2 research outputs found
High prevalence of hepatitis B virus among female sex workers in Nigeria Alta prevalĂȘncia de hepatite pelo vĂrus B entre trabalhadoras do sexo feminino na NigĂ©ria
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Nigeria and constitutes a public health menace. The prevalence of HBV infection in many professional groups has been described in Nigeria. However, literature on HBV infection among female sex workers (FSW) in Nigeria is scanty. FSW in Nigeria are not subjected to a preventive control of HBV infection. This study assesses the extent of spread of HBV among FSW in Nigeria. Seven hundred and twenty (n = 720) FSW (mean age = 26.7 years) were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by a double antibody sandwich ELISA method. The overall HBV prevalence among the FSW was 17.1%. FSWs between the ages of 31-35 year (20.5%) and those with 'age-at-first-sex' below 10 years of age (28%) were most affected. This high prevalence of a vaccine preventable disease is unacceptable, therefore, vaccination of this high risk HBV reservoir group should be considered worthwhile.<br>A hepatite pelo vĂrus B (HBV) Ă© infecção endĂȘmica na NigĂ©ria e constitui problema de saĂșde pĂșblica. A prevalĂȘncia da infecção HBV em muitos grupos profissionais foi descrito na NigĂ©ria. No entanto, a literatura da infecção HBV entre trabalhadoras do sexo feminino (FSW) na NigĂ©ria Ă© escasso. FSW na NigĂ©ria nĂŁo sĂŁo submetidas a um controle preventivo de infecção de HBV. Este estudo avalia a extensĂŁo da disseminação de HBV entre FSW na NigĂ©ria. Setecentos e vinte (n = 720) FSW (mĂ©dia de idade = 26,7 anos) foram testadas para antĂgeno de superfĂcie da hepatite B (HBsAg) pelo mĂ©todo ELISA usando sandwich de duplos anticorpos. A prevalĂȘncia total de HBV entre o FSW foi 17,1%. FSWs entre as idades de 31-35 anos (20,5%) e abaixo de 10 anos de idade (28%) foram mais afetadas. Esta alta prevalĂȘncia de doença evitĂĄvel pela vacinação Ă© inaceitĂĄvel, portanto, vacinação deste grupo de alto risco de HBV deve ser considerada fundamental
Eosinophils: Biological properties and role in health and disease
Eosinophils are pleiotropic multifunctional leukocytes involved in initiation and propagation of diverse inflammatory responses, as well as modulators of innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, the biology of eosinophils is summarized, focusing on transcriptional regulation of eosinophil differentiation, characterization of the growing properties of eosinophil granule proteins, surface proteins and pleiotropic mediators, and molecular mechanisms of eosinophil degranulation. New views on the role of eosinophils in homeostatic function are examined, including developmental biology and innate and adaptive immunity (as well as their interaction with mast cells and T cells) and their proposed role in disease processes including infections, asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders. Finally, strategies for targeted therapeutic intervention in eosinophil-mediated mucosal diseases are conceptualized