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Physical Review. E May 2024We study the spectral properties of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator and the related Steklov problem in spheroidal domains ranging from a needle to a disk. An explicit...
We study the spectral properties of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator and the related Steklov problem in spheroidal domains ranging from a needle to a disk. An explicit matrix representation of this operator for both interior and exterior problems is derived. We show how the anisotropy of spheroids affects the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the operator. As examples of physical applications, we discuss diffusion-controlled reactions on spheroidal partially reactive targets and the statistics of encounters between the diffusing particle and the spheroidal boundary.
PubMed: 38907385
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.109.055306 -
International Ophthalmology Jun 2024To characterize glaucoma progression in early-stage patients with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) using the change analysis software (CAS), which was utilized to track...
PURPOSE
To characterize glaucoma progression in early-stage patients with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) using the change analysis software (CAS), which was utilized to track RNFL thinning.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 92 eyes of 92 patients with early-stage glaucoma. Patients were divided into two subgroups based on their diagnosis of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed on all patients. Additionally, automated perimetry was conducted on each patient. Furthermore, Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was employed to measure RNFL and central corneal thickness. Using the OCT device's CAS, we computed the annual rate of total and glaucomatous RNFL thinning for each patient.
RESULTS
A total of 44 PEG and 48 POAG patients were included in the study. The right eye measurements of these patients were analyzed and compared. The two groups were not significantly different in age, gender, and the number of visits per year (p > 0.05, for each). However, the difference between the mean RNFL thickness at baseline (91.39 ± 10.71 and 96.9 ± 8.6 µm) and at the last visit (85.2 ± 15.76 µm and 91.56 ± 9.58 µm) was statistically significant between the two groups (p = 0.043, p = 0.039, respectively). Additionally, the difference in annual RNFL thinning rates (1.43 ± 0.81 µm and 1.07 ± 0.32 µm) between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.009).
CONCLUSION
The annual rate of glaucomatous RNFL loss in early-stage PEG patients (1.23 µm) was higher than in POAG patients (0.87 µm). However, despite these loss rates, scotoma was not detected in the visual field tests of these patients. Therefore, using CAS in the follow-up of early-stage glaucoma patients is a useful alternative for monitoring glaucomatous progression. Furthermore, this method can be utilized in future research for the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma in special populations (e.g., those with pathological myopia or high hyperopia) that are not included in normative databases.
Topics: Humans; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Nerve Fibers; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Aged; Exfoliation Syndrome; Middle Aged; Visual Fields; Intraocular Pressure; Disease Progression; Visual Field Tests; Follow-Up Studies; Optic Disk
PubMed: 38907173
DOI: 10.1007/s10792-024-03214-6 -
Journal of Applied Microbiology Jun 2024The purpose of this work was to study extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC) in freshwaters, hospital effluents and wastewaters during two sampling...
AIMS
The purpose of this work was to study extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC) in freshwaters, hospital effluents and wastewaters during two sampling campaigns in 2021.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Water sampling was performed in 24 stations of the Ourthe watershed in Belgium. A total of 644 ESBL (n = 642) and AmpC (n = 2) E. coli strains were isolated. Disk-diffusion assays were performed following the EUCAST's recommendations. All strains were tested for the presence of blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-2 and blaCTX-M-9 gene's group by PCR. Genes belonging to blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-9 groups were detected respectively in 73.6% and 14.9% of the strains. No blaCTX-M-2 group's gene was found. A subset of strains (n = 40) was selected for whole genome sequencing. E. coli serotype O18: H7 ST 1463 was predominant (n = 14) in the sequenced strains and showed pathogenicity in the Galleria mellonella larvae model. β-lactamase genes identified were blaCTX-M (n = 21), with blaCTX-M-15 mostly represented (n = 15), as well as blaTEM (n = 11), blaOXA (n = 7) and blaSHV (n = 9) and carbapenemase (CP) genes were observed in several strains-blaKPC-3 (n = 19), blaNDM-1 (n = 1), blaVIM-1 (n = 2) and blaOXA-244 (n = 2)-even from freshwaters.
CONCLUSIONS
ESBL-EC are widely distributed in the aquatic environment in Belgium and contain a variety of ESBL and CP genes.
PubMed: 38906843
DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae144 -
Journal of Dentistry Jun 2024To investigate how postpolymerization time (PPT) and atmosphere (PPA) influence the surface properties, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion of two types of...
