Infection dynamics of four gill Monogenean species from Tilapia zillii (Gervais, 1848) in man-made Lake Ayame I, Côte d’Ivoire

The study of the gills of 359 Tilapia zillii, which were caught between August 2004 and July 2005, have been investigated in the Ayame man-made lake (Côte d’Ivoire), so as to collect first data on the population dynamics of the Monogeneans parasites in a wild population. Standard methods of  parasitological examination were used for identification of Monogenean species. Four Cichlidogyrus species were identified on the gills of host fish: C. digitatus, C. aegypticus, C. vexus and C. yanni. Rates of parasites species were calculated. Prevalence and mean intensity of the Monogenean showed clear fluctuations throughout the year. The parasites were found to settle more on the larger host fish. However, no sex effect was observed on the infestation of T. zillii by the Monogeneans. Throughout the period of study,  all parasite species were present, because the recruitment of these organisms, although relatively low, is continuous; this logically results in their  accumulation in this fish species.Keywords: Monogeneans parasitic, Tilapia zillii, population dynamics

Primary versus secondary source of data in observational studies and heterogeneity in meta-analyses of drug effects: a survey of major medical journals

The data from individual observational studies included in meta-analyses of drug effects are collected either from ad hoc methods (i.e. "primary data") or databases that were established for non-research purposes (i.e. "secondary data"). The use of secondary sources may be prone to measurement bias and confounding due to over-the-counter and out-of-pocket drug consumption, or non-adherence to treatment. In fact, it has been noted that failing to consider the origin of the data as a potential cause of heterogeneity may change the conclusions of a meta-analysis. We aimed to assess to what extent the origin of data is explored as a source of heterogeneity in meta-analyses of observational studies.publishe

The immunobiology of primary sclerosing cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease histologically characterized by the presence of intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary duct concentric, obliterative fibrosis, eventually leading to cirrhosis. Approximately 75% of patients with PSC have inflammatory bowel disease. The male predominance of PSC, the lack of a defined, pathogenic autoantigen, and the potential role of the innate immune system suggest that it may be due to dysregulation of immunity rather than a classic autoimmune disease. However, PSC is associated with several classic autoimmune diseases, and the strongest genetic link to PSC identified to date is with the human leukocyte antigen DRB01*03 haplotype. The precise immunopathogenesis of PSC is largely unknown but likely involves activation of the innate immune system by bacterial components delivered to the liver via the portal vein. Induction of adhesion molecules and chemokines leads to the recruitment of intestinal lymphocytes. Bile duct injury results from the sustained inflammation and production of inflammatory cytokines. Biliary strictures may cause further damage as a result of bile stasis and recurrent secondary bacterial cholangitis. Currently, there is no effective therapy for PSC and developing a rational therapeutic strategy demands a better understanding of the disease

Copeptin as a prognostic biomarker in acute myocardial infarction

International audienceBACKGROUND:Copeptin - the C-terminal section of vasopressin precursor - is a novel biomarker, that has been shown to be a useful prognostic factor in heart failure, ischemic stroke and in acute myocardial infarction (MI) but with restricted population and follow-up in ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI) setting. We evaluated in this study the hypothesis that copeptin measured on admission is an independent predictor of one-year all-cause mortality after a STEMI.METHODS:Copeptin was measured immediately on arrival in the catheterization laboratory in a cohort of unselected STEMI patients and was compared to the peak of cardiac troponin I as a prognosis marker. One-year follow-up was performed.RESULTS:We included 401 STEMI patients (77% of men, mean age 64 ± 14 years) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Copeptin on admission was significantly higher in patients who died during the one-year follow-up than in survivors (154.8 pmol/L; IQR [63.9-304.8] vs 30.3 pmol/L; IQR [10.8-93.5]); p < 0.0001). There was an increase in mortality at one year from the lowest to the highest quartile of copeptin. After Cox regression analysis, copeptin was an independent predictor of death at one year (adjHR 3.1, 95% CI [1.5-6.2], p = 0.001). When compared to the peak value of cardiac troponin I, copeptin measured on admission had a better prognostic value to predict one-year mortality (AUC of 0.74 vs 0.60, p = 0.022).CONCLUSION:Copeptin measured on admission is a reliable and independent prognostic biomarker of one-year mortality in acute myocardial infarction patients