Demographic profile and epidemiology of injury in Mthatha, South Africa

Objective: To determine the magnitude, socio-demographic and epidemiological characteristics of injury at a Provincial referral hospital.Methods: This review was conducted on all trauma patients admitted at the Mthatha Hospital Complex and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital from the 1st January 1997 to the 31st December 2000.Results: The incident rate of injuries was 3.2% (n=2460/75,833 total admissions). Injured patients were mostly black (80%) and males (ratio: 5 men: 1 woman). Only 8.1% of injured patients were transported to hospital by ambulances. The leading causes of injuries were inter-personal violence accounting for 60% of cases, and motor vehicle accidents accounting for 19%; of them 38% were due to poor visibility, over speeding, and fatigue. The overall mortality was 33% (n=821) independently predicted by poverty (OR=8.2 95%CI 6-11.1; P40 years(OR=7.8 95%CI 7.7-12.1;P<0.0001).Conclusion: The burden of injury is a mass issue that warrants regional attention with quality of care and training.Keywords: Injuries, violence, poverty, mortality, South AfricaAfrican Health Sciences 2013; 13(4): 1144 - 114

Metal Complexes with Schiff Bases: Data Collection and Recent Studies on Biological Activities

Metal complexes play a crucial role in pharmaceutical sciences owing to their wide and significant activities. Schiff bases (SBs) are multifaceted pharmacophores capable of forming chelating complexes with various metals in different oxidation states. Complexes with SBs are extensively studied for their numerous advantages, including low cost and simple synthetic strategies. They have been reported to possess a variety of biological activities, including antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, antimalarial, analgesic, antiviral, antipyretic, and antidiabetic ones. This review summarizes the most recent studies on the antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities of SBs-metal complexes. Moreover, recent studies regarding mononuclear and binuclear complexes with SBs are described, including antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimalarial, antileishmanial, anti-Alzheimer, and catecholase activities

Whole-genome characterisation of TEM-1 and CMY-2 β-lactamase-producing Salmonella Kentucky ST198 in Lebanese broiler chain

Objectives : Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Kentucky has been associated with the worldwide ciprofloxacin-resistant (CIPR) Salmonella Kentucky sequence type 198 (ST198) epidemic clone, mostly recovered from poultry farms and products. The aim of this study was to examine whether this expanding clone exists in the Lebanese broiler chain. Methods : Eight CIPR and extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella Kentucky isolates previously recovered from Lebanese broilers were genetically characterised by whole-genome sequencing. Results : Seven of the eight isolates belonged to ST198 and were phylogenetically closely related. They all harboured mutations in the chromosomal quinolone resistance genesgyrA and parC with double and single substitutions, respectively. The blaTEM-1B and blaCMY-2 genes were both detected in six isolates. Insertion sequence ISEcp1 was located upstream of blaCMY-2, harboured by IncI1 plasmids in four strains. An IS10 transposition coupled to homologous recombination at transposition sites mediated CMY-2 plasmid integration into the chromosome of one strain. Resistance genes to aminoglycosides [aadA7 and aac(3)-Id], tetracyclines [tet(A)] and sulfonamides (sul1) were detected in five strains, among which four were positive for the presence of Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1) variant SGI1-K. All studied isolates harboured a variety of Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) as well as common regulatory and virulence genes. Conclusion : Here we report for the first time in Lebanon the detection and dissemination of the emerging highly drug-resistantSalmonella Kentucky ST198. Our findings shed new light on this clone as a potential public-health threat

N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Silver Complexes as Versatile Chemotherapeutic Agents Targeting Human Topoisomerases and Actin

In recent years, the number of people suffering from cancer has risen rapidly and the World Health Organization and U.S. and European governments have identified this pathology as a priority issue. It is known that most bioactive anticancer molecules do not target a single protein but exert pleiotropic effects, simultaneously affecting multiple pathways. In our study, we designed and synthesized a new series of silver N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes [(NHC)(2)Ag](+)[AgX2](-) (X=iodide or acetate). The new complexes were active against two human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. These compounds showed multiple target actions as anticancer, by inhibiting in vitro the activity of the human topoisomerases I and II and interfering with the cytoskeleton dynamic, as also confirmed by in silico studies. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of these silver complexes was studied against Gram-positive/negative bacteria. These dual properties provide a two-tiered approach, making these compounds of interest to be further deepened for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents

Interface formation during the growth of phase change material heterostructures based on Ge-Rich Ge-Sb-Te alloys

