Seroprevalence of cystic echinococcosis in a high-risk area (Al-Mafraq Governorate) in Jordan, using indirect hemagglutination test

Hydatid disease (HD) is a zoonotic disease of humans and animals which is caused by infection with the larval stages of the taeniid cestodes of the genus Echinococcus. HD is endemic in many countries of the Middle East, including Jordan. The seroprevalence rate of HD in areas of elevated risk in Jordan has not previously been investigated using indirect haemagglutination (IHA) testing. In the present study, 512 blood samples were collected from recruited outpatients from an internal medicine clinic in Al-Mafraq Governmental Hospital in Jordan. Each participant signed a consent form and completed a questionnaire. The presence of antibodies specific for E. granulosus antigens was detected using an IHA test. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software using the Chi-square test. In all, 4.1% of the study participants were seropositive for E. granulosus IgG antibodies. There was a significant correlation between unexplained weight loss among seropositive patients (P = 0.018). Seropositivity was significantly higher in patients who slaughtered sheep inside their houses (P = 0.023). HD seroprevalence did not correlate with gender (P = 0.433), age (P = 0.880), residency status (P = 0.938), or educational level (P = 0.808). The vast majority (75.2%) of participants reported no prior knowledge about HD, and 99.8% were not aware about the etiology of the disease. Keywords: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE), Hydatid disease (HD), Echinococcus granulosus, Jordan, Indirect hemagglutination (IHA), Seroprevalenc

Senolytic Therapy: A Potential Approach for the Elimination of Oncogene-Induced Senescent HPV-Positive Cells

Senescence represents a unique cellular stress response characterized by a stable growth arrest, macromolecular alterations, and wide spectrum changes in gene expression. Classically, senescence is the end-product of progressive telomeric attrition resulting from the repetitive division of somatic cells. In addition, senescent cells accumulate in premalignant lesions, in part, as a product of oncogene hyperactivation, reflecting one element of the tumor suppressive function of senescence. Oncogenic processes that induce senescence include overexpression/hyperactivation of H-Ras, B-Raf, and cyclin E as well as inactivation of PTEN. Oncogenic viruses, such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), have also been shown to induce senescence. High-risk strains of HPV drive the immortalization, and hence transformation, of cervical epithelial cells via several mechanisms, but primarily via deregulation of the cell cycle, and possibly, by facilitating escape from senescence. Despite the wide and successful utilization of HPV vaccines in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer, this measure is not effective in preventing cancer development in individuals already positive for HPV. Accordingly, in this commentary, we focus on the potential contribution of oncogene and HPV-induced senescence (OIS) in cervical cancer. We further consider the potential utility of senolytic agents for the elimination of HPV-harboring senescent cells as a strategy for reducing HPV-driven transformation and the risk of cervical cancer development