Effectiveness of poliovirus vaccines against circulating vaccine-derived type 2 poliomyelitis in Nigeria between 2017 and 2022: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Between 2018 and 2022, Nigeria experienced continuous transmission of circulating vaccine-derived type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2), with 526 cases of cVDPV2 poliomyelitis detected in total and approximately 180 million doses of monovalent type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine (mOPV2) and 450 million doses of novel type 2 oral poliovirus vaccine (nOPV2) delivered in outbreak response campaigns. Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) was introduced into routine immunisation in 2015, with a second dose added in 2021. We aimed to estimate the effectiveness of nOPV2 against cVDPV2 paralysis and compare nOPV2 effectiveness with that of mOPV2 and IPV. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study, we used acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance data in Nigeria from Jan 1, 2017, to Dec 31, 2022, using age-matched, onset-matched, and location-matched cVDPV2-negative AFP cases as test-negative controls. We also did a parallel prospective study from March, 2021, using age-matched community controls from the same settlement as the cases. We included children born after May, 2016, younger than 60 months, for whom polio immunisation history (doses of OPV from campaigns and IPV) was reported. We estimated the per-dose effectiveness of nOPV2 against cVDPV2 paralysis using conditional logistic regression and compared nOPV2 effectiveness with that of mOPV2 and IPV. FINDINGS: In the retrospective case-control study, we identified 509 cVDPV2 poliomyelitis cases in Nigeria with case verification and paralysis onset between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2022. Of these, 82 children were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria, and 363 (85%) of 427 eligible cases were matched to 1303 test-negative controls. Cases reported fewer OPV and IPV doses than test-negative controls (mean number of OPV doses 5·9 [SD 4·2] in cases vs 6·7 [4·3] in controls; one or more IPV doses reported in 95 [26%] of 363 cases vs 513 [39%] of 1303 controls). We found low per-dose effectiveness of nOPV2 (12%, 95% CI -2 to 25) and mOPV2 (17%, 3 to 29), but no significant difference between the two vaccines (p=0·67). The estimated effectiveness of one IPV dose was 43% (23 to 58). In the prospective study, 181 (46%) of 392 eligible cases were matched to 1557 community controls. Using community controls, we found a high effectiveness of IPV (89%, 95% CI 83 to 93, for one dose), a low per-dose effectiveness of nOPV2 (-23%, -45 to -5) and mOPV2 (1%, -23 to 20), and no significant difference between the per-dose effectiveness of nOPV2 and mOPV2 (p=0·12). INTERPRETATION: We found no significant difference in estimated effectiveness of the two oral vaccines, supporting the recommendation that the more genetically stable nOPV2 should be preferred in cVDPV2 outbreak response. Our findings highlight the role of IPV and the necessity of strengthening routine immunisation, the primary route through which IPV is delivered. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK Medical Research Council.

Echocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy and Geometric Patterns in Patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common complication in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), and it has been associated with systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and sudden death. There is a wide variation in the reported prevalence of LVH in patients with SCA, partly due to the varying criteria applied, and the impact of small weight and body surface area (BSA) in SCA patients. We used four different criteria to determine echocardiographic LVH and geometric patterns in patients with steady-state SCA. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined by LVM, LVM indexed to BSA, LVM indexed to height and LVM indexed to height2.7 using gender-specific reference values. Left ventricular geometry was determined using LVH and relative wall thickness. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients with steady-state SCA, aged 18years and above were studied from January 2018 to April 2018. The median [IQR] age of the patients was 23 [10] years. Forty-seven (57.3%) were females. The prevalence of LVH was highest when LVM was indexed to BSA (80.5%), followed by LVM indexed to height (73.2%). Comparable prevalences of 68.3% and 69.5% were observed using LVM and LVM indexed to height2.7, respectively. The prevalence of LVH was similar in males and females for all the criteria. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LVH is high among patients with steady-state SCA irrespective of the criteria applied. The most prevalent geometric pattern was eccentric LVH. Indexing to BSA might result in over-estimation of LVH given the relatively small BSA in patients with SCA. Indexing to height 2.7 might give a more accurate estimate of LVH.

