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• September 06, 2007
• 23:44

  CIRCUMSICION AND HIV-AIDS

   » ‎ assidous
  The Circumsicion Library
  
  Scientists Discover 'Natural Barrier' to HIV
  By E.J. Mundell
  HealthDay Reporter Mon Mar 5, 2:02 PM ET
  MONDAY, March 5 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have discovered that cells in the mucosal lining of human genitalia produce a protein that "eats up" invading HIV -- possibly keeping the spread of the AIDS more contained than it might otherwise be.
  Even more important, enhancing the activity of this protein, called Langerin, could be a potent new way to curtail the transmission of the virus that causes AIDS, the Dutch scientists added.
  Langerin is produced by Langerhans cells, which form a web-like network in skin and mucosa. This network is one of the first structures HIV confronts as it attempts to infect its host.
  However, "we observed that Langerin is able to scavenge viruses from the surrounding environment, thereby preventing infection," said lead researcher Teunis Geijtenbeek, an immunologist researcher at Vrije University Medical Center in Amsterdam.
  And since generally all tissues on the outside of our bodies have Langerhans cells, we think that the human body is equipped with an antiviral defense mechanism, destroying incoming viruses," Geijtenbeek said.
  The finding, reported in the March 4 online issue of Nature Medicine, "is very interesting and unexpected," said Dr. Jeffrey Laurence, director of the Laboratory for AIDS Virus Research at the Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City. "It may explain part of the relative inefficiency of HIV in being transmitted."
  Even though HIV has killed an estimated 22 million people since it was first recognized more than 25 years ago, it is actually not very good at infecting humans, relatively speaking.
  For example, the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, is nearly 100 percent infectious, Laurence noted. That means that every encounter with the sexually transmitted virus will end in infection.
  "On the other hand, during one episode of penile-vaginal intercourse with an HIV-infected partner, the chance that you are going to get HIV is somewhere between one in 100 and one in 200," Laurence said.
  Experts have long puzzled why HIV is relatively tough to contract, compared to other pathogens. The Dutch study, conducted in the laboratory using Langerhans cells from 13 human donors, may explain why.
  When HIV comes in contact with genital mucosa, its ultimate target -- the cells it seeks to hijack and destroy -- are immune system T-cells. But T-cells are relatively far away (in lymph tissues), so HIV uses nearby Langerhans cells as "vehicles" to migrate to T-cells.
  For decades, the common wisdom was that HIV easily enters and infects Langerhans cells. Geijtenbeek's team has now cast doubt on that notion.
  Looking closely at the interaction of HIV and Langerhans cells, they found that the cells "do not become infected by HIV-1, because the cells have the protein Langerin on their cell surface," Geijtenbeek said. "Langerin captures HIV-1 very efficiently, and this Langerin-bound HIV-1 is taken up (a bit like eating) by the Langerhans cells and destroyed."
  In essence, Geijtenbeek said, "Langerhans cells act more like a virus vacuum cleaner."
  Only in certain circumstances -- such as when levels of invading HIV are very high, or if Langerin activity is particularly weak -- are Langerhans cells overwhelmed by the virus and infected.
  The finding is exciting for many reasons, not the least of which is its potential for HIV prevention, Geijtenbeek said.
  "We are currently investigating whether we can enhance Langerin function by increasing the amount of Langerin on the cell surface of Langerhans cells," he said. "This might be a real possibility, but it will take time. I am also confident that other researchers will now also start exploring this possibility."
  The discovery might also help explain differences in vulnerability to HIV infection among people.
  "It is known that the Langerin gene is different in some individuals," Geijtenbeek noted. "These differences could affect the function of Langerin. Thus, Langerhans cells with a less functional Langerin might be more susceptible to HIV-1, and these individuals are more prone to infection. We are currently investigating this."
  The finding should also impact the race to find topical microbicides that might protect women against HIV infection. Choosing compounds that allow Langerin to continue to work its magic will enhance any candidate microbicide's effectiveness, the Dutch researcher said.
  Laurence did offer one note of caution, however.
  "In the test tube, this is a very important finding," he said. "But there are many things in the test tube that don't occur when you get into an animal or a human. Having said that, though, this is a very intriguing finding."
  
