Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

621-625

Authors: Javid Iqbal Dasti

Zika virus (ZIKV) was discovered more than half a century ago, recently it has gained unprecedented attention by the global health community. Until 2007, only 14 cases of human ZIKV infections were reported around the globe, while during the current outbreak, estimated cases mounted to approximately 1.5 million in Brazil alone, the virus was disseminated to wider South-American territories and travel-associated ZIKV infections were reported in USA, Europe and recently in China. ZIKV infections remain asymptomatic in approximately 80% of the individuals, and no anti-viral treatments were recommended. Yet, neurological complications associated with the infections, such as infant microcephaly and Guillain–Barré syndrome are major cause of the concern. Although, based on small numbers of cases, existing evidence strongly supports an exclusive link of viral infection and observed neurological complications. However, much work remains to assign exact numbers of complications caused by ZIKV. Regarding its structural attributes ZIKV shows remarkable resemblance with dengue virus and West-Nile virus. Despite, genomes of different ZIKV strains have already been decoded; role of the viral components in infection process and particularly pathogenesis of the disease remain widely unclear. In vulnerable areas, most viable strategy to ensure public health safety is vector control and enhanced public awareness about the transmission of the disease.

630-634

Authors: Silvia Angeletti, Alessandra Lo Presti, Eleonora Cella, Massimo Ciccozzi

Nipah virus (NiV) is a member of the genus Henipavirus of the family Paramyxoviridae, characterized by high pathogenicity and endemic in South Asia. It is classified as a Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) agent. The case-fatality varies from 40% to 70% depending on the severity of the disease and on the availability of adequate healthcare facilities. At present no antiviral drugs are available for NiV disease and the treatment is just supportive. Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses can be used to help in understanding the epidemiology and the temporal origin of this virus. This review provides an overview of evolutionary studies performed on Nipah viruses circulating in different countries. Thirty phylogenetic studies have been published from 2000 to 2015 years, searching on pub-med using the key words ‘Nipah virus AND phylogeny’ and twenty-eight molecular epidemiological studies from 2006 to 2015 have been performed, typing the key words ‘Nipah virus AND molecular epidemiology’. Overall data from the published study demonstrated as phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis represent promising tools to evidence NiV epidemics, to study their origin and evolution and finally to act with effective preventive measure.

644-651

Authors: Gabriel A. Gutiérrez-Rebolledo, A. Georgina Siordia-Reyes, Mariana Meckes-Fischer, Adelina Jiménez-Arellanes

Objective To estimate to what extent the mixture of ursolic acid and oleanolic acid, in addition to the antitubercular standard regime, affects the hepatotoxicity profile. Methods Liver injury was induced in male BALB/c mice by administering, per os and daily for 11 weeks, a combination of anti-Tubercular (anti-TB) agents Rifampicin (10 mg/kg), Isoniazid (10 mg/kg), and Pyrazinamide (30 mg/kg). The ursolic acid and oleanolic acid mixture at doses of 100 or 200 μg/mouse/day was subcutaneously injected throughout the entire study period (11 weeks). Biochemical and hematological analysis was supplemented by liver histological examination. Results Animals treated with the mixture of triterpenic acids exhibited significantly decreased aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase levels and amelioration of the histopathological alterations produced by the anti-TB drugs. Conclusions The triterpene mixture was able to prevent the steatosis induced by the anti-TB drugs.

658-661

Authors: David Olusoga Ogbolu, Oyebode Terry Alli, Itunu Odeleye, Adeolu S. Oluremi

Objective To determine the prevalence of viral haemoparasites in prospective Nigerian blood donors. Methods Ethical clearance was obtained and informed consent questionnaires were distributed to blood donors to obtain their demographical data. A total of 186 blood donors from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo were tested for hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using rapid test kit and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results The highest prevalence of blood transmitted infections was 182 (97.85%) while the prevalence of HIV, HAV, HBV and HCV were 6.45%, 97.85%, 14.52% and 3.23%, respectively. Highest seroprevalence for hepatitis A, B and C occurred among low risk occupation. There was no significant association between all the hepatitis viruses and demographic factors except occupation with P value of 0.002 7. Hepatitis A, B and C seropositive blood donors on average tend to have PCV within the normal reference range. Out of the 27 hepatitis B positive blood donors, 22 were donating blood for the first time while 5 were repeat donors. None of the hepatitis C seropositive donors have been exposed to blood or any form of its products and were all donating blood for the first time. However, the distribution of donor type for HAV is random. Conclusions The prevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HIV among prospective donors in Nigeria is alarming particularly HAV. These infections can be transmitted to recipients if proper screening is not carried out, hence they should be included as a routine test for blood donors.

