Effects on mortality of a nutritional intervention for malnourished HIV-infected adults referred for antiretroviral therapy: a randomised controlled trial.

Malnourished HIV-infected African adults are at high risk of early mortality after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). We hypothesized that short-course, high-dose vitamin and mineral supplementation in lipid nutritional supplements would decrease mortality

Systemic lupus erythematosus induced by anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy: a French national survey

The development of drug-induced lupus remains a matter of concern in patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha. The incidence of such adverse effects is unknown. We undertook a retrospective national study to analyse such patients. Between June and October 2003, 866 rheumatology and internal medicine practitioners from all French hospital centres prescribing anti-TNF in rheumatic diseases registered on the website of the 'Club Rhumatismes et Inflammation' were contacted by email to obtain the files of patients with TNF-induced systemic lupus erythematosus. Twenty-two cases were collected, revealing two aspects of these manifestations. Ten patients (six patients receiving infliximab, four patients receiving etanercept) only had anti-DNA antibodies and skin manifestations one could classify as 'limited skin lupus' or 'toxidermia' in a context of autoimmunity, whereas 12 patients (nine patients receiving infliximab, three patients receiving etanercept) had more complete drug-induced lupus with systemic manifestations and at least four American Congress of Rheumatology criteria. One patient had central nervous system manifestations. No patients had lupus nephritis. The signs of lupus occurred within a mean of 9 months (range 3–16 months) in patients treated with infliximab and within a mean of 4 months (range 2–5 months) in patients treated with etanercept. In all cases after diagnosis was determined, anti-TNF was stopped and specific treatment introduced in eight patients: two patients received intravenous methylprednisolone, four patients received oral steroids (15–35 mg/day), and two patients received topical steroids. Lupus manifestations abated within a few weeks (median 8 weeks, standard deviation 3–16) in all patients except one with longer-lasting evolution (6 months). At that time, cautious estimations (unpublished data from Schering Plough Inc. and Wyeth Inc.) indicated that about 7700 patients had been exposed to infliximab and 3000 to etanercept for inflammatory arthritides in France. It thus appears that no drug was more implicated than the other in lupus syndromes, whose incidence was 15/7700 = 0.19% with infliximab and 7/3800 = 0.18% with etanercept. Clinicians should be aware that lupus syndromes with systemic manifestations may occur in patients under anti-TNF alpha treatment

Micronutrient Fortification to Improve Growth and Health of Maternally HIV-Unexposed and Exposed Zambian Infants: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: The period of complementary feeding, starting around 6 months of age, is a time of high risk for growth faltering and morbidity. Low micronutrient density of locally available foods is a common problem in low income countries. Children of HIV-infected women are especially vulnerable. Although antiretroviral prophylaxis can reduce breast milk HIV transmission in early infancy, there are no clear feeding guidelines for after 6 months. There is a need for acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe (AFASS by WHO terminology) foods for both HIV-exposed and unexposed children after 6 months of age.Methods and Findings: We conducted in Lusaka, Zambia, a randomised double-blind trial of two locally made infant foods: porridges made of flour composed of maize, beans, bambaranuts and groundnuts. One flour contained a basal and the other a rich level of micronutrient fortification. Infants (n = 743) aged 6 months were randomised to receive either regime for 12 months. The primary outcome was stunting (length-for-age Z < -2) at age 18 months. No significant differences were seen between trial arms overall in proportion stunted at 18 months (adjusted odds ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.50, 1.53; P = 0.63), mean length-for-age Z score, or rate of hospital referral or death. Among children of HIV-infected mothers who breastfed <6 months (53% of HIV-infected mothers), the richly-fortified porridge increased length-for-age and reduced stunting (adjusted odds ratio 0.17; 95% CI 0.04, 0.84; P = 0.03). Rich fortification improved iron status at 18 months as measured by hemoglobin, ferritin and serum transferrin receptors.Conclusions: In the whole study population, the rich micronutrient fortification did not reduce stunting or hospital referral but did improve iron status and reduce anemia. Importantly, in the infants of HIV-infected mothers who stopped breastfeeding before 6 months, the rich fortification improved linear growth. Provision of such fortified foods may benefit health of these high risk infants

Effect of collector, frother and depressant addition on the copper recovery and concentrate grade of the nchanga underground scavenger circuit of konkola copper mine - Zambia

