Impact of a decade-long anti-malaria crusade in a West African community

ObjectiveTo assess the rate of utilization of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLINs) which is one of the cardinal components of the program, a decade-long antimalarial campaign under the roll back malaria (RBM) initiative.MethodsThe study was carried out between October and December 2009 and cross-sectional in nature involving adult women in Otukpo town and environs. Households were selected using systematic sampling methods where all the adult women in each household were interviewed. Relevant information such as age, marital status, occupation, utilization of LLINs and reasons for non-utilization were obtained. Data obtained were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression coefficient.ResultsAlmost 100% (3 154) of the respondents could associate malaria fever with mosquito bite although other causes were also mentioned. The overall any bed net utilization in Otukpo town was found to be 58.3% (1 849). LLINs utilization was found to be 23.3% (739). 35.0% (1 110) used untreated bed nets while 41.7% (1 322) had no bed net. Positive predictors for LLINs utilization were increasing educational levels, increasing wealth index and presence of an under five child, while lower wealth index and cultural beliefs negatively contributed to LLINs utilization.ConclusionsThe RBM program in the community has failed to yield the desired results. Efforts should be intensified towards addressing the socioeconomic, cultural, literary and logistic factors in order to reach this goal.     

Rho kinase and protein kinase C involvement in vascular smooth muscle myofilament calcium sensitization in arteries from diabetic rats

Background and purpose:

Diabetes mellitus (DM) causes multiple dysfunctions including circulatory disorders such as cardiomyopathy, angiopathy, atherosclerosis and arterial hypertension. Rho kinase (ROCK) and protein kinase C (PKC) regulate vascular smooth muscle (VSM) Ca²⁺ sensitivity, thus enhancing VSM contraction, and up-regulation of both enzymes in DM is well known. We postulated that in DM, Ca²⁺ sensitization occurs in diabetic arteries due to increased ROCK and/or PKC activity.

Experimental approach:

Rats were rendered hyperglycaemic by i.p. injection of streptozotocin. Age-matched control tissues were used for comparison. Contractile responses to phenylephrine (Phe) and different Ca²⁺ concentrations were recorded, respectively, from intact and chemically permeabilized vascular rings from aorta, tail and mesenteric arteries.

Key results:

Diabetic tail and mesenteric arteries demonstrated markedly enhanced sensitivity to Phe while these changes were not observed in aorta. The ROCK inhibitor HA1077, but not the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine, caused significant reduction in sensitivity to agonist in diabetic vessels. Similar changes were observed for myofilament Ca²⁺ sensitivity, which was again enhanced in DM in tail and mesenteric arteries, but not in aorta, and could be reduced by both the ROCK and PKC blockers.

Conclusions and implications:

We conclude that in DM enhanced myofilament Ca²⁺ sensitivity is mainly manifested in muscular-type blood vessels and thus likely to contribute to the development of hypertension. Both PKC and, in particular, ROCK are involved in this phenomenon. This highlights their potential usefulness as drug targets in the pharmacological management of DM-associated vascular dysfunction.     

Comparison of three PCR methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori DNA and detection of cagA gene in gastric biopsy specimens

AIM:To comparatively evaluate PCR and other diagnosticmethods (the rapid urease test and/or culture) in order todetermine which of the three PCR methods (ureA,glmMand 26-kDa,SSA gene) was most appropriate in the diagnosisof Helicobacterpylori(Hpylori) infection and also to evaluatethe detection of a putative virulence marker of H pylori,thecage,gene,by PCR in biopsy specimens.METHODS:One hundred and eighty-nine biopsy specimenswere collected from 63 patients (three biopsies each)undergoing upper gastroduodenal endoscopy for variousdyspeptic symptoms.The PCR methods used to detectH pylori DNA directly from biopsies were the glmM,26-kDa,ureA and then cagA was used to compare the culturetechnique and CLO for urease with the culture techniquebeing used as the gold standard.RESULTS:Thirty-five percent of the biopsies were positivefor H pylori DNA using the 3 PCR methods,while 68% ofthese were positive for the cagA gene.Twenty-four percentof the biopsies were negative for H pylori DNA in all PCRmethods screened.The remaining 41% were either positivefor ureA gene only,glmM only,26-kDa only,or ureA glmM,ureA 26-kDa,glmM 26-kDa.Out of the 35% positivebiopsies,41% and 82% were positive by culture and CLOrespectively,while all negative biopsies were also negativeby culture and cagA.Cag A infection was also predominantlyfound in H pylori DNA of the biopsies irrespective of theclinical diagnosis.CONCLUSION:This method is useful for correctly identifyinginfections caused by H pylori and can be easily applied inour laboratory for diagnostic purposes.     

