Sensors (Basel)
November 2024
Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, is a devastating disease of citrus. However, there is no known cure so far. Recently, under Section 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), a special local need label was approved that allows the trunk injection of antimicrobials such as oxytetracycline (OTC) for HLB management in Florida.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Nearctic leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is the primary vector of ' Phytoplasma vitis', the causative agent of Flavescence doreé in Europe. Although microorganisms play an important role in the ecology and behavior of insects, knowledge about the interaction between and microbes is limited. In this study, we employed an amplicon metabarcoding approach for profiling the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to characterize the bacterial communities of across several populations from four European localities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGeneralized barotrauma, also referred to as decompression sickness (DCS), is a condition that occurs when there is a sudden shift in atmospheric pressure. While typically associated with underwater excursions or deep-sea dive encounters, this process can also occur during sudden changes in high altitude or unpressurized air travel. Sudden shifts in atmospheric pressure trigger the formation of nitrogen gas bubbles in the bloodstream that fail to clear from the blood and instead accumulate, leading to an obstruction in circulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is the nonatherosclerotic, nontraumatic dissection of an epicardial coronary artery which is predominantly caused by intramural hematoma formation or intimal disruption. SCAD is an increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in young women and its true prevalence may be underestimated due to its underdiagnosis. The pathogenesis of SCAD is multifaceted and influenced by gender-specific factors, hormonal fluctuations, genetics, arteriopathies, and physical and emotional stressors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a condition characterized by an autoimmune response resulting in chronic inflammatory liver disease. Its presentation is marked by significant increases in serum immunoglobulins and the production of active autoantibodies that target liver tissue. AIH is often associated with other autoimmune disorders, which can lead to overlapping clinical syndromes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic intimal separation of the coronary arterial wall. While poorly understood, its mechanism confers higher prevalence in younger females, and it is responsible for 25% of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in women under 50 years of age. SCAD is primarily diagnosed via coronary angiography; however, intraluminal contrast injection and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are associated with an increased risk of propagation and extension of the dissection leading to increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A basic paradigm of human infection is that acute bacterial disease is caused by fast growing planktonic bacteria while chronic infections are caused by slow-growing, aggregated bacteria, a phenomenon known as a biofilm. For lung infections, this paradigm has been thought to be supported by observations of how bacteria proliferate in well-established growth media in the laboratory-the gold standard of microbiology.
Objective: To investigate the bacterial architecture in sputum from patients with acute and chronic lung infections.
Background: Brief interventions have proven to be valuable instruments for the treatment and care of clients with diverse health needs, due to their potential to impact both the individual and the population. In this regard, the Brief Sexuality-Related Communication (BSC) is presented as a viable and effective alternative for addressing sexual and reproductive health problems, assessing risk behaviors and motivating clients to generate behavioral change. Since health providers are key actors in treatment and prevention, it is essential to know their perceptions about the BSC intervention, as well as its acceptability in different contexts, with diverse client populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFungal infective endocarditis is a rare and serious form of endocarditis associated with severe morbidity and mortality. The greatest propensity for infection can be found in patients with implanted prosthetic valves, implanted cardiac devices, and intravenous drug use. We present a case of a 45-year-old male with a prior bioprosthetic mitral valve who was diagnosed with endocarditis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit is a rich source of health-promoting compounds, and epidemiological studies show that tomato consumption may reduce the risk of chronic diseases. This study compared the effect of genotype, production system, and their interaction on eight tomato varieties grown in the open-field (OF) or net-house (NH), a structure completely covered with a 50-mesh screen to reduce pest and wind damage, in South Texas. The NH structure reduced solar radiation up to ~30% and decreased wind speed by 6.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFalse-positive urine drug screens can occur and lead to implicit bias. Confirmatory testing with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry can be performed. A morbidly obese patient with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation spent multiple days in the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) due to a false-positive test for methamphetamine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh-throughput imaging and genomic information can be combined to optimize marker development. Genome-wide association studies identified loci associated with plant growth traits. We identified candidate genes associated with plant growth and development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncomplete clearance of apoptotic cells and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release are known to trigger inflammasome activation causing severe inflammation in acute lung injury and various metabolic and autoimmune diseases. Moreover, it has been reported that apoptotic cell clearance and ROS-mediated apoptosis critically depend on mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2). However, the relationship between UCP2 and inflammasome activation has not been studied.
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