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Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &... Aug 2023The aims of this study were (1) to describe and examine differences in change of direction (COD) performance and the magnitude of asymmetries in para-footballers with...
The aims of this study were (1) to describe and examine differences in change of direction (COD) performance and the magnitude of asymmetries in para-footballers with cerebral palsy (CP) and controls and (2) to evaluate the association between COD outcomes and linear sprint performance. Twenty-eight international para-footballers with CP and thirty-nine non-impaired football players (control group) participated in this study. All participants completed a 10-m sprint and two attempts of the 505 COD test with the dominant and non-dominant leg. The COD deficit was calculated using the difference between the 505 test and the 10-m sprint time, while the asymmetry index was determined by comparing each leg's completion time and COD deficit. Players across groups showed interlimb asymmetries between the dominant and non-dominant legs in COD outcomes and deficit (p < 0.05, d = -0.40 to -1.46), although these asymmetries imbalance were not significantly different between the sexes with and without impairment. Males with CP exhibited a faster directional COD speed and a shorter COD deficit than their female counterparts (p < 0.01, d = -1.68 to -2.53). Similarly, the control group had faster scores than the CP groups of the same sex (p < 0.05, d = 0.53 to 3.78). Lastly, the female CP group and male control groups showed a significant association between sprint and the COD deficit in the dominant leg (p < 0.05, r = -0.58 to 0.65). Therefore, the use of directional dominance, the COD deficit, and asymmetry outcomes could be helpful for classification purposes to assess the impact of the impairment on sport-specific activity testing according to sex.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Sex Characteristics; Cerebral Palsy; Athletic Performance; Cross-Sectional Studies; Football
PubMed: 37149724
DOI: 10.1111/sms.14383 -
Microorganisms Jan 2024(Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) was recently classified as a pest due to its ability to act as a vector of the phytopathogen . This insect has been reported...
(Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera, Aphrophoridae) was recently classified as a pest due to its ability to act as a vector of the phytopathogen . This insect has been reported to harbour several symbiotic bacteria that play essential roles in health and fitness. However, the factors driving bacterial assemblages remain largely unexplored. Here, the bacteriome associated with different organs (head, abdomen, and genitalia) of males and females of was characterized using culturally dependent and independent methods and compared in terms of diversity and composition. The bacteriome of is enriched in Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteria phyla, as well as in Sulcia and genera. The most frequent isolates were , , and sp.1. Males display a more diverse bacterial community than females, but no differences in diversity were found in distinct organs. However, the organ shapes the bacteriome structure more than sex, with the Microbacteriaceae family revealing a high level of organ specificity and the Blattabacteriaceae family showing a high level of sex specificity. Several symbiotic bacterial genera were identified in for the first time, including , , , , and . Differences in the bacterial composition within organs and sexes suggest an adaptation of bacteria to particular insect tissues, potentially shaped by their significance in the life and overall fitness of . Although more research on the bacteria of interactions is needed, such knowledge could help to develop specific bacterial-based insect management strategies.
PubMed: 38399702
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020298 -
Clinical Genitourinary Cancer Apr 2024Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the 10 most common cancer globally with an almost 4 times higher prevalence in men. The main risk factors for development of urothelial... (Review)
Review
Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the 10 most common cancer globally with an almost 4 times higher prevalence in men. The main risk factors for development of urothelial carcinoma are advanced age, smoking, arsenic contamination, exposure to carcinogens. Metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) has overall poor prognosis with a 5-year overall survival rate of only < 5%. The standard of care comprises of platinum-based chemotherapy, but the responses are often not sustained. A working group was established with an objective to discuss the most recent clinical data on the genitourinary tumors of interest and comprised of experts across Latin America, Emerging Asia (except China, Japan, and South Korea), Africa, and the Middle East (known as Emerging Markets or EM). There is an evident disparity in terms of uneven mortality and incidence rate distribution among various regions. There is a lack and/or insufficient data on epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes in the EM. The lack of registries impacts the healthcare decisions and the lower incidence from the region might not be reflective of the true disease burden. The treatment outcomes of mUC can be improved by understanding the current disease burden and treatment approach of mUC and identifying the gaps and challenges associated with management. Hence, a literature review was developed to summarize the current disease burden and treatment approach of mUC across EM. The review also highlights the unmet needs for mUC management in EM and suggests a way forward to improve the current situation in order to better serve the patients.
