HAART and anti-Koch’s impair sexual competence,sperm quality and offspring quality when used singly and in combination in male Wistar rats

This study investigated the impact of the administration of HAART and anti-Koch's, singly and in combination, on sexual competence and birth statistics. Adult male Wistar rats were randomised into distilled water-treated control, HAART-treated, anti-Koch's-treated and HAART + anti-Koch's-treated groups. The 56-day oral treatment led to impaired sexual competence evident by significantly reduced motivation to mate, prolonged latencies of mount, intromissions, ejaculations and post-ejaculatory interval, as well as reduced frequencies of mount, intromissions and ejaculations. This was accompanied by significant reductions in penile erection reflex and penile grooming. HAART and anti-Koch's, when administered singly or in combination, also led to significant reductions in the circulatory follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone and intratesticular testosterone, but a significant rise in prolactin. Also, HAART and/or anti-Koch's significantly reduced sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability and spermatozoa with normal morphology. Furthermore, HAART and anti-Koch's, separately or in combination, significantly lowered fertility capacity, litter size and litter weight and offspring survival. The deleterious effects of these drugs were more pronounced when combined. Findings of the present study revealed that HAART and/or anti-Koch's impair sexual competence via a testosterone-dependent hyperprolactinemia-mediated mechanism. These events are associated with reduced fertility capacity, poor sperm quality and lowered offspring survival.     

Intersecting stigma and HIV testing practices among urban refugee adolescents and youth in Kampala,Uganda: qualitative findings

IntroductionHIV‐related risks may be exacerbated in humanitarian contexts. Uganda hosts 1.3 million refugees, of which 60% are aged under 18. There are knowledge gaps regarding HIV testing facilitators and barriers, including HIV and intersecting stigmas, among urban refugee youth. In response, we explored experiences and perspectives towards HIV testing strategies, including HIV self‐testing, with urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda.MethodsWe implemented a qualitative study with refugee cisgender youth aged 16 to 24 living in Kampala''s informal settlements from February‐April 2019. We conducted five focus groups with refugee youth, including two with adolescent boys and young men, two with adolescent girls and young women and one with female sex workers. We also conducted five key informant (KI) interviews with government, non‐government and community refugee agencies and HIV service providers. We conducted thematic analyses to understand HIV testing experiences, perspectives and recommendations.ResultsParticipants (n = 49) included young men (n = 17) and young women (n = 27) originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] (n = 29), Rwanda (n = 11), Burundi (n = 3) and Sudan (n = 1), in addition to five KI (gender: n = 3 women, n = 2 men; country of origin: n = 2 Rwanda, n = 2 Uganda, n = 1 DRC). Participant narratives revealed stigma drivers included fear of HIV infection; misinformation that HIV is a “Ugandan disease”; and blame and shame for sexual activity. Stigma facilitators included legal precarity regarding sex work, same‐sex practices and immigration status, alongside healthcare mistreatment and confidentiality concerns. Stigma experiences were attributed to the social devaluation of intersecting identities (sex work, youth, refugees, sexual minorities, people living with HIV, women). Participants expressed high interest in HIV self‐testing. They recommended HIV self‐testing implementation strategies to be peer supported and expressed concerns regarding sexual‐ and gender‐based violence with partner testing.ConclusionsIntersecting stigma rooted in fear, misinformation, blame and shame, legal precarity and healthcare mistreatment constrain current HIV testing strategies with urban refugee youth. Findings align with the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework that conceptualizes stigma drivers and facilitators that devalue intersecting health conditions and social identities. Findings can inform multi‐level strategies to foster enabling HIV testing environments with urban refugee youth, including tackling intersecting stigma and leveraging refugee youth peer support.     

