An application of the 2–D D.C. Resistivity method in Building Site Investigation – a case study: Southsouth Nigeria.

A 2-D D.C resistivity method was employed in the investigation of a building site in south- south Nigeria using the double-dipole technique. The aim was to establish the existence of a subsurface geologic structure in the study area. Two profiles were occupied and the resulting pseudosections delineated four distinct geologic layers. The first layer indicates the presence of clay; the second layer indicates the presence of highly weathered rock materials, the third layer indicate the presence of partly weathered/ fractured basement materials and the fourth layer constitute the fresh bedrock material. The presence of a geologic structure which is most probably a fracture was established and it was concluded to be a potential source of building failure in the site especially if the building is constructed across the geologic structure. Key words: Resistivity, Geologic structure, Building site, Failure

Formulation preference, tolerability and quality of life assessment following a switch from lopinavir/ritonavir soft gel capsule to tablet in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) tablet compared to the soft gel capsule (SGC) formulation has no oleic acid or sorbitol, has no refrigeration or food-restriction requirements, and has less pharmacokinetic variability. We compared the tolerability, quality of life (QoL), and formulation preference after switching from LPV/r SGC to the tablet formulation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a prospective, single-arm, cohort study-design, 74 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected subjects stable on LPV/r-based therapy were enrolled prior to (n = 25) or 8 weeks (n = 49) after switching from SGC to tablet. Baseline data included clinical laboratory tests, bowel habit survey (BHS) and QoL questionnaire (recalled if enrolled post-switch). Global Condition Improvement (GCI)-score, BHS-score, QoL-score, and formulation preference data were captured at weeks 4 and 12.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At week 12 post-enrollment; the tablet was preferred to the SGC (74% vs. 10%, p < 0.0001). GCI-overall-tolerability score was 2.46 ± 3.30 on a scale of -7 to +7, with 90% admitting to feeling better or about the same. Stool frequency, consistency, volume, and ± blood improved, however the improvement was significant in "consistency" only (p = 0.03). Aggregate Bowel Habit-Profile improved (BHS-score change = -0.227, p = 0.01). Inverse relationship existed between GCI and BHS (slope = -1.2, p = 0.02) at week-4, suggesting that improved overall-tolerability was related to better gastrointestinal (GI)-tolerance. QoL-scores were stable. Mean reductions in total cholesterol of 9.20 mg/dL (p = 0.02), in triglycerides of 33 mg/dL (p = 0.04), and in HDL of 4.50 mg/dL (p = 0.01) unrelated to lipid-lowering therapy, were observed at week 12.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>LPV/r-tablet was well tolerated and preferred to the SGC in HIV infected subjects, with stable QoL and appreciable improvement in GI-tolerability. The unexpected changes in lipid profile deserve further evaluation.</p

Differences in Nevirapine Biotransformation as a Factor for its Sex-Dependent Dimorphic Profile of Adverse Drug Reactions

OBJECTIVES: Nevirapine is widely used for the treatment of HIV-1 infection; however, its chronic use has been associated with severe liver and skin toxicity. Women are at increased risk for these toxic events, but the reasons for the sex-related differences are unclear. Disparities in the biotransformation of nevirapine and the generation of toxic metabolites between men and women might be the underlying cause. The present work aimed to explore sex differences in nevirapine biotransformation as a potential factor in nevirapine-induced toxicity. METHODS: All included subjects were adults who had been receiving 400 mg of nevirapine once daily for at least 1 month. Blood samples were collected and the levels of nevirapine and its phase I metabolites were quantified by HPLC. Anthropometric and clinical data, and nevirapine metabolite profiles, were assessed for sex-related differences. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients were included (63% were men). Body weight was lower in women (P = 0.028) and female sex was associated with higher alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.036) and lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.037) levels. The plasma concentrations of nevirapine (P = 0.030) and the metabolite 3-hydroxy-nevirapine (P = 0.035), as well as the proportions of the metabolites 12-hydroxy-nevirapine (P = 0.037) and 3-hydroxy-nevirapine (P = 0.001), were higher in women, when adjusted for body weight. CONCLUSIONS: There was a sex-dependent variation in nevirapine biotransformation, particularly in the generation of the 12-hydroxy-nevirapine and 3-hydroxy-nevirapine metabolites. These data are consistent with the sex-dependent formation of toxic reactive metabolites, which may contribute to the sex-dependent dimorphic profile of nevirapine toxicity

Cytomegalovirus-associated splenic infarcts in a female patient with Factor V Leiden mutation: a case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Perceived Neighborhood-Level Drivers of Food Insecurity Among Aging Women in the United States: A Qualitative Study

