Prisoners co-infected with tuberculosis and HIV: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Almost from the beginning of the HIV epidemic in 1981, an association with tuberculosis (TB) was recognized. This association between HIV and TB co-infection has been particularly evident amongst prisoners. However, despite this, few studies of TB in prisons have stratified results by HIV status. Given the high prevalence of HIV-positive persons and TB-infected persons in prisons and the documented risk of TB in those infected with HIV, it is of interest to determine how co-infection varies amongst prison populations worldwide. For this reason we have undertaken a systematic review of studies of co-infected prisoners to determine the incidence and/or prevalence of HIV/TB co-infection in prisons, as well as outcomes in this group, measured as treatment success or death. METHODS: A literature search was undertaken using the online databases PubMed, Embase, IBSS, Scopus, Web of Science, Global Health and CINAHL Plus. No restrictions were set on language or publication date for article retrieval, with articles included if indexed up to 18 October 2015. A total of 1975 non-duplicate papers were identified. For treatment and outcome data all eligible papers were appraised for inclusion; for incidence/prevalence estimates papers published prior to 2000 were excluded from full text review. After full text appraisal, 46 papers were selected for inclusion in the review, 41 for incidence/prevalence estimates and nine for outcomes data, with four papers providing evidence for both outcomes and prevalence/incidence. RESULTS: Very few studies estimated the incidence of TB in HIV positive prisoners, with most simply reporting prevalence of co-infection. Co-infection is rarely explicitly measured, with studies simply reporting HIV status in prisoners with TB, or a cross-sectional survey of TB prevalence amongst prisoners with HIV. Estimates of co-infection prevalence ranged from 2.4 to 73.1% and relative risks for one, given the other, ranged from 2.0 to 10.75, although some studies reported no significant association between HIV and TB. Few studies provided a comparison with the risk of co-infection in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Prisoners infected with HIV are at high risk of developing TB. However, the magnitude of risk varies between different prisons and countries. There is little evidence on treatment outcomes in co-infected prisoners, and the existing evidence is conflicting in regards to HIV status influence on prisoner treatment outcomes.PROSPERO Number: CRD42016034068

Expression profiles of metamorphosis-related genes during natural transformations in tadpoles of wild wood frogs (lithobates sylvaticus)

Numerous studies using laboratory-reared tadpoles have shown the importance of thyroid hormones (TH), thyroid receptors (TR), and deiodinase (Dio) enzymes during anuran metamorphosis. Our study focuses on the analysis of thyroidrelated genes in tadpoles of wild Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825); also known as Rana sylvatica (Cope, 1889)) during metamorphosis. Results showed that, in concordance with laboratory-reared studies, thyroid receptor beta (trb) gene expression profiles presented the most marked changes. At climax and compared with premetamorphic stages, brains, tails, and gonad-mesonephros complex (GMC) tissues increased trb expression levels 5-, 21-, and 41-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, gene expression levels of brain deiodinase type II and III showed opposite trends, where 3-fold decrease and 10-fold increase were, respectively, found. This finding supports the idea that thyroid hormone, as it has been demonstrated in laboratory-reared tadpoles, is also involved in natural metamorphosis in wild tadpoles. Interestingly, and contrary to our predictions, we observed that whole brain corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) and crf receptor 1 (crfr1) gene expression levels significantly decrease through metamorphosis in wild L. sylvaticus tadpoles. Further analyses are required to determine if a role of TH in the timing of anuran gonadal development exists, as well as the importance of cellspecific and tissue-specific expression of crf and crfr1 to metamorphosis.We are grateful to B. Reinhart for helping with animal collections. We thank P. Walsh for access to the bioanalyser required for some of this work. This study was funded by an Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) – Strategic Grants Program (SGP) (to J.H. and V.L.T.) and the Department of National Defence (Canada). C.L. and C.E. were supported by the NSERC–SGP and L.N.-M. by a postdoctoral NSERC–SGP contract.Peer reviewe

Expression profiles of metamorphosis-related genes during natural transformations in tadpoles of wild Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus)

Numerous studies using laboratory-reared tadpoles have shown the importance of thyroid hormones (TH), thyroid receptors (TR), and deiodinase (Dio) enzymes during anuran metamorphosis. Our study focuses on the analysis of thyroidrelated genes in tadpoles of wild Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825); also known as Rana sylvatica (Cope, 1889)) during metamorphosis. Results showed that, in concordance with laboratory-reared studies, thyroid receptor beta (trb) gene expression profiles presented the most marked changes. At climax and compared with premetamorphic stages, brains, tails, and gonad–mesonephros complex (GMC) tissues increased trb expression levels 5-, 21-, and 41-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, gene expression levels of brain deiodinase type II and III showed opposite trends, where 3- fold decrease and 10-fold increase were, respectively, found. This finding supports the idea that thyroid hormone, as it has been demonstrated in laboratory-reared tadpoles, is also involved in natural metamorphosis in wild tadpoles. Interestingly, and contrary to our predictions, we observed that whole brain corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) and crf receptor 1 (crfr1) gene expression levels significantly decrease through metamorphosis in wild L. sylvaticus tadpoles. Further analyses are required to determine if a role of TH in the timing of anuran gonadal development exists, as well as the importance of cellspecific and tissue-specific expression of crf and crfr1 to metamorphosis

Expression profiles of metamorphosis-related genes during natural transformations in tadpoles of wild Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus)

