A large cross-sectional community-based study of newborn care practices in southern Tanzania

Despite recent improvements in child survival in sub-Saharan Africa, neonatal mortality rates remain largely unchanged. This study aimed to determine the frequency of delivery and newborn-care practices in southern Tanzania, where neonatal mortality is higher than the national average. All households in five districts of Southern Tanzania were approached to participate. Of 213,220 female residents aged 13-49 years, 92% participated. Cross-sectional, retrospective data on childbirth and newborn care practices were collected from 22,243 female respondents who had delivered a live baby in the preceding year. Health facility deliveries accounted for 41% of births, with nearly all non-facility deliveries occurring at home (57% of deliveries). Skilled attendants assisted 40% of births. Over half of women reported drying the baby and over a third reported wrapping the baby within 5 minutes of delivery. The majority of mothers delivering at home reported that they had made preparations for delivery, including buying soap (84%) and preparing a cloth for drying the child (85%). Although 95% of these women reported that the cord was cut with a clean razor blade, only half reported that it was tied with a clean thread. Furthermore, out of all respondents 10% reported that their baby was dipped in cold water immediately after delivery, around two-thirds reported bathing their babies within 6 hours of delivery, and 28% reported putting something on the cord to help it dry. Skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby after delivery was rarely practiced. Although 83% of women breastfed within 24 hours of delivery, only 18% did so within an hour. Fewer than half of women exclusively breastfed in the three days after delivery. The findings suggest a need to promote and facilitate health facility deliveries, hygienic delivery practices for home births, delayed bathing and immediate and exclusive breastfeeding in Southern Tanzania to improve newborn health.     

Genome-wide Scan of 29,141 African Americans Finds No Evidence of Directional Selection since Admixture

The extent of recent selection in admixed populations is currently an unresolved question. We scanned the genomes of 29,141 African Americans and failed to find any genome-wide-significant deviations in local ancestry, indicating no evidence of selection influencing ancestry after admixture. A recent analysis of data from 1,890 African Americans reported that there was evidence of selection in African Americans after their ancestors left Africa, both before and after admixture. Selection after admixture was reported on the basis of deviations in local ancestry, and selection before admixture was reported on the basis of allele-frequency differences between African Americans and African populations. The local-ancestry deviations reported by the previous study did not replicate in our very large sample, and we show that such deviations were expected purely by chance, given the number of hypotheses tested. We further show that the previous study’s conclusion of selection in African Americans before admixture is also subject to doubt. This is because the F_ST statistics they used were inflated and because true signals of unusual allele-frequency differences between African Americans and African populations would be best explained by selection that occurred in Africa prior to migration to the Americas.     

Reassessment of Brain Free Fatty Acid Liberation During Global Ischemia and Its Attenuation by Barbiturate Anesthesia

Abstract: We previously reported that whole-brain free fatty acids (FFA) rose almost linearly for up to 1 h after decapitation of unanesthetized rats and was significantly attenuated by pentobarbital anesthesia. However, our values for total FFA and arachidonic, stearic, oleic, and palmitic acids were severalfold higher than those obtained by previous investigators. Based upon the suggestion that this may be due to FFAs released from di- and triglycerides in the quantitation of FFAs, we have now analyzed and improved our procedures for TLC separation of FFA and reassessed the accumulation of FFA in whole brain during decapitation ischemia in unanesthetized and pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. FFA levels in whole brain after 0.5 min of ischemia were one-half to one- fourth the levels previously reported after 1 min of ischemia. The rise in FFA between 0.5 and 60 min of ischemia was 9-fold for total FFA, and between 7 and 12-fold for each of the FFAs quantitated. Pentobarbital significantly attenuated the rise of all FFAs with, however, greater effects on oleic and palmitic acids than previously reported.     

Adverse reactions to influenza vaccine in elderly people: randomised double blind placebo controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the frequency and type of side effects after influenza vaccination in elderly people. DESIGN--Randomised double blind placebo controlled study. SETTING--15 general practices in the southern Netherlands. SUBJECTS--1806 patients aged 60 or older, of whom 904 received influenza vaccine and 902 placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Adverse reactions reported on postal questionnaire completed four weeks after vaccination. RESULTS--210 (23%) patients given vaccine reported one or more adverse reactions compared with 127 (14%) given placebo. The frequency of local adverse reactions were 17.5% in the vaccine group and 7.3% in the placebo group (p < 0.001). There was no difference in systemic adverse reactions (11% v 9.4%; p = 0.34). In general, men reported fewer side effects than women. CONCLUSION--Only local side effects were more common in vaccinated patients and all side effects were mild.     

