Prevalence of Cytopenia and its Correlation with Immunosuppression in Naïve HIV-1 Infected Patients Initiating First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy: A Pilot Study

Usman Abdulrasheed,Balogun Olayemi,Shuaib Bukhari Isah,Musa Bolanle O. P.,Yusuf Aminu Abba,Ajayi Ebenezer I. O. 대한감염학회 2023 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.55 No.4

Background: Cytopenias serve as common indicators and crucial predictive tools for evaluating disease progression and therapeutic outcomes in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cytopenias and their correlation with the level of immunosuppression in treatment-naive HIV-infected participants after initiating highly active combined antiretroviral drug therapy (cART24). Materials and Methods: This prospective study focused on evaluating cytopenia in 44 treatment-naive HIVinfected patients who consented to initiate cART and were consecutively enrolled. The research was conducted at the Nasara HIV Treatment & Care Centre of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Nigeria, spanning from December 2016 to January 2018. Cytopenias, including anemia, leucopenia, lymphocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia, were defined and assessed according to World Health Organization guidelines. A combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal mixed-design two-step analysis was employed to validate our findings. Results: The median time from enrollment to cART initiation was 7 days, following the universal test and treat protocol. The prevalence of cytopenia was 75% at the baseline before treatment and increased to 84% after cART24 administration. There were no statistically significant differences in the median values of immuno-hematological parameters between baseline and after cART24 initiation (P >0.05). In terms of longitudinal assessment, the prevalence of anemia, leucopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia at baseline were 66%, 23%, 0%, and 11%, respectively, and after cART24, the rates were 66%, 29%, 5%, and 20%. Notably, the prevalence of cytopenia correlated with declining CD4+ T cell counts. Among instances of unicytopenia, 58% exhibited isolated anemia, 6% had lone leucopenia, and 6% had solitary thrombocytopenia. Additionally, 27% demonstrated bi-cytopenia, and 3% exhibited pancytopenia. Interestingly, none of the study participants presented with lymphopenia. The most common combination was anemia and thrombocytopenia. Both longitudinal and cross-sectional analytical findings were consistent. Conclusion: In treatment-naive HIV-infected individuals, the prevalence of cytopenias, particularly anemia and thrombocytopenia, was substantial and correlated with the degree of immunosuppression as indicated by CD4+ T cell counts. These cytopenias persisted despite initiation of cART24, highlighting the complexity of hematological manifestations in HIV infection. Our study underscores the significant hematopathological impact of HIV and antiretroviral therapy, highlighting the necessity for preventive strategies to mitigate these adverse effects.

Surface matrix functionalization of ceramic-based membrane for oil-water separation: A mini-review

Yusuf Olabode Raji,Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman,Nik Abdul Hadi Sapiaa Md Nordin,Mohd Ridhwan Adam,Zhong Sheng Tai,Jamilu Usman,Ahmad Fauzi Ismail 한국화학공학회 2020 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.37 No.10

Advanced filtration requires a cost-effective, highly efficient and environmentally friendly membrane fabrication to achieve excellent and extreme oleophobic and hydrophilic states with an appropriate surface functionalization approach. For an efficient oil-water separation, surface material and structure have been categorized as superoleophobic (high oil repellency) and superhydrophilic (strong affinity to water). This can be attributed to their selective mechanisms. In addition, it is very important to consider these key factors as they will imperatively provide a unique capability to exhibit surface roughness, stimulate low and high surface energy, and improve surface chemistry, which makes membranes function efficiently for the oil and water separation system. In this review article, the application of ceramic membrane for oily water treatment and the principle of superhydrophilic and superoleophobic ceramic membrane for oil-water separation are elaborated and, in addition, the current progress for the use of inorganic material to functionalize ceramic membrane surface based on physical and chemical methods is appraised. Finally, the challenges and outlook on the membrane for oily-water treatment are briefly examined.

