Multiplex PCR for gastrointestinal parasites in stool: Benchmarking against direct microscopy and simplex PCR.

Purpose: To develop and validate a multiplex conventional PCR assay to simultaneously detect Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia in diarrheal samples as a rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive diagnostic tool for prevalent co-infections for improved diagnostic accuracy and efficiency in resource-limited settings.

Methods: Stool samples collected from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms after taking written consent, processed via wet mount, iodine mount, and PCR assays.

Modified trichrome stain for faster and improved detection of intestinal protozoan parasites.

Permanent stains such as trichrome have better sensitivity but are time-consuming and the fixative includes toxic mercuric chloride. Thus, a newer modification was tested and found to be a superior, faster and safer staining technique for intestinal parasitic detection. Our study lasted 9 months and a single stool sample was collected from each enrolled patient.

Comparison of B1 and RE 529 gene targets by real time PCR and LAMP assay for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnant females.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to accurately diagnose the presence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women. In this study we evaluated two gene targets B1 and RE-529 using two different molecular methods i.e.

Relation between proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 and directly measured low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a regulator of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) receptor (LDL-R) recycling and, thus, is a determinant of plasma LDL-C concentration. We sought to determine the relation between serum concentrations of PCSK9 and LDL-C while considering a variety of influential variables, including treatment for dyslipidemia. Using a prospective lipid clinic registry, we evaluated clinical variables, the results of advanced lipid testing, and PCSK9 concentrations determined by immunoassay.

The prodrug DHED selectively delivers 17β-estradiol to the brain for treating estrogen-responsive disorders.

Many neurological and psychiatric maladies originate from the deprivation of the human brain from estrogens. However, current hormone therapies cannot be used safely to treat these conditions commonly associated with menopause because of detrimental side effects in the periphery. The latter also prevents the use of the hormone for neuroprotection.

Endovascular treatment of infrainguinal chronic total occlusions using the TruePath device: features, handling, and 6-month outcomes.

Purpose: To report experience with a recently approved peripheral chronic total occlusion (CTO) crossing device in the superficial femoral (SFA), popliteal, and below-the-knee (BTK) arteries.

Methods: Thirteen patients (all men; mean age 68.6±7.

Significance of an abnormal ankle-brachial index in patients with established coronary artery disease with and without associated diabetes mellitus.

An abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI) is associated with higher risk for future cardiovascular (CV) events; however, it is unknown whether this association is true in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) and associated diabetes mellitus (DM). We evaluated 679 patients with stable CAD enrolled in the Excellence in Peripheral Arterial Disease and Veterans Affairs North Texas Healthcare System peripheral arterial disease databases. ABI and 12-month major adverse CV events (MACEs, a composite of all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, need for repeat coronary revascularization, and ischemic stroke) were assessed.

Blunt microdissection for endovascular treatment of infrainguinal chronic total occlusions.

Purpose: To present a systematic safety evaluation of the CrossBoss blunt microdissection catheter for crossing peripheral chronic total occlusions (CTOs).

Methods: Between July 2010 and July 2011, 15 patients (all men; mean age 60.7±9.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: how low can we go?

Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an established cause of cardiovascular disease and subsequent adverse events. The efficacy and safety of lowering plasma LDL-C to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and secondary event rates are now well established. What has not been established, however, is a plasma LDL-C lower threshold level of safety and efficacy.

Lauroylethanolamide and linoleoylethanolamide improve functional outcome in a rodent model for stroke.

Ischemic stroke is a significant health problem affecting over 6 million people in the United States alone. In addition to surgical and thrombolytic therapeutic strategies for stroke, neuroprotective therapies may offer additional benefit. N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are signaling lipids whose synthesis is upregulated in response to ischemia, suggesting that they may be neuroprotective.

Changes in N-acylethanolamine Pathway Related Metabolites in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion.

In mammals, the endocannabinoid signaling pathway provides protective cellular responses to ischemia. Previous work demonstrated increases in long-chain -acylethanolamines (NAE) in ischemia and suggested a protective role for NAE. Here, a targeted lipidomics approach was used to study comprehensive changes in the molecular composition and quantity of NAE metabolites in a rat model of controlled brain ischemia.

The neuronal apoptotic death in global cerebral ischemia in gerbil: important role for sodium channel modulator.

Global ischemia was induced in gerbil by bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries for 5 min. Sodium ionophore monensin or sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX) was administered at doses of 10 micorg/kg, i.p.

Neuroprotective efficacy and therapeutic window of curcuma oil: in rat embolic stroke model.

Background: Among the naturally occurring compounds, turmeric from the dried rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa has long been used extensively as a condiment and a household remedy all over Southeast Asia. Turmeric contains essential oil, yellow pigments (curcuminoids), starch and oleoresin. The present study was designed for investigating the neuroprotective efficacy and the time window for effective therapeutic use of Curcuma oil (C.

Dose dependence and therapeutic window for the neuroprotective effects of curcumin in thromboembolic model of rat.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), an active ingredient of turmeric, obtained from the powdered rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn., has been traditionally recognized for treatment of several diseases. To evaluate the potential clinical use of curcumin, we determined the dose dependence of its effects in the therapeutic window and of the neuroprotective efficacy in a cerebral thromboembolic model of the rat.

Transient 5-(4-phenylbutoxy)psoralen (PAP-1) treatment dissociates developing pathologies in autoimmune optic neuritis into two distinct pathology profiles.

Discovery of treatments to protect axonal function of neurons and prevent permanent disability associated with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) has faced the uphill challenge of assessing relatively small changes in accumulated axon damage within a background environment that is disorganized by CNS inflammation. We hypothesized that transient immunosuppression after initiation of MS-like autoimmune mechanisms would disassociate development of MS-like myelinated axon pathology from development of CNS inflammation in a rat model of autoimmune optic neuritis (AON). A rat model of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide-induced AON was transiently treated (on days 3-7 after antigen exposure) with 5-(4-phenylbutoxy)psoralen (PAP-1), an immunomodulatory drug previously shown specifically to suppress proliferation of effector memory T-cells and immunoglobulin class-switched B-cells.

Amino acid-based enantiomerically pure 3-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones: a new class of anti-ischemic agents.

A series of 3-substituted 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones derived from S and R amino acids were evaluated for their anti-ischemic activity in vitro. Treatment with compounds 7h, 16, 9d, and 17 decreased the apoptotic neuronal number, however increased the neuronal viability. The compounds decreasing apoptosis could protect neurons from the ischemic injury.