The spatial distribution of biomes has changed considerably over deep time, so the geographical opportunity for an evolutionary lineage to shift into a new biome depends on how the availability and connectivity of biomes has varied temporally. To better understand how lineages shift between biomes in space and time, we developed a phylogenetic biome shift model in which each lineage shifts between biomes and disperses between regions at rates that depend on the lineage's biome affinity and location...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Populations often exhibit genetic diversity in traits involved in responses to abiotic stressors, but what maintains this diversity is unclear. Arabidopsis thaliana exhibits high within-population variation in drought response. One hypothesis is that competitive context, varying at small scales, promotes diversity in resource use strategies. However, little is known about natural variation in competition effects on Arabidopsis physiology. We imposed drought and competition treatments on diverse genotypes....
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Most of plant species have mycorrhizas, which can be classified in four types: Arbuscular (AM), Ecto (EM), Orchid (OM) and Ericoid Mycorrhiza (ER). Since the AM ancestral state, some plant lineages have switched partner (EM, OM and ER) or lost the association (NM). Evolutionary transitions to a novel mycorrhizal state (MS) might allow plant lineages to access new resources, enhancing diversification rates. However, some clades are not restricted to one MS, and this variability might promote diversification....
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Human-altered environments can shape the evolution of organisms. Fungi are no exception, though little is known about how they withstand anthropogenic pollution. Here, we document incipient polygenic local adaptation in the mycorrhizal fungus Suillus luteus driven by recent soil heavy metal contamination. Genome scans across individuals from recently polluted and nearby unpolluted soils in Belgium revealed no evidence of population structure but detected allelic divergence and gene copy number variation...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Enzymes can evolve new catalytic activity when their environments change to present them with novel substrates. Despite this seemingly straightforward relationship, factors other than the direct catalytic target can also impact enzyme adaptation. Here, we characterize the adaptive landscape separating an ancestral dihydrocoumarin hydrolase from a methyl parathion hydrolase descendant under eight different environments supplemented with alternative divalent metals. This variation shifts an evolutionary...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Resolution of the Tree of Life has accelerated with advances in DNA sequencing technology. To achieve dense sampling, it is often necessary to obtain DNA from historical museum specimens to supplement modern genetic samples. However, DNA from historical material is generally degraded and fragmented, which presents various challenges. In this study, we evaluated how the read depth at variant sites and missing data among historical and modern sample types impacts phylogenomic inference. We explored...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Microbes cooperate in many ways, but it is unclear to what extent they also have adaptations to detect and exploit unrelated social partners. Experimental data often cannot discriminate between social exploitation caused by complex adaptive traits and exploitation caused by simple deleterious mutations. Here we demonstrate facultative social exploitation among Myxococcus bacteria due to simple non-responsive local competition. We show that the time dynamics of developmental exploitation by a tan...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Cells in multicellular organisms are genetically heterogeneous owing to somatic mutations. The accumulation of somatic genetic variation in species undergoing asexual (or clonal) reproduction (termed modular species) may lead to phenotypic heterogeneity among modules. However, abundance and dynamics of somatic genetic variation under clonal growth, a widespread life history in nature, remain poorly understood. Here we show that branching events in a seagrass clone or genet leads to population bottlenecks...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
The extent to which evolutionary transitions are shaped by developmental bias remains poorly understood. Classically, morphological variation is assumed to be abundant and continuous, but if morphogenesis biases how traits vary than evolutionary transitions might follow somewhat predictable steps. Compared to other anatomical structures, teeth have an exceptional fossil record which documents striking evolutionary trajectories toward complexity. Using computer simulations of tooth morphogenesis,...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Interactions among microbial cells can generate new chemistries and functions, but exploitation requires establishment of communities that reliably recapitulate community-level phenotypes. Using mechanistic mathematical models, we show how simple manipulations to population structure can exogenously impose Darwinian-like properties on communities. Such imposition causes communities to participate directly in the process of evolution by natural selection and drives the evolution of cell-level interactions...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
