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Bulletin of the World Health... Aug 2020To calculate prevalence estimates and evaluate the quality of studies reporting lacking histidine-rich proteins 2 and 3, to inform an international response plan.
OBJECTIVE
To calculate prevalence estimates and evaluate the quality of studies reporting lacking histidine-rich proteins 2 and 3, to inform an international response plan.
METHODS
We searched five online databases, without language restriction, for articles reporting original data on -infected patients with deletions of the and/or genes (). We calculated prevalence estimates of deletions and mapped the data by country. The denominator was all -positive samples testing positive by microscopy and confirmed positive by species-specific polymerase chain reaction testing (PCR). If microscopy was not performed, we used the number of samples based on a different diagnostic method or PCR alone. We scored studies for risk of bias and the quality of laboratory methods using a standardized scoring system.
FINDINGS
A total of 38 articles reporting 55 studies from 32 countries and one territory worldwide were included in the review. We found considerable heterogeneity in the populations studied, methods used and estimated prevalence of parasites with deletions. The derived prevalence of deletions ranged from 0% to 100%, including focal areas in South America and Africa. Only three studies (5%) fulfilled all seven criteria for study quality.
CONCLUSION
The lack of representative surveys or consistency in study design impairs evaluations of the risk of false-negative results in malaria diagnosis due to deletions. Accurate mapping and strengthened monitoring of the prevalence of deletions is needed, along with harmonized methods that facilitate comparisons across studies.
Topics: Antigens, Protozoan; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Plasmodium falciparum; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Proteins; Protozoan Proteins
PubMed: 32773901
DOI: 10.2471/BLT.20.250621 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Aug 2020Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with the high case-fatality rate, and lack of vaccines. We aimed to systematically... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiology, clinical signs, routine laboratory diagnosis, risk factors, and outcomes.
BACKGROUND
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with the high case-fatality rate, and lack of vaccines. We aimed to systematically analysed the epidemiological characteristics, clinical signs, routine laboratory diagnosis, risk factors, and outcomes.
METHODS
Documents on SFTS were collected by searching the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from 2011 to 2018. Meta-analysis was performed by using Review Manager and Stata software.
RESULTS
Twenty-five articles involving 4143 cases were included. Diarrhea (odds ratio (OR) =1.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06 to 2.42, P = 0.02), and vomiting (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.39, P = 0.04) on admission were associated with the fatal outcomes of SFTS. Compared to patients with mild symptoms, patients with severe symptoms had significantly elevated levels of lactic acid dehydrogenase (standard mean difference (SMD) =1.27, 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.94), alanine aminotransferase (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.85), aspirate aminotransferase (SMD = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.32), and creatine kinase (SMD = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.74 to 1.33) but had reduced platelet counts (SMD = -0.87, 95% CI: - 1.16 to - 0.58) and albumin levels (SMD = -1.00, 95% CI: - 1.32 to - 0.68). The risk factors for poor prognosis included age (mean difference (MD) =6.88, 95% CI: 5.41 to 8.35) and farming (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.06 to 3.80). For the risk factors of contracting SFTS, the incidence of SFTS related to tick bites was 24% [95% CI: 0.18 to 0.31]. The pooled case-fatality rate of SFTS patients was 18% [95% CI: 0.16 to 0.21].
CONCLUSIONS
China is the country with the highest incidence of SFTS. May to July was the peak of the epidemic, and farmers were a high-risk group. The risk factor for SFTS included age (poor prognosis) and tick bites (contracting SFTS). Patients with severe diarrhea and vomiting symptoms on admission should be noted. Clinicians could use routine laboratory parameters and clinical symptoms as references for clinically suspected cases, classification of SFTS, and timely treatment, especially in basic hospitals.
