International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 45 countries for 2012-2017: Device-associated module.

Background: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2012 to December 2017 in 523 intensive care units (ICUs) in 45 countries from Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific.

Methods: During the 6-year study period, prospective data from 532,483 ICU patients hospitalized in 242 hospitals, for an aggregate of 2,197,304 patient days, were collected through the INICC Surveillance Online System (ISOS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI) were applied.

Early Detection, Diagnosis and Intervention Services for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the European Union (ASDEU): Family and Professional Perspectives.

Early services for ASD need to canvas the opinions of both parents and professionals. These opinions are seldom compared in the same research study. This study aims to ascertain the views of families and professionals on early detection, diagnosis and intervention services for young children with ASD.

Genotoxic, cytotoxic, and cytopathological effects in rats exposed for 18 months to a mixture of 13 chemicals in doses below NOAEL levels.

The present study investigates the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of long term exposure to low doses of a mixture consisting of methomyl, triadimefon, dimethoate, glyphosate, carbaryl, methyl parathion, aspartame, sodium benzoate, EDTA, ethylparaben, buthylparaben, bisphenol A and acacia gum in rats. Four groups of ten Sprangue Dawley rats (5 males and 5 females per group) were exposed for 18 months to the mixture in doses of 0xNOAEL, 0.0025xNOAEL, 0.

Biological and molecular modifications induced by cadmium and arsenic during breast and prostate cancer development.

Breast and prostate cancer are two of the most common malignancies worldwide. Both cancers can develop into hormone -dependent or -independent subtypes and are associated to environmental exposure in the context of an inherited predisposition. As and Cd have been linked to the onset of both cancers, with the exception of As, which lacks a definitive association with breast carcinogenesis.

Critical assessment and integration of separate lines of evidence for risk assessment of chemical mixtures.

Humans are exposed to multiple chemicals on a daily basis instead of to just a single chemical, yet the majority of existing toxicity data comes from single-chemical exposure. Multiple factors must be considered such as the route, concentration, duration, and the timing of exposure when determining toxicity to the organism. The need for adequate model systems (in vivo, in vitro, in silico and mathematical) is paramount for better understanding of chemical mixture toxicity.

A Mechanistic and Pathophysiological Approach for Stroke Associated with Drugs of Abuse.

Drugs of abuse are associated with stroke, especially in young individuals. The major classes of drugs linked to stroke are cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, morphine, cannabis, and new synthetic cannabinoids, along with androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs). Both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke have been reported due to drug abuse.

Biophysical Psychiatry-How Computational Neuroscience Can Help to Understand the Complex Mechanisms of Mental Disorders.

The brain is the most complex of human organs, and the pathophysiology underlying abnormal brain function in psychiatric disorders is largely unknown. Despite the rapid development of diagnostic tools and treatments in most areas of medicine, our understanding of mental disorders and their treatment has made limited progress during the last decades. While recent advances in genetics and neuroscience have a large potential, the complexity and multidimensionality of the brain processes hinder the discovery of disease mechanisms that would link genetic findings to clinical symptoms and behavior.

miR-146a and miR-181a are involved in the progression of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease.

The identification of mechanisms associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) development in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) would be of great usefulness to clarify AD pathogenesis and to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies. In this study, blood levels of the candidate microRNAs (small noncoding RNAs that play a pivotal role in gene expression) miR-146a, miR-181a, miR-181b, miR-24-3p, miR-186a, miR-101, miR-339, miR-590, and miR-22 have been investigated for association to AD conversion within 2 years in a group of 45 patients with MCI. Baseline miR-146a (p = 0.

Peripheral immune cell markers in children with recurrent respiratory infections in the absence of primary immunodeficiency.

The immune system of a child has a degree of immaturity that is maintained until 6-7 years of age. Immaturity may be due to age-related functional disorders in the immune response. A healthy child can contract a series of infections which contribute to the maturation of the immune system during the pre-pubertal period.

"Associated" or "Secondary" IgA nephropathy? An outcome analysis.

Background: Whether differences in outcome between primary (pIgAN) and secondary IgA nephropathy (sIgAN) exist is uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational study that included all histologically diagnosed IgAN patients between 2010-2017 (N = 306), 248 with pIgAN and 58 with sIgAN. To obtain samples with similar risk of progression, sIgAN patients were grouped as liver disease and autoimmune/viral disease and propensity score matched to corresponding pIgAN samples.

Activators and Inhibitors of NRF2: A Review of Their Potential for Clinical Development.

The transcription factor NRF2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) triggers the first line of homeostatic responses against a plethora of environmental or endogenous deviations in redox metabolism, proteostasis, inflammation, etc. Therefore, pharmacological activation of NRF2 is a promising therapeutic approach for several chronic diseases that are underlined by oxidative stress and inflammation, such as neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases. A particular case is cancer, where NRF2 confers a survival advantage to constituted tumors, and therefore, NRF2 inhibition is desired.

Capsaicin: Physicochemical properties, cutaneous reactions and potential applications in painful and inflammatory conditions.

Capsaicin is a natural protoalkaloid recognized as the main pungent component in hot peppers ( L.). The capsaicin receptor is highly expressed in the unmyelinated type C nerve fibers originating from small diameter sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia and cranial nerve ganglia correspondents.

CD 36: Focus on Epigenetic and Post-Transcriptional Regulation.

