Diverse Colonisation and Disease Associations of the Human Commensal Malassezia: Our Body's Secret Tenant.

A niche in the context of microorganisms defines the specific ecological role or habitat inhabited by microbial species within an ecosystem. For the human commensal Malassezia, the skin surface is considered its primary niche, where it adapts to the skin environment by utilising lipids as its main carbon and energy source. However pathogenic characteristics of Malassezia include the production of allergens, immune modulation and excessive lipid utilisation, which result in several diseases such as pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, Malassezia folliculitis and atopic dermatitis.

Biological activity and characterization of leaf and seed lectins from Insights into their analgesic and antiulcer properties.

Fresen, an African medicinal plant, is known for its analgesic, antiulcer, and antimicrobial properties, with its leaves, bark, and fruits deeply ingrained in indigenous healing practices. Two lectins, TerBLL (from leaves) and TerBSL (from seeds) of Fresen, were purified using salting-out and affinity chromatography on a fetuin-agarose column. The purified lectins were then assessed for protein yield, hemagglutination activity, and physicochemical properties.

luxA Gene From Enhygromyxa salina Encodes a Functional Homodimeric Luciferase.

Several clades of luminescent bacteria are known currently. They all contain similar lux operons, which include the genes luxA and luxB encoding a heterodimeric luciferase. The aldehyde oxygenation reaction is presumed to be catalyzed primarily by the subunit LuxA, whereas LuxB is required for efficiency and stability of the complex.

Isolation, purification, and characterization of lectins from medicinal plant Combretum glutinosum seeds endowed with analgesic and antiulcer properties.

In the pursuit of safer and more effective treatments, there is a growing interest in plant-derived compounds, particularly lectins, because of their diverse pharmacological properties. This study focused on isolating, purifying, and characterizing lectin from Combretum glutinosum seeds (CGSLs) to assess its potential as an analgesic and antiulcer agent. CGSL extraction involved defatting and buffer extraction, followed by purification using ammonium sulfate fractionation and fetuin-agarose affinity column chromatography.

Cardiovascular physiology of decapod crustaceans: from scientific inquiry to practical applications.

Until recently, the decapod crustacean heart was regarded as a simple, single ventricle, contraction of which forces haemolymph out into seven arteries. Differential tissue perfusion is achieved by contraction and relaxation of valves at the base of each artery. In this Review, we discuss recent work that has shown that the heart is bifurcated by muscular sheets that may effectively divide the single ventricle into 'chambers'.

Synthesis, characterization, molecular docking, and antimicrobial activities of dinuclear nickel(ii), palladium(ii), and platinum(iv) complexes.

New nickel(ii), palladium(ii), and platinum(iv) complexes were synthesized by reacting the metal ions with benzidinedioxime in a 1 : 1 mole ratio. The CHN elemental analysis, spectroscopic analyses, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) results showed that two Ni(ii) and two Pd(ii) ions coordinated to two benzidinedioxime ligands the nitrogen atoms of both oxime groups and the two azomethine nitrogen atoms. In the case of the dinuclear platinum(iv) complex, however, each Pt(iv) is coordinated with the two oxygen atoms of the oxime group and the two azomethine nitrogen atoms of the ligand.

Double-balloon catheter vs dinoprostone (PGE-2) insert for labour induction: A meta-analysis of 2493 pregnancies.

Induction of labor (IOL) is the stimulation of the uterus during pregnancy to begin the onset of labour. Nearly two of five pregnancies require IOL. We compared the effectiveness of double-balloon catheter (DBC) with dinoprostone (PGE-2) insert for labour induction from previous studies.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of the Baska mask versus other laryngeal mask airways during general anaesthesia.

Background: The Baska mask is a supraglottic airway device used during general anaesthesia that combines features from various other devices. This systematic review aims to compare its efficacy and safety with other laryngeal mask airways.

Methods: Randomised controlled trials were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library.

Effect of fetuin-A on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease model in male rats.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of fetuin-A on an adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) model in male rats.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: group A included rats fed a normal diet; group B included rats fed a normal diet with 220 mg/kg adenine daily for 21 days; group C included rats fed a normal diet with 220 mg/kg adenine daily for 21 days and intraperitoneally administered with 5 mg\kg fetuin-A every other day for 2 weeks. Serum samples were assayed for serum creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and immunohistochemical staining was performed.

The myokine decorin improves the cardiac function in a rat model of isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction is a common cause of disability. Decorin is a myokine that has anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic effects. Some studies stated that decorin protects myocardium from ischemia.

New temperature-switchable acyl homoserine lactone-regulated expression vector.

