Aim: To determine and compare the prevalence of CCR5-Δ32 and CCRV64I genes in HIV positive and HIV negative population of pregnant women from Harare, in Zimbabwe.Results: The proportion of pregnant women with the homozygous CCR2V64I gene was 24.38% and this gene was two times more associated with HIV infection than in those without it ( RR= 2.32, 95% CI-1.38-3.92). No CCR5-Δ32 deletion was detected in the studied population. Conclusion: The homozygous CCR2V64I gene and STIs were more prevalent in HIV infected pregnant women than in uninfected pregnant women and no homozygous CCR5-Δ32 gene was detected in this study.

This study investigated the associations between IL-4 -590 C/T and IL-10 -1087 A/G polymorphisms and malariometric indexes in the Fulani and the Dogon ethnic groups living in sympatry in Mali and differing in susceptibility to malaria. The correlations between antibodies level and parasitological data as well as splenomegaly were assessed. The impact of IL-4 -590 variants on the levels of the studied antibodies was also studied. The allele and genotype frequencies of both studied SNPs differed significantly between the two groups. The Fulani IL-4 T allele carriers had a significantly higher infection prevalence compared with those carrying the CC genotype. No correlation between anti-malarial antibody levels and parasite prevalence was seen in any of the communities. In the Fulani, the increase in total IgE levels was related to the presence of infection. Malaria-specific IgG4 levels were negatively correlated to the number of clones within the Fulani. The Fulani IL-4 T allele carriers had higher total and malaria-specific IgE levels, compared to the CC genotype carriers. These results suggest that the amount of antibodies may not be the key element in the protection against malaria. IgG4 might be involved in protection against malaria. The impact of IL-4 -590 variants on the antibody levels may be affected by other genetic/epigenetic/epistatic or environmental factors. In the study in Senegal, multiplicity of infection (MOI) increased after the transmission season in all subjects, except in α-thalassaemic and in G6PD-mutated children, suggesting that α-thalassaemia may protect against infection by certain parasite strains. G6PD-mutated individuals may resist against increase in MOI after the transmission season due to rapid clearance of infection at an early stage. HbAs and the ABO system do not affect MOI in asymptomatic individuals. MOI was positively correlated to parasitemia, and did not vary over age (in the range of 2 to 10 years). No relation between MOI and clinical attack was noted.

Aim: To determine and compare the prevalence of CCR5-Δ32 and CCRV64I genes in HIV positive and HIV negative population of pregnant women from Harare, in Zimbabwe.Results: The proportion of pregnant women with the homozygous CCR2V64I gene was 24.38% and this gene was two times more associated with HIV infection than in those without it ( RR= 2.32, 95% CI-1.38-3.92). No CCR5-Δ32 deletion was detected in the studied population. Conclusion: The homozygous CCR2V64I gene and STIs were more prevalent in HIV infected pregnant women than in uninfected pregnant women and no homozygous CCR5-Δ32 gene was detected in this study.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Aim: To determine and compare the prevalence of CCR5-Δ32 and CCRV64I genes in HIV positive and HIV negative population of pregnant women from Harare, in Zimbabwe. Results: The proportion of pregnant women with the homozygous CCR2V64I gene was 24.38% and this gene was two times more associated with HIV infection than in those without it ( RR= 2.32, 95% CI-1.38-3.92). No CCR5-Δ32 deletion was detected in the studied population. Conclusion: The homozygous CCR2V64I gene and STIs were more prevalent in HIV infected pregnant women than in uninfected pregnant women and no homozygousCCR5-Δ32 gene was detected in this study. / South Africa

