Evaluation of In Vitro Inhibition of -Hematin Formation: A Step Towards a Comprehensive Understanding of the Mechanism of Action of New Arylamino Alcohols.

Currently, artemisinin-based combination therapy is recommended as first-line treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Arylamino alcohols (AAAs) such as mefloquine (MQ) are the preferred partner drugs due to their longer half-life, reliable absorption and strong antimalarial activity. However, the mode of action of MQ remains poorly understood and its neurotoxicity limits its use.

Fumagillin Shortage: How to Treat Microsporidiosis in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients in 2024?

Unlabelled: Intestinal microsporidiosis caused by is an opportunistic infection that especially affects solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Management revolves around tapering the immunosuppressive regimen and/or using a specific anti-microsporidia treatment, but only fumagillin has demonstrated efficacy for treatment of this infection. Since fumagillin has been commercially discontinued, nitazoxanide is increasingly being used in this indication.

Synthesis of New Enantiopure Aminoalcohol Fluorenes as Promising Antimalarial Compounds.

Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and characterisation of a new library of enantiopure aminoalcohol fluorenes, as well as their in vitro evaluation for biological properties, including activity against two strains of P. falciparum (3D7 and W2) and cytotoxicity on the HepG2 cell line. All tested compounds exhibited good to excellent antimalarial potency with IC values ranging from 0.

First detection of kdr L1014F allele in Anopheles ziemanni and Anopheles pharoensis in Cameroon and distribution of the allele in members of the Anopheles gambiae complex.

Background: Knockdown resistance (kdr) is one of the primary resistance mechanisms present in anopheline species. Although this mutation is largely spread across the Anopheles gambiae s.l.

The new hospital discharge form for inpatient rehabilitation in Italy: a step forward to promote the role of rehabilitation in the healthcare system.

Background: In Italy, longstanding limitations in the existing reporting system of the inpatient rehabilitation activities have been reported. The Hospital Discharge form (HDF) primarily uses ICD codes that inadequately capture the functional status and rehabilitation needs of patients, impacting equity of care and service evaluation. Therefore, the Italian Ministry of Health (IMH) launched an initiative aimed at developing a new reporting system to be specifically adopted in the inpatient rehabilitation setting.

Identifying discriminant factors between phantom limb pain, residual limb pain, and both in people with lower limb amputations: a cross-sectional study.

Postamputation pain is a common condition in patients with lower limb amputation (LLA), which compromises amputees' rehabilitation, use of the prosthesis, and quality of life. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of phantom limb pain (PLP), residual limb pain (RLP), or both types of pain among individuals with LLA, and to identify the factors associated with the presence of one type of pain versus the other. Patients who underwent amputation for traumatic or vascular reasons and who reported on RLP or PLP were analyzed and divided into three groups: PLP, RLP, or a group of subjects that presented both pains.

Combination of computational techniques and RNAi reveal targets in Anopheles gambiae for malaria vector control.

Increasing reports of insecticide resistance continue to hamper the gains of vector control strategies in curbing malaria transmission. This makes identifying new insecticide targets or alternative vector control strategies necessary. CLassifier of Essentiality AcRoss EukaRyote (CLEARER), a leave-one-organism-out cross-validation machine learning classifier for essential genes, was used to predict essential genes in Anopheles gambiae and selected predicted genes experimentally validated.

Perspectives on computational modeling of biological systems and the significance of the SysMod community.

Motivation: In recent years, applying computational modeling to systems biology has caused a substantial surge in both discovery and practical applications and a significant shift in our understanding of the complexity inherent in biological systems.

Results: In this perspective article, we briefly overview computational modeling in biology, highlighting recent advancements such as multi-scale modeling due to the omics revolution, single-cell technology, and integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches. We also discuss the primary challenges faced: integration, standardization, model complexity, scalability, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Dietary fiber supplementation increases lifespan and gut microbiota diversity.

Dietary fiber has been shown to have multiple health benefits, including a positive effect on longevity and the gut microbiota. In the present study, has been chosen as an model organism to study the health effects of dietary fiber supplementation (DFS). DFS extended the mean half-life of male and female flies, but the absolute lifespan only increased in females.

and Distribution among Different Mosquito Vectors Is Affected by Tissue Localization and Host Species.

