Infectious Conditions Research Articles

Mitophagy-associated programmed neuronal death and neuroinflammation.

Mitochondria are crucial organelles that play a central role in cellular metabolism and programmed cell death in eukaryotic cells. Mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) is a selective process where damaged mitochondria are encapsulated and degraded through autophagic mechanisms, ensuring the maintenance of both mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis. Excessive programmed cell death in neurons can result in functional impairments following cerebral ischemia and trauma, as well as in chronic neurodegenerative diseases, leading to irreversible declines in motor and cognitive functions. Neuroinflammation, an inflammatory response of the central nervous system to factors disrupting homeostasis, is a common feature across various neurological events, including ischemic, infectious, traumatic, and neurodegenerative conditions. Emerging research suggests that regulating autophagy may offer a promising therapeutic avenue for treating certain neurological diseases. Furthermore, existing literature indicates that various small molecule autophagy regulators have been tested in animal models and are linked to neurological disease outcomes. This review explores the role of mitophagy in programmed neuronal death and its connection to neuroinflammation.

Clinically Suspicious Cases of Hansen's Disease at a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India: A Clinicopathological Study.

Background and objective Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, is a chronic granulomatous condition caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affecting the skin and peripheral nerves. The disease has a wide spectrum of clinical and histopathological manifestations, often mimicking other inflammatory and infectious conditions. This variability poses significant challenges in its early diagnosis and management. Aligning clinical suspicion with histopathological evidence is critical for effective treatment and control of transmission. This study was designed to explore the concordance between clinical impressions and histopathological diagnoses and to understand the diagnostic utility of various histopathological techniques. We aimed to establish and correlate the histopathological types of leprosy with clinical presentations. We also sought to determine the extent to which different histopathological techniques, including special stains, can corroborate with clinical types, thereby enhancing diagnostic precision. Materials and methods This was a hospital-based, retrospective study of clinically suspicious cases of leprosy at a tertiary care hospital in South India. A total of 100 cases of various age groups were identified and included in the study. All cases underwent skin biopsy with samples subjected to routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining for the detection oflepra bacilli. Results Among the 100 clinically suspicious cases of leprosy, 50were histopathologically confirmed as leprosy and 50were categorized as non-specific dermatitis. Among the 50 histologically confirmed cases of leprosy, the most common type was lepromatous leprosy (LL) (38%) followed by borderline tuberculoid (BT) (30%) leprosy.Modified AFBstain was positive in 21 cases and was instrumental in confirming the suspected cases of leprosy. The overall correlation between the clinical and histopathological diagnosis was significant, with the highest correlation noted in LL cases. Conclusions Our findings underscorethe complexity of diagnosing leprosy due to its varied clinical and pathological presentations. Despite a high overall concordance rate, the discrepancies between clinical impressions and histopathological findings observed highlight the need for a multidimensional diagnostic approach. Incorporating a combination of clinical assessment, routine histology, and special staining can enhance diagnostic accuracy, leading to better patient management and outcomes.

Comparing The Eeficacy Of Triclosan Coated Sutures Versus Chlorhexidine Sutures In Preventing Surgical Site Infection: A Prospective Split Mouth Study

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of triclosan coated sutures and the chlorhexidine sutures in preventing the surgical site infections. This study was conducted on 20 patients based on the inclusion and exclusion criterion. It was concluded that both triclosan and chlorhexidine impregnated polyglactin sutures have a significant ability in preventing surgical site infection. However, chlorhexidine sutures showed reduced infection rates, erythema and trismus as compared to triclosan sutures in healthy patients undergoing surgical removal of third molar under local anaesthesia. Therefore, their use in various intraoral procedures for effective control of inflammatory and infectious conditions should be highlighted.

