Comparative Lipid Peroxidation and Apoptosis in Embryo-Larval Zebrafish Exposed to 3 Azole Fungicides, Tebuconazole, Propiconazole, and Myclobutanil, at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations.

Azole fungicides have entered the aquatic environment through agricultural and residential runoff. In the present study, we compared the off-target toxicity of tebuconazole, propiconazole, and myclobutanil using embryo-larval zebrafish as a model. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relative toxicity of tebuconazole, propiconazole, and myclobutanil using multiple-level endpoints such as behavioral endpoints and enzymatic and molecular biomarkers associated with their mode of action. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to azoles at environmentally relevant and high concentrations, 0.3, 1.0, and 1000 µg/L, starting at 5 h postfertilization (hpf) up to 48 hpf, as well as 5 d postfertilization (dpf). Relative mRNA expressions of cytochrome P450 family 51 lanosterol-14α-demethylase, glutathione S-transferase, caspase 9, phosphoprotein p53, and BCL2-associated X protein were measured to assess toxicity attributable to fungicides at the mRNA level, whereas caspase 3/7 (apoptosis) and 3,4-methylene​dioxy​amphetamine (lipid peroxidation) levels were measured at the enzymatic level. Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction was measure through the Mito Stress test using the Seahorse XFe24 at 48 hpf. In addition, light to dark movement behavior was monitored at 5 dpf using Danio Vision® to understand adverse effects at the organismal level. There was no significant difference in the light to dark behavior with exposure to azoles compared to controls. The molecular biomarkers indicated that propiconazole and myclobutanil induced lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and potentially apoptosis at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.3 and 1 µg/L). The results from the mitochondrial respiration assay indicated a slight decrease in spare respiratory capacity with an acute exposure (48 hpf) to all 3 azoles at 1000 µg/L. Based on the present results, propiconazole and myclobutanil are acutely toxic compared to tebuconazole in aquatic organisms at environmentally relevant concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1455-1466. © 2019 SETAC.

Development and assessment of an evidence-based prostate cancer intervention programme for black men: the W.O.R.D. on prostate cancer video.

In spite of the numerous prostate cancer (CaP) intervention programmes that have been implemented to address the disparities experienced by black men, CaP prevention, risk reduction, and early detection behaviours remain low among black men. The lack of formal theoretical frameworks to guide the development and implementation of interventions has been recognised as one of the primary reasons for the failure of health interventions. Members of the Florida Prostate Cancer Health Disparity (CaPHD) group employed the Personal Model of Prostate Cancer Disparity (PIPCaD) model and the Health Communication Process Model to plan, implement, and evaluate an intervention programme, the 'Working through Outreach to Reduce Disparity (W.O.R.D. on Prostate Cancer)' video for black men. The location for the video was in a barbershop, a popular setting for the targeted group. The video starred CaP survivors, CaP advocates, a radio personality, and barbers. In addition, remarks were provided by a CaP scientist, a urologist, a CaP advocate, a former legislator, and a minister. The W.O.R.D. video was developed to assist black men in meeting the Healthy People 2020 goal for the United States of America. The efficacy of the W.O.R.D. video was successfully established among 143 black men in Florida. Exposure to the video was found to statistically increase CaP knowledge and intention to participate in CaP screening. Furthermore, exposure to the video statistically decreased participants' perception of the number of factors contributing to decision, uncertainty about CaP screening. Participants were highly satisfied with the video content and rated the quality of the video to be very good. Participants also rated the video as credible, informative, useful, relevant, understandable, not too time consuming, clear, and interesting.

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function of the bakery workers in Ibadan, Nigeria.

A total of five hundred Bakery workers were studied to assess occupational induced lung impairment as a result of exposure to grain and flour dust. Occupational related symptoms were recorded using structured questionnaire. Age and sex matched controls consisting of 500 University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan workers and students were used. They were apparently healthy and work and live at places free of fumes and smoke. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured in all subjects. However, full spirometry work up was done on 100 bakery workers and 100 control subjects that had been selected using simple random sampling technique. The most frequent pulmonary symptoms among the bakery workers were sneezing and running nose (53.30%) and periodic breathlessness/chest tightness (23.16%) while the symptom of cough/phlegm present in (21.53%) of the subjects. The mean PEFR of the bakery workers (463.20 + 51.39 L/ min) was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) than that of the control subjects (538.0 + 47.23 L/min). Similarly, the mean values of FEV1, FVC and FEV1% were also significantly lower than the control subjects. The findings indicate that respiratory symptoms are common during the working hours among the bakery workers and 23.16% of the subjects studied suffered some degree of airway obstruction.

