Molecular epidemiology of non-falciparum Plasmodium infections in three different areas of the Ivory Coast.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major public health problem, particularly in the tropical regions of America, Africa and Asia. Plasmodium falciparum is not only the most widespread but also the most deadly species. The share of Plasmodium infections caused by the other species (Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae) is clearly underestimated. The objective of the study was to determine the molecular epidemiology of plasmodial infection due to P. malariae and P. ovale in Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional. The study participants were recruited from Abengourou, San Pedro and Grand-Bassam. Sample collection took place from May 2015 to April 2016. Questionnaires were administered and filter paper blood samples were collected for parasite DNA extraction. The molecular analysis was carried out from February to March 2021. A nested PCR was used for species diagnosis. The data was presented in frequencies and proportions. RESULTS: A total of 360 patients were recruited, including 179 men (49,7%) for 181 women (50,3%). The overall Plasmodium positive rate was 72.5% (261/360). The specific index was 77.4% and 1.5% for P. falciparum and P. malariae in mono-infection, respectively. There was also 15% P. falciparum and P. malariae co-infection, 3.4% P. falciparum and P. ovale co-infection and 2.3% P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale triple-infection. Typing of P. ovale subspecies showed a significant predominance of P. ovale curtisi (81.2% of cases). CONCLUSION: Plasmodium falciparum remains the most prevalent malaria species in Côte d'Ivoire, but P. malariae and P. ovale are also endemic mostly in co-infection. Malaria elimination requires a better understanding of the specific epidemiological characteristics of P. malariae and P. ovale with a particular emphasis on the identification of asymptomatic carriers.

IL-36γ signaling controls the induced regulatory T cell-Th9 cell balance via NFκB activation and STAT transcription factors.

Regulatory and effector T helper (Th) cells are abundant at mucosal surfaces, especially in the intestine, where they control the critical balance between tolerance and inflammation. However, the key factors that reciprocally dictate differentiation along these specific lineages remain incompletely understood. Here we report that the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family member IL-36γ signals through IL-36 receptor, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88, and nuclear factor-κBp50 in CD4+ T cells to potently inhibit Foxp3-expressing induced regulatory T cell (Treg) development, while concomitantly promoting the differentiation of Th9 cells via a IL-2-STAT5- (signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 5) and IL-4-STAT6-dependent pathway. Consistent with these findings, mice deficient in IL-36γ were protected from Th cell-driven intestinal inflammation and exhibited increased colonic Treg cells and diminished Th9 cells. Our findings thus reveal a fundamental contribution for the IL-36/IL-36R axis in regulating the Treg-Th9 cell balance with broad implications for Th cell-mediated disorders, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and particularly ulcerative colitis.

Development of an improved RT-LAMP assay for detection of currently circulating rubella viruses.

Rubella virus is the causative agent of rubella. The symptoms are usually mild, and characterized by a maculopapular rash and fever. However, rubella infection in pregnant women sometimes can result in the birth of infants with congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Global efforts have been made to reduce and eliminate CRS. Although a reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for detection of rubella virus has been reported, the primers contained several mismatched nucleotides with the genomes of currently circulating rubella virus strains. In the present study, a new RT-LAMP assay was established. The detection limit of this assay was 100-1000PFU/reaction of viruses for all rubella genotypes, except for genotype 2C, which is not commonly found in the current era. Therefore, the new RT-LAMP assay can successfully detect all current rubella virus genotypes, and does not require sophisticated devices like TaqMan real-time PCR systems. This assay should be a useful assay for laboratory diagnosis of rubella and CRS.

Mesenteric phlebosclerosis associated with long-term oral intake of geniposide, an ingredient of herbal medicine.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) is a rare disease, characterised by thickening of the wall of the right hemicolon with calcification of mesenteric veins. However, the aetiology remains unknown. AIM: To investigate the possible association of herbal medicines with IMP. METHOD: The clinical data of four of our own patients were collected. Furthermore, we searched for previous reports about similar patients with detailed descriptions of herbal prescriptions that they had taken. We compared herbal ingredients to identify the toxic agent as a possible aetiological factor. RESULTS: Clinical data on a total of 25 patients were summarised. Mean age was 61.8 years and there was female predominance (6 men and 19 women). The used Kampo prescription, the number of cases, and the mean duration of use were as follows: kamisyoyosan in 12 cases for 12.8 years, inshin-iseihaito in 5 cases for 13.4 years, orengedokuto in 4 cases for 14.3 years, inchinkoto in 1 case for 20 years, kamikihitou in 1 case for 19 years, seijobofuto in 1 case for 10 years and gorinsan in 1 case for an unknown duration. Only one ingredient, sansisi, was common to the herbal medicines of all 25 patients. This crude drug called geniposide in English is a major constituent of the Gardenia fruits. CONCLUSION: The long-term use of geniposide in herbal medicines appears to be associated with mesenteric phlebosclerosis.

