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Item A comparison of real-time PCR and reverse line blot hybridization in detecting feline haemoplasmas of domestic cats and an analysis of risk factors associated with haemoplasma infections(2012-07-02) Georges, Karla; Ezeokoli, Chuckwudozi; Auguste, Tennille; Seepersad, Nisshi; Pottinger, Akua; Sparagano, Olivier; Tasker, SéverineAbstract Background Three species of feline haemoplasma are recognised: Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), and#8216;Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutumand#8217; (CMhm) and and#8216;Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt). This study compared a reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) assay for simultaneous detection of Mhf, CMhm with three separate quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays used for diagnosis of Mhf, CMhm and CMt. The RLB and qPCR assays were applied to DNA extracted from blood samples collected from 154 cats from Trinidad and Tobago. Results CMhm and Mhf DNA were detected using both RLB and qPCR. CMt DNA was detected by qPCR only. Comparing RLB and qPCR for the detection of CMhm DNA, 40 (26.3%) and 48 (31.6%) cats, respectively, were positive. The difference was more marked for Mhf, with RLB detecting a total of only 11 (7.2%) positive cats whereas qPCR detected 41 (27.0%) positive cats. Using qPCR as a gold standard, haemoplasma infected cats were more likely to be retrovirus positive (ORand#8201;=and#8201;5.68, Pand#8201;=and#8201;0.02) and older (median age 5.5 years), than non-infected cats. In addition, CMhm positive cats were more likely to be male (ORand#8201;=and#8201;3.4, Pand#8201;=and#8201;0.04). Conclusions Overall the qPCR was more sensitive than RLB. In addition, age (median 5.5 years) and retrovirus positivity were risk factors for infection with the feline haemoplasmas in this study population. Further studies on feline haemoplasma infections in cats are needed to determine the significance of detecting small amounts of haemoplasma DNA, feline retrovirus infection and other associated risk factors on the clinical manifestation of disease.Item A customized Web portal for the genome of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi(2014-04-28) Moreland, R T; Nguyen, Anh-Dao; Ryan, Joseph F; Schnitzler, Christine E; Koch, Bernard J; Siewert, Katherine; Wolfsberg, Tyra G; Baxevanis, Andreas DAbstract Background Mnemiopsis leidyi is a ctenophore native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. A number of studies on Mnemiopsis have led to a better understanding of many key biological processes, and these studies have contributed to the emergence of Mnemiopsis as an important model for evolutionary and developmental studies. Recently, we sequenced, assembled, annotated, and performed a preliminary analysis on the 150-megabase genome of the ctenophore, Mnemiopsis. This sequencing effort has produced the first set of whole-genome sequencing data on any ctenophore species and is amongst the first wave of projects to sequence an animal genome de novo solely using next-generation sequencing technologies. Description The Mnemiopsis Genome Project Portal (http://research.nhgri.nih.gov/mnemiopsis/) is intended both as a resource for obtaining genomic information on Mnemiopsis through an intuitive and easy-to-use interface and as a model for developing customized Web portals that enable access to genomic data. The scope of data available through this Portal goes well beyond the sequence data available through GenBank, providing key biological information not available elsewhere, such as pathway and protein domain analyses; it also features a customized genome browser for data visualization. Conclusions We expect that the availability of these data will allow investigators to advance their own research projects aimed at understanding phylogenetic diversity and the evolution of proteins that play a fundamental role in metazoan development. The overall approach taken in the development of this Web site can serve as a viable model for disseminating data from whole-genome sequencing projects, framed in a way that best-serves the specific needs of the scientific community.Item A field guide to pandemic, epidemic and sporadic clones of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.(PLoS ONE) Monecke S; Coombs G; Shore AC; Coleman DC; Akpaka P; Borg M; Chow H; Ip M; Jatzwauk L; Jonas D; Kadlec K; Kearns A; Laurent F; O'Brien FG; Pearson J; Ruppelt A; Schwarz S; Scicluna E; Slickers P; Tan HL; Weber S; Ehricht RItem A meta-analysis investigating the impact of ABCA4 polymorphisms on the STGD1 phenotype.(Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus) Babwah, Bevon; Ramnath, KarishmaItem A mixed ecologic-cohort comparison of physical activity and weight among young adults from five populations of African origin(2014-04-24) Luke, Amy; Bovet, Pascal; Plange-Rhule, Jacob; Forrester, Terrence E; Lambert, Estelle V; Schoeller, Dale A; Dugas, Lara R; Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon A; Shoham, David A; Cao, Guichan; Brage, Soren; Ekelund, Ulf; Cooper, Richard SAbstract Background Examination of patterns and intensity of physical activity (PA) across cultures where obesity prevalence varies widely provides insight into one aspect of the ongoing epidemiologic transition. The primary hypothesis being addressed is whether low levels of PA are associated with excess weight and adiposity. Methods We recruited young adults from five countries (500 per country, 2500 total, ages 25and#8211;45and#160;years), spanning the range of obesity prevalence. Men and women were recruited from a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, USA; urban Jamaica; rural Ghana; peri-urban South Africa; and the Seychelles. PA was measured using accelerometry and expressed as minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous activity or sedentary behavior. Results Obesity (BMIand#8201;and#8805;and#8201;30) prevalence ranged from 1.4% (Ghanaian men) to 63.8% (US women). South African men were the most active, followed by Ghanaian men. Relatively small differences were observed across sites among women; however, women in Ghana accumulated the most activity. Within site-gender sub-groups, the correlation of activity with BMI and other measures of adiposity was inconsistent; the combined correlation across sites was -0.17 for men and -0.11 for women. In the ecological analysis time spent in moderate-to-vigorous activity was inversely associated with BMI (rand#8201;=and#8201;-0.71). Conclusion These analyses suggest that persons with greater adiposity tend to engage in less PA, although the associations are weak and the direction of causality cannot be inferred because measurements are cross-sectional. Longitudinal data will be required to elucidate direction of association.Item A questionnaire-based survey of dry eye disease among Undergraduate students of the University of the West Indies Saint Augustine campus, Trinidad and Tobago.(Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus) Mohammed, Ryan; James, SakeemItem A Study of Sleep Deprivation and its Effects on Mental Health of Year 1 and 2 MBBS Students from The University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, St. Augustine.(2022) Vickram, Siewsingh; Rajeev, Singh; Solozano, Soodoo; Dillon, Sooknanan; Vesham, Sookoo; Rachael, Stoddard; Dr E.M. DavisItem A Study on the Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in WOmen Using Oral Contraceptives in Trinidad and Tobago.(2022) Ramsook, Anastacia (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Ramsoomair, Kristina (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Rege, Favour (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Reverand, Daniella (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Richardson, Reanna (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Ronberts, Anana (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Robley, Marquis (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Russell, Ramon (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Dr Arlene William-Persad (Paraclinical Dept, Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus)Item A Study on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Diabetic Patients with Regards to the Physiological Health Parameters and Self-Management Practices, and the Impact these Factors have on Quality of Life and Disease Complications.(2022) Joseph, K.; Joseph, N.; Joseph, R.; Jute, M.; Kanhai, M.; Khan, A.; Khan, J.; Khan, S.; Merritt-Charles, L.Item A Study on the Knowledge, Awareness, Perceptions and Behaviour (KAPB) of Students of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine (UWI STA) Towards Climate Change and its Impact on Human Health.(Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and tobago, 2021) Baboolal, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Daniel-Abdool, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Karan, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Marabella, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Ramdhanie, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Sheik, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Sinanan, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Soogrim, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Ivey, M. (Dept. of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and and Tobago); Oura, C. (School of Veterinary Medicine, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago)Item A Study to Assess the Effectiveness of a Semi-Structured Information Booklet (S1B) on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) on Climate Change that Affects the Three Elements (Air, Water, Oil) and its Impacts on the Community Mental and Physical Health Amongst FMS Students.(2022) Maharaj, A. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Ramnath, B. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Rampersad, O. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Ramroop, D. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Rampersadsingh, P. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Ramsingh, S. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Ramoutar, S. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Ramroop, V. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus); Victor, V. (School of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The UWI, St. Augustine Campus)Item A systematic review to analyse the vision specific and psychosocial impacts of low vision intervention on low vision patients with diabetic retinopathy.(Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus) Harripersad, Adrian; James, JobItem A unique strain of community-acquired Clostridium Difficile in severe complicated infection and death of a young adult(2013-07-01) Heslop, Orville D; Roye-Green, Karen; Coard, Kathleen; Mulvey, Michael RAbstract Background Clostridium difficile is the major cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhoea with the potential risk of progressing to severe clinical outcomes including death. It is not unusual for Clostridium difficile infection to progress to complications of toxic megacolon, bowel perforation and even Gram-negative sepsis following pathological changes in the intestinal mucosa. These complications are however less commonly seen in community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection than in hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first case of community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection of its type seen in Jamaica. Case presentation We report a case of a 22-year-old female university student who was admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica with a presumptive diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis PMC. She presented with a 5-day history of diarrhoea following clindamycin treatment for coverage of a tooth extraction due to a dental abscess. Her clinical condition deteriorated and progressed from diarrhoea to toxic megacolon, bowel perforation and Gram-negative sepsis. Clostridium difficile NAP12/ribotype 087 was isolated from her stool while blood cultures grew Klebsiella pneumoniae. Despite initial treatment intervention with empiric therapy of metronidazole and antibiotic clearance of Klebsiella pneumoniae from the blood, the patient died within 10and#160;days of hospital admission. Conclusions We believe that clindamycin used for coverage of a dental abscess was an independent risk factor that initiated the disruption of the bowel micro-flora, resulting in overgrowth of Clostridium difficile NAP12/ribotype 087. This uncommon strain, which is the same ribotype (087) as ATCC 43255, was apparently responsible for the increased severity of the infection and death following toxic megacolon, bowel perforation and pseudomembranous colitis involving the entire large bowel. K. pneumoniae sepsis, resolved by antibiotic therapy was secondary to Clostridium difficile infection. The case registers community-acquired Clostridium difficile infection as producing serious complications similar to hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection and should be treated with the requisite importance.Item The Abundance and Environmental Factors Affecting Hematophagous Arthropods in Trinidad.(2023) Browne, Ellison; Gosine, Ishwanie; Khandoo, Ashkay; Maharaj, Arnola; Teewari, KevinItem Abuse and mental disorders among women at walk-in clinics in Trinidad: a cross-sectional study(BMC Family Practice) Maharaj RG; Alexander C; Bridglal CH; Edwards A; Mohammed H; Rampaul TA; Sanchez S; Tanwing GP; Thomas KItem Academic Research Services at the Medical Sciences Library, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine(The University of the West Indies, Faculty of Engineering, Trinidad and Tobago, 2020-11) Reid, Avril (The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Medical Sciences Library, Trinidad and Tobago); Dwarika-Bhagat, N. (The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Medical Sciences Library, Trinidad and Tobago); Alleyne-Cumberbatch, Ayaana (The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Medical Sciences Library, Trinidad and Tobago)Item Acanthosis nigricans in type 2 diabetes: prevalence, correlates and potential as a simple clinical screening tool - a cross-sectional study in the Caribbean(2014-07-09) Bahadursingh, Sarasvati; Mungalsingh, Catherine; Seemungal, Terence; Teelucksingh, SurujpalAbstract Background This study aimed to evaluate the role of acanthosis nigricans (AN) as a marker of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) by studying its prevalence and relationship with age, ethnicity, anthropometry and other risk factors for T2DM in the Trinidadian population. Methods 311 successive adult patients with T2DM were recruited at diabetic clinics and inpatient wards across Trinidad. The presence, severity and texture of AN at the neck were assessed. Demographic, clinical and anthropometric characteristics were also measured, and logistic regression was used to model their relationship with presence of AN. Results The mean (SD) age was 58.1and#160;years (12.6). 