ABSTRACT
Rice (Oryza sativa) is an important staple food crop worldwide, especially in east and southeast Asia. About one-third of rice cultivated area is under saline soil, either natural saline soils or irrigation with brackish water. Salinity stress is among the devastating abiotic stresses that not only affect rice growth and crop productivity but also limit its cultivation area globally. Plants adopt multiple tolerance mechanisms at the morphological, physiological, and biochemical levels to tackle salinity stress. To identify these tolerance mechanisms, this study was carried out under both a controlled glass house as well as natural saline field conditions using 22 green super rice (GSR) lines along with two local varieties ("IRRI 6 and Kissan Basmati"). Several morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters along with stress-responsive genes were used as evaluation criteria under normal and salinity stress conditions. Correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggested that shoot-related parameters and the salt susceptible index (SSI) can be used for the identification of salt-tolerant genotypes. Based on Agglomerative Hierarchical Cluster (AHC) analysis, two saline-tolerant ("S19 and S20") and saline-susceptible ("S3 and S24") lines were selected for further molecular evaluation. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed, and results showed that expression of 1-5-phosphoribosyl -5-5-phosphoribosyl amino methylidene amino imidazole-4-carboxamide isomerase, DNA repair protein recA, and peptide transporter PTR2 related genes were upregulated in salt-tolerant genotypes, suggesting their potential role in salinity tolerance. However, additional validation using reverse genetics approaches will further confirm their specific role in salt tolerance. Identified saline-tolerant lines in this study will be useful genetic resources for future salinity breeding programs.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a considerable healthcare burden, and now identified as the leading cause of acquired diarrheal illness in patients receiving antibiotics. Patients with malignancies are more prone to acquire CDI, owing to their frequent exposure to risk factors. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the outcome of Clostridioides Difficile Infection in patients with solid tumors at our community healthcare center. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included a total of 59 patients with solid tumors who were hospitalized for Clostridioides difficile infection. RESULTS: The median age of the study population was 79 years with 39 males and 20 females. The patients had a diagnosis of a malignancy involving the following sites: prostate (25), lung (19), colon (7), bladder (4), breast (3), and renal (1). There were 52 cases of first time and 7 cases of recurrent CDI admissions. 40 patients were detected to have CDI at presentation while 19 patients were diagnosed with CDI after admission. CDI was categorized as follows: non-severe (29), severe (28), and very severe (2). There were 33 patients on chemotherapy and 20 patients undergoing radiotherapy. Twenty-seven patients had a recent history of cancer care-related procedures or interventions. Twenty-nine patients were from either a rehabilitation center or a long-term nursing care facility. There were 39 recent hospitalizations with 29 patients receiving antibiotics. Almost half of the patients were on proton pump inhibitors (29) and 12 were on steroids (20.3%) at the time of developing CDI. Patients with a high-risk qSOFA score of 2 or more (p-value = 0.008) or a high white blood cell count of >15 × 109/L (p-value = 0.016) at the time of admission were found to have higher in-hospital mortality. Critical care data suggested that 9 patients required intensive care, 7 patients required vasopressor support, and 6 needed mechanical ventilation. Patients were treated with either vancomycin alone (13), or metronidazole alone (25), or combination therapy with vancomycin + metronidazole (21). The median duration of hospital stay was 6 days with 11 fatalities (18.64%). CONCLUSIONS: CDI causes significant morbidity in patients with malignancies. A high qSOFA score and leukocytosis are significantly associated with high morbidity and thus should be used to prioritize and intensify inpatient care of these patients.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare and evaluate diagnostic capabilities of preoperative ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the cervical lymph nodes of patients with papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: A retrospective dataset involving 156 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy and preoperative US and MRI was assembled. Among these, 69 had cervical lymph node metastasis and 87 did not. At least four radiologists unilaterally and spontaneously investigated the US and MRI attributes of the cervical lymph nodes. The efficiency of diagnostic imaging for cervical lymph nodes, including their true-positive rate or sensitivity, true-negative rate or specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and predictive accuracy were analysed and assessed. RESULTS: In the assessment of cervical lymph node metastases of papillary thyroid cancer, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of diagnostic US vs. MRI were 58.0% vs. 79.7%, 69.0% vs. 83.9%, 59.7% vs. 79.7%, 67.4% vs. 83.9%, and 64.1% vs. 82.1%, respectively. The accuracy consistency of the two imaging modalities was 83.5%. CONCLUSIONS: MRI is more effective than US in diagnosing and assessing cervical lymph node metastases of papillary thyroid cancer.
