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Sexually Transmitted Diseases Mar 2018After reaching a nadir at the turn of the century, syphilis rates in the United States have increased since 2000. Treponema pallidum may disseminate to the central... (Review)
Review
After reaching a nadir at the turn of the century, syphilis rates in the United States have increased since 2000. Treponema pallidum may disseminate to the central nervous system within hours to days after inoculation. In this review, we focus on knowledge gaps and areas of controversy in neurosyphilis epidemiology, diagnosis, and management. Modern estimates of the prevalence of neurosyphilis are hindered by the lack of consistent reporting data and are based on relatively small retrospective cohort studies. The various diagnostic modalities for neurosyphilis have significant limitations. Although several novel biomarkers for neurosyphilis have been evaluated, none to date have found a place in clinical practice. The role of a cerebrospinal fluid examination in patients without neurological symptoms continues to be an area of controversy, whereas the data for the use of antibiotic regimens other than intravenous aqueous or intramuscular procaine penicillin for the treatment of neurosyphilis are limited. As syphilis incidence continues to increase unabated in many countries around the world, it is critical to address these gaps of knowledge.
Topics: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Incidence; Neurosyphilis
PubMed: 29420441
DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000723 -
Oncology Research Mar 2021Colon cancer is one of the most lethal varieties of cancer. Chemotherapy remains as one of the principal treatment approaches for colon cancer. The anticancer activity...
Colon cancer is one of the most lethal varieties of cancer. Chemotherapy remains as one of the principal treatment approaches for colon cancer. The anticancer activity of procaine (PCA), which is a local anesthetic drug, has been explored in different studies. In our study, we aimed to explore the anticancer effect of PCA on colon cancer and its underlying mechanism. The results showed that PCA significantly inhibited cell viability, increased the percentage of apoptotic cells, and decreased the expression level of RhoA in HCT116 cells in a dose-dependent manner (<0.05 or <0.01). Moreover, PCA increased the proportion of HCT116 cells in the G phase as well as downregulated cyclin D1 and cyclin E expressions (<0.05). In addition, we found that PCA remarkably inhibited cell migration in HCT116 cells (<0.01). However, all these effects of PCA on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were significantly reversed by PCA+pc-RhoA (<0.05 or <0.01). PCA also significantly decreased the levels of p-ERK, p-p38MAPK, and p-FAK, but PCA+pc-RhoA rescued these effects. Furthermore, the ERK inhibitor (PD098059), p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), and FAK inhibitor (Y15) reversed these results. These data indicate that PCA inhibited cell proliferation and migration but promoted apoptosis as well as inactivated the ERK/MAPK/FAK pathways by regulation of RhoA in HCT116 cells.
PubMed: 33731247
DOI: 10.3727/096504021X16137463165406 -
Veterinary and Animal Science Jun 2022Decapod crustaceans (crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimps, prawns) are sentient beings, not only responding to noxious stimuli but also being capable of... (Review)
Review
Decapod crustaceans (crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimps, prawns) are sentient beings, not only responding to noxious stimuli but also being capable of feeling pain, discomfort, and distress. General anaesthesia aims at producing analgesia, immobilization, and unconsciousness, while sedation reduces consciousness, stress, and anxiety, though without analgesia. Anaesthesia is recommended to ensure animal welfare and suppress nociception, pain, and suffering in painful and distressing practice that impairs decapods' welfare. These include long term restrain, surgical procedures, pain control, examination, diagnostic, sampling, treatment, transportation, and euthanasia. The necessary anaesthetic depth, from sedation to surgical anaesthesia, depends on the procedure type. Anaesthetic bath and injection are commonly used, besides inhalation, local anaesthesia, and intracardiac injection. Agents used for the anaesthetic bath include eugenol, isoeugenol, lidocaine, halothane, and essential oils of lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, and sandalwood. While alphaxalone, eugenol, ketamine-xylazine, lidocaine, morphine, procaine, tiletamine-zolazepam, and xylazine can be used as injectable agents administered on the arthrodial membrane or intramuscular injection. Halothane can be used on inhalation anaesthesia. Local anaesthetics include lidocaine and benzocaine. Notwithstanding, many others are detrimental or ineffective to decapods, thus discouraged. They include but not limited to hypothermia, carbon dioxide, chlorpromazine, chloroform, ethanol, ether, magnesium salts, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), mint and lavender essential oils, passionflower extract, and valerian. Decapods' welfare, protection, and veterinary attention should not be neglected, but they must receive ethical treatment, including the best of our knowledge and available tools to ensure they are free of pain and discomfort whenever we deal with them.
PubMed: 35620220
DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2022.100252