Prevalence of EBV infection in 1157 diseased cohorts in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the herpesvirus family that is known to ubiquitously infect people worldwide. However, the actual prevalence of EBV infection in diseased patients in Nigeria, remains unknown. This study was thus conducted to ascertain the true prevalence.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis of published data was conducted according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched for studies reporting the occurrence of EBV infection among patients with established diseases. Studies were included if they assessed EBV infection in diseased patients in Nigeria. Data were extracted and subsequently analysed using R software. Funnel plot and Egger's regression test was used to assess publication bias, while JBI prevalence tool was used to assess study quality.ResultsA total of 13 studies covering 228 cases of EBV infection among 1157 diseased patients were included. Summary estimates were computed using random-effects model. The pooled prevalence of EBV infection was 20.3% (95% CI: 10.8–34.9, I² ?= ?92.26, p ?< ?0.001). When stratified according to the type of disease, higher estimates were obtained for patients suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma (98.7%, 95% CI: 82.2–99.9) and Nasopharyngeal malignancy (85.7%, 95% CI: 70.0–93.9). A prevalence of 13.4% (95% CI: 6.0–27.4) and 12.2% (95% CI: 4.8–27.8) was derived for the most reported patient populations, lymphoma and HIV, respectively.ConclusionThis first meta-analysis on the prevalence of EBV among Nigerian patients suffering from various diseases reveals a prevalence that emphasises the need to routinely monitor EBV infection in all EBV-associated diseases in Nigeria.     

An aggressive and lethal course of Churg–Strauss syndrome with alveolar hemorrhage,intestinal perforation,cardiac failure and peripheral neuropathy

Churg–Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare type of necrotizing vasculitis affecting small to medium-sized vessels typically characterized by asthma, lung infiltrates, necrotizing granulomas and hypereosinophilia. Herein, we describe a case of CSS presenting severe and aggressive course. A 35-year-old male patient with weight loss, dyspepsia, dyspnea and hemoptysis was admitted. The laboratory analyses indicated a remarkable eosinophilia, elevated levels of serum total IgE and positive cANCA. Thorax CT findings were suggestive of alveolar hemorrhage. Bronchoalveolar lavage revealed alveolar hemorrhage with eosinophilia and transbronchial lung biopsy showed eosinophilic vasculitis. Cardiac enzymes were increased and murmurs were audible revealing cardiomyopathy proven by echocardiography. Pulse cyclophosphamide and methyl prednisolone was immediately started. On the 21st day, intestinal perforation developed and urgent surgery was performed. During a follow-up, although a radiological improvement was observed in the chest X-ray, cardiac failure, peripheral neuropathy and skin lesions developed and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin and anti-TNF therapy (adalimumab) were applied. Despite the therapy, he died from heart failure and septicemia at 68th day of therapy.     

Embryonic stem cell gene expression signatures in the canine mammary tumor: a bioinformatics approach

Canine breast cancer was considered as an ideal model of comparative oncology for the human breast cancer, as there is significant overlap between biological and clinical characteristics of the human and canine breast cancer. We attempt to clarify expression profile of the embryonic stem cell (ES) gene signatures in canine breast cancer. Using microarray datasets (GSE22516 and GSE20718), expression of the three major ES gene signatures (modules or gene‐sets), including Myc, ESC‐like, and PRC modules, was primarily analyzed through Gene‐Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) method in tumor and healthy datasets. For confirmation of the primary results, an additional 13 ES gene‐sets which were categorized into four groups including ES expressed (ES exp1 and ES exp2), NOS targets (Nanog targets, Oct4 targets, Sox2 targets, NOS targets, and NOS TFs), Polycomb targets (Suz12 targets, Eed targets, H3K27 bound, and PRC2 targets), and Myc targets (Myc targets1, and Myc targets2) were tested in the tumor and healthy datasets. Our results revealed that there is a valuable overlap between canine and human breast cancer ES gene‐sets expression profile, where Myc and ESC‐like modules were up‐regulated and PRC module was down‐regulated in metastatic canine mammary gland tumors. Further analysis of the secondary gene‐sets indicated overexpression of the ES expressed, NOS targets (Nanog targets, Oct4 targets, Sox2 targets, and NOS targets), and Myc targets and underexpression of the Polycomb targets in metastatic canine breast cancer.     

