All Articles

Disability and Health Outcomes – From a Cohort of People on Long Term ART

Abstract:

HIV and AIDS remains a major health problem in South Africa even after two decades since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy. Long term survival with HIV is associated with new health related issues and a risk of functional limitation/disability. The aim of this study was to assess the impact and predictors of functional limitation associated with HIV/AIDS among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in South Africa.

This study is a cross-sectional survey using a cohort in an urban area in Gauteng province South Africa. Questionnaires that were interview administered were used to collect information on demographics, disability, mental and physical health state, adherence and livelihood.

A total of 1044 participants with an average age of 42±12 years, were included in the study and 51.9% of the participants reported functional limitation (WHODAS ≥ 2). These were reported mainly in the participation (40.2%) and mobility domains (38.7%...

Ketamine-Based Treatment of MDD: A Biologist’s Perspective

Abstract:

Ketamine’s potential as a fast-acting reagent to treat MDD, especially treatment-resistant depression has caught much attention recently. Although much has been learned about the biological mechanisms underlying ketamine’s effect, there are a few critical issues remained to be resolved. This mini review will briefly discuss several controversial issues that warrant further studies, regarding the molecular, physiological, psychopharmacological, and behavioral effects of ketamine. Understand how ketamine works as an anti-depressant will open the door to better understanding of MDD and its treatment.

The Psychosocial Factors that Influencing Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence

Abstract:

The socio-cultural context of illness has become a major research area, and it has made significant contributions to our understanding of the socio-cultural dimensions of illness. In this article, we briefly trace the roots of a socio-cultural approach to illness, and we present some of the key findings of socio-cultural organized under main themes. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy drugs in the treatment of HIV infection is complicated because of many psychosocial factors. The aim of the study was to investigate the psychosocial factors involved in non-compliance with ART among people infected with HIV in Alert Hospital in Ethiopia. To achieve its objective, the study utilized a qualitative method to gather direct, inductive and wealthy information from the participants. The study covered interviews with twenty participants. The participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. The collected data was categorized and analyzed thematically based on...

Identification of insulin-sensitive obese vs. insulin resistant obese postmenopausal women: Evaluation of surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity.

Abstract:

Obesity often coexists with insulin resistance, which is related to cardiometabolic risk. However, some obese individuals exhibit comparable insulin sensitivity (IS) to that of normal-weight subjects, a state associated with a reduced cardiometabolic risk. We aimed to determine the efficacy of a panel of surrogate markers of insulin sensitivity (IS) for the identification of insulin sensitive obese (ISO) vs. insulin resistant obese (IRO) with similar total fat mass (FM) and body mass index (BMI).

Dimerization of the BASIC PENTACYSTEINE Domain in Plant GAGA-Factors is Mediated by Disulfide Bonds and Required for DNA-Binding.

Abstract:

GAGA-binding proteins in plants are encoded by the BARLEY B-RECOMBINANT / BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BBR/BPC) family, which can be spilt into several groups on the basis of sequence divergence. The proteins of the different groups share an evolutionary conserved BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) domain at their very C-terminus that is important for DNA binding. Hallmark of this domain are five Cysteines at defined positions and spacing, which are considered to form a zinc-finger like structure that is involved in GAGA-motif recognition. Here, we report the formation of stabile homodimers between Arabidopsis thaliana group I member BPC1 or between group II member BPC6 in SDS-PAGE. Serial mutations of the highly conserved five Cysteines in the BPC domain of Arabidopsis thaliana BPC1 were tested for their capacity to bind to GAGA-motifs by DPI-ELISA. Our results do not support the idea of a direct involvement of these residues in making physical c...

Research Progress of the Functional Nucleic Acid Techniques in GMO Detection

Abstract:

Functional nucleic acids are a kind of nucleic acid sequences with special functions, which can specifically bind with the target substances or catalyze the reactions. Many target, including mycotoxins, small RNA, heavy metal ions and DNA segment, can bind to particular selected oligonucleotides, and then realized the detection. The uses of functional nucleic acids to detect the genetically modified organism (GMO) have been pursued using different approaches. Meanwhile, the flanking sequence, which was the most specific target in the GMO detection, was also usually separated with the help of functional nucleic acid. During the detection, the functional nucleic acid provided superior sensitivity, specificity and success rate compared with the traditional methods. In this report, we described different functional nucleic acids used in the GMO detection, they were classified based on their structures, and some of them were developed in our lab. The principle, structu...

Canine Periosteal Osteosarcoma

Abstract:

Periosteal osteosarcoma is an uncommon primary malignant bone tumor in dogs and humans. This type of tumor is one of the four variants of osteosarcoma. The main feature is a superficial lesion without evidence of bone marrow involvement. The treatment usually performed is limb amputation. There is insufficient data on long-term disease-free time, surgical resection or local recurrence in dogs. The present review aims to gather information on periosteal osteosarcoma in dogs

Non-Syndromic Multiple Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor: A Case Report

Abstract:

A Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor (KCOT) is a benign odontogenic lesion that is well-known for its histopathological features and invasive clinical behaviors. KCOTs may be non-syndromic or syndromic, and the syndromic type presents a higher risk of recurrence and invasive behaviors. Non-syndromic KCOTs are uncommon and account for only 5% of the cases. The purpose of the present case report is to conduct clinical, radiographic and pathologic evaluations and treat a 37-year-old man with non-syndromic nevoid basal cell carcinoma. Syndromic and non-syndromic keratocysts present more invasive behaviors than the solitary type. The initial symptoms of syndromic keratocysts appear as multiple keratocysts of the mandible and maxilla that are diagnosed by a dentist; as a result, the diagnosis and treatment of the disease is very crucial.

Compliance to Company Based Colorectal Cancer Screening in Germany using Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) - Results of Almost Half a Million FIT Tests

Abstract:

Despite the existence of the statutory early cancer detection program in Germany and the removal of financial barriers, which is frequently reported in the literature to be the main obstacle in screening, uptake of colorectal cancer screening remains quite low. The campaign for colorectal cancer screening in German companies reported in this article started in 2010. It was initiated because of the low compliance with opportunistic public colorectal cancer screening efforts. Its goal is to improve participation by offering an organized screening program using a simple test (FIT).

Psychosocial Predictors of Sexual Abstinence among Senior Secondary School Students in an Urban Setting in the Southwest Region of Cameroon

Abstract:

In the absence of a cure for HIV and AIDS, prevention remains the most effective strategy to eliminate the pandemic. Abstinence from sexual intercourse is, therefore, the primary prevention weapon among unmarried adolescents and young adults, especially the school-going ones. This study uses the main constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM), as the theoretical framework to investigate the psychosocial predictors of sexual abstinence among senior secondary school students in an urban setting in the Southwest region of Cameroon