Acceptability of Condom Promotion and Distribution Among 10-19 Year-Old Adolescents in Mpwapwa and Mbeya Rural Districts, Tanzania.

\ud The HIV/AIDS pandemic remains a leading challenge for global health. Although condoms are acknowledged for their key role on preventing HIV transmission, low and inappropriate use of condoms persists in Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa. This study assesses factors affecting acceptability of condom promotion and distribution among adolescents in Mpwapwa and Mbeya rural districts of Tanzania. Data were collected in 2011 as part of a larger cross-sectional survey on condom use among 10-19 year-olds in Mpwapwa and Mbeya rural districts of Tanzania using a structured questionnaire. Associations between acceptability of condom promotion and distribution and each of the explanatory variables were tested using Chi Square. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine independent predictors of the acceptability of condom promotion and distribution using STATA (11) statistical software at 5% significance level. Mean age of the 1,327 adolescent participants (50.5% being males) was 13.5 years (SD = 1.4). Acceptance of condom promotion and distribution was found among 37% (35% in Mpwapwa and 39% in Mbeya rural) of the adolescents. Being sexually active and aged 15-19 was the strongest predictor of the acceptability of condom promotion and distribution (OR = 7.78, 95% CI 4.65-12.99). Others were; not agreeing that a condom is effective in preventing transmissions of STIs including HIV (OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.20-0.56), being a resident of Mbeya rural district (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.28-2.19), feeling comfortable being seen by parents/guardians holding/buying condoms (OR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.40-3.46) and living with a guardian (OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.08-2.04). Acceptability of condom promotion and distribution among adolescents in Mpwapwa and Mbeya rural is low. Effect of sexual activity on the acceptability of condom promotion and distribution is age-dependent and was the strongest. Feeling comfortable being seen by parents/guardians buying or holding condoms, perceived ability of condoms to offer protection against HIV/AIDS infections, district of residence and living arrangements also offered significant predictive effect. Knowledge of these factors is vital in designing successful and sustainable condom promotion and distribution programs in Tanzania.\u

Inhibition of arginase ameliorates experimental ulcerative colitis in mice

Nitric oxide (NO) is produced from the conversion of L-arginine by NO synthase (NOS) and regulates a variety of processes in the gastrointestinal tract. Considering the increased activity of arginase in colitis tissue, it is speculated that arginase could inhibit NO synthesis by competing for the same L-arginine substrate, resulting in the exacerbation of colitis. We examined the role of arginase and its relationship to NO metabolism in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Experimental colitis was induced in mice by administration of 2.5% DSS in drinking water for 8 days. Treatment for arginase inhibition was done by once daily intraperitoneal injection of N-omega-hydroxy-norarginine (nor-NOHA). On day 8, we evaluated clinical parameters (body weight, disease activity index, and colon length), histological features, the activity and expression of arginase, L-arginine content, the expression of NO synthase (NOS), and the concentration of NO end-product (NOx: nitrite + nitrate). Administration of nor-NOHA improved the worsened clinical parameters and histological features in DSS-induced colitis. Treatment with nor-NOHA attenuated the increased activity of arginase, upregulation of arginase. at both mRNA and protein levels, and decreased the content of L-arginine in colonic tissue in the DSS-treated mice. Conversely, despite the decreased expression of NOS2 mRNA, the decreased concentration of NOx in colonic tissues was restored to almost normal levels. The consumption of L-arginine by arginase could lead to decreased production of NO from NOS, contributing to the pathogenesis of the colonic inflammation; thus, arginase inhibition might be effective for improving colitis

The new alpha-amino acid N-omega-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine: A high-affinity inhibitor of arginase well adapted to bind to its manganese cluster

International audiencexx

Endocytosis of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein variants and of neoglycoproteins containing mannose derivatives by a mouse hybridoma cell line (2C11-12). Comparison with mouse peritoneal macrophages.

International audienceMacrophages from various origins are known to express membrane lectins that mediate the endocytosis of mannose-bearing glycoconjugates. Most macrophage tumor cell-lines lack such receptors. In this paper we show by flow cytometry analysis that a newly generated macrophage hybridoma (2C11-12), which displays several macrophage characteristics, also expresses mannose membrane lectins, resulting in the internalization of fluoresceinylated neoglycoproteins into acidic compartments. Thioglycolate elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages and the 2C11-12 hybridomas were compared by flow cytometry with regard to the binding and endocytosis of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) variants separated by affinity chromatography on immobilized concanavalin A. AGP C eluted specifically with methyl alpha-mannopyranoside, which contains two bi-antennary oligosaccharides, was endocytosed as mannosylated serum albumin (Man-BSA). In both types of macrophages, the fluoresceinylated ligands were internalized in acidic compartments as demonstrated by the fluorescence intensity increase upon monensin post-incubation. However the behaviour of the internalized ligands was found to be quite different. AGP C and Man-BSA were rapidly degraded by thioglycolate elicited peritoneal macrophages and excreted in the medium as small peptide fragments; conversely they remained a longer time in the 2C11-12 hybridoma

Nitric oxide acts as a positive regulator to induce metamorphosis of the ascidian Herdmania momus

Marine invertebrates commonly have a biphasic life cycle in which the metamorphic transition from a pelagic larva to a benthic post-larva is mediated by the nitric oxide signalling pathway. Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesised by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which is a client protein of the molecular chaperon heat shock protein 90 (HSP90). It is notable, then, that both NO and HSP90 have been implicated in regulating metamorphosis in marine invertebrates as diverse as urochordates, echinoderms, molluscs, annelids, and crustaceans. Specifically, the suppression of NOS activity by the application of either NOS-or HSP90-inhibiting pharmacological agents has been shown consistently to induce the initiation of metamorphosis, leading to the hypothesis that a negative regulatory role of NO is widely conserved in biphasic life cycles. Further, the induction of metamorphosis by heat-shock has been demonstrated for multiple species. Here, we investigate the regulatory role of NO in induction of metamorphosis of the solitary tropical ascidian, Herdmania momus. By coupling pharmacological treatments with analysis of HmNOS and HmHSP90 gene expression, we present compelling evidence of a positive regulatory role for NO in metamorphosis of this species, in contrast to all existing ascidian data that supports the hypothesis of NO as a conserved negative regulator of metamorphosis. The exposure of competent H. momus larvae to a NOS inhibitor or an NO donor results in an up-regulation of NOS and HSP90 genes. Heat shock of competent larvae induces metamorphosis in a temperature dependent manner, up to a thermal tolerance that approaches 35 degrees C. Both larval/ post-larval survival and the appearance of abnormal morphologies in H. momus post-larvae reflect the magnitude of up-regulation of the HSP90 gene in response to heat-shock. The demonstrated role of NO as a positive metamorphic regulator in H. momus suggests the existence of inter-specific adaptations of NO regulation in ascidian metamorphosis