A minimum estimate for the incidence of gastric cancer in Eastern Kenya

We documented available information concerning incident cases of gastric cancer in part of Kenya's Eastern Province between 1991 and 1993. By reviewing the records of all major health facilities in the area, 200 cases of gastric carcinoma were found giving an annual average crude incidence rate of 7.01 per 100 000 males and 3.7 for females (world age-standardised rates, 14.3 for males and 7.1 for females). There is likely to be underascertainment of cases especially among those aged over 65 years. Previous incidence estimates for the same area of Kenya were reviewed and a 10-fold increase in the recorded indirectly standardised incidence rate between the periods 1965–70 and 1991–93 was noted but this may be due to improved diagnostic facilities. The recent rates in this part of Kenya are comparable to Eastern European rates and similar to those recorded in other highland regions of Africa. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaig

The new scalar politics of evaluation: An emerging governance role for evaluation

In this article we analyze how roles for evaluation are described and argued for in key texts produced and/or promoted by three influential international networks: the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness; the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Assistance Committee’s Network on Development Evaluation; and the Network of Networks for Impact Evaluation. We contend that these complex multilateral networks are working supranationally through soft power to promote: common standards of evaluation practice; a dominant model of evaluation (impact evaluation); and new evaluation roles, relationships and practices for the field of development. Moreover, we argue that this emerging complex multilateral agenda for evaluation may position evaluation and evaluators within a global governance strategy allowing greater influence to international development organizations. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of the analysis for evaluators working in the field of international development

The Distribution of Dust and Gas in Elliptical Galaxies

Results from IRAS and recent optical CCD surveys are examined to discuss the distribution and origin of dust and ionized gas in elliptical galaxies. In strong contrast with the situation among spiral galaxies, masses of dust in elliptical galaxies as derived from optical extinction are an order of magnitude LOWER than those derived from IRAS data. I find that this dilemma can be resolved by assuming the presence of a diffusely distributed component of dust which is not detectable in optical data. The morphology of dust lanes and their association with ionized gas in elliptical galaxies argues for an external origin of BOTH components of the ISM.Comment: Invited talk given at conference on "NEW EXTRAGALACTIC PERSPECTIVES IN THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA: Changing Perceptions of the Morphology, Dust Content and Dust-Gas Ratios in Galaxies", Held in Johannesburg, South Africa, during January 22-26, 1996. Proceedings will be edited by D.L. Block and published by Kluwer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. uuencoded, gzipped LaTeX file of 8 pages; figures included as PostScript files (enclosed). Uses crckapb.sty (enclosed) and psfig.st

Downregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in nasal polyposis

BACKGROUND: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α, βδ and γ are nuclear receptors activated by fatty acid metabolites. An anti-inflammatory role for these receptors in airway inflammation has been suggested. METHODS: Nasal biopsies were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with symptomatic allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps were obtained from 22 patients, before and after 4 weeks of local steroid treatment (fluticasone). Real-time RT-PCR was used for mRNA quantification and immunohistochemistry for protein localization and quantification. RESULTS: mRNA expression of PPARα, PPARβδ, PPARγ was found in all specimens. No differences in the expression of PPARs were obtained in nasal biopsies from patients with allergic rhinitis and healthy volunteers. Nasal polyps exhibited lower levels of PPARα and PPARγ than normal nasal mucosa and these levels were, for PPARγ, further reduced following steroid treatment. PPARγ immunoreactivity was detected in the epithelium, but also found in smooth muscle of blood vessels, glandular acini and inflammatory cells. Quantitative evaluation of the epithelial immunostaining revealed no differences between nasal biopsies from patients with allergic rhinitis and healthy volunteers. In polyps, the PPARγ immunoreactivity was lower than in nasal mucosa and further decreased after steroid treatment. CONCLUSION: The down-regulation of PPARγ, in nasal polyposis but not in turbinates during symptomatic seasonal rhinitis, suggests that PPARγ might be of importance in long standing inflammations

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and immunostimulatory effect of extracts from Byrsonima crassa Nied. (Malpighiaceae)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several <it>in vitro </it>studies have looked at the effect of medicinal plant extracts against <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>(<it>H. pylori</it>). Regardless of the popular use of <it>Byrsonima crassa </it>(<it>B. crassa</it>) as antiemetic, diuretic, febrifuge, to treat diarrhea, gastritis and ulcers, there is no data on its effects against <it>H. pylori</it>. In this study, we evaluated the anti-<it>H. pylori </it>of <it>B. crassa </it>leaves extracts and its effects on reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates induction by murine peritoneal macrophages.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by broth microdilution method and the production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and nitric oxide (NO) by the horseradish peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenol red and Griess reaction, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The methanolic (MeOH) and chloroformic (CHCl₃) extracts inhibit, <it>in vitro</it>, the growth of <it>H. pylori </it>with MIC value of 1024 μg/ml. The MeOH extract induced the production H₂O₂and NO, but CHCl₃extract only NO.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based in our results, <it>B. crassa </it>can be considered a source of compounds with anti-<it>H. pylori </it>activity, but its use should be done with caution in treatment of the gastritis and peptic ulcers, since the reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates are involved in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal injury induced by ulcerogenic agents and <it>H. pylori </it>infections.</p