  
  Citation:
  
  * E.J. Mundell. Scientists Discover 'Natural Barrier' to HIV. HealthDay, Monday, March 5, 2007.
  
  Sourced from Circumcision News Library and posted here by Assidous

• 18:20

  The ENGLISH PATIENT

   » ‎ KenyanMusings
  
  
  
  **Breathes in, breathes out** I need to get this outta my system.
  
  So, yesterday was the chap’s birthday.
  He hates birthdays, and all celebrations centred around him etc. Now meeee, being the nice girlfriend, I decide to throw him a treat before his party on Sato which is happening whether he wants it or not. The treat? Me!!!
  
  I weighed all my options, and long after I had eliminated jumping out of a lifesize cake with poms poms and kicking my feet all over, clumsily so, dare I add, and doing the “give me an S- give me a W-, give me an E-…. Goooooo Sweetie!!”, I settled for dinner and a vision of me in lingerie.
  For real, I mean that would be a refreshing change from my standard gear. Scorching Yellow Tshirt, with holes on the saggy neckline boldly emblazoned “Pamoja tuangamize Ukimwi” .
  That by all means, is a mood Killa! Not so much the colour, the huuuuge fit, but by the time you get past the Abstain, Be faithful, Use a Condom flashing neon warning, you might to wrap somene in cellophane just because they are male and you are female/ or bothe of you are male. Or both of you are female.....you gerrit.
  Then again, when we say jumping out of cake, where will my ass which is unrelenting in its outward protrusion going to be stashed? Too messy.
  
  So, I had a plan;
  
  -leave work early
  -yoga class
  -make dinner
  -Pick dude up
  -show him good time
  
  I have to tell you, my Yoga instructor is this tiny, little lady who looks like she is going to eat me. I’m making, (rather more trying and erring) a perfect circle and ‘feeling the anger leave me” and she keeps staring at my errant behind like a piece of steak.
  Of course she wants to eat me. One side of my ass could feed here and her 'little people' family for months!! All I’m saying…don’t marinate me in honey. I’m allergic.
  Dinner was going to be Ugali, perfectly marinated (not in honey) beef, a nice salad, a good bottle of wine….
  
  So I get home, my ass intact, No, she did not eat me, she is fattening me up…I take about an hour to cook and get ready. The ugali, I was going to cook when I got back so it does not get cold.
  Then, I dash out to pick him up. He went to the coast in the morning, he is coming back in the evening.
  He does.
  Buuut! I noticed as he approached me…the man is sweating like a wild hog!!!! Ngutness.
  
  Now, me, the thought crossed my mind to ignore the fact that he looks not so good, assume he is hyperventilating, I mean, lets face it, he’s 34, his life is over, then proceed with my plan undeterred.
  So, I hug him, do my happy birythday thing. “yaay! Happy Birthaday!.
  His response was well….out of the norm.
  
  CHAP: “KM, I’m dying”
  
  LOOOOL. Okay, not a good way to start the birthday is it?
  
  KM: what’s wrong?
  
  CHAP: I’m dying. I feel so sick.
  
  KM: If you are doing this to get out of your birthday, that’s really lame, I haven’t planned anything.
  
  CHAP: KM, I’m dying, I need to lie down”
  
  Soooo, my sweaty sweetie decides ok, maybe if he chatters (is that the word?) his teeth, I’ll get the gravity of it.
  Which he does, which I chose to not acknowledge primarily because, this is the one time I am seeing him this unwell and I’m racking my brain for what to do. Usually, he will drink water to cure headaches, a shot of tequila for a cold etc. And also because what would I say
  Dude? Are your teeth chattering? . How ingenous!
  
  Eventually, I toss my shawl around him, which he wraps around his diseased self…but the teeth gnashing/chattering soldiers on.
  
  All this time, pardon my vanity, I’m thinking “shoot! I should have made this beef on Sunday". Ala! It’s a waste.
  
