Possible Involvement of Nuclear Factor Kappa B in Rapid Disease Progression in ART Naive HIV-1 Infected Remunerated Blood Donors with History of Oral Iron Intake

A retrospective analysis on the assessment of the level of p65 component of the transcription factor Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-kB p65) in the nuclear extract of lipopolysaccharide stimulated peripheral blood mon-onuclear cells (PBMCs) of remunerated blood donors with HIV-1 infection revealed NF-kB p65 to be significantly higher in the subgroup with history of oral iron intake compared to the HIV-1 infected subgroup without such history. The level of NF-kB p65 in iron consuming subgroup of HIV-1 positive donors showed positive correlation with the serum ferritin level and with the rate of increase in viral load. The NF-kB p65 level also showed positive correlation with the level of superoxide produced by cultured Monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs) as well as with the levels of the immune activation markers viz. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and two of its soluble markers i.e. Tumour necrosis factor receptor types one and two (TNFRI and TNFRII) reported in earlier studies in the same subgroup. The opposing roles of NF-kB in situation of iron overload in HIV-1 infection i.e. disease enhancement on one hand and facilitation of effective antiretroviral therapy through activation of HIV-1 in the latently infected cells on other hand suggest the need for further research to weigh benefits and risks of iron therapy in situations where iron deficiency in HIV-1 infection may be a serious consideration.

Possible Spread of adenovirus type 3 from poultry to humans:indirect evidence from an outbreak in China

Objective：To explore the epidemiology and etiology for an outbreak of acute respiratory tract infection that occurred in one county of Jiangsu Province, China 2004. Methods： Only cases meeting the case definition were included in the study. We reviewed the medical records of the cases who were admitted to the local hospitals, interviewed cases by a standard questionnaire, and then described the epidemiologic features and analyzed risk factors by means of a case-control study. We collected pharyngeal swab specimens and sent them to different laboratories for isolation and culture. The laboratory used different detection methods such as DIF, PCR, electron microscope exahaination and microneutralization assay, to identify and then type the positive specimens. Results：A total of 871 cases were reported during the period from April 18 to July 4, 2004. The distribution of onset times presented two peaks, one in late May and another in middle June. The epidemic occurred mainly in the elementary and junior high schools in ten townships of one county, and the mean age of the cases was 12 years （range 7 months to 18 years）. The course of the disease was acute, and was characterized by fever accompanied with sore throat and tonsillitis. The WBC count of cases was normal or elevated. The mean duration of illness was 5 days （range 2 to 12 days）. No fatalities from illness were reported. A case-control study indicated that the possible risk factors were close contact with a case and/or poultry before onset and sharing of towels among members of the family. The typical CPE was observed through inoculating pharyngeal swab specimens into the HEP-2 cell cultures in different laboratories. An infection of adenovirus type 3 was verified by detecting positive specimens in different methods. Conclusion：This investigation demonstrated that the acute respiratory infection in cases was caused by adenovirus type 3. Cases occurred in over 70 schools in ten townships in 2004, and the route of transmission was possibly close contact with cases or droplet transmission.

Exploiting epidemiological data to understand the epidemiology and factors that influence COVID-19 pandemic in Libya

There were only 75 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)reported in Libya by the National Center for Disease Control during the first two months following the first confirmed case on 24 March 2020.However,there was dramatic increase in positive cases from June to now;as of 19 November 2020,approximately 357940 samples have been tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,and the results have revealed a total number of 76808 confirmed cases,47587 recovered cases and 1068 deaths.The case fatality ratio was estimated to be 1.40%,and the mortality rate was estimated to be 15.90 in 100000 people.The epidemiological situation markedly changed from mid-July to the beginning of August,and the country proceeded to the cluster phase.COVID-19 has spread in almost all Libyan cities,and this reflects the high transmission rate of the virus at the regional level with the highest positivity rates,at an average of 14.54%.Apparently,there is an underestimation of the actual number of COVID-19 cases due to the low testing capacity.Consequently,the Libyan health authority needs to initiate a large-scale case-screening process and enforce testing capacities and contact testing within the time frame,which is not an easy task.Advisably,the Libyan health authority should improve the public health capacities and conduct strict hygienic measures among the societies and vaccinate as many people against COVID-19 to minimize both the case fatality ratio and socio-economic impacts of the pandemic in Libya.

Salmonella enteritidis from a case of fever with thrombocytopenia

Non typhoidal Salmonella species are thought to be potentially infectious to humans.We isolated Salmonella enteritidis from a 10-year-old boy with fever and thrombocytopenia.We reviewed the literature conceming infections caused by Salmonella but we could not find any such case report from India.

Complete Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Specific T Lymphocyte Response to Chinese Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 B/C Chronic Infectors

Objective To characterize the human immunodeficiency virus （HIV） -specific T lymphocyte responses and identify the immunodominant regions in Chinese HIV-1 recombinant subtype B/C chronic infectors at complete genome level. Methods Twenty-five HIV-I B/C recombinant chronic infectors were screened for their specific T lymphocyte responses to a panel of peptides corresponding to the complete HIV-1 subtype B genome by gamma interferon ELISPOT assay. Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric analysis of variance was used to test significant differences across gene regions, and Tukey pairwise analysis was used to identify differences between gene regions. Spearman rank correlation was used to assess the relation between responses. Results The order of recognized frequencies of specific T lymphocyte responses to HIV proteins was Nef〉Vpr〉Gag〉Pol〉Vpu〉Env〉Rev〉Vif〉Tat. When adjusted for protein length, Nef, Vpr, Gag, and Pol were the most intensely targeted proteins and the central region of Nef, Gag p24, Pol RT, and Vpr was most frequently recognized. No significant correlation was observed between the magnitude of IFN-γ production of HIV-l-specific T lymphocyte responses and plasma viremia, breadth of response and CD4 counts. Conclusion The central region of Nef, Gag p24, Pol RT, and Vpr is most frequently targeted in HIV-1 B/C recombinants chronic infectors. HIV-1-specific T lymphocyte responses and plasma viremia or CD4 counts play no protective role at complete genome level in these infectors.

Giant Cervical Kystic Lymphangioma in Children: Surgical Management of a Case

Introduction: Cervical cystic lymphangiomas are rare benign dysembryoplastic tumors of lymphatic origin. Its severity in the child is due on one hand to their fast evolution and the compression of the way aerodigestive and on the other hand, by the classical difficulty of their excision. The purpose of this work was to report a case of giant cervical cystic lymphangioma in a child to discuss the difficulties associated with its management in our context. Observation: This was a 3-year-old female child who was admitted to the ENT department of CHU “Luxembourg” for right lateral cervical swelling. The clinical examination had noted a large anterior-latero cervical swelling of soft, renitent, painless palpation, movable in relation to the superficial and deep plane, measuring about 20 cm × 17 cm, the skin was healthy. It wasn’t particularity to the rest of the physical examination. The diagnosis of giant cervical cystic lymphangioma was discussed. Thorough excision of the swelling by right lateral cervicotomy was performed. Anatomopathological examination of the operative specimen confirmed the diagnosis. The postoperative course was simple and the evolution was favorable. Conclusion: Cervical cystic lymphangiomas are rare. Their management involves surgery, with short and long-term post-operative outcomes are often excellent.