Female condom awareness, use and concerns among Nigerian female undergraduates.

A cross-sectional study of female condom awareness, usage and concerns among the female undergraduates of the University of Ibadan was conducted in September 2004. The results of 850 out of the 879 female students interviewed were used for analysis (96.6%). Over 80% had knowledge of the female condom as a form of modern contraception and the majority of them learnt about it through the mass media (39.9%) and health workers (34.4%). However, only 11.3% had ever used the female condom, with most (40%) using it to prevent both unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including HIV (STI/HIV). The sexual partners' approval was appreciable, accounting for about 42.7% among those that had experience of the female condom usage. Major concerns mentioned such as difficulty of inserting it into the vagina and lack of sexual satisfaction, were not different from those in earlier studies. The result of this study looks promising judging from a high awareness level of the female condom, even though its usage is low. The female condom may be an alternative strategy to combat unsafe sexual practises and its sequelae in a country like Nigeria that is male dominated.     

Intravenous injection of oncolytic picornavirus SVV-001 prolongs animal survival in a panel of primary tumor–based orthotopic xenograft mouse models of pediatric glioma

Background

Seneca Valley virus (SVV-001) is a nonpathogenic oncolytic virus that can be systemically administered and can pass through the blood–brain barrier. We examined its therapeutic efficacy and the mechanism of tumor cell infection in pediatric malignant gliomas.

Methods

In vitro antitumor activities were examined in primary cultures, preformed neurospheres, and self-renewing glioma cells derived from 6 patient tumor orthotopic xenograft mouse models (1 anaplastic astrocytoma and 5 GBM). In vivo therapeutic efficacy was examined by systemic treatment of preformed xenografts in 3 permissive and 2 resistant models. The functional role of sialic acid in mediating SVV-001 infection was investigated using neuraminidase and lectins that cleave or competitively bind to linkage-specific sialic acids.

Results

SVV-001 at a multiplicity of infection of 0.5 to 25 replicated in and effectively killed primary cultures, preformed neurospheres, and self-renewing stemlike single glioma cells derived from 4 of the 6 glioma models in vitro. A single i.v. injection of SVV-001 (5 × 10¹² viral particles/kg) led to the infection of orthotopic xenografts without harming normal mouse brain cells, resulting in significantly prolonged survival in all 3 permissive and 1 resistant mouse models (P < .05). Treatment with neuraminidase and competitive binding using lectins specific for α2,3-linked and/or α2,6-linked sialic acid significantly suppressed SVV-001 infectivity (P < .01).

Conclusion

SVV-001 possesses strong antitumor activity against pediatric malignant gliomas and utilizes α2,3-linked and α2,6-linked sialic acids as mediators of tumor cell infection. Our findings support the consideration of SVV-001 for clinical trials in children with malignant glioma.     

Clinicopathologic, ophthalmic, visual profiles and management of mucoceles in blacks

