Surgical Indications for Eye Removal in Enugu, South Eastern Nigeria

Objective: To determine the surgical indications for removal of the eye in Enugu in south eastern Nigeria. Method: Retrospective case series review. Results: At the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, between 1st January 1994 and 31st December 2003, 106 eyes of 106 patients, comprising 71 (67.0%) males and 35 (33.0%) females, aged 6-72 years (mean 31.8), were removed by evisceration (59; 55.7%), enucleation (35; 33.0%), and exenteration (12; 11.3%). Severe open globe injury (49; 46.2%), infection (29; 27.4%), malignant tumour (15; 14.2%) and blind painful eye (14; 13.2%) were the indications for eye removal. Eye removal was more frequent in males (67.0%), among farmers (21.7%), and among the 21-40 year age group (41.5%). Patients who had their eyes removed constituted 0.42% of new outpatients, 4.63% of inpatients and 7.83% of patients who had eye operations during the study period. Conclusion: The indications for eye removal were mainly for preventable/curable causes. There is, therefore, a need to improve promotive, preventive and curative eye care delivery to reverse this trend. Keywords:eye, removal, indications, Enugu, NigeriaNigerian Journal of Opthalmology Vol. 15 (2) 2007: pp. 44-4

IFNγ and IL-12 restrict Th2 responses during Helminth/Plasmodium co-infection and promote IFNγ from Th2 cells

Parasitic helminths establish chronic infections in mammalian hosts. Helminth/Plasmodium co-infections occur frequently in endemic areas. However, it is unclear whether Plasmodium infections compromise anti-helminth immunity, contributing to the chronicity of infection. Immunity to Plasmodium or helminths requires divergent CD4+ T cell-driven responses, dominated by IFNγ or IL-4, respectively. Recent literature has indicated that Th cells, including Th2 cells, have phenotypic plasticity with the ability to produce non-lineage associated cytokines. Whether such plasticity occurs during co-infection is unclear. In this study, we observed reduced anti-helminth Th2 cell responses and compromised anti-helminth immunity during Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Plasmodium chabaudi co-infection. Using newly established triple cytokine reporter mice (Il4gfpIfngyfpIl17aFP635), we demonstrated that Il4gfp+ Th2 cells purified from in vitro cultures or isolated ex vivo from helminth-infected mice up-regulated IFNγ following adoptive transfer into Rag1-/- mice infected with P. chabaudi. Functionally, Th2 cells that up-regulated IFNγ were transcriptionally re-wired and protected recipient mice from high parasitemia. Mechanistically, TCR stimulation and responsiveness to IL-12 and IFNγ, but not type I IFN, was required for optimal IFNγ production by Th2 cells. Finally, blockade of IL-12 and IFNγ during co-infection partially preserved anti-helminth Th2 responses. In summary, this study demonstrates that Th2 cells retain substantial plasticity with the ability to produce IFNγ during Plasmodium infection. Consequently, co-infection with Plasmodium spp. may contribute to the chronicity of helminth infection by reducing anti-helminth Th2 cells and converting them into IFNγ-secreting cells

What Does the Medical Student know about Eye Donation/Corneal Transplant? The University of Nigeria Scenario

