Immunocytochemical evidence of histamine 1 and histamine 2 receptors on mice sperm

Histamine is a biogenic amine which is synthesised by L-histidine decarboxylase enzyme (HDC). The histamine 1 and 2 antagonist administrations have been highly reported to cause detrimental effect on sperm parameters, which arisen the speculation of histamine 1 (H1R) and histamine 2 (H2R) receptors might be present in sperm. The present study was aimed to provide evidence on the localisation of H1R and H2R on mice sperm through immunocytochemistry. The sperm was harvested from cauda epididymis. After one hour of incubation, sperm suspension was smeared onto a poly-lysine-coated slide and allowed to dry before fixation and permeabilisation processes. The primary antibody encoded for receptors was exposed to the fluorescently tagged antibody; fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugate followed by nuclear staining with 4?, 6-diamino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). The testis, stomach, and skin were used as the positive controls. Our data showed that both receptors have been expressed on the midpiece and acrosome of mice. The present result was the first discovery of the presence and immunolocalisation of H1R and H2R on mice sperm. Therefore, present study proposes that these receptors could be involved in calcium regulatory mechanism and protein phosphorylation which are responsible for fertilisation-related processes.

Roles of local healthcare workers in the humanitarian response in South Sudan: a literature review

Introduction: Armed conflict is devastating to the health system, is a public health concern and recovery is an enormous challenge. The independence of South Sudan in 2011 brought much hope. However, eight years later, the country is still at conflict with itself. Although rich in resources, it is ranked among the poorest in the world and depends on donor funding for most service delivery, especially health. In an international context, promoting the localisation of humanitarian aid and the integration of health services, there is a lot to learn from the roles being played by healthcare workers (HCWs) throughout the conflict in South Sudan. Method: A literature review was conducted to identify the roles of local HCWs in South Sudan since 2011. Four databases were searched, grey literature sourced, and snowballing done to capture additional documents for a comprehensive analysis. Questions were adapted from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for qualitative and systematic reviews guided appraisals of the articles. Results were systematically coded, synthesised and summarised using a priori and emergent themes. Results: The health system in South Sudan is very fragmented with heavy dependence on humanitarian aid. There is serious shortage in health workforce with heavy reliance on unskilled workers to fill in the gaps, mainly in rural settings. Although close collaboration exists among different stakeholders to deliver integrated services, poor infrastructure, insecurity, lack of capacity and donor dependency still poses a challenge towards localisation of aid and sustainability. Conclusions: The literature reviewed for this study indicates that the road towards localisation of health care is possible but will depend highly on continued collaboration between the different contributors, integration of services, building capacity of the nationals, increased government funding and infrastructural development. Local involvement of HCWs by international agencies is paramount in ownership and sustainability of services.

Novel method of intraoperative liver tumour localisation with indocyanine green and near-infrared imaging

INTRODUCTION@#Fluorescence imaging (FI) with indocyanine green (ICG) is increasingly implemented as an intraoperative navigation tool in hepatobiliary surgery to identify hepatic tumours. This is useful in minimally invasive hepatectomy, where gross inspection and palpation are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and optimal timing of using ICG for tumour localisation in patients undergoing hepatic resection.@*METHODS@#From 2015 to 2018, a prospective multicentre study was conducted to evaluate feasibility and safety of ICG in tumour localisation following preoperative administration of ICG either on Day 0-3 or Day 4-7.@*RESULTS@#Among 32 patients, a total of 46 lesions were resected: 23 were hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 12 were colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and 11 were benign lesions. ICG FI identified 38 (82.6%) lesions prior to resection. The majority of HCCs were homogeneous fluorescing lesions (56.6%), while CLRM were homogeneous (41.7%) or rim-enhancing (33.3%). The majority (75.0%) of the lesions not detected by ICG FI were in cirrhotic livers. Most (84.1%) of ICG-positive lesions detected were < 1 cm deep, and half of the lesions ≥ 1 cm in depth were not detected. In cirrhotic patients with malignant lesions, those given ICG on preoperative Day 0-3 and Day 4-7 had detection rates of 66.7% and 91.7%, respectively. There were no adverse events.@*CONCLUSION@#ICG FI is a safe and feasible method to assist tumour localisation in liver surgery. Different tumours appear to display characteristic fluorescent patterns. There may be no disadvantage of administering ICG closer to the operative date if it is more convenient, except in patients with liver cirrhosis.

An in silico pipeline to filter the Toxoplasma gondii proteome for proteins that could traffic to the host cell nucleus and influence host cell epigenetic regulation

Toxoplasma gondii uses epigenetic mechanisms to regulate both endogenous and host cell gene expression. To identify genes with putative epigenetic functions, we developed an in silico pipeline to interrogate the T. gondii proteome of 8313 proteins. Step 1 employs PredictNLS and NucPred to identify genes predicted to target eukaryotic nuclei. Step 2 uses GOLink to identify proteins of epigenetic function based on Gene Ontology terms. This resulted in 611 putative nuclear localised proteins with predicted epigenetic functions. Step 3 filtered for secretory proteins using SignalP, SecretomeP, and experimental data. This identified 57 of the 611 putative epigenetic proteins as likely to be secreted. The pipeline is freely available online, uses open access tools and software with user-friendly Perl scripts to automate and manage the results, and is readily adaptable to undertake any such in silico search for genes contributing to particular functions.

