Food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and malnutrition constitute the main obstacles for successful treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of ...consuming daily 100 g RUTF (ready-to-use therapeutic food) as supplement, on body composition, anemia and zinc status of hospitalized PLWH in Senegal.
A Controlled clinical trial was conducted in 65 PLWH randomly allocated to receive either standard hospital diet alone (Control group: n = 33), or the standard diet supplemented with 100 g RUTF/day (RUTF group: n = 32). Supplementation was continued at home during 9 weeks. Individual dietary intakes were measured and compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Body composition was determined using Bio-Impedance Analysis. Hemoglobin was measured by HemoCue and plasma zinc (PZ) concentration by atomic absorption spectrometry. PZ was adjusted to infection (CRP and α1-AGP). All measures were conducted on admission, discharge and after 9 weeks home-based follow up.
34 and 24% of the patients in RUTF and Control groups were suffering from severe malnutrition (BMI < 16 kg/m(2)), respectively. In both groups, more than 90% were anemic and zinc deficiency affected over 50% of the patients. Food consumed by the Control group represented 75, 14 and 55% of their daily recommended intake (DRI) of energy, iron and zinc, respectively. When 100 g of RUTF was consumed with the standard diet, the DRI of energy and zinc were 100% covered (2147 kcal, 10.4 mg, respectively), but not iron (2.9 mg). After 9 weeks of supplementation, body weight, and fat-free mass increased significantly by +11% (p = 0.033), and +11.8% (p = 0.033) in the RUTF group, but not in the Control group, while percentage body fat was comparable between groups (p = 0.888). In the RUTF group, fat free mass gain is higher in the patients on ART (+11.7%, n = 14; p = 0.0001) than in those without ART (+6.2%, n = 6; p = 0.032). Anemia decreased significantly with the supplementation, but zinc status, measured using plasma zinc concentration, remained unchanged.
Improving PLWH' diet with 100 g RUTF for a long period has a positive impact on muscle mass and anemia but not on the zinc status of the patients.
NCT02433743, registered 29 April 2015.
Unsustainable urbanization in the Indo-Pacific continues to threaten terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to habitat disturbances driven by human pressures. The Marikina Watershed, one of the most ...critical watersheds in the Philippines, has been exposed to economic and population growth resulting in landscape modification and water quality degradation. This led to establishment of the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) to rehabilitate the watershed ecosystem. To strengthen this conservation initiative, we aimed to assess whether the establishment of UMRBPL has been effective in conservation of benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in streams of the Marikina Watershed. Sixteen streams, eight from UMRBPL and eight from adjoining unprotected areas, were monitored for benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages and their habitat environments, such as pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, conductivity, salinity, and canopy openness. Principal component analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling based on the environmental variables and biological metrics, respectively, revealed that habitat quality and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages significantly differed between the protected and unprotected streams, with the former having better environment and higher biodiversity. More precisely, protected streams have significantly higher dissolved oxygen and lower canopy openness and material loadings as compared to unprotected streams. Consequently, taxon richness was four-fold higher in protected streams while stream quality indices based on abundance of key invertebrate groups (EPT and EPTC) were ten-fold higher in protected streams, as compared to unprotected streams. This study demonstrates that freshwater protected areas play crucial roles in the conservation of stream ecosystems and biodiversity under rapid urbanization in developing countries, like the Philippines.
