Prevalence of mouse and rat parasites in resource recovery plants, farms and housing areas of Southern Selangor: implication for public health

Parasites of small mammals living in human areas cause a tremendous burden of vector borne disease. Small mammals infected with parasites can readily facilitate parasitic transmission to humans and other susceptible animal hosts. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of parasites in small mammals (rats and mice) from the Semenyih Recovery Plant (RESBS) and to compare this with parasites from a plantation farm, Ladang Pertanian Bersepadu, Universiti Putra Malaysia (LPB UPM), and a housing area, Sri Serdang housing area (SSHA), Selangor, Malaysia. The methods employed in this study was to trap small mammals in the resource recovery plant, the plantation farm and the housing area. All the captured small mammals were examined microscopically for the presence of endo and ectoparasites. The brine gravity floatation method was used to determine the presence of parasitic eggs in the feces of the small mammals. The staining method of Semichon’s acetic carmine was employed to find the parasites infesting the internal organs of the mammals. Twenty-three small mammals were trapped alive in the study. Rattus sabanus (10) and Suncus murinus (2) were captured in the Semenyih resource recovery plant; Rattus argentiventer (7) in the farm area of Ladang Pertanian Bersepadu UPM and Mus musculus (1) and Suncus murinus (3) species in the Sri Serdang housing area. R. sabanus, R. argentiventer and M. musculus were found to be heavily infected with Echinolaelaps echidinus (mites). Polyplax spinulosa (lice) infected the R. sabanus species. The intestinal parasite, cestode Hymenolepididae tapeworm, was found to have invaded the small mammals from Semenyih, the resource recovery plant and the farm area of Ladang Pertanian Bersepadu UPM. The nematodes were also found in the small mammals from RESBS. The small mammals captured from RESBS were found to be heavily infected with both external and internal parasites including E. echidinus, P. spinulosa, cestode tapeworms and nematodes compared to the farm and housing areas. Therefore, the existence of small mammals carrying parasites found mainly in waste disposal areas needs to be addressed to prevent serious disease that can cause harm to human health

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ENDOTHELIAL PROGENITOR CELLS AND VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR IN ASTROCYTIC GLIOMA

Astrocytic gliomas are highly aggressive and lethal brain tumours that depend on angiogenesis for growth. The endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) involved in the formation of new blood vessels in astrocytic glioma. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between circulating and tissue resident EPCs with vWF in astrocytic glioma patients. Methods: Blood specimen and brain tissue biopsy were collected from a total of 22 astrocytic glioma patients admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Circulating EPCs (blood) and tissue resident EPCs (tissue biopsy) were characterized using EPC-specific markers, CD133 and VEGFR2 and quantified using fluorescenceactivated cell sorting analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy, respectively. The plasma vWF was measured by using commercialized Elisa kit (Cusabio Biotech Co.,Ltd). Results: The mean percentage of circulating EPCs was (0.01 ± 0.01%), brain tumor tissue EPCs (0.48 ± 0.38%) and adjacent normal brain tissue EPCs (0.18 ± 0.23%). The mean plasma vWF was 9.23 ± 7.57%. Positive correlation was found between brain tumor EPCs and plasma vWF (Spearman’s rho r = 0.45, p = 0.035). However no correlation was found between adjacent normal brain EPCs and plasma vWF. About 14 patients had (mild vWF level of> 5%), 8 patients had (moderate vWF level of 1-5%) and no patients had (severe vWF level of < 1%). The mean percentage of patients with mild vWF level was 12.48 ± 7.77% and moderate vWF level was 3.53 ±1.32%. There was a significant correlation between circulating EPCs and patients with mild vWF level(Spearman’s rho r = 0.63, p = 0.015). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that EPCs have significant positive association with vWF suggesting the homing of plasma vWF at the tumor site.&nbsp

Assessment of depression and anxiety in hematological cancer patients and their relationship with quality of life.