Subject(s)
Thyroid Neoplasms , Humans , Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Neck/diagnostic imaging , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/diagnostic imaging , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology , Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/surgery , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography/methodsABSTRACT
Listeria monocytogenes crossing the blood-brain barrier in the form of "Trojan Horse" is of great significance for the establishment of bacterial encephalitis and meningitis. Induction of cell migration and crossing the blood-brain barrier is very important to understand the Listeria pathogenesis. The Rho GTPases family is considered a key factor in regulating cell migration. This study was designed to investigate the expression of Rho GTPases and their effect on the behavior of cell migration and the stimulation of immune factors. Selective Rho GTPases were investigated by real-time PCR and Western blot. Among these, the expression of RhoA was significantly increased following the infection of Listeria monocytogenes in macrophages. Further, we found that RhoA improves the migration of macrophages and expression of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α. The expression of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α possibly facilitates the migration and adhesion of macrophages to cross the blood-brain barrier. This study provides preliminary ground to investigate the detailed mechanism of Listeria monocytogenes crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Subject(s)
Listeria monocytogenes , Listeriosis , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Cytokines/metabolism , Humans , Listeria monocytogenes/metabolism , Macrophages/metabolism , rho GTP-Binding Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
For the last few months, various geographical regions and health sectors have been facing challenges posed by the current COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 has led to significant disruption in the normal functioning of potentially life-saving therapies of hematopoietic cell transplant and chimeric antigen receptor therapy. As transplant physicians are gaining more information and experience regarding the undertaking of these complex procedures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we believe it is important to discuss the challenges faced, prognostic risk factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients based on the available real-world data.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a heterogeneous acquired disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia whose exact pathogenesis is not yet clear. Depending upon the presence or absence of an underlying treatable cause, ITP can be categorized as primary or secondary. Primary ITP is a diagnosis of exclusion and there is no gold standard test for its confirmation. Recent drug intake, infections, lymphoproliferative disorders, and connective tissue disorders should be ruled out before labeling a patient as primary ITP. AREA COVERED: This review summarizes a comprehensive update on the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for ITP. We reviewed the literature using GOOGLE SCHOLAR, PUBMED and ClinicalTrial.gov databases as needed to support the evidence. We searched the literature using the following keywords: 'immune thrombocytopenia,' 'idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura,' 'thrombocytopenia,' 'immune thrombocytopenic purpura,' and 'isolated thrombocytopenia'. EXPERT OPINION: We believe that more detailed studies are required to understand the exact pathophysiology behind ITP. The first-line drugs like corticosteroids have both short-term and long-term adverse effects. This brings the need to explore effective alternative medications and to reconsider their role in ITP treatment algorithm if guidelines can be modified based on new studies.
Subject(s)
Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/drug therapy , Algorithms , Glucocorticoids/adverse effects , Humans , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/diagnosis , Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/physiopathology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a major setback in both the health and economic sectors across the globe. The scale of the problem is enormous because we still do not have any specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral agent or vaccine. The human immune system has never been exposed to this novel virus, so the viral interactions with the human immune system are completely naive. New approaches are being studied at various levels, including animal in vitro models and human-based studies, to contain the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. Many drugs are being tested for repurposing, but so far only remdesivir has shown some positive benefits based on preliminary reports, but these results also need further confirmation via ongoing trials. Otherwise, no other agents have shown an impactful response against COVID-19. Recently, research exploring the therapeutic application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19 has gained momentum. The patients belonging to this subset are most likely beyond the point where they could benefit from an antiviral therapy because most of their illness at this stage of disease is driven by inflammatory (over)response of the immune system. In this review, we discuss the potential of MSCs as a therapeutic option for patients with COVID-19, based on the encouraging results from the preliminary data showing improved outcomes in the progression of COVID-19 disease.