CONTEXTE: L'hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche (HVG) est une complication fréquente chez les patients atteints d'anémie falciforme (ACS), et elle a été associée à un dysfonctionnement systolique et diastolique, ainsi qu'à une mort subite. La prévalence de l'HVG chez les patients atteints d'anémie falciforme varie considérablement, en partie à cause des différents critères appliqués et de l'impact du petit poids et de la surface corporelle (BSA) des patients atteints d'anémie falciforme. Nous avons utilisé quatre critères différents pour déterminer l'HVG échocardiographique et les schémas géométriques chez les patients atteints d'ACS à l'état stable. L'hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche a été définie par la MVL, la MVL indexée sur la surface corporelle, la MVL indexée sur la taille et la MVL indexée sur la taille2,7 en utilisant des valeurs de référence spécifiques au sexe. La géométrie du ventricule gauche a été déterminée en utilisant l'HVG et l'épaisseur relative de la paroi. RÉSULTATS: Quatre-vingts deux patients atteints d'ACS à l'état stable, âgés de 18 ans et plus ont été étudiés de janvier 2018 à avril 2018. L'âge médian [IQR] des patients était de 23 [10] ans. Quarantesept (57,3 %) étaient des femmes. La prévalence de l'HVG était la plus élevée lorsque la MVL était indexée sur la BSA (80,5 %), suivie de la MVL indexée sur la taille (73,2 %). Une prévalence comparable de 68,3 % et 69,5 % a été observée en utilisant la MVL et la MVL indexée sur la taille2,7, respectivement. La prévalence de l'HVG est similaire chez les hommes et les femmes pour tous les critères. CONCLUSION: La prévalence de l'HVG est élevée chez les patients atteints d'ACS à l'état stable, quel que soit le critère appliqué. Le modèle géométrique le plus répandu est l'HVG excentrique. L'indexation à la BSA pourrait entraîner une surestimation de l'HVG étant donné la BSA relativement faible chez les patients atteints d'ACS. L'indexation à la taille 2,7 pourrait donner une estimation plus précise de l'HVG. Mots clés: Hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche; Géométrie ventriculaire gauche; Drépanocytose ; Échocardiographie.

Impact of Seasonal Changes on Asthma Control in North-Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Asthma control is poor worldwide and is often affected by changes in environmental conditions. Effort to determine the cause of this heavy burden on patients and the healthcare system is crucial. AIM: To determine the role of seasonal changes on asthma control in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria. METHODS: One hundred and one (101) patients with physician diagnosed asthma were consecutively recruited after obtaining informed consent. A structured researcher administered questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection and asthma control test questionnaire was also used to assess level of asthma control in each participant. Five items with a 4-week recall were assessed. Data for temperature, humidity, wind and rain was obtained from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Sokoto. We computed frequency and level of asthma control with seasons of the year and weather variables. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients comprising 71 females and 30 males with a mean age of 32.14 ± 10.68 years participated in the study. Level of asthma control was found to be poor among the participants with 41(40.6%) having very poorly controlled asthma, 30(29.7%) with not well controlled and 30(24.8%) well controlled asthma respectively. Among patients with very poorly controlled asthma, 22(48.9%) occurred during harmattan season and 14(31.1%) during rainy season. Weather parameters such as humidity shows significant relationship with asthma control (B= -0.504, P= 0.031, 95% CI [-0.012, -0.0253]). CONCLUSION: The study shows that asthma control is poor among the participants and presentation with poor asthma control is more during harmattan season.

