Executive function abnormalities in pathological gamblers

Background: Pathological gambling (PG) is an impulse control disorder characterized by persistent and maladaptive gambling behaviors with disruptive consequences for familial, occupational and social functions. The pathophysiology of PG is still unclear, but it is hypothesized that it might include environmental factors coupled with a genetic vulnerability and dysfunctions of different neurotransmitters and selected brain areas. Our study aimed to evaluate a group of patients suffering from PG by means of some neuropsychological tests in order to explore the brain areas related to the disorder. Methods: Twenty outpatients (15 men, 5 women), with a diagnosis of PG according to DSM-IV criteria, were included in the study and evaluated with a battery of neuropsychological tests: the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), the Wechsler Memory Scale revised (WMS-R) and the Verbal Associative Fluency Test (FAS). The results obtained in the patients were compared with normative values of matched healthy control subjects. Results: The PG patients showed alterations at the WCST only, in particular they had a great difficulty in finding alternative methods of problem-solving and showed a decrease, rather than an increase, in efficiency, as they progressed through the consecutive phases of the test. The mean scores of the other tests were within the normal range. Conclusion: Our findings showed that patients affected by PG, in spite of normal intellectual, linguistic and visual-spatial abilities, had abnormalities emerging from the WCST, in particular they could not learn from their mistakes and look for alternative solutions. Our results would seem to confirm an altered functioning of the prefrontal areas which might provoke a sort of cognitive "rigidity" that might predispose to the development of impulsive and/or compulsive behaviors, such as those typical of PG. © 2008 Marazziti et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Antimalarial activity and toxicity evaluation of Kenyan Hugonia castaneifolia Engl. Teclea nobilis Del. and Turraea mombassana C.DC

The aqueous and methanol extracts of three medicinal plants, Hugonia castaneifolia, Teclea nobilis and Turrae mombassana were evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodial activity against a chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium falciparum strain (D6) and in vivo, against a P. berghei ANKA strain in mice. The extracts were also assessed for cytotoxicity in Vero cell lines and acute toxicity in mice. The water extracts were moderately active with IC50 of 33.07 3g/ml for T. mombassana and 23.92 3g/ml for H. castaneifolia while the methanol extracts of T. mombassana, H. castaneifolia and T. nobilis were highly active in vitro with IC50 of 6.1 3g/ml, 8.86 3g/ml and 8.61 3g/ml respectively. The methanol extract of T. mombassana had the highest chemosupppression followed by the methanol extract of H. castaneifolia in vivo. Aqueous extract of H. casteinofolia was weakly cytotoxic against Vero cells CC50 =22.00 3g/ml. No toxic effect or mortality was observed in mice treated orally with any of the extracts at the highest concentration of 5000mg/kg. These results demonstrate antimalarial potential and safety of the three medicinal plants tested, which are used traditionally for the treatment of malaria in Kenya. Keywords: Antiplasmodial; Malaria; Toxicity; Meliaceae; Rutaceae; Linacea

Examining the Gender Productivity Gap among Farm Households in Mali

AbstractThis paper decomposes the gender agricultural productivity gap and measures the factors that influence the gap between male and female agricultural plot managers in Mali. The Oaxaca–Blinder approach and the recentred influence function (RIF) decompositionmethodology are applied to a nationally representative survey of Mali. The results show that the agricultural productivity of female plot managers is 20.18%lower than that of male plot managers. Additionally, while more than half (56%) of the agricultural productivity gap is influenced by female-specific structural disadvantages, 44% of the gap is due to an endowment effect. Socioeconomic characteristics such as the educational level and age of the plot manager, environmental factors and agricultural production practices, i.e., the differential use of inputs (organic or inorganic fertiliser and improved seeds) and the use of hired female workers seem to affect the female-specific structural disadvantages. To reduce or close the gender productivity gap, the underlying causes of femalespecific structural disadvantages must be addressed to enable female farmers to obtain the same returns as men. Traditional means of addressing the gender gap, such as providing education for women in rural areas and facilitating rural women’ access to extension services and improved seeds, can mitigate the endowment deficit. This paper highlights the need to develop a better understanding of the factors influencing the structural disadvantages faced by female farmers inMali that could feed into the development ofmore effective policies to address the gender gap in agricultural productivity, improving productivity and gender equity and reducing poverty

Investigating a Non-Mesh Mosquito Net Among Outdoor Sleeping Nomadic Communities in Kenya.

