Bismuth-based drugs sensitize Pseudomonas aeruginosa to multiple antibiotics by disrupting iron homeostasis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are difficult to treat due to rapid development of antibiotic drug resistance. The synergistic combination of already-in-use drugs is an alternative to developing new antibiotics to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Here we demonstrate that bismuth-based drugs (bismuth subsalicylate, colloidal bismuth subcitrate) in combination with different classes of antibiotics (tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, rifamycins and so on) can eliminate multidrug-resistant P.

LDL-Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of a Dietary Supplement Containing Onion and Garlic Extract Used in Healthy Volunteers.

Hypercholesterolemia plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, and its prevention seems to be a crucial healthcare strategy to ameliorate these conditions. Subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia are frequently advised against using cholesterol-lowering drugs due to potential side effects, with an emphasis instead on prioritizing dietary adjustments and lifestyle modifications as the primary strategy. In this context, the use of dietary supplements based on medicinal plants may be recommended as a complementary approach to managing elevated cholesterol levels.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome risk among women attending a fertility clinic.

Previous studies reported that exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), largely in higher exposed populations, were associated with elevated risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, studies evaluating PCOS risk in populations with lower background exposures to PFAS are limited. This study aimed to examine the associations between serum PFAS concentrations and PCOS risk among women attending a U.

Blood trihalomethane and urinary haloacetic acid concentrations in relation to hypertension: An observational study among 1162 healthy men.

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) have demonstrated cardiovascular and reproductive toxicity. However, the associations and mechanisms of DBP exposure in relation to hypertension among healthy young men, which are critical for gaining new insights into the prevention and treatment of male subfertility, remain unclear. In 2017-2018, we recruited 1162 healthy Chinese men.

Bariatric-Metabolic Surgery is the Most Effective Intervention in Reducing Food Addiction Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

There are different treatments for food addiction (FA) symptomatology, but a comprehensive review with a meta-analysis to determine the most effective intervention is lacking. The aim of this review is to investigate the efficacy of pharmacological, behavioral, and bariatric-metabolic surgical interventions in reducing FA symptomatology. Meta-analyses including 15 studies in adults showed a significantly positive effect (std mean difference in FA symptoms before vs after intervention 0.

Novel Genetic Variants Explaining Severe Adverse Drug Events after Clinical Implementation of Genotype-Guided Therapy with Fluoropyrimidines: An Observational Study.

Fluoropyrimidines (FPs) are commonly prescribed in many cancer streams. The EMA and FDA-approved drug labels for FPs recommend genotyping the *2A (rs3918290), *13 (rs55886062), *HapB3 (rs56038477), alleles, and rs67376798 before treatment starts. We implemented the genotyping in our daily clinical routine, but we still found patients showing severe adverse drug events (ADEs) to FPs.

Design and evaluation of a bilayered dermal/hypodermal 3D model using a biomimetic hydrogel formulation.

Due to the limitations of the current skin wound treatments, it is highly valuable to have a wound healing formulation that mimics the extracellular matrix (ECM) and mechanical properties of natural skin tissue. Here, a novel biomimetic hydrogel formulation has been developed based on a mixture of Agarose-Collagen Type I (AC) combined with skin ECM-related components: Dermatan sulfate (DS), Hyaluronic acid (HA), and Elastin (EL) for its application in skin tissue engineering (TE). Different formulations were designed by combining AC hydrogels with DS, HA, and EL.

Do promotions of healthier or more sustainable foods increase sales? Findings from three natural experiments in UK supermarkets.

Background: Dietary changes are necessary to improve population health and meet environmental sustainability targets. Here we analyse the impact of promotional activities implemented in UK supermarkets on purchases of healthier and more sustainable foods.

Methods: Three natural experiments examined the impact of promotional activities on sales of a) no-added-sugar (NAS) plant-based milk (in 199 stores), b) products promoted during 'Veganuary' (in 96 stores), and c) seasonal fruit (in 100 non-randomised intervention and 100 matched control stores).

Urinary haloacetic acid concentrations in relation to sex and thyroid hormones among reproductive-aged men.

Sex and thyroid hormones are critical for male reproductive health. However, the associations between haloacetic acid (HAA) exposure - a known endocrine disruptor - and sex and thyroid hormones in humans remains unclear. We thus recruited 502 male participants seeking fertility evaluation from a reproductive center.

Differing contributions of the gut microbiota to the blood pressure lowering effects induced by first-line antihypertensive drugs.

Background And Purpose: This study analyses whether first-line antihypertensive drugs ameliorate the dysbiosis state in hypertension, and to test if this modification contributes to their blood pressure (BP) lowering properties in a genetic model of neurogenic hypertension.

