Evidence for zoonotic transmission of species A rotavirus from goat and cattle in nomadic herds in Morocco, 2012–2014

Virus Genes - Species A rotaviruses (RVAs) are a leading cause of diarrhea in children and in the young of a large variety of mammalian and avian host species. The purpose of this study was to...     

Predictors of Weight Regain and Insufficient Weight Loss According to Different Definitions After Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Retrospective Analytical Study

Background

Weight regain (WR) and insufficient weight loss (IWL) after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are challenging issues. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of WR and IWL after SG.

Methods

In this retrospective analytical study, 568 patients who underwent SG at Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between January 2015 and April 2022 were evaluated. A total of 333 patients were included. WR and IWL were evaluated by multiple criteria such as a BMI of > 35 kg/m², an increase in BMI of > 5 kg/m² above nadir, an increase in weight of > 10 kg above nadir, percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) < 50% at 18 months, an increase in weight of > 25% of EWL from nadir at 36 months, and percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) < 20% at 36 months. All participants were followed up for 36 months.

Result

The univariate analysis showed that preoperative BMI, obstructive sleep apnea, metformin consumption, and grades 2 and 3 fatty liver disease were associated with WR and IWL (P < 0.05). WR or IWL incidence varied (0–19.3%) based on different definitions. The multivariate analysis showed that a preoperative BMI of > 45 kg/m² [odds ratio_Adjusted (OR_Adj) 1.77, 95% CI: 1.12–4.11, P = 0.038] and metformin consumption [OR_Adj: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.19–0.78, P = 0.001] were associated with WR and IWL after SG, regardless of the definition of WR or IWL.

Conclusion

This study showed that preoperative BMI of > 45 kg/m², obstructive sleep apnea, metformin consumption, and grades 2 and 3 of fatty liver disease were associated with WR or IWL.

Graphical abstract

     

Radiation-induced bystander effect in non-irradiated glioblastoma spheroid cells

Radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBEs) are detected in cells that are not irradiated but receive signals from treated cells. The present study explored these bystander effects in a U87MG multicellular tumour spheroid model. A medium transfer technique was employed to induce the bystander effect, and colony formation assay was used to evaluate the effect. Relative changes in expression of BAX, BCL2, JNK and ERK genes were analysed using RT-PCR to investigate the RIBE mechanism. A significant decrease in plating efficiency was observed for both bystander and irradiated cells. The survival fraction was calculated for bystander cells to be 69.48% and for irradiated cells to be 34.68%. There was no change in pro-apoptotic BAX relative expression, but anti-apoptotic BCL2 showed downregulation in both irradiated and bystander cells. Pro-apoptotic JNK in bystander samples and ERK in irradiated samples were upregulated. The clonogenic survival data suggests that there was a classic RIBE in U87MG spheroids exposed to 4 Gy of X-rays, using a medium transfer technique. Changes in the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes indicate involvement of both intrinsic apoptotic and MAPK pathways in inducing these effects.     

Full-length genome analysis of the first human G8P[14] rotavirus strain from Morocco suggests evidence of zoonotic transmission

Virus Genes - An unusual group A rotavirus (RVA) strain MAR/ma31/2011/G8P[14] was detected for the first time in Morocco in a stool sample from hospitalized child aged 18&nbsp;months suffering...     

The Immunomodulatory effects of abortion-prone mice decidual and serum soluble factors on macrophages and splenocytes

Objectives

To determine the immune status of the abortion mouse model at the feto-maternal interface and at the systemic level simultaneously.

Study design

Mid-pregnancy serum and decidual cell supernatants (DS) were obtained from abortion and non-abortion mouse models. The effect of serum and DS on PHA or LPS-induced lymphocyte proliferation was investigated by MTT reduction assay. Treated macrophages and LPS-stimulated macrophages were evaluated for viability and also for nitric oxide (NO) production by Griess reagent.

Results

Our results showed that DS from the abortion mouse model significantly decreased LPS-stimulated splenocyte proliferation, and increased proliferation in PHA-stimulated splenocytes, compared with that in the non-abortion mouse model. Proliferation assays for mid-pregnancy serum were the same on LPS- and PHA-stimulated splenocytes. NO production was decreased by non-abortion DS, similar to that observed for serum treatment in LPS-stimulated macrophages in abortion mice.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that in the abortion mouse model, soluble factors within the decidua are more effective than serum soluble factors in altering immune responses that may be involved in the complex process of fetal rejection.     

HSP27 expression in the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells as an early prognostic biomarker in coronary artery disease patients

BackgroundCoronary artery disease (CAD), is one of the leading causes of death globally. CAD risk factors, such as smoking, dyslipidemia, and obesity, are mainly associated with increased oxidative stress. Heat Shock Protein-27 (HSP27) has a protective role in conditions of oxidative stress. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between HSP27 mRNA copy numbers in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) and the degree of CAD progression.MethodsA total of 103 subjects aged 49–71 years were recruited; Patients with CAD were categorized into two groups: patients having <50% stenosis (Angio^?) and ≥50% stenosis (Angio⁺). The mRNA copy numbers of HSP-27 in PBMCs, anthropometric-parameters, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and the fasted serum lipid profile were evaluated.ResultsAngio⁺ patients had a significantly higher level of TC and LDL-C values compared with Angio^? patients and the control group (p < 0.05). The HSP27 expression in PBMCs was significantly increased in Angio⁺ and Angio^? subjects, compared to the control group. Moreover, there was a significant association between the FBG, TC, LDL-C and TG among the groups (p < 0.05).ConclusionIt was shown that the increased expression of HSP27 in PBMCs of CAD patients is significantly correlated with CAD severity in Angio⁺ subjects, which can be used as an early prognostic biomarker, indicating the degree of overall oxidative stress in patients. In order to verify this statement, it is suggested to measure Pro-oxidant- Antioxidant Balance (PAB) test by the same design in subsequent studies.