The study aimed at finding out the clinicopathologic, ophthalmic and visual profiles, management and outcome of mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses in Nigerians. The study was a retrospective review of 20 cases of mucoceles who presented to the ENT clinic and referred to the eye clinic of the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria. These included nine males and 11 females with a male:female ratio of approximately 1:1. Mucoceles commonly involved more than one sinus on the same side. The sinuses commonly involved were the frontoethmoidal sinuses, frontal sinus and maxillary sinuses. The preoperative visual acuity in 16 (80%) patients was 6/4-6/9, three (15%) had between 6/9-6/18, and one (5%) patient was CF ("count fingers") in the affected eyes. The majority (90%) of our patients presented with multiple ophthalmic features; however, proptosis was the most popular and ophthalmic presentation and occurred in 15 (75%) patients. Proptosis was nonaxial in all cases with inferior, lateral or inferolateral displacement. Degree of proptosis ranged from 1-20 mm. Other presentations were squint (leading to diplopia) observed in one (5%) patient and epiphora in another [one (5%)] patient. Poor vision appeared to be the main problem in one (5%) patient, while in another [one (5%)] patient, the affected eye was completely immobilized. One (5%) patient presented with orbital cellulitis. Common radiological findings included classical expansive appearance with loss of the normal scalloping appearance with dehiscence of the wall of the affected sinus as was observed in nine (45%) of our patients. All 20 patients had excision of mucoceles (frontoethmoidectomies). At surgery, 11 (55%) patients had a combination of dehiscence of medial and/or posterior walls, and/or floor of the orbit. Materials evacuated were mucopurulent in 15 (75%) cases, moldy in three (15%) and cheesy in two (10%). Nine (45%) patients had intact walls. Three (15%) patients developed orbital cellulitis as postoperative complication. Postoperatively, proptosis regressed spontaneously within one week of surgery in 17 (85%) patients. By six weeks, all the patients had a complete regression of proptosis and visual acuity returned to preoperative visual acuity level except the patient with preoperative visual acuity of CF. This patient later deteriorated and became NPL (no perception of light) in the affected eye. This was a peculiar case in that operative findings in this patient were suggestive of another coexisting pathology, which was later confirmed to be a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the orbit. After two months, only three (15%) reported back for follow-up. The study concluded that proptosis is a common feature of mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses and that visual affectation was rather uncommon. Also whilst mucopurulent materials formed the content of most mucoceles, surgical intervention caused proptosis to regress dramatically. However, due to the high default rate in our study, no categorical statement can be made about recurrence rate of these swellings.     

Spatial mapping of proteoglycan content in articular cartilage using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy

Diagnosis of articular cartilage pathology in the early disease stages using current clinical diagnostic imaging modalities is challenging, particularly because there is often no visible change in the tissue surface and matrix content, such as proteoglycans (PG). In this study, we propose the use of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to spatially map PG content in articular cartilage. The relationship between NIR spectra and reference data (PG content) obtained from histology of normal and artificially induced PG-depleted cartilage samples was investigated using principal component (PC) and partial least squares (PLS) regression analyses. Significant correlation was obtained between both data (R² = 91.40%, p<0.0001). The resulting correlation was used to predict PG content from spectra acquired from whole joint sample, this was then employed to spatially map this component of cartilage across the intact sample. We conclude that NIR spectroscopy is a feasible tool for evaluating cartilage contents and mapping their distribution across mammalian joint.OCIS codes: (170.6510) Spectroscopy, tissue diagnostics; (170.6935) Tissue characterization; (170.3880) Medical and biological imaging     

Ginger polyphenols attenuate cyclosporine-induced disturbances in kidney function: Potential application in adjuvant transplant therapy

Cyclosporine (CYA), a common immuno-suppressant drug that is used in organ transplants, is associated with nephrotoxic effects. Scientific exploration of natural products of plant origin should be considered; especially, in a world with increasing prevalence of kidney diseases. Effects of ginger polyphenols (GP) in Wistar rats with CYA-induced perturbations in electrolyte balance and kidney function was determined. Fifty Wistar rats were recruited for this study such that graded doses of GP were administered following CYA-induced kidney injury and comparisons were made against control and toxic groups at p?<?0.05. Distilled water, CYA (50?mg/kg p.o. for 10 days) and GP (100, 200 and 400?mg/kg p.o. for 21 days) were administered to the rats at 0.2?ml/100?g. CYA administration induced kidney injury as characterized by significant deleterious alterations in plasma and urine levels of creatinine, urea, Na⁺ and K⁺ electrolyte balance as well as creatinine clearance. Also, there was a significant derangement in feeding pattern and relative kidney weight. Using GSH and SOD as antioxidant indicators, there was significant disturbance of the anti-oxidant system while histopathological results showed evidence of interstitial vacuolations with atrophic glomeruli. These conditions were significantly attenuated (p?<?0.05) following administration of graded doses of GP. It was, therefore, concluded that GP could potentially be a therapeutic choice for patients with CYA-induced kidney injury.     

