Overview of current detection methods and microRNA potential in Clostridioides difficile infection screening

Clostridioides difficile(formerly called Clostridium difficile,C.difficile)infection(CDI)is listed as an urgent threat on the 2019 antibiotic resistance threats report in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Early detection and appropriate disease management appear to be essential.Meanwhile,although the majority of cases are hospital-acquired CDI,community-acquired CDI cases are also on the rise,and this vulnerability is not limited to immunocompromised patients.Gastrointestinal treatments and/or gastrointestinal tract surgeries may be required for patients diagnosed with digestive diseases.Such treatments could suppress or interfere with the patient’s immune system and disrupt gut flora homeostasis,creating a suitable microecosystem for C.difficile overgrowth.Currently,stool-based non-invasive screening is the first-line approach to CDI diagnosis,but the accuracy is varied due to different clinical microbiology detection methods;therefore,improving reliability is clearly required.In this review,we briefly summarised the life cycle and toxicity of C.difficile,and we examined existing diagnostic approaches with an emphasis on novel biomarkers such as microRNAs.These biomarkers can be easily detected through noninvasive liquid biopsy and can yield crucial information about ongoing pathological phenomena,particularly in CDI.

Relations between Phlegm and Generation and Development of Gastric Cancer

In terms of various therapies for gastric cancer seriously affecting the human health, the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy should be further evaluated and radiotherapy is more applicable to the operation, and it is still difficult to evaluate the effects

Effects of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii intervention on immune response, intestinal flora and intestinal mucosal barrier of mice with ulcerative colitis

Objective: To study the effects of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii intervention on immune response, intestinal flora and intestinal mucosal barrier of mice with ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, UC group and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii group, the latter two groups were made into UC models by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid enema and F. prausnitzii group were given intragastric administration of F. prausnitzii solution for intervention. The differences in immune response, intestinal flora, and intestinal mucosal barrier were compared among the three groups after 7 days of intervention. Results: The interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) contents in serum, the fork head box P3 (Foxp3), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, claudin-1 and claudin-2 expression in intestinal mucosa as well as the number of bifidobacterium and lactobacillus in feces of the UC group were significantly lower than those of the control group whereas the interleukin-17 (IL-17), diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactic acid (D-LA) contents in serum, the retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt) expression in intestinal mucosa as well as the number of enterobacter and enterococcus in feces were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05);IL-10 and TGF-β1 contents in serum, Foxp3, ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1 and claudin-2 expression in intestinal mucosa as well as the number of bifidobacterium and lactobacillus in feces of the F. prausnitzii group were significantly higher than those of the UC group whereas IL-17, DAO and D-LA contents in serum, RORγt expression in intestinal mucosa as well as the number of enterobacter and enterococcus in feces were significantly lower than those of the UC group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii intervention can improve the Th17/Treg immune response, intestinal flora and intestinal mucosal barrier in UC mice.

Dissociating Delusional Disorders and Infections from Dermatologic and Neurologic Effects of Morgellons Disease

Morgellons disease (MD) is a multi-system disorder characterized by multicolor filaments extruding out of the skin along with an array of dermatologic and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It was previously termed Delusional parasitosis. However, published scientific data found the association of MD symptoms with the systemic manifestations of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia spirochete. In a retrospective study of 122 MD patients, skin specimens were examined and 96% of them showed Borrelia spirochete in their histology sample. Hence, this association suggests that spirochete infection could be a possible cause of chronic illness in MD patients, and this rejected the physician’s perception that MD lesions might be self-inflicted. A cohort study reported tick-borne co-infections among MD patients, which could also be an etiological factor for dermopathy in MD patients. Some literature also discussed neuropsychiatric manifestations like cognitive impairment, dementia anxiety, depression, paranoia, and sensory hallucinations in Lyme disease and associated tick-borne infection. The objectives of this review are to identify the differences in the past and current perception regarding the pathogenesis of MD and determine the associations of spirochetal and tick-borne diseases with MD and psychiatric illnesses. More than 50 new research articles and case reports were reviewed and only 31 articles were shortlisted and used as references. This review has a detailed discussion on Morgellons disease and its association with Spirochete infection.