Objective: The study was designed to determine the knowledge of eye donation and corneal transplant among final year medical students of The University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC). Methods: Self-administered structured questionnaires were distributed to the members of the final year (graduating) class of the Medical College of UNEC in June 2007. Responses were obtained to questions bordering on eye donation and corneal transplant. Results: One hundred and thirty-one students out of 183 eligible students participated in the study (response rate = 71.6%). One hundred and four students (79.4%) were aware of eye donation/corneal transplant. However, 95 students (72.5%) were not aware that the eyes can only be removed from a dead donor. Eighty-four students (64.1%) were not aware that eyes with cataract could be donated. Eighty-seven (66.4%) students were not willing to pledge their eyes for donation. Conclusion: Medical students lack adequate knowledge about some aspects of eye donation and corneal transplantation. This may be a predictor of the level of awareness among the general public. Concerted innovative education and information dissemination strategies are required at this stage of national development to address the misconceptions surrounding eye donation and corneal transplant. There is a need to target medical students as future motivators, counsellors and eye donors. This should help advance the eye donation rates in Nigeria whenever the plans for the establishment of an eye-bank are finalized. Keywords: Eye Donation, Corneal Transplant, Knowledge, Medical Student ¿Qué Saben los Estudiantes de Medicina Acerca de la Donación de Ojos/transplante de Córnea? Panorama de la Universidad de Nigeria RESUMEN Objetivo: El estudio fue diseñado para determinar el conocimiento sobre la donación de ojos y el trasplante de la córnea entre estudiantes del último año de medicina en el Campus Enugu de la Universidad de Nigeria (UNEC). Métodos: Se distribuyeron encuestas estructuradas auto-administradas entre los miembros de la clase del último año (graduandos) de la Facultad de Medicina de UNEC en junio de 2007. Se obtuvieron respuestas a preguntas en torno a la donación de ojos y el trasplante de córnea. Resultados: Ciento treinta y un estudiantes de un grupo de 183 estudiantes elegibles, participaron en el estudio (tasa de respuesta = 71.6%). Ciento cuatro estudiantes (79.4%) conocían de la donación de ojos/trasplante de córnea. Sin embargo, 95 estudiantes (72.5%) no sabían que los ojos sólo pueden ser extraídos de un donante muerto. Ochenta y cuatro estudiantes (64.1%) no tenían conciencia de que se podían donar ojos con catarata. Ochenta y siete (66.4%) estudiantes no estaban dispuestos a ofrecer sus ojos para una donación. Conclusión: Los estudiantes de medicina carecían de conocimientos adecuados sobre algunos aspectos de la donación de ojos y el trasplante de la córnea. Éste puede ser un predictor del nivel de conocimiento en el público general. Se necesita concertar una educación innovadora y estrategias de difusión de la información en esta fase de desarrollo nacional, a fin de abordar las concepciones erróneas en torno a la donación de ojos y el trasplante de córnea. Hay que hacer un trabajo de captación de los estudiantes de medicina como futuros motivadores, orientadores, y donantes de ojos. Esto debe contribuir a elevar las tasas de donación de ojos en Nigeria, en cuanto se concreten los planes para la creación de un banco de ojos. Palabras claves: Donación de ojos, trasplante de córnea, conocimientos, estudiante de medicina

Effect Of Replacing Soybean Meal With Lima Bean Meal On Finishing Broiler Chicken

Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) was processed by soaking and toasting before usage to feed 75 broiler birds for 28 days. The birds were randomly assigned to five treatment diets with each treatment being replicated three times and containing five birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. The bean was soaked for twenty four (24) hours, oven-dried and then toasted. It was milled and then incorporated into diets. Excepts diet 1, each of the diets (2-5) contained quantitative replacement of soyabean with the processed lima bean at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% levels respectively. The result showed a significant (

Production and Partial Characterization of Cellulases from Apergillus fumigatus Using Two Distinct Parts of Corn Cob as Carbon Sources

Corn cobs were sun-dried for three days and separated into the hard outer part (Corn Cob Outer, CCO) and the soft inner part (the pulp) (Corn Cob Inner, CCI). Each part was milled separately. Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from sewage water was grown on and adapted to each part of corn cob. Using CCI and CCO, as the sole carbon sources for submerged fermentation, the organism produced cellulase. Activity was highest on the 3rd and 4th days using CCI and CCO, respectively. The crude cellulases were partially purified by 50% ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by dialysis. The partially purified cellulases were then characterized with respect to pH, Temperature and Themostability. While the optimum pH of the CCI cellulose was 6.0, that of CCO cellulase was pH 7.0. The optimum temperature of CCI was 55°C whereas that of CCO was 50°C. The stability of enzymes from 35°C to 70°C was studied. At 70°C, CCO cellulase has lost 45.88% of its original activity while CCI cellulase lost 58.14%. The results show that corn cob could serve as a cheap carbon source for the production of fungi cellulase. The study indicates that waste could be converted to wealth.Key words: Corn cob, cellulose, Aspergillus fumigates, submerged fermentation, partial purification

Extracellular vesicles derived from T regulatory cells suppress T cell proliferation and prolong allograft survival

We have previously shown that rat allogeneic DC, made immature by adenoviral gene transfer of the dominant negative form of IKK2, gave rise in-vitro to a unique population of CD4+CD25- regulatory T cells (dnIKK2-Treg). These cells inhibited Tcell response in-vitro, without needing cell-to-cell contact, and induced kidney allograft survival prolongation in-vivo. Deep insight into the mechanisms behind dnIKK2-Treg-induced suppression of Tcell proliferation remained elusive. Here we document that dnIKK2-Treg release extracellular vesicles (EV) riched in exosomes, fully accounting for the cell-contact independent immunosuppressive activity of parent cells. DnIKK2-Treg-EV contain a unique molecular cargo of specific miRNAs and iNOS, which, once delivered into target cells, blocked cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis. DnIKK2-Treg-EV-exposed T cells were in turn converted into regulatory cells. Notably, when administered in-vivo, dnIKK2-Treg-EV prolonged kidney allograft survival. DnIKK2-Treg-derived EV could be a tool for manipulating the immune system and for discovering novel potential immunosuppressive molecules in the context of allotransplantation