds to previously demonstrated diet-related changes in the upper gastrointestinal tract in Transkei. These changes may affect the disease pattern of the population

Bimodal distribution of fasting gastric acidity in a rural African population

Setting. The people of Transkei eat a diet high in linoleic acid, the principal fatty acid in maize. The theory has been put forward that a diet high in linoleic acid and low in fat and riboflavin, such as the traditional diet in Transkei, results in overproduction of prostaglandin E2 in the gastric mucosa, and that this overproduction in turn causes a suppression of gastric add production.Objective. To investigate the effect of diet on fasting gastric pH in a rural black African population.Design. Fasting gastric acid samples were obtained by fine nasogastric tube aspiration from 150 volunteers at a rural health clinic. The pH of these samples was measured and a full dietary questionnaire was used. Helicobacter pylori serology was done on a subgroup of 30 volunteers.Results and conclusions. A bimodal pH distribution was found. Approximately half the population had a gastric pH within the range 1 - 4; Half had a pH of over 4. A high pH was significantly associated with consumption of maize (p = 0.006), and with consumption of both pumpkin and beans (p = 0.006). A high proportion of this rural African population has a diet-associated abnormally high gastric pH. The pattern of upper gastrointestinal disease may be significantly affected by diet in this community and in others with a similar diet

Sluggish glucose tolerance in tuberculosis patients

Objective. To examine glucose tolerance in sputum-positive non-treated pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients as part of a general metabolic profile. Subjects. Sixty-three sputum-positive non-treated patients (male and female) attending the pulmonary clinic at Mthatha General Hospital in the Eastern Cape and 89 apparently healthy sexand age-matched volunteers. Methods. Sixty-three untreated TB patients who came to the Mthatha General Hospital's pulmonary clinic with classic symptoms of TB, confirmed by sputum analysis, were recruited for the study. Eighty-nine apparently healthy sexand age-matched volunteers served as the control group. Anthropometric measurements were taken using an electronic scale. Standard oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed in both groups in the morning after an overnight fast. Anticoagulant-treated blood was analysed for glucose and insulin using Peridochrome Glucose (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, USA) respectively. Results. There was sluggish response to glucose and insulin in the TB patient group compared with the control group. Glucose and insulin levels were significantly higher in patients at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 minutes. Analysis of variance gave the following p-values, viz. p = 0.0000, 0.0004, 0.0000, 0.0000 and 0.0000 for glucose, and p = 0.0317, 0.0071, 0.0000, 0.0005 and 0.0000 for insulin respectively. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest an altered glucose/insulin metabolism in TB patients. This might play an important role in the clinical course of the disease. South African Medical Journal Vol. 97 (5) 2007: pp. 374-37

A Review of Arterial Stiffness and HIV Infection in Adult Africans

Aim: To review the impact of the human immunodeficiency virus and antiretroviral therapy on the vasculature. Objectives: This review seeks to identify the burden which the human immunodeficiency virus and antiretroviral therapy have on the vasculature. Method: Medline/PubMed and Google scholar were searched. There were over 100 publications reviewed. Some people who worked in similar fields were also contacted. The present review summarized current understanding of Human immunodeficiency virus, antiretroviral therapy and effect on the vasculature such as arterial stiffness. Atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, the strengths and weaknesses of current testing strategies, and their potential applications in clinical research and patient care. The association of inflammatory biomarkers, blood pressure and ageing with arterial stiffness were also reviewed. Conclusion: Available literature shows that HIV and antiretroviral agents have a great impact on the vasculature and its progression

A Review of Arterial Stiffness and HIV Infection in Adult Africans

Aim: To review the impact of the human immunodeficiency virus and antiretroviral therapy on the vasculature. Objectives: This review seeks to identify the burden which the human immunodeficiency virus and antiretroviral therapy have on the vasculature. Method: Medline/PubMed and Google scholar were searched. There were over 100 publications reviewed. Some people who worked in similar fields were also contacted. The present review summarized current understanding of Human immunodeficiency virus, antiretroviral therapy and effect on the vasculature such as arterial stiffness. Atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, the strengths and weaknesses of current testing strategies, and their potential applications in clinical research and patient care. The association of inflammatory biomarkers, blood pressure and ageing with arterial stiffness were also reviewed. Conclusion: Available literature shows that HIV and antiretroviral agents have a great impact on the vasculature and its progression

Partial replacement of fish meal by earthworm meal (Libyodrilus violaceus) in diets for African catfish, Clarias gariepinus

A seven-week feeding trial was conducted to examine the possibility of replacing fish meal with earthworm meal in the diets of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fry. Fish meal protein was replaced by earthworm meal at 0% (D0); 15% (D15); 25% (D25); 35% (D35); and 50% (D50). The diets were isonitrogenous (54%) and fed thrice daily to triplicate groups of African catfish fry at 5% body weight. Diet had a significant effect on growth performance and feed utilization (p≤0.05). Final weight, weight gain, daily weight gain, and specific growth rate, were highest in fish fed diet D25. A similar pattern of growth was observed for length measurements. Fish fed diets exceeding 25% replacement of fish meal with earthworm meal had depressed growth. Feed conversion ratio was highest in fish fed D35. Mortality was not dependent on diet. It is concluded that fish meal can be substituted with earthworm meal up to 25% in the diet of C. gariepinus fry without adverse effects on growth and nutrient utilizatio