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Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum, is resurging globally. Molecular typing allows for the investigation of its epidemiology. In Pakistan and other nations, T. pallidum subsp. pallidum has developed widespread macrolide resistance in the past decade. A study at the Peshawar Regional Blood Centre from June 2020-June 2021 analyzed serum samples from 32,812 blood donors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to assess circulating T. pallidum strains and antibiotic resistance. Blood samples were initially screened for T. pallidum antibodies using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). CMIA-reactive samples underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeted the polA, tpp47, bmp, and tp0319 genes. PCR-positive samples were further analyzed for molecular subtyping using a CDC-developed procedure and tp0548 gene examination. All PCR-positive samples were analyzed for the presence of point mutations A2058G and A2059G in 23S rRNA, as well as the G1058C mutation in 16S rRNA. These mutations are known to impart antimicrobial resistance to macrolides and doxycycline, respectively. Out of 32,812 serum samples, 272 (0.83%) were CMIA-reactive, with 46 being PCR-positive. Nine T. pallidum subtypes were identified, predominantly 14d/f. The A2058G mutation in 23S rRNA was found in 78% of cases, while G1058C in 16S rRNA and A2059G in 23S rRNA were absent. The research found donor blood useful for assessing T. pallidum molecular subtypes and antibiotic resistance, especially when chancres are not present. The prevalent subtype was 14d/f (51.85%), and the high macrolide resistance of 36 (78%) indicates caution in using macrolides for syphilis treatment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
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Antibacterianos , Donantes de Sangre , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Sífilis , Treponema pallidum , Treponema pallidum/genética , Treponema pallidum/efectos de los fármacos , Treponema pallidum/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Pakistán/epidemiología , Sífilis/microbiología , Sífilis/epidemiología , Sífilis/sangre , Sífilis/tratamiento farmacológico , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana/genética , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Macrólidos/farmacología , ARN Ribosómico 23S/genética , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genética , Persona de Mediana Edad , Doxiciclina/farmacología , Doxiciclina/uso terapéutico , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare disability causing female-oriented pediatric neurodevelopmental unmet medical need. RTT was recognized in 1966. However, over the past 56 years, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has authorized no effective treatment for RTT. Recently, Trofinetide was approved by the USFDA on 10 March 2023 as the first RTT treatment. This article underlines the pharmaceutical advancement, patent literature, and prospects of Trofinetide. The data for this study were gathered from the PubMed database, authentic websites (Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Neuren Pharmaceuticals, and USFDA), and free patent databases. Trofinetide was first disclosed by Neuren Pharmaceuticals in 2000 as a methyl group containing analog of the naturally occurring neuroprotective tripeptide called glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE). The joint efforts of Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Neuren Pharmaceuticals have developed Trofinetide. The mechanism of action of Trofinetide is not yet well established. However, it is supposed to improve neuronal morphology and synaptic functioning. The patent literature revealed a handful of inventions related to Trofinetide, providing excellent and unexplored broad research possibilities with Trofinetide. The development of innovative Trofinetide-based molecules, combinations of Trofinetide, patient-compliant drug formulations, and precise MECP2-mutation-related personalized medicines are foreseeable. Trofinetide is in clinical trials for some neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including treating Fragile X syndrome (FXS). It is expected that Trofinetide may be approved for treating FXS in the future. The USFDA-approval of Trofinetide is one of the important milestones for RTT therapy and is the beginning of a new era for the therapy of RTT, FXS, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), brain injury, stroke, and other NDDs.