The recent years have seen a growing number of studies investigating evolutionary questions using ancient DNA techniques and temporal samples of DNA. To address these questions, one of the most frequently-used algorithm is based on principal component analysis (PCA). When PCA is applied to temporal samples, the sample dates are, however, ignored during analysis, which could lead to some misinterpretations of the results. Here we introduce a new factor analysis (FA) method for which individual scores...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Since its inception in 1973 the slightly deleterious model of molecular evolution, aka the Nearly Neutral Theory of molecular evolution, remains a central model to explain the main patterns of DNA polymorphism in natural populations. This is not to say that the quantitative fit to data is perfect. In a recent study CO_SCPLOWASTELLANOC_SCPLOW et al. (2018) used polymorphism data from D. melanogaster to test whether, as predicted by the Nearly Neutral Theory, the proportion of effectively neutral mutations...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Selection of mutants in a microbial population depends on multiple cellular traits. In serial-dilution evolution experiments, three key traits are the lag time when transitioning from starvation to growth, the exponential growth rate, and the yield (number of cells per unit resource). Here we investigate how these traits evolve in laboratory evolution experiments using a minimal model of population dynamics, where the only interaction between cells is competition for a single limiting resource. We...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Life-history traits vary largely across species and several physiological parameters have been proposed to be associated with life-history variation, such as metabolic rates, glucocorticoids, and oxidative stress. Interestingly, the association between thyroid hormones (THs) and life history variation has never been considered, despite a close interaction between THs and these physiological traits. Because of the crucial effects on embryonic development, THs can also induce transgenerational plasticity...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify parameters which are related to speech recognition in quiet and in noise of cochlear implant (CI) users. These parameters may be important to improve current fitting practices. Design: Adult CI users who visited the Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, for their annual follow-up between January 2015 and December 2017 were retrospectively identified. After applying inclusion criteria, the final study population consisted of 138 postlingually...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 02:00
Objectives: Cognitive load (CL) impairs listeners’ ability to comprehend sentences, recognize words, and identify speech sounds. Recent findings suggest that this effect originates in a disruption of low-level perception of acoustic details. Here, we attempted to quantify such a disruption by measuring the effect of CL (a two-back task) on pure-tone audiometry (PTA) thresholds. We also asked whether the effect of CL on PTA was greater in older adults, on account of their reduced ability to divide...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 02:00
Objectives: Cochlear implants (CIs) are considered a safe and effective intervention for more severe degrees of hearing loss in adults of all ages. Although older CI users ≥65 years of age can obtain large benefits in speech understanding from a CI, there is a growing body of literature suggesting that older CI users may not perform as well as younger CI users. One reason for this potential age-related limitation could be that default CI stimulation settings are not optimal for older CI users....
Tue Nov 05, 2019 02:00
Gender differences in asthma perception and control have been reported. The PROXIMA observational study assessed these outcomes in a cohort of Italian severe allergic asthma (SAA) patients. This post hoc analy...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 08 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12742-0The proximal femur is key for understanding locomotion in primates. Here, the authors analyze the evolution of the proximal femur in catarrhines, including a new Aegyptopithecus fossil, and suggest that Old World monkeys and hominoids diverged from an ancestral state similar to Aegyptopithecus.
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Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13125-1The polarisome is a dynamic protein complex that nucleates F-actin for polarized yeast growth, but its regulation is unclear. Here, the authors report that the polarisome protein Aip5 undergoes Spa2-mediated phase separation in physiological and stress conditions, potentially for regulating actin assembly.
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12846-7Predicting the drug response of patients with cancer is crucial for implementing targeted therapy. Here, Su et al. make patient-derived cell lines and perform targeted sequencing and RNA-seq to identify CDKN2A/2B loss as a predictor of response to CDK4/6 inhibitors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12836-9DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a major role in the DNA damage response upon double-strand break formation. Here, the authors show that the DNA-PK inhibitor AZD7648, enhances the activity of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and the PARP inhibitor olaparib in multiple mouse tumour models.
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13077-6Though light-driven self-oscillators offer the possibility of autonomous self-sustained motion, existing oscillators are limited in their range of oscillation modes. Here, the authors report freestyle cantilever-type photoactuators that show versatile oscillation modes.
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12954-4Genome-wide mapping of chromatin interactions reveals various levels of 3D genome organization. Here, the authors develop SNIPER, a computational method for identifying subcompartments using Hi-C data with moderate coverage.
