Geographical distribution and pathogenesis of ticks and tick-borne viral diseases

Ticks are obligatory hematophagous arthropods that harbor and transmit infectious pathogens to humans and animals. Tick species belonging to Amblyomma, Ixodes, Dermacentor, and Hyalomma genera may transmit certain viruses such as Bourbon virus (BRBV), Dhori virus (DHOV), Powassan virus (POWV), Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV), Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), Heartland virus (HRTV), Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV), etc. that affect humans and certain wildlife. The tick vectors may become infected through feeding on viraemic hosts before transmitting the pathogen to humans and animals. Therefore, it is vital to understand the eco-epidemiology of tick-borne viruses and their pathogenesis to optimize preventive measures. Thus this review summarizes knowledge on some medically important ticks and tick-borne viruses, including BRBV, POWV, OHFV, CTFV, CCHFV, HRTV, and KFDV. Further, we discuss these viruses’ epidemiology, pathogenesis, and disease manifestations during infection

The association of triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations with newly diagnosed diabetes in adults in China

Background: It has already been suggested that high abnormal blood lipid concentration is associated with hyperglycaemia. However, no data is available about the roles of triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in diabetes. Here, for the first time we investigated the roles of TG and TC levels, gender and abdominal fat in the development of newly diagnosed diabetes in China. Materials and Methods: Two population-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted from 2006 to 2009 in Qingdao, China. Newly diagnosed diabetes was defined according to FPG and/or 2 h PG criteria. The associations between diabetes and TG, and TC levels were assessed by multi-variable logistic regression models. Results: As compared with non-diabetes, the odds ratio[(95% confidence intervals), OR(95% CI)] for diabetes corresponding to hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) were 1.54 (1.01, 2.35) in men and 2.02 (1.49, 3.10) in women for TG and accompany with Hypercholesterolemia (HTC) 2.93 (1.97, 4.37) and 2.13 (1.49, 3.05) for TC, when both were fitted simultaneously in the model adjusting for age, geographic division, marital status, school years, family history of diabetes, monthly income, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), waist circumference (WC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Conclusions: HTG in both gender, borderline high TC and HTC in men were an independent risk factor for diabetes in this Chinese population, however, HTC was mediated through abdominal fat for diabetes in women. Our findings may help to enhance the current knowledge of diabetes patho-physiology, and the associations between TG, TC level and diabetes is also clinically informative.Peer reviewe

Foaming behaviour of primary, secondary and tertiary aqueous solution of amine for the removal of carbon dioxide

This study is focusing on the effect by the usage of different amine in order to remove acid gases that is foaming. Foam is made up of thousands of gas filled bubbles. Bubbles are formed when a liquid film encapsulates gas. This research is to investigate the foaming behaviour on the different cases for the primary (monoethanolamine, MEA), secondary (diethanolamine, DEA) and tertiary (methyldiethanolamine, MDEA) amine on the effect of concentration, temperature and impurities. Effect of all this parameters will be evaluated based on height of foam and collapse time of foam. Nitrogen gas (N2) will be used in this experiments as bubble gas. For this work several hypothesis has been set according to respectively cases. The hypothesis of this study is a higher solution concentration of MEA will reduce the foaminess. Other hypothesis is a higher solution temperature of MEA and DEA will reduce the foaminess also. Effects of impurities toward foaming formation are classified as following: iron sulphide, for MDEA solution foaming decrease; sodium chloride, for MDEA solution tendency for formation of foam decrease; methanol, foaming decrease in MDEA solution. It is apparently iron sulphide meet the most influential contaminants to the foam formation at the same concentrations of all impurities studie

Unique challenges to control the spread of COVID-19 in the Middle East

The COVID-19 pandemic is spreading at unprecedented pace among the Middle East and neighboring countries. This region is geographically, economically, politically, culturally and religiously a very sensitive area, which impose unique challenges for effective control of this epidemic. These challenges include compromised healthcare systems, prolonged regional conflicts and humanitarian crises, suboptimal levels of transparency and cooperation, and frequent religious gatherings. These factors are interrelated and collectively determine the response to the pandemic in this region. Here, we in-depth emphasize these challenges and take a glimpse of possible solutions towards mitigating the spread of COVID-19

Cross-species transmission, evolution and zoonotic potential of coronaviruses

Coronaviruses (CoVs) continuously evolve, crossing species barriers and spreading across host ranges. Over the last two decades, several CoVs (HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-OC43, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2) have emerged in animals and mammals, causing significant economic and human life losses. Due to CoV cross-species transmission and the evolution of novel viruses, it is critical to identify their natural reservoiurs and the circumstances under which their transmission occurs. In this review, we use genetic and ecological data to disentangle the evolution of various CoVs in wildlife, humans, and domestic mammals. We thoroughly investigate several host species and outline the epidemiology of CoVs toward specific hosts. We also discuss the cross-species transmission of CoVs at the interface of wildlife, animals, and humans. Clarifying the epidemiology and diversity of species reservoirs will significantly impact our ability to respond to the future emergence of CoVs in humans and domestic animals

Triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations in association with IFG/IGT in Chinese adults in Qingdao, China

