Evaluation of immunity against poliovirus serotypes among children in riverine areas of Delta State, Nigeria

Nigeria remains one of the major reservoirs for wild poliovirus transmission despite the reported success in National Immunization Days and acute flaccid paralysis surveillance. Two hundred children aged ≤ 10 years, were enrolled following parental consent from hard-to-reach riverine areas of Delta state of Nigeria to assess the level of protective immunity to poliovirus. Neutralizing antibodies to the three poliovirus serotypes in the serum samples of the children were determined by the beta method of neutralization.Eight (4%) of the children had no detectable antibody, 178 (89%), 180 (90%) and 181 (90.5%) were positive for antibodies to poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Overall, 162 (81%) of the children had antibodies to the three poliovirus serotypes at a titre of at least 1:8. The study shows the need for proper monitoring of vaccination coverage in such hard-to-reach riverine areas to achieve the objective of the global eradication of poliovirus.Keywords: Neutralizing, antibody, poliovirus, serotypes, riverine, Nigeri

Binge drinking : a pattern associated with a risk of problems of alcohol use among university students

Objective:: to evaluate problems associated with alcohol use among university students who reported binge drinking in comparison to students who consumed alcohol without binging. Method:: a cross-sectional study among university students (N=2,408) who accessed the website about alcohol use. Logistic and linear regression models were included in the statistical analyzes. Results:: alcohol use in the last three months was reported by 89.2% of university students; 51.6% reported binge drinking. Compared to students who did not binge drink, university students who presented this pattern were more likely to report all evaluated problems, among them: black out (aOR: 5.4); having academic problems (aOR: 3.4); acting impulsively and having regrets (aOR: 2.9); getting involved in fights (aOR: 2.6); drinking and driving (aOR: 2.6) and accepting a ride with someone who had drunk alcohol (aOR: 1.8). Students who binged also had higher scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (b=4.6; p<0.001), more negative consequences (b=1.0; p<0.001) and a reduced perception of the negativity of the consequences (b=-0.5; p<0.01). Conclusion:: binge drinking was associated with an increase in the chances of manifesting problems related to alcohol use. The conclusions of this study cannot be generalized for all of the Brazilian population. Objetivo:: avaliar problemas associados ao uso de álcool entre universitários que relataram binge drinking em comparação a estudantes que consumiram álcool sem binge drinking. Método:: estudo transversal entre universitários (N=2.408) que acessaram website sobre o uso de álcool. Nas análises estatísticas incluíram-se modelos de regressão logística e linear. Resultados:: o uso de álcool, nos últimos três meses, foi relatado por 89,2% dos universitários e 51,6% referiram uso binge. Comparados a estudantes que não praticaram binge, universitários que apresentaram esse padrão tiveram maior chance de relatar todos os problemas avaliados, entre eles: incapacidade de lembrar o que aconteceu (aOR:5,4); problemas acadêmicos (aOR:3,4); agir impulsivamente e se arrepender (aOR:2,9); envolver-se em brigas (aOR:2,6); dirigir após beber (aOR:2,6) e pegar carona com alguém que bebeu (aOR:1,8). Estudantes que consumiram álcool no padrão binge também apresentaram maior pontuação no Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (b=4,6; p<0,001), mais consequências negativas (b=1,0; p<0,001) e menos percepção da negatividade das consequências (b=-0,5; p<0,01). Conclusão:: a prática de binge drinking esteve associada ao aumento das chances de manifestação de problemas relacionados ao uso de álcool. As conclusões deste estudo não podem ser reproduzidas para toda realidade brasileira. Objetivo:: evaluar problemas asociados al uso de alcohol entre estudiantes universitarios que relataron binge drinking en comparación a estudiantes que consumieron alcohol sin binge drinking. Método:: estudio transversal entre estudiantes universitarios (N=2.408) que visitaron una página web sobre el uso de alcohol. En los análisis estadísticos, fueron incluidos modelos de regresión logística y linear. Resultados:: el uso de alcohol, en los últimos tres meses, fue relatado por 89,2% de los estudiantes universitarios, y entre ellos 51,6% relataron uso binge. En comparación a estudiantes universitarios que no practicaron binge, los estudiantes que presentaron ese estándar tuvieron una mayor oportunidad de relatar todos los problemas evaluados, entre ellos: incapacidad de recordar lo que sucedió (aOR:5,4); problemas académicos (aOR:3,4); actuar por impulso y arrepentirse (aOR:2,9); involucrarse en peleas (aOR:2,6); manejar después de beber (aOR:2,6) y compartieron viaje con alguien que bebió (aOR:1,8). Estudiantes que consumieron alcohol dentro del estándar binge también presentaron una mayor puntuación en el Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (b=4,6; p<0,001), más consecuencias negativas (b=1,0; p<0,001) y menor percepción de la negatividad de las consecuencias (b=-0,5; p<0,01). Conclusión:: la práctica de binge drinking estuvo asociada al aumento de las oportunidades de manifestación de problemas relacionados al alcohol. Las conclusiones de este estudio no pueden ser adaptadas a toda la realidad brasileña

Prevalence of measles neutralizing antibody in children under 15 years in Southwestern Nigeria