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BACKGROUND: The IL-12/23/ISG15-IFN-γ pathway is the main immunological pathway for controlling intra-macrophagic microorganisms such as Mycobacteria, Salmonella, and Leishmania spp. Consequently, upon mutations in genes of the IL-12/23/ISG15-IFN-γ pathway cause increased susceptibility to intra-macrophagic pathogens, particularly to Mycobacteria. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the mutations in genes of the IL-12/23/ISG15-IFN-γ pathway in severe tuberculosis (TB) patients. METHODS: Clinically suspected TB was initially confirmed in four patients (P) (P1, P2, P3, and P4) using the GeneXpert MTB/RIF and culturing techniques. The patients' Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were then subjected to ELISA to measure Interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Flow cytometry was used to detect the surface expressions of IFN-γR1 and IFN-γR2 as well as IL-12Rß1and IL-12Rß2 on monocytes and T lymphocytes, respectively.The phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1(STAT1) on monocytes and STAT4 on T lymphocytes were also detected by flow cytometry. Sanger sequencing was used to identify mutations in the IL-12Rß1, STAT1, NEMO, and CYBB genes. RESULTS: P1's PBMCs exhibited reduced IFN-γ production, while P2's and P3's PBMCs exhibited impaired IL-12 induction. Low IL-12Rß1 surface expression and reduced STAT4 phosphorylation were demonstrated by P1's T lymphocytes, while impaired STAT1 phosphorylation was detected in P2's monocytes. The impaired IκB-α degradation and abolished H2O2 production in monocytes and neutrophils of P3 and P4 were observed, respectively. Sanger sequencing revealed novel nonsense homozygous mutation: c.191 G>A/p.W64 * in exon 3 of the IL-12Rß1 gene in P1, novel missense homozygous mutation: c.107 A>T/p.Q36L in exon 3 of the STAT1 gene in P2, missense hemizygous mutation:: c.950 A>C/p.Q317P in exon 8 of the NEMO gene in P3, and nonsense hemizygous mutation: c.868 C>T/p.R290X in exon 8 of CYBB gene in P4. CONCLUSION: Our findings broaden the clinical and genetic spectra associated with IL-12/23/ISG15-IFN-γ axis anomalies. Additionally, our data suggest that TB patients in Pakistan should be investigated for potential genetic defects due to high prevalence of parental consanguinity and increased incidence of TB in the country.
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Interleucina-12 , Tuberculosis , Humanos , Interleucina-12/genética , Interleucina-12/farmacología , Interferón gamma/genética , Leucocitos Mononucleares , Peróxido de Hidrógeno , Tuberculosis/genética , MutaciónRESUMEN
Salmonella Typhi, a human-restricted Gram negative enterobacteriaceae, is the causative agent of typhoid fever in human being. The available serodiagnostic tools for the diagnosis of typhoid fever lack sensitivity and/or specificity. This study aimed to identify the immunoreactive proteins of S. Typhi that could help to develop improved diagnostic tools. Here, we performed immunoaffinity-based proteomic approach that uses charged columns to retrieve IgG and IgM antibodies from the plasma of typhoid patients followed by capture of S. Typhi proteins. These proteins were then characterized by mass spectrometry and bioinformatics tools. Using this approach, we identified 28 immunoreactive proteins of S. Typhi, in which 14 proteins were captured by IgG charged column and 4 proteins were captured by IgM column. We also identified 10 proteins (hlyE, rfbH, dapD, argI, glyA, pflB, trxB, groEL, tufA and pepD) captured by both columns. The prediction of antigenicity and immunogenicity resulted that 22 proteins were antigenic while 6 were non-antigenic on the scale of 0.4 threshold value of VaxiJen. These proteins successfully simulated the immune system in silico and in response higher amount of antibodies' titers were recorded in C-IMMSIM, confirming the immunogenic nature of these proteins. The identified proteins are of diverse nature and functions including those involved in virulence and pathogenesis, energy metabolism, cell development, biosynthesis of amino acids, regulatory functions and biosynthesis of cofactors. The findings of this study would be helpful in the development of improved vaccines and diagnostic tools for typhoid fever.