Topics: Male; Humans; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms; Expert Testimony; Treatment Outcome; Cost of Illness
PubMed: 38228413
DOI: 10.1016/j.clgc.2024.01.001 -
Insect Science Aug 2023Black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is a prominent insect for the bioconversion of various organic wastes. As a saprotrophic insect, the...
Black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is a prominent insect for the bioconversion of various organic wastes. As a saprotrophic insect, the BSF inhabits microbe-rich environments. However, the influences of the intestinal microorganisms on BSF growth and development are not very clear. In this study, the dynamics of the intestinal bacterial community of BSF larvae (BSFL) were analyzed using pyrosequencing. Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the most prevalent bacterial phyla in the intestines of all larval instars. The dynamic changes in bacterial community compositions among different larval instars were striking at the genus level. Klebsiella, Clostridium, Providencia, and Dysgonomonas were the relatively most abundant bacteria in the 1st- to 4th-instar BSFL, respectively. Dysgonomonas and Providencia also dominated the 5th- and 6th-instar larvae, at ratios of 31.1% and 47.2%, respectively. In total, 148 bacterial strains affiliated with 20 genera were isolated on different media under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Among them, 6 bacteria, BSF1-BSF6, were selected for further study. The inoculation of the 6 isolates independently into germ-free BSFL feeding on an artificial diet showed that all the bacteria, except BSF4, significantly promoted BSF growth and development compared with the germ-free control. Citrobacter, Dysgonomonas, Klebsiella, Ochrobactrum, and Providencia promoted BSF development significantly by increasing the weight gains of larvae and pupae, as well as increasing the prepupae and eclosion rates. In addition, Citrobacter, Klebsiella and Providencia shortened the BSF life cycle significantly. The results illustrate the promotive effects of intestinal bacteria on BSF growth and development.
Topics: Animals; Larva; Diptera; Bacteria; Diet; Bacteroidetes
PubMed: 35811567
DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13095 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023In this study, six analogs of 2-arylquinoline were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal activity. At a later stage,...
In this study, six analogs of 2-arylquinoline were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial and leishmanicidal activity. At a later stage, hemolytic activity and druggability were tested in vitro and in silico, respectively, observing as a result: firstly, compounds showed half-maximal effective concentration (EC) values between 3.6 and 19.3 µM. Likewise, a treatment using the compounds 4a-f caused improvement in most of the treated hamsters and cured some of them. Regarding the antiplasmodial activity, the compounds showed moderate to high activity, although they did not show hemolytic activity. Furthermore, 4e and 4f compounds were not able to control P. berghei infection when administered to animal models. Molecular dynamic simulations, molecular docking and ligand binding affinity indicate good characteristics of the studied compounds, which are expected to be active. And lastly, the compounds are absorbable at the hematoencephalic barrier but not in the gastrointestinal tract. In summary, ADMET properties suggest that these molecules may be used as a safe treatment against Leishmania.
Topics: Animals; Antimalarials; Molecular Docking Simulation; Antiprotozoal Agents; Leishmania; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 37845281
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43805-4 -
Journal of Global Antimicrobial... Sep 2023Emergence of carbapenemase and tigecycline resistance genes in pathogens threatens the efficacy of last-resort antibiotics. High attention should be paid to the spread...
OBJECTIVES
Emergence of carbapenemase and tigecycline resistance genes in pathogens threatens the efficacy of last-resort antibiotics. High attention should be paid to the spread and convergence of such resistance genes. This study reports an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Providencia rettgeri clinical strain co-harbouring carbapenemase genes bla, bla and the tmexCD3-toprJ1b gene cluster.
METHODS
The phenotype and genotype of P. rettgeri Pre20-95 were investigated by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation assay, stability testing and whole genome sequencing. Bioinformatics tools were used to uncover the genetic structures of its multidrug-resistant (MDR) plasmid pPre20-95-1 and SXT/R391 integrative and conjugative element ICEPreChn20-95.
