Author: Théophile Niyitegeka

New malaria vaccine effective in clinical trial

{Researchers achieve protection of up to 100 percent using fully viable malaria parasites.}

University of Tübingen researchers in collaboration with the biotech company Sanaria Inc. have demonstrated in a clinical trial that a new vaccine for malaria called Sanaria® PfSPZ-CVac has been up to 100 percent effective when assessed at 10 weeks after last dose of vaccine. For the trial, Pro-fessor Peter Kremsner and Dr. Benjamin Mordmüller of the Institute of Tropical Medicine and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) used malaria parasites provided by Sanaria. The vac-cine incorporated fully viable — not weakened or otherwise inactivated — malaria pathogens together with the medication to combat them. Their research results have been published in the latest edition of Nature.

Malaria parasites are transmitted by the bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. The Plasmodium falciparum parasite is responsible for most malaria infections and almost all deaths caused by the disease worldwide. Most of the previous vaccines which have been tried involved the use of individual molecules found in the pathogen. However, they were unable to provide sufficient immunity to the disease. The Tuebingen study involved 67 healthy adult test persons, none of whom had previously had malaria. The best immune response was shown in a group of nine test persons who received the highest dose of the vaccine three times at four-week intervals. At the end of the trial, all nine of these individuals had 100 percent protection from the disease.

“That protection was probably caused by specific T-lymphocytes and antibody responses to the parasites in the liver,” Professor Peter Kremsner explained. The researchers analyzed the bodies’ immune reactions and identified protein patterns which will make it possible to further improve malaria vaccines, Kremsner added. The researchers injected live malaria parasites into the test subjects, at the same time preventing the development of the disease by adding chloroquine — which has been used to treat malaria for many years. This enabled the researchers to exploit the behavior of the parasites and the properties of chloroquine.

Once the person is infected, the Plasmodium falciparum parasite migrates to the liver to reproduce. During its incubation period there, the human immune system could respond; but at this stage, the pathogen does not make the person sick. On top of that, chloroquine does not take effect in the liver — so it is unable to prevent the parasite from reproducing. Malaria only breaks out when the pathogen leaves the liver, entering the bloodstream and going into the red corpuscles, where it continues to reproduce and spread. As soon as the pathogen enters the bloodstream, however, it can be killed by chloroquine — and the disease cannot break out.

“By vaccinating with a live, fully active pathogen, it seems clear that we were able to set of a very strong immune response,” said study leader Benjamin Mordmueller, “Additionally, all the data we have so far indicate that what we have here is relatively stable, long-lasting protection.” In the group of test persons who demonstrated 100 percent protection after receiving a high dose three times, Mordmueller said, the protection was reliably still in place after ten weeks — and remained measurable for even longer. He added that the new vaccine showed no adverse effects on the test persons. The next step is to further test the vaccine’s effectiveness over several years in a clinical study in Gabon funded by DZIF. Malaria is one of the biggest health threats in the African nation. The University of Tuebingen has worked with the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in the Gabonese town of Lambaréné and with the neighboring research institute, the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, for many years.

Malaria is one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that some 214 million people became infected with malaria in the year 2015 alone. Approximately 438,000 died of the disease. Around 90 percent of those malaria deaths were in Africa. Nearly three-quarters of those who succumb to the disease are children under five. The search for a vaccine has been going on for more than a century. An effective vaccine would make it easier to control malaria; vaccination campaigns could be conducted in severely affected areas to eliminate the pathogen. Such a vaccine could also help to stop the spread of resistance to the treatment, and to better protect travelers.

Source:Science Daily

February 17, 2017
Gov’t extends campaign against GBV, child abuse to Kayonza residents

{The ongoing national campaign against Gender Based Violence and Child abuse was yesterday taken to Kayonza District where residents were urged to utilize the services of Isange One Stop Centre in responding and addressing the vices.}

The campaign held at Rwankwavu hospital focuses mainly on sensitizing the public on services offered by Isange centres and calling for active involvement of other partners including faith-based organizations and other civil society organizations in fighting GBV and child abuse.

The activity is also a follow up of the 2014 exercise to scale up Isange to all hospitals across the country, was held yesterday at Rwinkwavu hospital in Kayonza District and presided over by the Governor of the Eastern Province, Judith Kazayire.

Rwinkwavu is one of the 28 hospitals in different parts of the country that host Isange One Stop Centres, which offers free medical, psycho-socio and legal services to victims of GBV and child abuse.

The target is to have Isange established in all 44 district hospitals across the country before going a step further to extend them to health centres.

