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Faculty of Health Sciences

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Author: search.filters.author.Naicker, Thajasvarie

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    Characteristics of blood vessels in female genital schistosomiasis : paving the way for objective diagnostics at the point of care
    (Public Library of Science, 2016-04-13) Holmen, Sigve; Galappaththi-Arachchige; Hashini Nilushika; Kleppa, Elisabeth; Pillay, Pavitra; Naicker, Thajasvarie; Taylor, Myra; Onsrud, Mathias; Kjetland, Eyrun Floerecke; Albregtsen, Fritz
    Abstract Background The mucosal changes associated with female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) encompass abnormal blood vessels. These have been described as circular, reticular, branched, convoluted and having uneven calibre. However, these characteristics are subjective descriptions and it has not been explored which of them are specific to FGS. Methods In colposcopic images of young women from a schistosomiasis endemic area, we performed computerised morphologic analyses of the cervical vasculature appearing on the mucosal surface. Study participants where the cervix was classified as normal served as negative controls, women with clinically diagnosed FGS and presence of typical abnormal blood vessels visible on the cervical surface served as positive cases. We also included women with cervical inflammatory conditions for reasons other than schistosomiasis. By automating morphological analyses, we explored circular configurations, vascular density, fractal dimensions and fractal lacunarity as parameters of interest. Results We found that the blood vessels typical of FGS are characterised by the presence of circular configurations (p < 0.001), increased vascular density (p = 0.015) and increased local connected fractal dimensions (p = 0.071). Using these features, we were able to correctly classify 78% of the FGS-positive cases with an accuracy of 80%. Conclusions The blood vessels typical of FGS have circular configurations, increased vascular density and increased local connected fractal dimensions. These specific morphological features could be used diagnostically. Combined with colourimetric analyses, this represents a step towards making a diagnostic tool for FGS based on computerised image analysis.
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    Placental leptin mRNA expression and serum leptin levels in pre-eclampsia associated with HIV infection
    (Taylor and Fancis Online, 2016-10-03) Haffejee, Firoza; Naicker, Thajasvarie; Singh, Moganavelli; Kharsany, Ayesha B.M.; Adhikari, Miriam; Singh, Ravesh; Maharaj, Niren; Moodley, Jagidesa
    Leptin, primarily produced by adipocytes, is implicated in the development of pre-eclampsia. This study examines placental leptin production and serum leptin levels in HIV infected and uninfected normoten-sive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Placental leptin production was analysed by RT-PCR and serum lep-tin levels by ELISA in normotensive (n ¼ 90) and pre-eclamptic (n ¼ 90) pregnancies which were further stratified by HIV status. Placental leptin production was higher in pre-eclampsia compared to normoten-sive pregnancies irrespective of HIV status (p ¼ .04). Serum leptin was non-significantly raised in HIV uninfected (p ¼ .42) but lower in HIV-infected (p ¼ .03) pre-eclampsia. The latter had lower BMI (p ¼ .007) and triceps skin-fold thickness (p < .001) than the HIV uninfected groups with a significant correlation between serum leptin and triceps skin-fold thickness (p < .001), indicative of less adipose tissue in HIV-infected women with consequently lower serum leptin. Thus, serum leptin levels are not indicative of increased placental production when pre-eclampsia is associated with HIV infection.
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    Chemoprevention of Azoxymethane-induced Colonic Carcinogenesis in Balb/c mice using a modified Pectin Alginate Probiotic
    (International Institute of AntiCancer Research, 2015) Odun-Ayo, Frederick Oluwasheyi; Naicker, Thajasvarie; Reddy, Lalini; Mellem, John Jason
    Background: Increased intake of probiotic dietary fibre reduces colonic cancer risk. Modified citrus pectin (MCP) requires optimal bioactivity to inhibit galectin-3 (GAL-3) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This study evaluated the preventative effect of modified pectin alginate (MCPA) probiotic microbeads on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic carcinogenesis in Balb/c mice. Materials and Methods: Optimization of AOM dose duration: 10-15 mg/kg was administered for 2-4 weeks. The optimal AOM dose was initiated prior to intake of MCPA, alginate probiotic (AP) microbeads and MCP in Balb/c mice for 16 weeks; samples were analyzed for colonic histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Results: AOM at 15 mg/kg for 4 weeks induced optimal GAL-3 and VEGF immunostaining. Furthermore, MCPA treatment reduced GAL-3 expression in the colon of AOM-treated mice compared to MCP. Conclusion: MCPA probiotic microbeads increase bioactivity and chemopreventative effect against pre-cancerous colonic lesions and adenocarcinoma through inhibition of GAL-3 and VEGF in the Balb/c mouse model of colonic carcinogenesis.
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    Endoglin in HIV-associated preeclamptic placentae
    (Informa Healthcare, 2015) Govender, Nalini; Naicker, Thajasvarie; Moodley, Jagidesa
    Objective: To examine the placental immunoexpression of endoglin (Eng), in HIV-negative and HIV-positive normotensive (N and N+) and preeclamptic (P and P+) pregnancies at term, using immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. Results: Strong Eng immunoreactivity was observed within endothelial cells, syncytio-and cyto-trophoblast cell populations. All extravillous trophoblast cells were immuno-positive for Eng. Subcellularly, gold particles were immunolocalised within the endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria. Immunoexpression of Eng differed signifi-cantly between exchange (p = 0.02) and conducting villi (p50.001). A higher Eng immunoexpression was observed in both villi types of the preeclamptic compared to normotensive groups. Irrespective of pregnancy type (normotensive versus PE), there was no significant effect of HIV status on Eng immunoexpression within the exchange and conducting villi. Conclusion: The immunostaining of Eng within the endothelial cells, syncytio-, cyto- and extravillous trophoblast cell populations of HIV-associated preeclamptic placentae is novel. Endoglin and its soluble component remains an area for dynamic placental exploration in preeclampsia development.