Naegleria Fowleri Symptoms

Meghan Rosen is a staff writer who reports on the life sciences for Science News . She earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology with an emphasis in biotechnology from the University of California, Davis, and later graduated from the science communication program at UC Santa Cruz. Adblock test (Why?)

Introduction Clostridium perfringens type A is a spore-forming Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium that causes gas gangrene in both humans and animals (Songer, 1996; Petit et al., 1999). The disease is a life-threatening necrotizing soft tissue infection that leads to myonecrosis, shock, multiple organ failure, and death of patients (Bryant, 2003; Titball, 2005). C. perfringens sepsis often develops extremely rapidly, accompanied by intravascular hemolysis and metabolic acidosis and has a high mortality rate (Hifumi, 2020). The only current therapeutic measures are hyperbaric oxygen therapy and use of antibiotics, but these treatments are not sufficient to prevent disease progression in some patients (Stephens, 1996; Bryant and Stevens, 2010). More effective therapeutic strategies are urgently required. C. perfringens type A has been reported to produce multiple virulence factors. Many studies have focused on the biological and biochemical activities of α -toxin (or ...

A builder was found to have hundreds of parasitic worms in his brain after eating undercooked pork. Zhu Zhong-fa, 43, went to a hospital in Zhejiang, China, foaming at the mouth, and drifting in and out of consciousness. An MRI scan revealed he had more than 700 worms writhing in his brain and chest in a condition known as neurocysticercosis. This occurs when parasitic larvae in undercooked pork build-up in the body, eventually invading the central nervous system and triggering seizures. Mr Zhong-fa admitted to eating a hotpot a month ago he was "unsure about", Newsweek reported. He was treated with anti-parasitic drugs last week, which seem to be working well so far. Mr Zhong-fa, who lives in the city of Hangzhou, arrived at the First Affiliated Hospital of College of Medicine at Zhejiang University around a month after his symptoms began. With doctors initially unable to find what was wrong, scans later revealed the source of the problem. The tapeworms entered the man's...

Earlier this week news broke that independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., claimed to have once had a dead worm in his brain. Kennedy had been experiencing memory loss and mental fog, and he originally suspected these symptoms might be caused by a brain tumor. Brain scans in 2010 showed a cyst that his doctors said contained remains of a parasite. The findings and other health issues were revealed in a New York Times article based on a review of a deposition for his 2012 divorce, as well as an interview the outlet conducted with him. The revelation drew attention in the worlds of politics and parasitology. "I woke up to all kinds of messages from friends in parasitology," says Shira Shafir, an epidemiologist and an associate adjunct professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, in response to the news. The species of the purported parasite in Kennedy's brain was never identified, and he did not know where he got infected. A spokesperson told m...

16 Apr ASPECT-NP: Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III Trial Comparing Efficacy & Safety of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam vs Meropenem in Ventilated Nosocomial Pneumonia MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr. Rhee Elizabeth Rhee, MD Executive Director, Infectious Disease Clinical Research Merck Research Laboratories MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain the condition of ventilated nosocomial pneumonias? Dr. Rhee: Nosocomial pneumonia (NP) is a lung infection that occurs during a hospital stay. NP is often serious, and is associated with high mortality. It is one of the most common health-care associated infections in both the U.S. and Europe, accounting for over 20% of such cases. Gram-negative bacteria, mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) and Enterobacteriaceae, are frequent causes of nosocomial pneumonia. Limited options currently exist for the management of NP caused by Gram-negative pathogens. Th...

Healthcare workers in tropical and sub-tropical settings where strongyloidiasis is prevalent or caring for patients who have travelled to such areas, need to maintain a high level of awareness about the use of corticosteroids, including when this class of anti-inflammatories is given to patients suspected of infection with SARS-CoV-2. Strongyloidiasis - a parasitic worm infection – is estimated to affect millions of people and is associated with marginalized communities who often walk barefoot. While it is frequently subclinical, immunosuppression resulting from diseases such as AIDS, lymphoma and leukemia or from continued use of corticosteroids can convert it into a severe and deadly "hyperinfection" syndrome. Risks in an era of COVID-19 The current COVID-19 pandemic serves to highlight the risk of using systemic corticosteroids and, to a lesser extent, other immunosuppressive therapy, in populations with significant risk of underlying strongyloidiasis. Cases of s...

Introduction Helminth parasites establish chronic infections, characterized by modulation of both the innate and adaptive host immune response. A generalized, negative relationship between helminth infection and immune-related disorders is apparent for several disorders and helminth parasite species (1–3). Excretory–secretory (ES) products released from eukaryotic parasites are potent modulators of the immune response,which is central to the survival of these pathogens and for the maintenance of a chronic infection. There is active, sustained investigation of the mechanisms of the immunomodulation induced by helminths and the characterization of parasite-derived products with immunomodulation properties for treatment and prevention of the autoimmune-related diseases (4, 5). Indeed, investigation of the activities and properties of ES products has provided insights into the mechanisms of the host immune response modulation by parasites, which may be exploited for therapeutic intervent...