Bruceloza u trudnoći: prikazi slučaja s različitim ishodima u endemskom području

Different outcomes of brucellosis in pregnancy regarding the fetus/neonate and the mother are described. Medical records of five pregnant women with brucellosis were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were treated in several departments of infectious diseases in the Republic of Macedonia between 1995 and 2009. The diagnosis of brucellosis was based on clinical findings compatible with the disease supported by detection of specific antibodies. Pregnancy outcomes in patients were as follows: spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal death, premature delivery in two cases (one with twin pregnancy) and term delivery. One of the women experienced relapse. Follow-up results of neonates showed no infection and their normal growth and development. Brucellosis, especially if acquired in early pregnancy, can have an impact on pregnancy outcome. In endemic regions, in pregnant women with persisting fever and unspecific manifestations one should always have in mind brucellosis. In these areas, cases with unexplained spontaneous abortion, intrauterine fetal death and premature delivery should also be investigated for brucellosis.Opisuju se različiti ishodi bruceloze u trudnoći u odnosu na fetus/novorođenče i majku. Retrospektivno su analizirani medicinski zapisi za pet trudnica s brucelozom. Bolesnice su liječene u nekoliko klinika za zarazne bolesti u Republici Makedoniji u razdoblju od 1995. do 2009. godine. Dijagnoza bruceloze temeljena je na kliničkim nalazima sukladnima s bolešću i potkrijepljena otkrivanjem specifičnih protutijela. Ishodi trudnoće u ovih bolesnica bili su sljedeći: spontani pobačaj, intrauterina smrt fetusa, prijevremeni porođaj u dva slučaja (jedan s blizanačkom trudnoćom) i terminski porođaj. Recidiv je nastupio kod jedne od ovih žena. Rezultati praćenja novorođenčadi pokazali su odsutnost infekcije te normalan rast i razvoj. Bruceloza, osobito ako je stečena u ranoj trudnoći, može utjecati na ishod trudnoće. U endemskim područjima brucelozu treba uvijek imati na umu kod trudnica s ustrajnom groznicom i nespecifičnim manifestacijama. U ovim područjima testiranje na brucelozu treba provoditi i u slučaju neobjašnjenog spontanog pobačaja, intrauterine smrti fetusa i prijevremenog porođaja

Does human capital compensate for population decline?

Fertility rates have been falling persistently over the past 50 years in most rich countries. Simultaneously, the trend of outward migration from poorer to richer countries has been steady. These two forces contributed to population aging, and – in an increasing number of countries – even to population decline. In this paper, we quantify the effect of decreasing fertility on the aggregate human capital stock. In doing so we take into account that parents with fewer children may raise investments in their children's education and health. We find that the human capital impact of declining fertility is partly compensated through such responses when including the full set of countries in our regressions. For the subset of countries that experience population decline, the compensatory effect is weaker and, in many specifications, even insignificant

The role of activity in synaptic degeneration in a protein misfolding disease, prion disease

In chronic neurodegenerative diseases associated with aggregates of misfolded proteins (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion disease), there is an early degeneration of presynaptic terminals prior to the loss of the neuronal somata. Identifying the mechanisms that govern synapse degeneration is of paramount importance, as cognitive decline is strongly correlated with loss of presynaptic terminals in these disorders. However, very little is known about the processes that link the presence of a misfolded protein to the degeneration of synapses. It has been suggested that the process follows a simple linear sequence in which terminals that become dysfunctional are targeted for death, but there is also evidence that high levels of activity can speed up degeneration. To dissect the role of activity in synapse degeneration, we infused the synaptic blocker botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) into the hippocampus of mice with prion disease and assessed synapse loss at the electron microscopy level. We found that injection of BoNT/A in naïve mice caused a significant enlargement of excitatory presynaptic terminals in the hippocampus, indicating transmission impairment. Long-lasting blockade of activity by BoNT/A caused only minimal synaptic pathology and no significant activation of microglia. In mice with prion disease infused with BoNT/A, rates of synaptic degeneration were indistinguishable from those observed in control diseased mice. We conclude that silencing synaptic activity neither prevents nor enhances the degree of synapse degeneration in prion disease. These results challenge the idea that dysfunction of synaptic terminals dictates their elimination during prion-induced neurodegeneration

