Anti-ischemic effect of Tamarindus indica L. seed extract against myocardial hypoxic injury [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death in patients with cardiovascular disease. Natural products containing high antioxidant activity have been used as an alternative therapy to improve the living conditions of patients. In this study, we examine the protective effect of tamarind seed (TS) on myocardial hypoxic injury. Methods: The hypoxia model was mimicked by mineral oil overlayed on H9c2 cardiomyoblasts for 4 h. TS extract was pretreated and administered during the hypoxic condition. Radical scavenging activity of TS extract was measured and exhibited very potent antioxidant activities on 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays. Results: TS extract at a concentration of 10 µg/ml significantly reversed the effect of hypoxia-induced cell death and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. We also observed hypoxia-induced over-expression of both inflammatory cytokine mRNA and activation of cellular apoptosis. Pretreatment of TS extract significantly reduced hypoxia-induced HIF-1α and pro-inflammatory cytokine production, IL-1β and IL-6. The Western blot analysis for apoptotic regulatory molecules, caspase 3, caspase 8 and Bax proteins, also showed hypoxic injury reversal by TS extract treatment. Conclusions: The results suggest that the anti-ischemic effect of TS extract protects against hypoxia-induced injury and has potential to be an effective alternative therapy for ischemic heart disease and oxidative-damage related disease

Survey of Intestinal Parasites Including Associated Risk Factors Among Food Vendors and Slaughterhouse Workers in Metro Manila, Philippines

Infections by intestinal parasites are considered as one of the major health concerns in developing countries afflicting different groups of people including food handlers and food vendors and are linked to poor personal hygiene and sanitation. This raises public health issues as food vendors and handlers may potentially become agents for the fecal-oral transmission of intestinal parasitic infections to consumers. This study focused on determining the prevalence of intestinal parasites among slaughter house workers and food vendors and examined their personal and food hygiene practices. A small-scale survey was conducted and selected a total of 91 slaughter house workers and food vendors from different areas in Metro Manila. Microscopic examination ofthe fecal samples collected was done following standard procedures by the World Health Organization (WHO) thru direct smear, formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation and staining methods. Participants were also interviewed on their food and personal hygiene practices using a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection was 90% with helminthic predominating protozoan infections. Eight (8) different intestinal parasites were identified: Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (15.6%), Balantidium coli (8.4%), Giardia lamblia (4.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (30%), Trichuris trichiura (14.9%), Ancyclostoma duodenale/ Necator americanus (2.3%). Taenia spp. (2.4%), and Enterobius vermicularis (2.9%). Other amoeba-like protozoans (19.2%) were also observed suggestive of exposure to fecal materials. Based on the results obtained, there is high levels of parasitic infections among slaughter house workers and food vendors. Raising awareness on proper food handling, improved personal hygiene and sanitation is needed to prevent further transmission of parasites to the public. Keywords: Food handlers, Food safety, Intestinal parasites, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Health

Tetracycline resistance mediated by tet efflux pumps in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most frequent nosocomial pathogen capable of acquiring resistance to different antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, the prevalence of tet(A) and tet(B) determinants, and the role of efflux pump in tetracycline resistance among the A. baumannii clinical isolates. Susceptibility of 98 A. baumannii isolates to tetracyclines was evaluated by disk diffusion method. The presence of active efflux pump was investigated by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tetracycline using the carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to investigate the presence of tet(A) and tet(B) determinants in tetracycline-resistant isolates. The rate of resistance to tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline was 47.95%, 0%, and 30.61%, respectively. Among the 47 tetracycline-resistant isolates, 29.79% were originated from burned patients and showed MIC ranging from 128-256 µg/mL with both MIC50 and MIC90 values of 256 µg/mL, while 70.21% were from ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) patients and had MIC values ranging from 32-1024 µg/mL, with MIC50 and MIC90 of 512 µg/mL and 1024 µg/mL, respectively. The tet(B) gene was found in 61.7% of tetracycline-resistant isolates, while none of the isolates carried the tet(A) gene. CCCP led to 2-128-fold reduction in tetracycline MIC of the tested isolates. The results showed that doxycycline and minocycline are promising agents for the treatment of A. baumannii infections. This study has also revealed the role of efflux activity in the resistance to tetracycline of A. baumannii isolates. The emergence of resistance to these agents is likely due to the spread of clones presenting with a higher prevalence of resistance determinants

