Gastro-intestinal, Hepatic, Pancreatic, and Biliary Infections

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Riddell ◽  
C. Y. William Tong
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Oral Intake ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Fusobacterium Necrophorum ◽  
Acid Reflux ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Infection Risk Factors ◽  
Deep Neck Infections ◽  
The Relationship

The gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) hosts the most numerous and diverse reservoir of microbes in humans. There is increasing interest in the relationship between the GIT microbiome and human health. Obesity, diabetes, allergy, and a number of inflammatory diseases have been linked with the human GIT microbiome. Infections of the GIT arise either as a result of a change in the relationship between the commensal microbes colonizing the GIT (endogenous infection) or entry in to the GIT of a micro-organism which causes disease (exogenous infection). Commensals most commonly invade host tissues as a result of compromised defensive barriers. Disease associated with exogenous infection can be toxin-mediated, or associated with local or systemic invasion of the host. Endogenous infections are usually polymicrobial. In the mouth the aetiology, presentation, and anatomical associations have led to the description of a number of syndromes. Peritonsillar infection with involvement of the internal jugular vein is Lemierre’s syndrome, which is particularly associated with infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum. ‘Trench mouth’ is a severe form of ulcerative gingivitis, so named because in the absence of oral hygiene it was a relatively common diagnosis among those in the trenches during the First World War. Ludwig’s angina is a severe infection of the floor of the mouth which spreads in to the submandibular and sub-lingual space, often following a tooth-related infection. Deep neck infections are more common in children than adults and can involve the parapharyngeal, retropharyngeal, peri-tonsillar, or sub-mandibular spaces. Children with deep neck infections are more likely than adults to present with cough and respiratory distress. Oesophagitis has a wide range of potential aetiologies. Fungi (particularly Candida species) are probably the most common microbial cause of oesophagitis. Fungal infection of the distal oesophagus is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of disseminated fungal infection. Risk factors for fungal infection include poor oral intake, exposure to antibiotics, immunocompromise (HIV, steroids, cancer treatments), gastric acid suppressants, and damage to mucosal integrity (naso-gastric tubes, acid reflux, varices). Bacteria (including Mycobacteria, Actinomycetes, Treponemes), parasites, and viruses (herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus) are rarer infectious causes of oesophagitis.

Bilateral fungal infection inducing a serpiginous-like picture

2020 ◽  
pp. 112067212090872
Author(s):  
Alvaro Fernández-Vega González ◽  
Carlos Fernández-Vega González ◽  
Beatriz Fernández-Vega Sanz ◽  
María Teresa Peláez ◽  
Jesús Merayo-Lloves
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Fungal Infection ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Blood Analysis ◽  
Retinal Pigmented Epithelium ◽  
Pigmented Epithelium ◽  
Laboratory Investigations ◽  
The Right

Purpose: To report the clinical findings of a patient who presented with an atypical bilateral fungal retinitis that was established by retinochoroidal biopsy. Methods: Case report. Results: A 56-year-old systemically healthy man presented with progressive visual loss in his left eye for 3 weeks. Visual acuity was 20/40 in the left eye, and 20/20 in the right eye and fundus examination showed macular retinal pigmented epithelium changes in his left eye. Over the following four months, his lesions progressed to serpiginous-like widespread retinal pigmented epithelium atrophy and his visual acuity decreased to 20/100, but no signs of ocular inflammation were found. Treatment with oral corticoids, valganciclovir and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole showed no efficacy. Blood analysis and cultures, laboratory investigations, and imaging tests were carried out looking for infectious and inflammatory diseases, but all tests were negative. Two months later, the patient presented with the same kind of lesions in the other eye (right eye), so he was subjected to retinochoroidal biopsy. Histopathological examination of specimen revealed the presence of intraretinal and choroidal fungal hyphae. Oral voriconazole was initiated achieving clinical remission, but no visual improvement was obtained. The source of the infection remains unknown since all tests results were negative. However, his profession as brewmaster might be related to the origin of the infection. Conclusion: Diagnosis of intraocular fungal infection can be challenging. Retinochoroidal biopsy may be useful to establish the diagnosis in those atypical cases with nonrevealing workup and inflammation localized to the retina.

scholarly journals Regulation of Neutrophil Degranulation and Cytokine Secretion: A Novel Model Approach Based on Linear Fitting

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Naegelen ◽  
Nicolas Beaume ◽  
Sébastien Plançon ◽  
Véronique Schenten ◽  
Eric J. Tschirhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Cytokine Secretion ◽  
Human Neutrophils ◽  
Cytokine Release ◽  
Linear Fitting ◽  
Proinflammatory Mediators ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Model Approach

