Clinical profile and risk factors of Strongyloides stercoralis infection

Strongyloides(S.)stercoralis,endemic in tropical and subtropical countries,is a soil-transmitted geohelminth human parasite belonging to a group of nematodes called roundworms.S.stercoralis is one of the most overlooked parasitic infections enlisted among the WHO"neglected tropical diseases"[1].S.stercoralis mainly infects humans but can also be found naturally in domestic dogs,cats,and some primates.

Potential mosquito-associated melioidosis and analysis of sample processing results in Hainan, China, 2023

Burkholderia(B.)pseudomallei is a Gram-negative bacterium causing melioidosis,a tropical infection that is being recognized as a growing public health problem[1].Melioidosis,with mortality rates ranging from under 10%to 40%,is a significant concern in Southeast Asia,Australia,and beyond[2].The underdiagnosis,particularly in rural areas,emphasizes the need for improved awareness,surveillance,and management,potentially classifying melioidosis as a neglected tropical disease[3].

Effects of Standing Time during Pretreatment on the Nitrite Concentration Detected by Spectrophotometric Method

Food safety problems caused by excessive nitrite addition have been frequently reported and the detection of nitrite in food is particularly important. The standing time during the pretreatment of primary sample has a great influence on the concentration of nitrite tested by spectrophotometric method. In this context, three kinds of food samples are prepared, including canned mustard, canned fish and home-made pickled water. A series of standing times are placed during the sample pretreatments and the corresponding nitrite contents in these samples are detected by spectrophotometric method based on N-ethylenediamine dihydrochloride. This study aims to find out a reasonable standing time during the pretreatment of food sample, providing influence factor for precise detection of nitrite.

Recovery of Cyclospora cayetanensis among asymptomatic rural Thai schoolchildren

Objective:To obtain the prevalence with clinical symptoms of Cyclospora cayetanensis(C.cayetanensis),a coceidian protozoan parasite,in Thailand which is the cause of an intestinal infection characterized by sporadic-to-frequent explosive diarrhea.Methods:In a field surveyconducted by the Faculty of Tropical Medicine.Mahidol Lniversity.as part of the existing parasite-control program,a total of 2 540 faecal samples from villagers in Nan Province,Thailand,were collected and examined to determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of parasitic infections.Results:Twelve cases of C.cayetanensis infection were found duritig faecal examination of schoolchildren aged 5-12 years.None exhibited obvious clinical symptoms,especially evidence of diarrhea:5 of 12 had loose faeces,one reported frequent symptoms of abdominal discomfort,and another had pale conjunctiva with low hematocrit.The children were generally asymptomatic.Conclusions:This finding confirms a public-health issue with potentially serious consequences whereby children can be exposed to an environment contaminated with food-und water-borne transmitted oocysts,anil can hence become infected with C.cayetunensis.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Teenage Pregnancy among Secondary and High School Students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem with global estimates of 16 million teenage births yearly. It is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide with the majority of the cases seen in the low and middle-income countries. Cameroon has recorded the highest fertility rate among teenagers in the entire Central African region as of 2017. Notably, there are limited data available on assessing the awareness and prevention of teenage pregnancies among secondary and high school students in Cameroon. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of teenage pregnancy among secondary and high school students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted whereby data was collected using self-administered questionnaires from 250 systematically sampled participants from five teaching institutions in the Tiko Health District. Data was analysed using the EPI Info software, version 7.0. The study was carried out from the 15th November 2018 to the 20th of May 2019. Results: We had a total of 250 participants. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 5.20% (95% CI 3.34 - 9.1). A total of 47.20% (95% CI: 37.56 - 53.6) of participants were sexually active. Having multiple partners was a major risk factor for teenage pregnancy (AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: 1.75 - 4.03, P-value: 0.03). After adjusting for confounders educational level was a risk factor for the awareness of teenage pregnancy (AOR: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.30 - 0.92, P-value: 0.04). Poor communication skills, social shyness, and lack of knowledge were potential barriers to contraceptive use. Conclusion: Having multiple sexual partners was a risk factor to the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. The majority of adolescents had considerate ideas of teenage pregnancy, its prevention, and its consequences. However, a good number of them lack adequate knowledge of a comprehensive sexuality education. Thus, measures have to be put in place to provide better sex education to adolescents.

