The present study aimed at measuring seropositivities for infection by
Ascaris suum and Toxocara canis using the
excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens from Ascaris suum (AES) and
Toxocara canis (TES) within an indigenous population. In
addition, quantification of cytokine expressions in peripheral blood cells was
determined. A total of 50 Warao indigenous were included; of which 43 were adults and
seven children. In adults, 44.1% were seropositive for both parasites; whereas
children had only seropositivity to one or the other helminth. For ascariosis, the
percentage of AES seropositivity in adults and children was high; 23.3% and 57.1%,
respectively. While that for toxocariosis, the percentage of TES seropositivity in
adults and children was low; 9.3% and 14.3%, respectively. The percentage of
seronegativity was comparable for AES and TES antigens in adults (27.9%) and children
(28.6%). When positive sera were analyzed by Western blotting technique using AES
antigens; three bands of 97.2, 193.6 and 200.2 kDas were mostly recognized. When the
TES antigens were used, nine major bands were mostly identified; 47.4, 52.2, 84.9,
98.2, 119.1, 131.3, 175.6, 184.4 and 193.6 kDas. Stool examinations showed that
Blastocystis hominis, Hymenolepis nana and
Entamoeba coli were the most commonly observed intestinal
parasites. Quantification of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-10 and
IL-4 expressions showed that there was only a significant increased expression of
IL-4 in indigenous with TES seropositivity (p < 0.002).
Ascaris and Toxocara seropositivity was
prevalent among Warao indigenous. 相似文献
Pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PHN) constitutes a critical condition with severe cardiovascular and neurological consequences. One of its main causes is hypoxia during gestation, and thus, it is a public health concern in populations living above 2500 m. Although some mechanisms are recognized, the pathophysiological facts that lead to PHN are not fully understood, which explains the lack of an effective treatment. Oxidative stress is one of the proposed mechanisms inducing pulmonary vascular dysfunction and PHN. Therefore, we assessed whether melatonin, a potent antioxidant, improves pulmonary vascular function. Twelve newborn sheep were gestated, born, and raised at 3600 meters. At 3 days old, lambs were catheterized and daily cardiovascular measurements were recorded. Lambs were divided into two groups, one received daily vehicle as control and another received daily melatonin (1 mg/kg/d), for 8 days. At 11 days old, lung tissue and small pulmonary arteries (SPA) were collected. Melatonin decreased pulmonary pressure and resistance for the first 3 days of treatment. Further, melatonin significantly improved the vasodilator function of SPA, enhancing the endothelial‐ and muscular‐dependent pathways. This was associated with an enhanced nitric oxide‐dependent and nitric oxide independent vasodilator components and with increased nitric oxide bioavailability in lung tissue. Further, melatonin reduced the pulmonary oxidative stress markers and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity. Finally, these effects were associated with an increase of lumen diameter and a mild decrease in the wall of the pulmonary arteries. These outcomes support the use of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment for PHN. 相似文献
Background: Most theoretical models of self-determination suggest that both environmental and personal factors influence the development of self-determination. The design and implementation of interventions must be conducted with foreknowledge of such mediating and moderating factors if the intervention is to be successful.
Methods: The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which several personal factors and school characteristics affect and explain students’ self-determination. A total of 232 students with intellectual disability from Spain participated. Their self-determination level was assessed by the ARC-INICO Scale.
Results: Students with moderate levels of intellectual disability obtained significantly lower scores on self-determination than their peers with mild intellectual disability. There were significant differences in relation to the level of support needs and their experience with transition programs. The level of support needs was a significant predictor.
Conclusion: These findings contribute to current research in this field and practical implications were discussed. 相似文献
AbstractObjectives: This study examined word use as an indicator of interpersonal positive reframing in daily conversations of couples coping with breast cancer and as a predictor of stress.Design: The Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) were used to examine naturally occurring word use conceptually linked to positive reframing (positive emotion, negative emotion, and cognitive processing words).Sample: Fifty-two couples coping with breast cancer.Methods: Couples wore the EAR, a device participants wear, that audio-recorded over one weekend (>16,000 sound files), and completed self-reports of positive reframing (COPE) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale). LIWC, a software program, measured word use.Findings: Both partners’ word use (i.e., positive emotion and cognitive processing words) was associated with their own reported positive reframing, and spouses’ word use was also indicative of patients’ positive reframing. Results also revealed that, in general, words indicating positive reframing predicted lower levels of stress.Conclusions: Findings supported the hypothesis that partners—and particularly spouses of breast cancer patients—may assist each other’s coping by positively reframing the cancer experience and other negative experiences in conversation. 相似文献
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a severe disease mainly affecting infants and young children. The most common serogroup causing IMD in Germany is the serogroup type B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB). The aim of the present study is to estimate the economic burden of MenB-related IMD in Germany.
Method
A bottom-up, model-based costing approach has been used to calculate the diagnose- and age-specific yearly lifetime costs of a hypothetical cohort of MenB-related IMD cases. Direct costs contain the treatment cost for the acute phase of the disease, long-term sequelae, costs for rehabilitation, and public health response. Indirect costs are calculated for the human-capital approach and the friction-cost approach considering productivity losses of patients or parents for the acute phase and long-term sequelae. Publicly available databases from the Federal Statistical Office, the SOEP panel data set, literature, and expert opinion were used as data sources. All future costs beyond the reference year of 2015 were discounted at 3%.
Results
The total costs for the hypothetical cohort (343 patients) from a societal perspective are €19.6 million (€57,100/IMD case) using the friction-cost approach and €58.8 million (€171,000/IMD case) using the human-capital approach. Direct costs amount to €18.6 million or €54,300 €/case. Sequelae are responsible for 81% of the direct costs/case.
Discussion
The elevated costs/MenB-related IMD case reflect the severity of the disease. The total costs are sensitive to the productivity-loss estimation approach applied. MenB is an uncommon but severe disease; The costs/case reflect the severity of the disease and is within the same magnitude as for human papilloma virus infections. The available literature on sequelae is due to the uncommonness limited and heterogeneous. 相似文献
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - We compared the performance of an in-house-developed flow cytometry assay for intracellular cytokine staining (FC-ICS) and a... 相似文献