Background: To investigative the association of triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) concentrations with impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance (IFG/IGT) in Chinese adults. Methods: The population-based cross-sectional diabetes survey was conducted in 2006 and 2009 in Qingdao, separately. 4400 participants (1 793 men and 2607 women) were include in current analysis. IFG/IGT was defined according to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and/or 2 h post-load plasma glucose (2 h PG). Logistic regression models and areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) were performed to estimate the associations between TG, TC levels and IFG/IGT. Results: Spearman analysis showed that serum TG and TC was independently and positively associated with FPG and 2 h PG. As compared with normoglycaemia, the odds ratio[(95% confidence intervals), OR(95% CI)] for IFG/IGT corresponding to hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) were 1.61 (1.17, 2.22) in men and 1.57(1.15, 2.14) in women for TG and accompany with Hypercholesterolemia (HTC) 1.56 (1.15, 2.13) and 1.20 (0.93, 1.54) for TC, when adjusting for confounding factor. The AUROCs of TG, TC for IFG/IGT were relatively smaller (0.50 <AUROC <0.7) in both gender. The optimal cut-offs for TG and TC was 1.61, 4.91 in men and 1.24, 5.32 in women, respectively. Conclusions: Evaluated TG in both gender and TC in men were independently associated with the present of the IFG/IGT, yet, could not be an authentic predictors of IFG/IGT in both men and women in current Chinese population.Peer reviewe

Carbapenem Resistance: Mechanisms and Drivers of Global Menace

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant bacterial pathogens is a significant and mounting health concern across the globe. At present, carbapenem resistance (CR) is considered as one of the most concerning resistance mechanisms and mainly found in gram-negative bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family. Although carbapenem resistance has been recognized in Enterobacteriaceae from last 20 years or so, recently it emerged as a global health issue as CR clonal dissemination of various Enterobacteriaceae members especially E. coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are reported from across the globe at an alarming rate. Phenotypically, carbapenems resistance is in due to the two key mechanisms, like structural mutation coupled with β-lactamase production and the ability of the pathogen to produce carbapenemases which ultimately hydrolyze the carbapenem. Additionally, penicillin-binding protein modification and efflux pumps are also responsible for the development of carbapenem resistance. Carbapenemases are classified into different classes which include Ambler classes A, B, and D. Several mobile genetic elements (MGEs) have their potential role in carbapenem resistance like Tn4401, Class I integrons, IncFIIK2, IncF1A, and IncI2. Taking together, resistance against carbapenems is continuously evolving and posing a significant health threat to the community. Variable mechanisms that are associated with carbapenem resistance, different MGEs, and supplementary mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in association with virulence factors are expanding day by day. Timely demonstration of this global health concern by using molecular tools, epidemiological investigations, and screening may permit the suitable measures to control this public health menace

Association Between Different Indicators of Obesity and Depression in Adults in Qingdao, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: This study was designed to investigate the perceived relationship between body weight and depression risk in a Chinese population in Qingdao, China.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was performed with 4,573 participants (between 35 and 74 years) from the year 2009 to 2012 in Qingdao, China. We applied the Zung self-rating depression scale to ascertain the level of depression in participants. The associations between different indicators of obesity [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)] and depression were assessed by logistic regression based on the Chinese criteria of obesity. Sensitivity analysis was done based on the Asian and WHO criteria of obesity.Results: The Zung scores for the 243 participants (5.2%) were over 45 and they were entitled as depression. Furthermore, multivariable logistic analyses revealed that being overweight [odds ratios (OR): 1.48, 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]: 1.08–2.03] and having abdominal obesity (WC category in Chinese criteria) (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.08-2.00) were often associated with a higher risk for depression compared to normal weight subjects. Sensitivity analysis revealed that abdominal obesity (Asian criterion) (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.03-1.91) was a significant risk factor for depression. Similarly, being overweight (WHO criterion) (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.03-1.87) was an obvious risk factor for depression.Conclusion: Being overweight and having abdominal obesity (WC category) were found to be linked with a higher risk of depression. However, abdominal obesity (WHR category) was not associated with depression

Pathogenetic and Therapeutic Applications of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by mood, vegetative, cognitive, and even psychotic symptoms and signs that can cause substantial impairments in quality of life and functioning. Up to now, the exact pathogenesis of MDD remains poorly understood. Recent research has begun to reveal that the pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), play an integral role in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders and the mechanism of antidepressant treatment. On the base of several observations: it is found that subsets of MDD patients have enhanced plasma levels TNF-α; antidepressant treatments had linked with the decline of TNF-α; central administration of TNF-α gives rise to sickness behavior which shares features with depression; and a blockade of it can ameliorate depressive symptomatology in animal models and clinical trials. In this review article, we focus on recent evidence linking TNF-α and MDD looking at data from animal and clinical studies, illustrating the pathophysiological role, susceptibility and its therapeutic application in depression. We conclude by discussing future directions for research, in particular the opportunities for the development of novel therapeutics that target TNF-α. This will be very important for designing preventative strategies and for the identification of new drug targets and preventative strategies