Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction with elamipretide

Heart Failure Reviews - Although currently employed therapies for heart failure decrease overall mortality and improve patient quality of life temporarily, the disease is known to progress even for...     

Abundance and diversity of Anopheles species (Diptera: Culicidae) associated with malaria transmission in human dwellings in rural and urban communities in Oyo State, Southwestern Nigeria

Mosquito samples were collected from rural and urban communities in three selected major towns in Southwestern Nigeria to determine the impact of urbanization on the diversity and abundance of Anopheles species associated with malaria transmission in human habitations. A total of ten Anopheles species were identified in the rural communities, while eight Anopheles species were identified in the urban communities. Out of the ten Anopheles species identified, only four species, Anopheles gambiae (Giles), Anopheles funestus (Giles), Anopheles moucheti (Evans), and Anopheles nili (Theobald), were established to be vectors of malaria occurring in greater than 50 % of the rural communities. Only A. gambiae occurred in all the urban communities, while the other three major vectors occurred in not more than 20 % of the urban communities. Margalef's and Shannon–Wiener indices showed that diversity and species richness were higher in the rural compared to the urban. Comprehensive information on malaria vector abundance and diversity in rapidly changing communities is an important tool in planning and implementing successful vector control programs.     

Current Trends in Compensation for Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Graduates: A 6-Year Follow-Up

Study ObjectiveTo present updated information regarding compensation patterns for Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS)–graduated physicians in the United States beginning practice during the last 10 years, focusing on the variables that have an impact on differences in salary, including gender, fellowship duration, geographic region, practice setting, and practice mix.DesignAn online survey was sent to FMIGS graduates between March 15, 2019 and April 12, 2019. Information on physicians’ demographics, compensation (on the basis of location, practice model, productivity benchmarks, academic rank, and years in practice), and attitudes toward fairness in compensation was collected.SettingOnline survey.ParticipantsFMIGS graduates practicing in the United States.InterventionE-mail survey.Measurements and Main ResultsWe surveyed 298 US FMIGS surgeons who had graduated during the last 10 years (2009–2018). The response rate was 48.7%. Most of the respondents were women (69%). Most of the graduates (84.8%) completed 2- or 3-year fellowship programs. After adjustment for inflation, the median starting salary for the first postfellowship job was $252 074 ($223 986–$279 983) (Table 1). The median time spent in the first job was 2.6 years, and the median total salary at the current year rose to $278 379.4 ($241 437–$350 976). The median salary for respondents entering a second postfellowship job started at $280 945 ($261 409–$329 603). Significantly lower compensation was reported for female FMIGS graduates in their initial postfellowship jobs and was consistently lower than for that of men over time. Most FMIGS graduates (59.7%) reported feeling inadequately compensated for their level of specialization.ConclusionA trend toward higher self-reported salaries is noted for FMIGS graduates in recent years, with significant differences in compensation between men and women. Among obstetrics and gynecology subspecialists, FMIGS graduates earn significantly less than other fellowship-trained physicians, with median salaries that are lower than those of generalist obstetrics and gynecology physicians.     

Cytogenetic remission with imatinib therapy in hypereosinophilic syndrome with trisomy 8 and resolution of severe cardiac dysfunction

We report a 50-year-old patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome with trisomy 8 who experienced a complete and durable hematological and cytogenetic remission with low-dose imatinib therapy. He also had a significant reversal of cardiac dysfunction with a reduction in cardiac hypertrophy, resolution of pericardial effusion and mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. He remained in remission 3 years after therapy.     

Intestinal parasitoses

BACKGROUND: Intestinal parasitoses is a clinical problem in the developing world and severe parasitaemia may be associated with retroviruses. OBJECTIVE: Studies on intestinal parasitoses were conducted in Dominica, and the health implications in an HTLV-1 endemic area were discussed. METHOD OF STUDY: A retrospective study of data of stool samples analysed at the parasitology unit of the medical laboratory services of Princess Margaret Hospital, Dominica, was conducted in January-December 1999. RESULTS: Parasites were found in 393 out of 3,752 stool samples (10.47%). The main parasites were Entamoeba coli, 1.4% (51/3,752); hookworm, 1.5% (56/3,752); Giardia lamblia, 1.4% (51/3,752); Strongyloides stercoralis, 1.0% (37/3,752); Ascaris lumbricoides, 0.8% (28/3,752); and Trichuris trichiura, 0.9% (34/3,752). CONCLUSION: Intestinal parasites are still endemic in Dominica, but significant reduction in prevalence has occurred over the last two decades.     