CONTEXTE: Le contrôle de l'asthme est médiocre dans le monde entier et est souvent affecté par les changements des conditions environnementales. L'effort pour déterminer la cause de ce lourd fardeau pour les patients et le système de santé est crucial. OBJECTIF: Déterminer le rôle des changements saisonniers sur le contrôle de l'asthme à Sokoto, dans le nord-ouest du Nigeria. MÉTHODES: Cent un (101) patients atteints d'asthme diagnostiqué par un médecin ont été recrutés de manière consécutive après avoir obtenu leur consentement éclairé. Un questionnaire structuré administré par le chercheur a été utilisé comme instrument de collecte de données et le questionnaire de test de contrôle de l'asthme a également été utilisé pour évaluer le niveau de contrôle de l'asthme chez chaque participant. Cinq éléments avec une période de rappel de 4 semaines ont été évalués. Les données sur la température, l'humidité, le vent et la pluie ont été obtenues auprès de l'Agence météorologique nigériane (NIMET) de Sokoto. Nous avons calculé la fréquence et le niveau de contrôle de l'asthme en fonction des saisons de l'année et des variables météorologiques. RÉSULTATS: Cent un patients, comprenant 71 femmes et 30 hommes, avec un âge moyen de 32,14 ± 10,68 ans, ont participé à l'étude. Le niveau de contrôle de l'asthme s'est avéré médiocre parmi les participants, avec 41 (40,6 %) ayant un asthme très mal contrôlé, 30 (29,7 %) un asthme non bien contrôlé et 30 (24,8 %) un asthme bien contrôlé, respectivement. Parmi les patients souffrant d'asthme très mal contrôlé, 22 (48,9 %) ont été signalés pendant la saison de l'harmattan et 14 (31,1 %) pendant la saison des pluies. Les paramètres météorologiques tels que l'humidité montrent une relation significative avec le contrôle de l'asthme (B= -0,504, P=0,031, IC à 95 % [-0,012, -0,0253]). CONCLUSION: L'étude montre que le contrôle de l'asthme est médiocre parmi les participants et que les cas d'asthme mal contrôlé sont plus fréquents pendant la saison de l'harmattan. MOTS-CLÉS: Asthme, Contrôle de l'asthme, Saison, Harmattan.

An insight on the complete chloroplast genome of Gomphocarpus siniacus and Duvalia velutina, Asclepiadoideae (Apocynaceae).

We studied the complete chloroplast genome of Gomphocarpus siniacus and Duvalia velutina from Asclepiadoideae subfamily; due to their medicinal importance and distribution worldwide their interest became high. In this study we analyzed the complete chloroplast genomes of G. siniacus and D. velutina using Illumina sequencing technology. The sequences were compared with the other species from Apocynaceae family. The complete genome of G. siniacus is 162,570 bp while D. velutina has154, 478 bp in length. Both genomes consist of 119 genes; encode 31 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Comparative studies of the two genomes showed variations in SSR markers in which G. siniacus possesses 223 while D. velutina has 186. This could be used for barcoding in order to aid in easy identification of the species. Phylogenetic analysis on the other hand reaffirms the tribal position of G. siniacus in Asclepiadeae and D. velutina in Ceropegieae. These findings could be used in subsequent research studies of angiosperms identification, genetic engineering, herb genomics and phylogenomic studies of Apocynaceae family.

Thermo-mechanical properties prediction of Ni-reinforced Al2O3 composites using micro-mechanics based representative volume elements.

For effective cutting tool inserts that absorb thermal shock at varying temperature gradients, improved thermal conductivity and toughness are required. In addition, parameters such as the coefficient of thermal expansion must be kept within a reasonable range. This work presents a novel material design framework based on a multi-scale modeling approach that proposes nickel (Ni)-reinforced alumina (Al2O3) composites to tailor the mechanical and thermal properties required for ceramic cutting tools by considering numerous composite parameters. The representative volume elements (RVEs) are generated using the DREAM.3D software program and the output is imported into a commercial finite element software ABAQUS. The RVEs which contain multiple Ni particles with varying porosity and volume fractions are used to predict the effective thermal and mechanical properties using the computational homogenization methods under appropriate boundary conditions (BCs). The RVE framework is validated by the sintering of Al2O3-Ni composites in various compositions. The predicted numerical results agree well with the measured thermal and structural properties. The properties predicted by the numerical model are comparable with those obtained using the rules of mixtures and SwiftComp, as well as the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) based computational homogenization method. The results show that the ABAQUS, SwiftComp and FFT results are fairly close to each other. The effects of porosity and Ni volume fraction on the mechanical and thermal properties are also investigated. It is observed that the mechanical properties and thermal conductivities decrease with the porosity, while the thermal expansion remains unaffected. The proposed integrated modeling and empirical approach could facilitate the development of unique Al2O3-metal composites with the desired thermal and mechanical properties for ceramic cutting inserts.

