scholarly journals Pathogenesis of Onchocercal Keratitis (River Blindness)

1999 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 445-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie R. Hall ◽  
Eric Pearlman
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Corneal Stroma ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
World Health ◽  
River Blindness ◽  
Anterior Portion ◽  
Immunological Mechanisms ◽  
Interstitial Keratitis

SUMMARY Onchocerciasis is a major cause of blindness. Although the World Health Organization has been successful in reducing onchocerciasis as a public health problem in parts of West Africa, there remain an estimated 17 million people infected with Onchocerca volvulus, the parasite that causes this disease. Ocular pathology can be manifested in any part of the eye, although disease manifestations are frequently characterized as either posterior or anterior eye disease. This review focuses on onchocerca-mediated keratitis that results from an inflammatory response in the anterior portion of the eye and summarizes what is currently known about human disease. This review also describes studies with experimental models that have been established to determine the immunological mechanisms underlying interstitial keratitis. The pathogenesis of keratitis is thought to be due to the host inflammatory response to degenerating parasites in the eye; therefore, the primary clinical symptoms of onchocercal keratitis (corneal opacification and neovascularization) are induced after injection of soluble O. volvulus antigens into the corneal stroma. Experimental approaches have demonstrated an essential role for sensitized T helper cells and shown that cytokines can regulate the severity of keratitis by controlling recruitment of inflammatory cells into the cornea. Chemokines are also important in inflammatory cell recruitment to the cornea, and their role in onchocerciasis is being examined. Further understanding of the molecular basis of the development of onchocercal keratitis may lead to novel approaches to immunologically based intervention.

scholarly journals Complexity and Controversies over the Cytokine Profiles of T Helper Cell Subpopulations in Tuberculosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Vinicius da Silva ◽  
Monique Gomes Salles Tiburcio ◽  
Juliana Reis Machado ◽  
Djalma Alexandre Alves Silva ◽  
Denise Bertulucci Rocha Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Cure ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Immunological Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Subpopulations ◽  
Cellular Immune

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infectious disease caused by the TB-causing bacillusMycobacterium tuberculosisand is considered a public health problem with enormous social impact. Disease progression is determined mainly by the balance between the microorganism and the host defense systems. Although the immune system controls the infection, this control does not necessarily lead to sterilization. Over recent decades, the patterns of CD4+ T cell responses have been studied with a goal of complete understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in the maintenance of latent or active tuberculosis infection and of the clinical cure after treatment. Conflicting results have been suggested over the years, particularly in studies comparing experimental models and human disease. In recent years, in addition to Th1, Th2, and Th17 profiles, new standards of cellular immune responses, such as Th9, Th22, and IFN-γ-IL-10 double-producing Th cells, discussed here, have also been described. Additionally, many new roles and cellular sources have been described for IL-10, demonstrating a critical role for this cytokine as regulatory, rather than merely pathogenic cytokine, involved in the establishment of chronic latent infection, in the clinical cure after treatment and in keeping antibacillary effector mechanisms active to prevent immune-mediated damage.

Special Populations

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (S3) ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Zohar ◽  
Leah Fostick ◽  
Donald W. Black ◽  
Juan J. Lopez-Ibor
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Treatment Response ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Late Adolescent ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders

AbstractObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a formidable public health problem, rated by the World Health Organization as one of the top 20 most disabling diseases.The shame and secrecy associated with OCD, as well as the lack of recognition of its characteristic symptoms, particularly by primary care physicians, hinders appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Most adults with OCD report a late adolescent or early adulthood onset, yet OCD can occur throughout the life span. Pre-school children have been known to develop the disorder, as have elderly persons. OCD can cause considerable distress and disability; for example, children may fall behind in their education, and adults can become housebound. Comorbid psychiatric disorders have become an area of intense interest. Comorbid depression for example, is frequently the symptom that leads the individual to seek treatment. Patients with schizophrenia frequently develop obsessions and compulsions, and these symptoms are associated with a poorer outcome. The role of second-generation antipsychotics merits further study in the treatment of this subset of patients. An important step toward delineating specific subgroups within the OCD-schizophrenia axis may be the use of endophenotypic markers. Unfortunately, many patients with OCD will have a less than optimal treatment response. Poor treatment response is associated with serious social disability, but there are few clues to guide clinicians in predicting treatment response in patients with OCD, in terms of specific demographic variables, clinical symptoms, or the presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders.

