High-risk human papillomavirus HPV (HR-HPV) modifies cervical cancer risk in people living with HIV, yet African populations are under-represented. We aimed to compare the frequency, multiplicity and ...consanguinity of HR-HPVs in HIV-negative and HIV-positive Zimbabwean women.
This was a cross-sectional study consisting of women with histologically confirmed cervical cancer attending Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe. Information on HIV status was also collected for comparative analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted from 258 formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumour tissue samples, and analysed for 14 HR-HPV genotypes. Data was analysed using Graphpad Prism and STATA.
Forty-five percent of the cohort was HIV-positive, with a median age of 51 (IQR = 42-62) years. HR-HPV positivity was detected in 96% of biospecimens analysed. HPV16 (48%), was the most prevalent genotype, followed by HPV35 (26%), HPV18 (25%), HPV58 (11%) and HPV33 (10%), irrespective of HIV status. One third of the cohort harboured a single HPV infection, and HPV16 (41%), HPV18 (21%) and HPV35 (21%) were the most prevalent. HIV status did not influence the prevalence and rate of multiple HPV infections (p>0.05). We reported significant (p<0.05) consanguinity of HPV16/18 (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.1-0.9), HPV16/33 (OR = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.1-1.0), HPV16/35 (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 2.0-6.0), HPV35/51 (OR = 6.0; 95%CI = 1.8-15.0); HPV39/51 (OR = 6.4; 95% CI = 1.8-15), HPV31/52 (OR = 6.2; 95% CI = 1.8-15), HPV39/56 (OR = 11 95% CI = 8-12), HPV59/68 (OR = 8.2; 95% CI = 5.3-12.4), HPV66/68 (OR = 7; 95% CI = 2.4-13.5), independent of age and HIV status.
We found that HIV does not influence the frequency, multiplicity and consanguinity of HR-HPV in cervical cancer. For the first time, we report high prevalence of HPV35 among women with confirmed cervical cancer in Zimbabwe, providing additional evidence of HPV diversity in sub-Saharan Africa. The data obtained here probes the need for larger prospective studies to further elucidate HPV diversity and possibility of selective pressure on genotypes.
Coastal flood mapping associated with tropical cyclone induced extreme water elevations is carried out for the Gujarat and North Maharashtra coasts in the perspective of climate projections for the ...Arabian Sea. The projections are taken into account by enhancing the present cyclone wind intensity by 7% and 11% based on the IPCC fifth assessment report to study its impact on extreme water elevations and coastal flooding. The coupled ADCIRC + SWAN model is used in this study to map the maximum water elevations resulting from storm surges, astronomical tides, and wind-waves by utilizing the most probabilistic cyclone tracks generated for this region. Results from the study signifies that extreme water elevations ranging between 9.0 and 9.5 m are evident in the Gulf of Khambhat and Kutch under no-climate change scenario, while it enhances to a maximum of 10.0–11.0 m under climate change projections. Maximum extent of coastal inundation is found in the low-lying regions of Great and Little Rann of Kutch, Mumbai, and high-tide mudflats of Bhavnagar. It is notable that climate projections have maximum impact on inundation height, while it is marginal in terms of risk associated with the additional inundation extent.
This contribution report is the 1st synthesis of nano-scaled Pd and PdO by a completely green process using Aspalathus linearis natural plant extract as an effective bio-reducing as well as a capping ...agent. Their spherical-like size was found to range within 〈Øparticles〉 = 3.8–22 nm. Their morphological, structural and optical properties were investigated using various complementary surface/interface characterization techniques such as HR-TEM, DSC, XRD, EDS, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. The results confirmed the formation of single fcc Pd and pure tetragonal PdO nanocrystals upon annealing at 100 and 600°C in standard air conditions. It was found that the dynamic of the complete oxidation of the bio-synthesized Pd nanocrystals into single phase PdO is very fast; ∼2 h instead 10–20 h classically.
•Synthesis of palladium and palladium oxide nanoparticles via Aspalathus linearis as a reducing and capping agent.•Structural and morphological properties of Pd and PdO NPs were investigated.•The oxidation of the bio-synthesized Pd NPs into single phase PdO is very fast comparing to other synthesis techniques.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs are a key intervention in protecting individuals against HPV-related disease. HIV1-infected individuals are at increased risk of HPV-associated ...cancers. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential role of prophylactic HPV vaccines in preventing new HPV infections among participants with perinatally acquired HIV who received the quadrivalent HPV vaccine at least five years before this study.
