A case control study of acute leukemia risk factors in adults, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract: Background: Leukemia is one of the most common cancers in Iran. Few studies have focused on identifying the causative factors for leukemia. This implies the necessity of this case-control study. This study was undertaken to identify possible risk factors associated with leukemia. Materials and Methods: In a case-control study matched by age and sex. 100 leukemic patients admitted in hematology wards in Namazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were enrolled. Control group compromised 100 ..

Highly sensitive and label-free digital detection of whole cell E. coli with interferometric reflectance imaging

Bacterial infectious diseases are a major threat to human health. Timely and sensitive pathogenic bacteria detection is crucial in identifying the bacterial contaminations and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Due to limitations of conventional bacteria detection techniques there have been concerted research efforts towards development of new biosensors. Biosensors offering label free, whole bacteria detection are highly desirable over those relying on label based or pathogenic molecular components detection. The major advantage is eliminating the additional time and cost required for labeling or extracting the desired bacterial components. Here, we demonstrate rapid, sensitive and label free E. coli detection utilizing interferometric reflectance imaging enhancement allowing for visualizing individual pathogens captured on the surface. Enabled by our ability to count individual bacteria on a large sensor surface, we demonstrate a limit of detection of 2.2 CFU/ml from a buffer solution with no sample preparation. To the best of our knowledge, this high level of sensitivity for whole E. coli detection is unprecedented in label free biosensing. The specificity of our biosensor is validated by comparing the response to target bacteria E. coli and non target bacteria S. aureus, K. pneumonia and P. aeruginosa. The biosensor performance in tap water also proves that its detection capability is unaffected by the sample complexity. Furthermore, our sensor platform provides high optical magnification imaging and thus validation of recorded detection events as the target bacteria based on morphological characterization. Therefore, our sensitive and label free detection method offers new perspectives for direct bacterial detection in real matrices and clinical samples.First author draf

Use of avian bornavirus isolates to induce proventricular dilatation disease in conures

Avian bornavirus (ABV) is a newly discovered member of the family Bornaviridae that has been associated with the development of a lethal neurologic syndrome in birds, termed proventricular dilatation disease (PDD). We successfully isolated and characterized ABV from the brains of 8 birds with confirmed PDD. One isolate was passed 6 times in duck embryo fibroblasts, and the infected cells were then injected intramuscularly into 2 healthy Patagonian conures (Cyanoliseus patagonis). Clinical PDD developed in both birds by 66 days postinfection. PDD was confirmed by necropsy and histopathologic examination. Reverse transcription–PCR showed that the inoculated ABV was in the brains of the 2 infected birds. A control bird that received uninfected tissue culture cells remained healthy until it was euthanized at 77 days. Necropsy and histopathologic examinations showed no abnormalities; PCR did not indicate ABV in its brain tissues

Effectiveness of Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir with/without Ribavarin in Liver Transplant Recipients with Hepatitis C.

Background and Aims: Recurrent infection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in liver transplant (LT) recipients is universal and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with and without ribavirin in LT recipients with recurrent genotype 1 hepatitis C. Results: Eighty-five LT recipients were treated for recurrent HCV with ledipasvir/sofosbuvirwith and without ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) time from LT to treatment initiation was 68 (±71) months. The mean (± SD) age of the cohort was 63 (±8.6) years old. Most recipients were male (70%). Baseline alanine transaminase, total bilirubin, and HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) values (± SD) were 76.8 (±126) mg/dL, 0.8 (±1.3) U/L, and 8,010,421.9 (±12,420,985) IU/mL, respectively. Five of 43 recipients who were treated with ribavirin required drug cessation due to side effects, with 4 of those being anemia complications. No recipient discontinued the ledipasvir/sofosbuvir. Eighty-one percent of recipients had undetectable viral levels at 4 weeks after starting therapy, and all recipients had complete viral suppression at the end of therapy. The sustained viral response at 12 weeks after completion of therapy was 94%. Conclusion : Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir with and without ribavirin therapy is an effective and well-tolerated interferon-free treatment for recurrent HCV infection after LT. Anemia is not uncommon in LT recipients receiving ribavirin

Uptake of home-based voluntary HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Improving access to HIV testing is a key priority in scaling up HIV treatment and prevention services. Home-based voluntary counselling and testing (HBT) as an approach to delivering wide-scale HIV testing is explored here

Behavioral and cognitive interventions to improve treatment adherence and access to HIV care among older adults in sub-Saharan Africa: an updated systematic review

