Pulmonary arterial hypertension: iron matters

The interplay between iron and oxygen is longstanding and central to all aerobic life. Tight regulation of these interactions including homeostatic regulation of iron utilization ensures safe usage of this limited resource. However, when control is lost adverse events can ensue, which are known to contribute to an array of disease processes. Recently, associations between disrupted iron homeostasis and pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) have been described with the suggestion that there is a contributory link with disease. This review provides a background for iron regulation in humans, describes PAH classifications, and discusses emerging literature, which suggests a role for disrupted iron homeostatic control in various sub-types of PAH, including a role for decompartmentalization of hemoglobin. Finally, the potential for therapeutic options to restore iron homeostatic balance in PAH are discussed

Benign intermuscular lipoma in a bitch

A case of intermuscular lipoma located between the external abdominal oblique and internal abdominal oblique muscles in a fourteen- year -old dog is described. Presenting signs, radiographic findings, surgical treatments and the follow-up treatment are discussed

Residual mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso

Background: Burkina Faso is one of the countries in West Africa most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, despite the implementation of a mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention program as a strategy to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of the disease.Objective: To assess the current risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso.Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted between December 2014 and July 2016, in the 13 health regions of Burkina Faso. Women who were screened HIV-positive during a prenatal consultation were followed until delivery. Their babies received dry blood spot (DBS) at birth, at week 6 and at 1year, to screen for HIV.Results: Overall, 186 pregnant women were included in the study, with a mean age of 29.17±6.13 years. Of their children, 430 DBS actually received a PCR test, giving a 91.1% PCR implementation rate. After analyses, 6 (1.3%) babies were identified as carriers of HIV1. The newborn’s serological status was associated with delivery pattern (p=0.000), the administration of antiretroviral drugs to the mother after delivery (p=0.0064), the administration of Nevirapine to the newborn at birth (p=0.022), the use of contraceptive methods after delivery (p=0.028) and the presence of breast affections/infections since delivery (p=0.013).Conclusion: The results of our study are encouraging and demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in the mother-tochild prevention program (PMTCT) for HIV-positive pregnant women can be improved through early initiation of triple therapy in early pregnancy and improved adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy.Keywords: Burkina Faso, HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral drugs, pregnant wome

Guidance on stakeholder engagement practices to inform the development of areawide vector control methods

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.British Academ

Registration of sorghum varieties ICSV 735, ICSV 758, and ICSV 808 resistant to sorghum midge, Stenodiplosis sorghicola

The sorghum lines ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 have been released as Yezin 6, Yezin 7 and Yezin 5, respectively, in Myanmar. These cultivars combine resistance to S. sorghicola with yield potential almost similar to that of the commercial cultivar Yezin 1 or Yezin 3. ICSV 735 was derived from (ICSV 197 x ICSV 1)-9-1-1-2-6, whereas ICSV 758 was developed from (ICSV 197 x A 13108)-1-2-1-1-1. ICSV 804 was obtained from (ICSV 197 x ICSV 1)-3-1-1-1-1. The grain yields of ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 were 1.489, 1.949 and 1.721 t/ha, respectively (0.622 t/ha for the local control), during the rainy season of 1993-94. Under fertilizer treatment, the grain yields of ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 (2.878, 3.389 and 3.416 t/ha) were higher than the grain yield of the local control (1.910 t/ha). At ICRISAT Center, these cultivars had grain yields of 4.65-7.65 t/ha during the rainy season of 1997. ICSV 735, ICSV 758 and ICSV 804 were comparable to resistant controls DJ 6514 and ICSV 197 interms of resistance to S. sorghicola, and as susceptible to shoot fly [Atherigona soccata], head bugs and stem borer, but less susceptible to aphids as the commercial cultivars ICSV 1 and CSH 9

A cohort study to identify risk factors for Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkinabe children: implications for other high burden high impact countries

Background: Progress in controlling malaria has stalled in recent years. Today the malaria burden is increasingly concentrated in a few countries, including Burkina Faso, where malaria is not declining. A cohort study was conducted to identify risk factors for malaria infection in children in southwest Burkina Faso, an area with high insecticide-treated net (ITN) coverage and insecticide-resistant vectors. Methods: Incidence of Plasmodium falciparum infection was measured in 252 children aged 5 to 15 years, using active and passive detection, during the 2017 transmission season, following clearance of infection. Demographic, socio-economic, environmental, and entomological risk factors, including use of ITNs and insecticide resistance were monitored. Results: During the six-month follow-up period, the overall incidence of P. falciparum infection was 2.78 episodes per child (95% CI = 2.66–2.91) by microscopy, and 3.11 (95% CI = 2.95–3.28) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The entomological inoculation rate (EIR) was 80.4 infective bites per child over the six-month malaria transmission season. At baseline, 80.6% of children were reported as sleeping under an ITN the previous night, although at the last survey, 23.3% of nets were in poor condition and considered no longer protective. No association was found between the rate of P. falciparum infection and either EIR (incidence rate ratio (IRR): 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00–1.00, p = 0.08) or mortality in WHO tube tests when vectors were exposed to 0.05% deltamethrin (IRR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.73–1.50, p = 0.79). Travel history (IRR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.45–1.59, p < 0.001) and higher socio-economic status were associated with an increased risk of P. falciparum infection (IRR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.00–1.11, p = 0.04). Conclusions: Incidence of P. falciparum infection remains overwhelmingly high in the study area. The study findings suggest that because of the exceptionally high levels of malaria transmission in the study area, malaria elimination cannot be achieved solely by mass deployment of ITNs and additional control measures are needed

