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Involvement in Renewable Energy in the Organization of the IR 4.0 Era Based on the Maturity of Socially Responsible Strategic Partnership with Customers—An Example of the Food Industry. ENERGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/en15010180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explain the determinants of the process of investing in renewable energy sources (RES) from the perspective of enterprises, with particular emphasis on the strength of their orientation on such strategic issues as sustainable development, orientation towards innovation, as well as the level of maturity of their partnership with the client. The research method was carried out on a sample of 157 industrial enterprises in the food industry. The research process was conducted with the consideration of making these decisions dependent on the strength of companies’ commitment to several strategic issues: sustainable development, innovation orientation, and the maturity of their partnership with the customer. The results of the data analysis collected during the quantitative research show a strong correlation between the level of openness of the organization of the IR 4.0 era to RES and (a) orientation towards sustainable development, (b) orientation towards intelligence, and (c) maturity of strategic partnering with customers.
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Rivera-Díaz R, LLamas-Velasco M, Hospital M, Martín I, Baniandrés O, Ruíz-Genao D, de la Cueva P, García-Donoso C. Risankizumab in psoriasis: prior biologics failure does not impact on short-term effectiveness. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021; 22:105-107. [PMID: 34879214 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2012567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Rivera-Díaz
- Dermatology Service, Universitary Hospital 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Mercedes Hospital
- Dermatology Service, Universitary Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Martín
- Dermatology Service, Universitary Hospital de Getafe, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ofelia Baniandrés
- Dermatology Service, Universitary Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diana Ruíz-Genao
- Dermatology Service, Universitary Hospital Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo de la Cueva
- Dermatology Service, Universitary Hospital Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen García-Donoso
- Dermatology Service, Universitary Hospital 12 de Octubre, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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MacCulloch K, Tomhon P, Browning A, Akeroyd E, Lehmkuhl S, Chekmenev EY, Theis T. Hyperpolarization of common antifungal agents with SABRE. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY : MRC 2021; 59:1225-1235. [PMID: 34121211 PMCID: PMC8595556 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.5187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) is a robust and inexpensive hyperpolarization (HP) technique to enhance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals using parahydrogen (pH2 ). The substrate scope of SABRE is continually expanding. Here, we present the polarization of three antifungal drugs (voriconazole, clotrimazole, and fluconazole) and elicit the detailed HP mechanisms for 1 H and 15 N nuclei. In this exploratory work, 15 N polarization values of ~1% were achieved using 50% pH2 in solution of 3-mM catalyst and 60-mM substrate in perdeuterated methanol. All hyperpolarized 15 N sites exhibited long T1 in excess of 1 min at a clinically relevant field of 1 T. Hyperpolarizing common drugs is of interest due to their potential biomedical applications as MRI contrast agents or to enable studies on protein dynamics at physiological concentrations. We optimize the polarization with respect to temperature and the polarization transfer field (PTF) for 1 H nuclei in the millitesla regime and for 15 N nuclei in the microtesla regime, which provides detailed insights into exchange kinetics and spin evolution. This work broadens the SABRE substrate scope and provides mechanistic and kinetic insights into the HP process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keilian MacCulloch
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Patrick Tomhon
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Austin Browning
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Evan Akeroyd
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Sören Lehmkuhl
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Eduard Y Chekmenev
- Department of Chemistry, Integrative Biosciences (Ibio), Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI), Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Thomas Theis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
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Structural and functional analysis of the promiscuous AcrB and AdeB efflux pumps suggests different drug binding mechanisms. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6919. [PMID: 34824229 PMCID: PMC8617272 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27146-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon antibiotic stress Gram-negative pathogens deploy resistance-nodulation-cell division-type tripartite efflux pumps. These include a H+/drug antiporter module that recognizes structurally diverse substances, including antibiotics. Here, we show the 3.5 Å structure of subunit AdeB from the Acinetobacter baumannii AdeABC efflux pump solved by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. The AdeB trimer adopts mainly a resting state with all protomers in a conformation devoid of transport channels or antibiotic binding sites. However, 10% of the protomers adopt a state where three transport channels lead to the closed substrate (deep) binding pocket. A comparison between drug binding of AdeB and Escherichia coli AcrB is made via activity analysis of 20 AdeB variants, selected on basis of side chain interactions with antibiotics observed in the AcrB periplasmic domain X-ray co-structures with fusidic acid (2.3 Å), doxycycline (2.1 Å) and levofloxacin (2.7 Å). AdeABC, compared to AcrAB-TolC, confers higher resistance to E. coli towards polyaromatic compounds and lower resistance towards antibiotic compounds.
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55
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Kannappan S, Ramisetty BCM. Engineered Whole-Cell-Based Biosensors: Sensing Environmental Heavy Metal Pollutants in Water-a Review. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2021; 194:1814-1840. [PMID: 34783990 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-021-03734-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The frequent exposure and accumulation of heavy metals in organisms cause serious health issues affecting a range of organs such as the brain, liver, and reproductive organs in adults, infants, and children. Several parts of the world have high levels of heavy metals affecting millions of people, costing millions of dollars for improving the potability of water and medical treatment of the affected. Hence, water quality assessment is required to monitor the degree of heavy metal contamination in potable water. In nature, organisms respond to various environmental pollutants such as heavy metals, allowing their survival in a diverse environmental niche. With the advent of recombinant DNA technology, it is now possible to manipulate these natural bioreporters into controlled systems which either turn on or off gene expression or activity of enzymes in the presence of specific heavy metals (compound-specific biosensors) otherwise termed as whole-cell biosensors (WCBs). WCBs provide an upper hand compared to other immunosensors, enzyme-based sensors, and DNA-based sensors since microbes can be relatively easily manipulated, scaled up with relative ease, and can detect only the bioavailable heavy metals. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the various mechanisms of toxicity elicited by various heavy metals, thence emphasizing the need to develop heavy metal sensing platforms. Following this, the biosensor-based platforms including WCBs for detecting heavy metals developed thus far have been briefly elaborated upon, emphasizing the challenges and solutions associated with WCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shrute Kannappan
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, South Korea
- Research Center for Advanced Materials Technology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 16419, South Korea
- School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
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Hu LF, Yang X, Lan HR, Fang XL, Chen XY, Jin KT. Preclinical tumor organoid models in personalized cancer therapy: Not everyone fits the mold. Exp Cell Res 2021; 408:112858. [PMID: 34600901 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In contrast to conventional cancer treatment, in personalized cancer medicine each patient receives a specific treatment. The response to therapy, clinical outcomes, and tumor behavior such as metastases, tumor progression, carcinogenesis can be significantly affected by the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) and interpersonal differences. Therefore, using native tumor microenvironment mimicking models is necessary to improving personalized cancer therapy. Both in vitro 2D cell culture and in vivo animal models poorly recapitulate the heterogeneous tumor (immune) microenvironments of native tumors. The development of 3D culture models, native tumor microenvironment mimicking models, made it possible to evaluate the chemoresistance of tumor tissue and the functionality of drugs in the presence of cell-extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions in a 3D construction. Various personalized tumor models have been designed to preserving the native tumor microenvironment, including patient-derived tumor xenografts and organoid culture strategies. In this review, we will discuss the patient-derived organoids as a native tumor microenvironment mimicking model in personalized cancer therapy. In addition, we will also review the potential and the limitations of organoid culture systems for predicting patient outcomes and preclinical drug screening. Finally, we will discuss immunotherapy drug screening in tumor organoids by using microfluidic technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Feng Hu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine), Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, 312000, China
| | - Xue Yang
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China; Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China
| | - Huan-Rong Lan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, 321000, China
| | - Xing-Liang Fang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University College of Medicine (Shaoxing Municipal Hospital), Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, 312000, China
| | - Xiao-Yi Chen
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China; Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China; Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, China.
| | - Ke-Tao Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, 321000, China.
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Abstract
This paper proposed a methodology of adaptive instantaneous overcurrent protection (AIOCP) setting that ensures that the protection coverage remains unchanged regardless of the operating condition of the electrical network. The methodology calculates the protection setting parameters based on the real-time estimation of the Thevenin equivalent circuit (TEC). The estimation algorithm uses the positive-sequence voltage and current values and a system of non-linear equations, which is solved iteratively by the Gauss–Newton method. The proposed methodology calculates the IOCP settings in real time by using the real-time estimation of the TEC; therefore, any change in the electric network conditions is represented in the TEC, and the calculated setting keeps the desired protection coverage constant. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed AIOCP can keep constant the protection coverage overcoming the classical problems of classical IOCP: sub-allocation and over-coverage.
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Stimuli-responsive electrospun nanofibers based on PNVCL-PVAc copolymer in biomedical applications. Prog Biomater 2021; 10:245-258. [PMID: 34731487 DOI: 10.1007/s40204-021-00168-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) is a suitable alternative for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and showing phase transition at the human body temperature range. The purpose of this study was to synthesize a high molecular weight PNVCL-PVAc thermo-responsive copolymer with broad mass distribution suitable for electrospun nanofiber fabrication. The chemical structure of the synthesized materials was detected by FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopies. N-Vinyl caprolactam/vinyl acetate copolymers (159,680 molecular weight (g/mol) and 2.51 PDI) were synthesized by radical polymerization. The phase transition temperature of N-vinyl caprolactam/vinyl acetate copolymer was determined by conducting a contact angle test at various temperatures (25, 26, 28, and 30 [Formula: see text]). The biocompatibility of the nanofibers was also evaluated, and both qualitative and quantitative results showed that the growth and proliferation of 929L mouse fibroblast cells increased to 80% within 48 h. These results revealed that the synthesized nanofibers were biocompatible and not cytotoxic. The results confirmed that the synthesized copolymers have good characteristics for biomedical applications.