  So I sit next to him and ask
  
  KM: How are you feeling?
  Chap: **groaan** I’m sick. Turn on the AC, are you not feeling cold? Do you think I’ll die?
  
  (I know, from my little knowledge, that sometimes rhetorical questions like these are a plea for re-assurance. I don’t give that, I go for the jugular)
  
  KM: Of course you are going to die. OMG, is that blood oozing form your ears?
  
  **he shoots me a I cant believe you are joking about this look**
  
  All my feeble attempts to cheer him up were well…feeble.
  
  KM: How are you feeling?
  
  CHAP: Like I will die
  
  KM: As in exactly how?
  
  CHAP: ***grooooaaan** What do you mean how? I dunno. I have never died before!
  
  (LOL, he is sick, and funny...what a keeper)
  
  I turn up the music a little bit
  
  CHAP: **Reaches out and puts it down to a whisper** KM my head is aching!
  
  (And cranky too)
  
  THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG EVENING
  
  SO I do the logical thing. Take him to hospital.
  
  I do not consult him because he wil say "NO, I’ll be fine, I just need a nap".
  
  Here’s the thing with chaps. When they are ill, they will crawl into bed, REFUSE TO TAKE MEDICINE and claim over n over that their life is over. Women? We will cook, clean and find your other sock while the other hand is cutting the umbilical chord.
  
  At the hospital…..(He did not object to it when he found out about the detour).
  You should have seen how he crawled into the doctors room! Some chaps really thrive on exaggeration.
  
  Halafu I could have sworn he was scribbling down a will while we waited. Leaving me nothing! Thats for sure considering “she does not believe I’m dying. Why is she so calm? Or did she poison me?” even after I have exemplified awesomeness all these years!
  Like seriously, Winnie Mandela? 27 years, Go figure.
  So she assaulted, murdered, kidnapped, pilfered, was professionally incompetent and then there was the serial infidelity. Surely 27 years! Should that not be atonement?
  Mandiba, Baba, I love you, applaud you and admire you. You know how people hyperventilate at the “if you had to ask Mandela 1 question what would it be?" And they are coming up with huge words like ‘detractors’, humanity, patriotism, bla…me, simple “Daddi, ala! What went down with you and Winnie?”
  
  Anwyay, back home in Nairobi, A teeth chattering-shivering boyfriend was with the doctor.
  He comes back with this chit, lab test, I mean, he is just going, in the most pitiful way that “he told me to wait for the results”
  So I look at him like he who?
  He gives me a “he the doctor, my friend, the one who will save my life not you who does not care”
  Shoot! This is criminal haki. Throwing yourself a pity party of this magnitude surely is criminal!!!
  The test came out….he has more malaria than a little village in Kilifi combined.
  Mwehehe, to be totally honest, I knew it was, but I did not want to tell him that cos he might bite my head off and go “Boohoooo. you are not the expert okay! That’s why you are a struggling **insert mundane proffesion** and NOT A DOCTOR**. Plus yes. I'm not a doctor. I comment on matters about whichI posses expert opinion. Few if any.
  
  How I knew, is that the last time we traveled to the Coast, I took my meds while incredible hulk over there a.k.a “looks whose teeth are chattering now” refused to because he is invincible and mayhaps invisible to bugs while, I? .....I’m just your regular control freak.
  
  On the drive back home;
  
  CHAP: KM, I’m gonna die
  
  KM: Not on your birthday. Happy birthday
  
  CHAP: Shit I’m sooo oooold!
  
  The pity party is obviously unrelenting.
  
  
  Surely, does this guy? This one, this guy, chair Board meetings without breaking into a “awww shott! We are fugged. We are going Under. OMG we will be all over the news” panic attack? How now?
  
  We get home. I was tired. The doctor said the meds are strong, so he needs to eat well before he takes them.
  So much for a night of showing him a good time “I charge you good price for you my friend, sucky, sucky, mmmmm Ming Lee do it very nice but only for you”.
  
