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Microorganisms May 2024The inclusion of beta-glucans in dog and cat food is associated with numerous beneficial effects on the health of these animals. In this regard, there is an effort to... (Review)
Review
Translating Human and Animal Model Studies to Dogs' and Cats' Veterinary Care: Beta-Glucans Application for Skin Disease, Osteoarthritis, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management.
The inclusion of beta-glucans in dog and cat food is associated with numerous beneficial effects on the health of these animals. In this regard, there is an effort to elucidate the potential of this nutraceutical in chronic patients. Since there is a lack of a review on the topic, this review article aims to compile and discuss the evidence found to date. Atopic dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and osteoarthritis are diseases of significant clinical relevance in dogs and cats. In general, the pathophysiology of these chronic conditions is related to immune-mediated and inflammatory mechanisms. Therefore, the immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of beta-glucans are highlighted throughout this review. The available information seems to indicate that the studies on beta-glucans' impact on allergic processes in dogs indicate a reduction in clinical signs in atopic dermatitis cases. Additionally, while beta-glucans show promise as a safe supplement, particularly for osteoarthritis, further clinical trials are imperative, especially in uncontrolled environments. Beta-glucans emerge as a potential nutraceutical offering immune benefits for inflammatory bowel disease patients, although extensive research is required to define its optimal origin, molecular weight, dosage, and specific applications across animals suffering from this disease.
PubMed: 38930453
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061071 -
Microorganisms May 2024Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is common in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in high-TB-burden settings. Active TB is associated with specific stool taxa; however,...
Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is common in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in high-TB-burden settings. Active TB is associated with specific stool taxa; however, little is known about the stool microbiota and LTBI in PLHIV. We characterised the stool microbiota of PLHIV with [interferon- release assay (IGRA)- and tuberculin skin test (TST)-positive] or without (IGRA- and TST-negative) LTBI ( = 25 per group). The 16S rRNA DNA sequences were analysed using QIIME2, Dirichlet-Multinomial Mixtures, DESeq2, and PICRUSt2. No α- or β-diversity differences occurred by LTBI status; however, LTBI-positive people were -, -, -, and -enriched and -, -, -, and -depleted. Inferred metagenome data showed that LTBI-negative-enriched pathways included several metabolite degradation pathways. Stool from LTBI-positive people demonstrated differential taxa abundance based on a quantitative response to antigen stimulation. In LTBI-positive people, older people had different β-diversities than younger people, whereas in LTBI-negative people, no differences occurred across age groups. Amongst female PLHIV, those with LTBI were, vs. those without LTBI, -, -, -, and -enriched, which are producers of short-chain fatty acids. Taxonomic differences amongst people with LTBI occurred according to quantitative response to antigen stimulation and age. These data enhance our understanding of the microbiome's potential role in LTBI.
PubMed: 38930430
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061048 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024In this study, the potential of silk fibroin biomaterials for enhancing wound healing is explored, focusing on their integration into a human 3D ex vivo wound model...
In this study, the potential of silk fibroin biomaterials for enhancing wound healing is explored, focusing on their integration into a human 3D ex vivo wound model derived from abdominoplasties. For this purpose, cast silk fibroin membranes and electrospun nonwoven matrices from silk cocoons were compared to untreated controls over 20 days. Keratinocyte behavior and wound healing were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by histomorphometric and immune histochemical methods (HE, Ki67, TUNEL). Findings reveal rapid keratinocyte proliferation on both silk fibroin membrane and nonwoven matrices, along with enhanced infiltration in the matrix, suggesting improved early wound closure. Silk fibroin membranes exhibited a significantly improved early regeneration, followed by nonwoven matrices ( < 0.05) compared to untreated wounds, resulting in the formation of multi-layered epidermal structures with complete regeneration. Overall, the materials demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, supporting cell activity with no signs of increased apoptosis or early degradation. These results underscore silk fibroin's potential in clinical wound care, particularly in tissue integration and re-epithelialization, offering valuable insights for advanced and-as a result of the electrospinning technique-individual wound care development. Furthermore, the use of an ex vivo wound model appears to be a viable option for pre-clinical testing.
PubMed: 38930373
DOI: 10.3390/ma17123004 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Tissue adhesive has been widely used in ophthalmic surgery for various procedures, proving both effective and safe. However, no studies have compared the surgical...