Rhinofacial conidiobolomycosis in an immunocompetent 30-year-old male:A case report

Rationale:Fungal rhinosinusitis is a rare entity in immunocompetent patients and is a diagnostic challenge.Conidiobolomycosis is a rare cause of fungal rhinosinusitis which happens to affect immunocompetent patients.Patient concerns:A 30-year-old male patient complained of painless progressive swelling of nose for 5 years and painless progressive swelling of upper lip for 4 years associated with nasal obstruction for 5 years.Diagnosis:Rhinofacial conidiobolomycosis.Interventions:Systemic anti-fungals and saturated solution of potassium iodide.Outcomes:Swelling initially reduced but again increased eventually as he discontinued treatment.Lessons:Proper adherence to drugs and need for facial reconstructive surgery may need to be considered in such cases of conidiobolomycosis.

Construction and biological characterization of Burkholderia pseudomallei sRNA gene deletion strain

Objective:Construction of Burkholderia pseudomallei(B.pseudomallei)sRNA knockout strains and observation of their biological function.Methods:Design 9sF/9sR,9xF/9xR and R1/F1 primers,which were used to amplify the homologous arm fragment upstream and downstream of the sRNA gene,through enzyme cutting,ligation,and transformation,the sRNA gene was knocked out from the B.pseudomallei by homologous recombination method.Results:The sRNA mutant was successfully constructed.In comparison with wild strain HNBP001,the growth rate,motility and biofilm formation ofΔsRNA decreased,but the antibiotic sensitivity has no differences.Conclusion:The sRNA knockout strain of B.pseudomallei was successfully constructed,laying a foundation for further research on its mechanism of regulating B.pseudomallei.

Suppressed effects of Phyllanthus urinaria L.ethyl acetate extract on hepatitis B virus both in vitro and in vivo

Background:Phyllanthus urinaria L.(P.urinaria)extract(PUE)has been used to inhibit hepatitis B virus(HBV).However,the underlying mechanism remains unclear.To investigate which PUE fractions and main components lead to against HBV and approach the relevant molecular mechanisms.Methods:P.urinaria was extracted with water,and then the decoction was extracted by petroleum ether,ethyl acetate,and n-butanol in turn.The HepG2.2.15 cell was treated with aqueous fraction,petroleum ether fraction,ethyl acetate fraction and n-butanol fraction,gallic acid(GA,C7H6O5)and corilagin(CL,C27H22O18),respectively.The medium was collected for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)and hepatitis B e antigen assays.Cell counting kit-8 method was used to identify cell proliferation.Also,the levels of cellular oxygen consumption,reactive oxygen species,and reduced glutathione were detected.The HBV modeling mice were treated with ethyl acetate fraction,entecavir and physiological saline,respectively.The serum was collected for HBsAg and inflammatory cytokines assays.Liver tissue metabolites were screened by LC-MS/MS method.Results:The ethyl acetate fraction(EAF)of P.urinaria could significantly inhibit HBV secretion in HepG2.2.15(P<0.05).Furthermore,two main constitutes in ethyl acetate fraction,GA and CL,could significantly inhibit HBV secretion and reduced cell proliferation(P<0.05).Also,GA and CL could increase cellular oxygen consumption,intracellular superoxide anions level,superoxide dismutase level and glutathione depletion.Compared with the Modeling group,EAF significantly decreased the expression levels of HBsAg,IL-1β,IFN-α(P<0.05).LC-MS/MS analysis results showed that EAF dramatically up-regulate hydroxyproline,maltotriose,betaine and down-regulate glutathione disulfide,taurocholate,taurochenodeoxycholate(P<0.05).Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes results show that the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in ATP-binding cassette transporters pathway.Conclusions:P.urinaria exhibits suppressed effects on HBV by modulating reactive oxygen species formation or metabolomics both in vitro and in vivo.These data indicate that P.urinaria may be an alternative therapeutic agent for the treatment of HBV-related hepatitis.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever with rectus sheath hematoma:A case report

Rationale:Acute pain is a medical emergency that requires prompt abdominal evaluation and management.Dengue,a mosquito-borne arboviral infection,can lead to complications such as acute abdominal pain.Patient concerns:A 72-year-old hypertensive female presented with high-grade intermittent fever with chills and rigors for four days.She was diagnosed with dengue fever(NS1Ag-reactive)the day before admission.A contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a hematoma along the rectus sheath which was managed conservatively as per surgical opinion.Diagnosis:Dengue hemorrhagic fever with rectus sheath hematoma.Interventions:Blood transfusion and fluid therapy.Outcomes:Ten days after discharge,the patient reproted no pain in the right iliac fossa and the size of the hematoma was significantly reduced.Lessons:Although it is rarely seen as a cause of acute abdomen,complaints of adnominal pain should never be ignored in critical or convalescent phase of dengue fever.Radiological investigations should be promptly conducted as hematoma is often difficult to be diagnosed clinically.Delay in diagnosis of rectus sheath hematoma can be fatal.

