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Current Opinion in Microbiology Feb 2023Infections caused by the Candida species of human fungal pathogens are a significant medical problem because they can disseminate to nearly every organ of the body. In... (Review)
Review
Infections caused by the Candida species of human fungal pathogens are a significant medical problem because they can disseminate to nearly every organ of the body. In addition, there are only a few classes of antifungal drugs available to treat patients with invasive fungal infections. Candida infections that are associated with biofilms can withstand much higher concentrations of antifungal drugs compared with infections caused by planktonic cells, thus making biofilm infections particularly challenging to treat. Candida albicans is among the most prevalent fungal species of the human microbiota, asymptomatically colonizing several niches of the body, including the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, mouth, and skin. Immunocompromised health conditions, dysbiosis of the microbiota, or environmental changes, however, can lead to C. albicans overgrowth, causing infections that range from superficial mucosal infections to severe hematogenously disseminated infections. Here, we review the current knowledge of antifungal drug-resistance mechanisms occurring in Candida biofilms.
Topics: Humans; Candida; Antifungal Agents; Candida albicans; Candidiasis; Biofilms; Microbial Sensitivity Tests
PubMed: 36436326
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102237 -
Frontiers in Bioengineering and... 2022Lignin, one of the essential components of lignocellulosic biomass, comprises an abundant renewable aromatic resource on the planet earth. Although 15%--40% of... (Review)
Review
Lignin, one of the essential components of lignocellulosic biomass, comprises an abundant renewable aromatic resource on the planet earth. Although 15%--40% of lignocellulose pertains to lignin, its annual valorization rate is less than 2% which raises the concern to harness and/or develop effective technologies for its valorization. The basic hindrance lies in the structural heterogeneity, complexity, and stability of lignin that collectively makes it difficult to depolymerize and yield common products. Recently, microbial delignification, an eco-friendly and cheaper technique, has attracted the attention due to the diverse metabolisms of microbes that can channelize multiple lignin-based products into specific target compounds. Also, endophytes, a fascinating group of microbes residing asymptomatically within the plant tissues, exhibit marvellous lignin deconstruction potential. Apart from novel sources for potent and stable ligninases, endophytes share immense ability of depolymerizing lignin into desired valuable products. Despite their efficacy, ligninolytic studies on endophytes are meagre with incomplete understanding of the pathways involved at the molecular level. In the recent years, improvement of thermochemical methods has received much attention, however, we lagged in exploring the novel microbial groups for their delignification efficiency and optimization of this ability. This review summarizes the currently available knowledge about endophytic delignification potential with special emphasis on underlying mechanism of biological funnelling for the production of valuable products. It also highlights the recent advancements in developing the most intriguing methods to depolymerize lignin. Comparative account of thermochemical and biological techniques is accentuated with special emphasis on biological/microbial degradation. Exploring potent biological agents for delignification and focussing on the basic challenges in enhancing lignin valorization and overcoming them could make this renewable resource a promising tool to accomplish Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) which are supposed to be achieved by 2030.
PubMed: 35928943
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.895414 -
The Journal of Pathology Jul 2021Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) develops silently and asymptomatically and is a major cause of mortality. TAA prevalence is greatly underestimated, it is usually... (Review)
Review
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) develops silently and asymptomatically and is a major cause of mortality. TAA prevalence is greatly underestimated, it is usually diagnosed incidentally, and its treatment consists mainly of prophylactic surgery based on the aortic diameter. The lack of effective drugs and biological markers to identify and stratify TAAs by risk before visible symptoms results from scant knowledge of its pathophysiological mechanisms. Here we integrate the structural impairment affecting non-syndromic non-familial TAA with the main cellular and molecular changes described so far and consider how these changes are interconnected through specific pathways. The ultimate goal is to define much-needed novel markers of TAA, and so the potential of previously identified molecules to aid in early diagnosis/prognosis is also discussed. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Topics: Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; Humans
PubMed: 33885146
DOI: 10.1002/path.5683 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) May 2022Accelerated coronary artery disease seen following radiation exposure is termed 'radiation-induced coronary artery disease' (RICAD) and results from both the direct and... (Review)
Review
Accelerated coronary artery disease seen following radiation exposure is termed 'radiation-induced coronary artery disease' (RICAD) and results from both the direct and indirect effects of radiation exposure. Long-term data are available from survivors of nuclear explosions and accidents, nuclear workers as well as from radiotherapy patients. The last group is, by far, the biggest cause of RICAD presentation.The incidence of RICAD continues to increase as cancer survival rates improve and it is now the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma and other mediastinal malignancies. RICAD will frequently present atypically or even asymptomatically with a latency period of at least 10 years after radiotherapy treatment. An awareness of RICAD, as a long-term complication of radiotherapy, is therefore essential for the cardiologist, oncologist and general medical physician alike.Prior cardiac risk factors, a higher radiation dose and a younger age at exposure seem to increase a patient's risk ratio of developing RICAD. Significant radiation exposure, therefore, requires a low threshold for screening for early diagnosis and timely intervention.