Профилакса на Hepatitis B кај деца родени од HBsAg позитивни мајки во Mедицински центар во Штип

Цел на трудот: Профилакса на вертикална трансмисија на Hepatitis B. Материјал и методи: Децата родени од HBsAg позитивни мајки веднаш по породувањето се тестирани за утврдување присуство на HBsAg со Микроелиса тест од трета генерација (Organon Teknika). Како потврден тест е користен Lia Tek HCV (Organon Teknika). Наредните тестирања се извршени пред апликација на втора доза HB вакцина, потоа 1 месец по добивање на втора профилактична доза, потоа пред апликација на третата и 1, 6 и 12 месеци по третата профилактична доза. Се детектираше и присуство на анти-HBs (Nubenco Diagnostics, Inc. One Kalisa Way, Paramus, (U.S.A.). Резултати: од 1050 редовно тестирани бремени жени присуство на HBsAg е откриено кај 14(1,33%). Кај ниту една од испитуваните бремени ѓени не е регистриран акутен хепатит, ниту пореметување на хепаталниот и ензимскиот статуст. Веднаш по породувањето сите 14 новородени деца се тестирани за присуство на HBsAg. Кај ниту едно не е откриено присуство на HBsAg..Поради тоа аплицирани се i.m. 0,5 ml ) ENGERIX генетички произведена HB вакцина. Серум (HBIG) не аплициравме поради немање можност од набавка. Еден месец по апликацијата на втората доза HB вакцина, потоа 1, 6 и 12 месеци од апликацијата на третата доза HB вакцина, серумски примероци од новородените деца се тестирани за откривање присуство на HBsAg I anti - HBs.. Testirawata poka\aa negativni rezultati. Kaj ни едно од испитаните деца не е регисран акутен хепатит, ниту пореметување на хепаталниот и ензимскиот статус.. И покрај забраната за доење дел од децата се доени без наша согласност. Заклучок: И покрај тоа што нашите резултати се разликуваат од многу податоци во литературата со иста или слична цел, сепак препорачуваме профилактичен третман на сите новородени деца од HBsAg позитивни мајки со HBIG I HB вакцина, и забрана за доење

Differences in genome, transcriptome, miRNAome, and methylome in synchronous and metachronous liver metastasis of colorectal cancer

Despite distant metastases being the critical factor affecting patients' survival, they remain poorly understood. Our study thus aimed to molecularly characterize colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLMs) and explore whether molecular profiles differ between Synchronous (SmCRC) and Metachronous (MmCRC) colorectal cancer. This characterization was performed by whole exome sequencing, whole transcriptome, whole methylome, and miRNAome. The most frequent somatic mutations were in APC, SYNE1, TP53, and TTN genes. Among the differently methylated and expressed genes were those involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization and degradation, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. The top up-regulated microRNAs were hsa-miR-135b-3p and -5p, and the hsa-miR-200-family while the hsa-miR-548-family belonged to the top down-regulated. MmCRC patients evinced higher tumor mutational burden, a wider median of duplications and deletions, and a heterogeneous mutational signature than SmCRC. Regarding chronicity, a significant down-regulation of SMOC2 and PPP1R9A genes in SmCRC compared to MmCRC was observed. Two miRNAs were deregulated between SmCRC and MmCRC, hsa-miR-625-3p and has-miR-1269-3p. The combined data identified the IPO5 gene. Regardless of miRNA expression levels, the combined analysis resulted in 107 deregulated genes related to relaxin, estrogen, PI3K-Akt, WNT signaling pathways, and intracellular second messenger signaling. The intersection between our and validation sets confirmed the validity of our results. We have identified genes and pathways that may be considered as actionable targets in CRCLMs. Our data also provide a valuable resource for understanding molecular distinctions between SmCRC and MmCRC. They have the potential to enhance the diagnosis, prognostication, and management of CRCLMs by a molecularly targeted approach

Differences in genome, transcriptome, miRNAome, and methylome in synchronous and metachronous liver metastasis of colorectal cancer