Background: Aging populations in the United States exhibit high rates of food insecurity and chronic illness. Few studies have explored the neighborhood-level drivers of food insecurity among such populations, and how they intersect with experiences of aging. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore how aging women experience food insecurity in the United States, and the neighborhood-level factors that influence these experiences. Design: Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted to elicit participants’ perceptions of how their neighborhood influenced their experiences with food security and aging. Participants/setting: Thirty-eight food-insecure women aged 50 years and older were purposively sampled from the Northern California, Georgia, and North Carolina sites of the Women's Interagency Human Immunodeficiency Virus Study. Interviews were conducted between November 2017 and July 2018 at the three Women's Interagency Human Immunodeficiency Virus Study sites. Statistical analysis: Three researchers thematically analyzed the data using an inductive–deductive approach. Results: Participants described neighborhood-level drivers of food insecurity that centered around three themes: accessibility of food from traditional food stores, the role of food aid institutions, and the intersection of aging with the food environment. Participants explained that food insecurity was related to limited access to food stores largely due to long distances and poor public transportation in Georgia and North Carolina, and high food prices in Northern California. Most participants described being dependent on food aid programs, but found this difficult due to poor quality food and long wait times. Aging-related issues emerged as a cross-cutting theme, with fatigue, poor strength, and chronic illness amplifying barriers to accessing food. Conclusions: Findings from this study reveal the structural barriers that aging women face in accessing healthy food within their neighborhoods, and how experiences with aging and chronic illnesses exacerbate these barriers. Although future programs should address common neighborhood-level barriers such as the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods, they should also be tailored to aging women and the local context

Trends of and factors associated with live-birth and abortion rates among HIV-positive and HIV-negative women

Little is known about fertility choices and pregnancy outcome rates among HIV-infected women in the current combination ART era

Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Rated Successful Aging Among Older Women Living With HIV

BACKGROUND: Despite marked gains in longevity attributable to antiretroviral therapy (ART), older women living with HIV (OWLH) experience substantial health challenges, and few studies addressed whether they can achieve successful aging (SA). This is among the first studies examining prevalence and psychosocial correlates of self-rated SA (SRSA) among OWLH and women at risk of HIV. METHODS: The sample included 386 OWLH and 137 HIV-seronegative women enrolled in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) who were aged 50 years and older and participated in the "From Surviving to Thriving" (FROST) substudy. The FROST survey included measures of SRSA and positive psychosocial constructs. RESULTS: Participants were on average 57 years (SD = 5.3), 74% African American and 30% unemployed. Among OWLH, 94% were on ART and 73% were virally suppressed. Compared with OWLH, a higher proportion of HIV-seronegative women had an annual income ≤ $6000, no health insurance, and reported lower optimism and health-related quality of life. We found no differences in SRSA prevalence by HIV status: 84% of OWLH and 83% of HIV-seronegative women reported SRSA ≥7 (range = 2-10, higher scores signify better SRSA). Having SRSA ≥7 was associated with higher levels of positive psychosocial characteristics (eg, resilience and optimism) among both OWLH and HIV-seronegative women. CONCLUSIONS: SRSA is achievable among older women with and at risk of HIV despite health complications. Among disadvantaged women, factors other than HIV may be primary drivers of SRSA. Future research is needed to examine determinants of SRSA and to design public health interventions enhancing SA within this population

Culturally-adapted and audio-technology assisted HIV/AIDS awareness and education program in rural Nigeria: a cohort study

Background: HIV-awareness programs tailored toward the needs of rural communities are needed. We sought to quantify change in HIV knowledge in three rural Nigerian villages following an integrated culturally adapted and technology assisted educational intervention. Methods: A prospective 14-week cohort study was designed to compare short-term changes in HIV knowledge between seminar-based education program and a novel program, which capitalized on the rural culture of small-group oral learning and was delivered by portable digital-audio technology. Results: Participants were mostly Moslem (99%), male (53.5%), with no formal education (55%). Baseline HIV knowledge was low (\u3c 80% correct answers for 9 of the 10 questions). Knowledge gain was higher (p \u3c 0.0001 for 8 of 10 questions) in the integrated culturally adapted and technology-facilitated (n = 511) compared with the seminar-based (n = 474) program. Conclusions: Baseline HIV-awareness was low. Culturally adapted, technology-assisted HIV education program is a feasible cost-effective method of raising HIV awareness among low-literacy rural communities

Association of Higher Intake of Plant-Based Foods and Protein With Slower Kidney Function Decline in Women With HIV

BackgroundWe investigated whether there exists an association between dietary acid load and kidney function decline in women living with HIV (WLWH) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).SettingOne thousand six hundred eight WLWH receiving ART in the WIHS cohort with available diet data and a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥15 mL/minute/1.73 m2.MethodsA brief dietary instrument conducted from 2013 to 2016 under the Food Insecurity Sub-Study was used for assessing fruits and vegetables (FV) and protein intake. A mixed-effects model with random intercept and slope was used to estimate subjects' annual decline rate in eGFR and the association between FV intake and eGFR decline, adjusting for sociodemographics, serum albumin, comorbidities, time on ART, ART drugs, HIV markers, and baseline eGFR. We evaluated whether markers of inflammation mediated the effect of FV intake on decline in eGFR, using causal mediation analysis.ResultsWe found a dose-response relationship for the association of FV intake and eGFR decline, with lesser annual decline in eGFR in the middle and highest tertiles of FV intake. An increase of 5 servings of FV intake per day was associated with a lower annual eGFR decline (-1.18 [-1.43, -0.94]). On average, 39% of the association between higher FV intake and slower eGFR decline was explained by decreased levels of inflammation.ConclusionsPlant-rich diet was associated with slower decline in kidney function. Inflammation is a potential path through which diet may affect kidney function. The findings support an emerging body of literature on the potential benefits of plant-rich diets for prevention of chronic kidney disease