Pharmacokinetic and preclinical safety studies of endolysin-based therapeutic for intravenous administration.

Pharmacokinetics and safety studies of innovative drugs is an essential part of drug development process. Previously we have developed a novel drug for intravenous administration (lyophilizate) containing modified endolysin LysECD7-SMAP that showed notable antibacterial effect in different animal models of systemic infections. Here we present data on pharmacokinetics of endolysin in mice after single and multiple injections.

Local carotid stiffness, hemodynamic forces and blood viscosity in patients with cerebral lacunar infarctions.

Objective: The carotid stiffness is an important factor in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular small vessel disease. Our study aimed to evaluate the relation of the local arterial stiffness of the common carotid artery (CCA) to the hemodynamic forces and blood viscosity in patients with cerebral lacunar infarctions (LI).

Methods: Twenty-two patients with chronic LI and 15 age-matched controls were examined.

Pharmacokinetics and Preclinical Safety Studies of Modified Endolysin-based Gel for Topical Application.

Antibacterial therapy with phage-encoded endolysins or their modified derivatives with improved antibacterial, biochemical and pharmacokinetic properties is one of the most promising strategies that can supply existing antibacterial drugs array. Gram-negative bacteria-induced infections treatment is especially challenging because of rapidly spreading bacterial resistance. We have developed modified endolysin LysECD7-SMAP with a significant antibacterial activity and broad spectra of action against gram-negative bacteria.

Biofilm-disrupting effects of phage endolysins LysAm24, LysAp22, LysECD7, and LysSi3: breakdown the matrix.

The ability of most opportunistic bacteria to form biofilms, coupled with antimicrobial resistance, hinder the efforts to control widespread infections, resulting in high risks of negative outcomes and economic costs. Endolysins are promising compounds that efficiently combat bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains and biofilms, without a low probability of subsequent emergence of stable endolysin-resistant phenotypes. However, the details of antibiofilm effects of these enzymes are poorly understood.

Don't say it's over: The perceived epidemic stage and COVID preventive behaviour.

Little is known about the perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic's dynamic and its effect on self-protective behaviour. Using survey data from 1343 university students we explored how the perceived temporal distance to the COVID pandemic peak associates with risk perception and the adherence of preventive behaviours. Results show that individuals differ in their perception of the pandemic stage despite being in the same environment.

Alginate Gel Encapsulated with Enzybiotics Cocktail Is Effective against Multispecies Biofilms.

The development of new and effective antibacterials for pharmaceutical or cosmetic skin care that have a low potential for the emergence and expansion of bacterial resistance is of high demand in scientific and applied research. Great hopes are placed on alternative agents such as bactericidal peptidoglycan hydrolases, depolymerases, etc. Enzybiotic-based preparations are being studied for the treatment of various infections and, among others, can be used as topical formulations and dressings with protein-polysaccharide complexes.

[A tool to assess functional communication skills and its correspondence with traditional language testing in patients with brain tumors].

Objective: To identify the relationship between speech impairment as measured by the Russian Aphasia Test (RAT) and functional communication as assessed by the Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI).

Material And Methods: RAT and CETI were administered to 87 patients at two time points, before surgery and in 3 months after brain tumor resection surgery.

Results: There were significant correlations between CETI and the total scores on RAT subtests for speech comprehension and production before surgery but not in the follow-up period.

Development of experimental microfluidic device and methodology for assessing microrheological properties of blood.

Background And Objective: Microfluidics is a useful tool for investigating blood microrheology. The study aimed to present the development of a microfluidic device for assessing the microrheological properties of blood cells' suspensions and its application in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM).

Methods: A new microfluidic device was elaborated, connected to a system, including a microscope with a digital camera, a pump with a manometer and a computer with specially developed software.

Hemorheological and microvascular disturbances in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: In the blood vessels the impaired hemorheological parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) could lead to elevated flow resistance, increased forces at the endothelial wall and to microvascular disturbances.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the hemorheological variables and the changes of the skin blood flow responses to cold stress in T2DM patients.

Methods: The basic hemorheological parameters: hematocrit (Ht), fibrinogen (Fib), whole blood viscosity (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV) were examined in 20 patients with T2DM and a control group of 10 healthy age and sex matched controls.

It is not a big deal: a qualitative study of clinical biobank donation experience and motives.

Background: The success of biobanking is directly linked to the willingness of people to donate their biological materials for research and storage. Ethical issues related to patient consent are an essential component of the current biobanking agenda. The majority of data available are focused on population-based biobanks in USA, Canada and Western Europe.

Combination of Multimodal MRI, Neuronavigation, and Awake Craniotomy in Removing Tumors of Eloquent Areas.

Unlabelled: is to assess the possibilities of the combined approach to using multimodal MRI, neuronavigation, and awake craniotomy in resecting tumors of eloquent areas.