The use of natural interferon alpha conjugated to a monoclonal antibody anti mammary epithelial mucin (Mc5) for the treatment of human breast cancer xenografts

Summary An immunoconjugate composed of natural interferon (nIFN) bound in a noncleavable fashion to a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) recognizing a breast epithelial membrane mucin (Mc5) was used to treat xenografts of a human mammary carcinoma cell line (MCF-7) growing in nude mice. The immunoconjugate (nIFN/Mc5) was administered as 20 intralesional (i.l.) injections to 1 of 2 xenografts in each animal. It was found that nIFN/Mc5 produced a significant enhancement of the growth inhibitory actions of nIFN on the injected tumors. Further enhancement was obtained when nIFN or nIFN together with Mc5 (at a dose 10 times larger than that present in nIFN/Mc5) were added to the immunoconjugate. Biodistribution experiments showed that the uptake of¹²⁵I-nIFN/Mc5 by the tumors was greater and its elimination slower than for¹²⁵I-nIFN alone or conjugated to irrelevant mouse IgG₁. In addition, the immunoconjugate up-regulated the antigenic expression of a breast epithelial membrane mucin by the carcinoma cells, an up-regulation which was not significantly different from that produced by nIFN alone. The contralateral noninjected tumors exposed to systemic levels of the immunoconjugate showed an enhancement of antitumor effects, but to a lesser extent than the injected tumors. These findings suggest that the enhancement of the growth inhibitory action of the immunoconjugate was related to the specific binding of Mc5 which targeted the IFN to the carcinoma cells and impeded its elimination. It is likely that the targeting was favored by the IFN-mediated up-regulation of antigenic expression by the carcinoma cells, thereby producing a cascade of interrelated effects. The results of this study point out the feasibility and potential usefulness of IFN treatment by means of immunoconjugates as well as the worth of pursuing and improving this form of therapy.     

Geriatric performance on the Benton Visual Retention Test: demographic and diagnostic considerations

We examined relationships between demographic and diagnostic variables and Benton Visual Retention Test performance in older adults aged 55 to 97 years. We derived extended geriatric norms for BVRT total number correct scores adjusted for variables that contributed significantly to the variance. We also investigated BVRT performance in two commonly presenting diagnostic groups: (1) normal adults with memory concerns, and (2) a group with mixed neurologic disorders. Age and education but not gender were significantly associated with BVRT performance in both normals and normals with memory concerns. Level of cognitive deficit was a moderating factor in that age and education also contributed significantly to the BVRT performance of no/low deficit neurologic patients but had no impact in patients whose cognitive deficits were moderate/severe.     

A nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor administered into the medial preoptic area increases seminal emissions in an ex copula reflex test.

Nitric oxide synthesis inhibitors, when administered systemically or into the ventricles of the brain, affect several indices of male sexual behavior. Some of the systemic effects are assumed to be due to local vasoconstriction at the penis. Others are suggested to be mediated within the brain. In these experiments, the nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor L-NMMA, and its less active enantiomer, D-NMMA, were microinjected into the medial preoptic area of male rats. In an ex copula test of genital reflexes, L-NMMA increased the number of seminal emissions, while D-NMMA had no effect. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that nitric oxide is a tonic inhibitor of sympathetic nervous system tone, possibly in part through an influence on dopamine synthesis or release.     

Health status of cable splicers with low-level exposure to lead: results of a clinical survey

The results of a cross-sectional clinical field survey of 90 telephone cable splicers are presented. Despite the rare occurrence of clinically overt lead poisoning among cable splicers, the observed prevalence of symptoms was 29% for lead-associated central nervous system symptoms and 21% for gastrointestinal symptoms. These two groups of symptoms were directly related to zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) levels but no relationship was found between them and blood lead concentrations. Only 5% of the workers had significantly elevated blood lead levels (greater than 40 microgram/100ml). Because of the intermittent lead exposure encountered in this trade, individuals were identified with "normal" blood lead levels associated with "elevated" zinc protoporphyrin concentrations, indicating the difference in biological significance between exposure-(blood lead) and biological-response tests (ZPP). Suggestion is made that both types of diagnostic tests be utilized in the medical surveillance of lead-exposured workers.     

Multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies in eight siblings of one Jewish Moroccan family.

In a Jewish Moroccan inbred family, 8 of 12 siblings were found to have multiple deficiencies of pituitary hormones, including GH, TSH and gonadotrophins. The parents showed no deficiency and are in good health, as are the other 4 siblings. The investigations carried out indicate that in this family the etiology is hereditary in nature, probably being autosomal recessive, with the defect located in the pituitary gland.