The 2014–2015 Ebola epidemic was considered to be the largest and most complex outbreak, which caused 11,310 reported deaths. The epidemic disease can cause a mental health crisis, however, there is only a small amount of scientific literature available related to this health issue so far. We evaluated the psychological symptoms of 161 participants including Ebola survivors and healthcare workers in Sierra Leone, analyzed the impact of job classification, education level on psychological status. We found that the order of total general severity index (GSI) scores from high to low was EVD survivors, SL medical staff, SL logistic staff, SL medical students, and Chinese medical staff. There were 5 dimensions (obsession-compulsion, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, and paranoid ideation) extremely high in EVD survivors. GSI were associated with university education negatively. We believed our information is necessary to develop the comprehensive emergency response plan for emerging infectious disease outbreak.

To date, there are no definitive biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis. The detection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) alpha (α)-synuclein in PD patients has yielded promising but inconclusive results. To determine the performance of CSF α-synuclein as a diagnostic biomarker of PD and whether CSF α-synuclein can discriminate PD from other neurodegenerative diseases, a systematic search of all relevant studies investigating reproducible CSF α-synuclein quantification methods was conducted in electronic databases. A total of 17 studies that included 3311 patients were included in this systemic review and meta-analysis. The mean CSF α-synuclein concentration was significantly lower in PD patients compared to normal/neurological controls [weighted mean difference (WMD) -0.31; 95% CI, -0.45, -0.16; p < 0.0001] and patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) [WMD -0.15; 95% CI, -0.26, -0.04; p < 0.0001]. There was no significant difference between PD patients and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) patients [WMD -0.03; 95% CI, -0.16, 0.09; p = 0.58] or patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) [WMD 0.05; 95% CI, -0.04, 0.13; p = 0.25]. Sensitivity and specificity of CSF α-synuclein in the diagnosis of PD was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84-0.91) and 0.40 (95% CI, 0.35-0.45), respectively. The positive and negative likelihood ratios of CSF α-synuclein in the diagnosis of PD were 1.41 (95% CI, 1.24-1.60), and 0.29 (95% CI, 0.15-0.56), respectively. The corresponding summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.73. The concentration of CSF α-synuclein may be a biomarker for the diagnosis of PD. The use of α-synuclein alone however is not sufficient as a single biomarker and it must therefore be used in conjunction with other documented and reliable biomarkers.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play crucial roles in mediating innate and adaptive immunity. Sertoli cells create a microenvironment that protects seminiferous tubules from autoantigens and invading pathogens. Here we examined the expression and potential function of TLR family in mouse Sertoli cells. RT-PCR, Western blotting, and flow cytometry were used to analyze gene expression. Immunofluorescence staining was used to determine activation of nuclear factor-kappaB. ELISA was used to detect secreted cytokines in culture medium. The phagocytosis assay was performed by Oil Red O staining for lipid droplets. We demonstrated that TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 are highly expressed; TLR6, TLR7, and TLR13 are expressed at relatively low level; and TLR1, TLR8, TLR9, TLR11, and TLR12 are not detected in mouse Sertoli cells. We focused our study on the roles of TLR2-TLR5 in Sertoli cells. Our data indicated that TLR2-TLR5 can be activated by their ligands in mouse Sertoli cells and subsequently increase expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1alpha, IL-6, and interferon-alpha, and -beta. The augmented expression of the cytokines might be induced by activation of nuclear factor-kappaB. Notably, activation of TLR3 by its ligand, poly (I:C), specifically promoted phagocytosis of apoptotic spermatogenic cells by Sertoli cells. The TLR-induced Sertoli cell phagocytosis was found to be associated with the up-regulation of scavenger receptors. The results suggest that TLRs expressed in mouse Sertoli cells may play roles in defense against invasion of allo- and autoantigens in the seminiferous tubules.