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It is well known that polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may elevate psychological problems in patients, but there is a scarcity of the studies among Saudi Arabian population. This research was designed to investigate the influence of PCOS on the development of psychological load in terms of depression, anxiety, and stress in comparison to normal women who have no PCOS. Further, a correlation of psychological distress in PCOS females was done with their educational level. This is case-control research carried out in one of Riyadh's multispecialty hospitals. In the PCOS patients and control groups (each with 84 samples), samples were collected using convenience sampling and a simple random approach, respectively. The psychological burden was determined using DASS-21. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS-IBM 25. Most participants (52.9%) were between the ages of 26 and 35 and had a university education (68.4%). A significantly higher percentage of PCOS patients (P = 0.001) had irregular menses, hirsutism, infertility, and acne in comparison to the mothers without PCOS. There was a significantly higher possibility of depression (P = 0.003), anxiety (P = 0.016), and stress (P = 0.001) among PCOS patients than in control subjects. Among the psychological domain tested in the study, the risk of developing stress (odds ratio, OR = 8.32) was high when compared to depression (OR = 3.12) and anxiety (OR = 2.127) in PCOS patients. Furthermore, when compared to PCOS females with less education, a significantly lower number of university-educated PCOS females developed depression. The study demonstrates a high prevalence of psychological burden among the PCOS population. Higher education has been shown to help in alleviating depression in PCOS females. Meeting PCOS women's psychological needs will improve their overall health status.
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Síndrome del Ovario Poliquístico , Humanos , Femenino , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Síndrome del Ovario Poliquístico/epidemiología , Arabia Saudita/epidemiología , Trastornos de Ansiedad , Ansiedad/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination from women with breast cancer in Jazan city Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, antibody detections were performed one month and three months after the administration of the second dose. METHODS: Overall, 103 breast cancer patients were included. Individuals who had had two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, patients who were earlier diagnosed with COVID-19 infection, had not finalized immunization plan, or who received the second dose recently were excluded from the study. The antibodies detection test was run according to the manufacturer's directions of Viva Diag™ SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG Rapid Test (COVID-19 IgM/IgG Rapid Test). RESULTS: This study included 62 (60.2%) and 41 (39.8%) patients with invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma, respectively. The age, median and interquartile range (IQR) was 54.0 (26) years. Regarding reactivity of antibodies, after one month IgM antibody showed 64 (62.1%) positive and 39 (37.9%) negative while IgG antibody showed positive results in all patients. After three months IgM antibody showed 44 (42.7%) positive and 59 (57.3%) negative, while IgG showed 87 (84.5%) positive and 16 (15.5%) negative. There were significant differences in the IgM and IgG seropositivity. There were 19.3% patients with ductal carcinoma who were positive and then turned negative versus 17.7% who were positive and then turned negative, respectively (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in IgM antibody positivity among different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results recommend the importance of screening for an antibody response for breast cancer patient after immunization in order to reveal persons who need early and late extra enhancing vaccine dose. Upcoming studies recommended to estimate different methods that raise cancer patients' immune response.
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Neoplasias de la Mama , COVID-19 , Carcinoma Ductal , Humanos , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , SARS-CoV-2 , Inmunoglobulina M , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Vacuna BNT162 , Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Inmunoglobulina GRESUMEN
Psychological problems affect a sizable portion of the population, and they require special care. In the current study, we aimed to assess patient satisfaction with the healthcare system at one of the multispecialty hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as well as to identify potential factors that can have an impact on patient satisfaction. A validated pre-tested questionnaire including features to evaluate general hospital services (HS-6 items), nursing services (NS-3 items), pharmacy services (PS-7 items), and a standard patient satisfaction questionnaire (PSQ-18 item) was administered to patients who had been receiving therapy for their psychological disease for the past 3 months. Using binary and multiple regression analysis, the strengths of the associations between sociodemographic factors and patient satisfaction measures were evaluated. The results were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (AOR), which were deemed significant when the P value was < 0.05. Sixty-six percent of the 258 study participants were men, and sixty percent of them were between the ages of 18 and 35 years. The bulk of survey respondents (74%) were employed, married, and well-educated. Our research revealed that those who were employed (AOR, HS-2.5; NS-2.65, PS-2.32), have a higher education (AOR, HS-2.23, NS-2.63, PS-2.82), male gender (AOR, HS-1.12, NS-1.08, PS-1.86) and between the ages of 18 and 35 years (AOR, HS-1.48, NS-1.53, PS-1.67) were more likely to be satisfied with general hospital, nursing, and pharmacy services. Further, those who were married had 1.43 and 1.21 times more chance of satisfaction with the pharmacy and nursing services, respectively, compared to singles. Additionally, those with employment had odds of being satisfied that were 2.4 times higher, highly educated individuals had odds that were 2.1 times higher, participants between the ages of 18 and 35 had odds that were 1.51 times higher, and men had odds that were 1.41 times higher on the patient satisfaction questionnaire scale (PSQ-18). Overall, the study participants' satisfaction with general hospital, nursing, and pharmacy services was 70, 76.3, and 83.3%, respectively, compared to only 61.2% on the PSQ-18. Participants in the survey awarded the hospital amenities, pharmacy services, and nursing care high ratings. The medical care, however, fell short of expectations. The study's findings suggest that action needs to be taken to enhance healthcare system services, particularly in the psychological departments of the medical organization.