Bacterial expression systems play an indispensable role in the biosynthesis of recombinant proteins. Different proteins and the tasks associated with them may require different systems. The purpose of this work is to make an expression vector that allows switching on and off the expression of the target gene during cell incubation.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of digital application use in clinical research in pain medicine.

Importance: Pain is a silent global epidemic impacting approximately a third of the population. Pharmacological and surgical interventions are primary modes of treatment. Cognitive/behavioural management approaches and interventional pain management strategies are approaches that have been used to assist with the management of chronic pain.

T Regulatory Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Reference to Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Antibody and TNF-alpha Inhibitor Therapy.

T regulatory cells (Tregs) plays an important role in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune diseases by inhibiting proliferation and cytokine production of self-reactive T cells. Controversy was reported regarding the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Tregs in the peripheral circulation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared to normal controls. Also, some showed that treatment with TNF-α inhibitor restored the capacity of Tregs.

Effects of exposure to electromagnetic field from mobile phone on serum hepcidin and iron status in male albino rats.

Background: Electromagnetic fields (EMF) created by mobile phones during communication have harmful effects on different organs.

Objectives: To explore the effects of exposure to EMF of mobile phones for different durations on hematological parameters and serum hepcidin in male albino rats.

Methods: Three groups of eight rats: Sham group: rats were exposed to a mobile phone while it was switched off, Experimental group I: rats were exposed to microwave radiation from a mobile phone at 9 am for 30 min.

Triple-phase boundary and power density enhancement in thin solid oxide fuel cells by controlled etching of the nickel anode.

Fabrication of microporous structures for the anode of a thin film solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC(s)) using controlled etching process has led us to increased power density and increased cell robustness. Micropores were etched in the nickel anode by both wet and electrochemical etching processes. The samples etched electrochemically showed incomplete etching of the nickel leaving linked nickel islands inside the pores.

Kinetic evidence that newly-synthesized endogenous lysosome-associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1) first transits early endosomes before it is delivered to lysosomes.

After de novo synthesis of lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs), they are sorted in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) for delivery to lysosomes. Opposing views prevail on whether LAMPs are targeted to lysosomes directly, or indirectly via prelysosomal stages of the endocytic pathway, in particular early endosomes. Conflicting evidence is based on kinetic measurements with too limited quantitative data for sufficient temporal and organellar resolution.

An evaluation of the impact of a community-based adherence support programme on ART outcomes in selected government HIV treatment sites in South Africa.

This study assessed the impact of a community-based adherence support service on the outcomes of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The evaluation was a retrospective study based on patient clinical records. This study noted that a significantly higher proportion of patients with a community-based adherence supporter (also known as a patient advocate, PA) had viral load (VL) of less than 400 copies/ml at six months of treatment (70%, p=0.

Association of physical activity with risk of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Physical activity has shown to prevent type diabetes 2. However, the type, intensity and amount of effective physical activity as well as individuals' needs according to level of their risk for type 2 diabetes have not been clarified comprehensively. This study investigated a relation between moderate aerobic physical activity ≥150 minuets/week with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes among obese and non-obese residents of south of Tehran, Iran.

Oral and perioral piercings in Tshwane.

Oral and perioral piercings have recently become very popular and many patients present at dental clinics and practices with jewellery inserted into the oral and perioral tissues. It is imperative that oral health care professionals become familiar with this practice, become aware of its sequelae, and are able to provide oral health education regarding oral hygiene and care of the piercing. The present study investigated the sites of oral piercings, complications associated with piercings, plaque control procedures practised by piercees, and the attitude and behaviour of piercers towards infection control and prevention of complications after a piercing.

TGF-beta modulates beta-Catenin stability and signaling in mesenchymal proliferations.

Here for the first time we showed, despite the oncogenic mutations in beta-Catenin, that TGF-beta is a modulator of beta-Catenin levels in tumoral fibroblasts as well as non-tumoral fibroblasts. The results show that the TGF-beta pathway is active in desmoids cells and in in situ tumors. A dose dependent increase in beta-Catenin protein levels was observed after TGF-beta treatment in combination with an increased repression of GSK-3beta both in normal and tumoral fibroblasts.

Beneficial effects of garlic (Allium sativum Linn) on rats fed with diets containing cholesterol and either of the oil seeds, coconuts or groundnuts.

Feeding of 2% cholesterol diet increased lipid parameters in serum and tissues of rats during a period of one month. In addition to the above, lipid peroxidation also increased and activities of certain enzymes were significantly altered in the tissues. Similar changes were also observed to a greater extent with diets containing 40% by weight of coconut kernel or groundnut with and without 2% cholesterol.