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Cureus Sep 2023Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide. IDA is commonly associated with thrombocytosis and normal or slightly decreased leukocyte...
INTRODUCTION
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide. IDA is commonly associated with thrombocytosis and normal or slightly decreased leukocyte count. Sometimes it can present with thrombocytopenia, but rarely present with pancytopenia. Here we are presenting six cases of severe iron deficiency presenting with pancytopenia, which responded to iron replenishment.
METHODS
This 12-month observational study was conducted in the Department of General Medicine at a tertiary care Centre in India. All cases of pancytopenia (after exclusion of other causes) with IDA were included. IDA was established with the help of a complete blood count (CBC), peripheral smear examination, serum iron studies, and serum ferritin. Results: In our study, CBC at four weeks later of iron transfusion without other supplementation showed significant improvement in hematological parameters.
CONCLUSION
Severe iron deficiency is a reversible etiology of pancytopenia. It should be kept as a differential diagnosis of pancytopenia if common causes of pancytopenia are ruled out.
PubMed: 37829950
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45034 -
Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express May 2024Diagnosis of diseases with low facilities, speed, accuracy and sensitivity is an important matter in treatment. Bioprobes based on iron oxide nanoparticles are a good...
Diagnosis of diseases with low facilities, speed, accuracy and sensitivity is an important matter in treatment. Bioprobes based on iron oxide nanoparticles are a good candidate for early detection of deadly and infectious diseases such as tetanus due to their high reactivity, biocompatibility, low production cost and sample separation under a magnetic field. In this study, silane groups were coated on surface of iron oxide nanoparticles using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) hydrolysis. Also, NHgroups were generated on the surface of silanized nanoparticles using 3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane (APTES). Antibody was immobilized on the surface of silanized nanoparticles using TCT trichlorothriazine as activator. Silanization and stabilized antibody were investigated by using of FT-IR, EDX, VSM, SRB technique. UV/vis spectroscopy, fluorescence, agglutination test and ELISA were used for biosensor performance and specificity. The results of FT-IR spectroscopy showed that Si-O-Si and Si-O-Fe bonds and TCT chlorine and amine groups of tetanus anti-toxoid antibodies were formed on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles. The presence of Si, N and C elements in EDX analysis confirms the silanization of iron oxide nanoparticles. VSM results showed that the amount of magnetic nanoparticles after conjugation is sufficient for biological applications. Antibody stabilization on nanoparticles increased the adsorption intensity in the uv/vis spectrometer. The fluorescence intensity of nano bioprobe increased in the presence of 10 ng ml. Nanobio probes were observed as agglomerates in the presence of tetanus toxoid antigen. The presence of tetanus antigen caused the formation of antigen-nanobioprobe antigen complex. Identification of this complex by HRP-bound antibody confirmed the specificity of nanobioprobe. Tetanus magnetic nanobioprobe with a diagnostic limit of 10 ng mlof tetanus antigen in a short time can be a good tool in LOC devices and microfluidic chips.
Topics: Tetanus Toxoid; Silanes; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Biosensing Techniques; Propylamines; Humans; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles; Tetanus; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Antibodies, Immobilized; Limit of Detection; Iron; Agglutination Tests
PubMed: 38479000
DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ad33a8 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023Worldwide, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are an important health problem with many cases reported annually, women being the most affected. UTIs are relevant because...
Worldwide, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are an important health problem with many cases reported annually, women being the most affected. UTIs are relevant because they can become a recurrent condition, associated with different factors that contribute to the chronicity of the disease (cUTI). cUTI can be classified as persistent (peUTI) when the causative agent is the same each time the infection occurs or as reinfection (reUTI) when the associated microorganism is different. The purpose of this work was to characterize isolates obtained in two prospective studies of patients with cUTI, to define which of them corresponded to peUTI and which to reUTI. A total of 394 isolates of were analyzed by agglutination with specific sera, antimicrobial susceptibility by diffusion disc test, and the phylogroups and presence of genes associated with virulence by PCR assays. Additionally, in some characterized strains adherence, invasiveness, and biofilm formation were analyzed by assays. The results showed that the peUTI strains belonged mainly to the classical UPEC serogroups (O25, O75, O6), were included in the B2 phylogroup, carried a great number of virulence genes, and were adherent, invasive, and biofilm-forming. Meanwhile, reUTI strains showed great diversity of serogroups, belonged mainly in the A phylogroup, and carried fewer virulence genes. Both peUTI and reUTI strains showed extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) profiles in the antimicrobial susceptibility test. In conclusion, it appears that peUTIs are caused principally by classical UPEC strains, while reUTIs are caused by strains that appear to be a part of the common intestinal biota. Moreover, although both peUTI and reUTI strains presented different serotypes and phylogroups, their antimicrobial resistance profile (XDR and MDR) was similar, confirming the importance of regulating prophylactic treatments and seeking alternatives for the treatment and control of cUTI. Finally, it was possible to establish the features of the strains responsible for peUTI and reUTI which could be helpful to develop a fast diagnostic methodology.
