Polymeric complexes of lidocaine hydrochloride with poly(acrylic acid) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether)

The specific interactions of local anesthetic lidocaine hydrochloride with poly(acrylic acid) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether), as well as in a triple system composed of the drug and both polymers, have been studied in aqueous solutions by viscometric, turbidimetric, potentiometric, and FTIR spectroscopic methods. The mechanism of the drug binding to the polymers and the structures of the polycomplexes formed are clarified.     

EIDSS Application for CCHF Foci Activity Epi-Analysis and Prediction in Kazakhstan

Objective

Test of the Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS) for epi-analysis and prediction of situation in CCHF foci in Kazakhstan.

Introduction

CCHF foci are reported in 3 southern regions of Kazakhstan with population of 1 million. The ixodic ticks in the area are CCHF carriers. Human infections (3 to 12 cases per year) occur through tick bites and contact with CCHF patient blood. CCHF epidemiological process in Kazakhstan has prominent seasonality (spring-summer period) and the rhythm of epidemic appearances (5–6-years). The rhythmical population incidence rate is associated with natural and climate factors, which govern the increase in the number of ixodic ticks, their infection rate (virus carrier state), and directly correlates with the population density and the livestock number that are the principal tick feeders in nature.

Methods

EIDSS version 4 provides capability to collect, share and process epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data on infectious diseases in medicine, veterinary and environment sectors. It is currently deployed in Kazakhstan at 150 sites of the Ministry of Agriculture (planned up to 271), and at 8 sites of the Ministry of Health (planned up to 23).Three available indicators (for 2007–2011) were used for analysis: population; tick infection rate (relative density of CCHF seropositive tick samples per total number of tested laboratory samples); CCHF human case rate by districts per 10’000.The following procedure was conducted:

1. Demographic information, diagnosis and location data entry into EIDSS
2. Tick collection location data, total number of tested samples (pools), and number of seropositive data entry into EIDSS
3. Correlation joint analysis of data on vectors and epidemiological surveillance in Analysis, Visualization and Reporting (AVR) module

Results

EIDSS generated 12 different maps filtered according to the selected regions, ticks, demographics and CCHF human incidence, aggregated by region, correlated by 3 indicators entered into the database. This allowed visualizing information to support epi-analysis. As a result, for each of the 3 regions specific districts with the highest risk of the CCHF epidemic outbreaks were identified. The resulting information was grouped into 3 clusters of risk with the following criteria: population density, tick infection rate and human cases for each of 25 CCHF-disadvantaged districts (see map). These results predict the epidemic situation in a particular area and support management decisions for planning and correction of preventive anti-tick and anti-epidemic measures and funding requirements.

Conclusions

EIDSS with Natural Vectors and the AVR modules has capabilities for analysis and prediction of epizootic and epidemic processes in vector-borne virus infections foci. It is an easy to use and free-of-charge tool that can become the basic instrument for especially dangerous diseases field epidemiologists as well as for the ministries and local governments for CCHF prophylaxis decision support.     

Echinococcosis, toxocarosis and toxoplasmosis screening in a rural community in eastern Kazakhstan

Objective To determine the extent of carnivore‐transmitted parasitic zoonoses in a community in eastern Kazakhstan, a region where cystic echinococcosis (CE) re‐emerged in recent years. Methods Cross sectional ultrasound study of 3126 human subjects to determine the extent of human cystic and alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Blood samples were taken from each subject and analysed for antibodies against Echinococcus, Toxocara and Toxoplasma spp. Each subject was questioned about possible risk factors that might be associated with zoonotic transmission. Analysis employed a mixed modelling approach based on the results of the ultrasound study, the serological results and the results of the questionnaire. Bayesian techniques were employed to estimate diagnostic performance. A helminthological study of the local dog population was also undertaken. Results A total of 23 subjects tested positive for CE on ultrasound and a further three individuals had strong serological evidence of infection. Another 24 reported treatment for CE. Ultrasound lesions or treatment for CE were associated with poverty. No ultrasound evidence of AE was found, but one individual had strong serological evidence of exposure to Echinococcus multilocularis. Toxoplasma seropositivity (16%; 504 individuals) increased with age. Household level Toxoplasma‐seropositivity was associated with unsafe drinking water. Toxocara seropositivity (11%; 349 individuals) was more frequent in children and in individuals who disposed of dog faeces on the vegetable garden. A purgation study of dogs indicated that 13% of dogs in the community were infected with Echinococcus granulosus, 5% with E. multilocularis and 2% with Toxocara canis respectively. Conclusions There is significant transmission of E. granulosus to humans in this community. Transmission may be associated with poverty. There is little evidence of E. multilocularis transmission to humans, despite the presence in the parasite in the domestic dog population. Toxoplasma is actively transmitted and there is evidence for transmission by the water supply. Children are at highest risk of exposure to Toxocara.     

Traceless solid-phase synthesis and β-turn propensity of 1,3-thiazole-based peptidomimetics

The design and solid-phase synthesis of 1,3-thiazole-based peptidomimetic molecules is described. The solid-phase synthesis was based on the utilization of a traceless linker strategy. The synthesis starts from the conversion of chloromethyl polystyrene resin to the resin with a sulfur linker unit. The key intermediate 4-amino-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid resin is prepared in three steps from Merrifield resin. The amide coupling proceeded at the C4 and C5 positions via an Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis strategy. After cleavage, the final compounds were obtained in moderate yields (average 9%, 11-step overall yields) with high purities (≥87%). Geometric measurements of Cα distances and dihedral angles along with an rmsd of 0.5434 for attachment with Cα of the β-turn template suggest type IV β-turn structural motifs. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of the molecules have been evaluated.

The design and solid-phase synthesis of 1,3-thiazole-based peptidomimetic molecules is described.     

Situated influences on perceived barriers to health behavior change: cultural identity and context in Kazakhstan

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the perceived barriers to lifestyle changes citizens of Kazakhstan suffering from cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes were experiencing.

Design: 14 focus groups were conducted with patients across two regions of Kazakhstan. Topics of discussion included accessing medical care, communicating with health care providers, and following doctor’s recommendations. The text of the discussions were analysed for trends and themes across the different groups.

Results: Patients identified a series of external and internal barriers to lifestyle changes, including the environment, a dependency on health care providers, a health care system they feel powerless to change, and a low level of self-efficacy. Most notable, however, was a constructed ethnic identity whose boundaries included unhealthy behaviors, specifically diet and untimely access of health care. This identity both was blamed as a cause for the patient’s condition and seen as an unchangeable barrier to health behavior change.

Conclusion: Current provider efforts to encourage lifestyle changes to manage disease are not taking into account the broader issue of ethnic identity, namely negotiating a fragile and previously suppressed identity that mostly exists alongside other ethnicities. Therefore, maintaining distinctiveness may be a greater need than modifying health behaviors. Efforts towards healthier lifestyles for the public must include not only messages regarding health but also constructions of a Kazakh identity that allows for such lifestyles to fit within the identity framework.     

Oncolytic virotherapy-mediated anti-tumor response: a single-cell perspective

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