From Strep Infection to a Strepitous Heart Pattern in Rheumatic Fever: A Case Report.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the leading cause of valvular heart disease globally, arising from acute rheumatic fever (ARF). It results from an abnormal immune response to group A streptococcal (GAS) infection, leading to myocardial injury. This is the case of a 65-year-old female with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) secondary to RHD disease who develops acute heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF), both de novo.

Dietary ω-3 Fatty Acids Mitigate Intestinal Barrier Integrity Alterations in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet: Implications for Pancreatic Carcinogenesis.

Background: Although body fatness is a recognized risk factor for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the underlying mechanisms of how fat composition affects pancreatic carcinogenesis are poorly understood. High-fat diets (HFDs) can disrupt intestinal barrier function, potentially accelerating carcinogenesis. Omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) have anti-inflammatory properties and help preserve intestinal integrity.

Cardiovascular Disease in Women and the Role of Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women and manifests more severely and at a later stage in life compared to men. The low estrogen levels during menopause are linked to an increased CVD risk. This association has promoted research regarding the role of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in reducing the symptoms and diseases related to menopause, including CVD.

Cardiac Angiosarcoma Presenting as Large Pericardial Effusion With Effusive-Constrictive Pericarditis.

Pericardial angiosarcoma is an extremely rare malignant tumor originating from the endothelial cells of blood vessels within the pericardium. We present a case of a 49-year-old male who presented with symptoms of pericardial effusion and was subsequently diagnosed with pericardial angiosarcoma. This case report highlights the diagnostic challenges and management options associated with this rare entity.

Uncertainty Evaluation of a Gas Turbine Model Based on a Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous Model and Monte Carlo Dropout.

Gas turbines are thermoelectric plants with various applications, such as large-scale electricity production, petrochemical industry, and steam generation. In order to optimize the operation of a gas turbine, it is necessary to develop system identification models that allow for the development of studies and analyses to increase the system's reliability. Current strategies for modeling complex and non-linear systems can be based on artificial intelligence techniques, using autoregressive neural networks of the NARX and LSTM type.

SIR-SI model with a Gaussian transmission rate: Understanding the dynamics of dengue outbreaks in Lima, Peru.

Introduction: Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito as a vector, and a recent outbreak was reported in several districts of Lima, Peru. We conducted a modeling study to explain the transmission dynamics of dengue in three of these districts according to the demographics and climatology.

Methodology: We used the weekly distribution of dengue cases in the Comas, Lurigancho, and Puente Piedra districts, as well as the temperature data to investigate the transmission dynamics.

System Identification Methodology of a Gas Turbine Based on Artificial Recurrent Neural Networks.

The application of identification techniques using artificial intelligence to the gas turbine (GT), whose nonlinear dynamic behavior is difficult to describe through differential equations and the laws of physics, has begun to gain importance for a little more than a decade. NARX (Nonlinear autoregressive network with exogenous inputs) is one of the models used to identify GT because it provides good results. However, existing studies need to show a systematic method to generate robust NARX models that can identify a GT with satisfactory accuracy.

Molecular characterisation of an outbreak of NDM-7-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae reveals ST11 clone expansion combined with interclonal plasmid dissemination.

The aim of this study was to characterise a hospital outbreak of NDM-7-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae associated with the successful multidrug-resistant (MDR) high-risk clone ST11 between 2017 and 2019 in southern Spain. A total of 46 NDM-7-producing isolates were recovered during the outbreak, including 16 from clinical samples, 27 from surveillance samples and 3 from environmental samples. All isolates were MDR, including carbapenem-resistant.

An Overview of Antennal Esterases in Lepidoptera.

Lepidoptera are used as a model for the study of insect olfactory proteins. Among them, odorant degrading enzymes (ODEs), that degrade odorant molecules to maintain the sensitivity of antennae, have received less attention. In particular, antennal esterases (AEs; responsible for ester degradation) are crucial for intraspecific communication in Lepidoptera.

Synergistic Quinolone Sensitization by Targeting the SOS Response Gene and Oxidative Stress.

Suppression of the SOS response gene and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction have been shown, separately, to enhance fluoroquinolone activity and lethality. Their putative synergistic impact as a strategy to potentiate the efficacy of bactericidal antimicrobial agents such as fluoroquinolones is unknown. We generated mutants that exhibited a suppressed Δ gene in combination with inactivated ROS detoxification system genes (Δ, Δ, Δ, Δ, and Δ) or inactivated oxidative stress regulator genes (Δ and Δ) to evaluate the interplay of both DNA repair and detoxification systems in drug response.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity from growing in Chile: enzymatic and molecular docking studies.

Alkaloid profiles from plants collected in Chile were examined by GC-MS to assess their inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) using and methodologies. The alkaloid extract was roughly separated by column chromatography on silica gel. AChE inhibitory activities from extracts and purified alkaloids were tested by the Ellman method and a molecular docking study was performed to assess the interaction between AChE and purified alkaloids.

