Cytokine expression in malaria-infected non-human primate placentas

Malaria parasites are known to mediate the induction of inflammatory immune responses at the maternal-foetal interface during placental malaria (PM) leading to adverse consequences like pre-term deliveries and abortions. Immunological events that take place within the malaria-infected placental micro-environment leading to retarded foetal growth and disruption of pregnancies are among the critical parameters that are still in need of further elucidation. The establishment of more animal models for studying placental malaria can provide novel ways of circumventing problems experienced during placental malaria research in humans such as inaccurate estimation of gestational ages. Using the newly established olive baboon (Papio anubis)-Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) H strain model of placental malaria, experiments were carried out to determine placental cytokine profiles underlying the immunopathogenesis of placental malaria. Four pregnant olive baboons were infected with blood stage P. knowlesi H strain parasites on the one fiftieth day of gestation while four other uninfected pregnant olive baboons were maintained as uninfected controls. After nine days of infection, placentas were extracted from all the eight baboons through cesarean surgery and used for the processing of placental plasma and sera samples for cytokine sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results indicated that the occurrence of placental malaria was associated with elevated concentrations of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-{\alpha}) and interleukin 12 (IL-12). Increased levels of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 and interferon gamma (IFN-{\gamma}) levels were detected in uninfected placentas. These findings match previous reports regarding immunity during PM thereby demonstrating the reliability of the olive baboon-P. knowlesi model for use in further studies.Comment: Open Veterinary Journal 1st June 2012. Seven pages, Three Figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1201.323

Factors related to congenital heart disease in offspring from women with rheumatic heart disease: Case reports from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya

Maternal exposure to environmental factors has been reported to be associated with birth defects. Congenital heart defects are the most common and are associated with high morbidity and mortality in offspring. However, the relation of maternal rheumatic heart disease to congenital heart defects in the offspring is a rare event not yet reported. The authors report 2 cases of infants with congenital heart defects born from mothers with rheumatic heart disease. This study highlights factors related to congenital heart defects in both newborns

Dampak Debu Vulkanik Letusan Gunung Sinabung Terhadap Kadar Cu, Pb, Dan B Tanah Di Kabupaten Karo

The Study of Effect Volcanic Ash Eruption of Sinabung Mountain on the Content of Copper, Lead,and Boron of Soils at Karo District. Have been done at six locations using Soils Survey Method onSeptember 2010 until March 2012. Each of site soil sampling were done by purposive sampling attwo depths (0-5 cm and 0-15 cm) with two replications. The results showed that at 0,5-15 mm ofthickness of volcanic ash containt at very low level Copper, content of Boron were moderate, high,and very high and content of Lead was at admitted level at 0-5 cm and 0-15 cm soil depth at somesites at Karo Distric

Evaluation of routes to chiral core dendrimers

Dendrimers are macromolecules with a highly branched three-dimensional shape, produced in an iterative sequence of reaction steps, in which each reaction results in a new generation. Dendrimers have stimulated wide interest in the field of chemistry and biology, particularly with respect to applications to drug delivery and more recently imaging. They have also been of growing interest as macromolecular hosts, potential catalysts and have been attached to surfaces and polymeric materials, and have significant potential in new materials development. Dendrimers can have comparable molecular dimensions to some proteins and could potentially have internal microenvironments akin to the active site of an enzyme. Encapsulation within dendrimers has significant potential biomedical applications, whilst dendrimer surface behavior is of interest to evaluate interactions of dendrimer surface functionality (its most accessible region) with biological molecules. Exploiting many of these areas are dependent on generating chirality in dendrimers

A review of Kenya's cancer policies to improve access to cancer testing and treatment in the country

Background: Cancer is the third-leading cause of mortality in Kenya, resulting in unique challenges to the country’s health system. An increase in the number of cancer cases in Kenya over the past decade resulted in legislative actions and policies to guide delivery of cancer services. Kenya’s new national cancer control strategy and past policy efforts provide an opportunity to synergise information and enhance understanding to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment in the country. The objectives of this study are to (1) document policy-modifiable factors based on a review of policy documents and results of a key informant survey and (2) develop recommendations to improve policies affecting cancer testing and treatment services in Kenya. This study builds upon our previous study Improving Access to Cancer Testing and Treatment in Kenya (Makau Barasa et al. J Global Oncol 2(216), 2017). Methods: The study applied an in-depth systematic review of Kenya’s cancer policies and guidelines, a qualitative analysis of results from a section of a semi-structured key informant survey focused on the opinions of clinicians delivering cancer services as well as cancer support groups and advocacy leaders, and a stakeholder analysis identifying key policy-makers and implementers. Details of the complete key informant survey were published in our previous study. Results: Kenya’s cancer policies have guided progress made in providing the legal and implementation frameworks for the development and delivery of cancer services at the national and county levels. Some policy implementation gaps are noted. These include inadequate financing for cancer services, limited research and data to support policy formulation, and the concentration of cancer services in urban areas. The key informant survey identified policy-modifiable actions that can address some of the gaps and improve the delivery of and access to cancer testing and treatment services in the country. Some of these include addressing the financial barriers affecting cancer testing and treatment services; increasing stakeholder engagement in training health personnel to deliver cancer testing and treatment services; decentralising cancer services and improving cancer surveillance and research; and increasing education and awareness about cancer symptoms, screening procedures and treatment options. A set of priority policy actions were selected from the study findings and used to develop recommendations for Kenya’s policy-makers and stakeholders. Conclusions: Revisions to Kenya’s cancer policies are seeking to address gaps noted in past policies and to improve access to cancer testing and treatment in Kenya. However, based on study findings, additional actions can be taken to strengthen policy implementation. Considering the policy formulation and implementation process and costs, this study recommends focusing on three priority policy actions that can have significant impact on improving access to cancer testing and treatment services. These include addressing financing, insurance and human resources gaps; increasing stakeholder engagement; and decentralising health services for better surveillance and data to inform policies