Rising reports of exophagic malaria vectors make even more pressing the need for alternatives to traditional, mesh, long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) designed for indoor sleeping and often inadequate in the protection of outdoor-sleeping populations. This study tests and evaluates the retention, utilization, and durability of novel, non-mesh nets designed for outdoor use. Longitudinal, cross-sectional surveys were conducted, the physical condition of nets was assessed, and bio-efficacy and insecticide content were tested. At 22 months, retention was 98.0%; 97.1% of nets fell within the World Health Organization (WHO) category of being in "good" condition; none were in the "torn" category. At 18 months post-distribution, 100% of nets had at least WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES)-acceptable levels of insecticide, this proportion was 66.7% at 22 months. This novel mosquito net has the potential to provide a durable and context-specific tool to prevent malaria among traditionally hard-to-protect and highly vulnerable populations

Assessment of Grain Legumes and Dryland Cereals Seed Value Chains in Uganda

A well-functioning seed system is key to timely access to low-cost and quality seed by farmers. Improved varieties are critical to increase grain production in terms of both quality and quantity. Hence, decision-makers in agriculture face the challenge of developing an integrated and cost-effective seed system that can generate and deliver improved seed varieties to farmers, thereby ensuring seed security and enhancing livelihoods, particularly of the dryland farmers. This paper analyses the current state of Uganda’s seed value chain for grain legumes and dryland cereals (GLDC), the challenges as well as the opportunities in it. It also identifies critical areas that can drive sustainability in seed value chains

The Association of Parasitic Infections in Pregnancy and Maternal and Fetal Anemia: A Cohort Study in Coastal Kenya

Background: Relative contribution of these infections on anemia in pregnancy is not certain. While measures to protect pregnant women against malaria have been scaling up, interventions against helminthes have received much less attention. In this study, we determine the relative impact of helminthes and malaria on maternal anemia. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in coastal Kenya among a cohort of pregnant women who were recruited at their first antenatal care (ANC) visit and tested for malaria, hookworm, and other parasitic infections and anemia at enrollment. All women enrolled in the study received presumptive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, iron and multi-vitamins and women diagnosed with helminthic infections were treated with albendazole. Women delivering a live, term birth, were also tested for maternal anemia, fetal anemia and presence of infection at delivery. Principal Findings: Of the 706 women studied, at the first ANC visit, 27% had moderate/severe anemia and 71% of women were anemic overall. The infections with highest prevalence were hookworm (24%), urogenital schistosomiasis (17%), trichuria (10%), and malaria (9%). In adjusted and unadjusted analyses, moderate/severe anemia at first ANC visit was associated with the higher intensities of hookworm and P. falciparum microscopy-malaria infections. At delivery, 34% of women had moderate/severe anemia and 18% of infants' cord hemoglobin was consistent with fetal anemia. While none of the maternal infections were significantly associated with fetal anemia, moderate/severe maternal anemia was associated with fetal anemia. Conclusions: More than one quarter of women receiving standard ANC with IPTp for malaria had moderate/severe anemia in pregnancy and high rates of parasitic infection. Thus, addressing the role of co-infections, such as hookworm, as well as under-nutrition, and their contribution to anemia is needed

ANTAGONISTIC EFFECTS OF BIOCONTROL AGENTS AGAINST Phytophthora infestans AND GROWTH STIMULATION IN TOMATOES

