Evolution of dirofilariasis diagnostic techniques from traditional morphological analysis to molecular-based techniques: a comprehensive review.

Dirofilariasis, caused by the nematode spp., poses significant challenges in diagnosis due to its diverse clinical manifestations and complex life cycle. This comprehensive literature review focuses on the evolution of diagnostic methodologies, spanning from traditional morphological analyses to modern emerging techniques in the context of dirofilariasis diagnosis.

High serum levels of reactive nitrogen species and low total antioxidant capacity in patients with resistant hypertension compared to those in age- gender matched healthy controls, controlled hypertension and follow up with propranolol treatment in the extended APPROPRIATE trial.

Objectives: To perform a comparative analysis of the extended APPROPRIATE trial of measures of reactive nitrogen species and antioxidant capacity in patients having resistant hypertension with controlled hypertension and healthy controls.

Results: Mean serum NO- and NOx levels were significantly lower and mean AOC was significantly higher in patients with controlled hypertension (n = 38) and healthy controls (n = 38) compared to resistant hypertension (RHTN) patients (n = 40) at the pre-intervention stage (p < 0.001).

First-in-human clinical trial of allogeneic, platelet-derived extracellular vesicles as a potential therapeutic for delayed wound healing.

The release of growth factors, cytokines and extracellular matrix modifiers by activated platelets is an important step in the process of healthy wound healing. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by activated platelets carry this bioactive cargo in an enriched form, and may therefore represent a potential therapeutic for the treatment of delayed wound healing, such as chronic wounds. While EVs show great promise in regenerative medicine, their production at clinical scale remains a critical challenge and their tolerability in humans is still to be fully established.

Cell-Extrinsic Differentiation Block Mediated by EphA3 in Pre-Leukaemic Thymus Contributes to Disease Progression.

We recently characterised the () mouse as a model of T-cell pre-leukaemia, featuring thymocytes that can engraft in recipient animals and progress to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). However, loss of this engraftment ability by deletion of did not result in any loss of leukemogenesis activity. In the present study, we observe that thymocytes overexpress EPHA3, and we characterise thymocyte behaviour in mice with deletion of , which show a markedly reduced incidence of T-ALL.

Naturally Occurring Microbiota Associated with Mosquito Breeding Habitats and Their Effects on Mosquito Larvae.

Immature mosquitoes are aquatic, and their distribution, abundance, and individual fitness in a particular breeding habitat are known to be dependent on mainly three factors: biotic factors, abiotic factors, and their interaction between each other and with other associated taxa. Mosquito breeding habitats harbor a diversified naturally occurring microbiota assemblage, and the biota have different types of interactions with mosquito larvae in those habitats. Those interactions may include parasitism, pathogenism, predation, and competition which cause the mortality of larvae, natural reduction of larval abundance, or alterations in their growth.

Naturally Occurring Microbiota in Dengue Vector Mosquito Breeding Habitats and Their Use as Diet Organisms by Developing Larvae in the Kandy District, Sri Lanka.

Naturally occurring microbiota in mosquito larval habitats are among biotic factors which affect the population dynamics of developing larvae. Many microbiota species serve as food items for vector mosquito larvae, and food limitations within habitats adversely affect larval survival, developmental rate, adult fitness, and thereby vector competence. Therefore, identification of microbiota as associates with larvae reveals their relationship between each other as parasites, pathogens, epibionts, or diet organisms.

Naturally Occurring Microbiota Associated with Mosquito Breeding Habitats and Potential Parasitic Species against Mosquito Larvae: A Study from Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.

A mosquito species has its own favourable requirements of abiotic and biotic characteristics including microbiota, in a breeding habitat. Some of the microbiota may cause parasitic or pathogenic effects to mosquito larvae such as species of viruses, parasitic bacteria, fungi, protists, entomopathogenic nematodes, and filamentous fungi. In Sri Lanka, there is a scarcity of information on microbiota associated with mosquito breeding habitats and their effect on mosquito larvae.

The impact of propranolol on nitric oxide and total antioxidant capacity in patients with resistant hypertension-evidence from the APPROPRIATE trial.

Objectives: The objective was to assess the effect of propranolol on oxidative stress and anti-oxidant potential in patients with resistant hypertension as a secondary analysis of the APPROPRIATE trial. This randomized double blinded clinical trial recruited patients with resistant hypertension and allocated forty patients to propranolol and placebo in 1:1 ratio. The pro-oxidant state (nitrate and nitrite) was assessed using modified Griess assay.

Knowledge of Stroke, Its Warning Symptoms, Risk Factors and Treatment among the General Public and General Practitioners in a South Asian Population.

Background: An adequate stroke literacy among the general public and first-contact physicians is an essential prerequisite to ensure timely treatment and prevention of stroke. Knowledge on stroke pathophysiology, warning symptoms, risk factors and treatment, and its determinants was assessed among general public and general practitioners (GPs) in a South Asian population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among relatives of nonstroke patients admitted to the apex tertiary-care hospital in Sri Lanka.

Diversity and Species Composition of Microbiota Associated with Mosquito Breeding Habitats: A Study from Kurunegala District in Sri Lanka.

The pool of microbiota associated with mosquito breeding habitats varies with the habitat type and its characteristic features. The pool of microbiota in a given mosquito breeding habitat can include free living, symbiotic, noncompetitive, parasitic, predatory, and toxin producing species. However, in Sri Lanka the studies on the microbiota associated with mosquito breeding habitats are scarce.

The NUP98-HOXD13 fusion oncogene induces thymocyte self-renewal via Lmo2/Lyl1.

T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) cases include subfamilies that overexpress the TAL1/LMO, TLX1/3 and HOXA transcription factor oncogenes. While it has been shown that TAL1/LMO transcription factors induce self-renewal of thymocytes, whether this is true for other transcription factor oncogenes is unknown. To address this, we have studied NUP98-HOXD13-transgenic (NHD13-Tg) mice, which overexpress HOXA transcription factors throughout haematopoiesis and develop both myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) progressing to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) as well as T-ALL.

Cardiovascular risk in lupus nephritis: Do renal disease-related and other traditional risk factors play a role?

This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of thickened carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in a Sri Lankan cohort of lupus nephritis (LN) patients and to identify associations between traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) and LN-related risk factors with increased CIMT. Consecutive patients with biopsy-proven LN were evaluated for conventional CVD risk factors, renal parameters and extent of organ involvement in this cross-sectional study. Current disease activity and damage were assessed by the British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) score and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborative Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (SLICC/ACR) damage index, respectively.

Awareness of breast cancer among adolescent girls in Colombo, Sri Lanka: a school based study.

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women worldwide. Although programmes promoting breast cancer awareness are being carried out throughout Sri Lanka, few have targeted school students. We conducted this study to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding breast cancer with reference to screening, services available, breast self-examination, and sources of information, among adolescent schoolgirls in the Colombo District of Sri Lanka.

Inhibition of MMP-9 activity following hypoxic ischemia in the developing brain using a highly specific inhibitor.

Perinatal hypoxic ischemic (HI) brain injury is a leading cause of long-term neurological handicap in newborn babies. Recently, excessive activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and in particular MMP-9, has been implicated in the aetiology of HI injuries to the immature brain. Our previous study suggested that MMP-9 may be involved in the development of the delayed injury processes following HI injury to the developing brain.

Proteolytic activity during cortical development is distinct from that involved in hypoxic ischemic injury.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases involved in brain development and the etiology of adult cerebral injuries. In this study, we determined the MMP-2 and 9 responses following hypoxic ischemia (HI) injury in the developing brain. First, we characterized the developmental changes of MMP activity in the rat brain from embryonic day 18 (E18) to postnatal day 120 (P120).

Population and biochemical genetics of the human mitochondrial malic enzyme.

The phenotypic variation of the mitochondrial malic enzyme (MEM) was examined in 121 brains and 46 heart tissue samples from the population of north-east England. There was no difference in gene frequency distribution between sexes and the two tissues. However, a significant variation has been observed in males compared with a Scottish study.

Fatal atheromatous embolization during coronary angiography.

Multiple fatal embolism following left heart catheterization is described in two patients. Postmortem examination showed friable atheromatous aortic plaques as the likely source of emboli that clinically involved the heart, peripheral blood vessels, brain, gastrointestinal system and solid organs. Histologic examination showed widespread arterial embolism by atheromatous material.

Evaluation of a lactate dehydrogenase-nitro blue tetrazolium method of detecting unapparent myocardial infarction using a standardised sampling technique.

Using a standardised block technique, the microscopic lactate dehydrogenase-nitro blue tetrazolium (LDH-nitro BT) and conventional haematoxylin and eosin staining methods were used to investigate the presence of myocardial infarction in a series of fifty forensic autopsies. The microscopic LDH-nitro BT method was found to be reliable; however, it did not reveal the presence of myocardial infarction in any of the cases where this had not been suspected.