Trichophyton mentagrophytes ITS genotype VII infections among men who have sex with men in France: An ongoing phenomenon.

Background: Trichophyton mentagrophytes ITS genotype VII (TMVII) has recently been identified in France as the causative agent of dermatophyte infections transmitted during sexual activity among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Objectives: Our objective was to provide new insights into the epidemiology, clinical presentation and treatment of TMVII infections based on cases diagnosed from October 2022 to September 2023 in three medical mycology laboratories in Paris. Additionally, we aimed to perform molecular characterization of TMVII strains collected in Paris, as well as in Switzerland.

Shifts in Diabetes Health Literacy Policy and Practice in Australia-Promoting Organisational Health Literacy.

Improving organisational health literacy ensures people can navigate, understand and use essential health information and services. However, systematic reviews have identified limited evidence for practical approaches to implementing such organisational change, particularly at a national level. This study aimed to (a) investigate the approach taken by an Australian national diabetes organisation-Diabetes Australia, as the administrator of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS)-to improve organisational health literacy over a 15-year-period and (b) examine the impact of organisational changes on the health literacy demands of health information.

Evaluation of Gradient Concentration Strips for Detection of Terbinafine Resistance in spp.

The number of dermatophytosis cases resistant to terbinafine is increasing all over the world. Therefore, there is a need for antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes for better management of the patients. In the present study, we have evaluated a gradient test (GT) method for testing the susceptibility of dermatophytes to terbinafine.

Reliability of a terbinafine agar containing method for the screening of dermatophyte resistance.

The increase in terbinafine resistance worldwide due to Trichophyton indotineae underlies the need for surveillance networks, deploying easy to perform methods to correctly identify resistant isolates and thereby reduce their spread. In the present study, we evaluated the performances of the terbinafine containing agar method (TCAM). Different technical parameters, such as culture medium (RPMI agar [RPMIA] or Sabouraud dextrose agar [SDA]) and inoculum size, were evaluated.

Variability in the substitution pattern of hydroxypropyl cellulose affects its physico-chemical properties.

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a water-soluble polymer with many applications in food, pharmaceutical, medical, or paints industries. Past studies have reported that differences in functionality can occur between products of similar pharmaceutical grades. Understanding the origin of these differences is a major challenge for the industry.

Investigating the relationship between specific executive functions and functional decline among community-dwelling older adults: results from a prospective pilot study.

Background: As cognitive functions and, more specifically, executive functions (EF) seem to influence autonomy among the elderly, we investigated the role of each of the five EF sub-components (inhibition, spontaneous flexibility, reactive flexibility, planning, and updating in working memory) for the risk of functional decline.

Method: A total of 137 community-dwelling participants over 75 years of age were included in a prospective cohort study and assigned to three groups: individuals with neuro-degenerative cognitive disorders, those having cognitive disorders with non-degenerative aetiology, and a control group without any cognitive problems. We measured each EF sub-component and assessed functional decline by evaluating basic (b-ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (i-ADL) at baseline and 6 months later.

MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Online Identification of Using the MSI-2 Application.

is an emerging pathogen which recently spread from India to Europe and that is more prone than other species of the complex to show resistance to terbinafine, resulting in the necessity of rapid identification. Here, we improved the online MSI-2 MALDI-TOF identification tool in order to identify . By multiplying the culture conditions (2 culture media and 6 stages of growth) prior to protein extractions for both test isolates and reference strains, we added 142 references corresponding to 12 strains inside the complex in the online MSI-2 database, of which 3 are strains.

Terbinafine Resistance in Dermatophytes: A French Multicenter Prospective Study.

In recent years, we have moved from the sporadic description of terbinafine-resistant (TerR) spp. isolates to the Indian outbreak due to . Population flows have spread TerR worldwide, altering local epidemiology.

Optical encoding of luminescent carbon nanodots in confined spaces.

Stable emissive carbon nanodots were generated in zeolite crystals using near infrared photon irradiation gradually converting the occluded organic template, originally used to synthesize the zeolite crystals, into discrete luminescent species consisting of nano-sized carbogenic fluorophores, as ascertained using Raman microscopy, and steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Photoactivation in a confocal laser fluorescence microscope allows 3D resolved writing of luminescent carbon nanodot patterns inside zeolites providing a cost-effective and non-toxic alternative to previously reported metal-based nanoclusters confined in zeolites, and opens up opportunities in bio-labelling and sensing applications.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postprandial Hypotension among Elderly People Admitted in a Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit : An Observational Study.

Objectives: To explore the prevalence and potential risk factors of postprandial hypotension (PPH) among elderly patients in an acute geriatric ward.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Setting: Geriatric Unit in a Belgian tertiary-care University Hospital.

Combining culture and microbead-based immunoassay for the early and generic detection of bacteria in platelet concentrates.

Background: Despite current preventive strategies, bacterial contamination of platelets is the highest residual infectious risk in transfusion. Bacteria can grow from an initial concentration of 0.03-0.

Executive dysfunctions as a good predictor of misuse of respiratory inhalers among hospitalized patients: a prospective survey.

The objectives of the study are to determine the prevalence and potential risk factors of misuse of respiratory inhalers among hospitalized patients admitted at the CHU UcL Namur, site Godinne. Using a cross-sectional design, patients using respiratory inhalers since more than 7 days were recruited from a database established by the hospital pharmacy. Inhaler technique was assessed using a standardised check-list and graded misuse as major or minor errors using previously published criteria.

Impact of Liver Indicators on Clinical Outcome in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background: Liver dysfunction increases death and morbidity after cardiac operations. There are currently no data evaluating liver function in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We aimed therefore to evaluate our TAVR results in regard to liver function.

Quantitative 3D Fluorescence Imaging of Single Catalytic Turnovers Reveals Spatiotemporal Gradients in Reactivity of Zeolite H-ZSM-5 Crystals upon Steaming.

Optimizing the number, distribution, and accessibility of Brønsted acid sites in zeolite-based catalysts is of a paramount importance to further improve their catalytic performance. However, it remains challenging to measure real-time changes in reactivity of single zeolite catalyst particles by ensemble-averaging characterization methods. In this work, a detailed 3D single molecule, single turnover sensitive fluorescence microscopy study is presented to quantify the reactivity of Brønsted acid sites in zeolite H-ZSM-5 crystals upon steaming.

X-ray irradiation-induced formation of luminescent silver clusters in nanoporous matrices.

We report the formation of luminescent silver clusters in zeolites by a fast, highly accurate, and controlled activation of silver ions entrapped in sodalite cages of LTA and FAU zeolites using high-brilliance soft X-rays. The activated luminescent samples were investigated by employing a combination of stationary and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques.

Single molecule methods for the study of catalysis: from enzymes to heterogeneous catalysts.

Structural and temporal inhomogeneities can have a marked influence on the performance of inorganic and biocatalytic systems alike. While these subtle variations are hardly ever accessible through bulk or ensemble averaged activity screening, insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying these diverse phenomena are absolutely critical for the development of optimized or novel catalytic systems and processes. Fortunately, state-of-the-art fluorescence microscopy methods have allowed experimental access to this intriguing world at the nanoscale.

Cerebrospinal Aβ11-x and 17-x levels as indicators of mild cognitive impairment and patients' stratification in Alzheimer's disease.

In the present work, the concentrations of Aβ11-x and Aβ17-x peptides (x=40 or 42), which result from the combined cleavages of β-amyloid precursor protein (AβPP) by β'/α or α/γ-secretases, respectively, were assessed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Specific multiplexed assays were set up using new anti-40 and anti-42 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the capture of these N-truncated Aβ peptides and anti-11 or anti-17 mAbs for their detection. The specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of such assays were assessed using synthetic peptides and human cell models.

[The Get-up early test, elaboration process of a new screening tool for psychomotor disadaptation syndrome].

Major features of the psychomotor disadaptation syndrome (SDPM) include motor skill dysfunctions with alteration of postural capabilities, walking abilities and psychomotric automatisms. Mini motor test (TMM) is the gold standard used by skilled physiotherapists in order to assess the syndrome. The aim of this article is to present the elaboration process of a new SDPM screening tool, called the Get-up early test.

Spectroscopic characterization of Venus at the single molecule level.

Venus is a recently developed, fast maturating, yellow fluorescent protein that has been used as a probe for in vivo applications. In the present work the photophysical characteristics of Venus were analyzed spectroscopically at the bulk and single molecule level. Through time-resolved single molecule measurements we found that single molecules of Venus display pronounced fluctuations in fluorescence emission, with clear fluorescence on- and off-times.

Photocatalytic growth of dendritic silver nanostructures as SERS substrates.

We report a one-step photocatalytic synthesis method of dendritic silver nanostructures. These self-organised structures show an excellent Raman enhancement enabling the detection of analytes from dilute solutions by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Trichophyton bullosum: a new zoonotic dermatophyte species.

We report the first human case of dermatophytosis caused by Trichophyton bullosum in a 21-year-old male who had a skin lesion located on his forearm. The dermatophyte was isolated in culture and further identified by sequence analysis of internal transcripted spacer regions. The species T.

Molecular organization of hydrophobic molecules and co-adsorbed water in SBA-15 ordered mesoporous silica material.

The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the molecular organization of hydrophobic guest molecules in the presence of co-adsorbed water inside SBA-15 ordered mesoporous silica material. Understanding this adsorption competition is essential in the development of applications of controlled adsorption and desorption. The poorly water soluble drug compound itraconazole and the fluorescent probe Nile red were selected for the study.