http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/628 2026-04-09T23:37:41Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/689 Targeting the Seven Cancer Hallmarks by Modulation of Oxidative Stress-induced Inflammation and Immune Activation: A Radical Therapeutic Approach Mburu, S. Cancer killed approximately 8.8 million people in 2015 globally. Furthermore, more than 27,000 Kenyans die annually from cancers, making it number three killers after infectious and cardiovascular diseases. The current therapeutic strategies are limited in their approach, therefore not effective enough to achieve complete remission. A radical multifactorial approach targeting early events in carcinogenesis is required. The purpose of this descriptive study was to review existing studies for knowledge, research gaps in the role of oxidative stress, inflammation, immune activation in carcinogenesis and cancer hallmarks, to stimulate new research ideas which can accelerate future therapeutic target discoveries. PubMed, ScienceDirect and Google scholar databases were searched using the keywords: cancer, oxidative stress, inflammation, immune activation, carcinogenesis and cancer hallmarks. Although widely recognized, little research on oxidative stress, inflammation, immune activation, as cancer therapeutic targets has been done. In addition, studies relating oxidative stress, inflammation, immune activation with cancer hallmarks, especially replicative immortality, immune evasion, and evading growth suppression are inadequate. To highlight this, out of a total of 8,680,095 hits, only 139,694 hits related to oxidative stress, inflammation, immune activation as therapeutic targets making this area a fertile ground for future research. Similarly, out of 271, 194 hits, only 4,595 were relating oxidative stress, inflammation and immune activation with replicative immortality as a cancer hallmark. Subsequently, after pearling, 129 articles that were directly relevant to the study were selected. After critical appraisal, identified studies were analyzed, results compared and presented in form of summary tables. Despite enough documented evidence of the essential role oxidative stress, inflammation, immune activation, plays in carcinogenesis, specific role in induction of cancer hallmarks, whether causal or consequence is not clear. An understanding of the early changes that marks initiation, maintenance and progression of cancer will accelerate development of future novel therapeutic targets and prevention strategies. This will have a direct impact on prevention, early diagnosis, management and treatment of cancers in Africa, thereby helping in attainment of United Nations sustainable development goal (SDG) number three. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/688 A Comparative study of microbiological and physio-chemical properties of three local alcoholic beverages produced and consumed in Mombasa County, Kenya E. W. Mwakio; J. B. Malala; H. Makonde; J. M. Kahindo; M. M. Awadh; J. B. Msanz Physico-chemical properties and micobial contamination of three local brews (Mnazi, Mchuchula and M’bangara) consumed in Mombasa County were assessed. The bacteria concentration enumeration was determined by incubation of each sample for two days at 35°C to 37°C on plates containing colony forming units (CFUs) on Aerobic plate count (APC) agar and Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on Rogosa agar plates. Growth on plates were positive for heterotrophic and LAB bacteria with high levels recorded in 10-2 aliquots of each sample. M’bagara recorded higher levels of LAB (201.0±24.79), with Mnazi and Mchuchula having slightly low levels of LAB of 182.0±26.96 and 129.0±5.20 respectively despite some of the plates not being used for enumeration since they had above 250 CFUs. Yeast detection and enumeration was also determined. Low numbers of yeast cells were recorded in M’bangara (30.0±5.72), with Mchuchula recording the highest number of yeast cells (66.30±3.07). Physico-chemical properties determined included colour, acidity, pH and alcohol in terms of volume i.e Alcohol by Volume (ABV). M’bangara recorded the highest titratable acidity (0.9±0.04), and lowest pH (2.7±0.07) whereas the highest ABV levels were recorded in M’bangara (4.6±0.12). Confirmatory results for total coliforms, feacal coliforms and E. coli indicate the absence of contamination from sewage material. There were significant variation (p>0.05) in terms of physico-chemical properties and microbial contamination in the three analyzed local brews. In this study, local brews consumed in Mombasa County contain non-miocrobial and microbial contaminants which may be related to effects of consumption of these brews. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/687 HIV/AIDS Status Awareness among the Youth is Critical to Prevention: A Pilot Study Mburu, S.; Mutuku, I. Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is the leading cause of death among adolescents in Kenya according to National AIDS Control Council (NACC) report. For that reason, new, innovative and creative HIV prevention strategies among this high risk group are required. The purpose of this survey was to investigate the level of HIV/AIDS awareness, attitudes towards HIV testing, source of HIV/AIDS information, HIV status awareness, behavioral change among fresh first year students at a public university. This was a descriptive survey conducted between the months of September to October 2016 at Kirinyaga University. Through probability sampling, fresh first year degree and diploma students attending their first HIV/AIDS lecture were randomly selected and given self-administering questionnaires after signing an informed consent. The data was analyzed using SPSS software (IBM version 23.0) and results presented as summary tables and bar graphs. Despite majority of respondents rating their HIV/AIDS awareness as good, 44% of the male and 35% of the female participants did not know their HIV status by the time they joined university. Importantly, 89% of males and 82% female respondents reported that knowledge of their HIV status influenced their behavior towards protecting themselves and others. This indicated that HIV status awareness was a critical prevention strategy among the youth as it influences behavioral change and should be promoted at all costs. Furthermore, fear was a common factor for lack of HIV testing. Of concern, educational institutions, social medial were the main source of HIV/AIDS information to the respondents, indicating that parents and the church had abdicated their roles in instructing their children or followers on HIV/AIDS. These findings are important when designing HIV prevention, elimination strategies and policies among the youth. In addition, it will inform policy makers in developing new effective HIV prevention policies, strategies among this high risk group and stem the rise in new annual infections. This will help in attainment of UNAIDS 90-90-90 strategy on achieving zero transmission rate by 2020, UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number 3 on ensuring healthy lives and promotion of wellbeing for all at all ages and Kenya’s Vision 2030 of a HIV free society by 2030. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/686 Male Students More Likely to Abuse and Become Addicted to Drugs Than Females; A Case Study of Kirinyaga University M. Samuel; Sarah Joy Gitiri; I. Mutuku The use of alcohol and other substances among students at institutions of higher learning impacts negatively on their studies, therefore affecting academic performances. The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence of alcohol, drugs, other substances use and abuse among students of Kirinyaga University (KyU), categories of drugs used or abused, factors contributing to the use or abuse of the substances, suppliers of the substances, suppliers, impact on performance, memory, extent of addiction to the substances and to propose means of overcoming the challenge. Using a descriptive survey, all registered KyU students (2006) were stratified and systematically sampled using class attendance registers as the sampling frame and programmes as the sampling units. A sample size of 270 (n= 270) was calculated and proportionately allocated to the strata of Degree and Diploma students. Significantly, 34% of male students’ respondents required more of the drugs to get high indicating addiction. Furthermore, there was a significant difference (Chi square value=3.89; p-value =0.048); P<0.05) between the male and female students’ respondents in their requirement for more of the drugs to get high, indicating an increased risk of addiction to the drugs and the other substances. Males student’ respondents were more likely to use or abuse drugs, other substances and also more likely to get addicted than their female student’ counterparts. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z