Shiga Toxins Produced by Enterohaemorrhagic Induce Inflammation in Toxin-Sensitive Cells through the p38 MAPK/MK2/Tristetraprolin Signaling Pathway.

Shiga toxins (Stxs), produced by serotype 1 and certain pathotypes, cause hemorrhagic colitis, which can progress to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and central nervous system (CNS) pathology. The underlying mechanisms of toxin-induced inflammation remain unclear. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and its downstream target, MAPKAPK2 (MK2), play key roles in various cellular responses.

Prodigiosin regulates cancer metabolism through interaction with GLUT1.

In contrast to normal cells, cancer cells predominantly utilise glycolysis for ATP generation under aerobic conditions, facilitating proliferation and metastasis. Targeting glycolysis is effective for cancer treatment. Prodigiosin (PDG) is a natural compound with various bioactivities, including anticancer effects.

Thermal activation energy on electrical degradation process in BaTiO based multilayer ceramic capacitors for lifetime reliability.

For a high capacitance and high lifetime reliability of multilayer ceramic capacitors for automotive applications, the activation energy on thermal activation process can typically be calculated by using Arrhenius based Prokopowicz-Vaskas equation as a method for lifetime prediction. In this study, it is clearly observed that the activation energy shows to be constant in the range of ~ 1.5 eV for the prototype MLCCs, higher than the activation energy values of ~ 1.

Feasibility study of computed tomography texture analysis for evaluation of canine primary adrenal gland tumors.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis for distinguishing canine adrenal gland tumors and its usefulness in clinical decision-making.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 25 dogs with primary adrenal masses who underwent contrast CT and a histopathological examination were retrospectively reviewed, of which 12 had adenomas (AAs), 7 had adenocarcinomas (ACCs), and 6 had pheochromocytomas (PHEOs). Conventional CT evaluation of each adrenal gland tumor included the mean, maximum, and minimum attenuation values in Hounsfield units (HU), heterogeneity of the tumor parenchyma, and contrast enhancement (type, pattern, and degree), respectively, in each phase.

The Fatal Role of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli Shiga Toxin-associated Extracellular Vesicles in Host Cells.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a specific subset of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains that are characterized by their ability to cause bloody diarrhea (hemorrhagic colitis) and potentially life-threatening, extraintestinal complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is associated with acute renal failure., contributing to severe clinical outcomes. The Shiga toxins (Stxs), produced by EHEC, are primary virulence factors.

Pseudomonas stutzeri PM101005 inhaled with atmospheric particulate matter induces lung damage through inflammatory responses.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) contains a mixture of chemical and biological elements that pose threat to human health by increasing susceptibility to respiratory diseases. Although the identification of the microorganisms composing the PM has been assessed, their immunological impacts are still questionable. Here, we examined the mechanisms responsible for the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas stutzeri PM101005 (PMPS), a bacterium isolated from fine dust, in lung epithelial cells, alveolar cells, and macrophages.

Six weeks of whole-body vibration improves fine motor accuracy, functional mobility and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from sensorimotor deficits with the distal extremities being more severely affected than proximal ones. Whole-body vibration (WBV) training is known to enhance voluntary activation and coordination in healthy people. However, evidence about beneficial effects of WBV in MS patients is scarce.

Inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation protects from Shiga toxin-mediated cell injury and lethality in host.

Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are the major virulence factors responsible for hemorrhagic colitis, which can lead to life-threatening systemic complications including acute renal failure (hemolytic uremic syndrome) and neuropathy. Here, we report that O-GlcNAcylation, a type of post-translational modification, was acutely increased upon induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in host cells by Stxs. Suppression of the abnormal Stx-mediated increase in O-GlcNAcylation effectively inhibited apoptotic and inflammatory responses in Stx-susceptible cells.

Shiga Toxins and Gut Microbiota Interactions.

(EHEC) and serotype 1 are enterohemorrhagic bacteria that induce hemorrhagic colitis. This, in turn, may result in potentially lethal complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterized by thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, and neurological abnormalities. Both species of bacteria produce Shiga toxins (Stxs), a phage-encoded exotoxin inhibiting protein synthesis in host cells that are primarily responsible for bacterial virulence.

Potential of MALDI-TOF-based serum N-glycan analysis for the diagnosis and surveillance of breast cancer.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)-based serum N-glycan analysis has gained acknowledgment for the diagnosis of breast cancer in recent years. In this study, the possibilities of expanding its application for breast cancer management and surveillance were discovered and evaluated. First, a novel MALDI-TOF platform, IDsys RT, was confirmed to be effective for breast cancer analysis, showing a maximum area under the curve of 0.

Exosomes released from Shiga toxin 2a-treated human macrophages modulate inflammatory responses and induce cell death in toxin receptor expressing human cells.

Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by Stx-producing Escherichia coli are the primarily virulence factors of hemolytic uremic syndrome and central nervous system (CNS) impairment. Although the precise mechanisms of toxin dissemination remain unclear, Stxs bind to extracellular vesicles (EVs). Exosomes, a subset of EVs, may play a key role in Stx-mediated renal injury.

Acute whole-body vibration reduces post-activation depression in the triceps surae muscle.

Purpose: Acute whole-body vibration (WBV) is known to enhance neuromuscular activation. Especially mechanisms which act presynaptically are discussed to be involved in this modulation, but evidence is still limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if 2 min of WBV might impact the premotoneuronal mechanism of post-activation depression (PAD).

