The comparative effect of propolis and chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral nitrite-producing bacteria and blood pressure regulation.

Background: Propolis mouthwash (PROP-M) has demonstrated antibacterial properties like those of chlorhexidine mouthwash (CHX-M). However, its impact on the abundance of oral nitrite-producing species (NPS) and nitrite-producing activity (NPA) remains unexplored.

Methods: Forty-five healthy individuals were randomised into 2 groups to rinse their mouth twice a day for seven days with either CHX-M ( = 21) or PROP-M ( = 24).

Comparative Effects of Efavirenz and Dolutegravir on Metabolomic and Inflammatory Profiles, and Platelet Activation of People Living with HIV: A Pilot Study.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced the mortality and morbidity associated with HIV. However, irrespective of treatment, people living with HIV remain at a higher risk of developing non-AIDS-associated diseases. In 2019, the World Health Organization recommended the transition from efavirenz (EFV)- to dolutegravir (DTG)-based ART.

Characterization of Species Associated with Stemphylium Leaf Spot of Spinach ().

Stemphylium leaf spot can result in significant losses to spinach seed, processing, and fresh market crops. isolates ( = 1,775) collected from 2000 to 2022 from spinach seed, leaves, and seed crop stem residues were used to assess the diversity of species associated with spinach. Eleven species were identified based on sequences: (63.

Design Characteristics of a Neoteric, Superhydrophilic, Mechanically Robust Hydrogel Engineered To Limit Fouling in the Ocular Environment.

Current challenges with ocular drug delivery and the chronic nature of many ocular ailments render the use of traditional ocular devices for additional drug delivery purposes very attractive. To achieve this feat, there is the need to develop biomaterials that are biocompatible, mechanically robust for ocular applications, highly transparent (depending on the targeted ocular device), and with ultralow protein adhesion potential (the primary step in processes that lead to fouling and potential device failure). Herein is reported the facile synthesis of a novel, highly transparent, mechanically robust, nontoxic, bulk functionalized hydrogel with characteristics suited to scalable fabrication of ocular implantable and nonimplantable devices.

The Effect of Dietary Nitrate on the Oral Microbiome and Salivary Biomarkers in Individuals with High Blood Pressure.

Background: Green leafy vegetables (GLV) contain inorganic nitrate, an anion with potential prebiotic effects on the oral microbiome. However, it remains unclear whether GLV and pharmacological supplementation [potassium nitrate (PN)] with a nitrate salt induce similar effects on the oral microbiome.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of GLV with PN supplementation on the oral microbiome composition and salivary biomarkers in individuals with high blood pressure.

Agreement between three noninvasive temperature monitoring devices during spinal anaesthesia for caesarean delivery: a prospective observational study.

Hypothermia during obstetric spinal anaesthesia is a common and important problem, yet temperature monitoring is often not performed due to the lack of a suitable, cost-effective monitor. This study aimed to compare a noninvasive core temperature monitor with two readily available peripheral temperature monitors during obstetric spinal anaesthesia. We undertook a prospective observational study including elective and emergency caesarean deliveries, to determine the agreement between affordable reusable surface temperature monitors (Welch Allyn SureTemp® Plus oral thermometer and the Braun 3-in-1 No Touch infrared thermometer) and the Dräger T-core© (using dual-sensor heat flux technology), in detecting thermoregulatory changes during obstetric spinal anaesthesia.

In vivo evaluation of a Nano-enabled therapeutic vitreous substitute for the precise delivery of triamcinolone to the posterior segment of the eye.

This study focused on the design of a thermoresponsive, nano-enabled vitreous substitute for the treatment of retinal diseases. Synthesis of a hydrogel composed of hyaluronic acid and a poloxamer blend was undertaken. Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) acid nanoparticles encapsulating triamcinolone acetonide (TA) were synthesised with a spherical morphology and mean diameter of ~ 153 nm.

Prevalence of FRAC Group 11 Fungicide Resistance in Isolates, but Not Isolates, Causing Stemphylium Leaf Spot of Spinach ().

Stemphylium leaf spot of spinach, caused by and , is a disease of economic importance in fresh market, processing, and seed production. There have been increasing reports of difficulty managing the disease in the southern United States using fungicides in Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) group 11. Isolates of and obtained from spinach leaves and seed from 2001 to 2020 were screened for resistance to azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin in vitro, in vivo, and using PCR assays to detect mutations in associated with resistance in other fungi (F129L, G137R, and G143A).

Metabolic Alterations in Mothers Living with HIV and Their HIV-Exposed, Uninfected Infants.

HIV-exposed, uninfected (HEU) children present with suboptimal growth and a greater susceptibility to infection in early life when compared to HIV-unexposed, uninfected (HUU) children. The reasons for these findings are poorly understood. We used a metabolomics approach to investigate the metabolic differences between pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH) and their HEU infants compared to the uninfected and unexposed controls.

Influence of plant species, mycorrhizal inoculant, and soil phosphorus level on arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in onion and carrot roots.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ancient and ecologically important symbionts that colonize plant roots. These symbionts assist in the uptake of water and nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from the soil. This important role has led to the development of AMF inoculants for use as biofertilizers in agriculture.

Advances in Stimuli-responsive Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Applications: A Review Towards Improving Structural Design for 3D Printing.