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Vardaka E, Andreas O, Nikolakakis I, Kachrimanis K. Development of agomelatine nanocomposite formulations by wet media milling. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 166:105979. [PMID: 34425232 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Nanocrystal formulations of the BCS class II agomelatine, were developed by wet media milling. The most suitable stabilizer was identified and effects of process and formulation variables on the nanocrystal size and ζ-potential were evaluated employing a Box-Behnken experimental design. The optimized nanosuspensions were dried and subsequently evaluated for redispersibility and physicochemical properties. Computational simulation of solid state properties was applied to rationalize crystal fracture. It was found that low viscosity hydroxypropylcellulose with sodium dodecyl sulfate is the most suitable stabilizer. Stabilizer concentration exerts a statistically significant effect on particle size, which depends on the mill's rotation speed. The milling process induces a polymorphic transition to form II, which could affect size reduction kinetics. The solidified nanosuspensions' redispersibility is deteriorating progressively with storage time, with only minor differences between drying methods, retaining enhanced dissolution rate. Crystal lattice simulations suggest high mechanical anisotropy of form I crystals, which could be an additional reason for fast particle size reduction prior to the polymorphic transformation. Wet media milling, combined with a suitable drying method, can be an efficient technique for the production of stable nanocrystals of agomelatine. Particle informatics methods can enhance our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for agomelatine's nanocomminution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Vardaka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Ouranidis Andreas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece; Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Ioannis Nikolakakis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Kyriakos Kachrimanis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.
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Haruna H, Okoye K, Zainuddin Z, Hu X, Chu S, Hosseini S. Gamifying Sexual Education for Adolescents in a Low-Tech Setting: Quasi-Experimental Design Study. JMIR Serious Games 2021; 9:e19614. [PMID: 34636739 PMCID: PMC8548970 DOI: 10.2196/19614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual education has become increasingly important as unhealthy sexual practices and subsequent health risks become more prevalent during adolescence. Traditional sex education teaching methodologies are limiting for digital natives exposed to various digital technologies. Harnessing the power of technology applications attractive to the younger generation may be a useful approach for teaching sex education. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to improve sexual health knowledge and understanding of the problems associated with unhealthy sexual practices and address sexual and reproductive health challenges experienced in a low-tech setting. METHODS A participatory design approach was used to develop the digital gamified methodology. A sample of 120 secondary school students aged 11-15 were randomly assigned to either experimental or control group for each of the 3 teaching approaches: (1) gamified instruction (actual serious games [SG] in teaching); (2) gamification (GM; making nongames, such as game-like learning); and (3) traditional teaching (TT) methods. RESULTS The SG and GM approaches were more effective than TT methods in teaching sexual health education. Specifically, the average scores across groups demonstrated an increase of mean scores from the pre- to posttest (25.10 [SD 5.50] versus 75.86 [SD 13.16]; t119=41.252; P<.001 [2 tailed]). Analysis of variance indicated no significant differences across groups for pretest scores (F2,117=1.048, P=.35). Significant differences across groups were evident in the posttest scores. Students in the SG and GM groups had higher average scores than the TT group (F2,117=83.98; P<.001). Students reported increased learning motivation, attitude, know-how, and participation in learning (P<.001) when using SG and GM approaches. CONCLUSIONS Digital health technologies (particularly teaching and learning through gamified instruction and other novel approaches) may improve sexual health education. These findings may also be applied by practitioners in health care settings and by researchers wishing to further the development of sex education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Haruna
- Writing Lab, Institute for the Future of Education, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico.,Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Kingsley Okoye
- Writing Lab, Institute for the Future of Education, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Zamzami Zainuddin
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Xiao Hu
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Samuel Chu
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Samira Hosseini
- Writing Lab, Institute for the Future of Education, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico.,School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
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Li H, Roth SV, Freychet G, Zhernenkov M, Asta N, Wågberg L, Pettersson T. Structure Development of the Interphase between Drying Cellulose Materials Revealed by In Situ Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle X-ray Scattering. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:4274-4283. [PMID: 34541856 PMCID: PMC8512666 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The nano- to microscale structures at the interface between materials can define the macroscopic material properties. These structures are extremely difficult to investigate for complex material systems, such as cellulose-rich materials. The development of new model cellulose materials and measuring techniques has opened new possibilities to resolve this problem. We present a straightforward approach combining micro-focusing grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the structural rearrangements of cellulose/cellulose interfaces in situ during drying. Based on the results, we propose that molecular interdiffusion and structural rearrangement play a major role in the development of the properties of the cellulose/cellulose interphase; this model is representative of the development of the properties of joint/contact points between macroscopic cellulose fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Li
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department
of Physics, AlbaNova University Center, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Stephan V. Roth
- Deutsches
Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Notkestr. 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Guillaume Freychet
- National
Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Mikhail Zhernenkov
- National
Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven
National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Nadia Asta
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Wågberg
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
- Wallenberg
Wood Science Centre, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56, Stockholm 10044, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Pettersson
- Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 58, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
- Wallenberg
Wood Science Centre, Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 56, Stockholm 10044, Sweden
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Gaps related to screening and diagnosis of tuberculosis in care cascade in selected health facilities in East Africa countries: A retrospective study. J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis 2021; 25:100278. [PMID: 34622035 PMCID: PMC8481961 DOI: 10.1016/j.jctube.2021.100278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction East Africa countries (Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda) are among tuberculosis high burdened countries globally. As we race to accelerate progress towards a world free of tuberculosis by 2035, gaps related to screening and diagnosis in the cascade care need to be addressed. Methods We conducted a three-year (2015–2017) retrospective study using routine program data in 21 health facilities from East Africa. Data abstraction were done at tuberculosis clinics, outpatient departments (OPD), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and diabetic clinics, and then complemented with structured interviews with healthcare providers to identify possible gaps related to integration, screening, and diagnosis of tuberculosis. Data were analyzed using STATA™ Version 14.1. Results We extracted information from 49,454 presumptive TB patients who were registered in the 21 facilities between January 2015 and December 2017. A total of 9,565 tuberculosis cases were notified; 46.5% (4,450) were bacteriologically confirmed and 31.5% (3,013) were HIV-infected. Prevalence of tuberculosis among presumptive pulmonary tuberculosis cases was 17.4%. The outcomes observed were as follows: 79.8% (7,646) cured or completed treatment, 6.6% (634) died, 13.3% (1,270) lost to follow-up or undocumented and 0.4% (34) treatment failure. In all countries, tuberculosis screening was largely integrated at OPD and HIV clinics. High patient load, weak laboratory specimen referral system, shortage of trained personnel, and frequent interruption of laboratory supplies were the major cited challenges in screening and diagnosis of tuberculosis. Conclusion Screening and diagnostic activities were frequently affected by scarcity of human and financial resources. Tuberculosis screening was mainly integrated at OPD and HIV clinics, with less emphasis on the other health facility clinics. Closing gaps related to TB case finding and diagnosis in developing countries requires sustainable investment for both human and financial resources and strengthen the integration of TB activities within the health system.
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Christou CD, Tsoulfas G. Challenges and opportunities in the application of artificial intelligence in gastroenterology and hepatology. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:6191-6223. [PMID: 34712027 PMCID: PMC8515803 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i37.6191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an umbrella term used to describe a cluster of interrelated fields. Machine learning (ML) refers to a model that learns from past data to predict future data. Medicine and particularly gastroenterology and hepatology, are data-rich fields with extensive data repositories, and therefore fruitful ground for AI/ML-based software applications. In this study, we comprehensively review the current applications of AI/ML-based models in these fields and the opportunities that arise from their application. Specifically, we refer to the applications of AI/ML-based models in prevention, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel diseases, gastrointestinal premalignant and malignant lesions, other nonmalignant gastrointestinal lesions and diseases, hepatitis B and C infection, chronic liver diseases, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. At the same time, we identify the major challenges that restrain the widespread use of these models in healthcare in an effort to explore ways to overcome them. Notably, we elaborate on the concerns regarding intrinsic biases, data protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property, liability, ethical challenges, and transparency. Even at a slower pace than anticipated, AI is infiltrating the healthcare industry. AI in healthcare will become a reality, and every physician will have to engage with it by necessity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysanthos D Christou
- Organ Transplant Unit, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54622, Greece
| | - Georgios Tsoulfas
- Organ Transplant Unit, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54622, Greece
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El-Naggar A, Ahmed N, Mosa A, Niazi NK, Yousaf B, Sharma A, Sarkar B, Cai Y, Chang SX. Nickel in soil and water: Sources, biogeochemistry, and remediation using biochar. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 419:126421. [PMID: 34171670 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) is a potentially toxic element that contaminates soil and water, threatens food and water security, and hinders sustainable development globally. Biochar has emerged as a promising novel material for remediating Ni-contaminated environments. However, the potential for pristine and functionalized biochars to immobilize/adsorb Ni in soil and water, and the mechanisms involved have not been systematically reviewed. Here, we critically review the different dimensions of Ni contamination and remediation in soil and water, including its occurrence and biogeochemical behavior under different environmental conditions and ecotoxicological hazards, and its remediation using biochar. Biochar is effective in immobilizing Ni in soil and water via ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, (co)precipitation, physical adsorption, and reduction due to the biogeochemistry of Ni and the interaction of Ni with surface functional groups and organic/inorganic compounds contained in biochar. The efficiency for Ni removal is consistently greater with functionalized than pristine biochars. Physical (e.g., ball milling) and chemical (e.g., alkali/acidic treatment) activation achieve higher surface area, porosity, and active surface groups on biochar that enhance Ni immobilization. This review highlights possible risks and challenges of biochar application in Ni remediation, suggests future research directions, and discusses implications for environmental agencies and decision-makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali El-Naggar
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an 311300, China; Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
| | - Naveed Ahmed
- US Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, 76062 Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Ahmed Mosa
- Soils Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, 4350 Queensland, Australia
| | - Balal Yousaf
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Anket Sharma
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an 311300, China; Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
| | - Binoy Sarkar
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Yanjiang Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an 311300, China
| | - Scott X Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Lin'an 311300, China; Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H1, Canada.
