Electrochemical detection of Toxocara canis excretory-secretory antigens in children from rural communities in Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador: association between active infection and high eosinophilia.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of active Toxocara canis infections in humans is challenging. Larval stages of T. canis do not replicate in human tissues and disease may result from infection with a single T. canis larva. Recently, we developed a nanobody-based electrochemical magnetosensor assay with superior sensitivity to detect T. canis excretory-secretory (TES) antigens. Here, we evaluate the performance of the assay in children from an Ecuadorian birth cohort that followed children to five years of age. METHODS: Samples were selected based on the presence of peripheral blood eosinophilia and relative eosinophil counts. The samples were analyzed by the nanobody-based electrochemical magnetosensor assay, which utilizes a bivalent biotinylated nanobody as capturing agent on the surface of streptavidin pre-coated paramagnetic beads. Detection was performed by a different nanobody chemically labelled with horseradish peroxidase. RESULTS: Of 87 samples tested, 33 (38%) scored positive for TES antigen recognition by the electrochemical magnetosensor assay. The average concentration of TES antigen in serum was 2.1 ng/ml (SD = 1.1). The positive result in the electrochemical assay was associated with eosinophilia > 19% (P = 0.001). Parasitological data were available for 57 samples. There was no significant association between positivity by the electrochemical assay and the presence of other soil-transmitted helminth infections. CONCLUSIONS: Our nanobody-based electrochemical assay provides highly sensitive quantification of TES antigens in serum and has potential as a valuable tool for the diagnosis of active human toxocariasis

Diagnostic Dilemma of Cardiac Syncope in Pediatric Patients

Aims Syncope is defined as temporary loss of consciousness and postural tone resulting from an abrupt transient decrease in cerebral blood flow. The present work aimed at determining how diagnostic tests are used in the evaluation of pediatric syncope at a tertiary pediatric referral center and to report on the utility and the yield of these tests.Settings and Design Retrospective study conducted at a tertiary referral arrhythmolology serviceMethods and Material The clinical charts of 234 pediatric patients presenting with a primary complaint of syncope with an average age of 7.48 ± 3.82(3.5-16) years were reviewed by the investigators.Statistical analysis used Statistical Package of social science (SPSS) version 9,0 was used for analysis of data.Results The commonest trigger for syncope in the study population was early following exercise (n=65) and the commonest prodrome was palpitation, noted in 25 patients. A murmur was present in 19 of our patients (8.3%) while 10.7% (n=25) had abnormal ECGs. Of the 106 echocardiograms done, 14 (13.2%) were abnormal. Only two of them were missed by ECG. All patients were offered ambulatory 24 hour ECG. One patient with sick sinus syndrome was diagnosed only with Holter.Conclusions Clues to the presence of cardiac syncope may include acute onset of syncope, frequent episodes, low difference between blood pressure readings in supine and erect positions (after standing for 2 minutes) and most importantly an abnormal 12 lead ECG. Transthoracic echo and Holter monitoring have low yield in pediatric syncope

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging : is it valuable in the detection of brain microstructural changes in patients having migraine without aura?

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of brain microstructural changes in patients having migraine without aura. Material and methods: Our prospective study included 33 patients having migraine without aura and 15 volunteers with matched age and sex, who underwent brain MRI with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of selected grey and white matter regions on both sides were measured and correlated with the neurological clinical examination. Results: Significant differences were detected in MD values in the thalamus, globus pallidus, and hippocampus head on the right side of patients versus controls. Also, significant differences of the FA values were detected in the thalamus, globus pallidus, and hippocampus head on the right side of patients versus controls. Regarding the FA values of the same regions on the left side, a significant difference in the FA value was detected only in the hippocampus head. There was a statistically significant difference in the FA values on both sides of the white matter of the frontal lobes, posterior limbs of the internal capsules, and cerebellar hemispheres in patients compared to controls. There was a statistically significant difference in MD values in the white matter of both frontal lobes, posterior limb of the right internal capsule, and both cerebellar hemispheres in patients compared to controls. Conclusions: DTI can detect microstructural changes of the grey and white matter in patients having migraine without aura that could not be detected by conventional MRI

