Status of pharmaceuticals in the Korle Lagoon and their toxicity to non-target organisms

Ecotoxicology - The availability of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in surface waters and suspended solids/sediments presents an ecological hazard of chronic exposure to non-target...     

Hyperglycemic crises in diabetes mellitus: diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) potentially are fatal but largely preventable acute metabolic conditions of uncontrolled diabetes, the incidence of which continues to increase. Mortality from DKA has declined remarkably over the years because of better understanding of its pathophysiology and treatment. The mortality rate of HHS remains alarmingly high, however, owing to older age and mode of presentation of patients and associated comorbid conditions. DKA and HHS also are economically burdensome; therefore, any resources invested in their prevention would be rewarding.     

An eighth locus for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa is linked to chromosome 17q

Retinitis pigmentosa is one of the most common causes of severevisual handicap in middle to late life. Prior to this report,seven loci had previously been mapped for the autosomal dominantform of this disorder (adRP). We now report the identificationof a novel adRP locus on chromosome 17q. To map the new locus,we performed linkage analysis with microsatellite markers ina large South African kindred. After exclusion of 13 RP candidategene loci (including rhodopsin and peripherin-RDS), we obtainedsignificant positive lod scores at zero recombination fraction(     

Functional interaction of auxiliary subunits and synaptic proteins with Ca(v)1.3 may impart hair cell Ca2+ current properties

We assessed the functional determinants of the properties of L-type Ca(2+) currents in hair cells by co-expressing the pore-forming Ca(V)1.3alpha(1) subunit with the auxiliary subunits beta(1A) and/or alpha(2delta). Because Ca(2+) channels in hair cells are poised to interact with synaptic proteins, we also co-expressed the Ca(V)1.3alpha(1) subunit with syntaxin, vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP), and synaptosome associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP25). Expression of the Ca(V)1.3alpha(1) subunit in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293) produced a dihydropyridine (DHP)-sensitive Ca(2+) current (peak current density -2.0 +/- 0.2 pA/pF; n = 11). Co-expression with beta(1A) and alpha(2delta) subunits enhanced the magnitude of the current (peak current density: Ca(V)1.3alpha(1) + beta(1A) = -4.3 +/- 0.8 pA/pF, n = 10; Ca(V)1.3alpha(1) + beta(1A) + alpha(2delta) = -4.1 +/- 0.6 pA/pF, n = 9) and produced a leftward shift of approximately 9 mV in the voltage-dependent activation of the currents. Furthermore, co-expression of Ca(V)1.3alpha(1) with syntaxin/VAMP/SNAP resulted in at least a twofold increase in the peak current density (-4.7 +/- 0.2 pA/pF; n = 11) and reduced the extent of inactivation of the Ca(2+) currents. Botulinum toxin, an inhibitor of syntaxin, accelerated the inactivation profile of Ca(2+) currents in hair cells. Immunocytochemical data also indicated that the Ca(2+) channels and syntaxin are co-localized in hair cells, suggesting there is functional interaction of the Ca(V)1.3alpha(1) with auxiliary subunits and synaptic proteins, that may contribute to the distinct properties of the DHP-sensitive channels in hair cells.     

Life's Simple 7 and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

BackgroundThe American Heart Association (AHA) has defined Life's Simple 7 (LS7) as a measure of overall cardiovascular health . Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been involved as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the association between LS7 and NAFLD.MethodsWe evaluated participants form the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort. Cardiovascular health score was calculated from the Life's Simple 7 metrics. A score of 0-8 was considered inadequate, 9-10 average, and 11-14 optimal. NAFLD was defined using noncontrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and a liver/spleen attenuation ratio (L/S) < 1. Multivariable regression were performed to evaluate the association.ResultsOur cross-sectional analysis of 3901 participants showed 19% (n = 747) had optimal cardiovascular health, 33% (n = 1270) had average, and 48% (n = 1884) had inadequate. White participants were most likely to have an optimal score (51%, n = 378), whereas African American participants had the lowest proportion with optimal scores (16%, n = 120; P < 0.001). The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 18% with a distribution of 7%, 14%, and 25% in the optimal, average, and inadequate score categories, respectively (P < 0.001). Adjusted for risk factors, average and optimal health categories had lower odds of NAFLD compared to those with inadequate scores: odds ratio for average, 0.44 (95% confidence interval 0.36-0.54); optimal, odds ratio 0.19 (95% confidence interval 0.14-0.26). This association was similar across gender, race and age groups.ConclusionA more favorable cardiovascular health score was associated with a lower prevalence of NAFLD. This study may suggest a potential of Life's Simple 7 in the prevention of liver disease.     

The impact of childhood vaccines on bacterial carriage in the nasopharynx: a longitudinal study

Background

There is increasing evidence that childhood vaccines have effects that extend beyond their target disease. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of routine childhood vaccines on bacterial carriage in the nasopharynx.

Methods

A cohort of children from rural Gambia was recruited at birth and followed up for one year. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken immediately after birth, every two weeks for the first six months and then every other month. The presence of bacteria in the nasopharynx (Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus) was compared before and after the administration of DTP-Hib-HepB and measles-yellow fever vaccines.

Results

A total of 1,779 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 136 children for whom vaccination data were available. The prevalence of bacterial carriage was high: 82.2% S. pneumoniae, 30.6%, S.aureus, 27.8% H. influenzae. Carriage of H. influenzae (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.99) and S. pneumoniae (OR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.90) were significantly reduced after measles-yellow fever vaccination; while DTP-Hib-HepB had no effect on bacterial carriage.

Conclusions

Nasopharyngeal bacterial carriage is unaffected by DTP-Hib-HepB vaccination and reduced after measles-yellow fever vaccination.     

Relapse as histoid leprosy after receiving multidrug therapy (MDT); a report of three cases

The histoid type of leprosy has been described as occurring in lepromatous leprosy patients who relapse after many years of apparently successful dapsone monotherapy. Three patients who had received the World Health Organization-recommended regimens of multidrug therapy (WHO/MDT) relapsed as histoid leprosy 12-15 years after completion of treatment. In one patient, through mouse foot pad studies, the bacilli were found to be sensitive to rifampin and clofazimine and resistant to dapsone. In the other two patients mouse foot pad studies were inconclusive. The patients were re-started on WHO/MDT. Two patients took regular treatment and improved, both clinically and bacteriologically. One patient was irregular in treatment, and 1 year after re-starting WHO/MDT nodules were still present although the bacterial index had fallen slightly.