Effects of 1α,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D on Pro-inflammatory Cytokines of Palmitic Acid Treated Thp-1 Cells.

Unlabelled: The level of saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid (PA), correlates with chronic inflammation in obese and metabolic syndrome patients. However, low level of vitamin D is observed in those conditions. The aim of this study is to investigate effects of 1α,25(OH) D on PA-treated THP-1 cells.

An ELISA assay using a combination of recombinant proteins from multiple strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi offers an accurate diagnosis for scrub typhus.

Background: Scrub typhus (ST) is a disease caused by an obligate intracellular bacterium, Orientia tsutsugamushi, an organism that requires a BSL3 laboratory for propagation. The disease is hallmarked by an eschar at the site of the chigger bite, followed by the development of fever, malaise, myalgia, anorexia, and papulomacular rash. Indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) is the gold standard for scrub typhus diagnosis, however, the subjectivity of the assay, the need for a specialized laboratory and instruments has limited the wide use of the test in resource limited areas.