Development and optimization of a new competitive ELISA using recombinant (rPSA D15 and rCag11) antigens for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection.

H. pylori (Hp) is highly causative agent of chronic gastritis, gastric cancer and human death worldwide. To address the challenge of H.

Prevalence and features of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, United States, 2016-2022.

The epidemiology of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in the United States is not well-described. To estimate national ABPA prevalence among patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis, characterize ABPA testing practices, and describe ABPA clinical features, treatment, and 6-month outcomes. We used the 2016-2022 Merative™ MarketScan® Commercial/Medicare and Multi-State Medicaid Databases to identify cohorts of patients with 1) asthma, 2) cystic fibrosis (CF), and 3) ABPA.

Ongoing measles outbreak in Romania: Clinical investigation and molecular epidemiology performed on whole genome sequences.

Aim: Romania is currently facing a prolonged measles outbreak. The aim of the study was to analyse the circulating human measles virus (HMV) strains by combining whole genome sequencing (WGS) with phylogenetic analysis, with a focus on the haemagglutinin gene.

Methods: We conducted an observational study in the first five months of 2024, in which 168 patients diagnosed with measles were randomly included.

Short-term impact of low air pressure on plants' functional traits.

Lower atmospheric pressure affects biologically relevant physical parameters such as gas partial pressure and concentration, leading to increased water vapor diffusivity and greater soil water content loss through evapotranspiration. This might impact plant photosynthetic activity, resource allocation, water relations, and growth. However, the direct impact of low air pressure on plant physiology is largely unknown.

Soil microbiome bacteria protect plants against filamentous fungal infections via intercellular contacts.

Bacterial-fungal interaction (BFI) has significant implications for the health of host plants. While the diffusible antibiotic metabolite-mediated competition in BFI has been extensively characterized, the impact of intercellular contact remains largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the intercellular contact is a prevalent mode of interaction between beneficial soil bacteria and pathogenic filamentous fungi.

Nasal microbiota predictors for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus colonization in critically ill children.

Background: Surveillance cultures to identify patients colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recommended at pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission but doesn't capture other methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus and is resource intensive. We determined the prevalence and identified nasal microbiome predictors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus colonization at the time of PICU admission.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study was performed in a 20-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between 2020-2021.

Altered microbiome and metabolome profiling in fearful companion dogs: An exploratory study.

Behavioral dysfunctions in dogs represent one of the main social concerns, since they can endanger animals and human-dog relationship. Together with the trigger stimulus (human, animal, place, scent, auditory stimuli, objects), dogs can experience stressful conditions, either in multiple settings or unique situations, more often turning into generalized fear. Such a dysfunctional behavior can be associated with genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, traumatic experiences, and medical conditions.

Design, Synthesis, and Unprecedented Interactions of Covalent Dipeptide-Based Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and Its Variants Displaying Potent Antiviral Activity.

The main protease (M) of SARS-CoV-2 is a key drug target for the development of antiviral therapeutics. Here, we designed and synthesized a series of small-molecule peptidomimetics with various cysteine-reactive electrophiles. Several compounds were identified as potent SARS-CoV-2 M inhibitors, including compounds (IC = 0.

A novel broad-spectrum bacteriophage cocktail against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Isolation, characterization, and therapeutic potential in a mastitis mouse model.

Bovine mastitis is a considerable challenge within the dairy industry, causing significant financial losses and threatening public health. The increased occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has provoked difficulties in managing bovine mastitis. Bacteriophage therapy presents a novel treatment strategy to combat MRSA infections, emerging as a possible substitute for antibiotics.

Towards ensuring reproducibility of outsourced data generation.

"Big data" generated from outsourced or centralized facilities often lacks methodological information. Here, we outline how and why researchers, service providers, and other parties should report on methodology and sample metadata to improve scientific reproducibility.

Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Health Care Utilization in Pediatric Appendicitis.

Background/objectives: Limited data exist on the role neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) play in health care utilization in pediatric patients with common, nonelective surgical conditions. We aimed to test the hypothesis that lower neighborhood-level SDOH are associated with increased health care utilization in pediatric acute uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients aged younger than 19 years, hospitalized through emergency departments, and diagnosed with AUA.

Exploring the efficacy of drought tolerant, IAA-producing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for sustainable agriculture.

The growing human population and abiotic stresses pose significant threats to food security, with PGPR favorable as biofertilizers for plant growth and stress relief. In one study, soil samples from both cultivated and uncultivated plants in various cities were used to isolate rhizobacterial populations. Using 50 soil samples from both cultivated and uncultivated plants, isolated rhizobacterial populations were screened for various biochemical changes, PGP activities and morphological characteristics.

Lack of TLR9 exacerbates ocular impairment and visual loss during systemic Cryptococcus gattii infection.

Cryptococcus gattii is a saprophytic basidiomycete that grows in the environment and can cause systemic cryptococcosis. Ocular cryptococcosis causes blindness and is commonly associated with central nervous system (CNS) infection. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) can control cryptococcosis and another mycosis.

