Molecular characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamases from the Akkermansia genus.

Akkermansia muciniphila, a member of the Verrucomicrobiota phylum, is recognized as a key gut microbe and has emerged as a potential next-generation probiotic. Assessment of antibiotic resistance in probiotics is a prerequisite for their application, while very few is studied in Akkermansia species. To address this, eight representative class A β-lactamases (36.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy using CyberKnife versus interstitial brachytherapy in accelerated partial breast irradiation on left-sided breast: A comparison of dosimetric characteristics and preliminary clinical results.

Introduction: We compared the dosimetric characteristics of the target and organs at risk (OARs) as well as the preliminary clinical outcomes between two accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) techniques.

Methods: Forty-four patients diagnosed with left-sided early breast cancer who underwent APBI using either interstitial brachytherapy (IB) or stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with CyberKnife (CK) were retrospectively reviewed. The dosimetric parameters of the target and OARs were compared.

Analysis of Physician Compliance with Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Real-World Study.

Background: Although compliance with the guideline recommendations for heart failure (HF) is associated with improved survival, the effects of medication on clinical practice often fail to meet expectations due to physician and/or patient-related reasons that are unclear. This study analyzed physicians' compliance with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) based on real-world clinical data and identified risk factors of low compliance.

Methods: This study included patients with HF, who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from July 2017 to June 2021.

The global distribution of the macrolide esterase EstX from the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily.

Macrolide antibiotics, pivotal in clinical therapeutics, are confronting resistance challenges mediated by enzymes like macrolide esterases, which are classified into Ere-type and the less studied Est-type. In this study, we provide the biochemical confirmation of EstX, an Est-type macrolide esterase that initially identified as unknown protein in the 1980s. EstX is capable of hydrolyzing four 16-membered ring macrolides, encompassing both veterinary (tylosin, tidipirosin, and tilmicosin) and human-use (leucomycin A5) antibiotics.

Total Syntheses and Antibacterial Studies of Natural Isoflavones: Scandenone, Osajin, and 6,8-Diprenylgenistein.

Isoflavones are a class of natural products that exhibit a wide range of interesting biological properties, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Scandenone (), osajin (), and 6,8-diprenylgenistein () are natural prenylated isoflavones that share the same polyphenol framework. In this research, the key intermediate was used for the synthesis of the natural isoflavones -, establishing a stereoselective synthetic method for both linear and angular pyran isoflavones.

MRI-guided photothermal/photodynamic immune activation combined with PD-1 inhibitor for the multimodal combination therapy of melanoma and metastases.

Non-invasive image-guided precise photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT) has been proven to be an effective local treatment modality but incompetent against metastases. Hence, the combination of local PTT/PDT and systemic immunotherapy would be a promising strategy for tumor eradication. Herein, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-visualized PTT/PDT agent (SIDP NMs) was constructed, and the efficacy of its multimodal combination with a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor in the treatment of melanoma and metastases was studied.

Pestalotiopols E-J, Six New Polyketide Derivatives from a Marine Derived Fungus sp. SWMU-WZ04-1.

Chemical epigenetic cultivation of the sponge-derived fungus sp. SWMU-WZ04-1 contributed to the identification of twelve polyketide derivatives, including six new pestalotiopols E-J (-) and six known analogues (-). Their gross structures were deduced from 1D/2D NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data, and their absolute configurations were further established by circular dichroism (CD) Cotton effects and the modified Mosher's method.

Biochemical characterization and key catalytic residue identification of a novel alpha-agarase with CBM2 domain.

Agarooligosaccharides have great potential in food industry because of their various bio-activities, while the limited availability and diversity of α-agarases hinder agarooligosaccharides' broader application. To overcome this limitation, a computer-assisted method was used to screen and identify novel agarases. Firstly, one novel α-agarase, AgaB, with an -terminal CBM2 domain (the first report of this domain in agarases), was discovered.

Distribution and developmental changes of IL-21 immunopositive cells in the bursa of Fabricius of Jinhu silky chicken.

Bursa of Fabricius (BOF) is a unique immune organ of birds. It is the place where lymphocytes develop, differentiate and mature. Young chicken BOF is susceptible to infection and damage, and even atrophy, causing immune suppression, and bringing huge economic losses to chicken production.

The Impact of Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) Implementation on the Hybrid Technique in Left-Sided Whole Breast Irradiation: A Dosimetric Characteristic Study of 3D-CRT Hybrid VMAT in DIBH and Free Breathing Conditions, and VMAT in Free Breathing Conditions.

Aim: To investigate the impact of DIBH for heart sparing effect on left sided breast postoperative whole breast irradiation by comparing the dosimetric characteristics of 3D-CRT hybrid VMAT and pure VMAT treatment planning under DIBH condition.

Materials And Methods: The primary CT data sets from previously treated left sided early breast cancer were used for pure volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) technique re-planning for the dosimetric characteristics comparison. A treatment plan of 3D-CRT hybrid VMAT technique was re-planned on the free breath (FB) condition for the investigation of the dosimetric characteristics comparison on DIBH condition.

Biosynthesis pathways of expanding carbon chains for producing advanced biofuels.

Because the thermodynamic property is closer to gasoline, advanced biofuels (C ≥ 6) are appealing for replacing non-renewable fossil fuels using biosynthesis method that has presented a promising approach. Synthesizing advanced biofuels (C ≥ 6), in general, requires the expansion of carbon chains from three carbon atoms to more than six carbon atoms. Despite some specific biosynthesis pathways that have been developed in recent years, adequate summary is still lacking on how to obtain an effective metabolic pathway.

