Desert hedgehog is a negative regulator of CD44-CD25+ double negative T lymphocytes developmental stage in thymic differentiation

Background: The process of thymic proliferation and differentiation in mammals is indispensable. The role of hedgehog family of proteins has been extensively studied in the recent past years. Specifically, scientists have carried out substantial amount of work on Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Indian hedgehog (Ihh) and published on their roles on either T-cell development or peripheral T-cell activation. However, the role of Desert hedgehog (Dhh) the third member of the hedgehog family of proteins, in T-cell development has not been clearly understood. In this work, we aimed to investigate the role of Desert hedgehog in thymic differentiation, particularly in the double negative T cell developmental stages.Methods: Thymuses of three Dhh-/- mice, three Dhh+/- and three Dhh+/+ were obtained by killing the mice using A prepared suspension of cells was analyzed by a three-color flow Cytometry and the acquired data analyzed using flow jo, a tree star software for flow cytometry data analysis. To establish the statistical significance of the findings, data was subjected to student t-test and significance reported at critical p-value of 0.05.Results: The total number of thymic cells was found to be higher in Dhh KO mice relative to the WT control. Analysis of thymic subsets using flow cytometry showed that double negative CD4-CD8- thymocytes were found to be relatively higher in Dhh-/- mice compared to Dhh+/+ control. In particular the percentage representation of CD44-CD25+ DN3 thymocytes were significantly higher (p=0.03) in Dhh KO mice relative to the WT controls.Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that Dhh signal could be a negative regulator during early thymic differentiation. The data shown here is representative of three separate experiments. To get much clearer and replicative findings, these experiments can be repeated with a much larger sample size

Factors influencing beef cattle marketing behavior in pastoral areas of Kenya: the role of livestock market information

Marketing transactions take place in an environment where information is shared and exchanged among and between sellers, buyers and middlemen. It is argued that traders and middlemen have a competitive advantage over producers in negotiating for prices, because the former have access to prices in both primary and terminal markets, while the latter only have limited access to prices in the primary markets. This Research Brief highlights the situation regarding access to livestock marketing information by producers in pastoral markets of Kenya. Results show that livestock marketing information was not accessible to producers from September 2004 to September 2005, and hence did not play a significant role in influencing market prices. Subsequent analyses also show that producers consider a number of attributes when pegging prices to their animals, and that these tally with the categorization system developed by the Livestock Information Network and Knowledge System (LINKS) project. Further findings suggest that past efforts to develop livestock marketing information systems have been dogged by limited capacity to provide information that is accurate, timely, reliable, and spatially coherent. This has been exacerbated by failure to effectively use existing media and complement these with emerging information communication technologies to disseminate the information. LINKS has since responded to these factors through improvements in geographical coverage, accuracy, reliability and timeliness in the overall livestock market information system, as well as through improved information dissemination systems; improvements that have strengthened LINKS, allowing it to function as the foundation for the National Livestock Marketing Information System in Kenya

Quality of glycaemic control in ambulatory diabetics at the out-patient clinic of Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi

Background: Treatment of diabetes mellitus is based on the evidence that lowering blood glucose as close to normal range as possible is a primary strategy for reducing or preventing complications or early mortality from diabetes. This suggests poorer glycaemic control would be associated with excess of diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. This presumption is suspected to reach high proportions in developing countries where endemic poverty abets poor glycaemic control. There is no study published on Kenyan patients with diabetes mellitus about their glycaemic control as an audit of diabetes care. Objective: To determine the glycaemic control of ambulatory diabetic patients. Design: Cross-sectional study on each clinic day of a randomly selected sample of both type I and 2 diabetic patients. Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital. Methods: Over a period of six months, January 1998 to June 1998. During routine diabetes care in the clinic, mid morning random blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin (HbAI c)were obtained. Results: A total of 305 diabetic patients were included, 52.8% were females and 47.2% were males. 58.3% were on Oral Hypoglycaemic Agent (OHA) only, 22.3% on insulin only; 9.2% on OHA and insulin and 4.6% on diet only. 39.5% had mean HbAlc £ 8% while 60.5% had HbAlc ³ 8%. Patients on diet-only therapy had the best mean HbAlc=7.04% while patients on OHA-only had the worst mean HbAlc=9.06%. This difference was significant (p=0.01). The former group, likely, had better endogenous insulin production. The influence of age, gender and duration of diabetes on the level of glycaemic control observed did not attain statistically significant proportions. Conclusion: The majority of ambulatory diabetic patients attending the out-patient diabetic clinic had poor glycaemic control. The group with the poorest level of glycaemic control were on OHA-only, while best control was observed amongst patients on diet-only, because of possible fair endogenous insulin production. Poor glycaemic control was presumed to be due to sub-optimal medication and deteriorating diabetes. There is need to empower patients with knowledge and resources to enhance their individual participation in diabetes self-care. Diabetes care providers and facilities also need capacity building to improve care of patients with diabetes. East African Medical Journal Vol.80(8) 2003: 406-41