This cross-sectional study was conducted at Newlands Clinic, Harare, Zimbabwe. The clinic provided the Gardasil quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV) to 624 adolescents living with HIV starting in December 2015. Vaginal and penile swabs were collected and tested for HPV types from the study participants who had received the 4vHPV vaccine 5-6 years before enrolment.
We present the results of 98 participants (44.6% female) vaccinated at a median age of 15 years (IQR 12-16). The mean amount of time since vaccination was 6 years (SD: ±0.4). The HPV-positive rate amongst the analyzed swabs was 69% (68/98). Among 30/98 (31%) HPV-positive participants, 13/98 (13%) had low-risk HPV types, and 17/98 (17%) had high-risk HPV types. Twelve participants tested positive for HPV18, only one participant tested positive for HPV16, and an additional four (4.3%) tested positive for either type 6 or 11, with respect to vaccine-preventable low-risk HPV types.
The Gardasil quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV) was expected to protect against infection with HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. We demonstrated a possible waning of immunity to HPV18 in 17% of the participants, and an associated loss in cross-protection against HPV45. We observed a relatively high prevalence of 'opportunistic non-vaccine HPV types' or 'ecological niche occupiers' in this cohort, and suggest further research on the involvement of these types in cervical and other genital cancers. Our study is one of the few, if not the first, to report on HPV vaccine immunoprotection among people living with HIV (PLWH), thereby setting a baseline for further studies on HPV vaccine effectiveness among PLWH.
Approximately 40% of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (vSCC) cases are etiologically associated with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) of the alpha genera (α-HPV) that cause other anogenital ...cancers; however, the etiology of α-HPV-negative vSCC is poorly understood. HPVs of the beta genera (β-HPV) are risk factors for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and may be related to carcinomas originating in other cutaneous sites such as the vulva. In this study, we investigate the presence of β-HPVs, with an emphasis on p16-negative squamous lesions adjacent to vSCC. We subjected 28 vulvar squamous intraepithelial lesions adjacent to vSCC for comprehensive HPV genotyping, p16 and p53 immunohistochemistry, and consensus morphology review. Selected cases were subjected to qPCR and RNA in situ hybridization. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. β-HPV DNA was detected in eight of ten p16-negative lesions and three of fourteen p16-positive high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. The HPV DNA loads in vulvar squamous intraepithelial lesions ranged between less than 1 HPV DNA copy per cell to more than 100 HPV DNA copies per cell. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of the association of p16-negative vulvar intraepithelial squamous lesions with detection of β-HPVs. These findings expand possible etiologic mechanisms that may contribute to p16-negative lesions of the vulva.
Microbiota research often assumes that differences in abundance and identity of microorganisms have unique influences on host physiology. To test this concept mechanistically, germ-free mice are ...colonized with microbial communities to assess causation. Due to the cost, infrastructure challenges, and time-consuming nature of germ-free mouse models, an alternative approach is needed to investigate host-microbial interactions.
(fruit flies) can be used as a high throughput
screening model of host-microbiome interactions as they are affordable, convenient, and replicable.
were essential in discovering components of the innate immune response to pathogens. However, axenic
can easily be generated for microbiome studies without the need for ethical considerations. The simplified microbiota structure enables researchers to evaluate permutations of how each microbial species within the microbiota contribute to host phenotypes of interest. This enables the possibility of thorough strain-level analysis of host and microbial properties relevant to physiological outcomes. Moreover, a wide range of mutant
strains can be affordably obtained from public stock centers. Given this,
can be used to identify candidate mechanisms of host-microbe symbioses relevant to pathogen exclusion, innate immunity modulation, diet, xenobiotics, and probiotic/prebiotic properties in a high throughput manner. This perspective comments on the most promising areas of microbiota research that could immediately benefit from using the
model.
Structural inequities and lack of resources put vulnerable refugee communities at great risk. Refugees flee their country of origin to escape persecution and flee from war, famine and torture. ...Resettled refugee communities become particularly vulnerable during times of crisis due to limited English proficiency and poor social determinants of health (SDOH), which create barriers to attaining and sustaining health and wellbeing for themselves and their families. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate SDOH among a refugee community in the Southeastern United States. We surveyed the community twice during a 1-year period to assess various elements of SDOH. Among a primarily African and Southeast Asian refugee community, 76% reported difficulty paying for food, housing and healthcare during the first round of surveys. During the second round of surveys at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, 70% reported lost income; 58% indicated concern about paying bills. There was little change during the 12-month study period, showing that SDOH are an enduring measure of poor health and wellbeing for this vulnerable refugee community.