668-671

Authors: Yin-E Hu, Shu-Fang Dai, Yang Liu, Bin Wang, Wei Qu

Objective To study the therapeutic mechanisms of pseudolaric acid on allergic contact dermatitis in mice. Methods A total of 50 BALB/C mice were selected and randomly divided into control group, model group, and treatment A, B, C groups with 10 rats in each group. ACD model was established in model group, and treatment A, B, C groups but not in control group. Model group received no treatment, but treatment A, B, C groups were treated with external application of the concentration of 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.4% of the pseudolaric acid for the lesions of ear skin. And the weight gain and the swelling degree of the mice' ear were recorded, weight of thymus and spleen were measured. Spleen suspension was prepared to test T lymphocyte and B lymphocyte levels of mice in five groups. Changes in serum IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were tested through the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The weight gain of mice in model group were significant lower than those of mice in the control group and the treatment A, B, C groups (P < 0.05). Weight gain of mice in treatment A, B groups were significant lower than that of control group (P < 0.05), but the difference in weight gain between treatment C group and control group showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). The swelling degree and the weight of mice ears in model group were significant higher than those of mice in control group and treatment A, B, C groups (P < 0.05). Swelling degree and the weight of mice ears of treatment A, B, C groups were obviously higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). The swelling degree and weight of mice' ears in treatment A, B, C groups were decreased with the increase of the drug dosage, but comparison between A, B and C group showed statistically differences (P < 0.05). The thymus and spleen index of mice in model group were significant higher than those of the other four groups (P < 0.05), among the four groups, thymus and spleen index of treatment A and B group were higher than control group and treatment C group (P < 0.05). The stimulation index of T and B cells of mice in model group was significantly higher than the rest four groups (P < 0.05). The serum IFN-γ level of mice in control group and treatment A, B and C group was obviously lower than that of mice in model group (P < 0.05). The serum IFN-γ level of mice in treatment A, B and C group were decreased with the increasing of the drug dosage, and the level of C group was obviously lower than that of A and B group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The pseudolaric acid has anti-inflammation and immune adjustment the effects showing a remarkable therapeutic effects for the ACD mice.

677-681

Authors: Chao Zhang, Mu-Xin Gong, Feng Qiu, Jing Li, Man-Yuan Wang

Objective To explore the effects of arteannuin B, arteannuic acid and scopoletin on the pharmacokinetics of artemisinin in mice. Methods Artemisinin and a combination of artemisinin, arteannuin B, arteannuic acid and scopoletin were administered together to mice via oral administration. Blood samples were collected at different time intervals and pretreated by liquid–liquid extraction. The contents of four compounds in mouse plasma were determined by a validated HPLC-MS/MS method. Results Compared to single artemisinin group, the Cmax values from the combination group rose from 947 ng/mL to 1 254 ng/mL. AUC(0-t) (2 371 h ng/mL) was significantly higher than that from single artemisinin group (747 h ng/mL). The peak time lag and the CL values reduced at a proportion of 66%. Conclutions Arteannuin B, arteannuic acid and scopoletin can markedly affect the pharmacokinetics of artemisinin.

688-693

Authors: Hua Fang, Jing-Chao Zhang, Miao Yang, Hua-Feng Li, Jian-Ping Zhang, Fang-Xiang Zhang, Quan-Yun Wang, Ru-Rong Wang, Jin Liu

