Association of anthelmintic treatment with malaria prevalence, incidence, and parasitemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

A chronic helminth infection can alter host immune response and affect malaria infection. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to find the impact of anthelmintic treatment on malaria prevalence, incidence, and parasitemia. Nine and 12 electronic databases were searched on 28 July 2015 and 26 June 2020 for relevant studies.

Investigating the Synergistic Interactions of Surface Immobilized and Free Natural Ocular Lubricants for Contact Lens Applications: A Comparative Study between Hyaluronic Acid and Proteoglycan 4 (Lubricin).

The main reasons for the discontinuation of contact lens wear are ocular dryness and discomfort. Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), a mucinous glycoprotein, and hyaluronic acid (HA), a nonsulfated linear glycosaminoglycan, are naturally present in the eye and contribute to ocular hydration and lubrication. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the structure of the recombinant human PRG4 (rhPRG4)/HA complex on contact lens properties, when one agent is grafted and the counterpart is physisorbed on the surface of model conventional or silicone contact lens materials.

Investigating the effect of proteoglycan 4 on hyaluronan solution properties using confocal fluorescence recovery after photobleaching.

Background: The objective of this study was to use confocal fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to examine the specific and dose-dependent effect of proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) on hyaluronan (HA) solutions of different molecular weight; and assess the effect of reduction and alkylation (R/A) of PRG4 on its effects on HA solutions.

Methods: Confocal FRAP was used to determine the diffusion coefficient of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran tracer (D) through 1500 kDa and 500 kDa HA solutions (0-3.3 mg/ml) ± PRG4 or a control protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), at physiological (450 μg/ml) or pathophysiological (45 μg/ml) concentrations.

Surface-Functionalized Model Contact Lenses with a Bioinspired Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4)-Grafted Layer.

Ocular dryness and discomfort are the primary reasons for the discontinuation of contact lens wear. This is mainly due to poorly hydrated contact lens surfaces and increased friction, particularly at the end of the day and can potentially cause reduced vision or even inflammation. Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) is a mucinous glycoprotein with boundary lubricating properties, naturally found in the eye, able to prevent tear film evaporation and protect the ocular surface during blinking.

Dengue hemophagocytic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis on epidemiology, clinical signs, outcomes, and risk factors.

We systematically searched and meta-analyzed the epidemiological characteristics, frequency of clinical signs, and outcomes of dengue-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Ten electronic databases were searched systematically plus manual search of reference lists to identify relevant articles published until May 2017. The highest number of reported cases were from South-East Asia region (62 cases), followed by Western Pacific region (20 cases), and America (31 cases).

Hyaluronan incorporation into model contact lens hydrogels as a built-in lubricant: Effect of hydrogel composition and proteoglycan 4 as a lubricant in solution.

Contact lens friction significantly correlates with subjective comfort. Hyaluronan (HA) and proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) are natural boundary lubricants present in the body. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of crosslinked HA into the bulk of model contact lens materials pHEMA, pHEMA/TRIS, and DMAA/TRIS on surface wettability, protein sorption, and boundary lubricating properties at a material-cornea biointerface, both alone and synergistically with PRG4 in solution.

Proteoglycan 4 and hyaluronan as boundary lubricants for model contact lens hydrogels.

Clinical data show that in vitro contact lens friction is related to in vivo comfort. Solutions of biological lubricants hyaluronan (HA) and proteoglycan 4 (PRG4, also known as lubricin) reduce friction at a cornea-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) interface. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine if PRG4 can sorb to and lubricate model contact lens materials and (2) assess the boundary lubricating ability of PRG4 and HA compared to saline on model contact lens materials.

Degradation of proteoglycan 4/lubricin by cathepsin S: Potential mechanism for diminished ocular surface lubrication in Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease affecting the lacrimal and salivary glands with hallmark clinical symptoms of dry eye and dry mouth. Recently, markedly increased cathepsin S (CTSS) activity has been observed in the tears of SS patients. Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), also known as lubricin, is an effective boundary lubricant that is naturally present on the ocular surface.

Understanding the Importance of Gene and Environment in the Etiology and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in High-Risk Populations.

Current literature focuses on the complications and treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) while clustering environmental and genetic factors to explain the disease. Interventions proposed to reduce diabetes prevalence should focus predominantly on initiating active rapports of family members and promoting a more communication-oriented preventative approach between diabetics and non-diabetics. Due to varying risks in T2DM by race and ethnicity, these populations should follow race-appropriate guidelines to prevent further T2DM occurrence and complications.

Characterization of full-length recombinant human Proteoglycan 4 as an ocular surface boundary lubricant.

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4, or lubricin) is a lubricating mucin-like glycoprotein recently discovered at the ocular surface, where it functions as a boundary lubricant and appears to play a protective role. Recent technological advances have enabled abundant expression of full-length recombinant human PRG4 (rhPRG4). The objectives of this study were to 1) biochemically characterize the gross structure and glycosylations of full-length rhPRG4, and 2) assess the ocular surface boundary lubricating ability of rhPRG4 at both human cornea-eyelid and human cornea-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) biointerfaces.

Extraction of basic movement from whole-body movement, based on gait variability.

