Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

723-729

Authors: Braira Wahid, Amjad Ali, Shazia Rafique, Muhammad Idrees

Zika virus is a new global threat for 2016 that has been swept to almost all Americas and is now posing serious threats to the entire globe. This deadly virus is playing havoc to unborn lives because of its reported association with upsurge of fetal deformation called microcephaly and neuropathic disorders including Guillain-Barré syndrome. Till today, there is no vaccine prospect, antiviral therapy or licensed medical countermeasures to curb the teratogenic outcomes of this destructive viral infection. Diagnosis, treatment, chronicity and pathogenesis are still vague and unsettled. Therefore, this review article addresses all the aspects related to this disease to mitigate the explosive rise in Zika virus infection.

735-741

Authors: Marta Oliveira, Policarpo Ademar Sales Junior, Maria João Rodrigues, Marina DellaGreca, Luísa Barreira, Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta, Alvaro José Romanha, Luísa Custódio

Objective To evaluate the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) activity of organic extracts prepared from halophyte species collected in the southern coast of Portugal (Algarve), and chemically characterize the most active samples. Methods Acetone, dichloromethane and methanol extracts were prepared from 31 halophyte species and tested in vitro against trypomastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of the Tulahuen strain of T. cruzi. The most active extract was fractionated by preparative HPLC-DAD, affording 11 fractions. The most selective fraction was fully characterized by 1H NMR. Results From 94 samples tested, one was active, namely the root dichloromethane extract of Juncus acutus (IC50 < 20 μg/mL). This extract was fractionated by HPLC, affording 11 fractions, one of them containing only a pure compound (juncunol), and tested for anti-parasitic activity. Fraction 8 (IC50 = 4.1 μg/mL) was the most active, and was further characterized by 1H NMR. The major compounds were phenanthrenes, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes and benzocoumarins. Conclusion Our results suggest that the compounds identified in fraction 8 are likely responsible for the observed anti parasitic activity. Further research is in progress aiming to isolate and identify the specific active molecules. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the in vitro anti T. cruzi activity of halophyte species.

749-756

Authors: Manel Amri, Chafia Touil-Boukoffa

Objective To study in vitro anti-hydatic and immunomodulatory effects of ginger and [6]-gingerol as an alternative therapy for cystic echinococcosis. Methods Effect of a commonly used herbal product and ginger (Zingiber officinale) towards protoscoleces (PSC) and cyst wall in vitro was studied. The effect of [6]-gingerol, and the pungent constituent of ginger, was also evaluated on PSC culture. Furthermore, the activity of both extracts in association with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) on PSC co-cultured with mononuclear cells of hydatic patients was evaluated. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured in each co-culture. Results Ginger exhibited a concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect against PSC and cyst wall. Interestingly, ginger was more effective than the [6]-gingerol. Moreover, additional parasitic effect between extracts and IFN-γ are also observed in co-cultures. Furthermore, both extracts attenuated the NO production elicited by this infection or by the IFN-γ. Conclusions Ginger has an important anti-hydatic effect in vitro. This effect is amplified in the presence of IFN-γ. Moreover, this herbal product may protect against host's cell death by reducing the high levels of NO. Ginger may act, at least, through the [6]-gingerol. All our data suggest the promising use of ginger in the treatment of Echinococcus granulosus infection.

763-770

Authors: Sakina Yagi, Randa Babiker, Tzvetomira Tzanova, Herve Schohn

Objective To explore the potential of essential oil, as therapeutic molecule source, from olibanum of Boswellia papyrifera (Burseraceae), leafy stems of Cymbopogon schoenanthus (Poaceae) and Croton zambesicus (Euphorbiaceae) and rhizome of Cyperus rotundus (Cyperaceae) found in Sudan. Respective essential oil was evaluated for anti-proliferative, antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Methods Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and then analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Anti-proliferative activity was determined against human cell lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB231, HT29 and HCT116) by the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) procedure. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by diphenyl 2 pycril hydrazil (DPPH) assay. Antibacterial activity was determined against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria by microdilution method. Results The essential oil from olibanum of Boswellia papyrifera contained mainly alcohol and ester derivatives (46.82%) while monoterpenes (69.84%) dominated in Corton zambesicus oil. Sesquiterpenes were the most highly represented classes of terpene derivatives in Cyperus schoenanthus (71.59%) and Cyperus rotundus (44.26%). Oil of Cymbopogon schoenanthus revealed the best anti-proliferative activity against HCT116 cell line with IC50 value at (19.1 ± 2.0) μg/mL. Oil of Croton zambesicus showed the best antioxidant activity [EC50 (4.20 ± 0.19) mg/mL]. All oils showed good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value ranged from 16 to 250 μg/mL. Conclusions The results suggest that the essential oils of these plants could be used as a source of natural anti-proliferative, antioxidant and antibacterial agents.

777-780

Authors: Ming-Jie Hu, Shou-Wei Wu, Mei-Li Wei, Jun Xi, Lu Wang, Yu-Ze Han, Bi-Kui Tang, Qian Fang, Li Xu

Objective To conduct the cloning identification and characterization of the sequence of human IL-17A promoter so as to analyze the regulatory mechanism of the gene expression of IL-17. Methods First of all, the potential promoter region of IL-17A was found by means of the bioinformatics methods. Then, it was cloned into the reporter vector with PCR technique. Finally, the activity of the test promoter was determined by dual luciferase reporter system. Results Two transcriptional start points of the upper region, 600 bp and 1000 bp, of IL-17A were obtained by PCR clone and proved to have certain activities by dual luciferase reporter system. Also, they could be activated by IL-17A activator STAT3, which could start the expression of the reported gene. Conclusions Clone established the regulatory region of human IL-17A promoter, which provided bases to the subsequent function research.

