Relationship between dyslipidemia, C-reactive protein and serological evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in Turkish patients with coronary artery diseases

Relationship between dyslipidemia, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and serological evidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae was investigated in a Turkish population with coronary artery disease. This prospective, randomized, blinded study was carried out in Florence Nightingale Hospital which is affiliated to Kadir Has University, Medical Faculty. Thirty-two patients with acute coronary artery diseases (ACAD), 32 patients with chronic coronary artery diseases (CCAD) and 26 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. We detected serum concentrations of C. pneumoniae IgG, IgA and IgM by ELISA method. We measured total cholesterol, trigliseride, LDL and HDL- cholesterol levels to determine dyslipidemia which was defined as total cholesterol >200 mg/dL, trigliserid > 150 mg/dL, LDL >130 mg/dL, HDL <45 mg/dL. CRP levels were also measured. Seropositivity to C. pneumoniae IgG was 84.3%, 100% and 65.3%; seropositivity to IgA was 9.3%, 6.2%, and 3.8%; and seropositivity to IgM was 12.5%, 15.3%, and 15.4% in patients with ACAD, CCAD and HC, respectively. Dyslipidemia was found as 93.7%, 78. 1% and 0% of patients with ACAD, CCAD and HC, respectively. CRP level was high in all patients (ACAD, CCAD) but not in healthy controls. As a conclusion, we found a significant association between seropositivity to C. pneumoniae IgG and dyslipidemia and CRP levels in ACAD and CCAD patients (p<0.05). C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies should be evaluated together with serum lipids and CRP levels in patients with ACAD and CCAD in Turkish population. This may help clinicians in treatment of C. pneumoniae infection and decrease the risk of coronary artery diseases.     

CagA and VacA: Virulence Factors of Helicobacter pylori in Thai patients with Gastroduodenal Diseases

Background. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of cytotoxin-associated gene A ( cag A) and vacuolating cytotoxin gene A ( vac A) of Helicobacter pylori in selected Thai populations with specific gastroduodenal diseases.
Materials and Methods. The immunoblot assay was used to detect serum antibodies against CagA and VacA obtained from the following patients: 87 cases of nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD), 61 cases of duodenal ulcer (DU), 49 cases of gastric ulcer (GU), and 10 cases of gastric cancer (GC).
Results. Serum antibodies to CagA were detected in 75.4% of all patients (70.1% of NUD, 78.7% of DU, 77.6% of GU, and 90% of GC). Although the prevalence of CagA seropositivity in GC patients was higher than in the other three groups, the difference was not statistically significant ( p > .05).
Conclusions. The high seroprevalence of the CagA-positive H. pylori strain in patients with peptic ulcer, GC, and NUD indicates that this strain is common in Thai patients with gastroduodenal diseases. Furthermore, phenotypic classification of H. pylori into type 1 (CagA-positive, VacA-positive) and type 2 (CagA-negative, VacA-negative) is not a useful marker for screening patients with severe forms of gastroduodenal diseases.     

Epstein Barr virus antibody reactivity and gastric cancer: A population-based case-control study

BackgroundIn contrast to the recognized role of Helicobacter pylori in the etiology of non-cardia gastric cancer (GC), there is still insufficient epidemiological evidence for the involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in gastric carcinogenesis. We aimed to evaluate the relation of antibody profile and antibody reactivity intensity against four individual EBV proteins to GC risk.MethodsWe used information from 281 GC cases and 2071 age and sex frequency matched controls recruited in the frame of the MCC-Spain multicase-control study, between 2008 and 2013. Sociodemographic, lifestyle and environmental factors were assessed in face-to-face interviews. Antibody responses to four EBV proteins (EBNA-1, ZEBRA, EA-D, and VCA-p18) were analyzed by multiplex serology. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using logistic regression mixed models to evaluate the association of seropositivity and antibody reactivity against EBV proteins with GC, adjusting for GC risk factors. Stratified analyses by tumor location (cardia vs. non-cardia) and morphology (intestinal vs. diffuse) were done.ResultsAmong controls, seropositivity for EA-D, ZEBRA, EBNA-1 and VCA-p18 was 85%, 91%, 97% and 99%, respectively. Even though seropositivity for none of the studied proteins was associated with a higher GC risk, increasing antibody reactivity against EBNA-1 and VCA-p18 was associated with higher OR of GC. This association was present for cardia and non-cardia cancer cases, and for intestinal and diffuse types.ConclusionOur results support the hypothesis that EBV may play a role in GC etiology, and highlight the importance of evaluating specific antibodies and the dose-response relations when studying widespread infections.     