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Bernat R, Maksym P, Tarnacka M, Koperwas K, Knapik-Kowalczuk J, Malarz K, Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz A, Dzienia A, Biela T, Turczyn R, Orszulak L, Hachuła B, Paluch M, Kamiński K. The effect of high-pressure on organocatalyzed ROP of γ-butyrolactone. POLYMER 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2021.124166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
Toll like receptors (TLRs) are the most studied pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) as they connect the innate to the acquired immune response. To date, there are ten human TLRs which are expressed either on the plasma membrane or on the endosomes. TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6 and TLR10 are plasma membrane TLRs that recognise extracellular components of pathogens, whereas TLR3, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9 are located on endosomes where they recognise foreign nucleic acids. Of these TLRs, TLR10 is the latest human TLR to be discovered and its function and ligands are still unclear. TLR10 is the only known member of TLR family that can elicit anti-inflammatory effect. TLR10 can inhibit other TLRs by competing with stimulatory TLRs, dimerising with TLR1, TLR2 and TLR6, and by inducing PI3K/Akt to produce IL-1Ra. There is controversy on the function of TLR10 as an anti-inflammatory TLR as initial studies on TLR10 revealed it to promote inflammation. Herein, we review the detailed functions of TLR10 in immunity and give an account of how and when TLR10 can act on both sides of the inflammatory spectrum.
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Batlles-delaFuente A, Belmonte-Ureña LJ, Plaza-Úbeda JA, Abad-Segura E. Sustainable Business Model in the Product-Service System: Analysis of Global Research and Associated EU Legislation. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910123. [PMID: 34639425 PMCID: PMC8508610 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The business fabric is trying to resolve the many transformations that have occurred in recent decades. Companies are obliged to offer new ways to meet the needs of the market. This situation has led to the creation of new business models that combine both competitiveness and sustainability. Among the most consistent strategies, the product-service system (PSS) stands out. A bibliometric analysis was carried out on 1088 documents during the period 2000–2020, to synthesize the knowledge base on PSS in a global context and analyse future trends. The results obtained have made it possible to identify the evolution of scientific production, the main drivers of this issue, the lines of research developed and their link with EU legislation and reveal some critical gaps in knowledge. The main lines of research describe different aspects of PSS: servitisation, product design, manufacturing, life cycle, circular economy, and sustainable development. This study has identified how its analysis has developed to date and what terms allow us to glimpse new approaches; hence, it is a useful tool for PSS researchers and sponsors who provide financial resources that allow new directions in this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Batlles-delaFuente
- Department of Economy and Business, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (A.B.-d.); (L.J.B.-U.); (J.A.P.-Ú.)
- Research Centre CIAMBITAL, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - Luis Jesús Belmonte-Ureña
- Department of Economy and Business, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (A.B.-d.); (L.J.B.-U.); (J.A.P.-Ú.)
- Research Centre CIAMBITAL, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - José Antonio Plaza-Úbeda
- Department of Economy and Business, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (A.B.-d.); (L.J.B.-U.); (J.A.P.-Ú.)
- Research Centre CIAMBITAL, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
| | - Emilio Abad-Segura
- Department of Economy and Business, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (A.B.-d.); (L.J.B.-U.); (J.A.P.-Ú.)
- Research Centre CIAMBITAL, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Abdelbari MA, El-Mancy SS, Elshafeey AH, Abdelbary AA. Implementing Spanlastics for Improving the Ocular Delivery of Clotrimazole: In vitro Characterization, Ex vivo Permeability, Microbiological Assessment and In vivo Safety Study. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:6249-6261. [PMID: 34531656 PMCID: PMC8439980 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s319348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to encapsulate clotrimazole (CLT), an antifungal drug with poor water solubility characteristics, into spanlastics (SPs) to provide a controlled ocular delivery of the drug. Methods Span 60 was used in the formulation of SPs with Tween 80, Pluronic F127, or Kolliphor RH40 as an edge activator (EA). The presence of EA offers more elasticity to the membrane of the vesicles which is expected to increase the corneal permeation of CLT. SPs were prepared using ethanol injection method applying 32 complete factorial design to study the effect of formulation variables (ratio of Span 60: EA (w/w) and type of EA) on SPs characteristics (encapsulation efficiency percent (EE%), average vesicle size (VS), polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP)). Design-Expert software was used to determine the optimum formulation for further investigations. Results The optimum formulation determined was S1, which contains 20 mg of Tween 80 used as an EA and 80 mg of Span 60. S1 exhibited EE% = 66.54 ± 7.57%, VS = 206.20 ± 4.95 nm, PDI = 0.39 ± 0.00 and ZP = −29.60 ± 0.99 mV. S1 showed highly elastic sphere-shaped vesicles. Furthermore, S1 displayed a sustained release profile and a higher ex vivo permeation across rabbit cornea relative to CLT suspension. Also, S1 revealed superior inhibition of Candida albicans development compared to CLT suspension applying 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction technique. Moreover, in vivo histopathological examination assured the safety of S1 after ophthalmic application in mature male albino rabbits. Conclusion Overall, the outcomes revealed the marked efficacy of SPs for ocular delivery of CLT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manar Adel Abdelbari
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6 University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Shereen Sameh El-Mancy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6 University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Hassen Elshafeey
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Aly Ahmed Abdelbary
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.,School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, Cairo, Egypt
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Harakandi C, Nininahazwe L, Xu H, Liu B, He C, Zheng YC, Zhang H. Recent advances on the intervention sites targeting USP7-MDM2-p53 in cancer therapy. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105273. [PMID: 34474304 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7)-murine double minute 2 (MDM2)-p53 network plays an important role in the regulation of p53, a tumor suppressor which plays critical roles in regulating cell growth, proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and immune response. The overexpression of USP7 and MDM2 in human cancers contributes to cancer initiation and progression, and their inhibition reactivates p53 signalings and causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Herein, the current state of pharmacological characterization, potential applications in cancer treatment and mechanism of action of small molecules used to target and inhibit MDM2 and USP7 proteins are highlighted, along with the outcomes in clinical and preclinical settings. Moreover, challenges and advantages of these strategies, as well as perspectives in USP7-MDM2-p53 field are analyzed in detail. The investigation and application of MDM2 and USP7 inhibitors will deepen our understanding of the function of USP7-MDM2-p53 network, and feed in the development of effective and safe cancer therapies where USP7-MDM2-p53 network is implicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrisanta Harakandi
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Lauraine Nininahazwe
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Haiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Bingrui Liu
- College of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063503, China
| | - Chenghua He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yi-Chao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Henan Province for New Drug R & D and Preclinical Safety, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
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70
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Lee S, Song W, Yang JS. Nuclear fuel cycle–related R&D classification for implementing the IAEA's additional protocol. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.103884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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71
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Agdar GhareAghaji M, Zomordi S, Gharekhani M, Hanifian S. Effect of edible coating based on salep containing orange (
Citrus sinensis
) peel essential oil on shelf life of rainbow trout (
Oncorhynchus mykiss
) fillets. J FOOD PROCESS PRES 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jfpp.15737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Shahin Zomordi
- Department of Engineering Research West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center AREEO Urmia Iran
| | - Mehdi Gharekhani
- Department of Food Science and Technology Tabriz Branch Islamic Azad University Tabriz Iran
| | - Shahram Hanifian
- Department of Food Science and Technology Tabriz Branch Islamic Azad University Tabriz Iran
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Overexpression of the adeB Efflux Pump Gene in Tigecycline-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Isolates and Its Inhibition by (+)Usnic Acid as an Adjuvant. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10091037. [PMID: 34572620 PMCID: PMC8472003 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter species are among the most life-threatening Gram-negative bacilli, causing hospital-acquired infections, and they are associated with high morbidity and mortality. They show multidrug resistance that acts via various mechanisms. In Acinetobacter baumannii, efflux pump-mediated resistance to many antimicrobial compounds, including tigecycline, has been widely reported. Natural compounds have been used for their various pharmacological properties, including anti-efflux pump activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the efflux pump-mediated resistance mechanism of Acinetobacter baumannii and the effect of (+)Usnic acid as an efflux pump inhibitor with tigecycline. For detecting the efflux pump activity of tigecycline-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, microbroth dilution method and real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction was used. (+)Usnic acid was added to tigecycline and tested by the checkerboard method to evaluate its efficacy as an efflux pump inhibitor. qRT-PCR analysis was carried out to show the downregulation of the efflux pump in the isolates. Out of 42 tigecycline-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, 19 showed efflux pump activity. All 19 strains expressed the adeB gene. (+)Usnic acid as an adjuvant showed better efficacy in lowering the minimum inhibitory concentration compared with the conventional efflux pump inhibitor, carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone.
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Slevin P, Kessie T, Cullen J, Butler MW, Donnelly SC, Caulfield B. A qualitative study of clinician perceptions regarding the potential role for digital health interventions for the management of COPD. Health Informatics J 2021; 27:1460458221994888. [PMID: 33653189 DOI: 10.1177/1460458221994888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Effective self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to increased patient control and reduced health care costs. However, both patients and healthcare professionals encounter significant challenges. Digital health interventions, such as smart oximeters and COPD self-management applications, promise to enhance the management of COPD, yet, there is little evidence to support their use and user-experience issues are still common. Understanding the needs of healthcare professionals is central for increasing adoption and engagement with digital health interventions but little is known about their perceptions of digital health interventions in COPD. This paper explored the perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding the potential role for DHI in the management of COPD. Snowball sampling was used to recruit the participants (n = 32). Each participant underwent a semi-structured interview. Using NVivo 12 software, thematic analysis was completed. Healthcare professionals perceive digital health interventions providing several potential benefits to the management of COPD including the capture of patient status indicators during the interappointment period, providing new patient data to support the consultation process and perceived digital health interventions as a potential means to improve patient engagement. The findings offer new insights regarding potential future use-cases for digital health interventions in COPD, which can help ease user-experience issues as they align with the needs of healthcare professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John Cullen
- Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland.,Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marcus W Butler
- University College Dublin, Ireland.,St. Vincent's University Hospital, Ireland
| | - Seamas C Donnelly
- Tallaght University Hospital, Ireland.,Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
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Woodley CM, Amado PSM, Cristiano MLS, O'Neill PM. Artemisinin inspired synthetic endoperoxide drug candidates: Design, synthesis, and mechanism of action studies. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:3062-3095. [PMID: 34355414 DOI: 10.1002/med.21849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs) have been used as the first-line treatments against Plasmodium falciparum malaria for decades. Recent advances in chemical proteomics have shed light on the complex mechanism of action of semi-synthetic artemisinin (ARTs), particularly their promiscuous alkylation of parasite proteins via previous heme-mediated bioactivation of the endoperoxide bond. Alarmingly, the rise of resistance to ART in South East Asia and the synthetic limitations of the ART scaffold have pushed the course for the necessity of fully synthetic endoperoxide-based antimalarials. Several classes of synthetic endoperoxide antimalarials have been described in literature utilizing various endoperoxide warheads including 1,2-dioxanes, 1,2,4-trioxanes, 1,2,4-trioxolanes, and 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes. Two of these classes, the 1,2,4-trioxolanes (arterolane and artefenomel) and the 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes (N205 and E209) based antimalarials, have been explored extensively and are still in active development. In contrast, the most recent publication pertaining to the development of the 1,2-dioxane, Arteflene, and 1,2,4-trioxanes fenozan-50F, DU1301, and PA1103/SAR116242 was published in 2008. This review summarizes the synthesis, biological and clinical evaluation, and mechanistic studies of the most developed synthetic endoperoxide antimalarials, providing an update on those classes still in active development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrícia S M Amado
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Maria L S Cristiano
- Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal.,Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - Paul M O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Islam W, Saqib HSA, Adnan M, Wang Z, Tayyab M, Huang Z, Chen HY. Differential response of soil microbial and animal communities along the chronosequence of Cunninghamia lanceolata at different soil depth levels in subtropical forest ecosystem. J Adv Res 2021; 38:41-54. [PMID: 35572399 PMCID: PMC9091736 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the assembly of soil bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists & animals across different soil depths in five stand ages. Soil biotic communities exhibited a decreasing trend in alpha diversity with increasing soil depth. Acidobacteriia, Agaricomycetes, Bathyarchaeia, Chlorophyceae and Clitellata, were most abundant classes. Total nitrogen, available phosphorus and pH were the most influencing factors for changes in soil biotic communities. As compared to soil depth, stand age was not dominatingly influencing the structure of other biotic communities.
Introduction Soil biota plays a crucial role in the terrestrial ecosystem. There is growing momentum to understand the community structure and diversity of total belowground soil biota across large ecological scales. Soil biota follow divergent trends with respect to soil physiochemical properties in different ecosystems; however, little is known about their response to stand development across multiple soil depths in Chinese fir plantations, which is the most important tree species across all over China, popular for its timber production. Objectives Here, we investigated the community assembly of soil bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists and animals across three different vertical soil profiles (0–10, 10–20, 20–40 cm) using a chronosequence of Chinese fir representing five different stand ages (5, 8, 21, 27, 40 years) in South China. Methods High throughput illumine Hiseq2500 sequencing. Results Our results showed that soil biotic communities exhibited a decreasing trend in alpha diversity of bacteria, fungi, protists and animals with increasing soil depth; however, archaea showed an opposite trend. Most abundant soil bacterial, fungal, archaeal, protist and animal classes were Acidobacteriia, Agaricomycetes, Bathyarchaeia, Chlorophyceae and Clitellata, respectively. Correlation of vertical distribution of biotic communities and variations in soil physiochemical properties explained that total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP) and pH were the most influencing factors for changes in soil biotic communities. Although the stand age was a contributing factor for fungal and animal beta diversity, however, as compared to soil depth, it was not dominatingly influencing the structure of other biotic communities. Conclusions Collectively, these results reveal a new perspective on the vertical variation and distinct response patterns of soil biotic communities at a fine scale across different stand ages of Chinese fir plantations.
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Underutilization Versus Nutritional-Nutraceutical Potential of the Amaranthus Food Plant: A Mini-Review. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11156879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Amaranthus is a C4 plant tolerant to drought, and plant diseases and a suitable option for climate change. This plant could form part of every region’s cultural heritage and can be transferred to the next generation. Moreover, Amaranthus is a multipurpose plant that has been identified as a traditional edible vegetable endowed with nutritional value, besides its fodder, medicinal, nutraceutical, industrial, and ornamental potentials. In recent decade Amaranthus has received increased research interest. Despite its endowment, there is a dearth of awareness of its numerous potential benefits hence, it is being underutilized. Suitable cultivation systems, innovative processing, and value-adding techniques to promote its utilization are scarce. However, a food-based approach has been suggested as a sustainable measure that tackles food-related problem, especially in harsh weather. Thus, in this review, a literature search for updated progress and potential uses of Amaranthus from online databases of peer-reviewed articles and books was conducted. In addition, the nomenclature, nutritional, and nutraceutical value, was reviewed. The species of focus highlighted in the review include, A. blitum, A. caudatus, A. cruentus, A. dubius, A. hypochondriacus, A. spinosus, A. thunbergii, A. tricolor, and A. viridis.