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13002-xTP53 mutations can cause increased risk for cancers. Here, the authors show a noncoding polymorphism in TP53 increases risk of some cancers but delays onset of others, and in a mouse model show this is via alteration of microRNA targeting sites that differ in impact depending on the tissue.
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13019-2Mycorrhizas—mutualistic relationships formed between fungi and most plant species—are functionally linked to soil carbon stocks. Here the authors map the global distribution of mycorrhizal plants and quantify links between mycorrhizal vegetation patterns and terrestrial carbon stocks.
Thu Nov 07, 2019 02:00
Nature Communications, Published online: 07 November 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13026-3The mammalian vertebral column has become more complex over evolutionary time. Here, Jones and colleagues use phylogenetic modelling to show that this complexity increased in stepwise shifts likely driven by adaptations for increased aerobic capacity.
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Abstract Background Most sleep bruxism (SB) episodes are accompanied by an increase in sympathetic tone and heart rate (HR). Objectives To characterize heart rate (HR) changes in relation to rhythmic masticatory muscle activities (RMMAs) in SB patients. Methods Polysomnographic recordings were performed on 10 SB patients and 11 normal controls. The duration of movement events, amplitude and duration of HR increases, and time to reach HR peak associated with RMMAs and limb movements...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 17:49
Abstract Background Preserving sufficient oral function and maintaining proper nutrition are essential to prevent frailty. Thus, we have developed “munchy” foods that contain harder textures and are rich in protein. Objectives This study aimed to test the effects of masticating textured foods on masticatory muscle activity in young and older adults. Methods Twenty young and 32 community‐dwelling older individuals participated in this study. After measuring oral function, we subdivided...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 14:51
J Neurol Surg BDOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400219 Objectives Transcanal endoscopic operative approaches provide for a minimally invasive surgical portal to the lateral skull base. Traditional preoperative imaging evaluation involves computed tomography (CT) acquisition in the axial and coronal planes that are not optimized for the transcanal surgical corridor. Herein, we describe a novel CT-based “transcanal view” for preoperative surgical planning and intraoperative navigation. Study...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 01:00
Exp Clin Endocrinol DiabetesDOI: 10.1055/a-1022-1554The thyroid hormone metabolite 3-iodothyronamine (3-T1AM) exerts diverse physiological reactions such as a decrease of body temperature, and negative inotropic and chronotropic effects. This observed pleomorphic effect in physiology can be barely explained by interaction with only one target protein such as the trace-amine receptor 1 (TAAR1), a class A G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR). Moreover, Taar1 knock-out mice still react to 3-T1AM through...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 01:00
Exp Clin Endocrinol DiabetesDOI: 10.1055/a-1022-9916Deiodinases catalyze the specific removal of iodine atoms from one of the two iodinated phenyl rings in iodothyronines. They thereby fine-regulate local thyroid hormone concentrations in organs or cells. The chemical reaction is unique in the sense that in metazoans the reductive elimination of iodide depends on the rare amino acid selenocysteine in the enzymes’ active centers. While there is no prokaryotic homologue of such deiodinases, the solution...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 01:00
Exp Clin Endocrinol DiabetesDOI: 10.1055/a-1027-6620 Objective We investigated direct effects of a therapeutic growth hormone dose on lipolysis, glucose and amino acid metabolism. Methods This crossover microdialysis trial involved six healthy male volunteers receiving single subcutaneous injections of both growth hormone (0.035 mg/kg) and placebo (0.9% sodium chloride). The investigation comprised three test days with standard diet. The first day served for adaptation, the second and third one...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 01:00
Exp Clin Endocrinol DiabetesDOI: 10.1055/a-1027-6472 Context Recent studies support a bidirectional interaction between aldosterone and parathyroid hormone (PTH), possibly increasing the individual cardiovascular risk. Primary aldosteronism (PA) and primary hyperparathyroidism can occur simultaneously. Objective Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of hyperparathyroidism in PA. Patients We performed a case finding of primary hyperparathyroidism in a retrospective series of 503 patients with...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 01:00
Exp Clin Endocrinol DiabetesDOI: 10.1055/a-1020-5354Thyroid hormones are essential for the full thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue. The thermogenic response of brown adipocytes to thyroid hormones is resulting from the synergistic interaction of thyroid hormones with the sympathetic nervous system. In recent years, evidence has been provided that thyroid hormones also induce the browning of white adipose tissues. This review will provide a brief overview about the recent findings regarding...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 01:00
