Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum infection and drug resistance markers in Ota Area, Southwestern Nigeria

Purpose: Effective routine monitoring and surveillance of parasite genes is a necessary strategy in the control of parasites’ resistance to antimalarial drugs, according to the WHO’s recommendation. This cross-sectional study therefore aimed at carrying out an epidemiological analysis on malaria incidence in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State. Patients and methods: Blood and corresponding saliva samples were collected from 1,243 subjects of all ages and sex presenting with fever and a parasitemia level ≥2,000 between September 2016 and March 2018. Samples were collected from selected health facilities in the study area of Ogun state to establish the prevalence of falciparum malaria and determine resistance genes harbored by the parasites. The overall prevalence of falciparum malaria in the study site by microscopic examination was 45.86%. The highest incidence of 57.42% was recorded among male subjects. Point mutations of K76T and N86Y in the Pfcrt and pfmdr-1 genes, as well as non-synonymous mutations in Pfk13 genes, were screened for and sequenced for further analysis. Results: Pfcrt was detectable in 57.42% of blood and 51.02% of saliva samples, respectively. About 34.78% of the subjects that were confirmed microscopically harbored the Pfmdr-1 mutated gene while 26.67% of the saliva samples revealed Pfmdr-1. Epidemiological studies identified the presence of wild-type Pfk13 genes in 21.84% of blood and 44.44% of saliva samples correspondingly. For each of the genes evaluated, saliva portrayed great diagnostic performance when compared with blood. Conclusion: Findings from this study have established the prevalence of malaria and the resistance pattern of P. falciparum in the study area. The findings may help in formulating drug policies and suggest the use of saliva as a noninvasive point-of-care method of diagnosing malaria potentially deployable to rural endemic areas

South American species <i>Solanum alandiae</i> Card. and <i>S. okadae</i> Hawkes et Hjerting as potential sources of genes for potato late blight resistance

For several decades, wild species of Solanum L. section Petota Dumort. have been involved in potato cultivar breeding for robust resistance to pests and diseases. Potato late blight (LB) is caused by oomycete Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, and the genes for race-specific resistance to P. infestans (Rpi genes) have been introgressed into cultivated potatoes by remote crosses and trans- or cisgenesis, first from S. demissum Buk. and, more recently, from other wild species, such as S. bulbocastanum Dun., S. stoloniferum Schlechtd. et Bché, and S. venturii Hawkes et Hjerting (according to the nomenclature by Hawkes, 1990). Most wild species already involved in breeding for LB resistance came from North and Central Americas: series Bulbocastana (Rydb.) Hawkes, Demissa Buk. and Longipedicellata Buk., and some Rpi genes of these species have been already characterized in much detail. Rpi genes of South American species, including the series Tuberosa (Rydb.) Hawkes, have not been sufficiently investigated. Among the latter, this study focuses on the Rpi genes of S. alandiae Card. and S. okadae Hawkes et Hjerting. Four accessions of S. alandiae, one accession of S. okadae and 11 clones of interspecific potato hybrids comprising S. alandiae germplasm from the VIR collection were PCR-screened using specific SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Region) markers for eight Rpi genes. SCAR amplicons of five Rpi genes registered in this study were validated by comparing their sequences with those of prototype genes deposited in the NCBI Genbank. Among the structural homologues of Rpi genes found in S. alandiae and S. okadae, of special interest are homologues of CC-NB-LRR resistance genes with broad specificity towards P. infestans races, in particular R2=Rpi-blb3, R8, R9a, Rpi-vnt1 and Rpi-blb2 (94–99, 94–99, 86–89, 92–98 and 91% identity with the prototype genes, respectively). Our data may help to better understand the process of Rpi gene divergence along with the evolution of tuberbearing Solanum species, particularly in the series Tuberosa

Epidemiology of Plasmodium falciparum infection and drug resistance markers in Ota Area, Southwestern Nigeria