Three-Dimensional Prospective Evaluation of Piezocision-Assisted and Conventional Rapid Maxillary Expansion: A Controlled Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Piezocision-assisted orthodontics (PAO) is considered one of the modern techniques aiming at reducing the treatment time and overcoming some limitations of orthodontic treatment. The use of piezocision as an adjunct in the treatment of posterior crossbite is limited, so additional research in this area is required. AIM: To three-dimensionally compare the skeletal and dental effects produced by piezocision-assisted rapid maxillary expansion (PARME) and conventional rapid maxillary expansion (RME) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective controlled study comprised 14 consecutive non-syndromic patients with posterior crossbite. In 7 patients (mean age = 16.1 ± 0.3 years), PARME was used to correct the crossbite; whereas in the remaining 7 (mean age = 15.9 ± 0.5 years), RME was done. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed before expansion (T1) and 3 months later after expansion (T2) to compare the skeletal and dental effects produced by the two expansion techniques. Transverse skeletal, dentolinear, and dentoangular variables at the level of maxillary first and second premolars and maxillary first molars were measured and compared within and between groups using the appropriate statistical test. RESULTS: For the transverse skeletal variables, PARME showed a non-significant increase; whereas, RME showed a significant increase. Regarding the dentolinear measurements, a significant increase in coronal widths and an insignificant increase in apical widths was seen in PARME, whereas, the RME showed a non-significant increase for both coronal and apical widths. Non-significant decreases (protrusion of teeth) in the dentoangular measurements were seen in both groups. Between-group comparisons showed a non-significant difference except for the dentolinear coronal widths. CONCLUSION: PARME is effective in treating posterior crossbite. Because of the more dental expansion produced by PARME as compared to the conventional RME, PARME should be limited only to mild or moderate not severe forms of palatal constriction. The available evidence regarding the effectiveness of corticotomy- and/or piezocision-assisted maxillary expansion for correction of posterior crossbite is limited and inadequate

Genska karakterizacija, kloniranje i ekspresija Toll-like receptora 1 mRNA nilske tilapije (Oreochromis niloticus)

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most studied group of pathogen recognition receptor categories that detects infectious agents in vertebrates. Fish TLRs exhibit clear, distinct features, structure and a larger diversity than in other vertebrates. This study focused on identifying and detecting the structure of Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) Toll- like receptor-1 (TLR1|) as a model in freshwater bony fish. The full-length cDNA sequence of Oreochromis niloticus TLR1 mRNA was cloned. Cloning and sequence analysis revealed that the complete cDNA sequence of Oreochromis niloticus TLR1 consists of 2355 base pairs and encodes a polypeptide of 785 amino acids. The molecular analysis of the amino acid sequence indicated that Oreochromis niloticus TLR1 has the standard structural features and major components of amino acids of TLR family members, and is considered an orthologue to the vertebrate TLR1, not a paralogue. The translated amino acid analysis showed 96%, 88%, 85%, and 85% degrees of identity with Zebra Mbuna, Sea bass, Damsel fish, and Clownfish, respectively; and showed 66% identity t with electric eels and 61% with starlets. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Nile tilapia TLR1 is closely related to Larimichthys crocea, Epinephelus coioides, and Takifugu rubripes TLR1. Oreochromis niloticus TLR1 was expressed in the kidneys, brain, spleen, intestines, muscle, liver, gills, heart and skin. Quantitative RT-PCR showed differences in the expression levels between the tested tissues. In conclusion, this study is the first report (according to our knowledge) and provides a complete molecular and functional characterization of Oreochromis niloticus toll-like receptor 1, which is considered to be functionally orthologous to TLR1 in other species models.Toll-like receptori (TLR) najviše su istraživana skupina receptora za prepoznavanje uzročnika bolesti u kralježnjaka. TLR u riba pokazuju jasna razlikovna svojstva, strukturu i veliku raznolikost u odnosu na druge kralježnjake. Ovo je istraživanje usredotočeno na identifikaciju i otkrivanje Toll-like receptora 1 (TLR1) u nilske tilapije (Oreochromis niloticus) kao predstavnika slatkovodnih riba. Klonirana je puna sekvencija cDNA TLR1 mRNA. Utvrđeno je da se kompletna sekvencija cDNA TLR1 nilske tilapije sastoji od 2355 baznih parova i kodira polipeptid od 785 aminokiselina. Molekularna analiza sekvencija aminokiselina upućuje na to da TLR1 nilske tilapije ima standardna strukturna svojstva i glavne komponente porodice TLR receptora i smatra se ortologom, ne paralogom TLR1 kralježnjaka. Analiza prevedenih aminokiselina pokazala je stupanj identičnost od 96 % s mbuna zebrom, 88 % s lubinom, 85 % s damsel ribom i 85 % s ribom klaun, dok je stupanj identičnosti s električnom jeguljom bio 66 %, a s ribom starlet 61 %. Filogenetska analiza pokazala je da je TLR1 nilske tilapije usko povezan s TLR1 vrsta Larimichthys crocea, Epinephelus coioides i Takifugu rubripes. TLR1 nilske tilapije bio je izražen u bubrezima, mozgu, slezeni, crijevima, mišiću, jetri, škrgama, srcu i na koži. Kvantitativni RT-PCR pokazao je razlike u razini ekspresije među testiranim tkivima. Prema našim podacima ovo je istraživanje prvo koje donosi kompletnu molekularnu i funkcionalnu karakterizaciju Toll-like receptora 1 nilske tilapije, te se smatra funkcionalnim ortologom TLR1 u drugih vrsta