Experimental Approach: Twenty-week-old male Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were untreated or treated with captopril, amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide. A faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment was also performed by gavage of faecal content from donor SHR-treated groups to SHR recipients for 3 weeks.

Human T-cell activation with antigens loaded in maltodextrin nanoparticles.

Toxoplasmosis is the most prevalent parasitic zoonosis worldwide, causing ocular and neurological diseases. No vaccine has been approved for human use. We evaluated the response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to a novel construct of total antigen in maltodextrin nanoparticles (NP/TE) in individuals with varying infectious statuses (uninfected, chronic asymptomatic, or ocular toxoplasmosis).

Early heart and skeletal muscle mitochondrial response to a moderate hypobaric hypoxia environment.

In eukaryotic cells, aerobic energy is produced by mitochondria through oxygen uptake. However, little is known about the early mitochondrial responses to moderate hypobaric hypoxia (MHH) in highly metabolic active tissues. Here, we describe the mitochondrial responses to acute MHH in the heart and skeletal muscle.

Predictors of Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Concentrations among U.S. Couples Attending a Fertility Clinic.

Previous studies have examined the predictors of PFAS concentrations among pregnant women and children. However, no study has explored the predictors of preconception PFAS concentrations among couples in the United States. This study included 572 females and 279 males (249 couples) who attended a U.

Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposure and thyroid function biomarkers among females attending a fertility clinic.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure was associated with changes in thyroid function in pregnant mothers and the general population. Limited such evidence exists in other susceptible populations such as females with fertility problems. This cross-sectional study included 287 females seeking medically assisted reproduction at a fertility clinic in Massachusetts, United States, between 2005 and 2019.

Maternal and Paternal Preconception Serum Concentrations of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Relation to Birth Outcomes.

Prenatal per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure is associated with adverse birth outcomes. There is an absence of evidence on the relationship between maternal and paternal preconception PFAS exposure and birth outcomes. This study included 312 mothers and 145 fathers with a singleton live birth from a preconception cohort of subfertile couples seeking fertility treatment at a U.

A Behaviorally Informed Mobile App to Improve the Nutritional Quality of Grocery Shopping (SwapSHOP): Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Interventions targeting the nutritional quality of grocery shopping have the potential to help improve diet and health outcomes.

Objective: This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of receiving advice on healthier food purchases through SwapSHOP, a behaviorally informed smartphone app that allows users to scan barcodes of grocery products from the United Kingdom, providing nutritional information and personalized swap suggestions to encourage healthier purchases.

Methods: We randomized adult volunteers in a 6-arm parallel-group controlled feasibility trial.

Metabolic Modulators in Cardiovascular Complications of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial disorder with contributions from hormones, genetics, and the environment, predominantly affecting young women. Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of mortality in SLE, and hypertension is more prevalent among SLE patients. The dysregulation of both innate and adaptive immune cells in SLE, along with their infiltration into kidney and vascular tissues, is a pivotal factor contributing to the cardiovascular complications associated with SLE.

The Antioxidant Properties of Extract Contribute to Its Intestinal Antiinflammatory Effects in Experimental Colitis in Rats.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammation with unpredictable symptom fluctuations. While there is no effective cure for IBD, various treatments aim to manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for affected individuals. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the potential benefits of certain natural plants and herbs in the management of IBD.

Exposure to Trihalomethanes and Bone Mineral Density in US Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study (NHANES).

Animal and human studies have suggested that trihalomethane (THM) has toxicity to bone. In this study, we included adolescents from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had quantified blood and tap water THM concentrations [chloroform (TCM), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and bromoform (TBM)] and lumbar spine or total body less head (TBLH) bone mineral density (BMD). A 2.

Protective effect of microbiota-derived short chain fatty acids on vascular dysfunction in mice with systemic lupus erythematosus induced by toll like receptor 7 activation.

Our objective was to investigate whether short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), specifically acetate and butyrate, could prevent vascular dysfunction and elevated blood pressure (BP) in mice with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) induced by TLR7 activation using imiquimod (IMQ). Treatment with both SCFAs and dietary fibers rich in resistant starch (RS) or inulin-type fructans (ITF) effectively prevented the development of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Additionally, these treatments improved aortic relaxation induced by acetylcholine and mitigated vascular oxidative stress.

Blood Trihalomethane Concentrations and Osteoarthritis among U.S. Population Aged over 50 Years.

Exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) has been associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, which are implicated in osteoarthritis. However, the association of THM exposure with osteoarthritis is unknown. Therefore, we pooled seven independent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles (1999-2012) among participants aged over 50 years who had quantified blood concentrations of chloroform (TCM), bromodichloromethane (BDCM), dibromochloromethane (DBCM), and bromoform (TBM).