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Satisfacción del Paciente , Satisfacción Personal , Adolescente , Adulto , Benzoatos , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Arabia Saudita , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant property of crocin (Crocetin digentiobiose ester) using a chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression model in experimental mice. The tail suspension test (TST) and the sucrose preference test were used to evaluate the antidepressant effect on albino mice of either sex after three weeks of CMS. The period of immobility in the TST and percentage preference for sucrose solution were recorded. By monitoring brain malondialdehyde (MDA) level, catalase (CAT) activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) level, the antioxidant potential was assessed. Three dosages of crocin (4.84, 9.69, and 19.38 mg/kg) were evaluated. When compared to controls, animals that received crocin administration during three periods of CMS had considerably shorter immobility times during the TST. Crocin treatment also raised the percentage preference for sucrose solution in a dose-dependent manner, bringing it to parity with the conventional antidepressant, imipramine. Animals that received a high dose of crocin had a much greater spontaneous locomotor activity. Furthermore, a high dose of crocin remarkably lowered plasma corticosterone and nitrite levels brought on by CMS. Additionally, high doses of crocin given during CMS greatly enhanced reduced glutathione levels while considerably reducing the brain's MDA and catalase activities. In conclusion, high doses of crocin may have an antidepressant effect in an animal model through several mechanisms. However, further studies should be carried out to explore the role of neurotransmitters for their antidepressant property.
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Antidepresivos , Depresión , Animales , Antidepresivos/farmacología , Antidepresivos/uso terapéutico , Antioxidantes/farmacología , Conducta Animal , Carotenoides , Catalasa/farmacología , Depresión/tratamiento farmacológico , Depresión/etiología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Glutatión/farmacología , Ratones , Estrés Psicológico/tratamiento farmacológico , Sacarosa/farmacologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern. The ratio of CD4+:CD8+ T-cells is used to evaluate the immune system function. This study aimed to explore the CD4+:CD8+ T-cell ratio in relation to the glycemic status, inflammatory markers, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 in patients with early diagnosed cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Blood samples were collected for flow cytometry analysis. Information regarding Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and colposcopy investigations were collected from 152 women with type 2 diabetes admitted to East Jeddah Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between January 2018 and January 2021. RESULTS: Patients with early cervical carcinoma and a higher CD4+:CD8+ ratio (>1.2) had a higher C-reactive protein (CRP) level than those with a lower CD4+:CD8+ ratio (Mean±SD=13.75±13.3 vs. 10.85±8.1; p-value=0.034). Patients with early cervical carcinoma, diabetes, and higher CD4+:CD8+ ratio (>1.2) had a higher blood HbA1c percent than those with a lower CD4+:CD8+ ratio. CONCLUSION: A high CD4+:CD8+ T-cells ratio was associated with an increased HbA1c% and CRP levels in women with diabetes diagnosed with early cervical carcinoma, which can induce inflammation in early diagnosed patients with cervical cancer.