Leishmanicidal Activity of Plant Extracts from Sefrou, a Moroccan Focus of Leishmaniasis, against Various Leishmania Parasites in the Promastigote Stage

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Zeouk ◽  
A. Et-Touys ◽  
M. Balouiri ◽  
H. Fellah ◽  
A. El Ouali Lalami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Plant Extracts ◽  
Leishmania Infantum ◽  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Leishmania Tropica ◽  
Cistus Salviifolius

According to the World Health Organization, leishmaniasis remains a major worldwide public health problem. The province of Sefrou located in the center of Morocco is a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The present study aims at evaluating the antileishmanial potential of Berberis sp.,Crataegus oxyacantha, Cistus salviifolius, Ephedra altissima and Lavandula dentatafrequently used by the local population. Methanolic extracts were tested against the promastigote form ofLeishmania tropica, Leishmania majorandLeishmania infantumusing tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay. The total phenol and flavonoids content of all extracts were determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent, aluminum chloride, and potassium acetate solutions respectively. The plant extracts exhibited antileishmanial activity with variability depending on the tested strain and the plant species compared to Glucantime® used as control (IC50 (the half maximal inhibitory concentration) > 1,000 μg/mL). The best inhibition was observed with Berberis sp., againstLeishmania major(IC50 = 394.40 ± 3.02 μg/ml), andEphedra altissima(reported for the first time) againstLeishmania infantum(IC50 = 490.84 ± 3.15 μg/mL).Leishmania tropicahas shown the same sensitivity behavior toward the five extracts (in average IC50 = 540 ± 11.20 μg/mL). The total phenolic content was higher forCrataegus oxyacanthaandCistus salviifolius(140.67 ± 3.17 μg eq Gallic Acid (GA)/ mg of Extract (E) and 133.83 ± 9.03 μg eq GA/mg of E respectively), while flavonoid was higher forCistus salviifoliusandLavandula dentata(57.92 ± 2.46 μg eq Quercetin (Que)/ mg of Extract (E) and 41.53 ± 1.74 μg eq Que/mg of E). All the tested extracts present some promising aspects that may cure cutaneous leishmaniasis in the center of Morocco; further bioguided assays are needed to isolate the fractions and the bioactive molecule.

Organization of restrictive quarantine measures to prevent especially dangerous infections

2020 ◽  
pp. 6-11
Author(s):  
Petr Ilyin
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
History Of ◽  
Entire History ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Former Ussr ◽  
Health Regulations

Especially dangerous infections (EDIs) belong to the conditionally labelled group of infectious diseases that pose an exceptional epidemic threat. They are highly contagious, rapidly spreading and capable of affecting wide sections of the population in the shortest possible time, they are characterized by the severity of clinical symptoms and high mortality rates. At the present stage, the term "especially dangerous infections" is used only in the territory of the countries of the former USSR, all over the world this concept is defined as "infectious diseases that pose an extreme threat to public health on an international scale." Over the entire history of human development, more people have died as a result of epidemics and pandemics than in all wars combined. The list of especially dangerous infections and measures to prevent their spread were fixed in the International Health Regulations (IHR), adopted at the 22nd session of the WHO's World Health Assembly on July 26, 1969. In 1970, at the 23rd session of the WHO's Assembly, typhus and relapsing fever were excluded from the list of quarantine infections. As amended in 1981, the list included only three diseases represented by plague, cholera and anthrax. However, now annual additions of new infections endemic to different parts of the earth to this list take place. To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has already included more than 100 diseases in the list of especially dangerous infections.

Antimicrobial peptides for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, allies or foes?

