Browsing by Author "Byamugisha, Denis"

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    Characterization of urinary metabolites associated with malaria infection using infra‑red spectroscopy and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in South Western Uganda
    (2024-07) Birungi, Grace; Achar, Joan Beryl; Byamugisha, Denis
    Early malaria diagnosis improves outcomes during malaria treatment; routine diagnostic techniques rely on blood samples obtained invasively. Therefore, this study used infra-red (IR) spectroscopy coupled with Principle Component Analysis (PCA) to study the urinary profile of malaria patients and that of controls aimed at understanding metabolite perturbation during malaria infection so as to contribute towards development of non-invasive malaria diagnosis methods. Freeze dried human urine samples form malaria infected individuals (cases) and controls were screened in the IR region of 4000 cm−1 to 600 cm−1 and overall spectral differences were observed at wave numbers 1618 cm−1, 1679 cm−1 (amino acids). Peaks at 3030 cm−1 (NH4+) and 940 cm−1 (O–H of carboxylic acids) showed high absorbance in patients compared to controls. Liquid-chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was used to quantify amino acids in the urine samples and the results indicated a significant increase of amino acid cystine (P = 0.012). Lysine and tyrosine also increased in patients compared to controls. The use of IR-PCA differentiated clusters of urine samples from patients with malaria from control and the demonstrated amino acid perturbation is consistent with malaria infection. This data provides baseline information for application in development of a non-invasive diagnostic tests for malaria.Article HighlightsInfrared (IR) spectroscopy and Principle Component Analysis (PCA) were used to differentiate urine of malaria patients from controls.LC–MS/MS was used to determine creatinine, tyrosine, cystine, lysine and histidine in urine from malaria patients and controlsThe average concentration of cystine in patients and controls urine differed significantly. Publicly Available Content Database
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    Characterization of urinary metabolites associated with malaria infection using infra‑red spectroscopy and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in South Western Uganda
    (Springer Nature B.V, 2024-07) Birungi, Grace; Achar, Joan Beryl; Byamugisha, Denis
    Early malaria diagnosis improves outcomes during malaria treatment; routine diagnostic techniques rely on blood samples obtained invasively. Therefore, this study used infra-red (IR) spectroscopy coupled with Principle Component Analysis (PCA) to study the urinary profile of malaria patients and that of controls aimed at understanding metabolite perturbation during malaria infection so as to contribute towards development of non-invasive malaria diagnosis methods. Freeze dried human urine samples form malaria infected individuals (cases) and controls were screened in the IR region of 4000 cm−1 to 600 cm−1 and overall spectral differences were observed at wave numbers 1618 cm−1, 1679 cm−1 (amino acids). Peaks at 3030 cm−1 (NH4+) and 940 cm−1 (O–H of carboxylic acids) showed high absorbance in patients compared to controls. Liquid-chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was used to quantify amino acids in the urine samples and the results indicated a significant increase of amino acid cystine (P = 0.012). Lysine and tyrosine also increased in patients compared to controls. The use of IR-PCA differentiated clusters of urine samples from patients with malaria from control and the demonstrated amino acid perturbation is consistent with malaria infection. This data provides baseline information for application in development of a non-invasive diagnostic tests for malaria.Article HighlightsInfrared (IR) spectroscopy and Principle Component Analysis (PCA) were used to differentiate urine of malaria patients from controls.LC–MS/MS was used to determine creatinine, tyrosine, cystine, lysine and histidine in urine from malaria patients and controlsThe average concentration of cystine in patients and controls urine differed significantly. Publicly Available Content Database
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    Indoor air quality in rural Southwestern Uganda: particulate matter, heavy metals and carbon monoxide in kitchens using charcoal fuel in Mbarara Municipality
    (SN Applied Sciences, 2020) Nakora, Nicholas; Byamugisha, Denis; Birungi, Grace
    The use of biomass energy over open fires in sub-Saharan Africa is rampant yet it is associated with air pollution. Information on the contribution of common biomass like charcoal to indoor air pollution in Uganda is scarce; therefore, kitchen-indoor air in charcoal fueled kitchens was characterized for fine particulate matter ( PM2.5), heavy metals and carbon monoxide content in Mbarara Municipality Western Uganda. PM2.5 was measured using University of California Berkeley Particle and Temperature Sensor (UCB-PATS), heavy metals were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) and carbon monoxide was measured using a portable, battery-operated, datalogging Drager Pac 7000. In the kitchens assessed, the mean 24-h concentration for PM2.5 was 0.449 mg/m3 in the wet season and 0.526 mg/m3 in the dry season; CO was 41.52 ppm, and all concentrations were higher than the World Health Organization 24-h Air Quality Guideline for PM2.5 of 0.024 mg/m3 and CO of 6.340 ppm. Heavy metals in particulate matter were in concentration ranges of 1.012–9.820 μg/m3 Fe, 0.012–0.092 μg/m3 Cr, 0.060–10.750 μg/m3 Zn, 0.048–0.300 μg/ m3 Cu, 0.004–0.052 μg/m3 Pb and ND—0.004 μg/m3 Cd. All mean metal concentrations were lower than recommended exposure levels by EPA although chronic exposure is a risk to health. Kitchen ventilation and size were found to significantly influence indoor pollutant levels; charcoal fuel significantly contributed to indoor air pollution and is therefore a risk factor to human health.