Topics: Humans; Female; Escherichia coli; Follow-Up Studies; Escherichia coli Infections; Prospective Studies; Virulence Factors; Urinary Tract Infections; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 38074750
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1240392 -
Histology and Histopathology Mar 2024The impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy has been analyzed suggesting an increased risk of placental lesions that might lead to maternal and neonatal complications. However,... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
The impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy has been analyzed suggesting an increased risk of placental lesions that might lead to maternal and neonatal complications. However, the current published evidence is not conclusive because contradictory results.
METHODS
PLAXAVID is an observational, retrospective, histopathological, single-center study that aimed to evaluate the prevalence of vascular and inflammatory lesions in placental and umbilical cord samples of one hundred women infected by SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy.
RESULTS
The histopathological analysis showed that in most of the placentas (77.8%) there were signs of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM; primary endpoint). The most common MVM features were an accelerated villous maturation (37.4%), central villous infarcts (33.3%), and villous agglutination (46.5%). Fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM) was identified in 57.6% of samples, and the most frequent features were hyalinized avascular villi (38.4%), fetal vascular thrombi (20.2%) and umbilical cord at risk of partial obstruction (14.1%). Acute and chronic inflammatory pathology were noticed in 22.2% and 49.5% of placentas, respectively. No significant correlations were found between MVM presence and the time, duration, and severity of infection, nor with the duration of pregnancy. However, in critically ill patients, the pregnancy duration (=0.008), newborn weight (=0.003), and APGAR test scores (<0.001) were significantly lower. The same trend was observed considering the presence of infection at the time of delivery and in preterm births.
CONCLUSION
A very high percentage of placentas with vascular and/or inflammatory lesions was found in the analyzed cohort. Therefore, PLAXAVID study results supported that COVID-19 should be considered a risk factor during gestation and requires close monitoring of pregnancy.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; COVID-19; Duodenum; Placenta; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 37341427
DOI: 10.14670/HH-18-639 -
Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao. Yi Xue Ban =... Dec 2023Sjögren's syndrome(SS)is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects exocrine glands, especially salivary and lacrimal glands. The main clinical manifestations are dry...
Sjögren's syndrome(SS)is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects exocrine glands, especially salivary and lacrimal glands. The main clinical manifestations are dry mouth and dry eyes, but also multi-organ and multi-system can be involved. Cold agglutinin disease(CAD)is an autoimmune disease characterized by red blood cell agglutination in the blood vessels of extremities caused by cold agglutinin at low temperature, resulting in skin microcirculation disturbance, or hemolytic anemia. Cold agglutinin disease is divided into two categories, primary cold agglutinin disease and secondary cold agglutinin disease. Primary cold agglutinin disease is characterized with cold agglutinin titer of 1 ∶4 000 or more and positive Coomb's test. However, the Coomb's test is not necessarily positive and the cold agglutinin titer is between 1 ∶32 and 1 ∶4 000 in secondary cold agglutinin disease. Here, we reported an elderly patient admitted to hospital due to fever. He was diagnosed with respiratory infection, but he showed incompletely response to the anti-infection treatment. Further laboratory tests showed the patient with positive ANA and anti-SSA antibodies. Additionally, the patient complained that he had dry mouth and dry eyes for 1 year. Schirmer test and salivate gland imaging finally confirmed the diagnosis Sjogren's syndrome. During the hospital stay, the blood clots were found in the anticoagulant tubes. Hemolytic anemia was considered as the patient had anemia with elevated reticulocytes and indirect bilirubin. In addition, further examination showed positive cold agglutination test with a titer of 1 ∶1 024, and cold agglutinin disease was an important type of cold-resistant autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Furthermore, the patient developed cyanosis after ice incubating at the tip of the nose. Hence, the patient was diagnosed as CAD and he was successfully treated with glucocorticoids instead of anti-infection treatments. Hence, the patient was diagnosed with SS combined with secondary CAD. SS combined CAD are rarely reported, and they are both autoimmune diseases. The abnormal function of B lymphocytes and the production of autoantibodies might be the common pathogenesis of them. Cold agglutinin disease can lead to severe hemolytic anemia, even life-threatening. In clinical practice, timely recognizing and dealing with CAD might promote the prognosis of the patient.