Oligonucleotide Based Magnetic Bead Capture of Onchocerca volvulus DNA for PCR Pool Screening of Vector Black Flies

The absence of infective larvae of Onchocerca volvulus in the black fly vector of this parasite is a major criterion used to certify that transmission has been eliminated in a focus. This process requires screening large numbers of flies. Currently, this is accomplished by screening pools of flies using a PCR-based assay. The number of flies that may be included in each pool is currently limited by the DNA purification process to 50 flies for Latin American vectors and 100 flies for African vectors. Here, we describe a new method for DNA purification that relies upon a specific oligonucleotide to capture and immobilize the parasite DNA on a magnetic bead. This method permits the reliable detection of a single infective larva of O. volvulus in pools containing up to 200 individual flies. The method described here will dramatically improve the efficiency of pool screening of vector black flies, making the process of elimination certification easier and less expensive to implement

Cluster randomized trial assessing the effects of rapid ethical assessment on informed consent comprehension in a low-resource setting

Background Maximizing comprehension is a major challenge for informed consent processes in low-literacy and resource-limited settings. Application of rapid qualitative assessments to improve the informed consent process is increasingly considered useful. This study assessed the effects of Rapid Ethical Assessment (REA) on comprehension, retention and quality of the informed consent process. Methods A cluster randomized trial was conducted among participants of HPV sero-prevalence study in two districts of Northern Ethiopia, in 2013. A total of 300 study participants, 150 in the intervention and 150 in the control group, were included in the study. For the intervention group, the informed consent process was designed with further revisions based on REA findings. Informed consent comprehension levels and quality of the consent process were measured using the Modular Informed Consent Comprehension Assessment (MICCA) and Quality of Informed Consent (QuIC) process assessment tools, respectively. Result Study recruitment rates were 88.7 % and 80.7 % (p = 0.05), while study retention rates were 85.7 % and 70.3 % (p < 0.005) for the intervention and control groups respectively. Overall, the mean informed consent comprehension scores for the intervention and control groups were 73.1 % and 45.2 %, respectively, with a mean difference in comprehension score of 27.9 % (95 % CI 24.0 % - 33.4 %; p < 0.001,). Mean scores for quality of informed consent for the intervention and control groups were 89.1 % and 78.5 %, respectively, with a mean difference of 10.5 % (95 % CI 6.8 -14.2 %; p < 0.001). Conclusion Levels of informed consent comprehension, quality of the consent process, study recruitment and retention rates were significantly improved in the intervention group. We recommend REA as a potential modality to improve informed consent comprehension and quality of informed consent process in low resource settings

Unraveling the structure-activity-selectivity relationships in furfuryl alcohol photoreforming to H2 and hydrofuroin over ZnxIn2S3+x photocatalysts

ZnxIn2S3+x has emerged as a promising candidate for alcohol photoreforming based on C-H activation and C-C coupling. However, the underlying structure-activity-selectivity relationships remain unclear. Here we report on ZnxIn2S3+x with varying Zn:In:S ratios for visible-light-driven furfuryl alcohol reforming into H2 and hydrofuroin, a jet fuel precursor, via C-H activation and C-C coupling. S-• radicals are directly identified as the catalytically active sites responsible for C-H activation in furfuryl alcohol, promoting selectivity toward H2 and hydrofuroin. The optimum ZnxIn2S3+x activity derives from a trade-off between enhanced carrier dynamics and diminished visible light absorption as the x value in ZnxIn2S3+x increases. Further, a higher Zn-S:In-S layer ratio prolongs the S-• lifetime in the Zn-S layer, promoting C-H activation and delivering a higher C-C coupling product selectivity. The findings represent a step toward further establishing sulfide-based photocatalysts for sustainable H2 production via organic photoreforming.Denny Gunawan, Jodie A. Yuwono, Priyank V. Kumar, Akasha Kaleem, Michael P. Nielsen, Murad J.Y. Tayebjee, Louis Oppong-Antwi, Haotian Wen, Inga Kuschnerus, Shery L.Y. Chang, Yu Wang, Rosalie K. Hocking, Ting-Shan Chan, Cui Ying Toe, Jason Scott, Rose Ama