Pro-Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Interleukins in Infectious Diseases: A Comprehensive Review.

Interleukins (ILs) are signaling molecules that are crucial in regulating immune responses during infectious diseases. Pro-inflammatory ILs contribute to the activation and recruitment of immune cells, whereas anti-inflammatory ILs help to suppress excessive inflammation and promote tissue repair. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the role of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory ILs in infectious diseases, with a focus on the mechanisms underlying their effects, their diagnostic and therapeutic potential, and emerging trends in IL-based therapies.

Exposure to Cadmium Telluride Quantum Dots and Gene Expression Profile of Huh-7 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line.

Nanoparticles have shown promising potential for efficient drug delivery, circumventing biological interferences like immunological and renal clearance and mechanical and enzymatic destruction. However, a handful of research papers have questioned the biomedical use of metal-based nanoparticles like cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe-QDs) for their cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic potential. Herein, we examined the effects of CdTe-QD NPs on gene expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma (Huh-7) cell line. Huh-7 cells were treated with CdTe-QD NPs (10 µg/ml for 6, 12, and 24 hours, and 25 µg/ml for 6 and 12 hours), and transcriptomic analysis was performed using microarray to evaluate the global gene expression profile. Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were observed for both the doses (10 and 25 µg/ml) of CdTe-QD NPs at different time points. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that genes involved in molecular function of cell cycle, organizational injury and abnormalities, cell death and survival, gene expression, cancer, organismal survival, and cellular development were differentially expressed. Overall, we have demonstrated differential expression of several genes, involved in maintaining cell survival, metabolism, and genome integrity. These findings were confirmed by RT-qPCR study for some canonical pathway genes signifying possible implication in NP toxicity-mediated cell survival and inhibition of cell death.

Changes in the Fibrinolytic System of Patients Infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters and their association with disease severity were investigated in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: COVID-19 patients (n = 446) admitted to our institute between 21 February 2021 and 17 March 2022, were recruited. Clinical data and staging were collected from all patients. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for several parameters of fibrinolysis and coagulation, including alpha-2-antiplasmin(α2AP) and plasminogen, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels. RESULTS: The TAFI, fibrinogen, and tPA levels were significantly higher in participants who died compared to that of patients who recovered (p < 0.001). However, PAI-1, tPA, and TAFI were significantly higher in patients admitted to the ICU than those of the healthy controls (p < 0.001 for PAI-1 and tPA; p = 0.0331 for TAFI). Our results showed that stage C and D COVID-19 patients had significantly higher levels of PAI-1 (p = 0.003). Furthermore, stage D COVID-19 patients had significantly higher tPA and TAFI values (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Hypofibrinolysis was the most prevalent condition among patients with severe COVID-19. In this study, several coagulation markers were elevated, making them suitable prognostic markers for hypofibrinolysis.

Preliminary findings of a study on the practice of self-medication of antibiotics among the practicing nurses of a tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Antibiotic resistance is indeed a global concern. It is of significant concern especially in the low-middle income countries because of the ease of accessibility, affordability, and absence of regulations pertaining to the dispensing of non-prescription antibiotics. This study aims to estimate the frequency and factors associated with the self-medication of antibiotics found among the practicing nurses. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan from July 2016 to August 2016. RESULTS: Of the 48 recruited nurses, 60.4% (29/48) were practicing self-medication of antibiotics. There were slightly more male nurses (17/29) than their female counterparts. The most frequently used antibiotic was Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid, which was reported by 72.4% (21/29) of the nurses. The most prominent factor urging the nurses for practicing self-medication of antibiotics was their perceived knowledge of antibiotics, as was the case with 72.4% (21/29) of the nurses. Fever (79.3%) and sore throat (65.5%) were the two most frequent health problems that prompted the nurses to practice antibiotics self-medication. An earlier experience of the use of antibiotics was reported by 51.7% (15/29) of the nurses. Only 20.7% (6/29) of the nurses completed the entire antibiotic course. The adverse effects of antibiotics were encountered by 41.4% (12/29) of the nurses, which included diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. CONCLUSIONS: The self-medication of antibiotics is a frequent practice found among the practicing nurses in Karachi. It is a pressing concern and needs considerable attention from the healthcare authorities.

Association between IL-37 gene polymorphisms and risk of HBV-related liver disease in a Saudi Arabian population.

Interleukin-37 (IL-37) has recently been recognized as a strong anti-inflammatory cytokine having anti-tumor activity against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients. HCC is a typical inflammation-related cancer, and genetic variations within the IL-37 gene may be associated with the risk of HBV infection. Identification of the allelic patterns that genetically have a high disease risk is essential for the development of preventive diagnostics for HBV-mediated liver disease pathogenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-37 gene and disease sequelae associated with HBV infection. We genotyped ten IL-37 SNPs in 1274 patients infected with HBV and 599 healthy controls from a Saudi Arabian population. Among the selected SNPs, two SNPs (rs2723175 and rs2708973) were strongly associated with HBV infection, and six SNPs (rs2723176, rs2723175, rs2723186, rs364030, rs28947200, rs4392270) were associated with HBV clearance, comparing healthy controls and HBV infected-patients respectively. A suggestive association of rs4849133 was identified with active HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier and HBV-related liver disease progression. In conclusion, our findings suggest that variations at the IL-37 gene may be useful as genetic predictive risk factors for HBV infection and HBV-mediated liver disease progression in the Saudi Arabian population.