BACKGROUND: Approximately 14% of Africans infected with HIV are over the age of 50, yet few intervention studies focus on improving access to care, retention in care, and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in this population. A review of the published literature until 2012, found no relevant ART management and care interventions for older people living with HIV (OPLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this systematic review is to update the original systematic review of intervention studies on OPLHIV, with a focus on evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the available published literature from 2012 to 2017 to explore behavioral and cognitive interventions addressing access to ART, retention in HIV care and adherence to ART in sub-Saharan Africa that include older adults (50+). We searched three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Education Resources Information Center) using relevant Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms as well as a manual search of the reference lists. No language restrictions were placed. We identified eight articles which were analyzed using content analysis with additional information obtained directly from the corresponding authors. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There were no studies that exclusively focused on OPLHIV. Three studies referred only to participants being over 18 years and did not specify age categories. Therefore, it is unclear whether these studies actively considered people living with HIV over the age of 50. Although the studies sampled older adults, they lacked sufficient data to draw conclusions about the relevance of the outcomes of this group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the need to increase the evidence-base of which interventions will work for older Africans on ART

Predictors of linkage to care following community-based HIV counseling and testing in rural Kenya

Despite innovations in HIV counseling and testing (HCT), important gaps remain in understanding linkage to care. We followed a cohort diagnosed with HIV through a community-based HCT campaign that trained persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) as navigators. Individual, interpersonal, and institutional predictors of linkage were assessed using survival analysis of self-reported time to enrollment. Of 483 persons consenting to follow-up, 305 (63.2%) enrolled in HIV care within 3 months. Proportions linking to care were similar across sexes, barring a sub-sample of men aged 18–25 years who were highly unlikely to enroll. Men were more likely to enroll if they had disclosed to their spouse, and women if they had disclosed to family. Women who anticipated violence or relationship breakup were less likely to link to care. Enrolment rates were significantly higher among participants receiving a PLHA visit, suggesting that a navigator approach may improve linkage from community-based HCT campaigns.Vestergaard Frandse

Generalized Rayleigh Wave Dispersion in a Covered Half-space Made of Viscoelastic Materials

Dispersion of the generalized Rayleigh waves propagating in a covered half-space made of viscoelastic materials is investigated by utilizing the exact equations of the theory of linear viscoelasticity. The dispersion equation is obtained for an arbitrary type of hereditary operator of the materials of the constituents and a solution algorithm is developed for obtaining numerical results on the dispersion of the waves under consideration. Dispersion curves are presented for certain attenuation cases and the influence of the viscosity of the materials is studied through three rheological parameters of the viscoelastic materials which characterize the characteristic creep time, long-term values and the mechanical behaviour of the viscoelastic material around the initial state of the deformation. Numerical results are presented and discussed for the case where the viscoelasticity of the materials is described through fractional-exponential operators by Rabotnov. As the result of this discussion, in particular, how the rheological parameters influence the dispersion of the generalized Rayleigh waves propagating in the covered half-space under consideration is established

Targeting the leukemic stem cell: the Holy Grail of leukemia therapy

Since the discovery of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) over a decade ago, many of their critical biological properties have been elucidated, including their distinct replicative properties, cell surface phenotypes, their increased resistance to chemo-therapeutic drugs and the involvement of growthpromoting chromosomal translocations. Of particular importance is their ability to transfer malignancy to non-obese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficient (NOD-SCID) mice. Furthermore, numerous studies demonstrate that acute myeloid leukemia arises from mutations at the level of stem cell, and chronic myeloid leukemia is also a stem cell disease. In this review, we will evaluate the main characteristics of LSCs elucidated in several well-documented leukemias. In addition, we will discuss points of therapeutic intervention. Promising therapeutic approaches include the targeting of key signal transduction pathways (for example, PI3K, Rac and Wnt) with smallmolecule inhibitors and specific cell surface molecules (for example, CD33, CD44 and CD123), with effective cytotoxic antibodies. Also, statins, which are already widely therapeutically used for a variety of diseases, show potential in targeting LSCs. In addition, drugs that inhibit ATP-binding cassette transporter proteins are being extensively studied, as they are important in drug resistance â a frequent characteristic of LSCs. Although the specific targeting of LSCs is a relatively new field, it is a highly promising battleground that may reveal the Holy Grail of cancer therapy. Originally published Leukemia, Vol. 23, No. 1, Jan 200