RESULTS
P. rettgeri strain Pre20-95 was isolated from a human clinical infection and displayed an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) phenotype. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis identified a pPrY2001-like MDR plasmid, namely pPre20-95-1, co-harbouring bla and bla genes in Pre20-95. The multidrug resistance region of pPre20-95-1 was composed of a Tn6625-derived module and a ∆Tn1696 structure, and bla and bla were located in a composite Tn structure consisting of insertion sequences ISCR1 and ISAba125 and an In125-like class 1 integron, respectively. Furthermore, the novel RND efflux pump gene cluster tmexCD3-toprJ1b was identified on the SXT/R391 ICE ICEPreChn20-95 of its chromosome, and reverse PCR showed that it could form a circular intermediate for transmission.
CONCLUSION
Our findings highlight further dissemination of the tmexCD3-toprJ1b gene cluster into a clinical isolate of P. rettgeri and convergence with multiple carbapenemase genes, which increases the risk of the emergence of XDR strains and threatens the treatment of Enterobacterales bacterial infections.
Topics: Humans; Enterobacteriaceae Infections
PubMed: 37536658
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.07.018 -
Metabolic Engineering Jan 2024Tyrian purple (6,6'-Dibromoindigo) is an ancient precious dye, which possesses remarkable properties as a biocompatible semiconductor material. Recently, biosynthesis...
Tyrian purple (6,6'-Dibromoindigo) is an ancient precious dye, which possesses remarkable properties as a biocompatible semiconductor material. Recently, biosynthesis has emerged as an alternative for the sustainable production of Tyrian purple from a natural substrate. However, the selectivity issue in enzymatic tryptophan (Trp) and bromotryptophan (6-Br-Trp) degradation was an obstacle for obtaining high-purity Tyrian purple in a single cell biosynthesis. In this study, we present a simplified one-pot process for the production of Tyrian purple from Trp in Escherichia coli (E. coli) using Trp 6-halogenase from Streptomyces toxytricini (SttH), tryptophanase from E. coli (TnaA) and a two-component indole oxygenase from Providencia Rettgeri GS-2 (GS-C and GS-D). To enhance the in vivo solubility and activity of SttH and flavin reductase (Fre) fusion enzyme (Fre-L3-SttH), a chaperone system of GroEL/GroES (pGro7) was introduced in addition to the implementation of a set of optimization strategies, including fine-tuning the expression vector, medium, concentration of bromide salt and inducer. To overcome the selectivity issue and achieve a higher conversion yield of Tyrian purple with minimal indigo formation, we applied the λpL/pR-cI857 thermoinducible system to temporally control the bifunctional fusion enzyme of TnaA and monooxygenase GS-C (TnaA-L3-GS-C). Through optimization of the fermentation process, we were able to achieve a Tyrian purple titer of 44.5 mg L with minimal indigo byproduct from 500 μM Trp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the selective production of Tyrian purple in E. colivia a one-pot process.
Topics: Indigo Carmine; Escherichia coli; Indoles; Mixed Function Oxygenases
PubMed: 38000548
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.11.003 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2023Atrial fibrillation (AF) confers a major healthcare burden from hospitalisations and AF-related complications, such as stroke and heart failure. We performed an...
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) confers a major healthcare burden from hospitalisations and AF-related complications, such as stroke and heart failure. We performed an electronic health records-wide association study to identify the most frequent reasons for healthcare utilization, pre and post new-onset AF.
METHODS
Prospective cohort study with the linked electronic health records of 5.6 million patients in the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink (1998-2016). A cohort study with AF patients and their age-and sex matched controls was implemented to compare the top 100 reasons of frequent hospitalisation and primary consultation.
RESULTS
Of the 199,433 patients who developed AF, we found the most frequent healthcare interactions to be cardiac, cerebrovascular and peripheral-vascular conditions, both prior to AF diagnosis (41/100 conditions in secondary care, such as cerebral infarction and valve diseases; and 33/100 conditions in primary care), and subsequently (47/100 conditions hospital care and 48 conditions in primary care). There was a high representation of repeated visits for cancer and infection affecting multiple organ systems. We identified 10 novel conditions which have not yet been associated with AF: folic acid deficiency, pancytopenia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, seborrheic dermatitis, lymphoedema, angioedema, laryngopharyngeal reflux, rib fracture, haemorrhagic gastritis, inflammatory polyneuropathies.