  Its bad enough that the damn man does not want to eat cos “Juice is fine, I had lunch”, but to have to eat KM’s dinner? Punishment is what.
  
  So I go rattle pots and pans, comes out with something at the end of it, and I even make him some chicken soup.
  While I’m in the kitchen, I keep checking on him, he was really silent and considering how many times he floated the dying theme around, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. He kept drifting in and out fo sleep, hallucinating random crap like “No, please don’t kill me” “KM, how could you! You said you loved me!” and lifting his head from the pillow when he saw me hovering around to ask “KM is the food ready or should I take the meds now because I feel like I’m dying” UGHHHHHH!
  
  At 10 oclock, I emerged from the torture chamber i.e kitchen with a half bent nail **grits teeth** with something(s) for him to eat.
  
  The poor pooor thing was so feverish, all the duvets, still sweating and you- know- what- he- was- doing -with- his -teeth.
  He took one look at the food and goes
  “I can’t eat. I will throw up. Please give me juice KM. I’m parched".
  **makes an up-down motion to his throat as if, duh kwani what else does parched mean?**
  It could mean that he was settled on a tree like a bird, but, that’s with an “e”, plus it would be sooo out of context.
  
  I ignored his pleas for a drop of water Lazarus, and about half an hour later, KP and Gabi had nothing on me! There was war!!! and after a myriad of puke threats,I won, he was fed, took his meds and I gave him some lucozade. He was incensed at my nerve. Negro please!
  He made a point to let his sister and brothers know that “he was dying” when all they did was innocently call to wish him a happy birthday. Sigh.
  
  My lingerie and I crawled into bed. Exhausted. He still wanted to get down. More of ego really than anything else. “look at me, I can do it on my death bed” The nerve! Him and his sweaty self now how? I don’t mind sweat, but I prefer activity sweat to illness sweat! Eeeewwww
  So, I did not grant his deathwish, because also, a little part of me felt like I was taking advantage of him.
  
  I get into the bed. K.A.L.A.H.A.R.I heloooo!!! 900 degrees, I’m looking for cool corners of the bed and I can feel waves of his fever coming at me. Sighhh!!!
  His teeth would stop chattering, then he would remember and start all over lest I forget the recurring evening theme….”dying”
  Eventually, he slept. Like a baby, his body cooled down and I just looked at his sleeping self and almost shed a tear vile, that’s a hard way to have a birthday.
  
  He was up and well this morning, still has some meds to go, which I know will be a battle to finish but I hope he knows he will finish those things even if I have to mix them in his food cos, hell no! I cannot have too much of him when he is like that.
  
  I was late for work, Drat! This is why career women who hold their families intact are the 8th wonder of the world. He said a mortified “thanks. I’m sorry. We’ll do it right next year”.
  At some point I thought, you know he really hates attention and would much rather the birthday went unnoticed so he feigned the illness….the fever? I dunno how he did that!
  
  
  Music Video Codes
  
  
  Robin Thicke - Lost Without You

• 15:05

  Olympia Capital Holdings Rights Offer - Queries Part 1

   » ‎ Rants, Raves & Reviews

  Tags:  Review  

  Since I posted the earlier blog entry, I have been approached by various readers to explain more about OCHL & its Rights Offer. Due to time constraints, I will address 1-2 issues/topics/questions at a time. Leave the questions in the comments section rather than e-mailing them to me so others may answer/comment on your queries.
  
  The information below is derived from the Information Memorandum. Please download the IM & read it for additional details/information. This is a document the CMA requires firms to produce & should be read by any investor who wants to participate in OCHL's Rights Offer. My comments are in RED.
  