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (10) ◽  
pp. 1138-1147
Author(s):  
Bruno Rivas-Santiago ◽  
Flor Torres-Juarez
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptides ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Drug Resistant Strains

Tuberculosis is an ancient disease that has become a serious public health issue in recent years, although increasing incidence has been controlled, deaths caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis have been accentuated due to the emerging of multi-drug resistant strains and the comorbidity with diabetes mellitus and HIV. This situation is threatening the goals of World Health Organization (WHO) to eradicate tuberculosis in 2035. WHO has called for the creation of new drugs as an alternative for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, among the plausible molecules that can be used are the Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs). These peptides have demonstrated remarkable efficacy to kill mycobacteria in vitro and in vivo in experimental models, nevertheless, these peptides not only have antimicrobial activity but also have a wide variety of functions such as angiogenesis, wound healing, immunomodulation and other well-described roles into the human physiology. Therapeutic strategies for tuberculosis using AMPs must be well thought prior to their clinical use; evaluating comorbidities, family history and risk factors to other diseases, since the wide function of AMPs, they could lead to collateral undesirable effects.

The Undiscovered Potential of Essential Oils for Treating SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (41) ◽  
pp. 5261-5277
Author(s):  
Peter J. Wilkin ◽  
Minnatallah Al-Yozbaki ◽  
Alex George ◽  
Girish K. Gupta ◽  
Cornelia M. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oils ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Diagnostic Techniques ◽  
World Health ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Traditional Use ◽  
In Silico Studies ◽  
The World

On 11th March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a pandemic caused by a novel beta-coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, designated COVID-19. The virus emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, has spread across the world as a global pandemic. The traditional use of medicines from plants can be traced back to 60,000 years. Global interest in the development of drugs from natural products has increased greatly during the last few decades. Essential oils (EOs) have been studied through the centuries and are known to possess various pharmaceutical properties. In the present review, we have highlighted the current biology, epidemiology, various clinical aspects, different diagnostic techniques, clinical symptoms, and management of COVID-19. An overview of the antiviral action of EOs, along with their proposed mechanism of action and in silico studies conducted, is described. The reported studies of EOs' antiviral activity highlight the baseline data about the additive and/or synergistic effects among primary or secondary phytoconstituents found in individual oils, combinations or blends of oils and between EOs and antiviral drugs. It is hoped that further research will provide better insights into EOs' potential to limit viral infection and aid in providing solutions through natural, therapeutically active agents.

Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): A Narrative Review Based on Current Status

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rina Das ◽  
Dinesh Kumar Mehta ◽  
Meenakshi Dhanawat
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
World Health ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Treatment And Prevention ◽  
First Case ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract:: A novel virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), appeared and expanded globally by the end of year in 2019 from Wuhan, China, causing severe acute respiratory syndrome. During its initial stage, the disease was called the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). It was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 February 2020. The WHO declared worldwide the SARS-CoV-2 virus a pandemic on March 2020. On 30 January 2020 the first case of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in India. Now in current situation the virus is floating in almost every part of the province and rest of the globe. -: On the basis of novel published evidences, we efficiently summarized the reported work with reference to COVID-19 epidemiology, pathogen, clinical symptoms, treatment and prevention. Using several worldwide electronic scientific databases such as Pubmed, Medline, Embase, Science direct, Scopus, etc were utilized for extensive investigation of relevant literature. -: This review is written in the hope of encouraging the people successfully with the key learning points from the underway efforts to perceive and manage SARS-CoV-2, suggesting sailent points for expanding future research.

Study of the efficacy of Pathadi Ghanavati with Lajamanda in the management of Aamatisara

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhura Jadhav ◽  
P. D. Londhe
Keyword(s):  
Acute Diarrhoea ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Loose Motion ◽  
Economic Class ◽  
Watery Stool ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Effective Remedy ◽  
Trial Drug

Acute Diarrhoea is an important public health problem worldwide. The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 1000 million cases of Acute Diarrhoea. Loose motion less than 2 weeks that labelled as Acute Diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is described in Ayurvedic classics with the name of ‘Atisara’. It means passing of excessive flow of watery stool through anus. Most important factor in the pathogenesis of Aamatisara is Mandagni. In present study 50 patients of Aamatisara were selected from OPD and IPD of Kayachikitsa department. For the clinical study Pathadi Ghanavati and Lajamanda was selected as the trial drug which was given for the duration of 7 days in the dose of 1gm twice a day. It was observed that 32% patients were from the age group 51-60 years, 70% were females, 62% were from lower-middle socio economic class. Sama Jivha was found in all the patients. Among results loose motion showed 98.75% relief, 97.82% showed improvement in Udarashoola, 97.43% improvement in Agnimandya and Daurbalya each, 100% relief was seen in Aruchi. All the symptoms showed highly significant results. Hence it can be concluded that Pathadi Ghanavati and Lajamanda is very effective remedy in the patients of Aamatisara.