CD36 is a transmembrane protein involved in fatty acid translocation, scavenging for oxidized fatty acids acting as a receptor for adhesion molecules. It is expressed on macrophages, as well as other types of cells, such as endothelial and adipose cells. CD36 participates in muscle lipid uptake, adipose energy storage, and gut fat absorption.

Laser-driven radiation: Biomarkers for molecular imaging of high dose-rate effects.

Recently developed short-pulsed laser sources garner high dose-rate beams such as energetic ions and electrons, x rays, and gamma rays. The biological effects of laser-generated ion beams observed in recent studies are different from those triggered by radiation generated using classical accelerators or sources, and this difference can be used to develop new strategies for cancer radiotherapy. High-power lasers can now deliver particles in doses of up to several Gy within nanoseconds.

Mucosal gene expression changes induced by anti-TNF treatment in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

In the last two decades anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been widely used to induce and maintain clinical and endoscopical remission, completely changing management of the disease. In this study, we aimed to identify gene expression changes in inflamed mucosa from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients treated with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) (N = 25) or anti-TNF agents (N = 12) compared to drug-free IBD patients (N = 12) and non-IBD control subjects (N = 18). The mucosal expression of 84 genes previously associated with IBD was evaluated by qPCR.

In vivo Diagnosis of Primary Cutaneous Amyloidosis -the Role of Reflectance Confocal Microscopy.

Primary cutaneous amyloidosis (PCA) is a form of localized amyloidosis. It is characterized by the deposition of a fibrillar material in the superficial dermis, without affecting other systems or organs. The diagnosis can be made clinically, but usually a skin biopsy is performed in order to exclude other skin diseases with similar appearance.

Capsaicin: Effects on the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent cancers, and to date, there have been very few drugs available that can improve survival, the most well-known being sorafenib. The pathogenesis of HCC is complex, involving multiple processes including abnormal cell and tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, genomic instability, cellular proliferation, and signaling pathway alterations. Capsaicin is a substance that holds increasingly high interest and is studied as a therapeutic option in a wide array of diseases.

Inflammation and Metabolism in Cancer Cell-Mitochondria Key Player.

Cancer metabolism is an essential aspect of tumorigenesis, as cancer cells have increased energy requirements in comparison to normal cells. Thus, an enhanced metabolism is needed in order to accommodate tumor cells' accelerated biological functions, including increased proliferation, vigorous migration during metastasis, and adaptation to different tissues from the primary invasion site. In this context, the assessment of tumor cell metabolic pathways generates crucial data pertaining to the mechanisms through which tumor cells survive and grow in a milieu of host defense mechanisms.

The ultrastructural anatomy of the nuclear envelope in the masseter muscle indicates its role in the metabolism of the intracellular Ca.

Specific ultrastructural anatomy of masticatory muscles is commonly referred to a general pattern assigned to striated muscles. Junctional feet consisting of calcium channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (i.e.

An Opinion Paper on Aerogels for Biomedical and Environmental Applications.

Aerogels are a special class of nanostructured materials with very high porosity and tunable physicochemical properties. Although a few types of aerogels have already reached the market in construction materials, textiles and aerospace engineering, the full potential of aerogels is still to be assessed for other technology sectors. Based on current efforts to address the material supply chain by a circular economy approach and longevity as well as quality of life with biotechnological methods, environmental and life science applications are two emerging market opportunities where the use of aerogels needs to be further explored and evaluated in a multidisciplinary approach.

Proteoglycans and Immunobiology of Cancer-Therapeutic Implications.

Disparity during the resolution of inflammation is closely related with the initiation and progression of the tumorigenesis. The transformed cells, through continuously evolving interactions, participate in various exchanges with the surrounding microenvironment consisting of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, cytokines embedded in the ECM, as well as the stromal cells. Proteoglycans (PGs), complex molecules consisting of a protein core into which one or more glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains are covalently tethered, are important regulators of the cell/matrix interface and, consecutively, biological functions.

Photochemical /Photocytotoxicity Studies of New Tetrapyrrolic Structures as Potential Candidates for Cancer Theranostics.

Background: Detailed photochemical and photocytotoxicity studies of two new porphyrins: 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (P2.1) and 5-(4-hydroxy-3- methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (P2.2) are reported, as potential candidates for theranostics.

Natural killer cell monitoring in cutaneous melanoma - new dynamic biomarker.

Melanoma is responsible for most skin cancer deaths in humans. The immune system plays a major role in regulating tumor cell proliferation by initiating defence responses against tumor aggression. Research on murine cancer models allow for a better understanding of immune response in malignancies, revealing specific changes of the immune status in the presence of tumors.

Acanthosis nigricans: To be or not to be afraid.

Acanthosis nigricans (AN), a skin disorder with high prevalence, represents a dermatological condition with esthetic implications, but otherwise mild symptoms. For any clinician, it is in fact the tip of the iceberg, leading him/her to investigate what lies beneath the surface, since AN points to a systemic problem or disease: metabolic disorder (most frequently), endocrine syndrome, medication side effects, malignancy, and genetic factors. Sometimes, it is the first observed sign of a malignancy or of diabetes mellitus, especially in patients with chronic metabolic disorder; therefore, it is not to be taken lightly.

Current and future applications of confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging in skin oncology.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is a modern imaging technique that enables the or characterization of skin lesions located in the epidermis and superficial dermis with a high quasi-microscopic resolution. Currently, it is considered to be the most promising imaging tool for the evaluation of superficial skin tumors. The mode adds the advantage of noninvasive, dynamic, in real-time assessment of the tumor associated vasculature and inflammation.