The orchestration of the inflammatory responses to both infection and tissue damage is arguably the key physiological function of NF-κB, and thus interference with the activation of NF-κB represents ...an exceptional strategy for a successful pathogen to exploit to counter multiple host innate defense processes through the targeting of a single host regulatory pathway. Because of their large genomes, which typically encode ~200 proteins, and their unusual independence from the host nuclear transcriptional machinery, poxviruses are especially well suited to manipulate the cytoplasmic activation of NF-κB. Indeed, poxviruses are known to encode multiple proteins that regulate the activation of NF-κB in a variety of different ways and these can be considered potential paradigms for the development of novel anti-inflammatory therapies and more effective vaccines. Given the renewed interest in the pathogenesis of orthopoxviruses like smallpox and monkeypox, we review the current understanding of how the various classes of poxviral immunomodulatory proteins target and manipulate the NF-κB pathway.
Background Thiamine deficiency is commonly reported in patients with diabetes especially during diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) that could attribute to myocardial dysfunction in those patients. However, ...there is limited data regarding its relation to myocardial function among those patients. This study aimed to explore the association between myocardial function and serum thiamine levels in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods This cross-sectional comparative study included 25 patients with DKA. Clinical data assessment, echocardiographic examination and measurement of serum high-sensitive troponin T (hs-cTnT) and thiamine levels were done. We also assessed the association between troponin levels, echocardiographic ventricular systolic and diastolic function and serum thiamine. Results Twenty-four percent of children with DKA had thiamine deficiency. DKA children with thiamine deficiency had significant acidosis and higher serum troponin levels and significant impairment of diastolic function than those without thiamine deficiency. The serum thiamine level had a significant positive correlation with the echocardiographic indices of diastolic function but negative correlation with troponin levels. Conclusions Thiamine deficiency is a common finding during the treatment of children with DKA, and this deficiency may be associated with myocardial dysfunction.
Cardiac disease is the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. We investigated the role of undifferentiated adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) alone and ADMSC seeded ...onto the electro-spun nanofibers (NF) for reconstructing damaged cardiac tissue in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. ADMSC were sorted by morphological appearance and by detection of cluster of differentiation (CD) surface antigens. The therapeutic potential of ADMSC for treating MI was evaluated by electrocardiogram (ECG), biochemical analysis, molecular genetic analysis and histological examination. Treatment of MI-challenged rats with ADMSC improved ECG findings, which were corroborated by significant decreases in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) enzyme activities together with reduced serum troponin T (cTnT) and connexin 43 (Cx43) levels. MI model rats treated with ADMSC exhibited a significant increase in serum alpha sarcomeric actin (Actn) and GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4), and NK2 homeobox 5 (NKX2.5) gene expression was decreased following treatment with ADMSC. ADMSC also ameliorated damage to cardiac tissue. The effects of ADMSC seeded onto NF were superior to those of ADMSC alone. ADMSC may be useful for mitigation of MI.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a severe problem among patients on maintenance haemodialysis who are at particular risk for blood-borne infections because of prolonged vascular access and ...potential for exposure to contaminated equipment. Occult hepatitis C virus infection (OCI) is defined as the presence of HCV RNA in liver or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the absence of detectable HCV antibody or HCV RNA in the serum. In this study, we aimed to investigate the existence of occult hepatitis C virus infection in PBMCs of haemodialysis (HD) patients in one center. Moreover, we tried to link the condition to risk factors associated with HCV infection in those patients.
We included 40 patients with renal diseases undergoing regular haemodialysis who were repeatedly anti-HCV negative. HCV RNA detection was tested by Quantitative Real time PCR in serum and PBMCs.
The results of this study revealed that 23% of our haemodialysis patients have occult hepatitis C virus infection. There was a highly significant increase in ALT levels in patients with OCI versus the negative group. Also, there is a significant increase of history of blood transfusion in patients with occult HCV (p = 0.03) while the duration of haemodialysis showed no statistical significant difference between both groups. The viral load of the occult hepatitis C virus infection subjects ranged from 581to 74,307 copies/ml.
These results highlight the potential risk of hepatitis C virus transmission from patients within haemodialysis units in Egypt. Isolation of patients on dialysis machines depending on the results of hepatitis serological markers is not enough. Testing for hepatitis C virus -RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is more reliable in identifying patients with an OCI when a liver biopsy is not available.
The present work was carried out to evaluate the molluscicidal activity of two pesticides (Chlorpyrifos and Profenophos) against Bulinus truncatus snails. Also, the effect of these pesticides on the ...survival rate, egg production, growth rate and hermaphrodite gland of B. truncatus snails was carried out. In addition, the effect of these pesticides on the infection of B. truncatus with Schistosoma haematobium as well as on free living stages of S. haematobium (miracidia and cercariae) was studied. Exposure of B. truncatus to these pesticides reduced (P < 0.001) their survival rate, egg production and growth rate. This was confirmed by histological examination that showed a severe damage in the hermaphrodite gland cells of treated snails. The results obtained also showed that infection of B. truncatus with S. haematobium miracidia was greatly reduced by exposure to LC25 of these pesticides and also, the total number of shedding cercariae per snail and the period of cercarial shedding were decreased. The mortality rates of miracidia and cercariae were elevated gradually by increasing the concentration of the testes pesticides. It is concluded that Chlorpyrifos and Profenophos may be helpful in schistosomiasis control as they interfere with the snails’ biology and their production of the infective stage (cercariae).
Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been widely used to improve the care of preterms and low birth weight infants. However, very little is known about cerebral hemodynamics responses in preterm infants ...during KMC intervention. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in middle cerebral artery, before and after a 30 minute application of KMC in stable preterm infants.
It is a prospective, pre-post test without a control group study. CBF flow paremeters were measured with Doppler ultrasonography in one middle cerebral artery. Sixty preterm stable infants were assessed before and after 30 min KMC. CBF indices were assessed in different positions before KMC, forty neonates in supine position and 20 in vertical suspension (baby is held vertically away from the skin of his mother). Other dependent variables heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure and Spo2 were also studied before and after KMC.
The mean gestational age of the infants was (32 ± 2 weeks), and mean birth weight was (2080 ± 270 gm). Comparing CBF indices (Pulsatility index and Resistive index) before and after KMC has shown a significant decrease in both Pulsatility index (PI) and Resistive index (RI) after 30 min. KMC, the mean values were (2.0 ± 0.43 vs 1.68 ± 0.33 & 0.81 ± 0.05 vs 0.76 ± 0.06 respectively P < 0.05*) with mean difference (0.32 & 95% CI 0.042-0.41 & 0.05 & 95% CI 0.04 to 0.06 respectively P < 0.05*) and increase in end diastolic velocity & mean velocity 30 min of KMC (10.97 ± 4.63 vs. 15.39 ± 5.66 P < 0.05*& 25.66 ± 10.74 vs. 32.86 ± 11.47 P < 0.05* ) with mean difference (- 4.42 & 95% CI -5.67 to -3.18 and -7.21 & 95% CI - 9.41 to 5.00 respectively). These changes indicate improvement in CBF. No correlation has been found between CBF parameters and studied vital signs or SpO2.
Kangaroo mother care improves cerebral blood flow, thus it might influence the structure and promote development of the premature infant's brain.
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