Purpose: Effective routine monitoring and surveillance of parasite genes is a necessary strategy in the control of parasites’ resistance to antimalarial drugs, according to the WHO’s recommendation. This cross-sectional study therefore aimed at carrying out an epidemiological analysis on malaria incidence in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State. Patients and methods: Blood and corresponding saliva samples were collected from 1,243 subjects of all ages and sex presenting with fever and a parasitemia level ≥2,000 between September 2016 and March 2018. Samples were collected from selected health facilities in the study area of Ogun state to establish the prevalence of falciparum malaria and determine resistance genes harbored by the parasites. The overall prevalence of falciparum malaria in the study site by microscopic examination was 45.86%. The highest incidence of 57.42% was recorded among male subjects. Point mutations of K76T and N86Y in the Pfcrt and pfmdr-1 genes, as well as non-synonymous mutations in Pfk13 genes, were screened for and sequenced for further analysis. Results: Pfcrt was detectable in 57.42% of blood and 51.02% of saliva samples, respectively. About 34.78% of the subjects that were confirmed microscopically harbored the Pfmdr-1 mutated gene while 26.67% of the saliva samples revealed Pfmdr-1. Epidemiological studies identified the presence of wild-type Pfk13 genes in 21.84% of blood and 44.44% of saliva samples correspondingly. For each of the genes evaluated, saliva portrayed great diagnostic performance when compared with blood. Conclusion: Findings from this study have established the prevalence of malaria and the resistance pattern of P. falciparum in the study area. The findings may help in formulating drug policies and suggest the use of saliva as a noninvasive point-of-care method of diagnosing malaria potentially deployable to rural endemic area

The relationship of thinking styles and academic performance of students

Introduction. In the conditions of modern Russian education, the emphasis is shifted to the ability of students to carry out non-standard professional duties and to work independently. All this leads to an increase in the number of studies to identify thinking styles in the student age.The aim of the current publication is to present the results of an empirical study focusing on identification of the relationship of thinking styles and academic performance among the students of Astrakhan State University.Methodology and research methods. In order to achieve the aim, the authors used the following research methods: Methods of Thinking Style (by A. K. Belousova), Learning Styles Questionnaire (by P. Honey, A. Mumford), Implicit Theories and Learning Goals Questionnaire (by C. Dweck), Scale of Academic Motivation (by T. O. Gordeeva, O. A. Sychev, E. N. Osin). To process the data, mathematical-statistical methods were employed: the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, the Independent Samples t Test (Student Test), the Mann-Whitney U Test, the Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient. All calculations were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 computer program.Results. In the course of empirical study, 82 students of five faculties of Astrakhan State University (40 boys and 42 girls aged 20 to 23 years old) were involved. As a result of empirical research, it was revealed that an initiative style of thinking with the variable “enriched personality” has a positive correlation, and critical thinking has a positive correlation with the variable “introjected motivation” and “external motivation”. Managerial and practical thinking styles positively correlate with the variables “achievement motivation”, “growing in telligence”, “enriched personality”, “cognitive motivation”, “adoption of learning goals”.Scientific novelty. The tendency to a reliable connection of thinking styles and academic performance was revealed. A positive correlation between managerial, practical thinking styles and cognitive motivation, achievement motivation is found out. Students with proactive, practical, managerial thinking styles have an above-average academic performance.Practical significance. The materials of the publication are of practical importance for teachers and students, as the study of the stylistic peculiarities of the individuality of students directly contributes to the effectiveness of the process of skills and knowledge development.Введение. В условиях современного российского образования акцент смещается на умение обучающихся нестандартно решать профессиональные задачи и повышение доли их самостоятельной работы. Все это побуждает увеличивать количество исследований по выявлению стилей мышления, свойственных молодым людям студенческого возраста. Цель статьи – представить результаты эмпирического исследования по определению взаимосвязи стилей мышления и академической успеваемости студентов Астраханского государственного университета.Методология и методы. Для достижения поставленной цели были использованы следующие методы исследования: методика «Стиль мышления» (А. К. Белоусова), опросник «Стиль деятельности» (П. Хони, А. Мэмфорд), Опросник имплицитных теорий и целей обучения (К. Двек), методика «Шкала академической мотивации» (Т. О. Гордеева, О. А. Сычев, Е. Н. Осин), а также математико-статистические методы обработки данных: критерий Колмогорова – Смирнова для одной выборки, критерий Стьюдента для независимых выборок, критерий Манна – Уитни, линейная корреляция Пирсона, ранговая корреляция Спирмена. Все расчеты выполнялись с помощью компьютерной программы IBM SPSS Statistics 21. Результаты. В эмпирическом исследовании приняли участие 82 студента (40 юношей и 42 девушки) пяти факультетов Астраханского государственного университета в возрасте от 20 до 23 лет. Было выявлено, что инициативный стиль мышления имеет положительную корреляцию с переменной «обогащаемая личность», критический стиль мышления – с переменными «интроецированная мотивация» и «экстернальная мотивация». Управленческий и практический стили мышления положительно коррелируют с переменными «мотивация достижения», «наращиваемый интеллект», «обогащаемая личность», «познавательная мотивация», «принятие целей обучения». Научная новизна. Выявлена тенденция к проявлению достоверной связи стилей мышления и академической успеваемости. Зафиксирована положительная корреляция между управленческим, практическим стилями мышления и познавательной мотивацией, мотивацией достижения. Студенты с инициативным, практическим, управленческим стилями мышления демонстрируют показатель академической успеваемости выше среднего. Практическая значимость. Материалы публикации имеют прикладное значение для преподавателей и студентов, так как учет индивидуальных стилевых особенностей обучающихся способствует повышению эффективности процесса освоения знаний и навыков