The immune status of children under 15 years in the Southwestern region of Nigeria against measles virus was determined using the neutralization test with a view to assessing the herd immunity to the virus in these communities. A total of 256 serum samples collected from children were tested by the beta method of neutralization. Forty (15.6%) of these samples were found to be positive at a titre of 1:256, 35 (13.7%) at 1:128, 36(14.1%) at 1:64, 37(14.5%) at 1:32, 38 (14.8%) at 1:16, 27 (10.5%) at 1:8 and 16 (6.3%) at 1:4. Twenty-seven (10.5%) of the 256 samples had no detectable antibody to the measles virus. There was no significant relationship between the antibody titre to measles virus and the gender of the children (p > 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference using Chi square analysis between the neutralizing antibody titres and the age of the children (p > 0.05). All the children whose samples were tested were vaccinated against measles as attested to by their parents. However, the vaccination does not seem to protect all the children, for some of them had no detectable neutralizing antibody while some had low neutralizing antibody titre. In Nigeria, where only a single dose of measles vaccine is given at 9 month, measles may remain a serious threat to the children population with its attendant high morbidity and mortality. Key Words: Prevalence, Neutralizing antibodies, Children < 15years Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. Vol.6(1) 2005: 60-6

Chemical and microbial properties of kiln-smoked catfish in selected locations in Ilorin Metropolis, Nigeria

The use of smoking kiln for drying catfish is on the increase in Nigeria due to its effectiveness in reducing moisture and contamination with toxic compounds during smoking. Chemical properties of kiln-smoked catfish in selected locations in Ilorin metropolis were determined in this study. Kiln-smoked catfish were obtained from four major locations (Oyun, Asa-Dam, Tanke and Agbo-Oba) in Ilorin, Nigeria. The samples were subjected to chemical and polycyclic hydrocarbon content analyses. Dried catfish from all the locations had low moisture and crude fibre contents. There were no significant differences (p&gt;0.05) in the crude fibre contents of the kiln-smoked catfish. Protein contents ranging from 53.72-56.49% were obtained for the kilnsmoked catfish samples. Fat contents ranged from 9.92-11.77% while the carbohydrate contents ranged from 19.02-23.59%. Potassium was the most abundant mineral in the samples with no traces of lead and cadmium. Agbo-Oba samples contained the highest pyrene (2983.215 ng/ml) and total polycyclic hydrocarbon (PAHs) (3349.090 ng/ml). Data on steroid fractions indicated that 17b-estradiol was significantly greater in quantity than those recorded from other steroid fractions. Microbial analyses of the samples revealed the presence of the following pathogenic organisms: Klebsiella spp, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio spp, Aspergillus niger, penicilium spp, Trichoderma spp which are harmful to man. The use of smoking kiln method improved the nutrients and reduced PAHs in catfish. Keywords: Smoking kiln, Catfish, Chemical properties, Polycyclic hydrocarbon, Mineral element

Ayahuasca use and reported effects on depression and anxiety symptoms: An international cross-sectional study of 11,912 consumers

Background Ayahuasca is a psychoactive Amazonian brew which has emerging data indicating that it has antidepressant and anxiolytic properties. Methods This paper uses data from the Global Ayahuasca Project (GAP), which was undertaken across 2017-2020 and involved 11912 people, to examine the perceived effects of ayahuasca consumption on affective symptoms. The study focused on the subsample reporting depression or anxiety diagnoses at time of Ayahuasca consumption (n = 2011). Results Of participants reporting depression (n=1571) or anxiety (n=1125) at the time of consuming Ayahuasca, 78% reported that their depression was either ‘very much’ improved (46%), or ‘completely resolved’ (32%); while 70% of those with anxiety reported that their symptoms were ‘very much’ improved (54%), or ‘completely resolved’ (16%). A range of factors were associated with greater reported affective symptoms improvement, including subjective mystical experience, number of Ayahuasca sessions, and number of personal psychological insights experienced. 2.7% and 4.5% of drinkers with depression or anxiety, respectively, reported worsening of symptoms. Limitations This study is recognized as a cross-sectional analysis which cannot assess treatment efficacy. Selection bias may exist due to survey-respondents with favorable experience being potentially biased towards participation. Conclusions Drinkers of Ayahuasca in naturalistic settings perceived remarkable benefits for their affective symptoms in this survey assessment. There is no obvious evidence of negative mental health effects being associated with long-term consumption. Additional randomized controlled trial evidence is required to establish the efficacy of Ayahuasca in affective disorders, and to understand the worsened symptoms reported by a small percentage of drinkers

The identity of the active site of oxalate decarboxylase and the importance of the stability of active-site lid conformations.

Oxalate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.2) catalyses the conversion of oxalate into carbon dioxide and formate. It requires manganese and, uniquely, dioxygen for catalysis. It forms a homohexamer and each subunit contains two similar, but distinct, manganese sites termed sites 1 and 2. There is kinetic evidence that only site 1 is catalytically active and that site 2 is purely structural. However, the kinetics of enzymes with mutations in site 2 are often ambiguous and all mutant kinetics have been interpreted without structural information. Nine new site-directed mutants have been generated and four mutant crystal structures have now been solved. Most mutants targeted (i) the flexibility (T165P), (ii) favoured conformation (S161A, S164A, D297A or H299A) or (iii) presence (Δ162–163 or Δ162–164) of a lid associated with site 1. The kinetics of these mutants were consistent with only site 1 being catalytically active. This was particularly striking with D297A and H299A because they disrupted hydrogen bonds between the lid and a neighbouring subunit only when in the open conformation and were distant from site 2. These observations also provided the first evidence that the flexibility and stability of lid conformations are important in catalysis. The deletion of the lid to mimic the plant oxalate oxidase led to a loss of decarboxylase activity, but only a slight elevation in the oxalate oxidase side reaction, implying other changes are required to afford a reaction specificity switch. The four mutant crystal structures (R92A, E162A, Δ162–163 and S161A) strongly support the hypothesis that site 2 is purely structural