OBJECTIVES
To investigate how postpolymerization time (PPT) and atmosphere (PPA) influence the surface properties, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion of two types of additively manufactured (AM) resins used for definitive restorations.
METHODS
Two different types of commercially available AM resins for definitive restorations (UR and CR) were used to create disk-shaped specimens. These specimens were divided into eight groups based on resin type (UR and CR), PPT (standard or extended), and PPA (air or nitrogen). After postpolymerization, the surface roughness (R and S) and surface free energy (SFE) of all specimens were measured. The study also evaluated protein adsorption, microbial attachment, and cytotoxicity. A non-parametric factorial analysis of variance with post-hoc analyses was conducted, using a significance level (α) of 0.05.
RESULTS
The R and S values for CR were higher than those for UR, regardless of PPT or PPA (P < 0.05). For UR, SFE was higher with extended PPT compared to standard PPT. CR had higher SFE than UR under standard PPT. The interaction between PPT and PPA had a significant effect on protein adsorption (P < 0.05). When PPT was standard, nitrogen significantly increased protein adsorption compared to air. The interaction between resin type and PPA, and between resin type and PPT, significantly affected microbial adhesion (P < 0.05). The changes in PPT or PPA did not affect the cytotoxicity of either AM resin.
CONCLUSION
Surface properties, protein adsorption, and microbial attachment were influenced by the interactions among PPT, PPA, and resin type. These factors can have implications for resin-based definitive restorations.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCES
Clinicians should understand the impact of PPT and PPA on the surface properties of AM resins for definitive restorations, particularly regarding protein adsorption and microbial adhesion. Additionally, the type of AM resin (based on chemical composition) could affect its biological properties.
PubMed: 38906456
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105143 -
Clinical Biochemistry Jun 2024Bladder cancer (BC) represents a prevalent malignancy in North America and Europe, posing significant health burdens. The identification of a reliable biomarker for... (Review)
Review
Bladder cancer (BC) represents a prevalent malignancy in North America and Europe, posing significant health burdens. The identification of a reliable biomarker for early BC detection is imperative to enhance prognostic outcomes. Our aim for this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy and potential clinical utility of Angiogenin/Ribonuclease 5 (ANG/RNase 5) as a biomarker for detection of BC. A systematic literature search across multiple databases up to March 20, 2024, was conducted. CMA 3.7 and Meta-disk 1.4 were used to analyze specificity, sensitivity, AUC, DOR, LR+, LR-, Q*index, and SROC for ANG as a urinary biomarker in BC patients. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's regression asymmetry and Begg's rank correlation tests. Additional diagnosing analyses were performed using Python programming language version 3.12.1. In this meta-analysis of seven case-control studies comprising 1,051 participants (576 cases and 481 controls), pooled sensitivity was 0.701 (95 % CI: 0.662-0.738), specificity was 0.787 (95 % CI: 0.752-0.819), LR + was 3.582 (95 % CI: 2.260-5.676), LR- was 0.398 (95 % CI: 0.327-0.485), and DOR was 10.637 (95 % CI: 6.106-18.529). The AUC and Q* index values were 0.823 and 0.756, respectively. Both Begg and Mazumdar Rank Correlation Test (p = 0.229) and Egger's Test of the Intercept (p = 0.135) revealed no significant evidence of publication bias. Our meta-analysis confirms ANG/RNase 5 as a reliable biomarker for early bladder cancer detection, showing strong diagnostic accuracy and no publication bias.
PubMed: 38906363
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2024.110780 -
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces Jun 2024Rhamnolipids are glycolipid surfactants composed by a hydrophilic head of either one (mono-RL) or two (di-RL) rhamnose moieties coupled to hydroxyaliphatic chains that...