Virtual reality (VR) may improve our understanding of sexual dysfunctions' manifestations, although research in this area remains limited. This study assessed the potential use of a VR Behavior ...Avoidance Test (VR-BAT) as a tool for examining the clinical features of Sexual Aversion Disorder (SAD): the experience of fear, disgust, and avoidance when facing sexual cues/contexts. A sample of 55 adults (≥ 18y) with (n = 27) and without SAD (n = 28) completed a self-report measure of sexual avoidance. Their anxiety, disgust, electrodermal activity, heart rate, and visual and behavioral avoidance were then examined during two VR-BATs involving sexual or non-sexual stimuli. Mixed repeated measures ANOVAs, t-tests, and correlational analyses were performed. Results showed that individuals in the SAD group reported greater anxiety and disgust compared to their non-SAD counterparts during the sexual stimuli condition. Sexual avoidance scores were largely positively related to anxiety and disgust during the VR sexual condition, and moderately negatively related to the time spent touching the virtual character's genitals. This study is important given the prevalence of sexual difficulties, such as SAD, and the new research avenues offered by emerging technologies, like VR.
Pesticides are used extensively in food production to maximize crop yields. However, neonicotinoid insecticides exert unintentional toxicity to honey bees (Apis mellifera) that may partially be ...associated with massive population declines referred to as colony collapse disorder. We hypothesized that imidacloprid (common neonicotinoid; IMI) exposure would make Drosophila melanogaster (an insect model for the honey bee) more susceptible to bacterial pathogens, heat stress, and intestinal dysbiosis. Our results suggested that the immune deficiency (Imd) pathway is necessary for D. melanogaster survival in response to IMI toxicity. IMI exposure induced alterations in the host-microbiota as noted by increased indigenous Acetobacter and Lactobacillus spp. Furthermore, sub-lethal exposure to IMI resulted in decreased D. melanogaster survival when simultaneously exposed to bacterial infection and heat stress (37 °C). This coincided with exacerbated increases in TotA and Dpt (Imd downstream pro-survival and antimicrobial genes, respectively) expression compared to controls. Supplementation of IMI-exposed D. melanogaster with Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917 mitigated survival deficits following Serratia marcescens (bacterial pathogen) septic infection. These findings support the insidious toxicity of neonicotinoid pesticides and potential for probiotic lactobacilli to reduce IMI-induced susceptibility to infection.
Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was developed for sample cleanup of six fluoroquinolones in chicken livers. A chromatogram of well separated six fluoroquinolones in chicken livers is ...shown. Very important DLLME parameters which included extraction solvent, pH effect and dispersive solvent were optimized. The developed method was used for real chicken livers samples. Display omitted
► A novel DLLME technique for determination of fluoroquinolones in solids is presented. ► This greener sample preparation technique has potential for veterinary drugs residue. ► DLLME is a cheap, fast, green method of sample extraction from biological matrixes.
A simple and cost effective sample pre-treatment method, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME), has been developed for the extraction of six fluoroquinolones (FQs) from chicken liver samples. Clean DLLME extracts were analyzed for fluoroquinolones using liquid chromatography with diode array detection (LC-DAD). Parameters such as type and volume of disperser solvent, type and volume of extraction solvent, concentration and composition of phosphoric acid in the disperser solvent and pH were optimized. Linearity in the concentration range of 30–500μgkg−1 was obtained with regression coefficients ranging from 0.9945 to 0.9974. Intra-day repeatability expressed as % RSD was between 4 and 7%. The recoveries determined in spiked blank chicken livers at three concentration levels (i.e. 50, 100 and 300μgkg−1) ranged from 83 to 102%. LODs were between 5 and 19μgkg−1 while LOQs ranged between 23 and 62μgkg−1. All of the eight chicken liver samples obtained from the local supermarkets were found to contain at least one type of fluoroquinolone with enrofloxacin being the most commonly detected. Only one sample had four fluoroquinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, difloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin). Norfloxacin which is unlicensed for use in South Africa was also detected in three of the eight chicken liver samples analyzed. The concentration levels of all FQs antibiotics in eight samples ranged from 8.8 to 35.3μgkg−1, values which are lower than the South African stipulated maximum residue limits (MRL).
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