Nchanga copper ore is a complex mixture of sulphide and oxide minerals and processing involves sulphide flotation and the sulphide rougher/scavenger tails rich in oxide minerals (acid soluble copper) are sent to the Tailings Leach Plant for the recovery of the acidsoluble copper. Currently, the acid insoluble copper (sulphides) losses on the scavenger banks are very high, from about 0.3 % TCu to 0.77 % TCu. Mineralogical tests carried out on the scavenger feed samples showed that the valuable minerals were liberated. This indicated that the chemical environment might have an effect on the recovery of the sulphide minerals (acid insoluble copper) lost to the tailings. In this paper the effect of collector, frother and depressant addition on thecopper recovery and concentrate grade of the Nchanga Underground Scavenger circuit was studied. The investigation involved the flotation recovery of sulphide minerals from the scavenger feed uponaddition of the collector, frother and depressant. The reagent dose rates were varied as follows: collector (10, 30, 50 and 80 g/t), frother (10, 20, and 30 g/t), and depressant (40, 60, and 100 g/t). The results showed that the addition of TDSC 39/R9004A frother (maximum recovery 72.49 % TCu with a concentrate grade of 29.5 % TCu at a dose rate of 30 g/t) to the scavenger feed is more effective than the addition of SIPX collector (maximum recovery of 23.99 % TCu with a concentrate grade of 26 % TCu at a dose rate of 50 g/t). The depressant (Deptan 100) was more effective at lower dose rate of 40 g/t at which the level of insolubles reduced to 35 %

The algae of Gaborone wastewater stabilization ponds: Implications for effluent quality

The types of algae found in the wastewater stabilization ponds in Gaborone were studied. Being the base of the food chain in any aquatic habitat, algae contribute significantly to the functioning and value of the ponds. The (liversit)' and abundance of the algae in the two pond systems at Broadhurst and Phakalane were determined. The nutrient composition i.e nitrates ami phosphates of the ponds were also determined. The ponds were found to have lower nutriellfs than the effluents from wastewater  treatment plant. Phakalane ponds had higher amounts of nutrients  compared to Broadhurst ponds. Blue-green algae (c)'anobacteria) and green algae were found to be the dominant algal groups. The Broadhurst ponds were dominated by green algae (58%) of all algae recorded  followed by blue-green algae (23.8%), diatoms (9.2%) and euglenoids  (8.5%). However, the blue-green algae were the most abundant group ill the Phakalane ponds (57.5%) followed by green algae (27%), diatoms (10.9%) and euglenoids (4.7%). Chlorella sp, Coelastrum combricum, C. microporium, Pediastrum boryanum and Scenedesmlls quadracauda were the most abandunt green algal species in the ponds. The blue-green algae Microcystis aeruginosa and M. flos-aquae were the most dominant species in both ponds, often forming heavy blooms. The blooms were the most striking feature of the ponds especially during the warm months. In this paper, the implications of the occurrence of algal blooms in the ponds and the use of the effluent for irrigation of edible plants and other uses are discussed. Key words: algal bloom, algal diversity, wastewater treatmellt, alga toxins, Microcyst

The nature of fast-and slow-floating sulphide minerals in Nchanga underground copper ore of Konkola copper mines Plc

No Abstract. Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 9(2) 2005: 31-3

The influence of grinding media on the pulp chemical conditions and flotation performance of Nchanga underground copper ore

Nchanga copper ore is a complex mixture of sulphide and oxide minerals and processing consists of sulphide flotation followed by sulphidisation and an oxide flotation step. The copper oxides have proved difficult to recover. The reason for poor recovery has been attributed to complex mineralogical characteristics of the ore. Previous laboratory test work carried out on the ore showed an improvement in the flotation recovery of oxide minerals after regrinding the sulphide rougher tails with mild steel media. However, further investigation showed that the increase in recovery was not due to increased liberation. This indicated that the increase was due to some other factors resulting from the regrind, such as change in the chemical environment. The influence of grinding media on the pulp chemical conditions and the resulting flotation performance of Nchanga underground copper ore has been studied to understand how grinding media affect the chemical conditions of the pulp. The media employed were stainless steel and mild steel, which created different chemical conditions in the pulp as measured by dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and pH. Better overall flotation performance was obtained in pulp ground by stainless steel media than by mild steel media. There was an improvement in the recovery of both sulphide and oxide minerals in the oxide flotation stage after regrinding by mild steel media. Stainless steel regrind did not increase the recovery but improved the grade of the oxide minerals in the oxide flotation stage. However, the flotation recovery of copper obtained after regrind by mild steel media was almost the same as that obtained without regrind by stainless steel media again indicating that the increased recovery obtained was not due to increased liberation. Several interesting observations concerning pulp chemistry measurements are discussed