Genomic analysis of penicillin-binding proteins and recombination events in an emerging amoxicillin- and meropenem-resistant PMEN3 (Spain-3, ST156) variant in Taiwan and comparison with global descendants of this lineage.

From 2008 to 2020, the Taiwan National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System database demonstrated that the incidence of non-vaccine serotype 23A invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) approximately doubled. In this study, 276 non-repetitive pneumococcal clinical isolates were collected from two medical centers in Taiwan between 2019 and 2021. Of these 267 pneumococci, 60 were serotype 23A.

Romosozumab Enhances Vertebral Bone Structure in Women With Low Bone Density.

Romosozumab monoclonal antibody treatment works by binding sclerostin and causing rapid stimulation of bone formation while decreasing bone resorption. The location and local magnitude of vertebral bone accrual by romosozumab and how it compares to teriparatide remains to be investigated. Here we analyzed the data from a study collecting lumbar computed tomography (CT) spine scans at enrollment and 12 months post-treatment with romosozumab (210 mg sc monthly, n = 17), open-label daily teriparatide (20 μg sc, n = 19), or placebo (sc monthly, n = 20).

Bacterial factors required for Streptococcus pneumoniae coinfection with influenza A virus.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of post-influenza secondary bacterial infection, which results in excessive morbidity and mortality. Although 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) vaccination programs have decreased the incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia, PCV13 failed to prevent serotype 3 pneumococcal disease as effectively as other vaccine serotypes. We aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the co-pathogenesis of influenza virus and serotype 3 pneumococci.

Synthetic Naphthofuranquinone Derivatives Are Effective in Eliminating Drug-Resistant in Hyphal, Biofilm, and Intracellular Forms: An Application for Skin-Infection Treatment.

is the most common cause of fungal infection. The emergence of drug resistance leads to the need for novel antifungal agents. We aimed to design naphthofuranquinone analogs to treat drug-resistant for topical application on cutaneous candidiasis.

Numerical analysis of local non-equilibrium heat transfer in layered spherical tissue during magnetic hyperthermia.

A solid multi-layered concentric sphere with Gaussian space source is considered as the tissue model for magnetic hyperthermia treatment. The generalized dual-phase-lag model of bioheat transfer is used to describe the behavior of heat transport in tissue in the hyperthermia treatment process for accounting the local non-equilibrium effect. The effects of blood perfusion with the transient temperature are included in the tissue model.

The Droplet-Size Effect Of Squalene@cetylpyridinium Chloride Nanoemulsions On Antimicrobial Potency Against Planktonic And Biofilm MRSA.

Background: It is important to explore the interaction between antibacterial nanoparticles and microbes for understanding bactericidal activity and developing novel applications. It is possible that the nanoparticulate size can govern the antibacterial potency.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC)-decorated nanoemulsions against methicillin-resistant (MRSA).

Multidimensional Developments and Free-Play Movement Tracking in 30- to 36-Month-Old Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorder Who Were Full Term.

Background: Few studies have investigated multidimensional developments and free-play movement performance in toddlers with an early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Objective: This study compared cognitive, motor, and behavioral developments and free-play movement performance in toddlers with ASD who were full term (FT-ASD), toddlers who were full term and are typically developing (FT-TD), and toddlers who were born preterm and had a very low birth weight (VLBW-PT).

Design: This was a prospective cross-sectional study.

An inverse problem in estimating the laser irradiance and thermal damage in laser-irradiated biological tissue with a dual-phase-lag model.

The aim of this study is to solve an inverse heat conduction problem to estimate the unknown time-dependent laser irradiance and thermal damage in laser-irradiated biological tissue from the temperature measurements taken within the tissue. The dual-phase-lag model is considered in the formulation of heat conduction equation. The inverse algorithm used in the study is based on the conjugate gradient method and the discrepancy principle.

Effects of Romosozumab Compared With Teriparatide on Bone Density and Mass at the Spine and Hip in Postmenopausal Women With Low Bone Mass.

Romosozumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds sclerostin, has a dual effect on bone by increasing bone formation and reducing bone resorption, and thus has favorable effects in both aspects of bone volume regulation. In a phase 2 study, romosozumab increased areal BMD at the lumbar spine and total hip as measured by DXA compared with placebo, alendronate, and teriparatide in postmenopausal women with low bone mass. In additional analyses from this international, randomized study, we now describe the effect of romosozumab on lumbar spine and hip volumetric BMD (vBMD) and BMC at month 12 as assessed by QCT in the subset of participants receiving placebo, s.

Diastolic dysfunction measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in women with signs and symptoms of ischemia but no obstructive coronary artery disease.

Background: Women with chest pain and no obstructive coronary artery disease often have coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), diagnosed by invasive coronary reactivity testing (CRT). The relationship between CMD and diastolic function measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is not well described.

Methods: 41 women with suspected CMD underwent CRT and CMR.

A 24-month study evaluating the efficacy and safety of denosumab for the treatment of men with low bone mineral density: results from the ADAMO trial.

Context: One in 4 men in the United States aged >50 years will have an osteoporosis-related fracture. Fewer data are available on osteoporosis treatment in men than in women.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate denosumab therapy in men with low bone mineral density (BMD).

Estimation of surface heat flux and temperature distributions in a multilayer tissue based on the hyperbolic model of heat conduction.

In this study, an inverse algorithm based on the conjugate gradient method and the discrepancy principle is applied to solve the inverse hyperbolic heat conduction problem in estimating the unknown time-dependent surface heat flux in a skin tissue, which is stratified into epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers, from the temperature measurements taken within the medium. Subsequently, the temperature distributions in the tissue can be calculated as well. The concept of finite heat propagation velocity is applied to the modeling of the bioheat transfer problem.

A PDMS-based cylindrical hybrid lens for enhanced fluorescence detection in microfluidic systems.

Microfluidic systems based on fluorescence detection have been developed and applied for many biological and chemical applications. Because of the tiny amount of sample in the system; the induced fluorescence can be weak. Therefore, most microfluidic systems deploy multiple optical components or sophisticated equipment to enhance the efficiency of fluorescence detection.

Romosozumab in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density.

Background: Sclerostin is an osteocyte-derived inhibitor of osteoblast activity. The monoclonal antibody romosozumab binds to sclerostin and increases bone formation.

Methods: In a phase 2, multicenter, international, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, eight-group study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of romosozumab over a 12-month period in 419 postmenopausal women, 55 to 85 years of age, who had low bone mineral density (a T score of -2.

A randomized, placebo-controlled study of the effects of denosumab for the treatment of men with low bone mineral density.

Context: Men with low bone mineral density (BMD) were treated with denosumab.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effects of denosumab compared with placebo in men with low BMD after 1 yr of treatment.

Design, Subjects, And Intervention: This was a placebo-controlled, phase 3 study to investigate the efficacy and safety of denosumab 60 mg every 6 months vs.

Red versus white wine as a nutritional aromatase inhibitor in premenopausal women: a pilot study.

Background: An increased risk of breast cancer is associated with alcohol consumption; however, it is controversial whether red wine increases this risk. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) prevent the conversion of androgens to estrogen and occur naturally in grapes, grape juice, and red, but not white wine. We tested whether red wine is a nutritional AI in premenopausal women.

Relationship between bone mineral density changes with denosumab treatment and risk reduction for vertebral and nonvertebral fractures.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometric bone mineral density (DXA BMD) is a strong predictor of fracture risk in untreated patients. However, previous patient-level studies suggest that BMD changes explain little of the fracture risk reduction observed with osteoporosis treatment. We investigated the relevance of DXA BMD changes as a predictor for fracture risk reduction using data from the FREEDOM trial, which randomly assigned placebo or denosumab 60 mg every 6 months to 7808 women aged 60 to 90 years with a spine or total hip BMD T-score < -2.

A retrospective study to investigate racial and ethnic variations in the treatment of psoriasis with etanercept.

Objectives: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that occurs worldwide; however, few studies have examined this condition in non-Caucasian populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate racial/ethnic differences in demographics, psoriasis severity, efficacy, safety, and health-related quality of life in patients treated with etanercept using data from the Etanercept Assessment of Safety and Effectiveness (EASE) in Psoriasis trial.

Patients And Methods: This is an investigator-initiated evaluation of data from the EASE study.

Timing of hormone therapy, type of menopause, and coronary disease in women: data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship of the timing of hormone therapy (HT) use with angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in women with natural versus surgical menopause.

Methods: We studied 654 postmenopausal women undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of suspected ischemia. Timing and type of menopause, HT use, and quantitative angiographic evaluations were obtained at baseline, and the women were followed for a median of 6 years for CVD events.

Effects of denosumab on fracture and bone mineral density by level of kidney function.

The incidences of osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) both increase with increasing age, yet there is a paucity of data on treatments for osteoporosis in the setting of impaired kidney function. We examined the efficacy and safety of denosumab (DMAb) among subjects participating in the Fracture Reduction Evaluation of Denosumab in Osteoporosis Every 6 Months (FREEDOM) Study. We estimated creatinine clearance (eGFR) using Cockcroft-Gault and classified levels of kidney function using the modified National Kidney Foundation classification of CKD.

Effects of denosumab treatment and discontinuation on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women with low bone mass.

Context: Denosumab treatment for 24 months increased bone mineral density (BMD) and reduced bone turnover markers (BTM) in postmenopausal women.

Objective: The aim was to determine the effects of prior denosumab or placebo injections on BMD, BTM, and safety over 24 months after treatment discontinuation.

Design: We conducted an off-treatment extension of a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study.

A randomized controlled trial of low-dose hormone therapy on myocardial ischemia in postmenopausal women with no obstructive coronary artery disease: results from the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE).

Background: Compared with men, women have more evidence of myocardial ischemia with no obstructive coronary artery disease. Although low endogenous estrogen levels are associated with endothelial dysfunction, the role of low-dose hormone therapy has not been fully evaluated. We postulate that a 12-week duration of low-dose hormone replacement therapy is associated with myocardial ischemia and endothelial dysfunction.

The relationship of menopausal status and rapid menopausal transition with carotid intima-media thickness progression in women: a report from the Los Angeles Atherosclerosis Study.

Context: The onset of menopause has been associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors. However, little information is available about the rapidity of the menopausal transition and its relationship to the development of preclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objective: Our objective was to assess whether the rate of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression over time differs according to 1) menopausal status and 2) rapidity of the menopausal transition.

Flavanone and diphenylpropane glycosides and glycosidic acyl esters from Viscum articulatum.

Seven new compounds including three flavanone glycosides, visartisides A-C (1-3), three glycoside acyl esters, visartisides D-F (4-6), and one diphenylpropane glycoside, (4'-hydroxy-2',3',6',3''-tetramethoxy-1,3-diphenylpropane)-4''-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (7), along with four known flavanone glycosides (8-11) were isolated from the leaves and stems of Viscum articulatum. The structure elucidation of 1-7 was based on spectroscopic data analysis. Biological evaluation showed that 1, 2, and 10 exhibited antioxidant activity using a DPPH method and that compounds 1, 3, and 11 were active in a lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide assay.