The physicochemical properties of polymeric hydrogels render them attractive for the development of 3D printed prototypes for tissue engineering in regenerative medicine. Significant effort has been made to design hydrogels with desirable attributes that facilitate 3D printability. In addition, there is significant interest in exploring stimuli-responsive hydrogels to support automated 3D printing into more structurally organised prototypes such as customizable bio-scaffolds for regenerative medicine applications.

A 3D-Printed Biomaterial Scaffold Reinforced with Inorganic Fillers for Bone Tissue Engineering: In Vitro Assessment and In Vivo Animal Studies.

This research aimed to substantiate the potential practicality of utilizing a matrix-like platform, a novel 3D-printed biomaterial scaffold, to enhance and guide host cells' growth for bone tissue regeneration. The 3D biomaterial scaffold was successfully printed using a 3D Bioplotter (EnvisionTEC, GmBH) and characterized. Osteoblast-like MG63 cells were utilized to culture the novel printed scaffold over a period of 1, 3, and 7 days.

Tannic acid-loaded chitosan-RGD-alginate scaffolds for wound healing and skin regeneration.

Hydrogels have drawn much attention in the field of tissue regeneration and wound healing owing to the application of biocompatible peptides to tailor structural features necessitating optimal tissue remodeling performance. In the current study, polymers and peptide were explored to develop scaffolds for wound healing and skin tissue regeneration. Alginate (Alg), chitosan (CS), and arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) were used to fabricate composite scaffolds crosslinked with tannic acid (TA), which also served as a bioactive.

Immune and Metabolic Alterations in Children with Perinatal HIV Exposure.

With the global rollout of mother-to-child prevention programs for women living with HIV, vertical transmission has been all but eliminated in many countries. However, the number of children who are exposed in utero to HIV and antiretroviral therapy (ART) is ever-increasing. These children who are HIV-exposed-but-uninfected (CHEU) are now well recognized as having persistent health disparities compared to children who are HIV-unexposed-and-uninfected (CHUU).

Advances in Polysaccharide- and Synthetic Polymer-Based Vitreous Substitutes.

The vitreous humour is a gel-like structure that composes the majority of each eye. It functions to provide passage of light, be a viscoelastic dampener, and hold the retina in place. Vitreous liquefaction causes retinal detachment and retinal tears requiring pars plana vitrectomy for vitreous substitution.

Real-Time PCR Assays for Races of the Spinach Fusarium Wilt Pathogen, f. sp. .

Fusarium wilt of spinach, caused by f. sp. , is a significant limitation for producers of vegetative spinach and spinach seed crops during warm temperatures and/or on acid soils.

A nano-enabled biotinylated anti-LDL theranostic system to modulate systemic LDL cholesterol.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain one of the leading causes of death with an estimated 17.9 million lives lost each year. Circulating high levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), are susceptible to various modifications such as oxidation and glycosylation (diabetics).

In Situ Forming Chitosan-Alginate Interpolymer Complex Bioplatform for Wound Healing and Regeneration.

Cytocompatibility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability are amongst the most desirable qualities of wound dressings and can be tuned during the bioplatform fabrication steps to enhance wound healing capabilities. A three-stepped approach (partial-crosslinking, freeze-drying, and pulverisation) was employed in fabricating a particulate, partially crosslinked (PC), and transferulic acid (TFA)-loaded chitosan-alginate (CS-Alg) interpolymer complex (IPC) with enhanced wound healing capabilities. The PC TFA-CS-Alg IPC bioplatform displayed fluid uptake of 3102% in 24 h and a stepwise degradation up to 53.

Linoleic Acid-Based Transferosomes for Topical Ocular Delivery of Cyclosporine A.

Delivering high-molecular-weight hydrophobic peptides, such as cyclosporine A, across the corneal epithelium remains a challenge that is complicated by other physio-anatomical ocular structures that limit the ocular bioavailability of such peptides. Transferosomes have previously been used to improve transdermal permeability, and have the potential for improving the ocular corneal permeability of applicable drugs. In this study, transferosomes for the potential ocular delivery of cyclosporine A were investigated.

Genome-wide association study and genomic prediction of white rust resistance in USDA GRIN spinach germplasm.

White rust, caused by , is one of the major yield-limiting diseases of spinach () in some major commercial production areas, particularly in southern Texas in the United States. The use of host resistance is the most economical and environment-friendly approach to managing white rust in spinach production. The objectives of this study were to conduct a genome-wide associating study (GWAS), to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with white rust resistance in spinach, and to perform genomic prediction (GP) to estimate the prediction accuracy (PA).

Shedding Light on Races of the Spinach Fusarium Wilt Pathogen, f. sp. .

Two pathogenicity groups of f. sp. , the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of spinach (), were described recently based on virulence of isolates on proprietary spinach inbreds.

Draft Genome Sequence of sp. strain YC2, an Isolate from the South African Medicinal Plant Pelargonium sidoides.

A rhizosphere-associated species was isolated from Pelargonium sidoides DC () tubers, whose commercial extracts are used in respiratory tract infection treatment. Genomic data for isolates associated with is lacking. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of sp.

Investigation of the 3D Printability of Covalently Cross-Linked Polypeptide-Based Hydrogels.

The 3D printability of poly(l-lysine--l-alanine) and four-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (P(KA)/4-PEG) hydrogels as 3D biomaterial inks was investigated using two approaches to develop P(KA)/4-PEG into 3D biomaterial inks. Only the "composite microgel" inks were 3D printable. In this approach, P(KA)/4-PEG hydrogels were processed into microparticles and incorporated into a polymer solution to produce a composite microgel paste.