The aim of this study was to quantify the step-to-step variability (SSV) in speed-variant and speed-invariant movement components of the whole-body gait pattern during running. These separate aspects of variability can be used to gain insight into the neuromuscular control strategies that are engaged during running. Ten healthy, physically active, male recreational athletes performed five treadmill running trials at five different speeds (range: 1.

Internet and social media for health-related information and communication in health care: preferences of the Dutch general population.

Background: Health care is increasingly featured by the use of Web 2.0 communication and collaborative technologies that are reshaping the way patients and professionals interact. These technologies or tools can be used for a variety of purposes: to instantly debate issues, discover news, analyze research, network with peers, crowd-source information, seek support, and provide advice.

Patient adherence to prescribed medication instructions for dyspepsia: the DIAMOND-study.

Background: Insight into patient adherence is needed to enable an effect evaluation of medication for dyspepsia.

Objectives: Adherence was explored by investigating two adherence outcome measures (completeness and intake fidelity) using data from the DIAMOND-study.

Methods: The DIAMOND-study is a pragmatic RCT comparing a 'step-up' with a 'step-down' treatment strategy.

Use of social media by Western European hospitals: longitudinal study.

Background: Patients increasingly use social media to communicate. Their stories could support quality improvements in participatory health care and could support patient-centered care. Active use of social media by health care institutions could also speed up communication and information provision to patients and their families, thus increasing quality even more.

In gastroesophageal reflux disease, differential gene expression in the duodenum points towards enhanced chylomicron production and secretion.

Background: Duodenal signaling affects esophageal motility and perception, both pathophysiological factors in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Duodenal gene expression abnormalities, contributing to altered esophageal sensorimotor function, have not been reported to date.

Aim: To identify differentially expressed genes in GERD patients' duodenum.

SERT and TPH-1 mRNA expression are reduced in irritable bowel syndrome patients regardless of visceral sensitivity state in large intestine.

Colorectal visceral hypersensitivity has been demonstrated in a subset of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Serine protease and serotonergic signaling modulate gastrointestinal visceral sensitivity. We evaluated whether altered mucosal serine protease and serotonergic pathway components are related to rectal visceral hypersensitivity in IBS patients.

Serotonin receptor 3A polymorphism c.-42C > T is associated with severe dyspepsia.

Background: The association between anxiety and depression related traits and dyspepsia may reflect a common genetic predisposition. Furthermore, genetic factors may contribute to the risk of having increased visceral sensitivity, which has been implicated in dyspeptic symptom generation. Serotonin (5-HT) modulates visceral sensitivity by its action on 5-HT3 receptors.

Molecular analysis of faecal and duodenal samples reveals significantly higher prevalence and numbers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in irritable bowel syndrome.

Intestinal microbiota may play a role in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In this case-control study, mucosa-associated small intestinal and faecal microbiota of IBS patients and healthy subjects were analysed using molecular-based methods. Duodenal mucosal brush and faecal samples were collected from 37 IBS patients and 20 healthy subjects.

Effect of proximal gastric volume on hiatal hernia.

Background: Spatial separation of the diaphragm and the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) occurs frequently and intermittently in patients with a sliding hiatus hernia and favors gastro-esophageal reflux. This can be studied with high-resolution manometry. Although fundic accommodation is associated with a lower basal LES pressure, its effect on esophagogastric junction configuration and hiatal hernia is unknown.

Diabetes mellitus and gastric emptying: questions and issues in clinical practice.

It is long known that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can be associated with changes in gastric emptying; a number of publications have linked diabetes to delayed gastric emptying of variable severity and often with poor relationship to gastrointestinal symptomatology. In contrast, more recent studies have reported accelerated gastric emptying when adjusted for glucose concentration in patients with diabetes, indicating a reciprocal relationship between gastric emptying and ambient glucose concentrations. This review proposes that gastroparesis or gastroparesis diabeticorum, a severe condition characterized by a significant impairment of gastric emptying accompanied by severe nausea, vomiting, and malnutrition, is often overdiagnosed and not well contrasted with delays in gastric emptying.

Lower Bifidobacteria counts in both duodenal mucosa-associated and fecal microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Aim: To determine the composition of both fecal and duodenal mucosa-associated microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and healthy subjects using molecular-based techniques.

Methods: Fecal and duodenal mucosa brush samples were obtained from 41 IBS patients and 26 healthy subjects. Fecal samples were analyzed for the composition of the total microbiota using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and both fecal and duodenal brush samples were analyzed for the composition of bifidobacteria using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

In GERD patients, mucosal repair associated genes are upregulated in non-inflamed oesophageal epithelium.

Previous studies addressing the effects of acid reflux and PPI therapy on gene expression in oesophageal epithelium concentrated on inflamed tissue. We aimed to determine changes in gene expression in non-inflamed oesophageal epithelium of GERD patients. Therefore, we included 20 GERD patients with pathological total 24-hr acid exposure of 6-12% and SAP > or = 95%.

High prevalence of esophageal involvement in lichen planus: a study using magnification chromoendoscopy.

Background And Study Aims: The first cases of squamous cell carcinoma in esophageal lichen planus were recently described. We performed a study to establish the prevalence of endoscopic and histopathologic abnormalities consistent with lichen planus and (pre-) malignancy in a cohort of patients with lichen planus.

Patients And Methods: A total of 24 patients with lichen planus were prospectively studied using high-magnification chromoendoscopy.