Adipocytokines, secreted by adipose tissue, may regulate fat metabolism, lipid and glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. We analysed the relations between circulating concentrations of ...adiponectin, leptin, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and its soluble receptors sTNFR1 and R2, lipodystrophic phenotypes and metabolic alterations in patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
We studied 131 consecutive HIV-infected males under protease inhibitor (PI)-based HAART, with body mass index < 27 kg/m2 and C-reactive protein (CRP) < 10 mg/l. Patients were classified in four groups according to clinical examination: no lipodystrophy (NL), lipohypertrophy (LH), lipoatrophy (LA) and mixed lipodystrophy (ML). In addition to adipocytokines, we measured plasma fasting levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, cardiovascular risk markers (high-sensitivity CRP and apolipoproteins B/A1 ratio), fasted and 2 h post-glucose loading glycemia and insulinemia and calculated the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index.
The patients were HIV-infected and PI-treated for a mean of 8.2 and 1.6 years respectively; 74% presented lipodystrophy, 38% altered glucose tolerance and 42% hypertriglyceridemia. Insulin sensitivity correlated positively with adiponectin and negatively with leptin and interleukin-6. Adiponectin, but not leptin, negatively correlated with all metabolic parameters. Insulin resistance, metabolic defects and cardiovascular risk markers were strongly negatively correlated with the adiponectin/leptin ratio (A/L), and positively with sTNFR1. LA patients had a longer duration of infection but ML patients presented the most severe metabolic alterations, insulin resistance and A/L decrease.
These results suggest that adiponectin and the TNFalpha system are related to lipodystrophy, insulin resistance and metabolic alterations in patients under PI-based HAART. A/L and sTNFR1 could predict insulin sensitivity and potential cardiovascular risk in these patients.
The prevalence of methicillin-resitant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals and the community poses an increasing health burden, which requires the discovery of alternative antimicrobials. ...Allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate) from garlic exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against many multidrug resistant bacteria. The thiol-reactive mode of action of allicin involves its S-thioallylations of low molecular weight (LMW) thiols and protein thiols. To investigate the mode of action and stress response caused by allicin in S. aureus, we analyzed the transcriptome signature, the targets for S-thioallylation in the proteome and the changes in the bacillithiol (BSH) redox potential (EBSH) under allicin stress. Allicin caused a strong thiol-specific oxidative and sulfur stress response and protein damage as revealed by the induction of the PerR, HypR, QsrR, MhqR, CstR, CtsR, HrcA and CymR regulons in the RNA-seq transcriptome. Allicin also interfered with metal and cell wall homeostasis and caused induction of the Zur, CsoR and GraRS regulons. Brx-roGFP2 biosensor measurements revealed a strongly increased EBSH under allicin stress. In the proteome, 57 proteins were identified with S-thioallylations under allicin treatment, including translation factors (EF-Tu, EF-Ts), metabolic and redox enzymes (AldA, GuaB, Tpx, KatA, BrxA, MsrB) as well as redox-sensitive MarR/SarA-family regulators (MgrA, SarA, SarH1, SarS). Phenotype and biochemical analyses revealed that BSH and the HypR-controlled disulfide reductase MerA are involved in allicin detoxification in S. aureus. The reversal of protein S-thioallylation was catalyzed by the Brx/BSH/YpdA pathway. Finally, the BSSB reductase YpdA was shown to use S-allylmercaptobacillithiol (BSSA) as substrate to regenerate BSH in S. aureus. In conclusion, allicin results in an oxidative shift of EBSH and protein S-thioallylation, which can be reversed by YpdA and the Brx/BSH/YpdA electron pathways in S. aureus to regenerate thiol homeostasis.
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•Allicin causes a thiol-specific oxidative stress response in S. aureus.•The mode of action of allicin involves S-thioallylation of 57 proteins.•S-thioallylated proteins are redox-sensitive enzymes and MarR-family regulators.•BSH and the disulfide reductase MerA are involved in allicin detoxification.•BrxAB/BSH/YpdA pathway functions in reversal of protein S-thioallylation.