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77
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Petrenko YP, Piasta K, Khomenko DM, Doroshchuk RO, Shova S, Novitchi G, Toporivska Y, Gumienna-Kontecka E, Martins LMDRS, Lampeka RD. An investigation of two copper(ii) complexes with a triazole derivative as a ligand: magnetic and catalytic properties. RSC Adv 2021; 11:23442-23449. [PMID: 35479774 PMCID: PMC9036593 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra03107d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Two new copper(ii) complexes [Cu2(L)2(OAc)2(H2O)2] (1) (L = 3-methyl-5-pyridin-2-yl-1,2,4-triazole) and [CuL2] (2) were prerared and thoroughly studied. The complexes are able to selectively catalyze the oxidation of styrene towards benzaldehyde and of cyclohexane to KA oil. The 2D coordination polymer 1 showed an antiferromagnetic behaviour attributed to the intrachain magnetic coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliia P Petrenko
- Department of Chemistry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Volodymyrska Street, 64/13 Kyiv 01601 Ukraine
| | - Karolina Piasta
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw F. Joliot-Curie 14 50-383 Wroclaw Poland
| | - Dmytro M Khomenko
- Department of Chemistry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Volodymyrska Street, 64/13 Kyiv 01601 Ukraine
| | - Roman O Doroshchuk
- Department of Chemistry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Volodymyrska Street, 64/13 Kyiv 01601 Ukraine
| | - Sergiu Shova
- "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Laboratory of Inorganic Polymers Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda No. 41A RO-700487 Iasi Romania
| | - Ghénadie Novitchi
- Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses, UPR CNRS 3228, Université Grenoble-Alpes 25 rue des Martyrs, B.P. 166 38042 Grenoble Cedex 9 France
| | - Yuliya Toporivska
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw F. Joliot-Curie 14 50-383 Wroclaw Poland
| | | | - Luísa M D R S Martins
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa Av. Rovisco Pais 1049-001 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Rostyslav D Lampeka
- Department of Chemistry, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Volodymyrska Street, 64/13 Kyiv 01601 Ukraine
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Xia T, Du W, Chen X, Zhang Y. Organoid models of the tumor microenvironment and their applications. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:5829-5841. [PMID: 34033245 PMCID: PMC8256354 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A small percentage of data obtained from animal/2D culture models can be translated to humans. Therefore, there is a need to using native tumour microenvironment mimicking models to improve preclinical screening and reduce this attrition rate. For this purpose, currently, the utilization of organoids is expanding. Tumour organoids can recapitulate tumour microenvironment that is including cancer cells and non-neoplastic host components. Indeed, tumour organoids, both phenotypically and genetically, resemble the tumour tissue that originated from it. The unique properties of the tumour microenvironment can significantly affect drug response and cancer progression. In this review, we will discuss about various organoid culture strategies for modelling the tumour immune microenvironment, their applications and advantages in cancer research such as testing cancer immunotherapeutics, developing novel approaches for personalized medicine, testing drug toxicity, drug screening, study cancer initiation and progression, and we will also review the limitations of organoid culture systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Xia
- Department of Gastrointestinal‐Pancreatic SurgeryZhejiang Provincial People’s HospitalPeople’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Provincial People’s HospitalPeople’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Wen‐Lin Du
- Department of Gastrointestinal‐Pancreatic SurgeryZhejiang Provincial People’s HospitalPeople’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouChina
- Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang ProvinceZhejiang Provincial People’s HospitalPeople’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Xiao‐Yi Chen
- Clinical Research InstituteZhejiang Provincial People’s HospitalPeople’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - You‐Ni Zhang
- Department of Laboratory MedicineTiantai People's HospitalTaizhouChina
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Omer N, Abboud S, Arad M. Diagnosing and monitoring pleural effusion using parametric electrical impedance tomography - a computational 3D model and preliminary experimental results. Med Eng Phys 2021; 92:45-53. [PMID: 34167711 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Diagnosing and monitoring pleural effusion (PE) is challenging due unsuitability of existing modalities. In the present study, a novel parametric electrical impedance tomography (pEIT) technique, tailored to a clinically feasible system to diagnose PE is presented. METHODS An electrical impedance tomography (EIT) numeric solver was applied to a 3D realistic normal model and five PE models to simulate sets of surface measurements. Simulations were triggered by a series of eight independent projections using five electrodes positioned around the thorax. The relative changes in the potential between the PE models and the normal model were assessed and the error in the estimated PE volume was examined at varying signal to noise ratio (SNR) levels. For experimental feasibility, measurements were performed in four healthy subjects and were correlated with the potentials that were calculated from the normal model. RESULTS Relative potential changes were notable (reached until ~55%) and increased with the increasing PE volumes. Maximal error of ± 20 [mL] was obtained for SNR levels >50 [dB]. The feasibility real measurements in healthy subjects showed a strong linear correlation (R2 > 0.85) and a successful diagnosis for all subjects. CONCLUSION The proposed technique can estimate PE volumes from a redundant set of measurements in a realistic 3D human model and may be utilized for monitoring PE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Omer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
| | - Shimon Abboud
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
| | - Marina Arad
- Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
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80
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Melandri G, AbdElgawad H, Floková K, Jamar DC, Asard H, Beemster GTS, Ruyter-Spira C, Bouwmeester HJ. Drought tolerance in selected aerobic and upland rice varieties is driven by different metabolic and antioxidative responses. PLANTA 2021; 254:13. [PMID: 34173050 PMCID: PMC8233253 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03659-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Sugar-mediated osmotic acclimation and a strong antioxidative response reduce drought-induced biomass loss at the vegetative stage in rice. A clear understanding of the physiological and biochemical adaptations to water limitation in upland and aerobic rice can help to identify the mechanisms underlying their tolerance to low water availability. In this study, three indica rice varieties-IR64 (lowland), Apo (aerobic), and UPL Ri-7 (upland)-, that are characterized by contrasting levels of drought tolerance, were exposed to drought at the vegetative stage. Drought-induced changes in biomass, leaf metabolites and oxidative stress markers/enzyme activities were analyzed in each variety at multiple time points. The two drought-tolerant varieties, Apo and UPL Ri-7 displayed a reduced water use in contrast to the susceptible variety IR64 that displayed high water consumption and consequent strong leaf dehydration upon drought treatment. A sugar-mediated osmotic acclimation in UPL Ri-7 and a strong antioxidative response in Apo were both effective in limiting the drought-induced biomass loss in these two varieties, while biomass loss was high in IR64, also after recovery. A qualitative comparison of these results with the ones of a similar experiment conducted in the field at the reproductive stage showed that only Apo, which also in this stage showed the highest antioxidant power, was able to maintain a stable grain yield under stress. Our results show that different metabolic and antioxidant adaptations confer drought tolerance to aerobic and upland rice varieties in the vegetative stage. The effectiveness of these adaptations differs between developmental stages. Unraveling the genetic control of these mechanisms might be exploited in breeding for new rice varieties adapted to water-limited environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Melandri
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Hamada AbdElgawad
- Laboratory for Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
| | - Kristýna Floková
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR and Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Diaan C Jamar
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Han Asard
- Laboratory for Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gerrit T S Beemster
- Laboratory for Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carolien Ruyter-Spira
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harro J Bouwmeester
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Shared and Unique Evolutionary Trajectories to Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacterial Pathogens. mBio 2021; 12:e0098721. [PMID: 34154405 PMCID: PMC8262867 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00987-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to the broad-spectrum antibiotic ciprofloxacin is detected at high rates for a wide range of bacterial pathogens. To investigate the dynamics of ciprofloxacin resistance development, we applied a comparative resistomics workflow for three clinically relevant species of Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We combined experimental evolution in a morbidostat with deep sequencing of evolving bacterial populations in time series to reveal both shared and unique aspects of evolutionary trajectories. Representative clone characterization by sequencing and MIC measurements enabled direct assessment of the impact of mutations on the extent of acquired drug resistance. In all three species, we observed a two-stage evolution: (i) early ciprofloxacin resistance reaching 4- to 16-fold the MIC for the wild type, commonly as a result of single mutations in DNA gyrase target genes (gyrA or gyrB), and (ii) additional genetic alterations affecting the transcriptional control of the drug efflux machinery or secondary target genes (DNA topoisomerase parC or parE).
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82
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Nath P, Hamadna SS, Karamchand L, Foster J, Kopelman R, Amar JG, Ray A. Intracellular detection of singlet oxygen using fluorescent nanosensors. Analyst 2021; 146:3933-3941. [PMID: 33982697 PMCID: PMC8210662 DOI: 10.1039/d1an00456e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Detection of singlet oxygen is of great importance for a range of therapeutic applications, particularly photodynamic therapy, plasma therapy and also during photo-endosomolytic activity. Here we present a novel method of intracellular detection of singlet oxygen using biocompatible polymeric nanosensors, encapsulating the organic fluorescent dye, Singlet Oxygen Sensor Green (SOSG) within its hydrophobic core. The singlet oxygen detection efficiency of the nanosensors was quantified experimentally by treating them with a plasma source and these results were further validated by using Monte Carlo simulations. The change in fluorescence intensity of the nanosensors serves as a metric to detect singlet oxygen in the local micro-environment inside mammalian cancer cells. We used these nanosensors for monitoring singlet oxygen inside endosomes and lysosomes of cancer cells, during cold plasma therapy, using a room-temperature Helium plasma jet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peuli Nath
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
| | | | | | - John Foster
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Raoul Kopelman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jacques G Amar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
| | - Aniruddha Ray
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
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83
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Cryo-EM Determination of Eravacycline-Bound Structures of the Ribosome and the Multidrug Efflux Pump AdeJ of Acinetobacter baumannii. mBio 2021; 12:e0103121. [PMID: 34044590 PMCID: PMC8263017 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01031-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant strains of the Gram-negative pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii have emerged as a significant global health threat. One successful therapeutic option to treat bacterial infections has been to target the bacterial ribosome. However, in many cases, multidrug efflux pumps within the bacterium recognize and extrude these clinically important antibiotics designed to inhibit the protein synthesis function of the bacterial ribosome. Thus, multidrug efflux within A. baumannii and other highly drug-resistant strains is a major cause of failure of drug-based treatments of infectious diseases. We here report the first structures of the Acinetobacterdrug efflux (Ade)J pump in the presence of the antibiotic eravacycline, using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). We also describe cryo-EM structures of the eravacycline-bound forms of the A. baumannii ribosome, including the 70S, 50S, and 30S forms. Our data indicate that the AdeJ pump primarily uses hydrophobic interactions to bind eravacycline, while the 70S ribosome utilizes electrostatic interactions to bind this drug. Our work here highlights how an antibiotic can bind multiple bacterial targets through different mechanisms and potentially enables drug optimization by taking advantage of these different modes of ligand binding.
