Evaluating Healthcare DecisionMaking Competence inside Transgender Youth
Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin that causes serious health problems in humans and animals. However, few studies have focused on the destruction of the intestinal barrier caused by ZEN. In this study, rats were exposed to different dosages of ZEN (0, 0.2, 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg bw) by gavage for 4 weeks. The results showed that 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg ZEN impaired gut morphology, induced the inflammatory response, reduced mucin expression, increased intestinal permeability, decreased the expression of TJ proteins and activated the RhoA/ROCK pathway. However, 0.2 mg/kg ZEN had no significant effect on intestinal barrier except for reducing the expression of some TJ proteins and mucins. Moreover, exposure to ZEN led to slight imbalance in microbiota. In conclusion, ZEN exposure resulted in intestinal barrier dysfunction by inducing intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, decreasing the expression of TJ proteins, activating the RhoA/ROCK pathway, and inducing the inflammatory response.
To investigate the proportion and characteristics of asymptomatic infection among healthcare workers (HCWs).
This study retrospectively investigated 1407 HCWs who were screened for COVID-19 by chest computed tomography (CT) scans and nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Demographics, CT features, nasopharyngeal swabs, baseline symptoms, and laboratory data were collected.
Of 1407 HCWs, 235 had symptoms and 1172 were asymptomatic close contacts, of which, 107 were symptomatic cases and 84 were close contacts who had abnormal CT findings. Of 152 symptomatic individuals and 908 close contacts tested for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid, 122 symptomatic cases and 38 close contacts had positive reverse-transcriptase real-time polymerase chain (RT-PCR) test results. The rate of confirmed asymptomatic infections was 4.2% (38/908). Both symptomatic and asymptomatic infected cases had high titrations of specific IgG or had ≥four-fold increase in IgG during convalescence compared with the acute phase. Combining the RT-PCR tests and serological findings, the rate of asymptomatic infections was 9.7% (88/908). In terms of the duration of viral shedding, there was no significant difference between symptomatic mild/moderate participants and asymptomatic infections.
The findings demonstrated that a high rate of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers existed among healthcare worker close contacts during the outbreak of COVID-19.
The findings demonstrated that a high rate of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers existed among healthcare worker close contacts during the outbreak of COVID-19.The aerobic Gram-positive rod Bacillus anthracis can cause potentially lethal diseases affecting different organs. Localized eyelid inflammation is a rare presentation of cutaneous anthrax. This case report involves two patients with palpebral anthrax admitted to the oculoplastic ward of Feiz Eye Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The patients had a history of close contact with animals. Clinical presentation included palpebral swelling and necrosis of the eyelids in both cases. The patients first underwent an appropriate antibiotic regimen, and biopsy specimens were collected from their necrotic tissues. A1874 research buy They were discharged after complete healing and followed up to manage possible complications. Cicatricial ectropion developed in both cases during healing. Reconstructive surgery was scheduled for both cases 6 months after their discharge.
Tuberculous pleurisy is a common type of tuberculosis (TB), but its diagnosis is challenging. This study aimed to profile the protein expression of this disease and identify new diagnostic makers.
Biopsy tissues from patients with tuberculous pleurisy and controls were taken through thoracoscopy, and proteins were extracted for Tandem Mass Tag Mass Spectrometry. Differential protein expression was performed between patients and controls, and the identified proteins were analyzed for pathway enrichment. Selected proteins were further validated in another set of samples using a more quantitative method.
A total of 5101 proteins were detected and quantified in a discovery set of patients and controls. Overall protein expression was quite different between patients and controls. Most proteins were down-expressed, while a minority were overly expressed in the patient samples. At p value < 0.05 and absolute fold change >2, 295 proteins were found to be up-expressed and 608 down-expressed. The top enriched pathways included ECM-receptor interaction, complement and coagulation cascades and focal adhesion. All 19 selected candidates were validated in an independent set of patient and control samples.
This unbiased proteomics approach not only provided unique insights into protein expression and pathways, but also discovered potential diagnostic markers for tuberculous pleurisy.
This unbiased proteomics approach not only provided unique insights into protein expression and pathways, but also discovered potential diagnostic markers for tuberculous pleurisy.
This article summarizes the countermeasures for Marburg virus disease, focusing on pathogenesis, clinical features and diagnostics. There is an emphasis on therapies and vaccines that have demonstrated, through their evaluation in nonhuman primates (NHPs) and/or in humans, potential for use in an emergency situation.
A standardized literature review was conducted on vaccines and treatments for Marburg virus disease, with a focus on human and nonhuman primate data published in the last five years. More detail on the methods that were used is summarized in a companion methods paper.
The study identified six treatments and four vaccine platforms that have demonstrated, through their efficacy in NHPs, potential benefit for treating or preventing infection in humans.
Succinct summaries of Marburg countermeasures are provided to give the busy clinician a head start in reviewing the literature if faced with a patient with Marburg virus disease. Links to other authoritative sources of information are also provided.
Succinct summaries of Marburg countermeasures are provided to give the busy clinician a head start in reviewing the literature if faced with a patient with Marburg virus disease. Links to other authoritative sources of information are also provided.