In Vietnam, pork is the most commonly consumed type of meat, and the demand is expected to rise even further. Nevertheless, food safety is a major concern, as the country bears a high burden of ...food-borne diseases, including these caused by pork products. Knowledge of the flows of pigs and pork from producers up to the consumers is important; however, up to now, a comprehensive overview is lacking. We addressed this by conducting a systematic review on the pork value chain (PVC) mapping for the country. Four international and three Vietnamese databases were searched for data on the pork value chain in Vietnam, and the results were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Data obtained from the retained records showed that 10 main PVC types are present in Vietnam, comprising of five main actors including: producers, middlemen, slaughter men, retailers and consumers. Among the identified chains, the one involving producers, slaughter men, retailers and consumers is the most common one, with up to 75% of pork following this route. In cities or export routes to other countries, middlemen and/or traders are important additional actors in the PVCs. The small scale of PVC linkages is prominent. The presence of middlemen, pig traders and pork traders is contributing to further distribution of pork products in geographical terms. Transactions between actors in the traditional PVCs in Vietnam are characterized by the absence of official contracts; therefore, the linkages in the chains are loose and the origin of pork is not traceable. More industrial forms of PVCs are slowly developing; however, the traditional PVCs are still prevailing in Vietnam. The weak linkages between actors and poor hygienic practices in these chains form a risk to pork safety.
Quinones and α,β-unsaturated carbonyls are naturally occurring electrophiles that target cysteine residues via thiol-(S)-alkylation. We analysed the global expression profile of Bacillus subtilis to ...the toxic carbonyls methylglyoxal (MG) and formaldehyde (FA). Both carbonyl compounds cause a stress response characteristic for thiol-reactive electrophiles as revealed by the induction of the Spx, CtsR, CymR, PerR, ArsR, CzrA, CsoR and SigmaD regulons. MG and FA triggered also a SOS response which indicates DNA damage. Protection against FA is mediated by both the hxlAB operon, encoding the ribulose monophosphate pathway for FA fixation, and a thiol-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase (AdhA) and DJ-1/PfpI-family cysteine proteinase (YraA). The adhA-yraA operon and the yraC gene, encoding a γ-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase, are positively regulated by the MerR-family regulator, YraB(AdhR). AdhR binds specifically to its target promoters which contain a 7-4-7 inverted repeat (CTTAAAG-N4-CTTTAAG) between the -35 and -10 elements. Activation of adhA-yraA transcription by AdhR requires the conserved Cys52 residue in vivo. We speculate that AdhR is redox-regulated via thiol-(S)-alkylation by aldehydes and that AdhA and YraA are specifically involved in reduction of aldehydes and degradation or repair of damaged thiol-containing proteins respectively.
Early management of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is one of the key steps in cervical cancer prevention after vaccination and screening. It relies on lesion removal by surgical ...excision, and the French National Cancer Institute (INCa) in 2016 recommend using a loop electro excision procedure (LEEP). However, the laser excision method seems to be as effective with similar rates of negative excision margins and postoperative clearance of HPV.
The main objective of our study was to compare the laser excision method to LEEP by evaluating the quality of the surgical margins. We also studied factors associated with the status of the margins and the depth of cones.
We conducted a retrospective unicentric study between 2009 and 2017.
Two hundred and thirty-one patients were included: 154 laser excisions and 77 LEEP. Negative surgical margin was achieved in 69.5 % of laser excisions and 72.7 % of LEEP (p = 0.649). Concerning factors predicting margin status, only a greater cone depth was associated with negative margins (OR: 0.91 (95 %CI: 0.84, 0.89); p = 0.02). The surgical technique was not found to be associated with the status of the margins (OR: 0.85 (95 %CI: 0.46,1.56); p = 0.61). Concerning factors predicting cone depth, only the LEEP was associated with a shorter cone depth (OR: 0.24 (95 %CI: 0.08, 0.69); p 0.008). Significant results are based on univariate analysis.
No difference was found between the two technics concerning the rate of negative margins. However, LEEP seems to be associated with shorter cone depth in this study.
Graham’s convex hull algorithm outperforms the others on those distributions where most of the points are on or near the boundary of the hull (Allison and Noga, 1984). To use this algorithm for ...finding an orthogonal convex hull of a finite planar point set, we introduce the concept of extreme points of a connected orthogonal convex hull of the set, and show that these points belong to the set. Then we prove that the connected orthogonal convex hull of a finite set of points is an orthogonal (x,y)-polygon where its convex vertices are its connected orthogonal convex hull’s extreme points. As a result, an efficient algorithm, based on the idea of Graham’s convex hull algorithm, for finding the connected orthogonal convex hull of a finite planar point set is presented. We also show that the lower bound of computational complexity of such algorithms is O(nlogn). Some numerical results for finding the connected orthogonal convex hulls of random sets are given.
Management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a significant challenge to the global healthcare system due to the complexity and long duration of the MDR-TB treatment. This study analyzed ...the safety of patients on longer injectable-based MDR-TB treatment regimens using active pharmacovigilance data.
