Maternal Fiber Intake and Perinatal Depression and Anxiety.

(1) Background: Dietary fiber can significantly alter gut microbiota composition. The role of the gut microbiome in the Gut-Brain Axis and modulation of neuropsychiatric disease is increasingly recognized. The role of antenatal diet, particularly fiber intake, in mitigating maternal mental health disorders remains unexplored.

Characterization of the antibacterial activity from ethanolic extracts of the botanical, Larrea tridentata.

Background: β-lactam antibiotics are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics consisting of all antibiotic agents that contain a β-lactam ring in their molecular structures. β-lactam antibiotics are only known to be isolated from fungi (e.g.

Resolution of Recurrent Oro-facial Herpes Simplex Using a Topical Botanical Gel: A Case Report.

Oral herpes labialis, more commonly known as cold sores, are a common encountered viral infection involving herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). Although relatively benign, these lesions can be both unsightly and clinically difficult to manage. Prescription standards of care and over-the-counter agents, such as docosonal, have often shown only limited efficacy in both decreasing lesional pain and reducing duration of lesional symptomology and are not without potential side effects.

Identification of botanicals with potential therapeutic use against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen. Over- and improper-use of pharmaceuticals against S. aureus has led to the development of antibiotic resistance, including methicillin-resistant S.

Home supply of emergency oral steroids and reduction in asthma healthcare utilization.

Objective: To determine if children with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma have decreased healthcare utilization after receiving a prescription and instructions to use an at home emergency supply of oral steroids during asthma exacerbations.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design study with a historical control from retrospective chart review was performed for patients aged 2-18 years seen in a tertiary care pediatric pulmonary clinic for moderate to severe persistent asthma. Baseline utilization of the emergency department, inpatient hospital, and pediatric intensive care unit for asthma exacerbations was collected from 24 months prior to initial prescription for at home steroids and compared with 12 months post-intervention using Poisson Regression.

A Lack of Bioactive Predictability for Marker Compounds Commonly Used for Herbal Medicine Standardization.

The use of botanical medicine by practitioners and the general public has dramatically increased in recent years. Most of these botanical therapeutics are obtained through commercial manufacturers or nutraceutical companies. The current standard of practice that manufacturers typically use to standardize botanicals is done based on the level of a well-known, abundant marker compound present in the botanical.

Differential Contributions of Ubiquitin-Modified APOBEC3G Lysine Residues to HIV-1 Vif-Induced Degradation.

Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme-catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (A3G) is a host restriction factor that impedes HIV-1 replication. Viral integrity is salvaged by HIV-1 virion infectivity factor (Vif), which mediates A3G polyubiquitination and subsequent cellular depletion. Previous studies have implied that A3G polyubiquitination is essential for Vif-induced degradation.

GB virus type C E2 protein inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag assembly by downregulating human ADP-ribosylation factor 1.

GB virus type C (GBV-C) glycoprotein E2 protein disrupts HIV-1 assembly and release by inhibiting Gag plasma membrane targeting, however the mechanism by which the GBV-C E2 inhibits Gag trafficking remains unclear. In the present study, we identified ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) contributed to the inhibitory effect of GBV-C E2 on HIV-1 Gag membrane targeting. Expression of GBV-C E2 decreased ARF1 expression in a proteasomal degradation-dependent manner.

Factors associated with the platelet count in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: There are many potential causes of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Aims: We sought to determine the association between thrombopoietin (TPO) level, immature platelet fraction (IPF), immunoglobulin G (IgG) level, spleen size, and the platelet count in CHC.

Methods: We studied a consecutive sample of patients enrolled in an observational study at a referral-based research center, excluding subjects based on eligibility criteria.

HIV-1 Vif inhibits G to A hypermutations catalyzed by virus-encapsidated APOBEC3G to maintain HIV-1 infectivity.