Microbial communities play an important role in the fitness of mosquito hosts. However, the factors shaping microbial communities in wild populations, with regard to interactions among microbial species, are still largely unknown. Previous research has demonstrated that two of the most studied mosquito symbionts, the bacteria and , seem to compete or not compete, depending on the genetic background of the reference mosquito host.

A Time Point Proteomic Analysis Reveals Protein Dynamics of Plasmodium Oocysts.

The oocyst is a sporogonic stage of Plasmodium development that takes place in the mosquito midgut in about 2 weeks. The cyst is protected by a capsule of unknown composition, and little is known about oocyst biology. We carried out a proteomic analysis of oocyst samples isolated at early, mid, and late time points of development.

Are better AI algorithms for breast cancer detection also better at predicting risk? A paired case-control study.

Background: There is increasing evidence that artificial intelligence (AI) breast cancer risk evaluation tools using digital mammograms are highly informative for 1-6 years following a negative screening examination. We hypothesized that algorithms that have previously been shown to work well for cancer detection will also work well for risk assessment and that performance of algorithms for detection and risk assessment is correlated.

Methods: To evaluate our hypothesis, we designed a case-control study using paired mammograms at diagnosis and at the previous screening visit.

Meta-Analysis of Glucocorticoids for Covid-19 Patients Not Receiving Oxygen.

BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoids reduce mortality in hospitalized patients with severe and critical coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), although a possible harm was documented in patients with Covid-19 not requiring oxygen. METHODS: We searched Embase, BioMed Central, medRxiv, bioRxiv, PubMed, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for any randomized trial or matched study ever performed on adult patients with Covid-19 not receiving oxygen therapy treated with intravenous or oral glucocorticoids versus any comparator (standard therapy or placebo); there were no restrictions on dose or time of administration. The primary end point was all-cause mortality at the longest available follow-up.

Pulmonary co-infections by Pneumocystis jirovecii and Herpesviridae: a seven-year retrospective study.

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii) is an opportunistic fungus responsible for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in deeply immunocompromised patients and for pulmonary colonization in individuals with mild immunosuppression or impaired respiratory function. PCP and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) co-infections have been widely described whereas those involving other Herpesviruses (HVs) such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (HSV-1 and  -2), and Varicella zoster virus (VZV) remain scarce.

An optimization framework to guide the choice of thresholds for risk-based cancer screening.

It is uncommon for risk groups defined by statistical or artificial intelligence (AI) models to be chosen by jointly considering model performance and potential interventions available. We develop a framework to rapidly guide choice of risk groups in this manner, and apply it to guide breast cancer screening intervals using an AI model. Linear programming is used to define risk groups that minimize expected advanced cancer incidence subject to resource constraints.

De novo genome assembly of the invasive mosquito species Aedes japonicus and Aedes koreicus.

Background: Recently, two invasive Aedes mosquito species, Ae. japonicus and Ae. koreicus, are circulating in several European countries posing potential health risks to humans and animals.

Effectiveness of Kinesiotaping and McConnell taping combined with physical exercise on gait biomechanics in patients with patellofemoral syndrome: non-randomized clinical trial.

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a pathological condition of the knee, typical of young adults, characterized by diffuse pain in the anterior and / or medial part of the knee. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of the two types of taping in association with therapeutic exercise in relation to the biomechanical parameters, on pain and on functionality of the lower limb in patients with PFPS.

Methods: We collected data from patients treated in our outpatient's clinic with two kinds of bandage: the Kinesiotaping group (KG) and the McConnel taping group (MG).

Anopheline mosquito saliva contains bacteria that are transferred to a mammalian host through blood feeding.

Introduction: Malaria transmission occurs when sporozoites are transferred from the salivary glands of anopheline mosquitoes to a human host through the injection of saliva. The need for better understanding, as well as novel modes of inhibiting, this key event in transmission has driven intense study of the protein and miRNA content of saliva. Until now the possibility that mosquito saliva may also contain bacteria has remained an open question despite the well documented presence of a rich microbiome in salivary glands.