by Toyibu Yakubu, Vincent K Dedu and Patrick Owiredu Bampoh
Original Research
The effectiveness of HIV treatment can be assessed by monitoring the Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) cell counts of HIV positive patients. Changes in CD4 cell counts over time in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) could explain how HIV patients respond to treatment (ART). We seek to identify factors that affect Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) cell count response in patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 12 months of treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) of Ghana. The data was based on the records of patients in the database of the hospital from 2009 to 2013. Factors identified include social (smoking habits, religious affiliation and alcohol consumption) and demographic factors (age, sex and employment status); antiretroviral therapy (ART regimen) and immunological CD4 cell count at the initiation of treatment). However, only two of the variables (Age and Gender) were found to be significant and were therefore included in the model. The rest of the variables did not affect CD4 cell count response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The results also showed that the model provided a reasonable statistical fit (chi-square value of 10.058 with corresponding probability value of 0.261 which is greater than the level of significance (0.05)). Since age affected (increase) in the CD4 cell counts in response to ART, detection of HIV infections at young age is paramount for early treatment when there the likelihood of significant CD4 cell count increase. This will translate into increased immunity and prolong the lives of HIV patients.
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2016, 4(4), 78-83. DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-4-4-3
Pub. Date: November 14, 2016
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by V. Kalantaryan, S. Hakobyan, R. Ghazaryan and R. Martirosyan
Original Research
Convenience of usage of non-thermal coherent millimeter electromagnetic waves has been studied in tumor chemotherapy. DNA released from sarcoma 45 tumor (tDNA) and healthy rats in water-saline solution was irradiated during 90 min by frequencies of both resonant for oscillations of water molecular structures (50.3 GHz and 64.5 GHz) and non-resonant (48.3 GHz). Experiments showed that at the irradiation by resonant frequencies DNA thermostability increases: tDNA thermostability enhances more than hDNA thermostability. Non-irradiated and irradiated tDNA and hDNA binding thermodynamics with anti-tumorous drug doxorubicin (DX) was studied as well. By spectroscopic method absorption spectra of non-irradiated and irradiated complexes of DNA with doxorubicin were obtained. From the absorption spectra, binding constants at 290, 300 and 310 K temperatures have been determined. According to our calculations doxorubicin with irradiated DNA forms a more stable complex and much stronger with tDNA irradiated with resonant frequencies. Summarizing the thermodynamic binding parameters (binding constant and enthalpy) we can affirm that doxorubicin forms more stable complex with irradiated tDNA by resonant frequencies for oscillations of water molecular structures: in vitro experiments it was observed doxorubicin binding selectivity to irradiated tDNA. The obtained data make it possible to assume that the treatment by millimeter therapy of complex with anti-tumorous preparations is perspective for clinical oncology at curing of malignant neoplasms.
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2016, 4(4), 73-77. DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-4-4-2
Pub. Date: November 07, 2016
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by Fouad, R. Gomaa and M. Farag
Original Research
Drug dependence is considered a major contributor to both medical morbidity and mortality all over the world. It also represents an important health problem that has a great impact on the person's life both socially and economically. It was suggested that there is a substantial genetic contribution to drug dependence vulnerability. Cannabinoid receptors are known to be activated by natural as well as synthetic cannabinoids. Several evidences suggested that improved information about Cannabinoid receptor genes and their human variants might add to the understanding of vulnerabilities to drug dependence. The current study aimed at investigating the possible association between the cannabinoid receptor gene and drug dependence. The study was conducted on 150 drug dependent individuals. The diagnosis of drug dependence was based on the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders (DSM-IV) and urine screening tests. These individuals were using either Cannabis or Tramadol solely or in combination. All drug dependent individuals were males and all were current smokers. The duration of drug abuse ranged from 1 to 9 years. All participants were screened for a nucleotide polymorphism in cannabinoid receptor 2 gene (CB2) by PCR amplification and HapII Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis. The study has proved a significant association between occurrence of polymorphism in the Cannabinoid Receptor 2 gene and drug dependence, where 83.3% of drug dependents showed the polymorphism compared to 15% of the control group. A significant association was also detected between the presence of this polymorphism and family history of drug dependence and.The results of the present study confirmed the possible role of Cannabinoid Receptor 2 gene in drug dependence vulnerability.
American Journal of Medical and Biological Research. 2016, 4(4), 66-72. DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-4-4-1
Pub. Date: September 19, 2016
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