Appraisal of the inherent socio-demographic dynamics of HIV/AIDS epidemic in four districts of South-Western Uganda.

Although HIV prevalence in Uganda is much lower than it once was, AIDS is still claiming many lives each year with clear signs of escalating rural epidemics. The objective of this study was to appraise the socio-economic and demographic dynamics of HIV/AIDS epidemic in South-Western Uganda. Data were collected with standard closed ended semi-structured questionnaires self-administered to consenting, 605 HIV/AIDS patients, selected using the multistage random sampling technique, logistic linear regression, randomized block design and Pearson's Chi square test (α=0.01) were used to analyse the data obtained. The duration of carriage was inversely proportional (r=-0.94) to population of HIV/AIDS patients surveyed. There were 98.2% Bantu (55.5% Banyankole and 22.6% Baganda); 77.5% females and 22.5% males; more widows (38.0%) than married (35.5%). HIV/AIDS prevalence generally decreased with increasing level of education. The highest (66.7%) HIV/AIDS prevalence was recorded in Bushenyi, followed by 58.4% in Masaka, 57.9% in Mbarara and 53.3% in Rukungiri. Rukungiri patients above 60 years of age harboured 57.1% HIV/AIDS followed by 45.5% among Masaka patients aged 11 - 20 years and 40% among Mbarara patients less than 10 years of age. HIV/AIDS prevalence was significantly (p<0.05) dependent on socio-economic and demographic factors of surveyed population. Therefore socio-economic and demographic factors underlie HIV/AIDS prevalence in this region. Observed differences in prevalence of HIV/AIDS between the surveyed districts were remarkable and warrant regular surveillance for updated disease epidemiology. Education can debunk the generally misconstrued roles of social, economic and demographic factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Appraisal of the inherent socio-demographic dynamics of HIV/AIDS epidemic in four districts of South-Western Uganda

Although HIV prevalence in Uganda is much lower than it once was; AIDS is still claiming many lives each year with clear signs of escalating rural epidemics. The objective of this study was to appraise the socio-economic and demographic dynamics of HIV/AIDS epidemic in South-Western Uganda. Data were collected with standard closed ended semi-structured questionnaires self-administered to consenting; 605 HIV/AIDS patients; selected using the multistage random sampling technique; logistic linear regression; randomized block design and Pearson's Chi square test (a=0.01) were used to analyse the data obtained. The duration of carriage was inversely proportional (r=-0.94) to population of HIV/AIDS patients surveyed. There were 98.2 Bantu (55.5 Banyankole and 22.6 Baganda); 77.5 females and 22.5 males; more widows (38.0) than married (35.5). HIV/AIDS prevalence generally decreased with increasing level of education. The highest (66.7). HIV/AIDS prevalence generally decreased with increasing level of education. The highest (66.7) HIV/AIDS prevalence was recorded in Bushenyi; followed by 58.4 in Masaka; 57.9 in Mbarara and 53.3 in Rukungiri. Rukungiri patients above 60 years of age harboured 57.1 HIV/AIDS followed by 45.5 among Masaka patients aged 11 - 20 years and 40 among Mbarara patients less than 10 years of age. HIV/AIDS prevalence was significantly (p0.05) dependent on socio-economic and demographic factors of surveyed population. Therefore socio-economic and demographic factors underlie HIV/AIDS prevalence in this region. Observed differences in prevalence of HIV/AIDS between the surveyed districts wereremarkable and warrant regular surveillance for updated disease epidemiology. Education can debunk the generally misconstrued rolesof social; economic and demographic factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS

High incidence of co-infection with Malaria and Typhoid in febrile HIV infected and AIDS patients in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria / Alta incidência de co-infecção de malária e febre tifóide em pacientes febris com HIV/AIDS em Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigéria

This survey was designed to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Salmonella Typhi among febrile HIV/AIDS patients in Ekpoma. Malaria and typhoid risk factors in Ekpoma included occupation, poor health facilities and poor sanitation. Malaria and typhoid are highly prevalent among Ekpoma HIV/AIDS patients.

