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Purpose: This study was aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in bacterial and fungal keratitis. The candidate genes can be selected and quantified to distinguish between causative agents of infectious keratitis to improve therapeutic outcomes. Methods: The expression profile of bacterial or fungal infection, and normal corneal tissues were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The limma package in R was used to screen DEGs in bacterial and fungal keratitis. The Co-Express tool was used to calculate correlation coefficients of co-expressed genes. The "Advanced network merge" function of Cytoscape tool was applied to obtain a fusional co-expression network based on bacterial and fungal keratitis DEGs. Finally, functional enrichment analysis by DAVID software and KEGG analysis by KOBAS of DEGs in fusion network were performed. Results: In total, 451 DEGs in bacterial keratitis and 353 DEGs in fungal keratitis were screened, among which 148 DEGs were found only in bacterial keratitis and 50 DEGs only in fungal keratitis. Besides, 117 co-expressed gene pairs were identified among bacterial keratitis DEGs and 87 pairs among fungal keratitis DEGs. In total, nine biological pathways and seven KEGG pathways were screened by analyzing DEGs in the fusional co-expression network. Conclusion: TLR4 is the representative DEG specific to bacterial keratitis, and SOD2 is the representative DEG specific to fungal keratitis, both of which are promising candidate genes to distinguish between bacterial and fungal keratitis.
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Background: Cameroon, as many Sub-Saharan African countries, is undergoing epidemiological transition. Parents as well as well their children are getting overweight and obese, mainly in large cities. Aims: This was a pilot study to identify the relationship between parents, environment and children body size in urban Cameroon. Study Design: This was a cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: In year 2010, between February and May. 25 selected schools in urban areas. Methods: Over three thousand and three hundred school age children were selected during investigations, including about 51.8% girls. The questionnaire used was set as follows (i) identification, (ii) collection of parent’s information as ethnicity (region of origin), education, occupation, income and (iii) detailed information on children and anthropometrics. Body sizes were defined using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Finally, 2689 children (52.2% Girls) were pooled for further analysis. Results: Positive correlation was observed between child adiposity and pocket money; as with BMI for girls (r=0.342, P<0.001) and boys (r=0.225, P<0.001). Boys adiposity was correlated to family size (BMI, r=0.181, P<0.05), with gestational age at birth (waist, r=0.214, P<0.05) and birth weight (waist, r=0.293, P<0.01). Girl’s adiposity did not show such associations. Mothers’ adiposity was more correlated to girl’s adiposity (waist, r=0.184, P<0.01 and BMI, r=0.183, P<0.01) as compared to boys. While no significant relationship was observed between parents’ education level, occupation, and income. Considering ethnicity, parents’ of west region were up to 3.2 times more at risk of having heavy children (all P=0.01). Conclusions: In Cameroon urban area, parent’s ethnicity and body size are better predictors of their child’s adiposity. This pilot study highlight that further investigations are required to evaluate the contribution of each factor.
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Background: The metabolic syndrome is a common metabolic disorder associated to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Aims: To assess the prevalence of metabolic abnormalities and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among 16-21 years Cameroonian adolescents and analyzed the influence of age, gender and weight status. Study Design: This was a cross sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Commercial High school of Yaoundé, between January and May 2012. Methods: MetS was defined according to United States (US) adapted pediatric criteria and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. A cross sectional study was set to collect data from 1765 adolescents (59.1% girls). Results: Using the US criteria, the prevalence of MetS was 20.3%, while IDF criteria showed a lower prevalence of 15.3%. Girls were at greater risk for MetS (US 25.0% and IDF 23.4%) compared to boys (US 15.0% and IDF 6.1%). The prevalence of MetS was elevated in elder adolescents (US 22.4% and IDF 18.9%) as compared to youngster (US 14.9% and IDF 5.9%). Overweight adolescents (BMI≥25kg/m2) were more exposed to MetS (US 25.5% and IDF 26.7%) than normal weight (US 17.4% and IDF 9.0%). MetS prevalence itself varied markedly according to criteria used. Both US and IDF criteria, showed highest rate of low HDL (US 55.0% and IDF 49.3%) and elevated blood pressure (US 28.8% and IDF 27.0%). Conclusions: The prevalence of MetS among our study population was high especially in girls and overweight adolescents. Individual MetS abnormalities are common in adolescents, further studies are needed to draw a more precise picture of the situation in order to better target interventions to improve future cardiovascular health.
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PURPOSE: The effect of compression force; relative humidity and disintegrant concentration on furosemide dissolution in directly compressed furosemide/Avicelr-tablets was studied. METHODS: Mixtures of furosemide (12.5 percent w/w); Ac-Di-Solr (0; 0.625 percent to 10 percent w/w) and Avicelr PH200 (qs to 100 percent w/w) were prepared in a Turbularmixer at 69 rpm for 10 min. Tablets were stored for 6 months under conditions similar to the four climatic zones recognized by ICH. Tablet hardness; disintegration time and dissolution were measured. RESULTS: At the same compression force; disintegration time decreased as the disintegrant concentration increased above 0.625 percent w/w but an increase in compression force resulted in increased tablet crushing strength and apparent density; both of which prolonged the disintegration time. This effect was less significant when the disintegrant concentration was above 1.25 percent. However; storage under high relative humidity conditions (mediterranean or subtropical; hot and humid climate) caused softening of tablets leading to the spontaneous disintegration of tablets containing high concentrations of Ac-Di-Solr . CONCLUSION: Fast disintegration of tablets within 1-2 min is a prerequisite for improving the dissolution of furosemide. This was attributed to an increase in the speed at which the maximum surface area of the sparingly water-soluble drug is exposed to the dissolution medium. Ac-Di-Solr was an efficient disintegrant for furosomide tablets at low concentrations of 1.25 percent -10 percent because it rapidly released the hydrophobic drug particles from tablets. However; tablets containing 10 percent disintegrant must be protected from atmospheric moisture because storage at 60-70 percent relative humidity led to softening of tablets