Lysozyme activity in the plasma of rodents infected with their homologous trypanosomes

BACKGROUND In this study the concentration of lysozyme in blood plasma of Microtus agrestis, Clethrinomys glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus, BK rats and outbred white mice before and after infection with culture forms of Trypanosoma microti, T, evotomys, T. grosi, T. lewisi and T. musculi respectively was measured. METHODS Blood samples of rodents, Microtus agrestis, Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus sylvaticus, BK rats and outbred mice infected with T. microti, T. evotomys, T. grosi, T. lewisi and T. musculi respectively were collected in heparinized micro- tubes immediately before inoculation and 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and more than 400 days after intra- perituneal inoculation with 5×10(5)of their homologous trypanosome parasites of which more than half were metacyclic trypomastigote in 0.2 ml of culture medium. Micro- tubes were centrifuged and plasma samples were separated and the lysozyme activity was measured by the agar method. RESULTS Levels of lysozyme rose rapidly three to six days after the inoculation to ten to twenty than their pre- infection levels. They then gradually decreased, although after more than one year they were still two to ten folds higher than controls. The highest level measured occurred in rats infected with T. lewisi and the lowest in A. sylvaticus infected with T. grosi. After one year the highest concentration of lysozyme was in mice infected with T. musculi and lowest in A. sylvaticus. CONCLUSION Persistent enhanced lysozyme levels may prevent re- infection with trypanosomes

Asylum Seekers as experts by experience: a case study from Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers

Living through war, persecution, exile and the asylum system gives people an insight and knowledge that cannot be otherwise learned. As a sector and movement, we must recognise the value of this expertise and not view it as secondary https://refugeeweek.org.u

Mini-Exon Genotyping of Leishmania Species in Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran

Background: Leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease cause by Leishmania genus. Anthroponotic and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic in Iran. The aim of this study was to identify the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis by mini-exon gene in five regions of Khuzestan Province, southwest of Iran. Methods: From 2007 to 2008 in this cross-sectional study, cutaneous samples were collected from patients referred to Health Centers and Hospitals of the Khuzestan Province for cutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosis and cultured in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) and RPMI 1640. The propagated promastigotes were harvested and Leishmania species of cutaneous leishmaniasis were identified by RFLP and DNA sequencing of the PCR generated fragments. Results: L. major and L. tropica were the causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis by predominantly of L. major species. The alignment of the mini-exon sequencing isolates with reported sequencing of L. major and L. tropica revealed 92-99 identity. Conclusion: Our study showed that mini-exon PCR-RFLP was useful method to identify the causative species of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Laboratory and Field Studies on Herpetosoma Trypanosomes From Portugal

Several small mammals were trapped in the Arrabida region (Portugal) and checked for the presence of trypanosomes which were found in 33 of the 197 (11.1 %) Mus spretus and in 9 of the 29 (31 %) Crocidura russula observed. To our knowledge, this was the first time that trypanosomes were isolated from these mammals species. In the liver of one dead C. russula was observed different parasite forms. The studies of infectivity to experimental rodents, analyses of the DNA buoyant density and the isoenzymatic profiles, show that trypanosomes isolates from M. spretus were identical to Trypanosoma musculi isolates from Mus musculus. However the isolates from C. russula, although related to the isolates from murine rodents, were clearly separated from these and close to Trypanosoma microti. These findings may allow further studies on the detection of their vectors and on the study of trypanosome reproduction.publishersversionpublishe

Multiple zoonotic helminth infections in domestic dogs in a rural area of Khuzestan Province in Iran