Does urinary taurine reflect changes in protein metabolism? A study with cycloheximide in rats

Abstract

We have previously reported on the changes in urinary taurine levels in rats following treatment with some hepatotoxic agents and compounds reported to affect protein synthesis. This study follows the time course of the elevation of urinary taurine after treatment of rats with cycloheximide which was maximal 8–12 h alter dosing and was dose related. [³H]-leucine incorporation into proteins was used as an indicator of protein synthesis. There was a significant reduction in [³H]-leucine incorporation into acid precipitable proteins 8 h but not 24 h after dosing. The reduction in incorporation was negatively correlated with the raised levels of both serum and urinary taurine 8 h after dosing. Liver glutathione was raised both 8 and 24 h after dosing rats and liver taurine was significantly reduced at 8 h. It is suggested that measuring urinary taurine in collections made continuously might provide a simple, non-invasive biomarker for monitoring the effects of xenobiotics or other external stimuli on the status of protein synthesis.     

Envenomation and the bite rate by venomous snakes in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the period (2015–2018)

Snakebite being medical emergency and known cause for increased mortality needs assessment and treatment on high-priority bases, even in patients of snakebite who appear fine initially. The current retrospective study presents the snake bites in Saudi Arabia from 2015 to 2018 reported by General Administration of Statistics and Information, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data presented in the current study, was extracted, analyzed, and reported after getting ethical approval from institutional committee. Totally, 14,679 cases of snakebites were reported during the four-year study period, with a higher prevalence in males (80%) in their productive age. Most patients were within the age group between 25 and 44 followed by 44 to 64 years. The majority of snakebite affected inhabitants were reported from farms of the rural areas, commonly during night hours of spring and summer seasons when snakes are very active. Only 36 (0.24%) patients out of 14,679 were reported dead and 14,643 (99.63%) were discharged after the treatment. Awareness among the general public should be encouraged and early diagnosis and usage of proper snake antivenoms could be life-saving. The delay in appropriate treatment can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.     

Effects of surgery and anesthesia on serum immunoglobulins

Serum immunoglobulins levels after surgery with and without anaesthesia are reported. No significant change was found after surgery without anaesthesia; significant changes of serum Ig (A,G,M) were observed in surgery with anaesthesia (60-180 m') group on day 1 following operation. This Ig decrease is probably due to a reduced immunologic response by long anaesthesia.     

Perceived Extrinsic Mortality Risk and Reported Effort in Looking after Health

Socioeconomic gradients in health behavior are pervasive and well documented. Yet, there is little consensus on their causes. Behavioral ecological theory predicts that, if people of lower socioeconomic position (SEP) perceive greater personal extrinsic mortality risk than those of higher SEP, they should disinvest in their future health. We surveyed North American adults for reported effort in looking after health, perceived extrinsic and intrinsic mortality risks, and measures of SEP. We examined the relationships between these variables and found that lower subjective SEP predicted lower reported health effort. Lower subjective SEP was also associated with higher perceived extrinsic mortality risk, which in turn predicted lower reported health effort. The effect of subjective SEP on reported health effort was completely mediated by perceived extrinsic mortality risk. Our findings indicate that perceived extrinsic mortality risk may be a key factor underlying SEP gradients in motivation to invest in future health.     

Cancer during adolescence: negative and positive consequences reported three and four years after diagnosis

Persons diagnosed with cancer during adolescence have reported negative and positive cancer-related consequences two years after diagnosis. The overall aim was to longitudinally describe negative and positive cancer-related consequences reported by the same persons three and four years after diagnosis. A secondary aim was to explore whether reports of using vs. not using certain coping strategies shortly after diagnosis are related to reporting or not reporting certain consequences four years after diagnosis. Thirty-two participants answered questions about coping strategies shortly after diagnosis and negative and positive consequences three and four years after diagnosis. Answers about consequences were analysed with content analysis, potential relations between coping strategies and consequences were analysed by Fisher's exact test. The great majority reported negative and positive consequences three and four years after diagnosis and the findings indicate stability over time with regard to perceived consequences during the extended phase of survival. Findings reveal a potential relation between seeking information shortly after diagnosis and reporting a more positive view of life four years after diagnosis and not using fighting spirit shortly after diagnosis and not reporting good self-esteem and good relations four years after diagnosis. It is concluded that concomitant negative and positive cancer-related consequences appear stable over time in the extended phase of survival and that dialectical forces of negative and positive as well as distress and growth often go hand-in-hand after a trauma such as cancer during adolescence.     