Background: Inorganic contamination of food products is associated with adverse health effects, however, information on grasshoppers in Africa is sparse. The objective of the study was to determine antioxidant, heavy metal and food safety status of edible grasshoppers of Uganda.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in central and southwestern Uganda, in which a questionnaire was administered to grasshopper harvesters. Grasshopper samples were collected from each harvesting point and analyzed...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Begging and destitution constitute serious health and social problems in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the trainability of beggars and the destitute in Abakaliki Nigeria in order to provide scientific evidence required for the development of a policy on their health, vocational rehabilitation and social reintegration.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey of 50 purposively selected beggars and destitute...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Conventional ultrasonography is a method preferred for the investigation of chronic liver diseases in pediatric groups, as it is non-invasive, cheap, feasible and available. The purpose of this study is to present the role of Share-wave Elastography (SWE) in terms of diagnostic value in children diagnosed with “chronic liver disease.”Methods: We studied patients who had been diagnosed with chronic liver disease between March 2012-September 2015, and who had undergone liver biopsy and...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Spinal anaesthesia is an effective regional anaesthesia technique, which is preferred in almost 86% of caesarean sections in the United States and United Kingdom. Eighty percent of caesarean sections done at the Aga Khan University hospital are under spinal anaesthesia. Shivering is a common complication of spinal anaesthesia, it occurs in 40%-64% of patients after neuraxial anaesthesia. Shivering may cause maternal and fetal hypoxemia, maternal discomfort and a problem to the anaesthesiologists...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Micronutrient deficiency is recognized in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) but it is not known for certain whether changes in zinc, copper and copper-to-zinc ratio are associated with Sickle cell disease severity scores. Objective: To compare serum levels of copper, zinc and copper-to-zinc ratio in SCA subjects with control group and correlate the variables with objective disease severity scores. Methods: Serum copper and zinc were determined in 100 SCA patients and 50 controls using kits supplied...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Objectives: The main aim of this study was to compare, by a new automated colorimetric method, oxidant and anti-oxidant status of those who fast during Ramadan and those who do not. For this purpose, total oxidant status (TOS), total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC) levels and oxidative stress index (OSI) were analysed. By doing this, we hope to examine whether fasting has any beneficial effect on human health.Materials and methods: Fifty seven people were included in this study. Of these,...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Community health workers (CHWs) continue to play a crucial role in supporting health service delivery globally. Several CHW programmes around the world face vast challenges which affect their performance.Objectives: This study assessed the performance of CHWs and associated factors in a rural community in Wakiso district, Uganda.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that employed a structured questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 201 CHWs in Wakiso district. The main study...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Objective: To explore maternal experience following caesarean section.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional prospective study involving 250 women.Results: The mean age of the study population was 27.2 ± 5.5 years with fifty-three per cent (53.1%) of the women between the ages of 20-29 years. Majority of the participants (67.1%) were multiparous and 37.4% of the parturient had secondary school education. The majority (67.1%) were in social class 3-5. Emergency caesarean section accounted for 74.5%...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Despite the use of research incentives in the recruitment and retention of participants for research studies, there remains debate over the acceptable use of participant incentives in research. There appears to be a paucity of guidelines that can assist researchers in demonstrating practically how incentives may be ethically used in research.Objective: This single site pilot study explored the experiences of key stakeholders involved in rehabilitation research to highlight what may constitute...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Reconstruction of mandibular defects can be challenging because an acceptable aesthetic and functional outcome must be achieved simultaneously.Aim: To evaluate the pattern of mandibulectomy and reconstruction materials used in the reconstruction of mandibular defects.Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study of mandibulectomies with reconstruction in Sokoto, Nigeria between 2012 and 2016. Data such as demographics, type of tumour, type of resection and type of reconstruction...