Adaptation and validation of a TB stigma scale for adolescents in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: TB-related stigma contributes to poor clinical outcomes and reduced wellbeing for affected individuals. Adolescents may be particularly susceptible to TB-related stigma due to their heightened sensitivity to peer acceptance, yet few studies have evaluated TB-related stigma in this group. Without a validated scale, it remains challenging to measure TB-related stigma in adolescents.METHODS: We adapted and validated the Van Rie TB Stigma Scale (VTSS) for adolescents on treatment for rifampicin-susceptible TB in Lima, Peru. The modified stigma scale was administered within a larger survey, which measured other psychosocial factors, including depression, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and social support. Data analysis included factor analysis, internal consistency, and convergent validity.RESULTS: From October 2020 to September 2021, 249 adolescents (individuals aged 10-19 years) completed the survey. Preliminary confirmatory factor analysis led to removal of two items. The final 10-item scale demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.82) and adequate model fit (χ²/df = 2.0; root mean square error of approximation: 0.06; comparative fit index: 0.94; Tucker-Lewis Index: 0.92: standardized root mean square residual: 0.05). Stigma was positively correlated with ACEs (γ = 0.13), depression (γ = 0.39), and suicidal ideation (γ = 0.27), and negatively correlated with social support (γ = -0.19).CONCLUSION: This adolescent TB stigma scale may serve as a practical tool to measure TB-related stigma and evaluate the impact of stigma-reduction interventions in adolescents.

Potential benefit of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate for macrovascular complications in diabetes.

Vascular problems are the most common complications in diabetes. Substantial evidence from epidemiological and pathophysiological studies show that hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin derived from green tea, is known to exert a variety of cardiovascular beneficial effects. The protective effects of EGCG in diabetes are also evident. However, whether EGCG is beneficial against macrovascular complications that occur in diabetes remains unknown. Our previous studies demonstrated that treatment of EGCG inhibits high glucose-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and suppresses high glucose-mediated vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Therefore, we hypothesize that EGCG might be an effective potential candidate to reduce the macrovascular complications in diabetes.

Potential benefit of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate for macrovascular complications in diabetes

Vascular problems are the most common complications in diabetes. Substantial evidence from epidemiological and pathophysiological studies show that hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major catechin derived from green tea, is known to exert a variety of cardiovascular beneficial effects. The protective effects of EGCG in diabetes are also evident. However, whether EGCG is beneficial against macrovascular complications that occur in diabetes remains unknown. Our previous studies demonstrated that treatment of EGCG inhibits high glucose-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and suppresses high glucose-mediated vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Therefore, we hypothesize that EGCG might be an effective potential candidate to reduce the macrovascular complications in diabetes.

Expression profile of tumor suppressor gene RASSF1 in lacrimal gland carcinoma.

We examined the expression pattern of the tumor sup-pressor gene RAS association domain family gene 1 (RASSF1) in lacri-mal gland carcinoma and analyzed its relationship with the oncogenesis and progression of tumors. Sixty-two patients (30 males, 32 females, average age = 47 ± 3.5 years) admitted with lacrimal gland carcinoma to the Department of Ophthalmology of our hospital between January 2012 and January 2014 were enrolled in this study. Based on tumor ma-lignancy, patients were classified into a malignant group (N = 25) and benign group (N = 37). Healthy lacrimal gland resections from trauma surgery (N = 35) were recruited as a healthy control group. Expres-sion profiles of RASSF1 in all groups were quantified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Recur-rence of lacrimal gland carcinoma was surveyed through postopera-tive follow-up. Expression levels of RASSF1 in samples from the ma-lignant and benign groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the malignant group showed lower RASSF1 expression than the benign group (P < 0.05). Postopera-tive follow-up identified 22 cases of recurrence in the malignant group, with a recurrence rate of 88%, while 15 cases in the benign group had a recurrence rate of 40.5%. A direct relationship exists between RASSF1 expression levels and the malignancy grade of lacrimal gland carci-noma. Patients with lower RASSF1 expression showed a higher recur-rence probability, indicating unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, measur-ing RASSF1 expression can be used as a diagnostic method for lacrimal gland carcinoma.

Transcriptome network analysis of potential candidate genes for heart failure.

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that a transcriptome network can be developed through a set of transcription factors regulated by the expression of various genes induced by dilated cardiomyopathy can be identified and modulated to respond to heart failure. We searched for significant pathways related to dilated cardiomyopathy using the GSE4172 microarray data to identify potential genes related to heart failure. We mapped differentially expressed genes to pathways and constructed a regulation network to investigate the regulatory relationships between transcription factors and pathways. Some transcription factors and target genes in the networks have been clearly linked to heart failure in previous studies. We also found new transcription factors and target genes, such as CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta and JunB, responsible for inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Transcriptome network analysis was useful in the identification of candidate genes in heart failure. This method is well suited for microarray data and therefore is proposed as a powerful tool in the search for new pathways related to disease.

Isolation and characterization of 19 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva.

The Asiatic topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva, is recognized as one of the most invasive fish species in many countries outside of Asia. We isolated and characterized 19 microsatellite loci from P. parva. The polymorphism of these 19 loci was tested on 40 individuals of P. parva sampled from a wild population located in Ezhou, Hubei province of China. The loci had 5 to 11 alleles, with a mean of 7.7 at each locus; 11 loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.237 to 0.973 and from 0.647 to 0.914, respectively. All microsatellite loci were in linkage equilibrium. These microsatellite markers are potentially useful for the assessment of population genetic structure during invasion and dispersal of P. parva in new habitats.

Mutation characteristics in type I collagen genes in Chinese patients with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta is normally caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in the type I collagen genes COL1A1 and COL1A2. The severity of osteogenesis imperfecta varies, ranging from perinatal lethality to a very mild phenotype. Although there have been many reports of COL1A1 and COL1A2 mutations, few cases have been reported in Chinese people. We report on five unrelated families and three sporadic cases. The mutations were detected by PCR and direct sequencing. Four mutations in COL1A1 and one in COL1A2 were found, among which three mutations were previously unreported. The mutation rates of G>C at base 128 in intron 31 of the COL1A1 gene and G>A at base 162 in intron 30 of the COL1A2 gene were higher than normal. The patients' clinical characteristics with the same mutation were variable even in the same family. We conclude that mutations in COL1A1 and COL1A2 also have an important role in osteogenesis imperfecta in the Chinese population. As the Han Chinese people account for a quarter of the world's population, these new data contribute to the type I collagen mutation map.

Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in humans to the NSP4 enterotoxin of rotavirus.

Rotavirus nonstructural protein NSP4 has recently been suggested to function as a viral enterotoxin and play a role in the pathophysiological mechanism whereby rotaviruses induce diarrhea. The ability of rotavirus NSP4 to stimulate a humoral immune response was examined in naturally infected children and adults, rotavirus vaccinated children, as well as a cellular immune response in adults. In this study, 10 of 10 naturally infected children and 9 of 10 rotavirus-vaccinated children showed a weak humoral IgG immune response to recombinant NSP4 (rNSP4) and/or a synthetic peptide corresponding to residues 114-134 of NSP4. Modest serum IgG antibody responses were detected in 20 of 20 adults. A cellular immune response to rNSP4 and/or NSP4(114-134) were detected in 8 of 10 adults measured either as a T-cell proliferative response (7 of 10), an increased production of IL-2 (6 of 10), or increased production of interferon-gamma (8 of 10). These results indicate that NSP4 induces a humoral immune response in humans and show for the first time that NSP4 stimulates a cellular immune response, possibly including cytolytic T-cells.