Investigating the effect of gold nanoparticles on hydatid cyst protoscolices under low-power green laser irradiation

Objectives

Various scolicidal agents are applied for the destruction of protoscolices in cysts media. Undesirable complications of the scolicidal agents limit the techniques to treat the cyst disease. Therefore, new non-toxic scolicidal agents are needed. Upon laser light irradiation, the photothermal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) convert the absorbed laser light into heat through photothermal effect which kills the surrounding protoscolices by rising the temperature of the cysts media. In this study, we introduced biocompatible AuNPs as a non-toxic scolicidal agent to cure liver hydatid cysts.

Material and Methods

The protoscoleces were collected from the livers of naturally infected sheeps. In each experimental group, 1.5 mL suspensions of hydatid liquid containing protoscolices were added to test tubes. The test tubes were divided into five groups. Control, AuNPs only, Green laser only, High-dose AuNPs + laser and Low-dose AuNPs + laser groups. Two concentrations (0.4 and 0.8 mL) of AuNPs and three laser powers (30, 50, 150 mW) were applied for 30, 60 and 120 minutes to the groups. Then the ciysts liquid assessed under a light microscope and determined the viability of protoscoleces.

Results

Protoscolices in high-dose AuNPs group were destructed up to 89.30% deaths under 150 mW laser power for 120 minutes. However, negligible cell deaths were observed in cases where only AuNPs added or only laser irradiated groups. Increasing the dose of AuNPs or laser power or duration of aplication increased the protoscolosidal death rate.

Conclusion

In the study, we have successfully demonstrated that the AuNPs are an effective therapeutic and scolicidal agent to cure hydatid cyst disease under laser irradiation.

Evaluation of respiratory syncytial virus IgG antibody dynamics in mother-infant pairs cohort

RSV is one of the most important agents of lower respiratory infections in childhood. In this study, anti-RSV antibody levels in mother-infant pairs and factors related to antibody transfer ratio were investigated. One hundred and twenty-seven women that had term babies and their babies and 84 mother-infant pairs of them who continued the study after 6 months were enrolled. Anti-RSV IgG antibodies of the mothers and infants were positive in 46.5% and 61.5%, respectively. At the sixth month, anti-RSV antibodies were negative in all infants. Median of the anti-RSV antibody levels of the mothers and infants at birth were 12.08 IU/ml (1.21-119.27) and 13.78 IU/ml (3.99-108.6), respectively. There was a significant correlation between anti-RSV antibody levels of mothers and infants at birth (p: 0.0001, r: 0.667) and anti-RSV antibody levels of infants at birth and at 6th month (p: 0.0001, r: 0.343). Median ratio of infant and mother antibody levels was 1.22 (0.14-6.05). Median ratio that was detected in appropriate for gestational age infants was significantly higher than in small for gestational age or large for gestational age infants. In this study, the significant positive correlation between maternal antibody levels and infants' antibody levels at birth suggests that maternal vaccination strategies may be logical. We showed that antibody transfer rate was highest in appropriate for gestational age infants. It should be kept in mind that maternal vaccination strategies may be less effective in small for gestational age and large for gestational age infants.

The Use of Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation Method in The Treatment of Hepatic Hydatid Cysts: Ex vivo Sheep Study

Objective

Hydatid disease is a disease caused by parasites belonging to the echinococcus family. This disease is often caused by Echinococcus granulosus and rarely by echinococcus alveolaris.The parasite may cause illness anywhere in the human body, mainly in liver. In this study, we aimed to destroy the hydatid cyst viability by Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation (RFTA) method which has been used in many areas in medicine.

Methods

We used fresh sheep liver with hydatid cysts. Average diameter of cysts was 3.3 cm. The study was performed in 3 groups, each of which involved 20 cysts. After more than half of the cyst fluid was drained, ablation was performed. When the core temperature of the cyst exceeded 95°C, ablation procedure was continued for 3 minute in 1^st group and for 4 minutes in 2^nd group. Third group was the control group. And then, cyst fluid and germinative membrane were collected for microbiologic and pathologic assessment.

Results

In 1^st group, the cysts could not be destroyed at the desired level. In 2nd group, it was observed that 100% of the protoscolex died and 100% of the germinative membranes was degenerated. In control group, %13 of protoscolex died and %10 of germinative membranes wasdegenerated.

Conclusion

We destroyed all the protoscolex and germinative membranes by using RFTA in 2^nd group.

A rare cause of bacteremia in a pediatric patient with Down syndrome: Sphingomonas paucimobilis

Sphingomonas paucimobilis, is a yellow-pigmented, aerobic, non fermentative, gram negative motile bacillus. S. paucimobilis which is widely found in nature and hospital environments rarely cause serious or life threatening infections. In this report, a case of hospital acquired bloodstream infection due to S. paucimobilis in a patient with Down syndrome who was on treatment for presumed pneumonia is presented. A one year-old child patient who was a known case of Down syndrome and had previously experienced cardiac surgery was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia. On the 12th day of hospitalization, blood cultures were taken because of a high body temperature. One of the blood cultures was positive for gram-negative rods. After 48 hour of incubation, the sub-cultures on blood agar medium yielded pure growth of a yellow, non-fermentative, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. The microorganism was positive for oxidase, and esculin hydrolysis, while negative for urea and nitrate reduction, citrate utilisation and motility. The isolate had been identified as S. paucimobilis by using Vitek 2 system. The antibiotic susceptibility test was also performed with the same system and the strain was found to be susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam and other antibiotics. Treatment with intravenous piperacilin-tazobactam (150 mg/kg/day) was initiated. He responded well to the treatment and was discharged after 10 days. This case is reported to emphasize that S. paucimobilis should be kept in mind as a nosocomial infectious agent in patients with Down syndrome and immunosuppressive patients and the infections should be treated according to the sensitivity test results.