Prevalence and risk factors of major depressive disorder in HIV/AIDS as seen in semi-urban Entebbe district, Uganda

BACKGROUND: Not much is known about the risk factors of major depressive disorder (MDD) in HIV/AIDS in the African socio-cultural context. Therefore a study was undertaken to examine the prevalence and risk factors of MDD in HIV/AIDS in semi-urban Uganda. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 618 respondents attending two HIV clinics in Uganda. RESULTS: Prevalence of MDD was 8.1%. Factors associated with MDD at univariate analysis only were female gender, family history of mental illness, negative coping style, alcohol dependency disorder, food insecurity and stress; not associated with MDD were social support, neurocognitive impairment, CD4 counts and BMI. Factors independently associated with MDD were psychosocial impairment, adverse life events, post traumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and life-time attempted suicide. CONCLUSION: Psychological and social factors were the main risk factors of MDD among ambulatory HIV positive persons with no evidence for the role of the neurotoxic effects of HIV. Treatment approaches for MDD in this patient group should be modeled on those used among non-HIV groups

Prevalence of severe mental distress and its correlates in a population-based study in rural south-west Uganda

BACKGROUND: The problem of severe mental distress (SMD) in sub-Saharan Africa is difficult to investigate given that a substantial proportion of patients with SMD never access formal health care.This study set out to investigate SMD and it's associated factors in a rural population-based cohort in south-west Uganda. METHODS: 6,663 respondents aged 13 years and above in a general population cohort in southwestern Uganda were screened for probable SMD and possible associated factors. RESULTS: 0.9% screened positive for probable SMD. The factors significantly associated with SMD included older age, male sex, low socio-economic status, being a current smoker, having multiple or no sexual partners in the past year, reported epilepsy and consulting a traditional healer. CONCLUSION: SMD in this study was associated with both socio-demographic and behavioural factors. The association between SMD and high risk sexual behaviour calls for the integration of HIV prevention in mental health care programmes in high HIV prevalence settings

Enzyme-Substrate Reactions in Very High Magnetic Fields. I

The availability of very high magnetic fields of up to 170,000 gauss made it worthwhile to pursue the search for a critical change in the rate of four enzyme substrate reactions. The four enzymes were ribonuclease, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and aldolase. The experiments showed that, to within ±3%, no detectable change was observable in the rate of reaction of any of the systems for periods of exposure to the magnetic field of up to 20 min

Electron Spin Resonance in ATP and RNA

Cu(++), Mn(++), and Fe(+++) account for the electron spin resonances observed in certain samples of ATP and RNA. The copper ion seems more loosely bound to these substances than either iron or manganese. A striking similarity is observed between the manganese spectra in manganese RNA, ATP, and ADP suggesting that the binding sites are similar in the three compounds. The similarity of the e.s.r. spectra of iron ATP and of iron and manganese RNA, except for hyperfine spectrum (hfs) in the latter, suggests that the two ions bind similarly in the two compounds. A detailed interpretation of the spectra is lacking however and these conclusions can only be tentative. When manganese TPP and ATP are heated or pH changed the e.s.r. alters indicating a change in the environment of the ion. The sharp 6 line manganese spectrum in both TPP and ATP at pH 1 suggests an almost “free” ion at this pH in the sense of an almost isotropic average environment

Electron Spin Resonance Studies on Melanin

Electron spin resonance (e.s.r.) observations of squid melanin have been conducted over the temperature range 500°K to 4.2°K, and the effect of various chemical treatments of the melanin upon the e.s.r. spectrum has been studied. The findings have shown that the paramagnetism of this melanin follows the Curie Law from 500°K to 4.2°K, that the spin signal can be eliminated by the addition of Cu(++) to the melanin, and that the optical and e.s.r. absorptions of melanin are independent since either can be reduced or eliminated without affecting the other. Similar studies on synthetic melanins produced by autoxidation or by enzymatic oxidation of a number of biphenols were carried out. It was found that the e.s.r. signals of these synthetic melanins were strikingly similar (with respect to line width, line shape, and g-value) with those of squid melanin. It is concluded that the unpaired electrons observed are associated with trapped free radicals in the melanin polymer, that the biosynthesis of melanin may involve a free radical mechanism, and that these physical data are in accord with the concept of Nicolaus that melanin is a highly irregular, three-dimensional, polymer