55.6% were female. 61.1% were East Indian, 24.4% African and 14.5% mixed ethnicity. The mean (SD) BMI was 27.3 kg/m2 (6.0) and the mean (SD) waist circumference was 96.7and#160;cm (14.2). Prevalence of AN was 52.7% (95% CI 47.2, 58.3).There was a greater odds of AN among diabetic patients who were: younger (pand#8201;andlt;and#8201;0.001); female (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.06, 2.62); or East Indian rather than African (0.45; 0.26, 0.77) or mixed (0.43; 0.22, 0.84) descendents. There was a greater age-, sex- and ethnicity-adjusted odds of AN among those: overweight (3.98; 2.10, 7.55) or obese (8.31; 3.84, 18.00) versus normal BMI; centrally obese (4.72; 2.65, 8.43); with history of hypertension (2.19; 1.27, 3.79) or history of hypercholesterolemia (1.72; 1.02, 2.90), but there was no evidence of this demographic-adjusted association (pand#8201;andgt;and#8201;0.4) between AN and history of previous MI or CVA, family history of T2DM, T2DM treatment regimen, duration of T2DM or random blood glucose.On further multivariable analysis, only age, sex, ethnicity, BMI and waist circumference were independently associated with AN (pand#8201;andlt;and#8201;0.05) and the effect of BMI varied with ethnicity. Conclusions There was a high prevalence of AN both overall and across age, sex and ethnic groups of diabetic patients. AN exhibited much potential as a valuable addition to T2DM risk assessment in the Trinidadian and similar settings.Item Accessory renal arteries in a Caribbean population: a computed tomography based study(2013-09-08) Johnson, Peter B; Cawich, Shamir O; Shah, Sundeep D; Aiken, William; McGregor, Roy G; Brown, Hilary; Gardner, Michael TAbstract Introduction The commonest variation to the classic anatomic description of renal arterial supply is the presence of accessory renal arteries. The incidence varies widely according to ethnicity. There is no data on the prevalence of these anomalies in persons of Caribbean ethnicity. Methods All CT scans done over two years from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012 were retrospectively evaluated. The anatomy of the renal arterial supply was reported from these studies and the anatomy of accessory renal arteries was documented. Results There were 302 CT scans evaluated and accessory renal arteries were present in 109/302 (36.1%) CT scans, 95% confidence interval 30.6%, 41.4%. There were 71/309 (23.5%) patients with accessory arteries on the left and 54/309 (17.9%) had them on the right (p 0.087). Of these, 16 (14.7%) patients had bilateral accessory renal arteries present. The most common origin for the accessory arteries was the abdominal aorta in 108 (99.1%) cases and in 1 case the accessory artery arose from the coeliac trunk. There were 80 left sided accessory renal arteries: 17 (21.3%) upper polar and 27 (33.8%) lower polar arteries. Of 62 right sided accessory arteries, 14 (22.6%) were upper polar and 26 (42%) were lower polar arteries. Conclusion This is the first population-based report of anatomic anomalies in renal arterial supply in a Caribbean population. These are important findings that may affect vascular and urologic procedures on persons of Caribbean ethnicity.Item Adherence to the Mediterranean Dietary is Associated with Lower Pericardial Fat in African Caribbean Men(The University of the West Indies, 2020-11) Tilves, Dr. Curtis (University of Pittsburg, Dept. of Epidemiology, Pennsylvannia, United States); Kupiers, Dr. Allison(University of Pittsburg, Dept. of Epidemiology, Pennsylvannia, United States); Zmuda, Dr. Joseph (University of Pittsburg, Dept. of Epidemiology, Pennsylvannia, United States); MD, Carr, Jeffrey (Vanderbilt University, Dept. of Radiology, Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America); MS, Terry, James (Vanderbilt University, Dept. of Radiology, Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America); DVM, MS, Nair, Sangeeta (Vanderbilt University, Dept. of Radiology, Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America); MD, MPH, PhD, Sekikawa, Akira (University of Pittsburg, Dept. of Epidemiology, Pennsylvannia, United States); Falk, Dylan (University of Pittsburg, Dept. of Epidemiology, Pennsylvannia, United States); PhD, FACN, Ramdath, Dan (Guelph Research and Development Centre, Science, Technology, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada); PhD, Bunker, Clareann (University of Pittsburg, Dept. of Epidemiology, Pennsylvannia, United States); MD, Wheeler, Victor (Tobago Health Studies, Scarborough, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago); MD, PhD, FAHA, Miljkovic, Iva (University of Pittsburg, Dept. of Epidemiology, Pennsylvannia, United States)