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , Biomarcadores , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/patología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/patología , Estudios Transversales , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/patología , Femenino , Hemoglobina Glucada , Humanos , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/diagnóstico , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/patologíaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The direction of blood movement in normal and abnormal placenta is curious from a morphometric point of view. Once pregnancy is compromised by an illness like hypertension, maternal and foetal distress can lead to negative outcomes. The quantitative variations in the blood vessels within the chorion and the chorionic villi in placentas from pregnancies are complicated by preeclampsia (PE) and are poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to calculate and explore the morphometric measurement of blood vessels involved in the progress of hypertension through pregnancy within the chorion and the chorionic villi among normotensive women (n = 39) versus a preeclamptic group (n = 35). METHODS: Measurements used a computerized morphometry system and a Vascular Medicine Institute (VMI) calculator. RESULTS: Our data showed a significant decrease in vessel area (VA), wall area (WA), lumen area (LA), mean wall thickness-boundary (MWTB), mean wall thickness-rosette (MWTR), mean diameter-rosette (MDR), mean wall thickness-skeleton (MWTS), and external diameter-skeleton (EDS) in preeclampsia women compared to normotensive women. There were no significant differences between preeclampsia and control group in lumen area. DISCUSSION: We concluded that preeclamptic chorion and chorionic villi vessels are linked with significant structural discrepancies; future studies should address morphological events that occur throughout pregnancy including associations between arterial elastic properties-mainly collagen and structural proteins in hypertensive patients. A more integrated approach involving parallel analysis of the effects of potential vasoactive factors on the morphology of foetal vessel alteration is also needed.
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Hipertensión , Preeclampsia , Corion , Vellosidades Coriónicas/irrigación sanguínea , Femenino , Humanos , Hipertensión/complicaciones , Placenta/irrigación sanguínea , EmbarazoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: Breast cancer is a common type of cancer in Sudan. Numerous studies propose viral oncogenesis as an etiological factor for breast cancer. The aim of the study was to analyze the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using monoclonal antibodies against latent membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) and determine the correlation between the presence of EBV and clinicopathological characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study used immunohistochemistry to analyze the presence of EBV in 202 samples from Sudanese women diagnosed with breast cancer. Clinicopathological data were collected from patient records from the Radiation and Isotopes Centre in Khartoum State, Republic of Sudan. RESULTS: This study included 202 patients 168 (83.2%), 16 (7.9%), and 18 (8.9%), diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma, respectively. Axillary lymph node metastasis was present in 57 (28.2%) of cases, while 11 patients (5.4%) tested positive for EBV. The mean age of patients was 48.14±14.4 years. EBV infection was more frequently detected in invasive ductal carcinoma cases, and EBV positivity was not associated with cancer type, grade, progesterone levels, and HER2 expression. On the other hand, a statistically significant association was found between EBV presence and lymph node involvement, estrogen receptor status, and age group. CONCLUSION: EBV may not play a vital role in the pathogenesis of breast carcinoma in Sudanese women.
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Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos , Neoplasias de la Mama , Carcinoma Ductal , Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr , Adulto , Anticuerpos Monoclonales , Neoplasias de la Mama/epidemiología , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Carcinoma Ductal/complicaciones , Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr/complicaciones , Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr/epidemiología , Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr/patología , Femenino , Herpesvirus Humano 4 , Humanos , Incidencia , Masculino , Proteínas de la Membrana , Persona de Mediana Edad , Proteínas ViralesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Sudan. The p16 protein plays a vital role in the regulation of the cell cycle. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study analysed the protein expression of p16 in 202 paraffin blocks from Sudanese women with breast cancer using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: This study included 168 (83.2%), 16 (7.9%), and 18 (8.9%) patients with invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and papillary carcinoma, respectively. There were 95 cases (47.0%) with grade III, 70 cases (34.6%) with grade II, and 23 cases (11.4%) with grade I breast cancer. The hormone receptor status was available for 119 of the cases, and 31 (15.3%), 25 (12.4%), and 63 (31.2%) cases were positive for oestrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, respectively. CONCLUSION: p16 protein expression was associated with high histologic grade, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis. p16 protein expression may potentially be used as a prognostic marker.