Эффективность и безопасность применения цепэгинтерферона альфа-2b в составе двойной схемы (цепэгинтерферон альфа 2b и рибавирин) противовирусной терапии у пациентов с хроническим гепатитом С, генотипами 2 и 3. Опыт реальной клинической практики

The objective: to analyze the experience of use of cepeginterferonalfa-2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotypes 2 and 3 in clinical practice, to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of this treatment regimen.Materials and methods. From 2013 to 2016 a total of 73 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) received antiviral therapy with cepeginterferon alfa 2b (cePEG-IFN alfa-2b) and ribavirin in the Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology of FSBE «Vishnevsky Third Military Clinical Hospital» of Russian Ministry of Defence. Treatment efficacy was assessed by the rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) on 24 week after completion of antiviral therapy. All cases of deterioration of the patient’s condition and laboratory abnormalities were registered throughout the treatment period and follow up. Severity of adverse events was assessed in accordance with the classification of CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events).Results. 73 CHC patients genotype 2/3 received cePEGIFN alfa-2b 1.5 μg/kg/week and ribavirin 800-1400 mg/day based on body weight for 24 weeks. SVR 24 was registered in 94,7% (n=54) of patients with HCV genotype 3 and in 93,7% (n =15) patients with genotype 2. During the first 12 weeks of therapy the normalization of serum transaminase activities was registered. All adverse events were typical for interferon/ribavirin treatment regimen.Conclusion. According to our data the use of double treatment regimen (CePEG-IFN alfa-2b and ribavirin) is reasonable in patients who don’t have negative predictive factors of response to IFN-based therapy. The SVR rate in this group of patients was 94.5%.Цель: проанализировать опыт применения цепэгинтерферона альфа-2b в составе двойной схемы (цепэгинтерферон альфа-2b и рибавирин) противовирусной терапии у пациентов с хроническим гепатитом С, генотипами 2 и 3 в клинической практике; оценить эффективность, безопасность и переносимость лечения.Материалы и методы. С февраля 2013 г. по март 2016 г. в Центре гастроэнтерологии и гепатологии 3-го Центрального военного клинического госпиталя им. А.А. Вишневского 73 пациента с хроническим гепатитом С (ХГС) получали противовирусную терапию (ПВТ) с применением двойной схемы, включающей цепэгинтерферон альфа-2b (цеПЭГ-ИФН альфа-2b) и рибавирин. Эффективность лечения оценивалась по частоте достижения вирусологического ответа через 24 недели после окончания терапии – устойчивый вирусологический ответ (УВО24). В процессе лечения фиксировались все случаи нарушения самочувствия пациентов и отклонений от нормы в лабораторных тестах крови. Выраженность нежелательных явлений оценивалась в соответствии с классификацией СТСАЕ (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events).Результаты. 73 пациента с ХГС, генотипом 2 и 3, получали цеПЭГ-ИФН альфа-2b 1,5 мкг/кг/нед. и рибавирин 800–1400 мг/сут в зависимости от массы тела в течение 24 недель. УВО 24 был зафиксирован у 94,7% (n=54) пациентов с 3 генотипом HCV и у 93,7% (n=15) пациентов с 2 генотипом. В течение первых 12 недель терапии у большинства пациентов отмечена нормализация активности сывороточных трансаминаз. Все наблюдавшиеся нежелательные явления были характерны для интерферона и рибавирина.Заключение. В работе представлен опыт применения комбинации цеПЭГ-ИФН альфа-2b и рибавирина у пациентов с 2 и 3 генотипом HCV. Согласно полученным нами данным, при применении цеПЭГ-ИФН альфа-2b и рибавирина у пациентов, не имеющих предикторов неблагоприятного исхода терапии, частота УВО составила 94,5%