Objective To observe the effects of perfusion of the gastrodin in abdominal aorta for alleviating the spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury (SCIRI). Methods A total of 36 New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into sham-operated group (group S), control group (group C) and gastrodin group (group G), 12 rabbits for each group. Aorta abdominalis infrarenalis blocking method was applied to establish the SCIRI model. The changes of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) before the ischemia and on 30 min, 60 min, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h of reperfusion of the gastrodin were respectively recorded, and the neurologic function score before the ischemia, on the 6 h, 12 h and 24 h of the reperfusion of the gastrodin were assessed. And the changes of the concentration of serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), interleukin (IL)-lβ and IL-8 were measured before the ischemia, after 45 min of ischemia, and on 30 min, 60 min, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h of reperfusion of gastrodin. Then the levels of spinal cord nerve cells mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and mitochondrial swelling degree (MSD) were tested and the histopathologic changes in spinal cord tissues were observed. Results The levels of the NSE, IL-lβ, IL-8, ROS, MDA and MSD of group C were all significantly elevated after the ischemia (P < 0.01); the levels of the spinal nerve cell mitochondria SOD, GSH-PX and T-AOC were all significantly reduced (P < 0.01), MEPs and spinal cord tissue pathology were damaged significantly (P < 0.01). The rate of motor neuron abnormalities and the damages of spinal cord tissue pathology of group G were significantly milder than those of group C (P < 0.01); the levels of NSE, IL-lβ, IL-8, ROS, MDA and MSD were significantly lower than those of group C (P < 0.01), but the levels of SOD, GSH-PX and T-AOC were all significantly higher than those of group C (P < 0.01), and the recovery of neurologic function score during the reperfusion of gastrodin was significantly faster than group C (P < 0.01). Conclusions Perfusion of the gastrodin in abdominal aorta can alleviate the spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury by promoting the mitochondrial antioxidant capacity and inhibiting the inflammatory reaction.

698-701

Authors: Zhi-Hui Cai, Li-Min Chen, Yi-Juan Liang, Jun-Rong Shi, M.A. You-Ju, Wei-Ming Wang, Huan Yang

Objective To study the inhibition effect of miR-106a inhibitor on tumor growth of ovarian cancer xenografts mice. Methods BALB/c mice were selected as experimental animals, ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells transfected with miR-106a inhibitor and its negative control were inoculated subcutaneously, intratumoral injection of miR-106a inhibitor and its negative control were continued after tumor formation, and they were enrolled as treatment group and model group, respectively. Tumor volume and weight as well as Ki-67 and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) expression were determined; miR-106a inhibitor and its negative control as well as miR-106a mimic and its negative control were transfected into SKOV-3 cells, and expression of PDCD4 in cells was determined. Results Tumor tissue volume and weight as well as mRNA expression and protein expression of Ki-67 in treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group while mRNA expression and protein expression of PDCD4 were significantly higher than those in the model group; transfection of miR-106a mimic could decrease mRNA expression and protein expression of PDCD4 in SKOV-3 cells, and transfection of miR-106a inhibitor could increase mRNA expression and protein expression of PDCD4 in SKOV-3 cells. Conclusions Transfection of miR-106a inhibitor can inhibit the growth of tumor in ovarian cancer xenografts mice through increasing the expression of PDCD4.

707-712

Authors: Jiu-Hong Zhao, Hai-Ying Zhang, Xian-Fang Zhang, Xu Dong, Qi-Bing Liu, Yue-Li Liu, Yi-Di Huang, Quan-Peng Zhang, Gang Luo, Zhi-Jian Ma, Xi-Nan Yi

Objective To investigate whether Hainan papayas has protective effects in an Aβ40-induced primary neuron injury model and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods Cultured primary neurons from the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 20 μM Aβ40 peptide, 100 μg/L Hainan papaya water extract, peptide plus extract, or culture medium for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and neuronal apoptosis was evaluated by DAPI staining. ERK signaling pathway-associated molecule activation and changes in Bax expression were analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results A cell viability rate of (44.11 ± 6.59)% in the Aβ40 group was rescued to (79.13 ± 6.64)% by adding different concentrations of the extract. DAPI showed pyknotic nuclei in 39.5% of Aβ40-treated cells; the fraction dropped to 17.4% in the 100 μg/L extract group. ERK phosphorylation was observed in the Aβ40 group but was ameliorated by pretreatment with 100 μg/L extract. Hainan papaya water extract also prevented Aβ40-induced phosphorylation of MEK, RSK1 and CREB associated with ERK signaling and downregulated Bax expression in the neurons. Conclusion The results suggest that Hainan papaya water extract has protective effects on neurons; the mechanism may be related to suppression of ERK signaling activation.

719-720

Authors: Somsri Wiwanitkit, Viroj Wiwanitkit

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