Analysis of the variation of costs for sewage sludge transport, recovery and disposal in Northern Italy: a recent survey (2015-2021).

The cost for the recovery/disposal of residues produced by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represents a relevant aspect in the economics of WWTP management. We elaborated and applied a desk-based methodology to analyze tender processes and to investigate quantitatively and qualitatively the variability of unit costs for sewage sludge (EWC 190805) management in Northern Italy from 2015 to 2021. We conducted a qualitative survey for operators of the sector. Unit costs for sludge management increased over time. The unit cost was mostly affected by the type of sludge recovery/disposal being the cost for recovery in agriculture (direct or by composting) lower than incineration and landfilling. Other variables influencing the cost were the distance and discount offered by the contractor. Regulatory and judiciary events determined a sudden increase of sludge disposal costs in Italy between 2017 and 2019. Recovery in agriculture, when practicable, remains the preferable option. Results can orient and support the optimization of sludge management costs and be of interest for future studies at national or European level.

The novel Mechanical Ventilator Milano for the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper presents the Mechanical Ventilator Milano (MVM), a novel intensive therapy mechanical ventilator designed for rapid, large-scale, low-cost production for the COVID-19 pandemic. Free of moving mechanical parts and requiring only a source of compressed oxygen and medical air to operate, the MVM is designed to support the long-term invasive ventilation often required for COVID-19 patients and operates in pressure-regulated ventilation modes, which minimize the risk of furthering lung trauma. The MVM was extensively tested against ISO standards in the laboratory using a breathing simulator, with good agreement between input and measured breathing parameters and performing correctly in response to fault conditions and stability tests. The MVM has obtained Emergency Use Authorization by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in healthcare settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and Health Canada Medical Device Authorization for Importation or Sale, under Interim Order for Use in Relation to COVID-19. Following these certifications, mass production is ongoing and distribution is under way in several countries. The MVM was designed, tested, prepared for certification, and mass produced in the space of a few months by a unique collaboration of respiratory healthcare professionals and experimental physicists, working with industrial partners, and is an excellent ventilator candidate for this pandemic anywhere in the world.

On the Mechanism of Human Saliva Interaction with Environmental Dust in Relation to Spreading of Viruses.

Environmental effects such as dust mitigation can amplify the spread of viruses via inhaling infected dust particles. Infusion and the spreading rate of human saliva over the dust particles can play a critical role in contiguous virus spread. In the present study, mechanical and chemical interactions of human saliva with environmental dust particles are considered. The saliva droplet impact on dust particles is examined while mimicking saliva droplet spreading during coughing in a dusty ambience. The mechanisms of saliva infusion and cloaking on the dust particles are explored. The characteristics of saliva droplet normal and oblique impacts on a dust particle are examined experimentally and numerically to evaluate the amount of saliva residues on the impacted particle surface. The findings reveal that the saliva liquid infuses and cloaks the dust particle surfaces. The saliva droplet impact on the dust particles leaves a considerable amount of saliva residues on the impacted surfaces, which remain undried for a prolonged period in indoor environments. Weak adhesion of the saliva-infected dust particles on surfaces, such as glass surfaces, enables saliva-infected dust particles to rejoin neighboring ambient air while possessing a high potential for virus spreading.

Impacting Water Droplets Can Alleviate Dust from Slanted Hydrophobic Surfaces.

Water droplet impacting on a slanted dusty hydrophobic surface is examined in relation to dust mitigation from surfaces. Impacting droplet characteristics including droplet spreading/retraction rates, slipping length, and rebound heights are analyzed via high-speed recording and a tracker program. The environmental dust characteristics in terms of size, shape, elemental composition, and surface free energy are evaluated by adopting the analytical methods. The findings reveal that the dynamic characteristics of the impacting droplet on the slanted hydrophobic surface are significantly influenced by the dust particles. The maximum droplet spreading over the dusty surface becomes smaller than that of the nondusty surface. The presence of the dust particles on the slanted hydrophobic surface increases energy dissipation, and the water droplet slipping length over the surface becomes less than that corresponding to the nondusty surface. Impacting droplet fluid infuses over the dust particle surface, which enables mitigation of dust from the surface to the droplet fluid. A dust-mitigated area on the slanted surface is larger than that corresponding to the horizontal surface; in which case, the area ratio becomes almost six-fold, which slightly reduces with increasing Weber number. The optical transmittance of the dust-mitigated surface by the impacting droplet remains high.

