Characterization of variable regions of the Gp120 protein from HIV-1 subtype C virus variants obtained from individuals at different disease stages in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: The development of a vaccine against HIV/AIDS capable of preventing virus infection has been hampered by the HIV envelope (Env) heterogeneity that makes it difficult to induce neutralizing antibodies against Env proteins from different HIV clades. Several studies have indicated that gp120 Env protein sequence tends to change considerably during the course of HIV disease which allows the virus to escape the immune responses. In order to define gp120 sequence changes, we have characterized the V1, V2, V4 and V5 variable regions of gp120 variants from 72 HIV-1-clade-C-infected subjects from South Africa and Swaziland, which were naïve to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and at different disease stages. Sequence characteristics, such as aminoacid sequence length, presence of Putative N- Glycosylation Sites (PNGSs) and electric charge were investigated. Methods: According to the Avidity Index value and CD4+ T cell count, patients were classified for disease stage in three groups: recent, chronic and late stage, each one comprised of 24 patients. The V1 to V5 Env variable regions were directly PCR amplified from plasma virus RNA and sequenced. Results: A significant increase in the amino acid sequence length of V1 and V4 domains, and a corresponding increase of the “shifting” PNGSs were observed in the HIV variants obtained from individuals at chronic stage of disease, as compared to the recent infection group. Finally, a significant increase of the net electric positive charge of the V5 loop was found in the HIV variants from the group of subjects with late disease, as compared to the chronic disease group. Conclusion: We conclude that changes in sequence length, glycosylation pattern and net electrical charge in the variable V1, V4 and V5 regions of gp120 occur in the course of HIV infection, possibly in response to the pressure of the host immune response

Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR)

No abstract availabl

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN MAKANAN TAMBAHAN PADA PEKERJA WANITA ANEMIA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PRODUKTIVITAS

<p class="Style5">Malnutrition and anaemia reduce physical fitness and productivity. Correcting the Hb level of workers are expected to improve worker's human resource and productivity. This in turn, will bring mutual benefits both to the producers and to development overall.</p> <p class="Style5">A study on "The effect of food supplementation on anemic women workers to improve productivity", has been carried out.</p> <p class="Style5">The subjects of study were the workers of traditional herbal medicine factory with Hb levels below 12.0 gr/dl assigned in production section doing their work manually. The subjects were divided into three groups using simple random sampling. The first group was given supplementary food; the second was treated with supplementary food and iron pills once a week, and the third was placebo group as a control.</p> <p class="Style5">Supplementary food was given in the form of snack with energy content of 300 kcal, the amount to compensate the energy deficit (based on baseline data collected before), which was given five times per week within four months. The iron pill was ferrous sulfate with dose of 60 mg once a week also for four months.</p> <p class="Style5">The results of the study can be summarized as follows;</p> <ol><li>The group with supplementary food containing of300 kcal for four months shows similar result with the placebo group in terms of nutrition status, Hb level and productivity.</li><li>The group treated with supplementary food and weekly iron pill results in increase in Hb level and productivity significantly (p&lt;0.05).</li><li>Productivity of the first group increases by 154 packs/hour/person, while the second group, productivity increases by 164 packs/hour/person, and placebo group is 124 packs/hour/person.</li></ol

Chemical and thermal ocular burns: a review of causes, clinical features and management protocol

Chemical and thermal ocular burns are among the most urgent ophthalmic emergencies, often resulting in permanent damage, and in some cases, blindness. These burns are the result of exposure to chemicals or radiant energy (thermal or ultraviolet). The most serious injuries are due to chemical burns by strong acid or bases. The purpose of managing these burns is to eliminate or limit the causative agent from penetrating the ocular structures by irrigation; and, promoting ocular surface healing through medical and surgical intervention. This review presents a current update on the causes of chemical and thermal ocular burns, their clinical features and the importance of appropriate and prompt treatment

Subtype assignment and phylogenetic analysis of HIV type 1 strains in patients from Swaziland.

Aim of this study was to assess HIV-1 subtype distribution and prevalence of transmitted mutations related to antiretroviral drugs in Swaziland. According to the WHO guidelines, 47 plasma samples from naive patients stored at HIV/AIDS National Reference Laboratory in Mbabane between 2002 and 2003, before the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in the country, were studied. HIV-1 RNA was extracted from the plasma samples, RT and protease regions of pol gene were amplified and sequenced. The mutations associated to drug resistance were defined as major or minor on the basis of the recommendations of the International AIDS Society - USA panel. A mutation associated to non nucleoside inhibitors (Y181I) was found in one case showing a prevalence of transmitted drug resistance <5 in Swaziland. No major mutations conferring resistance to protease and nucleoside RT inhibitors were found. Clade assignment was performed by phylogenetic analysis of pol gene. The general time-reversible model of substitution was used to study the phylogenetic relationships between sequences obtained from Swazi patients and sequences from neighbor countries. All patients were found to carry a C subtype. No phylogenetic relationships were detected within Swazi sequences, indicating the absence of epidemiological relationships among patients in study. Although local variants of subtype C have been recently recognized, phylogenetic analysis did not reveal the presence of significant cluster of Swaziland sequences within African variants. This finding may be explained by multiple introduction of C strains