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/pathology , COVID-19/therapy , Cytokine Release Syndrome/prevention & control , Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/virology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/virology , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/mortality , Critical Illness , Cytokine Release Syndrome/immunology , Cytokine Release Syndrome/mortality , Cytokine Release Syndrome/virology , Cytokines/antagonists & inhibitors , Cytokines/genetics , Cytokines/immunology , Dendritic Cells/immunology , Dendritic Cells/virology , Disease Progression , Humans , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology , Mesenchymal Stem Cells/immunology , Severity of Illness Index , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Blood Donors/supply & distribution , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Blood Banks/organization & administration , Blood Donors/psychology , Blood Transfusion , COVID-19 , Convalescence , Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Immunization, Passive , Infection Control/methods , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2 , Tissue and Organ Procurement/methods , Tissue and Organ Procurement/trends , COVID-19 Serotherapy , Blood Banking/methodsSubject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/diet therapy , Neoplasms/diet therapy , Nutritional Status , Pneumonia, Viral/diet therapy , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/complications , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/virology , Humans , Malnutrition/epidemiology , Neoplasms/complications , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Neoplasms/virology , Nutritionists , Oncologists , Pandemics , Patients , Pneumonia, Viral/complications , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/virologySubject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation , Infection Control/standards , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , Practice Guidelines as Topic , COVID-19 , COVID-19 Testing , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Donor Selection , Europe , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient/prevention & control , Pandemics/prevention & control , Patient Care Team , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Procedures and Techniques Utilization , SARS-CoV-2 , Tissue Donors , Transplant RecipientsSubject(s)
COVID-19/therapy , Humans , Immunization, Passive , Severity of Illness Index , COVID-19 SerotherapyABSTRACT
Pain in abdomen has wide differentials and narrowing down the clinical possibilities depends on type of pain, location, characterization which is usually assisted by imaging studies. Cholecystitis and cholelithiasis are amongst the common causes of acute abdomen. This study reviews the literature for the clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of reported cases of gallbladder myeloid sarcoma (GB-MS) who presented with abdominal symptoms. A total of 17 cases of GB-MS were studied. The median age was 52 years with age range of 23 to 84 years. All except 1 patient presented with abdominal symptoms. Based on imaging or pathological studies, 3 cases were initially confused with gallbladder lymphoma or cancer. Only 5 patients were treated with AML like chemotherapy. Treatment given included combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. None of the cases underwent HSCT for GB-MS. Seven patients were alive till the time of last F/U, 9 succumbed to death while F/U of 1 patient was not available. Irrespective of treatment protocol followed suggesting the poor prognosis in GB-MS cases. In conclusion, acute abdomen complicating blood malignancies is life threatening and can be devastating if not detected and treated in a timely fashion.
Subject(s)
Gallbladder Neoplasms/diagnosis , Sarcoma, Myeloid/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Gallbladder Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sarcoma, Myeloid/pathology , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Older patients with cancer are at high risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding. Aspirin may decrease VTE in the general population without significant bleeding. Here, we examined whether aspirin is associated with reduced rates of VTE in older patients with cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the National Inpatient Sample 2016, we retrospectively identified a cohort of patients with cancer ≥65 years old who received aspirin and a similar cohort who did not receive aspirin (n = 31 654, each). The cohorts were matched for age, sex, race, patient demographics, insurance, hospital demographics, and 9 comorbidities (smoking, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and history of deep venous thrombosis [DVT]/pulmonary embolism [PE]). Primary outcomes were discharge diagnosis of acute PE or acute DVT. Secondary outcomes were inhospital mortality, bleeding, length of hospital stay (LOS), and total hospitalization cost. The aspirin group, compared with the nonaspirin group, had a significantly lower incidence of acute PE (matched, 2.1% vs 2.6%, P < .001), acute DVT (matched, 2.3% vs 3.2%, P < .001), and inhospital mortality (matched 4.0% vs 6.5%, P < .001); shorter LOS (matched, 5.29 ± 5.01 vs 6.20 ± 6.56 days, P < .001); and lower total costs (matched, US$14 700 ± 15 031 vs US$16 363 ± 20 219, P < .001). The primary and secondary outcomes were similar before and after propensity matching. We found no increase in bleeding in the aspirin group compared to the nonaspirin group: gastrointestinal bleeding (matched, 3.8% vs 4.0%, P= .168), hematuria (matched, 3.5% vs 3.7%, P = .102), hemoptysis (matched, 0.9% vs 0.9%, P = .532), and hemorrhagic stroke (matched, 0.8% vs 0.8%, P = .443). In subgroup analyses, aspirin was associated with decreased inhospital mortality, mostly in patients with lung, colon, pancreatic, prostate, breast cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: Among older patients with cancer, aspirin was associated with lower VTE incidence and overall inhospital mortality without significantly increased bleeding.