Materials And Methods: The results of 30 successive awake surgical interventions performed in 2017-2019 years in patients with tumors of eloquent areas have been analyzed. The main selection criterion for this type of operations was the location of the tumor in the projection or in the immediate proximity to the cortical centers of speech and motion.

Discovering the Potentials of Four Phage Endolysins to Combat Gram-Negative Infections.

Endolysin-based therapeutics are promising antibacterial agents and can successfully supplement the existing antibacterial drugs array. It is specifically important in the case of Gram-negative pathogens, e.g.

Efficacy of the Endolysin-Based Antibacterial Gel for Treatment of Anaerobic Infection Caused by .

Abscess formation is a common complication of severe life-threatening infections caused by obligate anaerobes. is among the frequently detected anaerobic pathogens from clinical specimens associated with liver abscesses, skin and soft tissue infections, or oral abscesses. The antimicrobial therapy for this kind of infection needs to be optimized.

Sterile iris abscess associated with herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

Purpose: To report a case of a sterile iris abscess associated with herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO).

Observations: A 69-year-old African American female presented to SUNY Downstate Medical Center complaining of left-sided eye pain for two weeks. The patient had a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/30 OD and 20/200 OS.

Determination of Bactericidal Activity Spectrum of Recombinant Endolysins of ECD7, Am24, Ap22, Si3, and St11 Bacteriophages.

The bactericidal activity of recombinant endolysins LysECD7, LysAm24, LysAp22, LysSi3 and LysSt11 was assayed in multidrug resistant strains (n=120) of Salmonella enterica, E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Campylobacter jejuni.

Antibiofilm Activity of a Broad-Range Recombinant Endolysin LysECD7: In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

Surfaces of implanted medical devices are highly susceptible to biofilm formation. Bacteria in biofilms are embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix that inhibits the penetration of antibiotics and significantly contributes to the mechanical stability of the colonizing community which leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality rate in clinical settings. Therefore, new antibiofilm approaches and substances are urgently needed.

The effect of hematocrit, fibrinogen concentration and temperature on the kinetics of clot formation of whole blood.

Background: Dynamic mechanical analysis of blood clots can be used to detect the coagulability of blood.

Objective: We investigated the kinetics of clot formation by changing several blood components, and we looked into the clot "signature" at its equilibrium state by using viscoelastic and dielectric protocols.

Methods: Oscillating shear rheometry, ROTEM, and a dielectro-rheological device was used.

Modulation of Endolysin LysECD7 Bactericidal Activity by Different Peptide Tag Fusion.

The use of recombinant endolysins is a promising approach for antimicrobial therapy capable of counteracting the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains. To obtain the necessary biotechnological product, diverse peptide tags are often fused to the endolysin sequence to simplify enzyme purification, improve its ability to permeabilize the bacterial outer membrane, etc. We compared the effects of two different types of protein modifications on endolysin LysECD7 bactericidal activity in vitro and demonstrated that it is significantly modulated by specific permeabilizing antimicrobial peptides, as well as by widely used histidine tags.

Broad Bactericidal Activity of the Bacteriophage Lysins LysAm24, LysECD7, and LysSi3 against Gram-Negative ESKAPE Pathogens.

The extremely rapid spread of multiple-antibiotic resistance among Gram-negative pathogens threatens to move humankind into the so-called "post-antibiotic era" in which the most efficient and safe antibiotics will not work. Bacteriophage lysins represent promising alternatives to antibiotics, as they are capable of digesting bacterial cell wall peptidoglycans to promote their osmotic lysis. However, relatively little is known regarding the spectrum of lysin bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

[The Tobacco Smoking of Pregnant Women: the Role of Psycho-Social Factors].

The tobacco smoking of women during pregnancy and breast feeding represents a significant danger to public health. During pregnancy, the WHO recommends to abstain from cigarettes smoking. In spite of extensive information concerning related to smoking dangers to health of women and fetus, certain females continue to smoke during all pregnancy.

Visual training in hemianopia alters neural activity in the absence of behavioural improvement: a pilot study.

Background: Damage to the primary visual cortex (V1) due to stroke often results in permanent loss of sight affecting one side of the visual field (homonymous hemianopia). Some rehabilitation approaches have shown improvement in visual performance in the blind region, but require a significant time investment.

Methods: Seven patients with cortical damage performed 400 trials of a motion direction discrimination task daily for 5 days.

[Lipoilcarnosine: synthesis, study of physico-chemical and antioxidant properties, biological activity].

Synthesis of lipoilcarnosine (LipC) - a conjugated molecule based on two natural antioxidants, carnosine and a-lipoic acid, is described. Its physico-chemical, antioxidant properties and biological activity are characterized. According to reversed-phase HPLC with a UV detector, purity of the final product was 89.