Background: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a degeneration of the dopaminergic system. Dopamine transporter (DAT) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has emerged as a powerful and non-invasive method to quantify dopaminergic function in the living brain. The PET radioligand, [F]FE-PE2I, a cocaine chemical derivative, has shown promising properties for in vivo PET imaging of DAT, including high affinity and selectivity for DAT, excellent brain permeability, and favorable metabolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe 2016 cumulative incidence of infection (CDI) in Spain was reported by the European Center for Disease Control to be above the mean of other European countries. The aim of this multicenter prospective observational cohort study was to examine the risk factors that determine 90-day CDI recurrence in Catalonia, Spain. The study included 558 consecutive adults admitted to hospital who had a symptomatic, first positive CDI diagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackgroundCatheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) are frequent healthcare-associated infections and an important cause of death.AimTo analyse changes in CRBSI epidemiology observed by the Infection Control Catalan Programme (VINCat).MethodsA cohort study including all hospital-acquired CRBSI episodes diagnosed at 55 hospitals (2007-2019) in Catalonia, Spain, was prospectively conducted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetergoline is a semisynthetic ergot alkaloid identified recently as an inhibitor of the Gram-negative intracellular pathogen Typhimurium ( Tm). With the previously unknown antibacterial activity of metergoline, we explored structure-activity relationships (SARs) with a series of carbamate, urea, sulfonamide, amine, and amide analogues. Cinnamide and arylacrylamide derivatives show improved potency relative to metergoline against Gram-positive bacteria, and pyridine derivative is also effective against methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in a murine skin infection model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvidence suggests that caffeine (CF) reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the mechanism by which this occurs has not yet been uncovered. Here, we investigated the effect of CF on the expression of two bona fide regulators of circulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) levels; the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR).
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