  PURPOSE OF THE RIGHTS ISSUE
  
  The purpose of the Rights Issue is to raise long term funds totaling to an amount of Kshs. 420,000,000 for the following:-
  
  1.To increase OCHL shareholding in OCCL, an associate company listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange.
  OCHL used to own 53% of OCCL(Botswana) until April 2007 when OCHL did not participate in OCCL(B)'s Rights Offer. This reduced the ownership to 26%. The reason for the non-participation was the unavailability of funds to buy OCC(B) Rights. OCHL wants to buy 27% of OCCL(B) to equal a shareholding of 50%+ of OCC(B) in order to consolidate the financials.
  
  ii. To fund potential business acquisitions in Kenya. OCHL is already in preliminary discussions with two Kenyan manufacturing companies. This is a strategic move that is going to bring a strong presence of the company in the local manufacturing market to compliment that of local subsidiary.
  It should be complement (not compliment) but that aside, OCHL is looking at expanding its footprint in Kenya but acquiring firms in the building industry. Most Kenyan firms in this sector are importers not manufacturers.
  
  OCHL will also undertake marketing of 'Window Accessories" (products of Plush-Yokota) in Kenya through Dunlop Industries Limited.
  
  iii. To fund acquisitions and mergers in South Africa, where the current value chain in the retail housing sector is not complete and the company is forced to partner with others in order to market and sell its products. Therefore to reduce the cost of business and increase trading margins, the company is looking to acquire/merge with companies that can complement the current businesses in both Botswana and South Africa.
  OCHL's management has consistently declared their preference for the S.African market which is much larger than Kenya's market. S.Africa & Botswana are part of SADDC that allows for preferential treatment of goods & services within SADDC.
  
  OCC(B)'s involvement is through a PVC tile manufacturing plant (Kalahari Floor Tiles) & window accessories manufacturing & sales (Plush-Yokota). These firms also have "side" businesses including chemicals, uPVC windows & shower doors.
  
  Expansion is likely to be in similar industries i.e home improvement & building materials.
  

• 14:42

  early adopters

   » ‎ Kikuyumoja's realm

  Tags:  mobile phones  

  So you have spend US$ 599 on an iPhone and now you are pissed that HRM Steve Jobs reduced the price to US$ 399?

  Well, dear Apple fans, rest assured: Nokia did the same with us last week by introducing another N95 with 8GB fixed memory (instead of a microSD slot), a bigger display, a much better battery and a slightly improved keypad on the front (which I personally think is the best improvement on this machine). Now what’s worse: a price drop, or knowing that your machine isn’t just *that* great and that it has been improved?
  As for the iPhone: seems like the 599$ price tag is reserved for the upcoming 3G version. Eh?

  I wonder what kind of effect this new version will have on the firmware of the previous N95. NOKIA! Aah…could you please remove the useless multimedia menu and reasign the button to something else? Thx..

• 11:17

  Gideon's Trip With His Father To Banks In Luxembourg

   » ‎ You Missed This
  archive
  
  Kroll Report on Kenyan Corruption, Digest
  
  Mukesh Gohil reveals that by 2002 Gideon Moi's cash in foreign banks amounted to a staggering 550 million British pounds. This is only the money that Gideon had involved him in to transact. It is reported that all Gideon's cash left the country through Citibank.
  
  Mukesh insists that a huge amount of this money is in London.
  
  The Kroll report details a fascinating trip that took place towards the end of former president Moi's last term as president where he visited several banks in Luxembourg in an unmarked ordinary car and without any security or escort. Only one State house aide (who was chief of protocal at the time) accompanied them. And even he was left in waiting rooms as father and son had meetings with their bankers behind closed doors. But it was very clear that the purpose of this trip was to introduce the younger Moi to his bankers.
  
  It is believed that during this trip administration of the Moi fortunes was transferred to...
  
  Read more
  
  How To Make Serious Money Using Blogs Or Generate Plenty Of Traffic For Your Site. It Is So Easy, Expert Explains
• 11:17

  Conflict Of Interest Minister Who Says Kroll Report Is Lies

   » ‎ You Missed This
  archive
  
  Nicholas Biwott used to be the cabinet Minister whose docket was energy and today he controls over 17% of the private oil industry in Kenya, according to the Kroll Associates reports. This in itself is more than a text book example of what conflict of interest is all about, long before you have gotten round to proving the other corruption allegations.
  
