Evolution of interorganismal strigolactone biosynthesis in seed plants.

Strigolactones (SLs) are methylbutenolide molecules derived from β-carotene through an intermediate carlactonoic acid (CLA). Canonical SLs act as signals to microbes and plants, whereas noncanonical SLs are primarily plant hormones. The cytochrome P450 CYP722C catalyzes a critical step, converting CLA to canonical SLs in most angiosperms.

Vaccination coverage, vaccine hesitancy and factors associated with incomplete vaccination: a household survey conducted with children born between 2017 and 2018 in the inland municipalities of Northeastern Brazil.

Objective: To analyze vaccination coverage and factors associated with incomplete vaccination in inland municipalities of Northeastern Brazil.

Methods: This was a household survey using cluster sampling conducted in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia state, Caruaru, Pernambuco state, Sobral, Ceará state and Imperatriz, Maranhão state between 2020 and 2022. Vaccination coverage by valid doses and vaccine hesitancy were analyzed, with the odds ratio (OR) estimated and adjusted using logistic regression.

Microbiological and toxicity analyses of the synthetic polymer polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride against endodontic microorganisms.

Failures in endodontic treatments are common due to microbial resistance in the pulp canal. The study evaluated the in vitro activity of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMGH) against endodontic strains, as well as in vivo toxicity. Using minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration techniques, PHMGH was effective against all microorganisms, even at low concentrations.

Evaluating student understanding of core pharmacokinetic concepts.

Both educators and graduates have expressed concern about a perceived pharmacology knowledge gap that includes difficulty applying fundamental principles to clinical and research problems. Consequently, we sought to determine the extent to which current students can explain the meaning of, and appropriately apply, a subset of core concepts, and to identify any misconceptions arising from the responses. Of the twenty-four pharmacology core concepts arising from the recent international collaboration, four pharmacokinetic concepts were chosen, namely drug bioavailability, drug clearance, volume of distribution, and steady-state concentration.

Evaluating student understanding of pharmacodynamics core concepts.

Pharmacodynamics is an essential subdiscipline of pharmacology that underpins safe and effective prescribing and therapeutic decision-making, as well as drug discovery and development. The exponential increase in the number of therapeutic drugs has prompted members of the pharmacology educator community to question existing pharmacology curricula focused on individual drugs and move toward a curriculum focused on conceptual understanding. A first step towards conceptual understanding is to establish what students currently know about pharmacodynamic core concepts.