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In addition to its well-characterized effects in immune system, chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2, formerly known as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) is believed to play an important role in brain physiological and pathological processes. It has been shown that CCL2 and its cognate receptor chemokine CC motif receptor 2 are constitutively expressed in several brain regions including the hippocampus, and the expression is up-regulated under pathological conditions. Whereas most investigations have so far focused on its involvement in CNS pathology, few studies have examined the effects of CCL2 on neuronal and synaptic physiology. In this study, we tested the effects of CCL2 on neuronal excitability and excitatory synaptic transmission in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. Bath application of CCL2 depolarized membrane potential and increased spike firing in CA1 neuronal cells. Bath application of CCL2 also produced an increase of excitatory post-synaptic currents recorded in Schaffer-collateral fibers to CA1 synapses. Quantal analysis revealed that CCL2 increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current occurrence and mean quantal content. Taken together, our data indicate that CCL2 enhances neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission via pre-synaptic mechanisms. These results support the emerging concept that chemokines function as neuromodulators in the CNS.

Based on the results of this meta-analysis, it would appear that an algorithm based on serial PCT measurements would allow a more judicious use of antibiotics than currently occurs during the traditional treatment of patients with infections. PCT-guided antibiotic treatment appears to be safe and may also improve clinical outcome.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that diabetes mellitus (DM) may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. We performed an updated meta-analysis to examine the association between DM and risk of bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: We systematically searched the EMBASE and Medline (PubMed) databases (from inception through February 1, 2013) and reviewed the reference lists of relevant publications to search for additional studies. Summary relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with random-effects models. Results: In total, 10 case-control and 14 cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of all studies showed that DM was associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.18-1.43). There was heterogeneity among studies (P heterogeneity < 0.001, I 2 = 81.5%). Cohort studies showed a lower risk (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.09-1.37) than case-control studies (odds ratio 1.46, 95% CI 1.20-1.78). The positive association was significant only in women (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.49), but not in men (RR 1.07, 95% CI 0.97-1.18). The combined RRs remained unchanged before and after the studies on type 1 diabetes were excluded from analysis. The association between DM and bladder cancer risk did not differ significantly by methods of DM ascertainment. The combined RRs were 1.17 (95% CI 1.03-1.34), 1.34 (95% CI 1.19-1.51), and 1.57 (95% CI 0.96-2.55), respectively, when restricting the analysis to the studies accounting for body mass index, cigarette smoking, or glucose-lowering drug use. Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates a positive association between DM and risk of bladder cancer. Further studies are warranted to determine whether DM prevention and control can reduce risk of bladder cancer.

ObjectiveTo compare the muscle thickness, fascicle length, and pennation angle of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and tibialis anterior between Asian children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing (TD) peers.MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved a total of 72 children with hemiplegic CP (n = 24), and diplegic CP (n = 24) and their TD peers (n = 24). Muscle architecture was measured at rest using ultrasound. Clinical measures included gross motor function and a modified Ashworth scale.ResultsThe thicknesses of the tibialis anterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles were smaller in the affected calf of children with CP (p<0.05) than in those of their TD peers. Additionally, the lengths of the lateral gastrocnemius and soleus fascicle were shorter (p<0.05) in children with diplegic CP than in their TD peers. The fascicle length was shorter in the affected calf of children with CP (p<0.05) than in the calves of their TD peers or the unaffected calf of children with hemiplegic CP. However, the length of the lateral gastrocnemius fascicle was similar between the two legs of children with hemiplegic CP. The pennation angles of the medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were larger (p<0.05) in the affected calf in children with hemiplegic CP than in the calves of their TD peers. The fascicle length of the lateral gastrocnemius and the thickness of the soleus muscle were positively correlated with gross motor function scores in children with CP (p<0.05).ConclusionsMuscle thickness and fascicle length were lower in the affected tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and soleus in children with spastic CP. These changes may limit the ability to stand and walk, and indicate a need to strengthen the affected muscle.