Causal relationships between gut microbiota and dementia:A twosample,bidirectional,Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Existing evidence suggests that gut microbiota represent a significant environmental risk factor for various forms of dementia,including Alzheimer's dementia,vascular dementia,and dementia in other diseases classified elsewhere.However,the exact causal relationships between gut microbiota and the different forms of dementia or their subtypes remain unclear.AIM To investigate putative causal relationships between gut microbiota and dementia or its subtypes using Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.METHODS A bidirectional,two-sample,MR analysis was conducted utilizing publicly available gut microbiota-related genome-wide association study(GWAS)summary data from the MiBioGen consortium alongside GWAS summary statistics for dementia and its subtypes from the FinnGen consortium.Instrumental variables were selected according to the fundamental tenets of MR and their strengths were evaluated using the F-statistic.Five MR methods were employed,and the robustness of our findings was validated.To account for multiple comparisons,we applied the Bonferroni method for P-value adjustment.RESULTS We identified several gut microbiota taxa exhibiting putative causal relationships with dementia or its subtypes,potentially serving as risk or protective factors for the disease.In addition,reverse MR analysis indicated that the relative abundance of several gut microbiota taxa might be influenced by dementia or its subtypes.An exhaustive sensitivity analysis confirmed the absence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.After applying correction for multiple testing,we observed that the order Bacillales(odds ratio:0.830,95%confidence interval:0.740-0.932,P=0.00155,Padjust=0.0311)exhibited a strong association with Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia.CONCLUSION The results suggest that gut microbiota is causally associated with dementia.Our findings provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of dementia and have important implications for its treatment and prevention.

Symptom presentation and evolution in the first 48 hours after injury are associated with return to play after concussion in elite Rugby Union

Background:Return to play(RTP)in elite rugby is managed using a 6-stage graduated RTP protocol,which can result in clearance to play within 1 week of injury.We aimed to explore how symptom,cognitive,and balance presentation and evolution during concussion screens 2 h(head injury assessment(HIA2)and 48 h(HIA3)after injury were associated with time to RTP)to identify whether a more conservative graduated RTP may be appropriate.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 380 concussed rugby players from elite men’s rugby over 3 consecutive seasons.Players were classified as shorter or longer returns,depending on whether RTP occurred within 7 days(allowing them to be considered to play the match 1 week after injury)or longer than 8 days,respectively.Symptom,cognitive,and balance performance during screens was assessed relative to baseline(normal or abnormal)and to the preceding screen(improving or worsening).Associations between sub-test abnormalities and RTP time were explored using odds ratios(OR,longer vs.shorter).Median day absence was compared between players with abnormal or worsening results and those whose results were normal or improving.Results:Abnormal symptom results during screens 2 h and 48 h after concussion were associated with longer return time(HIA2:OR=2.21,95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.39-3.50;HIA3:OR=3.30,95%CI:1.89-5.75).Worsening symptom number or severity from the time of injury to 2 h and 48 h post-injury was associated with longer return(HIA2:OR=2.49,95%CI:1.36-4.58;HIA3:OR=3.34,95%CI:1.10-10.15).Median days absence was greater in players with abnormal symptom results at both HIA2 and HIA3.Cognitive and balance performance were not associated with longer return and did not affect median days absence.Conclusion:Symptom presentation and evolution within 48 h of concussion were associated with longer RTP times.This may guide a more conservative approach to RTP,while still adhering to individualized concussion management principles.

