The dense granule protein of Toxoplasma gondii, inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (IST) is an inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) transcriptional activity that binds to STAT1 and regulates the expression of inflammatory molecules in host cells. A sterile inflammatory liver injury in pathological acute liver failures occurs when excessive innate immune function, such as the massive release of IFN-γ and TNF-α, is activated without infection. In relation to inflammatory liver injury, we hypothesized that Toxoplasma gondii inhibitor of STAT1 transcription (TgIST) can inhibit the inflammatory response induced by activating the STAT1/IRF-1 mechanism in liver inflammation. This study used IFN-γ and TNF-α as inflammatory inducers at the cellular level of murine hepatocytes (Hepa-1c1c7) to determine whether TgIST inhibits the STAT1/IRF-1 axis. In stable cells transfected with TgIST, STAT1 expression decreased with a decrease in interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 levels. Furthermore, STAT1 inhibition of TgIST resulted in lower levels of NF-κB and COX2, as well as significantly lower levels of class II transactivator (CIITA), iNOS, and chemokines (CLXCL9/10/11). TgIST also significantly reduced the expression of hepatocyte proapoptotic markers (Caspase3/8/9, P53, and BAX), which are linked to sterile inflammatory liver injury. TgIST also reduced the expression of adhesion (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and infiltration markers of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) induced by hepatocyte and tissue damage. TgIST restored the cell apoptosis induced by IFN-γ/TNF-α stimulation. These results suggest that TgIST can inhibit STAT1-mediated inflammatory and apoptotic responses in hepatocytes stimulated with proinflammatory cytokines.

Toxoplasma gondii primarily invades the central nervous system, causing latent infections. Cysts persist in the host for life and there is currently no effective treatment. T. gondii infects human hosts through contaminated meat, invading the intestinal tissue and leading to changes in the number and composition of the gut microbiota. Since probiotic ingestion modulates intestinal microbiota changes, we hypothesized that intestinal microbiota dysbiosis caused by T. gondii infection would be restored following probiotic supplementation. To this end, we orally infected C57BL/6 mice with 10 T. gondii cysts and administered supplemental probiotics daily. We analyzed the levels of T. gondii B1 gene DNA, indicative of T. gondii infection, in brain tissue. We investigated alterations in the gut microbiota composition and functional pathways between the probiotic and non-probiotic treatment groups via next-generation sequencing analysis of each fecal sample. The infection level in the probiotic-treated group was significantly reduced after 4 weeks (p<0.05). Probiotic supplementation notably changed the gut microbiota after 2 weeks of infection, increasing the relative abundance of Intestinimonas massiliensis and Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus. Probiotic supplements appear to modulate the gut microbiota, activating functional pathways involved in intestinal short-chain fatty acid production and strengthening the intestinal barrier, thereby impeding T. gondii infection and subsequent proliferation. Our findings provide valuable insights into T. gondii infection control and future study directions.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.

Toxoplasma gondii primarily invades the central nervous system, causing latent infections. Cysts persist in the host for life and there is currently no effective treatment. T. gondii infects human hosts through contaminated meat, invading the intestinal tissue and leading to changes in the number and composition of the gut microbiota. Since probiotic ingestion modulates intestinal microbiota changes, we hypothesized that intestinal microbiota dysbiosis caused by T. gondii infection would be restored following probiotic supplementation. To this end, we orally infected C57BL/6 mice with 10 T. gondii cysts and administered supplemental probiotics daily. We analyzed the levels of T. gondii B1 gene DNA, indicative of T. gondii infection, in brain tissue. We investigated alterations in the gut microbiota composition and functional pathways between the probiotic and non-probiotic treatment groups via next-generation sequencing analysis of each fecal sample. The infection level in the probiotic-treated group was significantly reduced after 4 weeks (p<0.05). Probiotic supplementation notably changed the gut microbiota after 2 weeks of infection, increasing the relative abundance of Intestinimonas massiliensis and Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus. Probiotic supplements appear to modulate the gut microbiota, activating functional pathways involved in intestinal short-chain fatty acid production and strengthening the intestinal barrier, thereby impeding T. gondii infection and subsequent proliferation. Our findings provide valuable insights into T. gondii infection control and future study directions.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.

Toxoplasma gondii primarily invades the central nervous system, causing latent infections. Cysts persist in the host for life and there is currently no effective treatment. T. gondii infects human hosts through contaminated meat, invading the intestinal tissue and leading to changes in the number and composition of the gut microbiota. Since probiotic ingestion modulates intestinal microbiota changes, we hypothesized that intestinal microbiota dysbiosis caused by T. gondii infection would be restored following probiotic supplementation. To this end, we orally infected C57BL/6 mice with 10 T. gondii cysts and administered supplemental probiotics daily. We analyzed the levels of T. gondii B1 gene DNA, indicative of T. gondii infection, in brain tissue. We investigated alterations in the gut microbiota composition and functional pathways between the probiotic and non-probiotic treatment groups via next-generation sequencing analysis of each fecal sample. The infection level in the probiotic-treated group was significantly reduced after 4 weeks (p<0.05). Probiotic supplementation notably changed the gut microbiota after 2 weeks of infection, increasing the relative abundance of Intestinimonas massiliensis and Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus. Probiotic supplements appear to modulate the gut microbiota, activating functional pathways involved in intestinal short-chain fatty acid production and strengthening the intestinal barrier, thereby impeding T. gondii infection and subsequent proliferation. Our findings provide valuable insights into T. gondii infection control and future study directions.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.

Background: s/Aims: Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is the only radical treatment for periampullary malignancies. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) first approach combined with total meso-pancreas (MP) excision was conducted to improve the oncological results.There has not been any previous research of a technique that combines the SMA first approach and total MP excision with a detailed description of the MP macroscopical shape. Methods: We prospectively assessed 77 patients with periampullary malignancies between October 2020 and March 2022 (18 months). All patients had undergone PD with SMA first approach combined total MP excision. The perioperative indications, clinical data, intra-operative index, R0 resection rate of postoperative pathological specimens (especially mesopancreatic margin), postoperative complications, and follow-up results were evaluated. Results: The median operative time was 289.6 min (178−540 min), the median intraoperative blood loss was 209 mL (30−1,600 mL).Microscopically, there were 19 (24.7%) cases with metastatic MP, and five cases (6.5%) with R1-resection of the MP. The number of lymph nodes (LNs) harvested and metastatic LNs were 27.2 (maximum was 74) and 1.8 (maximum was 16), respectively. Some (46.8%) patients had pancreatic fistula, but mostly in grade A, with 7 patients (9.1%) who required re-operations. Some 18.2% of cases developed postoperative refractory diarrhea. The rate of in-hospital mortality was 1.3%. Conclusions The PD with SMA first approach combined TMpE for periampullary malignancies was effective in achieving superior oncological statistics (rate of MP R0-resection and number of total resected LNs) with non-inferior short-term outcomes. It is necessary to evaluate survival outcomes with long-term follow-up.

Background: s/Aims: Parenchymal-sparing anatomical hepatectomy (Ps–AH) based on portal ramification of the right anterior section (RAS) is a new technique to avoid unnecessarily transecting too much liver parenchyma, especially in cases of major anatomical hepatectomy. Methods: We prospectively assessed 26 patients with primary hepatic malignancies having undergone major Ps–AH based on portal ramification of the RAS from August 2018 to August 2022 (48 months). The perioperative indications, clinical data, intra-operative index, pathological postoperative specimens, postoperative complications, and follow-up results were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Among the 26 patients analyzed, there was just one case that had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma The preoperative level of α– Fetoprotein was 25.2 ng/mL. All cases (100%) had Child–Pugh A liver function preoperatively. The ventral/dorsal RAS was preserved in 19 and 7 patients, respectively. The mean surgical margin was 6.2 mm. The mean surgical time was 228.5 minutes, while the mean blood loss was 255 mL. In pathology, 5 cases (19.2%) had microvascular invasion, and in the group of HCC patients, 92% of all cases had moderate or poor tumor differentiation. Six cases (23.1%) of postoperative complications were graded over III according to the Clavien–Dindo system, including in three patients resistant ascites or intra-abdominal abscess that required intervention. Conclusions Parenchymal-sparing anatomical hepatectomy based on portal ramification of the RAS to achieve R0-resection was safe and effective, with favorable short-term outcomes. This technique can be used widely in clinical practice.

Toxoplasma gondii primarily invades the central nervous system, causing latent infections. Cysts persist in the host for life and there is currently no effective treatment. T. gondii infects human hosts through contaminated meat, invading the intestinal tissue and leading to changes in the number and composition of the gut microbiota. Since probiotic ingestion modulates intestinal microbiota changes, we hypothesized that intestinal microbiota dysbiosis caused by T. gondii infection would be restored following probiotic supplementation. To this end, we orally infected C57BL/6 mice with 10 T. gondii cysts and administered supplemental probiotics daily. We analyzed the levels of T. gondii B1 gene DNA, indicative of T. gondii infection, in brain tissue. We investigated alterations in the gut microbiota composition and functional pathways between the probiotic and non-probiotic treatment groups via next-generation sequencing analysis of each fecal sample. The infection level in the probiotic-treated group was significantly reduced after 4 weeks (p<0.05). Probiotic supplementation notably changed the gut microbiota after 2 weeks of infection, increasing the relative abundance of Intestinimonas massiliensis and Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus. Probiotic supplements appear to modulate the gut microbiota, activating functional pathways involved in intestinal short-chain fatty acid production and strengthening the intestinal barrier, thereby impeding T. gondii infection and subsequent proliferation. Our findings provide valuable insights into T. gondii infection control and future study directions.