Despite distant metastases being the critical factor affecting patients’ survival, they remain poorly understood. Our study thus aimed to molecularly characterize colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLMs) and explore whether molecular profiles differ between Synchronous (SmCRC) and Metachronous (MmCRC) colorectal cancer. This characterization was performed by whole exome sequencing, whole transcriptome, whole methylome, and miRNAome. The most frequent somatic mutations were in APC, SYNE1, TP53, and TTN genes. Among the differently methylated and expressed genes were those involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization and degradation, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. The top up-regulated microRNAs were hsa-miR-135b-3p and -5p, and the hsa-miR-200-family while the hsa-miR-548-family belonged to the top down-regulated. MmCRC patients evinced higher tumor mutational burden, a wider median of duplications and deletions, and a heterogeneous mutational signature than SmCRC. Regarding chronicity, a significant down-regulation of SMOC2 and PPP1R9A genes in SmCRC compared to MmCRC was observed. Two miRNAs were deregulated between SmCRC and MmCRC, hsa-miR-625-3p and has-miR-1269-3p. The combined data identified the IPO5 gene. Regardless of miRNA expression levels, the combined analysis resulted in 107 deregulated genes related to relaxin, estrogen, PI3K-Akt, WNT signaling pathways, and intracellular second messenger signaling. The intersection between our and validation sets confirmed the validity of our results. We have identified genes and pathways that may be considered as actionable targets in CRCLMs. Our data also provide a valuable resource for understanding molecular distinctions between SmCRC and MmCRC. They have the potential to enhance the diagnosis, prognostication, and management of CRCLMs by a molecularly targeted approach

Iron Supported On Bioinspired Green Silica for Water Remediation

Iron has been used previously in water decontamination, either unsupported or supported on clays, polymers, carbons or ceramics such as silica. However, the reported synthesis procedures are tedious, lengthy (involving various steps), and either utilise or produce toxic chemicals. Herein, the use of a simple, rapid, bio-inspired green synthesis method is reported to prepare, for the first time a family of iron supported green nanosilica materials (Fe@GN) to create new technological solutions for water remediation. In particular, Fe@GN were employed for the removal of arsenate ions as a model for potentially toxic elements in aqueous solution. Several characterization techniques were used to study the physical, structural and chemical properties of the new Fe@GN. When evaluated as an adsorption platform for the removal of arsenate ions, Fe@GN exhibited high adsorption capacity (69 mg of As/g of Fe@GN) with superior kinetics (reaching ~35mg As/g sorbent/hr) – threefold higher than the highest removal rates reported to date. Moreover, a method was developed to regenerate the Fe@GN allowing for full recovery and reuse of the adsorbent in subsequent extractions; strongly highlighting the potential technological benefits of these new green materials

Vascular basement membranes as pathways for the passage of fluid into and out of the brain

In the absence of conventional lymphatics, drainage of interstitial fluid and solutes from the brain parenchyma to cervical lymph nodes is along basement membranes in the walls of cerebral capillaries and tunica media of arteries. Perivascular pathways are also involved in the entry of CSF into the brain by the convective influx/glymphatic system. The objective of this study is to differentiate the cerebral vascular basement membrane pathways by which fluid passes out of the brain from the pathway by which CSF enters the brain. Experiment 1: 0.5 µl of soluble biotinylated or fluorescent Aβ, or 1 µl 15 nm gold nanoparticles was injected into the mouse hippocampus and their distributions determined at 5 min by transmission electron microscopy. Aβ was distributed within the extracellular spaces of the hippocampus and within basement membranes of capillaries and tunica media of arteries. Nanoparticles did not enter capillary basement membranes from the extracellular spaces. Experiment 2: 2 µl of 15 nm nanoparticles were injected into mouse CSF. Within 5min, groups of nanoparticles were present in the pial-glial basement membrane on the outer aspect of cortical arteries between the investing layer of pia mater and the glia limitans. The results of this study and previous research suggest that cerebral vascular basement membranes form the pathways by which fluid passes into and out of the brain but that different basement membrane layers are involved. The significance of these findings for neuroimmunology, Alzheimer's disease, drug delivery to the brain and the concept of the Virchow-Robin space are discussed