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Progress in Molecular Biology and... 2024The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a well-recognized threat to world health, necessitating the implementation of effective treatments. This issue has been... (Review)
Review
The rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a well-recognized threat to world health, necessitating the implementation of effective treatments. This issue has been identified as a top priority on the global agenda by the World Health Organization. Certain strains, such as Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida auris, select cryptococcal species, and opportunistic Aspergillus or Fusarium species, have significant intrinsic resistance to numerous antifungal medicines. This inherent resistance and subsequent suboptimal clinical outcomes underscore the critical imperative for enhanced therapeutic alternatives and management protocols. The challenge of effectively treating fungal infections, compounded by the protracted timelines involved in developing novel drugs, underscores the pressing need to explore alternative therapeutic avenues. Among these, drug repurposing emerges as a particularly promising and expeditious solution, providing cost-effective solutions and safety benefits. In the fight against life-threatening resistant fungal infections, the idea of repurposing existing medications has encouraged research into both established and new compounds as a last-resort therapy. This chapter seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary antifungal drugs, as well as their key resistance mechanisms. Additionally, it seeks to provide insight into the antimicrobial properties of non-traditional drugs, thereby offering a holistic perspective on the evolving landscape of antifungal therapeutics.
Topics: Drug Repositioning; Humans; Antifungal Agents; Mycoses; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Animals
PubMed: 38942545
DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2024.04.002 -
Chemosphere Jun 2024This study proposes a novel and eco-friendly approach for wastewater treatment using plasma jet technology under bubble condition. This method allows for the controlled...
This study proposes a novel and eco-friendly approach for wastewater treatment using plasma jet technology under bubble condition. This method allows for the controlled production of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals () while minimizing unwanted interactions with nitrogen in the air. The presence of bubbles in liquid significantly boosts the diffusion of within the wastewater, leading to a two-fold increase in degradation rate compared to normal condition. The effectiveness of the treatment was confirmed through ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, which showed a significant decrease in rhodamine B and methyl orange absorbance peaks . Raman spectroscopy further revealed structural changes in both pollutants, indicating successful degradation. Additionally, plasma characteristics like power, electron temperature, and density were monitored to gain deeper insights into the underlying mechanism. Importantly, the process minimizes the formation of harmful secondary pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants were found under concentration of 0.14 mg m which is below established safety thresholds, adhering to World Health Organization guidelines. This research demonstrates that plasma jet treatment in bubble condition not only enhances the degradation efficiency of pollutants in wastewater but also minimizes the formation of harmful byproducts. This represents a significant breakthrough in developing sustainable wastewater treatment technologies.
PubMed: 38942242
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142689 -
The Lancet. Global Health Jun 2024Insufficient physical activity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, poor physical and cognitive function, weight gain, and mental ill-health. Global...
National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5·7 million participants.
BACKGROUND
Insufficient physical activity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases, poor physical and cognitive function, weight gain, and mental ill-health. Global prevalence of adult insufficient physical activity was last published for 2016, with limited trend data. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of insufficient physical activity for 197 countries and territories, from 2000 to 2022.
METHODS
We collated physical activity reported by adults (aged ≥18 years) in population-based surveys. Insufficient physical activity was defined as not doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination per week. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to compute estimates of insufficient physical activity by country or territory, year, age, and sex. We assessed whether countries or territories, regions, and the world would meet the global target of a 15% relative reduction of the prevalence of insufficient physical activity by 2030 if 2010-22 trends continue.
FINDINGS
We included 507 surveys across 163 countries and territories. The global age-standardised prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 31·3% (95% uncertainty interval 28·6-34·0) in 2022, an increase from 23·4% (21·1-26·0) in 2000 and 26·4% (24·8-27·9) in 2010. Prevalence was increasing in 103 (52%) of 197 countries and territories and six (67%) of nine regions, and was declining in the remainder. Prevalence was 5 percentage points higher among female (33·8% [29·9-37·7]) than male (28·7% [25·0-32·6]) individuals. Insufficient physical activity increased in people aged 60 years and older in all regions and both sexes, but age patterns differed for those younger than 60 years. If 2010-22 trends continue, the global target of a 15% relative reduction between 2010 and 2030 will not be met (posterior probability <0·01); however, two regions, Oceania and sub-Saharan Africa, were on track with considerable uncertainty (posterior probabilities 0·70-0·74).
