Potentiality of curcumin on ISHAK scoring system and the expressions of BAX, IL-17A, and EGF in the treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infection using Swiss albino mice

@#The present study evaluated the antiparasitic effect of curcumin extract on Schistosoma mansoni in Swiss albino mice. The experimental design included four groups of S. mansoniinfected mice; without treatment (controls), curcumin-treated, Praziquantel (PZQ)-treated, and PZQ +curcumin treated mice. The results showed that curcumin improved ISHAK confluent necrosis score up to zero. PZQ +curcumin showed a significant reduction in portal inflammation. Both activity and fibrosis demonstrated lower scores in all treated groups, however, PZQ revealed a marked increase in confluent necrosis and interface hepatitis. Besides, the lobular inflammation revealed worsening in the overall ISHAK score in all treated groups compared with the control. Few periocular granulomas were recovered by PZQ +curcumin treatment at day 35 post-treatment (6±1.2), P-value <0.05. Curcumin revealed a mild reduction (60±7.376). Curcumin-treated groups, with and without PZQ, resulted in higher significant Immunoreactivity score (IRS) for Bcl-2-associated X (BAX) and lower Interleukine17A (IL-17A), and Human epidermal growth factor (EGF), compared to the control. However, PZQ revealed a lower mean IRS value in BAX, higher IL-17A and EGF in the periovulatory granuloma. It was concluded that PZQ +curcumin treatment had a potent synergistic outcome through lessening the number of granulomas, the inflammatory events, and the expression of EGF, and amelioration of apoptosis in the periovulatory granulomas if compared with either PZQ or curcumin alone.

Insights into immunopathology and triggering of apoptosis in chronic cerebral toxoplasmosis using murine models

@#Background: toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan protozoan disease with a wide range of neuropathology. Recent studies identified its potential association with several mental disorders e.g. schizophrenia dependable on apoptosis in their pathogenesis. We investigated value of toxoplasmosis to induce apoptosis of the neuronal cells. Methods: per-orally infected C57BL/6 mice with 15-20 cysts of the avirulent T. gondii Beverly strain at 9-11 weeks of age were examined 12 weeks later during parasite establishment. Distributions of the parasite’s cysts and the histopathological lesions in the brains were analyzed using Image J software. Relative expression of TNF-α and iNOS of cell-mediated immunity (CMI), Bax (pro-apoptosis) and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptosis) were all assessed using immunohistochemistry. Results: higher parasite burden was seen in the forebrain with p value < 0.05. Dramatically increased TNF-α, iNOS, and Bax expressions with Bax/Bcl-2 ratio 2.42:0.52 were reported (p value < 0.05). The significant correlation between Bax data and different CMI biomarkers including TNF-α and i-NOS was evaluated. Interestingly, no significant correlation was seen between TNF-α, iNOS, Bax and Bcl-2 expressions and location of the parasite. However, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was statistically correlated with CMI biomarkers and whole sample mean parasite burden, p value < 0.05. Conclusion: Chronic toxoplasmosis exhibits an immense pro-apoptotic signal on the cerebral tissues of experimental mice.

Parental refusal to diphtheria vaccine: a fatal outcome

We present a case of a four-year-old boy who succumbed to diphtheria following incomplete course of immunisation, which included diphtheria vaccine. This case report focuses on the issues of parental refusal to vaccines and the development of "halal" vaccines for the prevention of infectious diseases.

Propriétés toxicologiques standard du latex de Calotropis Procera plante medicinale d'Afrique Occidentale

Calotropis procera (Ait.) Ait.f. (Asclepiadacea) est une plante medicinale traditionnelle bien connue dans le monde en general et; particulierement utilisee en Afrique occidentale dans le traitement de nombreuses affections. Dans le cadre des connaissances sur le niveau de toxicite de la plante; nous avons entrepris la presente etude qui a permis d'effectuer un tri phytochimique de son latex et de determiner son niveau de toxicite standard chez le rat OFA (Oncin France Souche A). Quatre vingt (80) rats ont fait l'objet de tests de toxicite realises a partir de l'administration d'une dose unique; de 0;9 ml de solution preparee sur la base de concentrations de plus en plus croissantes de latex. Les resultats des tests phytochimiques ont montre que le latex de C. procera contenait des sterols; des poly phenols; des flavonoides et surtout des alcaloides. La DL50 determinee par la relation de BERHENS et KARBER etait de 2611;75 mg/kg de poids avec une DL5 de 2110 mg/kg et une DL95 de 2950 mg/kg. Le latex de C. procera serait donc tolere par le rat dans l'experimentation. Le rapport DL5/DL95 de 0;71 traduisait l'existence d'une marge entre l'indice therapeutique et l'indice toxicologique du latex de C. procera. Cette plante n'est probablement pas toxique

Etude de la migration des antioxydants des emballages plastiques à usage alimentaire

L'objectif de cette etude est d'identifier les antioxydants dans les sachets et matieres plastiques a usage alimentaire servant au conditionnement manuel de l'eau de boisson. Cette identification a ete possible grace a l'analyse directe en UV-Visible et aux tests alternatifs. Les resultats des tests de migration ont revele la presence d'une bande d'absorption maximale a 269 nm caracteristique des antioxydants phosphites. Les tests de substitution ont cependant montre la presence d'antioxydants phenoliques. Si les resultats semblent montrer une synergie d'action entre ces deux types d'antioxydants; et l'existence d'interaction entre contenant et contenu; il semble que la migration des antioxydants n'est possible que dans des conditions drastiques. Compte tenu de l'utilisation abusive des sachets plastiques et des effets nefastes des antioxydants sur la qualiteorganoleptique des boissons emballees; il apparait donc urgent de mettre en place en Cote d'Ivoire une reglementation garantissant la conformite; la qualite et la securite des adjuvants utilises dans la fabrication des matieres plastiques

Case finding in tuberculosis patients: Diagnostic and treatment delays and their determinants

A nested case-control study was conducted in all tuberculosis centers implementing directly observed treatment short course [DOTS] strategy for tuberculosis control in Yemen. The aim is to determine the extent and determinants of delay in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients [PTB]. 598 new smear-positive patients were interviewed using a structured and pre tested questionnaire regarding their health seeking behavior and other determinants of delay in getting timely and appropriate care

Meningoencefalitis virales por Enterovirus en Cuba en el período 1990-1995 / Viral meningoencephalities due to enteroviruses in Cuba during 1990-1995

Se describen los resultados del estudio de enterovirus como agentes causanes de meningoencefalitis viral (MEV) en Cuba, desde 1990 hasta 1995. En este período fueron estudiados 586 muestras de heces, 108 líquidos cefalorraquídeos y 1095 sueros pareados para un total de 1789 muestras, procedentes de 1458 pacientes diagnosticados clínicamente con esta patología. Las muestras para el aislamiento viral se inocularon en dos sistemas celulares diferentes, encontrándose 225 muestras positivas a enterovirus que representan el 32,42 o/o del total; el mayor número de aislamientos (217) fue a partir de heces, en células diploides de fibroblastos de pulmón humano (PHuE-1). Las determinaciones de anticuerpos se realizaron por prueba de neutralizacion en micrométodo, enfrentándolos con 10 antígenos de enterovirus (Echovirus 4, 6, 9, 11 y Coxsackievirus B1-6) y, en períodos epidémicos, además con el virus aislado. En los años estudiados se produjeron tres brotes epidémicos por Coxsackievirus A9 (1990-91), Echovirus 30 (1994) y Coxsackievirus B5 (1995). Es de señalar que desde 1970 los Coxsackievirus A9 y Echovirus 30 se vincularon en nuestro país, por primera vez, con epidemias de MEV. En los sueros pareados se obtuvo 66,84 o/o de positivos, siendo la mayor positividad a los Echovirus 6 y 11. Al considerar en conjunto la positividad por aislamiento y serología, más del 80 o/o de los casos estudiados pudieran tener ua explicación por algún enterovirus, lo uqe demuestra la importancia de estos agentes como causantes de MEV en Cuba

Orientación sobre la lactancia materna en un hospital para enfermedades diarréicas / Breast-feeding counseling in a diarrhoeal disease hospital

Se adiestró a consejeras en materia de lactancia materna para que dieran asesoramiento a las madres de lactantes parcialmente amamantados y hospitalizados por diarrea, con el fin de lograr que las madres iniciaran la lactancia materna exclusiva durante su permanencia en el hospital. Se asignó de forma aleatoria a lactantes (n = 250) de 12 meses de edad o menos a un grupo de intervención y a un grupo testigo. Las madres del grupo de intervención fueron asesoradas individualmente por las consejeras, mientras que las madres del grupo testigo recibieron solo la educación sanitaria impartida en grupo rutinariamente. Durante el seguimiento que hicieron las consejeras en el hogar una semana más tarde, solo las madres del grupo de intervención fueron asesoradas. A las 2 semanas de su egreso, todas las madres fueron evaluadas en términos de sus prácticas de amamantamiento en el hogar. En cuanto a los 125 pares de madres e hijos que había en cada grupo, 60% de las madres del grupo de intervención alimentaban a sus hijos al pecho exclusivamente en el momento del egreso, en comparación con solo 6% de las madres del grupo testigo (P < 0,001); 2 semanas más tarde, estos porcentajes subieron a 75 y 8 en el grupo de intervención y en el grupo testigo, respectivamente (P < 0,001). Sin embargo, 49% de las madres del grupo testigo volvieron a alimentar a sus hijos con biberón, en comparación con 12% de las madres del grupo de intervención (P < 0,001). Por consiguiente, la orientación individual tuvo un efecto favorable en las madres, ya que hizo que iniciaran la lactancia materna exclusiva durante la hospitalización y que la siguieran practicando en el hogar. Los centros de salud maternoinfantil deben incluir la orientación sobre lactancia materna como parte integral de sus programas para mejorar las prácticas de alimentación de los lactantes.

Lactation counsellors were trained to advise mothers of partially breast-fed infants who were admitted to hospital because of diarrhoea, so that they could start exclusive breast-feeding during their hospital stay. Infants (n = 250) up to 12 weeks of age were randomized to intervention and control groups. Mothers in the intervention group were individually advised by the counsellors while mothers in the control group received only routine group health education. During follow-up at home by the counsellors a week later, only the mothers in the intervention group were counselled. All the mothers were evaluated for infant feeding practices at home two weeks after discharge. Among the 125 mother­infant pairs in each group, 60% of mothers in the intervention group were breast-feeding exclusively at discharge compared with only 6% in the control group (P < 0.001); two weeks later, these rates rose to 75% and 8% in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). However, 49% of mothers in the control group reverted back to bottle-feeding compared with 12% in the intervention group (P < 0.001). Thus, individual counselling had a positive impact on mothers to start exclusive breast-feeding during hospitalization and to continue the practice at home. Maternal and child health facilities should include lactation counselling as an integral part of their programmes to improve infant feeding practices.

Maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight.

Maternal factors comprising of social, obstetric and anthropometric are found to influence LBW. The present study had found association between obstetric risk factors like age of the mother, parity and gravida with LBW. Similar association was also observed between maternal height, and maternal weight with LBW. However, social factors were not found to be associated with LBW. This could probably be due to RUHSA's intervention which requires a further inquiry.