Social and behaviour change for sustainable WASH interventions in Zimbabwe

Unpaid Care and Domestic Work is essential for human development, well-being, healthy societies and growing economies. Poor access to basic public services increases the burden of domestic care work. This paper describes the lessons learned from the first year of the We-Care Dreams programme. The programme aims to look beyond WASH systems in their own silo and create a broader interaction with communities. Being intentional about using the provision of WASH services for more than their own sake seems very logical in theory but has come up against different types of challenges. It is hoped that the lessons learned here will be useful for others wanting to move beyond WASH service provision for its own sake

Behavioural factors associated with cutaneous anthrax in Musadzi area of Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

A research article on behavioural factors that determine how some residents in Musadzi area,Zimbabwe contract human cutaneous anthrax.Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. It is primarily a disease of herbivores, although few, if any, warm-blooded species are entirely immune to it. From earliest historical records until the development of an effective veterinary vaccine midway through the 20th century, anthrax was one of the foremost causes of uncontrolled mortality in domestic animals worldwide. Humans contract anthrax directly from animals or through animal products. The disease is still enzootic in most countries of Africa and Asia, a number of European countries, and countries/areas of the American continent and certain areas of Australia. It still occurs sporadically in many other countries

Factors influencing the ownership and utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets for malaria prevention in Ethiopia

Background Utilization of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) is regarded as key malaria prevention and control strategy. However, studies have reported a large gap in terms of both ownership and utilization particularly in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). With continual efforts to improve the use of LLIN and to progress malaria elimination, examining the factors influencing the ownership and usage of LLIN is of high importance. Therefore, the current study was conducted to examine the level of ownership and use of LLIN along with identification of associated factors at household level. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Mirab Abaya District, Southern Ethiopia in June and July 2014. A total of 540 households, with an estimated 2690 members, were selected in four kebeles of the district known to have high incidence of malaria. Trained data collectors interviewed household heads to collect information on the knowledge, ownership and utilization of LLINs, which was complemented by direct observation on the conditions and use of the nets through house-to-house visit. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated to LLIN use. Results Of 540 households intended to be included in the survey, 507 responded to the study (94.24% response rate), covering the homes of 2759 people. More than 58% of the households had family size >5 (the regional average), and 60.2% of them had at least one child below the age of 5 years. The ownership of at least one LLIN among households surveyed was 89.9%, and using at least one LLIN during the night prior to the survey among net owners was 85.1% (n = 456). Only 36.7% (186) mentioned at least as the mean of correct scores of all participants for 14 possible malaria symptoms and 32.7% (166) knew at least as the mean of correct scores of all participants for possible preventive methods. Over 30% of nets owned by the households were out of use. After controlling for confounding factors, having two or more sleeping places (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.58, 95% CI 1.17, 5.73), knowledge that LLIN prevents malaria (aOR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.17, 5.37), the presence of hanging bed nets (aOR = 19.24, 95% CI 9.24, 40.07) and walls of the house plastered or painted >12 months ago (aOR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.01, 0.71) were important predictors of LLIN utilization. Conclusions This study found a higher proportion of LLIN ownership and utilization by households than had previously been found in similar studies in Ethiopia, and in many studies in SSA. However, poor knowledge of the transmission mechanisms and the symptoms of malaria, and vector control measures to prevent malaria were evident. Moderate proportions of nets were found to be out of use or in poor repair. Efforts should be in place to maintain the current rate of utilization of LLIN in the district and improve on the identified gaps in order to support the elimination of malaria