786-790

Authors: Xiao-Bo Feng, Jun Jiang, Min Li, Gang Wang, Jin-Wei You, Jian Zuo

Objective To discuss the role of intestinal flora imbalance in the pathogenesis of pouchitis. Methods The pouchitis rat model was established and the faeces sample and the mucous membrane sample were collected regularly, in which the bacterial nucleic acids were extracted for quantitative analysis of the intestinal flora in the samples through using the real-time quantitative PCR technique and high energy sequencing technology. Results The disorder phenomenon of the intestinal flora appeared at the 7th day of the experiment, and the pouchitis was presented at the 21st day of the experiment. At the 31st day of the experiment, compared to control group and non-pouchitis group, the quantity of Bifidobacterium and the Lactobacillus of the pouchitis model rats in the mucous membrane sample and the faeces sample were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the Bacteroidetes, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and XIV Clostridium leptum subgroup in the mucous membrane of pouchitis were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The IV Clostridium coccoides group was the main flora in the mucous membrane of pouchitis, the bacterial diversity of non-pouchitis group and control group was significantly higher than that of the pouchitis group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The intestinal flora imbalance is one of the factors that cause the incidence of the pouchitis; this study provides a clue of the pathogenesis and treatment direction of the intestinal inflammatory disease.

796-800

Authors: Lin Song, Xin Zhou, Hong-Jun Jia, Mei Du, Jin-Ling Zhang, Liang Li

Objective To study the effect of hGC-MSCs from human gastric cancer tissue on cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in tumor tissue of gastric cancer tumor-bearing mice. Methods BABL/c nude mice were selected as experimental animals and gastric cancer tumor-bearing mice model were established by subcutaneous injection of gastric cancer cells, randomly divided into different intervention groups. hGC-MSCs group were given different amounts of gastric cancer cells for subcutaneous injection, PBS group was given equal volume of PBS for subcutaneous injection. Then tumor tissue volume were determined, tumor-bearing mice were killed and tumor tissues were collected, mRNA expression of proliferation, invasion, EMT-related molecules were determined. Results 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 d after intervention, tumor tissue volume of hGC-MSCs group were significantly higher than those of PBS group and the more the number of hGC-MSCs, the higher the tumor tissue volume; mRNA contents of Ki-67, PCNA, Bcl-2, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-14, N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail and Twist in tumor tissue of hGC-MSCs group were higher than those of PBS group, and mRNA contents of Bax, TIMP1, TIMP2 and E-cadherin were lower than those of PBS group. Conclusion hGC-MSCs from human gastric cancer tissue can promote the tumor growth in gastric cancer tumor-bearing mice, and the molecular mechanism includes promoting cell proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

806-811

Authors: Wu-Ming Wang, Ji-Chun Liu

Objective To discuss the effect and molecular mechanism of miR-146a on the proliferation of lung cancer cells by targeting and regulating the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) gene. Methods RT-PCR was employed to detect expression of miR-146a; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of MIF. The luciferase reporter gene technique was adopted to verify that MIF was the specific reverse target gene of miR-146a and the liposome Lipofectamine™2000 was employed to transfer the modeled miR-146a mimics, and miR-146a negative control (NC) in NSCLC cells to detect the expression of MIF mRNA and protein. MTT assay was used to detect cell viability, cloning technique to detect cell proliferation ability, AnnexinV-PI to detect cell apoptosis, UV spectrophotometry to detect viability of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (Caspase 3), and western blot to detect expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in cells. Results The expression of miR-146a in NSCLC lung tissues was lower than that in the normal lung tissues besides the lung cancer; while the expression of miR-146a in NSCLC cells was lower than that in normal human embryonic lung tissues. It was chosen as the subsequent cell line for its appropriate expression in A549. The expression of MIF protein in NSCLC lung tissues was higher than that in the normal lung tissues besides the lung cancer. The luciferase reporter gene proved that MIF was the reverse target gene of miR-146a. The miR-146a mimics were transfected into A549 cells through the liposome. Compared with NC group, the expression of MIF protein and mRNA was significantly decreased (P < 0.01), with the decrease in the cell viability (P < 0.01), the decrease in the number of clones (P < 0.01), cell apoptosis (P < 0.01), the increase in the activity of Caspase 3 (P < 0.01), and decrease in the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 (P < 0.01). Conclusions miR-146a has low expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, while MIF has the over expression in NSCLC tissues. The increased expression of miR-146a can inhibit the expression of MIF via the gene targeting and thus inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and induce the apoptosis of cancer cells, which may be realized through NF-κB signaling pathway.

815-818

Authors: Tomas Ostergaard Jensen, Jeffrey John Post

Neurocysticercosis is thought to be the most common helminthic infection of the central nervous system and its epidemiology is changing due to increasing travel and migration. Evidence to guide management of the intraventricular form is limited. We aimed to review the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of intraventricular neurocysticercosis with reference to two recent cases seen at our institution. The intraventricular variant of neurocysticercosis is less common than parenchymal disease and usually presents with acutely raised intracranial pressure and untreated it progresses rapidly with high mortality. The diagnosis is based on imaging and serological tests but more invasive testing including histopathological examination of surgically acquired tissue specimens is sometimes required. Treatment is mainly surgical, using a neuroendoscopic approach if possible. Patients should also receive antihelmintic treatment with concomitant corticosteroids to reduce the incidence of shunt failure if a ventricular shunt is inserted and to treat viable lesions elsewhere.

821-822

Authors: Arturo Carpio, Matthew L. Romo

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