Packed cell volume and serum iron in subjects with HIV-malaria co-infection in Nnewi, South-Eastern Nigeria

The present study was designed to assess the PCV and serum iron in HIV-malaria co-infected subjects in Nnewi, South Eastern Nigeria. 207 participants aged between 16-72 (44 ± 28) years were recruited andclassified as follows based on standard screening and WHO criteria: (i) Asymptomatic HIV stage I subjects with or without malaria. (ii) Symptomatic HIV stage II subjects with or without malaria and not on (ART). (iii) HIV/AIDS subjects with or without malaria and on ART. (vi) HIV seronegative control subjects with or without malaria. Blood sample from these participants were analyzed for HIV seroreactivity, Plasmodium falciparum antigen, parasite density, serum iron concentrations and PCV using Standard Laboratory methods. The result showed that serum iron and PCV were significantly reduced amongst all the groups studied when compared with the control (

Evaluation of immunoglobulin classes (IgA, IgG and IgM) levels and complement fixation activity in HIV infected subjects

The study was designed to evaluate the immunoglobulin A, G and M levels and complement fixation activity in HIV infected participants, who were not administered antiretroviral therapy (ART). Eighty (80) HIV infected participants, aged between 15 – 55 years (38 ±10 years), were recruited for the study. Forty five (45) of the participants were classified as symptomatic HIV (stage ii), while the remaining 35 were classified asasymptomatic HIV (stage i). Similarly, 40 seronegative participants served as control. Blood samples were collected from the participants for the determination of HIV status by immunochromatography, HIV confirmation by Western blot, determination of immunoglobulin levels by immunoturbidimetry, and complement activity by complement fixation test. The IgG and IgA were significantly increased in symptomatic HIV infection compared with asymptomatic HIV infection (p0.05). The complement fixation activities decreased in HIV infected patients compared with the values in HIV seronegatives. The increase in IgA concentration with HIV infected participants may suggest existence of mucosal infections, while theincrease in IgG concentration in HIV infected participants may suggest evidence of increased opportunistic infection requiring IgG response. The low level of complement activity in HIV infected participants maypredispose individuals with HIV infection to disease commonly controlled through immunological activity of the complement. Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM), complements

Fabrication of large NbSi bolometer arrays for CMB applications

Future cosmic microwave background experiments for high-resolution anisotropy mapping and polarisation detection require large arrays of bolometers at low temperature. We have developed a process to build arrays of antenna-coupled bolometers for that purpose. With adjustment of the NbxSi1-x alloy composition, the array can be made of high impedance or superconductive (TES) sensors

Superconducting molecule detectors overcoming fundamental limits of conventional mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) is widely used in analytical chemistry for such fields as environmental science, life science, and space science. However, MS has two fundamental limits: the mass peak overlap of ions with the same mass/charge-number (m/z) ratio but different charge states (m/z overlap), and no ability to distinguish different neutral molecules (neutral loss). We show that these limits can be overcome by using superconducting detectors. Superconducting tunnel junctions (STJ) molecule detectors and superconducting nanostripline detectors (SSLDs) are suitable for MS because of the choice of fast ns response

Increased incidences of Salmonella, Plasmodium falciparum and hepatitis C viral specific circulating immune complexes in participants from malaria endemic and HIV prevalent area of Nigeria

The present study used dissociated circulating immune complexes (CIC) to identity the burden of exposure to certain infectious agents. The participants were divided into HIV seropositive group (n=100) and HIV seronegative group (n=100). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and phosphate buffer techniques were used for precipitation and dissociation of CIC in sera. The dissociated CIC were tested for Salmonella typhi antibody, Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein (Pf-hrp)-2 antigen and HCV antibody using commercially available kits. Result showed that Salmonella typhi antibody was detected in 76 (76%) of the HIV seropositive participants; Plasmodium falciparum histidine rich protein-2 (Pf-hrp-2) antigen was detected in 48 (48%) of HIV seropositive participants while Hepatitis C viral antibodies was detected in 20 (20%) of the HIV seropositive participants. Similarly, Salmonella typhi antibody was detected in 24(24%) of the HIV seronegative participants, Pf-hrp-2 antigen was detected in 47(47%) of the participants while Hepatitis C viral antibody was detected in 5(5%) of the HIV seronegative participants. There were significant differences between the number of HIV seropositive and seronegative participants with positive Salmonella typhi (P<0.05) and HCV antibody (P<0.05). The rates of homogeniuty and heterogeniuty of CIC in HIV seropositive participants was; 26 (34%) and 50 (66%) for Salmonella typhi antibody, 3 (6%) and 45 (94%) for Pf-hrp-2 antigen and 0 (0%) and 20 (100%) for HCV antibody, respectively. While the rates of homogeniuty and heterogeniuty of CIC in HIV seronegative participants was 1 (4.2%) and 23 (95.8%) for Salmonella typhi antibody; 25 (53%) and 22 (47%) for Pf-hrp-2 antigen and 3 (60%) and 2 (40%) for HCV antibody respectively in all cases. The finding of the present study suggest that HIV infection may enhance susceptibilty to both salmonella typhi and HCV infection but not Plasmodium falciparum. The study thus revealed that Salmonella and HCV infections may constitute the major secondary infection in HIV infected patients and could be a cause for concern as HIV progressed to AIDS