Blinding Trachoma: A Disease of Poverty

Trachoma accounts for 15% of blindness worldwide, affecting the world's poorest communities. How can the disease be controlled

First report of willow gall midge Rabdophaga heterobia (Dip.: Cecidomyiidae) from Iran, with some of its biological characteristics in the province of West Azarbaijan

The cecidomyiid species Rabdophaga heterobia (Loew) induces gall on willow's male catkins, and causes small rosettes at the extremities of shoots and swollen lateral buds or lateral rosettes on some species of willow. During the years 2006-2007, a study on willow pests in the West Azarbaijan province (Saatloo Poplar Research Station) was conducted. The following nine willow species were used in this study: Salix elborsiensis, S. triandra, S. excelsa, S. elaegnosa, S. babylonica, S. alba, S. aegyptiaca, S. pycnostachya, and S. matsudana. The willow species S. triandra was found to be the only host for the gall-inducing cecidomyiid. This is the first record of R. heterobia from Iran

Machine learning reveals mesenchymal breast carcinoma cell adaptation in response to matrix stiffness.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse process, mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), are believed to play key roles in facilitating the metastatic cascade. Metastatic lesions often exhibit a similar epithelial-like state to that of the primary tumour, in particular, by forming carcinoma cell clusters via E-cadherin-mediated junctional complexes. However, the factors enabling mesenchymal-like micrometastatic cells to resume growth and reacquire an epithelial phenotype in the target organ microenvironment remain elusive. In this study, we developed a workflow using image-based cell profiling and machine learning to examine morphological, contextual and molecular states of individual breast carcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231). MDA-MB-231 heterogeneous response to the host organ microenvironment was modelled by substrates with controllable stiffness varying from 0.2kPa (soft tissues) to 64kPa (bone tissues). We identified 3 distinct morphological cell types (morphs) varying from compact round-shaped to flattened irregular-shaped cells with lamellipodia, predominantly populating 2-kPa and >16kPa substrates, respectively. These observations were accompanied by significant changes in E-cadherin and vimentin expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the bone-mimicking substrate (64kPa) induced multicellular cluster formation accompanied by E-cadherin cell surface localisation. MDA-MB-231 cells responded to different substrate stiffness by morphological adaptation, changes in proliferation rate and cytoskeleton markers, and cluster formation on bone-mimicking substrate. Our results suggest that the stiffest microenvironment can induce MET

Tychiini and Mecinini (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Curculioninae) of Iran: eleven species recorded for the first time, with new data on host plants and distribution of several species

A faunistic study on the tribes Tychiini and Mecinini (Curculionidae, Curculioninae) was carried out during the years 2010-2013 in different ecological regions of Iran. Twenty nine species belonging to the genera Mecinus Germar, 1821, Gymnetron Schoenherr, 1825, Rhinusa Stephens, 1829, Cleopomiarus Pierce, 1919, Tychius Germar, 1817 and Sibinia Germar, 1817 were collected. Localities and ecological notes on each species are provided. Among these, The following 11 species are new to the Iranian fauna: Mecinus crassifemur (Arzanov, 1991), Mecinus simus (Mulsant & Rey, 1859), Gymnetron linkei Reitter, 1907, Rhinusa antirrhini (Paykull, 1800), Rhinusa brondelii (H. Brisout de Barneville, 1862), Rhinusa florum (Rübsaamen, 1895), Tychius reitteri Faust, 1889, Tychius tridentinus Penecke, 1922, Sibinia aureofulva (Desbrochers des Loges, 1875), Sibinia pellucens (Scopoli, 1772), Sibinia unicolor Fảhraeus, 1843, whereas all other 18 species are new for one or more provinces. Host plants of several species reported for the first time and commented as well

Population beliefs about the efficacy of injections in Pakistan\u27s Sindh province

Summary Objective: Reused syringes have been identified as a major risk factor for hepatitis B and C in Pakistan, a country facing a growing epidemic of these infections. We conducted this study to identify factors associated with receiving at least one injection during the past 3 months in an urban and a rural area in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of individuals aged X3 months was conducted in 34 clusters in an urban and a rural setting. Information was obtained on the number of contacts with healthcare providers and the number of injections received during the past 3 months. Beliefs about the efficacy of injections were also tested. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with receiving at least one injection during the past 3 months. Results: Of 1150 subjects who participated in the study, 848 (74%) reported having received at least one injection during the past 3 months. Seventy-one percent (815/ 1150) believed that injections act faster than oral drugs and relieve symptoms quickly. There was a lack of risk perception among the participants: 19% (222/1150) believed that injections involve less risk than do oral drugs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals who had visited unqualified practitioners (adjusted OR ¼ 6.1; 95% CI: 2.6–14.1) or general practitioners (adjusted OR ¼ 3.4; 95% CI: 1.9–6.0) were more likely to have received an injection. Belief that ‘injections act faster and relieve symptoms quickly’ had a multiplicative interaction with the area of dwelling: people in rural areas who held this belief were more likely to receive injections than people who did not hold this belief and were living in urban areas

Pattern of health care utilization and determinants of care-seeking from GPs in two districts of Pakistan.

Abstract. The aims of the study were to describe the pattern of health care utilization and outof-pocket expenses incurred in seeking health care, and to identify the determinants of careseeking from private general practitioners (GP) in two districts of Pakistan. During July-September 2001, we conducted a cross-sectional study in two districts in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. We selected 1,150 participants age ≥ 3 months through a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Information was collected about contacts with healthcare providers during the past three months, presenting complaints, type of treatment received, and cost of the latest visit. Of 1,150 participants, 967 (84%) had at least one contact with health care providers during past three months. The mean number of contacts was 1.7. Most of the contacts (66.8%) were with private GPs. The average cost per visit was Pak Rs 106 (US$1.7) and Rs 38 (US$ 0.6) for GPs and public sector providers, respectively. A multiple logistic regression model revealed those living in urban areas, with monthly household income \u3eRs 2,500 (US$ 39.7), an education level \u3e5 years, and who received both injections and oral drugs were more likely to visit private general practitioners

A Typical Community in Which Trachoma Is Endemic

<p>Some of the factors linked with the continued presence of the disease in affected communities are lack of access to water, overcrowding, lack of facial hygiene, eye-seeking bazaar flies, and open latrines. (Illustration: Aslam Bashir, Aga Khan University)</p

WHO Simplified Grading System: A Guide for the Assessment of Trachoma

<p>(Photos: from [<a href="http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0010044#pmed-0010044-b11" target="_blank">11</a>], with permission from WHO)</p