The Antimicrobial Effect of Thymol and Carvacrol in Combination with Organic Acids Against Foodborne Pathogens in Chicken and Beef Meat Fillets.

Bioactive compounds and organic acids are applied to a wide range of foods against different types of foodborne pathogens. In the present study, carvacrol and thymol (1000 mg/L) were applied in wine-based marinades, alone or in combination with them and in combination with tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and acetic acid (in concentration 0.1% /), in chicken and beef fillets and their antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, and pH were estimated during refrigerated storage.

In Vitro Determination of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Antiviral Properties of Greek Plant Extracts.

The medicinal potential of plant extracts, especially their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral and cytotoxic properties, has gained significant attention in recent years. This study examined the in vitro bioactivities of several selected Greek medicinal plants, like L., L.

The Role and the Regulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Narrative Review.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis involves multiple factors, including visceral hypersensitivity and immune activation. NLRP3 inflammasome is part of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family, a crucial component of the innate immune system.

Skin Microbiota: Mediator of Interactions Between Metabolic Disorders and Cutaneous Health and Disease.

Metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and metabolic syndrome, are systemic conditions that profoundly impact the skin microbiota, a dynamic community of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites essential for cutaneous health. Dysbiosis caused by metabolic dysfunction contributes to skin barrier disruption, immune dysregulation, and increased susceptibility to inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and acne. For instance, hyperglycemia in T2DM leads to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which bind to the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) on keratinocytes and immune cells, promoting oxidative stress and inflammation while facilitating Staphylococcus aureus colonization in atopic dermatitis.

Altitude's Impact on the Rhizosphere Prokaryotic Communities of the Cretan Endemic Plant (L.) A.DC.

The present study examined the effect of the three different altitudes on the enzymatic activity and the prokaryotic communities of the rhizosphere of (L.) A.DC.

Bacterial Diversity Associated with Terrestrial and Aquatic Snails.

The introduction of the holobiont concept has triggered scientific interest in depicting the structural and functional diversity of animal microbial symbionts, which has resulted in an unprecedented wealth of such cross-domain biological associations. The steadfast technological progress in nucleic acid-based approaches would cause one to expect that scientific works on the microbial symbionts of animals would be balanced at least for the farmed animals of human interest. For some animals, such as ruminants and a few farmed fish species of financial significance, the scientific wealth of the microbial worlds they host is immense and ever growing.

Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Epigenetic Dysregulation in Spermatogenesis: Implications for Male Infertility and Offspring Health.

Male reproductive health is governed by an intricate interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms-encompassing DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity-are crucial both for spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. However, oxidative stress, driven by excessive reactive oxygen species, disrupts these processes, leading to impaired sperm function and male infertility.

The Immunoexpression and Prognostic Significance of Stem Cell Markers in Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Salivary gland carcinomas encompass a broad group of malignant lesions characterized by varied prognoses. Stem cells have been associated with the potential for self-renewal and differentiation to various subpopulations, resulting in histopathological variability and diverse biological behavior, features that characterize salivary gland carcinomas. This study aims to provide a thorough systematic review of immunohistochemical studies regarding the expression and prognostic significance of stem cell markers between different malignant salivary gland tumors (MSGTs).

Development of a Polygenic Risk Score for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Prediction in UK Biobank.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Although the invasive liver biopsy remains the golden standard for MASLD diagnosis, Magnetic Resonance Imaging-derived Proton Density Fat Fraction (MRI-PDFF) is an accurate, non-invasive method for the assessment of treatment response. This study aimed at developing a Polygenic Risk Score (PRS) to improve MRI-PDFF prediction using UK Biobank data to assess an individual's genetic liability to MASLD.

Genome-Wide Patterns of Homozygosity and Heterozygosity and Candidate Genes in Greek Insular and Mainland Native Goats.

Background: Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) and heterozygosity (ROHets) serve for the identification of genomic regions as candidates of selection, local adaptation, and population history.

Methods: The present study aimed to comprehensively explore the ROH and ROHet patterns and hotspots in Greek native dairy goats, Eghoria and Skopelos, genotyped with the Illumina Goat SNP50 BeadChip. SNP and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to further characterize hotspots and the candidate genes located within these genomic regions.

Sleep Genetics and Cognitive Changes over Time: The Moderating Effect of Age and the Role of Brain.

Background: Sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive performance and cognitive changes in aging. In the current study, we investigated the role of sleep duration genetics in cognitive changes over time and the moderating effect of age.

Methods: Participants were drawn from the Reference Abilities Neural Network and the Cognitive Reserve studies of Columbia University.

Structure-Based Approaches for Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning.

Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) prediction plays a pivotal role in understanding cellular processes and uncovering molecular mechanisms underlying health and disease. Structure-based PPI prediction has emerged as a robust alternative to sequence-based methods, offering greater biological accuracy by integrating three-dimensional spatial and biochemical features. This work summarizes the recent advances in computational approaches leveraging protein structure information for PPI prediction, focusing on machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques.

Proteostasis Decline and Redox Imbalance in Age-Related Diseases: The Therapeutic Potential of NRF2.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is a master regulator of cellular homeostasis, overseeing the expression of a wide array of genes involved in cytoprotective processes such as antioxidant and proteostasis control, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and the metabolism of lipids and glucose. The accumulation of misfolded proteins triggers the release, stabilization, and nuclear translocation of NRF2, which in turn enhances the expression of critical components of both the proteasomal and lysosomal degradation pathways. This process facilitates the clearance of toxic protein aggregates, thereby actively maintaining cellular proteostasis.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Cardio-Renoprotective Pharmacological Interventions in Chronic Kidney Disease: An Umbrella Review of Network Meta-Analyses and a Multicriteria Decision Analysis.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1a), and non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (ns-MRA) are promising treatments for chronic kidney disease. This umbrella review of network meta-analyses evaluated their effects on cardiovascular outcomes, kidney disease progression, and adverse events, using the TOPSIS method to identify the optimal intervention based on P-scores. A total of 19 network meta-analyses and 44 randomized controlled trials involving 86,150 chronic kidney disease patients were included.