scholarly journals Haematological profile of children with malaria in Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syilvia Jiero ◽  
Ayodhia Pitaloka Pasaribu
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Infection ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Malaria Diagnosis ◽  
White Blood Count ◽  
P Value ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Haematological Profile ◽  
West Papua

Abstract Background Malaria remains a major public health problem in Indonesian Papua, with children under five years of age being the most affected group. Haematological changes, such as cytopenia that occur during malaria infection have been suggested as potential predictors and can aid in the diagnosis of malaria. This study aimed to assess the haematological alterations associated with malaria infection in children presenting with signs and symptoms of malaria. Methods A retrospective study was performed by collecting data from the medical records of malaria patients at Sorong Regional General Hospital, Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, both from outpatient and inpatient clinics, from January 2014 until December 2017. The laboratory profile of children suffering from malaria was evaluated. Results One hundred and eighty-two children aged 1 month to 18 years old were enrolled. The subjects were mostly male (112, 61.5%) with a mean age of 6.45 years (SD = 4.3 years). Children below 5 years of age suffered the most from malaria in this study (77, 42.3%). One hundred two subjects (56%) were infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Half of the enrolled subjects (50%) had haemoglobin level (Hb) between 5.1 and 10 gr/dL. A total of 41 children (53.2%) less than 5 years old suffered from P. falciparum infection. In the age group of 5–10 years, there were 34 children (57.6%) who suffered from P. falciparum, and in the age group > 10 years, 27 children (58.7%) suffered from P. falciparum infection. Only 4 subjects (5.2%) in the less than 5 years old age group had mixed malaria infection. Among eight predictors of the haematological profile, there were five predictors that were significantly associated with the diagnostic criteria, namely haemoglobin, haematocrit, leukocytes, platelets and monocytes (p < 0.05). Generally, clinical symptoms are not significantly associated with a malaria diagnosis, and only one variable showed a significant relationship, pale, with a P value of 0.001. Conclusions Children with malaria had changes in some haematological markers, with anaemia, low platelet count, white blood count, and lymphocyte count being the most important predictors of malaria infection in the study area. These markers could be used to raise suspicion of malaria in children living in high endemic areas, such as West Papua.

Possible role of Unani Pharmacology in COVID-19 – a narrative review

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Anzar Alam ◽  
Mohd Abdul Gani ◽  
G. Shama ◽  
Ghulamuddin Sofi ◽  
Mohd Aleemuddin Quamri
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Santalum Album ◽  
Boswellia Serrata ◽  
Unani Medicine ◽  
Significant Public Health Problem ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral diseases continue to rise, and pose a significant public health problem. Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of COVID-19 is close to Amraz-e-Wabai (epidemic diseases) which was described by Hippocrates, Galen, Aristotle, Razes, Haly Abbas, Avicenna, Jurjani etc. Presently, there is no specific or challenging treatment available for COVID-19. Renowned Unani Scholars recommended during epidemic situation to stay at home, and fumigate the shelters with aromatics herbs like Ood kham (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.), Kundur (Boswellia serrata Roxb), Kafoor (Cinnamomum camphora L.), Sandal (Santalum album L), Hing (Ferula foetida L.) etc. Use of specific Unani formulations are claimed effective for the management of such epidemic or pandemic situation like antidotes (Tiryaqe Wabai, Tiryaqe Arba, Tiryaqe Azam, Gile Armani), Herbal Decoction (Joshandah), along with Sharbate Khaksi, Habbe Bukhar, Sharbate Zanjabeel, Khamira Marwareed, Jawarish Jalinus, and Sirka (vinegar). Such drugs are claimed for use as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cardiotonic, and general tonic actions. The study enumerates the literature regarding management of epidemics in Unani medicine and attempts to look the same in the perspective of COVID-19 prevention and management.

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