Human Immunodeficiency Virus needlestick injury: knowledge and management in a population of Nigerian anaesthetists

Objective: To determine the knowledge of HIV transmission and of post exposure management, following an HIVinfected needlestick injury, in a population of Nigerian anaesthetists. Subjects and Method: A cross-sectional, prospective assessment was conducted voluntarily in anaesthetists at an annual healthcare provider's forum, and at a major general hospital, using a structured questionnaire. Results: 63 Anaesthetists participated in the study. One anaesthetist knew the percentage of infected HIV needlestick injury that would result in HIV infection. ALL the high risk body fluids were correctly identified by 7 (11.1%) respondents. Twelve (19.0%) knew the correct immediate management when injured by a HIV-infected needlestick. Fifty eight (92.1%) were aware of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP), 25 (39.7%) had a PEP policy in their institutions and 57 (90%) knew when to commence PEP.Conclusion: Nigerian anaesthetists, though acutely aware of post exposure prophylaxis, are not aware of the fluids at risk and have not demonstrated adequate knowledge in the management, when injured by a HIV-infected needlestick. Keywords: HIV, needle-stick injury, anaesthetist, knowledge, management South African Psychiatry Review Vol. 11(4) 2005: 131-13

Novel genes from wild barley hordeum spontaneum for barley improvement

Narrowing genetic basis is the bottleneck for modern plant improvement. Genetic variation in wild barley Hordeum spontaneum is much greater than that of either cultivated or landrace H. vulgare gene pool. It represents a valuable but underutilised gene pool for barley improvement as no biological isolation barriers exist between H. spontaneum and cultivated barley. Novel sources of new genes were identified from H. spontaneum for yield, quality, disease resistance and abiotic tolerance. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were mapped to all barley chromosomes. A QTL on chromosome 4H from the wild barley consistently increased yield by 7.7% across six test environments. Wild barley H. spontaneum was demonstrated as key genetic resource for drought and salinity tolerance. Two QTLs on chromosomes 2H and 5H increased grain yield by 12–22% under drought conditions. Several QTL clusters were present on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 4H, 6H and 7H from H. spontaneum for drought and salinity tolerance. Numerous candidate genes were identified to associate with tolerance to drought or salinity, and some of the candidate genes co-located with the QTLs for drought tolerance. QTLs/genes for resistance to powdery mildew, leaf rust and scald were mapped to all chromosomes. Scald resistance was found in at least five chromosome locations (1HS, 3H, 6HS, 7HL and 7HS) from H. spontaneum, and simple molecular markers were developed to accelerate transferring of these genes into cultivated barley. Novel beta-amylase allele from H. spontaneum was used to improve barley malting quality. Advanced backcross QTL provides an efficiency approach to transfer novel genes from H. spontaneum to cultivated barley