Plantar calcaneal spurs in older people: longitudinal traction or vertical compression?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plantar calcaneal spurs are common, however their pathophysiology is poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and correlates of plantar calcaneal spurs in a large sample of older people.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Weightbearing lateral foot radiographs of 216 people (140 women and 76 men) aged 62 to 94 years (mean age 75.9, <smcaps>SD</smcaps> 6.6) were examined for plantar calcaneal and Achilles tendon spurs. Associations between the presence of spurs and sex, body mass index, radiographic measures of foot posture, self-reported co-morbidities and current or previous heel pain were then explored.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 216 participants, 119 (55%) had at least one plantar calcaneal spur and 103 (48%) had at least one Achilles tendon spur. Those with plantar calcaneal spurs were more likely to have Achilles tendon spurs (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 3.5). Prevalence of spurs did not differ according to sex. Participants with plantar calcaneal spurs were more likely to be obese (OR = 7.9, 95% CI 3.6 to 17.0), report osteoarthritis (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.6 to 4.8) and have current or previous heel pain (OR = 4.6, 95% CI 2.3 to 9.4). No relationship was found between the presence of calcaneal spurs and radiographic measures of foot posture.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Calcaneal spurs are common in older men and women and are related to obesity, osteoarthritis and current or previous heel pain, but are unrelated to radiographic measurements of foot posture. These findings support the theory that plantar calcaneal spurs may be an adaptive response to vertical compression of the heel rather than longitudinal traction at the calcaneal enthesis.</p

Using indirect methods to constrain symbiotic nitrogen fixation rates : a case study from an Amazonian rain forest

© The Authors 2009. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License. The definitive version was published in Biogeochemistry 99 (2010): 1-13, doi:10.1007/s10533-009-9392-y.Human activities have profoundly altered the global nitrogen (N) cycle. Increases in anthropogenic N have had multiple effects on the atmosphere, on terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems, and even on human health. Unfortunately, methodological limitations challenge our ability to directly measure natural N inputs via biological N fixation (BNF)—the largest natural source of new N to ecosystems. This confounds efforts to quantify the extent of anthropogenic perturbation to the N cycle. To address this gap, we used a pair of indirect methods—analytical modeling and N balance—to generate independent estimates of BNF in a presumed hotspot of N fixation, a tropical rain forest site in central Rondônia in the Brazilian Amazon Basin. Our objectives were to attempt to constrain symbiotic N fixation rates in this site using indirect methods, and to assess strengths and weaknesses of this approach by looking for areas of convergence and disagreement between the estimates. This approach yielded two remarkably similar estimates of N fixation. However, when compared to a previously published bottom-up estimate, our analysis indicated much lower N inputs via symbiotic BNF in the Rondônia site than has been suggested for the tropics as a whole. This discrepancy may reflect errors associated with extrapolating bottom-up fluxes from plot-scale measures, those resulting from the indirect analyses, and/or the relatively low abundance of legumes at the Rondônia site. While indirect methods have some limitations, we suggest that until the technological challenges of directly measuring N fixation are overcome, integrated approaches that employ a combination of model-generated and empirically-derived data offer a promising way of constraining N inputs via BNF in natural ecosystems.We acknowledge and are grateful for financial support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (C.C. and B.H.), the National Science Foundation (NSF DEB-0515744 to C.C. and A.T. and DEB-0315656 to C.N.), and the NASA LBA Program (NCC5-285 to C.N.)

Tauopathic Changes in the Striatum of A53T α-Synuclein Mutant Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease

Tauopathic pathways lead to degenerative changes in Alzheimer's disease and there is evidence that they are also involved in the neurodegenerative pathology of Parkinson's disease [PD]. We have examined tauopathic changes in striatum of the α-synuclein (α-Syn) A53T mutant mouse. Elevated levels of α-Syn were observed in striatum of the adult A53T α-Syn mice. This was accompanied by increases in hyperphosphorylated Tau [p-Tau], phosphorylated at Ser202, Ser262 and Ser396/404, which are the same toxic sites also seen in Alzheimer's disease. There was an increase in active p-GSK-3β, hyperphosphorylated at Tyr216, a major and primary kinase known to phosphorylate Tau at multiple sites. The sites of hyperphosphorylation of Tau in the A53T mutant mice were similar to those seen in post-mortem striata from PD patients, attesting to their pathophysiological relevance. Increases in p-Tau were not due to alterations on protein phosphatases in either A53T mice or in human PD, suggesting lack of involvement of these proteins in tauopathy. Extraction of striata with Triton X-100 showed large increases in oligomeric forms of α-Syn suggesting that α-Syn had formed aggregates the mutant mice. In addition, increased levels of p-GSK-3β and pSer396/404 were also found associated with aggregated α-Syn. Differential solubilization to measure protein binding to cytoskeletal proteins demonstrated that p-Tau in the A53T mutant mouse were unbound to cytoskeletal proteins, consistent with dissociation of p-Tau from the microtubules upon hyperphosphorylation. Interestingly, α-Syn remained tightly bound to the cytoskeleton, while p-GSK-3β was seen in the cytoskeleton-free fractions. Immunohistochemical studies showed that α-Syn, pSer396/404 Tau and p-GSK-3β co-localized with one another and was aggregated and accumulated into large inclusion bodies, leading to cell death of Substantia nigral neurons. Together, these data demonstrate an elevated state of tauopathy in striata of the A53T α-Syn mutant mice, suggesting that tauopathy is a common feature of synucleinopathies

Usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users: a cross-sectional study

© 2007 Block et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens