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Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2023This study aimed to identify biomarkers for acute and chronic brucellosis using advanced proteomic and bioinformatic methods.
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to identify biomarkers for acute and chronic brucellosis using advanced proteomic and bioinformatic methods.
METHODS
Blood samples from individuals with acute brucellosis, chronic brucellosis, and healthy controls were analyzed. Proteomic techniques and differential expression analysis were used to identify differentially expressed proteins. Co-expression modules associated with brucellosis traits were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).
RESULTS
763 differentially expressed proteins were identified, and two co-expression modules were found to be significantly associated with brucellosis traits. 25 proteins were differentially expressed in all three comparisons, and 20 hub proteins were identified. Nine proteins were found to be both differentially expressed and hub proteins, indicating their potential significance. A random forest model based on these nine proteins showed good classification performance.
DISCUSSION
The identified proteins are involved in processes such as inflammation, coagulation, extracellular matrix regulation, and immune response. They provide insights into potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers for brucellosis. This study improves our understanding of brucellosis at the molecular level and paves the way for further research in targeted therapies and diagnostics.
Topics: Humans; Proteomics; Biomarkers; Phenotype; Brucellosis; Computational Biology; Gene Regulatory Networks
PubMed: 37520434
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1216176 -
Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2023Balancing the potentially serious outcomes of asymptomatic brucellosis and "waiting" for treatment in clinical practice is an urgent issue. Therefore, we assessed the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Balancing the potentially serious outcomes of asymptomatic brucellosis and "waiting" for treatment in clinical practice is an urgent issue. Therefore, we assessed the follow-up outcomes and epidemiological characteristics of asymptomatic brucellosis in the absence of treatment to provide evidence-based clinical clues. We searched eight databases in which 3610 studies from 1990 to 2021 were related to the follow-up outcomes of asymptomatic brucellosis. Thirteen studies, involving 107 cases, were finally included. Regarding the follow-up outcomes, we examined the presence or absence of symptoms and decreased serum agglutination test (SAT) titre. During the 0.5-18 months follow-up period, the pooled prevalence of appearing symptomatic was 15.4% (95% CI 2.1%-34.3%), cases that remained asymptomatic were 40.3% (95% CI 16.6%-65.8%), and decreased SAT titre was observed in 36.5% (95% CI 11.6%-66.1%). Subgroup analysis indicated that the pooled prevalence of appearing symptomatic with follow-up times of less than 6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-18 months was 11.5%, 26.4%, and 47.6%, respectively. The student subgroup had a higher prevalence of symptoms (46.6%) than the occupational and family populations. In conclusion, asymptomatic brucellosis has a high likelihood of appearing symptomatic and its severity may be underestimated. Active screening of occupational and family populations should be enhanced, and special attention should be paid to high-titre students for early intervention, if necessary. Additionally, future prospective, long-term, and large-sample follow-up studies are essential.
Topics: Humans; Follow-Up Studies; Brucellosis; Agglutination Tests; Prevalence
PubMed: 36849445
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2185464 -
Archivio Italiano Di Urologia,... Dec 2023Brucella epididymo-orchitis (BEO) is a rare complication of brucellosis. Despite the high incidence of brucellosis in developing countries, few case series on BEO are... (Review)
Review
Brucella epididymo-orchitis (BEO) is a rare complication of brucellosis. Despite the high incidence of brucellosis in developing countries, few case series on BEO are available. This study focuses on the clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment of BEO with a review of the literature. This study included consecutive BEO patients diagnosed and treated at Smart Health Tower between 2021 and 2023. The required data were retrospectively collected from patients' profiles. The BEO diagnosis was established through scrotal Doppler ultrasound in cases with a positive Rose Bengal test and positive IgG and IgM results for brucellosis, in addition to scrotal pain and swelling. This study included 11 cases whose ages ranged from 22 to 55 years. Most of the cases presented with testicular pain (72.7%), followed by fever (63.6%) and arthralgia (63.6%). The right side (54.5%) was slightly more affected than the left side (45.5%). The major abnormal laboratory finding was an elevated C-reactive protein (82%). The treatment was conservative, in which a combination of gentamicin, doxycycline, and rifampicin was administered to the patients for about 6-8 weeks. One case underwent an orchiectomy due to the abscess formation. All the patients responded well to the treatment, with no recurrence. In the Middle East, brucellosis remains a concerning infectious disease. Early diagnosis, aimed at preventing abscess formation and other complications, takes first priority to avoid invasive interventions.