Association between Piscine Mycobacteriosis and Morgellons Disease: A Review of Literature

Piscine mycobacteriosis is a fatal fish illness that affects a variety of species globally. It affects over 200 species of freshwater and marine fish. Several species of Mycobacterium are responsible among them Mycobacterium marinum is the comment. It also affects humans when exposed to contaminated water. In fishes, the symptoms include eroded fins, body surface coated with heavy mucus, changing pigmentation, swelling of abdomen, ulcerative dermal necrosis, and scale loss. In humans, the infection is classified into three clinical groups. Type I is a self-limiting, verruca lesion. Type II is single or numerous subcutaneous granulomas in the presence or absence of ulceration. Type III is deep infections of the tenosynovium, bones, bursa, or joints, resulting in tenosynovitis, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis. The diagnosis is made by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining, culture, biochemical reaction, and PCR being the most reliable approach. Piscine mycobacteriosis is treated by antibiotics and vaccination has been considered for its long-term prevention in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. Morgellons disease (MD) is a filamentous dermopathy in which lesions with strange filamentous inclusions appear out of nowhere. Furthermore, formication may accompany dermopathy. The identification of Borrelia spirochetes directly in Morgellons disease patient specimen is constant and repeatable when sensitive and precise detection techniques are utilized. It has been diagnosed by microscopy, histology and molecular diagnostic techniques which are highly sensitive and specific. Morgellons disease is still a myth therefore its treatment is evolving, up to date it has been treated symptomatically.

Association between Brainerd Diarrhea and Zebra Mussel Infestations

Brainerd Diarrhea is a syndrome of acute onset of watery, non-bloody diarrhea that lasts for a duration of 4 weeks or more. The index case of Brainerd Diarrhea was recorded in 1983, in the first such outbreak in Brainerd, Minnesota. In 1989, a prohibited invasive species named Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were found in the great lakes of the United States. The 7 recorded outbreaks of Brainerd diarrhea were correlated with the location and time of zebra mussel infestations. The first outbreak that occurred due to consumption of raw milk took place in Minnesota which is near the waters infested by zebra mussels. All other outbreaks were related to consumption of contaminated unchlorinated water occurred in regions not directly close to the infested rivers. However, since infestations are thought to occur due to human activity, undocumented infestations faraway are still possible. Evidence shows minor correlations between Brainerd Diarrhea outbreaks and Zebra Mussel infestations. However, none of the facts are strong enough to establish or deny a significant correlation or causation. Further cohort studies and research need to be done on the recent discoveries of Zebra Mussel infestations and new Brainerd diarrhea outbreaks. The primary search engine used to gather information for this review was ScienceDirect and PubMed. More than 35 articles and case reports were reviewed and only 20 were shortlisted and used as references. None of the studies included were restricted to study design, but studies with less than 10 participants/patients were excluded from the review.

Why China Can’t Back Down In the Donglang Standoff

The military standoff between China and India in the Donglang region has lasted for almost two months by far,and there is still no end in sight.China has made it clear that there is no room for negotiation and the only solution is the unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Indian troops from the region.

Effective Education in a College in Bangladesh: From Managerial to Transformational Leadership

This paper is a study on the compulsion of transformational leadership from the part of the principal of this era when the demography of the students are changing exponentially, when the globe is experiencing massive changes in methods and techniques in educational process but the institutions remain the same as its ethics and operational strategies. The time is eloping when an educational head earns praises due to their prominence and performance in managerial functioning. But this paper tends to focus on several persisting challenges in these educational institutions like huge gap between teacher-student ratio, students’ increasing technological oriented learning, teachers’ lack of knowledge of multimedia class operation, girls’ little rate of enrolment in higher level of education, early marriage of school going girls and ensuring quality education to girls as per the demand of SDG 4 by 2030. This paper fosters the idea that a transformational head of the institution can be successful in this chase of challenges as he involves everyone to activities in order to reach goal. He works with the other members as a team member and thus a challenge of an institution turns to be liability to all.

