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Problem Worldwide (problem + worldwide)
Kinds of Problem Worldwide Selected AbstractsGenetics of Type 2 diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 5 2005I. Barroso Abstract Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has become a health-care problem worldwide, with the rise in disease prevalence being all the more worrying as it not only affects the developed world but also developing nations with fewer resources to cope with yet another major disease burden. Furthermore, the problem is no longer restricted to the ageing population, as young adults and children are also being diagnosed with T2D. In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of genetic studies of T2D in attempts to identify some of the underlying risk factors. In this review, I highlight the main genes known to cause uncommon monogenic forms of diabetes (e.g. maturity-onset diabetes of the young,MODY,and insulin resistance syndromes), as well as describe some of the main approaches used to identify genes involved in the more common forms of T2D that result from the interaction between environmental risk factors and predisposing genotypes. Linkage and candidate gene studies have been highly successful in the identification of genes that cause the monogenic variants of diabetes and, although progress in the more common forms of T2D has been slow, a number of genes have now been reproducibly associated with T2D risk in multiple studies. These are discussed, as well as the main implications that the diabetes gene discoveries will have in diabetes treatment and prevention. [source] Regulation of inflammation by PPARs: a future approach to treat lung inflammatory diseases?FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Julien Becker Abstract Lung inflammatory diseases, such as acute lung injury (ALI), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung fibrosis, represent a major health problem worldwide. Although glucocorticoids are the most potent anti-inflammatory drug in asthma, they exhibit major side effects and have poor activity in lung inflammatory disorders such as ALI or COPD. Therefore, there is growing need for the development of alternative or new therapies to treat inflammation in the lung. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), including the three isotypes PPAR,, PPAR, (or PPAR,) and PPAR,, are transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. PPARs, and in particular PPAR, and PPAR,, are well known for their critical role in the regulation of energy homeostasis by controlling expression of a variety of genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Synthetic ligands of the two receptor isotypes, the fibrates and the thiazolidinediones, are clinically used to treat dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Recently however, PPAR, and PPAR, have been shown to exert a potent anti-inflammatory activity, mainly through their ability to downregulate pro-inflammatory gene expression and inflammatory cell functions. The present article reviews the current knowledge of the role of PPAR, and PPAR, in controlling inflammation, and presents different findings suggesting that PPAR, and PPAR, activators may be helpful in the treatment of lung inflammatory diseases. [source] Sex difference in the liver of hepatocyte-specific Pten-deficient mice: A model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitisHEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2009Yumiko Anezaki Aim:, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a public health problem worldwide. NAFLD is more prevalent in men than in women. Tamoxifen, a potent estrogen receptor antagonist, causes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD. Thus, there may be a sex difference that is dependent on estrogens in NAFLD and NASH. Hepatocyte-specific Pten-deficient mice exhibit hepatic lesions analogous to NASH and are considered to be a clinical model of NASH. We aimed to shed light on any sex differences in the hepatic lesions of Pten-deficient mice and the underlying mechanisms. Methods:, At 40 weeks, livers from male and female Pten-deficient mice were processed for measuring lipid content, genes expression analysis, and histological examination. Level of serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also determined. Seventy-six-week-old mice were used in tumor burden experiments. Results:, Hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and even carcinogenesis in Pten-deficient mice were attenuated in females compared to males. Attenuated fatty liver in females was ascribed to inactivation of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c. Hepatic inflammation in females was suppressed via decreased ROS with increased antioxidant gene expression and decreased proinflammatory cytokine production. Anti-cancer effect in female mice was, at least in part, due to the significantly lower ratio of oleic to stearic acid in the liver. Conclusions:, Hepatic lesions in Pten-deficient mice were attenuated in females compared to males, as were human NAFLD and NASH. Some of the underlying mechanisms in sex difference appeared to be due to the change of gene expression, dependent on estrogens. [source] Molecular diagnosis of inherited disorders: lessons from hemoglobinopathies,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 5 2005George P. Patrinos Abstract Hemoglobinopathies constitute a major health problem worldwide, with a high carrier frequency, particularly in certain regions where malaria has been endemic. These disorders are characterized by a vast clinical and hematological phenotypic heterogeneity. Over 1,200 different genetic alterations that affect the DNA sequence of the human ,-like (HBZ, HBA2, HBA1, and HBQ1) and ,-like (HBE1, HBG2, HBG1, HBD, and HBB) globin genes are mainly responsible for the observed clinical heterogeneity. These mutations, together with detailed information about the resulting phenotype, are documented in the globin locus-specific HbVar database. Family studies and comprehensive hematological analyses provide useful insights for accurately diagnosing thalassemia at the DNA level. For this purpose, numerous techniques can provide accurate, rapid, and cost-effective identification of the underlying genetic defect in affected individuals. The aim of this article is to review the diverse methodological and technical platforms available for the molecular diagnosis of inherited disorders, using thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies as a model. This article also attempts to shed light on issues closely related to thalassemia diagnostics, such as prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnoses and genetic counseling, for better-quality disease management. Hum Mutat 26(5), 399,412, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Treatment of pediculosis capitis with thiabendazole: a pilot studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2003Mohammad Reza Namazi MD Background, Despite the improvement of health standards, head lice infestation remains a problem worldwide. In addition, there is increasing evidence that head lice are becoming resistant to common pediculocides. Aim, To test the potential effectiveness of thiabendazole, a potent and broad-spectrum antiparasitic and scabicidal agent, for the treatment of pediculosis capitis. Methods, Twenty-three female patients, aged 7,12 years, who had active head lice infestation, were treated with oral thiabendazole, 20 mg/kg twice daily for 1 day, with repeat treatment after 10 days. Results, On the 11th day, meticulous hair examination showed that 21 patients had responded to treatment [91%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 71,98%], with 14 showing complete responsiveness (61%; 95% CI, 40,78%). The only adverse reactions observed were nausea and mild dizziness, which occurred in four patients, three of whom took the drug on an empty stomach. Conclusions, Thiabendazole may be a promising treatment for head lice infestation. The primary action of this drug seems to be the inhibition of parasite microtubule polymerization by binding to ,-tubulin. In addition, thiabendazole may interfere with the synaptic transmission of lice through its probable cholinergic effect. As pediculosis capitis is a very communicable disease, the unresponsiveness to thiabendazole could largely be attributed to new infestations during the drug-free interval. Therefore, massive and simultaneous rather than individual and isolated treatments should be used to achieve the epidemiologic control of this ectoparasitosis. As this is a preliminary study, the performance of double-blind, randomized controlled trials on this subject is warranted. Thiabendazole, either alone or in combination with other agents, may prove to be of particular use in areas in which head lice show resistance to common pediculocides. [source] Prevalence, whole genome characterization and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis B virus in captive orangutan and gibbonJOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Pattaratida Sa-nguanmoo Abstract Background, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a public health problem worldwide and apart from infecting humans, HBV has been found in non-human primates. Methods, We subjected 93 non-human primates comprising 12 species to ELISA screening for the serological markers HBsAg, antiHBs and antiHBc. Subsequently, we detected HBV DNA, sequenced the whole HBV genome and performed phylogenetic analysis. Results, HBV infection was detected in gibbon (4/15) and orangutan (7/53). HBV DNA isolates from two gibbons and seven orangutans were chosen for complete genome amplification. We aligned the Pre-S/S, Pre-C/C and entire genomes with HBV sequences and performed phylogenetic analysis. The gibbon and orangutan viruses clustered within their respective groups. Conclusions, Both geographic location and host species influence which HBV variants are found in gibbons and