Tailored Functionalization of Plasmonic AgNPs/C:H:N:O Nanocomposite for Sensitive and Selective Detection.

We report here on the development of tailored plasmonic AgNPs/C:H:N:O plasma polymer nanocomposites for the detection of the pathogenic bacterium Borrelia afzelii, with high selectivity and sensitivity. Silver (Ag) nanoparticles, generated by a gas aggregation source, are incorporated onto a C:H:N:O plasma polymer matrix, which is deposited by magnetron sputtering of a nylon 6.6.

Low cost and real-time surveillance of enteric infection and diarrhoeal disease using rapid diagnostic tests in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh.

Background: Real-time disease surveillance is an important component of infection control in at-risk populations. However, data on cases or from lab testing is often not available in many low-resource settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), including immunochromatographic assays, may provide a low cost, expedited source of infection data.

Socio-occupational conditions and health of fishers exposed to the oil disaster-crime in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Objective: To describe the sociodemographic, socio-occupational profile, and effects on the health of artisanal fishers from the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, affected by the oil disaster-crime in Brazil in 2019.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study, carried out in 16 municipalities on the coast of Pernambuco, with a sample made up of 1,259 artisanal fishers. A questionnaire containing 14 blocks was used, including socioeconomic issues, exposure to oil, among others.

Interplay between vertebrate adaptive immunity and bacterial infectivity genes: Bank vole MHC versus Borrelia afzelii OspC.

Coevolution of parasites with their hosts may lead to balancing selection on genes involved in determining the specificity of host-parasite interactions, but examples of such specific interactions in wild vertebrates are scarce. Here, we investigated whether the polymorphic outer surface protein C (OspC), used by the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia afzelii, to manipulate vertebrate host innate immunity, interacts with polymorphic major histocompatibility genes (MHC), while concurrently eliciting a strong antibody response, in one of its main hosts in Europe, the bank vole. We found signals of balancing selection acting on OspC, resulting in little differentiation in OspC variant frequencies between years.

Bilateral Todd's paralysis in a patient with left fronto-opercular epilepsy.

Postictal paresis ("Todd's paralysis") is commonly observed as a unilateral, transient motor weakness, lasting minutes to hours, after focal or focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, contralateral to the epileptogenic zone. Bilateral postictal paresis is exceedingly rare and could be misinterpreted, especially if the preceding convulsive phase was not witnessed. An 18-year-old right-handed male patient with refractory focal epilepsy with seizure onset at age 3 years, was admitted for presurgical video-EEG monitoring.

Anthropogenic disturbance has altered the habitat of two Azorean endemic coastal plants.

Background: Anthropogenic threats are causing alteration of coastal areas worldwide. Most of the coastal biodiversity is endangered, taking a particular toll on island ecosystems, like the Azores. To better understand the biotic and abiotic factors constraining the distribution and conservation status of two endemic plants, Azorina vidalii (Campanulaceae) and Lotus azoricus (Fabaceae), we performed a global survey of coastal plant communities in the archipelago, also covering environmental descriptors, natural and anthropogenic threats.

Stifle arthrodesis in dogs using semi-circular saw: Cadaveric study.

The aim of this study was to develop a novel surgical technique for stifle arthrodesis in dogs using a semicircular saw for tibial and femoral ostectomies through a medial approach. Ten pelvic limbs from five canine cadavers underwent stifle arthrodesis. Prior to the surgical procedure, the limbs were radiographed to rule out musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Development and validation of systems for genetic manipulation of the Old World tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia duttonii.

Relapsing fever (RF), a vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia spp., is characterized by recurring febrile episodes due to repeated bouts of bacteremia. RF spirochetes can be geographically and phylogenetically divided into two distinct groups; Old World RF Borrelia (found in Africa, Asia, and Europe) and New World RF Borrelia (found in the Americas).

Co-infection dynamics of and TBEV in C3H mice: insights and implications for future research.

Ticks are important vectors of disease, particularly in the context of One Health, where tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are increasingly prevalent worldwide. TBDs often involve co-infections, where multiple pathogens co-exist in a single host. Patients with chronic Lyme disease often have co-infections with other bacteria or parasites.

Characterization and quantification of epilepsy patients with hospital episodes in Portugal: A multicenter retrospective study from Liga Portuguesa Contra a Epilepsia.

Introduction: Epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide and is associated with lower quality of life scores, an increased risk of premature death, and significant socio-economic implications. The lack of updated evidence on current epidemiology and patient characterization creates considerable uncertainty regarding the epilepsy burden in Portugal. The study aims to characterize and quantify the epilepsy patients who have been hospitalized, with medical or surgical procedures involved, and to analyze their associated comorbidities and mortality rates.

Streptococcus suis meningitis: An emerging zoonotic disease in Brazil.

Streptococcus suis has been widely reported as a pathogen in animals, especially pigs. In terms of human health implications, it has been characterized as a zoonosis associated with the consumption of pork products and occupational exposure, particularly in Southeast Asian countries. Here, we present a rare case of human S.