Background: HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif) is an essential accessory protein for HIV-1 replication. The predominant function of Vif is to counteract Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme-catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G, A3G), a potent host restriction factor that inhibits HIV-1 replication. Vif mediates the proteasomal degradation of A3G and inhibits A3G translation, thus diminishing the pool of A3G that is available to be packaged into budding virion.

Transcytosis of HIV-1 through vaginal epithelial cells is dependent on trafficking to the endocytic recycling pathway.

Background: While it is accepted that viruses can enter epithelial cells by endocytosis, the lack of an established biological mechanism for the trafficking of infectious virions through vaginal epithelial cells and their release from the plasma membrane has contributed to ongoing controversy about whether endocytosis is a mere artifact of some cell culture systems and whether squamous vaginal epithelial cells are even relevant as it pertains to HIV-1 transmission.

Methodology/principal Findings: In this study, we investigated the intracellular trafficking pathway that HIV-1 exploits to transcytose vaginal epithelial cells. The reduction of endosome tubulation by recycling endosome inhibitors blocked transcytosis of HIV-1 in a cell culture and transwell system.

Respiratory syncytial virus: current and emerging treatment options.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important respiratory pathogen in infants and children worldwide. Although RSV typically causes mild upper respiratory infections, it frequently causes severe morbidity and mortality, especially in premature infants and children with other chronic diseases. Treatment of RSV is limited by a lack of effective antiviral treatments; however, ribavirin has been used in complicated cases, along with the addition of intravenous immune globulin in specific patients.

Alternative tacrolimus and sirolimus regimen associated with rapid resolution of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome after lung transplantation.

Background: Neurotoxicity is a significant complication of calcineurin inhibitor use, and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome has been reported. Limited data exist on the use of alternative immunosuppression regimens in the management of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in transplant recipients.

Methods: We present the immunosuppression management strategy of a girl who underwent bilateral lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis 6 months earlier, then suddenly developed a grand mal seizure due to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.

A novel influenza virus hemagglutinin-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein subunit vaccine against influenza and RSV.

Influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause substantial morbidity and mortality afflicting the ends of the age spectrum during the autumn through winter months in the United States. The benefit of vaccination against RSV and influenza using a subunit vaccine to enhance immunity and neutralizing antibody was investigated. Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and RSV fusion (F) protein were tested as vaccine components alone and in combination to explore the adjuvant properties of RSV F protein on HA immunity.

Liver stiffness increases acutely during sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis.

Acute vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) in sickle cell disease (SCD) is an important cause of end-organ damage. It is estimated that 10-39% of VOC occurs with hepatic involvement. Current assessments of hepatic involvement during VOC are unsatisfactory.

The reproducibility of measurements of intramuscular magnesium concentrations and muscle oxidative capacity using 31P MRS.

31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) has been used to measure intramuscular magnesium concentrations and muscle metabolism. Abnormal intramuscular magnesium has been reported in several patient populations with suspected metabolic disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our ability to measure intramuscular magnesium and muscle metabolism in the quadriceps muscles of healthy subjects, and to test whether these measurements were influenced by prior exercise.

Do alpha-acyloxy and alpha-alkoxycarbonyloxy radicals fragment to form acyl and alkoxycarbonyl radicals?

The generation of alpha-acyloxy and alpha-alkoxycarbonyloxy radicals under reductive conditions in fragmentable probe experiments does not provide unequivocal evidence for the fragmentation of such radicals to give ketones and acyl or alkoxycarbonyl radicals. Instead, standard reduction predominates, even at low tin hydride concentrations. Some ketone product is formed in the alpha-acyloxy substrate at low concentrations, but it is unclear whether this product arises through a slow radical fragmentation process or an inefficient, chain-breaking oxidative process.

Discodermolide/Dictyostatin hybrids: synthesis and biological evaluation.

[structure: see text] Two hybrid analogues of discodermolide and dictyostatin (3, 26) have been designed and synthesized. These are the first macrocyclic analogues of discodermolide and biological activities were evaluated and compared with linear discodermolide analogues.