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: A clinical feeding assessment instrument to assist with early identification of oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) in neonates was developed.Objective: To investigate the validity and reliability of the Neonatal Feeding Assessment Scale (NFAS) in comparison to the modified barium swallow study (MBSS) as gold standard.Method: A within-subject design was implemented. A group of 48 late premature neonates (mean gestational age 35.5 weeks) were sampled in the neonatal intensive care unit.Results:...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: The clinical presentation of sphenoid sinus meningoencephaloceles (MEC) may have insidious onset and evolution. Contemporary treatment incorporates endoscopic resection via the endonasal route.Case description: We present a case of 3 year old girl who had been complaining of permanent nasal discharge, impeded nasal breathing and difficulty with feeding since she was 5 months old. There was no history of rhinoliquorrhea. Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated MEC that extended...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: In epidemiological studies, several diseases share common risk factors or co-exist in their spatial prevalence. Disease mapping allows the health practitioners and epidemiologists to hypothesize the disease aetiology and gain better understanding of the geographical prevalence of the disease risks.Objective: This paper investigates the differences in small scale geographical variations and the underlying risk factors of child’s health outcomes (anemia, stunting and wasting) in Sub-Saharan...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: The use of drugs to attenuate the haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation is the standard of care during elective surgery. Current evidence is conflicting concerning the best agent and optimal dose for this purpose. In the majority of cases, fentanyl is widely utilized to attenuate haemodynamic responses. Ketamine, an established available drug, has been scarcely studied in this regard at low doses and against varying doses of other common agents.Objective: To...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Breastfeeding skills of full-term newborns and associated factors in a low-and-middle-income setting
Background: Normative information on the breastfeeding of term newborns may guide clinicians in early identification of breastfeeding difficulties and oro-pharyngeal dysphagia (OPD), and may support optimal breastfeeding practices. Objective: To describe breastfeeding skills of term newborn infants in a South African hospital, a lower-middle-income setting, and investigate associations between infants’ feeding and other factors.Method: One breastfeeding session of each of the 71 healthy newborn full-term...
Thu Nov 07, 2019 00:00
Background: Stress can be defined as an acute threat to the homeostasis of an organism, and in order to manage stress, and maintain stability, the allostatic systems activate an adaptive response. Stress has been shown to have both short - and long-term effects on the function of the gastrointestinal tract, but long-term exposure to stress is more likely to cause endocrine disorders.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the endocrine response to stress, and evaluate the relationship...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Objectives: To evaluate the associations between socio-demographic factors and the general knowledge, the attitudes and perceptions of women attending antenatal clinic at Greys Hospital regarding postpartum tubal ligation (BTL). Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study describing the perceptions about BTL in 241 pregnant women was conducted.Results: One hundred and sixty six (68.9%) participants needed to involve their partners before tubal ligation. Thirty five percent of 102 participants who...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Objectives: This is a cross sectional study conducted in order to determine sexual dysfunction in healthy women and risk factors.Patients and methods: The population of the study consisted of 282 women. The whole of the population, without sample selection, was included in the study. For data, questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index-FSFI, whose Turkish validity and reliability study was conducted, were used. Student t and chi-square significant tests and logistic regression analysis were used...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Anemia is a major public health problem in Morocco especially among vulnerable groups including pregnant women. Several studies have confirmed that anemia is associated with demographic, socioeconomic and cultural factors.Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the socioeconomic, cultural and demographic profile of a group of anemic pregnant women and to determine the conditions influencing the development of anemia in the Moroccan contextMethods: A retrospective cross-sectional...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: People with mental illness are at an increased risk for developing cardio-metabolic disorders. Routine screening following pharmacotherapy is however unacceptably low in sub-Saharan African countries with less than 1% adequately screened. It is unknown whether this is due to a lack of adequate competences.Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to assess the barriers, attitudes, confidence, and knowledge of nurses regarding metabolic health, prevention and treatment in Uganda.Methods:...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: In Uganda, most-at-riskpopulations(MARPs) such as fishing communities remain vulnerable to preventable HIV acquisition. Safe Male Circumcision (SMC) has been incorporated into Uganda’s HIV prevention strategies. This study aimed at determining SMC utilization and associated factors among adult men in a rural fishing community in Uganda.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural fishing village in central Uganda. Stratified random sampling of 369 fishermen aged 18-54 yearswas...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background:Erythrina variegata has been widely used as a traditional medicine.Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects of an extract from Erythrina variegata.Methods: The extract was evaluated for anxiolytic and anti-depressant action using the elevated plus maze, light/dark box, open field, forced swimming and tail suspension tests in mice. The mechanism of action was further elucidated using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Access to and utilisation of quality maternal and child healthcare services is generally recognized as the best way to reduce maternal and child mortality.Objectives: We evaluated whether the introduction of a voluntary family health insurance programme, combined with quality improvement of healthcare facilities [The Community Health Plan (TCHP)], and the introduction of free access to delivery services in all public facilities [Free Maternity Services programme (FMS)] increased antenatal...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Liraglutide has been shown to improve glucose tolerance and lose weight in individuals with type 2 diabetes. To date, no meta-analysis of liraglutide’s safety and efficacy in individuals without diabetes has been conducted.Objectives: The aim of this study is to carry out a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of liraglutide in the obese, non-diabetic individuals.Methods: A literature review was performed to identify all published randomised control trials (RCT) of liraglutide...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Drug-therapy problems(DTPs) among hypertensive patients can result in patient’s morbidity and mortality. The main aim of this study was to assess drug therapy problem and associated factors among <="" span="" style="font-family: hypertensive patients.Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted. The data was collected from patients’ medical charts and through interview. Drug therapy problem was categorized according to Cipolle methods of DTP classification. Thedata...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Postpartum depression and anxiety could cause poor mother-infant relationship that could impair infant growth and cognitive development. Psychiatric assessment has not been part of periodic evaluations in postnatal clinics. Some apparently well, but high-risk mothers continue to live with psychological distress, without treatment to relieve their burden.Objectives: The study assessed the prevalence of postpartum anxiety and depression, their co-morbidity, and socio-demographic predictors,...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Nowadays, among non-communicable diseases hypertension is a growing public health important disease both in developed and developing nations. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of hypertension in Amhara Regional State city and its’ surrounding rural districts, Ethiopia. Method: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban and rural communities living in Amhara Regional State city and its’ surrounding rural districts...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Adolescent early sexual debut as it relates with socio-demographic factors and depression of secondary school adolescents. During the adolescent stage, attitudes, values and behaviours that shape a young person's behavior in the future develop. Age of sexual debut is generally low, yet there is dearth of knowledge on sexuality in the area of this study-Nsukka Education zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. Objective: To determine the socio-demographic factors of early sexual debut and depression...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Chronic non-communicable diseases:- such as epilepsy, are increasingly recognized as public health problems in developing and African countries. This study aimed at finding determinants of the number of epileptic seizure attacks using different count data modeling techniques.Methods: Four common fixed-effects Poisson family models were reviewed to analyze the count data with a high proportion of zeros in longitudinal outcome, i.e., the number of seizure attacks in epilepsy patients. This...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Background: Supracondylar humeral fractures (SHFs) in children are associated with morbidity due to elbow stiffness. Timely operative management and/or physiotherapy are thought to reduce this complication, but pose challenges in settings with limited resources for health.Methods: This prospective cohort study included 45 pediatric patients with isolated SHF at a large tertiary hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Patients were managed non-operatively or operatively with varying wait times to surgery, with...
