Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV in an urban and rural setting, Tanzania

Adherence is one of the most crucial determinants of treatment response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 24 Care and Treatment Centres (CTC) in Dar es Salaam and Iringa regions in Tanzania. Data was collected using questionnaire and appointments records. A total of 943 patients attending at the care and treatment sites in Dar es Salaam and Iringa were recruited. Adherence based on keeping appointments and on four days recall was 65% and 70%, respectively. Adherence based on taking ART more than 95% of the time in one month was 83%. Satisfaction with health services, having treatment support, having knowledge on the use of ART, early presentation to CTC, and being on ART for more than one year, were associated with good adherence. Being in the urban region, using traditional medicine, medicine side effects and alcohol consumption problems negatively associated with adherence to ART.Keywords: Adherence barriers, antiretroviral therapy, HIV, Tanzania, rural, urba

Characterization of an Electroless Plated Silver/Cysteine Sensor Platform for the Electrochemical Determination of Aflatoxin B 1

An electroless plated silver/cysteine sensor platform [Glass|silver|cysteine|aflatoxin B 1 |horseradish peroxidase] for the Electrochemical detection of aflatoxin B 1 was developed and characterized. This involved four major steps: (1) an electroless deposition of silver (plating) onto a glass slide, (2) immobilization of cysteine; (3) conjugation of aflatoxin B 1 to cysteine groups; and (4) blocking of free cysteine groups with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The binding of cysteine to the silver was demonstrated by the disappearance of thiol (S-H) groups at 2500 cm −1 using Fourier transmittance infrared spectra (FT-IR), while the subsequent steps in the assembly of sensor platform were monitored using both FT-IR and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. The sensor platform exhibited a broadened nonsymmetrical redox couple as indicated by cyclic voltammetry. The platform was further characterized for sensitivity and limit of detection. The indirect competitive immunoassay format, whereby free and immobilized aflatoxin B 1 on the sensor competed for the binding site of free anti-aflatoxin B 1 antibody, was used at various concentrations of aflatoxin B 1 . The sensor generated differential staircase voltammogram that was inversely proportional to the concentration of aflatoxin B 1 and aflatoxin B 1 in the range of 0.06-1.1 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.08 ng/mL could be detected

Development and Characterization of an Electroless Plated Silver/Cysteine Sensor Platform for the Electrochemical Determination of Aflatoxin B-1

An electroless plated silver/cysteine sensor platform [Glass|silver|cysteine|aflatoxin B1|horseradish peroxidase] for the Electrochemical detection of aflatoxin B1 was developed and characterized. This involved four major steps: (1) an electroless deposition of silver (plating) onto a glass slide, (2) immobilization of cysteine; (3) conjugation of aflatoxin B1 to cysteine groups; and (4) blocking of free cysteine groups with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The binding of cysteine to the silver was demonstrated by the disappearance of thiol (S-H) groups at 2500 cm−1 using Fourier transmittance infrared spectra (FT-IR), while the subsequent steps in the assembly of sensor platform were monitored using both FT-IR and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. The sensor platform exhibited a broadened nonsymmetrical redox couple as indicated by cyclic voltammetry. The platform was further characterized for sensitivity and limit of detection. The indirect competitive immunoassay format, whereby free and immobilized aflatoxin B1 on the sensor competed for the binding site of free anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody, was used at various concentrations of aflatoxin B1. The sensor generated differential staircase voltammogram that was inversely proportional to the concentration of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B1 in the range of 0.06–1.1 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.08 ng/mL could be detected