Rhamnolipids are glycolipid surfactants composed by a hydrophilic head of either one (mono-RL) or two (di-RL) rhamnose moieties coupled to hydroxyaliphatic chains that can be of different lengths. In spite of their importance in different fields of applications, as bioremediation processes for instance, self-aggregation physico-chemical properties of RLs are not unique. This because a variety of aggregates morphologies (shape and size) can either exist or coexist in aqueous dispersion due to mono-RL:di-RL molar ratio, hydrophobic tails length, pH and the presence of co-surfactants and additives. Recently, a theorethical approach reported the self-assembling morphologies of either pure mono or di-RL in aqueous environment, predicting the formation of spherical to ellipsoidal micelles to worm-like and disk-like aggregates depending on RL concentration and fatty acid chain length. In order to add new information to those previously available, the present work investigated the self-assembling properties of mono-RL-C10-C10 and di-RL-C10-C10 separately in aqueous dispersion by small angle X-Ray scattering (SAXS). A novel approach was applied to the data analysis coupling the scattering length density profiles of the RLs chemical groups and Monte Carlo simulations. Such an approach allowed us to infer about the preferred mono-RL and di-RL conformations that fit better in the self-assembling morphologies. In this way, we show that mono-RL-C10-C10 self-assembles into lamella-like aggregates coexisting with 30 % of multi-lamella aggregates (circa of 5 closed stacked lamella) from a concentration ranging from 10 to 50 mM, with hydrophobic thickness of about 12 Å, a hydrated polar head thickness of 10 Å, and an area per glycolipid of 76 Å. On the other hand, di-RL prefers to self-associate into flexible cylinder-like aggregates, from 70 mM to 110 mM concentration, with hydrophobic radius on the order of 7.5 Å, a hydrated polar shell of 21.5 Å, with hydropobic/polar interface of 110 Å per glycolipid. Interestingly, the parameters obtained from the best fitting to the experimental data associated to the volume fraction distribution of the chemical groups within the aggregates revealed that the hydrophobic chains are more disordered in mono-RL planar aggregates than in di-RL worm-like aggregates, as well as the hydration properties. Further, the addition of 100 mM NaCl in di-RL aqueous dispersion leads to the formation of longer worm-like aggregates. Taking together, this work opens a new avenue regarding characterization of biosurfactants self-assembling properties by using SAXS, also contributing to prepare more efficient biosurfactant dispersions depending on the desired applications in industrial sectors and bioremediation.
PubMed: 38905813
DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2024.114038 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Jun 2024BACKGROUND Functional evaluation after therapeutic selective nerve root block (SNRB) has been rarely reported. We explored functional outcomes of SNRB for single-segment...
BACKGROUND Functional evaluation after therapeutic selective nerve root block (SNRB) has been rarely reported. We explored functional outcomes of SNRB for single-segment lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). MATERIAL AND METHODS Data for 117 patients with single-segment LSS who underwent single therapeutic SNRB were retrospectively collected between January 2019 and December 2021. Functional outcomes were assessed using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores preoperatively, and 3 days, and 3, 6, and 12 months after SNRB, which were compared in subgroups stratified by age, sex, BMI, sedentary time, hypertension, diabetes, affected side, pathology level, intervertebral disk. Correlation between ODI and JOA was analyzed using univariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS Clinical symptoms of LSS significantly improved within 12 months after SNRB, especially at 6 months (P<0.05). ODI scores in each subgroup gradually decreased within 6 months after SNRB, and JOA scores gradually increased. Most subgroup analyses revealed significantly increased ODI scores and decreased JOA scores at 12 months after SNRB, compared with 6-month scores (P<0.05). Notably, ODI and JOA scores at 12 months after SNRB were not significantly different than those before SNRB in patients with BMI >25 or sedentary time >8 h (P>0.05). A significant correlation existed between ODI and JOA scores (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic SNRB was an effective treatment for alleviating LSS within at least 6 months. Changing sedentary habits with appropriate exercise and controlling weight with a healthy diet can improve the effectiveness of SNRB, especially in patients for whom conservative treatment is ineffective and who are unsuitable for surgical treatment.
Topics: Humans; Spinal Stenosis; Male; Female; Retrospective Studies; Middle Aged; Lumbar Vertebrae; Aged; Nerve Block; Treatment Outcome; Spinal Nerve Roots; Disability Evaluation
PubMed: 38905165
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943634 -
Health Science Reports Jun 2024as an opportunistic pathogen produces several virulence factors. This study evaluated the relative frequency of exoenzymes () A, U and S genes and integron classes (I,...
BACKGROUND
as an opportunistic pathogen produces several virulence factors. This study evaluated the relative frequency of exoenzymes () A, U and S genes and integron classes (I, II, and III) among multi-drug-resistant clinical isolates from burn patients in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study isolates were recovered from 355 wound samples. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by disk agar diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. MDR isolates were defined if they showed simultaneous resistance to 3 antibiotics. Extensively drug-resistant was defined as nonsusceptibility to at least one agent in all but two or fewer antimicrobial categories. The presence of class I, II, and III integrons and virulence genes was determined using a PCR assay on extracted DNA.
