Prevalence and Spatial Distribution of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Giardia lamblia among Schoolchildren in Agboville Area (C?te d'Ivoire)

Background

New efforts are being made to improve understanding of the epidemiology of the helminths and intensifying the control efforts against these parasites. In contrast, relatively few studies are being carried out in this direction for the intestinal protozoa. To contribute to a better comprehension of the epidemiology of the intestinal protozoa, prevalence, and spatial distribution of Entamoeba histolytica/dispar and Giardia lamblia, and their association with drinking water supplies, were determined in the Agboville department in southeast Côte d''Ivoire.

Methods/Findings

Stool samples were taken from more than 1,300 schoolchildren in the third year of primary education (CE1) from 30 primary schools and preserved in SAF (sodium acetate-acetic acid-formalin). The samples were analyzed by formalin-ether concentration. Then, a survey questionnaire addressed to schoolchildren and school directors was used to collect data on water supplies. Prevalence of E. histolytica/dispar and G. lamblia were, respectively, 18.8% and 13.9%. No particular focus zone was observed in the spatial distribution of the two species. Significant negative association was observed between use of tap water and high prevalence of E. histolytica/dispar infection (OR = 0.83, p = 0.01). High prevalence of G. lamblia infection was positively associated with use of ponds as the source of drinking water (OR = 1.28, p = 0.009).

Conclusion

These two species of pathogenic protozoa are present with substantial prevalence in this area of Côte d''Ivoire. Although their spatial distribution is not focused in any one place, determination of the population segments with the highest levels of infection will help to target the chemotherapeutic fight. To reinforce treatment with chemotherapeutic agents, tap water should be made available in all the localities of this area.     

Prevalence of known mutations in the MEFV gene in a population screening with high rate of carriers

The Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) shows an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance and affects certain ethnic groups. Disease is caused by mutations in MEFV gene and more than 180 mutations have been defined in affected individuals. Current study aimed to determine the frequency-type of the mutations for MEFV gene in Sivas??middle Anatolian city. The cohort was composed of 3340 patients. MEFV gene mutations were studied by multiplex PCR based reverse hybridization stripAssay method. Patients?? clinical features were; family history: 68%, erysipelas-like erythema: 17.6%, fever: 89.9%, abdominal pain: 84.2%, peritonitis: 90.2%, arthritis: 33%, pleuritis: 14.2%, parental consanguinity: 21.2%. Current results revealed that M694V is the most frequent mutation (43.12%), followed by E148Q (20.18), M680I(G/C) (15.00%) and V726A (11.32%). The study population has a high rate of carriers and the E148Q mutation frequency was found to be highest when compared to the other regions of Turkey and other Mediterranean groups.     

Identification of thylakoid membrane thermal transitions in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 photosynthetic mutants

We used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as a technique capable of identifying photosynthetic complexes on the basis of their calorimetric transitions. Annotation of thermal transitions was carried out with thylakoid membranes isolated from various photosynthetic mutants of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The thylakoid membranes exhibited seven major DSC bands between 40 and 85°C. The heat sorption curves were analyzed both by mathematical deconvolution of the overall endotherms and by a subsequent annealing procedure. The successive annealing procedure proved to be more reliable technique than mathematical deconvolution in assigning thermal transitions. The main DSC band, around 47°C, resulting from the high enthalpy change that corresponds to non-interacting complex of PSII, was assigned using the PSI-less/apcE(-) mutant cells. Another band around 68-70°C relates to the denaturation of PSII surrounded by other proteins of the photosynthetic complexes in wild type and PSI-less/apcE(-) cells. A further major transition found at 82-84°C corresponds to the PSI core complex of wild type and PSII-deficient BE cells. Other transition bands between 50-67 and 65-75°C are believed to relate to ATP synthase and cytochrome b(6)f, respectively. These thermal transitions were obtained with thylakoids isolated from PSI(-)/PSII(-) mutant cells. Some minor bands determined at 59 and 83-84°C correspond to an unknown complex and NADH dehydrogenase, respectively. These annotations were done by PSI-less/apcE(-) and PSI(-)/PSII(-) mutants.     

Repressible chloroplast gene expression in Chlamydomonas: A new tool for the study of the photosynthetic apparatus

A repressible/inducible chloroplast gene expression system has been used to conditionally inhibit chloroplast protein synthesis in the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This system allows one to follow the fate of photosystem II and photosystem I and their antennae upon cessation of chloroplast translation. The main results are that the levels of the PSI core proteins decrease at a slower rate than those of PSII. Amongst the light-harvesting complexes, the decrease of CP26 proceeds at the same rate as for the PSII core proteins whereas it is significantly slower for CP29, and for the antenna complexes of PSI this rate is comprised between that of CP26 and CP29. In marked contrast, the components of trimeric LHCII, the major PSII antenna, persist for several days upon inhibition of chloroplast translation. This system offers new possibilities for investigating the biosynthesis and turnover of individual photosynthetic complexes in the thylakoid membranes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability: Keys to Produce Clean Energy.     

Inaccuracy of Venous Point-of-Care Glucose Measurements in Critically Ill Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Current guidelines and consensus recommend arterial and venous samples as equally acceptable for blood glucose assessment in point-of-care devices, but there is limited evidence to support this recommendation. We evaluated the accuracy of two devices for bedside point-of-care blood glucose measurements using arterial, fingerstick and catheter venous blood samples in ICU patients, and assessed which factors could impair their accuracy.

Methods

145 patients from a 41-bed adult mixed-ICU, in a tertiary care hospital were prospectively enrolled. Fingerstick, central venous (catheter) and arterial blood (indwelling catheter) samples were simultaneously collected, once per patient. Arterial measurements obtained with Precision PCx, and arterial, fingerstick and venous measurements obtained with Accu-chek Advantage II were compared to arterial central lab measurements. Agreement between point-of-care and laboratory measurements were evaluated with Bland-Altman, and multiple linear regression models were used to investigate interference of associated factors.

Results

Mean difference between Accu-chek arterial samples versus central lab was 10.7 mg/dL (95% LA -21.3 to 42.7 mg/dL), and between Precision PCx versus central lab was 18.6 mg/dL (95% LA -12.6 to 49.5 mg/dL). Accu-chek fingerstick versus central lab arterial samples presented a similar bias (10.0 mg/dL) but a wider 95% LA (-31.8 to 51.8 mg/dL). Agreement between venous samples with arterial central lab was the poorest (mean bias 15.1 mg/dL; 95% LA -51.7 to 81.9). Hyperglycemia, low hematocrit, and acidosis were associated with larger differences between arterial and venous blood measurements with the two glucometers and central lab. Vasopressor administration was associated with increased error for fingerstick measurements.

Conclusions

Sampling from central venous catheters should not be used for glycemic control in ICU patients. In addition, reliability of the two evaluated glucometers was insufficient. Error with Accu-chek Advantage II increases mostly with central venous samples. Hyperglycemia, lower hematocrit, acidosis, and vasopressor administration increase measurement error.     

Alpha-fetoprotein synthesis in clonogenic cells of rat hepatoma McA-RH 7777

Production of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was determined in single cells of hepatoma McA-RH7777 and in the clones of their progeny. To elucidate the heritability of this trait in a series of cell generations, a variety of local hemolysis in gel was devised. According to the method the cells and red cells conjugated with protein A were placed on the polylysine covered surface and layered with agarose gel containing antibodies. AFP production by single cells was determined from the formation of plaques--areas of red cell hemolysis. The cells forming the plaques (+AFP) and not forming them (-AFP) were distinguished and their reproduction was followed up. After 7-14 days the cells were fixed and stained by the immunoperoxidase technique with antibodies to AFP. High efficacy of the cloning has been demonstrated for both +AFP- and -AFP-cells (69 and 71%). Negative cells preserved their phenotype more frequently, producing homogenous negative clones, whereas +AFP cells gave "negative" clones in 1/3 of the cases. Both cells gave mixed clones in a small percentage of the cases. At present the AFP trait in these cells is being studied by recloning.     

The Turkish Agromyzidae (Diptera), with descriptions of four new species

A total of 117 agromyzid leafminers are known to occur in Turkey, among which Agromyza phylloposthia, Pseudonapomyza pyriformis, Liriomyza cardariae and Phytomyza geminata are described as new to science. A faunistic account of the Agromyzidae in Turkey is given.     

The effect of cyclic anaerobic–aerobic conditions on biodegradation of azo dyes

The effect of cyclic anaerobic–aerobic conditions on the biodegradative capability of the mixed microbial culture for the azo dye Remazol Brilliant Violet 5R (RBV-5R) was investigated in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with a synthetic textile wastewater. The SBR had a 12-h cycle time with anaerobic–aerobic periods of 3/9, 6/6 and 9/3 h. General SBR performance was assessed by measurement of catabolic enzymes (catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, azo reductase), chemical oxygen demand (COD), color and amount of aromatic amines. In this study, under steady-state conditions, the anaerobic period of the cyclic SBR was found to allow the reductive decolorization of azo dye. Longer anaerobic periods resulted in higher color removal efficiencies, approximately 71% for the 3-h, 87% for 6-h and 92% for the 9-h duration. Total COD removal efficiencies were over 84% under each of the cyclic conditions and increased as the length of the anaerobic period was increased; however, the highest color removal rate was attained for the cycle with the shortest anaerobic period of 3 h. During the decolorization of RBV-5R, two sulfonated aromatic amines (benzene based and naphthalene based) were formed. Additionally, anaerobic azo reductase enzyme was found to be positively affected with the increasing duration of the anaerobic period; however; it was vice versa for the aerobic catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23DO) enzyme.     

Synthesis,Biological Activity Evaluation and Molecular Docking of Imidazole Derivatives Possessing Hydrazone Moiety

In an attempt to identify potential active anticancer agents with low cytotoxic properties and CA inhibitors, a new series of hybrid compounds incorporating imidazole ring and hydrazone moiety as part of their structure were synthesized by aza-Michael addition reaction followed by intramolecular cyclization. The structure of synthesized compounds was elucidated using various spectral techniques. Synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer (prostate cell lines; PC3) and CA inhibitory (hCA I and hCA II) activity. Among them, some compound displayed remarkable anticancer activity and CA inhibitory activity with K_i values in range of 17.53±7.19–150.50±68.87 nM against cytosolic hCA I isoform associated with epilepsy, and 28.82±14.26–153.27±55.80 nM against dominant cytosolic hCA II isoforms associated with glaucoma. Furthermore, the theoretical parameters of the bioactive molecules were calculated to establish their drug-likeness qualities. The proteins used for the calculations are prostate cancer protein (PDB ID: 3RUK and 6XXP). ADME/T analysis was carried out to examine the drug properties of the studied molecules.     

Melanocortin-4 Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Obese Patients

Obesity is a complex disease caused by both genetics and environmental factors. Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) (MIM 155541) gene polymorphisms were reported to be the cause of monogenic obesity in humans. We studied three polymorphisms (Val50Met, Val103Ile, and Ser58Cys) and a mutation (Asn274Ser) of the MC4R gene in 203 obese patients and in 110 healthy subjects in the Turkish population. A high incidence of Val103Ile and Val50Met polymorphisms as well as the Asn274Ser mutation was found in the obese patients, whereas no significant correlation was found regarding the Ser58Cys polymorphism. We conclude that there is a concordance between the polymorphisms (Val103Ile, Val50Met, Ser58Cys) that were first studied in the Turkish population with obesity.