Neutrophils participate in the maintenance of host integrity by releasing various cytotoxic proteins during degranulation. Due to recent advances, a major role has been attributed to neutrophil-derived cytokine secretion in the initiation, exacerbation, and resolution of inflammatory responses. Because the release of neutrophil-derived products orchestrates the action of other immune cells at the infection site and, thus, can contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases, we aimed to investigate in more detail the spatiotemporal regulation of neutrophil-mediated release mechanisms of proinflammatory mediators. Purified human neutrophils were stimulated for different time points with lipopolysaccharide. Cells and supernatants were analyzed by flow cytometry techniques and used to establish secretion profiles of granules and cytokines. To analyze the link between cytokine release and degranulation time series, we propose an original strategy based on linear fitting, which may be used as a guideline, to (i) define the relationship of granule proteins and cytokines secreted to the inflammatory site and (ii) investigate the spatial regulation of neutrophil cytokine release. The model approach presented here aims to predict the correlation between neutrophil-derived cytokine secretion and degranulation and may easily be extrapolated to investigate the relationship between other types of time series of functional processes.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Households of People With Diabetes Accessing US Food Pantries: Implications for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna S. Wetherill ◽  
Mary B. Williams ◽  
Kayla C. White ◽  
Hilary K. Seligman
Keyword(s):  
Management Education ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Coping Behaviors ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Food Pantry ◽  
Food Pantries ◽  
And Coping ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the associations between food insecurity (FI) and coping strategies of relevance to diabetes self-management among households of people with diabetes (HHDM) who access US food pantry programs. Methods The authors conducted a secondary data analysis of HHDM accessing US food pantry programs from the Hunger in America 2014 study ( n = 16 826). Weighted analyses included descriptive statistics for household sociodemographics, food pantry service utilization, FI, and coping behaviors. The authors used chi-square and logistic regression to estimate the relationship between FI and coping behaviors. Results Nearly one-half of HHDM reported visiting food pantries at least 6 times in the past year. Most HHDM were FI, with the majority experiencing the most severe form of FI. Over one-fifth of households reported lacking health insurance. The majority of HHDM reported purchasing inexpensive unhealthy foods to ensure household food adequacy, and many reported watering down food and beverages. The odds of reporting these behaviors significantly increased as FI worsened. Conclusion Food pantries represent an opportunity for the delivery of community-based diabetes self-management education and support programs. These programs should be adapted to address population barriers to self-management and to support access to healthful foods and medical care.

scholarly journals Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Unfolded Protein Response in Breast Cancer: The Balance between Apoptosis and Autophagy and Its Role in Drug Resistance

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenza Sisinni ◽  
Michele Pietrafesa ◽  
Silvia Lepore ◽  
Francesca Maddalena ◽  
Valentina Condelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Unfolded Protein Response ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Unfolded Protein ◽  
Chronic Activation ◽  
The Unfolded Protein Response ◽  
Protein Response ◽  
The Relationship

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a stress response activated by the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and its uncontrolled activation is mechanistically responsible for several human pathologies, including metabolic, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Indeed, ER stress and the downstream UPR activation lead to changes in the levels and activities of key regulators of cell survival and autophagy and this is physiologically finalized to restore metabolic homeostasis with the integration of pro-death or/and pro-survival signals. By contrast, the chronic activation of UPR in cancer cells is widely considered a mechanism of tumor progression. In this review, we focus on the relationship between ER stress, apoptosis, and autophagy in human breast cancer and the interplay between the activation of UPR and resistance to anticancer therapies with the aim to disclose novel therapeutic scenarios. The hypothesis that autophagy and UPR may provide novel molecular targets in human malignancies is discussed.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp Deletion in Chronic Cervicitis and Cervix Cancers

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Kara ◽  
A Tatar ◽  
B Borekci ◽  
F Dagli ◽  
S Oztas
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Turkish Population ◽  
Cervix Cancer ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mtdna Mutations ◽  
Long Time ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Chronic Cervicitis

