Magnitude of opportunistic infections and associated factors among HIV-infected individuals attending care and treatment clinics in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the magnitude of opportunistic infection (OI) and to identify factors associated with OIs among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART), attending HIV care and treatment clinics.

Design: A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: The study was conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital, Mwananyamala and Temeke Regional Referral Hospitals, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Burden and risk factors for Schistosoma mansoni infection among primary school children: A quantitative school-based cross-sectional survey in Busega district, Northern Tanzania.

Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis is one of the most common neglected tropical diseases in Tanzania. Despite massive praziquantel administration, data from Northern Tanzania have reported a prevalence of up to 93.2%.

Heterophynone and methyl ester of Colic acid, two new compounds with antimicrobial activity from (Sterculiaceae).

The ethyl acetate fraction, the stem bark and the residual methanolic extracts from the leaves of (Sterculiaceae) led to the isolation of two new compounds: Heterophynone () and methyl ester of Colic acid (), along with four known triterpenes: betulinic acid (), oleanolic acid (), ursolic acid () and chletric acid (). Structures of compounds were established by different spectroscopic methods that included 1D and 2D NMR experiment. The antimicrobial activity of isolated compounds was evaluated against two yeasts, NR 29456 and 1415; and five Gram-positive bacterial, , NR 46003, NR46374 and HM 601).

Agmatine protects against sodium valproate-induced hepatic injury in mice via modulation of nuclear factor-κB/inducible nitric oxide synthetase pathway.

Valproate is a widely used drug against epilepsy and several other neurological disorders although it has deleterious hepatotoxic side effects. The current study was designed to test if agmatine as nitric oxide modulator has protective effects against valproate-induced hepatic injury. Male Swiss albino mice were treated with sodium valproate (SVP) with or without agmatine for 7 days.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism and susceptibility to CAP in Egyptian children: a multicenter study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of child deaths around the world. Recently, the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has emerged as a susceptibility gene for CAP.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of the VDR gene Fok I polymorphism with susceptibility to CAP in Egyptian children.

Emerging role of nutrition and the non-coding landscape in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A review of literature.

With the advent of recent advances in molecular techniques and whole genome sequencing, we have come to know that the non-coding landscape (including non-coding RNAs, tRNAs and even telomeres) plays a major role in the regulation of cellular processes. Furthermore, the deregulation of this landscape has been found to contribute to and even bring about the pathogenesis of a large number of diseases. One of such diseases is diabetes mellitus (type 2 specifically) whose incidence rate and global burden is constantly increasing.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism in Egyptian children with CAP: A case-control study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is a potential candidate gene for CAP risk.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism (rs4340) could be a genetic marker for CAP susceptibility in Egyptian children, and we also measured the serum ACE level to assess its relation to such polymorphism.

Vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism in Egyptian children and adolescents with SLE: A case-control study.

Background Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a lifelong autoimmune disorder. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene is a potential candidate gene for cSLE susceptibility. In this study, we aimed to investigate the FokI polymorphism in the VDR gene in Egyptian children and adolescents with SLE, to determine whether this polymorphism could be a genetic marker for cSLE susceptibility or disease activity and we also measured the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) D] to assess its relation to such polymorphism.

Interleukin-1β and interleukin-1receptor antagonist polymorphisms in Egyptian children with febrile seizures: A case-control study.

Febrile seizure is the most common seizure disorder of childhood. Of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 is defined as the first endogenous pyrogen.We designed this study to investigate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) situated at positions -31 (C/T), and -511 (C/T) of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) gene promoter and interleukin-1receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) gene variable number of tandem repeats in intron 2 (VNTR); to determine whether these polymorphisms could be a marker of susceptibility to febrile seizures in Egyptian children and we also measured the serum level of IL-1β to assess its relation to such polymorphisms.

Association of IL-10 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Egyptian children and adolescents: a case-control study.

Background: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic arthritis in children worldwide. Among anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a key immunosuppressive cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of JIA. To date, only a few studies concerned the association of interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms with JIA.

