Pullulan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine Delivery

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Vaccines, Vol. 8, Pages 651: Pullulan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine Delivery Via Vaccines Vaccines, Vol. 8, Pages 651: Pullulan-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Blood-Stage Malaria Vaccine Delivery Vaccines doi: 10.3390/vaccines8040651 Authors: Liam Powles Kirsty L. Wilson Sue D. Xiang Ross L. Coppel Charles Ma Cordelia Selomulya Magdalena Plebanski Vaccines against blood-stage malaria often aim to induce antibodies to neutralize parasite entry into red blood cells, interferon gamma (IFNγ) produced by T helper 1 (Th1) CD4+ T cells or interleukin 4 (IL-4) produced by T helper 2 (Th2) cells to provide B cell help. One vaccine delivery method for suitable putative malaria protein antigens is the use of nanoparticles as vaccine carriers. It has been previously shown that antigen conjugated to inorganic nanoparticles in the viral-particle size range (~40–60 nm) can induce protective antibodies and T cells against malaria antigens in a rodent malaria challenge model. Herein, it is shown that biodegradable pullulan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (pIONPs) can be synthesized in this same size range. The pIONPs are non-toxic and do not induce conventional pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo. We show that murine blood-stage antigen MSP4/5 from Plasmodium yoelii could be chemically conjugated to pIONPs a nd the use of these conjugates as immunogens led to the induction of both specific antibodies and IFNγ CD4+ T cells reactive to MSP4/5 in mice, comparable to responses to MSP4/5 mixed with classical adjuvants (e.g., CpG or Alum) that preferentially induce Th1 or Th2 cells individually. These results suggest that biodegradable pIONPs warrant further exploration as carriers for developing blood-stage malaria vaccines. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Cervical myelopathy due to neurovascular compression syndrome caused by persistent first intersegmental artery: a case report

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Cervical myelopathy due to neurovascular compression syndrome caused by persistent first intersegmental artery: a case report Via Latest Results for BMC Neurology Abstract Background Persistent first intersegmental artery (PFIA) is a rare anatomical variation of vertebral arteries and is an asymptomatic finding in most cases. Here we report a rare case of cervical myelopathy caused by spinal cord compression by the PFIA. Case presentation The patient was a 52-year-old man who complained of numbness and burning sensation around the neck and left shoulder area, partial weakness in the left deltoid muscle, right side thermal hypoalgesia, and disturbance of deep sensation since the past 1 year, and the symptoms had gradually worsened. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) showed spinal cord compression by the left PFIA at the C1/C2 level. Because conservative treatment was ineffective, microvascular decompression (MVD) of the PFIA was performed. The left PFIA was laterally transposed using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bands and anchored to the dura mater using three PTFE bands. To achieve adequate transposition, the small blood vessels bridging the spinal cord and PFIA and the dorsal root nerve had to be sacrificed. Postoperative T2-weighted MRI showed a small hyperintense region in the lateral funiculus of the spinal cord, but no new neurological deficits were identifi ed. In the early postoperative stage, the patient's deep sensory impairment and motor dysfunction were improved. His numbness and burning sensation almost disappeared, but slight thermal hypoalgesia remained in the lower limb. Conclusion MVD is an effective treatment for spinal cord compression caused by the PFIA, but further studies are necessary to help address technical difficulties and avoid complications. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Toxic and Essential Elements in Rice and Other Grains

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 8128: Toxic and Essential Elements in Rice and Other Grains from the United States and Other Countries Via International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 8128: Toxic and Essential Elements in Rice and Other Grains from the United States and Other Countries International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218128 Authors: TatahMentan Nyachoti Scott Phan Okwori Felemban Godebo We determined the concentrations of toxic and essential elements in rice and other grains (lentils, barleys, beans, oats, wheat, and peas) grown in the United States (US) and other countries using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS). Results showed that median concentrations (in µg/kg) for toxic elements in white rice from the US were 131, 2.8, and 6.5 for arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), respectively. White rice from Thailand, India, and Italy showed higher median toxic elements concentrations (in µg/kg) of 155 for As, 3.6 for Pb, and 8.4 for Cd, than for white rice from the US. Brown rice from the US showed median concentrations (in µg/kg) of 217 (As), 4.5 (Pb), and 17.4 (Cd) while other grains showed median concentrations (in µg/kg) of 5.4, 4.6, and 6.7 for these elements, respectively. None of the samples exceeded the codex standards set for Pb (200 μg/kg in cereals and pulses) and Cd (100 μg/kg in cereals/pulses and 400 μg/kg in polished rice). However, brown rice and one white rice sample did exceed the codex standard for As (200 μg/kg). Essential elements were higher in other grains than in white and brown rice. These findings suggest that alternating or coupling rice with other grains in one’s diet could reduce exposure to toxic metals while providing more essential elements to rice diet. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Dual-Task Tests Predict Conversion to Dementia—A Prospective Memory-Clinic-Based Cohort Study

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 8129: Dual-Task Tests Predict Conversion to Dementia—A Prospective Memory-Clinic-Based Cohort Study Via International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 8129: Dual-Task Tests Predict Conversion to Dementia—A Prospective Memory-Clinic-Based Cohort Study International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218129 Authors: B. Åhman Berglund Cedervall Kilander Giedraitis J. McKee Ingelsson Rosendahl Åberg The aim of this study was to investigate whether Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) dual-task (TUGdt) tests predict dementia incidence among patients with subjective or mild cognitive impairment (SCI; MCI). Other study objectives were to determine whether TUGdt improves dementia prediction compared to a) demographic characteristics and standard cognitive tests alone; and b) TUG and Verbal Fluency performed separately. Patients (n = 172, age range 39–91 years, 78 women) with SCI or MCI performed TUGdt tests, including 1) naming animals and 2) reciting months backwards, and clinical cognitive tests at baseline. Diagnoses were identified at follow-up after 2.5 years. Logistic regression was used to predict dementia incidence, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and c-statistics for predictive capacity. Analyses were stratified by age and gender. At follow-up, 51 patients had developed dementia. The TUGdt result “animals/10 s” was associated with dementia incidence (standardized odds ratio (OR) = 4.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.28–7.23, p < 0.001), more so among patients under the median age of 72 years (standardized OR = 19.4, 95% CI 3.53–106.17, p < 0.001). TUGdt “animals/10 s” improved dementia prediction compared to demographic characteristics and standard tests alone (c-statistics 0.88 to 0.94) and single-task tests (c-statistics 0.86 to 0.89), but only in the younger patient group. TUGdt has the potential to become a useful tool for dementia prediction. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

A novel lamprey antibody sequence to multimerize and increase the immunogenicity of recombinant viral and bacterial vaccine antigens

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader A novel lamprey antibody sequence to multimerize and increase the immunogenicity of recombinant viral and bacterial vaccine antigens Via ScienceDirect Publication: Vaccine Publication date: Available online 2 November 2020 Source: Vaccine Author(s): Isabelle Peubez, Sylvie Margot, Sophie Buffin, Corinne Pion, Marie-Clotilde Bernard, Premkumar Dinadayala, David Poncet, Sandrine Deloire, Sergio Marco, Isabelle Legastelois View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Mental Fatigue, But Not other Fatigue Characteristics, as a Candidate Feature of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder in Patients with Anxiety and Mood Disorders—An Exploratory Study