Morphological characteristics of testicular tissue in animals subjected to unilateral laser castration

In this paper, results of the morphological studies of mammalian testicular tissue after exposure of one of the testes to powerful laser radiation are reported. The results obtained are compared with those reported in the literature on the biological effect of penetrating radiation. No negative influence of powerful laser radiation is registered at the organism level. The criteria for estimation are the tissue response, morphological picture of spermatogenesis, and reproductive functions of exposed animals and of their progeny.     

Influence of thyroid condition on 5'-nucleotidase activity of the plasma membrane in the rat liver

The effect of thyroid hormones on the Kinetic properties of plasmatic membrane 5'-nucleotidase in rat liver is studied. The Vmax and Km which increased significatively a week after thyroidectomy were reported to the normal values by the chronic administration of T3. The decrease in Vmax and Km observed five weeks after thyroid ablation may be attributed to secondary effects occurring with time.     

The effect of endometrial biopsy on ovulatory interval in mares

Luteolysis with subsequent shortening of diestrus has been reported to follow equine endometrial biopsy performed early in the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, but a comprehensive study of the effect of endometrial biopsy on cycle length at different times of the cycle has not been reported. In this study, endometrial biopsies were obtained from four different pony mares on each of Days 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 after ovulation as determined by serial palpation per rectum. Compared with control cycles in the same mares, the ovulatory interval was shortened in mares from which biopsies were obtained on Days 4 and 8, it was lengthened in from which samples were taken on Days 16 and 20 and it remained unchanged by biopsies performed on Days 0 and 12. Although the changes were less consistent and smaller than those observed in cows, our findings are similar to those reported for effects of endometrial manipulation or uterine infusion on the estrous cycle of cows.     

Non-A, non-B hepatitis-related hepatocellular carcinoma in a chimpanzee

Epidemiology has indicated the possible association of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in man, but there are no means for confirmation. Chimpanzees are recognized models for studying hepatitis B and NANBH, and may become carriers of both. The first case of HCC to be reported in chimpanzees was found after longitudinal study of a hepatitis B-free chimpanzee 7 years after inoculation with human plasma from a patient reported to have chronic NANBH.     

Dopamine-mediated behaviour and 3H-spiperone binding to striatal membranes in rats after nine months haloperidol administration

Rats were treated with haloperidol (1.5mg/kg/day) in their drinking water for 9 months, with or without a subsequent withdrawal period of 7–10 days. Compared with controls, spontaneous locomotion and apomorphine-induced stereotypy were reduced in rats maintained on haloperidol whereas both behaviours were increased after the withdrawal period. Maximum specific ³H-spiperone binding to striatal membrane preparations was increased (about 65%) in drug-treated rats with or without a withdrawal period. The dissociation constant for ³H-spiperone binding was significantly increased only in those rats maintained on haloperidol with no withdrawal period. The increase in maximum binding of ³H-spiperone was larger than that reported after less prolonged administration of neuroleptics. The size of the change should be taken into account in assessing the increased ligand binding reported in post-mortem brains of schizophrenics.     

Pre-exposure of human B cells to recombinant IL-1 enhances subsequent proliferation

The reported effects of the monocyte-derived cytokine IL-1 on human B lymphocytes are both varied and controversial. IL-1 has been reported to augment both proliferation and Ig secretion of previously activated human B cells. In the present study highly purified splenic B cells were cultured with rIL-1 before, simultaneously with, and after the addition of the polyclonal B cell mitogen, anti-Ig. rIL-1 had no significant effect on B cell proliferation when added simultaneously with or after B cell activation with anti-Ig. However, incubation of splenic B cells with rIL-1 for 24 h before stimulation with anti-Ig appeared to enhance mitogenesis. With the observation that rIL-1 exerted effects on resting B cells, the effect of rIL-1 on several events which accompany B cell activation was examined. rIL-1 failed to stimulate RNA synthesis, effect increases in cell size or intracellular Ca2+ levels, or lead to the hyperexpression of MHC class II or B cell activation Ag. These studies suggest that rIL-1 does not activate B cells but primes them to respond to subsequent activation.     

