Congenital Plasmodium vivax malaria mimicking neonatal sepsis: a case report

Although malaria in pregnancy can cause very significant neonatal morbidity, congenital malaria is a very rare condition in both endemic and non-endemic areas. A case of congenital malaria by Plasmodium vivax, initially mistaken for neonatal sepsis, is described. The correct diagnosis was accidentally done, as congenital malaria had been missed in the initial differential diagnosis

Predicted binding site information improves model ranking in protein docking using experimental and computer-generated target structures

BACKGROUND: Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) mediate the vast majority of biological processes, therefore, significant efforts have been directed to investigate PPIs to fully comprehend cellular functions. Predicting complex structures is critical to reveal molecular mechanisms by which proteins operate. Despite recent advances in the development of new methods to model macromolecular assemblies, most current methodologies are designed to work with experimentally determined protein structures. However, because only computer-generated models are available for a large number of proteins in a given genome, computational tools should tolerate structural inaccuracies in order to perform the genome-wide modeling of PPIs. RESULTS: To address this problem, we developed eRank(PPI), an algorithm for the identification of near-native conformations generated by protein docking using experimental structures as well as protein models. The scoring function implemented in eRank(PPI) employs multiple features including interface probability estimates calculated by eFindSite(PPI) and a novel contact-based symmetry score. In comparative benchmarks using representative datasets of homo- and hetero-complexes, we show that eRank(PPI) consistently outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms improving the success rate by ~10 %. CONCLUSIONS: eRank(PPI) was designed to bridge the gap between the volume of sequence data, the evidence of binary interactions, and the atomic details of pharmacologically relevant protein complexes. Tolerating structure imperfections in computer-generated models opens up a possibility to conduct the exhaustive structure-based reconstruction of PPI networks across proteomes. The methods and datasets used in this study are available at www.brylinski.org/erankppi

Co-encapsulation of curcumin and piperin in zein-chitosane nanocapsules by electrospray

41st FEBS Congress on Molecular and Systems Biology for a Better Life -- SEP 03-08, 2016 -- Kusadasi, TURKEYWOS: 000383616901145FEB

Closure of patent ductus arteriosus in children, small infants, and premature babies with Amplatzer duct occluder II additional sizes: Multicenter study

PubMedID: 23460349Objectives To evaluate safety and efficacy of closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with Amplatzer duct occluder II Additional Sizes (ADO II AS) and to report early and midterm results of the device in children and very young symptomatic infants. Methods Retrospective analysis of angiographic data of 60 children from four pediatric cardiology centers. Results The median patient age and weight were 6.5 (0.5-168) months and 6.8 (1.19-57) kg, respectively. In the study, 26 children had a body weight of ?6 kg. Of these 26 children, 9 had a body weight of ?3 kg. The median narrowest diameter of PDA was 2 (1.2-4) mm. Ductal anatomy was Type A in 29, Type B in 2, Type C in 11, Type D in 1, and Type E in 16 patients, and a residual PDA after surgery in 1 patient. Closure with ADO II AS was achieved in 58 (96.6%) of 60 attempted cases. In two infants, the device was not released because of significant residual shunt. ADO II was used in one, and the other was sent to surgery. Complete closure was observed in all ADO II AS deployed children by the next day on echocardiography. Median follow-up was 12 (1-18) months. Neither death nor any major complications occurred. Conclusions Our study shows that closure of medium and small sized PDA by using ADO II AS device is effective and safe in children. The use of the device will expand the field of application of PDA closure in small infants. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Increased frequency of MEFV genes in patients with epigastric pain syndrome

Atypical clinical forms of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) can be misdiagnosed as therapy-resistant epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) for they share many of the same clinical features, such as abdominal pain. Thus, we aimed to determined the frequency of FMF in patients who were followed with a diagnosis of therapy-resistant EPS. Seventy-five patients with therapy-resistant EPS and 20 controls were involved in the study. To detect the FMF in patients with therapy-resistant EPS, Tel-Hashomer criteria, family history of FMF were researched and recorded. We performed performed MEFV gene analysis on all patients. Forty-three patients with EPS (57.3%) had MEFV gene mutations and the carrier rate was 30.0%. The most common MEFV gene alteration was R202Q (55.8%), followed by E148Q (16.2%), R761H (16.2%), V726A (9.3%), M680I (9.3%) and M694V (4.6%). Rarely seen mutations in the Turkish population were also identified: K695R (2.3%), L110P (2.3%) and G304R (2.3%). Eight patients with EPS were diagnosed with FMF and started on colchicine therapy. Three patients with compound heterozygosities for three mutations, two patients with compound heterozygosities for two mutations (K695R/ V726A and R202Q/ R761H), one patient with homozygous R202Q, one patient with heterozygous R202Q mutation and one patient with non- R202Q heterozygous mutation (G304R/–) had clinical FMF symptoms and were started on colchicine therapy. Patients who have therapy-resistant EPS should also be questioned about FMF, especially in high risk populations

MYH9-related Disease Caused by an R1165C Mutation in a Child With Previous Diagnosis of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

[No Abstract Available

Epstein-Barr virus encephalitis with substantia nigra involvement

Infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a usually benign systemic viral illness common in children. Many studies described nervous system manifestations of infectious mononucleosis with a wide spectrum of neurologic deficits. Neurologic complications of EBV are seen in both acute and reactivate infection. Herein, we describe a patient diagnosed by acute EBV encephalitis with substantia nigra involvement and excellent clinical recovery. © 2015 Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow