Therapeutic approach for global myocardial injury using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by cardiac support device in rats

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Therapeutic approach for global myocardial injury using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by cardiac support device in rats Via Latest Results for Biomedical Microdevices Abstract Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been considered a promising therapeutic approach to cardiovascular disease. This study intends to compare the effect of BMSCs through a standard active cardiac support device (ASD) and intravenous injection on global myocardial injury induced by isoproterenol. BMSCs were cultured in vitro, and the transplanted cells were labeled with a fluorescent dye CM-Dil. Isoproterenol (ISO) was injected into the rats; 2 weeks later, the labeled cells were transplanted into ISO-induced heart-jury rats through the tail vein or ASD device for 5 days. The rats were sacrificed on the first day, the third day, and the fifth day after transplantation to observe the distribution of cells in the myocardium by fluorescence microscopy. The hemodynamic indexes of the left ventricle were measured before sacrificing. H&E staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to evaluate the cardiac histopatholo gy. In the ASD groups, after 3 days of transplantation, there were a large number of BMSCs on the epicardial surface, and after 5 days of transplantation, BMSCs were widely distributed in the ventricular muscle. But in the intravenous injection group, there were no labeled-BMSCs distributed. In the ASD + BMSCs-three days treated group and ASD + BMSCs -five days-treated group, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), the maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise (+dP/dt), the maximum rate of left ventricular pressure decline (-dP/dt) increased compared with model group and intravenous injection group (P < 0.05). By giving BMSCs through ASD device, cells can rapidly and widely distribute in the myocardium and significantly improve heart function. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The clinical efficacy and safety of single-agent pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent granulosa cell tumors of the ovary: a case series from a phase II basket trial

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader The clinical efficacy and safety of single-agent pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent granulosa cell tumors of the ovary: a case series from a phase II basket trial Via Latest Results for Investigational New Drugs Summary Background Treatment of recurrent, unresectable granulosa cell tumor (GCT) of the ovary can be challenging. Given the rarity of the tumor, alternative therapies have been difficult to evaluate in large prospective clinical trials. Currently, to our knowledge, there are no reports of the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in GCT patients. Here, we present a case series of GCT patients treated with pembrolizumab who were enrolled in a phase II basket trial in advanced, rare solid tumors (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02721732). Cases We identified 5 patients with recurrent GCT (4 adult and 1 juvenile type); they had an extensive history of systemic therapy at study enrollment (range, 3–10), with most regimens resulting in less than 12 months of disease control. Pembrolizumab was administered in these patients, as per trial protocol. Although there were no objective responses according to the irRECIST guidelines, 2 patients with adult-type GCT exp erienced disease control for ≥ 12 months (565 and 453 days). In one, pembrolizumab represented the longest duration of disease control compared to prior lines of systemic therapy (565 days vs. 13 months). In the other, pembrolizumab was the second longest systemic therapy associated with disease control (453 days vs. 22 months) compared to prior lines of therapy. In this patient, pembrolizumab was discontinued following withdrawal of consent. PD-L1 expression was not observed in any baseline tumor samples. Pembrolizumab was well tolerated, with no grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events. Conclusions Although our results do not support the routine use of pembrolizumab monotherapy in unselected GCT patients, some patients with adult-type GCT may derive a clinical benefit, with a low risk of toxicity. Future studies should investigate the role of immunotherapy and predictors of clinical benefit in this patient population. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis Due to Coronavirus

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis Due to Coronavirus in a Post Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Patient: a Case Report Via Latest Results for Obesity Surgery View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Lymphatic filariasis

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Lymphatic filariasis in Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis Via Latest Results for Parasitology Research Abstract Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an important neglected parasitic disease according to the World Health Organization. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of human LF in Asia using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Records from 1990 to 2018 in reputable databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched using a panel of related keywords. All 48 countries of Asia were searched one by one in combination with the keywords. In all, 41,742 cases identified in this study were included in the analysis. According to our findings, the pooled prevalence of LF in Asia was estimated at 3% (95% CI: [1.7, 5.2]). There was no major trend in the cumulative prevalence of LF over time. Some countries in Asia including China, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea succeeded in eliminating LF as a public health problem, but others still need to monitor the disease. Based on the initiative of the WHO starting in 2000, some co untries in Asia succeeded in eliminating LF as a public health problem. Other countries have taken steps to eliminate the disease with variable degrees of success. These efforts might be affected by issues such as climate change. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Regulation of human THP-1 macrophage polarization by Trichinella spiralis

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Regulation of human THP-1 macrophage polarization by Trichinella spiralis Via Latest Results for Parasitology Research Abstract Trichinella spiralis is a foodborne zoonotic nematode, which causes trichinellosis. During the infection, parasite evades the host immune responses by direct and indirect (through excretory-secretory products) contact with host immune cells. One of the main targets for immunomodulation induced by helminths are macrophages. In this study, we examined whether direct contact of different stages of T. spiralis can affect the polarization of human THP-1 macrophages. Co-culture of adult parasite stage and cells in direct contact without LPS addition had a significant impact on TNFα levels. Interestingly, in settings with the addition of LPS, the levels of IL-1β and TNFα significantly increased in adult parasite and newborn larvae (NBL) but not for muscle larvae (ML). While we tested muscle larvae ESP products to compare its effect with whole ML parasite, we detect an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β and TNFα in no LPS conditions. Whereas, muscle larvae ESP significantly suppressed the inflammatory response measured by IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-6 levels and anti-inflammatory IL-10 compared to LPS control. Our findings indicate the anti-inflammatory potential of T. spiralis muscle larvae excretory-secretory products and propose signaling pathways which might be engaged in the mechanism of how muscle larvae ESP affect human macrophages. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

PCR-based diagnosis is not always useful in the acute acquired toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent individuals

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader PCR-based diagnosis is not always useful in the acute acquired toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent individuals Via Latest Results for Parasitology Research Abstract Toxoplasmosis is the most prevalent zoonosis in the world and is associated with a large spectrum of diseases. Acute acquired toxoplasmosis (AAT) is considered a benign and self-limiting disease but severe postnatal infections have been reported, particularly in South America. Laboratory diagnosis is based on the detection of anti–Toxoplasma gondii IgM, IgG, and presence of low IgG avidity. However, these assays present limitations, and therefore, PCR has been suggested as an alternative diagnostic tool. In this study, we performed real-time and nested PCR in DNA blood samples from 59 individuals with AAT lasting less than 80 days. None of the patients had parasitic DNA detected by PCR, even in the more severe cases or when blood was collected early after disease onset. These negative results indicate that the parasitemia kinetics needs investigation to determine the best time for blood sampling, especially in immunocompetent individuals. Thus, we emphasize that a negative PCR result does not exclude recent T. gondii infection, and serological criteria are still decisive for the laboratory diagnosis of AAT. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Characterization and localization of antigens for serodiagnosis of human paragonimiasis

xlomafota.13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Characterization and localization of antigens for serodiagnosis of human paragonimiasis Via Latest Results for Parasitology Research Abstract Paragonimiasis is a foodborne trematode infection that affects 23 million people, mainly in Asia. Lung fluke infections lead frequently to chronic cough with fever and hemoptysis, and are often confused with lung cancer or tuberculosis. Paragonimiasis can be efficiently treated with praziquantel, but diagnosis is often delayed, and patients are frequently treated for other conditions. To improve diagnosis, we selected five Paragonimus kellicotti proteins based on transcriptional abundance, recognition by patient sera, and conservation among trematodes and expressed them as His-fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. Sequences for these proteins have 76–99% identity with amino acid sequences for orthologs in the genomes of Paragonimus westermani, Paragonimus heterotremus, and Paragonimus miyazakii. Immunohistology studies showed that antibodies raised to four recombinant proteins bound to the tegument of adult P. kel licotti worms, at the parasite host interface. Only a known egg antigen was absent from the tegument but present in developing and mature eggs. We evaluated the diagnostic potential of these antigens by Western blot with sera from patients with paragonimiasis (from MO and the Philippines), fascioliasis, and schistosomiasis, and with sera from healthy North American controls. Two recombinant proteins (a cysteine protease and a myoglobin) showed the highest sensitivity and specificity as diagnostic antigens, and they detected antibodies in sera from paragonimiasis patients with early or mature infections. In contrast, antibodies to egg yolk ferritin appeared to be specific marker for patients with adult fluke infections that produce eggs. Our study has identified and localized antigens that are promising for serodiagnosis of human paragonimiasis. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.