Introduction: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a serious burden in orthopaedic oncology. Through the years,several local expedients have been proposed to minimise the risk of periprosthetic infection. In this study, we report our outcomes using topical vancomycin powder (VP) with the aim to prevent PJIs.Materials and methods: Fifty oncological cases treated with massive bone resection and the implant of a megaprosthesis were included in our study. Among them, 22 [(GGroup A) received one gram of vancomycin powder on the surface of the implant and another gram on the surface of the muscular fascia]. The remaining 28 did not receive such a treatment (Group B). The rest of surgical procedures and the follow-up were the same for the two groups. Patients underwent periodical outpatient visits, radiographs and blood exams’ evaluations. Diagnosis of PJIs and adverse reactions to topical vancomycin were recorded.Results: None of the cases treated with topical vancomycin developed infections, whereas 6 of the 28 cases (21.4%) who did not receive the powder suffered from PJIs. These outcomes suggest that cases treated with VP had a significantly lower risk of post-operative PJI (p=0.028).None of our cases developed acute kidney failures or any other complication directly or indirectly attributable to the local administration of VP. Conclusions: The topical use of vancomycin powder on megaprosthetic surfaces and the overlying fascias, alongside with a correct endovenous antibiotic prophylaxis, can represent a promising approach in order to minimise the risk of periprosthetic infections in orthopaedic oncology surgery.

In this study, we aim to elucidate the clinical impact and long-term course of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), taking into account its dynamic nature, after biatrial orthotopic heart transplant (OHT). All consecutive adult patients undergoing biatrial OHT (1984-2017) with an available follow-up echocardiogram were included. Mixed-models were used to model the evolution of TR. The mixed-model was inserted into a Cox model in order to address the association of the dynamic TR with mortality. In total, 572 patients were included (median age: 50 years, males: 74.9%). Approximately 32% of patients had moderate-to-severe TR immediately after surgery. However, this declined to 11% on 5 years and 9% on 10 years after surgery, adjusted for survival bias. Pre-implant mechanical support was associated with less TR during follow-up, whereas concurrent LV dysfunction was significantly associated with more TR during follow-up. Survival at 1, 5, 10, 20 years was 97% ± 1%, 88% ± 1%, 66% ± 2% and 23% ± 2%, respectively. The presence of moderate-to-severe TR during follow-up was associated with higher mortality (HR: 1.07, 95% CI (1.02-1.12), p = 0.006). The course of TR was positively correlated with the course of creatinine (R = 0.45). TR during follow-up is significantly associated with higher mortality and worse renal function. Nevertheless, probability of TR is the highest immediately after OHT and decreases thereafter. Therefore, it may be reasonable to refrain from surgical intervention for TR during earlier phase after OHT.
Male ; Adult ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/diagnostic imaging* ; Heart Transplantation ; Echocardiography ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

It has been recognized that, to help ensure research caters to the needs of society, a research agenda must be set.[1–3] When a health research agenda is set, it will help prioritize the implementation of health researches that will in turn help improve society’s public health system. This way, evidence is provided to help guide policy decisions on health development.[1,4] Such was the context by which the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) was created and has evolved in its three editions. In NUHRA 2017–2022, six themes of priority research were identified. These included responsive health systems, research to enhance and extend healthy lives, holistic approaches to health and wellness, health resiliency, global competitiveness and innovation in health, and research in equity and health.

The present study was conducted to investigate the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of Elettaria cardamomum essential oil (ECEO) for the control of acute Toxoplasma gondii infection. The effect of ECEO on T. gondii tachyzoites was measured by the tetrazolium bromide method. Mice received ECEO orally at doses of 1-4 mg/kg/day for 14 days. Once acute toxoplasmosis was induced in mice, their mortality rate and parasite load were recorded. The level of liver antioxidant/oxidant enzymes and the level of mRNA expression of interleukin-1 beta and interferongamma were also investigated. ECEO particularly at a concentration of 150 µg/ml has promising in vitro anti-Toxoplasma effects (p<0.001). After treatment with ECEO, the mortality rate (9th day) and parasite load decreased (p<0.001) in the infected mice. ECEO markedly (p < 0.05) restored hepatic oxidant and antioxidant enzyme levels, as well as increased cytokines. These results report a significant inhibitory effect of ECEO mainly at a dose of 4 mg/mL, against the T. gondii Rh strain through strengthening the immune system and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress; however, further research is needed to verify these results.