Esta pesquisa investigou a prevalência de Plasmodium falciparum e Salmonella typhi entre pacientes febris com HIV/AIDS em Ekpoma. Os fatores de risco para malária e febre tifóide incluem atividade profissional, baixas condições de saúde e saneamento deficiente. A prevalência de malária e febre tifóide entre os pacientes com HIV/AIDS em Ekpoma é elevada.

High incidence of co-infection with Malaria and Typhoid in febrile HIV infected and AIDS patients in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.

This survey was designed to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and Salmonella Typhi among febrile HIV/AIDS patients in Ekpoma. Malaria and typhoid risk factors in Ekpoma included occupation, poor health facilities and poor sanitation. Malaria and typhoid are highly prevalent among Ekpoma HIV/AIDS patients.

Zero prevalence of parasites associated with oral lesions of HIV infected and AIDS patients in South Western Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Despite paucity of information regarding oral lesions with parasitic etiology, parasitic diseases continue to be problematic among impoverished and immunocompromised individuals in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of parasites in the oral lesions of Ugandan HIV infected and AIDS patients, in South Western Uganda. METHODS: Adult HIV/AIDS positive patients attending The AIDS Support Organization Clinics in South Western Uganda with oral lesions were recruited for this study. Standard parasitological methods (direct microscopy, saline and iodine wet preparations, Giemsa-Romanosky staining of smears and culture) were adopted in analysis of randomly collected six hundred and five samples (469 from females; 136 from males) for parasites. RESULTS: No ova, cyst, trophoziotes, lava or segment of parasites were seen in the oral lesions identified among the studied population. CONCLUSION: Parasites were absent and therefore may not be implicated as etiologic microbial agents of observed oral lesions associated with HIV infected and AIDS patients living in South Western Uganda.

CD4 count, viral load and parasite density of HIV positive individuals undergoing malaria treatment with dihydroartemisinin in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: A prospective study on 72 HIV infected and 33 HIV negative individuals undergoing malaria treatment with dihydroartemisinin (Cotecxin) was undertaken to compare CD4 cells count, viral load and parasite density at two time-points, a baseline visit and a 9-day post-treatment visit. METHODS: CD4 count and viral load of the subjects were estimated using Dynabeads T4-T8 Quantification Protocol (Dyneal Biotech, Norway) and Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Test respectively (Roche, United Kingdom). RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in CD4 count at 9-day post-treatment when compared with baseline value (p < 0.05) in HIV infected individuals with CD4 < or =200 cells/microl. Also, the 9-day post-treatment viral load value was statistically higher than the baseline value (p < 0.05). In HIV positive patients with CD4 >200 cells/microl, a marked significant increase was obtained when the mean viral load at baseline was compared to the 9-day post-treatment visit value (p <0.05). The mean parasite density in HIV positive subjects was statistically higher when compared to that of HIV negative individuals at baseline and 9-day post-treatment (p < 0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The study as such may not confirm the impact of malaria infection on progression to AIDS, incorporating effective malaria control in HIV management programmes may improve tremendously the quality of life of HIV infected individuals.

Alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and the diagnosis of painful crisis in sickle cell anaemia.

To assess the value of alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (alpha-HBDH) in the diagnosis of painful crisis (PC) of sickle cell anaemia (SCA), we studied plasma enzyme levels in 55 children with HbSS and 21 control subjects with haemoglobin genotype AA. In 21 children with SCA, mean plasma alpha-HBDH was 373.8 +/- 113.5 micrograms/l during PC and during steady state in 34 children, it was 341.2 +/- 103.4 micrograms/l. These values were significantly higher than that of 128 +/- 19.5 micrograms/l obtained in control subjects. However, the difference between mean plasma alpha-HBDH levels in SCA children in PC and in steady state was 32.6 micrograms/l, t = 1.095; P < 0.2. There was no correlation between alpha-HBDH levels and reticulocyte counts (r = 0.0856; t = 0.4565; 0.7 < P < 0.6). The high levels of alpha-HBDH in patients with SCA is probably due to chronic haemolysis and not marrow infarction. Therefore, alpha-HBDH is of doubtful value in the diagnosis of painful crisis.