orangutans. Hence, HBV transmission between humans and non-human primates might be a distinct possibility and additional studies will be required to further investigate this potential risk. [source] The prevalence of melanocytic naevi among schoolchildren in South HungaryJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 12 2008Z Csoma Abstract Background, Malignant melanoma is an increasing public health problem worldwide; accordingly, identification of the constitutional and environmental factors which contribute to the development of the disease, and hence identification of the individuals at high risk of melanoma, is an indispensable step in all primary prevention efforts. Objectives, This paper aims to assess the prevalence of different pigmented lesions among schoolchildren and to investigate their relationship with phenotypic pigmentary characteristics, sun exposure and other factors. Patients/methods, A cross-sectional study was performed in two secondary schools in Szeged, Hungary. A total of 1320 schoolchildren, aged 14 to 18 years, underwent a whole-body skin examination. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on phenotypic, sun exposure and other variables. Results, One to 10 common melanocytic naevi were found in 27% of the participants, and the naevus numbers were in the range of 10,100 in 67%; 5.4% of them had more than 100 common melanocytic naevi. The prevalence of clinically atypical naevi was 24.3%. Statistically significant associations were found between the number of pigmented lesions and gender, hair colour, eye colour, skin phototype, a history of severe painful sunburns and a family history of a large number of melanocytic naevi. Conclusion, Our study population displayed a markedly high prevalence of clinically atypical melanocytic naevi. Moreover, a considerable proportion of the investigated individuals had multiple common melanocytic naevi. Since the presence of a large number of melanocytic naevi is a strong predictor for future melanoma development, health educational programmes on melanoma prevention should be aimed at young age groups. [source] Review article: rifaximin, a minimally absorbed oral antibacterial, for the treatment of travellers' diarrhoeaALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 11 2010P. LAYER Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 1155,1164 Summary Background, Travellers' diarrhoea, a common problem worldwide with significant medical impact, is generally treated with anti-diarrhoeal agents and fluid replacement. Systemic antibiotics are also used in selected cases, but these may be associated with adverse effects, bacterial resistance and drug,drug interactions. Aim, To review the clinical evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of the minimally absorbed oral antibiotic rifaximin in travellers' diarrhoea. Methods, PubMed and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Clinical Trials (to January 2010) and International Society of Travel Medicine congress abstracts (2003,2009) were searched to identify relevant publications. Results, A total of 10 publications were included in the analysis. When administered three times daily for 3 days, rifaximin is superior to placebo or loperamide; it is at least as effective as ciprofloxacin in reducing duration of illness and restoring wellbeing in patients with travellers' diarrhoea, both with and without identification of a pathogen, as well as in diarrhoea caused by Escherichia coli infection. Rifaximin demonstrates only minimal potential for development of bacterial resistance and for cytochrome P450-mediated drug,drug interactions, and its tolerability profile is similar to that of placebo. Conclusion, When antibiotic therapy is warranted in uncomplicated travellers' diarrhoea, rifaximin may be considered as a first-line treatment option because of its favourable efficacy, tolerability and safety profiles. [source] High Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young Peruvians Who Have Sexual Intercourse With Foreign Travelers in CuzcoJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2009Miguel M. Cabada MD Background Sexual networking in popular tourist destinations is a problem worldwide. In Peru, locals sexually interacting with travelers bridge high-risk groups, the general population, and travelers. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Cuzco about sexual behavior among young Peruvians who admitted having sex with travelers. A subgroup of the participants had serologic testing for Chlamydia trachomatis, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2, and Treponema pallidum. Results Eighty-eight subjects volunteered for blood sampling. Their mean age was 22.9 years (±4.1) and 53.4% were male. The majority were single (86.2%), but 12.6% had a stable relationship. The median number of sexual partners in the 3 months prior to the study was 2 [interquartile range (IQR): 1,4]. During that period, 43.1% reported foreign partners, 28.4% reported foreign and Peruvian partners, 17% reported Peruvian partners, and the remaining 11.5% reported combinations of Peruvian, foreign, and sex workers partners. The median number of foreign partners in the 12-month period prior to the study was 4 (IQR: 2,8). Only 25.3% reported consistent condom use. Alcohol (69%) and drugs (36.8%) were commonly used before sexual activity. Seventy-eight percent tested positive for HSV type 2, 25% for C trachomatis, and 1.1% for T pallidum. Conclusions The core group of young Peruvians we report on demonstrated a high-risk sexual behavior and a high prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. Our results underscore the need for education on safer sex practices among this group and among travelers. [source] Acute inorganic mercury vapor inhalation poisoningPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2000Sigeyuki Asano Abstract Mercury contamination is a serious environmental problem worldwide. Two primary sources of contamination are dumping of large quantities of inorganic mercury and exposure in the mining industry. Although the actual fatal level of mercury vapor is not known, exposure to more than 1,2 mg/m3 of elemental mercury vapor (Hg0) for a few hours causes acute chemical bronchiolitis and pneumonitis. Two hours after exposure, lung injury appears as hyaline membrane formation, and finally, extensive pulmonary fibrosis occurs. Clinical findings correlate with the duration of exposure, the concentration of mercury, and the survival time after exposure. There is no correlation between pathological findings and the concentration of mercury in the tissues. Necrosis of proximal convoluted tubules may be attributed to the disruption of the enzyme systems of Hg2+ -sulfhydryl compounds. Metallothionein protein (MT), induced by the accumulation of Hg2+ in the kidneys, may play an important role in detoxication after it forms a non-toxic Hg2+ -MT compound. Despite the deposition of mercury in the brain, compared with organic mercury, inorganic mercury did not seem to damage the neurons. Drugs such as chelating agents and corticosteroids appear to effectively decrease the inflammation and delay pulmonary fibrosis. [source] Serum biomarkers of hepatitis B virus infected liver inflammation: A proteomic studyPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 5 2003Qing-Yu He Abstract Hepatitis B virus (HBV), a serious infectious and widespread human pathogen, represents a major health problem worldwide. Chronic HBV infection has a very high risk of evolving into hepatocellular carcinoma. Although considerable progress was made during the recent past, the pathogenesis of HBV infection is still elusive and a definite diagnosis of HBV infected liver information still relies on biopsy histological test. In this report, we used proteomics technology to globally examine HBV infected serum samples aiming at searching for disease-associated proteins that can be used as serological biomarkers for diagnosis and/or target proteins for pathogenetic study. By comparing with normal and HBV negative serum samples, we found that at least seven proteins were significantly changed in HBV infected sera. These greatly altered proteins were identified to be haptoglobin , and ,2 chain, apolipoprotein A-I and A-IV, ,1-antitrypsin, transthyretin and DNA topoisomerase II,. The alteration of these proteins is displayed not only in quantity but also in patterns (or specificity), which can be correlated with necroinflammatory scores. In particular, apolipoprotein A-I presents heterogeneous change in expression level with different isoforms and ,1-antitrypsin produces evidently different fragments implying diverse cleavage pathways. These unique phenomena appear specific to HBV infection. A combination simultaneously considering the quantities and isoforms of these proteins could be a useful serum biomarker (or index) for HBV diagnosis and therapy. [source] Skin wound healing in diabetic ,6 integrin-deficient miceAPMIS, Issue 10 2010JASPER N. JACOBSEN Jacobsen JN, Steffensen B, Häkkinen L, Krogfelt KA, Larjava HS. Skin wound healing in diabetic ,6 integrin-deficient mice. APMIS 2010; 118: 753,64. Integrin ,v,6 is a heterodimeric cell surface receptor, which is absent from the normal epithelium, but is expressed in wound-edge keratinocytes during re-epithelialization. However, the function of the ,v,6 integrin in wound repair remains unclear. Impaired wound healing in patients with diabetes constitutes a major clinical problem worldwide and has been associated with the accumulation of advanced glycated endproducts (AGEs) in the tissues. AGEs may account for aberrant interactions between integrin receptors and their extracellular matrix ligands such as fibronectin (FN). In this study, we compared healing of experimental excisional skin wounds in wild-type (WT) and ,6-knockout (,6,/,) mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Results showed that diabetic ,6,/, mice had a significant delay in early wound closure rate compared with diabetic WT mice, suggesting that ,v,6 