Specific Rab GTPase-activating proteins define the Shiga toxin and epidermal growth factor uptake pathways

Rab family guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) together with their regulators define specific pathways of membrane traffic within eukaryotic cells. In this study, we have investigated which Rab GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) can interfere with the trafficking of Shiga toxin from the cell surface to the Golgi apparatus and studied transport of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) from the cell surface to endosomes. This screen identifies 6 (EVI5, RN-tre/USP6NL, TBC1D10A–C, and TBC1D17) of 39 predicted human Rab GAPs as specific regulators of Shiga toxin but not EGF uptake. We show that Rab43 is the target of RN-tre and is required for Shiga toxin uptake. In contrast, RabGAP-5, a Rab5 GAP, was unique among the GAPs tested and reduced the uptake of EGF but not Shiga toxin. These results suggest that Shiga toxin trafficking to the Golgi is a multistep process controlled by several Rab GAPs and their target Rabs and that this process is discrete from ligand-induced EGF receptor trafficking

Predictors of underweight in children under-five years in Ghana

Background: Underweight is a key indicator of malnutrition in children and results in long term effects such as abnormalities in physical and mental health, behavioural problems, and low educational achievement.Objective: Using the conceptual framework for child malnutrition by the United Nations Children's Fund, we examined the predictors of underweight in children under five years in Ghana.Methods: This cross-sectional study made use of data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 2720 children were included in the analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics comprising frequency, percentage, chi-square, and binary logistic regression were used in analysing the data.Results: The prevalence of underweight was 11%. Age, wealth status, mother’s education, region, ethnicity, household toilet facility, the source of drinking water, the incidence of diarrhoea, and subscription to health insurance significantly predicted underweight in the children. The risk of being underweight was higher in females than males (OR=1.04, 95% CI=0.81–1.34). This was, however, not statistically significant. The probability of being underweight also declined significantly with mother’s level of education.Conclusion: Our findings underscore the need for the Ghana Health Service and other health sector stakeholders to apportion interventions with a focus on improving complementary feeding, poverty alleviation, and health status of children.Funding: No funding was received for the studyKeywords: malnutrition, underweight, predictors, children, under five, Ghan

Prevalence Of Anemia Among Teenage Pregnant Girls Attending Antenatal Clinic In Two Health Facilities In Bungoma District, Western Kenya

Severe anemia is an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality among teenage pregnant girls who are susceptible because of their rapid growth and associated high iron requirements. Teenage girls often enter pregnancy with less adequate stores of nutrients and are thus unable to withstand the demands imposed by pregnancy. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among teenage pregnant girls. The study was conducted at Maternal Child Health Clinic of   Bungoma district hospital and Bumula Health Centre. This was a cross section study. Teenage pregnant girls attending ANC were recruited. Food frequency questionnaires were used to assess the dietary intake and factors associated with anemia. Blood sample and stool were used to determine the hemoglobin levels and presence of intestinal worms. The prevalence of anemia was 61% (Hemoglobin < 110 g/L). 20.5% had severe anemia, (hemoglobin < 60 g/L), 31.2% had moderate anemia (hemoglobin < or = 90 g/L), and 48.3% had mild anemia.  Iron intake was significantly associated with perceived food shortage (OR: 2.548; 95% CI: 1.632 – 3.980). Hookworm affected calcium intake (OR: 3.074; 95% CI: 1.089 – 8.698) and malaria parasites affected folate intake (OR: 0.355; 95% CI: 0.226 – 0.557). Those with hookworm were 3 times more likely to have inadequate calcium intake as compared to those without. Anemia was high in the study population. Parasitic infestation and food intake were associated with anemia. De-worming with correction of anemia should be encouraged. Keywords:Anemia, teenage girls, pregnancy, nutrient intake, iro

Estimation of Flow Capacity in Pipelines Based on the Intrinsic Variation of the Volumetric Properties of the Natural Gas Mixture

In this paper, the Weymouth equation was applied so as to consider the pipeline characteristics, thermodynamic and physical gas properties. From literature, volumetric parameters like the specific gravity and compressibility are mostly assumed to be constants. Since they are related to flow, pressure and temperature values; neglecting their variation during pipeline transportation may lead to significant misleading results in the computation of pipeline resistance. Considering that providing global optimal solutions to instances of considerable size can become time-consuming, thus a mathematical optimization method was applied to find the solution that will satisfy these systems. Critical property correlations (Thomas, Standing and Sulton) and Compressibility correlations (Hall-Yarborough, Danchuk-Purvis Robinson are used mathematically to generate results that will optimize the gas pipeline transportation without assuming specific gravity and compressibility factor of the gas constant. The model proposed in this study showed that specific gravity and compressibility have an effect on gas pipeline flow rate. It was observed that at very low and very high specific gravity, that the gas flow rate is reduced by more than 10% while the gas density increases. It can also be stated from the results that, compressibility is directly proportional to flow rate and inversely proportional to density

