Human babesiosis: Indication of a molecular mimicry between thrombospondin domains from a novel Babesia microti BmP53 protein and host platelets molecules.

Human babesiosis is caused by the apicomplexan parasite Babesia microti, which is of major public health concern in the United States and elsewhere, resulting in malaise and fatigue, followed by a fever and hemolytic anemia. In this paper we focus on the characterization of a novel B. microti thrombospondin domain (TSP1)-containing protein (BmP53) from the new annotation of the B.

Clinical Evaluation of an Extended Depth of Focus Intraocular Lens With the Salzburg Reading Desk.

Background: Clinical evaluation of an extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lens (IOL) regarding visual performance at various distances, reading performance on an electronic reading desk, and depth of focus on the defocus curve.

Methods: In this prospective study, 30 eyes of 15 patients who received the Tecnis Symfony IOL (Abbott Medical Optics, Inc., Santa Ana, CA) were examined 3.

Psychosocial profile of institutionalised street children in Alexandria, Egypt: a comparative study with school children.

Objective: The phenomenon of street children in Egypt constitutes a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of institutionalised street children in Alexandria, to compare the prevalence of substance abuse and conduct disorder between street children and school children, and to identify predictors of these mental health outcomes among street children.

Methods: Institutionalised street children (n = 102) participated in a cross-sectional comparative study with a matched group of school children (n = 156).

Dexrazoxane Averts Idarubicin-Evoked Genomic Damage by Regulating Gene Expression Profiling Associated With the DNA Damage-Signaling Pathway in BALB/c Mice.

Idarubicin is an anthracycline antileukemic agent widely used in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, cardiotoxicity and secondary leukemia have been reported after idarubicin treatment. Dexrazoxane is the only medication approved by FDA to prevent anthracycline-evoked cardiotoxicity.

Isatin-benzoazine molecular hybrids as potential antiproliferative agents: synthesis and in vitro pharmacological profiling.

In continuation of our endeavor with respect to the development of potent and effective isatin-based anticancer agents, we adopted the molecular hybridization approach to design and synthesize four different sets of isatin-quinazoline ( and )/phthalazine ()/quinoxaline () hybrids. The antiproliferative activity of the target hybrids was assessed towards HT-29 (colon), ZR-75 (breast) and A-549 (lung) human cancer cell lines. Hybrids emerged as the most active antiproliferative congener in this study.

A review on plant importance, biotechnological aspects, and cultivation challenges of jojoba plant.

Jojoba is considered a promising oil crop and is cultivated for diverse purposes in many countries. The jojoba seed produces unique high-quality oil with a wide range of applications such as medical and industrial-related products. The plant also has potential value in combatting desertification and land degradation in dry and semi-dry areas.

Circadian variation in anticonvulsant activity of valproic acid in mice.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether valproic acid (VPA) anticonvulsant activity varied according to circadian dosing-time in mice.

Methods: VPA was administered to mice at four circadian stages (1, 7, 13 and 19h after light onset, (HALO)). The controls received a saline injection followed by a s.

Muscle satellite cells are functionally impaired in myasthenia gravis: consequences on muscle regeneration.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease caused in most cases by anti-acetyl-choline receptor (AChR) autoantibodies that impair neuromuscular signal transmission and affect skeletal muscle homeostasis. Myogenesis is carried out by muscle stem cells called satellite cells (SCs). However, myogenesis in MG had never been explored.

New hydrazonoindolin-2-ones: Synthesis, exploration of the possible anti-proliferative mechanism of action and encapsulation into PLGA microspheres.

The synthesis and molecular characterization of new isatin-based hydrazonoindolin-2-ones 4a-o and 7a-e are reported. The in vitro anti-proliferative potential of the synthesized compounds 4a-o and 7a-e was examined against HT-29 (colon), ZR-75 (breast) and A549 (lung) human cancer cell lines. Compounds 7b, 7d and 7e were the most active congeners against the tested human cancer cell lines with average IC50 values of 4.

Ultra-Sensitive Nano Optical Sensor Samarium-Doxycycline Doped in Sol Gel Matrix for Assessment of Glucose Oxidase Activity in Diabetics Disease.

A low cost and very sensitive method for the determination of the activity of glucose oxidase enzyme in different diabetics serum samples was developed. The method based on the assessment of the HO concentration produced from the reaction of the glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme with glucose as substrate in the serum of diabetics patients by nano optical sensor Sm-doxycycline doped in sol gel matrix. HO enhances the luminescence intensity of all bands of the nano Sm-doxycycline complex [Sm-(DC)] doped in sol-gel matrix, especially the 645 nm band at λ = 400 nm and pH 7.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis: a case study and review of the literature.

Acute hypokalemic paralysis is a rare cause of acute weakness. Morbidity and mortality associated with unrecognized disease can occur and include respiratory failure and possibly death. Common causes of hypokalemic paralysis include thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) which is a disorder most frequently seen in Asian males.

Delayed referral to specialist centre increases morbidity in patients with bile duct injury (BDI) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Background: There is still a debate regarding the optimal management of bile duct injury following cholecystectomy. Our aim was to ascertain if delayed referral influenced clinical outcomes for patients with BDI treated in our institution.

Materials And Methods: We interrogated a prospectively maintained database, including all patients with BDI (Bismuth and Strasberg classifications) post LC managed in our unit from 2000-2014.

Gold nanoparticles capped with benzalkonium chloride and poly (ethylene imine) for enhanced loading and skin permeability of 5-fluorouracil.

Objective: To enhance 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) permeability through the skin by loading onto gold nanoparticles (GNPs) capped with two cationic ligands, benzalkonium chloride (BC) or poly (ethylene imine) (PEI). Whereas 5-FU has excellent efficacy against many cancers, its poor permeability through biological membranes and several adverse effects limit its clinical benefits. BC and PEI were selected to stabilize GNPs and to load 5-FU through ionic interactions.

Impact of a National Controlled Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) Program on Organ Donation in the United Kingdom: A 10-Year Study.

Organ transplantation is the most successful treatment for some forms of organ failure, yet a lack of organs means many die on the waiting list. In the United Kingdom, the Organ Donation Taskforce was set up to identify barriers to organ donation and in 2008 released its first report (Organ Donation Taskforce Report; ODTR). This study assesses the success since the ODTR and examines the impact of the United Kingdom's controlled donation after circulatory death (DCD) program and the controversies surrounding it.

Burden and Outcome of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Study.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent condition among critically ill patients. Information about the relationship between vitamin D levels and outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU) is sparse.

Purpose: To evaluate vitamin D status among critically ill patients and its relevance to severity of illness, ICU stay period, and mortality.

Effect of Au-dextran NPs as anti-tumor agent against EAC and solid tumor in mice by biochemical evaluations and histopathological investigations.

Dextran-capped gold nanoparticles (Au-dextran NPs) were prepared exploiting the natural polysaccharide polymer as both reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis process, aiming at studying their antitumor effect on solid carcinoma and EAC-bearing mice. To this end, Au-dextran NPs were designed via simple eco-friendly chemical reaction and they were characterized revealing the monodispersed particles with narrow distributed size of around 49nm with high negative charge. In vivo experiments were performed on mice.

IFN-α-based treatment of patients with chronic HCV show increased levels of cells with myeloid-derived suppressor cell phenotype and of IDO and NOS.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes chronic hepatitis, which is often associated with suppressed anti-HCV immune responses. We have recently reported accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and suppressed immunity in cancer patients.

Aim: The main aim of this study was to determine whether chronic HCV patients harbor high of MDSCs in general and in nonresponders to IFN-based therapy in particular as well as to analyze the immune suppressive molecules.

Activity of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antigenotoxic of the aqueous flower extracts of Opuntia microdasys Lem.Pfeiff.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic and the anti-inflammatory activity of Opuntia microdasys at post flowering stage, F3 (OMF3) in rat and, in other hand, its antigenotoxic effects by the Allium cepa test.

Methods: OMF3 extracts were screened for activity of analgesic and anti-inflammatory using, respectively, the acetic acid writhing test in mice and the carrageenan-induced paw oedema assay in rats. The antigenotoxic has been evaluated by A.

Angiofibrolipoma of Posterior Mediastinum with Transforaminal Extension.

Angiofibrolipoma is a histological variant of lipoma, which commonly occurs in subcutaneous tissues. In the present report we illustrate the case of an angiofibrolipoma of the posterior upper mediastinum in a 75-year-old man presented with progressive chest pain. Xray chest showed a homogeneous opacity vertically oriented along the right lateral aspect of thoracic vertebrae with an obtuse angle to the mediastinum.

A Low-Volume, Parallel Copper-Bicinchoninic Acid (BCA) Assay for Glycoside Hydrolases.

The quantitation of liberated reducing sugars by the copper-bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay provides a highly sensitive method for the measurement of glycoside hydrolase (GH) activity, particularly on soluble polysaccharide substrates. Here, we describe a straightforward method adapted to low-volume polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tubes which enables the rapid, parallel determination of GH kinetics in applications ranging from initial activity screening and assay optimization, to precise Michaelis-Menten analysis.