Transmission of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection Through Solid Organ Transplantation: Confirmation Via Whole Genome Sequencing

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109324/1/ajt12898.pd

O029: Reporting and case management of bloodborne pathogen exposures among health care workers in Tanzania

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, bloodborne pathogens exposure (BPE) is a serious risk to health care workers (HCW). Reporting BPE is necessary for effective post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), an important element of workplace safety in health facilities. Limited data are available on factors associated with BPE reporting among HCW. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study assessing experiences of occupational BPE, history of BPE reporting, and use of PEP among health care workers at three public hospitals in Tanzania. From August to November 2012, HCW were interviewed using Audio-Computer Assisted Self-Interview. All HCW at risk for BPE were invited to participate. Factors associated with reporting BPE were identified using logistic regression. Results: Of the 1,102 eligible HCW, 973 (88%) completed the interview. Of these, 690 (71%) were female and 387 (40%) were nurses. Of 357 HCW who had a BPE in the past 6 months, 120 (34%) reported it. Among these 120 reported exposures, 93 (78%) HCW reported within 2 hours of exposure, 98 (82%) received pre- and post-HIV test counseling, and 70 (58%) were offered PEP; 68 (97%) of these 70 HCWs completed PEP. Independent risk factors associated with reporting BPE were being female (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-3.5), having ever-received BPE training (AOR=2.0, CI 1.2-3.5), knowledge that HCW receive PEP at another facility (AOR=2.6, CI 1.5-4.4) and HIV testing within the past year (AOR=2.3, CI 1.2-4.4). Conclusion: Despite the significant proportion of HCW with a recent BPE, only one in three reported it. Our results highlight the importance of appropriate and continuous training on the prevention and reporting of occupational exposures to increase acceptance of HIV testing after BPE. Disclosure of interest: None declared

Quercetin activates vitamin D receptor and ameliorates breast cancer induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis

AimsTo explore the hepatoprotective role of quercetin and its novel molecular mechanism of action on breast cancer associated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis via Vitamin D receptor (VDR).Main methodsWe used Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (mouse mammary carcinoma) model for our in-vivo experiments and human breast cancer cell lines for in-vitro assays. We inoculated 1.5 × 106 Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells into female Swiss albino mice. Quercetin (50 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally for 15 days. Liver enzymes activity was determined using a spectrophotometric assay. The hallmarks of inflammation and fibrosis were determined using Immunohistochemistry. The effect of quercetin on tumor formation was elucidated using human breast cancer cell lines and chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Docking study was performed to explore the binding mode of quercetin with VDR.Key findingsIn EAC tumor-bearing mice, cell numbers, tumor volume, body weight and liver weight were dramatically increased, while they significantly decreased in mice treated with quercetin. Additionally, the peritoneal neo-angiogenesis was also significantly suppressed in the quercetin-treated mice, compared to the control. In addition, quercetin treated EAC tumor bearing mice had lower levels of liver enzymes, decreased hepatic inflammation and fibrosis compared with EAC tumor bearing mice. Docking study confirmed VDR-quercetin interaction. Furthermore, in-vitro assays and chick chorioallantoic membrane assay revealed the Vitamin D mimicking effect of quercetin.SignificanceDietary flavonoid, quercetin could act as a promising therapeutic drug to suppress the breast cancer induced tumor angiogenesis, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis possibly via activation of VDR

Microarray-Based Analysis of Differential Gene Expression between Infective and Noninfective Larvae of Strongyloides stercoralis

Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted helminth that affects an estimated 30–100 million people worldwide. Chronically infected persons who are exposed to corticosteroids can develop disseminated disease, which carries a high mortality (87–100%) if untreated. Despite this, little is known about the fundamental biology of this parasite, including the features that enable infection. We developed the first DNA microarray for this parasite and used it to compare infective third-stage larvae (L3i) with non-infective first stage larvae (L1). Using this method, we identified 935 differentially expressed genes. Functional characterization of these genes revealed L3i biased expression of heat shock proteins and genes with products that have previously been shown to be immunoreactive in infected humans. Genes putatively involved in transcription were found to have L1 biased expression. Potential chemotherapeutic and vaccine targets such as far-1, ucr 2.1 and hsp-90 were identified for further study

A comparative study of RIPASA score and Modified Alvarado score in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis- A valuable tool for decision making

Background-Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of an acute abdomen requiring emergency surgery.The routine diagnosis of appendicitis is based purely on clinical history and examination combined with laboratory investigations.Our study is an attempt to compare both scoring systems (MODIFIEDALVARADO and RIPASA) in diagnosis of acute appendicitis and correlating both the scoring systems with the intraoperative and histopathological findings. Objectives-To correlate the diagnostic scoring systems (Modified Alvarado and RIPASA) with intraoperative and histopathological findings in cases of acute appendicitis. To compare RIPASA and Modified Alvarado scoring systems. Methods-A Hospital basedProspective study was conducted at Department of General Surgery, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B G Nagara, Mandya from August 2020 to May 2021. Patients presenting to the General surgery department and emergency in our hospital with RIF pain was included in this study. Total Sample size of 138 was studied.Data was collected from the patient’s records. For all patients RIPASA and Modified Alvarado scoring was done. Modified Alvarado score contains 7 parameters where as RIPASA score contains 16 parameters and Operative and histopathological findings were compared. Results- Out of the 138 patients, 113 patients were <39.9 years of age and 25 patients were ≥40 years. Percentage of 81.9% and 18.1% respectively.92 were male and 46 were females.Right iliac fossa pain was present in all the 138 patients in the study group. Fischer’s exact test has been applied and Modified Alvarado scoring system diagnosis correlates well with the histopathological diagnosis (p-value is <0.0398).Sensitivity of the scoring system in the study is 72.31% and specificity comes out to be 75%.The mean score for normal appendix, healed appendix, healing appendicitis and acute appendicitis is 5.00, 6.777, 7.125 and 8.414 respectively. There has been increase in mean modified Alvarado score with increase in histopathological severity. Conclusion-By comparing both scoring systems, RIPASA scoring system found out to be an easy and reliable diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and RIPASA scoring system is better than Modified Alvarado scoring system for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in our study population