Nonredundant Roles of Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and IL-22 in Murine Host Defense against Cutaneous and Hematogenous Infection Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of skin and skin structure infections (SSSI) in humans. Moreover, the high frequency of recurring SSSI due to S. aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, suggests that infection induces suboptimal anamnestic defenses. The present study addresses the hypothesis that interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and IL-22 play distinct roles in immunity to cutaneous and invasive MRSA infection in a mouse model of SSSI. Mice were treated with specific neutralizing antibodies against IL-17A and/or IL-22 and infected with MRSA, after which the severity of infection and host immune response were determined. Neutralization of either IL-17A or IL-22 reduced T cell and neutrophil infiltration and host defense peptide elaboration in lesions. These events corresponded with increased abscess severity, MRSA viability, and CFU density in skin. Interestingly, combined inhibition of IL-17A and IL-22 did not worsen abscesses but did increase gamma interferon (IFN-γ) expression at these sites. The inhibition of IL-22 led to a reduction in IL-17A expression, but not vice versa. These results suggest that the expression of IL-17A is at least partially dependent on IL-22 in this model. Inhibition of IL-17A but not IL-22 led to hematogenous dissemination to kidneys, which correlated with decreased T cell infiltration in renal tissue. Collectively, these findings indicate that IL-17A and IL-22 have complementary but nonredundant roles in host defense against cutaneous versus hematogenous infection. These insights may support targeted immune enhancement or other novel approaches to address the challenge of MRSA infection.     

Integrating Health Belief Model and Technology Acceptance Model: An Investigation of Health-Related Internet Use

Background

Today, people use the Internet to satisfy health-related information and communication needs. In Malaysia, Internet use for health management has become increasingly significant due to the increase in the incidence of chronic diseases, in particular among urban women and their desire to stay healthy. Past studies adopted the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Health Belief Model (HBM) independently to explain Internet use for health-related purposes. Although both the TAM and HBM have their own merits, independently they lack the ability to explain the cognition and the related mechanism in which individuals use the Internet for health purposes.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the influence of perceived health risk and health consciousness on health-related Internet use based on the HBM. Drawing on the TAM, it also tested the mediating effects of perceived usefulness of the Internet for health information and attitude toward Internet use for health purposes for the relationship between health-related factors, namely perceived health risk and health consciousness on health-related Internet use.

Methods

Data obtained for the current study were collected using purposive sampling; the sample consisted of women in Malaysia who had Internet access. The partial least squares structural equation modeling method was used to test the research hypotheses developed.

Results

Perceived health risk (β=.135, t ₁₉₉₉=2.676) and health consciousness (β=.447, t ₁₉₉₉=9.168) had a positive influence on health-related Internet use. Moreover, perceived usefulness of the Internet and attitude toward Internet use for health-related purposes partially mediated the influence of health consciousness on health-related Internet use (β=.025, t ₁₉₉₉=3.234), whereas the effect of perceived health risk on health-related Internet use was fully mediated by perceived usefulness of the Internet and attitude (β=.029, t ₁₉₉₉=3.609). These results suggest the central role of perceived usefulness of the Internet and attitude toward Internet use for health purposes for women who were health conscious and who perceived their health to be at risk.

Conclusions

The integrated model proposed and tested in this study shows that the HBM, when combined with the TAM, is able to predict Internet use for health purposes. For women who subjectively evaluate their health as vulnerable to diseases and are concerned about their health, cognition beliefs in and positive affective feelings about the Internet come into play in determining the use of health-related Internet use. Furthermore, this study shows that engaging in health-related Internet use is a proactive behavior rather than a reactive behavior, suggesting that TAM dimensions have a significant mediating role in Internet health management.     

Clinical trials update from the American College of Cardiology 2008: CARISMA, TRENDS, meta-analysis of Cox-2 studies, HAT, ON-TARGET, HYVET, ACCOMPLISH, MOMENTUM, PROTECT, HORIZON-HF and REVERSE

This article provides information and a commentary on trials relevant to the pathophysiology, prevention and treatment of heart failure, presented at the American College of Cardiology. Unpublished reports should be considered as preliminary data, as analyses may change in the final publication. CARISMA investigated the use of implantable loop recorders for detecting life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with LVSD after MI and found that brady- and ventricular tachy-arrhythmias predicted an adverse prognosis. The TRENDS study showed that the burden of atrial fibrillation detected by pacemakers or defibrillators predicted the risk of embolic events but not with sufficient precision to justify changes in anti-thrombotic management. A meta-analysis of six trials reported an increased cardiovascular risk associated with celecoxib, particularly for heart failure, which was related to dose and baseline cardiovascular risk. The HAT study failed to show a benefit of providing post-MI patients with a home defibrillator. MOMENTUM, a study of a device designed to augment aortic blood flow, was stopped early due to increased bleeding risk. Results from PROTECT support the use of rolofylline 30 mg/day in acute heart failure, a definitive study is now underway. Istaroxime, an agent that appears to have both inotropic and lusitropic effects, improved haemodynamics when added to standard therapy in patients stabilised after admission with heart failure in HORIZON-HF. The REVERSE study suggested that CRT improves ventricular function and reduces morbidity even in patients with few or no symptoms of heart failure and may delay or prevent worsening heart failure.     

