Short-term ferrous sulfate supplementation in female blood donors

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is a public problem in women, which contributes to the high percentage of deferred blood donations in this group. This study evaluated the effect of iron supplementation in improving iron stores to promote safe blood donation in women. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 412 female blood donors were randomly recruited for the study. The volunteers were scheduled for an initial visit and three subsequent visits at 4-month intervals for possible repeat donation. Each volunteer was given 21 tablets of 150 mg of ferrous sulfate or placebo to be taken three times daily for 1 week after each blood donation. Their hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, hematocrit (Hct), serum ferritin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and percent saturation of the TIBC were tested throughout the course of the study. RESULTS: The group taking ferrous sulfate showed no significant difference between the mean initial and final result for any of the values other than Hb values, whereas there was a significant decline in mean Hb, Hct, serum iron, serum ferritin, and percent saturation in the group taking placebo. Hb concentrations declined significantly in both groups; however, it was more severe in the placebo group when compared to the ferrous sulfate group. The relative risk of iron deficiency in placebo group was 3.6 (95% confidence interval = 1.73-7.74). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that supplementation therapy can be considered as one of the strategies to promote safe blood donation in women. A quantity of 150 mg of elemental iron per day as ferrous sulfate, however, is not the correct dose for Iranian female donors.     

In vivo efficacy of beta-cyclodextrin derivatives against anthrax lethal toxin

We evaluated the in vivo efficacy of three beta-cyclodextrin derivatives that block the anthrax protective antigen pore. These compounds were at least 15-fold more potent than previously described beta-cyclodextrins in protecting against anthrax lethal toxin in a rat model. One of the drugs was shown to protect mice from bacterial infection.     

Prevalence of JC and BK viruses in Patients with Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis

Introduction: Polyomaviruses including BK virus (BKV) and JC virus (JCV) are widespread in human and have been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) in some studies. The aim of present systematic review and meta-analysis article is to calculate the pooled prevalence of BKV and JCV in patients with CRC and assessing their association with this malignancy. Materials and Methods: Domestic databases and Sciences Direct, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Sciences and Scopus were searched for relevant articles up to 2nd  June 2019Two independent reviewers extracted the related data from eligible articles. The pooled prevalence and pooled odds ratio (POR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated using “metaprop” and “metan” commands in Stata 14. Where I2 statistics were >50%, the random effect model was used. Results: From 1461 relevant studies, 24 articles were eligible and included in the qualitative while 19 articles included in quantitative analysis. The pooled prevalence based on diagnostic methods varies from 29% using immunohistochemistry to 52% using nested-PCR method. The likelihood of being infected with JCV  was significantly higher in CRC patients compared to healthy (POR: 4.41, 95% CI: 2.13 – 9.13) controls, normal adjacent mucosa (POR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.3-5.9) and colorectal adenoma (POR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5-6.5) but was not significant when non-CRC patients used as control group. Conclusion: The prevalence of JCV in colorectal patients was substantially variable by different methods and targets. The significant association between JCV and CRC that was observed in the present study is not indicative of causation and should be studied more in large-scale prospective designs.     

Late treatment with a protective antigen-directed monoclonal antibody improves hemodynamic function and survival in a lethal toxin-infused rat model of anthrax sepsis

BACKGROUND: In animal models, treatment with 5H3, a fully human protective antigen-directed monoclonal antibody (PA-MAb), improved survival when administered close to the time of Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LeTx) bolus or live bacterial challenge. However, treatment with PA-MAb would be most valuable clinically if it were beneficial even when administered after the onset of shock and lethality due to LeTx. METHODS: We investigated the effects of PA-MAb versus placebo administered in rats (n=324) at the time of or 3, 6, 9, or 12 h after the initiation of a 24-h LeTx infusion. RESULTS: In rats receiving placebo, mean arterial blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (HR) were decreased in nonsurvivors, compared with those in survivors, at 6 h and then worsened further, with lethality first evident at 8 h (median, 16 h; range, 8-152 h). At each treatment time, survival rates were greater for PA-MAb than for placebo, although improvement was decreased at later treatment times (P=.001, for the effect of time). Compared with placebo, PA-MAb significantly increased MBP during the 12 h after the initiation of treatment, but the increase was greatest for treatment at 3 h; similarly, PA-MAb significantly increased HR at all treatment times. CONCLUSION: In this rat model, improvements in outcome due to PA-MAb were significant when it was administered up to 6 h (and approached significance when administered up to 12 h) after initial exposure to LeTx. Clinically, PA-MAb may be beneficial even when administered after the onset of shock and lethality due to LeTx.     

巴基斯坦南部84例真菌性角膜炎的研究

目的:确定真菌性角膜炎的易感因素、致病真菌,以及提高相应的实验室诊断能力。方法:240例240眼临床疑似微生物感染的角膜溃疡患者进入本研究。通过病史回溯及裂隙灯检查获得病例资料。采用标准技术完成角膜刮片检查。取部分刮片样本加入10%的氢氧化钾液后,以及采用革兰氏和吉姆萨染色,在直接在显微镜下观察是否存在真菌、细菌和棘阿米巴。另一部分刮片样本直接接种在血琼脂、麦康基琼脂、巧克力琼脂和萨布罗琼脂表面。结果:在纳入本研究的240例伴有脓性分泌物的角膜溃疡患者中,84例(35%)被确认为真菌感染。其中48例(57.1%)为男性,其余36例(42.9%)为女性。年龄分布从22-80岁。其中60例(71.4%)为农村患者,其余24例(28.6%)为城市居民。18例(21.4%)曾有植物外伤史。病变高发于10月至11月间。在84例确诊为真菌性角膜炎的患眼,致病原因为单纯真菌者74眼(80.10%),其余10眼(11.90%)为真菌合并细菌感染。分离得到的最常见致病微生物为白色念珠菌,在66眼(78.6%)中被发现。结论:在巴基斯坦南部,感染性角膜溃疡中,最常见的是真菌性角膜炎,而白色念珠菌是最常见的致病原。采用加入10%的氢氧化钾液后直接显微镜下观察是此类感染原简单、迅速、价廉及可信的诊断方法。     

Cardiovascular adverse reactions associated with Guarana: is there a causal effect?

Herbal supplements have been used as adjuncts to medical therapy for many years by various cultures. Many consumers believe that because herbal supplements are natural products, they are somewhat safer or more effective than traditional prescribed medications. This is also one reason that alternative medicine is growing and gaining more popularity. On the other hand, adverse reactions to herbal supplements or their interactions with patients' current medications are no different than pharmaceutical medicines. We report a case of premature ventricular contraction associated with two herbal supplements. These products contained multiple different herbs and both included large doses of guarana. Guarana, which is found in some supplements marketed in U.S., contains a substantial amount of caffeine. Although the exact cause of tachycardia in our report is not proven, a large amount of caffeine consumption is thought to be a possible causal effect. The purpose of this report is to remind health care professionals to evaluate and educate patients on the use of herbal products and any potential adverse reactions, drug interactions, or possible toxicities.