Characterization of variable regions of the Gp120 protein from HIV-1 subtype c virus variants obtained from individuals at different disease stages in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: The development of a vaccine against HIV/AIDS capable of preventing virus infection has been hampered by the HIV envelope (Env) heterogeneity that makes it difficult to induce neutralizing antibodies against Env proteins from different HIV clades. Several studies have indicated that gp120 Env protein sequence tends to change considerably during the course of HIV disease which allows the virus to escape the immune responses. In order to define gp120 sequence changes, we have characterized the V1, V2, V4 and V5 variable regions of gp120 variants from 72 HIV-1-clade-C-infected subjects from South Africa and Swaziland, which were naïve to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy and at different disease stages. Sequence characteristics, such as aminoacid sequence length, presence of Putative N-Glycosylation Sites (PNGSs) and electric charge were investigated. Methods: According to the Avidity Index value and CD4+ T cell count, patients were classified for disease stage in three groups: recent, chronic and late stage, each one comprised of 24 patients. The V1 to V5 Env variable regions were directly PCR amplified from plasma virus RNA and sequenced. Results: A significant increase in the amino acid sequence length of V1 and V4 domains, and a corresponding increase of the "shifting" PNGSs were observed in the HIV variants obtained from individuals at chronic stage of disease, as compared to the recent infection group. Finally, a significant increase of the net electric positive charge of the V5 loop was found in the HIV variants from the group of subjects with late disease, as compared to the chronic disease group. Conclusion: We conclude that changes in sequence length, glycosylation pattern and net electrical charge in the variable V1, V4 and V5 regions of gp120 occur in the course of HIV infection, possibly in response to the pressure of the host immune response. © 2012 Cenci A

The Traditional Custom of Chastity and Sexual Restraint in the Education of the Young Swazi Girl

This article deals with the traditional custom of chastity and sexual restraint of the Swazi people, living in a ‘tiny kindom’ in Southern Africa under the current leadership of King Mswati III. The custom, referred to as Umcwasho, is a custom that forbids young, unmarried females engaging in any form of sexual activity for a specified period, the length of which is determined by the king. The Swazi people are known to be very strict and conservative, and traditionally permit only a restricted form of sexual activity among the young who have reached puberty. Swazi parents grant their teenagers no free sexual experimentation whatsoever. Parents, at all times, call upon restricted and inhibited sexual behaviour, which means that they will allow, ‘at the utmost’ only external intercourse and sex play. The maintenance of virginity in both boys and girls is above all treasured and extremely highly valued. The above facts and the supposed impact thereof on young people contributed to determine the aim and focus of this research, namely, to determine what the custom of chastity and sexual restraint in Swazi culture entail, and what meaning and value the Swazi people attach to this type of traditional education. The value and importance of the custom of chastity and sexual restraint, that falls under the jurisdiction of the King himself became obvious during the course of this research. From the results of the study it is understood that not only the observation of the custom, but particularly the meaning thereof, are highly valued and respected by the nation

Perspective: Food Environment Research Priorities for Africa-Lessons from the Africa Food Environment Research Network.

Over the last 2 decades, many African countries have undergone dietary and nutrition transitions fueled by globalization, rapid urbanization, and development. These changes have altered African food environments and, subsequently, dietary behaviors, including food acquisition and consumption. Dietary patterns associated with the nutrition transition have contributed to Africa&#8217;s complex burden of malnutrition-obesity and other diet-related noncommunicable diseases (DR-NCDs)-along with persistent food insecurity and undernutrition. Available evidence links unhealthy or obesogenic food environments (including those that market and offer energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages) with suboptimal diets and associated adverse health outcomes. Elsewhere, governments have responded with policies to improve food environments. However, in Africa, the necessary research and policy action have received insufficient attention. Contextual evidence to motivate, enable, and create supportive food environments in Africa for better population health is urgently needed. In November 2020, the Measurement, Evaluation, Accountability, and Leadership Support for Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention Project (MEALS4NCDs) convened the first Africa Food Environment Research Network Meeting (FERN2020). This 3-d virtual meeting brought researchers from around the world to deliberate on future directions and research priorities related to improving food environments and nutrition across the African continent. The stakeholders shared experiences, best practices, challenges, and opportunities for improving the healthfulness of food environments and related policies in low- and middle-income countries. In this article, we summarize the proceedings and research priorities identified in the meeting to advance the food environment research agenda in Africa, and thus contribute to the promotion of healthier food environments to prevent DR-NCDs, and other forms of&nbsp;malnutrition.</p