HIV subtype and drug resistance patterns among drug naïve persons in Jos, Nigeria

To determine HIV-1 subtypes and antiretroviral drug resistance mutations for 16 infected, pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria, part of pol (1040 bp) was amplified from patient PBMC DNA, sequenced andanalyzed. Eight of the samples were subtype G, three were CRF02_AG and 2 were unique recombinant forms (URF) between G and CRF02_AG. The remaining consisted of 3 different strains: one was subtypeC, and the other 2 were unrelated URF. Nearly full-length genome sequences were completed for 6 of the strains: 4 subtype G and 2 CRF02_AG. In the 14 drug-naïve subjects, no primary resistance-associated mutations were found, but secondary mutations were identified in 7 different codons of the gene coding for protease: PR K20I, M36I, L63A/P/V, V82I, L10M/I and I93L. In addition, the K238R mutation was identified in the reverse transcriptase gene of 3 viruses. The PR K20I and M36I mutations occurred in all of the strains, and the L10M and V82I mutations occurred only in subtype G. The mutation, I93L, was carried by subtype C viruses. Two of the women that had prior niverapine treatment, had primary resistance-associated mutations, RT M184V and K103N, archived in their proviral DNA several months after treatment cessation. The study reports a predominance of clade G and CRF02_AG, and provides many more examples of nearly full-length genome sequences for subtype G viruses from Nigeria. The ubiquitous presence of PI secondary resistance-associated mutations, as well as primary resistanceassociatedmutations in 2 previously treated women, underscores the need to ensure adherence compliance to treatment

Predictors of unintentional childhood injuries seen at the Accident and Emergency Units of three tertiary health care centres in Jos

Background: Unintentional childhood injuries pose a major health challenge especially in developing countries.Aim: This study sought to determine the predictors of unintentional childhood injuries in the three tertiary health centres studied.Methods: The study was a cross- sectional study. Sociodemographic data, history and physical examination, type of injury and the outcomes were obtained using structured questionnaire. Results: A total of 174 children were enrolled, 108 (62.1%) were males and 66 (37.9%) were females; 63 (36.2%) were < 5years while 65 (37.4%) were>10 years. Of the injuries observed; 99 (56.9%) were by vehicular objects, 15 (8.6%) were burns, 41 (23.6%) were from falls and 19 (10.9%) poisoning. Those who were treated as outpatients were 141 (81.0%) and 25 (14.4%) were admitted for inpatient care. About ninety four percent (94.3%) of the children had no significant effect or disability, 3.4% had short-term disability while 2.3% had long term disabilities or died post-injury. There was no statistically significant relationship between the age of the subjects, gender, duration of the injury prior to presentation and the educational status of their care givers with the pattern of the injury.Conclusion: This study showed that 81% (141) of the children studied were treated as outpatients, 56.9% were by vehicular objects, 62.1% were in males and the pattern of injuries were not related to age, gender, educational status of care givers, place or time of injuries. There is need to incorporate these findings in the provision of preventive messages in school health services and in the interventions targeting the safety of children against injuries. Further studies to identify risk factors and plan necessary interventions will also be necessary.Keywords: Predictors, unintentional, childhood injuries, emergency departments, out-patient, tertiary health centre

PETROLEUM GEOCHEMISTRY OF KUCHALLI -1 IN THE NIGERIAN SECTOR OF THE CHAD BASIN

Kuchalli -1 well, one of the twenty-three exploratory oil wells drilled in the Nigerian sector of the Chad Basin penetrated a Cretaceous succession comprising the Bima, Gongila, Fika and Chad formations. Organic geochemical analyses were carried out to assess the source-rock potential of forty (40) selected ditch cuttings. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content was found to vary between 0.5 – 2.0wt % (moderate to good) at a depth of 1700m and 2300m. Hydrogen Index (HI) values correlated against TOC and Tmax values indicate gas generative potential. Results of the investigation show that the Chad Basin has hydrocarbon source rock potential at the indicated interval. TOC of > 0.5wt% was recorded in both the Gongila and Fika shales. The Bima Sandstone and the Gombe Sandstone could serve as potential reservoir rocks. An integrated exploration programme is recommended for use in the Chad Basin to enable a better understanding of the petroleum systems of the basin