Improving Access to Cancer Testing and Treatment in Kenya

Purpose: In response to the increasing cancer burden in Kenya, this study identified barriers to patients seeking access to cancer testing and treatment and to clinicians in delivering these services. Policy recommendations based on findings are presented. Methods: This qualitative study used semistructured key informant interviews. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 14 participants: seven oncology clinicians and seven support and advocacy leaders for patients with cancer. Qualitative analysis was used to identify themes. Results: Seven barriers to cancer testing and treatment were identified: high cost of testing and treatment, low level of knowledge about cancer among population and clinicians, poor health-seeking behaviors among population, long distances to access diagnostic and treatment services, lack of decentralized diagnostic and treatment facilities, poor communication, and lack of better cancer policy development and implementation. Conclusion: Kenyans seeking cancer services face significant barriers that result in late presentation, misdiagnosis, interrupted treatment, stigma, and fear. Four policy recommendations to improve access for patients with cancer are (1) improve health insurance for patients with cancer; (2) establish testing and treatment facilities in all counties; (3) acquire diagnosis and treatment equipment and train health personnel to screen, diagnose, and treat cancer; and (4) increase public health awareness and education about cancer to improve diagnoses and treatment. Effective cancer testing and treatment options can be developed to address cancer in a resource-constrained environment like Kenya. An in-depth look at effective interventions and policies being implemented in countries facing similar challenges would provide valuable lessons to Kenya’s health sector and policymakers

Impact of foot-and-mouth disease on mastitis and culling on a large-scale dairy farm in Kenya

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly transmissible viral infection of cloven hooved animals associated with severe economic losses when introduced into FMD-free countries. Information on the impact of the disease in FMDV-endemic countries is poorly characterised yet essential for the prioritisation of scarce resources for disease control programmes. A FMD (virus serotype SAT2) outbreak on a large-scale dairy farm in Nakuru County, Kenya provided an opportunity to evaluate the impact of FMD on clinical mastitis and culling rate. A cohort approach followed animals over a 12-month period after the commencement of the outbreak. For culling, all animals were included; for mastitis, those over 18 months of age. FMD was recorded in 400/644 cattle over a 29-day period. During the follow-up period 76 animals were culled or died whilst in the over 18 month old cohort 63 developed clinical mastitis. Hazard ratios (HR) were generated using Cox regression accounting for non-proportional hazards by inclusion of time-varying effects. Univariable analysis showed FMD cases were culled sooner but there was no effect on clinical mastitis. After adjusting for possible confounders and inclusion of time-varying effects there was weak evidence to support an effect of FMD on culling (HR = 1.7, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.88-3.1, P = 0.12). For mastitis, there was stronger evidence of an increased rate in the first month after the onset of the outbreak (HR = 2.9, 95%CI 0.97-8.9, P = 0.057)

The Effect of Layer Thickness on Stress Ratio and Fatigue Service Life of Plain Concrete Slab Track Structure

Indonesia has been developing a high-speed railway. Therefore, it is necessary to study slab track design configuration, which is convenient and efficient, by considering the country's environmental, geological, and geographical conditions. This paper discusses the effect of the layer thickness on the stress ratio and fatigue service life of slab track layers. The Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis was performed to numerically simulate the maximum moment caused by 180 kN of axle load. Subsequently, the classic calculation of stress ratio and fatigue service life was conducted for various layer thicknesses. The same materials specifications, axle load, and the value of subgrade reaction were applied for all slab track configurations with various thicknesses. The results indicate that the thicker each layer is, the lower stress ratio and the higher fatigue service life. The thicknesses influence the contribution of each layer in resisting the axle load in the slab track system. The slab track design is still conservative because friction between each layer of the slab track design configuration was not considered. The analysis was conducted for plain concrete slab without any reinforcement. The results are interesting for practicing engineers and researchers, and more case studies might be beneficial