Co-Localized in Amyloid Plaques Cathepsin B as a Source of Peptide Analogs Potential Drug Candidates for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by extracellular amyloid plaques, predominantly consisting of amyloid- (A) peptides. The oligomeric form of A is acknowledged as the most neurotoxic, propelling the pathological progression of AD. Interestingly, besides A, other proteins are co-localized within amyloid plaques.

Thromboelastometry-Based Profiling of Haemostatic Alterations in Neonatal Sepsis by Causative Pathogens.

: Neonatal sepsis is a serious condition with high mortality, especially in premature and low-birth-weight neonates. This study aims to examine whether the haemostatic profile of neonates with sepsis defers depending on the type of bacteria (Gram-positive or Gram-negative), by using the method of Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM). : This single-centre prospective cohort study was conducted on 128 neonates with sepsis, including 95 cases caused by Gram-negative pathogens and 33 cases caused by Gram-positive bacteria.

High Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Cloacal Enterococci and from Free-Living Dalmatian and Great White Pelicans with Detection of Cefotaximase CTX-M-15 Producing ST69.

In 2022, an outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) killed 60% of the largest breeding colony of Dalmatian pelicans (DPs) in the world at Mikri Prespa Lake (Greece), prompting a multidisciplinary study on HPAI and other pathogens. This study determines the antimicrobial resistance rates of cloacal enterococci and in DPs. Fifty-two blood and cloacal swab samples were collected from 31 nestlings (20 DP/11 great white pelicans) hatched after the H5N1 outbreak at the Prespa colony and 21 subadult/adult DPs captured at a spring migration stopover.

Towards New Scaffolds for Antimicrobial Activity-In Silico/In Vitro Workflow Introducing New Lead Compounds.

: The rapid evolution of bacterial resistance and the high cost of drug development have attributed greatly to the dearth in drug design. Computational approaches and natural product exploitation offer potential solutions to accelerate drug discovery. : In this research article, we aimed to identify novel antibacterial hits.

Unraveling the Anti-Cancer Mechanisms of Antibiotics: Current Insights, Controversies, and Future Perspectives.

Cancer persists as a significant global health challenge, claiming millions of lives annually despite remarkable strides in therapeutic innovation. Challenges such as drug resistance, toxicity, and suboptimal efficacy underscore the need for novel treatment paradigms. In this context, the repurposing of antibiotics as anti-cancer agents has emerged as an attractive prospect for investigation.

Neonatal Sepsis: A Comprehensive Review.

Neonatal sepsis remains a significant cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally. At present, no clear consensus definition for sepsis in neonates exists, even though a positive blood culture is considered as the gold standard for definitive diagnosis. The accurate and timely diagnosis of sepsis in neonates presents significant difficulties, since "culture negative" or "suspected" sepsis varies widely worldwide.

Impact of Low Inclusion Rate of Olive Cake in Dairy Cow Rations on Uterine Health and Fertility Indices During Early Lactation.

Olive cake was incorporated at a low inclusion rate (3.7%) into the rations of dairy cows through partial substitution of maize, and its effects on milk production, general health, and fertility traits were investigated. Multiparous purebred Holstein dairy cows (n = 148) were divided into two groups: a treated group (n = 86) and a control group (n = 62).

Differences in Transdiaphragmatic Pressure of Dogs Suffering from Cervical or Thoracolumbar Myelopathy Anaesthetised with Isoflurane.

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate differences in transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) in dogs suffering from cervical myelopathy (CM) and thoracolumbar myelopathy (TLM) anaesthetised with isoflurane (ISO).

Methods: This prospective cohort study included ASA II-status dogs diagnosed with either CM or TLM, anaesthetised for diagnostic or surgical purposes between September 2021 and July 2023. Patients followed the same anaesthetic protocol, and maximum Pdi was recorded at 10 (Pdimax10), 20 (Pdimax20), and 30 (Pdimax30) minutes using balloon catheters placed in the stomach (Pgast) and in the mid-third of the oesophagus (Poes).

Exploring Chemoprevention in Colorectal Cancer for Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Aspects.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) have been associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and chronic colonic inflammation seems to have a critical role in the pathogenesis of CRC in patients suffering from IBD. In respect to that, surveillance colonoscopy at regular intervals is recommended in patients with colitis. This review aims to explore the chemopreventive potential of a range of agents, including mesalazine, thiopurines, anti-TNF agents, statins, ursodeoxycholic acid, aspirin, folic acid, and nutraceuticals.

The Role of Metastasectomies and Immunotherapy in the Management of Melanoma Lung Metastases: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Introduction: Patients with metastatic melanoma to the lung typically have poor outcomes. Although a pulmonary metastasectomy for selected patients has been shown to improve survival, the role of surgical resection following the introduction of immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine predictors of survival for patients with melanoma metastatic to the lung in the era of immunotherapy.

Gene Polymorphisms and Cancer Risk in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

gene polymorphisms (677C>T and 1298A>C) correlate with various types of cancer across all age groups; however, a small number of studies have included solely children and adolescents. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to present and synthesize all the available evidence on the association between gene polymorphisms and the incidence of all types of cancer in children and adolescences. After a systematic search of all of the available data, original case-control studies involving children or adolescents with a confirmed diagnosis of any type of cancer and a molecular genetic test of gene polymorphisms were included.