Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity and its Possible Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Toxoplasmosis is a well-documented cause of bad obstetric history (BOH) and a major reason of congenitally acquired infection. This observational study was conducted to detect the rate of seropositivity of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and observe their risk factors associated with disease transmission attending the antenatal clinic of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from July 2015 to August 2016. The study subjects included 150 pregnant women of different gestational ages. A serological evaluation was carried out to determine the presence of Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies by chemiluminescence. The total seropositive cases for Toxoplasma gondii was 39(26%), of which IgG positive cases were 33(22%) and IgG-IgM positive cases were 6(4%). The seropositive status of the patients was analyzed according to their gestational age, parity and with a number of sociodemographic characteristics to assess risk of transmission. The seropositivity of toxoplasmosis was significantly higher in the 1st trimester. Acute cases were higher in primi patient (2%) than multigravid women (1%). IgG positive cases were more in multigravid women with previous bad obstetric history (BOH) (14%). There was statistically significant association of seropositivity with socioeconomic status of the study population, their occupation, cat ownership, frequency of meat consumption and raw vegetable intake. These factors might play important risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection. It can be concluded that Toxoplasma gondii infection is prevalent in our society causing a number of pregnancy wastage each year. So it is necessary to perform routine serological test in all pregnant women for early diagnosis and treatment and enhance public health awareness to prevent risk of transmission.

Engineering Human TMJ Discs with Protein-Releasing 3D-Printed Scaffolds.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc is a heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous tissue positioned between the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa of the temporal bone, with important roles in TMJ functions. Tissue engineering TMJ discs has emerged as an alternative approach to overcoming limitations of current treatments for TMJ disorders. However, the anisotropic collagen orientation and inhomogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix distribution present challenges in the tissue engineering of functional TMJ discs. Here, we developed 3-dimensional (3D)-printed anatomically correct scaffolds with region-variant microstrand alignment, mimicking anisotropic collagen alignment in the TMJ disc and corresponding mechanical properties. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFß3) were then delivered in the scaffolds by spatially embedding CTGF- or TGFß3-encapsulated microspheres (µS) to reconstruct the regionally variant fibrocartilaginous matrix in the native TMJ disc. When cultured with human mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) for 6 wk, 3D-printed scaffolds with CTGF/TGFß3-µS resulted in a heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix with overall distribution of collagen-rich fibrous structure in the anterior/posterior (AP) bands and fibrocartilaginous matrix in the intermediate zone, reminiscent of the native TMJ disc. High dose of CTGF/TGFß3-µS (100 mg µS/g of scaffold) showed significantly more collagen II and aggrecan in the intermediate zone than a low dose (50 mg µS/g of scaffold). Similarly, a high dose of CTGF/TGFß3-µS yielded significantly higher collagen I expression in the AP bands compared with the low-dose and empty µS. From stress relaxation tests, the ratio of relaxation modulus to instantaneous modulus was significantly smaller with CTGF/TGFß3-µS than empty µS. Similarly, a significantly higher coefficient of viscosity was achieved with the high dose of CTGF/TGFß3-µS compared with the low-dose and empty µS, suggesting the dose effect of CTGF and TGFß3 on fibrocartilage formation. Together, our findings may represent an efficient approach to engineering the TMJ disc graft with anisotropic scaffold microstructure, heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix, and region-dependent viscoelastic properties.

Role of linoleic acid in arsenical palmar keratosis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic arsenic exposure can lead to palmoplantar keratosis. In the stratum corneum of skin, linoleic acid is of the utmost importance to the inflammation, keratinization, and regeneration processes. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were: (i) to present quantitative information on the linoleic acid fraction of intercorneocyte lipids, and (ii) to elucidate the role of linoleic acid in the pathophysiology of arsenical keratosis. METHODS: Lipid extracts were collected from keratotic lesions in seven patients, seven arsenic-exposed subjects, and seven non-exposed control subjects. Linoleic acid levels of the specimens were estimated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). RESULTS: There was a significant (P < 0.001) increase in mean ± standard error (SE) linoleic acid levels in arsenical keratosis patients (palm: 25.66 ± 4.95 µg/cm(2); dorsum: 28.25 ± 6.20 µg/cm(2)) compared with arsenic-exposed (palm: 2.75 ± 0.85 µg/cm(2); dorsum: 1.96 ± 0.64 µg/cm(2)) and non-exposed (palm: 1.52 ± 0.61 µg/cm(2); dorsum: 1.28 ± 0.39 µg/cm(2)) control subjects. There was no significant difference (P = 0.556) in linoleic acid concentration in the non-affected skin of the dorsum of the hand (28.25 ± 6.20 µg/cm(2)) compared with that in the palmar sites (25.66 ± 4.95 µg/cm(2)) in the patient group. The change in linoleic acid levels in the arsenic-exposed control group did not differ from that in non-exposed controls (P = 1.000). CONCLUSIONS: Linoleic acid concentration is elevated in arsenical keratosis; this finding warrants further investigation to ascertain whether linoleic acid plays a direct role in the pathophysiology of arsenical keratosis.

Identification of Legionella from clinically diagnosed pneumonia patients and environmental samples.

Legionnaires' disease is a multisystem disease with life-threatening acute and severe form of pneumonia which is responsible for 2-9% pneumonia with high mortality. Eighty six respiratory tract samples and urine were collected from clinically diagnosed pneumonia patients and 12 water samples were collected from different environment. Identification of Legionella was done by culture and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of respiratory tract samples and environmental samples and Legionella Antigen (Ag) in urine was detected by Immunochromatographic test (ICT). Legionella was identified from 4 (4.65%) clinically diagnosed pneumonia patients of which 1(1.16%) case was culture positive, 1(1.16%) case was urine ICT positive and PCR was positive in all four cases. Of the 12 water samples tested, 4 (33.33%) samples were Legionella positive by PCR but culture results of these samples were negative. Identification of Legionella should be done by PCR in parallel with culture and urine ICT. Detection of Legionella in environmental samples is also needed to explore possible links between the water sources and disease transmission in population.