Late blight disease is a major cause of economic losses in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum L.) production in eastern Africa. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma species in controlling late blight disease and their role on the growth of tomato. Trichoderma asperellum and T. harzianum were isolated from two commercial products containing the antagonistic species. Culture-based and molecular approaches, genomic DNA isolation and amplification, using ITS1 and ITS4 universal primers, and sequencing, were used to characterise the products. Trichoderma antagonistic effects against Phytophthora infestans (causative of tomato late blight) experiments were conducted in vitro and in the greenhouse. The greenhouse experiment had five treatments; namely, a negative control, Metalaxl-M, T. asperellum, T. harzanium and mixture of the two biocontrol agents, laid out in a randomised complete block design. The experiment was carried out for 12 weeks, with 3 weeks measurements intervals. Morphological and molecular characterisation confirmed the organism in most of the commercial products as T. harzianum and T. asperellum. An inhibiting action was observed on the P. Infestans mycelial growth, by the effect of T. asperellum (30.7%), and T. harzianum (36.9%).Trichoderma spp. suppressed late blight disease in the greenhouse experiment. These effects were specific to soil type, with the higher effectiveness realised in Ferralsols (27% disease severity) and least in Nitisols (36% disease severity). Trichoderma harzianum and T. asperellum resulted in higher above ground biomass of tomato of 31 and 19% increase over the control, respectively. There is potential of biocontrol agents in reducing P. infestans effects in tomatoes and in stimulating growth.La maladie du mildiou est une cause majeure de pertes \ue9conomiques dans la production de tomate ( Lycopersicon esculentum L.) en Afrique de l\u2019Est. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019\ue9valuer l\u2019efficacit\ue9 des esp\ue8ces de Trichoderma dans la lutte contre le mildiou et leur r\uf4le sur la croissance de la tomate. Trichoderma asperellum et T. harzianum ont \ue9t\ue9 isol\ue9s de deux produits commerciaux contenant les esp\ue8ces antagonistes. En se basant sur la culture et des approches mol\ue9culaires, l\u2019isolement de l\u2019ADN g\ue9nomique et l\u2019amplification, en utilisant des amorces universelles ITS1 et ITS4, et le s\ue9quen\ue7age ont \ue9t\ue9 utilis\ue9s pour caract\ue9riser les produits. Des effets antagonistes de Trichoderma contre Phytophthora infestans (causant le mildiou de la tomate) ont \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9s in vitro et en serre. L\u2019exp\ue9rience en serre a eu cinq traitements; \ue0 savoir, un contr\uf4le n\ue9gatif, Metalaxl-M, T. asperellum, T. harzanium et un m\ue9lange des deux agents de lutte biologique, dispos\ue9s dans un mod\ue8le de bloc complet randomis\ue9. L\u2019exp\ue9rience a dur\ue9 12 semaines, avec des intervalles de mesure de 3 semaines. La caract\ue9risation morphologique et mol\ue9culaire a confirm\ue9 l\u2019organisme dans la plupart des produits commerciaux comme T. harzianum et T. asperellum. Une action inhibitrice a \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9e sur la croissance myc\ue9lienne de P. Infestans, sous l\u2019effet de T. asperellum (30,7%) et T. harzianum (36,9%). Trichoderma spp. supprim\ue9 la maladie du mildiou dans l\u2019exp\ue9rience en serre. Ces effets \ue9taient sp\ue9cifiques au type de sol, avec une efficacit\ue9 plus \ue9lev\ue9e r\ue9alis\ue9e dans les Ferralsols (27% de gravit\ue9 de la maladie) et moins dans les Nitisols (36% de gravit\ue9 de la maladie). Trichoderma harzianum et T. asperellum ont entra\ueen\ue9 une augmentation de la biomasse a\ue9rienne de la tomate de 31 et 19% par rapport au t\ue9moin, respectivement. Les agents de lutte biologique peuvent r\ue9duire les effets de P. infestans sur les tomates et stimuler la croissance

Evaluation of the health-related quality of life of children in Schistosoma haematobium-endemic communities in Kenya: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis remains a global public health challenge, with 93% of the ~237 million infections occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. Though rarely fatal, its recurring nature makes it a lifetime disorder with significant chronic health burdens. Much of its negative health impact is due to non-specific conditions such as anemia, undernutrition, pain, exercise intolerance, poor school performance, and decreased work capacity. This makes it difficult to estimate the disease burden specific to schistosomiasis using the standard DALY metric. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In our study, we used Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), a modular instrument available for ages 2-18 years, to assess health-related quality of life (HrQoL) among children living in a Schistosoma haematobium-endemic area in coastal Kenya. The PedsQL questionnaires were administered by interview to children aged 5-18 years (and their parents) in five villages spread across three districts. HrQoL (total score) was significantly lower in villages with high prevalence of S. haematobium (-4.0%, p<0.001) and among the lower socioeconomic quartiles (-2.0%, p<0.05). A greater effect was seen in the psychosocial scales as compared to the physical function scale. In moderate prevalence villages, detection of any parasite eggs in the urine was associated with a significant 2.1% (p<0.05) reduction in total score. The PedsQL reliabilities were generally high (Cronbach alphas ≥0.70), floor effects were acceptable, and identification of children from low socioeconomic standing was valid. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that exposure to urogenital schistosomiasis is associated with a 2-4% reduction in HrQoL. Further research is warranted to determine the reproducibility and responsiveness properties of QoL testing in relation to schistosomiasis. We anticipate that a case definition based on more sensitive parasitological diagnosis among younger children will better define the immediate and long-term HrQoL impact of Schistosoma infection