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease with various clinical manifestations. We studied the therapeutic effects of Elettaria cardamomum essential oil (ECEO) against Leishmania major infection. In vitro effects of ECEO against L. major were examined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and macrophage assays. Nitric oxide (NO) production, infection inhibition in macrophages, and the apoptotic activity of ECEO in treated parasites were also measured. By calculating the 50% cytotoxic concentrations (CC50), we studied the cytotoxicity effects of ECEO on human macrophage cells (THP-1). The efficacy of ECEO for improving cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions in mice (BALB/c) was determined by evaluating the size of lesions and the number of amastigotes before and after four weeks of treatment. The effects of ECEO on liver and kidney function in the tested mice were also evaluated. ECEO dose-dependently (p<0.001) inhibited the viability and the mean number of promastigotes and amastigote forms of L. tropica. Four weeks of treatment with ECEO at the doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg/ day significantly (p<0.001) improved the CL lesions and reduced the number of parasites in the infected mice. ECEO significantly increased NO production, apoptosis induction, and infection rate in parasites. The CC50 value for ECEO and MA was 303.4 µg/mL and 835.2 µg/mL, respectively. In the mice receiving ECEO at the doses of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day for 28 days, no significant change was reported between the serum level of liver enzymes and kidney factors when compared with the control group. ECEO displayed promising efficacy in parasite reduction in vitro and in the animal model. ECEO can thus be used as an alternative medicine to treat CL.

We aimed at determination of acaricidal, larvacidal, and repellent activities of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (SNP) against Hyalomma dromedarii as one of the most common ticks in camels. SNP were green synthesized by reducing Lupinus albus extract through the precipitation technique. The acaricidal, larvicidal, and repellent activity of SNP against H. dromedarii was studied through the adult immersion test (AIT), the larval packet test (LPT), the vertical movement behavior of tick’s larvae method, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and oxidative enzyme activity. The green synthesized SNP displayed a spherical form with a size ranging from 25–90 nm; whereas the most distribution of particles size was reported at 50-65 nm. SNP dose-dependently (p<0.001) increased the mortality rate of H. dromedarii adult; whereas at 16 and 32 µg/mL completely killed the adult females. Treatment of exposure of H. dromedarii adult to SNP markedly (p<0.001) declined the mean number, weight, and hatchability of eggs. Treatment of H. dromedarii larvae with SNP reduced the viability rate of larvae with the LC50 and LC90 values of 3.1 and 6.9 µg/mL, respectively. Exposure of H. dromedarii larvae to SNP, especially at ½ LC50 and LC50, markedly (p<0.001) increased the oxidative stress and declined the level of antioxidant enzymes in H. dromedarii larvae; whereas, markedly suppressed the AChE activity of the larvae stage of H. dromedarii in comparison to the control group. These results showed that SNP green synthesized by L. albus extract had promising acaricidal, larvicidal and repellent activity against H. dromedarii adults and larvae as a dose-dependent response. SNP also considrably decreased the level of acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activity and also provokes oxidative stress in H. dromedarii larvae. However, more investigation must be designed to clear the accurate mechanisms and the efficacy of SNP in practical use.

Introduction: Accumulating evidence indicates that inflammatory responses play a major role in the development and/or severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, a retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed to provide an inflammatory profile in COVID-19. Methods: The study included 139 patients infected with COVID-19, who were admitted to inpatient wards and intensive care units in Baghdad Teaching Hospital. There were 105 patients suffering from non-severe illness and 34 patients had severe disease. This study simultaneously evaluated six peripheral blood markers of inflammation to determine their predictive value in COVID-19 severity. These were C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), ferritin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Results: The medians of age, CRP, ESR, ferritin, D-dimer and NLR were significantly elevated in severe cases of COVID-19 compared to non-severe cases. The LDH also tended to have increased levels in severe cases but the difference was not significant compared to non-severe cases. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that D-dimer was the most significant risk factor, followed by NLR, ferritin and CRP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified that the best cut-off values of CRP, ESR, ferritin, D-dimer, LDH and NLR for predicting severity in COVID-19 patients were 22.7 mg/L, 59.5 mm/h, 719.4 ng/mL, 367.5 ng/mL, 468.5 U/L and 12.9, respectively. Conclusion: Age and the inflammatory markers CRP, ESR, ferritin, D-dimer, and NLR showed higher medians in severe cases of COVID-19 compared to non-severe cases. In this context, D-dimer and NLR are suggested to be important predictive markers of severe disease.