Asthma among children has become an inherent problem in many communities in the United States, especially among the minority population. The South Bronx has a large minority population and a high prevalence of asthma. However, no study to date has explored the factors associated with this high prevalence rates in this population. Drawing from theories of social ecology and environmental health, the objective of this quantitative cross-sectional study is to investigate the correlates of asthma among children in the South Bronx by studying the sociodemographic and environmental risk factors, including parental occupation; neighborhood and housing characteristics, air quality, and poverty. Study participants included parents of 400 children, aged between 4 and 16 years residing in Districts 9 and 10 in the South Bronx. Descriptive, Chi-square statistics, and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between exposure constructs and asthma in children. Hypotheses 2 and 3 examined environmental conditions both inside and outside the homes of study participants and determined one factor, the structure of the home to be significantly associated with asthma, while absence of extractor fan when cooking, showed a strong association. This result suggests that only some of the factors indicating conditions inside the homes have a positive association to asthma. This suggests that asthma is not a combined action of both socioeconomic and environmental factors but a result of conditions in the homes. The implication here is that any intervention to asthma has to start in the homes since most children spend their time indoors. This includes creating awareness to risk factors to help develop community based intervention programs that will help reduce occurrence of asthma.

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders, affecting 7-13% of subjects in the community at some time in their lives. Despite being eminently treatable, it remains largely under-recognised and, therefore, undertreated. The disorder is characterized by a fear of scrutiny by others, with sufferers experiencing excessive anxiety in social and performance situations. This excessive anxiety usually leads to avoidance behaviour that can severely affect normal daily living. With onset commonly occurring during childhood or adolescence, social anxiety disorder may disrupt normal patterns of development of social and personal relationships, often having a long-term impact on emotional stability in social or working life. If left untreated, the course of social anxiety disorder is frequently complicated with comorbid conditions, particularly major depression or substance abuse. This review assesses the size of the clinical problem by evaluating current and lifetime prevalence estimates, age of onset, risk factors and evolution of the clinical course; thereby providing the rationale for early recognition and prompt treatment.

Darbo tikslas – Išanalizuoti genetinių veiksnių įtaką kiaulių kraujo biocheminiams rodikliams. Darbe išanalizuota kraujo biocheminių rodiklių priklausomybė nuo kiaulių veislės ir lyties. Tiriamųjų kiaulių kraujo biocheminiai rodikliai palyginti su sveikų kiaulių kraujo biocheminių rodiklių norma. Kiaulių kraujo serumo biocheminiai tyrimai buvo atliekami naudojant automatinį biocheminį analizatorių SELECTRA Junior (Nyderlandai, 2006). Tiriamųjų kiaulių grupės suformuotos AB „Kiaulių veislininkystė― kontrolinio penėjimo tvarte. Nustatyta, kad kraujo biocheminiams rodikliams įtakos turi kiaulių veislė. Tarp eksperimentinių kiaulių grupių buvo pastebėti ţenklūs šarminės fosfotazės (ALP) bei mineralinių medţiagų koncentracijos svyramai, ypač vario, geleţies ir natrio. Taip pat nustatyta, jog kiaulių kraujo biocheminiams rodikliams įtakos turi ir jų lytis. Labai ţenkliai skyrėsi kreatinino koncentracija: ji buvo aukštesnė kiaulaičių kraujyje. Šarminės fosfotazės koncentracija kur kas didesnė kastratų kraujyje. Taip pat nustatyti ir ţymūs kai kurių mineralinių medţiagų koncentracijos pokyčiai tarp lyčių, ypač geleţies. Remiantis sveikų kaulių kraujo biocheminių rodiklų normomis, nustatyta, jog kai kurie tiriamųjų veislių kraujo biocheminiai rodikliai neatitinka normos. Viršijamos kai kurių fermentų koncentracijos kraujyje. / The aim of this research - to analyze the influence of genetic factors on blood biochemical parameters in pigs. In this work was analyzed blood biochemical parameters impact from pigs breed and gender. The blood biochemical parameters of investigative pigs was compared with norm of healthy pigs blood biochemical parameters. Biochemical research of pigs blood serum was made by using automatical biochemical analyzer SELECTRA Junior ( Netherlands , 2006). Groups of pigs was formed in barn of controlling fattening AB „Kiaulių veislininkystė―. Ascertained that breed of pigs have influence for blood biochemical parameters. Among the experimental groups of pigs were observed significant levels of alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) and mineral concentration swings , especially copper , iron and sodium . Also ascertained that gender of pigs have influence for blood biochemical parameters. Significantly different was creatinine concentration: it was higher in the blood of gilts. Alkaline phosphatase is much higher in the blood of the castrates. Also ascertained significant changes to some mineral concentration, especially iron, between genders. Based on healthy pigs blood biochemical rates ascertain that blood biochemical parameters of some investigative varieties contravene norm. Concentration of some enzymes in blood were exceeded.