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Neoplasias de la Mama , Carcinoma Ductal de Mama , Biomarcadores de Tumor/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Carcinoma Ductal de Mama/genética , Femenino , Humanos , Pronóstico , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Receptores de Progesterona/genéticaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of anemia among patients newly diagnosed with solid malignancies at King Faisal Hospital in Taif Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted from December 2017 to March 2020. A total of 320 patients newly diagnosed with solid malignancy were examined to assess anemia prevalence. RESULTS: Of 320 patients with solid cancers, 245 (76.6%) were female and 75 (23.4%) were male. The median (interquartile range) age of 57 (45 â 66) years, range between 16 and 108 years. The types of cancer included were breast (29.1%), female genital tract (20.0%), colorectal (25.3%), head and neck (10.3%), urinary bladder (4.7%), prostate (5.0%), lung (2.5%), liver (2.2%) and lymphoma (0.9%). The prevalence of anemia at diagnosis of cancer was 44.1% across all cancer types. A higher anemia prevalence was noted in colorectal (n = 46/81, 56.8%) (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Patients with colorectal or female genital tract cancers had a higher anemia prevalence (56.8% and 43.8%, respectively) than did patients with other cancers.
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Anemia , Neoplasias , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Anemia/diagnóstico , Anemia/epidemiología , Femenino , Hospitales , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Arabia Saudita/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
A complex inflammatory process mediated by proinflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins commonly occurs in the synovial tissue of patients with joint trauma (JT), osteoarthritis (OA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study systematically investigated the distinct expression profile of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), its processing enzymes (COX-2), and microsomal PGES-1 (mPGES-1) as well as the corresponding prostanoid receptor subtypes (EP1-4) in representative samples of synovial tissue from these patients (JT, OA, and RA). Quantitative TaqMan®-PCR and double immunofluorescence confocal microscopy of synovial tissue determined the abundance and exact immune cell types expressing these target molecules. Our results demonstrated that PGE2 and its processing enzymes COX-2 and mPGES-1 were highest in the synovial tissue of RA, followed by the synovial tissue of OA and JT patients. Corresponding prostanoid receptor, subtypes EP3 were highly expressed in the synovium of RA, followed by the synovial tissue of OA and JT patients. These proinflammatory target molecules were distinctly identified in JT patients mostly in synovial granulocytes, in OA patients predominantly in synovial macrophages and fibroblasts, whereas in RA patients mainly in synovial fibroblasts and plasma cells. Our findings show a distinct expression profile of EP receptor subtypes and PGE2 as well as the corresponding processing enzymes in human synovium that modulate the inflammatory process in JT, OA, and RA patients.
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Inflamación/metabolismo , Artropatías/metabolismo , Receptores de Prostaglandina E/metabolismo , Anciano , Artritis Reumatoide/metabolismo , Biopsia , Ciclooxigenasa 2/biosíntesis , Citocinas/metabolismo , Dinoprostona/biosíntesis , Femenino , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Humanos , Ligandos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Microscopía Confocal , Persona de Mediana Edad , Osteoartritis/metabolismo , Prostaglandina-E Sintasas/biosíntesis , Membrana Sinovial/metabolismoRESUMEN
Mycetoma is a lifelong granulomatous disease of subcutaneous tissues and bones. Histopathology is a substantiated indicative method based on the assumption of a definitive diagnosis of mycetoma. It requires efficient processing of tissues including bone decalcification. The decalcification process must ensure complete removal of calcium and also a proper preservation of tissue and microorganisms' staining ability. Objectives. To compare the conventional method used in decalcification with the microwave method using different decalcification solutions. Different characteristics were tested, including the speed of decalcification and morphological and fungal preservation in bone tissue affected with mycetoma. Materials and Methods. Three decalcification solutions were employed to remove calcium from 50 bone tissue samples affected with mycetoma, including 10% neutral buffered EDTA (pH 7.4), 5% nitric acid, and 5% hydrochloric acid. Conventional and microwave methods were used. Haematoxylin-eosin (HE) stain, Gridley's stain, and Grocott hexamine-silver stain were employed to evaluate the bone and fungi morphologies. Results. The decalcification time of the conventional method compared with the microwave method with 10% EDTA (pH 7.4) took 120 hours and 29 hours, while 5% hydrochloric acid and 5% nitric acid took 8 hours and 3 hours, separately. Also, 10% EDTA is the best decalcifying agent for HE staining and fungal stains. 5% hydrochloric acid and 5% nitric acid can be used for fungal staining. Conclusion. The current study investigated the effects of different decalcifying agents as well as two decalcification procedures on the preservation of the bone structure and fungal staining, which will help to develop suitable protocols for the analyses of the bone tissue affected with mycetoma infection.
