Human Health Care Research Articles

Lyme borreliosis in Brazil: a critical review on the Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (Brazilian Lyme-like disease).

SUMMARYLyme borreliosis or Lyme disease is the most frequently reported tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. In countries of the Southern Hemisphere, such as Brazil, since the early 1990s, some researchers have argued for the existence of an autochthonous Lyme-like borreliosis, known locally as the Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (BYS), an alleged "Brazilian borreliosis" supposedly caused by a different strain of Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by hard ticks. Currently, the existence of BYS in Brazil is still accepted by a large part of the human health care workers, scientists, medical societies, and patients. In fact, this alleged "Brazilian borreliosis" has been the tick-borne zoonotic disease with the greatest number of reported cases and published studies in Brazil during this century, second only to Brazilian spotted fever. In this manuscript, we reviewed all manuscripts directly related to BYS that have been published in Brazil during the last 35 years. This analysis included 199 individual human cases that have been reported in Brazil since 1989, plus multiple studies on ticks, domestic, and wild animals. Our revision aimed to provide a critical opinion on whether the current published works allow healthcare workers, public health agencies, and patients to accept the existence of Lyme disease, BYS, or other Lyme borreliosis-related disease in Brazil. For this purpose, we evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of each published study, considering the diagnostic methods used, such as serological, microbiological, and molecular analyses. Based on these evaluations, we conclude that there is not enough evidence to support the occurrence of Lyme borreliosis in Brazil or that BYS (Brazilian Lyme-like disease) is caused by a bacterium of the genus Borrelia. This assumption is based on the inaccuracy, unreliability, and misinterpretation of the different diagnostic methods that have been used in Brazil. Recognizing the lack of technical evidence for the occurrence of Lyme borreliosis in Brazil has highly relevant implications. For example, it becomes imperative to raise awareness among the country's medical profession, as they have adopted unnecessary and extreme therapies recommended for patients with a supposed borrelial infection, including BYS, in Brazil. Finally, the technical analyses carried out in this study could be applied to other countries in the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., Argentina, South Africa, Australia), where cases classified and alleged as Lyme disease have been reported.

Facile synthesis of Fe3O4 photothermal nanoparticles coated with poly-3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde for improved photothermal therapy of cancer cells

Given the significant rise in the number of individuals diagnosed with cancer, the management of cancer therapy has become a prominent concern in society and a formidable task in human health care. Photothermal therapy has garnered significant interest in cancer treatment because of its exceptional efficacy and minimal invasiveness. Thus, current research mainly focuses on developing biocompatible materials with excellent photothermal properties. Therefore, we synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with poly-3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (Fe3O4@PDBA) where 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde was covalently polymerized onto the surface of Fe3O4. The induction of PDBA leads to a dramatical improvement in the photothermal properties of Fe3O4. Besides, the thickness of the PDBA shell layer is also a key factor in the photothermal performance and various physicochemical properties of Fe3O4@PDBA and the photothermal performance of Fe3O4@PDBA increases with increasing thickness of the PDBA shell. Additional structural characterization of the products, DFT calculations of the UV-Vis absorption spectra and the HOMO-LUMO gap under the simple model of the polymer, and product identification by the use of H1NMR, MS, and other techniques were performed. Through multiple characterizations, the reaction solution color and UV-Vis absorption spectra were essentially consistent with the computed findings. The calculations confirm that the polymerization process of PDBA is progressively red-shifted and the absorption is gradually enhanced in the NIR region. Fe3O4@PDBA exhibited strong cytotoxicity against cancer cells (Hela, 98.0%) in vitro photothermal treatment. Hence, Fe3O4@PDBA exhibits superior photothermal characteristics, targeting, biocompatibility (99.0%), and degradability, which brings about significant potential for photothermal cancer therapy.

MVOC 4.0: a database of microbial volatiles.