We conducted an observational, prospective study based on active pharmacovigilance within the national TB program. A total of 659 MDR-TB patients were enrolled and followed up at 9 TB- hospitals in 9 provinces of all 3 regions in Vietnam between 2014 and 2016. Patients received a treatment regimen (standardized or individualized) based on their drug susceptibility test result and their treatment history. Baseline and follow-up information was collected at the start and during treatment. Adverse events (AE) were defined and classified as serious adverse events (SAEs) or otherwise. Multivariate Cox regression following the Iterative Bayesian Model Averaging algorithm was performed to identify factors associated with AE occurrence.
Out of 659 patients assessed, 71.3% experienced at least one AE, and 17.5% suffered at least one SAE. The most common AEs were gastrointestinal disorders (38.5%), arthralgia (34.7%), and psychiatric disorders (30.0%). The proportion of patients with nephrotoxicity and hearing loss or vestibular disorders were 7.4% and 15.2%, respectively. 13.1% of patients required modifications or interruption of one or more drugs. In 77.7% of patients, treatment was completed successfully, while 9.3% lost to follow-up, in 3.0% treatment failed, and 7.4% died. Some significant risk factors for nephrotoxicity included diabetes mellitus (HR = 8.46 1.91-37.42), renal dysfunction (HR = 8.46 1.91-37.42), alcoholism (HR = 13.28 5.04-34.99), and a higher average daily dose of injectable drugs (HR = 1.28 1.14-1.43).
While a majority of patients on the longer injectable-based regimens experienced non-serious AEs during MDR-TB treatment, one in six patients experienced at least an SAE. Active TB drug-safety monitoring is useful to understand the safety of MDR-TB treatment and explore the risk factors for toxicity. All-oral, shorter MDR-TB regimens might be able to reduce the inconvenience, discomfort, and toxicity of such regimens and increase adherence and likelihood of successful completion.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background. Providing messages on risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) plays an important role in preventing disease. Objectives. This study investigated how often adults living in a ...rural area in northern Vietnam heard about risks factor for NCD and where they obtained that information. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a multistage stratified cluster sampling to recruit 2970 participants. Data analyses were adjusted for all variables in a two-level multilevel Poisson regression model. Results. Overall, 77% of respondents had heard about NCDs, while 38.3 to 50% had been exposed to messages on risk factors of NCDs in the last month. Television, radio, and friends/neighbors were the most common sources of information. Most people exposed information no more than one or two sources. Factors associated with exposure to messages about risk were occupation, age group, education, and economic status. Conclusion. Intervention programs should focus on providing information primarily through television, considering influencing factors as well ensuring that messages reach target audiences.
Hyperuricemia is a significant health concern worldwide. It is important to identify pregnant women who may be at risk to enhance pregnancy care. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of ...hyperuricemia and identify some factors associated with hyperuricemia among Vietnamese pregnant women.
In this cross-sectional study, 340 pregnant women were enrolled from May 2021 to December 2021. Demographic information, anthropometric data, and food frequency consumption (within 1 month before delivery) were collected from the participants. In addition, the biochemical indices of the participants were collected from medical records. Multivariate logistic regression was deployed to identify associated factors (p < 0.05).
The prevalence of hyperuricemia was estimated at 20.3 %. Factors associated with hyperuricemia risk among Vietnamese pregnant women include eating red meat (aOR: 2.3), eating animal organs (aOR: 2.5), not meeting vegetable recommendations (aOR: 6.7), hyper-total cholesterol (aOR: 2.4), disease during pregnancy (aOR: 3.5) and gestational weight gain below recommendations (aOR: 0.2).
The prevalence of hyperuricemia among pregnant women was relatively high at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi, Vietnam. Consuming red meat and animal organs, not meeting vegetable recommendations, having high total cholesterol, and experiencing pregnancy-related diseases are the major factors associated with higher rates of hyperuricemia in this study.
•Red meat, animal organs and lack of vegetables linked to higher hyperuricemia rates.•Lower gestational weight gain is related to a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia.•Women with pregnancy-related diseases should avoid food high in cholesterol.
Analysis of an antimicrobial extract prepared from the culture broth of the marine-derived actinomycete
Nocardiopsis synnemataformans
(HT06 strain) led to the isolation of a new C-glucoside benzoic ...acid derivative, 4
β
C-glucopyranosyl-3,5-dihydroxy-2-methoxybenzoic acid (
1
), along with eight known compounds, norharman (
2
), (E)-4-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one (
3
), methyl 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido3,4-bindole-3-carboxylate (
4
), 1H-indole-3-ethanol (
5
), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (
6
), 3-phenylpropanoic acid (
7
), phloretic acid (
8
), and cinnamic acid (
9
). The antimicrobial activity of all isolated compounds was assayed.
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