Blastocystis in animal handlers

The present study investigated whether people working closely with animals were at higher risk of getting infected with Blastocystis hominis. The prevalence of the parasite was determined in two population groups, i.e., animal handlers and normal healthy individuals who did not work with animals. In all, 105 stool samples were collected from animal handlers from 2 local research institutions, a local zoo, and a local abattoir and 163 stool samples were collected from normal healthy individuals residing in high-rise flats in the city. The in vitro culture method used in the study detected that 41% of 105 animal handlers and 17% of 163 flat-dwellers in the city were positive for Blastocystis. This statistically significant finding (P=0.0000313) shows that people who work closely with animals do stand at risk of acquiring Blastocystis infection. Received: 12 February 1999 / Accepted: 27 February 1999     

Mental health diagnosis by nurses using the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool: a validity and feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: The Global Mental Health Assessment Tool-Primary Care Version (GMHAT/PC) has been developed to assist health professionals to make a quick and comprehensive standardised mental health assessment. It has proved to be a reliable and valid tool in a previous study involving GPs. Its use by other health professionals may help in detecting and managing mental disorders in primary care and general health settings. AIM: To assess the feasibility of using a computer-assisted diagnostic interview by nurses and to examine the level of agreement between the GMHAT/PC diagnosis and psychiatrists' clinical diagnosis. DESIGN OF STUDY: Cross-sectional validation study. SETTING: Primary care, general healthcare (cardiac rehabilitation clinic), and community mental healthcare settings. METHOD: A total of 215 patients between the ages of 16 and 75 years were assessed by nurses and psychiatrists in various settings: primary care centre (n = 54), cardiac rehabilitation centre (n = 98), and community mental health clinic (n = 63). The time taken for the interview, and feedback from patients and interviewers were indicators of feasibility, and the kappa coefficient (kappa), sensitivity, and specificity of the GMHAT/PC diagnosis were measures of validity. RESULTS: Mean duration of interview was under 15 minutes. The agreement between nurses' GMHAT/PC interview-based diagnosis and psychiatrists' International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 criteria-based clinical diagnosis was 80% (kappa = 0.76, sensitivity = 0.84, specificity = 0.92). CONCLUSION: The GMHAT/PC can assist nurses to make accurate mental health assessment and diagnosis in various healthcare settings and it is acceptable to patients.     

Flow Cytometric Analysis of In Vitro Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion in Peripheral Blood from Multiple Sclerosis Patients

The cytokines, interferon- (IFN-), tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-rpar;, and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are important endogenous proinflammatory proteins and have been linked to disease activity in multiple sclerosis. In this study, we use flow cytometric methodology to compare the secretion of IFN-, IL-2, and TNF- from peripheral blood-derived T cells of multiple sclerosis patients to the secretion in healthy controls. The percentages of IFN-, IL-2, and TNF- secreting cells are not significantly different between multiple sclerosis patients and controls. However, the TNF- secreting CDS cell percentage is correlated with the IFN- and IL-2 secreting CD3 cell percentages in multiple sclerosis patients. In the controls, only the TNF- secreting CD3 cell percentage is correlated with IFN-. These findings show that correlated secretion of cytokines occurs in multiple sclerosis and suggest that concerted intercytokine interactions may play an important role in the disease.     

Endogenous Superantigens Shape Response to Exogenous Superantigens

Endogenous superantigen-mediated thymic negative selection resulted in a paucity of mature T cells bearing T-cell receptor (TCR) Vβ8 in the periphery. Consequently, the magnitude of immune response to exogenous superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B, which activates TCR Vβ8⁺ T cells, was significantly reduced and conferred protection from superantigen-induced mortality.     

Tolerance of aged Fischer 344 rats against chlordecone-amplified carbon tetrachloride toxicity

We have investigated the effects of chlordecone 1(CD)+CCl4 combination in adult (3 months), middle aged (14 months), and old aged (24 months) male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. After a non-toxic dietary regimen of CD (10 ppm) or normal powdered diet for 15 days, rats received a single non-toxic dose of CCl4 (100 microl/kg, i.p., 1:4 in corn oil) or corn oil (500 microl/kg, i.p.) alone on day 16. Liver injury was assessed by plasma ALT, AST, and histopathology during a time course of 0-96 h. Liver tissue repair was measured by [3H-CH3]-thymidine (3H-T) incorporation into hepatic nuclear DNA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry. Hepatomicrosomal CYP2E1 protein, enzyme activity, and covalent binding of 14CCl4-derived radiolabel were measured in normal and CD fed rats. Exposure to CCl4 alone caused modest liver injury only in 14- and 24-month-old rats but neither progression of injury nor mortality. The CD+CCl4 combination led to 100% mortality in 3-month-old rats by 72 h, whereas none of the 14- and 24-month-old rats died. Both 3- and 14-month-old rats exposed to CD+Cl4 had identical liver injury up to 36 h indicating that bioactivation-mediated CCl4 injury was the same in the two age groups. Thereafter, liver injury escalated only in 3-month-old while it declined in 14-month-old rats. In 24-month-old rats initial liver injury at 6 h was similar to the 3- and 14-month-old rats and thereafter did not develop to the level of the other two age groups, recovering from injury by 96 h as in the 14-month-old rats. Neither hepatomicrosomal CYP2E1 protein nor the associated p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity or covalent binding of 14CCl4-derived radiolabel to liver tissue differed between the age groups or diet regimens 2 h after the administration of 14CCl4. Compensatory liver tissue repair (3H-T, PCNA) was prompt and robust soon after CCl4 liver injury in the 14- and 24-month-old rats. In stark contrast, in the 3-month-old rats it failed allowing unabated progression of liver injury. These findings suggest that stimulation of early onset and robust liver tissue repair rescue the 14- and 24-month-old F344 rats from the lethal effect of the CD+CCl4 combination.     