Antibacterial activity of honey against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi

Objective:To ascertain the potential antibacterial activity of honey against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli(E.coli),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi(S.enterica serovar Typhi) by in vitro methods.Methods:The partial inhibitory concentration(PIC),minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC) values of the autoclaved honey(extracted from Apis indica hive by indigenous method) were determined for S.enterica serovar Typhi(n=8:from blood cultute), E.coli(n=5:from urine culture) and P.aeruginosa(n=5:from pus culture) isolates by in vitro methods.Results:The PICs of the honey tested for the isolates ranged 0.50%-1.25%(v/v) for S. enterica serovar Typhi,0.75%-1.50%(v/v) for E.coli and 1.00%-1.25%(v/v) for P.aeruginosa, while the MICs ranged 1.75%-3.00%(v/v),3.00%-3.50%(v/v) and 3.50%(v/v),respectively.The P.aeruginosa and E.coli isolates had MBC value of 4.00%(v/v):the S.enterica serovar Typhi showed MBCs in between 3.00%and 3.50%(v/v).The bactericidal activity of honey was achieved at concentration 3.00%(v/v) for S.enterica serovar Typhi and E.coli,and at 3.50%(v/v) for P. aeruginosa.Conclusions:The excellent antibacterial activity of honey against clinical bacterial isolates indicates the usefulness of honey in clinical practice against bacterial infection.

Synergistic anti - Staphylococcus aureus activity of amoxicillin in combination with Emblica officinalis and Nymphae odorata extracts

Objective:To evaluate the antibacterial activity of Emblica officinalis Gaertn(E.officinalis: Family:Euphorbiaceae) seed and Nymphae odorala Aiton(N.odorala:Family:Nymphaeaceae) stamen extracts,alone and in combination,and in combination with amoxicillin(Ax) against Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus).Methods:Antibacterial activity of ethanolic extracts of amla,E.officinalis,seed(AMS:500μg) and sapla,N.odorala,stamen(SAP:500 p g) for 12 methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA) isolates was determined following agar diffusion:in order to assess the combined antibacterial activity,AMS(250μg) plus SAP(250μg) were considered.The Ax(10μg) activity alone and in combination with AMS(250μg),and SAP(250μg) was determined by disk diffusion.The zone diameters of inhibition(ZDIs) for the agents were recorded,and growth inhibitory indices(GIIs) were calculated.Results:The MRSA isolates (n=12) had AMS(500μg) and SAP(500μg) ZDIs of 12-19 mm and 21-24 mm,respectively.The ZDIs(range 24-27 mm) increased by 3-4 mm due to combined action of AMS(250μg) and SAP(250μg) indicating synergy between extracts for MRSA(GII 0.634-0.742).The MRSA isolates were resistant to Ax(ZDI:8-11 mm),which in combination with AMS and SAP had synergistic effect,both due to increased ZDI[mean±SD=(3.5±0.577) mm]and GII(0.631-0.894).Conclusions:The data suggest that the plants,E.officinalis and N.odorala alone or in combination,are promising in the development of phytomedicines,which may be used,alone or in combination with the antibiotic. Ax,against MRSA infection.

Leukemic stromal hematopoietic microenvironment negatively regulates the normal hematopoiesis in mouse model of leukemia

Background and Objective: Leukemic microenvironment has a major role in the progression of leukemia. Leukemic cells can induce reversible changes in microenvironmental components, especially the stromal function which results in improved growth conditions for maintaining the malignant leukemic cells. This study aimed to investigate the survival advantage of leukemic cells over normal hematopoietic cells in stromal microenvironment in long term. Methods: The mice were injected intraperitoneally with N-N’ ethylnitrosourea (ENU) to induce leukemia; the mice received injection of normal saline were used as control. At 180 days after ENU induction, the mice were killed and the bone marrows were cultured for 19 days. Colony-forming assays were used to analyze the formation of various cell colonies. The expression of Sca-1, CD146, VEGFR2, CD95, pStat3, pStat5, and Bcl-xL in marrow cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results: Long-term leukemic bone marrow culture showed abnormal elongated stromal fibroblasts with almost absence of normal hematopoietic cells. Adherent cell colonies were increased, but CFU-F and other hematopoietic cell colonies were significantly decreased in leukemia group (P< 0.001). Primitive progenitor-specific Sca-1 receptor expression was decreased with subsequent increased expression of CD146 and VEGFR-2 in leukemic bone marrow cells. Decreased Fas antigen expression with increased intracellular pStat3, pStat5 and Bcl-xL proteins were observed in leukemic bone marrow cells. Conclusions: Stromal microenvironment shows altered morphology and decreased maturation in leukemia. Effective progenitor cells are decreased in leukemia with increased leukemia-specific cell population. Leukemic microenvironment plays a role in promoting and maintaining the leukemic cell proliferation and survivability in long term.

