Th1 cell development induced by cysteine proteinases A and B in localized cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania guyanensis

The cysteine proteinases CPA and CPB from Leishmania major induced Th1 responses in patients with leishmaniasis due to Leishmania guyanensis. Furthermore, cysteine proteinases induced neither interleukin 4 (IL-4) nor IL-13 and low levels of IL-10 in controls and patients. The results suggest that CPs would be quite good candidates for a vaccine against different Leishmania species.     

Ambient air pollution and emergency department visits among children and adults in Casablanca,Morocco

This study presents the relationships between ambient air pollutants and morbidity and emergency department visits among children and adults performed in Great Casablanca, the most populated and economic region in Morocco. This research was analyzed using conditional Poisson model for the period 2011–2013. In the period of study, the daily average concentrations of SO₂, NO₂, O₃ and PM₁₀ in Casablanca were 209.4 µg/m³, 61 µg/m³, 113.2 µg/m³ and 75.1 µg/m³, respectively. In children less than 5 years old, risk of asthma could be increased until 12% per 10 µg/m³ increase in NO₂, PM10, SO₂ and O₃. In children over 5 years and adults, an increase of 10 µg/m³ air pollutant can cause an increase until 3% and 4% in respiratory consultations and acute respiratory infection, respectively. Similarly, impact on emergency department visits due to respiratory and cardiac illness was established. Our results suggest a not negligible impact on morbidity of outdoor air pollution by NO₂, SO₂, O₃, and PM₁₀.     

Psychosocial Responses to Healthcare: A Study on Asylum-Seeking Families’ Experiences in Denmark

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health - Much work has gone into unpacking the range of individual, interpersonal and structural barriers that prevent asylum-seekers from accessing healthcare. In...     

Online health communities,contributions to caregivers and resilience of older adults

The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to investigate the potential benefits of online health communities (OHCs) for informal caregivers by conducting a systematic literature review. Secondly, to identify the relationship between the potential benefits of OHCs and resilience factors of older adults. Performing a thematic analysis, we identified the potential benefits of OHCs for informal caregivers of older adults, including two salient themes: (a) caregivers sharing and receiving social support and (b) self and moral empowerment of caregivers. Then, we uncovered how these potential benefits can support resilience of older adults. Our findings show that sharing and receiving of social support by informal caregivers, and self and moral empowerment of informal caregivers in OHCs, can support four resilience factors among older adults, including self-care, independence, altruism and external connections. This review enables a better understanding of OHCs and Gerontology, and our outcomes also challenge the way healthcare and aged-care service providers view caregivers and older adults. Furthermore, the identified gap and opportunities would provide avenues for further research in OHCs.     

Effect of Bilayer Thickness and Bias Potential on the Structure and Properties of (TiZr/Nb)N Multilayer Coatings as a Result of Arc-PVD Deposition

This work is devoted to the study of the formation of nanostructured multilayer coatings (TiZr/Nb)N on the surface of an AISI 321 steel substrate depending on the deposition parameters of the Arc-PVD method. The results of the X-ray diffraction analysis showed the formation of solid solution (TiNb)N and ZrN in the multilayer coatings with an FCC structure, ε-NbN with a hexagonal structure, as well as with a small volume fraction of the ε-Ti₂N and β-Nb₂N phase. On the basis of phase composition data, it is possible to assume that an increase in the number of bilayers leads to a decrease in the nitrogen concentration in the bilayers and, consequently, to a decrease in the volume fraction of ε-NbN and β-Nb₂N nitrides. In all investigated systems obtained at −100 V and −200 V bias potentials, ε-NbN is the main phase. The study of the element distribution over the thickness of the (TiZr/Nb)N coating confirms the results of the X-ray diffraction analysis. The use of the structure model in the form of alternating layers allows for significantly improving the adhesion characteristics of the protective coating, as well as ensuring their high hardness. Based on the experimental results, it is possible to analyze changes in the mechanical and tribological properties of multilayer coatings depending on the number of applied bilayers. The results of the study of the elastic modulus and hardness of multilayer coatings (TiZrNb)N with different numbers of bilayers showed that a large number of bilayers (small thickness of each individual layer) shows the lowest value of hardness. It is assumed that as the bilayer thickness decreases, the coating characteristics are closer to the monolayer alloy than to the multilayer structure.     

Inhibitory potential of nitrogen,oxygen and sulfur containing heterocyclic scaffolds against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase

Heterocycles are the key structures in organic chemistry owing to their immense applications in the biological, chemical, and pharmaceutical fields. Heterocyclic compounds perform various noteworthy functions in nature, medication, innovation etc. Most frequently, pure nitrogen heterocycles or various positional combinations of nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur atoms in five or six-membered rings can be found. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes is a popular strategy for the management of numerous mental diseases. In this context, cholinesterase inhibitors are utilized to relieve the symptoms of neurological illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer''s disease (AD). The present review focuses on various heterocyclic scaffolds and their role in designing and developing new potential AChE and BChE inhibitors to treat AD. Moreover, a detailed structure–activity relationship (SAR) has been established for the future discovery of novel drugs for the treatment of AD. Most of the heterocyclic motifs have been used in the design of new potent cholinesterase inhibitors. In this regard, this review is an endeavor to summarize the biological and chemical studies over the past decade (2010–2022) describing the pursuit of new N, O and S containing heterocycles which can offer a rich supply of promising AChE and BChE inhibitory activities.

The present review focuses on various heterocyclic scaffolds and their role in designing and developing new potential AChE and BChE inhibitors to treat AD.     

Surgical management strategy for leiomyosarcoma of Zone I-II inferior vena cava: A case series

Objectives:Leiomyosarcoma of inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare clinical entity with severe vascular involvement. Surgical management of leiomyosarcoma is still challenging.Methods:This a retrospective study of consecutive patients referred to our hospital from January 2017 to June 2019. Depending on the anatomical site of affected IVC, leiomyosarcomas were categorized into zone I-II. The clinical data including baseline information, surgical parameters, peri-operative management, short- and mid-term outcomes were observed.Results:Four patients with leiomyosarcoma of zone I-III underwent radical resection without intraoperative mortality. Prosthetic grafts were interpositioned in all patients to instruct vena cava. Renal vein reconstruction was perfumed in two patients due to involvement to renal veins. Median blood loss was 450 mL (200–600 mL), median operative time was 215 minutes (150–240 minutes). No Clavien-Dindo IIIa or higher complication was observed. No organ dysfunction and recurrence were observed with median follow-up of 25.5 months.Conclusions:Curative resection of zone I-II leiomyosarcoma is associated with longer survival in selected cases, en-bloc resection with complex vascular reconstruction could be considered.     

B-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A case report

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by an exaggerated but dysregulated immune response resulting in hyperinflammation, with a potential for progression to multiple organ dysfunction and failure. Infectious diseases, inflammatory disorders, malignancies and immunodeficiency syndromes are known triggers of HLH in adults. The present study reported the case of a middle-aged man with HLH triggered by B-cell lymphoma who was successfully treated with dexamethasone; etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, hydroxy-doxorubicin and rituximab chemotherapy; and multiple intrathecal methotrexate with a good outcome.