Evidence for tuberculous infection in Romanian HIV-positive children by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

The pandemic spread of tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represents a serious world problem. The diagnosis of TB in developing countries remains difficult, particularly in patients with concomitant HIV infection. Anergia to tuberculin frequently occurs in HIV-positive patients with pulmonary or extrapulmonary disease, and radiographic images are atypical or nondiagnostic. Children are often in an even more unfavorable situation: they cannot expectorate, and the biological samples required for bacteriological examination and culture are more difficult to obtain. We present in this work the correlation between the presence of serum antimycobacterial antibodies [as demonstrated by an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] in 41 out of 279 HIV-infected children, and clinical, bacteriological, radiological, and pathological data that support the diagnosis of TB in these children. The prevalence of antimycobacterial antibodies in our group of HIV-positive children was 23.3%. In only 4 of the total cases investigated could the diagnosis of TB not be supported by the results of standard tests for TB. The control group showed an insignificant interference from bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination.     

Hydrophilic Random Cationic Copolymers as Polyplex-Formation Vectors for DNA

Research on the improvement and fabrication of polymeric systems as non-viral gene delivery carriers is required for their implementation in gene therapy. Random copolymers have not been extensively utilized for these purposes. In this regard, double hydrophilic poly[(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate)-co-(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] [P(DMAEMA-co-OEGMA)] random copolymers were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The copolymers were further modified by quaternization of DMAEMA tertiary amine, producing the cationic P(QDMAEMA-co-OEGMA) derivatives. Fluorescence and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy revealed the efficient interaction of copolymers aggregates with linear DNAs of different lengths, forming polyplexes, with the quaternized copolymer aggregates exhibiting stronger binding affinity. Light scattering techniques evidenced the formation of polyplexes whose size, molar mass, and surface charge strongly depend on the N/P ratio (nitrogen (N) of the amine group of DMAEMA/QDMAEMA over phosphate (P) groups of DNA), DNA length, and length of the OEGMA chain. Polyplexes presented colloidal stability under physiological ionic strength as shown by dynamic light scattering. In vitro cytotoxicity of the empty nanocarriers was evaluated on HEK293 as a control cell line. P(DMAEMA-co-OEGMA) copolymer aggregates were further assessed for their biocompatibility on 4T1, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and T47D breast cancer cell lines presenting high cell viability rates.     

Incidence of adenomyosis uteri in a Greek population.

The reported incidence of adenomyosis based on unselected hysterectomies varies so widely that conclusions regarding the influence of any factor on that incidence are difficult to reach, although the relation of adenomyosis uteri to endometrial carcinoma has been the subject of only a few studies. In a 5-year period at the General Hospital of Athens, 646 hysterectomies were performed. All data were retrieved from the surgical pathology laboratory files concerning adenomyosis uteri with either simultaneous endometrial carcinoma or endometrial hyperplasia. A control population was selected from patients operated upon for a variety of benign pelvic diseases. Adenomyosis was found in association with endometrial carcinoma in 17.5% of 40 cases, and in association with endometrial hyperplasia in 21.6% of 60 cases. The control series of 546 patients had a 26% incidence of adenomyosis. The results of our study do not indicate any correlation between adenomyosis uteri and endometrial carcinoma.     

Antibacterial Effects of Hypericum ascyron. and Hypericum japonicum. Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract

Fractions from a partition of a total extract of Hypericum ascyron. L. and Hypericum japonicum. Thunb. ex Murray were investigated for their antibacterial activity against a strain of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus. possessing the NorA multidrug-efflux transporter, the major characterized MDR pump in this species. The hexane fraction of Hypericum ascyron. and the n.-BuOH fraction of H. japonicum. both showed appreciable antibacterial activities with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 128 µg/ml for both fractions. Given the complexity of these extracts and the relevance of the NorA efflux mechanism in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus., these results highlight the potential of the genus Hypericum. as a source of new antibacterial drug-leads.     

European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia Registry: Recruitment and prescreening approach for a longitudinal cohort and prevention trials

Introduction

It is a challenge to find participants for Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention trials within a short period of time. The European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia Registry (EPAD) aims to facilitate recruitment by preselecting subjects from ongoing cohort studies. This article introduces this novel approach.