Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination rates in countries with different income levels: a panel analysis.

Introduction: Vaccines against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are being developed and supplied at an unprecedented rate. However, disparities in income levels among countries has influenced the supply and vaccination rate. This imbalance poses a potential risk factor, especially if vaccine-resistant variants emerge and the pandemic persists.

Antibiofilm Activities of Multiple Halogenated Pyrimidines Against .

, prevalent in hospital and community settings, forms biofilms that are highly resistant to antibiotics and immune responses, complicating treatment and contributing to chronic infections. These challenges underscore the need for novel treatments that target biofilm formation and effectively reduce bacterial virulence. This study investigates the antibiofilm and antimicrobial efficacy of novel halogenated pyrimidine derivatives against , focusing on three compounds identified as potent biofilm inhibitors: 2,4-dichloro-5-fluoropyrimidine (24DC5FP), 5-bromo-2,4-dichloro-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (24DC5BPP), and 2,4-dichloro-5-iodo-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (24DC5IPP).

Antibiofilm and antivirulence potentials of iodinated fmoc-phenylalanine against Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus poses significant risks to public health due to its ability to form biofilm and produce virulence factors, contributing to the increase in antibiotic resistance and treatment complications. This emphasizes the urgent need for novel antimicrobial controls. Based on the premise that halogenation improves antimicrobial efficacy, this study investigated the ability of halogenated phenylalanine to effectively inhibit S.

Do hospital data breaches affect health information technology investment?

Objectives: Data breaches are a financial and operational threat to hospitals. In this study, we examine the association between a data breach and information technology capital and labor investment.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we used American Hospital Association data from 2017 to 2019 and an unbalanced panel of hospitals with 6751 unique hospital-year observations.

Antibiofilm and Antivirulence Potentials of 3,2'-Dihydroxyflavone against .

, particularly drug-resistant strains, poses significant challenges in healthcare due to its ability to form biofilms, which confer increased resistance to antibiotics and immune responses. Building on previous knowledge that several flavonoids exhibit antibiofilm activity, this study sought to identify a novel flavonoid capable of effectively inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence factor production in strains including MRSA. Among the 19 flavonoid-like compounds tested, 3,2'-dihydroxyflavone (3,2'-DHF) was identified for the first time as inhibiting biofilm formation and virulence factors in with an MIC 75 µg/mL.

Antifungal, anti-biofilm, and anti-hyphal properties of -substituted phthalimide derivatives against species.

species comprise a ubiquitous pathogenic fungal genus responsible for causing candidiasis. They are one of the primary causatives of several mucosal and systemic infections in humans and can survive in various environments. In this study, we investigated the antifungal, anti-biofilm, and anti-hyphal effects of six -substituted phthalimides against three species.

Antibiofilm activity of carotenoid crocetin against Staphylococcal strains.

and stand as notorious threats to human beings owing to the myriad of infections they cause. The bacteria readily form biofilms that help in withstanding the effects of antibiotics and the immune system. Intending to combat the biofilm formation and reduce the virulence of the pathogens, we investigated the effects of carotenoids, crocetin, and crocin, on four Staphylococcal strains.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of iodinated hydrocarbons against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus.

Food-related illnesses have become a growing public concern due to their considerable socioeconomic and medical impacts. Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus have been implicated as causative organisms of food-related infections and poisoning, and both can form biofilms which confer antibiotic resistance. Hence, the need for continuous search for compounds with antibiofilm and antivirulence properties.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of halogenated phenylboronic acids against and .

are associated with live seafood because they are part of the indigenous marine microflora. In Asia, foodborne infections caused by spp. are common.

Inhibition of Biofilm Formation in , , and by the Phytopigment Shikonin.

Skin microbiota, such as acne-related , , and fungal , can form polymicrobial biofilms with greater antimicrobial tolerance to traditional antimicrobial agents and host immune systems. In this study, the phytopigment shikonin was investigated against single-species and multispecies biofilms under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of shikonin were 10 µg/mL against , , and , and at 1-5 µg/mL, shikonin efficiently inhibited single biofilm formation and multispecies biofilm development by these three microbes.

Accessibility of Opioid Treatment Programs Based on Conventional vs Perceived Travel Time Measures.

Importance: Transportation barriers have long been associated with poorer health outcomes; this burden is especially acute for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), a chronic disease often associated with low socioeconomic status. Conventional travel time analyses may not fully account for experiential components of travel, thereby understating the true travel burden and overstating treatment accessibility to opioid treatment programs (OTPs).

