Concurrent Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Plasmodium vivax malaria Infection: A report of two cases from western India

Malaria and concurrent bacteraemia cases have been reported globally, mostly in association with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In comparison, concurrent bacteraemia with Plasmodium vivax infected patients is reported rarely. However, considering unavailability of blood culture testing and widespread community and empirical antibiotic usage in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the frequency of bacteraemia and P. vivax co-infection may be much higher. We reported two cases of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia with P. vivax malaria infection. Both patients presented with high grade fever and chills with unremarkable systemic examination. Liver enzymes were raised along with inflammatory markers. Simultaneous diagnosis of methicillin sensitive S. aureus bacteraemia was done using automated blood culture, automated identification and sensitivity testing system. P. vivax malaria was confirmed with microscopy, antigen detection test and molecular test. Patients recovered uneventfully with antimalarial drugs and antibiotics.

Identification and Antifungal Drug Susceptibility Pattern of Candida auris in India

Introduction

Candida auris has turned up as a multidrug-resistant nosocomial agent with outbreaks reported worldwide. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal drug susceptibility pattern of C. auris.

Methods

Isolates of C. auris were obtained from clinically suspected cases of candidemia from January 2019 to June 2021. Identification was done with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and panfungal DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed with broth microdilution method.

Results

Out of 50 isolates C. auris, 49 were identified by MALDI-TOF and one isolate was identified with panfungal DNA PCR followed by sequencing. For fluconazole, 84% (n = 42) isolates were found to be resistant and 16% (n = 8) isolates were susceptible (minimum inhibitory concentrations [MICs] range 0.5-16). Posaconazole exhibited potent activity, followed by itraconazole. For amphotericin B, only 6% (n = 3) isolates were resistant with MICs ≥2 μg/mL. Only 4% (n = 2) isolates exhibited resistance to caspofungin. No resistance was noted for micafungin and anidulafungin. One (2%) isolate was found to be panazole resistant. One (2%) isolate was resistant to fluconazole, amphotericin B, and caspofungin.

Conclusion

Correct identification of C. auris can be obtained with the use of MALDI-TOF and sequencing methods. A small percentage of fluconazole-sensitive isolates are present. Although elevated MICs for amphotericin B and echinocandins are not generally observed, the possibility of resistance with the irrational use of these antifungal drugs cannot be denied. Pan azole-resistant and pan drug-resistant strains of C. auris are on rise.

High-content phenotypic screening identifies novel chemistries that disrupt mosquito activity and development

New classes of chemistries are needed to control insecticide resistant populations of mosquitoes and prevent transmission of vector-borne diseases (VBDs). Organismal screens of chemical collections have played an important role in the search for new vector insecticides and the identification of active ingredients (AIs) that cause rapid mortality of mosquitoes. Advances in image-based screening offer an opportunity to identify chemistries that operate via novel biochemical modes and investigate the range of phenotypes exhibited by mosquitoes following exposure to lethal and sub-lethal chemical dose. An automated, high throughput phenotypic screen (HTS) employing high-content imaging of first instar (L1) Aedes aegypti larvae was developed to identify chemistries associated with mortality and atypical morphological phenotypes. A pilot screen of the Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds (LOPAC₁₂₈₀) identified 92 chemistries that disrupted larval activity and development, including conventional insecticides and chemistries known to modulate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and other molecular targets in mammalian systems. Secondary assay series were used to evaluate a selection of chemistries for impacts on mosquito activity, survival and development. Ritodrine hydrochloride reduced mobility of larvae but had no observable effect on survival and development of mosquitoes. High doses of metergoline suppressed larval activity and sub-lethal dose resulted in pupal mortality. Assay data support the utility of phenotypic screening and diverse entomological end-points for discovery of novel insecticidal chemical scaffolds. The insecticide discovery process must consider how multi-modal efficacy spectra contribute to vector and VBD control.

Discovery of Novel Compounds Targeting DJ-1 as Neuroprotectants for Parkinson's Disease by Virtual Screening and In Silico Method

AIM

To screen the zinc database for structurally similar molecules to compound 23 that targets DJ1 for use as a neuroprotective agent for Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. To date, several proteins account for the recessive familial PD-forms, namely, Parkin, PINK-1, DJ-1, SNCA, PARK2, and LRRK2 Genes. DJ1 is one of the important central points that may be targeted for PD therapy. Recently, Compound 23 has been observed to exert the neuroprotective effect against neurodegeneration in a PD model, but due to its toxic substructure, the hunt for better nontoxic compounds continues.

OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of our work is to apply in silico approaches to screen structure similar compounds that interact potentially with DJ1 and may serve as a good therapeutic molecule for PD.

METHODS

Initial data mining was done from the zinc database and then screened compounds were additionally screened with toxicity checker, carcinopred, ADMET analysis and docking analysis.

RESULTS

The basic screening of database for structurally similar chemicals to compound 23 resulted in 50 compounds, which were further screened to twenty-three and finally seven compounds have been screened based on the toxicity and carcinopred test. Later, the seven compounds were docked and analysed for docking efficiency with DJ1. Our result of molecular docking and molecular simulation analysis highlights Molecule 42(SS2) to exhibit best binding affinity against DJ-1 protein target and can be proposed to be used as a therapeutic agent to modulate neurodegenerative proteins.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, we conclude the discovery of novel, non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, ADMET investigated, capable of crossing BB barrier but structurally similar compounds to Compound-23, specifically molecule 42(SS2) and potentially molecule 34(SS1) to be used as neuroprotective agents for Parkinson's disease.

Nodular Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis due to Medicopsis romeroi in an Immunocompetent Patient

Fungal infections like subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis are uncommon but are increasing lately, especially in tropical regions like India. Identification of correct aetiologic agent is essential as different species can have different organ tropism. Here, a rare case of nodular subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis in an immunocompetent 62-year-old male patient who developed nodule over right dorsum of foot is reported. After various diagnostic tests a rare dematiaceous fungus Medicopsis romeroi was identified as a causative agent in the nodular material by Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequencing. Surgical excision and antifungal therapy of itraconazole proved beneficial with no recurrence during a six months of follow-up. Medicopsis romeroi has been debated for its role in human infections however, it should be considered as one of the aetiologic agents of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis.

Perception of receiving SMS based health messages among hypertensive individuals in urban slums

BACKGROUND

Hypertension rates are increasing in India, and prior research has not explored the perception of using mobile based SMS among urban hypertensive individuals living in slum settings in India.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the perception of receiving SMS based health messages among hypertensive individuals in urban slums.

METHODS

A cross sectional study was conducted during the period of December 2013 in an urban slum setting of South Delhi, New Delhi, India. Eligible study participants included: 45 individuals aged 30 years and above, with confirmed diagnosis of high blood pressure, owned a mobile phone/landline and were willing to participate.

RESULTS

Results of our study showed participants (n= 45) had an average age of 48 years (SD = 12), mostly female (64%, n= 29), and currently married (80%, n= 36). Their most common perceived hypertension risk factors included: worry/anxiety/stress (84%, n= 38), and high fat diet (68%, n= 30). Mobile calls were the most preferred mode of receiving lifestyle counseling among study participants (71%, n= 32). Majority preferred to receive counseling in Hindi language (67%, n= 30), and more than half were willing to pay for these services (60%, n= 27).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest the need for innovations that utilize basic phone platforms, mobile calling feature, and language tailored interventions.

A pilot study to assess perceptions of using SMS as a medium for health information in a rural setting

BACKGROUND

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in health is not merely about technology but a means to reach various optimal outcomes across the entire health system.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this pilot study is to assess the perceptions of receiving health messages through SMS among individuals living in rural Indian settings.

METHODS

A convenient sample of 100 individuals aged 18 years and above and living in rural settings of Kuthampakkam village in Chennai, a Southern part of India were enrolled during September 2013. Individuals having the mobile phone and agreeing to participate were enrolled in the study. Individuals with physical and mental challenges or involved in other clinical trials were excluded from the study. Information was gathered on the variables including socio-demographics, individual familiarity with use of technology, mobile phone usage and the perceptions of using SMS for obtaining health information. Information was gathered using a series of quantitative assessments. Descriptive analysis was performed to report means and standard deviations for the continuous variables and frequency analysis was reported for the categorical variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of the various continuous variables as compared to the chi-square analysis that was performed to compare the frequency distribution for the categorical variables. All analysis was performed using SAS v9.1.