Antigen-Induced Protective and Nonprotective Cell-Mediated Immune Components against Cryptococcus neoformans

Mice immunized with two different cryptococcal antigen preparations, one a soluble culture filtrate antigen (CneF) in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) and the other heat-killed Cryptococcus neoformans cells (HKC), develop two different profiles of activated T cells. CneF-CFA induces CD4⁺ T cells responsible for delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactivity and for amplification of the anticryptococcal DTH response, whereas HKC induce CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells involved in anticryptococcal DTH reactivity and activated T cells which directly kill C. neoformans cells. The main purpose of this study was to assess the level of protection afforded by each of the two different T-cell profiles against challenge with viable C. neoformans cells, thereby identifying which activated T-cell profile provides better protection. CBA/J mice immunized with CneF-CFA had significantly better protective responses, based on better clearance of C. neoformans from tissues, on longer survival times, and on fewer and smaller lesions in the brain, than HKC-immunized mice or control mice similarly infected with C. neoformans. Both immunization protocols induced an anticryptococcal DTH response, but neither induced serum antibodies to glucuronoxylmannan, so the protection observed in the CneF-CFA immunized mice was due to the activated T-cell profile induced by that protocol. HKC-immunized mice, which displayed no greater protection than controls, did not have the amplifier cells. Based on our findings, we propose that the protective anticryptococcal T cells are the CD4⁺ T cells which have been shown to be responsible for DTH reactivity and/or the CD4⁺ T cells which amplify the DTH response and which have been previously shown to produce high levels of gamma interferon and interleukin 2. Our results imply that there are protective and nonprotective cell-mediated immune responses and highlight the complexity of the immune response to C. neoformans antigens.     

Anti-ulcerogenic activity of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed on indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male albino rats

OBJECTIVE: Carica papaya is an important fruit with its seeds used in the treatment of ulcer in Nigeria. This study investigated the anti-ulcerogenic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed against indomethacin-induced peptic ulcer in male rats.METHODS: Thirty male rats were separated into 6 groups(A–F) of five rats each. For 14 d before ulcer induction with indomethacin, groups received once daily oral doses of vehicle(distilled water), cimetidine 200 mg/kg body weight(BW), or aqueous extract of C. papaya seed at doses of 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg BW(groups A, B, C, D, E and F, respectively). Twenty-four hours after the last treatment, groups B, C, D, E and F were treated with 100 mg/kg BW of indomethacin to induce ulcer formation. RESULTS: Carica papaya seed extract significantly(P<0.05) increased gastric p H and percentage of ulcer inhibition relative to indomethacin-induced ulcer rats. The extract significantly(P<0.05) decreased gastric acidity, gastric acid output, gastric pepsin secretion, ulcer index and gastric secretion volume relative to group B. These results were similar to that achieved by pretreatment with cimetidine. Specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the extract-treated groups(D, E and F) were increased significantly over the group B(P<0.05). Pretreatment with the seed extract protected rats from the indomethacin-mediated decrease in enzyme function experienced by the group B. Similarly, indomethacin-mediated decrease in reduced glutathione level and indomethacin-mediated increase in malondialdehyde were reversed by Carica papaya extract. CONCLUSION: In this study, pretreatment with aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed exhibited antiulcerogenic and antioxidant effects, which may be due to the enhanced antioxidant enzymes.     

A novel approach to the development of benchmarking parameters for characterizing cartilage health

This article outlines the motivation and preliminary investigations into a novel method of characterizing cartilage health for potential in vivo application. Current in vivo indentation techniques, which primarily rely on stiffness measurements based on axial data, are unable to adequately distinguish between healthy and degraded tissue. The present in vitro study investigates the effects of controlled artificial degradation on the effective surface stretch, comparing the results with those obtained from the peripheral cartilage surrounding focal osteoarthritis. Results suggest that this technique is highly sensitive, showing a maximum range of 14% effective surface stretch in a normal joint compared with 42% for axial strain measurements. We further demonstrated that the technique can discriminate between degenerative changes and the intrinsic variations in cartilage properties across the normal joint. From these investigations we propose that the relationship between indentation and the in-plane strain field under the indenter can better distinguish degraded tissue than the currently used stiffness techniques.