Tissue adhesive has been widely used in ophthalmic surgery for various procedures, proving both effective and safe. However, no studies have compared the surgical efficacy of the tissue adhesive 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (SurgiSeal®) to that of traditional suture closure in Asian children undergoing surgery for lower lid epiblepharon. This is a single-center retrospective case-control study. Surgical correction for epiblepharon was performed on 22 patients from November 2019 to May 2023. A total of 20 patients who were followed up for at least 1 month were included for analysis. After standardized epiblepharon surgery, group A underwent wound closure with a subcuticular suture and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, and group B underwent closure with a 6-O fast-absorbing surgical gut suture. Patients were followed up at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-surgery. A total of 10 patients (20 eyes) underwent skin closure with tissue adhesives (group A), and 10 patients (18 eyes) underwent wound closure using conventional suture material (group B). No significant differences in the sex ratio, mean age at operation, pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), or average surgical time were observed between groups. Both groups exhibited improved postoperative BCVA, with symptom relief and a significant decrease in the severity of keratopathy after surgery. Neither recurrence nor complications were reported during follow-up. The aesthetic results were similar between groups, while caregivers of children in the tissue adhesive group expressed high satisfaction regarding the ease of postoperative care. Successful closure of lower lid epiblepharon surgery wounds in children can be performed using 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (SurgiSeal®). This method is simple, safe, and effective when compared to conventional sutures.
PubMed: 38930002
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13123475 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Aging (senescence) is an unavoidable biological process that results in visible manifestations in all cutaneous tissues, including scalp skin and hair follicles....
Aging (senescence) is an unavoidable biological process that results in visible manifestations in all cutaneous tissues, including scalp skin and hair follicles. Previously, we evaluated the molecular function of adenosine in promoting alopecia treatment in vitro. To elucidate the differences in the molecular mechanisms between minoxidil (MNX) and adenosine, gene expression changes in dermal papilla cells were examined. The androgen receptor (AR) pathway was identified as a candidate target of adenosine for hair growth, and the anti-androgenic activity of adenosine was examined in vitro. In addition, ex vivo examination of human hair follicle organ cultures revealed that adenosine potently elongated the anagen stage. According to the severity of alopecia, the ratio of the two peaks (terminal hair area/vellus hair area) decreased continuously. We further investigated the adenosine hair growth promoting effect in vivo to examine the hair thickness growth effects of topical 5% MNX and the adenosine complex (0.75% adenosine, 1% penthenol, and 2% niacinamide; APN) in vivo. After 4 months of administration, both the MNX and APN group showed significant increases in hair density (MNX + 5.01% ( < 0.01), APN + 6.20% ( < 0.001)) and thickness (MNX + 5.14% ( < 0.001), APN + 10.32% ( < 0.001)). The inhibition of AR signaling via adenosine could have contributed to hair thickness growth. We suggest that the anti-androgenic effect of adenosine, along with the evaluation of hair thickness distribution, could help us to understand hair physiology and to investigate new approaches for drug development.
Topics: Alopecia; Humans; Male; Receptors, Androgen; Adenosine; Hair Follicle; Signal Transduction; Minoxidil; Female; Animals; Hair
PubMed: 38928239
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126534 -
Cancers Jun 2024Modern diagnostic procedures, such as three-dimensional total body photography (3D-TBP), digital dermoscopy (DD), and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), can improve...
Modern diagnostic procedures, such as three-dimensional total body photography (3D-TBP), digital dermoscopy (DD), and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), can improve melanoma diagnosis, particularly in high-risk patients. This study assessed the benefits of combining these advanced imaging techniques in a three-step programme in managing high-risk patients. This study included 410 high-risk melanoma patients who underwent a specialised imaging consultation in addition to their regular skin examinations in outpatient care. At each visit, the patients underwent a 3D-TBP, a DD for suspicious findings, and an RCM for unclear DD findings. The histological findings of excisions initiated based on imaging consultation and outpatient care were compared. Imaging consultation detected sixteen confirmed melanomas (eight invasive and eight in situ) in 39 excised pigmented lesions. Outpatient care examination detected seven confirmed melanomas (one invasive and six in situ) in 163 excised melanocytic lesions. The number needed to excise (NNE) in the imaging consultation was significantly lower than that in the outpatient care (2.4 vs. 23.3). The NNE was 2.6 for DD and 2.3 for RCM. DD, 3D-TBP, or RCM detected melanomas that were not detected by the other imaging methods. The three-step imaging programme improves melanoma detection and reduces the number of unnecessary excisions in high-risk patients.
PubMed: 38927909
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16122204 -
Biomedicines Jun 2024Hypothyroidism is a frequently diagnosed endocrine disorder. Common signs and symptoms include fatigue, cold intolerance, hoarseness, dry skin, constipation, a slow...