Human red blood cell Wright antigens: a genetic and evolutionary perspective on glycophorin A-band 3 interaction

The Wright (Wra/Wrb) blood group polymorphism is defined by an allelic change (Lys658Glu) in the band 3 protein; nevertheless, the Wrb antigen apparently requires glycophorin A (GPA) for surface presentation. To gain insight into the structural basis for this protein-protein interaction and delineate its relationship with Wrb antigen expression, we investigated GPA and band 3 sequence polymorphisms occurring in rare humans and nonhuman primates. The lack of GPA or amino acid residues 59 through 71 of GPA results in the absence of Wrb from human red blood cells (RBCs) exhibiting the MkMk, En(a-), or MiV phenotype. However, the SAT homozygous cells carried a Glu658 form of band 3 and a hybrid glycophorin with the entire GPA extramembrane domain from residues 1 through 71, yet expressed no Wrb antigen. This finding suggests that formation of the Wrb antigenic structure is dependent on protein folding and that the transmembrane junction of GPA is important in maintaining the required conformation. Comparative analyses of GPA and band 3 homologues led to the identification in the interacting regions of conserved and dispensable amino acid residues that correlated with the Wrb positive or negative status on nonhuman primates. In particular, the chimpanzee RBCs cells expressed Wrb and the Glu658 form of band 3, which is identical to humans, but their GPA contained the Gly rather than Arg residue at position 61. Taken together, the results suggest that (1) Arg61 of GPA and the proposed Arg61-Glu658 charge pair are not crucial for Wrb antigen exhibition and (2) the role of GPA for interaction with band 3, including Glu658, probably involves a number of amino acid residues located in the alpha-helical region and transmembrane junction.     

高粘滞血症综合预防的探讨

对６０例高粘滞血症，采取综合预防６个月后，血流变检测表明：血球压积、全血比粘度、血浆比粘度、血小板最大聚集率，纤维蛋白元、血脂等参数值均低于综合预防前，经统计学处理，Ｐ＜０．０５～０．０１。达到对高粘滞血症的预防目的。     

Molecular genetic analysis of a hybrid gene encoding Sta glycophorin of the human erythrocyte membrane

Sta is an antigen of the human MNSs blood group system carried by a variant glycophorin residing in the erythrocyte membrane. We examined the structure, organization, and inheritance of Sta gene identified in genomic DNA from an Oriental family. Southern blotting detected a useful genetic marker tightly linked to the Sta gene. Differential hybridization and secondary restriction analyses showed that Sta gene is a fusion hybrid of delta and alpha glycophorin genes. Genomic mapping by extensive use of synthetic oligonucleotides, with overlapping sequence specificity, allowed us to define the delta-alpha junction site and disclose the organization of the variant gene. The junction point of Sta hybrid gene is encompassed by an unexpressed exonlike sequence of the delta gene at the 5' site, and an expressed sequence of the alpha gene spanning codons 59 through 71, at the 3' site. Dosage quantification demonstrated the occurrence of Sta gene as a single copy in the genome. Blood group inheritance, evaluated by DNA typing, established the tight linkage of Sta to the alpha M and delta S genes. The data support a single unequal crossing-over event between misaligned delta and alpha genes on the homologous chromosomes as the mechanism for the origin of Sta gene. The Sta gene is similar in overall structure to another delta-alpha hybrid gene, Dantu, but differs from it in junction structure, copy number, gene linkage, and antigen specificity.     

Halitosis amongst students in tertiary institutions in Lagos state

BackgroundHalitosis is defined as a noticeable unpleasant odor from the mouth. It is a medico-social problem that affects a significant number of people around the world. Research reveals that nearly 50% of the adult population has halitosis.ObjectivesTo determine level of awareness of halitosis and prevalence of the condition amongst students in tertiary institutions as a baseline survey.MethodsFor this project, 100 students from three tertiary institutions in Lagos state were chosen: University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Ojo campus and Yaba College of Technology. A semi-structured questionnaire and practical testing/diagnostic tool were utilized. Data collected was collated and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS statistical software.ResultsMost of the respondents were single and Christian. Level of awareness of halitosis was high. Results showed that 15%, 2% and 22% from UNILAG, LASU and YCT respectively said they had halitosis. Using the diagnostic tool, 6%, 8% and 2% respectively were positive for halitosis.ConclusionsThere is high level of awareness of halitosis among the respondents. The prevalence of the disorder is low, however, it is recommended that enlightenment campaigns be mounted in schools to improve level of awareness and treatment seeking.