Topics: Aged; Antibodies, Viral; China; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Epidemics; Farmers; Female; Fever; Humans; Incidence; Leukopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Phlebotomus Fever; Phlebovirus; RNA, Viral; Risk Factors; Syndrome; Thrombocytopenia
PubMed: 32758175
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05303-0 -
Life Sciences Oct 2020This study aimed to make a comparison between the clinical laboratory-related factors, complete blood count (CBC) indices, cytokines, and lymphocyte subsets in order to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIMS
This study aimed to make a comparison between the clinical laboratory-related factors, complete blood count (CBC) indices, cytokines, and lymphocyte subsets in order to distinguish severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases from the non-severe ones.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until March 31, 2020. Cochrane's Q test and the I statistic were used to determine heterogeneity. We used the random-effect models to pool the weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
KEY FINDINGS
Out of a total of 8557 initial records, 44 articles (50 studies) with 7865 patients (ranging from 13 to 1582), were included. Our meta-analyses with random-effect models showed a significant decrease in lymphocytes, monocyte, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD3 cells, CD19 cells, and natural killer (NK) cells and an increase in the white blood cell (WBC), neutrophils, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein (CRP)/hs-CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ferritin, procalcitonin (PCT), and serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-2R, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) in the severe group compared to the non-severe group. However, no significant differences were found in IL-1β, IL-17, and CD4/CD8 T cell ratio between the two groups.
SIGNIFICANCE
Decrease in total lymphocytes and lymphocyte subsets as well as the elevation of CRP, ESR, SAA, PCT, ferritin, and cytokines, but not IL-1β and IL-17, were closely associated with COVID-19 severity, implying reliable indicators of severe COVID-19.
Topics: Betacoronavirus; CD4-CD8 Ratio; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Cytokines; Humans; Lymphocyte Count; Lymphocytes; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Prognosis; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 32735885
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118167 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2020Microalgae productive chains are gaining importance as sustainable alternatives to obtain natural pigments. This work presents a review on the most promising pigments...
Microalgae productive chains are gaining importance as sustainable alternatives to obtain natural pigments. This work presents a review on the most promising pigments and microalgal sources by gathering trends from a 10-year bibliometric survey, a patents search, and an industrial and market analysis built from available market reports, projects and companies' webpages. The performed analysis pointed out chlorophylls, phycocyanin, astaxanthin, and β-carotene as the most relevant pigments, and , , , and , respectively, as the most studied sources. is referred in the highest number of patents, corroborating a high technological interest in this microalga. The biorefinery concept, investment in projects and companies related to microalgae cultivation and/or pigment extraction is increasingly growing, particularly, for phycocyanin from . These pieces of evidence are a step forward to consolidate the microalgal pigments market, which is expected to grow in the coming years, increasing the prospects of replacing synthetic pigments by natural counterparts.
Topics: Drug Industry; Microalgae; Phycocyanin; Pigments, Biological
PubMed: 32731380
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153406 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2020Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used to detect malaria parasites among patients who suspected malaria infections in malaria-endemic areas where... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Meta-Analysis
Summary of discordant results between rapid diagnosis tests, microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction for detecting Plasmodium mixed infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are widely used to detect malaria parasites among patients who suspected malaria infections in malaria-endemic areas where microscopy is unavailable. Nevertheless, little is known about the performance of RDTs in detecting Plasmodium mixed infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the discordant results between RDTs and microscopy/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detecting Plasmodium mixed infections. The PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically reviewed to identify related studies that reported the performance of RDTs in detecting Plasmodium mixed infections. Studies were grouped according to the different RDT types including RDT type 2 (pf-HRP2/pan-aldolase), RDT type 3 (pf-HRP2/pan-pLDH), RDT type 4 (Pf-LDH/pan-pLDH), RDT type 5 (Pf/Pv-pLDH), and RDT type 6 (pf-HRP2/Pv-pLDH) for subgroup analysis. The estimates of the different proportions in each analysis group that were visually summarized in a forest plot showed the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Plots were drawn using RevMan (version 5.3; Cochrane Community). Twenty-eight studies were included in the present study. Overall, the meta-analysis showed that RDTs could detect a significantly higher proportion of Plasmodium mixed infections than microscopy (p = 0.0007, OR = 3.33, 95% CI 1.66-6.68). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that only RDTs targeting Pf-specific histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2)/pan-specific lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) could detect a significantly higher proportion of Plasmodium mixed infections than microscopy (p = 0.004, OR = 8.46, 95% CI 2.75-26.1). The subgroup analysis between RDTs and PCR methods demonstrated that RDTs targeting Pf-specific HRP2/Pv-specific LDH could detect a significantly lower proportion of Plasmodium mixed infections than PCR methods (p = 0.0005, OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.26-0.68). This is the first study to summarize the discordant results between RDTs and microscopy/PCR in detecting Plasmodium mixed infections. Malaria RDTs targeting Pf-HRP2/pan-pLDH could detect a higher proportion of Plasmodium mixed infections than microscopy, while RDTs targeting Pf-HRP2/Pv-specific LDH could detect a lower proportion of Plasmodium mixed infections than PCR methods. The results of this study will support the selection and careful interpretations of RDTs for a better diagnosis of Plasmodium mixed-species infections and appropriate treatment of malaria patients in endemic and non-endemic settings.