Topics: Male; Humans; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Brucella; Orchitis; Abscess; Retrospective Studies; Brucellosis; Pain
PubMed: 38193225
DOI: 10.4081/aiua.2023.11978 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2023Zoonotic diseases, infections transmitted naturally from animals to humans, pose a significant public health challenge worldwide. After MERS-CoV was discovered, interest... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Zoonotic diseases, infections transmitted naturally from animals to humans, pose a significant public health challenge worldwide. After MERS-CoV was discovered, interest in camels was raised as potential intermediate hosts for zoonotic viruses. Most published review studies pay little attention to case reports or zoonotic epidemics where there is epidemiological proof of transmission from camels to humans. Accordingly, any pathogen found in camels known to cause zoonotic disease in other animals or humans is reported.
METHODS
Here, zoonotic diseases linked to camels are reviewed in the literature, focusing on those with epidemiological or molecular evidence of spreading from camels to humans. This review examines the risks posed by camel diseases to human health, emphasizing the need for knowledge and awareness in mitigating these risks.
RESULTS
A search of the literature revealed that eight (36.4%) of the 22 investigations that offered convincing evidence of camel-to-human transmission involved MERS, five (22.7%) Brucellosis, four (18.2%) plague caused by , three (13.6%) camelpox, one (4.5%) hepatitis E, and one (4.5%) anthrax. The reporting of these zoonotic diseases has been steadily increasing, with the most recent period, from 2010 to the present, accounting for 59% of the reports. Additionally, camels have been associated with several other zoonotic diseases, including toxoplasmosis, Rift Valley fever, TB, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and Q fever, despite having no evidence of a transmission event. Transmission of human zoonotic diseases primarily occurs through camel milk, meat, and direct or indirect contact with camels. The above-mentioned diseases were discussed to determine risks to human health.
CONCLUSION
MERS, Brucellosis, plague caused by , camelpox, hepatitis E, and anthrax are the main zoonotic diseases associated with human disease events or outbreaks. Transmission to humans primarily occurs through camel milk, meat, and direct contact with camels. There is a need for comprehensive surveillance, preventive measures, and public health interventions based on a one-health approach to mitigate the risks of zoonotic infections linked to camels.
PubMed: 37929289
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1244833 -
Journal of Clinical Microbiology Aug 2023Bacteria of the genus Brucella are facultative intracellular parasites that cause brucellosis, a severe animal and human disease. Recently, a group of taxonomists merged...
Bacteria of the genus Brucella are facultative intracellular parasites that cause brucellosis, a severe animal and human disease. Recently, a group of taxonomists merged the brucellae with the primarily free-living, phylogenetically related spp. in the genus Brucella. This change, founded only on global genomic analysis and the fortuitous isolation of some opportunistic spp. from medically compromised patients, has been automatically included in culture collections and databases. We argue that clinical and environmental microbiologists should not accept this nomenclature, and we advise against its use because (i) it was presented without in-depth phylogenetic analyses and did not consider alternative taxonomic solutions; (ii) it was launched without the input of experts in brucellosis or ; (iii) it applies a non-consensus genus concept that disregards taxonomically relevant differences in structure, physiology, population structure, core-pangenome assemblies, genome structure, genomic traits, clinical features, treatment, prevention, diagnosis, genus description rules, and, above all, pathogenicity; and (iv) placing these two bacterial groups in the same genus creates risks for veterinarians, medical doctors, clinical laboratories, health authorities, and legislators who deal with brucellosis, a disease that is particularly relevant in low- and middle-income countries. Based on all this information, we urge microbiologists, bacterial collections, genomic databases, journals, and public health boards to keep the Brucella and genera separate to avoid further bewilderment and harm.
Topics: Ochrobactrum; Brucella; Terminology as Topic; Phylogeny; Brucellosis; Humans; Opportunistic Infections
PubMed: 37395662
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00438-23 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Dec 2023Nano-based drug delivery systems are increasingly used for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of several diseases, thanks to several beneficial properties, including... (Review)
Review
Nano-based drug delivery systems are increasingly used for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of several diseases, thanks to several beneficial properties, including the ability to target specific cells or organs, allowing to reduce treatment costs and side effects frequently associated with chemotherapeutic medications, thereby improving treatment compliance of patients. In the field of communicable diseases, especially those caused by intracellular bacteria, the delivery of antibiotics targeting specific cells is of critical importance to maximize their treatment efficacy. Brucella melitensis, an intracellular obligate bacterium surviving and replicating inside macrophages is hard to be eradicated, mainly because of the low ability of antibiotics to enter these phagocityc cells . Although different antibiotics regimens including gentamicin, doxycycline and rifampicin are in fact used against the Brucellosis, no efficient treatment has been attained yet, due to the intracellular life of the respective pathogen. Nano-medicines responding to environmental stimuli allow to maximize drug delivery targeting macropages, thereby boosting treatment efficacy. Several drug delivery nano-technologies, including solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, chitosan, niosomes, and their combinations with chitosan sodium alginate can be employed in combination of antibiotics to successfully eradicate Brucellosis infection from patients.
