Lyme Borrelia as the etiological factor in three cases of primary inflammatory choriocapillaropathies

Citation： Jovanovic SV, Petrovic NT, Zivkovic MLJ, Toncic ZG, Sarenac Vulovic TS. Lyme Borrelia as the etiological factor in three cases of primary inflammatory choriocapillaropathies, lnt J Ophthalmo12017 ; 10（12）：1940-1944

Etiological Factors of Infective Endocarditis in Children Aged 1 Month to 15 Years Hospitalised in the Paediatric Department of CHU Gabriel Touréof Bamako (Mali)

Introduction: In emerging countries where studies are rarer, the epidemiological profile of infective endocarditis resembles that of developed countries at the beginning of the antibiotic era. There is little data available in Mali on this subject, motivating this study, the aim of which was to study the etiological factors of infective endocarditis in children aged between 1 month and 15 years hospitalised in the paediatric department of the CHU Gabriel Touré. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive study, which took place from August 2018 to August 2019 (13 months), in children aged between 1 month and 15 years hospitalised in the paediatric department of the Gabriel Touré University Hospital with an ultrasound- confirmed cardiac disease and a temperature above 38°C. Results: The hospitalization rate was 0.4%. The average age was 11 months, the sex ratio was 1.35. Respiratory distress (63.6%) and fever (30.3%) were the most common reasons for referral. Congenital heart disease (87.9%) and dyspnoea on feeding (24.2%) were the most common medical histories. IVC was the most frequent congenital heart disease (36.4%). The mean temperature was 39.1°C. Blood cultures were taken in 24 patients (72.7%) and were positive in 27.3%. Staphylococcus aureus was found in 55.6% of cases. Trans-thoracic ultrasound found vegetations in 03 cases. According to the modified DUKE criteria, the diagnosis of endocarditis was retained in 27.30%. The evolution was marked by a high case fatality rate (45.45%). Conclusion: Endocarditis is an uncommon disease in children with a pulmonary portal of entry and Staphylococcus aureus as the main germ. Its mortality remains high.

High Risk Factors of Pancreatic Carcinoma

Over the past decades, cancer has become one of the toughest challenges for health professionals. The epidemiologists are increasingly directing their research efforts on various malignant tumor worldwide. Of note, incidence of cancers is on the rise more quickly in developed countries. Indeed, great endeavors have to be made in the control of the life-threatening disease. As we know it, pancreatic cancer（PC） is a malignant disease with the worst prognosis. While little is known about the etiology of the PC and measures to prevent the condition, so far, a number of risk factors have been identified. Genetic factors, pre-malignant lesions, predisposing diseases and exogenous factors have been found to be linked to PC. Genetic susceptibility was observed in 10% of PC cases, including inherited PC syndromes and familial PC. However, in the remaining 90%, their PC might be caused by genetic factors in combination with environmental factors. Nonetheless, the exact mechanism of the two kinds of factors, endogenous and exogenous, working together to cause PC remains poorly understood. The fact that most pancreatic neoplasms are diagnosed at an incurable stage of the disease highlights the need to identify risk factors and to understand their contribution to carcinogenesis. This article reviews the high risk factors contributing to the development of PC, to provide information for clinicians and epidemiologists.

The application of the “Treatment in Accordance with Three Categories of Etiologic Factors” theory in the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases in traditional Chinese medicine since the Ming and Qing Dynasties

“Treatment in accordance with three categories of etiologic factors”(consideration of the climatic and seasonal conditions,environment and individual’s constitution in the treatment of diseases),that is,treatment following time,place and individual,is one of the basic principles followed by Chinese medicine in the clinical treatment of diseases.This paper analyzes the similarities and differences in traditional Chinese medicine treatment of patients with epidemic diseases in different regions and periods since the Ming(1368-1644 C.E.)and Qing(1636-1912 C.E.)Dynasties.In addition,the theory of epidemic disease prevention and control based on the application of“treatment in accordance with three categories of etiologic factors”was discussed to inspire and guide the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Structure and Composition of Non-Infectious Phosphate Calculi Formed in Patients with Low and High Urinary Phosphate Concentrations

