Prevalence of abnormal umbilical arterial Doppler indices in apparently normal pregnancies in Calabar.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may occur in the presence of normal fetal growth parameters, with resultant unanticipated perinatal morbidity and mortality. Umbilical arterial Doppler evaluation determines the fetuses susceptible to compromise by detecting IUGR early enough for successful intervention measures to be implemented. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of abnormal umbilical arterial Doppler indices (UADI) in apparently normal pregnancies and to assess its correlation with amniotic fluid index (AFI). In this prospective cross-sectional study, obstetric sonographic examination and UADI evaluation were done on 310 apparently normal pregnant women between 26 to 40 weeks within a 6-months period. Abnormal UADI had a prevalence of 10.3%. Educational level (P = 0.000) and employment status (P = 0.000) were significantly associated with abnormal UADI. Abnormal umbilical arterial resistivity index (RI) had a significant correlation with EFW (P = 0.000) and HC/AC (P = 0.000) but no significant relationship with AFI (P = 0.593). The prevalence of abnormal umbilical arterial Doppler indices was high in apparently normal pregnancies mostly among women with low socio-economic status, with no demonstrable association with AFI.

Bacterial lipid modification enhances immunoprophylaxis of filarial abundant larval transcript-2 protein in Mastomys model.

As in many other parasitic diseases, efficacious vaccine for lymphatic filariasis has been elusive for want of new approaches leaving billions of people either debilitated or at risk. With multiple B- and T-cell epitopes, the abundant larval transcript-2 (ALT-2) of the filarial worm, Brugia malayi, has been shown to be a promising immunoprophylactic target. To enhance its efficacy, it was lipid modified using our recently developed protein engineering tool, which then offered 30% more immunoprotection (49 vs. 79%) in Mastomys coucha model. Sustained high levels of IFN-γ (about 100 times) and high antibody titres (10-fold) elicited by lipid-modified ALT-2, as compared to the native form, indicated the maintenance of Th1/Th2 balance that is impaired in filariasis. Thus, this study provides the basis for developing efficacious vaccines for filariasis and other parasitic diseases by exploiting bacterial lipid modification.

Chemical Modification of Linkers Provides Stable Linker-Payloads for the Generation of Antibody-Drug Conjugates.

Stability of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in mouse serum is one of the critical requirements for the evaluation of ADCs in mouse tumor models. Described herein is a strategy to address the mouse serum instability of uncialamycin linker-payloads through various chemical approaches that involve modification of different parts of the linker and payload. This effort ultimately led to the identification of a m-amide p-aminobenzyl carbamate (MA-PABC) group that resulted in linkers with dramatic improvement of mouse serum stability without affecting the desired proteolytic cleavage.

Coupling Processes and Experiences of Never Married Heterosexual Black Men and Women: A Phenomenological Study.

Over the past decades, the decline in Black marriages and the upsurge of never-married Blacks have stimulated much theoretical focus, but researchers conducted few studies on never-married heterosexual Black adults' coupling unions. Guided by an integrated framework of Africana womanism and symbolic interactionism, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study used comprehensive individual interviews to explore the experiences of 26 never-married heterosexual Black men and women between the ages 25 and 35 about their attempts to cultivate and maintain intimate romantic relationships as well as their desire for marriage. Findings revealed mixed emotions from participants' lived experiences in developing and sustaining romantic relationships. Clinical implications highlighted the need to effectively attend to Black romantic relationships and experiences in their sociohistorical and sociocultural contexts.

Development of 4-Heteroarylamino-1'-azaspiro[oxazole-5,3'-bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes] as α7 Nicotinic Receptor Agonists.

We describe the synthesis of quinuclidine-containing spiroimidates and their utility as α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonists. A convergent synthetic route allowed for rapid SAR investigation and provided a diverse set of fused 6,5-heteroaryl analogs. Two potent and selective α7 nAChR partial agonists, (1'S,3'R,4'S)-N-(7-bromopyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-yl)-4H-1'-azaspiro[oxazole-5,3'-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan]-2-amine (20) and (1'S,3'R,4'S)-N-(7-chloropyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-4-yl)-4H-1'-azaspiro[oxazole-5,3'-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan]-2-amine (21), were identified. Both agonists improved cognition in a preclinical rodent model of learning and memory. Additionally, 5-HT3A receptor SAR suggested the presence of a steric site that when engaged led to significant loss of affinity at that receptor.

Understanding the experience of Black clients in marriage and family therapy.

Past research on Black clients' utilization of therapy focused on the barriers that prevent Black clients from attending therapy and the reasons for these barriers. However, few studies have been conducted that focus on how Black clients attending therapy actually experience these barriers. This study utilized both Likert and open-ended questions to examine the obstacles 16 Black clients face in their attempts to attend family therapy. The most frequently identified obstacles were related to concerns over family member response and cultural barriers to therapy. Participants also reported concerns about racial and/or cultural differences and a lack of understanding by non-Black therapists. The implications of this study addressed how to effectively meet the therapeutic needs of Black clients.

Indanylacetic acid derivatives carrying aryl-pyridyl and aryl-pyrimidinyl tail groups--new classes of PPAR gamma/delta and PPAR alpha/gamma/delta agonists.

Modulation of PPAR activities represents an attractive approach for the treatment of diabetes with associated cardiovascular complications. The indanylacetic acid structural motif has proven useful in the generation of potent and tunable PPAR ligands. Modification of the substituents on the linker and the heterocycle tail group allowed for the modulation of the selectivity at the different receptor subtypes. Compound 33 was evaluated in vivo, where it displayed the desired reduction of glucose levels and increase in HDL levels in various animal models.

Indanylacetic acids as PPAR-delta activator insulin sensitizers.

A series of indane acetic acid derivatives were prepared which show a spectrum of activity as insulin sensitizers and PPAR-alpha and PPAR-delta ligands. In vivo data are presented for insulin sensitizers with selectivity for PPAR-delta over PPAR-alpha.