Enhancing blood safety: the utility of NS-1 antigen capture ELISA for detecting acute dengue infections among blood donors during peak transmission periods and the potential to curtail dengue spread

Background: Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes and affects millions of people worldwide. It can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, particularly during peak transmission periods. Methods: This was a cross sectional study which was conducted over a two-month period (June 2022 to July 2022) at a tertiary hospital blood bank. A total of 180 nonrepetitive serum samples were collected from voluntary blood donors and analyzed using the dengue NS-1 Ag Microlisa ELISA kit. Results: Among the 180 samples two samples tested positive for the dengue virus NS-1 antigen using the NS-1 antigen capture ELISA, indicating a prevalence of acute dengue virus infection among blood donors during the peak transmission period of 1.2% (2/180). Conclusions: The use of NS-1 antigen testing was shown to be useful for dengue virus detection. Routine screening of blood donors for dengue virus is not universally implemented in many countries, partly due to the lack of sensitive and specific screening tests. However, the use of serological tests, such as ELISA for dengue antibodies or NS-1 antigen, can effectively detect dengue virus in blood donors. Interventions made during peak transmission periods can help in curtailing the spread of dengue infections.

Integrated Management of Fusarium Wilt of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Caused by Fusarium solani

Chilli is an important spice cum vegetable crop from the Solanaceae family grown around the world for its pungent flavor. Fusarium wilt of chilli is one of the most important diseases as it drastically reduces the yield. In the present experiment a total of 4 different botanical extracts and 4 isolates of Trichoderma were evaluated against the growth of wilt pathogen Fusarium solani. Among them neem oil and Tr1 isolate of Trichoderma recorded better results hence they were selected and further studied under pot culture conditions alone in combinations with panchagavya on the incidence of Fusarium wilt of chilli in local variety of chilli Out of 7 different treatments tested, highest germination (93.24%) was recorded from T7. And, highest percent disease inhibition of Fusarium wilt (69.56%) was recorded from T7. On a similar note, plant growth parameters such as improved plant height, dry weight, no. of flowers/ fruits per plant and fruit length were recorded from plants treated with T7. It was clear the IDM strategies perform better in reducing disease as compared to that of chemical control besides improving yield and growth of treated plants.

Reviewing physical exercise in non-obese diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats

There is a high incidence of non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-obese-T2DM) cases, particularly in Asian countries, for which the pathogenesis remains mainly unclear. Interestingly, Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats spontaneously develop insulin resistance (IR) and non-obese-T2DM, making them a lean diabetes model. Physical exercise is a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach to reduce adipose tissue mass, improving peripheral IR, glycemic control, and quality of life in obese animals or humans with T2DM. In this narrative review, we selected and analyzed the published literature on the effects of physical exercise on the metabolic features associated with non-obese-T2DM. Only randomized controlled trials with regular physical exercise training, freely executed physical activity, or skeletal muscle stimulation protocols in GK rats published after 2008 were included. The results indicated that exercise reduces plasma insulin levels, increases skeletal muscle glycogen content, improves exercise tolerance, protects renal and myocardial function, and enhances blood oxygen flow in GK rats.

Ação do prebiótico sobre as proteínas de fase aguda de pacientes com neoplasia hematológica / Action of prebiotics on proteins in the acute phase of hematologic neoplasia

Os pacientes com neoplasias hematológicas são submetidos a tratamento quimioterápico que induz uma intensa alteração na integridade da mucosa intestinal, favorecendo um aumento da sua morbi-mortalidade. O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido na Unidade de Transplante de Medula Óssea do Centro de Pesquisas Oncológicas em Florianópolis - SC e teve como objetivo estudar a ação do prebiótico na resposta de proteína da fase aguda de pacientes com neoplasias hematológicas submetidos à quimioterapia. Foi realizado um estudo clínico randomizado duplo cego envolvendo 25 pacientes divididos em dois grupos que receberam por 15 dias: 12g de FOS (n=14) ou placebo (maltodextrina) (n=11). Todas as variáveis foram determinadas antes e após a suplementação. Foram avaliados os níveis séricos das proteínas de fase aguda negativas (albumina e pré-albumina) e a proteína de fase aguda positiva, proteína C reativa (PCR). Verificaram-se a presença de diarréia e de constipação, bem como a quantidade de bifidobactérias e valores de pH fecal. A redução dos níveis séricos de proteínas de fase aguda negativas (albumina e pré-albumina) comprovam o intenso catabolismo protéico, priorizando a síntese de proteína de fase aguda positiva (PCR). O grupo suplementado apresentou um aumento significante na quantidade de bifidobactérias e o pH fecal não foi alterado em ambos os grupos. Os níveis séricos de PCR foram estatisticamente superiores no grupo controle, indicando a ocorrência de processos inflamatórios e maior demanda metabólica, sugerindo que a quantidade de bifidobactérias pode ter favorecido a redução deste quadro no grupo suplementado, confirmado pela correlação negativa entre estas variáveis.