Numerous studies using laboratory-reared tadpoles have shown the importance of thyroid hormones (TH), thyroidreceptors (TR), and deiodinase (Dio) enzymes during anuran metamorphosis. Our study focuses on the analysis of thyroidrelatedgenes in tadpoles of wild Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825); also known as Rana sylvatica (Cope,1889)) during metamorphosis. Results showed that, in concordance with laboratory-reared studies, thyroid receptor beta(trb) gene expression profiles presented the most marked changes. At climax and compared with premetamorphic stages, brains, tails, and gonad–mesonephros complex (GMC) tissues increased trb expression levels 5-, 21-, and 41-fold, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, gene expression levels of brain deiodinase type II and III showed opposite trends, where 3-fold decrease and 10-fold increase were, respectively, found. This finding supports the idea that thyroid hormone, as it has been demonstrated in laboratory-reared tadpoles, is also involved in natural metamorphosis in wild tadpoles. Interestingly, and contrary to our predictions, we observed that whole brain corticotropin-releasing factor (crf) and crf receptor 1 (crfr1) gene expression levels significantly decrease through metamorphosis in wild L. sylvaticus tadpoles. Further analyses are required to determine if a role of TH in the timing of anuran gonadal development exists, as well as the importance of cell-specific and tissue-specific expression of crf and crfr1 to metamorphosis

Effects of the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup WeatherMax® on metamorphosis of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in natural wetlands

Amphibian tadpoles develop in aquatic environments where they are susceptible to the effects of pesticides and other environmental contaminants. Glyphosate-based herbicides are currently the most commonly used herbicide in the world and have been shown to affect survival and development of tadpoles under laboratory and mesocosm conditions. In the present study, whole wetland manipulations were used to determine if exposure to an agriculturally relevant application of Roundup WeatherMax®, a herbicide formulation containing the potassium salt of glyphosate and an undisclosed surfactant, influences the development of wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) under natural conditions. Wetlands were divided in half with an impermeable curtain so that each wetland contained a treatment and control side. Tadpoles were exposed to two pulses of this herbicide at an environmentally realistic concentration (ERC, 0.21 mg acid equivalent (a.e.)/L) and the predicted maximum environmental concentration (PMEC, 2.89 mg a.e./L), after which abundance, growth, development, and mRNA levels of genes involved in tadpole metamorphosis were measured. Results present little evidence that exposure to this herbicide affects abundance, growth and development of wood frog tadpoles. As part of the Long-term Experimental Wetlands Area (LEWA) project, this research demonstrates that typical agricultural use of Roundup WeatherMax® poses minimal risk to larval amphibian development. However, our gene expression data (mRNA levels) suggests that glyphosate-based herbicides have the potential to alter hormonal pathways during tadpole developmeNo Full Tex

Effects of the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup WeatherMax on metamorphosis of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in natural wetlands

Amphibian tadpoles develop in aquatic environments where they are susceptible to the effects of pesticides and other environmental contaminants. Glyphosate-based herbicides are currently the most commonly used herbicide in the world and have been shown to affect survival and development of tadpoles under laboratory and mesocosm conditions. In the present study, whole wetland manipulations were used to determine if exposure to an agriculturally relevant application of Roundup WeatherMax, a herbicide formulation containing the potassium salt of glyphosate and an undisclosed surfactant, influences the development of wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) under natural conditions. Wetlands were divided in half with an impermeable curtain so that each wetland contained a treatment and control side. Tadpoles were exposed to two pulses of this herbicide at an environmentally realistic concentration (ERC, 0.21 mg acid equivalent (a.e.)/L) and the predicted maximum environmental concentration (PMEC, 2.89 mg a.e./L), after which abundance, growth, development, and mRNA levels of genes involved in tadpole metamorphosis were measured. Results present little evidence that exposure to this herbicide affects abundance, growth and development of wood frog tadpoles. As part of the Long-term Experimental Wetlands Area (LEWA) project, this research demonstrates that typical agricultural use of Roundup WeatherMax poses minimal risk to larval amphibian development. However, our gene expression data (mRNA levels) suggests that glyphosate-based herbicides have the potential to alter hormonal pathways during tadpole development

Effects of the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup WeatherMax on metamorphosis of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in natural wetlands

Amphibian tadpoles develop in aquatic environments where they are susceptible to the effects of pes- ticides and other environmental contaminants. Glyphosate-based herbicides are currently the most commonly used herbicide in the world and have been shown to affect survival and development of tadpoles under laboratory and mesocosm conditions. In the present study, whole wetland manipulations were used to determine if exposure to an agriculturally relevant application of Roundup WeatherMax, a herbicide formulation containing the potassium salt of glyphosate and an undisclosed surfactant, influ- ences the development of wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus) under natural conditions. Wetlands were divided in half with an impermeable curtain so that each wetland contained a treatment and control side. Tadpoles were exposed to two pulses of this herbicide at an environmentally realistic concentra- tion (ERC, 0.21 mg acid equivalent (a.e.)/L) and the predicted maximum environmental concentration (PMEC, 2.89 mg a.e./L), after which abundance, growth, development, and mRNA levels of genes involved in tadpole metamorphosis were measured. Results present little evidence that exposure to this herbicide affects abundance, growth and development of wood frog tadpoles. As part of the Long-term Experimen- tal Wetlands Area (LEWA) project, this research demonstrates that typical agricultural use of Roundup WeatherMax poses minimal risk to larval amphibian development. However, our gene expression data (mRNA levels) suggests that glyphosate-based herbicides have the potential to alter hormonal pathways during tadpole development