\u3cem\u3e Swietenia mahagoni \u3c/em\u3e Leaves Extract: Antifungal, Insecticidal, and Phytochemical Analysis

In this study, we investigated the antifungal properties of an acetone extract derived from the leaves of Swietenia mahagoni (SMAL) against two isolated fungi, Fusarium equiseti (OQ820153) and Rhizoctonia solani (OQ820152), from rice sheath. The extract was effective in inhibiting the growth of both fungi at the highest concentration tested, 3000 μg·mL−1. Laboratory tests on the LC20 of SMAL extract (49.86 mg·L−1) versus pyriproxyfen 10% EC (1.96 mg·L−1) were accomplished on Aphis gossypii Glover. The extract potently reduced the survival of the nymphs (49.58%) more than the other treatments. The longevity of nymphs treated with the extract had the highest prolongation at 9.67 days. The olfactory choice test exhibited the lowest aphid attraction percentage (23.33%). The HPLC of SMAL extract contained various phenolic compounds, and the most abundant found were catechin (752.64 µg·g−1), gallic acid, and chlorogenic acid, as well as flavonoids such as rutin (585.24 µg·g−1) and naringenin. A GC–MS analysis revealed n-hexadecanoic acid (37.1%) as the major compound, followed by oleic acid. These results suggest that SMAL extract has the potential to help plants fight against fungal and insect infections, making it a promising natural and renewable solution for long-term plant pest regulation

Estimation of vitamin C human protective dose for acetaminophen toxicity, using acute animal toxicity study

Acetaminophen (APAP) is the main cause of fulminant hepatic failure. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant with protective potentials against APAP toxic damage. In this animal study, and after an LD50 determination and selection of suitable lethal dose, the investigation was done to select a proper protective dose of vitamin C against lethal APAP dose. All 6 animal groups received a lethal dose of APAP (3250 mg/kg), group II, III and IV received 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg vitamin C respectively, group V received 1200 mg/kg N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), and group VI receive 1000 mg/kg vitamin C and 1200 mg/kg NAC. Mortality was recorded and liver histopathology was carried out. The results showed, the mortality rate in the group I was 68.75% and 37.5%, 31.25% in group II and III respectively, while group IV Showed a higher mortality rate and in group V and VI it was 25%. There was also a gradual reduction in the grade of histopathological damage in all groups, ranging from 2.4 ± 0.55 in group I to 0.4 ± 0.55 in group V and VI. In conclusion, vitamin C showed an increasing reduction in mortality and more histopathological protection, and it was more significant at 1000 mg/kg. NAC adds no more protection or reduction in mortality. The estimated protective dose of vitamin C was 700 to1127 mg for each gram of APAP. Incorporation of this dose of vitamin C with APAP preparations may be considered as a promising method for reducing mortality or severity of APAP intoxication