scholarly journals A pilot feasibility study on SARS-CoV-2 detection method based on nasopharyngeal lavage fluid

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Frezza ◽  
Cristoforo Fabbris ◽  
Leonardo Franz ◽  
Elisa Vian ◽  
Roberto Rigoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Isotonic Saline ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Nasal Lavage ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Molecular Test ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Nasal Lavage Fluid

Objective. Nose and nasopharyngeal swab is the preferred and worldwide accepted method to detect the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within the nose and nasopharynx. This method may be linked with possible difficulties, such as patient discomfort or complications. This paper shows a pilot study of SARS-CoV-2 detection with nasal and nasopharyngeal lavage fluids. Methods. Nasal lavage fluid was collected from patients who were submitted to SARS-CoV-2 screening test, due to a preceding positive rapid antigen test. A control group was enrolled among healthcare professionals whose nasopharyngeal swab tested negative. Nasal lavages were performed using isotonic saline solution injected through a nasal fossa. Both lavage fluid and traditional nasopharyngeal swab were analyzed by real time PCR and antigenic test. Results. A total of 49 positive subjects were enrolled in the study. Results of the analysis on lavages and nasopharyngeal swabs were concordant for 48 cases, regardless of the antigenic and molecular test performed. Real time PCR resulted weakly positive at swab in one case and negative at lavage fluid. Among the control group (44 subjects) nasopharyngeal swab and lavage fluid analyses returned a negative result. Sensitivity of the molecular test based on nasal lavage fluid, compared to traditional nasal swab, was 97.7%, specificity was 100%, and accuracy was 98.9%, with high agreement (Cohen k, 0.978). Conclusion. Nasal and nasopharyngeal lavages resulted to be highly reliable and well tolerated. A larger series is needed in order to confirm these results. This approach may potentially represent a valid alternative to the traditional swab method in selected cases.

Expression Level of MiRNA-126 in Serum Exosomes of Allergic Asthma Patients and Lung Tissues of Asthmatic Mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 799-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meizhen Zhao ◽  
Yu-Pei Li ◽  
Xiao-Rui Geng ◽  
Miao Zhao ◽  
Shi-Bo Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Allergic Asthma ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Asthmatic Patients ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Sige Level ◽  
Bronchial Lumen ◽  
Asthma Patients ◽  
Serum Exosomes

Background: To investigate MiRNA-126 amounts in serum exosomes from allergic asthma patients as well as lung tissues of asthmatic mice, evaluating the expression of its target gene DNMT1 in mouse specimens. Methods: MiRNA-126 amounts in serum exosomes from asthmatic patients were detected by real-time PCR. The mouse model of allergic asthma was established by OVA-sensitization, and allergic symptoms were recorded; serum IL-4 and sIgE level evaluation (ELISA), broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell count and H&E staining were performed to assess airway inflammation. MiRNA-126 and DNMT1 levels in the lung of asthmatic and control mice were detected by real-time PCR; DNMT1 protein levels were detected by immunoblot. Results: MiRNA-126 amounts in peripheral blood exosomes from patients with allergic asthma were significantly higher than that of healthy volunteers (P<0.05). The frequencies of scratching of both sides of the nose and sneezing were elevated within 10 min of excitation in asthmatic rats compared with controls. Meanwhile, OVA-sIgE and IL-4 levels were significantly higher in asthmatic animals than controls (P<0.05). In the asthma group, narrowed bronchial lumen and thickened wall were observed, and bronchial and peripheral vessels showed overt inflammatory cell infiltration. Eosinophil, neutrophil and mast cell amounts in the BALF of asthmatic mice were significantly higher than control values. Furthermore, lung miRNA-126 expression in asthmatic mice was significantly higher than that of controls. Finally, DNMT1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in asthmatic animals compared with controls (P < 0.01). Conclusion: MiRNA-126 is highly expressed in serum exosomes from allergic asthma patients and lung tissues of asthmatic mice, suggesting that it may be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

scholarly journals Inter-laboratory comparison of three different real-time PCR assays for the detection of Pneumocystis jiroveci in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 1229-1235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catharina F. M. Linssen ◽  
Jan A. Jacobs ◽  
Pieter Beckers ◽  
Kate E. Templeton ◽  
Judith Bakkers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronchoalveolar Lavage ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pneumocystis Jiroveci ◽  
Pcr Assays

Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection affecting immunocompromised patients. While conventional diagnosis of PCP by microscopy is cumbersome, the use of PCR to diagnose PCP has great potential. Nevertheless, inter-laboratory validation and standardization of PCR assays is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-laboratory agreement of three independently developed real-time PCR assays for the detection of P. jiroveci in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples. Therefore, 124 samples were collected in three tertiary care laboratories (Leiden University Medical Center, Maastricht Infection Center and Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre) and were tested by both microscopy and real-time PCR. Of 41 samples positive for P. jiroveci by microscopy, 40 were positive in all three PCR assays. The remaining sample was positive in a single assay only. Out of 83 microscopy-negative samples, 69 were negative in all three PCR assays. The other 14 samples were found positive, either in all three assays (n=5), in two (n=2) or in one of the assays (n=7). The data demonstrate high inter-laboratory agreement among real-time PCR assays for the detection of P. jiroveci.

scholarly journals The association of male infertility with telomere length: A case control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-332
Author(s):  
Kate Deepali Rajesh ◽  
Puranam Vatsalaswamy ◽  
Manvikar Purshotam Rao
Keyword(s):  
Male Infertility ◽  
Telomere Length ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Sperm Telomere Length

To study the relevance of sperm telomere length and infertility in men. : Our case-control study included twenty-five males in couple with sub-fertility/infertility (test group) and twenty five healthy males (control group) with proven paternity in the age group 25 to 35 years. The Absolute Sperm Telomere length (aSTL) was measured by real-time PCR. We investigated whether any significant difference in the aSTL value existed between the groups and analysed the relationship between aSTL and other sperm parameters.The mean (SE) aSTL recorded in the infertile cases was significantly shorter than for the control group being 140.60 (6.66) Kb/genome and 239.63 (12.32) Kb/genome respectively (p &#60;0.001) A weak correlation was eminent between aSTL kb/genome and the total sperm count mil/ml (rho= 0.04, p - 0.86), progressive sperm motility (rho= - 0.02, p=0.934) and sperm viability (rho= - 0.07 p=0.741) in the infertile group. The measurement of aSTL by real-time PCR is a simple and rapid method that offers further paramount information with respective to the quality of sperm. It is befitted for epidemiological studies, hence opening new perspectives in the evaluation of male infertility. Limitations - Our study was confined to men aged between 25 and 35 years. Further comparative studies are needed to explore the significance of STL and infertility in older males. Additional studies will help illumine the significance of aSTL as a prognostic biomarker in assisted reproduction.

scholarly journals Astragaloside positively regulated osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Bing Jing ◽  
Hongjuan Ji ◽  
Rui Jiang ◽  
Jinlong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Western Blot ◽  
Osteogenic Differentiation ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Calcium Deposition ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Western Blot Assay

Abstract Background Osteoporosis is a widespread chronic disease characterized by low bone density. There is currently no gold standard treatment for osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of Astragaloside on osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Methods MC3T3-E1 cells were divided into control and different dose of Astragaloside (10, 20, 40, 50, and 60 μg/ml). Then, ALP and ARS staining were performed to identify the effects of Astragaloside for early and late osteogenic capacity of MC3T3-E1 cells, respectively. Real-time PCR and western blot were performed to assess the ALP, OCN, and OSX expression. PI3K/Akt signaling pathway molecules were then assessed by Western blot. Finally, PI3K inhibitor, LY294002, was implemented to assess the mechanism of Astragaloside in promoting osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Results Astragaloside significantly increased the cell viability than the control group. Moreover, Astragaloside enhanced the ALP activity and calcium deposition than the control groups. Compared with the control group, Astragaloside increased the ALP, OCN, and OSX expression in a dose-response manner. Western blot assay further confirmed the real-time PCR results. Astragaloside could significantly increase the p-PI3K and p-Akt expression than the control group. LY294002 partially reversed the promotion effects of Astragaloside on osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. LY294002 partially reversed the promotion effects of Astragaloside on ALP, OCN, and OSX of MC3T3-E1 cells. Conclusion The present study suggested that Astragaloside promoted osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells through regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

scholarly journals The Immuno-Modulatory Activities of Pentaherbs Formula on Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Rhinitis Mice via the Activation of Th1 and Treg Cells and Inhibition of Th2 and Th17 Cells

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 239
Author(s):  
Peiting Li ◽  
Miranda Sin-Man Tsang ◽  
Lea Ling-Yu Kan ◽  
Tianheng Hou ◽  
Sharon Sze-Man Hon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Allergic Rhinitis ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Inflammatory Mediators ◽  
Th17 Cells ◽  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Nasal Lavage ◽  
Nasal Epithelium ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Nasal Lavage Fluid ◽  
Sinonasal Mucosa