Hypothyroidism is a frequently diagnosed endocrine disorder. Common signs and symptoms include fatigue, cold intolerance, hoarseness, dry skin, constipation, a slow relaxation phase of deep tendon reflexes, and bradycardia. However, some patients may exhibit atypical signs and symptoms, which can result in diagnostic confusion. Pituitary hyperplasia resulting from longstanding primary hypothyroidism was first described by Niepce in 1851. It is usually asymptomatic, but sometimes, in addition to symptoms of overt hypothyroidism, patients may complain of headaches, hypopituitarism, visual field impairment, and hyperprolactinemia. Furthermore, on imaging, pituitary hyperplasia can be mistaken for a pituitary adenoma. Distinguishing between the two is crucial, as their management differs; the former often responds to thyroid hormone replacement therapy, while the latter might need treatment with surgery and/or radiotherapy. Here we describe a patient who developed pituitary hyperplasia in the setting of longstanding uncompensated primary hypothyroidism due to a lack of compliance with levothyroxine replacement therapy. We also review the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings of the case reports available in the literature up to now in order to improve the knowledge and the care of the disease.
PubMed: 38927575
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061368 -
Emergency Medicine Clinics of North... Aug 2024The evaluation and care of an injured scuba diver requires an understanding of the different types of underwater activities that may be deemed scuba diving. Such... (Review)
Review
The evaluation and care of an injured scuba diver requires an understanding of the different types of underwater activities that may be deemed scuba diving. Such activities may range from the complex (eg, commercial or technical diving) all the way up to basic recreational scuba or snorkeling. A thorough physical examination should be completed as early as possible with a focus on specific areas at risk for injury and etiology, such as a detailed cardiopulmonary, skin, and neurologic examination. Serial reassessments and supportive care are as equally important as consultation with a dive medicine expert, especially one with hyperbaric capabilities.
Topics: Diving; Humans; Accidents; Physical Examination
PubMed: 38925774
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2024.02.015 -
Current Opinion in Microbiology Jun 2024Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen with several concerning qualities. First recognized in 2009, it has arisen in multiple geographically distinct genomic... (Review)
Review
Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen with several concerning qualities. First recognized in 2009, it has arisen in multiple geographically distinct genomic clades nearly simultaneously. C. auris strains are typically multidrug resistant and colonize the skin much better than most other pathogenic fungi; it also persists on abiotic surfaces, enabling outbreaks due to transmission in health care facilities. All these suggest a biology substantially different from the 'model' fungal pathogen, Candida albicans and support intensive investigation of C. auris biology directly. To uncover novel virulence mechanisms in this species requires the development of appropriate animal infection models. Various studies using mice, the definitive model, are inconsistent due to differences in mouse and fungal strains, immunosuppressive regimes, doses, and outcome metrics. At the same time, developing models of skin colonization present a route to new insights into an aspect of fungal pathogenesis that has not been well studied in other species. We also discuss the growing use of nonmammalian model systems, including both vertebrates and invertebrates, such as zebrafish, C. elegans, Drosophila, and Galleria mellonella, that have been productively employed in virulence studies with other fungal species. This review will discuss progress in developing appropriate animal models, outline current challenges, and highlight opportunities in demystifying this curious species.
PubMed: 38925077
DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102506 -
Current Protocols Jun 2024Traditional skin sampling methods include punch or shave biopsies to produce a solid tissue sample for analysis. These biopsy procedures are painful, require anesthesia,...
Traditional skin sampling methods include punch or shave biopsies to produce a solid tissue sample for analysis. These biopsy procedures are painful, require anesthesia, and leave permanent scars. This unit describes a suction blister skin biopsy method that can be used in place of traditional biopsy methodologies as a minimally invasive, non-scarring skin sampling technique. The induction of suction blisters uses an instrument with a chamber that applies negative pressure and gentle heat to the skin. Blister formation occurs within 1 hr, producing up to five blisters, each 10 mm in diameter per biopsy site. Blister fluid can be extracted and centrifuged to retrieve cells from the epidermis and upper dermis for flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, cell culture, and more without the need for digestion protocols. In addition, the blister fluid can be used to measure soluble proteins and metabolites. This unit describes the preparation of supplies and subjects, the suction blister biopsy procedure and blister formation, fluid extraction, and post-blistering care. © 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of supplies and subject Basic Protocol 2: Suction blister biopsy procedure and formation Basic Protocol 3: Blister fluid extraction Basic Protocol 4: Post-blister care and clean up.
Topics: Humans; Blister; Suction; Biopsy; Skin; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 38924322
DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.1073