Clinical Profile and Electrolyte Abnormalities in Hospitalized Under‑Five Children with Acute Gastroenteritis in a Tertiary Health Facility

Background: Electrolyte abnormalities constitute the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in younger children with acute gastroenteritis.The aim of the study was to determine the clinical profile and pattern of electrolyte abnormalities in under‑five children hospitalized for acutegastroenteritis from November 1, 2014, to January 31, 2015. Methodology: This was a cross‑sectional descriptive study among hospitalized under‑five children with acute diarrhea who were consecutively recruited from November 1, 2014, to January 31, 2015. Relevant clinical data were obtained, while the physical examination was done on all subjects. Serum electrolytes values were determined using the ion‑selective electrode system and compared with standard reference ranges. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 with the level of statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 108 under‑five children were studied. The majority (101; 93.5%) were <24 months of age, while 41 (38%) of low socioeconomic class background. Metabolic acidosis was the most common electrolyte abnormality followed by hyponatremia and hypokalemia occurring singly or in combination. The case fatality rate was 13 (12.0%). The electrolyte derangements associated with mortality were hypokalemia and acidosis: 11 (84.6%) each, 9 (69.2%) had hyperchloremia, while 6 (46.2%) were reported to have hyponatremia. Conclusion: Electrolyte derangements are common in under 5 years children with acute diarrhea with increased mortality in those with severe acute malnutrition. Proper health education is needed to ensure adequate nutrition and timely use of low‑osmolar oral rehydration solution as well as early referral of cases with persistent gastrointestinal losses in order to save lives. Keywords: Acute gastroenteritis, electrolyte abnormalities, under‑five childre

The Unusual Infrared Object HDF-N J123656.3+621322

We describe an object in the Hubble Deep Field North with very unusual near-infrared properties. It is readily visible in Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS images at 1.6um and from the ground at 2.2um, but is undetected (with signal-to-noise <~ 2) in very deep WFPC2 and NICMOS data from 0.3 to 1.1um. The f_nu flux density drops by a factor >~ 8.3 (97.7% confidence) from 1.6 to 1.1um. The object is compact but may be slightly resolved in the NICMOS 1.6um image. In a low-resolution, near-infrared spectrogram, we find a possible emission line at 1.643um, but a reobservation at higher spectral resolution failed to confirm the line, leaving its reality in doubt. We consider various hypotheses for the nature of this object. Its colors are unlike those of known galactic stars, except perhaps the most extreme carbon stars or Mira variables with thick circumstellar dust shells. It does not appear to be possible to explain its spectral energy distribution as that of a normal galaxy at any redshift without additional opacity from either dust or intergalactic neutral hydrogen. The colors can be matched by those of a dusty galaxy at z >~ 2, by a maximally old elliptical galaxy at z >~ 3 (perhaps with some additional reddening), or by an object at z >~ 10 whose optical and 1.1um light have been suppressed by the intergalactic medium. Under the latter hypothesis, if the luminosity results from stars and not an AGN, the object would resemble a classical, unobscured protogalaxy, with a star formation rate >~ 100 M_sun/yr. Such UV-bright objects are evidently rare at 2 < z < 12.5, however, with a space density several hundred times lower than that of present-day L* galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 27 pages, LaTeX, with 7 figures (8 files); citations & references updated + minor format change

Halo mass - concentration relation from weak lensing

We perform a statistical weak lensing analysis of dark matter profiles around tracers of halo mass from galactic- to cluster-size halos. In this analysis we use 170,640 isolated ~L* galaxies split into ellipticals and spirals, 38,236 groups traced by isolated spectroscopic Luminous Red Galaxies (LRGs) and 13,823 MaxBCG clusters from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) covering a wide range of richness. Together these three samples allow a determination of the density profiles of dark matter halos over three orders of magnitude in mass, from 10^{12} M_{sun} to 10^{15} M_{sun}. The resulting lensing signal is consistent with an NFW or Einasto profile on scales outside the central region. We find that the NFW concentration parameter c_{200b} decreases with halo mass, from around 10 for galactic halos to 4 for cluster halos. Assuming its dependence on halo mass in the form of c_{200b} = c_0 [M/(10^{14}M_{sun}/h)]^{\beta}, we find c_0=4.6 +/- 0.7 (at z=0.22) and \beta=0.13 +/- 0.07, with very similar results for the Einasto profile. The slope (\beta) is in agreement with theoretical predictions, while the amplitude is about two standard deviations below the predictions for this mass and redshift, but we note that the published values in the literature differ at a level of 10-20% and that for a proper comparison our analysis should be repeated in simulations. We discuss the implications of our results for the baryonic effects on the shear power spectrum: since these are expected to increase the halo concentration, the fact that we see no evidence of high concentrations on scales above 20% of the virial radius suggests that baryonic effects are limited to small scales, and are not a significant source of uncertainty for the current weak lensing measurements of the dark matter power spectrum. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, accepted to JCAP pending minor revisions that are included in v2 here on arXi

Ligand Bound β1 Integrins Inhibit Procaspase-8 for Mediating Cell Adhesion-Mediated Drug and Radiation Resistance in Human Leukemia Cells