Objective: To develop a metric of feels-like accessibility for those using public transit to access OTPs that accounts for the realistic travel burden on individuals with OUD.

Computation-aided Design of Rod-Shaped Janus Base Nanopieces for Improved Tissue Penetration and Therapeutics Delivery.

Despite the development of various drug delivery technologies, there remains a significant need for vehicles that can improve targeting and biodistribution in "hard-to-penetrate" tissues. Some solid tumors, for example, are particularly challenging to penetrate due to their dense extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we have formulated a new family of rod-shaped delivery vehicles named Janus base nanopieces (Rod JBNps), which are more slender than conventional spherical nanoparticles, such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

Antibiofilm activity of lawsone against polymicrobial enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Candida albicans by suppression of curli production and hyphal growth.

Background: Most bacteria and fungi form biofilms that attach to living or abiotic surfaces. These biofilms diminish the efficacy of antimicrobial agents and contribute to chronic infections. Furthermore, multispecies biofilms composed of bacteria and fungi are often found at chronic infection sites.

The Association Between Physical Activity and Health Care Risk Management in Individuals With Disabilities.

Despite the increasing economic burden of people with disabilities (PWDs) over time, the impact of physical activity on PWDs in the Republic of Korea (ROK) remains relatively unexplored. Thus, we examined the association between physical activity and disease risk, health care utilization, and expenditures for PWDs in the ROK. We considered gender differences across eight diseases using the National Health Insurance (NHI) panel data from 2013 to 2019.

Enhancement of antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of liposomal fatty acids.

Microbial biofilms are protected surface-attached communities of bacteria or fungi with high drug tolerance that typically cause persistent infections. Smart drug carriers are being explored as a promising platform of antimicrobials to address their recalcitrance to antibiotic agents and minimize the side effects of current therapies. In this study, soy lecithin liposomes loaded with lauric acid (LA) and myristoleic acid (MA) were formulated using an emulsification method, and their antibiofilm properties were evaluated.

Selected flavonoids exhibit antibiofilm and antibacterial effects against by disrupting membrane integrity, virulence and metabolic activities.

is a high-risk foodborne pathogen associated with raw or undercooked seafoods and its biofilm forming potential has become a threat to food safety and economic values. Hence, this study aims to examine the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities as well as virulence inhibitory effects of selected flavonoids against . Out of the sixteen flavonoid derivatives, 6-aminoflavone (6-AF), 3,2-dihydroxyflavone (3,2-DHF) and 2,2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (DHMB) were found as active biofilm inhibitors.

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of chromone derivatives against uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a urinary tract pathogen responsible for most nosocomial urinary tract infections and can cause severe conditions like acute cystitis of the bladder or pyelonephritis. UPEC harbors a host of virulence factors like curli, hemolysin, siderophore, and motility factors and can form biofilm-like communities and quiescent reservoirs that aid its survival. This study was performed to investigate the antibiofilm, antimicrobial, and antivirulence potentials of three chromone derivatives, namely, 6-bromo 3-formylchromone, 6-chloro 3-formylchromone, and 3-formyl 6-isopropylchromone.

Antifungal and antibiofilm activities of chromones against nine species.

The persistence of infections is due to its ability to form biofilms that enable it to resist antifungals and host immune systems. Hence, inhibitions of the biofilm formation and virulence characteristics of sp. provide potential means of addressing these infections.

Halogenated Antimicrobial Agents to Combat Drug-Resistant Pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance presents us with a potential global crisis as it undermines the abilities of conventional antibiotics to combat pathogenic microbes. The history of antimicrobial agents is replete with examples of scaffolds containing halogens. In this review, we discuss the impacts of halogen atoms in various antibiotic types and antimicrobial scaffolds and their modes of action, structure-activity relationships, and the contributions of halogen atoms in antimicrobial activity and drug resistance.

Antivirulence activities of retinoic acids against .

Multidrug-resistant bacteria such as constitute a global health problem. Gram-positive secretes various toxins associated with its pathogenesis, and its biofilm formation plays an important role in antibiotic tolerance and virulence. Hence, we investigated if the metabolites of vitamin A might diminish biofilm formation and toxin production.

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of formylchromones against and .

Gram-negative species are major foodborne pathogens often associated with seafood intake that causes gastroenteritis. On food surfaces, biofilm formation by species enhances the resistance of bacteria to disinfectants and antimicrobial agents. Hence, an efficient antibacterial and antibiofilm approach is urgently required.