Σε αυτή τη διπλωματική εργασία, με τη χρήση ενός δείγματος που αποτελούνταν από 4458 καυκάσια άτομα, για τα οποία ήταν γνωστά: - ο Δείκτης Μάζας Σώματος (ΔΜΣ), - το φύλο, - η ηλικία, και - τα γενετικά χαρακτηριστικά 23 γονιδίων τους (δηλ. τα αλληλόμορφα γονίδια), διερευνήθηκε: - η ύπαρξη κύριων (μεμονωμένων) επιδράσεων αυτών των παραγόντων (φύλο, ηλικία, αλληλόμορφα γονίδια) στον ΔΜΣ, και - ο αντίκτυπος των αλληλεπιδράσεων μεταξύ έως και τριών παραγόντων στον ΔΜΣ. Μετά από την απαραίτητη προ-επεξεργασία των δεδομένων (αναζήτηση διπλών καταχωρήσεων και διαγραφή τους, κωδικοποίηση, εξαγωγή περιγραφικών στατιστικών στοιχείων, κ.λπ.) εκτελέστηκαν παραμετρικοί και μη παραμετρικοί στατιστικοί έλεγχοι με τη χρήση των 26 συνολικά διαθέσιμων μεταβλητών. Οι στατιστικές μέθοδοι που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ήταν οι ακόλουθες (σε παρένθεση δίνονται κάποια συνοπτικά χαρακτηριστικά των μεταβλητών που ελέγχονταν κατά περίπτωση): - γραμμική συσχέτιση του Pearson (μεταξύ του ΔΜΣ και της Ηλικίας, καθώς και μεταξύ του ΔΜΣ και του Φύλου), - ανάλυση της διακύμανσης (ANOVA) (με χρήση του ΔΜΣ ως ποσοτική συνεχής μεταβλητή και των υπόλοιπων μεταβλητών σε κατηγορική μορφή), - μέθοδος x2 (chi-square): o με χρήση του ΔΜΣ σε κατηγορική μορφή 4 κατηγοριών (λιποβαρείς, κανονικού σωματικού βάρους, υπέρβαροι, παχύσαρκοι) και των υπόλοιπων μεταβλητών σε κατηγορική μορφή, και o με χρήση του ΔΜΣ σε κατηγορική μορφή 2 κατηγοριών [κανονικού βάρους (ενσωματώνει τις κατηγορίες λιποβαρών ατόμων και ατόμων κανονικού βάρους), μη κανονικού βάρους (ενσωματώνει τις κατηγορίες υπέρβαρων και παχύσαρκων ατόμων)] και των υπόλοιπων μεταβλητών σε κατηγορική μορφή, - μέθοδος μείωσης πολυπαραγοντικής διάστασης (MDR - Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction) με χρήση του ΔΜΣ σε κατηγορική μορφή 2 κατηγοριών [κανονικού βάρους (ενσωματώνει τις κατηγορίες λιποβαρών ατόμων και ατόμων κανονικού βάρους), μη κανονικού βάρους (ενσωματώνει τις κατηγορίες υπέρβαρων και παχύσαρκων ατόμων)] και των υπόλοιπων μεταβλητών σε κατηγορική μορφή. / In this thesis, using a sample that consisted of 4458 Caucasian men, for which we had the following available: - Body Mass Index (BMI) - Sex, - Age, and - The genetic characteristics of 23 genes (ie alleles) we examined: - The existence of major (individual) effects of these factors (gender, age, alleles) in BMI, and - The impact of interactions between up to three factors in BMI. After the necessary pre-processing of data (search for duplicate entries and deletion, coding, extraction of descriptive statistics, etc.) we performed parametric and non parametric statistical tests using the total of 26 available variables. The statistical methods used were as follows (in brackets are some brief features of the controlled variables as appropriate): - Linear correlation of Pearson (between BMI and age, and between BMI and sex) - Analysis of variance (ANOVA) (using BMI as a quantitative continuous variable and other variables in categorical form) - Chi-square test: o Using the BMI, in categorical form of four categories (underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese) and other variables in categorical form, and o Using the BMI, in categorical form of two categories [normal weight (incorporates underweight and normal weight), non-normal weight (incorporates overweight and obese)] and other variables in categorical form - Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR), using the BMI in categorical form of two categories [normal weight (incorporates underweight and normal weight), non-normal weight (incorporates overweight and obese)] and other variables in categorical form.