The campaign is being held under the theme: “With collective efforts, we can fight and prevent Gender Based Violence and Child Abuse.”

Governor Kazayire called upon residents of the Eastern Province to exercise their rights and make use of Isange to ensure that “justice is served” but also acquire all health services.

“The services provided at Isange are not charged… they are meant for your social wellbeing. So, don’t let those who violate your rights go unpunished because it is one way of addressing the problem,” Governor Kazayire said.

She disclosed that soon, Isange will also be operational at Gahini and Kiziguro hospitals in a bid to further decentralize the free services closer to the people.

She commended the existing partnership between RNP and other partners such as the ministries of Gender and Family Promotion, and Health for the efforts invested in jointly addressing the challenges women and children face in communities, that at times go unreported.

“The fast you report the easier for the police to get enough evidence which supplements the judicial process against the culprit. The more you delay the higher are chances of killing evidence and the criminal walking free,” she said.

At least 230 cases of GBV and child abuse have been recorded in Kayonza in the last seven months with about 57 percent of them against women. 14 percent accounted for children who have faced varied abuses with 5.63 percent aged between five and seven while those above 18 years account for 35 percent.

The Governor mentioned sexual harassment, rape, battery, separation and defilement as some of the GBV related crimes that have characterized the area and pledged government support to combat them.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Celestin Twahirwa, the commissioner for Community Policing in RNP, noted that the existing police partnership with the public in all policing activities continues to play a big part identifying and addressing such human rights violations, among others.

“Police and other partners have put in place measures to limit, fight and prevent GBV and child abuse, and Isange is one of those strategies. The success partly depend on how each Rwandan reacts to immediately report such injustices and in real time,” said ACP Twahirwa.

Other measures, he said, are hotlines – 3029 for Isange, 3512 for GBV, 116 for child helpline, and 112 for emergency; establishment of the directorate of Anti-GBV and child abuse and gender focal points in all districts across the country.

ACP Twahirwa further said that RNP also established the department of Interpol that handles cross border crimes especially against human trafficking issues; Regional Center of Excellence against GBV and child abuse; signed agreements with other regional and international police institutions and organizations, all aimed at collectively combating the vices and ensuring that criminals who run away are located and arrested to face justice.

Source:Police

February 17, 2017
30 little things that mean so much to women

{It’s not the material things that prove to a woman how much you care but the simple and sweet gestures. The little things you ignore as a man mean so much to women.}

{{Here are 30 little things that mean so much to women}}

1. Helping her with house chores.

2. Sending her good morning texts.

3. Holding her hands while you walk with her.

4. Asking her about her day.

5. Defending her in public.

6. Bragging about her to your friends and family.

7. Being friends with her friends.

8. Saying thank you.

9. Cuddling her without any intention of wanting sex.

10. Complimenting her on something new she bought.

11. Buying her gifts.

12. Cooking for her.

13. Posting pictures of her on your social media account.

14. Asking for her opinion.

15. Letting her do the things that she enjoys.

16. Massaging her after a stressful day.

17. Telling her she looks beautiful.

18. Calling her instead of texting her.

19. Taking her out on a date.

20. Keeping to your words.

21. Taking an interest in things that she likes even though you may not like them.

22. Opening the door for her.

23. Telling her that you love her.

24. Listening to her.

25. Calling her instead of texting.

26. Remembering things she told you.

27. Calling her cute pet names.

28. You don’t pressurise her into anything she doesn’t want to do.

29. Encouraging her.

30. Go shopping with her.

Source:Elcrema

February 17, 2017
Call for strengthened ‘neighborhood watch’ in Rwamagana

{The commissioner for Operations and Public Order in Rwanda National Police (RNP), Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Butera has called upon community policing committees (CPC)of Rwamagana District to drive the ‘neighborhood watch’ strategy in identifying, reporting and preventing crimes.}

While speaking to CPCs of Rwamagana on Wednesday, CP Butera said that security requires “ownership” and “partnership” adding that “being an eye” and ears for your neighbour ensures timely flow of information and response to prevent a detected crime.

“Neighbourhood watch is one of the methods that are of value to bringing households together and to watch out for each other. It will be easier to identify likely wrongdoers and it informs the way to prevent a crime.”

He noted that police wholly acknowledge their supplementary role in ensuring security prevails in communities in which they live and called for more alertness.

He said that “alertness does not mean to fear but to remain on guide.”

He further told the community policing committee members (CPC) to always involve the masses in maintaining security and to collaborate in information sharing adding that “security is a fundamental pillar for development” that every Rwandan should actively be part of.

