Seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 and its clinical effect among anaemic SCA patients in Northeastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) is a globally widespread genetic disorder affecting 5% of the world's over 6 billion people. Parvovirus infection and the resulting aplastic crisis is a recognised complication in individuals with SCA. Aplastic crisis increases the need for blood transfusion and its attendant risk of Transfusion Transmissible Infection (TTI). Hence there is a vicious cycle in which Parvovirus B19 causes aplastic crisis which in turn causes increased transfusion need; and transfusion increases risk of transfusion transmissible infection in which parvovirus B19 is included in certain parts of the world. Sickle cell anaemia is associated with foetal death and infection with parvovirus B19 increases the risk to early mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 among SCA and compare with that of controls in the study area. Furthermore clinical and laboratory profile of subjects were analysed to identify possible correlation with parvovirus B19 seropositivity and explore the possibility of involvement of white cell and platelets. A total of 90 subjects comprising 45 consecutive SCA case subjects and 45 age-and sex-matched non SCA controls were studied in a cross sectional comparative study. Ten millilitres of blood was drawn from the antecubital fossa of each subject after obtaining informed consent. The 10mls of blood was divided into two aliquots, 4.5 mls was added into EDTA anticoagulated bottle and was used for basic complete blood count (CBC), while the remaining 5mls was added into a plain specimen container allowed to clot and serum obtained to test for anti-parvovirus B19 IgG and IgM using an immunochromatography based technique specifically BIOCARD TM Parvo B19 diagnostic test kit. There was male preponderance in the study. The SCA subjects comprised 26 males and 19 females (male to female ratio = 1.4:1), while the non-SCA controls comprised 25 males and 20 females (male to female ratio 1.3:1).. The analysis of anti-parvovirus B19 IgG antibody revealed a prevalence of 23.3% among SCA cases with 18.9% among controls. The haematological profile is not affected by IgG seropositivity. However pregnancy outcome revealed that the total number of stillbirths is 12 among IgG seropositive SCA cases which is higher than the 6 encountered in IgG seronegative SCA subjects; the difference is statistically significant (p=0.04)

Dendritic cell density and activation status in human breast cancer – CD1a, CMRF-44, CMRF-56 and CD-83 expression

Low CD1a-positive putative dendritic cell numbers in human breast cancer has recently been described and may explain the apparent ‘poor immunogenicity’ previously reported in breast cancer. Little attention has been given to dendritic cell activation within the tumour microenvironment, which is another reason why the in-situ immune response may be severely deficient. We have therefore examined CD1a expression as a marker for dendritic cells, together with CMRF-44 and -56 as markers of dendritic cell activation status, in 40 human breast cancers. The results demonstrate few or no CD1a-positive putative dendritic cells and minimal or no expression of the dendritic cell activation markers. Both dendritic cell number and dendritic cell activation appear substantially deficient in human breast cancers, regardless of tumour histological grade

FasL is more frequently expressed in liver metastases of colorectal cancer than in matched primary carcinomas

Colorectal carcinoma cells have recently been shown to express Fas ligand (FasL). This ligand could allow the tumour cells to evade activated tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) by inducing their apoptosis and would thus promote tumour survival and possibly metastasis formation. To test this hypothesis in vivo we analysed the expression of FasL mRNA and protein in paired tissue samples of normal colonic mucosa (N), primary colorectal carcinomas (T) and their metastases (M) from a total of 21 patients by four different methods. Additionally, the presence and activation status of infiltrating lymphocytes, which might contribute to the total amount of FasL in the tissue, was determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) in the same samples. The frequency of FasL detection was 30–40% in T and was 60–100% in M, depending on the sensitivity of the method. Simultaneously, the amount of CD25 mRNA, used as a measure of the number of activated TILs, was in 90% of patients lower in M than in T. The increased frequency of FasL detection in liver metastases was therefore not due to the presence of activated TILs. We conclude that metastasizing subpopulations of colorectal tumour cells express FasL more frequently than the primary carcinomas and may be able to eliminate activated TILs in vivo via Fas/FasL-induced apoptosis or other hitherto unknown mechanisms. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaig

Metformin as an Adjunctive Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: A Review of the Literature on Its Potential Therapeutic Use

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has the worst prognosis of any cancer. New adjuvant chemotherapies are urgently required, which are well tolerated by patients with unresectable cancers. This paper reviews the existing proof of concept data, namely laboratory, pharmacoepidemiological, experimental medicine and clinical trial evidence for investigating metformin in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Laboratory evidence shows metformin inhibits mitochondrial ATP synthesis which directly and indirectly inhibits carcinogenesis. Drug–drug interactions of metformin with proton pump inhibitors and histamine H2-receptor antagonists may be of clinical relevance and pertinent to future research of metformin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. To date, most cohort studies have demonstrated a positive association with metformin on survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, although there are many methodological limitations with such study designs. From experimental medicine studies, there are sparse data in humans. The current trials of metformin have methodological limitations. Two small randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported null findings, but there were potential inequalities in cancer staging between groups and poor compliance with the intervention. Proof of concept data, predominantly from laboratory work, supports assessing metformin as an adjunct for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in RCTs. Ideally, more experimental medicine studies are needed for proof of concept. However, many feasibility criteria need to be answered before such trials can progress

Unspoken inequality: How COVID-19 has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities of asylum-seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants in South Africa

An estimated 2 million foreign-born migrants of working age (15-64) were living in South Africa (SA) in 2017. Structural and practical xenophobia has driven asylum-seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants in SA to abject poverty and misery. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) containment measures adopted by the SA government through the lockdown of the nation have tremendously deepened the unequal treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees in SA. This can be seen through the South African government's lack of consideration of this marginalized population in economic, poverty, and hunger alleviation schemes. Leaving this category of our society out of the national response safety nets may lead to negative coping strategies causing mental health issues and secondary health concerns. An effective response to the socioeconomic challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic should consider the economic and health impact of the pandemic on asylum-seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants

Prospective Observational Study on acute Appendicitis Worldwide (POSAW)

Acute appendicitis (AA) is the most common surgical disease, and appendectomy is the treatment of choice in the majority of cases. A correct diagnosis is key for decreasing the negative appendectomy rate. The management can become difficult in case of complicated appendicitis. The aim of this study is to describe the worldwide clinical and diagnostic work-up and management of AA in surgical departments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio