-
Microorganisms Sep 2023Guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) are highly expressed interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that play significant roles in protecting against invading pathogens. Although...
Guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) are highly expressed interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that play significant roles in protecting against invading pathogens. Although their functions in response to RNA viruses have been extensively investigated, there is limited information available regarding their role in DNA viruses, particularly poxviruses. Ectromelia virus (ECTV), a member of the orthopoxvirus genus, is a large double-stranded DNA virus closely related to the monkeypox virus and variola virus. It has been intensively studied as a highly effective model virus. According to the study, GBP2 overexpression suppresses ECTV replication in a dose-dependent manner, while GBP2 knockdown promotes ECTV infection. Additionally, it was discovered that GBP2 primarily functions through its N-terminal GTPase activity, and the inhibitory effect of GBP2 was disrupted in the GTP-binding-impaired mutant GBP2. This study is the first to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of GBP2 on ECTV, and it offers insights into innovative antiviral strategies.
PubMed: 37764102
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092258 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Sep 2023is a relevant zoonotic infectious agent causing swine erysipelas (SE) in wild boar. In Portugal, there is no information on its occurrence. For this reason, this study...
is a relevant zoonotic infectious agent causing swine erysipelas (SE) in wild boar. In Portugal, there is no information on its occurrence. For this reason, this study aims to perform a first serosurvey of SE in hunted wild boars in Portugal. During the 2019/2020 hunting season, 111 sera from hunted wild boar were collected and analysed serologically in the laboratory with a commercial ELISA kit. No animals were eviscerated and examined after the hunt. The hunters took it all for private consumption. The results identified 18 animals that were exposed to SE, corresponding to a seroprevalence of 16.2% (95% CI: 19.9-24.4%). No statistical significance was observed on the effect of gender and age on seropositivity. However, wild boar hunted in Pinhel County, had five times more likely to be seropositivity (-value < 0.05; OD = 5.4). Apart from its potential debilitating capacity and chronicity in the wild boar population, SE is also a very serious occupational zoonosis. Thus, the result of this first serosurvey in Portugal should raise awareness and alert competent national veterinary authorities and those involved in the hunting sector, especially hunters who directly handle these carcasses. Further studies should be conducted to better understand the role of wild boar as a reservoir and spillover of this disease to other animals and humans.
PubMed: 37760336
DOI: 10.3390/ani13182936 -
Marine Drugs Sep 2023Peptic ulcer disease is generated by the activation of NF-kappaB activity. A recent clinical study reported a significant increase in NF-kappaB2 gene expression in 79...
Peptic ulcer disease is generated by the activation of NF-kappaB activity. A recent clinical study reported a significant increase in NF-kappaB2 gene expression in 79 samples of peptic ulcer patients compared to the control group. Moreover, the deacetylated chitin could alter the translocation of NF-kappaB p65 to the nucleus. Considering this, our work aims to explore the effect of chitin extracted from the shell of blue swimming crabs ( Linn.) towards NF-kappaB p65 levels in ethanol-induced gastric ulcerative Wistar rats. The shells are found abundantly as the waste of seafood processing in the northern part of West Java, Indonesia. In this study, chitin extraction was carried out using the microwave-assisted extraction method by employing choline chloride (CHClNO) and DL-malic acid (C₄H₆O₅) as the solvents. The inhibitory activity assay of chitin on the expression of NF-kappaB p65 was performed by using Western blot. The extraction yielded a good quality of chitin with a deacetylation degree of 30.8026%, molecular weight of 3.35 × 10 Da, and a negligible heavy metals level. Moreover, chitin extract at doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg BW significantly reduced the percentage of gastric ulcer index compared to the negative control group. Meanwhile, chitin extract at doses of 300 and 600 mg/kg BW significantly inhibited NF-kappaB expression compared to the negative control group. Histopathological examination demonstrated a decrease in the number of necrotic cells and fat degeneration in the gastric mucosa and an increase in normal cells. Taken together, chitin extract obtained from the shells of blue swimming crabs may be able to prevent gastric ulcers induced by ethanol via the inhibition of NF-kappaB p65; however, further studies are needed to verify its anti-ulcerative properties.
PubMed: 37755101
DOI: 10.3390/md21090488 -
Scientific Reports Sep 2023In Brazil, data on the management of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) as well as the burden of the disease in terms of health care resources utilization (HCRU) are...
In Brazil, data on the management of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) as well as the burden of the disease in terms of health care resources utilization (HCRU) are scarce. To characterize the treatment patterns and HCRU associated with the management of Brazilian TNBC patients from the perspective of the private healthcare setting. Patients with at least one claim related to ICD-10 C50 from January 2012 until December 2017, and at least one claim for breast cancer treatment were assessed from a private claims database and classified as early and locally advanced, or metastatic. All patients with hormone and/or targeted therapy were excluded. Three thousand and four patients were identified, of which 82.8% were diagnosed in early and locally advanced stages. For early and locally advanced TNBC patients, 75.3% were treated in an adjuvant setting, mainly with anthracycline regimes. For mTNBC patients, bevacizumab regimens were the main treatment prescribed. More than 48% of mTNBC patients were switched to a second line of treatment. HCRU was higher for mTNBC patients when compared to early and locally advanced patients, with higher costs for metastatic disease management. The treatment setting has little influence on the HCRU pattern or the cost of disease management. The highest burden of disease was observed for metastatic management.
Topics: Humans; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms; Brazil; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic
PubMed: 37737435
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43131-9 -
BMC Health Services Research Sep 2023Clinical Pathways in Oncology can benefit patients using organized interventions to standardize and increase care efficiency. Healthcare systems should have tools to...
BACKGROUND
Clinical Pathways in Oncology can benefit patients using organized interventions to standardize and increase care efficiency. Healthcare systems should have tools to identify their oncological clinical pathways for a better institutional organization to reduce mortality rates and contain costs without compromising quality. Our objective is to determine the regional Oncology Clinical Pathway from a first basic hypothesis using questionnaires directed to healthcare professionals considered key deciders within the Pathway.
METHODS
Study design consisted of data analysis of two structured region-wide questionnaires; built using available literature on Oncology Clinical Pathways, in a Portuguese Healthcare context and pre-tested in a focus group of key deciders (Physicians and nurses with management functions) from which a design was created. Queries analyzed the patients: tumor staging at service arrival; time intervals on tumor suspicion/diagnosis confirmation and diagnosis/first treatment; referral pathway; diagnostic networks and patient Follow-up. One questionnaire was sent to key deciders directly involved with Oncology patients at a Regional Hospital. 15 physicians and 18 nurses of this sample answered the questionnaire (approx. response rate = 67%). Another questionnaire sent to healthcare professionals in Primary Healthcare Centers yielded response rate 19.2%, N = 29 physicians and 46 nurses. Finally, we performed a descriptive analysis and a Cronbach Alpha reliability analysis.
RESULTS
Our findings reveal: different appreciations of tumor staging at arrival in Primary Healthcare Centers and Regional Hospitals (the latter receiving more metastatic cases); approximately 4 weeks between tumor suspicion-diagnostic and divided opinions regarding diagnostic-treatment time intervals. Primary Healthcare Centers depend on private laboratories for diagnostics confirmation, while the Hospitals resolve this locally. Referral pathways indicate almost half of the patients being sent from primary healthcare centers to National Reference Hospitals instead of a Regional Hospital. Patient follow-up is developed throughout the institutions, however, is more established at Regional Hospitals. As patients advance through the Oncology Clinical Pathway and toward treatment stages the number of healthcare professionals involved reduce.
CONCLUSION
Our questionnaires enable us to understand the real pathway between the different institutions involved and the main entry points of the patients into the Oncology Clinical Pathway.
Topics: Humans; Critical Pathways; Reproducibility of Results; Neoplasms; Medical Oncology; Health Personnel
PubMed: 37726812
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09964-w -
Purinergic Signalling Sep 2023Receptor agonists and antagonists and other modulators of purinergic signalling have potential as novel therapeutics for a broad range of diseases and conditions. This...
Receptor agonists and antagonists and other modulators of purinergic signalling have potential as novel therapeutics for a broad range of diseases and conditions. This special issue focuses on compounds or approaches that are either in clinical trials or headed in that direction. It is intended to serve as an up-to-date description of selected efforts to discover and develop new small molecular purinergic drugs.
Topics: Receptors, Purinergic P2X; Biological Products; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 37676356
DOI: 10.1007/s11302-023-09964-9 -
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and... Aug 2023Sleep disturbance has become a major challenge among adolescents worldwide. Substance use is among the most common factors contributing to sleep disturbance. This...
PURPOSE
Sleep disturbance has become a major challenge among adolescents worldwide. Substance use is among the most common factors contributing to sleep disturbance. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence and categories of sleep disturbance among adolescents with substance use.
METHODS
We comprehensively searched for relevant studies published in the following databases from inception to August 2022: CINHAL (via EBSCOhost), PubMed, Scopus, Ovid Medline, Embase, ProQuest, and Web of Science. Data analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 3 software. We used a random-effects model to pool prevalence rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Forest plots and p values for the Cochran Q statistic were used to evaluate heterogeneity among studies. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to compare the groups and identify the sources of heterogeneity.
RESULTS
We examined 18 studies that reported insomnia, hypersomnolence, sleep-related breathing disorders as sleep disturbances among adolescents with the use of alcohol, smoking, marijuana, and coffee. The total sample was 124,554. The overall prevalence rate of sleep disturbance was 29% (95% CI: 0.201-0.403). Subgroup analysis revealed that the prevalence rates of insomnia and hypersomnolence were higher among alcohol users (31%; 95% CI: 0.100-0.654) and smokers (46%; 95% CI: 0.232-0.700). The study design and method of assessment groups were the significant moderators that showed the source of variation in the included studies.
CONCLUSION
Sleep disturbance is highly prevalent among adolescents with substance use. Insomnia and hypersomnolence are more prevalent among alcohol users and smokers, respectively. On the basis of our findings, health-care providers can develop effective targeted interventions to reduce substance use, prevent sleep disturbance, and promote healthy sleep habits among adolescents.
PubMed: 37633926
DOI: 10.1186/s13034-023-00644-5 -
Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany) Feb 2024Paediatric kidney transplant recipients may be at a particular risk of dehydration due to poor kidney concentrating capacity and illness associated with poor fluid...
BACKGROUND
Paediatric kidney transplant recipients may be at a particular risk of dehydration due to poor kidney concentrating capacity and illness associated with poor fluid intake or losses. In this population, creatinine rise may be more likely with relatively mild dehydration, which may trigger hospital admission. This study describes hospital admissions in the first 12 months after transplantation with diagnosis of graft dysfunction associated with dehydration due to illness or poor fluid intake. We assess risk factors for these admissions.
METHODS
Data was extracted from medical records of patients transplanted in two tertiary children hospitals. Following descriptive analysis, multiple failure regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with admission for acute kidney allograft dysfunction associated with dehydration.
RESULTS
Of 92 children, 42% had at least 1 dehydration admission in the 12 months following transplantation. Almost half of the dehydration admissions were due to poor fluid intake, which accounted for 1/5 of all unplanned hospital admissions. Target fluid intake at first discharge of > 100 ml/kg/day was associated with dehydration admissions of all types (hazard ratio (HR) 2.04 (95% CI 1.13-3.68)). Teen age was associated with poor fluid intake dehydration admissions (HR 4.87 (95% CI 1.19-19.86)), which were more frequent in mid-summer. Use of enteric feeding tube, which correlated with age under 4, associated with contributing illness dehydration admissions (HR 2.18 (95% CI 1.08-4.41)).
CONCLUSIONS
Dehydration admissions in the 12 months following childhood kidney transplantation are common. Highlighted admission risk factors should prompt further study into optimal fluid intake prescription and hydration advice given to children, teenagers, and their carers following kidney transplantation. Use of an enteric feeding tube may not protect patients from admission with dehydration associated with contributing illness. A highger resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Child; Dehydration; Kidney Transplantation; Hospitalization; Risk Factors; Hospitals
PubMed: 37555933
DOI: 10.1007/s00467-023-06095-6