Background: Echinococcosis and toxocarosis caused by the genus of Echinococcus and Toxocara spp. are among important helminthic diseases worldwide. Limited data on the prevalence of these parasites persuaded us to determine the prevalence of E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, and T. canis infections in domestic dogs in rural areas of Ahvaz, southwestern Iran. Fecal samples from 167 domestic dogs were examined using both microscopy and PCR techniques. Multiplex PCR was performed for the presence of Echinococcus, and Taenia spp. and single PCR for detection of T. canis and Toxascaris leonina. Results: The total occurrence of identified parasites was 65 (38.9). The microscopic examinations showed that 40 (24), 18 (10.8), and four (2.4) of dogs were infected with taeniid-like, ascarid, and both genera eggs, respectively. Echinococcus granulosus was identified in seven (4.2), Taenia spp. in 29 (17.4), and mixed infection with both in 11 (6.6) samples. Sequencing of PCR-positive samples identified E. granulosus s.s. (G1), 18 T. hydatigena (10.8), five T. multiceps (3), three T. serialis (1.8), one T. ovis (0.6), one Spirometra erinaceieuropaei voucher (0.6), and two Mesocestoides corti (1.2). This is the first report of S. erinaceieuropaei voucher and M. corti in dogs in Iran. Nine (5.4) and 16 (9.6) dogs showed infection with T. canis and T. leonina, respectively. Two samples showed coinfection with both ascarids. Conclusions: Several studies have reported echinococcosis and toxocarosis in intermediate hosts from the southwest of Iran; however, this study is the first molecular research on E. granulosus and T. canis in domestic dogs in a rural area of southwestern Iran. Furthermore, issues of soil contamination with dogs' feces and recent dust storms in Khuzestan may have a role in the spreading of these zoonotic infections to other provinces close to it, and neighboring countries such as Iraq. © 2018 The Author(s)

The effectiveness of classification-specific physical therapy for people with low back pain within dominant movement-based schemes: A systematic review

Background: Identification of homogenous subgroups of patients with low back pain (LBP) and classification-based treatment have been recommended by some researchers and primary care clinicians. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of this approach is not conclusive; one reason for this controversy appears to be the heterogeneity of trials in this context. Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of classification-specific physical therapy in patients with LBP. The included trials were investigated in more homogeneous categories with respect to their classification scheme. Electronic databases including Medline, Cochrane, Ovid, Scopus, and PEDro were searched systematically for English-language randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published from 1980 to October 3, 2015. We included studies on LBP cases, which aimed to compare classification-specific physical therapies with non-specific treatments lacking patient classification. PEDro scoring was used to check the quality of the included trials, and the GRADE approach was used to evaluate the overall quality of evidence. Data on participants� characteristics, sample size, and inclusion/exclusion criteria were extracted to obtain an overview of the included RCTs. Results: A total of 12 RCTs were identified and categorized into four classification schemes. Some evidence supporting classification-specific treatment was found in each of the schemes. However, the reported evidence was conflicting predominantly due to differences in the study design. Also, GRADE quality assessment indicated the low quality of evidence for both approaches. Conclusions: Categorization of trials based on their classification scheme to investigate the efficacy of classification-based physical therapy could reduce the heterogeneity of trials and allow researchers to understand the contradictory results in this context. © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Biallelic variants in SLC38A3 encoding a glutamine transporter cause epileptic encephalopathy

The solute carrier (SLC) superfamily encompasses >400 transmembrane transporters involved in the exchange of amino acids, nutrients, ions, metals, neurotransmitters and metabolites across biological membranes. SLCs are highly expressed in the mammalian brain; defects in nearly 100 unique SLC-encoding genes (OMIM: https://www.omim.org) are associated with rare Mendelian disorders including developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) and severe neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Exome sequencing and family-based rare variant analyses on a cohort with NDD identified two siblings with DEE and a shared deleterious homozygous splicing variant in SLC38A3. The gene encodes SNAT3, a sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter and a principal transporter of the amino acids asparagine, histidine, and glutamine, the latter being the precursor for the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate. Additional subjects with a similar DEE phenotype and biallelic predicted-damaging SLC38A3 variants were ascertained through GeneMatcher and collaborations with research and clinical molecular diagnostic laboratories. Untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed to identify novel metabolic biomarkers. Ten individuals from seven unrelated families from six different countries with deleterious biallelic variants in SLC38A3 were identified. Global developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, and absent speech were common features while microcephaly, epilepsy, and visual impairment were present in the majority. Epilepsy was drug-resistant in half. Metabolomic analysis revealed perturbations of glutamate, histidine, and nitrogen metabolism in plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid of selected subjects, potentially representing biomarkers of disease. Our data support the contention that SLC38A3 is a novel disease gene for DEE and illuminate the likely pathophysiology of the disease as perturbations in glutamine homeostasis

Patients' preferences for subcutaneous trastuzumab versus conventional intravenous infusion for the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer: final analysis of 488 patients in the international, randomized, two-cohort PrefHer study

PrefHer revealed compelling and consistent patient preference for subcutaneous (s.c.) trastuzumab, regardless of delivery by single-use injection device or hand-held syringe. s.c. trastuzumab was well-tolerated and safety data, including immunogenicity, were consistent with previous reports. No new safety signals were identified compared with the known intravenous trastuzumab profile in early breast cance