Decreased levels of alpha 2 HS-glycoprotein in children with protein-energy-malnutrition.

Serum levels of alpha 2 HS-glycoprotein were determined in ten marasmic children without infections and 14 non-infected children with kwashiorkor. The results obtained were compared with those of 16 non-infected well-nourished children of the same age and sex. No significant difference could be found between the two groups of children with protein-energy-malnutrition (PEM). Well-nourished children however had significantly higher levels than the PEM children. The reduced serum levels of this glycoprotein in PEM children could indicate disturbance of bone minerilisation, leading to stunted growth, and contribute to impairment of defence ability in these children.

Asymptomatic rotavirus infection in Nigerian day-care centres.

One hundred and sixteen stool specimens were collected from five day-care centres in Benin City, Nigeria, one each from children aged 6-48 months who were free from diarrhoea or any other acute illness. The ELISA method showed that 17.2% of the children had rotavirus in their stools. No rotavirus could be detected in the 19 children aged 6-12 months. The incidence of asymptomatic excretors in girls (19.1%) was slightly higher than in boys (15.9%), although this difference was not significant. Rotavirus was detected in children in all the day-care centres. This finding emphasizes the importance of better control of the proliferation of day-care centres and of surveillance of existing ones to enhance the provision of basic hygienic conditions. It also stresses the need for the development of a vaccine against rotavirus and for its availability at low cost for vaccination of children in day-care centres, especially in developing countries where diarrhoea still leads to high morbidity and mortality.

CSF lysosomal hydrolase activity as an aid in the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

The activity of the lysosomal enzymes acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase, alpha-mannosidase and hexosaminidase were determined in CSF obtained from patients with proven bacterial meningitis and from patients with various other diagnoses. The mean value for CSF beta-glucuronidase from bacterial meningitis was elevated 73-fold when compared to the aggregate mean of all control groups. Acid phosphatase and alpha-mannosidase means were 26-fold and 33-fold elevated respectively while hexosaminidase was threefold elevated. Measurement of CSF acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase should prove a rapid useful test in establishing the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Chromatography of CSF samples on DEAE Sephadex allowed the resolution of hexosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase into individual isozymes. The ratio of hexosaminidase A to hexosaminidase B was generally higher in CSF from patients with bacterial meningitis but was very variable. The isozyme distribution for beta-glucuronidase was identical to that found in serum and no differences in pattern were found between patients and control subjects.

alpha-1-antitrypsin in breast milk of healthy Nigerian mothers.

PIP: Alpha-1-antitryspin (x-1-AT) may play a possible role as effector of immunological stasis. This study examines the levels of this glycoprotein in 73 breast milk samples from 60 healthy Nigerian mothers. Levels of x-1-AT were measured by single radial immunodiffusion according to the method of Mancini. Serum protein was measured by Lowry's method, albumin by Doumas' method. Highest mean levels of x-1-AT were found in colostrum (25 mg/dl). The level was significantly higher compared to transitional milk (14.2 mg/dl) or mature milk (165 mg/dl) (p0.001). Breast milk contains substantial amounts of x-1-AT which is not destroyed by pasturization at 56 degrees Centigrade. The immunological protective properties of breast milk are ideal for newborn babies, particularly those who are low birthweight and are thus most susceptible to neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.^ieng

Changes in lysosomal hydrolases from cord blood of vigorous and asphyxiated Nigerian newborn infants.

The activities of lysosomal hydrolases, beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase, were assayed in cord sera from forty-seven non asphyxiated babies and eleven babies who were severely asphyxiated at birth. Significant changes of these enzymes were observed in cord serum. Compared to the control group, serum beta glucuronidase (determined at pH 4.5 using fluorogenic substrate, 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-B-D glucuronide) was 2.2 fold higher (P less than 0.01) in the asphyxiated babies. Similarly, serum acid phosphatase activity estimated by using 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-phosphate was 1.8 fold higher (P less than 0.01) in asphyxia neonatorum. The clinical relevance of this finding lies in its ultimate application, using the lysosomal hydrolase activity in scalp blood sample to evaluate objectively the foetal well-being.