Smart bandages – A colourful approach to early stage infection detection & control in wound care

The term ‘syphilis’ describes the wide-ranging clinical manifestations of infection with the slowly dividing spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. T. pallidum infection is mainly sexually acquired; it is thought the bacterium enters through microabrasions in the skin or mucosa. Congenital infection via mother-to-child transmission is also recognized. The driving force of the clinical manifestations of all stages of syphilis is an underlying and often multisystem vasculitis. Acquired syphilis can be divided into early and late presentations. In early stage infection, the T. pallidum infection has been acquired within 2 years of the diagnosis. This early stage includes the symptomatic primary and secondary stages of infection, and the asymptomatic early latent stage. Late infection of over 2 years’ standing includes all the manifestations of tertiary syphilis and asymptomatic late latent infection. This chapter discusses syphilis, including its demographics, etiology, natural history, complications, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

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Human cytomegalovirus directly modulates expression of chemokine CCL2 (MCP-1) during viral replication

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.052878-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 94 (11) ◽

pp. 2495-2503 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Stuart T. Hamilton ◽

Gillian M. Scott ◽

Zin Naing ◽

William D. Rawlinson

Keyword(s):

Viral Replication ◽

Human Cytomegalovirus ◽

Immune Modulation ◽

Early Stage ◽

Cell Nuclei ◽

Virus Dissemination ◽

Ccl2 Expression ◽

Infected Cells ◽

Inducing Factors ◽

Stage Infection

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infects monocytes and other haematopoietic progenitor cells which then act as reservoirs for latency and virus dissemination. The chemokine CCL2 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1 or MCP-1) exhibits potent chemotactic activity for monocytes and is a likely target for CMV-induced immunomodulation. In this study, we demonstrate CMV modulates CCL2 expression in MRC-5 fibroblasts with multiplicity-dependent kinetics, where CCL2 is upregulated during early stage infection, followed by CCL2 inhibition at late stage infection. This CMV-induced CCL2 modulation was dependent upon virus replication, as UV-inactivated virus did not elicit any changes in CCL2 levels. Dual immunofluorescence staining showed CMV strains AD169, purified AD169, Merlin, FIX WT (FLAG-US28/WT) and pUS28-deficient FIX (FIX-ΔUS28) all induced upregulation of CCL2 primarily within infected cells. Focal upregulation of CCL2 within FIX-ΔUS28-infected cells demonstrated intracellular CCL2 accumulation was independent of CCL2 sequestration by the CMV-encoded chemokine receptor US28. Infection with purified virus confirmed CMV-induced CCL2 upregulation was not due to any CCL2-inducing factors contained within non-purified virus stocks. The CMV-induced CCL2 expression kinetics occurred concurrently with modulation of the CCL2 transcriptional activators NF-κB, interferon regulatory factor 3 and cytokine IFN-β, independent of virus strain, and with the establishment of viral replication compartments within infected cell nuclei. This is the first report to our knowledge to demonstrate CMV modulation of CCL2 expression within infected cells during viral replication. This immune modulation may facilitate virus dissemination, establishment of latency and pathogenesis of CMV-induced host disease.

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Disseminated Mycobacterium avium Complex Infection Causing Multiple Skull Defects in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report

Journal of Wound Management and Research ◽

10.22467/jwmr.2021.01753 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 202-206

Author(s):

Jun Ho Choi ◽

Seong Jin Oh ◽

Jae Ha Hwang ◽

Kwang Seog Kim ◽

Sam Yong Lee

Keyword(s):

Mycobacterium Avium ◽

Mycobacterium Avium Complex ◽

Chronic Wounds ◽

Early Stage ◽

Wound Care ◽

Immunocompetent Patient ◽

Prolonged Treatment ◽

Skull Defects ◽

Brain Infection

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection mainly causes pulmonary disease. However, in 20% to 30% of cases, it also induces various extrapulmonary diseases. Disseminated MAC infection occasionally occurs in immunocompromised patients but very rarely in immunocompetent patients. An 80-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with multiple chronic wounds on the scalp that had not improved despite prolonged treatment. A scalp abscess caused by disseminated MAC infection 4 years ago had gone through repeated cycles of improvement and aggravation despite continued use of anti-mycobacterial agents and active wound care. Enhanced brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple skull defects and abscesses invading the dura mater. Under general anesthesia, the infected scalp skin and bone were sufficiently removed, and the bone and soft tissue defects were repaired with cranioplasty using a titanium mesh plate and local flap. As exemplified in this case, multiple chronic wounds unresponsive to treatment need to be screened for MAC infection. As chronic MAC infection in the scalp can cause skull destruction and brain infection, it needs to be treated aggressively at an early stage to prevent serious morbidity and mortality. Effective MAC infection management involves adequate medication, regular follow-up imaging, and active surgical procedure.

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Inhalation Formulation & Dosage of PVP Iodine for Respiratory Infections Treatment

10.31219/osf.io/ns3yc ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Oron Zachar

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Infections ◽

Early Stage ◽

Wound Care ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Iodine Concentration ◽

Molecular Iodine ◽

Global Scale ◽

Bronchial Tree ◽

Viral Respiratory Infections ◽

Viral Respiratory

The aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic calls for a rethink of pharmaceutical options for treatment of viral respiratory infections. Respiratory infections start primarily at the surface epithelial cells. Being in permanent direct contact with the ambient air, the respiratory system tissue surface may be amenable to topical treatment approaches. We evaluate and define the method and options of translating effective wound care treatments into the realm of respiratory infections treatment and preventions. The goal is a broad-range, safe and cheap anti-viral respiratory infections medication, which can be made globally available for early-stage home use. In a previous publication we discussed nanoparticles-based formulations. In this article we propose and evaluate a new mode of use of a well-established topical antiseptic – PVP Iodine (PVP-I). In contrast to all previous proposals of PVP-I disinfection nasal sprays or oral gargle, we present a deep and well controlled inhalation protocol to disinfect in one treatment modality both the bronchial tree, upper respiratory nasal and throat tissue simultaneously, using ultrasonic mesh nebulizers. Molecular iodine is quickly absorbed from the lungs and bronchial tree into the blood, within about 10 minutes. Yet, iodine effectively disinfects most viruses within 1 minute, including SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the slower to absorb PVP-I complex provides a continuously eluting reservoir that maintains the iodine concentration in the airways surface fluids for several hours. These and other factors unique to inhalation are discussed. We provide: (i) Dosage calculation and delivery protocols; (ii) Safety analysis based on guidelines, animal trials and WHO review reports; (iii) Evaluating published pilot clinical trials of SARS-CoV-2 with related nasal spray or oral gargle PVP-I treatments; (iv) Evaluating the potential use and modification of existing off-the-shelf market products to render our proposed treatment immediately available on a global scale. Our recommended formulations comprise of PVP-I at concentrations 0.5% - 5% and pH between pH=6.5 to pH=7.5 (significantly higher than pH~3.5 of present market products). Inhalation dosage of just 0.5 mL may already be effective, which translates to aerosolizing 2 mL with a common nebulizer device. PVP-I is globally available over the counter (OTC). The same is true of ultrasonic nebulizers. In practice, all the ingredients are already globally available to consumers. Hence, we hope health and regulatory authorities worldwide will invest the efforts to establish the validity of the proposed treatment. In the meantime, to prevent confusion or misuse by free-willing users and to facilitate clinical evaluation, we outline a prescription for the proper adaptation use of common commercially available market products. I addition, we propose that the same formulations and protocols can be implemented prophylactically in hospital intensive care units (ICU) for the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).

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Ultrastructure of Hirschmanniella diversa early-stage infection in browning rhizomes of Indian lotus

Journal of Nematology ◽

10.21307/jofnem-2020-055 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Shigeru Uematsu ◽

Tetsuo Yabu ◽

Mitsuyoshi Yao ◽

Takayuki Kurihara ◽

Hironori Koga

Keyword(s):

Early Stage ◽

Stage Infection

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Clinical and immunological characteristic of natural course at the early stages of HIV infection

Medical Immunology (Russia) ◽

10.15789/1563-0625-cai-1866 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 519-526

Author(s):

E. R. Manapova ◽

V. Kh. Fazylov ◽

A. T. Beshimov

Keyword(s):