  The idea of joining the hitherto low profile Energy Ministry may have no doubt been inspired by the stupendous amounts of money made from the Turkwell Gorge which gave the money launderers placed with the responsibility of transferring the funds overseas, a nightmare.
  
  But apart from energy Biwott owns colossal interests in tourism, air transport, mining, real estate, telecommunications, construction and agriculture.
  
  It is apparent that one of the main informants for the Kroll report was...
  
  Read more
  
  How To Make Serious Money Using Blogs Or Generate Plenty Of Traffic For Your Site. It Is So Easy, Expert Explains
• 11:17

  Alnoor Kassam The Man Who Dared To Challenge Biwott

   » ‎ You Missed This
  archive
  
  Biwott to Kassam; "…don't do that again. If you do I will not be responsible for what happens to you."
  
  Trade Bank which Alnoor Kassam acquired from Gad Zeevi an Israeli businessman (later deported by Biwott but now involved in business dealings with him again) had a huge loan in it's books taken out by Biwott and Gad Zeevi.
  
  When the bank ran into problems Kassam felt that he should bring it to the attention of Biwott who summoned the Central Bank governor Eric Kotut and balmed it all on Zeevi saying that he had a habit of leaving debts all over the place. He asked Kotut to go easy on Trade Bank and also to help Kassam get the money owed through other means.
  
  The issue was resolved over a 3-year period during which tax payers funds were credited to the bank directly from the Central Bank in Kenya shillings in the following order annually; 80 million, 180 million and 280 million.
  
  The relationship between Yaya center, TradeBank and Biwott is complex. But when Tradeank took over Yaya center, Biwott insisted that his loan of 150 million be written off. This caused a lot of
  
  Read more
  
  How To Make Serious Money Using Blogs Or Generate Plenty Of Traffic For Your Site. It Is So Easy, Expert Explains

• 10:28

  links 06-08-07

   » ‎ Gathunuku

  - Thank God for StumbleUpon, how else would one ever find out about this man who obviously has problems with taking no for an answer. Utterly hilarious and a bit inspiring actually.

  - He’s still at it and still creating a buzz, the chap is so good that they had to name him twice. Jay Jay moves back to English football. Who can ever forget that fantastic gold winning team at the Atlanta ‘96 Olympics! Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Kanu, Tijani Babangida, Victor Ikpeba. Great days for African football.

  -They can run but clearly cannot hide. Tech doing its bit to bring sense (hopefully) to the next lot.

  Share This

• 10:28

  links 06-09-07

   » ‎ Gathunuku
  - Thank God for StumbleUpon, how else would one ever find out about this man who obviously has problems with taking no for an answer. Utterly hilarious and a bit inspiring actually. - He’s still at it and still creating a buzz, the chap is so good that they had to name him twice. Jay Jay [...]

• 8:31

  Aveva's pro-nuke 'cartoon' ad back on TV

   » ‎ Marian's Blog
  I bet you never knew radioactive nuclear power could be this much fun! Wow. French nuclear plant maker Aveva is back again, blitzing t.v. screens somewhere near you with its cartoonized "soft" pro-nuclear advertisement. Caution: If all you notice is...
• 8:31

  Areva's pro-nuke 'cartoon' ad back on TV

   » ‎ Marian's Blog
  I bet you never knew radioactive nuclear power could be this much fun! Wow. French nuclear plant maker Areva - not Aveva - is back, blitzing t.v. screens somewhere near you with a cartoonized "soft" pro-nuclear ad. Caution: If all...

• 8:10

  The Year So Far

   » ‎ My Life is...Mochalicious!
  I think in January, I had a feeling that this year would be eventfully. Away from the usual norm. My goal(s) for the year are yet to bear fruit, but one is in motion. Despite the ups and downs up until now, I will have to say that 2007 is soo far the most exciting. What’s in [...]

• 0:20

  GITHONGO AND KROLL REPORTS.

   » ‎ assidous
  We are being led by criminals from the highest office in the land.
  
  Check this sites and read for yourself:
  
  
  http://wikileaks.org/wiki/The_looting_of_Kenya_under_President_Moi
  
  [wikileaks.org]