Topics: Coronary Artery Disease; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Incidence; Risk Factors; Survival Rate
PubMed: 35584837
DOI: 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0600 -
Clinics in Dermatology 2021Macular arteritis (MA) has a striking discordance between the clinical presentation of hyperpigmented macules and the histopathologic findings of a lymphocytic arteritis...
Macular arteritis (MA) has a striking discordance between the clinical presentation of hyperpigmented macules and the histopathologic findings of a lymphocytic arteritis with intraluminal hyalinized fibrin ring and thrombosis. It has been proposed that MA represents the chronic, indolent, lymphocytic form of the neutrophil-predominant cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa. MA usually affects middle-aged women asymptomatically on the legs. There is also a slightly more severe variant with more infiltrated plaques and livedo racemosa, termed lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis. MA and lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis have similar histologic features, both with a largely intact vascular elastic lamina, despite the abundant fibrin and endarteritis obliterans. There is no evidence for progression from MA to lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis to cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa, and aggressive therapy should be avoided in MA, given the indolent, benign disease course.
Topics: Arteritis; Female; Humans; Lymphocytes; Middle Aged; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Skin; Skin Diseases, Vascular
PubMed: 34272022
DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2020.10.011 -
Revue Medicale Suisse Sep 2020Diaphragmatic paresis/paralysis can be unilateral or bilateral. Its manifestations range from completely asymptomatically to global respiratory failure. Respiratory... (Review)
Review
Diaphragmatic paresis/paralysis can be unilateral or bilateral. Its manifestations range from completely asymptomatically to global respiratory failure. Respiratory functional tests will reveal lowered respiratory pressures with a restrictive syndrome, and a decrease in vital capacity when lying in the supine position compared to sitting. Unilateral paresis is most often self-limited and mainly post-surgical. The bilateral dysfunction, observed in neuromuscular diseases, is often permanent. The treatment consists in the management of specific causes, the optimization of the treatment of comorbidities, and in some cases, diaphragmatic plication, ventilatory support or pacing of phrenic nerves.
Topics: Diaphragm; Humans; Paresis; Phrenic Nerve; Respiratory Insufficiency; Respiratory Paralysis
PubMed: 32914596
DOI: No ID Found -
Archives of Microbiology Oct 2020Streptococcus pyogenes is a species of Gram-positive bacteria. It is also known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS) that causes pathogenesis to humans only. The GAS infection... (Review)
Review
Streptococcus pyogenes is a species of Gram-positive bacteria. It is also known as Group A Streptococcus (GAS) that causes pathogenesis to humans only. The GAS infection has several manifestations including invasive illness. Current research has linked the molecular modes of GAS virulence with substantial sequencing determinations for the isolation of genomes. These advances help to comprehend the molecular evolution resulting in the pandemic strains. Thus, it is indispensable to reconsider the philosophy that involves GAS pathogenesis. The recent investigations involve studying GAS in the nasopharynx and its capability to cause infection or asymptomatically reside in the host. These advances have been discussed in this article with an emphasis on the natural history of GAS and the evolutionary change in the pandemic strains. In addition, this review describes the unique functions for major pathogenicity determinants to comprehend their physiological effects.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Evolution, Molecular; Genome, Bacterial; Humans; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pyogenes; Virulence Factors
PubMed: 32504132
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01932-w -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2019Persistent infection is a characteristic feature of babesiosis, a worldwide, emerging tick-borne disease caused by members of the genus Persistence of infection in... (Review)
Review
Persistent infection is a characteristic feature of babesiosis, a worldwide, emerging tick-borne disease caused by members of the genus Persistence of infection in reservoir hosts increases the probability of survival and transmission of these pathogens. Laboratory tools to detect in red blood cells include microscopic detection using peripheral blood smears, nucleic acid detection (polymerase chain reaction and transcription mediated amplification), antigen detection, and antibody detection. , the major cause of human babesiosis, can asymptomatically infect immunocompetent individuals for up to two years. Chronically infected blood donors may transmit the pathogen to another person through blood transfusion. Transfusion-transmitted babesiosis causes severe complications and death in about a fifth of cases. Immunocompromised patients, including those with asplenia, HIV/AIDS, malignancy, or on immunosuppressive drugs, often experience severe disease that may relapse up to two years later despite anti- therapy. Persistent infection is promoted by immune evasive strategies and impaired host immune mechanisms. The health burden of persistent and recrudescent babesiosis can be minimized by development of novel therapeutic measures, such as new anti-parasitic drugs or drug combinations, improved anti-parasitic drug duration strategies, or immunoglobulin preparations; and novel preventive approaches, including early detection methods, tick-avoidance, and blood donor screening.