Wed Nov 06, 2019 00:00
Objective: To determine the correlation between superficial, and intra-operative specimens in diabetic foot infections (DFIs).Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in patients with DFIs hospitalized in a Tunisian teaching hospital. Superficial specimens were collected for all patients, and intra-operative specimens were collected in operated patients. The specimens were processed using standard microbiology techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to the...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Oral hypoglycemic agents use during pregnancy was assumed to cause fetal macrosomia and skeletal deformities, and maternal complications due to significant transfer across placenta or ineffective control of blood glucose.Objective: This study investigated effects of insulin, metformin and glibenclamide on maternal blood glucose; and fetal crown-rump length, gross malformation and pancreatic histology in pregnant streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: Twenty-five pregnant rats of...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Transcription factor 7-like 2 Protein (TCF7L2) has a strong role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Association between rs7903146 and T2D risk reported in some of populations. Also many loci such as UBE2Z rs46522 are affecting by TCF7L2 transcription factor have been found associated with T2D. The present study aimed to evaluate association of the SNPs with risk of T2D among our population.Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 150 T2D patients and 150...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers in Saudi Arabia that is highly characterized with poor survival rate and advanced metastasis. Many studies contribute this poor outcome to the expression of ABC transporters on the surface of cancer cells.Objectives: In this study, two ABCB1 variants, C3435T and T129C, were examined to evaluate their contribution to CRC risk.Methods: 125 subjects (62 CRC patients and 63 healthy controls) were involved. The DNA was isolated and...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Hookworm infection is a common parasitic infection in sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence of hookworm infection is influenced by different determinant factors. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hookworm infection and determinant factors among school age children in North West Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2016 to August 2016. Children were selected by systematic random sampling and Formoleether concentration technique was used to identify...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Categorization of endometrial carcinomas as type I and II provides useful insights into their different risk factors, pathogenesis and biologic behaviours.Aim: To determine the immunohistochemical classifications of endometrial carcinomas in Nigerian women.Design: A retrospective review of histopathologic slides of cases of endometrial carcinomas seen at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) over a 5-year period. The slides were reviewed, and the diagnoses made according to the...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Anti- malarial self-medication practice in Africa is very common. It is considered as an alternative way for people who cannot afford the cost of health care services. This study was conducted to assess the magnitude and factors associated with anti-malarial self-medication practice among residents of Kasulu Town Council.Materials and methods: The study was a descriptive cross sectional study. Two hundred and eighty consenting respondents were selected by systematic random sampling and...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are characterized by excessive production of blood cells. Treatment of MPNs patients has an important effect thereby reducing morbidity and mortality.Objective: To evaluate the effect of cytoreductive treatment on some hematological and biochemical parameters in MPNs patients treated at a hemato-oncology Centre in Erbil, Iraq.Methods: A total of 185 patients...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Introduction: Despite a significant decline in Senegal, malaria remains a burden in various parts of the country. Assessment of multiplicity of Plasmodium falciparum infection and genetic diversity of parasites population could help in monitoring of malaria control.Objective: To assess genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection in P. falciparum isolates from three areas in Senegal with different malaria transmissions. Methods: 136 blood samples were collected from patients with uncomplicated...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Neonatal Sepsis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates despite great advances in antimicrobial therapy and life support measures.Objectives: To compare the aetiology, risk factors, presentation and outcomes of care between early onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) and late onset neonatal sepsis (LOS).Methods: Bacterial isolates were identified using blood cultures and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using disc diffusion method. The risk factors, clinical presentation,...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Neopterin, a product of cell-mediated immunity, is a non-specific biomarker of inflammation. Plasma/serum is generally the body fluid of choice for neopterin assessment, but urine is often used as it does away with venepuncture. Analysis of urine neopterin is based on collection of a single urine sample and expressed as μmol neopterin/mol creatinine.Objectives: To examine published correlations between plasma neopterin levels and urine neopterin:creatinine ratios and to determine whether...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background & Objective: Echinococcosis is still a common health problem. The aim of this study was to discuss our 8-year data in terms of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cystic Echinococcosis.Methods: A total of 178 patients who had hydatid cyst were analyzed retrospectively from the hospital records. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst was based on clinical-serological and radiological findings. Treatment response was evaluated with clinical, radiological and serological findings.Results: A...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Odontogenic infections is a cause of mortality and morbidity in maxillofacial patients. This is largely due to resistance of organisms to antibiotics prescribed.Objectives: To isolate organisms involved in odontogenic infections and compare the sensitivity of the organisms to Ceftriaxone and Amoxicillin-Clavulanate.Methods: The causative organisms and antibiotic sensitivity were determined by the following steps: Aspiration of pus done with needle, sample of pus or exudate collected using...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: A cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Madinah Almonawra in KSA held during the period from March 2014-March 2015.Aim of the study: This study aimed at analyzing the effect of population dynamics on the current situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Al-Madinah Almonawarah area, a holy city that attracts millions of muslims annually.Methodology: Epidemiological and clinical data were collected by especial questionnaire and laboratory specimens were collected using skin scraping and needle...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) is increasingly becoming a clinically relevant organism due to the rising number of associated nosocomial infections. The therapeutic options are extremely minimal because of its ability to develop resistance to all available antimicrobials, including colistin (CST). Data on the clinical and microbiological characteristics of colistin-resistant A. baumannii infections remain scarce to date.Methods: In this prospective study, clinical isolates of colistin resistance...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: The term early onset neonatal septicaemia (EONS) refers to invasive bacterial infections that primarily involve the blood stream of neonates during the first 3 days of life. Although early onset neonatal septicaemia is relatively uncommon, it may be associated with case fatality rates of 15-30% and substantial morbidity in surviving infants.Objectives: This study describes an unusual septicaemia cases with Janthinobacterium lividum in neonatal Intensive Care Units.Methods: Bacterial causes...