Metabolic complexities and heterogeneity in quorum sensing signaling molecules in bacteria isolated from black band disease in a Caribbean coral

Coral diseases contribute to the worldwide loss of coral reefs, with the Black Band Disease (BBD) being a prominent example. BBD is an infectious condition with lesions with a pigmented mat composed of cyanobacteria, sulphate-reducing, sulphide-oxidizing, and heterotrophic bacteria. We compared the heterotrophic bacterial communities of healthy and BBD-affected colonies of the Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata using culture-dependent and -independent techniques. Twenty and 23 bacterial isolates were identified from healthy and diseased tissues, respectively, which differed in their capacities to metabolize carbohydrates and citrate, either anaerobically or aerobically. They also differed in their quorum-sensing (QS) activity, as QS signaling molecules were found exclusively, and QS-inhibition was found primarily, in isolates from diseased tissues. Screening of bacterial diversity by 16SrDNA metabarcoding showed that members of the bacterial genera Muricauda and Maritimimonas were dominant in healthy tissues whereas members of the cyanobacterial genus Roseofilum were dominant in diseased tissues. These results suggest that bacterial dysbiosis can be linked with altered bacterial communication, likely leading to diachrony and imbalance that may participate in the progression of BBD. Investigating physiological traits and QS-based communication offers insights into the onset and progression of coral infections, paving the way for novel strategies to mitigate their impact.

Imaging mimickers of MSK infection.

Along with clinical and laboratory findings, imaging has a significant role in the initial evaluation and treatment follow-up of a wide variety of infectious and non-infectious musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. The imaging findings of many non-infectious MSK processes, such as inflammatory, metabolic, and degenerative arthropathies, complications of diabetes mellitus, osseous and soft tissue injuries, osteonecrosis, tumors, and tumor-like lesions may be nonspecific and often overlap with those found in MSK infections. In this article, the authors discuss the imaging findings of both frequent and rare mimickers of MSK infections, including potential distinguishing characteristics.

Cocaine-induced destruction of the palate: a diagnostic and management challenge

Cocaine usage is increasing at a rate faster than population growth worldwide. The habitual and chronic insufflation of pulverised cocaine is associated with the progressive destruction of the osseocartilaginous structures of the midface, termed cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions (CIMDLs). These entities present a challenging diagnostic picture, mimicking other infectious, malignant and inflammatory conditions associated with midface destruction. CIMDLs can present along a wide spectrum of disease, with minimal palatal perforation to extensive sinonasal destruction. With the increasing usage of cocaine, there is likely to be a concurrent increase in patients presenting to emergency departments with these destructive entities. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness of this uncommon entity and to document a systematic approach that must be adopted to reach a definitive diagnosis which will subsequently inform management. We report four clinical cases of CIMDLs at varying stages of the disease process which presented to the Dublin Dental University Hospital between January 2023 and June 2024 and document their multidisciplinary management from initial presentation to eventual treatment.

Innovations in Imaging: 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT for Assessment of Cardiovascular Infection and Inflammation.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT), referred to as 18F-FDG PET/CT, plays a significant role in the diagnosis and management of patients with systemic infectious and inflammatory conditions. This review provides an overview of 18F-FDG PET/CT in systemic infectious and inflammatory conditions, including infective endocarditis (IE), cardiac implantable electrical device (CIED)/left ventricular assist device (LVAD) infection, sarcoidosis, and large-vessel vasculitis (LVV). This review highlights the past and present literature in the increasing role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular inflammation and infection, including diagnostic and prognostic findings. They key aspects of this paper are to highlight the importance of 18F-FDG PET/CT in cardiovascular infection and inflammation, and to provide illustrations of how it can contribute to patient diagnosis and management.

Sweet Syndrome Presenting with Features of Cellulitis Shortly after Femoral Angioplasty.

Sweet syndrome, a rare skin condition related to neutrophil infiltration, may be triggered by angioplasty.Sweet syndrome is easily misdiagnosed as infectious conditions such as cellulitis.

Cutaneous larva migrans, a neglected tropical disease of skin, with severe secondary eczematization at an unusual location.