INTERPRETATION
Concerted multi-sectoral efforts to reduce insufficient physical activity levels are needed to meet the 2030 target. Physical activity promotion should not exacerbate sex, age, or geographical inequalities.
FUNDING
Ministry of Public Health, Qatar, and World Health Organization.
TRANSLATIONS
For the Spanish and Portuguese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
PubMed: 38942042
DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00150-5 -
Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband Der... Jun 2024Since the onset of the war in Ukraine until November 2022, nearly 1 million people sought refuge in Germany. Despite efforts to reduce tuberculosis (TB) cases, Ukraine...
Since the onset of the war in Ukraine until November 2022, nearly 1 million people sought refuge in Germany. Despite efforts to reduce tuberculosis (TB) cases, Ukraine had a high TB incidence in 2020, with increased rates of multidrug-resistant TB. Conflict and war have historically been associated with TB spread due to delays in diagnosis, treatment interruptions, and increased transmission risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a rise in TB cases in the EU region due to refugee movements. In Germany, screening methods used in testing individuals in communal housing involving chest X-rays or immunological tests were variable. A survey conducted by the DZK within the nationwide TB working group evaluated TB screening methods and results for Ukrainian refugees. Out of 26,196 individuals aged over 15, 48 TB cases were detected, with a higher-than-expected incidence. About 42% of cases were multidrug-resistant TB. The screening findings differed from both the WHO's estimates as well as TB cases reported to the Robert Koch Institut (RKI) in 2022. A preliminary comparison of the numbers is presented here. The differing results emphasize the need for ongoing data collection and analysis to adapt resources and interventions to the evolving TB situation among Ukrainian refugees in Germany, especially considering the ongoing conflict and potential for increased TB cases in the future.
PubMed: 38942032
DOI: 10.1055/a-2312-6270 -
The American Journal of Emergency... Jun 2024Status epilepticus (SE) is potentially life-threatening, however, it is unclear which antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) should be used as second-line AEDs. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Status epilepticus (SE) is potentially life-threatening, however, it is unclear which antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) should be used as second-line AEDs.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing multiple second-line AEDs for SE to investigate the efficacy of AEDs.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform Search Portal and included RCTs for patients aged ≥15 years with SE on December 31, 2023. We compared multiple second-line AEDs for SE including fosphenytoin (fPHT), lacosamide (LCM), levetiracetam (LEV), phenytoin (PHT), phenobarbital (PHB), and valproate (VPA). The primary and secondly outcomes were termination of seizures integrating the absence of seizure recurrence at 30 min and 60 min, and adverse events associated with AEDs, respectively, with expressing as relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We conducted a NMA using frequentist-based approach with multivariate random effects, and assessed the certainty based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations framework.
RESULTS
Seven RCTs (n = 780) were included, and statistically significant difference was detected between VPA vs. PHB (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.53-0.85; very low certainty), fPHT vs. PHB (RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.48-0.90; very low certainty), LCM vs. PHB (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.41-0.93; very low certainty), and LEV vs. PHB (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.51-0.94; very low certainty). Moreover, PHB was the highest in the ranking for termination of seizures. For adverse events, no significant reduction was observed owing to the selection of AEDs, although the ranking of PHB was the lowest.
CONCLUSIONS
PHB may have been the most effective for seizure termination as second-line AEDs in adult patients with SE. However, the certainty of almost all comparisons was "very low", and careful interpretation is essential.
PubMed: 38941904
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2024.06.019 -
Journal of Environmental Management Jun 2024Some studies have reported the removal of As (As) and fluoride (F) using different sacrificial anodes; however, they have been tested with a synthetic solution in a...