Metabolomic microbiome research has become an important topic for understanding agricultural, ecological as well as health correlations. Only the determination of both the non-volatile and the volatile organic compound (mVOC) production by microorganisms allows a holistic view for understanding the complete potential of metabolomes and metabolic capabilities of bacteria. In the recent past, more and more bacterial headspaces and culture media were analyzed, leading to an accumulation of about 3500 mVOCs in the updated mVOC 4.0 database, including compounds synthesized by the newly discovered non-canonical terpene pathway. Approximately 10% of all mVOCs can be assigned with a biological function, some mVOCs have the potential to impact agriculture in the future (e.g. eco-friendly pesticides) or animal and human health care. mVOC 4.0 offers various options for exploring extensively annotated mVOC data from different perspectives, including improved mass spectrometry matching. The mVOC 4.0 database includes literature searches with additional relevant keywords, making it the most up-to-date and comprehensive publicly available mVOC platform at: http://bioinformatics.charite.de/mvoc.

Artificial Skin Based on Visuo‐Tactile Sensing for 3D Shape Reconstruction: Material, Method, and Evaluation

AbstractArtificial skin has shown great potential in robot perception and human healthcare. It provides multifunctional tactile sensing, including 3D shape reconstruction, contact feedback, and temperature perception, where the 3D reconstruction function is indispensable for dexterous hands in tactile cognition and interaction. Vision‐based tactile sensor (VTS) is an innovative bionic tactile sensor and supports high‐resolution, high‐precision, and high‐density tactile reconstruction compared with electronic tactile sensors. Considering the unique contribution of visuo‐tactile sensing to artificial skin, this review focuses on the 3D reconstruction techniques of the VTS. 3D reconstruction methods are classified into five categories based on sensing modalities, hardware categories, and modeling approaches: 1) photometric stereo, 2) binocular depth calibration, 3) optical flow, 4) deep learning, and 5) ToF (time of flight). In addition, the association and difference of reconstruction methods are analyzed from the hardware perspective, and the development and technological details of 3D reconstruction are summarized. On this basis, the challenges and development direction are discussed. This review can be viewed as a technology guide to provide references for interested researchers. Furthermore, it is expected to promote the extensive application of the VTS in artificial skins.

The United European Gastroenterology green paper-climate change and gastroenterology.

Climate change, described by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021 as 'the single biggest health threat facing humanity', causes extreme weather, disrupts food supplies, and increases the prevalence of diseases, thereby affecting human health, medical practice, and healthcare stability. Greener Gastroenterology is an important movement that has the potential to make a real difference in reducing the impact of the delivery of healthcare, on the environment. The WHO defines an environmentally sustainable health system as one which would improve, maintain or restore health while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Gastroenterologists encounter the impacts of climate change in daily patient care. Alterations in the gut microbiome and dietary habits, air pollution, heat waves, and the distribution of infectious diseases result in changed disease patterns affecting gastrointestinal and hepatic health, with particularly severe impacts on vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents, and the elderly. Additionally, women are disproportionally affected, since climate change can exacerbate gender inequalities. Paradoxically, while healthcare aims to improve health, the sector is responsible for 4.4% of global carbon emissions. Endoscopy is a significant waste producer in healthcare, being the third highest generator with 3.09kg of waste per day per bed, contributing to the carbon footprint of the GI sector. Solutions to the climate crisis can offer significant health co-benefits. Steps to reduce our carbon footprint include fostering a Planetary Health Diet and implementing measures for greener healthcare, such as telemedicine, digitalization, education, and research on sustainable healthcare practices. Adhering to the principles of 'reduce, reuse, recycle' is crucial. Reducing unnecessary procedures, which constitute a significant portion of endoscopies, can significantly decrease the carbon footprint and enhance sustainability. This position paper by the United European Gastroenterology aims to raise awareness and outline key principles that the GI workforce can adopt to tackle the climate crisis together.