Vitamin D receptor gene BsmI polymorphisms in Egyptian children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case-control study.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene is a candidate gene for susceptibility to autoimmune disorders. To date, only a few studies concerned the association of the VDR gene polymorphisms with childhood-onset SLE.

Interleukin-10 -1082 G/A gene polymorphisms in Egyptian children with CAP: A case-control study.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of CAP. To date, only a few studies concerned the association of interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms with CAP.

Detection of residual oil-sand-derived organic material in developing soils of reclamation sites by ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry.

The reconstruction of disturbed landscapes back to working ecosystems is an issue of increasing importance for the oil sand areas in Alberta, Canada. In this context, the fate of oil-sand-derived organic material in the tailings sands used for reclamation is of utmost environmental importance. Here we use electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry of maltene fractions to identify compositional variations over a complete oil sand mining and recultivation process chain.

Tracing biogeochemical and microbial variability over a complete oil sand mining and recultivation process.

Recultivation of disturbed oil sand mining areas is an issue of increasing importance. Nevertheless only little is known about the fate of organic matter, cell abundances and microbial community structures during oil sand processing, tailings management and initial soil development on reclamation sites. Thus the focus of this work is on biogeochemical changes of mined oil sands through the entire process chain until its use as substratum for newly developing soils on reclamation sites.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and severe acute respiratory distress secondary to Legionella: 10 year experience.

Legionella-associated respiratory failure has a high mortality, despite modern ventilation modalities. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to achieve gas exchange independent of pulmonary function in patients with severe respiratory failure. This was a retrospective review of the management and outcome of patients with Legionella-associated respiratory failure treated with ECMO support in a large ECMO center over the past 10 years.

Referral to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center and mortality among patients with severe 2009 influenza A(H1N1).

Context: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can support gas exchange in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but its role has remained controversial. ECMO was used to treat patients with ARDS during the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic.

Objective: To compare the hospital mortality of patients with H1N1-related ARDS referred, accepted, and transferred for ECMO with matched patients who were not referred for ECMO.

Panton-Valentine leukocidin expressing Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia managed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: experience and outcome.

Objective: Panton-Valentine leukocidin expressing Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia, an infection that affects predominantly young people, has a mortality rate of > 70% despite aggressive conventional management. Little information is available on the management of patients with Panton-Valentine leukocidin expressing S. aureus pneumonia with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support.

Primary benign bronchial schwannoma presenting as asthma.

Recurrent wheezing in children is frequently due to asthma and responds to bronchodilator therapy. We report a case of a 13-year old boy with a 2-year history of presumed asthma not responding to bronchodilator therapy. Bronchoscopy revealed a right main bronchus tumor, which was diagnosed as bronchial schwannoma after resection by sleeve lobectomy.

Nanowire and nanotube transistors for lab-on-a-chip applications.

Implementation of one-dimensional nanostructure-based devices in the lab-on-a-chip framework can allow us to impart various functionalities such as highly-sensitive sensors to a single chip. However, it is still extremely difficult to position nanowires or nanotubes on a defined area of solid substrates to build integrated functional devices. Herein, we review promising strategies for the massive integration of nanowires/nanotubes on lab-on-a-chip and their practical applications to sensors.

Outcomes associated with cesarean section versus vaginal breech delivery at a university hospital.

Objective: To determine whether vaginal breech delivery is associated with increased morbidity in term breech singletons using strict selection criteria. This study encompasses our previous studies (in 1987 and 1995) and extends our experience to 21 years.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study from 1980 to 2001 including term, non-anomalous singleton breech deliveries selected by strict criteria.

The use of seat belt by motor vehicle occupants in South Africa.

Objective: The purpose of this article was to examine the use of seat belt by motor vehicle users in the various provinces in South Africa.

Methods: Data were abstracted from published reports of the national Department of Transport. Percentage distribution and correlation of road safety variables and seat belt wearing rates for motor vehicle users were calculated for the different provinces.