This study aimed to consider the in vitro and in vivo effects of the Stachys lavandulifolia methanolic extract (SLME) (2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 µg/mL) against Leishmania major infection. The in vitro antileishmanial effects of SLME was studies on promastigote and amastigote forms of L. major. The effect of SLME on the nitric oxide (NO) and apoptosis, secretion of Th1/2 cytokines, and infectivity rate in macrophages cells were also studies. The cytotoxicity of SLME on human (THP-1) and murine (J774-A1 cell) macrophage cells was investigated through the measuring the 50% cytotoxic concentrations (CC50). Moreover, the in vivo effects of SLME for healing the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions in infected BALB/c mice studied by assessing the lesions size and the parasite load during four weeks of treatment. The calculated 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) valuesfor SLME and meglumine antimoniate (MA) against the promastigote stage were 23.4 and 71.1 µg/mL, respectively. For amastigote stage, the IC50 values for SLME and MA were 39.3 µg/mL and 44.3 µg/mL, respectively. Followed by 28 days’ topically therapy with SLME at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day, the CL lesions size as well as parasite load were significantly (p<0.001) reduced; such that the recovery percentage of the infected mice was 80% and 97% after treatment with SLME at the dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. SLME also markedly induced the NO production and apoptosis; whereas decreased infection rate in macrophage cells. After incubation of infected macrophages with SLME, the level interferon gamma was meaningfully (p<0.001) elevated as a dose-dependent response; in contrast, release of interleukin 10 (IL-10) and IL-4 markedly (p<0.001) decreased. The CC50 value for SLME against THP-1 and J774-A1 cell was 996.4 µg/mL and 741.3 µg/mL, respectively. The calculated selectivity index of >10 for SLME and MA confirmed their specificity to amastigotes and the low toxicity for macrophages. Our results showed the potent effects of SLME in eliminating and controlling Leishmania parasites in both in vitro and in vivo assays. Based on the current experimental study, SLME can be suggested as an alternative medicine for the isolation and production of a new agent for treating CL caused by L. major. Although, we found some cellular mechanisms of SLME against Leishmania parasites, but, additional surveys are necessary to specify the accurate mechanisms of action, toxicity, and its efficacy mainly in human subjects.

Lack of knowledge about the type and prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms as a clinical manifestation is one of the reasons for delayed diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients. This review study aimed to systematically review the type and prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients. To study the gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19, we used the 06- PRISMA registered in the CAMARADES-NC3Rs Preclinical Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Facility (SyRF) database. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched for publications on the gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 with no publication time frame. Articles were found using the following terms and search strategy: [“COVID-19, Coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, Clinical SymptomsGastrointestinal or gastric or intestinal manifestations”]. Out of 27652 papers, 35 papers on a total of 6730 COVID-19 patients up to 2022 met the inclusion criteria. Remarkably, most articles (28 papers, 77.8%) were from China (77.8%). The most common gastrointestinal manifestations were nausea or vomiting (13.1%), diarrhea (11.05%), anorexia (8.7%), and abdominal pain (2.4%), respectively. The findings of the present review revealed that contrary to what was initially assumed in the COVID-19 outbreak, this infection does not manifest only as respiratory symptoms but also as gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, clinicians and gastroenterologists must be alert to these unusual cases and fecal–oral transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic and implement preventive strategies.

ABSTRACT The oral microbiome comprises several hundreds of bacterial species that contribute to periodontitis, the most complex polymicrobial inflammatory disorder. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a prominent periodontitis pathogen that produces gingipains as a major virulent factor. Gingipain facilitates P. gingivalis survival, pathogenicity, and growth. Several genes were identified to have a role in the regulating of P. gingivalis pathogenesis. Studies suggest that gingipains inhibition is key for the successful treatment of periodontitis. As of now, several gingipain inhibitors have been developed, some exhibit high inhibition activity against gingipains. However, most inhibitors offer unknown toxicity and undesirable side effects. Hence, the development of highly potent and safe gingipain inhibitor is a major concern for periodontitis treatment. The present review highlights the connectivity between P. gingivalis, virulent factors, and its gene, periodontitis, and gingipain inhibitors. Development of gingipains inhibitors would not only treat periodontitis but would also assist in the treatment of other associated systemic diseases, for example: rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
Porphyromonas gingivalis--pathogenicity ; Gingipain Cysteine Endopeptidases