Topics: Male; Humans; Aged; Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune; Sjogren's Syndrome; Anemia, Hemolytic; Dry Eye Syndromes; Autoantibodies
PubMed: 38101800
DOI: 10.19723/j.issn.1671-167X.2023.06.027 -
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology... Jun 2024Leptospirosis is a (re) emerging zoonosis that occurs worldwide. This study aimed to assess seroprevalence of leptospirosis and to identify the most common reactive...
Leptospirosis is a (re) emerging zoonosis that occurs worldwide. This study aimed to assess seroprevalence of leptospirosis and to identify the most common reactive serovars and risk factors for seropositivity in apparently healthy stray dogs of unknown vaccination status in the Sarajevo region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Positive microscopic agglutination test titres (≥ 1:25) were detected in 3.87% (156/4028) of samples and most of the sera reacted against one serovar (85.9%). Dogs were most commonly reactive to Canicola (40.4%) and Hardjo (33.3%), followed by Pomona (15.4%) Tarassovi (14.7%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (8.3%), Grippotyphosa (5.8%), Bratislava (1.3%) and Saxkoebing (0.6%). Dogs older than one year had higher odds of seropositivity compared to younger dogs. The seropositivity was higher in spring and autumn than in summer. These results advocate for the need of a control strategy for this zoonosis in the country, which should include sero-surveillance, monitoring, and the inclusion of additional serovars in the testing.
Topics: Animals; Leptospirosis; Dogs; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dog Diseases; Leptospira; Antibodies, Bacterial; Risk Factors; Male; Female; Seasons; Serogroup; Agglutination Tests; Zoonoses
PubMed: 38598876
DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102171 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2024Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease. The standard serological test, known as Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), requires the use of live...
Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease. The standard serological test, known as Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), requires the use of live Leptospira strains. To enhance its sensitivity and specificity, the usage of locally circulating strains is recommended. However, to date, no local strain is available from Austria. This study aimed to isolate circulating Leptospira strains from cattle in Austria to enhance the performances of the routine serological test for both humans and animals. We used a statistical approach combined with a comprehensive literature search to profile cattle with greater risk of leptospirosis infection and implemented a targeted sampling between November 2021 and October 2022. Urine and/or kidney tissue were sampled from 410 cattle considered at higher risk of infection. Samples were inoculated into EMJH-STAFF culture media within 2-6 h and a real-time PCR targeting the lipL32 gene was used to confirm the presence/absence of pathogenic Leptospira in each sample. Isolates were further characterised by core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Nine out of 429 samples tested positive by PCR, from which three isolates were successfully cultured and identified as Leptospira borgpetersenii serogroup Sejroe serovar Hardjobovis, cgMLST cluster 40. This is the first report on the isolation and genotyping of local zoonotic Leptospira in Austria, which holds the potential for a significant improvement in diagnostic performance in the country. Although the local strain was identified as a cattle-adapted serovar, it possesses significant zoonotic implications. Furthermore, this study contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of leptospirosis in Europe.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Cattle; Genotype; Austria; Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Zoonoses; Serogroup
PubMed: 38409294
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53775-w -
Cureus Aug 2023The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the clinical, laboratory, and treatment response characteristics of patients diagnosed with positive culture or...
