Makerere University

About: Makerere University is a education organization based out in Kampala, Uganda. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 7220 authors who have published 12405 publications receiving 366520 citations. The organization is also known as: Makerere University Kampala & MUK.

Antibody patterns to herpesviruses in Kaposi's sarcoma. II. Serological association of American Kaposi's sarcoma with cytomegalovirus.

Abstract: The prominent finding of this extended serologic analysis on American and African Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) patients and appropriately matched control groups is the detection of a specific serologic association of cytomegalovirus (CMV) with American KS patients. All American KS sera contained CMV antibodies and their geometric mean titers (GMT) were significantly higher than those in sera of melanoma patients (GMT ratio k = 5.3 to 7.7 by complement fixation [CF], k = 8.9 by indirect hemagglutination [IHA]) or in sera of age- and sex-matched healthy controls (k = 12.6 to 16.0 by CF, k = 12.6 by IHA). The result is strongly reminiscent of the data obtained previously for European KS. Although the GMT to CMV of African KS patients were similar to the GMT of the American KS groups, their significance cannot be demonstrated due to the high background of CMV infections in the control groups. Complex mechanisms are hypothesized, by analogy with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) involvement in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), for a CMV involvement in the development of KS.

Mineralisation of plant nitrogen following alternate wet and dry conditions

Abstract: The influence of soil drying in enhancing the mineralisation of organic nitrogen in humus raises the question as to whether, during the decomposition of plant residues, mineralisation of nitrogen is similarly affected. In studying nitrogen mineralisation during plant decomposition the material is usually left in contact with moist soil for a given period and the analyses then carried out. The object of the following experiment was to follow the course of nitrogen mineralisation during the decomposition of different plant materials and to compare the results with those obtained when decomposition was interrupted by one, two and three dry periods followed in each instance by restoration of moist conditions. It was found that intermittent drying enhanced the amount of mineral nitrogen produced, the implications of which are discussed later.

Hormonal contraception and the risk of HIV acquisition.

Abstract: Combined oral contraceptives (COC) and depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) are among the most widely used family planning methods; their effect on HIV acquisition is not known. The objective was to evaluate the effect of COC and DMPA on HIV acquisition and any modifying effects of other sexually transmitted infections. Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study enrolled 6109 HIV-uninfected women aged 18-35 years from family planning clinics in Uganda Zimbabwe and Thailand. Participants received HIV testing quarterly for 15-24 months. The risk of HIV acquisition with different contraceptive methods was assessed (excluding Thailand where there were few HIV cases). HIV infection occurred in 213 African participants (2.8/100 woman-years). Use of neither COC [hazard ratio (HR) 0.99; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-1.42] nor DMPA (HR 1.25; 95% CI 0.89-1.78) was associated with risk of HIV acquisition overall including among participants with cervical or vaginal infections. While absolute risk of HIV acquisition was higher among participants who were seropositive for herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) than in those seronegative at enrolment among the HSV-2-seronegative participants both COC (HR 2.85; 95% CI 1.39-5.82) and DMPA (HR 3.97; 95% CI 1.98-8.00) users had an increased risk of HIV acquisition compared with the non-hormonal group. No association was found between hormonal contraceptive use and HIV acquisition overall. This is reassuring for women needing effective contraception in settings of high HIV prevalence. However hormonal contraceptive users who were HSV-2 seronegative had an increased risk of HIV acquisition. Additional research is needed to confirm and explain this finding. (authors)

A phase I / II study of the safety and pharmacokinetics of nevirapine in HIV-1-infected pregnant Ugandan women and their neonates (HIVNET 006).

Abstract: The transmission of HIV-1 infection from an infected mother to her infant is estimated to be 15-40% with more than half of transmission probably occurring late in pregnancy or during labor and delivery. Nevirapine a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor is an excellent candidate for a single-dose antiretroviral intervention administered during labor. Findings are presented from a study assessing the safety pharmacokinetics tolerance antiretroviral activity and infant HIV infection status following the administration of 1 dose of nevirapine to HIV-1-infected pregnant women during labor and their newborns during the first week of life. 200 mg of nevirapine were given as a single dose during labor to 21 HIV-1-infected pregnant women in Kampala Uganda. 8 of their infants did not receive the drug while 13 infants received 1 dose of nevirapine at 2 mg/kg at 72 hours of age. Nevirapine was well tolerated by both the women and infants with no serious adverse events related to the drug observed. Median nevirapine concentration in breast milk 1 week after delivery was 103 ng/ml. Plasma nevirapine concentrations remained above 100 ng/ml in all infants from both cohorts tested at age 7 days. Maternal HIV-1 RNA levels decreased by a median of 1.3 logs at 1 week postpartum and returned to baseline by 6 weeks postpartum. Detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA was observed in 1 of 22 (4.5%) infants at birth 3/21 (14%) at 6 weeks and 4/21 (19%) at 6 months of age. This regimen has promise as a prophylaxis against intrapartum and early breast milk HIV transmission in a breast-feeding population.