Socio-demographic determinants of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in migrant workers of Peninsular Malaysia

Background The number of migrants working in Malaysia has increased sharply since the 1970’s and there is concern that infectious diseases endemic in other (e.g. neighbouring) countries may be inadvertently imported. Compulsory medical screening prior to entering the workforce does not include parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among migrant workers in Peninsular Malaysia by means of serosurveys conducted on a voluntary basis among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers from five working sectors, namely, manufacturing, food service, agriculture and plantation, construction and domestic work. Methods A total of 484 migrant workers originating from rural locations in neighbouring countries, namely, Indonesia (n = 247, 51.0%), Nepal (n = 99, 20.5%), Bangladesh (n = 72, 14.9%), India (n = 52, 10.7%) and Myanmar (n = 14, 2.9%) were included in this study. Results The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 57.4% (n = 278; 95% CI: 52.7–61.8%) with 52.9% (n = 256; 95% CI: 48.4–57.2%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG only, 0.8% (n = 4; 95% CI: 0.2–1.7%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM only and 3.7% (n = 18; 95% CI: 2.1–5.4%) seropositive with both IgG and IgM antibodies. All positive samples with both IgG and IgM antibodies showed high avidity (> 40%), suggesting latent infection. Age (being older than 45 years), Nepalese nationality, manufacturing occupation, and being a newcomer in Malaysia (excepting domestic work) were positively and statistically significantly associated with seroprevalence (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results of this study suggest that better promotion of knowledge about parasite transmission is required for both migrant workers and permanent residents in Malaysia. Efforts should be made to encourage improved personal hygiene before consumption of food and fluids, thorough cooking of meat and better disposal of feline excreta from domestic pets

ParaSitic iNFEctiON: a rEcUrriNg PHENOmENON iN maLaYSia

Abstract. A total of 255 patients including 179 (70.2%) of non-HIV and 76 (29.8%) HIV-infected patients were recruited in this descriptive study. The subjects was significantly found to be male Chinese (157; 61.6% vs 74; 47.1%) followed by female Malays (98; 38.4% vs 35; 35.7%) (p&lt;0.05). The majority of subjects (124; 48.6%) were in the age group of 21-39 years, however, no statistical difference was found between the various age groups (p&gt;0.05). Overall seroprevalence of latent Toxoplasma infection was 82/183 (44.8%) being; 3 (3.7%) positive for IgM, 74 (90.2%) for IgG, and 5 (6.1%) for IgG and IgM antibodies. The prevalence was more relatively found in the Chinese (28; 15.3%) and Malays (27; 14.8%) than others (p&lt;0.05). While, 23/76 (30.3%) of HIV-positive patients were shown Toxoplasma seropositivity. The majority of these subjects (138/181; 76.2%) were significantly asymptomatic (p = 0.000), while the others were clinically evident cases of toxoplasmosis. Of this, 37 patients were included in differential diagnosis relating to ocular diseases and only 4 patients were confirmed as having ocular toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) was based on presumptive diagnosis, particularly found in 5 patients with AIDS. Seventeen patients were clinically diagnosed as having malaria being; 8 for P. vivax, 4 for P. falciparum, 3 for P. malariae, and 2 for mixed infections. All cases resolved satisfactorily after treatment with antimalarial drugs. Other important emerging parasitic diseases were also detected in these patients including amebiasis (2), blastocystosis (1), cryptosporidiosis (1), filariasis (1), and giardiasis (2) during the time of this study