RESULTS

A convenient sample of 100 rural individuals was enrolled. The average age of the study participants was 34 years (SD=17), with more than half of them being males (54%; n=54), and 47% (n=47) of them had education less than high school. Results showed that more than half of the individuals had no computers either at home (61%; n=61) or work (68%; n=68). 100{\%} of them had mobile phones in their household. Text messaging was common in more than half of the study participants. Results showed that the majority of the study participants agreed that receiving calls on the mobile phones for receiving health messages would be the most preferred method. Results showed that the individuals in the age group of 21-40 years, males, with some college education, and in the income category of 50,000-1,00,000 were most likely to obtain SMS based health messages.

CONCLUSIONS

ICT based health programs need to be established so that the audience receives the optimal technological platform program necessary to obtain health messages. This also suggests that future research is needed to determine the population that would actually adopt the use of SMS based health interventions rather than using SMS as a tool for delivery of health information to all.

Quantitative insight in utilizing circulating angiogenic factors as biomarkers for antiangiogenic therapy: systems pharmacology approach

Circulating angiogenic factors (CAF) like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and sVEGFR2 have potential as biomarkers for antiangiogenic therapy. The interpretation of changes in CAF is complicated by the dynamic nature of the tumor and host cells emanating CAF in response to VEGF pathway inhibition. We developed a systems pharmacology model of anti-VEGF agents to investigate CAF modulation by tumor and host cells, and the relationship between overall CAF changes in response to sunitinib and antitumor efficacy. This model distinguishes between the tumor cells' contributions from tumor-independent response to therapy and total plasma CAF correlating with antitumor activity. Altered VEGF is more likely to serve as a useful biomarker reflecting tumor responses in cancer patients whose pretreatment VEGF is higher than baseline VEGF in healthy subjects. Our findings provide a mechanistic insight into tumor modulation of angiogenic molecules, and may explain the inconsistent results found in previous biomarker studies.

Low Temperature Laser Physical Vapor Deposition of Multilayered Thin Films

We have investigated the formation of various multilayer thin films by the laser physical vapor deposition technique. A multi stage target holder was constructed to perform all process steps in-situ; target/substrate cleaning, deposition, and annealing. The laser physical vapor deposition technique offers many advantages over conventional physical vapor techniques, such as, lower substrate temperature, microstructural control, and very low contamination levels. Film thickness can be controlled from near atomic to micron dimensions. A layer-by-layer (two dimensional) growth can be achieved, resulting in nonequilibrium structures. The films were analyzed using cross-section and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The significant reduction in substrate temperature for the formation of high quality multilayer and epitaxial films opens up many new areas of applications requiring reduced thermal-budget processing.

Role of thyroid in tissue respiration of birds

Thyroidectomy after 1 week, 1 month, and 13 months significantly depressed and low level of L-T4 significantly elevated the oxygen uptake of the liver and skeletal muscle of spotted munia and common myna. A higher dose of L-T4 had no effect on the rate of respiration. A reexamination of the published results on submammalian vertebrates together with those presented here suggests that an uniform pattern of response of skeletal muscle emerges if the values from thyroidectomized animals are compared not only with the final controls but also with the initial controls. It is, therefore, suggested that all the earlier works be reexamined and reinterpreted.

In pursuit of the "spatial gene": a family study

Members of 192 families in the Tel Aviv area were given a battery of eight cognitive tests focusing on spatial measures but sampling verbal, numerical, and perceptual speed domains as well. The patterns of parent-child and sibling correlations gave very weak evidence, if any, for the operation of the X-linked recessive gene postulated by Stafford and others to affect performance on tasks involving spatial visualization. An analysis of male and female score distributions provided results more favorable to the X-linkage hypothesis, at least for the child generation, although suggesting that X linkage does not explain the whole male-female difference in performance on spatial tasks.

The relation of auditory, visual, and auditory-visual matching to reading performance of Israeli children

Six same-different matching tests, both verbal and nonverbal, in three modalities, along with a set of reading tests, were administered to 120 Israeli children in second, third, and fourth grade. The main effect of all S variables, except sex (grade, socioeconomic level, and ability) were significant, as were the test factors of modality (visual, auditory, cross-modal) and form (verbal-nonverbal), but interactions between S and test factors were small. Multiple regression analysis revealed that overall matching test scores accounted for 35% of the variance in reading scores, although the additional contribution of specific subtests was negligible. Performance on the visual-visual tests was virtually perfect. Auditory-auditory matches were more difficult than auditory-visual matches with nonverbal stimuli, while the reverse was true with verbal stimuli.