Clinical and microbiological profile of adult inpatients with community acquired pneumonia in Ilorin,North Central,Nigeria

BackgroundThe optimal management of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) depends on the clinical and microbiological profile in the locality.ObjectivesTo determine the clinical and microbiological profile of patients admitted with CAP in Ilorin, Nigeria.MethodsOne hundred and two consenting consecutively selected patients with clinical and radiologic confirmation of CAP were recruited in 12 months. The socio-demographic, physical examination and laboratory/radiologic parameters were documented in a questionnaire. Microbiological evaluation of their sputum was done and blood samples were taken for complete blood count, culture, serum urea and serological evaluation for atypical bacteria and some viral pathogens.ResultsCAP constituted 5.9% of the total medical admissions during the one-year study period. The mean age of the patients was 49 ± 22 years with the largest frequency in those aged 65 years and above. The commonest symptoms were shortness of breath (96.1%) and cough (94.1%), with a median duration of 3 days from symptom onset to admission. Systemic hypertension was the commonest comorbid illness (25/102; 24.5%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the predominant pathogen isolated (20/102; 28.1%). The susceptible antibiotics were Imipenem, Ceftazidime and Ceftriaxone. Intra-hospital mortality was 17.6%. CURB – 65 score of ≥ 2 and the presence of complications of CAP were the independent predictors of mortality.ConclusionCAP constitutes a significant disease burden in Ilorin, Nigeria. Typical bacteria accounted for over half of the pathogens isolated from the patients with gram negative agents predominating. This highlights a possible shift in the microbiological profile which could guide empirical treatment.     

Mucin is produced by clara cells in the proximal airways of antigen-challenged mice

Airway mucus hypersecretion is a prominent feature of many obstructive lung diseases. We thus determined the ontogeny and exocytic phenotype of mouse airway mucous cells. In naive mice, ciliated (approximately 40%) and nonciliated (approximately 60%) epithelial cells line the airways, and > 95% of the nonciliated cells are Clara cells that contain Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP). Mucous cells comprise < 5% of the nonciliated cells. After sensitization and a single aerosol antigen challenge, alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff's positive mucous cell numbers increase dramatically, appearing 6 h after challenge (21% of nonciliated/nonbasal cells), peaking from Days 1-7 (99%), and persisting at Day 28 (65%). Throughout the induction and resolution of mucous metaplasia, ciliated and Clara cell numbers identified immunohistochemically change only slightly. Intracellular mucin content peaks at Day 7, and mucin expression is limited specifically to a Clara cell subset in airway generations 2-4 that continue to express CCSP. Functionally, Clara cells are secretory cells that express the regulated exocytic marker Rab3D and, in antigen-challenged mice, rapidly secrete mucin in response to inhaled ATP in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, Clara cells show great plasticity in structure and secretory products, yet have molecular and functional continuity in their identity as specialized apical secretory cells.     

Copper scavenging efficiency of adsorbents prepared from Raphia hookeri fruit waste

Low cost adsorbents prepared from the epicarp of Raphia hookeri fruit were used for the removal of copper (II) ion from aqueous solution. The effects of operational parameters such as pH, concentration and contact time, dosage as well as interference of other ions were studied. Optimum pH for raw and modified biomass were 5.0 and 5.5 with percentage removal of 75.08% and 95.62% respectively. Concentration of competing ions greatly reduced Cu²⁺ removal with both adsorbents while agitation speed had negligible effect on Cu²⁺ uptake. Adsorbents surfaces were activated as temperature increased thus enhancing adsorbent adsorption capacity at high temperature. Adsorption kinetic data fitted best into the pseudo second order model while the thermodynamics studies confirmed adsorption spontaneity and feasibility. The Freundlich adsorption isotherm best described the adsorption process and the Langmuir maximum monolayer adsorption capacity for the raw (RHE) and acid treated (ARHE) biomass were 81.97 and 103.09 mg/g respectively. Chemisorption predominate the Cu²⁺-ARHE system hence desorption efficiency was obtained to be 72.65% with CH₃COOH as eluent.     

Eye tracking of attention in the affective disorders: A meta-analytic review and synthesis

A large body of research has demonstrated that affective disorders are characterized by attentional biases for emotional stimuli. However, this research relies heavily on manual reaction time (RT) measures that cannot fully delineate the time course and components of attentional bias. Eye tracking technology, which allows relatively direct and continuous measurement of overt visual attention, may provide an important supplement to RT measures. This article reviews eye tracking research on anxiety and depression, evaluating the experimental paradigms and eye movement indicators used to study attentional biases. Also included is a meta-analysis of extant eye tracking research (33 experiments; N = 1579) on both anxiety and depression. Relative to controls, anxious individuals showed increased vigilance for threat during free viewing and visual search, and showed difficulty disengaging from threat in visual search tasks, but not during free viewing. In contrast, depressed individuals were not characterized by vigilance for threat during free viewing, but were characterized by reduced orienting to positive stimuli, as well as reduced maintenance of gaze on positive stimuli and increased maintenance of gaze on dysphoric stimuli. Implications of these findings for theoretical accounts of attentional bias in anxiety and depression are discussed, and avenues for future research using eye-tracking technology are outlined.     

Neural and behavioural changes in male periadolescent mice after prolonged nicotine-MDMA treatment

The interaction between MDMA and Nicotine affects multiple brain centres and neurotransmitter systems (serotonin, dopamine and glutamate) involved in motor coordination and cognition. In this study, we have elucidated the effect of prolonged (10 days) MDMA, Nicotine and a combined Nicotine-MDMA treatment on motor-cognitive neural functions. In addition, we have shown the correlation between the observed behavioural change and neural structural changes induced by these treatments in BALB/c mice. We observed that MDMA (2 mg/Kg body weight; subcutaneous) induced a decline in motor function, while Nicotine (2 mg/Kg body weight; subcutaneous) improved motor function in male periadolescent mice. In combined treatment, Nicotine reduced the motor function decline observed in MDMA treatment, thus no significant change in motor function for the combined treatment versus the control. Nicotine or MDMA treatment reduced memory function and altered hippocampal structure. Similarly, a combined Nicotine-MDMA treatment reduced memory function when compared with the control. Ultimately, the metabolic and structural changes in these neural systems were seen to vary for the various forms of treatment. It is noteworthy to mention that a combined treatment increased the rate of lipid peroxidation in brain tissue.     

Protective effect of Juglanin against doxorubicin-induced cognitive impairment in rats: Effect on oxidative, inflammatory and apoptotic machineries

Metabolic Brain Disease - Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective anticancer drug, however, side effects such as cognitive impairment and cardiotoxicity have limited its clinical use. Juglanin (JUG) is a...     

Blood Transfusion in Sickle Cell Disease

Blood transfusion is used as a life-saving and prophylactic treatment in sickle cell disease. Despite the many complications associated with its use, few randomised controlled trials and careful research studies have been performed to fully define its role. This subjects is, therefore, discussed in the context of the current literature and authors' experience.