OBJECTIVES:To determine the relationship between major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and the quality of life of haematological cancer patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Ampang Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a tertiary referral centre hospital for haematological cancer. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire was utilised to measure patients' quality of life. RESULTS: A total of 105 haematological cancer patients were included in the study with response rate of 100%. Major depressive disorder correlated with almost all domains of the quality of life, except the pain scores. Logistic regression showed that insomnia and financial difficulties were related to major depressive disorder. Different anxiety disorders also correlated with quality of life in specific domains. The leading anxiety disorders that correlated mostly with quality-of-life scales were generalised anxiety disorder, followed by obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder with agoraphobia (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological treatment along with medication and intervention should be implemented to improve the overall quality of life and psychiatric disorder symptoms among the haematological cancer patients

Depression and quality of life among patients with hematological cancer in a Malaysian hospital

Objective: To determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in hematological cancer patients and to investigate MDD with quality of life. Methods: The research, which uses a cross sectional design, has been carried out at Ampang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. The hospital is a tertiary referral center for cancer cases that include non-Hodgkin lymphoma, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma and other hematological cancers. In total, 105 patients with hematological malignancies were included in the study. This study employed the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview for diagnosis of MDD, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for symptom severity of depression and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality Of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) to assess the quality of life of the respondents. Result: The response rate was 83.3%. The prevalence of MDD was 24.8% (n=26) with the majority of cases classified as moderately severe depression (38.5%). About 92.3% (n=24) of depressed hematological cancer patients were diagnosed with a current episode of MDD. The depressed patients also had significantly reduced quality of life in physical, role, emotional, cognitive and social domains (p<0.05). They also had significantly more symptoms of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation and diarrhea in addition to having financial difficulties and poor global health statuses (p<0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among the hematological cancer patients was high and the depressed patients had reduced qualities of life. Special attention in psychotherapy would help to improve both depression level and the quality of life in these patients

The socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with quality of life among patients with haematological cancer in a large government hospital in Malaysia.

Background: The paper examined the quality of life of haematological cancer patients according to their socio-demographic profiles and clinical diagnoses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary referral centre of Ampang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, involving 105 patients. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire was used to measure their quality of life. Results: The study involved patients diagnosed with all types of haematological cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), and multiple myeloma (MM), with a response rate of 83.3%. The patients with ALL, HL, without NHL, and without MM were younger than other patients. There were significant differences in quality of life scores in different socio-demographic groups and types of cancer diagnosis. The global quality of life of the female patients was much better than that of the male patients. Patients who were 40 years old or younger had a better global quality of life and physical functioning, as well as fewer symptoms of constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Employed patients were in less pain but showed greater impairments of cognitive function than did unemployed patients. Patients who earned a monthly wage of RM1000 or less had reduced physical function, more symptoms of pain, and more financial difficulties compared with patients who earned more. Patients with AML tended to have better physical functioning than did patients with MM, whose physical functioning was impaired. Comparatively, more symptoms of dyspnoea were found in ALL and HL patients than in other types of lymphoma. Compared with other patients, those with ALL had a greater loss of appetite, and other lymphoma patients had fewer symptoms of pain. Patients with NHL had impaired role functioning and more constipation compared with other patients. The results were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The quality of life of haematological cancer patients is affected by sociodemographic factors and clinical diagnoses. Efforts should be made to improve the overall quality of life of these patients

Development of galactomannan-based films from Cassia grandis for the immobilization of biomolecules: physicochemical characterization

Galactomannans are polysaccharides formed by a β(1 4)-D-mannan backbone attached to α(1 6)- D-galactose units. They are commonly extracted from leguminous seeds and used as alternative sources for the production of films. Lactoferrin (Lf), bioactive peptides (BAPs), and phytosterols are biomolecules with functional properties and potential immobilization into films. The use of galactomannan films as immobilization systems is unexplored and emerges as an alternative for the incorporation of biomolecules for several biotechnological applications. This work aims evaluating the effect of different concentrations of LF, BAPs and phytosterols on the properties of galactomannan films obtained from Cassia grandis seeds. Colour parameters (L*, a* and b*) and opacity were determined using a digital colorimeter. Solubility in water was expressed as percentage of the film dry matter solubilized after 24 h immersion in distilled water and water vapour permeability (WVP) was determined gravimetrically based on ASTM E96-92 method. Contact angle (CA) was measured by the sessile drop method and mechanical properties were measured using a texture analyzer following the guidelines of ASTM D882-02. All the studied films had a strong whiteness tendency. The presence of Lf increased (p<0.05) the redness appearance of the films, even considering their evident yellowness tendency. All the studied films presented low opacity values (ranged between 11.53±0.15 and 12.37±0.16), however the films with immobilized phytosterols were more opaque than the other films. Solubility values decreased with the addition of Lf, while the incorporation of BAPs and phytosterols did not lead to statistical differences (p>0.05) between the films. The presence of Lf and phytosterols significantly increased the WVP values, leading to values 3.9 and 1.7-fold higher than the control film, respectively. Lf and BAPs increased (p<0.05) the CA values when compared to the results of the control film. Young′s modulus and tensile strength increased with the addition of biomolecules, improving the stiffness of the films, while the control films were more flexible due to the highest values of elongation at break. Galactomannan-based films from C. grandis showed to be a promising structure for the immobilization of biomolecules foreseeing a great number of possible applications in food and pharmaceutical industries