The serologic screening for celiac disease in the general population (blood donors) and in some high-risk groups of adults (patients with autoimmune diseases,osteoporosis and infertility) in the Czech republic

The prevalence of celiac disease (CD) was determined in healthy blood donors and in high-risk groups of adults (a total of 1835 adults—randomly selected 1312 healthy blood donors, 102 patients with primary osteoporosis, 58 patients with autoimmune diseases and 365 infertile women). It was calculated on the basis of a two-step serologic screening method—in the first step IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies (AGA) and IgA anti-γ-glutamyltransferase (‘transglutaminase’) antibodies (ATG) were estimated, in the second step sera positive for IgA AGA and/or IgA ATG were examined for antiendomysial IgA (AEA) antibodies. Immunoenzymic assay (ELISA) was used for determining of AGA and ATG antibodies; immunoflurescence method, performed on human umbilical cord tissue, was used for assaying of AEA antibodies. Total serum IgA level in only IgG AGA positive subjects was measured by routine turbidimetric method. 0.45% of healthy blood donors, 0.98% of osteoporotic patients, 2.7% of patients suffering from autoimmune disease and 1.13% of women with infertility considered as immunologically mediated were found to be positive in both steps of serologic screening (AGA and/or ATG and antiendomysium positive). The presumed high prevalence of seropositivity for CD in apparently healthy Czech adult population was confirmed. In the high-risk groups, the prevalence of seropositivity for CD was approximately 2–4 times higher than in healthy blood donors. The real prevalence of CD in the tested groups, however, can be estimated after performing small intestinal biopsy in the seropositive patients.     

Antibodies to Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia typhi, Coxiella burnetii, Bartonella henselae, Bartonella quintana, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis among healthy population in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Rickettsial diseases except those belonging to spotted fever group rickettsioses are poorly studied in South America particularly in Brazil where few epidemiological reports have been published. We describe a serosurvey for Rickettsia rickettsii, R. typhi, Coxiella burnetii, Bartonella henselae, B. quintana, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis in 437 healthy people from a Brazilian rural community. The serum samples were tested by indirected micro-immunoflourescence technique and a cutoff titer of 1:64 was used. The seroprevalence rates for R. rickettsii, R. typhi, C. burnetii, B. henselae, B. quintana, and E. chaffeensis were respectively 1.6% (7 samples); 1.1% (5 samples); 3.9% (17 samples); 13.7% (60 samples); 12.8% (56 samples), and 10.5% (46 samples). Frequent multiple/cross-reactivity was observed in this study. Age over 40 years old, urban profession, and rural residence were significantly associated with some but not all infections rate. Low seropositivity rates for R. rickettsii, R. typhi, and C. burnetii contrasted with higher rates of seropositivity for B. quintana, B. henselae, and E. chaffeensis. These results show that all tested rickettsial species or antigenically closely related possible exist in this particular region.     

Duodenal ulcer-related antigens from Helicobacter pylori: immunoproteome and protein microarray approaches

Helicobacter pylori is an important risk factor of duodenal ulcer (DU). Although many virulence factors of H. pylori have been identified, few have been reported to show an association with the pathogenesis of DU. The aims of this study were to identify H. pylori antigens showing a high seropositivity in DU and to develop a platform for rapid and easy diagnosis for DU. Because DU and gastric cancer (GC) are considered clinical divergent gastroduodenal diseases, we compared two-dimensional immunoblots of an acid-glycine extract of an H. pylori strain from a patient with DU probed with serum samples from 10 patients with DU and 10 with GC to identify DU-related antigens. Of the 11 proteins that were strongly recognized by serum IgG from DU patients, translation elongation factor EF-G (FusA), catalase (KatA), and urease alpha subunit (UreA) were identified as DU-related antigens, showing a higher seropositivity in DU samples (n = 124) than in GC samples (n = 95) (FusA, 70.2 versus 45.3%; KatA, 50.8 versus 41.1%; UreA, 44.4 versus 27.4%). In addition, we found that the use of multiple antigens improved the discrimination between patients with DU and those with GC as the odds ratios increased from 1.82 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.79-4.21; p = 0.1607) for seropositivity for FusA, KatA, or UreA alone to 4.95 (95% CI, 2.05-12.0; p = 0.0004) for two of the three antigens and to 5.71 (95% CI, 1.86-17.6; p = 0.0024) for all three antigens. Moreover a protein array containing the three DU-related antigens was developed to test the idea of using multiple biomarkers in diagnosis. We conclude that FusA, KatA, and UreA are DU-related antigens of H. pylori, and the combination of these on a protein array provided a rapid and convenient method for detecting serum antibody patterns of DU patients.     

Rheumatoid arthritis–associated autoantibodies in non–rheumatoid arthritis patients with mucosal inflammation: a case–control study

IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis–associated autoantibodies (RA-AAB) can be present in serum years before clinical onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It has been hypothesized that initiation of RA-AAB generation occurs at inflamed mucosal surfaces, such as in the oral cavity or lungs. The aim of this study was to assess systemic presence of RA-AAB in patients without RA who had oral or lung mucosal inflammation.MethodsThe presence of RA-AAB (immunoglobulin A [IgA] and IgG anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 antibodies (anti-CCP2), IgM and IgA rheumatoid factor (RF), IgG anti-carbamylated protein antibodies and IgG and IgA anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies against fibrinogen, vimentin and enolase) were determined in sera of non-RA patients with periodontitis (PD, n = 114), bronchiectasis (BR, n = 80) or cystic fibrosis (CF, n = 41). Serum RA-AAB levels were compared with those of periodontally healthy controls (n = 36). Patients with established RA (n = 86) served as a reference group. Association of the diseases with RA-AAB seropositivity was assessed with a logistic regression model, adjusted for age, sex and smoking.ResultsLogistic regression analysis revealed that IgG anti-CCP seropositivity was associated with BR and RA, whereas the association with PD was borderline significant. IgA anti-CCP seropositivity was associated with CF and RA. IgM RF seropositivity was associated with RA, whereas the association with BR was borderline significant. IgA RF seropositivity was associated with CF and RA. Apart from an influence of smoking on IgA RF in patients with RA, there was no influence of age, sex or smoking on the association of RA-AAB seropositivity with the diseases. Anti-CarP levels were increased only in patients with RA. The same held for IgG reactivity against all investigated citrullinated peptides.ConclusionAlthough overall levels were low, RA-AAB seropositivity was associated with lung mucosal inflammation (BR and CF) and may be associated with oral mucosal inflammation (PD). To further determine whether mucosal inflammation functions as a site for induction of RA-AAB and precedes RA, longitudinal studies are necessary in which RA-AAB of specifically the IgA isotype should be assessed in inflamed mucosal tissues and/or in their inflammatory exudates.     

High Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity among Brain Tumor Patients in Korea

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that can modulate the environment of the infected host. An unfavorable environment modulated by T. gondii in the brain includes tumor microenvironment. Literature has suggested that T. gondii infection is associated with development of brain tumors. However, in Korea, epidemiological data regarding this correlation have been scarce. In this study, in order to investigate the relationship between T. gondii infection and brain tumor development, we investigated the seroprevalence of T. gondii among 93 confirmed brain tumor patients (various histological types, including meningioma and astrocytoma) in Korea using ELISA. The results revealed that T. gondii seropositivity among brain tumor patients (18.3%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with that of healthy controls (8.6%). The seropositivity of brain tumor patients showed a significant age-tendency, i.e., higher in younger age group, compared with age-matched healthy controls (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study supports the close relationship between T. gondii infection and incidence of brain tumors.     

Clinical presentation and survival of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients of a university general hospital in a developing country

From January 1995 to August 1997 we evaluated prospectively the clinical presentation, laboratory findings and short-term survival of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients who sought care at our hospital. After providing informed, written consent, the patients were interviewed and laboratory tests were performed. Information about survivorship and death was collected through September 1998. Eighty-six smear-positive pulmonary TB patients were enrolled; 26.7% were HIV-seropositive. Seventeen HIV-seronegative pulmonary TB patients (19.8%) presented chronic diseases in addition to TB. In the multiple logistic regression analysis a CD4+ cell count <= 200 cell/mm was independently associated with HIV seropositivity. In the Cox regression model, fitted to all patients, HIV seropositivity and age > or = 50 years were independently associated with decreased survival. Among HIV-seronegative persons, the presence of an additional disease increased the risk of death of almost six-fold. Use of antiretroviral drugs was associated with a lower risk of death among HIV-seropositive smear-positive pulmonary TB patients (RH = 0.32, 95% CI 0.10-0.92). In our study smear-positive pulmonary TB patients had a low short-term survival rate that was strongly associated with HIV infection, age and co-morbidities. Therapy with antiretroviral drugs reduced the short-term risk of death among HIV-seropositive patients after TB diagnosis.     

Risk Factors for Enterovirus A71 Seropositivity in Rural Indigenous Populations in West Malaysia

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), which is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, causes hand, foot and mouth disease and, rarely, severe neurological complications. In Malaysia, the indigenous rural community (Orang Asli) has a high prevalence of parasitic diseases due to poor sanitation, water supply and hygiene practices. This cross-sectional study compared the seroepidemiology of EV-A71 among rural Orang Asli and urban Kuala Lumpur populations in West Malaysia, and determined the risk factors associated with EV-A71 seropositivity in rural Orang Asli. Seropositive rates were determined by neutralization assay. EV-A71 seropositivity was strongly associated with increasing age in both populations. Rural Orang Asli children ≤12 years had significantly higher EV-A71 seropositivity rates than urban Kuala Lumpur children (95.5% vs 57.6%, P < 0.001), and also higher rates in the age groups of 1–3, 4–6 and 7–12 years. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age ≤12 years (adjusted OR 8.1, 95% CI 3.2–20.7, P < 0.001) and using untreated water (adjusted OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.3–16.6, P < 0.001) were independently associated with EV-A71 seropositivity in the Orang Asli population. Supply of clean drinking water may reduce the risk of EV-A71 infection. With significantly higher EV-A71 seropositive rates, younger rural children should be a priority target for future vaccination programs in Malaysia.     

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in South Korea

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori-associated gastrointestinal diseases have been widely recognized. The aims of this study were to investigate the interval change of seropositivity of H. pylori between 1998 and 2005 in Korean adult population and to find the factors related to H. pylori infection. METHODS: Between January and December of 2005, a total of 15,916 health check-up subjects (aged > or = 16 years) from all parts of South Korea responded to the questionnaire, and the prevalence of H. pylori was investigated by measuring anti-H pylori IgG antibodies. The seropositivity in asymptomatic subjects (aged > or = 16 years) was compared with that of 1998, which was surveyed by the Korean H. pylori Study Group. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity rate (aged > or = 16 years) was 56.0%, and 13.9% of seropositive subjects were found to have a history of H. pylori eradication therapy. With the exclusion of subjects who had a history of H. pylori eradication and current gastrointestinal symptoms, the seropositivity rate of H. pylori became 59.6% in 8020 subjects. Seroprevalence of H. pylori was significantly higher in subjects aged 50-59 years, males, low income group, and subjects from provinces. The seroprevalence in 2005 (59.6%) significantly decreased compared with that of 1998 (66.9%), and the decrease was significant in subjects aged < 70 years, Seoul and Gyeonggi province (which is close to Seoul). CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of H. pylori in asymptomatic health check-up adult subjects in 2005 decreased to 59.6% from 66.9% in 1998, probably as a result of the improvement of socioeconomic status and hygiene.     

