Sonographic correlation of thyroid nodules with ultrasound aided fine needle non aspiration cytology

Objectives: To describe the sonographic patterns of thyroid nodules in patients undergoing thyroid ultrasound, to correlate sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules to ultrasound aided fine needle non aspiration(US-FNNA) cytology and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Ultrasound in characterising thyroid nodules.Design: Cross sectional study.Setting: The department of Radiology at Mulago Teaching and National Referral Hospital in Kampala Uganda. The Hospital is a 1,500-bed unit providing tertiary diagnostic, curative, rehabilitative, preventive and teaching services. Patients were recruited from both Medical and Surgical outpatient thyroid clinics.Subjects: All patients with thyroid nodules > 5 mm and who consented to have US aided-FNNA were enrolled consecutively.Results: One hundred and eighty one (181) participants were enrolled and final diagnoses were concluded in 177 of the participants (analysed) while four participants were excluded due to inadequate samples. The participants' age range was 19 to 83 years (mean age - 42 years ) and 93% were females. Five percent (n=9) were malignant, 18% suspiscious (n=34) and benign (n=134). The sonographic characteristics that were significantly correlated with final cytology diagnosis were a taller than wide AP diameter, micro-calcifications, heterogeneous and hypoechoic echo-patterns. Heterogeneous, hypoechoic and central vascularity had the highest sensitivity while wider than tall, anteroposterior diameter, no lymphadenopathy, and macro/no calcifications had the highest specificity.Conclusion: Sonographic features of micro-calcifications, taller than wide AP diameter, central vascularity and hypoechogenicity warrant US-FNNA. A bigger study correlating thyroid sonography with histological diagnosis is recommended

Genome-wide diversity and structure variation among lablab [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] accessions and their implication in a forage breeding program

Open Access Article; Published online: 19 Mar 2021Most orphan crops have not been fully sequenced, hence we rely on genome sequences of related species to align markers to different chromosomes. This hinders their utilisation in plant population improvement programs. Utilising the advances in the science of sequencing technologies, the population structure, relatedness, and genetic diversity among accessions can be assessed quickly for better exploitation in forage breeding programs. Using DArTseq technology, we studied the genetic and structural variation in 65 Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet conserved gene-bank accessions using 9320 DArTseq-based SNPs and 15,719 SilicoDart markers. These markers had a low discriminating ability with mean polymorphic information content (P.I.C.) of 0.14 with DArTseq-based SNPs and 0.13 with SilicoDart markers. However, the markers had a high mean call rate of 73% with DArTseq-based SNPs and 97% with SilicoDart markers. Analysis of molecular variance revealed a high within populations variance (99.4%), indicating a high gene exchange or low genetic differentiation (PhiPT = 0.0057) among the populations. Structure analysis showed three allelic pools in variable clusters of ΔK = 3 and 6. Phylogenetic tree of lablab accessions showed three main groups with variable membership coefficients. Most pairs of accessions (40.3%) had genetic distances between 0.10 and 0.15 for SilicoDart markers, while for DArTseq-based SNPs, (46.5%) had genetic distances between 0.20 and 0.25. Phylogenetic clustering and minimum spanning analysis divided the 65 accessions into three groups, irrespective of their origin. For the first time, this study produced high-density markers with good genom coverage. The utilisation of these accessions in a forage program will base on the information from molecular-based grouping. The outcomes uncovered the presence of noteworthy measure of variety in Uganda, CIAT and ILRI accessions, thus demonstrating an opportunity for further marker-trait-association studies

A gentle push towards improved hygiene and food safety through ‘nudge’ interventions

Most of the perishable food in low- and middle-income countries is sold in informal markets where food handlers are not usually trained in good hygienic practices. There are different approaches to improve food safety in those markets, some of which include capacity building. However, one-off trainings are not usually sustainable as behaviours are deeply rooted and often lead to unconscious practices that can increase risk of food contamination. Close follow-up is intense in terms of human and financial resources. Nudges have been described to influence behaviour with varying results, partly depending on whether they have been imposed on or co-created with the end-users. In this study we describe the human-centred-design process from identifying critical control points between slaughter and retail to co-creating nudges that could potentially lead to better compliance of meat handlers in Uganda with good hygienic practices. Three of the WHO “Five Keys To Safer Food” were selected as the target behaviours to improve. The qualitative research was implemented in the greater Kampala area between October 2020 to December 2021 and involved 119 meat handlers, pork joint customers, food safety and veterinary technical experts and over 20 project stakeholders. Findings from the initial ‘explore’ phase generated a number of insights on meat handlers’ perceptions and attitudes that were later used to generate ideas and solutions in cocreating nudges during the ‘experiment’ phase: 1) Meat handlers eat the pork they handle at work and have low risk perception; 2) Meat handlers feel their practices are acceptable; 3) Meat handlers see ‘broken windows’ which set the norm for unhygienic behaviour; 4) Meat handlers follow the path of least resistance; 5) Meat handlers keep up appearances for customers; and 6) Owners want to see returns on hygienic investments. Fourty-two early prototypes were co-created with potential end users and after several iterations, two nudge kits emerged, e.g. the “Keep Clean Loop” and the “Tricolour Kitchen”. In a subsequent pilot test we assessed if the nudges help reducing the burden of foodborne pathogens and if behaviour of meat handlers changes sustainably