Resultado del tratamiento quirúrgico de la estenosis lumbar degenerativa en el adulto mayor / Résultats du traitement chirurgical de la sténose lombaire dégénérative chez les personnes âgées / Results of surgical treatment of degenerative lumbar stenosis in the older adult

Introducción: la estenosis lumbar degenerativa en pacientes adultos mayores constituye un grave problema de salud actual. El tratamiento quirúrgico parece ser el de mejor resultado, pero presenta la disyuntiva de si a todos los pacientes que padezcan esta enfermedad se les debe tratar con igual técnica. Objetivos: mostrar los resultados obtenidos en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la estenosis lumbar degenerativa en pacientes mayores de 65 años. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo prospectivo en pacientes mayores de 65 años con diagnóstico de estenosis lumbar degenerativa, en el Centro de investigaciones en Longevidad, Envejecimiento y Salud, entre el 1 de enero de 2009 y el 1 de enero de 2011 (ambos incluidos). La serie quedó constituida por 28 pacientes. Las variables estudiadas fueron: edad, sexo, sintomatología, localización, principales condiciones comorbidas, clasificación radiográfica y por resonancia magnética. Se seleccionó la técnica quirúrgica empleada atendiendo al área anatómica estenosada. Se empleó el índice de Oswestry y la escala Visual Analógica de dolor como instrumentos evaluadores. Resultados: predominó el sexo masculino (67,6 por ciento), la localización en dos niveles vertebrales, y las condiciones comorbidas cardiovasculares. El síntoma predominante mostró valores semejantes entre el dolor lumbar, el irradiado y la claudicación. El índice de Oswestry y la Escala Visual Analógica del dolor mostraron significativa mejoría en el posquirúrgico. Se obtuvo un 89,2 porciento de buenos resultados. Conclusiones: el empleo de laminectomía para las estenosis centrales y recalibraje para las de receso lateral parece ser adecuada(AU)

Introduction: degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is a serious health problem in the older adults at present. The surgical treatment seems to attain better results, but the controversy is whether all the patients suffering the disease can be treated with this procedure or not. Objectives: to show the results of the surgical treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis in over 65 years-old patients. Methods: a prospective and descriptive study was carried out in patients aged over 65 years and diagnosed with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis in the Center of Research on Old Age, Aging and Health from January 1st 2009 to January 1st, 2011. The series was finally made up of 28 patients. The study variables were age, sex, symptoms, location, main comorbid conditions, and classification according to radiographies and to magnetic resonance. The choice of the surgical technique depended on the stenosed anatomical area. The Oswestry Disability Index and the Analogue Visual Scale of pain were the evaluation instruments. Results: males (67.6 percent), the location of disease at two vertebral levels and comorbid cardiovascular conditions prevailed. The predominant symptom showed similar values among lumbar pain, the irradiated pain and claudication. Oswestry Disability Index and the Analog Visual Scale of pain showed the significant improvement of patient in the postsurgical period. Good results reached 89.2 perent. Conclusions: laminectomy for central stenosis and regaging for the lateral recess seem to be adequate(AU)

Introduction: des nos jours, la sténose lombaire dégénérative constitue un sérieux problème de santé chez les personnes âgées. La chirurgie paraît être le traitement le plus prometteur, mais une question se pose, est-ce que tous les patients atteints de cette maladie doivent être traités par la même technique? Objectif: le but de cette étude est de montrer les résultats obtenus avec le traitement chirurgical de la sténose lombaire dégénérative chez les personnes âgées de plus de 65 ans. Méthode: une étude descriptive prospective de patients âgés de plus de 65 ans, diagnostiqués de sténose lombaire dégénérative, a été réalisée au Centre de recherches sur la longévité, le vieillissement et la santé entre le 1e janvier 2009 et le 1e janvier 2011. La série a été conformée de 28 patients. Les variables en étude comprennent âge, sexe, symptomatologie, localisation, comorbidité, classification radiographique et RM. La technique chirurgicale a été déterminée en accord avec la localisation de la sténose; l'index d'Oswestry et l'Échelle visuelle analogique (EVA) de la douleur ont été utilisés comme instruments d'évaluation. Résultats: dans l'étude, quelques variables ont prédominé (67.6 pourcent du sexe masculin, localisation à deux niveaux vertébraux, comorbidité cardiovasculaire, irradiation de la douleur lombaire, et claudication). L'index d'Oswestry et l'Échelle visuelle analogique de la douleur ont montré une amélioration significative dans le post-chirurgical. En général, on a obtenu de très bons résultats (89.2 pourcent). Conclusions: Dans le cas de la sténose centrale et de la sténose latérale, la laminectomie et le récalibrage respectivement semblent être appropriées(AU)

Distinct subcellular localization of tRNA-derived fragments in the infective metacyclic forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

Small non-coding RNAs derived from transfer RNAs have been identified as a broadly conserved prokaryotic and eukaryotic response to stress. Their presence coincides with changes in developmental state associated with gene expression regulation. In the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi, tRNA fragments localize to posterior cytoplasmic granules. In the infective metacyclic form of the parasite, we found tRNA-derived fragments to be abundant and evenly distributed within the cytoplasm. The fragments were not associated with polysomes, suggesting that the tRNA-derived fragments may not be directly involved in translation control in metacyclics.