Efficacy and Safety of All-oral Emitasvir and Sofosbuvir in Patients with Genotype 1b HCV Infections without Cirrhosis

Publications>Journals>Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology>Article Full Text ORIGINAL ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS Efficacy and Safety of All-oral Emitasvir and Sofosbuvir in Patients with Genotype 1b HCV Infections without Cirrhosis Huiying Rao1,Xingxiang Yang2,Youwen Tan3,Qin Ning4,Daokun Yang5,Jiefei Wang6,Yongfeng Yang7,Sujun Zheng8,Dongliang Yang9,Jinlin Hou10,Qing Xie11,Caiyan Zhao12,Lunli Zhang13,Xiaorong Mao14,Tong Sun15,Lang Bai16,Fuchun Zhang17,Jinglan Jin18,Yingren Zhao19,Maorong Wang20,Wen Xie21,Yingjie Ma22,Jun Quan23,Xuebing Yan24,Ping An25,Feng Lin26,Jidong Jia27,Xiaoxuan Hu28,Zuojiong Gong29,Jie Wu30,Yongping Chen31,Zhansheng Jia32,Minghua Lin33,Guiqiang Wang34,Yueyong Zhu35,Yingjun Zhang*,36,Hongming Xie36,Lin Luo36,Qingyun Ren36,Rui Huang1 and Lai Wei*,37 Author information Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology 2020;8(3):255-261DOI:10.14218/JCTH.2020.00031 Abstract Background and Aims:Emitasvir is a new type of hepatitis C virus(HCV)nonstructural protein 5A(NS5A)inhibitor,and the data of phase 2 trial has shown emitasvir-sofosbuvir to have good safety and tolerance.We conducted this phase 3 trial to further verify the efficacy and safety.Methods:We evaluated the antiviral activity and safety of a 12-week regimen of emitasvir phosphate(100 mg)combined with sofosbuvir(400 mg)once daily in non-cirrhotic patients with genotype 1 HCV infection.The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response at 12 weeks(SVR12)after the end of treatment.Results:Of the 362 patients enrolled in the trial,39.8%were male,99.2%had HCV genotype 1b,0.8%had genotype 1a and 79.8%were treatment-naïve.The average age was 47.2 years.All patients completed the treatment and follow-up.All 3 patients with genotype 1a achieved SVR.Two genotype 1b treatment-naïve patients experienced virologic relapse.The rate of SVR12 was 99.7%(358/359),and SVR24 was 99.4%(357/359)in genotype 1b.Overall,36.2%had resistance-associated substitutions(RASs)in NS5A and 98.3%had RASs in NS5B at baseline.The RASs at baseline had no effect on the rates of response.Serious adverse events were reported in 16 patients and were not related to emitasvir-sofosbuvir.Most adverse events did not require therapy.Conclusions:The 12 weeks of treatment with emitasvir-sofosbuvir was a highly efficient and safe treatment for a wide range of patients with HCV genotype 1b infection without cirrhosis,who had not been treated or who had been treated with interferon-based regimen previously.

An efficient technique for solving fractional-order diffusion equations arising in oil pollution

In this article,non-linear time-fractional diffusion equations are considered to describe oil pollution in the water.The latest technique,fractional reduced differential transform method(FRDTM),is used to ac-quire approximate solutions of the time fractional-order diffusion equation and two cases of Allen-Cahn equations.The acquired results are collated with the exact solutions and other results from literature for integer-orderα,which reveal that the proposed method is effective.Hence,FRDTM can be employed to obtain solutions for different types of nonlinear fractional-order IVPs arising in engineering and science.