Topics: Antigens, Protozoan; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Humans; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Microscopy; Odds Ratio; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protozoan Proteins; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 32728145
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69647-y -
Annals of Medicine Nov 2020Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a huge reservoir for the deadlier TB disease. Accurate identification of LTBI is a key strategy to eliminate TB. Therefore, a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a huge reservoir for the deadlier TB disease. Accurate identification of LTBI is a key strategy to eliminate TB. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis approach was used to assess diagnostic potential of IL-2 for LTBI.
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and Embase were searched. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve (HSROC) were estimated by bivariate and HSROC models.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven studies including 1404 participants and 1986 samples met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUROC of IL-2 were separately as 87%, 98%, 34.78, 0.14, 256.41 and 0.98, indicating a very powerful differentiating ability of IL-2 for LTBI from non-TB controls. For differentiating ATB from LTBI, the pooled sensitivity, specificity, PLR, NLR, DOR and AUROC of IL-2 were 83%, 76%, 3.41, 0.22, 15.47 and 0.87, respectively, suggesting a good differentiating ability of IL-2.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings showed that IL-2 is a powerful marker for differentiating LTBI from non-TB controls and a good marker for differentiating ATB from LTBI individuals.
Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Case-Control Studies; Child; Cost of Illness; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Interleukin-2; Latent Tuberculosis; Male; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Odds Ratio; ROC Curve; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 32700645
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2020.1800073 -
Expert Review of Proteomics Jun 2020The lack of biomarkers indicating involved nociceptive and/or pain mechanisms makes diagnostic procedures problematic. Clinical pain research has begun to use proteomics.
INTRODUCTION
The lack of biomarkers indicating involved nociceptive and/or pain mechanisms makes diagnostic procedures problematic. Clinical pain research has begun to use proteomics.
AREAS COVERED
This systematic review covers proteomic studies of chronic pain cohorts and in relation to clinical variables. Searches in three databases identified 96 studies from PubMed, 161 from Scopus and 155 from Web of Science database. Finally, 27 relevant articles were included. Network analyses based on the identified proteins were performed.
EXPERT OPINION
Small pain cohorts were investigated and the number of studies per diagnosis and tissue is small. The use of proteomics in chronic pain research is exploratory and larger proteomic studies are needed. It will be necessary to standardize the descriptions of the pain cohorts investigated. There is a need to identify the mechanisms underlying the whole clinical presentation of specific chronic pain conditions. Multivariate methods capable of handling and identifying intercorrelated protein patterns must be applied. Rather than focusing on a few proteins, future studies should use network analyses to investigate interactions and biological processes. Proteomics in combination with bioinformatics have a huge potential to identify previously unknown panels of proteins involved in chronic pain and relevant when devising new pain control strategies.