Novel Anti-Microbial/Anti-Inflammatory Combination Improves Clinical Outcome of Bacillus cereus Endophthalmitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the therapeutic potential of the novel combination of Bacillus bacteriophage lysin (PlyB) and a synthetic TLR2/4 inhibitor (oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, OxPAPC) in the treatment of experimental Bacillus cereus endophthalmitis.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were injected with 100 colony forming units (CFUs) Bacillus cereus to induce endophthalmitis. Two hours postinfection, groups of mice were treated with either PlyB, PlyB with OxPAPC, or the groups were left untreated to serve as a control.

Blood Culture Use in Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units and Wards.

Importance: Blood culture (BC) use benchmarks in US hospitals have not been defined.

Objective: To characterize BC use in adult intensive care units (ICUs) and wards in US hospitals.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective cross-sectional study of BC use in adult medical ICUs, medical-surgical ICUs, medical wards, and medical-surgical wards from acute care hospitals from the 4 US geographic regions was conducted.

Mpox primer for clinicians: what makes the difference in 2024?

Purpose Of Review: The 2024 mpox outbreak, primarily driven by the possibly more virulent clade Ib strain, prompted the WHO declaring it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024. This review provides essential guidance for clinicians managing mpox cases, as it contrasts the features of the 2024 outbreak with those of the 2022 epidemic to support better clinical decision-making.

Recent Findings: The review highlights significant differences between the 2024 and 2022 outbreaks, including total case numbers, demographic distribution, and fatality rates.

Microbiological and toxicity analyses of the synthetic polymer polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride against endodontic microorganisms.

Failures in endodontic treatments are common due to microbial resistance in the pulp canal. The study evaluated the in vitro activity of polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMGH) against endodontic strains, as well as in vivo toxicity. Using minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration techniques, PHMGH was effective against all microorganisms, even at low concentrations.

Decontamination of DNA sequences from a Streptomyces genome for optimal genome mining.

Despite meticulous precautions, contamination of genomic DNA samples is not uncommon, which can significantly compromise the analysis of microorganisms' whole-genome sequencing data, thus affecting all subsequent analyses. Thanks to advancements in software and bioinformatics techniques, it is now possible to address this issue and prevent the loss of the entire dataset obtained in a contaminated whole-genome sequencing, where the DNA of another bacterium is present. In this study, it was observed that the sequencing reads from Streptomyces sp.

Guidance for Prescribing Oral Antihypertensive Medications in the Emergency Department.

Purpose Of Review: To review the most current recommendations regarding assessment and treatment of asymptomatic hypertension treatment in the emergency department (ED) and to provide guidance for prescribing oral antihypertensive therapy for ED providers.

Recent Findings: There are varying management strategies for the treatment of asymptomatic hypertension in the ED likely due to a lack of direct guidelines for treatment. There is an increasing body of evidence for the safety of initiating therapy to treat chronic asymptomatic hypertension in the ED.

Quantification of Particle-Associated Viruses in Secondary Treated Wastewater Effluent.

Viruses can interact with a broad range of inorganic and organic particles in water and wastewater. These associations can protect viruses from inactivation by quenching chemical disinfectants or blocking ultraviolet light transmission, and a much higher dosage of disinfectants is required to inactivate particle-associated viruses than free viruses. There have been only few studies of the association of viruses with particles in wastewater, particularly in secondary treated effluent.

Discovery of novel 'sugarcane totivirus 1' from Saccharum officinarum by high-throughput sequencing.

Background: Sugarcane is cultivated globally and affected by more than 125 pathogens, which lead to various plant diseases. In recent years, high-throughput sequencing (HTS)-based genome analyses have been broadly adopted for the discovery of both characterized and un-characterized viruses from plant samples. In this study, the HTS data of sugarcane pooled sample retrieved from sequence read archive (SRA) were de novo re-assembled using CLC Genomic Workbench.

Innovative nomogram approach to enhance the prediction of Helicobacter pylori infection in children via magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy.

Unlabelled: Early detection and intervention are crucial in managing Helicobacter pylori (HP) infections, which are associated with various gastrointestinal diseases in children. The traditional Kyoto gastritis scoring system, though effective, requires adaptation for non-invasive techniques like magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy to enhance early diagnosis and improve patient comfort. This retrospective study involved 474 pediatric patients who underwent magnetic-controlled capsule endoscopy coupled with a C urea breath test at the Children's Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January to December 2023.

A SERS/colorimetric biosensor based on AuNSs@Ag core-shell Prussian blue nanozyme for non-interference and rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus in milk.

A AuNSs@PB@Ag-Apt surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probe has been developed by embedding Prussian blue (PB) between Au core and Ag shell. The PB SERS probe illustrates strong SERS activity in the Raman silent region of 2070 cm, and has a zero background signal, ensuring high sensitivity for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

Hypomorphic RAG2 Deficiency Promotes Selection of Self-Reactive B Cells.

Reduced function or hypomorphic variants in recombination-activating genes (RAG) 1 or 2 result in a broad clinical phenotype including common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and even adult-onset disease. Milder RAG variants are less characterized. Here we describe the longitudinal course of a milder combined RAG deficiency in 3 of 7 siblings sharing the same RAG2 mutations over a 50-year study.