Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis: comparison of agar-gel precipitin test and enzyme immunoassay

The agar-gel precipitation test (AGPT) was compared with Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, 164 women being screened for chlamydial antibodies and antigens in their sera and in endocervical specimens, respectively. The AGPT showed good correlation with EIA in the 164 paired sera and endocervical specimens, resulting in 27 (16.5%) and 22 (13.4%) positive results, respectively (P greater than 0.05). The overall sensitivity of the AGPT compared to EIA was 86.4% (19 of 22), and the specificity was 94.4% (134 of 142).     

Biosocial factors affecting menarche in a mixed Nigerian population.

A prospective study of school girls in a mixed Nigerian population revealed that the mean menarcheal age was 13.98 +/- 1.30 years. The mean menarcheal age was influenced by the social class of the parents, being higher in the lower social class, there were considerable variations in the biologic measurements (height, weight and body mass index) among girls who attained menarche.     

乳酸脱氢酶实验检测细胞新陈代谢的实验研究

目的 探索LDH实验检测细胞活力的可行性。方法 原代培养骨髓细胞和软骨细胞，用LDH实验测定上述两组细胞的活力，并与镜下活体观察到细胞的生长状况相比较。与目前比较成熟的测定细胞活力的MTS实验的测得的值相比较。结果 LDH实验对上述两组细胞的活力的测定结果与镜下活体观察到的结果相符合。与MTS实验的测得的结果经统计学处理无显著差异。结论 LDH实验可用于细胞活力的直接测定，而对活细胞的生存、繁殖无影响。     

Maternal tetanus toxoid coverage during pregnancy in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

A cluster survey on maternal tetanus toxoid (TT) coverage was carried out in the Ile-Ife Central Local Government Area. Out of the 896 mothers of babies 0-12 months old who were interviewed, 668 (74.6%) claimed they received TT during pregnancy, this was confirmed in 37 (4.1%) and in only 25 (2.8%) of these cases could the babies be said to have been protected from neonatal tetanus (NNT) at birth. About 35% of the babies were delivered at home/churches where most babies with NNT are usually born.     

A prospective study of the relationship between birthweight and placental weight at term in a Nigerian population

In a study to determine the relationship between birthweight and placental weight in 507 singleton term (37-42 weeks) pregnancies in Nigeria, the correlation coefficient (r)between birthweight and placental weight was 0.315 (p = 0.001). There were 24 low birthweight (LBW) and nine perinatal deaths giving perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) of 17.8/1000. Significant differences were found between the gestational age of LBW and normal weight infants; between the placental weights when those with perinatal deaths were compared with survivors. Reduction in placental size was associated with high perinatal mortality recorded in this study and prenatal placental growth monitor may prevent some of the deaths with timely intervention.     

Mutations in the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor gene cause autosomal dominant and sporadic hypoparathyroidism

Parathyroid hormone secretion is negatively regulated by a 7- transmembrane domain, G-protein coupled Ca(2+)-sensing receptor. We hypothesized that activating mutations in this receptor might cause autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism (ADHP). Consistent with this hypothesis, we identified, in two families with ADHP, heterozygous missense mutations in the Ca(2+)-sensing receptor gene that cosegregated with the disorder. None of 50 normal controls had either mutation. We also identified a de novo, missense Ca(2+)-sensing receptor mutation in a child with severe sporadic hypoparathyroidism. The amino acid substitution in one ADHP family affected the N-terminal, extracellular domain of the receptor. The other mutations involved the transmembrane region. Unlike patients with acquired hypoparathyroidism, patients with these mutations had hypercalciuria even at low serum calcium concentrations. Their greater hypercalciuria presumably reflected activation of Ca(2+)-sensing receptors in kidney cells, where the receptor negatively regulates calcium reabsorption. This augmented hypercalciuria increases the risk of renal complications and thus has implications for the choice of therapy.      

Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-induced DNA adduction, tumorigenicity, and Ki-ras oncogene mutations in strain A/J mouse lung

Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P), an environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is the most potent carcinogen ever tested in mouse skin and rat mammary gland. In this study, DB[a,l]P was examined for DNA adduction, tumorigenicity, and induction of Ki-ras oncogene mutations in tumor DNA in strain A/J mouse lung. Groups of mice received a single i.p. injection of 0.3, 1.5, 3.0, or 6.0 mg/kg DB[a,l]P in tricaprylin. Following treatment, DNA adducts were measured at times between 1 and 28 days, while tumors were counted at 250 days and analyzed for the occurrence of point mutations in codons 12 and 61 of the Ki-ras oncogene. DB[a,l]P in strain A/J mouse lung induced six major and four minor DNA adducts. Maximal levels of adduction occurred between 5 and 10 days after injection followed by a gradual decrease. DB[a,l]P-DNA adducts in lung tissue were derived from both anti- and syn-11,12- dihydroxy-13,14-epoxy- 11,12,13,14-tetrahydrodibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]PDE) and both deoxyadenosine (dAdo) and deoxyguanosine (dGuo) residues in DNA as revealed by cochromatography. The major adduct was identified as a product of the reaction of an anti-DB[a,l]PDE with dAdo in DNA. DB[a,l]P induced significant numbers of lung adenomas in a dose- dependent manner, with the highest dose (6.0 mg/kg) yielding 16.1 adenomas/mouse. In tricaprylin-treated control animals, there were 0.67 adenomas/mouse. Based on the administered dose, DB[a,l]P was more active than other environmental carcinogens including benzo[a]pyrene. As a function of time-integrated DNA adduct levels, DB[a,l]P induced lung adenomas with about the same potency as other PAHs, suggesting that the adducts formed by DB[a,l]P are similar in carcinogenic potency to other PAHs in the strain A/J mouse lung model. Analysis of the Ki- ras mutation spectrum in DB[a,l]P-induced lung tumors revealed the predominant mutations to be G-->T transversions in the first base of codon 12, A-->G transitions in the second base of codon 12, and A-->T transversions in the second or third base of codon 61, concordant with the DNA adduct profile.      

Rethinking HIV prevalence determination in developing countries

The process for HIV prevalence determination using antenatal clinic (ANC) sentinel surveillance data has been plagued by criticisms of its biasness. Exploring other means of HIV prevalence determination is necessary to validate that estimates are near actual values or to replace the current system. We propose a data collection model that leverages the increasing adoption and penetration of the Internet and mobile technology to collect and archive routine data from HIV counseling and testing (HCT) client intake forms from all HCT centers and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) sites in a country. These data will then be mined to determine prevalence rates and risk factors at the community level. The need to improve the method for the generation of HIV prevalence rates has been repeatedly echoed by researchers though no one has been able to fashion out a better and more reliable way to the current ANC sentinel surveillance method at a reasonable cost. The chance of using routinely generated data during HCT and PMTCT is appealing and needs to be envisioned as the technology to achieve this is increasingly becoming available and affordable in countries worst hit by the pandemic. Triangulating data generated from routine HCT and PMTCT sites with data from sentinel surveillance and where the confidence of its quality is assured, as the sole source of HIV prevalence rate determination and behavioral risk assessment will improve the acceptance by communities and drive evidence-based interventions at the community level.