Topics: Biomarkers; Chronic Pain; Gene Regulatory Networks; Humans; Proteins; Proteomics
PubMed: 32684010
DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2020.1797499 -
JAMA Network Open Jul 2020This systematic review examines current randomized clinical trials of therapeutic agents to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This systematic review examines current randomized clinical trials of therapeutic agents to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Topics: Adenosine Monophosphate; Alanine; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antimalarials; Antiviral Agents; Azithromycin; Betacoronavirus; Biological Products; COVID-19; Chloroquine; Coronavirus Infections; Humans; Hydroxychloroquine; Immunization, Passive; Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Protease Inhibitors; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Respiration, Artificial; SARS-CoV-2; Viral Load; COVID-19 Serotherapy
PubMed: 32658285
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.15100 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Oct 2020Effective use of antibiotics is critical to control the global tuberculosis pandemic. High-dose isoniazid (INH) can be effective in the presence of low-level resistance....
OBJECTIVES
Effective use of antibiotics is critical to control the global tuberculosis pandemic. High-dose isoniazid (INH) can be effective in the presence of low-level resistance. We performed a systematic literature review to improve our understanding of the differential impact of genomic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) variants on the level of INH resistance. The following online databases were searched: PubMed, Web of Science and Embase. Articles reporting on clinical Mtb isolates with linked genotypic and phenotypic data and reporting INH resistance levels were eligible for inclusion.
METHODS
All genomic regions reported in the eligible studies were included in the analysis, including: katG, inhA, ahpC, oxyR-ahpC, furA, fabG1, kasA, rv1592c, iniA, iniB, iniC, rv0340, rv2242 and nat. The level of INH resistance was determined by MIC: low-level resistance was defined as 0.1-0.4 μg/mL on liquid and 0.2-1.0 μg/mL on solid media, high-level resistance as >0.4μg/mL on liquid and >1.0 μg/mL on solid media.
RESULTS
A total of 1212 records were retrieved of which 46 were included. These 46 studies reported 1697 isolates of which 21% (n = 362) were INH susceptible, 17% (n = 287) had low-level, and 62% (n = 1048) high-level INH resistance. Overall, 24% (n = 402) of isolates were reported as wild type and 76% (n = 1295) had ≥1 relevant genetic variant. Among 1295 isolates with ≥1 variant, 78% (n = 1011) had a mutation in the katG gene. Of the 867 isolates with a katG mutation in codon 315, 93% (n = 810) had high-level INH resistance. In contrast, only 50% (n = 72) of the 144 isolates with a katG variant not in the 315-position had high-level resistance. Of the 284 isolates with ≥1 relevant genetic variant and wild type katG gene, 40% (n = 114) had high-level INH resistance.
CONCLUSIONS
Presence of a variant in the katG gene is a good marker of high-level INH resistance only if located in codon 315.
Topics: Antitubercular Agents; Bacterial Proteins; Catalase; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Genetic Markers; Humans; Isoniazid; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Oxidoreductases; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
PubMed: 32653663
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2020.07.004 -
Andrologia Oct 2020We performed this systematic review to evaluate the possibility of an impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on male fertility. SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells with the help of...
We performed this systematic review to evaluate the possibility of an impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on male fertility. SARS-CoV-2 enters the cells with the help of ACE2; therefore, testicular expression of ACE2 was analysed from transcriptome sequencing studies and our unpublished data. Literature suggested that SARS-CoV-1 (2002-2004 SARS) had a significant adverse impact on testicular architecture, suggesting a high possibility of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 as well. Out of two studies on semen samples from COVID-19 affected patients, one reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the semen samples while the other denied it, raising conflict about its presence in the semen samples and the possibility of sexual transmission. Our transcriptome sequencing studies on rat testicular germ cells showed ACE expression in rat testicular germ cells. We also found ACE2 expression in transcriptome sequencing data for human spermatozoa, corroborating its presence in the testicular germ cells. Transcriptome sequencing data from literature search revealed ACE2 expression in the germ, Sertoli and Leydig cells. The presence of ACE2 on almost all testicular cells and the report of a significant impact of previous SARS coronavirus on testes suggest that SARS-CoV-2 is highly likely to affect testicular tissue, semen parameters and male fertility.
Topics: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Animals; Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Infertility, Male; Male; Models, Animal; Pandemics; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; Pneumonia, Viral; Rats; SARS-CoV-2; Semen; Spermatozoa; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus; Testis
PubMed: 32578263
DOI: 10.1111/and.13712