integrin may serve as a protective role in re-epithelialization of diabetic wounds. To mimic the glycosylated wound matrix, we generated a methylglyoxal (MG)-glycated variant of FN. Keratinocytes utilized ,v,6 and ,1 integrins for spreading on both non-glycated and FN-MG, but their spreading was reduced on FN-MG. These findings indicated that glycation of FN and possibly other integrin ligands could hamper keratinocyte interactions with the provisional matrix proteins during re-epithelialization of diabetic wounds. [source] Strategy and mechanism for the prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma: Phosphorylated retinoid X receptor , is a critical target for hepatocellular carcinoma chemopreventionCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009Masahito Shimizu Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health care problem worldwide. The prognosis of patients with HCC is poor because even in the early stages when surgical treatment might be expected to be curative, the incidence of recurrence in patients with underlying cirrhosis is very high due to multicentric carcinogenesis. Therefore, strategies to prevent recurrence and second primary HCC are required to improve the prognosis. One of the most practical approaches to prevent the multicentric development of HCC is ,clonal deletion' therapy, which is defined as the removal of latent (i.e. invisible) (pre)malignant clones from the liver in a hypercarcinogenic state. Retinoids, a group of structural and functional analogs of vitamin A, exert their biological function primarily through two distinct nuclear receptors, retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors (RXR), and abnormalities in the expression and function of these receptors are highly associated with the development of various cancers, including HCC. In particular, a malfunction of RXR, due to phosphorylation by the Ras,mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway is profoundly associated with the development of HCC and thus may be a critical target for HCC chemoprevention. Acyclic retinoid, which has been clinically shown to reduce the incidence of a post-therapeutic recurrence of HCC, can inhibit Ras activity and phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and RXR, proteins. In conclusion, the inhibition of RXR, phosphorylation and the restoration of its physiological function as a master regulator for nuclear receptors may be a potentially effective strategy for HCC chemoprevention and clonal deletion. Acyclic retinoid, which targets phosphorylated RXR,, may thus play a critical role in preventing the development of multicentric HCC. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 369,374) [source] Perceptions of child labour among working children in Ibadan, NigeriaCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2006F. O. Omokhodion Abstract Background The adverse effects of child labour on the children's psychological development continue to raise concerns about this public health problem worldwide. Several views have been presented by child health authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international agencies. Few studies have focused on the children themselves. This study sought to determine working children's perspective of child labour, its benefits and disadvantages and the working children's perceptions of themselves, and their aspirations for the future. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out among working children in a large market in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to all consenting children. Results A total of 225 children, 132 females and 93 males, participated in the survey. Their age range was 8,17 years. A total of 103 respondents (46%) were currently in school while 117 (52%) were out of school. Five respondents (2%) had never attended school. A total of 104 (46%) thought that children should not work. However, when asked about the benefits of working, 81 working children (36%) felt that work provided a source of income for them, 52 (23%) indicated that it was a way of helping their parents and 39 (17%) thought it was part of their training to be responsible adults. Bad company, ill health and road traffic accidents were the perceived ill effects of child labour. The majority of the children interviewed were aspiring towards artisan trades and very few towards professional or office jobs. A total of 106 (47%) children perceived themselves as less fortunate than their peers. Fifty-five children (24%) thought that child labour was a sign of deprivation. The perception that child labour is a sign of deprivation was more prevalent among child workers whose highest educational attainment was primary school, child workers who had worked for more than 6 months and those whose earnings were small. Conclusion We recommend that school education for children should be a priority even when the harsh economic realities in their families force parents to send them to work outside the home. [source] | ||||||||||