Enhancing the internal plant colonization rate with endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Several diazotrophic strains of Klebsiella oxytoca and K. terrigena that colonize the plant-host interior were able to produce the plant cell wall depolymerising enzyme pectate lyase (Pel). The activity of the K. oxytoca enzyme was weaker than that of phytopathogenic bacteria, and it was located mainly inside the cells. A small fraction of the cells (10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁵) in populations grown in nonselective media was able to grow in a selective medium with polygalactorunate (PC) as sole carbon source. After passage through selective medium cells were converted to the Pet+ -phenotype, and total Pet-activity in population of K. oxytoca increased. The increased level of Pelactivity of K. oxytoca and K. terrigena correlated with a 10-fold higher rate of internal colonization of wheat roots. Cultures of K. oxytoca VN13 grown in selective medium with PG also showed increased stimulation of wheat growth. Seedlings inoculated with such cultures exhibited better development resulting in higher biomass.Декілька штамів Klebsiella oxytoca та K. terrigena, здатних колонізувати рослини зсередини, виділяли пектат ліазу (ПЛ) – фермент, який деполімеризус клітинну стінку. Ак­ тивність ПЛ була нижчою, ніж у фітопатогенних бактерій, і зосереджувалась всередині клітин. Невелика кількість клітин популяції (10⁻⁶ –10⁻⁵ ) спроможна рости на селективному се­редовищі з полігалактуронатом натрію (ПГ), який викори­стовували як джерело вуглецю. Після пасажу через селективне середовище всі клітини набували Реl+ -фенотипу, і загальна ПЛ-активність К. oxytoca зростала. Підвищена ПЛ-активність бактерій K. oxytoca та K. terrigena корелювала з посилен­ням у 10 разів внутрішньої колонізації коренів пшениці. Куль­тура бактерій, яка виростала в селективному середовищі з ПГ, краще стимулювала розвиток пшениці, що проявлялося у збільшенні її біомаси, ніж культура, зрощена без селекціїУ нескольких изученных штаммов Klebsiella oxytoca и K. terrigena, способных колонизировать растения изнутри, обна­ружена активность пектат лиазы (ПЛ) –фермента, кото­рый деполимеризует клеточную стенку. Активность ПЛ была ниже, чем у фитопатогенных бактерий, и сосредоточена внутри клетки. Только небольшая часть популяции клеток (10⁻⁶ –10⁻⁵ ) способна расти на селективной среде с полигалактуронатом, который использовали в качестве источника уг­лерода. После пассажа через селективную среду все клетки приобретают Pel+ фенотип, и при этом общая ПЛ-активность K. oxytoca и K. terrigena возрастает Повышенная ПЛ-активность бактерий коррелировала с уусилением в 10 раз внутренней колонизации корней пшеницы. Культура бактерий K. oxytoca VN13, выросшая в селективных условиях, лучше стимулировала развитие пшеницы, что проявлялось в увеличении ее биомассы

Beta-alanine did not improve high-intensity performance throughout simulated road cycling

This study investigated the effect of beta-alanine supplementation on short-duration sprints and final 4-km simulated uphill cycling time-trial performance during a comprehensive and novel exercise protocol representative of the demands of road-race cycling, and determined if changes were related to increases in muscle carnosine content. Seventeen cyclists (age 38 ± 9 y, height 1.76 ± 0.07 m, body mass 71.4 ± 8.8 kg, V̇O2max 52.4 ± 8.3 ml·kg−1·min−1) participated in this placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Cyclists undertook a prolonged intermittent cycling protocol lasting 125 min, with a 10-s sprint every 20 min, finishing with a 4-km time-trial at 5% simulated incline. Participants completed two familiarization sessions, and two main sessions, one pre-supplementation and one post-supplementation following 28 days of 6.4 g·day−1 of beta-alanine (N=11) or placebo (N=6; maltodextrin). Muscle biopsies obtained pre- and post-supplementation were analysed for muscle carnosine content. There were no main effects on sprint performance throughout the intermittent cycling test (all P>0.05). There was no group (P=0.69), time (P=0.50) or group x time interaction (P=0.26) on time-to-complete the 4-km time-trial. Time-to-completion did not change from pre- to post-supplementation for BA (−19.2 ± 45.6 s, P=0.43) or PL (+2.8 ± 31.6 s, P=0.99). Beta-alanine supplementation increased muscle carnosine content from pre- to post-supplementation (+9.4 ± 4.0 mmol·kg−1dm; P10 min) high-intensity activity throughout endurance cycling may not be improved with beta-alanine supplementation despite increases in muscle carnosine content

Reproducibility of heart rate recovery in patients with intermittent claudication

Background: Postexercise heart rate recovery (HRR) is a non-invasive tool for cardiac autonomic function assessment. Reproducibility of HRR has been established in healthy subjects; however, no study has evaluated this reproducibility in clinical populations who may present autonomic dysfunction. Patients with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication (IC) often present altered cardiac autonomic function and HRR could be an interesting tool for evaluating autonomic responses to interventions in this population. Therefore, the reproducibility of HRR should be determined in this specific population. Objective: To determine the reproducibility of HRR indices in patients with IC. Methods: Nineteen men with IC underwent two repeated maximal treadmill tests. Raw HR and relative HRR (difference to exercise peak) indices measured at 30, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300s of recovery were evaluated. The presence of systematic bias was assessed by comparing test and retest mean values via paired t-test. Reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and agreement by typical error (TE), coefficient of variation (CV) and minimal detectable difference (MDD). Results: There were no significant differences between the test and retest values of all raw HR and relative HRR indices (P ≥ 0·05), except for HR120s (P = 0·032). All indices exhibited excellent reliability (ICC ≥ 0·78). Raw HR and relative HRR indices showed TEs ≤ 6·4 bpm and MDDs ≤ 17·8 bpm. In addition, all indices showed CVs ≤ 13·2%, except HRR30s (CV = 45·6%). Conclusions: The current results demonstrated that most HRR indices were highly reproducible with no systematic error, excellent reliability and good agreement in patients with IC following maximal graded exercise