Objective: The aim of this paper was to assess the relationships among chemical, phase and structural composition and?etiopathogenic factors of non-infectious phosphate calculi formed in patients with low and high urinary phosphate concentrations, and to characterize the mechanism of their formation related on biochemical results. Material and Methods: Twelve samples of phosphate renal calculi were obtained, 4 from patients with low phosphaturia and 6 from patients with high urinary phosphate concentrations. Their chemical composition was determined qualitatively by energy dispersive X-ray analysis and quantitatively by spectrophotometric and thermal analysis;and their phase composition was determined by Fourier transform infrared transmission spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The structure of the calculi was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. Results: Non-infectious phosphate renal calculi of patients with low phosphaturia consist of poorly crystalline carbonate hydroxyapatite, whereas those of patients with high urinary phosphate concentrations consist of poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite with some amount of calcium oxalate crystals. Calculi of patients with high urinary phosphate concentrations are formed at urinary supersaturation with respect to hydroxyapatite and calcium oxalate about 4 times higher than in patients with low phosphaturia. Conclusion: In patients with low phosphaturia, the non-infectious phosphate renal calculi are formed in urine near pH 7 and contain only poorly crystalline carbonate hydroxyapatite. In patients with high urinary phosphate concentrations and hypercalciuria, the calculi are formed in urine near pH 6 and consist of both poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite and some amount of calcium oxalate crystals.

Discussing the Dietary Regimen and Disease Prevention and its Application as an Anti‑epidemic Measure

This article discusses the role of dietary regimen in the traditional culture of Chinese medicine according to its origin.Dietary regimen is a technique that inherits the traditional culture of Chinese medicine.Through analysis of the characteristics of the dietary regimen and the discussion of the idea of disease prevention,the application of the dietary regimen in disease prevention is sought.Under the guidance of three key factors,the application of the dietary regimen in disease prevention is mainly manifested in two aspects.First,the dietary regimen can be used to guide the daily reasonable diet to maintain the human body in a balance of Yin and Yang,which could prevent the occurrence of diseases.Second,on the basis of minimizing health loss,it can be used for disease treatment,adjuvant treatment,and rehabilitation.Finally,taking preventive treatment as the guiding ideology,the application of a dietary regimen as an“anti‑epidemic”was briefly discussed.

PERIOPERATIVE STROKE AFTER CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY ETIOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS AND MANAGEMENT

291 patients were subjected to carotid endarterectomy from January 1985 to June 1992 in two Australian medical institutions. Of the 291 patients, perioperative stroke occurred in 22 (6.3%) after 347 operations (moderate 17 and severe 5). The 22 patients were studied with Doppler scan, angiography, reexploration and CT. Reexploration showed that 12 of 14 patients had thrombosis in the internal carotid artery at operation. The etiological factors for perioperative strokes included thrombosis at the operative sites in 14 patients (64%), cerebral embolism after operation in 4, clamping ischemia in 2, intracerebral hemorrhage in 1 and unknown cause in 1. Six patients (27%) recovered completely in 4 weeks, 10 (45%) had mild residual neurological deficits, 5 (23%) had moderate neurological deficits and 1 died 3 days after operation. Only 6 patients had permanent neurological deficits (6 / 347, 17%).

Discussing the Dietary Regimen and Disease Prevention and its Application as an Anti-epidemic Measure

This article discusses the role of dietary regimen in the traditional culture of Chinese medicine according to its origin.Dietary regimen is a technique that inherits die traditional culture of Chinese medicine.Through analysis of the characteristics of the dietary regimen and the discussion of the idea of disease prevention,the application of the dietary regimen in disease prevention is sought.Under the guidance of three key factors,the application of the dietary regimen in disease prevention is mainly manifested in two aspects,h irst,the dietary regimen can be used to guide the daily reasonable diet to maintain the human body in a balance of Yin and Yang,which could prevent the occurrence of diseases.Second,on the basis of minimizing health loss,it can be used for disease treatment,adjuvant treatment,and rehabilitation.Finally,taking preventive treatment as the guiding ideology,the application of a dietary regimen as an"anti-epidemic"was briefly discussed.