Carbonated Water Droplet Can Ease Dust Mitigation from Hydrophobic Surfaces.

Carbonated water droplets can ease the difficulties faced by distilled water droplets mitigating dust particles from hydrophobic surfaces. Rising of CO2 bubbles in carbonated water droplets and their interaction with the flow structure, created by Marangoni and buoyancy possessions, in droplets are investigated. Spreading and infusion (cloaking) of carbonated water on dust surfaces are analyzed, and the rate at which bubbles formed inside the carbonated water droplet, as placed on a dusty hydrophobic surface, is examined. Flow structures formed inside the carbonated water droplet are simulated, and findings are compared to those corresponding to the distilled water droplet. Dust mitigation from the hydrophobic surface toward droplet liquid inside is evaluated using the high-speed recording system, and the results are compared with those of predictions. It is found that carbonated water spreads and infuses onto dust particles at a higher rate than that at which distilled water does. The rising bubble generates wake-like flow in the fluid while modifying the flow structure inside the droplet; hence, the number of circulating structures increases from two to four in droplet fluid. The dust particles picked up by flow currents are redistributed over the entire carbonated water droplet, while mitigated dust particles remain in the lower region of the distilled water droplet. Bubbles formed inside the carbonated water droplet improve dust lifting and rate of dust mitigation from the surface.

Droplet Rolling and Spinning in V-Shaped Hydrophobic Surfaces for Environmental Dust Mitigation.

The motion of a water droplet in a hydrophobic wedge fixture was examined to assess droplet rolling and spinning for improved dust mitigation from surfaces. A wedge fixture composed of two inclined hydrophobic plates had different wetting states on surfaces. Droplet rolling and spinning velocities were analyzed and findings were compared with the experiments. A wedge fixture was designed and realized using a 3D printing facility and a high speed recording system was adopted to evaluate droplet motion in the wedge fixture. Polycarbonate sheets were used as plates in the fixture, and solution crystallization and functionalized silica particles coating were adopted separately on plate surfaces, which provided different wetting states on each plate surface while generating different droplet pinning forces on each hydrophobic plate surface. This arrangement also gave rise to the spinning of rolling droplets in the wedge fixture. Experiments were extended to include dust mitigation from inclined hydrophobic surfaces while incorporating spinning- and rolling droplet and rolling droplet-only cases. The findings revealed the wedge fixture arrangement resulted in spinning and rolling droplets and spinning velocity became almost 25% of the droplet rolling velocity, which agrees well with both predictions and experiments. Rolling and spinning droplet gave rise to parallel edges droplet paths on dusty hydrophobic surfaces while striations in droplet paths were observed for rolling droplet-only cases. Spinning and rolling droplets mitigated a relatively larger area of dust on inclined hydrophobic surfaces as compared to their counterparts corresponding to rolling droplet-only cases.

Treatment of aqueous wastes by means of Thermophilic Aerobic Membrane Reactor (TAMR) and nanofiltration (NF): process auditing of a full-scale plant.

This work focuses on the Thermophilic Aerobic Membrane Reactor (TAMR) process. The research was carried out on a full-scale facility where, all along a 12-year period, daily monitoring and process audit tests were conducted for the process analysis and optimization. The plant treated -light and high-strength aqueous wastes and two different configurations were adopted: (1) thermophilic biological reactor + ultrafiltration (TAMR) and (2) TAMR + nanofiltration (TAMR + NF). In the latter case, the average chemical oxygen demand removal yield was equal to 89% and an effective denitrification (nitrogen oxides removal equal to 96%) was achieved by reducing the dissolved oxygen concentration in the bioreactor. Low specific sludge production was observed. Poor sludge settling properties were measured by a lab-scale settling test; respirometric tests (nitrogen uptake rate and ammonia uptake rate) showed the presence of denitrification and the inhibition of nitrification. Hydrodynamic tests revealed the presence of a significant dead space, thus showing room for improving the overall process performance. Finally, the rheological properties of the sludge were measured as a function of the biomass concentration, pH, temperature, and aeration scheme.