The microtubule-depolymerizing drug, vincristine, is effective in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although vincristine resistance mechanisms have been extensively characterized ...in cell lines, their clinical relevance is poorly understood. The aim of the current study was to define clinically relevant mechanisms of vincristine resistance in a panel of childhood ALL xenografts established in immune-deficient (nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient) mice. We also studied two independent xenograft sublines that were selected by in vivo vincristine exposure. In vitro vincristine sensitivity determined by a stromal coculture, murine bone marrow stromal cell line (MS-5), assay, but not methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium metabolic activity assay, significantly correlated (P = 0.05) with the length of the patients' first remission. Investigations into mechanisms of resistance revealed no association with steady-state vincristine accumulation or increased activity and/or expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters, although increased intracellular levels of polymerized tubulin significantly correlated with resistance (r = 0.85; P = 0.0019). Two xenograft sublines selected by in vivo vincristine exposure exhibited a 2-fold increase in polymerized tubulin levels compared with the parental subline (P < 0.05), reflecting their in vivo vincristine resistance. In this study, a vincristine-resistant xenograft with high levels of polymerized tubulin was relatively sensitive to the microtubule-polymerizing drug paclitaxel. These results indicate that the balance between polymerized and nonpolymerized tubulin may be an important determinant of response to Vinca alkaloid-based chemotherapy regimens in childhood ALL.
In April 2012, Infection Prevention recommended a daily Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) impregnated wipe protocol for Blood & Marrow Transplant (BMT) inpatients as an intervention to reduce hospital ...acquired Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus. Literature has supported this as effective in reducing multiple sites of hospital acquired infection as well as targeted organisms. Little data on the experience of patients with extensive lengths of stay, specifically BMT patients, was available. The protocol called for patients to apply CHG wipes daily, separate from showering.
Rewiring of metabolism induced by oncogenic
in cancer cells involves both glucose and glutamine utilization sustaining enhanced, unrestricted growth. The development of effective anti-cancer ...treatments targeting metabolism may be facilitated by the identification and rational combinatorial targeting of metabolic pathways.
We performed mass spectrometric metabolomics analysis in vitro and in vivo experiments to evaluate the efficacy of drugs and identify metabolic connectivity.
We show that
-mutant lung and colon cancer cells exhibit a distinct metabolic rewiring, the latter being more dependent on respiration. Combined treatment with the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 and the PI3K/aldolase inhibitor NVP-BKM120 more consistently reduces cell growth of tumor xenografts. Maximal growth inhibition correlates with the disruption of redox homeostasis, involving loss of reduced glutathione regeneration, redox cofactors, and a decreased connectivity among metabolites primarily involved in nucleic acid metabolism.
Our findings open the way to develop metabolic connectivity profiling as a tool for a selective strategy of combined drug repositioning in precision oncology.
Background and objectives: Biofortification is key to improve household nutrition. In Senegal, the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains high, and affects 24% of children in rural areas. ...To prevent VAD, an intercropping trial of orange-fleshed sweet potato, an excellent source of provitamin A, with Moringa oleifera was undertaken for the first time in the agro-ecological zone of groundnut basin of Senegal. The objective of this study is to identify varieties that adapt better to the agro-ecological conditions of the Kaffrine region and which gives better results in association with Moringa oleifera. Methods: Our study is conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications for a varietal test of 4 cultivars of sweet potato and a growing test associated with the Moringa oleifere. The Four different cultivars of sweet potato were tested in pure stand and in association with Moringa oleifera variety PKM1. These cultivars differing in the color of the tuber flesh, Kander (orange), Yajendee (light orange), Caromex (yellow), Gandiol1 (white). Growth and physiological parameters were recorded in four steps during the plant life cycle. After 135 days, tubers were harvesting and the nutritional quality analysed to determine carotenoid composition of tested cultivars. Results: Results showed that, the four cultivars behave well under the agro-ecological conditions of groundnut bassin. A low incidence of diseases and pests for the different cultivars both in pure and intercropping situations is observed. significant increases of tuber weight and size in intercropped plots for Kander and Yajendee cultivars compared to pure culture. Moreover, the Kander cultivar had the highest concentration in carotenoids (84.6 ± 24 mg/kg). Conclusions: Sweet potato cultivars performed well under agroclimatic conditions of Kaffrine. There is no difference in behavior under pure culture conditions, whereas intercropping with Moringa oleifera has a positive effect on tuber development of the Kander and Yajendee varieties. Thus, this cropping system would be a promising route for the sustainable production of sweet potatoes with orange flesh in this area.
