Recent Articles

Background: Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) are small virus non-enveloped double-stranded circular DNA. They infect epithelial cells (mucous membranes and skin). Many studies have indicated that having multiple sexual partners may lead to higher HPV transmission. Thus female sex workers (FSWs) may be at greater risk of infection compared to the general population. In female sex workers (FSWs), the risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer is especially high. The aim of this work is to determine the prevalence and the genotypes of Humans Papillomavirus (HPV) that circulate in female sex workers populations in Cote d’Ivoire. Methods: From December 2015 to May 2016, cervical samples from 350 female sex workers were tested for some HR-HPV. HPV DNA was amplified using PGMY09 /11 primers which generated 450 base pairs at the L1 region. The samples harboring HPV DNA were genotyped using the multiplex PCR with HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45 and 51 primers. Results: The mean age of this population was 32.5 years. On 350 female sex workers HPV DNA was obtained in 51.5% of the population. A total of 168 (94.38%) specimens harboring HPV DNA were genotypes using multiplex PCR versus 5.61 %, which were not genotyped using HPV 16,18, 31, 33, 35, 45 and 51 by multiplex PCR. These 168 strains permit us to identify 204 strains of HPV on whom we have 88.69 % with single infection while 11.30 % with a multiple infection. Among the multiple infection 36.84 % had respectively double and triple HPV infection and 26.31 % had four HPV infections. HPV genotypes prevalence was the followed: HPV 16 (22.47%), HPV 18 (26.97%), HPV 35 (11.23%), HPV 31 and HPV 33 (7.86%) respectively and HPV 45 (7.30%). Any case of HPV genotype 51 was founded. Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV infection in female sex workers…

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents a major public health problem, affecting 3% of the world’s population. In majority of infected patients, HCV can effectively evade innate immunity resulting in chronic hepatitis, which can progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Similar to most solid tumors, HCCs are believed to contain poorly differentiated cancer stem cell-like cells (CSCs) that initiate tumorigenesis and confer resistance to chemotherapy. The present work attempted to study the mRNA expression of cancer stem cell markers (CD133 and CD44) in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (reflecting the role of HCV) and their correlation with progression toward cirrhosis and HCC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) prepared from chronic HCV patients (either with or without complications) were probed for mRNA expression of CD133 and CD44 by RT-PCR and compared to that of non-HCV cirrhotic patients as well as healthy control subjects. Our results showed that mRNA expression of CD133 was significantly elevated in all HCV patients either with or without complications but not in those with non-HCV cirrhosis, with maximal expression in patients without complications (HCV patients only). On the other hand, maximal CD44 mRNA expression was recorded in HCC patients. Taken together, these results suggests that, chronic HCV infection appear to predispose cells towards the path of acquiring cancer stem cell traits by inducing CD133 and CD44 expression and it prove the hypothesis that the viral interference with signaling network of normal stem cells leads to their transformation into CSCs.

Literature generally evolves from a people’s historical and cultural experiences. Though both male and female writers explore their culture for sources of inspirations, and occasionally, for their techniques, the linguistic items employed by both writers to portray their visions are slightly different in the nature of language use as seen in Akachi Ezeigbo’s The Last of the Strong Ones. This paper investigates language use in Ezeigbo’s work using the feminist discourse approach with particular reference to Elaine Showalter’s ‘Gynocriticism’, which is the study of women as writers. This theoretical thrust provides critics with four models concerning the nature of criticism of female writers’ works. The paper affirms that in spite of what patriarchy calls the feminine in language use, which are gender differentiated linguistic behaviours Ezeigbo like most other female writers, employs language for distinctiveness and identity to express genuinely female consciousness in a personal, intimate tone. The preponderance of personal pronoun ‘I’ helps to present things in an involved and relational way; the frequent use of rhetorical questions are signs of conversational control, whereas the recurrent reference to land, nature and culture reaffirms women as great mothers. In all, Ezeigbo endows women with the power of speech as subjects in their use of linguistic features. Since the novel is a diversity of social speech types, language use also predisposes both sexes along linguistic differences. In conclusion the paper submits that language use as reflected in the feminist world-view, deals with women’s development and identity and not ‘otherness’ as patriarchy perceives it. Therefore, through the careful selection of the linguistic items, Ezeigbo extends the limits of the English language to accommodate her perceptions of African cultural world view from the female perspective.

Malaria is a formidable global parasitic infection that presents a major health challenge in Tropical countries especially among pregnant women and children. It has a profound alteration or reduction effects on hematological parameters such as platelets in pregnant women. The study was carried out to determine the effects of Plasmodium falciparum on platelets of pregnant women in Owerri, Imo state Nigeria. A total of one hundred and fifty (150) blood samples of pregnant women were collected at Holy Rosary hospital Emekuku in owerri. The blood samples were screened for malaria infection using thick and thin Giemsa blood films. Results showed that 50 (33.33%) were positive for malaria parasite showing significant signs, with visible fever accompanying the infections. Normal platelet number ranges from 150 X 109/L; 400 X 109/L. The association of hematological parameters and diagnosis of malaria infection among people living in malaria endemic areas were retrieved. The most commonly changed parameters are platelet count. Presence of thrombocytopenia in pregnant women from endemic areas was useful as supportive diagnostic criteria for malaria in cases with low levels of parasite number. Therefore, when used with other clinical and microscopy parameters, it can significantly improve malaria diagnosis and timely treatment for malaria infection.

The 21st century seems to have been eclipsed by conflict, which makes people presume conflict as necessary part of the society resulting to emphasize on peace education. This paper having taken a critical study on various peace building models of peace education observes that these models as good us they may be have not addressed the root of conflicts in the modern society. However, the researcher being interested in finding a peace building model that will address this gap spotlights on Taoism as having the potential to offering the world their peace-dream. This tradition anchors on the principles of Tao, Yin-yang and Wu-wei. Basic to the trio concepts are the idea of pluralism, non-interference, and non-action. This paper in adopting historical and sociological methods of investigations concludes that if Taoist tradition is adopted as a peace building model, the desired peace shall soon become a reality.