Effect of RecA inactivation on quinolone susceptibility and the evolution of resistance in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli.

Background: SOS response suppression (by RecA inactivation) has been postulated as a therapeutic strategy for potentiating antimicrobials against Enterobacterales.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of RecA inactivation on the reversion and evolution of quinolone resistance using a collection of Escherichia coli clinical isolates.

Methods: Twenty-three E.

Characterization of the adipogenic protein E4orf1 from adenovirus 36 through an in silico approach.

Adenovirus 36 (Ad-36) is related to human obesity due to its adipogenic activity mediated by the early 4 open reading frame 1 (E4orf1) protein. Mechanisms underlying the adipogenic effect of E4orf1 are not completely understood; however, the proliferation and differentiation of fat cells are increased through the activation of the phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase pathway by binding proteins containing PDZ domain. This study characterized E4orf1 tridimensional structure and analyzed its interactions with PDZ domain-containing proteins in order to provide new information about the behavior of this viral protein and its targets, which could provide an interesting druggable target for obesity-related cardiometabolic alterations.

EGCG sensitizes chemotherapeutic-induced cytotoxicity by targeting the ERK pathway in multiple cancer cell lines.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol component of green tea, presents anticancer efficacy. However, its exact mechanism of action is not known. In this study, we evaluated the effect of EGCG alone or in combination with current chemotherapeutics [gemcitabine, 5-flourouracil (5-FU), and doxorubicin] on pancreatic, colon, and lung cancer cell growth, as well as the mechanisms involved in the combined action.

Carbapenemase-Producing Gram-Negative Bacteria in Andalusia, Spain, 2014-2018.

The emergence and spread of carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria is a major public health concern. We used data collected from microbiology laboratories as part of the PIRASOA program during 2014-2018 to study the epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing bacteria in Andalusia, Spain. Our findings highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance and epidemiologic studies for these bacteria.

Role of low-level quinolone resistance in generating tolerance in Escherichia coli under therapeutic concentrations of ciprofloxacin.

Background: Tolerance (including persistence) and resistance result in increased survival under antibiotic pressure.

Objectives: We evaluated the interplay between resistance and tolerance to ciprofloxacin under therapeutic and killing conditions to determine the contribution of low-level quinolone resistance (LLQR) mechanisms to tolerance. We also determined how the interaction between resistance (LLQR phenotypes) and tolerance was modified under SOS response suppression.

Mating-based regulation and ligand binding of an odorant-binding protein support the inverse sexual communication of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

In moths, sex pheromones play a key role in mate finding. These chemicals are transported in the antennae by odorant-binding proteins (OBPs). Commonly, males encounter conspecific females; therefore, several OBPs are male-biased.

Co-Occurrence of and on an IncHI2 Plasmid in Clinical Isolates of Typhimurium in Spain.

is a well-adapted zoonotic bacterium associated to cases of gastroenteritis and bacteremia with increased morbidity and mortality. In this study, three isolates of Typhimurium obtained from human clinical samples, showing colistin resistance and low-level resistance to quinolones, have been genetically characterized. We detected the co-occurrence of and on a single IncHI2 plasmid in isolates of Typhimurium obtained from Spanish children without a travel history.

Comparative activity of a polyhexanide-betaine solution against biofilms produced by multidrug-resistant bacteria belonging to high-risk clones.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of polyhexanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide)-betaine (PHMB-B) compared with 2% chlorhexidine against biofilms of high-risk and/or multidrug-resistant bacterial clones. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of both biocides were determined by microdilution. The effect of PHMB-B and chlorhexidine on biofilm was evaluated by spectrophotometry and cell viability assays.

Suppression of the SOS response modifies spatiotemporal evolution, post-antibiotic effect, bacterial fitness and biofilm formation in quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli.

Background: Suppression of the SOS response has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for potentiating quinolones against susceptible, low-level quinolone-resistant (LLQR) and resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Objectives: To monitor the functionality of the SOS response in the evolution towards clinical quinolone resistance and study its impact on the evolution of spatiotemporal resistance.

Methods: An isogenic collection of Escherichia coli (derived from the strain ATCC 25922) carrying combinations of chromosomally and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance mechanisms (including susceptible, LLQR and resistant phenotypes) and exhibiting a spectrum of SOS activity was used.

OXA-48-Like-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Southern Spain in 2014-2015.

The aim of this study was to characterize the population structure of 56 OXA-48-like-producing isolates, as well as extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase genes, recovered in 2014 and 2015 from 16 hospitals in southern Spain. XbaI pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing were performed to assess clonal relatedness. Representative isolates belonging to OXA-48-like-producing and CTX-M-15-coproducing pulsotypes were selected for characterization of - and -carrying plasmids by PCR-based replicon typing, IncF subtyping, whole-genome sequencing analysis, and typing of Tn structures.