Thinking about going to the dentist: a Contemplation Ladder to assess dentally-avoidant individuals' readiness to go to a dentist

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Transtheoretical Model suggests that individuals vary according to their readiness to change behavior. Previous work in smoking cessation and other health areas suggests that interventions are more successful when they are tailored to an individual's stage of change with regards to the specific behavior. We report on the performance of a single-item measure ("Ladder") to assess the readiness to change dental-avoidant behavior.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An existing Contemplation Ladder for assessing stage of change in smoking cessation was modified to assess readiness to go to a dentist. The resulting Ladder was administered to samples of English-speaking adolescents (USA), Spanish-speaking adults (USA), and Norwegian military recruits (Norway) in order to assess construct validity. The Ladder was also administered to a sample of English-speaking avoidant adolescents and young adults who were enrolled in an intervention study (USA) in order to assess criterion validity. All participants also had dental examinations, and completed other questionnaires. Correlations, chi square, t tests and one-way ANOVAs were used to assess relationships between variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In two samples, participants who do not go to the dentist had significantly more teeth with caries; in a third sample, participants who do not go to the dentist had significantly worse caries. Ladder scores were not significantly related to age, gender, caries, or dental fear. However, Ladder scores were significantly related to statements of intention to visit a dentist in the future and the importance of oral health. In a preliminary finding, Ladder scores at baseline also predicted whether or not the participants decided to go to a dentist in the intervention sample.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The data provide support for the convergent and divergent construct validity of the Ladder, and preliminary support for its criterion validity. The lack of relationship between dental fear and Ladder scores suggests that avoidant individuals may be helped to decide to go to a dentist using interventions which do not explicitly target their fear.</p

Working Inside for Smoking Elimination (Project W.I.S.E.) study design and rationale to prevent return to smoking after release from a smoke free prison

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Incarcerated individuals suffer disproportionately from the health effects of tobacco smoking due to the high smoking prevalence in this population. In addition there is an over-representation of ethnic and racial minorities, impoverished individuals, and those with mental health and drug addictions in prisons. Increasingly, prisons across the U.S. are becoming smoke free. However, relapse to smoking is common upon release from prison, approaching 90% within a few weeks. No evidence based treatments currently exist to assist individuals to remain abstinent after a period of prolonged, forced abstinence.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This paper describes the design and rationale of a randomized clinical trial to enhance smoking abstinence rates among individuals following release from a tobacco free prison. The intervention is six weekly sessions of motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy initiated approximately six weeks prior to release from prison. The control group views six time matched videos weekly starting about six weeks prior to release. Assessments take place in-person 3 weeks after release and then for non-smokers every 3 months up to 12 months. Smoking status is confirmed by urine cotinine.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Effective interventions are greatly needed to assist these individuals to remain smoke free and reduce health disparities among this socially and economically challenged group.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p><a href="http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=01122589">NCT01122589</a></p

Kidney cancer mortality in Spain: geographic patterns and possible hypotheses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since the second half of the 1990s, kidney cancer mortality has tended to stabilize and decline in many European countries, due to the decrease in the prevalence of smokers. Nevertheless, incidence of kidney cancer is rising across the sexes in some of these countries, a trend which may possibly reflect the fact that improvements in diagnostic techniques are being outweighed by the increased prevalence of some of this tumor's risk factors. This study sought to: examine the geographic pattern of kidney cancer mortality in Spain; suggest possible hypotheses that would help explain these patterns; and enhance existing knowledge about the large proportion of kidney tumors whose cause remains unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Smoothed municipal relative risks (RRs) for kidney cancer mortality were calculated in men and women, using the conditional autoregressive model proposed by Besag, York and Molliè. Maps were plotted depicting smoothed relative risk estimates, and the distribution of the posterior probability of RR>1 by sex.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Municipal maps displayed a marked geographic pattern, with excess mortality in both sexes, mainly in towns along the Bay of Biscay, including areas of Asturias, the Basque Country and, to a lesser extent, Cantabria. Among women, the geographic pattern was strikingly singular, not in evidence for any other tumors, and marked by excess risk in towns situated in the Salamanca area and Extremaduran Autonomous Region. This difference would lead one to postulate the existence of different exposures of environmental origin in the various regions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The reasons for this pattern of distribution are not clear, and it would thus be of interest if the effect of industrial emissions on this disease could be studied. The excess mortality observed among women in towns situated in areas with a high degree of natural radiation could reflect the influence of exposures which derive from the geologic composition of the terrain and then become manifest through the agency of drinking water.</p