It's not all about flagella - sticky invasion by pathogenic spirochetes.

Pathogenic spirochetes cause a range of serious human diseases such as Lyme disease (LD), syphilis, leptospirosis, relapsing fever (RF), and periodontal disease. Motility is a critical virulence factor for spirochetes. From the mechanical perspective of the infection, it has been widely believed that flagella are the sole key players governing the migration and dissemination of these pathogens in the host.

Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation: An Adjuvant Treatment for Intractable Constipation in Children.

Background: Functional constipation can lead to painful defecations, fecal incontinence, and abdominal pain, significantly affecting a child's quality of life. Treatment options include non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches, but some cases are intractable and require alternative interventions like neuromodulation. A subtype of neuromodulation, called Transcutaneous Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation (TPTNS), comprises electrical stimulation at the ankle level, by means of electrodes fixed to the skin.

Promoting data harmonization to evaluate vaccine hesitancy in LMICs: approach and applications.

Background: Factors influencing the health of populations are subjects of interdisciplinary study. However, datasets relevant to public health often lack interdisciplinary breath. It is difficult to combine data on health outcomes with datasets on potentially important contextual factors, like political violence or development, due to incompatible levels of geographic support; differing data formats and structures; differences in sampling procedures and wording; and the stability of temporal trends.

Impact of a heart failure multidisciplinary clinic on the reduction of healthcare-related events and costs: the GEstIC study.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospitalization in the elderly in developed countries and significantly impacts public health expenditures. Patients with HF usually have associated comorbidities that require multidisciplinary management. This study aims to demonstrate the benefits of a multidisciplinary clinic in reducing all-cause hospitalizations and HF events (HF hospitalizations and urgent HF visits) in a real-world setting.

Pathogenicity and virulence of .

Infection with often triggers pathophysiologic perturbations that are further augmented by the inflammatory responses of the host, resulting in the severe clinical conditions of Lyme disease. While our apprehension of the spatial and temporal integration of the virulence determinants during the enzootic cycle of is constantly being improved, there is still much to be discovered. Many of the novel virulence strategies discussed in this review are undetermined.

Variation among strains of Borrelia burgdorferi in host tissue abundance and lifetime transmission determine the population strain structure in nature.

Pathogen life history theory assumes a positive relationship between pathogen load in host tissues and pathogen transmission. Empirical evidence for this relationship is surprisingly rare due to the difficulty of measuring transmission for many pathogens. The comparative method, where a common host is experimentally infected with a set of pathogen strains, is a powerful approach for investigating the relationships between pathogen load and transmission.

Augenblickdiagnose in neurology: Revisiting 'diagnosis in the blink of an eye'.

Background And Purpose: The art of diagnosis in clinical neurology requires attentive listening and careful observation. In certain situations, a fragment of the history or a physical sign may be so distinctive that it allows clinicians to evoke a specific diagnosis. This quick mental process was previously referred to as 'Augenblickdiagnose' ('diagnosis in the blink of an eye') in a seminal paper by Dr.

Microbiota perturbation by anti-microbiota vaccine reduces the colonization of Borrelia afzelii in Ixodes ricinus.

Background: Ticks can transmit a broad variety of pathogens of medical importance, including Borrelia afzelii, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis in Europe. Tick microbiota is an important factor modulating, not only vector physiology, but also the vector competence. Anti-microbiota vaccines targeting keystone taxa of tick microbiota can alter tick feeding and modulate the taxonomic and functional profiles of bacterial communities in the vector.

Nanoarchitectonics of Bimetallic MOF@Lab-Grade Flexible Filter Papers: An Approach Towards Real-Time Water Decontamination and Circular Economy.

This study presents a novel approach to decontaminate ferrocyanide-contaminated wastewater. The work effectively demonstrates the use of bimetallic Mo/Zr-UiO-66 as a super-adsorbent for rapid sequestration of Prussian blue, a frequently found iron complex in cyanide-contaminated soils/groundwater. The exceptional performance of Mo/Zr-UiO-66 is attributed to the insertion of secondary metallic sites, which deliver synergistic effects, benefiting the inherent qualities of the framework.

Effect of subgingival periodontal therapy on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients: Meta-analysis and meta-regression of 6-month follow-up randomized clinical trials.

Background: Periodontitis worsens the hyperglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Subgingival instrumentation, with or without surgical access, is the gold-standard treatment for periodontitis. The aim was to summarize the evidence on the effect of subgingival instrumentation (with or without open flap) on the reduction of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c).

Evaluation of the antinociceptive effect generated by citronellal monoterpene isomers.

Due to the complex nature of pain and the participation of physical, cognitive, psychological and behavioral aspects, pain management has several approaches. The use of medicinal plants in developing countries is quite expressive. Seeking new options for the treatment of emerging or debilitating diseases.