Variance components, correlation and path analyses in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L., Walp)

Aliyu Olawale Mashood,Tiamiyu Adeyemi Odunola,Usman Muinat,Abdulkareem Yusuf Folorunsho 한국작물학회 2022 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.25 No.2

Cowpea as a low-input crop has a potential to signifcantly ameliorate poor nutrition and food insecurity in sub-Sahara Africa if problem of poor seed yield is addressed. Adequate information on the relationship between yield components and seed yield is, however, crucial for the development of better quality varieties to improve farmers’ feld yield. To this end, twelve cowpea accessions of diferent seed sizes and mixed pedigrees were evaluated for two years in feld trials of three replications laid out in a randomized complete block design. Data collected on plant vigour indices, yield components and seed yield were analyzed for variance components, Pearson correlation coefcient and structural equation modeling for path analysis. The accessions exhibited signifcant variation for all yield components including seed yield. In addition, the variance estimates indicated that substantial variations recorded were mostly genetic with high heritability values. Earliness in fowering and pod maturity recorded highly signifcant correlations and direct efect with yield components and seed yield. Positive correlation between precocity and high yield could be exploited in the development of improved varieties with early maturity for the savannah ecology with a characteristic short wet season. Importantly, all seed yield components are signifcantly correlated with each other and to total seed yield. Pods per plant, however, recorded highest coefcient values (r=0.85; P<0.001; 1.38**) for both Pearson correlation and path analysis, respectively, suggesting its importance as a yield component with highest direct efect on seed yield and should be a core selection index in cowpea breeding. The efect of size-number trade-of accounts for the counter-balance of direct efects of seeds per pod/plant (number) and seed weight (size) in cowpea and should be determined on genotype and/or seed size basis during selection. Plant vigour characters had no direct contribution to seed yield.

Right-Sided and Left-Sided Colon Cancers are Two Distinct Disease Entities: an Analysis of 200 Cases in Pakistan

Hussain, Mudassar,Waqas, Omer,Hassan, Usman,Loya, Asif,Akhtar, Noreen,Mushtaq, Sajid,Yusuf, Muhammad Aasim,Syed, Aamir Ali Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.5

Background: There is growing evidence that there are differences in histological and genetic characteristics along with clinical behavior between right- and left-sided colon carcinomas. We have compared various parameters of the two types and assessed associations of the results with prognosis in patients in Pakistan. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 200 cases from our institutional database; 100 cases of right-sided and 100 cases of left-sided colon cancer. Parameters including age, gender, TNM stage, histological features and clinical outcome were analyzed. Results: The patients with right-sided colon cancer were significantly older as compared to their counterparts with left-sided cancer. They presented with a lumbar mass rather than symptoms of obstruction and perforation as seen in left-sided colon cancers, and the histology showed higher percentage of poorly differentiated tumors with advanced pT stage. Moreover, Crohn's-like reactions, intra tumoral lymphocyte responses and other poor prognostic factors like lymph vascular invasion and perineural invasion were more common in right-sided cancers. Conclusions: We found that right- and left-sided colon cancers are different from each other in terms of clinical presentation, histology and clinical behavior. Right-sided colon cancers are more aggressive and are associated with poorer clinical outcome as compared to left sided colon cancers in our population.

A review of the phytochemistry and medicinal activities of the popular African food additive: Parkia biglobosa seed

Wasiu Gbolahan Balogun,Ismail Abiola Adebayo,Usman Yusuf,Azman Seeni 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2018 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.18 No.4

Food additives have been used for many decades, mainly to enhance food aesthetics and taste. However, considerable research attention has been placed on identifying food additives with additional medicinal benefits. Despite on-going efforts to document food additives with medicinal benefits, including the Food and Drug Administration database, many of such products have not yet been covered. Expanding the coverage of food additives with medicinal benefits could help accelerate drug discovery efforts. Here, we provide an update of the medicinal properties of the fermented seeds of the African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa), an example of less-known food additives. This condiment is commonly used in West and Central Africa. In this review, the chemical composition of P. biglobosa seeds has been highlighted as a cheap, reliable source of vital minerals and vitamins. The medicinal activities of P. biglobosa seeds include antihypertensive, anti-diabetes, wound healing and antioxidant activities. For a natural product to be accepted as a potential drug or supplement for food, its safety is important, hence, the safety concerns about this seed have been highlighted. The seeds can be considered safe as there are no reported side effects of the food additive. The review also discussed the future direction of research on the medicinal and nutritional values of the seeds. Finally, the medicinal activities identified from the seeds could be further explored for drug discovery.