Topics: Humans; Chitosan; Brucellosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brucella melitensis; Drug Delivery Systems
PubMed: 37979375
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115875 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jan 2024The most prevalent zoonotic disease is brucellosis, which poses a significant threat for worldwide public health. Particularly in endemic areas, spinal involvement is a... (Review)
Review
The most prevalent zoonotic disease is brucellosis, which poses a significant threat for worldwide public health. Particularly in endemic areas, spinal involvement is a major source of morbidity and mortality and can complicate the course of the disease. The diagnosis of spondylitis is challenging and should be suspected in the appropriate epidemiological and clinical context, in correlation with microbiological and radiological findings. Treatment depends largely on the affected parts of the body. Available treatment options include antibiotic administration for an adequate period of time and, when appropriate, surgical intervention. In this article, we examined the most recent data on the pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and management of spinal brucellosis in adults.
PubMed: 38276100
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020595 -
Irish Veterinary Journal Jul 2023The aim of this paper is to highlight the key lessons learned from Australia's successful program to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) over a 27-year period from 1970...
The aim of this paper is to highlight the key lessons learned from Australia's successful program to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) over a 27-year period from 1970 when the Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign commenced, through to when TB freedom was declared on 31 December 1997.As well as discussing the key elements of the national program and its success factors, the author documents a number of case studies and reflects on personal experiences in the far north-west of the state of Queensland during the very difficult latter phases of the program from the mid 1980s and subsequently as State program leader. The late 1980's was a crucial time in the program leading up to a target declaration of Impending Freedom from TB.
PubMed: 37491287
DOI: 10.1186/s13620-023-00244-x -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Oct 2023The objective of this study is to review our experience with simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation (BiCI) in adults, and assess its feasibility. This could...
The objective of this study is to review our experience with simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation (BiCI) in adults, and assess its feasibility. This could shorten the time required to regain binaural hearing, prevent social isolation, and potentially eliminate the need for hearing aids, as seen with sequential BiCI. A retrospective study was conducted involving adult patients who received simultaneous BiCI at our center between 2010 and 2023. The feasibility of simultaneous BiCI was assessed through postoperative clinical evaluations, outpatient visits, discharge status, and the acceptance of device fitting. Twenty-seven patients underwent simultaneous BiCIs. Their mean age was 37 years, comprising 59.3% males and 40.7% females. Out of the included patients, 51.9% had childhood-onset hearing loss, while 29.6% developed hearing loss later in life. Causes of hearing loss included meningitis 7.4%, trauma 11.1%, non-specific high-grade fever 11.1%, and Brucellosis infection 3.7%. Labyrinthine ossificans (LO) was present in 7.4%, and retrofenestral otospongiosis in 3.7%. The post-operative period and initial outpatient visit were uneventful for 88.8% and 81.5% of patients, respectively. Intraoperative complications were absent in 96.2% of cases. Simultaneous BiCI is feasible in adults without major intraoperative complications or troublesome recovery periods, offering potential benefits by reducing the number of surgeries and hospital admissions compared to the sequential method.
PubMed: 37888073
DOI: 10.3390/jpm13101462 -
Viruses Jun 2023As science and technology continue to advance, the use of flow cytometry is becoming more widespread. It can provide important information about cells in the body by... (Review)
Review
As science and technology continue to advance, the use of flow cytometry is becoming more widespread. It can provide important information about cells in the body by detecting and analysing them, thereby providing a reliable basis for disease diagnosis. In the diagnosis of bovine epidemic diseases, flow cytometry can be used to detect bovine viral diarrhoea, bovine leukaemia, bovine brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, and other diseases. This paper describes the structure of a flow cytometer (liquid flow system, optical detection system, data storage and analysis system) and its working principles for rapid quantitative analysis and sorting of single cells or biological particles. Additionally, the research progress of flow cytometry in the diagnosis of bovine epidemic diseases was reviewed in order to provide a reference for future research and application of flow cytometry in the diagnosis of bovine epidemic diseases.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Flow Cytometry; Cattle Diseases; Epidemics
PubMed: 37376677
DOI: 10.3390/v15061378