Despite ongoing continuous research towards developing a malaria vaccine, we have still not achieved this target and the malaria parasite continues to kill thousands, especially children in developing countries. However, current control methods have had good results in some countries. Can these control methods be enough or should people still keep hoping for a vaccine? Would eradication of malaria be a possibility if no vaccine remains available?

Genetic Heterogeneity ; Heart Ventricles ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Lung ; abnormalities ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; genetics

Altered bowel flora is currently thought to play a role in a variety of disease conditions, and the use of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. as probiotics has been demonstrated to be health-promoting, even if the success of their administration depends on the applied bacterial strain(s) and the targeted disease. In the last few decades, specific probiotics have been shown to be effective in the treatment or the prevention of acute viral gastroenteritis, pediatric post-antibiotic-associated diarrhea, some pediatric allergic disorders, necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants, inflammatory bowel diseases and postsurgical pouchitis. The potential application of probiotics is continuously widening, with new evidence accumulating to support their effect on the prevention and treatment of other disease conditions, including several oral diseases, such as dental caries, periodontal diseases and oral malodor, as well as genitourinary and wound infections. Considering the increasingly widespread ability of pathogens to generate persistent biofilm-related infections, an even more attractive proposal is to administer probiotics to prevent or counteract biofilm development. The response of biofilm-based oral, intestinal, vaginal and wound infections to probiotics treatment will be reviewed here in light of the most recent results obtained in this field.
Antibiosis ; physiology ; Bacterial Infections ; prevention & control ; Bifidobacterium ; physiology ; Biofilms ; growth & development ; Humans ; Lactobacillus ; physiology ; Mucous Membrane ; microbiology ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use

Buschke-Lowenstein tumor(BLT) is a rare sexually transmitted disease triggered by human papillomavirus type 6 or 11. It presents as an anogenital exophytic tumor characterized by its size, local infiltration, high recurrence rate and risk of malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma. A 45-year-old heterosexual male presented with a 22-year history of slow-growing, multiple, dark brown, verrucous, exophytic nodules and plaques over the trunk, extremities, inguinal and gluteal areas. Two years prior to consult, there was coalescence of lower abdominal plaques with rapid growth of a pinkish cauliflower-like tumor. Pelvic MRI showed that the tumor was limited to the skin. Biopsy of the lower abdominal mass was consistent with BLT and positive for HPV DNA. There was no internal organ involvement or metastasis. Pulsed dye and erbium:YAG lasers were done on the gluteal area test sites followed by wide excision and split-thickness skin graft of the lower abdominal and pubic area.

Human ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Biopsy ; Brassica ; Buschke-lowenstein Tumor ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dna ; Erbium ; Heterosexuality ; Human Papillomavirus 6 ; Lasers, Solid-state ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Torso

Little is known regarding cardiac involvement (CI) by neuromuscular disorders (NMDs). The purpose of this review is to summarise and discuss the major findings concerning the types, frequency, and severity of cardiac disorders in NMDs as well as their diagnosis, treatment, and overall outcome. CI in NMDs is characterized by pathologic involvement of the myocardium or cardiac conduction system. Less commonly, additional critical anatomic structures, such as the valves, coronary arteries, endocardium, pericardium, and even the aortic root may be involved. Involvement of the myocardium manifests most frequently as hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy and less frequently as restrictive cardiomyopathy, non-compaction, arrhythmogenic right-ventricular dysplasia, or Takotsubo-syndrome. Cardiac conduction defects and supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias are common cardiac manifestations of NMDs. Arrhythmias may evolve into life-threatening ventricular tachycardias, asystole, or even sudden cardiac death. CI is common and carries great prognostic significance on the outcome of dystrophinopathies, laminopathies, desminopathies, nemaline myopathy, myotonias, metabolic myopathies, Danon disease, and Barth-syndrome. The diagnosis and treatment of CI in NMDs follows established guidelines for the management of cardiac disease, but cardiotoxic medications should be avoided. CI in NMDs is relatively common and requires complete work-up following the establishment of a neurological diagnosis. Appropriate cardiac treatment significantly improves the overall long-term outcome of NMDs.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Coronary Vessels ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diagnosis ; Endocardium ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type IIb ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Muscular Diseases ; Myocardium ; Myopathies, Nemaline ; Myotonia ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; Pericardium ; Tachycardia, Ventricular