E-waste driven eco-friendly highly sensitive wearable capacitive sensors for physical activity monitoring and sign language recognition

Owing to the continual and rapid advancement in technology, there has been a significant surge in electronic waste (e-waste) in recent decades, resulting in a harmful impact on our environment. Due to the growing demand for battery-powered devices, non-rechargeable batteries are a significant source of e-waste. This study describes fabricating a paper-based graphite strain sensor that is eco-friendly, inexpensive, biodegradable, and sensitive to the applied strain. Readily accessible materials are employed to design and fabricate MIDC strain sensors. The Modified Interdigital Capacitor (MIDC) structure is formed on basic printing paper, and the conductive substance made with the ink of a gel pen and graphite from a drained dry cell is painted on the paper and used as electrode material. The suggested sensor has a high gauge factor value of 1998.578 and fast response and recovery time of 112 ms and 100 ms, respectively. The proposed prototype has also been utilized to inspect fitness exercises and physical activities on the human body, inspiring the potential for its integration into wearable systems for various applications. Reliable detection and differentiation of finger positions are achieved, highlighting the sensor's potential for more advanced sign language applications. It’s a good option to integrate the suggested strain sensor in wearable systems, such as telemedicine systems, electromechanical detection, healthcare, and physical activity monitoring of humans.

A Review on Endangered Medicinal Plants of Melghat Forest in Amravati District

The Melghat Forest, located in the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra, is known for its rich biodiversity including a variety of plant and animal species. However, like many other forested area, the Melghat Forest is facing threats from various anthropogenic activities, such as deforestation, habitat destruction, and the introduction of exotic species. (Sharma, 2015) To address these challenges, the state government has implemented various conservation measures, including the establishment of a threatened fauna management framework. Some of these endangered medicinal plants are Saussaureea lappa, Picorrhiza kurroa, Ginkgo Biloba, Swertia chirata,Gymnema sylvestre,Tinospora cordifolia,Salaca oblonga,Holostemma,Celastrus paniculata,Oroxylum indicum, Glycyrrhiza glabra,Typophora indica,Bacopa monnieri,Rauwolfia serpentine. The most important species in these forests is Teak(Tectona Grandis).Teak forests occupy over 11500 sq.km.area which is about 1/5 of the area under forest department.The present investigation of some of the plants which are more important to human healthcare and may be extinct in future.

Antibiotic prescription, dispensing and use in humans and livestock in East Africa: does morality have a role to play?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to human and livestock health. Although AMR is driven by use of antimicrobials, it is often attributed to "misuse" and "overuse", particularly for antibiotics. To curb resistance, there has been a global call to embrace new forms of moral personhood that practice "proper" use, including prescription, dispensing and consumption of antimicrobials, especially antibiotics. This paper seeks to reflect on complex questions about how morality has become embedded /embodied in the AMR discourse as presented in the data collected on antimicrobial prescription, dispensing and use in human and livestock health in Tanzania, primarily focusing on antibiotics. This reflection is anchored on Jarrett Zigon's morality framework that is comprised of three dimensions of discourse; the institutional, public, and embodied dispositions. The data we use within this framework are derived from a qualitative study targeting human and animal health care service providers and community members in northern Tanzania. Data were collected through 28 in-depth interviews and ten focus group discussions and analysed through content analysis after translation and transcription. In addition, a review of the Tanzania's National Action Plans on antimicrobial resistance was conducted. Application of the framework demonstrates points of convergence and divergence in the institutional morality discourse articulated by the Tanzania National Action Plans, the public discourse and the embodied dispositions/ lived experiences of human and animal health care service providers and community members. We demonstrate that AMR is not just associated with "inappropriate" behaviour on the part of drug prescribers, dispensers, and users but also with shortcomings in health systems and service delivery. Antibiotic dispensing and use practices that may be associated with the development of AMR should not be viewed in isolation from the broader health context within which they occur.