CONCLUSION
Our nationwide data provide knowledge and better understanding of the clinical needs of AF patients suggesting: (i) groups at higher risk of AF, where screening may be more cost-effective, and (ii) potential complications developing following new-onset AF that can be prevented through implementation of comprehensive integrated care management and more personalised, tailored treatment.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
NCT04786366.
PubMed: 37840952
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1204892 -
Infection Dec 2023Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing issue in Ukraine, with healthcare-associated infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms being a major concern. A recent...
Multidrug-resistant isolates from Ukrainian patients in a German health facility: a genomic surveillance study focusing on antimicrobial resistance and bacterial relatedness.
PURPOSE
Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing issue in Ukraine, with healthcare-associated infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms being a major concern. A recent prospective multicenter study revealed a staggering rate of 48.4% antimicrobial resistance to carbapenems among Enterobacterales causing a healthcare-associated infection. We conducted a systematic survey to investigate the incidence rate and incidence density of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria (CPGN) among refugees and war-wounded Ukrainians in connection with the German health system.
METHODS
From the onset of the war until November 2022, seven Ukrainian patients were admitted to our hospital. Upon admission, screening samples and samples from the focus of suspected infection were taken from all seven patients. The incidence rate and the incidence density of CPGN were calculated as a result of the microbiological findings. We sequenced all CPGN using Illumina technology.
RESULTS
The incidence rate of CPGN at our hospital was 0.06 for 2021 and 0.18 for 2022. All seven Ukrainian patients were infected or colonized with at least one CPGN, including K. pneumoniae (14/25), P. aeruginosa (6/25), A. baumannii (1/25), Providencia stutartii (1/25), C. freundii (1/25), and E. coli (2/25). Genomic surveillance revealed that (i) most frequently detected carbapenemases among all sequenced isolates were bla (17/25) and bla (6/25), (ii) most commonly observed plasmid replicons among the K. pneumoniae isolates recovered from Ukrainian patients were Col(pHAD28) (12/14), IncHI1B(pNDM-MAR) (9/14), IncFIB(pNDM-Mar) (12/14), and (iii) clonal relation between the pathogens of the Ukrainian isolates, but not for the isolates from our hospital surveillance system.
CONCLUSION
The rising prevalence of community-acquired colonization and infection with CPGN is having a direct effect on the infection prevention measures, such as higher number of isolations, reprocessing of patient rooms, additional microbiological testing and overall organization within hospitals.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Escherichia coli; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; beta-Lactamases; Bacterial Proteins; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Cross Infection; Genomics
PubMed: 37338782
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02061-4 -
EuroIntervention : Journal of EuroPCR... Jul 2023Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is currently the standard of care after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recent studies suggest that reducing DAPT to... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy versus dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing coronary stenting: rationale and design of the NEOMINDSET Trial.
Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is currently the standard of care after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Recent studies suggest that reducing DAPT to 1-3 months followed by an aspirin-free single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) strategy with a potent P2Y inhibitor is safe and associated with less bleeding. However, to date, no randomised trial has tested the impact of initiating SAPT immediately after PCI, particularly in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). NEOMINDSET is a multicentre, randomised, open-label trial with a blinded outcome assessment designed to compare SAPT versus DAPT in 3,400 ACS patients undergoing PCI with the latest-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). After successful PCI and up to 4 days following hospital admission, patients are randomised to receive SAPT with a potent P2Y inhibitor (ticagrelor or prasugrel) or DAPT (aspirin plus a potent P2Y inhibitor) for 12 months. Aspirin is discontinued immediately after randomisation in the SAPT group. The choice between ticagrelor and prasugrel is at the investigator's discretion. The primary hypothesis is that SAPT will be non-inferior to DAPT with respect to the composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction or urgent target vessel revascularisation, but superior to DAPT on rates of bleeding defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium 2, 3 or 5 criteria. NEOMINDSET is the first study that is specifically designed to test SAPT versus DAPT immediately following PCI with DES in ACS patients. This trial will provide important insights on the efficacy and safety of withdrawing aspirin in the early phase of ACS. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04360720).
Topics: Humans; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Ticagrelor; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Prasugrel Hydrochloride; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Drug Therapy, Combination; Drug-Eluting Stents; Aspirin; Hemorrhage; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37306039
DOI: 10.4244/EIJ-D-23-00125