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM), commonly referred to as creeping eruption, is an infectious condition caused by various types of hookworms. It primarily affects the superficial layers of the skin owing to the absence of hyaluronidases and proteases. Typically, the distal lower extremities are the most commonly affected areas. The presence of distinctive lesions characterized by erythematous, winding, or serpentine tracks, slightly elevated from the skin surface, is indicative of the condition. Diagnosis primarily relies on clinical observation. Dermoscopy reveals multiple segmented yellowish-linear regions corresponding to pustules along the larval path. Treatment typically involves the use of topical and oral ivermectin, oral albendazole, and topical thiabendazole cream.

Intrahepatic bilioma as a complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report

A biloma is described as an encapsulated collection of intra- or extrahepatic bile related to trauma mechanisms at the level of the biliary tree. Its etiological origin is a traumatic injury following biliary or hepatic surgery, which can cause iatrogenic conditions. In some cases, it can resolve spontaneously, but this is very uncommon. Treatment focuses on performing percutaneous drainage, endoscopy, and should be associated with antibiotics according to the patient's requirements; in some cases, the placement of a stent will be necessary. It is important to note that if the biloma is associated with an infectious condition, it must be drained immediately.

Establishing Australia’s national linked COVID Register

Objective and ApproachThe Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is an independent statutory Australian Government agency tasked with collating health data across federal and state/territory governments, and is accredited to provide complex integration, de-identification and secure access to linked data. To support research into the COVID pandemic, the AIHW has created a national-level COVID Register, which integrates COVID case data from infectious disease registers, and data from hospitals and intensive care, immunisation, deaths, health system usage data, aged care and disability support. ResultsData were probabilistically linked using the AIHW’s linkage spine, matching names, addresses, date of birth and sex. The AIHW data linkage protocols are based on the Five Safes framework which reinforce management of the privacy and confidentiality of data. Linkage rates for COVID cases across participating jurisdictions generally exceeded 95%. Ongoing work aims to increase the coverage of COVID cases, both in time and to include case data from one remaining jurisdiction. ConclusionsLinking disparate datasets from multiple sources has created a critical resource for exploring COVID and patient journeys in Australia. Currently, the Register supports projects to estimate expenditure associated with COVID, describe the impact of COVID for subgroups such as people living rural and remote areas, or those with dementia. ImplicationsUltimately, the Register will be integrated into the National Health Data Hub to enable ongoing health research and analysis through enduring national linked health data. The value of the Register extends beyond COVID and into other infectious diseases and chronic conditions.

Immune system adaptation during gender-affirming testosterone treatment

Infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune conditions present differently in males and females. SARS-CoV-2 infection in naive males is associated with increased risk of death, whereas females are at increased risk of long COVID1, similar to observations in other infections2. Females respond more strongly to vaccines, and adverse reactions are more frequent3, like most autoimmune diseases4. Immunological sex differences stem from genetic, hormonal and behavioural factors5 but their relative importance is only partially understood6–8. In individuals assigned female sex at birth and undergoing gender-affirming testosterone therapy (trans men), hormone concentrations change markedly but the immunological consequences are poorly understood. Here we performed longitudinal systems-level analyses in 23 trans men and found that testosterone modulates a cross-regulated axis between type-I interferon and tumour necrosis factor. This is mediated by functional attenuation of type-I interferon responses in both plasmacytoid dendritic cells and monocytes. Conversely, testosterone potentiates monocyte responses leading to increased tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and interleukin-15 production and downstream activation of nuclear factor kappa B-regulated genes and potentiation of interferon-γ responses, primarily in natural killer cells. These findings in trans men are corroborated by sex-divergent responses in public datasets and illustrate the dynamic regulation of human immunity by sex hormones, with implications for the health of individuals undergoing hormone therapy and our understanding of sex-divergent immune responses in cisgender individuals.

Intelligent Carbon Dots with Switchable Photo-Activated Oxidase-Mimicking Activity and pH Responsive Antioxidant Activity Adaptive to the Wound Microenvironment for Selective Antibacterial Therapy.