Functional dissection of Rab GTPases involved in primary cilium formation

Primary cilia are sensory structures involved in morphogen signalling during development, liquid flow in the kidney, mechanosensation, sight, and smell (Badano, J.L., N. Mitsuma, P.L. Beales, and N. Katsanis. 2006. Annu. Rev. Genomics Hum. Genet. 7:125–148; Singla, V., and J.F. Reiter. 2006. Science. 313:629–633.). Mutations that affect primary cilia are responsible for several diseases, including neural tube defects, polycystic kidney disease, retinal degeneration, and cancers (Badano et al., 2006; Singla and Reiter, 2006). Primary cilia formation and function requires tight integration of the microtubule cytoskeleton with membrane trafficking (Singla and Reiter, 2006), and this is poorly understood. We show that the Rab GTPase membrane trafficking regulators Rab8a, -17, and -23, and their cognate GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs), XM_037557, TBC1D7, and EVI5like, are involved in primary cilia formation. However, other human Rabs and GAPs are not. Additionally, Rab8a specifically interacts with cenexin/ODF2, a basal body and microtubule binding protein required for cilium biogenesis (Ishikawa, H., A. Kubo, S. Tsukita, and S. Tsukita. 2005. Nat. Cell Biol. 7:517–524), and is the sole Rab enriched at primary cilia. These findings provide a basis for understanding how specific membrane trafficking pathways cooperate with the microtubule cytoskeleton to give rise to the primary cilia

Prevalence and factors associated with female genital mutilation among women of reproductive age in the Bawku municipality and Pusiga District of northern Ghana

Abstract Background Globally, three million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) and an estimated 200 million girls and women in the world have undergone FGM. While the overall prevalence of FGM in Ghana is 4%, studies have shown that the overall prevalence in the Upper East Region is 38%, with Bawku municipality recording the highest at 82%. Methods This study used a cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach: a survey with women of reproductive age (15–49). Results Among all respondents, 830 women who participated in the study, 61% reported having undergone FGM. Of those circumcised, 66% indicated their mothers influenced it. Three quarters of the women think FGM could be stopped through health education. Women who live in the Pusiga district (AOR: 1.66; 95% CI: 1.16–2.38), are aged 35–49 (AOR: 4.24; 95% CI: 2.62–6.85), and have no formal education (AOR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.43–5.43) or primary education (AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.03–4.31) were more likely to be circumcised relative to those who reside in Bawku Municipal, are aged 15–24, and had tertiary education. Likewise, married women (AOR: 3.82; 95% CI: 2.53–5.76) were more likely to have been circumcised compared with unmarried women. At a site-specific level, factors associated with FGM included age and marital status in Bawku, and age, marital status, and women’s education in Pusiga. Conclusion Female Genital Mutilation is still being practiced in the Bawku Municipality and the Pusiga District of northern Ghana, particularly among women with low socio-economic status. Implementing interventions that would provide health education to communities and promote girl-child education beyond the primary level could help end the practice.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145688/1/12905_2018_Article_643.pd

Potency of Beluntas (Pluchea Indica Less) Leaves Extract as Antioxidant and Anti Warmed Over Flavor (Wof) of Duck Meat

Beluntas (Pluchea indica Less) is a herb plant used as a traditional medicine or eaten in fresh form. Thereare phytochemical compounds such as essential oils, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, phenolshydroquinone, and cardiac glycosides compounds of beluntas leaves that cause it having potential as antioxidant.Difference of solvent polarity can cause concentration and composition of phytochemical compoundsin extract differed, therefore this study was conducted to determine the potential for beluntasleaves extracts (water, methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane) and fractions (water, ethyl acetate,and n‐butanol) as an antioxidant and antiwarmed over flavor (WOF) in duck meat during storage. Theresults showed that the methanol extract of the beluntas leaves (EMB) of the most potential as a source ofantioxidants because the concentration and composition of phytochemical compounds, total phenols andtotal flavonoids than the water, ethanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane extracts. Furthermore EMB was fractionatedby difference of solvent polarity (ethyl acetate, water, n‐butanol). Test showed that EMB antioxidantcapacity and its fractions had the difference in the ability of antioxidant compounds in the EMB andeach fraction in different test systems. EMB had the potency to scavenge superoxide radicals, reduce ironions, and inhibit bleaching of linoleic acid‐β‐carotene system. Ethyl acetate fraction (FEA) had the potencyto scavenge superoxide radicals, reduce iron ions, chelate of iron ions and haemoglobin (Hb), thusFEA was effective as antiwarmed over flavor (WOF) in duck meat, which protected linoleic acid, decreasedof TBARS and hexanal

SARS-CoV-2 detection among international air travellers to Ghana during mandatory quarantine

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 detection among international travellers to Ghana during mandatory quarantine.Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study.Setting: Air travellers to Ghana on 21st and 22nd March 2020.Participants: On 21st and 22nd March 2020, a total of 1,030 returning international travellers were mandatorily quarantined in 15 different hotels in Accra and tested for SARS-CoV-2. All of these persons were included in the study.Main outcome measure: Positivity for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction.Results: The initial testing at the beginning of quarantine found 79 (7.7%) individuals to be positive for SARS-CoV-2. In the exit screening after 12 to 13 days of quarantine, it was discovered that 26 of those who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in the initial screening subsequently tested positive.Conclusions: Ghana likely averted an early community spread of COVID-19 through the proactive approach to quarantine international travellers during the early phase of the pandemic