Purification of Plasmodium and Babesia- infected erythrocytes using a non-woven fabric filter

The purification of parasite-infected erythrocytes from whole blood containing leucocytes is crucial for many downstream genetic and molecular assays in parasitology. Current methodologies to achieve this are often costly and time consuming. Here, we demonstrate the successful application of a cheap and simple Non-Woven Fabric (NWF) filter for the purification of parasitized red blood cells from whole blood. NWF filtration was applied to the malaria-parasitized blood of three strains of mice, and one strain of rat, and to Babesia gibsoni parasitized dog blood. Before and after filtration, the white blood cell (WBC) removal rates and red blood cell (RBC) recovery rates were measured. After NWF filter treatment of rodent malaria-infected blood, the WBC removal rates and RBC recovery rates were, for Kunming mice: 99.51%±0.30% and 86.12%±8.37%; for BALB/C mice: 99.61%±0.15% and 80.74%±7.11%; for C57 mice: 99.71%±0.12% and 84.87%±3.83%; for Sprague-Dawley rats: 99.93%±0.03% and 83.30%±2.96%. Microscopy showed WBCs were efficiently removed from infected dog blood samples, and there was no obvious morphological change of B. gibsoni parasites. NWF filters efficiently remove leukocytes from malaria parasite-infected mouse and rat blood, and are also suitable for filtration of B. gibsoni-infected dog blood.

Evaluation of the inhibitory effects of drugs on the growth of Babesia gibsoni using relative quantification real-time PCR

To evaluate the inhibitory effects of drugs on the growth of Babesia gibsoni, relative quantification real-time PCR method was developed in this study. The 18S rRNA gene was used as a target gene for the 2^-ΔΔCt method analysis. Additionally, chicken RNA was added to the parasitized blood before total RNA extraction. The chicken β-actin gene was selected as an internal control gene for the 2^-ΔΔCt method analysis. The 100 µL parasitized blood samples with different percentages of parasitized erythrocytes (PPEs) (3%, 1.5%, 0.75%, 0.375% and 0.1875%) were prepared for relative quantification of B. gibsoni. Regression analysis results revealed significant linear relationships between the relative quantification value and parasitemia. 18S rRNA gene expression was significantly decreased after treatment with diminazene aceturate and artesunate in vitro drug sensitivity test. This result suggested that this relative quantification real-time PCR method can be used to evaluate the effects of drug inhibition.

Short-term acceptability of female condom use among low-fee female sex workers in China: a follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Low-fee female sex workers (FSW) lack power to effectively negotiate male condom use with clients. Female condoms (FCs) may provide an alternative strategy. This study was conducted to assess the acceptability of FC use among low-fee FSWs, and to identify appropriate candidates for future FC promotion.

METHODS

A one-month follow-up study was conducted. At entry into the study, eligible participants completed a baseline questionnaire and were given 10 FCs. At the one-month follow up encounter, the number of used FC packages were counted and each participant completed a follow-up questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with more frequent use of FCs (> 2 times).

RESULTS

A total of 312 low-fee FSWs were enrolled at baseline and all participants completed the follow-up evaluation. Among them, 123 (39.4%) participants had used more than two FCs. Participants who were illiterate or had completed at most primary school education (OR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.4-7.2), charged ≤30 RMB per client (≤30 vs. 51-80 RMB, OR: 3.8, 95% CI: 1.9-7.6), or had consistently used condoms with regular clients in the past month (OR: 2.4, 95%CI: 1.4-4.2) were more likely to use FCs.

CONCLUSION

Low-fee FSWs charging ≤30 RMB per client, and those who are less educated may be appropriate initial candidates for FC promotion in China. Strategies to consider include teaching FSWs tactics for negotiation of FC use that can initially be applied with regular clients, and providing education to maximize ease-of use, and minimize discomfort with FC usage.

[One case of severely burned patient complicated by acute hemorrhagic necrotizing enteritis and fungal infection]

One severely burned patient, caused by heat lead slag and combined with shock, was hospitalized in our burn unit on 2nd June, 2016. The patient received treatments including anti-shock, intensive care, anti-infection, and organ protection. On post injury day 16, the patient suffered outbreak of acute hemorrhagic necrotizing enteritis after eating dumplings. Plasma and albumin were given, octreotide was intravenously infused to inhibit the secretion of intestinal fluid, the broad-spectrum antibiotics were used for anti-infection, abdominal puncture and drainage were performed, sodium tanshinone ⅡA sulfonate was applied to improve the intestinal microcirculation, ulinastatin was applied to alleviate inflammatory reaction, somatostatin was given to reduce intestinal bleeding, and voriconazole was given for antifungal treatment. The patient gradually recovered and was finally cured and discharged. Among critically ill patients, gastrointestinal tract is not only the initiating organ of sepsis, but also one of the target organs which can be easily damaged during sepsis. This case reminds us the importance of gastrointestinal management in severely burned patients.

