Introduction: Oral herpes infections caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) are one of the most common in the human population. Recently, they have been classified as an increasing problem in immunocompromised patients and those suffering from chronic inflammation of the oral mucosa and gums. Treatment mainly involves nucleoside analogues, such as acyclovir and its derivatives, which reduce virus replication and shedding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis work describes fabrication of gold electrodes modified with peptide conjugate DAL-PEG-DK5-PEG-OH that enables ultra-sensitive detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from the reference strain of Escherichia coli O26:B6. The initial step of the established procedure implies immobilization of the fully protected DAL-PEG-DK5-PEG-OH peptide on the surface of the gold electrode previously modified by cysteamine. Then side chain- and Fmoc-deprotection was performed in situ on the electrode surface, followed by its incubation in 1 % of BSA solution to block non-specific bindings sites before LPS detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeriodontal disease is one of the most common forms of inflammation. It is currently diagnosed by observing symptoms such as gingival bleeding and attachment loss. However, the detection of biomarkers that precede such symptoms would allow earlier diagnosis and prevention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndotoxin tolerance is a state of hyporesponsiveness to LPS, triggered by previous exposure to endotoxin. Such an immunosuppressive state enhances the risks of secondary infection and has been associated with the pathophysiology of sepsis. Although this phenomenon has been extensively studied, its molecular mechanism is not fully explained.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmune checkpoint targeting immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of certain cancers in the recent years. Determination of the status of immune checkpoint expression in particular cancers may assist decision making. Here, we describe the development of a single-stranded aptamer-based molecular probe specifically recognizing human PD-L1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In addition to vocational education and experience, the pharmaceutical profession's proper pursuit requires acquiring and continuously improving professional competencies. In recent years, the need has been increasingly highlighted for developing a medical education system based on helping students develop their competencies. It is necessary to adapt the tools and methods for assessing competencies during formal education.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe alarming raise of multi-drug resistance among human microbial pathogens makes the development of novel therapeutics a priority task. In contrast to conventional antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), besides evoking a broad spectrum of activity against microorganisms, could offer additional benefits, such as the ability to neutralize toxins, modulate inflammatory response, eradicate bacterial and fungal biofilms or prevent their development. The latter properties are of special interest, as most antibiotics available on the market have limited ability to diffuse through rigid structures of biofilms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLL-37, the only member of the mammalian cathelicidin in humans, plays an essential role in innate immunity by killing pathogens and regulating the inflammatory response. However, at an inflammatory focus, arginine residues in LL-37 can be converted to citrulline via a reaction catalyzed by peptidyl-arginine deiminases (PAD2 and PAD4), which are expressed in neutrophils and are highly active during the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Citrullination impairs the bactericidal activity of LL-37 and abrogates its immunomodulatory functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The current article is aimed at identifying the best practice for counseling around depression in community and outpatient pharmacies, resulting in a draft guideline, proposing key steps and an algorithm for integration of community pharmacists into care for patients with depression.
Methods: A literature review was performed followed by a detailed analysis, for the purpose of creation a short draft document used as a basis for creation of a guideline for pharmaceutical care for patients with depression. The technological scheme PRISMA flow diagram was applied.
is a major infectious agent responsible for a plethora of superficial skin infections and systemic diseases, including endocarditis and septic arthritis. Recent epidemiological data revealed the emergence of resistance to commonly used antibiotics, including increased numbers of both hospital- and community-acquired methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Due to their potent antimicrobial functions, low potential to develop resistance, and immunogenicity, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant strains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The study objective was to assess the impact of pharmacist-led education on the patient's knowledge and skills on SBPM (self-blood pressure monitoring).
Methods: Patient knowledge was assessed using tests and patients' skills were based on a checklist (20 parameters) completed by the researcher based on the SBPM video records. Patients taking pressure measurements were filmed for 20 days and after 6 months.
