Browsing by Author "Amanya, Sharon B."

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    Antimicrobial Bioactivity and GC-MS Analysis of Different Extracts of Corchorus olitorius L Leaves
    (The Scientific World Journal, 2022) Nakaziba, Rebecca; Amanya, Sharon B.; Sesaazi, Crispin D.; Byarugaba, Frederick; Ogwal-Okeng, Jasper; Alele, Paul E.
    Background and Aim. Plants have been used for the treatment of infectious diseases among various communities worldwide with undeniable success. Corchorus olitorius L is used to treat various ailments including infections. However, there are limited data regarding its antimicrobial spectrum in Uganda. In the bid to bridge this gap, we investigated the antimicrobial bioactivity of Corchorus olitorius L against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Mycobacteria tuberculosis. Methods. Corchorus olitorius L leaves were harvested, air-dried, and serially extracted using diethyl ether, methanol, and distilled water (aqueous). e crude extracts and their components separated by TLC were assayed for bioactivity against the organisms mentioned above using the agar well di usion technique. Chloramphenicol was used as a positive control. Observation of a zone of inhibition indicated bioactivity. Finally, the components that displayed bioactivity were subjected to GCMS analysis to establish their chemical composition using the MS library database. Results. Crude extracts of Corchorus olitorius L leaves and their TLC-separated components demonstrated bioactivity against Staphylococcus aureus (14 mm), Streptococcus pneumoniae (16 mm), and Escherichia coli (11 mm) but neither against Candida albicans nor Mycobacteria tuberculosis. However, the overall zones of inhibition were smaller compared to the positive control ( 18 mm). GC-MS analysis of the active components revealed the presence of methyl esters. Conclusion. Corchorus olitorius L is bioactive against both Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria but neither against fungi nor mycobacteria. e bioactivity is attributable to the presence of methyl esters. Since methyl esters already have proven bioactivity in some studies, they could be further studied and optimized for possible pharmaceutical use. Further, to provide a more comprehensive antimicrobial spectrum of Corchorus olitorius L in Uganda, puri ed active components could be investigated using a wider range of organisms.
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    Care Burden and Coping Strategies among Caregivers of Paediatric HIV/AIDS in Northern Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Mixed-Method Study
    (AIDS Research and Treatment, 2021) Mujjuzi, Ibrahim; Mutegeki, Paul; Nabuwufu, Sarah; Wosukira, Ashim; Namata, Fazirah; Alayo, Patience; Amanya, Sharon B.; Nyeko, Richard
    Family caregivers provide the bulk of care to children living with HIV. +is places an enormous demand and care burden on the caregivers who often struggle to cope in various ways, some of which may be maladaptive. +is may adversely affect their quality of care. Very little literature exists in resource-limited contexts on the burden of care experienced by caregivers on whom children living with HIV/AIDS depend for their long-term care. We assessed care burden and coping strategies among the caregivers of paediatric HIV/AIDS patients in Lira district, northern Uganda. Methods. A mixed-method cross-sectional study was conducted among 113 caregivers of paediatric HIV patients attending the ARTclinic at a tertiary healthcare facility in Lira district, northern Uganda. A consecutive sampling method was used to select participants for the quantitative study, while 15 respondents were purposively sampled for the qualitative data. Quantitative data were collected using standard interviewer-administered questionnaires, while in-depth interview guides were used to collect qualitative data. Data were entered, cleaned, and analysed using SPSS version 23. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results. +emajority of the caregivers, 65.5% (74), experienced mild-to-moderate burden. +e mean burden scores significantly differed by caregivers’ age (P � 0.017), marital status (P � 0.017), average monthly income (P � 0.035), and child’s school attendance (P � 0.039). Accepting social support, seeking spiritual support, and reframing were the three most commonly used strategies for coping. Marital status and occupation were, respectively, positively and negatively correlated with information-seeking as a coping strategy, while monthly income was positively correlated with psychosocial support as a strategy. Seeking community support was negatively correlated with the duration of the child’s care. Conclusions. Our findings show that care burden is a common problem among the caregivers of children living with HIV in the study context.
