Distinct Hepatitis B and HIV co-infected populations in Canada.

Due to shared modes of exposure, HIV-HBV co-infection is common worldwide. Increased knowledge of the demographic and clinical characteristics of the co-infected population will allow us to optimize our approach to management of both infections in clinical practice. The Canadian Hepatitis B Network Cohort was utilized to conduct a cross-sectional evaluation of the demographic, biochemical, fibrotic and treatment characteristics of HIV-HBV patients and a comparator HBV group. From a total of 5996 HBV-infected patients, 335 HIV-HBV patients were identified. HIV-HBV patients were characterized by older median age, higher male and lower Asian proportion, more advanced fibrosis and higher anti-HBV therapy use (91% vs. 30%) than the HBV-positive / HIV seronegative comparator group. A history of reported high-risk exposure activities (drug use, high-risk sexual contact) was more common in HIV-HBV patients. HIV-HBV patients with reported high-risk exposure activities had higher male proportion, more Caucasian ethnicity and higher prevalence of cirrhosis than HIV-HBV patients born in an endemic country. In the main cohort, age ≥60 years, male sex, elevated ALT, the presence of comorbidity and HCV seropositivity were independent predictors of significant fibrosis. HIV seropositivity was not an independent predictor of advanced fibrosis (adj OR 0.75 [95%CI: 0.34-1.67]). In conclusion, Canadian co-infected patients differed considerably from those with mono-infection. Furthermore, HIV-HBV-infected patients who report high-risk behaviours and those born in endemic countries represent two distinct subpopulations, which should be considered when engaging these patients in care.

Biological assisted organic sulfur removal from low rank indigenous coal using airlift bioreactor.

Combustion of coal create many harmful gases which effect on human health as well as on environment. The sulfur in coal limits its own use, and bio-desulfurization (BDS) shows enormous development potential and the prospects for the application of coal desulfurization. Present study highlights the bioprocess strategies for reduction of sulfur content from coal before combustion. The bioprocess involved the use of Airlift Bioreactor along with Rhodococcus sp. ATCC55309 as biocatalyst. Different nutritional and operational parameters involved to promote sulfur reduction at maximum level. The parameters were investigated are different carbon source, temperature, pH, Agitation speed, and pulp density. The impact of these parameters shows that sulfur removal can be enhanced though optimized conditions. The amount of total sulfur and organic sulfur present in coal were reduced by 33 ± 1.7% and 71 ± 1.5%, respectively, compared to untreated coal at controlled condition of various parameters are 20% (w/v) pulp density, 30 °C, 170 rpm, glucose as carbon source and pH 7. Whereas organic sulfur degrades from coal using Rhodococcus sp. ATCC55309 about 0.36 mM DBT (Di-benzothiophene) within 8 days via 4S-pathway. The maximum conversion of DBT compound into 2-HBP(2-hydroxybiphenyl) by utilizing 30 °C, 170 rpm, 20 pulp density and glucose as carbon source.

Advanced microbial fuel cell for waste water treatment-a review.

Petroleum, coal, and natural gas reservoir were depleting continuously due to an increase in industrialization, which enforced study to identify alternative sources. The next option is the renewable resources which are most important for energy purpose coupled with environmental problem reduction. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have become a promising approach to generate cleaner and more sustainable electrical energy. The involvement of various disciplines had been contributing to enhancing the performance of the MFCs. This review covers the performance of MFC along with different wastewater as a substrate in terms of treatment efficiencies as well as for energy generation. Apart from this, effect of various parameters and use of different nanomaterials for performance of MFC were also studied. From the current study, it proves that the use of microbial fuel cell along with the use of nanomaterials could be the waste and energy-related problem-solving approach. MFC could be better in performances based on optimized process parameters for handling any wastewater from industrial process.

Anaemia: the neglected female health problem in developing countries.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia is arguably the biggest female health problems in developing countries. The world is still to fully fathom the extent and gravity of the problem. This problem aggravates particularly during and after pregnancies due to increased nutritional demands and inadequate iron supply and is therefore more widespread in parous segments of female population. Objective of this study was to determine prevalence of anaemia in apparently healthy parous female population of Abbottabad and investigate underlying causes. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2001 to March 2011 in Abbottabad. Women reporting for various surgical procedures were investigated for anaemia by obtaining history through a structured performa, specifically designed to identify the underlying causes. Sixteen thousand women of childbearing age (20-40 years) were included in the study; 14,800 with history of at least one pregnancy and remaining with no previous pregnancy. Haemoglobin (Hb) was measured using haematology analyser Sysmex (KX21). RESULTS: Of the screened women, 60% were found anaemic (Hb < 12 g/dl) 10% of which were severely anaemic (Hb < 6 g/dl). Anaemia was related to socio-demographic and obstetric history characteristics. The prevalence of anaemia was significantly lower in women who used iron supplements during their pregnancies. Lactating mothers not making up for the iron deficiencies during pregnancies usually carried their anaemia postpartum and beyond. Lower gaps between pregnancies also contributed significantly to the problem. CONCLUSION: Prevalence and severity of anaemia in reproductive age females reporting to surgical units were found to be exceptionally high. Frequency of anaemia in the parous females of relatively affluent city of Abbotabad indicates that anaemia may be on the rise in developing countries. Addressing pregnancy related anaemia and nutritional deficiencies through intake of supplements on regular basis in women before and between pregnancies is essential.