Curing HIV-1 Infection via in vitro Ultra-Sensitive Modification of HIV-1 Uninfected CD4+ Cells using Antiviral Agents

Curing HIV-1 Infection via in vitro ultra-sensitive modification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) uninfected CD4+ cells is a promising hypothetical procedure that links different established clinical/laboratory tools (methods) and channeling them towards a clinical trial to achieve the ultimate goal of curing HIV-1 infection. The In vitro ultra-sensitive chemical modification of HIV-1 uninfected CD4+ cells using selected anti-viral agents towards curing HIV-1 infection entails a six step clinical/laboratory procedure. Isolation/purification of HIV-free CD4+ cells is the first step of this therapeutic procedure. In vitro CD4+ cell expansion/culture, ultra-sensitive chemical modification, inhibition/suppression of CD4+ cell proliferation, administration of chemically modulated cells to HIV-infected patient, monitoring/maintaining the physiological/biochemical processes under intensive care make up the other steps of this procedure consecutively. The milestones in this therapeutic method include increased bioavailability, minimum dosage, minimal or no side effects, shorter duration of treatment, mop-up of free plasma virions. The principal reason for this adopted method is that, the therapy overcomes the limitations posed by the current methods of managing HIV-1 infection using anti-retrovirals. Keywords: Curing, CD4+ cells, HIV-1 infection, antiviral, side effect, modificatio

Modulatory effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii on experimentally induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an age-related non-neoplastic disease of the prostate gland in men that has become a global health issue in recent years. Due to the side effects of conventional treatment options, attention is now focused on phytotherapeutics for its management. We investigated the possible protective effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii in a rat model of testosterone propionate (TP) induced BPH. Rats were divided into five groups: Gr. I, untreated control group; Gr. II, TP group; Gr. III, TP + finasteride; Gr. IV, TP + S. cerevisiae var. boulardii; and Gr. V, S. cerevisiae var. boulardii group. Treatments were given daily for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, all rats were weighed and the prostatic indices, prostate specific antigen, serum testosterone concentration as well as the histological and histomorphometric changes were evaluated. Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii significantly (P <0.05) reduced prostate weight, prostatic index, serum prostate specific antigen, prostatic epithelial thickness and increased luminal diameter. Thus, the results of this study suggest that S. cerevisiae var. boulardii is a potential pharmacological candidate for management of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Evaluation of toxicological implications of ingestion exposure to gasoline in mammals

Epidemiologic and experimental data suggest that exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon exert toxicities on variety of organs of living system such as the lungs, liver and kidney. Because increased LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL cholesterol and alteration in the level of total serum cholesterol have all been implicated as risk factors for atherosclerosis, this present study was designed to determine whether very low percentages of gasoline per kilogramme body weight could cause toxicity in rats. Female albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group was fed with normal rat diet. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed with diet contaminated with 0.10%, 0.50% and 1.00% gasoline respectively for a total of 14 days. Total serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were used as diagnostic markers to assess liver dysfunction. The mean levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the experimental groups when compared to the control and the mean level of HDL- cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) lower when higher percentage of gasoline was administered. These results showed that frequent exposure to gasoline fuel may be highly deleterious to the liver cells

Evaluation of the Quantitative Expression and Correlation between Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) During Follicular phase in Primary Infertile Women of Reproductive Age

Abstract: We determined the serum levels of FSH and LH i

Clinical chemistry and haematological assessment of quail egg-pretreated acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

This study investigated the possible hepatoprotective effect of quail egg solution on acetaminophen intoxicated rats. Thirty adult rats of mixed sexes were assigned into five groups of six per group. The rats in groups 2, 3, and 4 were pretreated with 30, 15, 7.5 mg/ml ad lib respectively of quail egg solution for 7 days before intoxication with 2000 mg/kg acetaminophen. Rats in group 5 were not pretreated but intoxicated with 2000 mg/kg acetaminophen (negative control) while the group 1 rats were neither pretreated nor intoxicated and served as positive control. Fourty eight hours post induction, blood for some biochemical and haematological analysis was collected and the remaining rats treated until 14th day when the rats were humanely sacrificed and vital organs (liver and kidney) collected for histopathology. The results showed that the ALT activity of 30 mg/ml pretreated rats were significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower than those of the negative control rats. Significant (p&lt;0.05) increases were seen in the RBC, WBC, PCV and Hb levels of quail egg pretreated rats when compared with the negative control. However no significant (p&gt;0.05) changes were seen in AST activity, MCHC and MCH levels of both the test groups and the controls. Histomorphometry examination revealed less severe vacuolar degenerative changes in the liver of 30 mg/ml pretreated rats when compared to the rats of other intoxicated groups. It was concluded that quail egg at the concentration of 30 mg/ml ameliorated hepatotoxicity and improved haematologic indices of acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rats.Keywords: Acetaminophen, Hepatotoxicity, Quail egg, Hematology, Histopathology, Liver enzyme

Tropical Africa’s first testbed for high-impact weather forecasting and nowcasting

Testbeds have become integral to advancing the transfer of knowledge and capabilities from research to operational weather forecasting in many parts of the world. The first high-impact weather testbed in tropical Africa was recently carried out through the African SWIFT program, with participation from researchers and forecasters from Senegal, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and international and pan-African organizations. The testbed aims were to trial new forecasting and nowcasting products with operational forecasters, to inform future research, and to act as a template for future testbeds in the tropics. The African SWIFT testbed integrated users and researchers throughout the process to facilitate development of impact-based forecasting methods and new research ideas driven both by operations and user input. The new products are primarily satellite-based nowcasting systems and ensemble forecasts at global and regional convection-permitting scales. Neither of these was used operationally in the participating African countries prior to the testbed. The testbed received constructive, positive feedback via intense user interaction including fishery, agriculture, aviation, and electricity sectors. After the testbed, a final set of recommended standard operating procedures for satellite-based nowcasting in tropical Africa have been produced. The testbed brought the attention of funding agencies and organizational directors to the immediate benefit of improved forecasts. Delivering the testbed strengthened the partnership between each country’s participating university and weather forecasting agency and internationally, which is key to ensuring the longevity of the testbed outcomes