Stream Water Chemistry in Mixed-Conifer Headwater Basins: Role of Water Sources,Seasonality, Watershed Characteristics,and Disturbances

Ecosystems - Understanding the transport of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (N) as water flows through headwater basins is important for predicting downstream water quality. With...     

High Prevalence of Cryptococcal Antigenemia among HIV-infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Ethiopia

Background

Cryptococcal disease is estimated to be responsible for significant mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa; however, only scarce epidemiology data exists. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for cryptococcal antigenemia in Ethiopia.

Methods

Consecutive adult HIV-infected patients from two public HIV clinics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia were enrolled into the study. A CD4 count ≤200 cells/μl was required for study participation. Patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) were not excluded. A cryptococcal antigen test was performed for all patients along with an interview, physical exam, and medical chart abstraction. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors for cryptococcal antigenemia.

Results

369 HIV-infected patients were enrolled; mean CD4 123 cells/μl and 74% receiving ART. The overall prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia was 8.4%; 11% in patients with a CD4 count <100 cells/μl, 8.9% with CD4 100 to 150 cells/μl and 5.7% with CD4150-200 cell/μl. 84% of patients with cryptococcal antigenemia were receiving ART. In multivariable analysis, increasing age, self reported fever, CD4 count <100 cells/μl, and site of screening were associated with an increased risk of cryptococcal antigenemia. No individual or combination of clinical symptoms had optimal sensitivity or specificity for cryptococcal antigenemia.

Conclusion

Cryptococcal antigenemia is high in Ethiopia and rapid scale up of screening programs is needed. Screening should be implemented for HIV-infected patients with low CD4 counts regardless of symptoms or receipt of ART. Further study into the effect of location and environment on cryptococcal disease is warranted.     

Properties of the cysteine-less Pho84 phosphate transporter of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The murine 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell line is well characterized for its capacity to undergo differentiation into adipocytes under appropriate hormonal stimulation. p107, a member of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene family has been shown to be dramatically upregulated during the early requisite clonal expansion phase of 3T3-L1 adipogenesis; however, a functional consequence has yet to be described. A phosphorothioate antisense RNA approach was utilized to determine if inhibition of p107 expression would block or perturb adipocyte differentiation. A series of three phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in antisense orientation was generated, designated AS1, AS2, and AS3 along with a sense control oligonucleotide complementary to AS1 and added to postconfluent cells at a concentration of 20 and 50 microM throughout hormonally stimulated differentiation. Treatment of cells with either concentration of the sense, AS1, AS2, or 20 microM AS3 oligonucleotides had little effect on either Oil Red O lipid accumulation or induction of p107 protein levels. In contrast, treatment with 50 microM AS3 inhibited the increase in p107 protein levels and led to a complete block in differentiation as detected by Oil Red O lipid accumulation and inhibition of adipocyte-specific mRNA expression. In addition, treatment with AS3 led to a significant inhibition of cellular proliferation associated with clonal expansion. Combined, these results provide strong evidence supporting a functional role for p107 in 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation.     

Prevalence of Mental Distress and Associated Factors among Undergraduate Students of University of Gondar,Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Institutional Based Study

Background

Mental health problems affect society as a whole and no group is immune to mental disorders; however, students have significantly high level of mental distress than their community peers.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of mental distress among undergraduate students of University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 836 students from April 9–11/2014. Stratified multistage sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with mental distress among students. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance.

Results

Prevalence of mental distress among students was found to be 40.9%. Female sex (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI 1.17–2.30), lack of interest towards their field of study (AOR = 2.28; 95% CI 1.49–3.50), not having close friends (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.03–2.14), never attend religious programs (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI 1.02–2.46), conflict with friends (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI 1.41–2.65), having financial distress (AOR1.49 = 95% CI 1.05, 2.10), family history of mental illness (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI 1.31–3.45), Ever use of Khat (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI 1.12–2.59), lower grade than anticipated(AOR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.51–2.83), lack of vacation or break (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.06–2.02), and low social support(AOR = 2.58; 95% CI 1.58–4.22) were significantly associated with mental distress.

Conclusion

The overall prevalence of mental distress among students was found to be high. Therefore, it is recommended that mental distress needs due attention and remedial action from policy makers, college officials, non-governmental organizations, parents, students and other concerned bodies.     

Increased endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion on nanostructured titanium and CoCrMo

In the body, vascular cells continuously interact with tissues that possess nanostructured surface features due to the presence of proteins (such as collagen and elastin) embedded in the vascular wall. Despite this fact, vascular stents intended to restore blood flow do not have nanoscale surface features but rather are smooth at the nanoscale. As the first step towards creating the next generation of vascular stent materials, the objective of this in vitro study was to investigate vascular cell (specifically, endothelial, and vascular smooth muscle cell) adhesion on nanostructured compared with conventional commercially pure (cp) Ti and CoCrMo. Nanostructured cp Ti and CoCrMo compacts were created by separately utilizing either constituent cp Ti or CoCrMo nanoparticles as opposed to conventional micron-sized particles. Results of this study showed for the first time increased endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion on nanostructured compared with conventional cp Ti and CoCrMo after 4 hours' adhesion. Moreover, compared with their respective conventional counterparts, the ratio of endothelial to vascular smooth muscle cells increased on nanostructured cp Ti and CoCrMo. In addition, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells had a better spread morphology on the nanostructured metals compared with conventional metals. Overall, vascular cell adhesion was better on CoCrMo than on cp Ti. Results of surface characterization studies demonstrated similar chemistry but significantly greater root-mean-square (rms) surface roughness as measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) for nanostructured compared with respective conventional metals. For these reasons, results from the present in vitro study provided evidence that vascular stents composed of nanometer compared with micron-sized metal particles (specifically, either cp Ti or CoCrMo) may invoke cellular responses promising for improved vascular stent applications.     