Predictors of mortality among HIV-infected patients initiating anti retroviral therapy at a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India

Objective:To assess early mortality and identify its predictors among the ART naive HIV-infected patients initiating anti retroviral therapy(ART) available free of cost at the ART Centres. Methods:A retrospective cohort analysis of routinely collected programme data was done for assessing mortality of all ART naive adult patients who received first-line ART at a government tertiary care hospital in eastern India during 1st March 2009 and 28th February 2010.Bivariate and multiple regression analyses of the baseline demographic,clinical and laboratory records using SPSS 15.0 were done to identify independent predictors of mortality.Results:The mortality rate at one year was estimated to be 7.66(95%CI 5.84-9.83) deaths/100 patient-years and more than 50%of the deaths occurred during first three months of ART initiation with a median time interval of 73 days.Tuberculosis was the major cause of death.ART naive patients with baseline serum albumin 【3.5 mg/dL were eight(OR 7.9;95%CI:3.8-16.5) at risk of death than those with higher serum albumin levels and patients with CD4 count 【I00 cells/μL were two times(OR 2.2; 95%CI:1.1-4.4) at risk of death compared to higher CD4 counts.Conclusions:Risk of mortality is increased when ART is initiated at advanced stages of immunosuppression denoted by low serum albumin levels and CD4 cell counts.This highlights the importance of early detection of HIV infection,early management of opportunistic infections including tuberculosis and timely initiation of the antiretroviral drugs in the resource-limited countries,now available free in the Indian national ART programme.

Effect of common salt on laboratory reared immature stages of Aedes aegypti(L)

Objective:To observe the effect of common salt(NaCl) on immature stages of laboratory reared Aedes aegypti(L).Methods:A laboratory colony of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes of Rajahmundry strain was established in the laboratory of National Institute for Communicable Disease(NICD), Rajahmundry unit at(26±2)℃with relative humidity of(70±10)%.1.00%,1.25%and 1.50% solutions of common salt(NaCl) were selected to observe the susceptibility status of immature stages of Aedes aegypti in laboratory.Results:Fifty percent larvae of Aedes aegypti died within 19,31 and 48 hours when exposed to 1.50%,1.25%and 1.00%common salt solution, respectively.Ninety percent of the larvae died within 29,57 and 108 hours when exposed to the same salt solutions,respectively.Very high pupal mortality was observed varying from 81.8% to 40.0%.Formation of pupae was found inversely proportional in the presence of concentration of common salt in breeding water.Conclusions:With easy availability,less toxicity and long lasting nature,common salt may be applied in unused containers,especially in junkyards where surveillance mechanism is poor along with other conventional vector control methods in order to control breeding of Aedes aegypti,the vector of dengue/ dengue hemorrhagic fever and chikungunya.

Plasmid mediated antibiotic resistance of Vibrio cholerae Ol biotype E1 Tor serotype Ogawa associated with an outbreak in Kolkata,India

Objective:To determine the antibiotic resistance of Vibrio choleras(V.cholerae) O1 biotype El Tor serotype Ogawa isolates involved in an outbreak of watery diarrhea in Kolkata,and to explore the role of plasmid in mediating antibiotic resistance.Methods:Antibiotic susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) values of antibiotics for the isolated V.cholerae 01 Ogawa(n=12) were determined by disk diffusion and agar dilution methods,respectively,using ampicillin(Am),chloramphenicol(C),trimethoprim(Tm),tetracycline(T).erythromycine(Er), nalidixic acid(Nx).ciprofloxacin(Cp),amikacin(Ak) and cefotaxime(Cf).Plasmid curing of multidrug resistant(MDR) V.cholerae 01 Ogawa strains was done following ethidium bromide treatment.Following electrophoresis,the plasmid DNAs,extracted from the isolated MDR V. cholerae O1 Ogawa strains and their cured derivatives,were visualized and documented in ’gel doc’ system.Results:The outbreak causing V.cholerae O1 Ogawa isolates were MDR as determined by disk diffusion susceptibility test,and MIC determination.The isolates showed three different drug resistance patterns:AmTmTErNx(for 6 isolates).TmTErCp(for 5 isolates), and AmTniNx(for one isolate),and showed uniform sensitivity to C,Ak and Cf.The loss of plasmids with the concomitant loss of resistance to Am,Tm,T and Er of the isolates occurred following ethidium bromide treatment.Conclusions:The current findings suggest that the V. cholerae O1 Ogawa associated with the cholera outbreak were MDR,and resistance to Am,Tm,T and Er among the isolates were plasmid mediated.