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84
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Klenotic PA, Moseng MA, Morgan CE, Yu EW. Structural and Functional Diversity of Resistance-Nodulation-Cell Division Transporters. Chem Rev 2021; 121:5378-5416. [PMID: 33211490 PMCID: PMC8119314 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria are a global threat with many common infections becoming increasingly difficult to eliminate. While significant effort has gone into the development of potent biocides, the effectiveness of many first-line antibiotics has been diminished due to adaptive resistance mechanisms. Bacterial membrane proteins belonging to the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily play significant roles in mediating bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. They participate in multidrug efflux and cell wall biogenesis to transform bacterial pathogens into "superbugs" that are resistant even to last resort antibiotics. In this review, we summarize the RND superfamily of efflux transporters with a primary focus on the assembly and function of the inner membrane pumps. These pumps are critical for extrusion of antibiotics from the cell as well as the transport of lipid moieties to the outer membrane to establish membrane rigidity and stability. We analyze recently solved structures of bacterial inner membrane efflux pumps as to how they bind and transport their substrates. Our cumulative data indicate that these RND membrane proteins are able to utilize different oligomerization states to achieve particular activities, including forming MDR pumps and cell wall remodeling machineries, to ensure bacterial survival. This mechanistic insight, combined with simulated docking techniques, allows for the design and optimization of new efflux pump inhibitors to more effectively treat infections that today are difficult or impossible to cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip A. Klenotic
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland OH 44106, USA
| | - Mitchell A. Moseng
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland OH 44106, USA
| | - Christopher E. Morgan
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland OH 44106, USA
| | - Edward W. Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland OH 44106, USA
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85
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Marklund S, Tistad M, Lundell S, Östrand L, Sörlin A, Boström C, Wadell K, Nyberg A. Experiences and Factors Affecting Usage of an eHealth Tool for Self-Management Among People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Qualitative Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e25672. [PMID: 33929327 PMCID: PMC8122287 DOI: 10.2196/25672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Self-management strategies are regarded as highly prioritized in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment guidelines. However, individual and structural barriers lead to a staggering amount of people with COPD that are not offered support for such strategies, and new approaches are urgently needed to circumvent these barriers. A promising way of delivering health services such as support for self-management strategies is the use of eHealth tools. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the usage of, and factors affecting the use of, eHealth tools over time in people with COPD. Objective This study aimed, among people with COPD, to explore and describe the experiences of an eHealth tool over time and factors that might affect usage. Methods The eHealth tool included information on evidence-based self-management treatment for people with COPD, including texts, pictures, videos as well as interactive components such as a step registration function with automatized feedback. In addition to the latter, automated notifications of new content and pedometers were used as triggers to increase usage. After having access to the tool for 3 months, 16 individuals (12 women) with COPD were individually interviewed. At 12 months’ access to the tool, 7 (5 women) of the previous 16 individuals accepted a second individual interview. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. User frequency was considered in the analysis, and participants were divided into users and nonusers/seldom users depending on the number of logins and minutes of usage per month. Results Three main categories, namely, ambiguous impact, basic conditions for usage, and approaching capability emerged from the analysis, which, together with their subcategories, reflect the participants’ experiences of using the eHealth tool. Nonusers/seldom users (median 1.5 logins and 1.78 minutes spent on the site per month) reported low motivation, a higher need for technical support, a negative view about the disease and self-management, and had problematic health literacy as measured by the Communicative and Critical Health Literacy Scale (median [range] 154 [5-2102]). Users (median 10 logins and 43 minutes per month) felt comfortable with information technology (IT) tools, had a positive view on triggers, and had sufficient health literacy (median [range] 5 [5-1400]). Benefits including behavior changes were mainly expressed after 12 months had passed and mainly among users. Conclusions Findings of this study indicate that the level of motivation, comfortability with IT tools, and the level of health literacy seem to affect usage of an eHealth tool over time. Besides, regarding behavioral changes, gaining benefits from the eHealth tool seems reserved for the users and specifically after 12 months, thus suggesting that eHealth tools can be suitable media for supporting COPD-specific self-management skills, although not for everyone or at all times. These novel findings are of importance when designing new eHealth tools as well as when deciding on whether or not an eHealth tool might be appropriate to use if the goal is to support self-management among people with COPD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02696187; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02696187 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016851
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Marklund
- Section of Physiotherapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Malin Tistad
- School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sara Lundell
- Section of Physiotherapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lina Östrand
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann Sörlin
- Section of Physiotherapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Carina Boström
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Karin Wadell
- Section of Physiotherapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Andre Nyberg
- Section of Physiotherapy, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Griboura N, Gatzonas K, Neochoritis CG. Still Relevant Today: The Asinger Multicomponent Reaction. ChemMedChem 2021; 16:1997-2020. [PMID: 33769692 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The Asinger multicomponent reaction is a versatile synthetic tool which gives access to multiple drug-like scaffolds such as 3-thiazolines. The diversity and easy access of its starting materials, its operational simplicity combined with mild conditions and relatively good yields, renders the Asinger reaction, today more than ever, a cornerstone not only in heterocyclic chemistry and modern synthesis but also in medicinal chemistry. In this review, we perform a thorough analysis of the scope and limitations on the different reaction variants with their starting materials, the three-dimensional solid-state conformations of the Asinger derivatives, and we underline and classify all the major post-modifications that have been described. In addition, we report all the major applications in drug discovery projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nefeli Griboura
- Chemistry Department, School of Science and Engineering, University of Crete, 70013, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Gatzonas
- Chemistry Department, School of Science and Engineering, University of Crete, 70013, Heraklion, Greece
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Progeny fitness determines the performance of the parasitoid Therophilus javanus, a prospective biocontrol agent against the legume pod borer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8990. [PMID: 33903703 PMCID: PMC8076171 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88644-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Therophilus javanus (Bhat & Gupta) is an exotic larval endoparasitoid newly imported from Asia into Africa as a classical biological control agent against the pod borer Maruca vitrata (Fabricius). The parasitoid preference for the five larval instars of M. vitrata and their influence on progeny sex ratio were assessed together with the impact of larval host age at the time of oviposition on development time, mother longevity and offspring production. In a choice situation, female parasitoids preferred to oviposit in the first three larval instars. The development of immature stages of the parasitoid was observed inside three-day-old hosts, whereby the first two larval instars of T. javanus completed their development as endoparasites and the third larval instar as ectoparasite. The development time was faster when first larval instars (two- and three-day-old) of the host caterpillars were parasitized compared to second larval instar (four-day-old). The highest proportion of daughters (0.51) was observed when females were provided with four-day-old hosts. The lowest intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.21 ± 0.01), the lowest rate of increase (λ) (1.23 ± 0.01), and the lowest net reproductive rate (Ro) (35.93 ± 6.51) were recorded on four-day-old hosts. These results are discussed in the light of optimizing mass rearing and release strategies.
