All Articles

Identification and Expression Analysis of Fragaria Vesca MLO Genes Involved in Interaction with Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera Aphanis)

Abstract:

Strawberry powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaeraaphanis is a major fungal disease that affects strawberry yield and quality. In the model plant species Arabidopsis and the crop plants barley, tomato and pea, the Mildew resistance locus O (MLO) proteins have been found to be required for powdery mildew susceptibility. The present study, based on the sequence of a wild plum (Prunus americana) MLO protein, identified 16 MLO genes within the genome of woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca and examined their expression pattern in response to powdery mildew infection in three diploid strawberry cultivars. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the FvMLO genes can be classified into six clades. Four FvMLO genes were grouped into clade III, which comprises MLO genes from Arabidopsis Read Article

Evaluation of an External Quality Assessment Program for HIV Testing in Tigray North Ethiopia 2016

Abstract:

Point-of-care diagnostic tests (POCTs) are increasingly used in both developing and developed countries. They allow same day testing and treatment at remote locations where no laboratory support is available. Quality control measures, which are routinely used in laboratories, have not been widely implemented for POCTs. This aimed to assess the integrity of the entire laboratory testing process, and aims to educate and improve performance in quality of HIV rapid testing.

Mild Ovarian Stimulation has Similar Live Birth Rates as Compared with Hyper Stimulation for Treatment of Poor Responding IVF Patients of Advanced Maternal Age

Abstract:

The number of patients with poor ovarian response (POR) for in vitro fertilization (IVF) varies from 9 to 25%, especially high in patients of advanced maternal age. Although various stimulation protocols have been developed to improve clinical outcomes in patients with POR, a typical and effective protocol remains improvement. Some physicians prefer a mild stimulation protocol, while others like hyper stimulation protocol to obtain more eggs. This study was designed to compare the efficiency of a mild stimulation protocol with hyper stimulation protocol in patients with POR, particularly focused on live birth rate after IVF. Data were collected from 30 poor responders (over 39 years old). Patients were assigned to 2 protocols at the start of ovarian stimulation: Patients in group A were treated with a hyper stimulation (GnRH-antagonist) protocol and patients in group B were treated with a mild stimulation protocol. The ovarian stimulation characteristics, gonado...

The Socio-Demography, Clinical Characteristics and the Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among a Group of Elderly Hypertensive Patients Followed Up at A Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka.

Abstract:

Hypertension is one of the most prevalent risk factors for myocardial infarction, strokes, congestive cardiac failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD)and its prevalence is significantly higher inthe elderly population.

A Pilot Trial of Applying Geographic Information System Technology to Health System Strengthening in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract:

Despite widespread use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to strengthening health systems, the application of GIS to health systems strengthening in resource-poor Sub-Saharan Africa remains rare. Over the June 2012 to December 2013 period, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) conducted a pilot application of GIS to health systems development in one rural impoverished district of the Upper East Region (UER). Workers were deployed to gather coordinates of health care facilities throughout the UER. Coordinates were linked to routine health information data, and utilized to generate maps for guiding task prioritization. For example, geocoded Community-based Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program data were used to target services in communities where the prevalence of childhood acute malnutrition was relatively high. GIS was pivotal in tracking and responding to infectious disease morbidity from causes such as diarrheal diseases and tuberc...

Overcoming Recruitment Challenges for Securing a Survey Sample of Caregivers of Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions

Abstract:

This paper discusses the challenges in recruiting a diverse sample of caregivers of older adults with multiple chronic conditions in two Canadian provinces – Ontario and Alberta, as well as the successful strategies to overcome these challenges. Four strategies were employed to overcome the recruitment challenges experienced. These included: (1) using a multi-pronged recruitment strategy with persistence; (2) knowing the location of the sample in the community; (3) weekly reporting by team members primarily responsible for recruitment and data collection, and; (4) regular team meetings to build on successful recruitment strategies while troubleshooting new approaches. These four strategies complemented one another. The most effective strategies in Alberta (recruiting over 50% of participants) were newspaper advertisements and working with the Alberta Caregivers Association and the Alzheimer Society of Alberta/NWT. In Ontario, the most effective strategy was d...

The Cost of Acquiring Crossveinless-Ness in Waddington’s Assimilation

Abstract:

Neo-Darwinian natural selection theory indicates that sudden, drastic changes in the environment place selective pressure on genetic variants in a population. As time progresses, this pressure sculpts individuals to better fit this new environment. Waddington’s classic experiment was repeated using white-eyed (the w¹¹¹⁸strains) flies which produced the crossveinless (cve; disturbed wing crossveins) trait from the parent generation. The F1 generation was split into two selection lines: an Upward Selection Line, that produced more cve in successive generations, and a Downward Selection Line that responded with a consistent but non-linear decline in the percentage of crossveinless. This article will introduce and enlarge observations made on flies with cve; especially the manner in which the Waddington experiment impacts the population. It seems that Waddington evaluated crossveinless just by what it is good for, but not...

“I am not that sick”The use of Assistive Mobility Technologies among theElderly

Abstract:

The use of mobility assistive technologies in different contexts seem to give a great promise to potentially improve mobility, functionality, social interaction as well as performance of daily activities for the elderly. Unused wheelchairs and abandoned crutches however were a common scene in the homes of the elderly people during this study. This paper presents stories of three elderly people from a bigger study on aging and the use of assistive technologies, drawing attention to the need for proper understanding and appreciation of the context before assistive technologies are assigned especially in old age.

Minimal Risk Level Derivation for Cadmium: Acute and Intermediate Duration Exposures

Abstract:

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) lists cadmium as one of its priority hazardous substances. The agency conducted a comprehensive literature review of cadmium and used the information to develop a toxicological profile that identified the full range of health effects associated with exposure to cadmium. It included an assessment that identified screening levels, termed health guidance values or minimal risk levels (MRLs), below which adverse health effects are not expected. In this paper, we describe how MRLs for cadmium are derived. For the acute inhalation MRL, the traditional no observed adverse effect level or lowest observed adverse effect level (NOAEL/LOAEL) approach is used; for the oral intermediate MRL, the benchmark dose (BMD) approach is used. MRLs were developed for the most sensitive route-specific end points, other than mortality and cancer that were sufficiently supported and justified by the data. These included an acute ...

Comparative Study of Hypolipidemic Effects of Momordica Charantia (Karela) with Atorvastatin in Fat Fed Rats

Abstract:

Disorders of lipid metabolism are manifested by elevation of the plasma concentration of the various lipid and lipoprotein fractions and the result, predominantly cardiovascular diseases. Lipid research clinic’s coronary primary prevention trial has provided useful information on the reduction of plasma cholesterol level in hyperlipidemic subjects by diet and drug therapy and thus the reduction in risk of myocardial infarction and death. Conventional lipid lowering drugs are used for lowering lipid level. But in the last few years’ herbal drugs are gaining popularity in the management of hyperlipidemia. In this study we compare the hypolipidemic effect of MomordicaCharantia (MC) with atorvastatin, a commonly used hypolipidemic drug.