Socio-demographic factors related to children's knowledge about their rights to healthcare services in transitional Albania.

Background: Our aim was to assess the level and socio-demographic correlates of knowledge about rights to healthcare services among children in post-communist Albania in order to inform targeted interventions and policies to promote equitable healthcare access for all children.

Methods: An online survey conducted in Albania in September 2022 included a nationwide representative sample of 7,831 schoolchildren (≈54% girls) aged 12-15 years. A structured and anonymous questionnaire was administered inquiring about children's knowledge on their rights to healthcare services.

A Survey on Surgical Site Infections Prevention Guidelines Knowledge and Implementation Level of Trauma Centre Healthcare Professionals.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) significantly influence patient safety and healthcare quality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden is most evident. This manuscript aims to evaluate the awareness and adherence to SSI prevention guidelines among healthcare providers at a tertiary trauma centre situated in Tirana, Albania. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among practising surgeons, residents and nurses of Trauma University Hospital, Tirana.

Aldehyde-based Activation of C2α-lactylthiamin Diphosphate Decarboxylation on Bacterial 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate Synthase.

1-Deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) catalyzes the thiamin diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent formation of DXP from pyruvate (donor substrate) and d-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (d-GAP, acceptor substrate) in bacterial central metabolism. DXPS uses a ligand-gated mechanism in which binding of a small molecule "trigger" activates the first enzyme-bound intermediate, C2α-lactylThDP (LThDP), to form the reactive carbanion via LThDP decarboxylation. d-GAP is the natural acceptor substrate for DXPS and also serves a role as a trigger to induce LThDP decarboxylation in the gated step.

Potent Inhibition of DXP Synthase by a -Diaryl Bisubstrate Analog.

New antimicrobial strategies are needed to address pathogen resistance to currently used antibiotics. Bacterial central metabolism is a promising target space for the development of agents that selectively target bacterial pathogens. 1-Deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXPS) converts pyruvate and d-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (d-GAP) to DXP, which is required for synthesis of essential vitamins and isoprenoids in bacterial pathogens.