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    Physicochemical and Microbial Quality of Water from the Ugandan Stretch of the Kagera Transboundary River
    (Limnol. Rev, 2023) Nimusiima, Daniel; Byamugisha, Denis; Omara, Timothy; Ntambi, Emmanuel
    Increasing global pollution of water resources undermines the efforts invested in the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals. In developing countries, for example, water pollution is exacerbated by poor regulatory structures and improper waste disposal. This study, for the first time, investigated the physicochemical and microbial parameters of surface water from the Ugandan stretch of the Kagera transboundary river. Surface water (n = 135) from downstream, midstream and upstream of the river was sampled between February 2021 and June 2021, and analysed following standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Further, the samples were analysed using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy for the presence of heavy metals: nickel, lead, chromium, cadmium and copper. The obtained results showed that turbidity (24.77 ± 5.5–43.99 ± 6.87 mg/L), colour (118 ± 8.90–145.2 ± 30.58 Pt-co units), Escherichia coli (4.96 ± 7.01 CFU/100 mL), lead (23.0 ± 11.0–43.0 ± 12.0 µg/L) and cadmium (3.3 ± 1.0–10.1 ± 10.0 µg/L) were at levels that surpassed their permissible limits as per World Health Organization guidelines for potable water. These results are lower than previously reported for the Rwandese stretch of this river, but still present potential health risks to the population whose livelihoods depend on the river. Measures should therefore be instituted by the East African Community member states to mitigate riverine pollution and ensure sustainable use of the Kagera transboundary river.
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    Physicochemical Quality and Health Risks Associated with Use of Water from Nyamwamba River, Kasese, Western Uganda
    (Asian Journal of Applied Chemistry Research, 2022) Masereka, Jockus; Byamugisha, Denis; Adaku, Christopher
    In Kasese district of Western Uganda, farmers cultivating near Nyamwamba River (NR) experience crop wilting whenever the river banks burst. Increased cases of cancer and ulcers in the district is anecdotally blamed on ingestion of contaminated water from water resources polluted by tailings from Kilembe copper mines. Sand miners attested that mining in NR caused body irritations and itching while drinking water from the same river results in abdominal complications in infants. The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal variations in the physicochemical parameters and heavy metals (HMs) content of water from NR, and the associated health risks.
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    Physicochemical quality of water from Chuho springs, Kisoro district, Uganda
    (2021) Nkurunziza, Gerald; Omara, Timothy; Nakiguli, Caroline Kiwanuka; Mukasa, Paul; Byamugisha, Denis; Ntambi, Emmanuel
    In the current study, water from Chuho springs used as the main water source in Kisoro municipality, Uganda were assessed for their suitability as drinking water. The temperature, turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, total hardness, total alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, phosphates, iron, copper, arsenic, chlorides and the fluoride content of the water samples were determined. Not all the parameters met World Health Organizations’ guidelines for drinking water. Temperature, dissolved oxygen and fluorides were outside the recommended limits of 15 ℃, 10-12 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L, respectively. Further studies should assess the microbiological and sanitary profile of the springs. __________________________________