In this study, we present a full characterization of the electronic properties of phase change material (PCM) double-layered heterostructures deposited on silicon substrates. Thin films of amorphous Ge-rich Ge-Sb-Te (GGST) alloys were grown by physical vapor deposition on Sb2Te3 and on Ge2Sb2Te5 layers. The two heterostructures were characterized in situ by X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopies (XPS and UPS) during the formation of the interface between the first and the second layer (top GGST film). The evolution of the composition across the heterostructure interface and information on interdiffusion were obtained. We found that, for both cases, the final composition of the GGST layer was close to Ge2SbTe2 (GST212), which is a thermodynamically favorable off-stoichiometry GeSbTe alloy in the Sb-GeTe pseudobinary of the ternary phase diagram. Density functional theory calculations allowed us to calculate the density of states for the valence band of the amorphous phase of GST212, which was in good agreement with the experimental valence bands measured in situ by UPS. The same heterostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction as a function of the annealing temperature. Differences in the crystallization process are discussed on the basis of the photoemission results

Abundant Human DNA Contamination Identified in Non-Primate Genome Databases

During routine screens of the NCBI databases using human repetitive elements we discovered an unlikely level of nucleotide identity across a broad range of phyla. To ascertain whether databases containing DNA sequences, genome assemblies and trace archive reads were contaminated with human sequences, we performed an in depth search for sequences of human origin in non-human species. Using a primate specific SINE, AluY, we screened 2,749 non-primate public databases from NCBI, Ensembl, JGI, and UCSC and have found 492 to be contaminated with human sequence. These represent species ranging from bacteria (B. cereus) to plants (Z. mays) to fish (D. rerio) with examples found from most phyla. The identification of such extensive contamination of human sequence across databases and sequence types warrants caution among the sequencing community in future sequencing efforts, such as human re-sequencing. We discuss issues this may raise as well as present data that gives insight as to how this may be occurring

Structural basis for LMO2-driven recruitment of the SCL: E47bHLH heterodimer to hematopoietic-specific transcriptional targets

Cell fate is governed by combinatorial actions of transcriptional regulators assembling into multiprotein complexes. However, the molecular details of how these complexes form are poorly understood. One such complex, which contains the basic-helix-loop-helix heterodimer SCL:E47 and bridging proteins LMO2:LDB1, critically regulates hematopoiesis and induces Tcell leukemia. Here, we report the crystal structure of (SCL:E47)bHLH:LMO2:LDB1LID bound to DNA, providing a molecular account of the network of interactions assembling this complex. This reveals an unexpected role for LMO2. Upon binding to SCL, LMO2 induces new hydrogen bonds in SCL:E47, thereby strengthening heterodimer formation. This imposes a rotation movement onto E47 that weakens the heterodimer:DNA interaction, shifting the main DNA-binding activity onto additional protein partners. Along with biochemical analyses, this illustrates, at an atomic level, how hematopoietic-specific SCL sequesters ubiquitous E47 and associated cofactors and supports SCL'sreported DNA-binding-independent functions. Importantly, this work will drive the design of small molecules inhibiting leukemogenic processes. © 2013 The Authors

GRIPS - Gamma-Ray Imaging, Polarimetry and Spectroscopy

We propose to perform a continuously scanning all-sky survey from 200 keV to 80 MeV achieving a sensitivity which is better by a factor of 40 or more compared to the previous missions in this energy range. The Gamma-Ray Imaging, Polarimetry and Spectroscopy (GRIPS) mission addresses fundamental questions in ESA's Cosmic Vision plan. Among the major themes of the strategic plan, GRIPS has its focus on the evolving, violent Universe, exploring a unique energy window. We propose to investigate $\gamma$-ray bursts and blazars, the mechanisms behind supernova explosions, nucleosynthesis and spallation, the enigmatic origin of positrons in our Galaxy, and the nature of radiation processes and particle acceleration in extreme cosmic sources including pulsars and magnetars. The natural energy scale for these non-thermal processes is of the order of MeV. Although they can be partially and indirectly studied using other methods, only the proposed GRIPS measurements will provide direct access to their primary photons. GRIPS will be a driver for the study of transient sources in the era of neutrino and gravitational wave observatories such as IceCUBE and LISA, establishing a new type of diagnostics in relativistic and nuclear astrophysics. This will support extrapolations to investigate star formation, galaxy evolution, and black hole formation at high redshifts.Comment: to appear in Exp. Astron., special vol. on M3-Call of ESA's Cosmic Vision 2010; 25 p., 25 figs; see also www.grips-mission.e