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OBJECTIVES: To determine human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, cervical cancer, and vaccine awareness among the Saudi population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study of a convenience sample comprising 1033 participants (males and females) from different parts of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was conducted between August 2018 and January 2019 using a web-based questionnaire. This self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to all participants. Collected data included age groups, cervical cancer, Papanicolaou (Pap) smear, and HPV vaccine awareness. RESULTS: The response rate was 95%. Approximately 50% of the participants were 15-22 years old, less than 3% were more than 46 years old, and less than 10% had heard of HPV. Awareness and previous knowledge of the Pap smear as a screening tool was variable with male (5.9%) and female (27.9%) participants, having knowledge of the test. There were no statistically significant differences (p more than 0.05) between males and females in their knowledge of HPV's role in cervical and penile cancers, the HPV vaccine availability in the hospital, its role in cervical cancer prevention, and suggestions that this vaccine should be provided to married and non-married women. CONCLUSION: There is a lack of knowledge and misinformation regarding cervical cancer, Pap smears, HPV, and HPV association with cervical cancer. These data can be used as a basis to formulate effective population awareness programs.
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Concienciación , Conocimiento , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/prevención & control , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/prevención & control , Adolescente , Adulto , Factores de Edad , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Programas de Inmunización , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/complicaciones , Vacunas contra Papillomavirus , Neoplasias del Pene/etiología , Neoplasias del Pene/prevención & control , Vigilancia de la Población , Arabia Saudita , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/etiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Although the exact mechanism of pre-eclampsia - high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 gestational weeks - is not yet fully understood, placental growth factor (PLGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) are known to play important roles in vascularization and in the pathology of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: PLGF, VEGF, and HIF-1α were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in the placentas of Sudanese women with mild or severe pre-eclampsia, and in normal controls. RESULTS: Sixty-two women had severe pre-eclampsia, 102 had mild pre-eclampsia and 101 women served as healthy controls. Immunohistochemical staining of PLGF was significantly lower in placentas of women with severe pre-eclampsia (16%) compared with those with mild pre-eclampsia (8.8%) and placentas of normotensive women (40.6%; p < .001). Significantly more of the pre-eclamptic placentas expressed VEGF: in 32%, 17.6%, and 14.9% (p = .020) of the placentas of women with severe or mild pre-eclampsia and in controls, respectively. Significantly more of the pre-eclamptic placentas expressed HIF-1α: in 15%, 10.8%, and 5.0% of the placentas of women with severe or mild pre-eclampsia, and in controls, respectively (p = .044). CONCLUSION: The current study showed that PLGF, VEGF, and HIF-1α are involved in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.