Source:Police

February 17, 2017
Targeted radiosurgery better than whole-brain radiation for treating brain tumors

{Study shows effectiveness of radiosurgery in controlling spread of brain cancer after surgery.}

Tumors that originate in other organs of the body and spread to the brain are known as metastatic brain tumors. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, this type of tumor is the most common in adults, affecting as many as 300,000 people each year. University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers compared two common postsurgical therapies for metastatic brain tumors and found that stereotactic radiosurgery can provide better outcomes for patients compared to whole-brain radiation.

During whole-brain radiation therapy, beams of radiation cover the entire brain. Because it treats the whole brain, the therapy is thought to control the spread of tumors by treating both identifiable and hidden cancerous cells. However, whole-brain radiation has been associated with a decline in cognitive functions that can negatively affect a patient’s quality of life.

In stereotactic radiosurgery, radiation is delivered to more precise areas of the brain. Because it is a targeted therapy, less collateral damage occurs to healthy brain tissue. As a result, patients experience less cognitive decline when compared to whole-brain radiation, and experience a higher quality of life.

“Although radiosurgery has been shown to be an effective post-surgical treatment for metastatic brain tumors, previous studies did not compare patient outcomes from a single hospital over the same period of time,” said N. Scott Litofsky, M.D., chief of the Division of Neurological Surgery at the MU School of Medicine and senior author of the study. “Our study is one of the first to directly compare outcomes of patients treated at the same hospital during a set period of time. Ultimately, our findings reinforce the use of radiosurgery over whole-brain radiation.”

Under Litofsky’s mentorship, Kristen Scheitler-Ring, a medical student doing a pathology fellowship at the MU School of Medicine, studied the outcomes of patients treated at MU Health Care from 2010 to 2014. After undergoing brain surgery to remove a metastatic tumor, 46 patients received whole-brain radiation, while 37 patients received radiosurgery. The researchers found that radiosurgery controlled the spread of the cancerous cells as effectively as whole-brain radiation; patients who received radiosurgery experienced less cognitive decline compared to those who received whole-brain radiation. Additionally, the median survival rate for patients who received radiosurgery was 440 days, compared to 202 days for patients who received whole-brain radiation.

“For patients with metastatic cancer of the brain, the importance of surviving for a longer period of time cannot be overstated,” Litofsky said. “In our practice, we now treat patients almost exclusively with radiosurgery following their surgery. Although this therapy does cost more, results often can be achieved in one to three visits compared to 10 to 12 visits for whole-brain radiation. With these considerations, we strongly suggest physicians consider radiosurgery as an initial radiation treatment after surgery.”

Source:Science Daily

February 17, 2017
Underwater seagrass beds dial back polluted seawater

{Seagrass meadows — bountiful underwater gardens that nestle close to shore and are the most common coastal ecosystem on Earth — can reduce bacterial exposure for corals, other sea creatures and humans, according to new research published in Science Feb. 16.}

“The seagrass appear to combat bacteria, and this is the first research to assess whether that coastal ecosystem can alleviate disease associated with marine organisms,” said lead author Joleah Lamb of Cornell University’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, where she is a Nature Conservancy NatureNet fellow.

Senior author Drew Harvell, Cornell University professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and an Atkinson Center Fellow, had been running an international workshop and examining the health of underwater corals with colleagues near small islands at Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia. But after a few days, the entire research team fell ill with dysentery, and one scientist contracted typhoid. “I experienced firsthand how threats to both human health and coral health were linked,” Harvell said.

Lamb returned with an international team armed to test the waters. On these small islands freshwater is sparse, surface soil is thin and just off shore the marine environment teems with solid waste, sewage and wastewater pollution. Generally, the islands — though filled with people — do not have septic systems.

The group used Enterococcus assays, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard of health risk levels for wastewater pollution in recreational waters, to see whether seagrass meadows influenced bacterial levels. Water samples taken near the beaches exceeded exposure levels by a factor of 10. But, Lamb’s team found threefold lower levels of Enterococcus in seawater collected from within seagrass meadows.

“The genetic sequencing work pinpointed the kinds of bacteria — all in difficult, arduous conditions,” said Harvell. “It showed exactly what was in the water. The beautiful oceanside water looked blue-green, but truly it was filled with dangerous pollution — some really bad stuff in the water close to shore.”

While research is beginning to reveal the mechanisms driving bacterial-load reductions in these ecosystems, it is evident that an intact seagrass ecosystem — home to filter-feeders like bivalves, sponges, tunicates (marine invertebrates) — removes more bacteria from water.