Characterization of antibodies elicited by XMRV infection and development of immunoassays useful for epidemiologic studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-related Virus (XMRV) is a human gammaretrovirus recently identified in prostate cancer tissue and in lymphocytes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. To establish the etiologic role of XMRV infection in human disease requires large scale epidemiologic studies. Development of assays to detect XMRV-specific antibodies would greatly facilitate such studies. However, the nature and kinetics of the antibody response to XMRV infection have yet to be determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three rhesus macaques were infected with XMRV to determine the dynamics of the antibody responses elicited by infection with XMRV. All macaques developed antibodies to XMRV during the second week of infection, and the predominant responses were to the envelope protein gp70, transmembrane protein p15E, and capsid protein p30. In general, antibody responses to gp70 and p15E appeared early with higher titers than to p30, especially in the early period of seroconversion. Antibodies to gp70, p15E and p30 persisted to 158 days and were substantially boosted by re-infection, thus, were identified as useful serologic markers. Three high-throughput prototype assays were developed using recombinant proteins to detect antibodies to these viral proteins. Both gp70 and p15E prototype assays demonstrated 100% sensitivity by detecting all Western blot (WB) positive serial bleeds from the XMRV-infected macaques and good specificity (99.5-99.9%) with blood donors. Seroconversion sensitivity and specificity of the p30 prototype assay were 92% and 99.4% respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides the first demonstration of seroconversion patterns elicited by XMRV infection. The nature and kinetics of antibody responses to XMRV in primates were fully characterized. Moreover, key serologic markers useful for detection of XMRV infection were identified. Three prototype immunoassays were developed to detect XMRV-specific antibodies. These assays demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity; thus, they will facilitate large scale epidemiologic studies of XMRV infection in humans.</p

Serviço de atendimento ao acidentado por material biológico na Odontologia

RESUMO Objetivo: relatar a experiência da realização de atendimentos prestados por um programa de extensão, tendo como foco a o atendimento de ocorrências dos acidentes ocupacionais ocorridos na Faculdade de Odontologia/UFPEL. Métodos: Os dados obtidos a partir dos casos atendidos no programa, tem resultado na realização de um estudo descritivo na modalidade de relato de experiência, a partir da vivência de uma equipe que presta serviço e atendimento a profissionais e discentes da Faculdade de Odontologia (FO) que possam ser acometidos por acidente com material biológico potencialmente contaminado. Resultados: Foram registrados 17 acidentes perfurocortantes, todos envolvendo acadêmicos que usavam EPIs, dos quais, a maior parte atuando nas disciplinas dos semestres finais, clínica 1, Cirurgia e PA, sendo que 14 destas exposições ocorreram durante o atendimento, três na lavagem de instrumentais e uma ao secar os mesmos. O objeto de maior prevalência foi a seringa carpule e três testes resultaram em reagente ao vírus da hepatite C (HCV) para os pacientes. Em apenas dois casos, o aluno foi encaminhado para administração de profilaxia pós exposição (PEP), um por não se obter acesso ao paciente fonte para realização da testagem rápida  (segundo protocolo institucional), e outro por confirmação do paciente de estar em tratamento para HIV/Aids porém, os dezessete acidentados obtiveram resultados não reagentes para HIV e hepatites B e C. Conclusões: Portanto, as ações do programa de extensão têm cumprido seu papel preenchendo uma lacuna importante, observada no âmbito da unidade a fim de contribuir de forma permanente e transformar as práticas profissionais. 

Comunidades quilombolas: elementos básicos para a compreensão de suas problemáticas jurídicas, antropológicas e sociais

elementos básicos para a compreensão de suas problemáticas jurídicas, antropológicas e sociai

Quality of life among patients with hematological cancer in a Malaysian hospital.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms and problems in hospitalized hematological cancer patients. A cross-sectional design was carried out with 105 respondents in Ampang hospital in Kuala Lumpur. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality Of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) was used. Patients with a minimum response of "a little" were defined as having a symptom/problem while patients with a response of "quite a bit" were classified as having a "severe symptom/problem:". The four most prevalent symptoms/ problems identified were fatigue, financial difficulties, reduced role function and reduced social function. Multiple myeloma patients (MM) were identified as having the most symptoms/problems