Pharmacists in Poland are responsible for the dispensing and quality control of pharmaceuticals. The education process in pharmacy is regulated and monitored at the national level. Pharmacy education at Jagiellonian University is organized in a traditional way based on input and content teaching.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Agents Chemother
April 2016
Novel sulfonated derivatives of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (NSPAHs) and N-sulfonated chitosan (NSCH) have been synthesized, and their activity against influenza A and B viruses has been studied and compared with that of a series of carrageenans, marine polysaccharides of well-documented anti-influenza activity. NSPAHs were found to be nontoxic and very soluble in water, in contrast to gel-forming and thus generally poorly soluble carrageenans.In vitroandex vivostudies using susceptible cells (Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells and fully differentiated human airway epithelial cultures) demonstrated the antiviral effectiveness of NSPAHs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Human coronavirus (hCoV) HKU1 is one of six hCoVs identified to date and the only one with an unidentified cellular receptor. hCoV-HKU1 encodes a hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) protein that is unique to the group a betacoronaviruses (group 2a). The function of HKU1-HE remains largely undetermined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman coronavirus (HCoV) NL63 was first described in 2004 and is associated with respiratory tract disease of varying severity. At the genetic and structural level, HCoV-NL63 is similar to other members of the Coronavirinae subfamily, especially human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E). Detailed analysis, however, reveals several unique features of the pathogen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRelatively recently discovered, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a human pathogen with worldwide prevalence, accounting for a substantial percentage of respiratory tract diseases. Concurrent viral and bacterial infections enable intricate mechanisms of cooperation between pathogens, which complicate the symptoms and outcome of the disease. Such bilateral interactions are based on the modulation of bacterial growth on epithelium pathologically altered during viral illness and the modulation of immune responses, as well as the enhancement of virus replication by bacterial virulence factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding the mechanisms of augmented bacterial pathogenicity in post-viral infections is the first step in the development of an effective therapy. This study assessed the effect of human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) on the adherence of bacterial pathogens associated with respiratory tract illnesses. It was shown that HCoV-NL63 infection resulted in an increased adherence of Streptococcus pneumoniae to virus-infected cell lines and fully differentiated primary human airway epithelium cultures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBradykinin-related vasoactive peptides (kinins) are important mediators of local and systemic inflammatory reactions. However, at local inflammatory foci, the production of kinins from proteinaceous precursors (kininogens) can be affected by reactive oxygen species released by phagocyte cells. One of the predominant oxidants at these places is hypochlorous acid which is formed from hydrogen peroxide and chloride ions by neutrophil myeloperoxidase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe secretion of proteolytic enzymes by pathogenic microorganisms is one of the most successful strategies used by pathogens to colonize and infect the host organism. The extracellular microbial proteinases can seriously deregulate the homeostatic proteolytic cascades of the host, including the kinin-forming system, repeatedly reported to be activated during bacterial infection. The current study assigns a kinin-releasing activity to secreted proteinases of Candida spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe tested if discontinuation of cocaine self-administration can lead to the development of depressive-like symptoms in the forced swim test expressed as changes in immobility, swimming and climbing behaviors in rats. A "yoked" procedure in which rats were run simultaneously in groups of three, with two rats received the passive injection of cocaine or saline, was employed. Later, we examined whether acute treatment with the classical antidepressant imipramine or GABA(B) receptor ligands could alter the increases in immobility recorded after discontinuation of self-administered cocaine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNumerous data indicated a significance for the brain dopaminergic pathways in the behavioral effects of cocaine, however recent research also demonstrated involvement of serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission and particularly 5-HT(1B) receptors in the reinforcing, discriminative stimulus and sensitizing effects of cocaine. In order to substantiate a role of these receptors in incentive motivation for cocaine, we used the extinction/reinstatement model to examine the effects of the 5-HT(1B) receptor ligands on reinstatement of extinguished cocaine-seeking behavior and food-taking behavior. Rats trained to self-administer cocaine (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe pool of thiamine diphosphate (TDP), available for TDP-dependent enzymes involved in the major carbohydrate metabolic pathways, is controlled by two enzyme systems that act in the opposite directions. The thiamine pyrophosphokinase (TPK) activates thiamine into TDP and the numerous phosphatases perform the reverse two-step dephosphorylation of TDP to thiamine monophosphate (TMP) and then to free thiamine. Properties and a possible cooperation of those enzymes in higher plants have not been extensively studied.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Opin Pulm Med
May 2008
Purpose Of Review: The main purpose of this review is to summarize the current research (2006-2007) concerning the development of novel anticoronaviral strategies and compounds.
Recent Findings: Recent research led to the identification of several novel agents inhibiting coronaviral replication. The most promising compounds include carbohydrate-binding agents, neutralizing antibodies and drugs targeting a coronaviral envelope protein.