Managing COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons - a brief review of literature and key lessons learnt.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, prisons faced a unique challenge of preventing and managing outbreaks with minimal adverse impact. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in prisons, identify lessons learnt and make recommendations. The authors used the PubMed advanced search function using MeSH terms; (coronavirus, sars) AND (prisons) AND (disease outbreaks). The authors included original research reporting COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons. All other types and non-English publications were excluded. The authors used a structured data abstraction template to extract data systematically, and a second author independently abstracted data from 10% of the papers for quality assurance. The search yielded 96 hits. The authors included 15 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies were from four countries. Seven studies reported individual outbreaks. The mean and median number of inmates and staff were 1,765, 1,126 and 575, 510. The mean and median number of cases among inmates and staff were 584, 464, and 72, 77. The number of reported deaths varied from 0 to 11. The authors present the prison-specific hazards grouped under human factors, healthcare factors and environmental factors. The authors also summarise interventions deployed as either primary prevention interventions, such as vaccinations, or secondary prevention interventions, including screening and contact tracing. This narrative review summarises the prison-specific hazards, which include movement of people in and out of the person, moving in new prisoners from other prisons, mixing of prisoners when transporting to courts, limited medical and isolation resources, crowded dormitories, shared lavatories, small communal facilities, poor ventilation and overcrowding. The interventions included limiting non-medical transfers into and out of the persons, assigning staff members to specific areas, encouraging face coverings among prisoners and staff and social isolation measures within the constraints of the prison setting. The interventions were adopted by prison authorities to contain and manage the outbreaks. Public Health and prison authorities need to be aware of the risk of further outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in these settings and implement key measures identified in this review to minimise adverse outcomes.

Impact of storage on sterility of surgical instruments in autoclave bags

Background: There is no published veterinary research to support an optimal storage duration and method of sterile surgical instrumentation (SI) when using self-seal autoclave bags (SSABs), although aspects of research from human healthcare are transferable. Multiple pieces of research in human healthcare have demonstrated the ability of sterilisation packaging materials to maintain barrier integrity and sterility for several months poststerilisation. Research on an optimal storage method is inconclusive. Aims: To determine an ideal storage duration and method of single SI, packaged in SSABs and sterilised via an autoclave. To determine the current practice of sterilisation, storage methods and durations using SSABs in small animal practice. Methods: This mixed methods study consisted of an online questionnaire to investigate the current procedures for autoclave sterilisation in veterinary practice. Alongside this, a non-randomised control study was conducted to assess the sterility of single SI, packaged in SSABs and sterilised via autoclave, to determine an ideal storage duration and method. SI was sterilised and stored for one, three and six months, in open (on a shelf) and closed (in a box) environments. Results: The questionnaire indicated veterinary professionals are adopting a cautious approach to storage durations with 75.5% (n=40) storing sterile single SI for between one and three months, prior to reprocessing. The experimental study did not identify an optimal storage method and either open or closed could be used for effective storage in undisturbed conditions. It is highly probable that most SI were sterile at the end of the storage durations and for up to 6 months. Conclusions: Laboratory findings are mostly consistent with those in existing literature. Results suggest the storage of sterile SI, in either open or closed environments for up to 6 months was not detrimental to the sterility of the instruments. To encourage good sustainability performance, practices could extend the storage times of sterilised SI prior to reprocessing.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZJUIDS07 ameliorates type 2 diabetes in mice through the microbiome-gut-pancreas axis

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, with its prevalence escalating. It exerts a profound impact on human health care and socio-economic development. Probiotics, known as natural, safe, and minimal side effects, have emerged as promising intervention agents to manage chronic diabetes. Our study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZJUIDS07 for mitigating T2D in mice induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ). Administration of L. rhamnosus ZJUIDS07 led to a reduction in diabetic symptoms, including reversal of weight loss, improvement in hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, mitigation of disruptions in glucose and lipid metabolism, alleviation of pancreatic pathological damage, and reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, treatment with L. rhamnosus ZJUIDS07 could restore intestinal microbiota balance in T2D mice by altering the structure and composition of intestinal microbiota, and increased short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels. Specifically, L. rhamnosus ZJUIDS07 significantly decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Odoribacte, while increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria (especially SCFAs-producing bacteria) such as Muribaculaceae_norank, Dubosiella, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Lactobacillus, and Faecalibaculum. Our findings highlight that L. rhamnosus ZJUIDS07 represents a promising probiotic strategy for future treatment of T2D, and that the modulation of gut microbiota and their metabolites through the microbiome-gut-pancreas axis play a pivotal role for the antidiabetic effects of L. rhamnosus ZJUIDS07.