PubMed: 31319461
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030102 -
Journal of the Pediatric Infectious... Nov 2021Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming, obligate anaerobe, and ubiquitous nosocomial pathogen. While C. difficile infection in adults causes a spectrum of disease,... (Review)
Review
Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming, obligate anaerobe, and ubiquitous nosocomial pathogen. While C. difficile infection in adults causes a spectrum of disease, including pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon, healthy infants are asymptomatically colonized at high rates. The mechanisms leading to high colonization rates and infant protection from C. difficile are currently unknown; however, the ecology and metabolic state of the intestinal microbiome are factors known to influence C. difficile pathogenesis. In this review, we will examine the aspects of the early-life microbiome that may contribute to the incidence of C. difficile and protection from disease manifestation in infants. We will also discuss whether features of the adult microbiota that enable and restrict C. difficile are prevalent during early-life colonization.
Topics: Adult; Clostridioides; Clostridioides difficile; Clostridium Infections; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous; Humans; Infant; Microbiota
PubMed: 34791400
DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piab063 -
World Journal of Otorhinolaryngology -... Jan 2021Otolaryngologists are at increased occupational risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection due to exposure from respiratory droplets and aerosols generated... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Otolaryngologists are at increased occupational risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection due to exposure from respiratory droplets and aerosols generated during otologic, nasal, and oropharyngeal examinations and procedures. There have been a variety of guidelines and precautions developed to help mitigate this risk. While many reviews have focused on the personal protective equipment (PPE) and preparation guidelines for surgery in the COVID-19 era, none have focused on the more creative and unusual solutions designed to limit viral transmission. This review aims to fill that need.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Ovid/Medline, and Scopus.
METHODS
A comprehensive review of literature was performed on September 28, 2020 using PubMed, Ovid/Medline, and Scopus databases. All English-language studies were included if they proposed or assessed novel interventions developed for Otolaryngology practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed.
RESULTS
A total of 41 papers met inclusion criteria and were organized into 5 categories ('General Recommendations for Otolaryngologic Surgery', 'Equipment Shortage Solutions', 'Airway Procedures', 'Nasal Endoscopy and Skull Base Procedures', and 'Otologic Procedures'). Articles were summarized, highlighting the innovations created and evaluated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Creative solutions such as application of topical viricidal agents, make-shift mask filters, three-dimensional (3-D) printable adapters for headlights, aerosol containing separation boxes, and a variety of new draping techniques have been developed to limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
CONCLUSIONS
Persistent risk of COVID-19 exposure remains high. Thus, there is an increased need for solutions that mitigate the risk of viral transmission during office procedures and surgeries, especially given that most COVID-19 positive patients present asymptomatically. This review examines and organizes creative solutions that have been proposed and utilized in the otolaryngology. These solutions have a potential to minimize the risk of viral transmission in the current clinical environment and to create safer outpatient and operating room conditions for patients and healthcare staff.
PubMed: 33520334
DOI: 10.1016/j.wjorl.2021.01.001