Regulation of Sepsis and Endotoxic Shock by Regulatory T cells

One of the major challenges facing clinicians is how to effectively manage excessive host immune response to pathogenic insults resulting in sepsis. This is demonstrated by the fact that despite over half-century research efforts, sepsis and its spectrum of diseases (severe sepsis and septic shock) are still associated with poor clinical outcome. Currently, sepsis is a leading cause of death in intensive care units. The immune system protects the host against pathogens and is therefore armed with an arsenal of deadly ammunitions (including chemicals, cells and proteins) necessary for the elimination of microbes. It is therefore paramount that the immune system must develop mechanisms necessary to prevent destruction of the host it is designed to protect. A good example of such a mechanism is found in the subset of lymphocytes known as regulatory T cells (Tregs). There is unequivocal experimental evidence of the role of Tregs in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and self tolerance and aberrant Treg function has been linked with several inflammatory diseases. Since sepsis is a disease marked by a hyper-inflammatory state, I investigated the possible role of Tregs in dampening sepsis-induced excessive inflammation. Using a murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion and bacterial infection, I show that Tregs are essential for survival during sepsis because their depletion leads to acute death to an otherwise non-lethal dose of LPS. This enhanced susceptibility to LPS following Treg depletion was also observed using live E. coli infection. Next, I probed the mechanism by which Tregs protect against LPS challenge. I found that defective Treg function leads to exaggerated activity of two immune cells – CD4+ effector T cells and neutrophils in response to LPS, leading to severe inflammatory response. Hence, this work successfully illustrates the critical role of Tregs in regulating other immune cells and the catastrophic consequences of defective Treg function during an immune response. Overall, this work highlights the significant role of Tregs in the regulation of bacteria associated inflammatory processes. The findings hold implications for the successful management of sepsis and have potential for use in development of adequate therapeutic intervention for sepsis.October 201

Investigating the impact of poverty on colonization and infection with drug-resistant organisms in humans: a systematic review

Background Poverty increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases and therefore exposure to antibiotics. Yet there is lacking evidence on the relationship between income and non-income dimensions of poverty and antimicrobial resistance. Investigating such relationship would strengthen antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Methods A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Ovid, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, PsychINFO, EBSCO, HMIC, and Web of Science databases were searched in October 2016. Prospective and retrospective studies reporting on income or non-income dimensions of poverty and their influence on colonisation or infection with antimicrobial-resistant organisms were retrieved. Study quality was assessed with the Integrated quality criteria for review of multiple study designs (ICROMS) tool. Results Nineteen articles were reviewed. Crowding and homelessness were associated with antimicrobial resistance in community and hospital patients. In high-income countries, low income was associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii resistance and a seven-fold higher infection rate. In low-income countries the findings on this relation were contradictory. Lack of education was linked to resistant S. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Two papers explored the relation between water and sanitation and antimicrobial resistance in low-income settings. Conclusions Despite methodological limitations, the results suggest that addressing social determinants of poverty worldwide remains a crucial yet neglected step towards preventing antimicrobial resistance

Cattle Marketing in Jos Metropolis of Plateau State, Nigeria

Efficient marketing system is a necessary prerequisite for the consolidation of the growth and development of cattle production industry. Hence this study was carried out to determine the profitability or otherwise of the cattle trading, the marketing efficiency and the problems confronting the traders in Jos metropolis of Plateau State Nigeria. Primary data was generated through focus group discussion technique. Questionnaire schedules were used to elicit further information from the cattle traders. The sample frame comprised all the traders in the markets from where 120 respondents were systematically selected. Marketing margin, profit margin and marketing efficiency models were used to analyze the data. Result show, that on average each respondent makes profit margin (monthly income) of ₦90450. The marketing margin is 15.5%. Analysis of the marketing efficiency also shows that it is inefficient (89%) as costs constitute a very high percentage of sales. Some of the trader’s problems include lack of basic market infrastructure, inadequate livestock inspection by the veterinary authorities, inadequate transport facilities and multiple taxation by legal and illegal entities. The study recommends the amelioration of these problems as it will go a long way in consolidating the growth already achieved in cattle production and marketing in the study area. Keywords: Cattle Marketing, Marketing Efficiency, Profit margin, Jos metropolis DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-14-04 Publication date:July 31st 201

English Pronunciation Errors: A Case Study of Amhara and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia

The main goal of this study is oral fluency, that is, the ability to express oneself intelligibly, reasonably, accurately and without too much hesitation without which communication breaks down. In pursuit of this intelligibility between speaker and hearer, the researchers observed through formal and informal settings to find out the deficiencies in the speeches of speakers from the two regions under study that calls for immediate attention. Efforts were made to highlight the pronunciation errors, give possible reasons why they may be occurring and provided plausible solutions. African Research Review Vol. 1 (2) 2007: pp. 160-17

Citizens' E-Participation at Local Municipal Government in South Africa

The emergence of the digital revolution has obligated governments all over the world to be more accessible, effective and accountable in the provision of public services. The South Africa government has implemented various Information and Communications Technology (ICT) enabled platforms in engaging citizens in decision-making, a resultant effect of high world E-government Development Index (EGDI) rating for the country. Irrespective of the rating, the citizens have resorted to public violence as a means of communicating about unsatisfactory service delivery issues. The South African government has continued to witness numerous service delivery protests, resulting in destruction of public property, injury and death of innocent citizens. This article therefore evaluates the application of e-participation in government decision-making, using a three-dimensional framework of e-enabling, e-engaging and e-empowering. The findings show that structural challenges exist that limit the achievement of the good intentions of e-participation. The article relies heavily on existing data and focuses at local municipal level, which is considered the closest point of contact between government and citizens

"Practical Knowledge" and Perceptions of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Among Drugsellers in Tanzanian Private Drugstores.