Tue Nov 05, 2019 00:00
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are global public health problems. TB and HIV diagnostic services linkage is imperative for the fight against the two diseases.Objective: To assess the diagnostic service linkage and testing of TB-HIV diagnostic services and identify predictors in Public hospitals of Northern Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five hospitals of Northern Ethiopia. Study subjects’ socio-demographic, household and clinical variables...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Background: Despite blood transfusion being a lifesaving option, it may be associated with blood borne infections including human cytomegalovirus(HCMV). The World Health Organization recommends screening of blood products for HCMV before transfusion to pregnant women, neonates and immunocompromised patients. However, this is not routinely practised in many resource limited countries.Objective: This study aimed at determining seroprevalence of specific HCMV IgM antibodies among volunteered blood donors...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Background: The epidemiologic transition and double disease burden from chronic infections and Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide requires re-engineering of healthcare delivery systems. Healthcare workers (HCWs) need to adapt to new integrated disease management approaches and change from current disease-specific management. Objectives: The study aimed to determine HCWs knowledge, capacity and skills for management of NCDs among HIV patients and their attitudes towards integrated HIV/NCDs...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Background: In Indonesia, diarrhea is an endemic disease and often leads fatal and an outbreak potential. Diarrhea can occur for several days and often can be cured without any medication. Commonly, to treat diarrhea atthe first time is by doing self-medication. Basic health survey data in 2013 showed that 15.7% of Indonesian people kept and used traditional medicines (TM). Objective: This study was conducted to find out the characteristic of Indonesian people do for diarrhea self-medication. Method:...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Background: Herpes zoster can be associated with severe neurological complications.Case presentation: In this article, we describe the case of a 54-year-old man with herpes zoster affecting his right upper chest and neck region complicated by phrenic nerve palsy and respiratory compromise. The diagnosis of herpes zoster was made based on the classic appearance of the rash and associated neuropathic-type pain. The diagnosis of phrenic nerve palsy was made by chest x-ray and ultrasound.Conclusion:...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Background: Subsidizing the cost of medicines through insurance schemes increases consumption of medicines and may contribute to irrational use of antibiotics. Objectives: To describe the systemic antibiotics prescriptions patterns and analyze the determinants of their utilization in the National Health insurance Scheme (NHIS).Methods: Established WHO guideline was followed to conduct this cross-sectional retrospective study at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Data were collected...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Introduction: Late initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is associated with low immunologic response, increase morbidity, mortality and hospitalization. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with late ART initiation among adult HIV patients in NorthWest Ethiopia.Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 412 HIV patients who started ART between January/2009 and December/2014. Simple random sampling technique was used to select patient...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Background: Meningitis, is a potentially life-threatening condition that can rapidly progress to permanent brain damage, neurologic problems, and even death. Bacteria and viruses cause the great majority of meningitis disease in infants and children. CRP is used mainly as a marker of inflammation.Objective: This study was conducted to assess the diagnostic value of CSF-CRP levels for differentiating between septic (bacterial) and aseptic infantile meningitis.Methods: 49 hospitalized infants aged...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
Background: HIV and AIDS remains a pandemic that has greatly affected many regions and countries in the world. Africa is the hardest hit region by tthis disease while southern Africa appears to be the melting pot for HIV and AIDS. The HIV and AIDS pandemic remains the greatest sustainable human development and public health challenge for Swaziland. Swaziland is the world’s worst affected country with the youth the most vulnerable group to HIV and AIDS due to many factors.Objectives:’Methods: This...
Mon Nov 04, 2019 00:00
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