SHS Publications 2016/2017

ICT Infrastructure Preparedness for E-Learning Implementation in Kenyan Universities

2022-01-18T08:20:57Z

ICT Infrastructure Preparedness for E-Learning Implementation in Kenyan Universities SW, K., Buto, D Routine immunization coverage in the developing world is as low as 60% compared to the developed world where it way above 80%. This has caused deaths among children and even left others with permanent disability. This A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in Mukurweni and Tetu Sub counties, Nyeri County, Kenya to determine factors influencing routine immunization coverage among children. The study revealed that there was a moderate coverage in Mukurweini and high coverage in Tetu Division. The higher number of immunized children in both divisions was in the age bracket of 1 – 4 months (88.7%) and reducing to 0.05% during 12 months of children’s age. This indicates that fewer children appeared for immunizations as they advance in age. The reasons cited by mothers /caretaker for low uptake of immunization included: fear of side effects associated with vaccines such as fever, fear that immunization would cause impotence in their children, religious beliefs and lack of money to go to health facilities. Negative attitude of some health workers was cited in both divisions as an operational factor impeding routine immunization. From the above results, it can be said most of these barriers are socio cultural rather than health system obstacles. Community education and advocacy aimed at creating awareness and the vital role of childhood immunization would be key to improving coverage. Keywords: Immunization, Coverage, Immunizable diseases, Polio

Safety, immunogenicity, and cross-species protection of a plasmid DNA encoding Plasmodium falciparum SERA5 polypeptide, microbial epitopes and chemokine genes in mice and olive baboons

2021-10-12T10:06:02Z

Safety, immunogenicity, and cross-species protection of a plasmid DNA encoding Plasmodium falciparum SERA5 polypeptide, microbial epitopes and chemokine genes in mice and olive baboons Nyamongo Onkoba; Ruth M. Mumo; Horace Ochanda; Charles Omwandho; Hastings S. Ozwara; Thomas G. Egwang6 Incorporation of biomolecular epitopes to malarial antigens should be explored in the development of strain- transcending malarial vaccines. The present study sought to determine safety, immunogenicity and cross-species efficacy of Plasmodium falciparum serine repeat antigen 5 polypeptide co-expressed with epitopes of Bacille- Calmette Guerin (BCG), tetanus toxoid (TT) and a chemokine gene. Olive baboons and BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into vaccine and control groups. The vaccine group animals were primed and boosted twice with pIRES plasmids encoding the SERA5 + BCG + TT alone, or with either CCL5 or CCL20 and the control group with pIRES plasmid vector backbone. Mice and baboons were challenged with P. berghei ANKA and P. knowlesi H strain parasites, respectively. Safety was determined by observing for injection sites reactogenicities, hematology and clinical chemistry. Parasitaemia and survivorship profiles were used to determine cross-species efficacy, and T cell phenotypes, Th1-, Th2-type, T-regulatory immune responses and antibody responses were assessed to determine vaccine immunogenicity. The pSeBCGTT plasmid DNA vaccines were safe and induced Th1-, Th2-type, and T- regulatory responses vaccinated animals showed enhanced CD4+ (P < 0.01), CD 8+ T cells (P < 0.001) activation and IgG anti-SE36 antibodies responses (P < 0.001) at week 4 and 8 post vaccination compared to the control group. Vaccinated mice had a 31.45-68.69% cumulative parasite load reduction and 60% suppression in baboons (P < 0.05) and enhanced survivorship (P < 0.001) with no clinical signs of malaria compared to the control group. The results showed that the vaccines were safe, immunogenic and conferred partial cross-species protection.

Overcoming Barriers to Contraceptive Uptake among Adolescents: The Case of Kiambu County, Kenya

2022-01-18T08:27:06Z

Overcoming Barriers to Contraceptive Uptake among Adolescents: The Case of Kiambu County, Kenya Murigi, M; Butto, D; Barasa, S; Maina, E; Munyalo, B Despite high sexual activity among adolescent girls in Kenya, contraceptive uptake is very low with only about 26 percent sexually active adolescent girls currently using a contraceptive method. This exposes them to HIV infections and unplanned preg- nancies which consequently lead to school dropouts, unsafe abortions, and lack of employment opportunities. This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the utiliza- tion of contraceptives among secondary school adolescent girls in Karuri Town Council, Kiambu County. Overall, 421 girls aged between 13.0 to 19.0 years took part in the study. Findings showed that despite majority (77.5%) of the adolescent girls having had sexual debut by the age of 15 years, contraceptive utilization was very low at 43%. The results revealed that age of the adolescent, knowledge of contraceptives options, perception and accessibility of the contraceptives had positive significant ef- fect on contraceptive utilization. Adolescents aged 18 years and above were more likely to utilize contraceptives as compared to those of a lesser age (p ≤ 0.001; OR: 9.870 (95% CI: 3.781 - 25.763)). Those with knowledge on contraceptives were OR 3.2 times more likely to use contraceptives (p = 0.025), similarly, accessibility was significantly associated with increased contraceptive utilization (p = 0.34, 95% CI: 1.054 - 4.187). Adolescents who perceived use of contraceptives as wise were more likely to use a contraceptive than those of a divergent opinion (OR: 2.053 (95% CI: 1.024 - 4.115), p = 0.041). This revealed that high level of knowledge on contracep- tives did not always amount to practice. There is therefore a need to develop age specific reproductive health messages to guide school education curriculum as well as parent or guardian-child communication.

Establishment of A Robust Biomimetic Blood Vessel Model for Stem Cell and Drug Therapies

2021-10-12T11:38:05Z

Establishment of A Robust Biomimetic Blood Vessel Model for Stem Cell and Drug Therapies Wanjiku, Njoroge; Butley, R; Harper, A; Yang, Y Vascular disease results from inflammation, injury and the accumulation of fatty deposits in the blood vessels. Blood vessels are composed of three distinct layers; intima, media and adventitia. Development of a three dimensional (3D) blood vessel construct (TEBV), comprised of human cardiac artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs) within a collagen gel and a layer of human umbilical vein epithelial cells (HUVECs), and a perfusion system would allow visualization of vascular disease pathophysiology and new treatment studies. The objective of this study was to produce a blood vessel construct (TEBV), establish a perfusion system, evaluate the therapeutic effect of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and the effect of statins on homing capabilities of EPCs to areas of vascular injury. To assemble TEBV, smooth muscle cells were seeded into a collagen gel and the epithelial cells seeded on top of the gel over an aligned nanofiber mesh. Rat MSCs were perfused by generating laminar flow at physiological shear stresses then evaluating the attachment to/interaction with an intact TEBV. The MSCs were labelled with a fluorescent marker (CFSE). We successfully assembled a multilayer TEBV. Rat MSCs were perfused over an intact construct and some attachment to the construct has been observed. Perfused stem cells showed minimal attachment on intact intimal layer. Future efforts will include creating a lesion on the intimal layer of the TEBV and the investigation of EPC homing to the lesion site with and without statins at various concentrations