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 8132: Mental Fatigue, But Not other Fatigue Characteristics, as a Candidate Feature of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder in Patients with Anxiety and Mood Disorders—An Exploratory Study Via International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 8132: Mental Fatigue, But Not other Fatigue Characteristics, as a Candidate Feature of Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder in Patients with Anxiety and Mood Disorders—An Exploratory Study International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218132 Authors: Julija Gecaite-Stonciene Naomi A. Fineberg Aurelija Podlipskyte Julius Neverauskas Alicja Juskiene Narseta Mickuviene Julius Burkauskas Background: Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is commonly associated with anxiety and mood disorders (AMDs), in which fatigue and executive dysfunction represent key symptoms. Executive dysfunction has also been demonstrated in subjects with OCPD, and is additionally found to be a cardinal feature of fatigue. This study aimed to investigate the associations between fatigue, executive dysfunction, and OCPD in patients with AMDs. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 85 AMD patients (78% females, mean age 39 ± 11 years) were evaluated for OCPD traits by using the observer-rated Compulsive Personality Assessment Scale. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 was used to measure different aspects of fatigue, and the Trail Making Test was employed to assess executive functioning. The Hamilton rating scales were used to evaluate anxiety and depression symptoms. Results: Controlling for potential confounders, there was a significant link between OCPD and me ntal fatigue (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.58; p = 0.033). No associations were found between the presence of OCPD and other relevant fatigue characteristics, including general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity, and reduced motivation, as well as executive functions. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report associations between OCPD and mental fatigue in patients with AMDs, suggesting mental fatigue as a clinically important symptom when considering particular personality pathologies. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Efficacy of Fibrin Sealant in Reducing Complication Risk After Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Efficacy of Fibrin Sealant in Reducing Complication Risk After Bariatric Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Via Latest Results for Obesity Surgery Abstract Background Complications including staple-line leakage and bleeding may occur after sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. In this meta-analysis, the efficacy of fibrin sealant in strengthening the staple line and reducing complication risk after bariatric surgery was evaluated. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to October 2020. Pooled estimates of the outcomes were computed using a random effects model. The primary outcomes were bleeding and leakage; secondary outcomes were gastric stricture, length of hospital stay, reoperation rate, and total operation time. Results In total, 9 RCTs including 2136 patients were reviewed. Our meta-analysis revealed that compared with controls, fibrin sealants decreased incidence of bleeding significantly (risk ratio [RR] = 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18–0.97), but did not demonstrate significant differences in reducing the incidence of leakage (RR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.23–1.73), gastric stricture (RR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.46–2.91), reoperation rate (RR = 0.85; CI, 0.14–5.14), or length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference = 0.62; 95% CI, − 0.31 to 1.55). Compared with oversewing, fibrin sealant use reduced the operation time; however, their efficacies in reducing the incidence of postoperative bleeding and leakage did not differ significantly. Conclusions Although applying fibrin sealants to the staple line in bariatric surgery may provide favorable results, but it may not reduce postoperative leakage and stricture incidence significantly. Nevertheless, the application of fibrin sealants as a method for reducing risks of complications after bariatric surgery warrant further investigation. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Panic Disorder Induced by the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Panic Disorder Induced by the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic in a Patient with Organic Mood Disorder Successfully Treated with Vortioxetine Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation We present a case of panic disorder induced by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in a patient with an organic mood disorder. The patient was a 62-year-old woman with mild mood swings and reduced motivation and volition caused by a traumatic brain injury after a traffic accident. She was maintained on carbamazepine (600 mg/day). When the COVID-19 outbreak occurred in Japan, she developed concerns regarding the illness and complained of multiple episodes of panic attacks. Further, her depressive symptoms worsened. Thus, vortioxetine was added to the ongoing CBZ treatment. Four weeks after initiating vortioxetine treatment, the symptoms of panic disorder and depressive state were ameliorated. The present case suggests that vortioxetine augmentation can improve symptoms of depressive state and p anic disorder induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Outcomes of non-metastatic poorly differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms treated with surgery: a real-world population-based study