Prospective evaluation of chronic organ damage in adult sickle cell patients: A seven‐year follow‐up study

Organ damage in sickle cell disease (SCD) is a crucial determinant for disease severity and prognosis. In a previous study, we analyzed the prevalence of SCD‐related organ damage and complications in adult sickle cell patients. We now describe a seven‐year follow‐up of this cohort.All patients from the primary analysis in 2006 (n = 104), were included for follow‐up. Patients were screened for SCD‐related organ damage and complications (microalbuminuria, renal failure, elevated tricuspid regurgitation flow velocity (TRV) (≥2.5 m/seconds), retinopathy, iron overload, cholelithiasis, avascular osteonecrosis, leg ulcers, acute chest syndrome (ACS), stroke, priapism and admissions for vaso‐occlusive crises (VOC) biannually. Upon 7 years of follow‐up, progression in the prevalence of avascular osteonecrosis (from 12.5% to 20.4%), renal failure (from 6.7% to 23.4%), retinopathy (from 39.7% to 53.8%) was observed in the whole group. In HbSS/HbSβ⁰‐thal patients also progression in microalbuminuria (from 34% to 45%) and elevated TRV (from 40% to 48%) was observed while hardly any progression in the prevalence of cholelithiasis, priapism, stroke or chronic ulcers was seen. The proportion of patients with at least one episode of ACS increased in the group of HbSS/HbSβ⁰‐thal patients from 32% to 49.1%. In conclusion, 62% of the sickle cell patients in this prospective cohort study developed a new SCD‐related complication in a comprehensive care setting within 7 years of follow‐up. Although the hospital admission rate for VOC remained stable, multiple forms of organ damage increased substantially. These observations underline the need for continued screening for organ damage in all adult patients with SCD.     

Is Premature Thelarche in the First Two Years of Life Transient?

Objective: Premature thelarche (PT) refers to isolated onset of thelarche in girls younger than 8 years of age. Most cases have an onset under 2 years of age. We aimed to establish whether the onset of thelarche under 2 years of age certifies a transient clinical course, as suggested by several authors.Methods: Sixty-seven girls with an onset of PT under 2 years of age were classified as having early puberty (EP) or classical PT after one year of follow-up. Progression of pubertal findings or absolute growth velocity (GV) standard deviation score (SDS) above 1 SDS constituted the criteria for a diagnosis of EP. Results: Twenty (29.1%) girls were classified as having EP and 47 (70.1%) girls as having classical PT. Basal serum luteinizing hormone (LH; ICMA) values at a cut-off level of 0.3 IU/L were found to be a significant risk factor for having an atypical course [OR=7.8; CI (95%): 2.04– 30.4, p=0.003]. Conclusions: Onset of thelarche under 2 years of age does not assure a transient course in a remarkable proportion of girls with PT. An absolute GV value of >1 SDS or a basal LH level ≥0.3 IU/L are suggested as indicators for close follow-up. Conflict of interest:None declared.     

Phototriggered In‐Situ Generation of Triethylborane for Polymer Synthesis Under Air

Upon demand, 1,3‐diamino‐propane‐triethylborane (DAPTB) is photolyzed in the presence of an acid generator such as a diphenyliodonium salt. Interestingly, triethylborane is released. In the presence of oxygen, ethyl radicals are generated and initiate an acrylate polymerization. This is the first example of a phototriggered production of a triethylborane usable in the photoinitiation of acrylate polymerizations. This approach is also worthwhile to overcome the oxygen inhibition for free‐radical polymerization processes.     

L-Selenomethionine Does Not Protect Against Testosterone Plus 17β-Estradiol-Induced Oxidative Stress and Preneoplastic Lesions in the Prostate of NBL Rats

Previous animal studies examining dietary selenium effects on prostatic carcinogenesis did not show preventive benefit, including 1 study in a rat model involving testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2)-induced prostatic oxidative stress. Here, we examined modulation of T + E2-induced prostatic oxidative stress, dysplasia, and inflammation by L-selenomethionine at 1.5 or 3.0 mg selenium/kg in NIH-07 diet in Noble (Nbl)/Crl rats treated with T + E2 for 16 wk. Hormone treatment increased immunohistochemical staining for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the prostatic sites of T + E2-induced preneoplasia (P < 0.05), but selenomethionine did not attenuate 8-OHdG staining and dysplasia in the lateral prostate. Glutathione-peroxidase activity (P < 0.05) and mRNA expression were induced by T + E2 (P < 0.0001) but not changed by selenomethionine. Selenomethionine did not cause significant responses in expression and activity of glutathione-peroxidase and MnSOD, except for a reduction of MnSOD protein expression in the lateral prostate (P < 0.01). The absence of reduction of oxidative stress and dysplasia and the minimal effects on antioxidant enzymes caused by selenomethionine are consistent with the null effects observed in selenium supplementation animal studies and clinical trials. Significant (P < 0.01) opposite apoptosis/cell proliferation balance responses to selenomethionine and to T + E2 occurred in the lateral and dorsal prostate, explaining why T + E2 induces lesions selectively in the lateral lobe of NBL rats.     

A Preliminary Study on the Usage of a Data-Driven Probabilistic Approach to Predict Valve Performance Under Different Physiological Conditions

Annals of Biomedical Engineering - Predicting potential complications after aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a crucial task that would help pre-planning procedures. The goal of this work is to...