Prevalence of active pulmonary tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus seropositive adult patients in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has reached a pandemic proportion. There is a resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) Worldwide, this return of an old enemy has been attributed to a number of factors among which HIV infection has emerged as the strongest known risk factor determining the outcome of infection with Mycobaterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) accounts for more than 80% of TB cases and is the main problem on account of its frequency and infectivity. There have been studies determining prevalence of HIV in TB cases but that of prevalence of PTB in HIV infected patients have been limited. This study was undertaken to establish the prevalence of active PTB in HIV seropositive adult patients in University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Fifty-eight confirmed HIV-seropositive adults patients were studied. All subjects were interviewed and examined. Subjects with positive respiratory symptoms and signs had their sputum examined and cultured for M. tuberculosis and had chest radiograph done. In this study, the prevalence of active PTB in HIV-seropositive subjects was 32.8% The TB prevalence shows a bimodal distribution at the extremes of age, while the age group 30-39 years had the lowest prevalence of 23.3%.

Pattern of active pulmonary tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus seropositive adult patients in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Fifty-eight confirmed HIV-seropositive adult patients were studied. All subjects were interviewed and examined. Subjects with positive respiratory symptoms and signs had their sputum examined and cultured for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Their chest radiograph, full blood count (FBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were also estimated. Subjects with Pulmonary tuberculosis were treated using directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) regimen. Sixty-three percent of subjects were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on direct smear and/or culture. Sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) positive subjects who completed the intensive phase of antituberculous drugs were sputum converted at 2 months. The chest x-ray finding at diagnosis showed 2 subjects (11%) with normal chest x-ray; localised lesion in 7 (37%) subjects; diffuse lesion in 7 (37%); pulmonary cavities in 3 (16%); miliary pattern in 2 (11%); pleural effusion in 2 (11%); hilar adenopathy in 2 (11%). Repeat chest-x-ray at 3 months showed complete clearance of pulmonary infiltrates in 29% whilst 71% had appreciable improvement in radiologic features. The study showed that although chest x-ray may be "normal" in sputum AFB positive HIV infected individuals, radiologic picture tends to be more diffuse and extensive. This study was therefore undertaken to determine the pattern of PTB in HIV seropositive adult patients in U.C.H., Ibadan.

Procured abortion in Ilorin, Nigeria.

A prospective study of the maternal mortality and morbidity and other related social problems among 144 cases of procured abortion in Ilorin, Nigeria over a 24-month period is presented. A mortality rate of 90.3 per thousand procured abortions was recorded. Genital sepsis, haemorrhagic anaemia, gut injury, uterine perforation and vesico vaginal fistulae (VVF) were encountered. Poor referral system, late presentation, poor blood transfusion services and inadequate availability of drugs had adverse effects on the patients. The implications (the menace and frequency) of these and possible measures like improving the literacy level, the moral standards, contraceptive practice and family life education (sex education) are discussed.

PIP: A review of the cases of 144 women who presented to the University of Ilorin (Nigeria) Teaching Hospital between July 1992 and June 1994 with complications of illegal abortion underscores the health hazards associated with this procedure. There were 13 deaths (90.3/1000 procured abortions) in this series. 77 of the abortion patients were teenagers; another 35 were 20-24 years old. Teenagers were more likely than women in the older age groups to obtain their abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy. 85 women were single. Major occupations represented in the group included students (32 women), house girls/maids (23 women), and business/trading (20 women). The desire to remain in school or retain employment were the reasons most commonly cited for terminating the pregnancy. Sepsis occurred in 39 women, while 18 experienced hemorrhagic anemia. The causes of death included generalized septicemia (3 cases), sepsis with anemia (3 cases), sepsis with jaundice (2 cases), peritonitis with abscess (2 cases), uterine perforation with peritonitis (2 cases), and endotoxic shock (1 case). The maternal mortality and morbidity associated with illegal abortion in Nigeria suggest a need to make family planning services more available to adolescents and single women and to ensure that the scope of family life education is expanded.