Immunomodulatory Properties of Multi-Strain Postbiotics on Human CD14 Monocytes.

The ability of probiotics, comprising live microbiota, to modulate the composition of intestinal microbiomes has been connected to modulation of the central nervous system (Gut-Brain axis), neuroendocrine system (Gut-Skin axis), and immune response (Gut-Immune axis). Less information is known regarding the ability of postbiotics (cell wall components and secreted metabolites derived from live organisms) to regulate host immunity. In the present study, we tested postbiotics comprising single strains of bacteria and yeast ( 16axg, 18fx, 16mxg) as well as combinations of multiple strains for their ability to stimulate cytokine production by human CD14 monocytes.

Formulation development of dual-compartment topical inserts combining tenofovir alafenamide and elvitegravir for flexible on-demand HIV prevention.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has emerged as a prominent approach for the prevention of HIV infections. While the latest advances have resulted in effective oral and injectable product options, there are still gaps in on-demand, event-driven, topical products for HIV prevention that are safe and effective. Here we describe the formulation development of a dual-compartment topical insert containing tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) and elvitegravir (EVG) that may be administered when needed, vaginally or rectally, pre- or post-coitus, for flexible HIV prophylaxis.

NF-κB c-Rel is a critical regulator of TLR7-induced inflammation in psoriasis.

Background: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) c-Rel is a psoriasis susceptibility locus, however mechanisms underlying c-Rel transactivation during disease are poorly understood. Inflammation in psoriasis can be triggered following Toll-like Receptor 7 (TLR7) signalling in dendritic cells (DCs), and c-Rel is a critical regulator of DC function. Here, we studied the mechanism of TLR7-induced c-Rel-mediated inflammation in DCs.

Analysis of Gut Bacterial and Fungal Microbiota in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Non-Autistic Siblings.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial disorder involving genetic and environmental factors leading to pathophysiologic symptoms and comorbidities including neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety, immune dysregulation, and gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities. Abnormal intestinal permeability has been reported among ASD patients and it is well established that disturbances in eating patterns may cause gut microbiome imbalance (i.e.

A Probiotic Amylase Blend Positively Impacts Gut Microbiota Modulation in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study.

The present study was performed to determine if ingesting a blend of probiotics plus amylase would alter the abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in subjects consuming the blend over a 6-week period. 16S and ITS ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing was performed on fecal samples provided by subjects who participated in a clinical study where they consumed either a probiotic amylase blend ( 19bx, 16axg, 18fx, and 16mxg, alpha amylase (500 SKB (Alpha-amylase-Dextrinizing Units)) or a placebo consisting of rice oligodextrin. The abundance and diversity of both bacterial and fungal organisms was assessed at baseline and following 6 weeks of probiotic amylase blend or placebo consumption.

A comparison of structure, bonding and non-covalent interactions of aryl halide and diarylhalonium halogen-bond donors.

Halogen bonding permeates many areas of chemistry. A wide range of halogen-bond donors including neutral, cationic, monovalent, and hypervalent have been developed and studied. In this work we used density functional theory (DFT), natural bond orbital (NBO) theory, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) to analyze aryl halogen-bond donors that are neutral, cationic, monovalent and hypervalent and in each series we include the halogens Cl, Br, I, and At.

Plasmodium falciparum infection in humans and mosquitoes influence natural Anopheline biting behavior and transmission.

The human infectious reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum is governed by transmission efficiency during vector-human contact and mosquito biting preferences. Understanding biting bias in a natural setting can help target interventions to interrupt transmission. In a 15-month cohort in western Kenya, we detected P.

Cardiovascular and mortality benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists as third-step glucose-lowering medicine in patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Introduction: Studies have found that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1) have cardiovascular benefits for patients with type 2 diabetes (DM2) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), or heart failure (HF). The literature does not provide evidence specifically for patients with these conditions who are adding one of these medicines to two glucose-lowering medications (ie, as "third-step" therapy). We explored the effects of different third-step medications on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes and these comorbid conditions.

Affects Virulence by Limiting Its Capacity to Adhere to the Host Intestinal Surface, Leading to Decreased Susceptibility to Colitis in Mice.