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Subunidad alfa del Factor 1 Inducible por Hipoxia/metabolismo , Factor de Crecimiento Placentario/metabolismo , Preeclampsia/metabolismo , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismo , Adulto , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Humanos , Placenta/metabolismo , Embarazo , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Sudán , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common metabolic disorders worldwide and 425 million people were estimated to have diabetes by 2017. Oral manifestations reflect the metabolic control of diabetes. Exfoliative cytology using Papanicolaou (Pap) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stains is a practical technique to evaluate oral epithelial cytomorphologic changes in diabetes. AIM: This study analyzes the cytomorphologic changes and the glycogen content in exfoliated oral epithelial cells among diabetic patients as compared to healthy controls using Pap and PAS stains to verify the utility of exfoliative cytology as adjunct to diagnosis, follow up or screening of diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eighty-nine participants; 38 adult diabetic patients (case group) and 51 age-matching nondiabetics (control group) were enrolled in the study after fulfilling appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sampling and staining procedures were performed using routine protocols. Slides were observed by two pathologists and categorized as inflammatory, dyskaryotic and negative. Glycogen content was expressed as PAS negative or +, ++, and +++ positive. RESULTS: The difference between the diabetics and the controls was statistically significant regarding inflammatory, dyskaryotic/nuclear changes and glycogen content and staining intensity. Other observed finding in diabetic patient smears included binucleation, polychromic, and/or vacuolated cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Cytomorphologic changes of oral epithelial cells reflect the complex pathological mechanisms by which DM affects cellular metabolism and function. Cytomorphologic patterns of Pap and PAS-stained oral exfoliative cytology smears can be helpful for diagnosis, follow up as well as for screening for diabetes in high prevalence communities.
Asunto(s)
Diabetes Mellitus/patología , Mucosa Bucal/patología , Prueba de Papanicolaou/normas , Adulto , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Femenino , Glucógeno/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mucosa Bucal/metabolismo , Prueba de Papanicolaou/métodos , Arabia SauditaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Haemozoin -containing leucocytes (HCL) can be used to predict severe malaria. METHODOLOGY: A case -control study was conducted in Singa, Sudan, to investigate the haematological values and HCL in children with severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The cases were children with severe P. falciparum malaria (67). The two groups of controls were patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria (63) and healthy children (50). RESULTS: The mean (±SD) age was 5.5 (±3.8) years. In comparison with children with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, children with severe P. falciparum malaria had significantly lower haemoglobin and platelet counts, and significantly higher lymphocyte counts, red cell distribution width (RDW), and platelet distribution width (PDW). The rate of haemozoin -containing monocytes (percentage of children positive for this parameter in each group) was 91.0%, 84.6% and 50.0%, P<0.001 in children with severe P. falciparum, uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria and negative controls, respectively. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves for blood parameters and HCL were plotted and the areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated for the prediction of severe P. falciparum malaria infection. The ROC curve analysis, showed a fair predictability of malaria for haemoglobin (AUC = 0.74, sensitivity = 76.0% and specificity = 60.3%, cut-off = 9.7g/dl), lymphocytes (AUC = 0.71, sensitivity = 71.3% and specificity = 62.2%, cut-off = 1.95×103/mm3), PDW (AUC = 0.69, sensitivity = 80.1% and specificity = 66.3%, cut-off = 15.34 %) and haemozoin in the monocytes (AUC = 0.68, sensitivity = 68.2% and specificity = 65.2%, cut-off =5.5 %). CONCLUSION: RDW, PDW and HCL could be used to predict severe malaria in this setting.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of the placental malaria is not fully understood. If there is a fetal sex-specific susceptibility to malaria infection, this might add to the previous knowledge on the immunology, endocrinology and pathophysiology of placental malaria infections. AIMS: This study was conducted to assess whether the sex of the fetus was associated with placental malaria infections. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed including a secondary analysis of a cohort of women who were investigated for prevalence and risk factors (including fetal sex) for placental malaria in eastern Sudan. Placental histology was used to diagnose placental malaria infections. RESULTS: Among 339 women enrolled, the mean (SD) age was 25.8 (6.7) years and parity was 2.7 (2.2). Among the new born babies, 157 (46.3%) were male and 182 (53.7%) were female. Five (1.5%), 9 (2.7%) and 103 (30.4%) of the 339 placentas had active, active-chronic, past-chronic malaria infection on histopathology examination respectively, while 222 (65.5%) of them showed no malaria infection. Logistic regression analyses showed no associations between maternal age or parity and placental malaria infections. Women who have blood group O (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.19-3.10; P = 0.007) and women who had female new born were at higher risk for placental malaria infections (OR = 2.55, 95% CI = 1.57-4.13; P< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Fetal gender may be a novel risk factor for placental malaria. In this work the female placentas were at higher risk for malaria infections than the male placentas.