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88
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Strudwick G, Sockalingam S, Kassam I, Sequeira L, Bonato S, Youssef A, Mehta R, Green N, Agic B, Soklaridis S, Impey D, Wiljer D, Crawford A. Digital Interventions to Support Population Mental Health in Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Rapid Review. JMIR Ment Health 2021; 8:e26550. [PMID: 33650985 PMCID: PMC7927953 DOI: 10.2196/26550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of negative health related consequences, including impacts on mental health. More than 22% of Canadians reported that they had felt depressed in the last week, in response to a December 2020 national survey. Given the need to physically distance during the pandemic, and the increase in demand for mental health services, digital interventions that support mental health and wellness may be beneficial. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this research was to identify digital interventions that could be used to support the mental health of the Canadian general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives were to identify (1) the populations these interventions were developed for, inclusive of exploring areas of equity such as socioeconomic status, sex/gender, race/ethnicity and culture, and relevance to Indigenous peoples and communities; (2) the effect of the interventions; and (3) any barriers or facilitators to the use of the intervention. METHODS This study was completed using a Cochrane Rapid Review methodology. A search of Embase, PsycInfo, Medline, and Web of Science, along with Google, Million Short, and popular mobile app libraries, was conducted. Two screeners were involved in applying inclusion criteria using Covidence software. Academic articles and mobile apps identified were screened using the Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields resource, the American Psychiatric Association App Evaluation Framework, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada's guidance on app assessment and selection. RESULTS A total of 31 mobile apps and 114 web-based resources (eg, telemedicine, virtual peer support groups, discussion forums, etc) that could be used to support the mental health of the Canadian population during the pandemic were identified. These resources have been listed on a publicly available website along with search tags that may help an individual make a suitable selection. Variability exists in the populations that the interventions were developed for, and little assessment has been done with regard to areas of equity. The effect of the interventions was not reported for all those identified in this synthesis; however, for those that did report the effect, it was shown that they were effective in the context that they were used. A number of barriers and facilitators to using these interventions were identified, such as access, cost, and connectivity. CONCLUSIONS A number of digital interventions that could support population mental health in Canada during the global COVID-19 pandemic were identified, indicating that individuals have several options to choose from. These interventions vary in their purpose, approach, design, cost, and targeted user group. While some research and digital interventions addressed equity-related considerations, more research and focused attention should be given to this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Strudwick
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sanjeev Sockalingam
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Iman Kassam
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lydia Sequeira
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Bonato
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alaa Youssef
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rohan Mehta
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Branka Agic
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sophie Soklaridis
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - David Wiljer
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Allison Crawford
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Chowdhury MAF, Shanto PA, Ahmed A, Rumana RH. Does foreign direct investments impair the ecological footprint? New evidence from the panel quantile regression. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:14372-14385. [PMID: 33210250 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11518-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the impact of foreign direct investments on ecological footprint along with other explanatory variables of 92 countries from the year 2001 to 2016. Here, we applied the panel quantile regression model to meet the purpose of our study as it considers unobserved country heterogeneity, unlike other statistical methods. The study reveals that foreign direct investment has a positive relationship with the ecological footprint in each quantile except one, which proves the constancy of the pollution haven hypothesis. Moreover, we also tried to detect the impact of economic growth, manufacturing value-added, the percentage of world exports, and institutional quality on the ecological footprint in this study. The findings of this study also reveal that economic growth and manufacturing value-added are negatively associated with the ecological footprint. With respect to the percentage of world exports and institutional quality, we found a positive relationship with the ecological footprint. From the result of our study, different policy implications have been proposed for host countries and foreign investors on improving the economy through foreign direct investment with minimal ecological footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peal Ahamed Shanto
- Department of Business Administration, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Afsana Ahmed
- Department of Business Administration, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Rabeya Hossain Rumana
- Department of Business Administration, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, Bangladesh
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Manfredi C, Fernández-Pascual E, Linares-Espinós E, Couñago F, Martínez-Salamanca JI. New frontiers in focal therapy for prostate cancer: Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging. World J Clin Oncol 2021; 12:61-68. [PMID: 33680874 PMCID: PMC7918526 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v12.i2.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging has a central role in the context of focal therapy (FT) for prostate cancer (PCa). Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) is a novel imaging modality that combines the morpho-functional information of MRI with the molecular characterization of PET. Some papers reported the potential advantages of PSMA PET/MRI in different clinical scenarios. Limited evidence on PSMA PET/MRI is available in the setting of FT. PSMA PET/MRI can be an effective imaging modality for detecting primary PCa and seems to provide accurate local staging of primary PCa. PSMA PET/MRI also shows high performance for restaging and detecting tumor recurrence. The higher soft-tissue contrast and the reduction of ionizing radiation are the main advantages reported in the literature compared to PET/computed tomography. PSMA PET/MRI could represent a turning point in the management of patients with PCa in the context of FT. Further studies are needed to confirm its applications in this specific clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Manfredi
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, Urology Unit, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples 81110, Italy
| | - Esaú Fernández-Pascual
- Department of Urology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid 28046, Spain
- LYX Institute of Urology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - Estefanía Linares-Espinós
- Department of Urology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid 28046, Spain
- LYX Institute of Urology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Couñago
- Radiation Oncology, Hospital Universitario Quirónsalud Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón 28223, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Ignacio Martínez-Salamanca
- LYX Institute of Urology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Pozuelo de Alarcón 28223, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Urology, Hospital Universitario Puerta Hierro-Majadahonda, Majadahonda 28222, Madrid, Spain
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Morgan CE, Glaza P, Leus IV, Trinh A, Su CC, Cui M, Zgurskaya HI, Yu EW. Cryoelectron Microscopy Structures of AdeB Illuminate Mechanisms of Simultaneous Binding and Exporting of Substrates. mBio 2021; 12:e03690-20. [PMID: 33622726 PMCID: PMC8545137 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03690-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative pathogen that has emerged as one of the most highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria worldwide. Multidrug efflux within these highly drug-resistant strains and other opportunistic pathogens is a major cause of failure of drug-based treatments of infectious diseases. The best-characterized multidrug efflux system in A. baumannii is the prevalent Acinetobacterdrug efflux B (AdeB) pump, which is a member of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily. Here, we report six structures of the trimeric AdeB multidrug efflux pump in the presence of ethidium bromide using single-particle cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM). These structures allow us to directly observe various novel conformational states of the AdeB trimer, including the transmembrane region of trimeric AdeB can be associated with form a trimer assembly or dissociated into "dimer plus monomer" and "monomer plus monomer plus monomer" configurations. We also discover that a single AdeB protomer can simultaneously anchor a number of ethidium ligands and that different AdeB protomers can bind ethidium molecules simultaneously. Combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we reveal a drug transport mechanism that involves multiple multidrug-binding sites and various transient states of the AdeB membrane protein. Our data suggest that each AdeB protomer within the trimer binds and exports drugs independently.IMPORTANCEAcinetobacter baumannii has emerged as one of the most highly antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. The prevalent AdeB multidrug efflux pump mediates resistance to a broad spectrum of clinically relevant antimicrobial agents. Here, we report six cryo-EM structures of the trimeric AdeB pump in the presence of ethidium bromide. We discover that a single AdeB protomer can simultaneously anchor a number of ligands, and different AdeB protomers can bind ethidium molecules simultaneously. The results indicate that each AdeB protomer within the trimer recognizes and extrudes drugs independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher E Morgan
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Przemyslaw Glaza
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Inga V Leus
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Anhthu Trinh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Chih-Chia Su
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Meng Cui
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University School of Pharmacy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Helen I Zgurskaya
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Edward W Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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92
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An Analysis of the Novel Fluorocycline TP-6076 Bound to Both the Ribosome and Multidrug Efflux Pump AdeJ from Acinetobacter baumannii. mBio 2021; 13:e0373221. [PMID: 35100868 PMCID: PMC8805024 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03732-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens continues to pose a serious global health threat. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of the Gram-negative organism Acinetobacter baumannii utilize a number of resistance determinants to evade current antibiotics. One of the major resistance mechanisms employed by these pathogens is the use of multidrug efflux pumps. These pumps extrude xenobiotics directly out of bacterial cells, resulting in treatment failures when common antibiotics are administered. Here, the structure of the novel tetracycline antibiotic TP-6076, bound to both the Acinetobacter drug efflux pump AdeJ and the ribosome from Acinetobacter baumannii, using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), is elucidated. In this work, the structure of the AdeJ-TP-6076 complex is solved, and we show that AdeJ utilizes a network of hydrophobic interactions to recognize this fluorocycline. Concomitant with this, we elucidate three structures of TP-6076 bound to the A. baumannii ribosome and determine that its binding is stabilized largely by electrostatic interactions. We then compare the differences in binding modes between TP-6076 and the related tetracycline antibiotic eravacycline in both targets. These differences suggest that modifications to the tetracycline core may be able to alter AdeJ binding while maintaining interactions with the ribosome. Together, this work highlights how different mechanisms are used to stabilize the binding of tetracycline-based compounds to unique bacterial targets and provides guidance for the future clinical development of tetracycline antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Treatment of antibiotic-resistant organisms such as A. baumannii represents an ongoing issue for modern medicine. The multidrug efflux pump AdeJ serves as a major resistance determinant in A. baumannii through its action of extruding antibiotics from the cell. In this work, we use cryo-EM to show how AdeJ recognizes the experimental tetracycline antibiotic TP-6076 and prevents this drug from interacting with the A. baumannii ribosome. Since AdeJ and the ribosome use different binding modes to stabilize interactions with TP-6076, exploiting these differences may guide future drug development for combating antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii and potentially other strains of MDR bacteria.
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93
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Ershov MA, Grigorieva EV, Abdellatief TMM, Kapustin VM, Abdelkareem MA, Kamil M, Olabi AG. Hybrid low-carbon high-octane oxygenated gasoline based on low-octane hydrocarbon fractions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 756:142715. [PMID: 33127130 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Low-carbon fuel is the main trend in the development of oil refining in leading countries. Likewise, efforts continue optimizing internal combustion engines for increasing their fuel economy, and therefore exhaust emissions will be reduced. This research proposes a novel approach for producing low-carbon high-octane oxygenated environmentally friendly motor gasoline based on low-octane hydrocarbon fractions. Experimental studies of the antiknock performance for four representatives of oxygenated compounds, involving bioethanol, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), isopropanol, and 2-methylfuran with low-octane hydrocarbon fractions, as well as low-octane blends of individual hydrocarbons of surrogate fuels were carried out. Additionally, the change in antilocking performance of oxygenated compounds has been dependent on their types and group composition of the base low-octane motor fuel. The results illustrated that high-octane environmentally friendly motor gasolines RON 91 and RON 95 have been produced. Besides, the injectivity of hydrocarbons to oxygenated compounds by the ability to increase the octane rating by the research method will increase in the series: olefins < naphthenes < aromatics < paraffins, and by the motor method:naphthenes < olefins < aromatics < paraffins. Finally, environmentally friendly motor gasoline can decrease the environment impacts, reduce the overhead charges, as well as maximize the product quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail A Ershov
- Department of Oil Refining Technology, Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Moscow 119991, Russia.