Objective To investigate ff the γ-H12AX foci is a precise index for the DSB formation and repair in mature neurons of brain in vivo after clinically relevant doses irradiation. Methods For the DSB formation experiment, the mature neurons in the neocortex of brain tissue of C57BL/6 mice were analyzed at 10 rain after whole-body irradiation with 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 Gy. For the DSB repair kinetics experiment, the mature neurons in the neocortex of brain tissue of repair-proficient (C57BL/6 mice) and repair-deficient mouse strains (BALB/c, A-T and SCID mice) were analyzed at 0.5, 2.5, 5, 24 and 48 h after whole-body irradiation with 2 Gy. The mature neurons in the neocortex of brain tissue of sham-irradiated mice of each strain served as controls. γ-H2AX immunohistochemistry and γ-H2AX and NeuN double immunofluorescence analysis was used to measure DSBs formation and repair in the mature neurons in the neocortex of brain tissue of the different mouse strains. Results For the DSB formation experiment, γ-H2AX foci levels with a clear linear dose correlation and very low backgrounds in the nuclei in the neocortex of brain tissue were observed. Scoring the loss of γ-H12AX foci allowed us to verify the different, genetically determined DSB repair deficiencies, including the minor impairment of BALB/c mice. Repair-proficient C57BL/6 mice exhibited the fastest decrease in foei number with time, and displayed low levels of residual damage at 24 h and 48 h post-irradiation. In contrast, SCID mice showed highly increased γ-H2AX foci levels at all repair times (0.5 h to 48 h) while A-T mice exhibited a lesser defect which was most significant at later repair times (≥ 5 h). Radiosensitive BALB/c mice exhibited slighdy elevated foei numbers compared with C57BI./6 mice at 5 h and 24 h but not at 48 h post-irradiation. Conclusion Quantifying the γ-H2AX loci in normal tissue represents a sensitive tool for the detection of induction and repair of radiation-induced DSBs at clinically relevant doses in vivo.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate which of the following imaging methods best assessed misfit at the tooth-restoration interface: (1) bitewing radiographs, both conventional and digital, performed using a photostimulable phosphor plate (PSP) and a charge-coupled device (CCD) system; (2) panoramic radiographs, both conventional and digital; and (3) cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty healthy human molars with class I cavities were selected and divided into 4 groups according to the restoration that was applied: composite resin, composite resin with liner material to simulate misfit, dental amalgam, and dental amalgam with liner material to simulate misfit. Radiography and tomography were performed using the various imaging methods, and the resulting images were analyzed by 2 calibrated radiologists. The true presence or absence of misfit corresponding to an area of radiolucency in regions subjacent to the esthetic and metal restorations was validated with microscopy. The data were analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the scores were compared using the Cohen kappa coefficient. RESULTS: For bitewing images, the digital systems (CCD and PSP) showed a higher area under the ROC curve (AUROC) for the evaluation of resin restorations, while the conventional images exhibited a larger AUROC for the evaluation of amalgam restorations. Conventional and digital panoramic radiographs did not yield good results for the evaluation of resin and amalgam restorations (P < .05). CBCT images exhibited good results for resin restorations (P>.05), but showed no discriminatory ability for amalgam restorations (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Bitewing radiographs (conventional or digital) should be the method of choice when assessing dental restoration misfit.
Biomedical and Dental Materials ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Dental Amalgam ; Humans ; Methods ; Microscopy ; Molar ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography ; ROC Curve ; Tooth

Fatal air embolism to the cerebrum during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has not been reported in a patient with a biliodigestive anastomosis and multiresistant extended-spectrum beta-lactamase Escherichia coli (ESBL) bacteremia. A 59-year-old woman with a history of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and iatrogenic injury of the right choledochal duct, choledochojejunostomy (biliodigestive anastomosis), recurrent cholangitis, revision of the biliodigestive anastomosis, recurrent liver abscesses, and recurrent stenting of stenotic bile ducts, was admitted because of fever and tenderness of the right upper quadrant. On ERCP, a previously deployed covered Wallstent was replaced. Blood cultures grew ESBL. After stent removal 8 days later, the patient did not wake up and developed arterial hypotension and respiratory insufficiency, requiring mechanical ventilation. Computed tomography scans showed extensive air embolism to the liver, heart, and cerebrum. She died 1 day later. Although the exact pathogenesis of the fatal cerebral air embolism remains speculative, the nonphysiological anatomy and chronic infection with ESBL may have been contributory factors.
Bacteremia ; beta-Lactamases ; Bile Ducts ; Brain Edema ; Cerebrum ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Cholangitis ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Choledochostomy ; Embolism, Air* ; Endoscopy ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Fever ; Foramen Ovale, Patent* ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Intracranial Pressure ; Liver ; Liver Abscess ; Middle Aged ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Stents

Pre-excitation-syndrome has not been reported as a phenotypic feature of facio-scapulo-humeral muscular dystrophy (FSH-MD). In a 39-year-old male with FSH-MD due to a reduced tandem repeat size in the D4Z4-locus on chromosome 4q35, cardiac involvement, manifesting as an incomplete right bundle-branch-block, tall T-waves in V 3-5, ST-elevation in V 2-4, and mild thickening of the left ventricular myocardium, was first recognised 10 years earlier. Follow-up at age 39 years revealed mild myocardial thickening, two intra-ventricular aberrant bands, and, surprisingly, intermittent pre-excitation on a routine electrocardiography. Cardiac involvement in FSH-MD may manifest as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or various arrhythmias, of which one may be pre-excitation-syndrome.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathies ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophies* ; Myocardium ; Pre-Excitation Syndromes ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

A 23-year-old male with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) experienced self-limiting palpitations at age 19 years for the first time. Palpitations recurred not earlier than at age 23 years, and were attributed to narrow complex tachycardia, which could be terminated with adenosine. Since electrocardiography showed a delta-wave, Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome was diagnosed, ajmaline prescribed and radio-frequency catheter ablation of three accessory pathways carried out one week later. One day after ablation, however, a relapse of the supraventricular tachycardia occurred and was terminated with ajmaline. Re-entry tachycardia occurred a second time six days after ablation, and as before, it was stopped only with ajmaline. Despite administration of verapamil to prevent tachycardia, it occurred a third time four months after ablation. This case shows that cardiac involvement in DMD may manifest also as WPW-syndrome. In these patients, repeated radio-frequency catheter ablation of accessory pathways may be necessary to completely block the re-entry mechanism.
Adenosine ; Ajmaline ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophies ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Recurrence ; Tachycardia ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; Verapamil