Simulation model based on non-newtonian fluid mechanics applied to the evaluation of the embolic effect of emulsions of iodized oil and anticancer drug.

PURPOSE: To verify the difference in embolic effect between oil-in-water (O-W) and water-in-oil (W-O) emulsions composed of iodized oil and an anticancer drug, epirubicin, using a simulation model based on non-Newtonian fluid mechanics. METHODS: Flow curves of pure iodized oil and two types of O-W and W-O emulsions immediately and 1 hr after preparation were examined with a viscometer. Using the yield stress data obtained, we simulated the stagnation of each fluid with steady flow in a rigid tube. RESULTS: The W-O emulsions were observed to stagnate in the thin tube at a low pressure gradient. However, the embolic effect of the W-O emulsions decreased 1 hr after preparation. The O-W emulsions were stable and did not stagnate under the conditions in which the W-O emulsions stagnated. CONCLUSION: The simulation model showed that the embolic effect of the W-O emulsions was superior to that of the O-W emulsions.

[Prognostic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)--significance of repetitive therapies and responses to them within 6 months after the first intervention].

We retrospectively analyzed the prognostic factors associated with survival in HCC patients (113 cases, male 95, female 18, mean age 62.1 +/- 8.2yr.) treated only by TAE. Univariate analysis revealed that following factors significantly correlated with survival, such as T.Bil, tumor type, Vp factor, the response to the first TAE and the best response to TAE attained within 6 months after the first therapy. Also, multivariate analysis proved that T.Bil, ICGR15' and the best response to TAE during the initial 6 months were significant. Even if the first response to TAE was "no-change (NC)", the cumulative survival rate of patients would be improved when the responses to the second or the third therapy became "partial response (PR)" within 6 months after the first one. There were no significant differences between patients with which the best response to TAE within the initial 6 months were PR and those with NC in clinical backgrounds, dose of anti-cancer drugs, and dose of lipiodol used in the therapies. However, the mean interval between the first and the second TAE performed within 6 months 70 days. These results implied the importance of getting "PR" state no later than 6 months after the first intervention for the long survival in HCC patients. To accomplish this, repetitive treatments between short periods were recommended.

[Clinical features of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis (AOSC) in the old age].

Nineteen cases (male 6, female 13) of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis (AOSC) were divided into 2 groups and were studied, Group A; over 70 yrs old (12), Group B; under 70 yrs old (7). The most frequent etiology of AOSC was choledocholithiasis (Group A 75%, Group B 43%). Urgent biliary drainage was performed in 18 cases, and which were clinically improved. The decreasing rate of bilirubin were fair in both groups and only 2 cases in Group A were dead. Concerning with the laboratory findings on admission, Group A had a higher level of BUN than Group B, and there were no other significant differences. Complications were frequently occurred in Group A (Shock 83%, DIC 83%, Renal failure 42%). The diameter of choledochus at biliary drainage was below 9 mm in 45% of cases in Group A, which implied the rapid progression to AOSC from the onset of biliary obstruction. Early diagnosis and urgent biliary drainage were essential for the management of AOSC in the old age.

Peptide sequences for sucrose splitting and glucan binding within Streptococcus sobrinus glucosyltransferase (water-insoluble glucan synthetase).

The gene encoding glucosyltransferase responsible for water-insoluble glucan synthesis (GTF-I) of Streptococcus sobrinus (formerly Streptococcus mutans 6715) was cloned, expressed, and sequenced. A gene bank from S. sobrinus 6715 DNA was constructed in vector pUC18 and screened with anti-GTF-I antibody to detect clones producing GTF-I peptide. Five immunopositive clones were isolated, all of which produced peptides that bound alpha-1,6 glucan. GTF-I activity was found in only two large peptides: one stretching over the full length of the GTF-I peptide and composed of about 1,600 amino acid residues (AB1 clone) and the other lacking about 80 N-terminal residues and about 260 C-terminal residues (AB2 clone). A deletion study of the AB2 clone indicated that specific glucan binding, which is essential for water-insoluble glucan synthesis, was lost prior to sucrase activity with an increase in deletion from the 3' end of the GTF-I gene. These results suggest that the GTF-I peptide consists of three segments: that for sucrose splitting (approximately 1,100 residues), that for glucan binding (approximately 240 residues), and that of unknown function (approximately 260 residues), in order from the N terminus. The primary structure of the GTF-I peptide, deduced by DNA sequencing of the AB1 clone, was found to be very similar to that of the homologous protein from another strain of S. sobrinus.