Breast cancer diagnosis by analysis of serum N-glycans using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy.

Blood and serum N-glycans can be used as markers for cancer diagnosis, as alterations in protein glycosylation are associated with cancer pathogenesis and progression. We aimed to develop a platform for breast cancer (BrC) diagnosis based on serum N-glycan profiles using MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy. Serum N-glycans from BrC patients and healthy volunteers were evaluated using NosQuest's software "NosIDsys.

Enhanced production of styrene by engineered Escherichia coli and in situ product recovery (ISPR) with an organic solvent.

Background: Styrene is a large-volume commodity petrochemical, which has been used in a wide range of polymer industry as the main building block for the construction of various functional polymers. Despite many efforts to produce styrene in microbial hosts, the production titers are still low and are not enough to meet the commercial production of styrene.

Results: Previously, we developed a high L-phenylalanine producer (E.

Whole-body vibration impedes the deterioration of postural control in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate if whole-body vibration (WBV) might attenuate the processing functional and neuromuscular degeneration of postural control in patients with MS.

Design: Performance in postural control was assessed before and after 6 weeks of a control (CON) and a WBV intervention period.

Setting: Laboratory at the University of Freiburg & home-based training PARTICIPANTS: Out of 29 interested participants, 15 subjects with severe MS fit inclusion criteria.

Posttraumatic Embitterment Disorder in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Objective: Posttraumatic embitterment disorder (PTED), a subgroup of an adjustment disorder, is a feeling with anger and helplessness. Hemodialysis may be a trigger event leading to PTED. We investigated the prevalence of PTED in patients with each categorized stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the association between PTED and depression and functional impairment.

Stimulus Prediction and Postural Reaction: Phase-Specific Modulation of Soleus H-Reflexes Is Related to Changes in Joint Kinematics and Segmental Strategy in Perturbed Upright Stance.

Anticipation determines the timing and efficiency of human motor performance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of stimulus anticipation on proactive (prior to the event) and reactive (after the event) postural adjustments in response to perturbations. Postural set was manipulated by providing either (i) predictable, (ii) unpredictable, or (iii) cheated perturbations which require balance corrections to maintain postural stability.

Inactivation of Clostridium difficile spore outgrowth by synergistic effects of nisin and lysozyme.

Inactivating Clostridium difficile spores is difficult, as they are resistant to heat, chemicals, and antimicrobials. However, this note describes inactivation of C. difficile spore outgrowth by incubation in a solution containing a germinant (1% (m/v) sodium taurocholate), co-germinants (1% (m/v) tryptose and 1% (m/v) NaCl), and natural antimicrobials (20 nmol·L nisin and 0.

The Natural Course of Biopsy-Proven Isolated Microscopic Hematuria: a Single Center Experience of 350 Patients.

The increasing interest in healthcare and health screening events is revealing additional cases of asymptomatic isolated microscopic hematuria (IMH). However, a consensus of the evaluation and explanation of the IMH prognosis is controversial among physicians. Here, we present the natural course of IMH together with the pathological diagnosis and features to provide supportive data when approaching patients with IMH.

Serum β2-Microglobulin Predicts Mortality in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background/aims: β2-Microglobulin (β2-M) is a surrogate marker of middle-molecule uremic toxins and is associated with mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients. However, the impact of serum β2-M levels on mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of serum β2-M levels with all-cause mortality in PD patients.

Relationship Between Emphysema Severity and the Location of Lung Cancer in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

Objective: New phenotypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on emphysema severity have been recognized recently. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between emphysema severity (phenotype) and lung cancer location in patients with COPD.

Materials And Methods: Four hundred patients with 405 primary lung cancers confirmed pathologically between January 2010 and March 2014 were included in the study.

Synergistic inhibition of Clostridium difficile with nisin-lysozyme combination treatment.

Clostridium difficile vegetative cells were not inhibited completely after a 120-min treatment with 40 nM nisin or 0.8 mM lysozyme. However, these cells were completely inhibited after only a 30-min incubation with both 20 nM nisin and 0.

Non-selective and selective enrichment media for the recovery of Clostridium difficile from chopped beef.

Clostridium difficile exists within the intestines of animals and in meat products. Enrichment of C. difficile in an appropriate medium is necessary for the detection of C.

Engineering perspective on the evolution of push/pull-based dialysis treatments.

The incidence of kidney disease is rapidly increasing worldwide, and techniques and devices for treating end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have been evolving. Better outcomes achieved by convective treatment have encouraged the use of synthetic membranes with high water permeability in clinical setups, and high-flux hemodialysis (HD) and hemodiafiltration (HDF) are now preferred forms of convective therapy in ESRD patients. Push/pull-based dialysis strategies have also been examined to increase convective mass transfer in ESRD patients.

Development of a multifunctional detoxifying unit for liver failure patients.

Background/aims: Extracorporeal blood detoxification strategies aimed at supporting impaired liver function have been explored because of the imbalance between donor organs and waiting patients. A limited number of artificial devices are now available clinically, and these are characterized by the use of multistage adsorption procedures in conjunction with hemodialysis, but these features simultaneously increase system complexity and treatment costs.

Methods: The authors developed a simpler strategy for liver dialysis based on the use of a multifunctional filter, which enables plasma separation and perfusion in a single unit.