Allograft reconstruction of the distal humerus after resection of a breast solitary metastasis: eleven years follow-up

Resection is a rare indication for the treatment of solitary skeletal metastasis (SSM), and provides an opportunity to cure the oncologic patient. Reconstruction after resection can imply a difficult problem depending on the size and the location of the metastasis. In the reported case, an en-bloc resection of a SSM of a breast cancer located in the distal humerus was performed in 1990. Reconstruction of the osteoarticular defect has been achieved with a massive allograft. At eleven years follow-up the patient remains free of illness and shows a good functional result. With the result obtained in the reported case, we suggest that osteoarticular allograft can be of considerable value for reconstruction after excision of SSM in the distal humerus, and that cure can be achieved with the radical resection of a SSM of breast cancer. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chondrosarcoma of the urinary bladder and establishment of a human chondrosarcoma cell line (OCUU-6)

Chondrosarcoma is a very rare tumor of the urinary bladder, with only 4 cases reported to date. In this study, we report on a case of a 73-year-old male who presented bladder mass and right hydroureteronephrosis. Radical cystectomy, right nephrectomy and left ureterocutaneoustomy were performed, and histological study disclosed chondrosarcoma of the urinary bladder. As reported in other cases, the tumor was highly aggressive with a short clinical course, and the patient died of carcinomatous pleuritis at one month after surgery. Subsequently, we successfully established a human chondrosarcoma cell line (OCUU-6) from the pleural effusion of the patient.     

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CHAROPHYTE (STREPTOPHYTA) LIFE CYCLES?1

The charophyte algae are the closest living relatives of land plants. Their life cycles are usually characterized as haploid with zygotic meiosis. This conclusion, however, is based on a small number of observations and on theoretical assumptions about what kinds of life cycle are possible. Little is known about the life cycles of most charophytes, but unusual phenomena have been reported in comparatively well‐studied taxa: Spirogyra and Sirogonium are reported to produce diploid gametes with synapsis of homologous chromosomes before fusion of gametic nuclei; Closterium ehrenbergii is reported to undergo chromosome reduction both before and after syngamy; and zygotes of Coleochaete scutata are reported to replicate their DNA to high levels before a series of reduction divisions. All of these phenomena require confirmation, as does the conventional account.     

Satisfaction with breast reconstruction in women with bilateral prophylactic mastectomy: a descriptive study

Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy is an option for women who are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Prophylactic mastectomy is often performed with immediate reconstruction (i.e., at the same time and under the same anesthetic as the mastectomy). Satisfaction with reconstruction has been described previously for women with mastectomy for breast cancer. However, the authors know of no previous research that has reported on satisfaction with reconstruction in patients who have electively sought mastectomy for the prevention of breast cancer. Women in the province of Ontario who had undergone prophylactic bilateral mastectomy plus breast reconstruction between 1991 and 2000 were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with the cosmetic results of their mastectomy and reconstruction and their overall satisfaction with their decision to have prophylactic mastectomy. Women were also asked whether they experienced complications associated with their surgery and what types of complications they experienced. Thirty-seven women completed questionnaires for this study, and all of them had immediate breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy. The majority of women (70.3 percent) reported being satisfied or extremely satisfied with the cosmetic results of their breast reconstruction. Women with self-reported postsurgical complications (16.2 percent) were significantly less satisfied with reconstruction than those who did not report complications (p = 0.009). Personal subjective risk of breast cancer before prophylactic mastectomy was negatively correlated with satisfaction with reconstruction (r = -0.38, p = 0.024) and with subjective risk estimation after prophylactic surgery (r = -0.54, p = 0.001). Women who did not worry about developing breast cancer after prophylactic mastectomy had significantly higher levels of satisfaction with breast reconstruction than those who continued to worry (p < 0.001). Women who reported an improved body image after reconstruction were significantly more likely to report higher levels of satisfaction than those who reported a diminished body image (p = 0.007). The majority of women were satisfied with the cosmetic results of breast reconstruction after prophylactic mastectomy. Women who overestimated their breast cancer risk had lower satisfaction levels. Correcting overestimation of breast cancer risk in women who have prophylactic mastectomy may improve satisfaction with reconstruction following prophylactic mastectomy.