Expression of estrogen receptors alpha and beta, aromatase, steroid sulfatase and estrogen sulfotransferase in testes of immature and mature boars

Estrogen action is mediated via estrogen receptor proteins (ERs). ERs occur in two forms, the classical ERalpha subtype and the novel ERbeta discovered in 1996. These proteins are also widely expressed in the male reproductive tract. Recent data from transgenic mice deficient in estrogen receptors or aromatase, points to an essential physiological role of estrogens for male fertility, which may, however, also be severely hampered by the administration of estrogens and xenoestrogens during fetal and neonatal development. These observations raise the question on the mechanisms of action of estrogens in the male. Together with the stallion the boar secretes remarkably high amounts of testicular estrogens. The present study was based on the hypothesis that these estrogens are likely to have local activity and hence designed to provide basic information on sources and targets of estrogens in the boar testis to set a foundation for further studies on their biological significance. In order to achieve this information, expression and localisation of the ERalpha and the ERbeta, cytochrome P450 aromatase, steroid sulfatase (StS) and estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) in the testes of immature and mature boars was assessed.Die genomische Wirkung der Östrogene wird über nukleare Östrogen-Rezeptoren (ERs) vermittelt, deren Expression auch im männlichen Reproduktionstrakt nachgewiesen wurde. Die ERs kommen in zwei Formen vor, dem klassischen ER-Alpha und dem erstmals 1996 nachgewiesenen ER-Beta. Untersuchungen an transgenen Mäusen (ER Knockout, Aromatase Knockout) haben die essenzielle Bedeutung der Östrogene für die männliche Fortpflanzung dargelegt, wobei ebenfalls bekannt ist, dass die Applikation östrogen-wirksamer Verbindungen, z.B. von Xenoöstrogenen, während der Embryonal- oder Fetalperiode zu schwerwiegenden Störungen der männlichen Reproduktion führen kann. Diese Beobachtungen werfen die Frage nach den dabei zugrunde liegenden Wirkmechanismen auf. Neben dem Hengst zeichnet sich der Eber durch eine bemerkenswert hohe Produktion testikulärer Östrogene aus, für die auch eine direkte Wirkung im Hoden unterstellt werden kann. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es daher, Herkunft und Zielzellen von Östrogenen im Eberhoden zu definieren, um Anhaltspunkte für eine mögliche biologische Wirkung testikulärer Östrogene zu erhalten und damit eine Grundlage für weiterführende Untersuchungen zu schaffen. Dazu sollte die Expression und Lokalisation der Östrogenrezeptoren ER- Alpha und ER-Beta, der Aromatase (Cyp P450 arom), und der Enzyme Steroidsulfotransferase (Inaktivierung) und Steroidsulfatase (Aktivierung) dargestellt werden

Spatio-temporal patterns of domestic water distribution, consumption and sufficiency:Neighbourhood inequalities in Nairobi, Kenya

Whilst there are longstanding and well-established inequalities in safe-drinking water-access between urban and rural areas, there remain few studies of changing intra-urban inequalities over time. In this study, we determined the spatio-temporal patterns of domestic piped water distribution in Nairobi, Kenya between 1985 and 2018, and the implications of socio-economic and neighbourhood inequalities in water sufficiency. Using data from the Nairobi water and sewerage utility company for the period 2008–2018, we examined the sufficiency of monthly domestic water consumption per capita for 2380 itineraries (areas with an average population of 700) in relation to a residential neighbourhood classification, population and neighbourhood age and also examined water rationing patterns by neighbourhood type. Water sufficiency differed by residential areas, age of neighbourhood and population per itinerary. Compared to residents of low-income areas, those in high- and middle-income areas were six and four times more likely to receive the recommended 1500 L per capita per month respectively. Newer neighbourhoods and less densely populated areas were more likely to receive higher volumes of water. Non-revenue water loss accounted for 29% (average 3.5 billion litres per month) of water distributed across Nairobi, and was more than two times the amount of water needed for all residents to access the recommended monthly per capita water consumption. The observed spatial inequality in distribution, and access to piped water associated with socio-economic status and neighbourhood age highlights the need for deliberate planning and governance to improve water distribution to match the speed of growth of low/middle- and low-income residential areas and enhance equity.</p

Impact of traffic congestion on spatial access to healthcare services in Nairobi

Background: Geographic accessibility is an important determinant of healthcare utilization and is critical for achievement of universal health coverage. Despite the high disease burden and severe traffic congestion in many African cities, few studies have assessed how traffic congestion impacts geographical access to healthcare facilities and to health professionals in these settings. In this study, we assessed the impact of traffic congestion on access to healthcare facilities, and to the healthcare professionals across the healthcare facilities.Methods: Using data on health facilities obtained from the Ministry of Health in Kenya, we mapped 944 primary, 94 secondary and four tertiary healthcare facilities in Nairobi County. We then used traffic probe data to identify areas within a 15-, 30- and 45-min drive from each health facility during peak and off-peak hours and calculated the proportion of the population with access to healthcare in the County. We employed a 2-step floating catchment area model to calculate the ratio of healthcare and healthcare professionals to population during these times.Results: During peak hours, &lt;70% of Nairobi's 4.1 million population was within a 30-min drive from a health facility. This increased to &gt;75% during off-peak hours. In 45 min, the majority of the population had an accessibility index of one health facility accessible to more than 100 people (&lt;0.01) for primary health care facilities, one to 10,000 people for secondary facilities, and two health facilities per 100,000 people for tertiary health facilities. Of people with access to health facilities, a sub-optimal ratio of &lt;4.45 healthcare professionals per 1,000 people was observed in facilities offering primary and secondary healthcare during peak and off-peak hours.Conclusion: Our study shows access to healthcare being negatively impacted by traffic congestion, highlighting the need for multisectoral collaborations between urban planners, health sector and policymakers to optimize health access for the city residents. Additionally, growing availability of traffic probe data in African cities should enable similar analysis and understanding of healthcare access for city residents in other countries on the continent