BACKGROUND: Chemo- and radiotherapeutic responses of leukemia cells are modified by integrin-mediated adhesion to extracellular matrix. To further characterize the molecular mechanisms by which β1 integrins confer radiation and chemoresistance, HL60 human acute promyelocytic leukemia cells stably transfected with β1 integrin and A3 Jurkat T-lymphoma cells deficient for Fas-associated death domain protein or procaspase-8 were examined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Upon exposure to X-rays, Ara-C or FasL, suspension and adhesion (fibronectin (FN), laminin, collagen-1; 5–100 µg/cm(2) coating concentration) cultures were processed for measurement of apoptosis, mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP), caspase activation, and protein analysis. Overexpression of β1 integrins enhanced the cellular sensitivity to X-rays and Ara-C, which was counteracted by increasing concentrations of matrix proteins in association with reduced caspase-3 and -8 activation and MTP breakdown. Usage of stimulatory or inhibitory anti β1 integrin antibodies, pharmacological caspase or phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, coprecipitation experiments and siRNA-mediated β1 integrin silencing provided further data showing an interaction between FN-ligated β1 integrin and PI3K/Akt for inhibiting procaspase-8 cleavage. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The presented data suggest that the ligand status of β1 integrins is critical for their antiapoptotic effect in leukemia cells treated with Ara-C, FasL or ionizing radiation. The antiapoptotic actions involve formation of a β1 integrin/Akt complex, which signals to prevent procaspase-8-mediated induction of apoptosis in a PI3K-dependent manner. Antagonizing agents targeting β1 integrin and PI3K/Akt signaling in conjunction with conventional therapies might effectively reduce radiation- and drug-resistant tumor populations and treatment failure in hematological malignancies

Denying bogus skepticism in climate change and tourism research

This final response to the two climate change denial papers by Shani and Arad further highlights the inaccuracies, misinformation and errors in their commentaries. The obfuscation of scientific research and the consensus on anthropogenic climate change may have significant long-term negative consequences for better understanding the implications of climate change and climate policy for tourism and create confusion and delay in developing and implementing tourism sector responses

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Digestive system complications among hospitalized children with sickle cell anaemia in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: Sickle cell anaemia is a multi-systemic disease with variable clinical manifestations including those involving the digestive system. There is paucity of data on the digestive system complications of sickle cell anaemia in children in our setting.Objective: To determine the pattern of digestive system complications among hospitalized children with sickle cell anaemia in University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu, Nigeria.Methodology: A 7-year retrospective observational study of cases of digestive system complications among hospitalized children with sickle cell anaemia was carried out. Relevant clinical data including socio-demographic characteristics, digestive system complications diagnosed, definitive investigations applied, treatment given and possible outcomes were extracted from the case record files of selected cases using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY 2012) while the level of statistical significance was set at p&lt;0.05.Results: There were 350 children with sickle cell anaemia attending the sickle cell clinic out of which 33 had serious digestive system complications requiring hospitalizations during the period under review. Their mean age was 9.1±4.8years (9months to 18years).Nearly half, 16(48.5%) of the affected children were of low socio-economic background. Acute abdominal crisis, which was found in 12(36.4%) of cases was the most common complication, while cholelithiasis was the least common complication, occurring in one (3.3%) of the cases studied.Conclusion: Acute abdominal crisis is the most common digestive system complication in children with sickle cell anaemia in our setting. Efforts should be made to exclude other potential causes of acute abdomen which may require surgical intervention in children with sickle cell anaemia. History taking, diligent physical examination and relevant laboratory and imaging studies, would readily facilitate the diagnosis, and save lives.Keywords: Acute abdominal crisis, children, haemoglobin, hospitalization, multi-systemi

Bio-electric impedance analysis of body composition and glycaemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in south-east, Nigeria

Background: Metabolic derangements in diabetes grossly affect components of body composition particularly the fat mass. Adequate glycaemic control is key to the reduction of risks of associated complications.Objectives: To determine the pattern of glycaemic control and body composition in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).Methodology: This was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted in three centres in South-East Nigeria. Subjects were T1DM patients attending diabetic clinics at the hospitals who were consecutively recruited while controls were normal school children.Body composition was determined using bio-electrical impedance analysis method. Data was collected using a semi -structured proforma designed for the study and was subsequently analysed using SPSS version 22.0. The level of statistical significance was set at p&lt; 0.05.Results: A total of 108 children and adolescents comprising 54 diabetic patients and 54 controls (age and sex matched) were studied. The mean age of the subjects was 16.3 ± 3.5 years.Majority of the patients had high HbA1c, with a mean and range values of 11.3 ± 2.4 and 7.0 – 13.0%, respectively. The body composition parameters among subjects including the body mass index, skeletal muscle percentage, visceral fat percentage and resting metabolic rate were lower than that of the controls.Conclusion: A majority of the subjects had poor glycaemic control with overall lower measured body composition parameters. There is need to improve glycaemic control and maintain normal body composition in children and adolescents with T1DM in order to minimize the risks of diabetic complications in them.Keywords: Body composition; Glycaemic control; Children; Adolescent