Chronic Kidney Disease amongst Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Northeastern Nigeria: A Study of Prevalence and Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Involvement of the kidneys in patients with sickle cell anaemia is a well recognised chronic complication. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients with homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS) and to identify risk factors associated with its development. METHODOLOGY: The subjects consisted of adolescents and adults with HbSS recruited sequentially from the adult haematology outpatient clinic and Daycare ward of the unit. Clinical variables including age at diagnosis of SCA, the frequency of vaso-occlusive crisis and transfusion therapy, as well as laboratory data including haematological profile and renal function tests were obtained. The glomerular filtration rate was estimated (eGFR) using the 'modification of diet in renal disease' (MDRD) formula. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-four HbSS patients were recruited. The prevalence of CKD amongst them was 38.9%. Further stratification of the patients based on eGFR showed that sixty-nine (26.8%) had hyperfiltration; 35 (13.6%) stage 1 CKD; 53 (20.6%) stage 2 CKD; 33 (12.8%) stage 3a CKD; 28 (10.9%) stage 3b CKD; 30 (11.7%) stage 4 CKD and 9 (3.5%) had end stage renal disease. There was significant association between eGFR and clinical parameters such as age (r -0.353, p=0.000), SBP (r -0.148, p= 0.021), DBP (r -0.213, p=0.001) and total number of blood received (r -0.276, p=0.000); and laboratory parameters such as PCV (r 0.371, p=0.000); urea ( r 0.527, p=000); creatinine (r 0.625, p=0.000) and uric acid ( r -0.419, p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The present study has revealed a high prevalence of CKD amongst patients with SCA in our region. Clinical and laboratory predictors of CKD using eGFR were identified to include age, SBP, number of units of blood transfusion, PCV, urea, creatinine and uric acid levels.

Development of a new compact gamma-ray spectrometer optimised for runaway electron measurements.

A new compact gamma-ray spectrometer was developed in order to optimise the measurement of bremsstrahlung radiation emitted from runaway electrons in the MeV range. The detector is based on a cerium doped lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO:Ce) scintillator coupled to a silicon photomultiplier and is insensitive to magnetic fields. A dedicated electronic board was developed to optimise the signal readout as well as for online control of the device. The detector combines a dynamic range up to 10 MeV with moderate energy non-linearity, counting rate capabilities in excess of 1 MHz, and an energy resolution that extrapolates to a few % in the MeV range, thus meeting the requirements for its application to runaway electron studies by bremsstrahlung measurements in the gamma-ray energy range.

Intestinal parasites of Tolypeutes matacus, the most frequently consumed armadillo in the Chaco region.

The southern three-banded armadillo Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804) is distributed from eastern Bolivia, south-west Brazil, the Gran Chaco of Paraguay and Argentina, and lives in areas with dry vegetation. This armadillo is one of the most frequently consumed species by people in this area. The objective of this work was test for zoonotic species among helminths in 12 intestinal tracts of T. matacus in a locality from the Argentinean Chaco (Chamical, La Rioja province). The parasites were studied with conventional parasite morphology and morphometrics, and prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance were calculated for each species encountered. In the small intestine, seven species of nematodes and two species of cestodes were identified. In the large intestine, two species of nematodes were recorded. We did not find zoonotic species but have added new host records. This study in the Chaco region thus contributes to growing knowledge of the parasite fauna associated with armadillo species in this region.

Tuberculosis of the Breast: An Initial Presentation of the Metabolic Syndrome with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Young Nigerian Woman.

