Association of Allergic Symptoms with Dengue Infection and Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The relationship between the severity of dengue infection and allergy is still obscure. We conducted an electronic search across 12 databases for relevant articles reporting allergic symptoms, dengue infection, and dengue classification. These studies were categorized according to dengue severity and allergy symptoms, and a meta-analysis was performed by pooling the studies in each category. Among the included 57 articles, pruritus was the most common allergic sign followed by non-specified allergy and asthma(28.6%, 13%, and 6.5%, respectively). Despite the reported significant association of dengue with pruritus and total Ig E level(P \ 0.05), in comparison with non-dengue cases and healthy controls, there was no association between the different severe dengue group with pruritus, skin allergy, food allergy or asthma. However,removing the largest study revealed a significant association between asthma with dengue hemorrhagic fever(DHF) rather than dengue fever(DF). In comparison with DF, DHF was associated with Ig E positivity. Furthermore, specific-Ig E level was higher in secondary DF rather than primary DF. There was a possible association between allergy symptoms and dengue severity progression. Further studies are needed to clarify this association.     

Protective effects of L-carnosine on CCl4 -induced hepatic injury in rats

The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible protective effect of L-carnosine (CAR), an endogenous dipeptide of alanine and histidine, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatic injury. Liver injury was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of CCl₄, twice weekly for six weeks. CAR was administered to rats daily, at dose of 250 mg/kg, i.p. At the end of six weeks, blood and liver tissue specimens were collected. Results show that CAR treatment attenuated the hepatic morphological changes, necroinflammation and fibrosis induced by CCl₄, as indicated by hepatic histopathology scoring. In addition, CAR treatment significantly reduced the CCl₄-induced elevation of liver-injury parameters in serum. CAR treatment also combated oxidative stress; possibly by restoring hepatic nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) levels. Moreover, CAR treatment prevented the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), as indicated by reduced α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in the liver, and decreased hepatic inflammation as demonstrated by a reduction in hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and restoration of interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. In conclusion, CCl₄-induced hepatic injury was alleviated by CAR treatment. The results suggest that these beneficial, protective effects are due, at least in part, to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic activities.     

Correction to: Association of Allergic Symptoms with Dengue Infection and Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Virologica Sinica - The spelling of the fifth author’s name was misspelled. The byline should appear as shown above.