Preliminary outcomes of accelerated partial breast irradiation by interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy with intraoperative free-hand catheter implantation in early breast cancer.

Background: To evaluate the clinical feasibility of interstitial brachytherapy by intraoperative free-hand catheter implantation in the treatment of early breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

Methods: Between January 2018 and December 2019, 44 patients with early breast cancer after BCS who met the inclusion criteria ≥45 years old, invasive carcinoma ≤3 cm or ductal carcinoma in situ <2.5 cm, estrogen receptor positive, lymph node negative, surgical margin negative, no distant metastasis, and an ECOG performance score ≤1 were enrolled in this phase II single-arm study.

Antimicrobial high molecular weight pectin polysaccharides production from diverse citrus peels using a novel PL10 family pectate lyase.

The discovery of environmentally friendly enzymes that can convert inexpensive and abundant citrus peel pectin into high value-added product is a potential avenue for the citrus peel application. In this study, a novel PL10-family pectate lyase (pelA) was characterized from marine bacterium Echinicola pacifica. PelA was a Ca dependent pectate lyase whose activity was highest at pH 8 and 40 °C.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of constituents isolated from (Lindl.).

(Lindl.) have long been used as herbal tea and a traditional herbal medicine to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the current study, nineteen compounds (), including two new vitamin E homologues (), one new sesquiterpene (), and two new dendrobines (, ), were isolated and identified from stems of .

The clinical outcome of postoperative radiotherapy using hybrid planning technique in left breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery.

Background: The purpose of this study is to observe the preliminary clinical outcome and acute toxicity of hybrid intensity modulated radiotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy planning technique with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB).

Methods: From November 2015 to December 2018, 149 female patients with left-side breast cancer who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy with hybrid IMRT and VMAT planning technique with SIB were reviewed retrospectively. The primary endpoint was acute toxicities and the secondary endpoints were local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-freesurvival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS).

sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from lake sediment.

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain H8750, was isolated from sediment sampled at Lugu Lake, southwest PR China and its polyphasic taxonomy was studied. Strain H8750 produced well-developed substrate mycelium, and formed club-shaped and hooked structures borne on the tip of the aerial mycelia. It contained -diaminopimelic, glucose, ribose and madurose in whole-cell hydrolysates.

A Potent Antibiotic Combination of Linezolid and Polymycin B Nonapeptide Against Infection and .

The emergence of antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacteria such as (KP) is becoming a major public health threat and imposing a financial burden worldwide. A serious lack of new drugs under development is undermining efforts to fight them. In this study, we report a potent combination of linezolid and polymyxin B nonapeptide PBNP (LP) against KP infection and .

Application of an optimized interpretation model in capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis for newborn thalassemia screening.

Introduction: Newborn screening is an important supplement to thalassemia control and prevention. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) technology has several advantages for thalassemia screening but with low sensitivity, especially for thalassemia carriers. This study aims to illustrate the application of an optimized interpretation model in newborn thalassemia screening by capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis.

Y(OTf)-catalyzed phosphorylation of 2H-chromene hemiacetals with P(O)-H compounds to 2-phosphorylated 2H-chromenes.

A facile synthesis of 2-phosphorylated 2H-chromenes has been accomplished herein via a Y(OTf)-catalyzed dehydrative coupling of 2H-chromene hemiacetals with P(O)-H compounds. This protocol features low catalyst loading, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope and easy elaboration of the products.

Antibiotic intervention redisposes bacterial interspecific interacting dynamics in competitive environments.

Interspecific interaction happens frequently among bacterial species and can promote the colonization of polymicrobial community in various environments. However, it is not clear whether the intervention of antibiotics, which is a common therapeutic method for infectious disease, will influence the interacting dynamics of different pathogenic bacteria. By using the frequently co-isolated bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus as models, here we identify an antibiotic-determined mutual invasion relationship between bacterial pathogens.

Agarase cocktail from agar polysaccharide utilization loci converts homogenized Gelidium amansii into neoagarooligosaccharides.

Neoagarooligosaccharides (NAOs) are drawing more and more attention because of their numerous bioactivities, yet limited number of agarases impedes NAOs production from red algae. In this study, predicted agar polysaccharide utilization loci (agar-PUL) were firstly used as inventory for agarase. 6 agarases were identified from agar-PULs and two of them were successfully expressed and analyzed.

Production of a novel slow-release coal fly ash microbial fertilizer for restoration of mine vegetation.

Driven by a need for economic development, a large number of mines have been exploited, resulting in the destruction of large areas of vegetation and a significant deterioration in local ecological environment. In order to restore vegetation of mines in a timely manner, a new type of organic fertilizer needs to be developed. However, until now, there has been a lack of organic fertilizer with slow-release suitable for mine virescence.

Dosimetric characteristics of accelerated partial breast irradiation by interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy with intraoperative free-hand implantation in the treatment of early breast cancer.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of the dosimetry and the skin dose of interstitial brachytherapy by the use of the free-hand implantation technique toward the treatment of early breast cancer.

Materials & Methods: Seventeen patients diagnosed with early breast cancer were selected for the study. The implantation of the catheters for postoperative interstitial brachytherapy was performed using the free-hand technique.

Extracellular products-mediated interspecific interaction between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.

The Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa adopts several elaborate strategies to colonize a wide range of natural or clinical niches and to overcome the neighboring bacterial competitors in polymicrobial communities. However, the relationship and interaction mechanism of P. aeruginosa with other bacterial pathogens remains largely unexplored.