| | - Ekaterina V Grigorieva
- Department of Motor Fuels, "All-Russia Research Institute of Oil Refining" Joint Stock Company (VNII NP JSC), Moscow 111116, Russia
| | - Tamer M M Abdellatief
- Department of Oil Refining Technology, Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Moscow 119991, Russia; Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, EL-Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Vladimir M Kapustin
- Department of Oil Refining Technology, Faculty of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University), Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, EL-Minia 61519, Egypt; Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Sharjah, 27272 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Kamil
- Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering Department, University of Sharjah, 27272 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - A G Olabi
- Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Sharjah, 27272 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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94
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Bellido-Fernández L, Jiménez-Rejano JJ, Chillón-Martínez R, Lorenzo-Muñoz A, Pinero-Pinto E, Rebollo-Salas M. Clinical relevance of massage therapy and abdominal hypopressive gymnastics on chronic nonspecific low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Disabil Rehabil 2021; 44:4233-4240. [PMID: 33587856 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1884903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the clinical relevance of the effects that Massage-Therapy (MT) and Abdominal-Hypopressive-Gymnastics (AHG) and the combination of both procedures have on the disability, pain intensity, quality of life, and lumbar mobility of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). METHODS A randomized controlled-trial with parallel-groups, concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis was carried out. The sample included 60 adults with CNSLBP. The participants received MT (n = 20), AHG (n = 20), or MT + AHG (n = 20). Each group received 8 interventions. RESULTS The ODI change scores were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the MT + AHG group than in the other two groups. Significant differences were found in the results of NRS, Schober's test, and SF-12 PCS (p < 0.05) in each group. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the values of SF-12 MCS in AHG and MT + AHG groups. CONCLUSIONS Massage Therapy and Abdominal Hypopressive Gymnastics reduce pain levels, increase the mobility of the lumbar spine, and improve disability and quality of life (PCS) in patients with CNSLBP in the short term. Likewise, AHG and MT + AHG improve quality of life (MCS). The combination of both therapies provides more benefits in terms of lumbar disability in patients with CNSLBP in the short term. This improvement is clinically relevant. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02721914). IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMassage Therapy (MT) and Abdominal Hypopressive Gymnastics (AHG), reduce pain, improve mobility and quality of life, and reduce disability in the short term.These results are clinically relevant.The combination of manual and active therapy (MT + AHG) seems to be more effective and produces clinically relevant changes.
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95
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Is Sharing a Better Alternative for the Planet? The Contribution of Sharing Economy to Sustainable Development Goals. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13041843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The sharing economy has been presented as a potential contributor to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to the change it brings to consumption patterns. Although this potential has been identified in different papers, there is not, as far as we know, a single article that explains in detail all the possible platforms through which the sharing economy can contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. This paper addresses this topic by reviewing the existing literature involving the sharing economy and the SDGs, and by analyzing the main characteristics attributed to this business model, and how each one of them may in theory contribute to the SDGs. Our paper advances the field by establishing hitherto undiscovered relationships between the two concepts, while laying the foundations for corroborating our theoretical findings in future analytical studies.
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96
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do Vale B, Lopes AP, Fontes MDC, Silvestre M, Cardoso L, Coelho AC. Bats, pangolins, minks and other animals - villains or victims of SARS-CoV-2? Vet Res Commun 2021; 45:1-19. [PMID: 33464439 PMCID: PMC7813668 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-021-09787-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute Respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has become unstoppable, spreading rapidly worldwide and, consequently, reaching a pandemic level. This review aims to provide the information available so far on the likely animal origin of SARS-CoV-2 and its possible hosts/reservoirs as well as all natural animal infections and experimental evidence using animal models. Horseshoe bats from the species Rhinolophus affinis seem to be a natural reservoir and pangolins (Manis javanica) appear to be an intermediate host of SARS-CoV-2. Humans remain the most likely spreading source of SARS-CoV-2 to other humans and also to domestic, zoo and farm animals. Indeed, human-to-animal transmission has been reported in cats, dogs, tigers, lions, a puma and minks. Animal-to-human transmission is not a sustained pathway, although mink-to-human transmission remains to be elucidated. Through experimental infections, other animals seem also to be susceptible hosts for SARS-CoV-2, namely ferrets, some non-human primate species, hamsters and transgenic mice, while dogs, pigs and poultry are resistant. A One Health perspective must be implemented in order to develop epidemiological surveillance and establish disease control mechanisms to limit zoonotic transmission. Moreover, research in this field is important to better understand SARS-CoV-2 and to obtain the long-awaited vaccine and specific treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz do Vale
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Maria da Conceição Fontes
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Mário Silvestre
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
- Department of Zootechnics, ECAV, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
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97
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McCarthy RR, Larrouy-Maumus GJ, Meiqi Tan MGC, Wareham DW. Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms and Their Transmission in Acinetobacter baumannii. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1313:135-153. [PMID: 34661894 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-67452-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of penicillin over 90 years ago and its subsequent uptake by healthcare systems around the world revolutionised global health. It marked the beginning of a golden age in antibiotic discovery with new antibiotics readily discovered from natural sources and refined into therapies that saved millions of lives. Towards the end of the last century, the rate of discovery slowed to a near standstill. The lack of discovery is compounded by the rapid emergence and spread of bacterial pathogens that exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotic therapies and threaten the sustainability of global healthcare systems. Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen whose prevalence and impact has grown significantly over the last 20 years. It is recognised as a barometer of the antibiotic resistance crisis due to the diverse array of mechanisms by which it can become resistant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan R McCarthy
- Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.
| | - Gerald J Larrouy-Maumus
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mei Gei C Meiqi Tan
- Antimicrobial Research Group, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University London, London, UK
| | - David W Wareham
- Antimicrobial Research Group, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University London, London, UK
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98
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Online psychotherapy practice by psychodynamic therapists. PSICO 2020. [DOI: 10.15448/1980-8623.2020.3.36529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Online psychotherapy was recognized by the Federal Council of Psychology Resolution n. 11/2018. With the official recognition of this practice, many professionals raised questions about its equivalence to face-to-face psychotherapy and the possible need of technical adaptations. Considering the lack of research on this theme, this study aimed to explore how psychodynamic/psychoanalytical psychotherapists perceive their own practice in online settings, including technical and relational aspects of the therapeutic process, in comparison to their experience in face-to-face treatments. This is a qualitative study with an exploratory approach. Eight psychologists responded to videoconference interviews. The interviews were audiotaped, fully transcribed, and analyzed by thematic analysis. Results were organized in two major themes (online psychotherapy practice and technique and psychodynamic process in online psychotherapy). Main results indicate online psychodynamic psychotherapy has many distinctive features (e.g. relying on quality of internet connection, fostering focal process, occurring in a more vulnerable setting, and eliciting a different pattern of communication) that require adaptation from therapist. Implication of findings to psychotherapy training and practice are discussed.
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99
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Epidemiology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Clin Exp Hepatol 2020; 6:289-294. [PMID: 33511275 PMCID: PMC7816638 DOI: 10.5114/ceh.2020.102153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. Its incidence has grown alongside the increasing global prevalence of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The risk of progression to hepatocellular carcinoma for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients over 5 years is 8%, and despite targeted and immunotherapy treatment advances, HCC maintains a bleak 5-year survival of 19%. NAFLD’s primary risk factors are components of metabolic syndrome as well as possible sleep disturbances. NAFLD is most common among men 50-60 years of age, though incidence in women catches up after menopause. In the US, Hispanics are most likely to develop NAFLD and African Americans least likely, in part due to the prevalence of the PNPLA3 gene variant. With NAFLD risk factors especially prevalent in underserved populations and developing nations, public health interventions, earlier diagnosis, and novel treatments could curb the growing disease burden.
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100
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An Acinetobacter non- baumannii Population Study: Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs). Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 10:antibiotics10010016. [PMID: 33375352 PMCID: PMC7823295 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter non-baumannii species are becoming common etiologic agents of nosocomial infections. Furthermore, clinical isolates belonging to this group of bacteria are usually resistant to one or more antibiotics. The current information about antibiotic resistance genes in the different A. non-baumannii species has not yet been studied as a whole. Therefore, we did a comparative study of the resistomes of A. non-baumannii pathogens based on information available in published articles and genome sequences. We searched the available literature and sequences deposited in GenBank to identify the resistance gene content of A. calcoaceticus, A. lwoffii, A. junii, A. soli, A. ursingii, A. bereziniae, A. nosocomialis, A. portensis, A. guerrae, A. baylyi, A. calcoaceticus, A. disperses, A. johnsonii, A. junii, A. lwoffii, A. nosocomialis, A. oleivorans, A. oryzae, A. pittii, A. radioresistens, and A. venetianus. The most common genes were those coding for different β-lactamases, including the carbapenemase genes blaNDM-1 and blaOXA-58. A. pittii was the species with the most β-lactamase resistance genes reported. Other genes that were commonly found include those encoding some aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, the most common being aph(6)-Id, ant(3″)-IIa, and aph(3″)-Ib, and efflux pumps. All or part of the genes coding for the AdeABC, AdeFGH, and AdeIJK efflux pumps were the most commonly found. This article incorporates all the current information about A. non-baumannii resistance genes. The comparison of the different resistomes shows that there are similarities in the genes present, but there are also significant differences that could impact the efficiency of treatments depending on the etiologic agent. This article is a comprehensive resource about A. non-baumannii resistomes.
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