Neuromorbidity in preterm twins in relation to chorionicity and discordant birth weight

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of neurologic morbidity in preterm monochorionic (MC) and dichorionic (DC) twins. STUDY DESIGN: We collected perinatal, neonatal, and infant follow-up data of 76 MC and 78 DC twins born between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation (295 infants). Risks of neuromorbidity in the surviving infants were evaluated in relation to chorionicity, discordant birth weight (>20%), twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), and cotwin death. RESULTS: The overall incidence of cerebral palsy and minor neurologic disabilities in surviving twins was 4% and 9%, respectively. MC infants had a higher incidence of cerebral palsy (8% vs 1%, P<.05) and neurologic morbidity (15% vs 3%, P<.05) than DC infants. The risk of impaired neurodevelopment was higher in MC infants with discordant birth weight (42%, P<.01), TTTS (37%, P<.01), and cotwin death (60%, P<.01) than those with concordant birth weight (8%). In MC pregnancies, the cerebral palsy risk was higher in infants with discordant birth weight than those with chronic TTTS (19% vs 4%, P<.05). Similarly, discordant DC infants had higher neuromorbidity than concordant group (5% vs 1%, P<.05). In both MC and DC discordant infants, neurologic morbidity was independent of growth restriction. CONCLUSION: Neurologic morbidity in the preterm MC infants was 7-fold higher than DC infants because of chronic TTTS, discordant birth weight, and cotwin death in utero.     

Antifungal Properties of Some Components of Senna Alata Flower

Antifungal activity of some components of Senna alata flower was examined against five fungi. The methanolic crude extract and the partially purified fractions were both active against standard strains of Aspergillus niger, Geotricum candidum, and Candida utilis, and local isolates of Aspergillus brevipes and Penicillium species, but at different concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the methanolic crude extract was low for all the fungal strains except Aspergillus niger with 5.0 mg/mL concentration, while the minimum inhibitory concentration of partially purified components (C and F) ranged between 0.312 mg/mL for extract F against Penicillium species and 2.5 mg/mL for extract C against Aspergillus niger, Penicillium species and Candida utilis. The minimum fungicidal concentration of the crude methanolic extract was generally higher than 5 mg/mL for most of the fungi but the partially purified extract exhibited fungicidal concentrations ranging from 2.5 mg/mL to 5.0 mg/mL. Antifungal properties against mycelial growth was also demonstrated by all the extracts against the tested strains, with the crude methanolic extract losing its activity after 48 hours. The partially purified Senna alata extracts exhibited a relatively high antifungal activity against mycelial growth with total suppression of sporulation for four days at a concentration of 2 mg/mL, while preventing fungal growth after the seventh day.     

Using Local Culture and Gender Roles to Improve Male Involvement in Maternal Health in Southern Nigeria

Group health talks were conducted in Ekiadolor, Southern Nigeria, to improve male attitudes and practices regarding their involvement in prenatal care and family planning. Intervention planners highlight the importance of embedding local cultural norms along with co-opting gendered beliefs for purposes of planning and implementing the group talks. The authors facilitated 9 groups of adult males mostly from the traditional hierarchy of the community. Using gender theory as an analytical lens along with the application of local cultural beliefs and norms, a useful communication intervention was developed that increased the possibility of positive male engagement in maternal health in 1 Nigerian community.     

ADME-Tox in drug discovery: integration of experimental and computational technologies

Over the past ten years, in vitro experimental tools to characterize ADME-Tox profiles of compounds have been applied in early stages of the drug discovery process to increase the success rate of discovery programmes and to progress better candidates into drug development. Application of in silico ADME-Tox models has further enhanced discovery support, enabling virtual screening of compounds and thus, application of ADME-Tox at every stage of the discovery process. Ultimately, effective and efficient ADME-Tox support of discovery will depend on a complementary and synergistic use of experimental and in silico ADME-Tox.