Bhendi yellow vein mosaic disease in India is caused by association of a DNA Beta satellite with a begomovirus

Yellow vein mosaic disease is the major limitation in the production of bhendi or okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), an important vegetable crop of India. This disease is caused by a complex consisting of the monopartite begomovirus Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus (BYVMV, family: Geminiviridae) and a small satellite DNA beta component. BYVMV can systemically infect bhendi upon agroinoculation but produces only mild leaf curling in this host. DNA beta induces typical symptoms of bhendi yellow vein mosaic disease (BYVMD) when co-agroinoculated with the begomovirus to bhendi. The DNA beta component associated with BYVMD has a number of features in common with those reported for ageratum yellow vein disease and cotton leaf curl disease. BYVMV represents a new member of the emerging group of monopartite begomoviruses requiring a satellite component for symptom induction.     

The pathophysiological and immunological background of the monkeypox virus infection: An update

In addition to the COVID-19 waves, the globe is facing global monkeypox (MPX) outbreak. MPX is an uncommon zoonotic infection characterized by symptoms similar to smallpox. It is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), a double-stranded DNA virus that belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus (OPXV). MPXV, which causes human disease, has been confined to Africa for many years, with only a few isolated cases in other areas. Outside of Africa, the continuing MPXV outbreak in multiple countries in 2022 is the greatest in recorded history. The current outbreak, with over 10 000 confirmed cases in over 50 countries between May and July 2022, demonstrates that MPXV may travel rapidly among humans and pose a danger to human health worldwide. The rapid spread of such outbreaks in recent times has elevated MPX to the status of a rising zoonotic disease with significant epidemic potential. While the MPXV is not as deadly or contagious as the variola virus that causes smallpox, it poses a threat because it could evolve into a more potent human pathogen. This review assesses the potential threat to the human population and provides a brief overview of what is currently known about this reemerging virus. By analyzing the biological effects of MPXV on human health, its shifting epidemiological footprint, and currently available therapeutic options, this review has presented the most recent insights into the biology of the virus. This study also clarifies the key potential causes that could be to blame for the present MPX outbreak and draw attention to major research questions and promising new avenues for combating the current MPX epidemic.     

Factors associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Identification of high-risk patients admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 may inform management strategies. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine factors associated with mortality among adults with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care by searching databases for studies published between 1 January 2020 and 6 December 2020. Observational studies of COVID-19 adults admitted to critical care were included. Studies of mixed cohorts and intensive care cohorts restricted to a specific patient sub-group were excluded. Dichotomous variables were reported with pooled OR and 95%CI, and continuous variables with pooled standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95%CI. Fifty-eight studies (44,305 patients) were included in the review. Increasing age (SMD 0.65, 95%CI 0.53–0.77); smoking (OR 1.40, 95%CI 1.03–1.90); hypertension (OR 1.54, 95%CI 1.29–1.85); diabetes (OR 1.41, 95%CI 1.22–1.63); cardiovascular disease (OR 1.91, 95%CI 1.52–2.38); respiratory disease (OR 1.75, 95%CI 1.33–2.31); renal disease (OR 2.39, 95%CI 1.68–3.40); and malignancy (OR 1.81, 95%CI 1.30–2.52) were associated with mortality. A higher sequential organ failure assessment score (SMD 0.86, 95%CI 0.63–1.10) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-2 score (SMD 0.89, 95%CI 0.65–1.13); a lower PaO₂:F_IO₂ (SMD −0.44, 95%CI −0.62 to −0.26) and the need for mechanical ventilation at admission (OR 2.53, 95%CI 1.90–3.37) were associated with mortality. Higher white cell counts (SMD 0.37, 95%CI 0.22–0.51); neutrophils (SMD 0.42, 95%CI 0.19–0.64); D-dimers (SMD 0.56, 95%CI 0.43–0.69); ferritin (SMD 0.32, 95%CI 0.19–0.45); lower platelet (SMD −0.22, 95%CI −0.35 to −0.10); and lymphocyte counts (SMD −0.37, 95%CI −0.54 to −0.19) were all associated with mortality. In conclusion, increasing age, pre-existing comorbidities, severity of illness based on validated scoring systems, and the host response to the disease were associated with mortality; while male sex and increasing BMI were not. These factors have prognostic relevance for patients admitted to intensive care with COVID-19.     

Mycobacterium marinum persists in cultured mammalian cells in a temperature-restricted fashion.

We have explored the relatively rapidly growing animal and human pathogen Mycobacterium marinum as an experimental model for mycobacterial pathogenesis. M. marinum, which has a lower temperature for optimal growth than does Mycobacterium tuberculosis, has a much shorter generation time and can be safely studied in ordinary laboratory facilities and examined in multiple animal infection models. We have established an in vitro assay for its interaction with eukaryotic cells and shown that it persists in these cells in a temperature-specific fashion that correlates with its ability to cause disease in vivo at lower temperatures. Additionally, preliminary evidence that M. marinum causes a chronic disease with some features resembling tuberculosis in frogs of the species Rana pipiens is presented.