Polyamine uptake in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is dependent on the parasite's membrane potential

Polyamines are present at high levels in proliferating cells, including cancerous cells and protozoan parasites and the inhibition of their synthesis has been exploited in antiproliferative strategies. Inhibition of the malaria parasite’s polyamine biosynthetic pathway causes cytostatic arrest in the trophozoite stage but does not cure in vivo infections in the murine model of malaria. This is possibly due to exogenous polyamine salvage from the host, which replenishes the intracellular polyamine pool. This implies that disruption of polyamine metabolism as an antimalarial chemotherapy strategy may require targeting both polyamine biosynthesis and transport simultaneously

Perbanyakan Mikro Colocasia Esculenta (L.) Schott Var. Antiquorum melalui Penggunaan IAA

Media perbanyakan in vitrosangat diperlukan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan multipikasi tunas maupun kualitas bibit. Media Murashige Shoog (MS)dapatditambahkanzat pengatur tumbuh sebagai pemacu pertumbuhan dalam kultur in vitro.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan konsentrasi IAA terbaik bagi pertumbuhan talas jepang dalam kulturin vitro. Perlakuan terdiri dari 4 taraf konsentrasi IAA yaitu I0 (0 mg/L), I1 (0,5 mg/L), I2 (1 mg/L), I3 (1,5 mg/L) yang diulang sebanyak 5 kali dalam rancangan acak kelompok. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa pemberian IAA berpengaruh nyata terhadap saat muncul tunas, jumlah tunas, tinggi tunas, jumlah daun dan jumlah akar satoimo. Konsentrasi IAA 0,5 mg/L merupakan konsentrasi terbaik untuk pertumbuhan akar dan saat muncul tunas talas satoimo, sedangkan konsentrasi IAA 1 mg/L merupakan konsentrasi terbaik untuk jumlah tunas, tinggi tunas dan jumlah daun satoimo. Kata kunci: kultur in vitro, talas jepang, IAA, perbanyaka

Core competencies required by toxicology graduates in order to function effectively in a Poisons Information Centre : a Delphi study

CITATION: Marks, C. J., Louw, A. J. N. & Couper, I. 2020. Core competencies required by toxicology graduates in order to function effectively in a Poisons Information Centre : a Delphi study. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 10(4):73-180, doi:10.1016/j.afjem.2020.05.011.The original publication is available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/african-journal-of-emergency-medicineIntroduction The availability of trained Medical Toxicologists in developing countries is limited and education in Medical Toxicology remains inadequate. The lack of toxicology services contributes to a knowledge gap in the management of poisonings. A need existed to investigate the core competencies required by toxicology graduates to effectively operate in a Poisons Information Centre. The aim of this study was to obtain consensus from an expert group of health care workers on these core competencies. This was done by making use of the Delphi technique. Methodology The Delphi survey started with a set of carefully selected questions drawn from various sources including a literature review and exploration of existing curricula. To capture the collective opinion of experts in South Africa, Africa and also globally, three different groups were invited to participate in the study. To build and manage the questionnaire, the secure Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) web platform was used. Results A total of 134 competencies were selected for the three rounds and in the end consensus was reached on 118 (88%) items. Panel members agreed that 113 (96%) of these items should be incorporated in a Medical Toxicology curriculum and five (4%) should be excluded. Discussion All participants agreed that effective communication is an essential skill for toxicology graduates. The curriculum can address this problem by including effective pedagogy to enhance oral and written communication skills. Feedback from panellists indicated that the questionnaires were country-specific and not necessarily representative of all geographical locations. This is an example of the ‘battle of curriculum design’ where the context in which the curriculum will be used, will determine the content. Conclusion The Delphi method, based on three iterative rounds and feedback from experts, was effective in reaching consensus on the learning outcomes of a Medical Toxicology curriculum. The study results will ultimately improve education in Medical Toxicology.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X20300513?via%3DihubPublisher’s versio

HIV Prevalence and Incidence among Sexually Active Females in Two Districts of South Africa to Determine Microbicide Trial Feasibility

Background: The suitability of populations of sexually active women in Madibeng (North-West Province) and Mbekweni (Western Cape), South Africa, for a Phase III vaginal microbicide trial was evaluated. Methods: Sexually active women 18-35 years not known to be HIV-positive or pregnant were tested cross-sectionally to determine HIV and pregnancy prevalence (798 in Madibeng and 800 in Mbekweni). Out of these, 299 non-pregnant, HIV-negative women were subsequently enrolled at each clinical research center in a 12-month cohort study with quarterly study visits. Results: HIV prevalence was 24% in Madibeng and 22% in Mbekweni. HIV incidence rates based on seroconversions over 12 months were 6.0/100 person-years (PY) (95% CI 3.0, 9.0) in Madibeng and 4.5/100 PY (95% CI 1.8, 7.1) in Mbekweni and those estimated by cross-sectional BED testing were 7.1/100 PY (95% CI 2.8, 11.3) in Madibeng and 5.8/100 PY (95% CI 2.0, 9.6) in Mbekweni. The 12-month pregnancy incidence rates were 4.8/100 PY (95% CI 2.2, 7.5) in Madibeng and 7.0/100 PY (95% CI 3.7, 10.3) in Mbekweni; rates decreased over time in both districts. Genital symptoms were reported very frequently, with an incidence of 46.8/100 PY (95% CI 38.5, 55.2) in Madibeng and 21.5/100 PY (95% CI 15.8, 27.3) in Mbekweni. Almost all (>99%) participants said that they would be willing to participate in a microbicide trial. Conclusion: These populations might be suitable for Phase III microbicide trials provided that HIV incidence rates over time remain sufficiently high to support endpoint-driven trial

ICU-acquired pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A post-hoc analysis of a prospective international cohort study

Objective: Intensive Care Units (ICU) acquired Pneumonia (ICU-AP) is one of the most frequent nosocomial infections in critically ill patients. Our aim was to determine the effects of having an ICU-AP in immunosuppressed patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Design: Post-hoc analysis of a multinational, prospective cohort study in 16 countries. Settings: ICU. Patients: Immunosuppressed patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. Intervention: None. Measurements and main results: The original cohort had 1611 and in this post-hoc analysis a total of 1512 patients with available data on hospital mortality and occurrence of ICU-AP were included. ICU-AP occurred in 158 patients (10.4%). Hospital mortality was higher in patients with ICU-AP (14.8% vs. 7.1% p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounders and centre effect, use of vasopressors (Odds Ratio (OR) 2.22; 95%CI 1.46-.39) and invasive me-chanical ventilation at day 1 (OR 2.12 vs. high flow oxygen; 95%CI 1.07-4.20) were associated with increased risk of ICU-AP while female gender (OR 0.63; 95%CI 0.43-94) and chronic kidney disease (OR 0.43; 95%CI 0.22-0.88) were associated with decreased risk of ICU-AP. After adjustment for confounders and centre effect, ICU-AP was independently associated with mortality (Hazard Ratio 1.48; 95%CI 14.-1.91; P = 0.003). Conclusions: The attributable mortality of ICU-AP has been repetitively questioned in immunosuppressed pa-tients with acute respiratory failure. This manuscript found that ICU-AP represents an independent risk factor for hospital mortality.(c) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe