Fooyin Journal of Health Sciences最新文献

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of prevention of the mother to child transmission (PMTCT) program in Benin City, Nigeria on the prevalence of postnatal infant HIV. Effects of the duration of PMTCT, place of birth and sex of the infants on the prevalence of postnatal HIV were also assessed. Dried blood spots were collected from 318 infants (6–8 weeks old) born to HIV-positive mothers and were screened for the presence of HIV using a qualitative polymerase chain reaction method. A questionnaire was used to obtain information about the duration of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and place of delivery. Male infants had a significantly (p = 0.032) higher prevalence of postnatal HIV infection than females. Nonparticipation of mothers in the PMTCT program was a significant risk factor for acquiring postnatal HIV (odds ratio = 4.519; 95% confidence interval = 2.422, 8.429; p < 0.0001). The duration of HAART use significantly (p = 0.010) affected the prevalence of postnatal HIV with an inverse relationship. The place of delivery had no effect on the prevalence of postnatal HIV. An overall prevalence of 16.98% of postnatal HIV was observed in this study. Male sex and no participation in the PMTCT program were significant risk factors for acquiring postnatal HIV, while a lower prevalence of postnatal HIV infection was associated with longer use of HAART in the PMTCT program. We recommend an early diagnosis of maternal HIV status and commencement of HAART.

In the postgenome era, employment of high-throughput data via the integrated use of resources from various domains will lead to the generation of new knowledge and testable hypothesis. In this bioinformatic research, we utilized published chromatin immunoprecipitation microarray (ChIP-chip) results for the promoter binding by E2F1 or E2F4 proteins observed in the primary human WI-38 cells to infer the potential transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). We have compiled “gene vs. motif” and “motif vs. gene” tables from more than 2,700,000 computational predicted transcriptional regulatory motifs representing the regulatory potential for 230 transcription factors families within the proximal promoter sequence (1,200 nucleotides) of human genome. From this approach, for the first time, the transcription of 23 genes is predicted to be under the control of a cis-regulatory module containing four TFBS motifs (CREB, E2F, NF-Y and Nrf-1).

T cell factor (TCF)-4 and β-catenin are well recognized as key regulators in many developmental processes. TCF-4 binding with β-catenin can activate the transcriptional activity of downstream target genes (e.g. c-myc and cyclin-D1). Upregulation of TCF/β-catenin activity can promote carcinogenesis in many tissues. However, its precise role in bladder cancer is still unclear. Since typical activating mutations have not been previously reported in the bladder, we examined whether TCF-4 mutations occur in human bladder carcinoma cell lines. In the present study, interestingly, TCF-4 gene mutations were found in human bladder carcinoma cell lines as shown by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and a sequencing method. A TCF-4 microsatellite instability (MSI) phenotype was identified to be an (A)8 repeat arising from the deletion of an A in the (A)9 coding repeat. Moreover, immunofluorescence analysis showed that the frameshift mutant of TCF-4 was exclusively localized in the nucleus of bladder cancer cells. Collectively, our data indicate that TCF-4 MSI+ and the expression of spliced forms appear in human bladder cancer cells, and suggest a role of the TCF-4-mediated signal pathway in progression of bladder cancer.

We carried out a retrospective analysis of 84 patients with intraperitoneal abscesses treated at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan to assess our experience in their management. We compared outcomes between surgical drainage and computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous drainage. Each patient's characteristics, origin of abscess, clinical presentation, microbiology, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, treatment, and clinical outcomes were recorded. We compared patients' age, sex, complications, hospitalization days, morbidity, and mortality rate between those receiving surgical treatment and those receiving CT-guided percutaneous drainage. The most frequent symptoms and signs of these patients were leukocytosis, followed by fever and abdominal pain. There were significant differences in wound infection (p = 0.007), recurrent rate (p = 0.009), and enterocutaneous fistula (p = 0.032) between the two groups. In both groups, a higher APACHE II score was associated with both a higher morbidity and mortality (p < 0.001). Despite the higher recurrent rate, CT-guided percutaneous drainage was a safe and effective therapeutic alternative procedure to surgery when used as a definitive treatment. Surgical treatment is suggested in selected patients with either a complicated intraperitoneal abscess or failed CT-guided drainage.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), also known as inflammatory fibrous polyps or inflammatory pseudotumor, is a rare mass-forming lesion characterized by fibroblastic or myofibroblastic spindle cell proliferation with varying degrees of inflammatory cell infiltration. IMTs usually present in children and young adults. IMTs occur only rarely in the gastrointestinal tract, and these usually occur in the stomach as well as in the small and large bowel. When localized in the small bowel, the presenting symptoms are colic abdominal pain and obstruction. Intussusception due to IMT is uncommon. We report one case of an IMT of the terminal ileum in a 50-year-old female with presentation of ileocecal intussusception and intestinal obstruction.

Radiation injury to the skin is one of the major limiting factors in radiotherapy. This study investigated whether extracts of soybean seeds (EOS), [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], reduced radiation dermatitis induced by radiation. We studied 27 Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into three groups, to evaluate the reduction in skin injury using natural products from soybean seeds as protection against radiation. Radiation dermatitis in EOS-treated animals (0.25 g/cm² skin once daily) was less severe than that in the control group after 50 Gy of radiation. Within 29 days after radiation, the skin scores in the control group were higher than those in the EOS group (0.5 in the EOS group vs. 1 in the control group; p < 0.05). The histologic findings indicated that skin reactions after 50 Gy of radiation were mild in both groups. However, the skin reactions in the EOS group were less prominent than those in the control group. The EOS-treated rats had normal hair growth, but hair growth was suppressed in control rats. We conclude that EOS are able to reduce reactions to radiation and can achieve a better recovery in the skin.

Zr₆₁Al_7.5Ni₁₀Cu_17.5Si₄ (ZrAlNiCuSi) thin film metallic glasses (TFMGs) can modify the surface of 304 stainless steel, and they are widely used in health care systems. We investigated modified surfaces with ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs and their antimicrobial effects on those five microbes which are the most common nosocomial infection pathogens. The transformation of ZrAlNiCuSi bulk metallic glass into TFMG was achieved by sputtering onto stainless steel. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans were then isolated. The microbes were sampled on ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs, and this was compared with stainless steel plates. After microbe-material interaction under humidity at room temperature for 3 hours, the specimens were attached to a Mueller-Hinton agar plate (Gibco, Middleton, WI, USA) and incubated at 37.0°C for 24, 48 and 96 hours. The areas of microbe growth were recorded by serial subtraction photography and then assessed using Image-Pro Plus software (Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD, USA). ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs presented an amorphous rough surface and exhibited hydrophobic properties. ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs suppressed E. coli growth on Mueller-Hinton plates for 96 hours, and there was no E. coli growth on blood agar plate enriched media and eosin-methylene blue agar selective media after 96 hours of incubation. The five microbes tested on ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs showed a decreased growth curve after 24 hours. After 24 hours, P. aeruginosa showed a slow growth curve and A. baumannii had a sharp growth curve with TFMG interaction. ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs prolonged the lag phase of the microbes' growth curve in S. aureus and C. albicans for 48 hours. ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs were able to modify the surface of stainless steel, which was very hard and was found to have scratch adhesion abilities and smooth surface effects against five different microbes for at least 24 hours. This is the first description of microbe interactions with zirconium-based TFMGs. Further studies to investigate the mechanism of antimicrobial effects on ZrAlNiCuSi TFMGs are now required.

Repeated noninvasive imaging of reporter gene expression is increasingly used for monitoring the expression and location of genes and cells in experimental animals and humans. Development of transgenic animals that express reporter genes in specific tissues/organs or the whole body possess the potential for understanding the course of disease or serve as a syngenic cell/tissue/organ donor to study transplant survival in recipients. In this review, we discuss the major reporter genes used in gene therapy, cell therapy and transgenic animals, including exogenous reporters (herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase, fluorescent proteins and luciferase) and endogenous reporters (dopamine 2 receptor, transferrin receptor, sodium iodide symporter, β-glucuronidase, and antibody reporter). The clinical potential of these reporter genes is also discussed with regard to their imaging specificity and immunogenicity in humans.

Primary tumors within the abdomen frequently spread to the mesentery and omentum, but these deposits may not cause symptoms until they grow large enough to displace organs or cause intestinal obstruction. We present an uncommon case of occult ovarian serous adenocarcinoma presenting as a solitary metastatic omental mass. A 72-year-old female patient found a hard, mobile subcutaneous mass located at the umbilical area. This mass gradually became larger, but there were no symptoms in the gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a homogenous, hypoechoic lesion. A preoperative diagnosis of a huge intra-abdominal lipoma was made, and surgical intervention was carried out. Intraoperatively, we found a tumor mass located in the greater omentum without ascites. The surgical procedure consisted of a complete resection of the omental mass. Frozen section analysis by the pathologist revealed a metastatic serous adenocarcinoma. Intra-abdominal organs including the gastrointestinal tract, ovaries, uterus and pancreas were examined carefully; however, no abnormal lesions were identified either grossly or palpably. Two months after the operation, a computed tomographic scan of the abdomen was performed, and a cystic mass lesion with a 0.9-cm lobulated margin was confirmed in the posterior wall of the right ovary. The patient was then referred to a gynecologist for further survey and underwent another operation. Finally, a pathologic report of the right ovary showed that the primary lesion of this metastatic omental cancer originated from right ovarian cancer. This case demonstrates the possibility of development of a metastatic omental mass from an occult ovarian serous adenocarcinoma.

Peptic ulcer is a common gastrointestinal disease and produces mucosa erosion. The current study assessed the ability of burdock essence to repair gastrointestinal mucosa in clinical trials. In the experimental group, two tablets of burdock essence (500 mg/tablet) were administered three times a day after meals and a placebo was administered in controls. Four weeks after drug administration, the subjects in the study underwent an assessment for the efficacy of burdock essence as health supplements before and after administration of the drug. The presence of gastric mucosal lesions was determined in all of the peptic ulcer patients using electronic endoscopy before and after taking burdock essence. A rapid urease test on tissue samples from ulcers was conducted to verify Helicobacter pylori infection. Endoscopy confirmed gastric or duodenal ulcers in 30 patients. In clinical trials of 27 patients, 20 patients took burdock essence; 17 (85%) recovered completely and three (15%) did not. Of the seven patients who took placebos, five (71%) did not completely recover and two (29%) recovered. In the experimental group, the ulcer wounds of the three patients who had taken burdock essence did not completely heal, but wounds were reduced in size by 30%, 75%, and 33%. Moreover, 10 out of 11 patients who originally were positive for H. pylori infections no longer had the pathogen by the end of the trial. These results indicate that burdock essence has an inhibitory effect on H. pylori. This study confirms that two tablets (500 mg/tablet) of burdock essence taken orally three times a day after meals can help abolish H. pylori infection and promote the therapeutic effect of conventional medication on gastric mucosal repair in gastrointestinal ulcer patients.