PURPOSE
The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the clinical, laboratory, and treatment response characteristics of patients diagnosed with positive culture or serology. In this way, we wanted to assess the validity of serological diagnosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study between January 2010 and 2020. Patients with clinical and laboratory findings of acute/subacute brucellosis, patients with positive serological tests, and patients with growth of spp. in blood culture were included in the study. The patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 - Wright agglutination test result ≥ 1/160 and spp. growth in blood culture; Group 2 - Wright agglutination test result ≥ 1/160 and no growth in blood culture; and Group 3 - spp. growth in blood culture and negative serological test. These three groups were retrospectively evaluated for clinical features, laboratory parameters, areas of involvement, treatment options, and treatment response.
RESULTS
We identified 294 patients diagnosed with brucellosis. Blood cultures were obtained from all patients, and spp. was detected in 40 patients (13.6%). There were 35 patients in Group 1, 254 patients in Group 2, and five patients in Group 3. When examining patients with symptoms, only fever showed a difference between the groups, which was significantly higher in Group 1. Laboratory investigations of the C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of the patients showed significant differences between the groups; these parameters were significantly higher in Group 1.
CONCLUSION
No significant difference was found in terms of treatment response and prognosis between patients with and without blood culture growth who were clinically compatible with acute/subacute brucellosis as diagnosed by serological methods. Therefore, serological tests are reliable methods for the diagnosis of brucellosis in cases where blood culture is inconclusive.
PubMed: 37727170
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43758 -
Journal of the American Animal Hospital... May 2024An 8 yr old male German shorthaired pointer was presented on July 4, 2022, for acute abdominal and testicular pain. The dog was vasectomized at an unknown age under the...
An 8 yr old male German shorthaired pointer was presented on July 4, 2022, for acute abdominal and testicular pain. The dog was vasectomized at an unknown age under the care of his previous owners. The dog had an enlarged, painful left testis, scrotal edema, and an enlarged, nonpainful prostate. Abdominal ultrasound revealed mild peritoneal and retroperitoneal effusion, orchiepididymitis, enlarged ductus deferentes and testicles, and suspected benign prostatic hyperplasia versus prostatitis. Peritoneal effusion cytology revealed seminoperitoneum with marked neutrophilic inflammation. Peritoneal effusion aerobic culture and Brucella canis rapid slide agglutination test were negative. The dog was hospitalized overnight with IV antibiotic therapy and analgesics. The following day, the dog's abdominal pain, testicular pain, and scrotal edema were resolved. The dog was discharged and castrated after completion of antibiotic therapy and complete resolution of clinical signs. Testicular histopathology results were not available. Seminoperitoneum is uncommon in dogs and is a rare diagnosis for dogs with acute abdominal pain. This is the second known reported case of a seminoperitoneum in a vasectomized dog.
Topics: Male; Dogs; Animals; Dog Diseases; Vasectomy; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Testicular Diseases
PubMed: 38662996
DOI: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-7420 -
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary... Oct 2023Association between the ABO blood group and patient outcomes in COVID-19 patients is still unexplored. A known association may help to understand possible risks in...
BACKGROUND
Association between the ABO blood group and patient outcomes in COVID-19 patients is still unexplored. A known association may help to understand possible risks in advance to the management of such COVID-19 patients. The present study was designed to test such association if there is any, between the ABO blood group and the severity of COVID-19 patients.
METHODS
The present hospital-based observational study was conducted at a COVID-19 dedicated tertiary care hospital in North India over a period of six months during the first wave of the pandemic in the country. Five hundred consecutive patients, who tested positive for COVID-19 using RT-PCR on oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swabs, admitted to the hospital were included in the study. ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood grouping was done on leftover hematology blood samples using gel column agglutination technology. Required clinical details of patients including age, gender, clinical symptoms, comorbidities, outcomes, etc., were obtained from the patient's case sheets.
RESULTS
The most common blood group was 'B' (42.8%) followed by 'O' (23.4%), and 'A' (22.4%) while the least common was 'AB' (11.4%). Rh positive was seen in 96.2% while 3.8% were negative. Baseline characteristics were comparable including length of hospital stay, duration of symptoms, and associated comorbid illnesses. The need for intensive care unit (ICU) admissions ( = 0.05) and intubations ( = 0.20) was similar across all four blood groups. Differences in the severity of COVID-19 disease and mortalities among the groups were non-significant.
CONCLUSION
There was no observed association found between the ABO blood group and COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, intubation, and outcomes. However, there was a higher proportion of breathlessness and the presence of at least one comorbidity in blood group O as compared to others.
PubMed: 38074257
DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2450_22