Studies indicate that antibiotics are sold against regulation and without prescription in private drugstores in rural Tanzania. The objective of the study was to explore and describe antibiotics sale and dispensing practices and link it to drugseller knowledge and perceptions of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Exit customers of private drugstores in eight districts were interviewed about the drugstore encounter and drugs bought. Drugsellers filled in a questionnaire with closed- and open-ended questions about antibiotics and resistance. Data were analyzed using mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. Of 350 interviewed exit customers, 24% had bought antibiotics. Thirty percent had seen a health worker before coming and almost all of these had a prescription. Antibiotics were dispensed mainly for cough, stomachache, genital complaints and diarrhea but not for malaria or headache. Dispensed drugs were assessed as relevant for the symptoms or disease presented in 83% of all cases and 51% for antibiotics specifically. Non-prescribed drugs were assessed as more relevant than the prescribed. The knowledge level of the drugseller was ranked as high or very high by 75% of the respondents. Seventy-five drugsellers from three districts participated. Seventy-nine percent stated that diseases caused by bacteria can be treated with antibiotics but 24% of these also said that antibiotics can be used for treating viral disease. Most (85%) said that STI can be treated with antibiotics while 1% said the same about headache, 4% general weakness and 3% 'all diseases'. Seventy-two percent had heard of antibiotic resistance. When describing what an antibiotic is, the respondents used six different kinds of keywords. Descriptions of what antibiotic resistance is and how it occurs were quite rational from a biomedical point of view with some exceptions. They gave rise to five categories and one theme: Perceiving antibiotic resistance based on practical experience. The drugsellers have considerable "practical knowledge" of antibiotics and a perception of antibiotic resistance based on practical experience. In the process of upgrading private drugstores and formalizing the sale of antibiotics from these outlets in resource-constrained settings, their "practical knowledge" as well as their perceptions must be taken into account in order to attain rational dispensing practices

Chemo-preventive Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Newbouldia laevis and Olax subscorpioidea Leaves on Methylnitrosourea–induced Stroma Fibrosis in Breast Tissues of Female Albino Rats

Breast cancer represents the most common neoplastic disease in females, accounting for up to one third of new diagnoses of women’s cancer in certain regions of the world. The chemo-preventive activity of ethanolic extracts of Newbouldia laevis and Olax subscorpioidea leaves on methylnitrosourea (MNU)–induced stroma fibrosis in female albino rats was evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out to identify and determine the quantity of bioactive compounds. Haematoxylin and Eosin staining procedure was used to assess breast tissues of experimental animals. Cancer antigen (CA) markers 15-3, 27-29 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the blood of experimental animals were evaluated using an automated procedure. Quantitative phytochemical screening showed that Olax subscorpioidea and Newbouldia laevis contained alkaloid in the highest amount. Histopathological assay revealed the presence of stromal fibrosis in the breast tissues of 8 out of 10 rats administered with NMU. Levels of CA 15-3, CA 27-29, CEA were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in MNU administered group in comparison to the negative control. Treatment with Olax subscorpioidea leave extract significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CA 15-3, CA 27-29 and CEA levels. However, treatment with Newbouldia laevis leave extract significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated CA 15-3 and CEA levels only. Findings from this study showed that ethanolic extracts of Olax subscorpioidea and Newbouldia laevis leaves have chemo-preventive activity in NMU-induced stroma fibrosis in the breast tissue of female albino rats. However more studies on the discovery and validation of bioactive components of the plants are needed

Compaction and consolidation characteristics of lateritic soil of a selected site in Ikole Ekiti, southwest Nigeria

The compaction and consolidation characteristics of lateritic soils in Ikole area of Ekiti State were investigated. The investigation was carried out through laboratory tests on disturbed and undisturbed soil samples obtained from three borings (BH1, BH2, and BH3) of Holy Apostolic Nursery/Primary School, Ootunja, Ikole Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Ekiti State Southwest, Nigeria. The soils are all lateritic and mostly fine-grained. Compaction tests indicate maximum dry densities of 2.05Mgm-3, 1.78Mgm-3, and 1.69Mgm-3 at optimum moisture contents of 14.3%, 20.7% and 19.6% for soil samples obtained from BH1, BH2 and BH3 respectively. Compression indices (Cc) obtained from oedometer tests are 0.04816, 0.03820 and 0.04318 while the calculated coefficients of volume compressibility (mv), are 1.308*10-4, 1.065*10-4 and 1.093*10-4 m2kN-1 for samples in BH1, BH2 and BH3 respectively. The unsoaked California Bearing Ratio (CBR) value at 2.5 mm penetration ranges from 42.10% to 92.40% and CBR value at 5.0 mm penetration ranges from 52.70 to 89.10% indicative of good materials for road subgrade, sub-base and base courses.Keywords: Compaction, Consolidation, CBR, Southwest Nigeria