Botulinum neurotoxin, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, causes botulism, a severe, rapidly progressing, and potentially fatal condition. Swift detection of the toxin and timely administration of antitoxin antibodies are critical for effective treatment. The current standard for Botulinum toxin testing is the mouse lethality assay, but this method is time-consuming and requires live animals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnalysis of an antimicrobial extract from the agar-based culture of the marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. G666 led to the isolation of three new shikimic acid derivatives, streptomine A-C (1-3), along with five known compounds (4-8). Their structures were established by their spectral data analyses, including MS and NMR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The increasing drug resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) poses a serious challenge to the current treatment. Antibiograms of this pathogen often take 3-5 days, and treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis (PAK) is mainly based on preliminary physical examination, clinical experience, and medical guidelines. Pertinent clinical data on the causative agent and antibiotics for high efficacy are essential for early recognition and subsequent treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder marked by cartilage breakdown, bone alterations, and inflammation, leading to significant pain and disability. Current therapeutic strategies, ranging from lifestyle interventions to pharmacological and surgical treatments, offer limited efficacy and are often accompanied by side effects. This study investigates the potential of Polydioxanone (PDO), a biocompatible synthetic polymer, as a novel intra-articular (IA) viscosupplement in OA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMacromol Rapid Commun
December 2024
Side-chain liquid-crystal epoxy polymers (SCLCEPs) are valued for their unique properties, which combine LC side chains with epoxide-based polyether main chains for ordered molecular arrangements. They have high thermal conductivity and optical properties due to their low polydispersity and high crystallinity. Achieving optimal thermal conductivity in SCLCEPs involves addressing factors such as mesogen nature, polymer design, and alignment within the polymer structure.
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