Regulation of informed consent: a focus on fertility treatments in Kenya

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Rapid trachoma assessment in Kersa District, Southwest Ethiopia

Background: Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide. Though trachoma can be treated with antibiotics (active trachoma) or surgery (trachomatous trichiasis), it is still endemic in most parts of Ethiopia. Despite the prevalence of this infectious disease in different parts of the country, district level data is lacking. This study was thus conducted to assess the prevalence estimate of trachoma and its risk factors in Kersa District, Southwest Ethiopia.Methods: A community based cross sectional Rapid Assessment of Trachoma was conducted using a WHO guideline. Six sub-districts were selected from Kersa District based on primary high risk assessment and from each sub-district; 21-27 households were randomly selected. Active trachoma for children aged 1-9 years, trachomatous trichiasis for people above 15 years old and environmental risk factors for trachoma were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.Results: The overall prevalence estimate of active trachoma was 25.2% (95% CI: 20.7-30.4%). Forty three percent of children had unclean faces, 11.5% of households had water source at more than half hour walking distance, 18.2% did not have functional latrine, and 95.3% of the households had solid waste disposal within a distance of 20 meters. Households with environmental risk factors were at an increased risk to active trachoma, but the association was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The prevalence estimate of trachomatous trichiasis inclusive of “trachoma suspects” was 4.5%.Conclusion: Trachoma is endemic in Kersa District with active trachoma being a public health problem in the studied sub-districts. Hence, SAFE strategy should be implemented.Keywords: Trachoma, Trichiasis, Preventable blindness, SAFE strateg

Profile Of Bacteria And Fungi On Money Coins

Objectives: To determine the quantity and quality of bacterial and fungi on money coins and to identify those that could pose a public health risk.Design: Random sampling of coins from subjects within predetermined categories.Setting: Westlands division of Nairobi Metropolitan province.Subjects: Twenty-shilling coin samples were collected from matatu (a common commuter vehicle in Kenya) taxi conductors, greengrocers, shoe shiners, butchers, food kiosk/restaurant attendants, grocery shops attendants, roast maize vendors and school children. Forty coin samples were analysed for both the total viable content and the types of bacterial and fungal organisms.Results: Average bacterial content on the coins ranged from 2.3xl03 to 25.5x103 and fungi content from 11 to 377 colony forming units. The following potentially pathogenic bacteria were among those isolated: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Serratia, Enterobacter, Salmonella,Acinetobacter, Enterococci, Staphylococcus and Bacillus cereus. In addition, this is the first report of potentially pathogenic fungal isolation from money coins. Penicillium spp, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Altenaria spp, Candida spp and Cryptococcus were isolated. Conclusion: Money coins harbour potentially pathogenic bacteria and fungi that may pose a public health risk. Hand hygiene is therefore strongly recommended, especially for those who simultaneously handle food and money

Rapid assembly of highly-functionalised difluorinated cyclooctenones via ring-closing metathesis

Building block methodology from trifluoroethanol and ringclosing metathesis using a Fürstner modification of Grubbs’ conditions allows the rapid synthesis of novel difluorinated cyclooctenones