The role of CagA status in gastric and extragastric complications of Helicobacter pylori.

Two major markers of virulence have been described in H. pylori. The first is a secreted protein (VacA) that is toxic to human cells in tissue culture. This cytotoxin causes vacuolation of epithelial cells in vitro and induces epithelial cell damage in mice. The second is a 40-Kb pathogenicity island for which the gene cagA (cytotoxin-associated gene A) is a marker. Approximately 60% of H. pylori isolates in Western countries are cagA+. The protein encoded by cagA+ has a molecular weight of 120-140 kDa and exhibits sequence heterogeneity among strains isolated from Western and Eastern countries. Although no specific function has been identified for CagA, there is increasing evidence that cagA+ strains are associated with increased intensity of gastric inflammation and increased mucosal concentration of particular cytokines including interleukin 8. Inactivation of picB (Hp 0544) or any of several other genes in the cag island ablates the enhanced IL-8 secretion of human gastric epithelial cells in tissue culture. Furthermore, persons colonized with cagA+ strains have an increased risk of developing more severe gastric diseases such as peptic ulcer and distal (non-cardia) gastric cancer than those harboring cagA- strains. We investigated the role of cagA status in both gastroduodenal and extragastroduodenal disease with H. pylori. Among the diseases limited to the antrum and body of the stomach and the duodenum, we demonstrated a correlation between CagA seropositivity and peptic ulcer disease. We also showed correlation between distal gastric cancer rated and CagA prevalence in populations in both developed and developing countries. In addition, we found that for several Asian populations, the relationship between CagA seropositivity and gastroduodenal diseases was complex. For extragastroduodenal diseases, our results confirmed previous reports that demonstrated that CagA status did not play a role in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and hyperemesis gravidarum. However, we found a clear negative association between the presence of a positive response to CagA and esophageal diseases. Therefore, CagA seropositivity (and thus gastric carriage) is associated with increased risks of certain diseases (involving the lower stomach and duodenum) and decreased risks of GERD and its sequelae. This apparent paradox can best be explained by differences in the interaction of cagA+ and cagA- strains with their hosts.     

Steatorrhea in patients with liver disease

Intestinal function was studied in 26 patients with seven types of acute and chronic liver disease, documented by liver biopsy. Steatorrhea, defined by a stool fat higher than 6 g. per day, was present in 18 of 23 consecutive patients studied, an incidence of 78.3%. Two patients with infectious hepatitis associated with steatorrhea studied previously were added and the 20 cases were analyzed. The malabsorption found was confined to fat and fat-soluble vitamins; stool excretion varied from 6.1 to 22 g. per day in the seven groups studied. No histological abnormality was seen on jejunal biopsy, serum vitamin B₁₂, D-xylose and Schilling tests were normal, and no radiological findings associated with malabsorption were detected in the small bowel. It is concluded that steatorrhea is a common finding in a wide variety of acute and chronic liver diseases and cannot be attributed to a primary defect of the small bowel.     

Mapping of the conserved antigenic domains shared between potato apyrase and parasite ATP diphosphohydrolases: potential application in human parasitic diseases

Evolutionary and closer structural relationships are demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis, peptide prediction and molecular modelling between Solanum tuberosum apyrase, Schistosoma mansoni SmATPase 2 and Leishmania braziliensis NDPase. Specific protein domains are suggested to be potentially involved in the immune response, and also seem to be conserved during host and parasite co-evolution. Significant IgG antibody reactivity was observed in sera from patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) and schistosomiasis using potato apyrase as antigen in ELISA. S. mansoni adult worm or egg, L. braziliensis promastigote (Lb) and Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote (EPI) have ATP diphosphohydrolases, and antigenic preparations of them were evaluated. In ACL patients, IgG seropositivity was about 43% and 90% for Lb and potato apyrase, respectively, while IgM was lower (40%) or IgG (100%) seropositivity for both soluble egg (SEA) and adult worm (SWAP) antigens was higher than that found for potato apyrase (IgM=10%; IgG=39%). In Chagas disease, IgG seropositivity for EPI and potato apyrase was 97% and 17%, respectively, while the IgM was low (3%) for both antigens. The study of the conserved domains from both parasite proteins and potato apyrase could lead to the development of new drug targets or molecular markers.     

Characterization of human malignant melanoma cell lines. III. Membrane immunofluorescence reactivity with sera from patients with melanoma

Summary Seven well-characterized human malignant melanoma cell lines have been evaluated in terms of their reactivity in membrane immunofluorescence tests with sera from 48 patients with melanoma, 23 patients with other forms of cancer and 28 normal controls. There was a significantly greater degree of reactivity of melanoma sera (33.7%) than of sera of normal controls (22.2%) or of sera from patients with other forms of cancer (24.2%). The incidence of strong reactors among the melanoma patients was found to be inversely proportional to the extent of disease in the melanoma patients: Stage I, 54.5%, Stage III, 36.8% and Stage IV, 29.4%. Reactivity against non-melanoma cell lines was similar in the three subject groups and was unaffected by stage of disease in the melanoma patients. No single cell line showed preferential reactivity with melanoma sera. There was an increased overall incidence of reactivity of all three subject groups against non-pigmented cell lines.A-B-0 antigens and heterophile antigens were excluded as a cause of seropositivity. The antigen(s) was trypsin-sensitive and neuraminidase-resistant.These data suggest that long term cultures of human melanoma may contain melanoma-associated antigens which may be useful in the further study and search for melanoma-specific antigens.     

Human T Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) Antibodies in Healthy Populations and Renal Transplanted Patients in the North-East of Brazil

The seroprevalence of human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection was investigated in Brazilians (570): native inhabitants (298) and descendants from Japanese (272) living in Recife and its neighborhoods—North-east of Brazil. Furthermore, polytransfused renal transplanted patients (54) were also examined for the serological status to this virus. The seropositivity to HTLV-1, screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), was low: 1.34% for the local population and 0.73% for the descendants from Japanese. However, the seropositivity for the renal transplanted patients was found to be 11.1%. This higher value suggests that this retrovirus infection seems to be of importance in this clinical condition.     

Serological evidence of single and mixed infections of Rift Valley fever virus,Brucella spp. and Coxiella burnetii in dromedary camels in Kenya

Camels are increasingly becoming the livestock of choice for pastoralists reeling from effects of climate change in semi-arid and arid parts of Kenya. As the population of camels rises, better understanding of their role in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases in Kenya is a public health priority. Rift Valley fever (RVF), brucellosis and Q fever are three of the top priority diseases in the country but the involvement of camels in the transmission dynamics of these diseases is poorly understood. We analyzed 120 camel serum samples from northern Kenya to establish seropositivity rates of the three pathogens and to characterize the infecting Brucella species using molecular assays. We found seropositivity of 24.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.5–31.8%) for Brucella, 20.8% (95% CI: 13.6–28.1%) and 14.2% (95% CI: 7.9–20.4%) for Coxiella burnetii and Rift valley fever virus respectively. We found 27.5% (95% CI: 19.5–35.5%) of the animals were seropositive for at least one pathogen and 13.3% (95% CI: 7.2–19.4%) were seropositive for at least two pathogens. B. melitensis was the only Brucella spp. detected. The high sero-positivity rates are indicative of the endemicity of these pathogens among camel populations and the possible role the species has in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. Considering the strong association between human infection and contact with livestock for most zoonotic infections in Kenya, there is immediate need to conduct further research to determine the role of camels in transmission of these zoonoses to other livestock species and humans. This information will be useful for designing more effective surveillance systems and intervention measures.     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Characteristics of Seropositive Patients in General Hospitals in Daejeon, Korea

To figure out the epidemiological status and relevance with other diseases in toxoplasmosis, we checked serum IgG antibody titers of 1,265 patients and medical records of seropositive patients. Seropositive rates were 6.6% by latex agglutination test (LAT) and 6.7% by ELISA. No significant differences were detected between sexes and age groups. The peak seroprevalence was detected in the 40-49-year-old age group. According to clinical department, Toxoplasma-positive rates were high in patients in psychiatry, ophthalmology, health management, emergency medicine, and thoracic surgery. Major coincidental diseases in seropositive cases were malignant neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, chronic hepatitis B, chronic renal diseases, schizophrenia, and acute lymphadenitis, in the order of frequency. In particular, some patients with chronic hepatitis B and malignant neoplasms had high antibody titers. These results revealed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in a general hospital-based study was similar to that in a community-based study, and T. gondii seropositivity may be associated with neoplasms, diabetes, and other chronic infections.     

Infectious Disease Risk of Cadaveric Tissue Donors Who Used Non-injected Illicit Drugs

This study assessed the correlation between a history of non-injection illicit drug use by cadaveric tissue donors and the presence of markers for Human Immunodeficieny Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human T Lymphocyte Virus Types I–II (HTLV-I–II), and Syphilis in their blood. It was found in 12,227 donors recovered in 2000–2002 that 9.68% of individuals with a history of non-injection drug use were seropositive for one or more infectious disease markers compared to 4.26% of donors without a history of drug abuse (p < 0.001). A history of non-injection drug use had a positive predictive value of 9.68% and a negative predictive value of 95.74%. Analysis of seropositivity rates associated with individual drugs indicated that 9.6% of cocaine abusers were positive for one or more markers (p < 0.001). Other drugs exhibited higher rates of seropositivity but the numbers were insufficient for statistical analysis. Other risk factors (transfusion of blood/blood products, tattoos and body piercing, incarceration) were not associated with higher incidence of infectious disease markers.     

长期住院老年精神疾病患者营养状况与认知功能的相关性研究

目的:了解长期住院老年精神疾病患者营养状况及与认知功能的相关性,为临床提供指导。方法:对住院3个月及以上的123例老年精神疾病患者采用简易精神状态检查量表(MMSE)评估认知功能,采用简易微型营养评定精简版(MNA-SF)评估营养状况,并采集一般资料、相关营养生化指标,应用Pearson相关分析MNA-SF评分与MMSE评分的相关性。结果:123例患者中,营养不良风险者67例(54.47%),营养不良者37例(30.08%),营养正常者19例(15.44%)。有认知障碍患者的营养不良发生率显著高于无认知障碍患者营养不良发生率(P<0.05),重度认知障碍者营养不良发生率显著高于轻、中度认知障碍者(P<0.05)。与无认知障碍者比较,中度、重度认知障碍者MNA-SF评分显著降低(P<0.05);与轻度、中度认知障碍者比较,重度认知障碍者MNA-SF评分显著降低(P<0.05)。营养不良者MMSE 6个认知领域评分和认知总评分均显著低于营养不良风险/正常者(P<0.05),Pearson相关分析显示:长期住院老年精神疾病患者MNA-SF评分与MMSE评分呈正相关(r=0.486, P=0.023<0.05)。结论:长期住院老年精神疾病患者营养不良发生率高,且与认知功能密切相关。临床部门需加强老年精神疾病患者,特别是有认知损害老人的营养关切。