RESULTS
Overall, 145 clinical isolates were confirmed with biochemical and PCR tests. Overall, 35% (52/145) of the isolates were taken from males and 64% (93/145) from female hospitalized burn patients. The highest resistance rates of isolates to antibiotics were related to piperacillin 59% ( = 86/145) and piperacillin-tazobactam 57% ( = 83/145). A total of 100% of isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic. MDR and XDR had a frequency of 60% and 29%, respectively. The prevalence of integron classes I, II, and III in was 60%, 7.58%, and 3.44%, respectively. was more common in MDR and XDR isolates. In addition, 70(48%) of isolates did not harbor integron genes. Besides, , and in had a frequency of 55%, 55%, and 56%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
It was found that as a potent pathogen with strong virulence factors and high antibiotic resistance in the health community can cause refractory diseases in burn patients.
PubMed: 38903659
DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.2164 -
Infection and Drug Resistance 2024The most common extraintestinal pathogen and infection site is uropathogenic (UPEC), which causes urinary tract infections (UTIs). UPEC is also a common pathogen in...
OBJECTIVE
The most common extraintestinal pathogen and infection site is uropathogenic (UPEC), which causes urinary tract infections (UTIs). UPEC is also a common pathogen in bloodstream infections; in severe cases, it can lead to death. Although host and bacterial virulence factors have been demonstrated to be associated with UTI pathogenesis, the role of the related contributing factors in UTI and urinary source bacteremia is not yet fully understood. This study aimed to compare and analyze the factors contributing to urinary bacteremia in patients with UTI.
METHODS
A total of 171 strains collected from patients with UTI and urinary source bacteremia at Chiayi Christian Hospital were used. Phylogenetic groups and virulence factors were determined using PCR. Drug resistance patterns were determined using the disk diffusion assay.
RESULTS
Previous studies have demonstrated that fimbriae and papGII may be associated with first-step infections and severe UTIs, respectively. As expected, highly virulent strains (belonging to the phylogenetic B2 and D groups) were dominant in the bacteremic UTI (90%) and UTI (86.27%) groups. However, our results showed that the UTI group had a significantly higher prevalence of (belonging to the S and FIC fimbriae) than the bacteremic UTI group (29.4% vs 12.5%; p=0.008). In the bacteremic group, we found that / was only detected in highly virulent strains. The bacteremic UTI group had a significantly higher prevalence of GII (belonging to P fimbriae) than the UTI group (55.8% vs 37.3%; p=0.026). In addition, the P fimbriae gene cluster, including , and , was predominant in highly virulent strains. Notably, our results show that multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains were significantly less virulent than non MDR strains.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, our results provide insights into the contributing factors in patients with UTI and urinary bacteremia.
PubMed: 38903152
DOI: 10.2147/IDR.S458925 -
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Jun 2024In the era of liquid biopsy, microRNAs emerge as promising candidates for the early diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, offering valuable insights into the disease's...
In the era of liquid biopsy, microRNAs emerge as promising candidates for the early diagnosis and prognosis of cancer, offering valuable insights into the disease's development. Among all the existing analytical approaches, even if traditional approaches such as the nucleic acid amplification ones have the advantages to be highly sensitive, they cannot be used at the point-of-care, while sensors might be poorly sensitive despite their portability. In order to improve the analytical performance of existing electroanalytical systems, we demonstrate how a simple chromatographic paper-based disk might be useful to rationally improve the sensitivity, depending on the number of preconcentration cycles. A paper-based electrochemical platform for miRNA detection has been developed by modifying a paper-based electrode with a methylene blue (MB)-modified single-stranded sequence (ssDNA) complementary to the chosen miRNA, namely miR-224 that is associated with lung cancer. A detection limit of ca. 0.6 nM has been obtained in spiked human serum samples. To further enhance the sensitivity, an external chromatographic wax-patterned paper-based disk has been adopted to preconcentrate the sample, and this has been demonstrated both in standard and in serum solutions. For each solution, three miR-224 levels have been preconcentrated, obtaining a satisfactory lowering detection limit of ca. 50 pM using a simple and sustainable procedure. This approach opens wide possibilities in the field of analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, being useful not only for electrochemistry but also for other architectures of detection and transduction.
PubMed: 38902346
DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05406-6