Breast tuberculosis is an uncommon presentation of extra pulmonary tuberculosis. A 40-year-old obese woman presented with a right breast abscess which had failed to heal after surgical drainage. There was no family history of breast disease. Biopsy and histology of the lesion showed chronic granulomatous inflammation with positive stains for acid fast bacilli compatible with tuberculosis. Further evaluation confirmed metabolic syndrome with type 2 diabetes mellitus. She was placed on antituberculosis chemotherapy and appropriate therapy for diabetes mellitus with complete resolution of the lesion. We report this case because of its rarity and to highlight the association between tuberculosis an infectious disease and overnutrition in diabetes mellitus, a noncommunicable disease.

Loss of helminth species diversity in the large hairy armadillo Chaetophractus villosus on the Tierra del Fuego Island, Argentina.

The aim of this work is to compare the taxonomic diversity of parasite species of the large hairy armadillo Chaetophractus villosus in its native range and in another recently introduced population (Tierra del Fuego island), and to evaluate whether the isolation of the latter determines a decrease in its parasitic diversity. Forty specimens from Buenos Aires and Tierra del Fuego Provinces were collected and examined for helminths. Eleven parasite species were found in the native population, and only one species was present in Tierra del Fuego (Trichohelix tuberculata). This may be explained because isolation and climatic conditions prevent encounters between potential host species and infective forms of parasites. Further sampling will be needed throughout the entire Patagonia steppe to confirm how the characteristic parasitic fauna of C. villosus behaves across the armadillo's southern distribution.

Treatment of high strength pharmaceutical wastewaters in a Thermophilic Aerobic Membrane Reactor (TAMR).

In the present work we studied the thermophilic biological treatability of high strength liquid wastes from a pharmaceutical industry (rich in organic matter - COD: Chemical Oxygen Demand, nutrients and salinity). Different mixtures (with concentrations of COD, phosphorus and chloride up to 57,000 mg L(-1), 2000 mg L(-1) and 9000 mg L(-1), respectively) were tested. The pilot plant used in this work was designed and built with dimensions comparable to a semi-industrial unit. The results are therefore representative for full-scale applications. During four months of experimentation, the pilot plant (TAMR - Thermophilic Aerobic Membrane Reactor) was operated at 49 ± 1 °C and the organic loading rate was 1.5-5.5 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) with a hydraulic retention time of 5-10 days. Main results are the following: a) extremely high COD removal rate (up to 98%); b) very low sludge production (∼0.016 kgVSS produced kgCOD removed(-1)); c) suitability as a pre-treatment to a conventional (e.g. activated sludge) biological treatment (the studied pharmaceutical industrial wastewaters are discharged into the sewer system for final polishing in a centralized municipal wastewater treatment plant) and d) high phosphorus removal (up to 99%).

Digital configurable instrument for emulation of signals from radiation detectors.

The paper presents a digital instrument characterized by a specially designed architecture that is able to emulate in real time signals from a generic radiation detection system. The instrument is not a pulse generator of recorded shapes but a synthesizer of random pulses compliant to programmable statistics for height and starting time of events. Completely programmable procedures for emulation of noise, disturbances, and reference level variation are implemented.

Epidemiology of armed robbery-related gunshot injuries in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Gunshot Injuries used to be rare in Nigeria until the civil war of 1967-1970. Unfortunately, it has become very rampant recently. The objective of this paper is to look at the epidemiology of armed robbery-related gunshot injuries as seen in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital over a five-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on patients that presented with gunshot injuries within the study period (January 2002 to December 2006) were collected and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: We studied 129 patients with gunshot injuries that were managed during the study period. This comprises of 117 males and 12 females (M:F=9.8:1). Eighty four (65.1%) were young males between 20 and 40 years. One hundred and fifteen (89.2%) of the 129 victims were shot by armed robbers, the remaining 14 (10.8%) were shot under other circumstances not related to armed robbery. Analysis of the time of attack revealed 72% of victims were attacked at night. Over 80% of victims were shot along the highway. The anatomical sites of gunshot entry wound show the extremities having the highest of 46.1%. Ninety one (79.1%) victims were treated operatively while 16 (13.9%) were treated nonoperatively. CONCLUSION: Armed robbery is the motive behind most gunshot injuries in Nigeria. Most of these attacks are preventable if the government would support and motivate the security apparatus responsible. There is also need for the government to support the victims by shouldering their treatment and subsequent rehabilitation.