Hiv Infection ◽

Clinical Course ◽

Fungal Infections ◽

Early Stage ◽

Elisa Test ◽

Natural Course ◽

Early Stages ◽

Duration Of Infection ◽

Stage Infection ◽

Pronounced Inhibition

An early-stage infection induces the most powerful reactions of immune system. 137 clinical histories of patients with HIV infection, and HCV/HIV-infected at the early stages of HIV infection were subjected to analysis. Patients and methods: a group of 45 patients at early terms of HIV infection included 25 cases of HCV/HIV-infected patients (first group), and 20 cases with HIV mono-infection (second group). Duration of infection was less than 1 year (with positive ELISA test), with mean terms of HIV immunoblot positivity of 5.5±0.6 months. For comparative analysis, the natural course group was examined, i.e., 43 patients with combined HCV/HIV infection (third group), and 49, with HIV monoinfection (fourth group) with a duration of HIV infection for 4.4±0.21 years. The group of healthy controls included 52 persons. We aimed to perform a comparative evaluation of clinical course and immunological features from the early stages of infection in the patients with combined HCV/HIV and HIV infection. Results: at early stages of infection, clinical pattern in HCV/HIV-infected patients was dominated by purulent-inflammatory, fungal infections and secondary diseases, along with more pronounced inhibition of cellular immunity and increased viral load of RNA HIV, as compared to data on HIV-infected patients.

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COVID-19 Dynamics: A Heterogeneous Model

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.558368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Andrey Gerasimov ◽

Georgy Lebedev ◽

Mikhail Lebedev ◽

Irina Semenycheva

Keyword(s):

Early Stage ◽

Age Groups ◽

Population Heterogeneity ◽

Basic Reproductive Number ◽

Reproductive Number ◽

Heterogeneous Model ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Homogeneous Models ◽

The Mathematical Model ◽

Stage Infection

The mathematical model reported here describes the dynamics of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, which is different in many aspects from the previous severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic. We developed this model when the COVID-19 epidemic was at its early phase. We reasoned that, with our model, the effects of different measures could be assessed for infection control. Unlike the homogeneous models, our model accounts for human population heterogeneity, where subpopulations (e.g., age groups) have different infection risks. The heterogeneous model estimates several characteristics of the epidemic more accurately compared to the homogeneous models. According to our analysis, the total number of infections and their peak number are lower compared to the assessment with the homogeneous models. Furthermore, the early-stage infection increase is little changed when population heterogeneity is considered, whereas the late-stage infection decrease slows. The model predicts that the anti-epidemic measures, like the ones undertaken in China and the rest of the world, decrease the basic reproductive number but do not result in the development of a sufficient collective immunity, which poses a risk of a second wave. More recent developments confirmed our conclusion that the epidemic has a high likelihood to restart after the quarantine measures are lifted.

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HIV Infection Care and Viral Suppression Among People Who Inject Drugs, 28 U.S. Jurisdictions, 2012-2013

The Open AIDS Journal ◽

10.2174/1874613601610010127 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 127-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Debra L. Karch ◽

Kristen Mahle Gray ◽

Jing Shi ◽

H. Irene Hall

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Viral Suppression ◽

People Who Inject Drugs ◽

Early Stage ◽

Linkage To Care ◽

Retention In Care ◽

Infected People ◽

Hiv Surveillance ◽

Stage Infection

Objectives: Assess outcomes along the care continuum for HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID), by type of facility and stage of infection at diagnosis. Methods: Data reported by 28 jurisdictions to the National HIV Surveillance System by December 2014 were used to identify PWID aged ≥13 years, diagnosed with HIV infection before December 31, 2013. Analyses used the CDC definition of linkage to care (LTC), retention in care (RIC), and viral suppression (VS), and are stratified by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and type of facility and stage of HIV infection at diagnosis. Results: Of 1,409 PWID diagnosed with HIV in 2013, 1,116 (79.2%) were LTC with the lowest percentages among males (78.4%); blacks (77.5%) ages 13-24 years (69.0%); those diagnosed in early stage infection (71.6%); and at screening, diagnostic, or referral agencies (60.0%). Of 80,958 PWID living with HIV in 2012, 40,234 (49.7%) were RIC and 34,665 (42.8%) achieved VS. The lowest percentages for RIC and VS were among males (47.1% and 41.3% respectively); those diagnosed with late stage disease (47.1% and 42.4%); and young people. Whites had the lowest RIC (47.0%) while blacks had the lowest VS (41.1%). Conclusion: Enhanced LTC activities are needed for PWID diagnosed at screening, diagnostic or referral agencies versus those diagnosed at inpatient or outpatient settings, especially among young people and blacks diagnosed in early stage infection. Less than half of PWID are retained in care or reach viral suppression indicating the need for continued engagement and return to care activities over the long term.

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