To evaluate the therapeutic potential of Col-Treg, a collagen II-specific type 1 regulatory T-cell immunotherapy for the treatment of noninfectious uveitis (NIU).
Col-Treg cells were produced from ...collagen II-specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice or peripheral blood of healthy donors. Phenotypic characterization was performed by flow cytometry, and cytokine secretion was evaluated with Flowcytomix or ELISA. In vitro functional characterization included ATP hydrolysis, cytotoxicity, and contact-independent T-cell suppression and plasticity assays. Col-Treg migration was assessed by quantitative PCR specific to Col-Treg TCR. Col-Treg cells were administered intravenously in mice displaying experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) induced by interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) immunizations. Efficacy of Col-Treg was assessed by ophthalmology, histology, and immunohistochemistry.
Mice Col-Treg cells displayed identity features of type 1 Treg cells with expression of CD25, FoxP3, low surface expression of CD127, and cytokine secretion profile (IL-10(high), IL-4(low), IFN-γ(int)). In vitro functional assays demonstrated Col-Treg suppressive capacity via soluble factor-dependent immunosuppression, cytotoxicity, and ATP hydrolysis. Col-Treg cells expressed granzyme B, CD39, and glucocorticoid-induced TNF-related protein (GITR). Administration of Col-Treg in EAU mice inhibited clinical and morphologic signs of uveitis and decreased ocular leukocyte infiltration. Col-Treg cells homed in the ocular tissues 24 hours after intravenous injection. Human Col-Treg cells were comparable to mice Col-Treg cells in identity and function and did not show the capacity to differentiate into Th17 cells in vitro.
These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Col-Treg cells as a targeted approach for the treatment of NIU and the feasibility of translating this approach to the human clinical setting.
Unsustainable urbanization in the Indo-Pacific continues to threaten terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to habitat disturbances driven by human pressures. The Marikina Watershed, one of the most ...critical watersheds in the Philippines, has been exposed to economic and population growth resulting in landscape modification and water quality degradation. This led to establishment of the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL) to rehabilitate the watershed ecosystem. To strengthen this conservation initiative, we aimed to assess whether the establishment of UMRBPL has been effective in conservation of benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in streams of the Marikina Watershed. Sixteen streams, eight from UMRBPL and eight from adjoining unprotected areas, were monitored for benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages and their habitat environments, such as pH, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, conductivity, salinity, and canopy openness. Principal component analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling based on the environmental variables and biological metrics, respectively, revealed that habitat quality and benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages significantly differed between the protected and unprotected streams, with the former having better environment and higher biodiversity. More precisely, protected streams have significantly higher dissolved oxygen and lower canopy openness and material loadings as compared to unprotected streams. Consequently, taxon richness was four-fold higher in protected streams while stream quality indices based on abundance of key invertebrate groups (EPT and EPTC) were ten-fold higher in protected streams, as compared to unprotected streams. This study demonstrates that freshwater protected areas play crucial roles in the conservation of stream ecosystems and biodiversity under rapid urbanization in developing countries, like the Philippines.
Background: An in vitro study was conducted to determine whether haptoglobin phenotypes differed in their protective effect against oxidative stress induced by extracellular hemoglobin on red blood ...cells. Methods: Conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were determined in human red blood cell membranes in the presence of hemoglobin and various concentrations of each type of purified haptoglobin. In addition, the release of K+ and lactate dehydrogenase from red blood cells was measured. Results: A protective effect of haptoglobin was observed in terms of results obtained for the four parameters examined, with significant differences (p<0.001) between the three haptoglobin types; type 1-1 was the most active and type 2-2 the least active. A proportion of oxidative damage was not sensitive to haptoglobin, but to desferrioxamine (an iron chelator), indicating the participation of two actors, hemoglobin and free iron, in the oxidative stress of membrane lipids. Conclusions: The antioxidant role of haptoglobin and the phenotype dependence were confirmed for preventing possible oxidative damage induced by free hemoglobin and iron release during its catabolism.
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