Intelligent antibacterial agent with controllable activities adaptive to the wound microenvironment is appealing to reduce drug resistance and enhance antibacterial efficiency. In this study, celery is chosen as the carbon source to construct celery-based carbon dots (CECDs) with double activities, i.e., reactive oxygen species (ROS)-production and ROS-clearance activities. The ROS-production capability of CECDs is dependent on the oxidase (OXD)-mimicking activity, which is only photo-activated and thus artificially controlled by light to avoid the production of excess ROS. Meanwhile, the optimal OXD-mimicking activity occurrs at the pH of 5, close to microenvironmental pH at the bacterial infection site, which will enhance the antibacterial efficacy. On the other hand, CECDs exhibit the antioxidant activity at the neutral or weak alkaline pH, which will assist the healing of the wound. Thus, the conversion of ROS-production and ROS-clearance ability of CECDs can be dynamically and intelligently switched automatically with microenvironmental pH at different stages of treatment (from acid to neutral/weak basic). The proposed CECDs exert adorable selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and satisfactory therapeutic effect on bacteria infected mice. This study paves a new avenue to design the intelligent antibacterial nanoagent sensitive to the infected microenvironmental condition, reducing drug resistance and assisting precise medicine.

Is Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease an Exclusively Medical Gynecological Disease, or It May Be a Surgical Challenge?

Pelvic inflammatory disease is an infectious condition affecting women’s upper genital tract, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. It primarily arises from an infection that spreads upward from the lower genital area. The relationship between chronic pelvic pain and coexisting conditions is a key focus in its diagnosis and treatment. This type of pain is also considered a form of reflex dystrophy, involving both neurological and psychological components, the first line treatment consists in antibiotherapy. For patients with complex or severe pelvic abscesses, surgical intervention may be considered in selected cases. The primary surgical techniques employed are open and laparoscopic surgery, both aimed for abscess removal. MRI or Doppler ultrasonography may be employed when there is a suspicion of adnexal torsion, adenomyosis or deep pelvic endometriosis, especially if the ultrasound results are unclear or inconclusive Laparoscopic surgery has increasingly become favored by both healthcare professionals and patients. Moreover, laparoscopy has emerged as the most valuable tool for diagnosing chronic pelvic pain. The approach to treating pelvic abscesses in women of reproductive age depends greatly on clinical assessments, individual patient factors, and the desire to preserve fertility. However, laparoscopy may present technical difficulties in patients with severe pelvic abscesses, particularly those with extensive adhesions or a closed-off pelvic area, requiring advanced surgical expertise. Women with associated conditions such as endometriosis often experience a more severe form of pelvic inflammatory disease, which is less responsive to antibiotics and more frequently requires surgical resolution. The surgical treatment should be performed individualized to the clinical condition of the patient and the time of intervention must be carefully chosen.

Hybrid zinc oxide nanocoating on titanium implants: Controlled drug release for enhanced antibacterial and osteogenic performance in infectious conditions

Implant-associated bacterial infections are a primary cause of complications in orthopedic implants, and localized drug delivery represents an effective mitigation strategy. Drawing inspiration from the morphology of desiccated soil, our group has developed an advanced drug-delivery system augmented onto titanium (Ti) plates. This system integrates zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays with a vancomycin drug layer along with a protective Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) coating. The binding between the ZnO nanorods and the drug results in attached drug blocks, isolated by desiccation-like cracks, which are then encapsulated by PLGA to enable sustained drug release. Additionally, the release of zinc ions and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the ZnO nanorods enhance the antibacterial efficacy. The antibacterial properties of ZnO nanorod-drug-PLGA system have been validated through both in vitro and in vivo studies. Comprehensive investigations were conducted on the impact of bacterial infections on bone defect regeneration and the role of this drug-delivery system in the healing process. Furthermore, the local immune response was analyzed and the immunomodulatory function of the system was demonstrated. Overall, the findings underscore the superior performance of the ZnO nanorod-drug-PLGA system as an efficient and safe approach to combat implant-associated bacterial infections. Statement of significanceImplant-associated bacterial infections pose a significant clinical challenge, particularly in orthopedic procedures. To address this, we developed an innovative ZnO nanorod-drug-PLGA system for local antibiotic delivery on conventional titanium implants. This system is biodegradable and features a unique desiccation-like structure that enables sustained drug release, along with the active substances released from the ZnO nanorods. In a rat calvarial defect model challenged with S. aureus, our system demonstrated remarkable antibacterial efficacy, significantly enhanced bone defect regeneration, and exhibited local immunomodulatory effects that support both infection control and osteogenesis. These breakthrough findings highlight the substantial clinical potential of this novel drug delivery system and introduce a transformative coating strategy to enhance the functionality of traditional metallic biomaterials.

Antibacterial nanofibrous wound dressing mats made from blended chitosan-copper complexes and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using electrospinning

Chitosan is promising for wound care solutions owing to its high biocompatibility, biodegradability, hemostasis, antimicrobial activity, and promotion of tissue regeneration. However, its antibacterial property is insufficient for some infected wounds and local conditions. Given the high antibacterial activity of copper, this work focused on synthesizing chitosan-copper complexes with 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 % copper to chitosan's amine groups, followed by electrospinning them with polyvinyl alcohol. The mats exhibited promising vapor transition rates ranging from 2800 ± 33 to 3201 ± 48 g/m2.day and a dual-phase release of copper, with an initial burst followed by a sustained release over 7 days. Superior fibroblast cell cytocompatibility was observed up to 12 % copper, with accelerated re-epithelialization and cell migration to 6 % copper. Antibacterial efficacy against both gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus)S. aureus(and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria was effective beyond 3 % copper. Typically, the optimal concentration of copper was identified at 6 %, exhibiting a balance of antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, with the ability to cover 98.0 ± 0.8 % of the wound area in only 24 h and increase cell proliferation by 189 ± 11 % within 5 days.

SCREENING OF COTTON (GOSSYPIUM HIRSUTUM L.) GERMPLASM AGAINST COTTON LEAF CURL VIRUS (CLCUV)

Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV) is a devastating disease affecting cotton production worldwide, particularly in South Asia and Africa transmitted by the whitefly (Bemisia tabaci). CLCuV infection leads to severe symptoms, including leaf curling, vein thickening, stunted growth, and significant yield losses. Developing resistant cotton varieties is the most suitable strategy for managing CLCuV, given the limitations and environmental concerns associated with chemical controls. This study aimed to evaluate the resistance and susceptibility of different cotton varieties to CLCuV under natural field conditions and artificially infected condition using a disease severity scale ranging from 0 (highly resistant) to 5 (susceptible). A total of five cotton varieties, were assessed at three critical growth stages: vegetative, flowering, and boll formation. Disease severity, and yield components were recorded to determine extent of resistance of each variety. The results indicated that genotypes and treatments had significant variation in control compared to T1. According to DSI, NIAB-852 was scored as resistant with 10% infected leaves. FH-142 and CIM-496 were scored as tolerant according to DSI with 10-25% infection in leaves. NIAB Karishma and CIM-448 were scored as moderately susceptible with 50-75% infection. All genotypes had significant reduction in number of bolls, boll weight and seed cotton yield in T1 than control. These findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of existing cotton germplasm against CLCuV and highlight the need for continuous evaluation and development of resistant varieties. The study highlights the importance of generating resistant cultivars, thereby ensuring sustainable cotton production.

Comparative transcriptome profiling of resistant and susceptible groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes in response to stem rot infection caused by Sclerotium rolfsii