Personality profiles and the "russian soul": Literary and scholarly views evaluated

Many domestic and foreign observers have claimed that Russians have a unique constellation of personality traits that mirrors their distinctive historical and cultural experience. To examine the hypothesized uniqueness of Russian personality, members of the Russian Character and Personality Survey collected data from 39 samples in 33 administrative areas of the Russian Federation. Respondents (N = 7,065) identified an ethnically Russian adult or college-aged man or woman whom they knew well and rated the target using the Russian observer-rating version of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. The mean personality profile of Russians was very similar to the international average based on 50 different countries, debunking the myth of a unique Russian soul.The small variations from world norms did not converge with depictions of Russian national character in fiction and the scholarly literature. New items intended to capture distinctive, emic aspects of Russian personality provided no new information beyond the familiar Big Five dimensions. Religion, ethnicity, and beliefs about the uniqueness of the Russian character and the malleability of personality traits had little effect on personality ratings. Perceptions of the Russian soul do not seem to be based on the personality traits of Russians

The relationship of thinking styles and academic performance of students

Introduction. In the conditions of modern Russian education, the emphasis is shifted to the ability of students to carry out non-standard professional duties and to work independently. All this leads to an increase in the number of studies to identify thinking styles in the student age.The aim of the current publication is to present the results of an empirical study focusing on identification of the relationship of thinking styles and academic performance among the students of Astrakhan State University.Methodology and research methods. In order to achieve the aim, the authors used the following research methods: Methods of Thinking Style (by A. K. Belousova), Learning Styles Questionnaire (by P. Honey, A. Mumford), Implicit Theories and Learning Goals Questionnaire (by C. Dweck), Scale of Academic Motivation (by T. O. Gordeeva, O. A. Sychev, E. N. Osin). To process the data, mathematical-statistical methods were employed: the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, the Independent Samples t Test (Student Test), the Mann-Whitney U Test, the Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, the Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient. All calculations were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21 computer program.Results. In the course of empirical study, 82 students of five faculties of Astrakhan State University (40 boys and 42 girls aged 20 to 23 years old) were involved. As a result of empirical research, it was revealed that an initiative style of thinking with the variable “enriched personality” has a positive correlation, and critical thinking has a positive correlation with the variable “introjected motivation” and “external motivation”. Managerial and practical thinking styles positively correlate with the variables “achievement motivation”, “growing in telligence”, “enriched personality”, “cognitive motivation”, “adoption of learning goals”.Scientific novelty. The tendency to a reliable connection of thinking styles and academic performance was revealed. A positive correlation between managerial, practical thinking styles and cognitive motivation, achievement motivation is found out. Students with proactive, practical, managerial thinking styles have an above-average academic performance.Practical significance. The materials of the publication are of practical importance for teachers and students, as the study of the stylistic peculiarities of the individuality of students directly contributes to the effectiveness of the process of skills and knowledge development