Household Contact Screening Adherence among Tuberculosis Patients in Northern Ethiopia

BackgroundHousehold contacts of active tuberculosis cases are at high risk of getting tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis detection rate among contacts of household members is high. Hence, this study investigated household contact screening adherence and associated factors among tuberculosis patients in Amhara region, Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from April 10 - June 30, 2013 in five urban districts of Amhara region, where 418 patients receiving treatment at tuberculosis clinic were interviewed. All patients were interviewed using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Bringing at least one household contact to TB clinic was regarded as adherent to household contacts screening. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to investigate association.ResultsThe overall adherence to household contact screening in Amhara region was 33.7%. Adherence was higher among Muslims than Christians. Adherence was high if patient took health education from Health Care Worker [AOR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.88 to 5.51] and 2.17 times higher if patient had sufficient knowledge on tuberculosis [AOR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.29 to 3.67] during interview. Relationship with contact was a significant [AOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.9] social related factor.ConclusionOne third of tuberculosis patients adhered to household contact screening in health facilities during their treatment course. Promoting knowledge of tuberculosis in the community and continuous health education to tuberculosis patients are recommended.     

Health Extension Workers' and Mothers' Attitudes to Maternal Health Service Utilization and Acceptance in Adwa Woreda,Tigray Region,Ethiopia

Background

The maternal health system in Ethiopia links health posts in rural communities (kebeles) with district (woreda) health centres, and health centres with primary hospitals. At each health post two Health Extension Workers (HEWs) assist women with birth preparedness, complication readiness, and mobilize communities to facilitate timely referral to mid-level service providers. This study explored HEWs’ and mother’s attitudes to maternal health services in Adwa Woreda, Tigray Region.

Methods

In this qualitative study, we trained 16 HEWs to interview 45 women to gain a better understanding of the social context of maternal health related behaviours. Themes included barriers to health services; women’s social status and mobility; and women’s perceptions of skilled birth attendant’s care. All data were analyzed thematically.

Findings

There have been substantial efforts to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality in Adwa Woreda. Women identified barriers to healthcare including distance and lack of transportation due to geographical factors; the absence of many husbands due to off-woreda farming; traditional factors such as zwar (some pregnant women are afraid of meeting other pregnant women), and discouragement from mothers and mothers-in-law who delivered their children at home. Some women experienced disrespectful care at the hospital. Facilitators to skilled birth attendance included: identification of pregnant women through Women’s Development Groups (WDGs), and referral by ambulance to health facilities either before a woman’s Expected Due Date (EDD) or if labour started at home.

Conclusion

With the support of WDGs, HEWs have increased the rate of skilled birth attendance by calling ambulances to transfer women to health centres either before their EDD or when labour starts at home. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that health workers at the community level can work with women’s groups to improve maternal health, thus reducing the need for emergency obstetric care in low-income countries.     

Leishmania-HIV interaction: immunopathogenic mechanisms.

Both Leishmania and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can infect and multiply in macrophages, and both can dysregulate the immune system. Recent studies indicate that Leishmania can induce the activation of HIV in latently infected monocytic and T cells. Moreover, HIV can enhance intracellular growth of Leishmania in macrophages. Here, Dawit Wolday and colleagues examine the mechanisms that might be involved in the immunopathogenesis of Leishmania- HIV co-infection.     

Contingency in the direction and mechanics of soil organic matter responses to increased rainfall

Background and Aims

Rainfall is expected to show greater and more variable changes in response to anticipated rising of earth surface temperatures than most other climatic variables, and will be a major driver of ecosystem change.

Methods

We studied the effects of predicted changes in California’s rainy season for storage and stabilization mechanisms of soil organic matter (SOM). In a controlled and replicated experiment, we amended rainfall over large plots of natural grassland in accordance with alternative scenarios of future climate change.

Results

We found that increases in annual rainfall have important consequences for soil carbon (C) storage, but that the strength and even direction of these effects depend critically on seasonal timing. Additional rainfall during the winter rainy season led to C loss from soil while additions after the typical rainy season increased soil C content. Analysis of MIneral-Organic Matter (OM) associations reveals a potentially powerful mechanism underlying this difference: increased winter rainfall greatly diminished the role of Fe and Al oxides in SOM stabilization. Dithionite extractable crystalline Fe oxides explained more than 35% of the variability in C storage under ambient control and extended spring rainfall conditions, compared to less than 0.01% under increased winter rainfall. Likewise, poorly crystalline Fe and Al oxides explained more than 25 and 40% of the variability in C storage in the control and extended spring rainfall treatments, respectively, but less than 5% in the increased winter rainfall treatment.

Conclusions

Increases in annual precipitation identical in amount but at three-month offsets produced opposite effects on soil C storage. Such clear differences in the amount and chemical composition of SOM, and in the vertical distribution of oxides in the soil profile in response to treatment timing carry important implications for the C sequestration trajectory of this ecosystem.