A Preliminary Study on Principle of Etiology Mechanism

Based on the inspiration from Hetu and Luoshu,a principle diagram of pathogenicity of pathogenic factors was established.Accordingly,the inner correlations between pathogenic factor type and biological factors,and between pathogenic factors and host were analyzed.Mechanism of pathogenesis was discussed with five representative cases.The result indicated that effect of biological factors on host could be proved only with the performance of internalization conditions of biological factor and host.The reciprocal transformation between biological factors and pathogenic factors was decided by interaction and state of co-existed factors and host.The results suggested that it is a better and attractive choice to regulate and optimize the host’s state in practice than direct elimination of pathogens with antibiotics.

Classification of musical hallucinations and the characters along with neural-molecular mechanisms of musical hallucinations associated with psychiatric disorders

BACKGROUND Musical hallucinations(MH)involve the false perception of music in the absence of external stimuli which links with different etiologies.The pathomechanisms of MH encompass various conditions.The etiological classification of MH is of particular importance and offers valuable insights to understand MH,and further to develop the effective treatment of MH.Over the recent decades,more MH cases have been reported,revealing newly identified medical and psychiatric causes of MH.Functional imaging studies reveal that MH activates a wide array of brain regions.An up-to-date analysis on MH,especially on MH comorbid psychiatric conditions is warranted.AIM To propose a new classification of MH;to study the age and gender differences of MH in mental disorders;and neuropathology of MH.METHODS Literatures searches were conducted using keywords such as“music hallucination,”“music hallucination and mental illness,”“music hallucination and gender difference,”and“music hallucination and psychiatric disease”in the databases of PubMed,Google Scholar,and Web of Science.MH cases were collected and categorized based on their etiologies.The t-test and ANOVA were employed(P<0.05)to compare the age differences of MH different etiological groups.Function neuroimaging studies of neural networks regulating MH and their possible molecular mechanisms were discussed.RESULTS Among the 357 yielded publications,294 MH cases were collected.The average age of MH cases was 67.9 years,with a predominance of females(66.8%females vs 33.2%males).MH was classified into eight groups based on their etiological mechanisms.Statistical analysis of MH cases indicates varying associations with psychiatric diagnoses.CONCLUSION We carried out a more comprehensive review of MH studies.For the first time according to our knowledge,we demonstrated the psychiatric conditions linked and/or associated with MH from statistical,biological and molecular point of view.

Traditional Chinese Medicine etiology and pathogenesis of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected Chinese rhesus macaques

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） etiology and pathogenesis of ac- quired immune deficiency syndrome （AIDS） by 18-month observation of Chinese rhesus macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus （SIV） mac239. METHODS： Thirty-five healthy Chinese rhesus ma- caques were divided into a model group （n=30） and a control group （n=5）. The model was estab- lished by inoculating monkeys intravenously with SIVmac239. Changes in TCM symptoms after SIV in- fection within 18 months were then observed and recorded. Routine blood tests, SIV viral load, T-lym-phocyte subsets, plasma triiodothyronine （T3）, tet- raiodothyronine （14）, adrenocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） and cortisol （Cor） were tested periodically during the experiment. RESULTS： During the acute infection period of SIV, model monkeys temporarily showed clinical symp- toms such as diarrhea, dysphoria and slight weight loss. Decrease percentages of CD4~ T-lymphocytes were observed but levels of T3, 14, Cot, and ACTH were relatively unchanged. Monkeys in the model group during the early and middle periods of infec- tion showed no obvious symptoms, except few monkeys exhibited transient diarrhea and reduced food intake. All variables at this stage showed nor- mal fluctuations. In the middle period model group monkeys showed chronic and persistent diarrhea, weight loss, reduced food intake and low levels of 13 and Cot. In the late period, symptoms including emaciation, weight loss, listlessness, crouching in corners and low levels of T3appeared. CONCLUSION： The results suggest that the rhesus monkey SIWSAIDS model can be applied to re- search on TCM etiology and pathogenesis of AIDS. According to this model, the etiology of disease is the SIV virus. The pathogenesis manifests as the in- vasion of SIV virus, incubation of the virus, balance between virus and healthy ＂Qi＂, damage to spleen and kidney as the disease progressed, exhaustion of vitality and finally the failure of five zang and six fu organs.