Mitochondrial DNA 4977 bp Deletion in Chronic Cervicitis and Cervix CancersMitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been implied in many diseases including cancer and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the 4977 bp deletion of the mtDNA and chronic cervicitis or cervix cancer in patients. The study included a group of patients with chronic cervicitis or cervix cancer, and a control group consisting of individuals without any cervical tissue disease. A total of 72 subjects in an East Turkish population were included in the study. Of these, 35 had chronic cervicitis, 21 had cervix cancer and 16 served as the control group. Isolation of mtDNA was performed from the tissues of these patients and then mtDNA deletions were studied using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the cancer groups, there were 9.5% heteroplasmic and homoplasmic deletions. There were no homoplasmic deletions in the cervicitis and control groups, but the frequencies of heteroplasmic deletions were 80.0 and 31.2%, respectively. Chronic inflammation leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) may be the cause of the high mtDNA 4977 bp deletion frequencies in cancer and cervicitis. The older age of the cancer patient may suggest that ageing in addition to long time exposure to ROS may lead to deletions and subsequently cancer. This is the first study to investigate the relationship of the mtDNA 4977 bp deletion to chronic cervicitis and cervix cancer.

The relationship between selenium and gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases

2013 ◽  
Vol 154 (41) ◽  
pp. 1628-1635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Balázs ◽  
Károly Rácz
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Selenium Supplementation ◽  
Cytotoxic Effects ◽  
Autoimmune Thyroid ◽  
Thyroid Hormone Metabolism ◽  
Glutathione Peroxidases ◽  
Iodothyronine Deiodinases ◽  
Thioredoxin Reductases ◽  
The Relationship

Oxygen derived free radicals, generated by a number of cellular reactions, include superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. They exert their cytotoxic effects mainly via peroxidation of the cell membrane resulting in the loss of membrane integrity. The essential trace element, selenium exerts complex effects on the endocrine systems, partly due to its antioxidant capacity. Well-characterized selenoproteins include iodothyronine deiodinases, glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases involved in thyroid hormone metabolism and protection from oxidative damage. The value of selenium supplementation in autoimmune thyroid disorders has been investigated and most studies confirmed the beneficial effect of selenium supplementation in Hashimoto’s and Graves’s diseases. Recently, selenium proved to be effective in mild inflammatory orbitopathy. There are a number of reports about the effect of selenium in diabetes mellitus, but the data are controversial as both insulin-like and diabetes-inducing effects of selenium have been described. Selenium was successfully used in both female and male infertility of autoimmune origin. Orv. Hetil., 154 (41), 1628–1635.

Anhedonia in Kraepelinian Schizophrenia: A Preliminary Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 755-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Fertout ◽  
Daphnée Scoury ◽  
Olivier Lefebvre ◽  
Youssef Kouidrat ◽  
Gwenolé Loas
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Consummatory Anhedonia ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
The Relationship

Kraepelinian schizophrenia, defined as a severe form of the disease, is characterized by a high number of negative symptoms and less depression, respectively. The relationship between anhedonia and Kraepelinian schizophrenia was explored. Depressive and trait anticipatory and consummatory anhedonia were compared in Kraepelinian ( n = 10, M age 49.2 yr., SD = 10.8) and non-Kraepelinian ( n = 23, M age = 42.7 yr., SD = 10.8) patients with schizophrenia. The Kraepelinian group had more anticipatory and consummatory anhedonia than the non-Kraepelinian group. The two groups did not differ on depressive anhedonia or depression.

Resistance, tolerance, and yield of western black cottonwood infected by Melampsora rust

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wang ◽  
B.J. van der Kamp
Keyword(s):  
Disease Severity ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Stem Volume ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Black Cottonwood ◽  
Total Dry Weight ◽  
Significant Discovery ◽  
The Relationship

Potted ramets of 14 western black cottonwood (Populustrichocarpa Torr. & Gray) clones from southern British Columbia were inoculated with Melampsoraoccidentalis H. Jacks to produce a range of disease severities, and their size and dry weight were determined after 1 or 2 years. Response to inoculation varied significantly between clones. Clones from drier interior locations were less resistant than those from coastal or moister interior locations. Local- (within leaf) or systemic-induced resistance was not detected. Yield (total dry weight) decreased linearly with disease severity. Percent reduction in yield was greater than the cumulative percent leaf area infected for all clones. Yield losses were substantial: dry weights of ramets with disease severity levels similar to those experienced by natural cottonwood populations were about 75% of controls; heavily infected ramets were <50% of controls. Stem:root ratios increased rapidly with increasing disease severity in all clones, and at significantly different rates. Severe infection resulted in substantial mortality in the following winter and reduced initial stem volume growth in the following growing season. Tolerance, defined as the relationship between disease severity and yield, varied significantly between clones. The most significant discovery of this study was that tolerance and resistance were correlated, greater tolerance being associated with reduced resistance. The concepts of resistance, tolerance, and disease hazard, as quantified in this study, can be used to predict yield and to select the most appropriate clones for different disease hazard conditions.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document