Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Risk Factors Among Schoolchildren in Ibb Governorate, Southwest Yemen: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) among schoolchildren are important public health problem, especially in developing countries, and monitoring of such infections and associated risk factors are necessary for intervention strategies. In line with this view, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IPIs and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Ibb governorate, southwest Yemen.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out during February to April 2020 on 600 schoolchildren selected from 6 districts of Ibb governorate.

Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus replication in dexamethasone-treated L929 cells.

We previously demonstrated that dexamethasone treatment of L929 cells inhibited plaque formation by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), encephalomyocarditis virus, or vaccinia virus. We now have characterized the antiviral effects of glucocorticoids in L929 cells. Dexamethasone did not directly inactivate VSV nor did steroid treatment of L929 cells affect virion adsorption or penetration.

Inhibition of epidermal growth factor/transforming growth factor-alpha-stimulated cell growth by a synthetic peptide.

Estrogen-stimulated growth of the human mammary adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 is significantly inhibited by monoclonal antibodies to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor that act as antagonists of EGF's mitogenic events by competing for high-affinity EGF receptor binding sites. These antibodies likewise inhibit the EGF or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha)-stimulated growth of these MCF-7 cells. An analogous pattern of specific EGF or TGF-alpha growth inhibitory activity was obtained using a synthetic peptide analog encompassing the third disulfide loop region of TGF-alpha, but containing additional modifications designed for increased membrane affinity [( Ac-D-hArg(Et)2(31),Gly32,33]HuTGF-alpha(31-43)NH2).

Enhanced antitumor efficacy of adriamycin in combination with interferon-gamma: effects on macrophages.

The combination of the immunomodulator interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) with the chemotherapeutic drug adriamycin (ADM) was assessed in vitro and in vivo in murine tumor models. When tested in vivo against the murine Lewis lung carcinoma, significantly greater reduction of spontaneous pulmonary metastases was obtained by combination treatment with IFN-gamma, followed 1 day later by ADM. Intraperitoneal ADM treatment also resulted in an increased recruitment of peritoneal mononuclear cells.

Vaccinia virus and the EGF receptor: a portal for infectivity?

We previously demonstrated that occupancy of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor reduced the ability of vaccinia virus to infect L cells [Eppstein et al: Nature 318:663, 1985]. This result suggested that vaccinia virus was utilizing the EGF receptor as one pathway to infect cells. We have studied this system further, and now find that antibodies to the EGF receptor also reduce the ability of vaccinia virus to infect cells productively.