Some studies have reported the removal of As (As) and fluoride (F) using different sacrificial anodes; however, they have been tested with a synthetic solution in a batch system without hydrated silica (SiO) interaction. Due to the above, concurrent removal of As, F, and SiO from natural deep well water was evaluated (initial concentration: 35.5 μg L As, 1.1 mg LF, 147 mg L SiO, pH 8.6, and conductivity 1024 μS cm), by electrocoagulation (EC) process in continuous mode comparing three different configurations of sacrificial anodes (Al, Fe, and Al-Fe). EC was performed in a new reactor equipped with a small flow distributor and turbulence promoter at the entrance of the first channel to homogenize the flow. The best removal was found at j = 5 mA cm and u = 1.3 cm s, obtaining arsenic residual concentrations (C) of 1.33, 0.45, and 0.77 μg L, fluoride residual concentration ( [Formula: see text] ) of 0.221, 0.495, and 0.622 mg L and hydrated silica residual concentration ( [Formula: see text] ) of 21, 34, and 56 mg L, with costs of approximately 0.304, 0.198, and 0.228 USD m for the Al, Fe and Al-Fe anodes, respectively. Al anode outperforms Fe and Al-Fe anodes in concurrently removing As, F and SiO. The residual concentrations of As and F complied with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) (As < 10 μg L and F < 1 mg L). The spectroscopic analyses of the Al, Fe, and Al-Fe aggregates showed the formation of aluminosilicates, iron oxyhydroxides and oxides, and calcium and sodium silicates involved in removing As, F, and SiO. It is concluded that Al would serve as the most suitable sacrificial anode.
PubMed: 38941855
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121597 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Intestinal obstruction from ascariasis is a rare but fatal surgical emergency in endemic areas, such as Ethiopia. Reports of ascariais causing complete bowel obstruction...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Intestinal obstruction from ascariasis is a rare but fatal surgical emergency in endemic areas, such as Ethiopia. Reports of ascariais causing complete bowel obstruction in adults are rare while having a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Here we present a case of a 35 years old female patient who presented with complete small bowel obstruction caused by >250 ascariasis worm.
CASE PRESENTATION
We report on a case of a 35-year-old female who presented with intermittent crampy abdominal pain of 2 days duration associated with frequent vomiting of ingested matter and failure to pass feces and flatus. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy for acute complete small bowel obstruction and the intraoperative finding of a volvulated viable ileum with a visible and palpable ascariasis worms in the lumen of ileum. Enterotomy was done to extract >250 adult ascariasis worms.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
There are few reports of ascariasis causing complete small bowel obstruction in adults and there is no reported case of a massive number of adult worms from one patient.
CONCLUSION
Though World Health Organization integrated approach, which includes sanitation, hygiene education and preventive chemotherapy brings a significant decrement on prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth, our case indicates that, clinicians should consider ascariasis as a differential diagnosis for SBO even in adult age groups.
PubMed: 38941731
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109946 -
Quality Management in Health CareThe purpose of this research was to assess the effect of telehealth management via WeChat on improving the quality of life of patients after percutaneous coronary...
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this research was to assess the effect of telehealth management via WeChat on improving the quality of life of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
METHODS
In this study, we retrospectively collected the clinical data of 118 patients who underwent PCI and received remote health management from our hospital via WeChat from June 2021 to September 2021 (WeChat group). The clinical data of 114 patients who underwent PCI but did not receive remote health management from our hospital from September 2020 to December 2020 were also collected (conventional group). Anxiety, depression, and quality of life scale scores were compared between the 2 groups at 6 months postdischarge.
RESULTS
Six months postdischarge, patients in the WeChat group had significantly lower Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) (55.7 ± 7.2 vs 58.8 ± 6.4, P = .001) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) (56.0 ± 5.9 vs 58.2 ± 6.2, P = .007) scores than did those in the conventional group. Compared to those in the conventional group, the patients in the WeChat group had significantly greater 6 months post-discharge The World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF scores in the following domains: physical (14.3 ± 1.7 vs 13.1 ± 1.7, P < .001 psychological (15.2 ± 1.3 vs 13.5 ± 1.5, P < .001 social relationship (12.9 ± 1.7 vs 12.3 ± 1.8, P = .01) and environmental (12.7 ± 2.0 vs 12.0 ± 1.9, P = .006).