[Dynamic variations of BMI and influencing factors among HIV/AIDS patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 2013-2014]

Objective: To understand the dynamic variation of BMI and influencing factors among HIV/AIDS patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi). Methods: HIV/AIDS patients receiving HAART for the first time since 1 January 2013 were selected. Data on BMI was analyzed among patients receiving HAART at baseline,6 months and 12 months after treatment. By using the general linear model repeated measures of analysis of variance, BMI dynamic variations and influencing factors were described and analyzed. Results: The average BMI of 2 871 patients at baseline, 6th months and 12th months appeared as (20.65±3.32), (20.87±3.22) and (21.18±3.20), respectively, with differences all statistically significant (F=18.86, P<0.001). BMI were increasing over time with treatments (F=37.25, P<0.001). Main influencing factors were noticed as: age, sex, marital status, baseline data of CD(4)(+)T cells and the WHO classification on clinical stages. Conclusions: Higher proportion of BMI malnutrition counts was seen among patients before receiving HAART in Liuzhou. BMI of the patients that were on HAART seemed being influenced by many factors. It is necessary to select appropriate treatment protocols on different patients so as to improve the nutritional status of the patients.

Usefulness of flow cytometric detection of cell surface interleukin-6 receptors in human myeloma cell lines

A flow cytometric procedure was used to analyse the cell surface interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) based on the principle of detecting the binding of IL-6 to IL-6R. The bound IL-6 was visualized by reacting with anti-IL-6 antibody, a second biotinylated antibody to immunoglobulins, fluorescein-conjugated avidin and biotinylated, fluorescein-conjugated bovine serum albumin. Studies with a number of human myeloma cell lines showed that the fluorescence signal from cellular binding of IL-6, and thus IL-6R, could be specifically discerned from the background. The specific IL-6R signal could be semi-quantitatively expressed as the mean channel number of the fluorescence histogram or as relative IL-6R density in relation to a reference cell line, such as U266-BL cells. The relative IL-6R density of various myeloma cell lines thus determined was found to correlate with their sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids in vitro. Quantitatively, calibration of the staining procedure with microbeads that have a defined binding capacity for anti-IL-6 antibody allowed calculation of cellular IL-6R density that yielded results close to that reported with conventional radio-ligand binding assay. Similarly, the cytometric method was applied to the studies of kinetics of IL-6/IL-6R interaction and the cellular IL-6R changes after ligand-binding to provide estimates of IL-6R binding affinity and IL-6R turnover rate. It is suggested that flow cytometric measurement of cellular IL-6R is useful in providing biologically relevant information on myeloma cells.

Effect of vincristine, adriamycin and glucocorticoids on myeloma cells in vitro

The effect of in vitro exposure to vincristine, Adriamycin, and glucocorticoids was studied in 4 human myeloma cell lines. The drug concentrations tested approximated the steady-state plasma level achievable clinically. Marked growth inhibition was seen in all 4 cell lines with vincristine, but in only 2 with Adriamycin. Glucocorticoids were only minimally inhibitory. The inhibition by glucocorticoids was reversible after drug removal, but that by vincristine and Adriamycin was sustained except the vincristine inhibition of ARH-77 cells. The degree of cell growth inhibition paralleled the reduction in tumor cell 3H-thymidine uptake. Cell cycle distribution analysis showed an arrest of myeloma cells at M/G2 phase by vincristine and Adriamycin and an inhibition of myeloma cells from entering into S phase by dexamethasone. Dose-response analysis with ARH-77 cells, a cell line that appeared the most chemoresistant, showed that the growth-inhibitory effect of Adriamycin and vincristine was roughly proportional to the product of drug concentration and exposure time. However, in contrast to Adriamycin, an effective vincristine concentration and exposure time that totally inhibited cell growth was unable to prevent cell regrowth after drug removal. A higher vincristine concentration appeared to be more effective in preventing cell regrowth.