Antibiotic Resistance And The Future Of Infection Control

This review article focuses on the essential topic of antibiotic resistance, a growing global health threat that calls into question the efficacy of previously effective therapies. It starts by recognizing the enormous influence that antibiotics, which were discovered in the 20th century, have had on medicine. Despite their effectiveness in treating infections, these medications' overuse and abuse have had unforeseen repercussions. Pathogens have evolved a number of defense mechanisms against antibiotics as their usage in human healthcare, agriculture, and animal husbandry has increased. This resistance extends throughout communities and the environment in addition to occurring in clinical settings. The paper emphasizes how environmental variables, agricultural runoff, and other microbes can all contribute to the acquisition of resistance genes. It highlights how gene transfer contributes to the rapid proliferation of resistant strains. The worldwide nature of travel and trade adds to the complexity of this problem by making it easier for resistant germs to spread across national boundaries. Many antibiotics could become ineffective as a result of this resistance crisis, which would raise healthcare expenses, lengthen hospital stays, and raise mortality rates. The essay emphasizes the necessity of a multipronged strategy, including improved antibiotic stewardship, surveillance initiatives, and public education, to counter this threat. It urges cooperation between researchers, legislators, and healthcare professionals in order to create novel remedies and encourage the prudent use of antibiotics. In order to protect public health for future generations, the review intends to increase awareness and motivate action against the spread of antibiotic resistance by addressing these interrelated issues.

Multiplex electrochemical aptasensor for the simultaneous detection of linomycin and neomycin antibiotics

The escalating use of antibiotics across diverse sectors, including human healthcare, agriculture, and livestock, has led to their pervasive presence in the environment, raising concerns about their impact on ecosystems and human health. Traditional detection methods, reliant on high-performance liquid chromatography and immuno-assays, face challenges of complexity, cross-reactivity, and limited specificity. Aptamer-based biosensors offer a promising alternative, leveraging the specificity, stability, and cost-effectiveness of aptamers. Herein, we present a novel dual-screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) biosensor, modified with a nanocomposite of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs), for the label-free electrochemical detection of lincomycin and neomycin antibiotics. Lincomycin and neomycin, two antibiotics of environmental concern due to their widespread usage and potential ecological impact, were simultaneously detected using square wave voltammetry. The aptasensors showed high sensitivity with detection limits of 0.02 pg/mL and 0.035 pg/mL for lincomycin and neomycin, respectively. The developed biosensor exhibited high selectivity and reproducibility in detecting both antibiotics. This multiplex biosensing platform offers a promising strategy for efficient and cost-effective monitoring of antibiotic residues in environmental samples, addressing the critical need for robust detection methods in environmental monitoring and public health surveillance.

Seagrass Meadows: Prospective Candidates for Bioactive Molecules.

Seagrass meadows consist of angiosperms that thrive fully submerged in marine environments and form distinct ecosystems. They provide essential support for many organisms, acting as nursery grounds for species of economic importance. Beyond their ecological roles, seagrasses and their associated microbiomes are rich sources of bioactive compounds with the potential to address numerous human healthcare challenges. Seagrasses produce bioactive molecules responding to physical, chemical, and biological environmental changes. These activities can treat microbe-borne diseases, skin diseases, diabetes, muscle pain, helminthic diseases, and wounds. Seagrasses also offer potential secondary metabolites that can be used for societal benefits. Despite numerous results on their presence and bioactive derivatives, only a few studies have explored the functional and therapeutic properties of secondary metabolites from seagrass. With the increasing spread of epidemics and pandemics worldwide, the demand for alternative drug sources and drug discovery has become an indispensable area of research. Seagrasses present a reliable natural source, making this an opportune moment for further exploration of their pharmacological activities with minimal side effects. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biochemical, phytochemical, and biomedical applications of seagrasses globally over the last two decades, highlighting the prospective areas of future research for identifying biomedical applications.