As seagrass meadows and coral reefs are usually linked habitats, Lamb’s team examined more than 8,000 reef-building corals for disease. The researchers found lower levels — by twofold — of disease on reefs with adjacent seagrass beds than on reefs without nearby grasses. “Millions of people rely on healthy coral reefs for food, income and cultural value,” said Lamb.

Harvell, Lamb and their colleagues agree that these findings are key to conserving seagrass ecosystems. “Global loss of seagrass meadows is about 7 percent each year since 1990,” said Lamb. “Hopefully this research will provide a clear message about the benefits of seagrasses for human and marine health that will resonate globally.”

Regions around the world promote aquaculture to help feed populations, as diseases for many ocean-dwelling plants and animals increase, Harvell said, “Our goal is to stop measuring things dying and find solutions. Ecosystem services like seagrass meadow habitats are a solution to improve the health of people and the environment. Biodiversity is good for our health.”

Source:Science Daily

February 17, 2017
When your eyes override your ears: New insights into the McGurk effect

{New model shows how the brain combines information from multiple senses.}

Seeing is not always believing — visual speech (mouth movements) mismatched with auditory speech (sounds) can result in the perception of an entirely different message. This mysterious illusion is known as the McGurk effect. In new research, published in PLOS Computational Biology, neuroscience researchers have created an algorithm to reveal key insight into why the brain can sometimes muddle up one of the most fundamental aspects of the human experience.

The findings will be useful in understanding patients with speech perception deficits and in building computers able to understand auditory and visual speech.

“All humans grow up listening to tens of thousands of speech examples, with the result that our brains contain a comprehensive mapping of the likelihood that any given pair of mouth movements and speech sounds go together,” said Dr. Michael Beauchamp, professor of neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine and senior author on the paper with John Magnotti, postdoctoral research fellow at Baylor. “In everyday situations we are frequently confronted with multiple talkers emitting auditory and visual speech cues, and the brain must decide whether or not to integrate a particular combination of voice and face.”

“Even though our senses are constantly bombarded with information, our brain effortlessly selects the verbal and nonverbal speech of our conversation partners from this cacophony,” Magnotti said.

The McGurk effect is an example of when this goes wrong. It happens when mouth movements that are seen can override what is heard, causing a person to perceive a different sound than what is actually being said. Only when the eyes are closed, and when the sound is being heard, can the correct message be perceived. For example, the visual “ga” combined with the auditory “ba” results in the perception of “da.”

Magnotti and Beauchamp were able to create an algorithm model of multisensory speech perception based on the principle of causal inference, which means given a particular pair of auditory and visual syllables, the brain calculates the likelihood they are from single versus multiple talkers and uses this likelihood to determine the final speech perception.

“We compared our model with an alternative model that is identical, except that it always integrates the available cues, meaning there is no casual inference of speech perception,” said Beauchamp, who also is director of the Core for Advanced MRI at Baylor. “Using data from a large number of subjects, the model with causal inference better predicted how humans would or would not integrate audiovisual speech syllables.”

“The results suggest a fundamental role for a causal inference type calculation going on in the brain during multisensory speech perception,” Magnotti said.

Researchers already have an idea of how and where the brain separately encodes auditory speech and visual speech, but this algorithm shines light on the process of how they are integrated. It will serve as a guide, highlighting specific brain regions that will be essential for multisensory speech perception.

“Understanding how the brain combines information from multiple senses will provide insight into ways to improve declines in speech perception due to typical aging and even to develop devices that could enhance hearing across the life span,” Beauchamp said.

Source:Science Daily

February 17, 2017
USAID invests over Rwf 68 billion in Kinyarwanda literacy

{The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) yesterday held a launch event at Groupe Scolaire Kinyinya to highlight the U.S. government’s Early Grade Reading Project, which aims to improve the Kinyarwanda reading skills of one million children over the next four years. }

The Early Grade Reading Project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Rwanda Education Board consisting of three activities that are valued at over Rwf 68 billion.

The U.S. government’s partnership to support Kinyarwanda literacy is built upon evidence that literacy in the first language that students speak and understand is foundational for their success in school. The Early Grade Reading Project’s three complementary activities are:

●The MurekeDusome (“Let’s Read”) activity engages parents, communities, and literacy champions to help children embrace a culture of reading outside of school. MurekeDusome is implemented by Save the Children, in collaboration with the Rwanda Education Board.

●The Soma Umenye(“Read and Know”) activity will train teachers and provide extra reading materials to schools. It will also strengthen the capacity of the Rwanda Education Board and advocate for policies that support reading.