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a highly prevalent allergic disease induced by immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated hypersensitivity reaction at the nasal epithelium against inhaled allergens. Previous studies have demonstrated that Pentaherbs formula (PHF), a modified herbal formula comprising five herbal medicines (Flos Lonicerae, Herba Menthae, Cortex Phellodendri, Cortex Moutan and Rhizoma Atractylodis), could suppress various immune effector cells to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects in allergic asthma and atopic dermatitis. The present study aimed to further determine the anti-inflammatory activities of PHF in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR BALB/c mouse model. Nasal symptoms such as sneezing and nose rubbing were recorded and the serum total IgE and OVA-specific IgG1, as well as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, chemokines CXCL9 CXCL10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations in nasal lavage fluid (NALF) were measured during different treatments. Effects of PHF on the expression of inflammatory mediators in the sinonasal mucosa were quantified using real-time QPCR. PHF was found to suppress allergic symptoms, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and hyperplasia of goblet cells in the nasal epithelium of the OVA-induced AR mice. PHF could reduce OVA-specific IgG1 level in serum, and TNF-α and IL-10 in nasal lavage fluid (NALF), significantly up-regulate the splenic regulatory T (Treg) cell level, increase the Type 1 helper T cell (Th1)/Type 2 helper T cell (Th2) ratio, and reduce the Th17 cells (all p < 0.05). PHF could also alleviate in situ inflammation in sinonasal mucosa of OVA-induced AR mice. In conclusion, oral treatment of PHF showed immuno-modulatory activities in the OVA-induced AR mice by regulating the splenic T cell population to suppress the nasal allergy symptoms and modulating inflammatory mediators, implicating that PHF could be a therapeutic strategy for allergic rhinitis.

scholarly journals CHANGES IN GENE EXPRESSION ASSOCIATED WITH NON-CANCER EFFECTS OF THE CHORNOBYL CLEAN-UP WORKERS IN THE REMOTE PERIOD AFTER EXPOSURE

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 456-477
Author(s):  
I. Ilienko ◽  
◽  
D. Bazyka ◽  
N. Golyarnyk ◽  
L. Zvarych ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Real Time Pcr ◽  
Main Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Relative Level ◽  
Gstm1 Gene ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Immune Inflammation

Objective. to establish the connection of radiation-induced changes in gene expression with the realized pathology of the broncho-pulmonary and cardiovascular systems in Chornobyl clean-up workers. Materials and methods. We examined 314 male Chornobyl clean-up workers (main group; age (58.94 ± 6.82) years (M ± SD); min 33, max 79 years; radiation dose (411.82 ± 625.41) mSv (M ± SD); min 1.74, max 3600 mSv) with various nosological forms of cardiovascular and broncho-pulmonary pathology (BPP) and 50 subjects of the control group: age (50.50 ± 5.73) years (M ± SD); min 41, max 67 years. The relative level of BCL2, CDKN2A, CLSTN2, GSTM1, IFNG, IL1B, MCF2L, SERPINB9, STAT3, TERF1, TERF2, TERT, TNF, TP53, CCND1, CSF2, VEGFA genes expression was determined in peripheral blood leukocytes by real-time PCR (7900 HT Fast Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, USA)). The «gene-disease» association was determined on statistical models stratified separately for each disease and gene. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio. Results. Increased GSTM1 gene expression and no changes in angiogenesis-related VEGFA gene expression were found in the main group of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). It was established overexpression of TP53, VEGF and IFNG genes in the group of patients with arterial hypertension (AH). At combination of these diseases an increase of expression of СSF2, TERF1, TERF2 genes was established. The detected changes demonstrate an activation of the antioxidative defense system in patients with CHD, while AH is associated with the expression of genes of angiogenesis and immune inflammation. It was shown an increase in the expression of genes associated with apoptosis and kinase activity (BCL2, CLSTN2, CDKN2), immune inflammation (CSF2, IL1B, TNF) in Chornobyl clean-up workers with BPP. Expression of TP53 and GSTM1 (gene, associated with the glutathione system) was significantly upregulated in the group of individuals with chronic bronchitis, whereas in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, no increase was detected; the expression of SERPINB9 and MCF2L genes was downregulated. Conclusions. Changes in the expression of genes, associated with the development of somatic pathology in the remote period after irradiation, in particular the genes of the immune response and inflammatory reactions CSF2, IFNG, IL1B, TNF; expression of genes that regulate cell proliferation, aging and apoptosis TP53, BCL2, MCF2L, CDKN2A, SERPINB9, TERF1, TERF2, TERT; genes that regulate cell adhesion and angiogenesis CLSTN2, VEGF. Key words: gene expression, somatic pathology, radiation, Chornobyl.

Cysteinyl-leukotrienes in nasal lavage fluid in children with asthma

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Singer ◽  
Friedrich Horak ◽  
Waltraud Friesenbichler ◽  
Barbara Schneider ◽  
Zsolt Szépfalusi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lavage Fluid ◽  
Nasal Lavage ◽  
Cysteinyl Leukotrienes ◽  
Children With Asthma ◽  
Nasal Lavage Fluid
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