Le paludisme et le sepsis sont des maladies infectieuses très répandues causant plusieurs centaines de milliers de morts tous les ans. Elles sont toutes deux multifactorielles. Les devenirs de ces infections sont influencés par des facteurs environnementaux, par des facteurs sociaux-économiques, politiques et comportementaux mais aussi par des variables dépendant du patient comme son âge. De nombreux arguments existent en faveur d'un contrôle génétique de la résistance au paludisme et au sepsis. Ces deux maladies sont considérées comme proches par les spécialistes car leur physiopathologie est liée notamment à une inflammation systémique non contrôlée responsable des formes les plus graves. Afin d'identifier de nouveaux gènes potentiellement impliqués dans la résistance à ces deux maladies, nous avons effectué des études génétiques pangénomiques dans deux populations vivant en zone endémique pour le paludisme à Plasmodium falciparum au Burkina-Faso et dans une cohorte de patients atteints de sepsis.Enfin nous avons réalisé les deux premières études d'association pangénomiques identifiant des associations significatives avec la mortalité suite à un choc septique. Nous avons obtenu 32 SNPs significativement associés à la mortalité précoce et 108 significativement associés à la mortalité tardive. Le réseau des interactions protéine-protéine impliquant les protéines codées par les gènes associés a permis d'établir une liste non exhaustive des fonctions altérées durant le choc septique, notamment liées à la réponse immune, et a révélé, malgré les différences au niveau des gènes impliqués, un mécanisme commun participant à la susceptibilité précoce et tardive au choc septique. / Malaria and sepsis are widespread infectious diseases causing hundreds of thousands deaths each year. There is a growing body of evidence for a genetic control of malaria and sepsis resistance. Both diseases are considered close because they are characterized by a systemic inflammation, some common organ dysfunctions, and disorders of coagulation. In order to identify new genes potentially involved in disease resistance, we performed genomewide genetic studies in two populations living in endemic regions for Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Burkina-Faso and in a cohort of septic shock patients. Genetic linkage studies revealed significant genetic linkages on chromosome 6p21.3 and 17p12 with, respectively, mild malaria and asymptomatic parasitaemia. We also performed the first genetic linkage studies concerning immunoglobulin G and their sub-classes against Plasmodium falciparum antigens. We detected significant linkages of IgG3 sub-class with chromosomes 8p22-p21 and 20q13 and between IgG4 sub-class and chromosome 9q34. Finally we performed the first two genomewide association studies identifying significant associations with all-causes mortality after a septic shock. We identified 32 SNPs significantly associated with early mortality and 108 SNPs significantly associated with late mortality. We identified a protein-protein network containing proteins associated with both early and late mortality. Furthermore, the network of protein-protein interactions involving proteins encoded by associated genes allowed us to establish a list of some altered functions during septic shock, most of them being related to the immune responses or the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders, affecting 7-13% of subjects in the community at some time in their lives. Despite being eminently treatable, it remains largely under-recognised and, therefore, undertreated. The disorder is characterized by a fear of scrutiny by others, with sufferers experiencing excessive anxiety in social and performance situations. This excessive anxiety usually leads to avoidance behaviour that can severely affect normal daily living. With onset commonly occurring during childhood or adolescence, social anxiety disorder may disrupt normal patterns of development of social and personal relationships, often having a long-term impact on emotional stability in social or working life. If left untreated, the course of social anxiety disorder is frequently complicated with comorbid conditions, particularly major depression or substance abuse. This review assesses the size of the clinical problem by evaluating current and lifetime prevalence estimates, age of onset, risk factors and evolution of the clinical course; thereby providing the rationale for early recognition and prompt treatment.