●The Teacher Mentorship Community of Practice program, implemented by FHI 360, has developed an online platform for teachers to access teaching materials and forums, and to take teaching certification courses online.

U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda Erica J. Barks-Ruggles highlighted the importance of collaboration with the Ministry of Education. “Our partnership with the government of Rwanda is key to achieving this literacy goal and the goals of Rwanda’s Vision 2020. We are working with the Rwandan government to find Rwandan solutions for improving children’s reading ability,” she said.

Minister of State in charge of Primary and Secondary Education, Isaac Munyakazi, offered closing remarks at the launch event. “By ensuring that all children have a strong foundation in reading, Rwanda will develop the full talents of its workforce. Rwanda will continue to succeed and its economy will continue to grow,” he remarked.

At the event, the U.S. Ambassador and Minister of Education worked with parents from Gicumbi district to create home-made reading materials for children, and witnessed a P2 teacher apply participatory techniques to teach Kinyarwanda reading to her students. Urunana Development Communications performed a live skit highlighting the importance of Kinyarwanda literacy.

February 17, 2017
Belgium boosts energy sector with Rwf 8 billion

{Belgium has donated 10 million Euro (Rwf 8.7 billion) to the government of Rwanda to expand electricity connectivity and maintenance in East and Western Province. }

The agreements have been signed between Rwanda’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), Amb. ClaverGatete and Belgium ambassador to Rwanda Pauwels Arnout.

The funding is part of Belgium commitment to supporting Rwanda in various development programs. The latter is expected to expand electricity among citizens,government institutions from Kirehe, Ngoma, Kayonza, Rwamagana and Nyagatare in Eastern province.

Part of the fund will also be allocated to boost electricity in Rubavu district of Western Province from KV 6.6 to KV 30 and rehabilitating transmission lines.

The government of Rwanda will also provide 2 million Euro for these projects.

The fund will also be used to build capacity of Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) employees. Belgium ambassador in Rwanda, Pauwels Arnout has expressed delight for their involvement in enhancing Rwanda’s progress.

“We have agreed with Rwanda to play a role in boosting electricity as one of the development paths. Electricity benefits are vital for economic development as they feed into other activities. We want to catalyze these transformations through using electricity and Biogas,” he said.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Amb. Claver Gatete has commended Belgium for continued support in various development programs adding that the support will help to address challenges in energy sector from across the country.

“We know that we have electricity but we still face varied challenges which we have to solve. We have also thought about other alternatives of using solar power to increase connectivity. This is why we are glad for the support,” he said.

February 17, 2017
India vice president to visit Rwanda

{The Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari will soon embark on a five-day visit to Rwanda and Uganda, seeking to further boost ties with them and broaden India’s diplomatic footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa.}

Ansari along with wife Salma will visit Rwanda from February 19-21 and Uganda from February 21-23, during which he would be accompanied by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla, four MPs, senior officials and a business and media delegation.

“This is the first high-level visit to Rwanda from India and the visit is taking place shortly after the official visit of President of Rwanda for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January 2017,” a senior MEA official told reporters.

MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said during this visit, the Vice President would be meeting the President of Rwanda, and the Vice President of the Senate and deliver an address at the University of Rwanda.

“The Vice President would pay homage at the genocide museum (in Kigali), interact with the Indian community in Kigali and attend a banquet hosted by the Prime Minister of Rwanda,” he said.

“India-Rwanda relations are marked by cordiality, convergence of views and cooperation on major international issues and an increasing bilateral trade and investments, greater people-to-people contact and a deep sense of mutual respect.

“During the official visit of President Paul Kagame to India from January 9-11, a decision to give strategic content to our partnership was taken,” he said.

From Rwanda, Ansari will proceed to Uganda for his visit to that country from February 21-23.

“During the visit, the Vice President would be meeting the Vice President of Uganda and the President of Uganda. The Vice President (Ansari) would also interact with the India community in Kampala,” Swarup said.

The senior MEA official said that this will be the “first high-level bilateral visit from India to Uganda since 1997, i.e., after 21 years.”

Relations between India and Uganda are characterised by historical cultural linkages, extensive economic and trade interest, and a convergence on major bilateral and international issues, the MEA Spokesperson said.

“The visit is expected to deepen and expand the bilateral relationships,” he said.
“The forthcoming visit of the Vice-President is part of the conscious broadening of India’s diplomatic footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the Great Lakes region,” the senior official said.

“He will also address India-Uganda Business Forum.

Besides, the Vice President would also be paying floral tribute to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi at a place called Jinja.

Source:India

February 17, 2017