Differences in COVID-19 Preventive Behavior and Food Insecurity by HIV Status in Nigeria

AIDS and Behavior - The aim of the study was to assess if there were significant differences in the adoption of COVID-19 risk preventive behaviors and experience of food insecurity by people living...     

Host-specific genetic variation of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H5N1)

The complete genome sequences of two isolates A/chicken/Egypt/CL6/07 (CL6/07) and A/duck/Egypt/D2br10/07 (D2br10/07) of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 isolated at the beginning of 2007 outbreak in Egypt were determined and compared with all Egyptian HPAI H5N1 sequences available in the GenBank. Sequence analysis utilizing the RNA from the original tissue homogenate showed amino acid substitutions in seven of the viral segments in both samples. Interestingly, these changes were different between the CL6/07 and D2br10/07 when compared to other Egyptian isolates. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed independent sub-clustering of the two viruses within the Egyptian sequences signifying a possible differential adaptation in the two hosts. Further, pre-amplification analysis of H5N1 might be necessary for accurate data interpretation and identification of distinct factor(s) influencing the evolution of the virus in different poultry species.     

Antibody response detected by immunoblot in respiratory tract washings of chickens after infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum.

Two experiments were conducted to test the sensitivity of Western blotting for detection of M. gallisepticum antibodies in respiratory washings and sera of infected chickens by mouse monoclonal antibodies to chicken IgG, IgM and IgA. In the first experiment, birds infected at 10 days of age were examined 2 weeks later. In the respiratory washings, IgA antibodies reacted with eight polypeptides of M. gallisepticum, while IgM and IgG reacted with three. In the serum IgA antibodies were not detected but IgM antibodies reacted with eight polypeptides and IgG with 16. In the second experiment birds were infected at 3 weeks of age and a subgroup was examined every week for 3 weeks post-infection. In the respiratory washings IgA was the principle immunoglobulin detected in the first week and it reacted to six major polypeptides of M. gallisepticum (p72, p64-67, p60, p56, p45, p40). In serum IgM was predominant in the first week and reacted to nine polypeptides. From the second week IgG antibodies were the most important as they reacted to 13 polypeptides in respiratory washings and to 11 polypeptides in the serum, while they reacted to nine polypeptides in respiratory washings and to 13 in the serum in the third week.     

Comparative study between general and thoracic spinal anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BackgroundLaparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually done under general anesthesia, but many patients with major medical problems sometimes cannot tolerate such anesthesia, and thoracic spinal anesthesia may be beneficial in such patients. A comparative study between two groups of patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy using either general anesthesia or segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia.Patients and methodsForty patients classified according to American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) as class I or II undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, divided into two groups, 20 patients each. Group G received conventional general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, and group S received a segmental (T10-11 injection) thoracic spinal anesthesia (through combined spinal epidural) using 1 ml of plain bupivacaine 0.5% (5 mg) in addition to 25 μg fentanyl. In group S, drugs to manage patient anxiety or hemodynamic perturbations (bradycardia or hypotension) were given when needed. Intraoperative monitoring, postoperative pain, complications, recovery time, and patient satisfaction at follow-up were compared between the two groups.ResultsAs regards the thoracic spinal group, spinal anesthetic was performed easily in all 20 patients, although two complained of paresthesia, which responded to slight needle withdrawal; the block was effective for surgery in all 20 patients, and five experienced some discomfort, which was readily treated with small doses of fentanyl, but none required conversion to general anesthesia; five patients required midazolam for anxiety, eight patients required ephedrine and atropine for hypotension and bradycardia, and recovery was uneventful and without sequelae.AimThe aim of this study is to compare discharge time, patient, and surgeon satisfaction between two groups of healthy patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general and segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia.ConclusionPatients received segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia had shorter discharge time and better satisfaction. Surgeon satisfaction was higher in general anesthesia group. Segmental thoracic spinal anesthesia can be used successfully and effectively for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in healthy patients by experienced anesthetists.     

Analysis of intestinal lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex

Lymphocyte subpopulations in the intestinal tissues of seven patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex (ARC) were studied by immunohistologic technics at two different locations, the small bowel and the rectum. Intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocyte subsets stained with monoclonal antibodies T11, T4, T8, and B1 were enumerated in the patients and different normal and patient control groups. Intraepithelial T11+ cells were decreased (P less than 0.05) in the small bowel of AIDS and ARC patients, primarily because of the near complete absence of T4+ lymphocytes. In the lamina propria of these patients, a depletion of T4+ cells (P less than 0.05), an increase in T8+ cells (P less than 0.05), and a reversal of the T4/T8 ratio were observed (e.g., the small bowel ratio was 0.1 +/- 0.02 vs. the normal ratio of 2.3 +/- 0.2 and the rectal ratios were 0.2 +/- 0.06 vs. normal 2.6 +/- 0.3). The T-lymphocytes in the intestine of AIDS and ARC patients did not express the receptor for interleukin-2 (IL-2). A near complete absence of T4+ lymphocytes was also seen in lymphoid follicles in the rectum. B1+ cells were not depleted. The reversal of the T4/T8 ratio, which is a hallmark of AIDS, occurs not only in the circulation but also in the gastrointestinal tissues of patients with AIDS and ARC.     

Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of a virulent Marek’s disease virus field strain in broiler chickens in Japan

Marek’s disease is a lymphoproliferative disease causing a serious threat in poultry production. Field strains of Marek’s disease virus (MDVs) are continuously re-emerging, causing great economical losses to the poultry industry worldwide in spite of the intensive vaccination and restrictive management policy used. Histopathological and molecular characterizations of MDVs are essential for monitoring the changes of viruses and evaluating the effectiveness of existing vaccines. During 2016, 190 visceral tumour tissues representing 30 vaccinated chicken flocks from the Gifu prefecture, Japan, were analysed. A pathological examination revealed the presence of lymphoproliferative lesions in the visceral organs. Polymerase chain reaction screening of tissue specimens using specific primers for avian leucosis virus, reticuloendotheliosis virus, and MDV was positive only for MDV. The polymerase chain reaction products of meq, pp38, virus-induced IL-8 homology, and glycoprotein MDV genes were sequenced and used for homology, phylogenetic, and similarity level analysis with the published reference of MDVs in the database. The results revealed high similarity between the field isolates, vv and vv+ strains of MDV from the USA and China. Several point mutations in the nucleotide sequence of the field isolates and their deduced amino acid sequences were detected in those genes. The present molecular analyses indicated that nucleotide and amino acid changes could be valuable criteria for differentiation and determination of the pathogenicity and oncogenicity of MDVs according to the Avian Disease and Oncology Laboratory pathotyping in vivo studies. Furthermore, the results suggest that development of a new vaccine must be considered to overcome this devastating avian oncogenic viral disease.