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    CCR5 promoter variants among Ugandan HIV-1 elite and viremic controllers: a laboratory ฀ based cross ฀ sectional study
    (Research Square, 2020) Nyiro, Brian; Amanya, Sharon B.; Nabatanzi, Rose; Bayiyana, Alice; Kalazane, Linda I.; Waswa, Francis; Nabulime, Eva; Karara, Daniel; Kabali, Joel; Mboowa, Gerald; Kayongo, Alex; Kateete, David P.; Nankya, Immaculate
    Mechanisms for HIV control among HIV-1 elite and viremic-controllers are not fully understood. In Uganda, Studies have reported individuals who without Antiretroviral therapy have the inherent ability to control HIV progression to AIDS for a period of greater than 5 years. However, reasons for this phenotype are not understood. The study objective was to determine the distribution of CCR5 co-receptor on CD4+ T-cells and its associated promoter variants among HIV-1 elite and viremic-controllers. Methods We isolated CD4+T-cells from PBMCs using EasySep CD4+ T-cell negative selection kit, and stimulated them with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours. To quantify CCR5 expression, we performed immune-phenotyping using flow cytometry. CCR5 promoter polymorphisms were determined through sanger sequencing. The Kruskal–Wallis and the Mann-Whitney test were used to compare differences in the percentages of CCR5+ CD4+ T-cells and the differences in CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells respectively. p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results The percentage of CCR5+CD4+ T-cells was higher among the non-controllers compared to the controllers although, the difference was not statistically significant; elite and viremic-controllers (p=0.9173), viremic and non-controllers (0.0702), elite and non-controllers (0.6010). Of significance was the CCR5 densities on CD4+ T-cells, which were significantly higher among non-controllers relative to the controllers; elite and viremic-controllers (p=3048), viremic and non43 controllers (P=0.0312), elite and non-controllers (P=0.0210)
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    Traditional Medicinal Vegetables in Northern Uganda: An Ethnobotanical Survey
    (International Journal of Food Science, 2021) Nakaziba, Rebecca; Anyolitho, Maxson K.; Amanya, Sharon B.; Sesaazi, Crispin D.; Byarugaba, Frederick; Ogwal-Okeng, Jasper; Alele, Paul E.
    A wide range of indigenous vegetables grow in Uganda especially during rainy seasons but scarcely during droughts, except those that are commercially grown. Although a number of these vegetables have medicinal values, they have not been satisfactorily studied besides conservation. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey in Northern Uganda in order to document traditional medicinal vegetables and their uses. Methods. Qualitative and quantitative approaches of data collection and analysis were employed using semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaires as well as key informant interviews following international ethical codes. Fidelity levels and informant consensus factors were also calculated. Results. 13 traditional vegetables belonging to 10 families were reported to serve as folk medicines. The most dominant families were Fabaceae (23.08%) and Solanaceae (15.38%). The most often used vegetables were Corchorus spp., Hibiscus spp., and Asystasiagangeticafor musculoskeletal (51%), gastrointestinal (34.3%), and malaria (31.8%). The vegetables were cultivated in the backyard and the leaves stewed for the different ailments. The informant consensus factor was the highest for Corchorus spp., in the treatment of joint pain/stiffness (0.92-1) while the highest fidelity level was (60.42%) for Amaranthus spp., in the management of anemia. Conclusions. Northern Uganda has numerous traditional vegetables with medicinal benefits. Diseases treated range from gastrointestinal to reproductive through musculoskeletal abnormalities. The community obtains vegetable leaves from the backyard and stews them regularly for the medicinal purposes with no specific dosage. Therefore, we recommend studies to verify in laboratory models the efficacy of these vegetables and standardize the dosages.