CONCLUSION
The use of WeChat to carry out remote health management for patients who underwent PCI can be an effective way to provide high-quality hospital medical services to patients' families and can effectively alleviate patients' anxiety and depression and enhance their quality of life.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Anxiety; Telemedicine; Depression
PubMed: 38941582
DOI: 10.1097/QMH.0000000000000487 -
Medicine Jun 2024Alterations in signaling pathways and modulation of cell metabolism are associated with the pathogenesis of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Small... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
Alterations in signaling pathways and modulation of cell metabolism are associated with the pathogenesis of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins and NF-κB family play major roles in various cellular processes. The current study aims to determine the expression profile of SUMO and NF-κB genes in HCC tumors and investigate their association with the clinical outcome of HCC. The expression of 5 genes - SUMO1, SUMO2, SUMO3, NF-κB p65, and NF-κB p50 - was quantified in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues of 58 HBV-related HCC patients by real-time quantitative PCR and was analyzed for the possible association with clinical parameters of HCC. The expression of SUMO2 was significantly higher in HCC tumor tissues compared to the adjacent non-tumor tissues (P = .01), while no significant difference in SUMO1, SUMO3, NF-κB p65, and NF-κB p50 expression was observed between HCC tumor and non-tumor tissues (P > .05). In HCC tissues, a strong correlation was observed between the expression of SUMO2 and NF-κB p50, between SUMO3 and NF-κB p50, between SUMO3 and NF-κB p65 (Spearman rho = 0.83; 0.82; 0.772 respectively; P < .001). The expression of SUMO1, SUMO2, SUMO3, NF-κB p65, and NF-κB p50 was decreased in grade 3 compared to grades 1 and 2 in HCC tumors according to the World Health Organization grades system. Our results highlighted that the SUMO2 gene is upregulated in tumor tissues of patients with HCC, and is related to the development of HCC, thus it may be associated with the pathogenesis of HCC.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins; SUMO-1 Protein; NF-kappa B; Adult; Transcription Factor RelA; Hepatitis B virus; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit; Aged; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Ubiquitins; Hepatitis B
PubMed: 38941371
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038737 -
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Jun 2024Skin cancer rates are on the rise globally. School sun safety programmes are recommended by the World Health Organisation to reduce the risk of future skin cancer at...
BACKGROUND
Skin cancer rates are on the rise globally. School sun safety programmes are recommended by the World Health Organisation to reduce the risk of future skin cancer at population level; however, these are encouraged but not mandated in Wales.
OBJECTIVES
To explore current sun protection practices and sun safety education in primary schools in Wales and whether these are linked to the existence of a formal sun safety policy.
METHODS
An online survey to all 1241 Welsh primary schools asking about sun safety practices, education and formal policies.
RESULTS
471 (38.0%) schools responded with the profile of responding schools generally matching the profile of schools in Wales. A minority (22,4.7%) of responding schools reported they had sufficient shade for most activities. In the spring and summer terms almost two thirds of schools encourage hat wearing (304, 64.8%) and sunscreen (296, 63.2%). While nearly all schools reported that parents were encouraged to apply sunscreen to students before school (449, 95.7%), there was wide variation in other sunscreen application practices. Less than one third of schools (129, 29.0%) reported that they include sun protection education in the curriculum in every year group, with 11.7% (52) including this in certain years only.Schools with a formal policy were more likely to report more comprehensive sun protection practices including having sufficient shade [OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04-2.19; p = 0.032], having spare hats for pupils to wear [OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.07-2.37; p = 0.023], providing guidance for staff [OR 5.87, 95% CI 3.05-11.28; p < 0.001], encouraging them to model sun safe behaviours [OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.18-2.80; p = 0.007] and teaching sun protection education as part of the curriculum in every year group [OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.76-3.71; p < 0.001]. With respect to sunscreen, the existence of a formal policy did not seem to affect a school's practice.
CONCLUSIONS
While in most cases, the existence of a formal policy suggests more comprehensive sun protection practices and education in schools, sun protection measures and education need improvement across the primary school sector in Wales to reverse rising skin cancer rates.
PubMed: 38941352
DOI: 10.1093/ced/llae218