AbstractThis study aimed to explore transcriptomic distinctions between resistant (CS‐319) and susceptible (JAL‐42) groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) genotypes exposed to Sclerotium rolfsii infection across different developmental stages. Employing a de novo assembly‐based approach, we analysed the transcriptomic response in these groundnut plants under control and infected conditions at 24, 72 and 120 hours post‐inoculation (hpi). Our RNA‐Seq data yielded a total of 133,900,261 reads, revealing 7796 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We constructed a gene regulatory network with 59 hub genes, identified 6783 transcription factors and uncovered 88,424 putative markers, including 17,236 simple‐sequence repeats (SSRs), 10,099 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 78,332 indels. Notably, the majority of DEGs were upregulated at 24 hpi in the resistant genotype, encompassing diverse functional categories such as pathogenesis‐related genes, defence‐related (R) genes, genes involved in plant–fungus interactions, oxidation–reduction‐related genes, transport, metabolism and proteolysis genes, along with transcription factors (FAR1, B3, GATA, NAC, WRKY, MYBC1 and bHLH), secondary metabolic pathway‐related genes and photosynthesis‐related genes. The up‐regulation of WRKY transcripts, associated with the activation of the jasmonic acid defence signalling pathway, potentially induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Conversely, these DEGs exhibited down‐regulation in the susceptible genotype. Furthermore, a total of 17,236 expressed sequence tag (EST)‐SSRs were identified from the unigenes, holding significant potential for advancing plant breeding through marker‐assisted methods, facilitating quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and evaluating genetic diversity among genotypes. This study's approach contributes to a more profound understanding of the molecular‐level defence mechanisms involved in the interaction between groundnuts and S. rolfsii.

The Role of Inflammation in Depression and Beyond: A Primer for Clinicians.

We evaluate available evidence for the role of inflammation in depression. We reappraise literature involving systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation and neurotransmission and their association with depression. We review the connection between depression, autoimmunity and infectious diseases. We revise anti-inflammatory treatments used in depression. Peripheral inflammatory markers are present in a subset of patients with depression and can alter common neurotransmitters in this population but there is no clear causality between depression and systemic inflammation. Infectious conditions and autoimmune illnesses do not have a clear correlation with depression. Certain medications have positive evidence as adjunctive treatments in depression but studies are heterogenic, hence they are sparsely used in clinical settings. The current evidence does not fully support inflammation, infections or autoimmunity as possible etiologies of depression. The available studies have numerous confounders that obscure the findings. Anti-inflammatory agents may have potential for treatment of depression, but further research is needed to clarify their usefulness in routine clinical practice.

MEGACÓLON PSICOGÊNICO EM PACIENTE PORTADOR DO TRANSTORNO DO ESPECTRO AUTISTA: UM RELATO DE CASO

Introduction: Psychogenic megacolon (PM) is a rare dysfunction usually found during childhood. This condition is characterized as an abnormal and irreversible dilation of the intestinal colon of psychogenic etiology, that is, such motility disorder is linked to some emotional disorder. A full understanding of this disorder is still a long way off due to its scarce description in the medical literature, however, authors such as Liu et al (2019) define it as a persistent dilation of the colon in the absence of any underlying organic or physiological causes, highlighting its diagnosis as purely eliminatory due to its symptomatic similarity with congenital megacolon (Hirschprung's disease). Objectives: The following case report aims at a retrospective and cross-sectional study, arising from the analysis of the patient's medical records, in order to lay scientific foundations for future research addressing the thematic axis of MP in conjunction with the development of new, more effective therapeutic proposals for the disease. Methods: The data provided in this study were obtained from the active collection of information from the patient's medical record, analyzed in line with others extracted from an interview with the person responsible, however, a literature review was carried out using data platforms as sources of good origin such as Scielo Platform, Google Scholar and PubMed. Results: The case describes a 3-year-old male patient, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and with a history of previous hospitalizations related to urinary tract infection (UTI) and médium acute otitis (MAO). In the current history, the patient was admitted due to an acute infectious condition unrelated to MP, however, a distended and painless abdomen was found with increased peristalsis with decreased frequency of bowel movements and the presence of a large fecal cake. via ultrasound, with the diagnosis of megacolon, the clinic was related to the diagnosis of ASD and the patient's difficulty in adapting to the hospital environment, making the hypothesis of MP very likely. Conclusion: The report above describes a highly suggestive picture for MP, while this study seeks to raise the hypothesis of its correlation with ASD, while this neurodevelopmental disorder can influence the bowel habits of those patients historically included within the age group conducive to the manifestation of this disease.