Bioinspired from cationic antimicrobial peptides, sequence-defined triazolium-grafted peptoid oligomers (6- to 12-mer) were designed to adopt an amphipathic helical polyproline I-type structure. Their evaluation on a panel of bacterial strains (, , , and ), pathogenic fungi (, , and ), and human cells (hRBC, BEAS-2B, Caco-2, HaCaT, and HepG2) enabled the identification of two heptamers with improved activity to selectively fight pathogens. Modulation of parameters such as the nature of the triazolium and hydrophobic/lipophilic side chains, the charge content, and the sequence length drastically potentiates activity and selectivity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiofilm is a dynamic structure from which individual bacteria and micro-aggregates are released to subsequently colonize new niches by either detachment or dispersal. Screening of a transposon mutant library identified genes associated with the alteration of biofilm including , which encodes a transcriptional regulator involved in membrane lipid homeostasis. An isogenic ∆ mutant formed more biofilm than the wild-type (WT) strain and its trans-complemented strain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater
September 2024
Our laboratory recently developed a new class of high surface area, honeycomb Nanoclay Microsphere Framework absorbents (NMFs) that prompt rapid hemostasis. In the present work, we propose a novel approach to develop antibacterial Topical Hemostatic Agents (THAs) by anchoring silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto NMFs. This combination was obtained by a chemical co-reduction approach, followed by freeze-processing, and was shown to ensure stability and on-site delivery of AgNPs, without altering the hemostatic properties of NMFs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Digital interventions integrating gamification features hold promise to promote daily steps. However, results regarding the effectiveness of this type of intervention are heterogeneous and not yet confirmed in real-life contexts.
Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a gamified intervention and its potential moderators in a large sample using real-world data.
This is a case of a previously healthy 29-year-old female with erythema and skin excoriations of the left breast nipple-areolar complex (NAC). After a repeat trial and failure of topical hydrocortisone, a diagnostic mammogram and nipple biopsy revealed Paget's disease (PD) of the nipple with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). A subsequent genetic analysis found a breast cancer 2 () gene mutation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA review of the current literature on preeclampsia (PE) confirms that this pregnancy complication remains a common cause of maternal mortality. Within the last several decades, obstetric and gynecological researchers worldwide have indicated an association between prior abortions and the development of PE. Different studies have debated whether abortion is a protective or risk factor for PE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The Committee of the Chiefs of Military Medical Services (COMEDS) initiated the Prehospital Care Improvement Initiative Task Force (PHCII TF) to advise on how to improve prehospital care within NATO nations. The Task Force consisted of the NATO Military Health Care Working Group and its subordinated expert panels, including the Blood Panel, the Emergency Medicine Panel and the Special Operations Forces Medicine Panel.
Method: The PHCII TF identified four key prehospital care themes for exploration: 1) Tactical Casualty Care, 2) Blood Far Forward), 3) Forward Surgical Capabilities), and 4) Prolonged Casualty Care.
Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Lcr35 is a well-known bacterial strain whose efficiency in preventing recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis has been largely demonstrated in clinical trials. The presence of sodium thiosulfate (STS) has been shown to enhance its ability to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans strains. In this study, we confirmed that Lcr35 has a fungicidal effect not only on the planktonic form of C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUterine leiomyomas are one of the most common reproductive pathologies in born females. The majority of women within reproductive age will develop a leiomyoma, most of which will be asymptomatic. Though there has been extensive research regarding this pathology alone, there is more to be learned about leiomyomas that affect women with other comorbidities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated associations between executive functions (i.e., inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility) and individual differences in self-control and health behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this series of case reports, we present two women diagnosed with rare cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast. Though this neoplasm has a relatively favorable prognosis, more information regarding its pathophysiology, response to variable treatments, and long-term prognosis is needed. The objective of our case series is to present the medical decisions and clinical courses of a 50-year-old female and a 79-year-old female with ACC of the breast.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvidence shows that people with strong physical activity habits tend to engage in more physical activity than those with weaker habits, but little is known about how habit influences specific types of physical activity. This study aimed to test whether mean level of habit strength and magnitude of the habit strength - behaviour association differed as a function of physical activity modality. Participants (N = 120; M age = 25 years, 75% female) who reported engaging in organised sport separately reported their habit strength for organised sport and leisure time physical activity as well as the time they spent engaging in these physical activity behaviours.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHIV-1-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a severe complication of HIV-1 infection. To gain insight into the pathogenesis of kidney disease in the setting of HIV, a transgenic (Tg) mouse model [CD4C/HIV-negative regulator factor (Nef)] was used in which HIV-1 nef expression is under control of regulatory sequences (CD4C) of the human CD4 gene, thus allowing expression in target cells of the virus. These Tg mice develop a collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis associated with microcystic dilatation, similar to human HIVAN.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFType VI secretion systems (T6SS), recently described in hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) strains, are involved in bacterial warfare but their role in classical clinical strains (cKp) has been little investigated. In silico analysis indicated the presence of T6SS clusters (from zero to four), irrespective of the strains origin or virulence, with a high prevalence in the K.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Declines in subjective energy availability and cognitive functions could explain the decrease in physical activity observed across aging. However, how these factors interact remains unknown. Based on the theory of effort minimization in physical activity (TEMPA), we hypothesized that cognitive functions may help older adults to maintain physical activity even when energy availability is perceived as insufficient.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome as a result of overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, and low levels of "healthy" lactobacilli leads to bacterial vaginosis (BV), usually associated with a low-grade inflammatory process. Despite appropriate antibiotic treatment, -associated BV is characterized by significant recurrence. The use of probiotics could be an interesting alternative therapy due to their ability to rebalance vaginal microbiota.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The stress level of participants in high-fidelity simulation stems from various factors but may result in anticipatory anxiety causing sleep disturbances during the night prior to simulation. The objective of this survey was to determine the change in sleep quality of residents during the night prior to the simulation.
Methods: The survey was proposed for 1 year to all residents at the beginning of the simulation, in 10 simulation centres.
Plasmids are widely involved in the dissemination of characteristics within bacterial communities. Their genomic content can be assessed by high-throughput sequencing of the whole plasmid fraction of an environment, the plasmidome. In this study, we analyzed the plasmidome of a biofilm formed in the effluents of the teaching hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (France).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe treatment of osteomyelitis, a destructive inflammatory process caused by bacterial infections to bone tissue, is one of the most critical challenges of orthopedics and bone regenerative medicine. The standard treatment consists of intense antibiotic therapies combined with tissue surgical debridement and the application of a bone defect filler material. Unfortunately, commercially available candidates, such as gentamicin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate cements, possess very poor pharmacokinetics (, 24 hours burst release) and little to no regenerative potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe most prevalent vector-borne diseases in Europe are caused by tick-borne pathogens, such as bacteria of the genus Borrelia that cause Lyme borreliosis. In this context, retail pharmacists are frequently the first medical source of information in the event of a tick bite. The objective of this study was to assess pharmacy professionals' knowledge about both tick ecology and the appropriate measures for tick bites and Lyme borreliosis prevention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment. CRF prevalence is up to 50% in breast cancer patients and can continue several years after cancer remission. This persistent subjective sense of exhaustion is multifactorial.
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