Determining household and farm level governance factors affecting the transition to household food security in Isingiro district, south-western Uganda

Governance, in particular, decision-making plays a significant role in influencing the transition to households’ food security. It helps in addressing causative factors responsible for undermining household sustainable food security. This study aimed at determining household and farm level governance factors affecting the transition to household food security. Respondents who participated in the study were 284. The study employed a cross-sectional survey design to obtain qualitative and quantitative data on household food security. Household interviews, focus group discussions, key informants’ interviews, and observations were used to collect data. Qualitative data were analyzed by categorizing them into themes to find out respondents’ experiences and opinions. Quantitative data were coded, entered, cleaned, and summarized using descriptive statistics, frequencies, and chi-square. The study used Multiple Regression Model to establish the extent to which selected variables were responsible for the transition to household food security. Results on maize production showed that the association of occupation of coefficient (0.006) and income (-0.54) had a significant and positive value P=0.000 (P˂0.05) and was related to food security, while the association between family size (0.006) and land size (0.055), marital status (0.092), and land acreage (-0.108) had no significant relationship. Regarding beans, results indicated that the relationship between occupation (coefficient -0.059 and income (0.059) had a significant value P= 0.000, while the association between family size (0.096) and land size (0.055, marital status (0.092) and land acreage (-0.108) had no significant association. In the case of bananas, the association of occupation (0.038) and income (0.142) had a significant value of P=0.000, while the relationship between family size (0.010) and land size (-0.026), marital status (0.014), and land acreage (0.184) had no significant relationship. The study recommends increased government support in establishing effective decisions on household food security and strengthening them through a participatory and bottom-up approach. The study also recommends that the government and related stakeholders invest in household capacity building for inclusive gender participation in decision-making pertaining to food security; establish resilient household food production and increase support for strengthening it further. There is also a need for supporting climate change mitigation, environmental conservation, and farm-level landscape restoration

A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Usage of Sexed in-vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer Technology in Kenya

ABSTRACT In Kenya, good quality heifers are in high demand but are generally unavailable and expensive. Innovative usage of sexed semen in an in-vitro embryo production (IVEP) system has a potential to help deliver appropriate cattle genotypes to farmers efficiently. Sexed In-vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer (SIFET), which involves both IVEP and embryo transfer (ET), is a breeding technology which ensures a 90% success rate of achieving the desired sex of a calf. While SIFET technology is potentially beneficial, its costs and benefits have not been locally assessed. A cost benefit analysis was done to assess the economic feasibility of SIFET for commercial utilization in Kenya. Our results indicate that SIFET technology is a feasible option for potential investors. SIFET could benefit cattle farmers through availability of cattle of preferred sex (male calves for beef and female calves for dairy production) and better matching of genotype to farmers&apos; production conditions. Such technologies can enhance regional trade in cattle breeding stock due to increased value and demand for Boran cows and heifers as donors and surrogates

The nexus between improved water supply and water-borne diseases in urban areas in Africa: a scoping review protocol [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Introduction: currently, an estimated two thirds of the world population is water insufficient. As of 2015, one out of every five people in developing countries do not have access to clean sufficient drinking water. In an attempt to share the limited resource, water has been distributed at irregular intervals in cities in developing countries. Residents in these cities seek alternative water sources to supplement the inadequate water supplied. Some of these alternative sources of water are unsafe for human consumption, leading to an increased risk in water-borne diseases. Africa contributes to 53% of the diarrheal cases reported globally, with contaminated drinking water being the main source of transmission. Water-borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus are a major public health concern. The main objective of this scoping review is to map the available evidence to understand the sources of water among residents in cities in Africa and the relationship between clean water sufficiency and water-borne diseases in urban Africa.Methods and analysis: the search strategy will identify studies published in scientific journals and reports that are directly relevant to African cities that have a population of more than half a million residents as of 2014 AND studies on the ten emerging water-borne diseases, which are diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroenteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, guinea worm and rotavirus.Ethics and dissemination: this scoping review did not require any formal ethical approval. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal

The nexus between improved water supply and water-borne diseases in urban areas in Africa: a scoping review [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: The sub-Saharan Africa has the fastest rate of urbanisation in the world. However, infrastructure growth in the region is slower than urbanisation rates, leading to inadequate provision and access to basic services such as piped safe drinking water. Lack of sufficient access to safe water has the potential to increase the burden of waterborne diseases among these urbanising populations. This scoping review assesses how the relationship between waterborne diseases and water sufficiency in Africa has been studied.Methods: In April 2020, we searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar databases for studies of African cities that examined the effect of insufficient piped water supply on selected waterborne disease and syndromes (cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, amoebiasis, dysentery, gastroneteritis, cryptosporidium, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, rotavirus). Only studies conducted in cities that had more than half a million residents in 2014 were included.Results: A total of 32 studies in 24 cities from 17 countries were included in the study. Most studies used case-control, cross-sectional individual or ecological level study designs. Proportion of the study population with access to piped water was the common water availability metrics measured while amounts consumed per capita or water interruptions were seldom used in assessing sufficient water supply. Diarrhea, cholera and typhoid were the major diseases or syndromes used to understand the association between health and water sufficiency in urban areas. There was weak correlation between the study designs used and the association with health outcomes and water sufficiency metrics. Very few studies looked at change in health outcomes and water sufficiency over time.Conclusion: Surveillance of health outcomes and the trends in piped water quantity and mode of access should be prioritised in urban areas in Africa in order to implement interventions towards reducing the burden associated with waterborne diseases and syndromes.<br/