Urinary proteome and metabolome in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris): The effect of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive and irreversible disease. Although urine is an ideal biological sample for proteomics and metabolomics studies, sensitive and specific biomarkers are currently lacking in dogs. This study characterised dog urine proteome and metabolome aiming to identify and possibly quantify putative biomarkers of CKD in dogs. Twenty-two healthy dogs and 28 dogs with spontaneous CKD were selected and urine samples were collected. Urinary proteome was separated by SDS-PAGE and analysed by mass spectrometry, while urinary metabolome was analysed in protein-depleted samples by 1D 1H NMR spectra. The most abundant proteins in urine samples from healthy dogs were uromodulin, albumin and, in entire male dogs, arginine esterase. In urine samples from CKD dogs, the concentrations of uromodulin and albumin were significantly lower and higher, respectively, than in healthy dogs. In addition, these samples were characterised by a more complex protein pattern indicating mixed glomerular (protein bands ≥65 kDa) and tubular (protein bands <65 kDa) proteinuria. Urine spectra acquired by NMR allowed the identification of 86 metabolites in healthy dogs, belonging to 49 different pathways mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, purine and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis or tricarboxylic acid cycle. Seventeen metabolites showed significantly different concentrations when comparing healthy and CKD dogs. In particular, carnosine, trigonelline, and cis-aconitate, might be suggested as putative biomarkers of CKD in dogsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Head and Neck Cancer Susceptibility and Metabolism in Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare inherited, generally autosomal recessive syndrome, but it displays X-linked or dominant negative inheritance for certain genes. FA is characterized by a deficiency in DNA damage repair that results in bone marrow failure, and in an increased risk for various epithelial tumors, most commonly squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) and of the esophagus, anogenital tract and skin. Individuals with FA exhibit increased human papilloma virus (HPV) prevalence. Furthermore, a subset of anogenital squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in FA harbor HPV sequences and FA-deficient laboratory models reveal molecular crosstalk between HPV and FA proteins. However, a definitive role for HPV in HNSCC development in the FA patient population is unproven. Cellular metabolism plays an integral role in tissue homeostasis, and metabolic deregulation is a known hallmark of cancer progression that supports uncontrolled proliferation, tumor development and metastatic dissemination. The metabolic consequences of FA deficiency in keratinocytes and associated impact on the development of SCC in the FA population is poorly understood. Herein, we review the current literature on the metabolic consequences of FA deficiency and potential effects of resulting metabolic reprogramming on FA cancer phenotypes

An investigation of groundwater vulnerability within the vicinity of a landfill: A case study of Pomona Landfill, Harare.

Landfills are considered to be one of the major threats to groundwater quality. The study focused on Pomona Landfill in Harare which is the only official active landfill for Harare City Council. The main purpose of this study was to investigate groundwater vulnerabilitywithin the vicinity of the landfill. Groundwater and leachate samples were collected and analysed for selected water quality parameters and compared to Zimbabwe Standards of Drinking Water Quality and World Health Organization Guidelines. Groundwater samples were collected from eightpoints, two located upstream of the landfill and four located downstream of the landfill and two within the landfill. Leachate samples were collected from a leachate trench at the centre of the landfill and from a pond down-gradient where the leachate was drained out by gravity. Samples were collected and analysed, from February 2015 through June 2015 giving a total of thirty-two (32) groundwater samples and eight (8) leachate samples. The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model was used to estimate the quantity of leachate generated. In this study, the DRASTIC Model was also used for a part of Pomona area to generate a small-scale map of groundwater vulnerability to pollution.The results showed that,most parameters (87%) satisfied the Zimbabwe Standards of Drinking Water Quality and the stipulated World Health Organization potable water guidelines except turbidity and iron. The average volume of leachate discharged from Pomona Landfill during the period 1983 to 2014 was 94 486 m3/year. The average annual leakage from the landfill base was 13% of the average annual total precipitation of 708 140m3/year.Four different vulnerability zones were determined, namelylow vulnerability (38%), moderate vulnerability (58%), high vulnerability (3%)and very high vulnerability (1%). The current results show insignificant impact of the landfill operations on the groundwater resource. The existing soil stratigraphy at the landfill site consisting of clay and silt-clay is deduced to have influenced natural attenuation of leachate into the groundwater resource. It is however observed that in the absence of a properly designed leachate collection system, uncontrolled accumulation of leachates at the base of the landfill pose potential contamination risk to groundwater resource in the very near future. It is recommended that groundwater be monitored regularly and a properly engineered landfill be constructed.,WaterNe

Behavioural factors associated with cutaneous anthrax in Musadzi area of Gokwe North, Zimbabwe

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Effect of L-glutamine on the metabolism of deadherent cancer cells.

<p>MCF-7 cells transfected with osteopontin-c (C) were plated in poly-HEMA coated wells in complete medium (2 mM L-glutamine) or low glutamine medium (0.5 mM). MCF-7 vector cells (V) were plated in poly-HEMA coated wells in complete medium (2 mM L-glutamine) or high glutamine medium (4 mM). After 48 hours, the cells were harvested and lysed for analysis of the metabolite levels by NMR. Shown are comparison of MCF-7 OPNc to MCF-7 vector, both at normal levels of L-glutamine (2 mM), comparison of MCF-7 OPNc normal to low L-glutamine, comparison of MCF-7 vector normal to high L-glutamine.</p><p>Effect of L-glutamine on the metabolism of deadherent cancer cells.</p