Patients with hematologic neoplasias are submitted to chemotherapeutic treatment that induces intense alterations in the integrity of the intestinal mucous membrane, favoring an increase in the morbimortality rate. The current work was developed in the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of the Oncology Research Center in Florianopolis and was aimed at studying the action of prebiotic agents on protein response in the acute phase of hematologic neoplastic patients submitted to chemotherapy. A double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed involving 25 patients divided into two groups. Patients received 12 g FOS (n=14) or placebo (maltdextrine) (n=11) over 15 days. All the variables were determined before and after supplementation. The serum levels of negative acute phase proteins, albumin and pre-albumin, and positive acute phase proteins, C-reactive protein, were evaluated. The presence of diarrhea and constipation are reported, as are the quantity of bifidobacteria and fecal pH measurements. Reductions in the serum levels of negative acute phase proteins (albumin and pre-albumin) show intense proteic catabolism thereby, favoring the synthesis of protein in the positive acute phase. The supplemented group presented with a significant increase in the quantity of bifidobacteria. The fecal pH levels were affected in both groups. The serum levels of positive acute phase proteins were statistically higher in the control group indicating the occurrence of inflammatory processes and a higher metabolic demand suggesting that the quantity of bifidobacteria may favor a reduction of these adverse conditions in the supplemented group as was confirmed by the negative correlation between variables.

Intestinal microbiota and HIV-1 infection

The intestinal microbiota consists of a qualitatively and quantitatively diverse range of microorganisms dynamically interacting with the host. It is remarkably stable with regard to the presence of microorganisms and their roles which, however, can be altered due to pathological conditions, diet composition, gastrointestinal disturbances and/or drug ingestion. The present review aimed at contributing to the discussion about changes in the intestinal microbiota due to HIV-1 infection, focusing on the triad infection-microbiota-nutrition as factors that promote intestinal bacterial imbalance. Intestinal microbiota alterations can be due to the HIV-1 infection as a primary factor or the pharmacotherapy employed, or they can be one of the consequences of the disease.

Lipid profile and body composition of HIV-1 infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been associated with the development of a clinical group and metabolic disorders such as peripheral lipodystrophy syndrome in AIDS. The aim of this study was to analyse the lipid profile, the clinical aspects, and the body composition of HIV-1 infected individuals treated with or without protease inhibitor (PI) during the highly active antiretroviral therapy. In total, 62 individuals were evaluated in this study; 15 healthy individuals (Control Group; CG), 11 HIV-1 infected individuals treated without antiretroviral therapy (Group 1: G1), 14 HIV-1 infected individuals treated with antiretroviral therapy plus protease inhibitor (Group 2: G2), and 11 HIV-1 infected individuals treated with antiretroviral therapy without protease inhibitor (Group 3: G3), mean age 35 years old. The time interval for G2 and G3 was greater than or equal to nine months. Patients receiving HAART with PI had significantly lower viral loads, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL levels (p<0.05). There were no differences between groups in relation to the lean body mass percentage obtained by mid-arm muscle circumference adequacy or by bioelectrical impedance. The lower percentage of body fat observed in all the HIV-1 infected patients by antropometric assessment and the decreased tricipital skinfold adequacy in the group treated with PI in relation to CG may suggest lipodystrophy in the upper limbs, especially on those treated with PI