Intramuscular Administration of a Synthetic CpG-Oligodeoxynucleotide Modulates Functional Responses of Neutrophils of Neonatal Foals

Neutrophils play an important role in protecting against infection. Foals have age-dependent deficiencies in neutrophil function that may contribute to their predisposition to infection. Thus, we investigated the ability of a CpG-ODN formulated with Emulsigen to modulate functional responses of neutrophils in neonatal foals. Eighteen foals were randomly assigned to receive either a CpG-ODN with Emulsigen (N = 9) or saline intramuscularly at ages 1 and 7 days. At ages 1, 3, 9, 14, and 28, blood was collected and neutrophils were isolated from each foal. Neutrophils were assessed for basal and Rhodococcus equi-stimulated mRNA expression of the cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and IL-8 using real-time PCR, degranulation by quantifying the amount of β-D glucuronidase activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation using flow cytometry. In vivo administration of the CpG-ODN formulation on days 1 and 7 resulted in significantly (P<0.05) increased IFN-γ mRNA expression by foal neutrophils on days 3, 9, and 14. Degranulation was significantly (P<0.05) lower for foals in the CpG-ODN-treated group than the control group at days 3 and 14, but not at other days. No effect of treatment on ROS generation was detected. These results indicate that CpG-ODN administration to foals might improve innate and adaptive immune responses that could protect foals against infectious diseases and possibly improve responses to vaccination.The open access fee for this work was funded through the Texas A&M University Open Access to Knowledge (OAK) Fund

Use of Cervical Cerclage as a Treatment Option for Cervical Incompetence: Patient Characteristics, Presentation and Management over a 9 Year Period in a Kenyan Centre

Treatment of cervical incompetence by cerclage and other methods has yet to be standardized, as its diagnosis is not uniformly accepted. Its diagnosis, particularly in the African setting, is mostly based on past obstetric history of pregnancy losses, while in developed centres; ultrasound diagnosis is increasingly being used. The mainstay of treatment in developing countries is cervical cerclage, although the indications and contraindications of this mode of treatment are not documented. Our aim was to appraise this practice in terms of patient characteristics, the diagnostic process and management at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. This was a descriptive retrospective study over 9 years. Predesigned questionnaires were employed to collect data on patient’s socio-demographic profile, presentation, risk factors, diagnosis and management of cervical incompetence. Chisquared test and student’s t-test were used to correlate variables. A total of 199 patients were treated for cervical incompetence, with the patient mean age being 27.97. 87.4% of the patients (p=0.02) were in the 20 to 35 years category. Most of the patients (60.1%) were of low socio-economic status. Cervical cerclage was employed in all the patients, although ultrasound investigation was not employed in 65.8% of them. Diagnosis of cervical incompetence still relies on history of previous pregnancy losses, with the standard transvaginal ultrasound relatively unemployed. There is need to intensify investigations for this condition, standardize the indications for cerclage, and diversify management to other newer modalities.RésuméLe traitement de l’insuffisance cervicale par le cerclage n'a pas encore été standardisé, étant donné que son diagnostic n'est pas uniformément accepté. Son diagnostic en Afrique, est principalement basé sur les antécédents obstétricaux de pertes de grossesse, alors que dans les centres développés, le diagnostic échographique est utilisé. Notre objectif était d'évaluer cette pratique en termes de caractéristiques des patientes, le processus de diagnostic et de gestion à l'Hôpital National Kenyatta, à Nairobi, au Kenya. Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective descriptive qui a duré 9 ans. Les questionnaires préconçus ont été utilisés pour recueillir des données sur la situation sociodémographique des patientes, la présentation, les facteurs de risque, le diagnostic et la gestion d'insuffisance cervicale. Le Test du chi carré et le test de t de l’étudiant ont été utilisés pour corréler les variables. Un total de 199 patientes ont été traitées pour l’insuffisance cervicale, l'âge moyen des patientes étant de 27,97. 87,4% des patientes (p = 0,02) se trouvaient dans la catégorie des 20 à 35 ans. La plupart des patientes (60,1%) étaient de faible statut socioéconomique. Le cerclage du col utérin a été utilisé chez toutes les patientes, bien qu’on n’ait pas mené une enquête échographique auprès des 65,8% d'entre elles. Le diagnostic d'insuffisance cervicale repose toujours sur les antécédents de perte de grossesses précédentes, là où on n’a presque pas utilisé l'échographie trans-vaginale normale. Il est nécessaire d'intensifier les recherches pour cette situation, de standardiser les indications du cerclage, et de diversifier la gestion vers d'autres modalités nouvelles.Keywords: Cervical incompetence, cerclage, diagnosis, managemen

Using Future Scenario Planning as a tool for informed decision making on infrastructure interventions in Kibera, Nairobi in Kenya

This paper focuses on the use of Future Scenario Planning and an adaptation of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as analysis tools for informed decision-making in a community workshop. The aim of this methodology was to assess the perceived impacts of two infrastructure interventions for flood mitigation (local drainage improvement and local flood protection by gabions along the river edges) in the Andolo community in Kibera, Nairobi, in Kenya. Future Scenario Planning was used as a visualisation method for the changes each intervention could bring to the community and the perceived impacts were measured using the assets component of the British Department for International Development (DFID)'s Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. The exercise was delivered as a two-day workshop, which ensured community engagement and facilitated co-decision making of an infrastructure intervention. The process was helpful to ensure sustainability in the use and maintenance of a public space, as well as for initiating conversations within the community regarding critical infrastructure and prioritisation of interventions for mitigating immediate risks

Badger macrophages fail to produce nitric oxide, a key anti-mycobacterial effector molecule

The European badger is recognised as a wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (bTB); the control of which is complex, costly and controversial. Despite the importance of badgers in bTB and the well-documented role for macrophages as anti-mycobacterial effector cells, badger macrophage (bdMij) responses remain uncharacterised. Here, we demonstrate that bdMij fail to produce nitric oxide (NO) or upregulate inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA following Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist treatment. BdMij also failed to make NO after stimulation with recombinant badger interferon gamma (bdIFNȖ) or a combination of bdIFNȖ and lipopolysaccharide. Exposure of bdMij to TLR agonists and/or bdIFNȖ resulted in upregulated cytokine (IL1ȕ, IL6, IL12 and TNFĮ) mRNA levels indicating that these critical pathways were otherwise intact. Although stimulation with most TLR agonists resulted in strong cytokine mRNA responses, weaker responses were evident after exposure to TLR9 agonists, potentially due to very low expression of TLR9 in bdMij. Both NO and TLR9 are important elements of innate immunity to mycobacteria, and these features of bdMij biology would impair their capacity to resist bTB infection. These findings have significant implications for the development of bTB management strategies, and support the use of vaccination to reduce bTB infection in badgers