The genetic polymorphism of Plasmodium vivax genes in endemic regions of Thailand

Objective:To investigate the genetic polymorphism of Plasmodium vivax(P.vivax) PvCSP and PvMSP1 genes from field isolates at four endemic regions(North,East,West and South) of Thailand.Methods:The 152 P.vivax injected cases from dried blood spots were DMA extracted and confirmed by species-specific primer sets using multiplex PCR method.PvMSPI fragments F2 and F3:PvCSP were gcnotvped using RFLP-PCR method.Resuits:Totally amplified DNA which was multiple genotypes for PvMSP1 F2 and PvMSP1 F3 were 12.50%and 8.55%.respectively while PvCSP was 3.95%.The overall frequency of multiple genotypes was 25%.There were 12 allele tvpes of PvMSP1 F2 using AluI enzyme digestion and 8 size variations were found in P\MSP1 F3.The isolates from western region was highly genetic diverse when compare among all isolates.The predominant variant type of PvCSP gene was \ K2I0 type.Conclusions:The niulliple genotypes are common found in Thailand and it might hide the real genotype.PvCSP does not have extensive genetic diversity in this study.However.PvMSPI marker due to multiple genotypes is difficult In be analyzed.The multiple genotypes findings might stem from population migration and vector species findings.

Serologic evidence of human leptospirosis in and around Kolkata,India:A clinico-epidemiological study

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of leptospirosis among patients from within and outside Kolkata.India,attending the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine,for treatment during August 2002 to August 2008.Methods:The leptospirosis cases were determined on the basis of clinical, epidemiological,and biochemical factors,and were tested for leptospiral antibodies using IgM ELISA.Serum samples with absorbance ratio≥1.21 were interpreted as reactive.Results:The commonest presentation involved fever,headache and jaundice.The male-female ratio was 61:46.A total of 65(64.20%) cases had abnormal liver and renal functions respectively,and 57.1% had both the abnormalities.The highest incidence(75.35.04%) was recorded in SeptemberOctober followed by July-August(53.24.77%).The reactive cases had absorbance ratios between 1.21 and 8.21.and 53 showed equivocal result,while IgM non reactivity were seen in 90 patients (absorbance ratios 0.10-0.90).The patients responded to treatment with parenteral antibiotics, penicillin,ceftriaxone and cefotaxime;follow up did not reveal case fatality.Conclusions:The cardinal signs of leptospirosis help in making clinical diagnosis,but in any hyper-endemic situation any patient reporting with acute lever and signs of pulmonary,hepatic or renal involvement should be suspected to have leptospirosis and investigated accordingly.Increased awareness,and early diagnosis and treatment,can reduce mortality due to leptospirosis.

MiR-503 promotes wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer by targeting FBN1

Objective: To highlight the relationship between miR-503 and wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer(DFU). Methods: Microarray analysis was used to detect the dysregulated miRNAs between the DFU tissues and normal tissues. The expression of miR-503 in tissues and serum of patients with DFU was detected by qRT-PCR technique. Then, CCK-8 assay was applied to determine the cell proliferation. TUNEL assay was used for assessing the apoptosis of cells after treatment with miR-503. Possible correlation between miR-503 and fibillinl(FBN1)was predicted according to data accessed on RNA22 website online, and was detected for confirmation by luciferase reporter assay. Results: Microarray analysis showed that miR-503 was significantly decreased in the DFU tissues compared with normal tissues. While marked increase in the expression of miR-503 in tissues and scrum of patients with DFU was confirmed by qRT-PCR technique. Then, CCK-8 assay indicated that transfection of miR-503 mimic obviously accelerated the cell proliferation. However, TUNEL assays suggested that miR-503 mimic inhibited the apoptosis of cells to improve the survival of fibroblasts.Besides. miR-503 AMO played a role in fibroblasts of DFU tissues exactly countering to miR-503 mimic treatment. It was predicted that MiR-503 is a complementary to the FBN1 by RNA22. Besides, SiRNA-FBN1 promoted the proliferation, but brought down the apoptosis of fibroblasts. Conclusions: MiR-503 regulates the function of fibroblasts and wound healing of patients with DFU by targeting FBN I directly which provids a novel and critical target for diagnosis and treatment of DFU.