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Outcomes of non-metastatic poorly differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms treated with surgery: a real-world population-based study Via Latest Results for International Journal of Colorectal Disease Abstract Objective To assess the outcomes of non-metastatic poorly differentiated gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) treated with radical surgery. Methods Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1998–2015) was accessed, and patients with non-metastatic poorly differentiated/undifferentiated GEP-NENs were reviewed. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate factors affecting overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Patients treated with radical surgery were matched to those who did not undergo surgery through propensity score matching and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to evaluate the impact of surgery in the post-propensity cohort. Results A total of 1517 patients were included. Within multivariable Cox regression models and compared to no surgery, radical surgery was associated with improved OS (HR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.34–0.50) and CSS (HR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.29–0.47). A total of 233 patients who underwent no surgery were then matched to 233 patients who underwent radical surgery. Within the post-propensity cohort, radical surgery was associated with improved OS (P < 0.001). Conclusions Radical surgery is associated with improved survival outcomes in patients with non-metastatic poorly differentiated GEP-NENs. Further studies are required to better identify the best timing of radical surgery within the context of multimodal management. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The Electric Shock during Acupuncture: A Normal Needling Sensation or a Warning Sign

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader The Electric Shock during Acupuncture: A Normal Needling Sensation or a Warning Sign Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation The electric shock has been proposed as one of the new needling sensations in recent years. In acupuncture sensation scales, the electric shock is included by ASS and SNQS, but not SASS, MASS, and C-MMASS. Some scholars argue that the electric shock is a normal needling sensation, but some researchers do not agree with this view. This problem has not been resolved due to a lack of evidence from basic research. Literature and research point out that the electric shock is caused by inserting a needle into the nerve directly. A question of considerable scientific and practical interest is whether the electric shock should be a normal needling sensation. In this article, we review the historical documentation of the needling sensation and the process of formulating and improving acupuncture sensation scales to sugge st that the electric shock may not be a normal needling sensation. Secondly, we collected and analyzed cases of nerve injury caused by acupuncture accompanied by the electric shock and why acupuncture caused the electric shock without nerve injury. It suggests that there may be a correlation between the electric shock and peripheral nerve injury, and acupuncture manipulation is an essential factor in adverse acupuncture events. Finally, we put forward that the electric shock during acupuncture is a warning sign that the peripheral nerve may be injured, rather than a normal needling sensation. In the future, we hope to have experimental studies on the mechanism of the electric shock or observational studies on the correlation between the electric shock and peripheral nerve injury to verify. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Prediction of Nocturnal Hypoglycemic Events in Patients with Diabetes

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader A Novel CGM Metric-Gradient and Combining Mean Sensor Glucose Enable to Improve the Prediction of Nocturnal Hypoglycemic Events in Patients with Diabetes Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Nocturnal hypoglycemia is a serious complication of insulin-treated diabetes, and it is often asymptomatic. A novel CGM metric-gradient was proposed in this paper, and a method of combining mean sensor glucose (MSG) and gradient was presented for the prediction of nocturnal hypoglycemia. For this purpose, the data from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) encompassing 1,921 patients with diabetes were analyzed, and a total of 302 nocturnal hypoglycemic events were recorded. The MSG and gradient values were calculated, respectively, and then combined as a new metric (i.e., MSG+gradient). In addition, the prediction was conducted by four algorithms, namely, logistic regression, support vector machine, random forest, and long short-term memory. The results revealed that the gradient of CGM showed a downward trend before hypoglycemic events happened. Additionally, the results indicated that the specificity and sensitivity based on the proposed method were better than the conventional metrics of low blood glucose index (LBGI), coefficient of variation (CV), mean absolute glucose (MAG), lability index (LI), etc., and the complex metrics of MSG+LBGI, MSG+CV, MSG+MAG, and MSG+LI, etc. Specifically, the specificity and sensitivity were greater than 96.07% and 96.03% at the prediction horizon of 15 minutes and greater than 87.79% and 90.07% at the prediction horizon of 30 minutes when the proposed method was adopted to predict nocturnal hypoglycemic events in the aforementioned four algorithms. Therefore, the proposed method of combining MSG and gradient may enable to improve the prediction of nocturnal hypoglycemic events. Future studies are warranted to confirm the validity of this metric. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.