Non‐total body irradiation myeloablative conditioning with intravenous busulfan and cyclophosphamide in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for malignant infantile osteopetrosis

HSCT is the only curative treatment for MIOP. We prospectively investigated the outcome of HSCT using intravenous busulfan‐based conditioning regimen from 2008 to 2013. Nineteen patients (median age = 17 months) underwent transplantation from HLA‐matched related donors (n = 14), HLA‐haploidentical related donors (n = 2), partially matched cord blood donors (n = 2), and HLA‐matched unrelated donor (n = 1). Bone marrow (n = 9), peripheral blood (n = 8), and cord blood (n = 2) were used as stem cell sources. All but one patient demonstrated primary engraftment. Two patients experienced secondary graft failure. During the follow‐up period, three patients showed mixed chimerism (45%, 45%, and 70% of donor cells were engrafted in each one of these patients) but are disease free. Two‐yr OS and DFS were 84.2% and 73.7%, respectively. Improvement of visual acuity and partial reversal of mild conductive hearing loss occurred in two and four patients, respectively. The causes of death among three patients were infection, GvHD, and disease progression. In conclusion, due to major side effects of MIOP such as visual and hearing loss, early treatment using myeloablative conditioning without irradiation HSCT is suggested. The use of an HLA‐matched related donor seems to be highly successful in this regard. Also, according to results of our study, mixed chimerism may be sufficient to resolve symptoms of disease.     

Chlorophyll Binding Ability of Non-chloroplastic DUF538 Protein Superfamily in Plants

The type-1 water soluble chlorophyll binding proteins (WSCP1) have been generally known as chlorophyll extractors and transporters from the thylakoid membrane to the chloroplast envelope, where the membrane bound chlorophyllase catabolizes the chlorophyll. Despite the type-2 WSCP, WSCP1 has been known to be located in the chloroplasts of the green plants. In the present study, the non-chloroplastic protein superfamily containing domain of unknown function 538 (DUF538) as functional homologue of type-1 WSCP has been identified in plants. The structural similarities/differences and the cellular locations of Celosia cristata DUF538 and Chenopodium album WSCP1 were predicted by using computational tools and the chlorophyll binding abilities of their purified maltose binding protein-fused forms were estimated by maltose binding affinity method. It was predicted that despite CaWSCP1, CcDUF538 is a non-chloroplastic protein. The chlorophyll binding abilities of the recombinant fusion forms of test WSCP1 and DUF538 were estimated to be about 58 and 56%, respectively. Considering DUF538 as stress-induced protein, it was speculated that they may form complex with chlorophyll molecules or their hydrolyzed products out of chloroplasts to proceed the chlorophyll breakdown and nitrogen/carbon recycling in stress-challenged plants.     

Anthropometric Prediction of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Persons With Motor Complete Spinal Cord Injury

Background

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in increased accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Anthropometrics may provide an alternative to estimate VAT cross-section area (CSA) compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

A cross-sectional assessment of primary healthcare facilities for provision of antenatal care: calling for improvements in Basic Health Units in Punjab,Pakistan

Background

There are two types of barriers to the utilisation of maternal health and antenatal care (ANC) services, including the supply-side barriers operating at the health facility level and demand-side, affecting the utilisation ANC services by pregnant women. The purpose of the study was to assess the essential resources required for the provision of ANC services in primary healthcare facilities in Punjab, Pakistan.

Methods

A cross-sectional facility assessment was conducted in primary healthcare facilities across Punjab. A multi-stage sampling was used to randomly select nine districts from three stratifications and 19 primary healthcare facilities in the public sector (17 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and two Rural Health Centres (RHCs)) from each district. A total of 171 health facilities were included. Data on infrastructure and availability of equipment, essential supplies, medicines, treatment protocols, and infection control items was collected through pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires. Univariate analysis was carried out to describe the frequency and percentages of facilities across three ratings (good, average, and poor) by type of facility.

Results

Overall, 28% of facilities had poor infrastructure and the availability of equipment was poor in 16% of the health facilities. Essential supply items, such as urine strips for albumin, blood sugar testing strips, and haemoglobin reagents, were particularly poorly stocked. However, infrastructure and the availability of equipment and supplies were generally better in RHCs compared to BHUs.

Conclusion

Health facilities lacked the resources required to provide quality ANC services, particularly in terms of infrastructure, equipment, supply items, and medicines. The availability of these resources needs to be urgently addressed.