() infections represent a serious health risk for people affected by inflammatory bowel disease. An important fungal virulence factor is the capacity of the fungus to form on the colonized surface of the host. This research study aimed to determine the effect of a and co-infection on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

Time to Think Antifungal Resistance Increased Antifungal Resistance Exacerbates the Burden of Fungal Infections Including Resistant Dermatomycoses.

Increased antifungal resistance is exacerbating the burden of invasive fungal infections, as well as potentially contributing to the increase in resistant dermatomycoses. In this commentary, we focus on antifungal drug resistance, in contrast to antibacterial resistance. We provide a brief historical perspective on the emergence of antifungal resistance and propose measures for combating this growing health concern.

Beta-defensin index: A functional biomarker for oral cancer detection.

There is an unmet clinical need for a non-invasive and cost-effective test for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) that informs clinicians when a biopsy is warranted. Human beta-defensin 3 (hBD-3), an epithelial cell-derived anti-microbial peptide, is pro-tumorigenic and overexpressed in early-stage OSCC compared to hBD-2. We validate this expression dichotomy in carcinoma in situ and OSCC lesions using immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry.

Circulating Monocytes Are Predictive and Responsive in Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis Subjects Treated with Apremilast.

Monocytes play a critical role in the inflammation associated with psoriasis, and their abnormalities have been reported as biomarkers of cardiovascular event risk, a psoriasis comorbidity. Monocytic cells in chronic inflammatory disorders express elevated levels of cAMP phosphodiesterase. Restoring cAMP levels using the oral cAMP phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, apremilast, improves clinical outcomes for a subset of patients with psoriasis.

Dermatophyte Infections Worldwide: Increase in Incidence and Associated Antifungal Resistance.

The increase in incidence of superficial fungal infections combined with the emergence of antifungal resistance represents both a global health challenge and a considerable economic burden. Recently, dermatophytes, the main culprit causing superficial fungal infections, have started to exhibit antifungal resistance. This can be observed in some of the most common species such as and .

A metatranscriptomic evaluation of viruses in field-collected bed bugs.

Cimex lectularius, known as the common bed bug, is a widespread hematophagous human ectoparasite and urban pest that is not known to be a vector of any human infectious disease agents. However, few studies in the era of molecular biology have profiled the microorganisms harbored by field populations of bed bugs. The objective of this study was to examine the viruses present in a large sampling of common bed bugs and related bat bugs (Cimex pipistrelle).

The openVA Toolkit for Verbal Autopsies.

Verbal autopsy (VA) is a survey-based tool widely used to infer cause of death (COD) in regions without complete-coverage civil registration and vital statistics systems. In such settings, many deaths happen outside of medical facilities and are not officially documented by a medical professional. VA surveys, consisting of signs and symptoms reported by a person close to the decedent, are used to infer the COD for an individual, and to estimate and monitor the COD distribution in the population.

Skin and gut microbial associations with squamous cell carcinoma in solid organ transplant recipients.

Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are burdened with a significantly higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared to the general population. Accumulating evidence suggests the potential influence of microbial dysbiosis on transplant outcomes. Based on these observations, we sought to identify differences in the cutaneous and gut microbiomes of SOTRs with and without a history of SCC.

Consistently estimating network statistics using aggregated relational data.

Collecting complete network data is expensive, time-consuming, and often infeasible. Aggregated Relational Data (ARD), which ask respondents questions of the form "How many people with trait X do you know?" provide a low-cost option when collecting complete network data is not possible. Rather than asking about connections between each pair of individuals directly, ARD collect the number of contacts the respondent knows with a given trait.

Antifungal Activity of Efinaconazole Compared with Fluconazole, Itraconazole, and Terbinafine Against Terbinafine- and Itraconazole-Resistant/Susceptible Clinical Isolates of Dermatophytes, Candida, and Molds.

Background: Recently, an increasing number of resistant-to-terbinafine dermatophytosis cases have been reported. Thus, identifying an alternative antifungal agent that possesses broad-spectrum activity, including against resistant strains, is needed.

Methods: We compared the antifungal activity of efinaconazole with that of fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine against clinical isolates of dermatophytes, Candida, and molds using in vitro assays.