Oral administration of plumbagin is beneficial in in vivo models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy through control of redox signaling

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle-wasting disease. Recently approved molecular/gene treatments do not solve the downstream inflammation-linked pathophysiological issues such that supportive therapies are required to improve therapeutic efficacy and patients' quality of life. Over the years, a plethora of bioactive natural compounds have been used for human healthcare. Among them, plumbagin, a plant-derived analog of vitamin K3, has shown interesting potential to counteract chronic inflammation with potential therapeutic significance.In this work we evaluated the effects of plumbagin on DMD by delivering it as an oral supplement within food to dystrophic mutant of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and mdx mice. In both DMD models, plumbagin show no relevant adverse effect. In terms of efficacy plumbagin improved the climbing ability of the dystrophic flies and their muscle morphology also reducing oxidative stress in muscles. In mdx mice, plumbagin enhanced the running performance on the treadmill and the muscle strength along with muscle morphology. The molecular mechanism underpinning these actions was found to be the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway, the re-establishment of redox homeostasis and the reduction of inflammation thus generating a more favorable environment for skeletal muscles regeneration after damage.Our data provide evidence that food supplementation with plumbagin modulates the main, evolutionary conserved, mechanistic pathophysiological hallmarks of dystrophy, thus improving muscle function in vivo; the use of plumbagin as a therapeutic in humans should thus be explored further.

Abstract C001: Global disparities in prostate cancer burden: An analysis of the GLOBOCAN 2020 database

Abstract Background: Prostate cancer (PCr) is one of the most common cancers among men globally, with considerable variations in incidence and death rates between racial/ethnic groups and geographical regions. With more than 1.4 million new cases reported in 2020, the global burden of PCr is predicted to double over the next two decades, to 2.9 million new cases and approximately 700,000 fatalities. Understanding the disparities in PCr is crucial for designing targeted treatments, and interventions and addressing health inequities. This study seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of the recent global trends in PCr, focusing on incidence, mortality, and disparities in disease burden. Methods:This study analyzed age-standardized PCr incidence and mortality rates from the GLOBOCAN 2020 database for 174 countries, categorized by region and income level. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to investigate the relationships between PCr rates and socioeconomic factors like the Human Development Index (HDI) and healthcare expenditure (HE). The study evaluated PCr distribution across age and geography, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results:PCr incidence rates were highest in developed regions like Northern America (73.8/100,000), Western Europe (69.1/100,000), and Australia/New Zealand (88.2/100,000), and lowest in Eastern Asia (10.5/100,000) and Northern Africa (9.7/100,000). Mortality patterns were similar, with highest rates in the Caribbean (29.3/100,000) and Sub-Saharan Africa (26.6/100,000), and lowest in Eastern Asia (4.1/100,000) and Northern Africa (8.3/100,000). While incidence correlated positively with the HDI (p<0.001), mortality showed no significant association after adjusting for HE. Conclusion:This global analysis revealed major disparities in PCr incidence and mortality rates. Incidence was higher in developed regions, while mortality was elevated in economically disadvantaged areas. Further research is needed to understand the complex genetic, environmental, and socioeconomic factors driving these disparities. Key Takeaways: There is a continued need for targeted interventions to reduce the global burden of PCr and address disparities in disease burden. Citation Format: Olumide Arigbede, Sarah G. Buxbaum, Sara Falzarano, Suhn K. Rhie. Global disparities in prostate cancer burden: An analysis of the GLOBOCAN 2020 database [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C001

Defense mechanisms of Salmonella against antibiotics: a review

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogenic bacterium that causes salmonellosis worldwide. Also, Salmonella is considered a serious problem for food safety and public health. Several antimicrobial classes including aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, phenols, and β-Lactams are used to treat Salmonella infections. Antibiotics have been prescribed for decades to treat infections caused by bacteria in human and animal healthcare. However, intensive use of antibiotics resulted in antibiotic resistance (AR) among several foodborne bacteria including Salmonella. Furthermore, multi-drug resistance (MDR) of Salmonella has increased dramatically. In addition to MDR Salmonella, extensively drug resistant (XDR) as well as pan drug resistant (PDR) Salmonella were reported globally. Therefore, increasing AR is becoming a serious universal public health crisis. Salmonella developed many mechanisms to ensure its survival against antimicrobials. The most prominent defense mechanisms against these antibiotics include enzymatic inactivation, expelling drugs from the cell through efflux pumps, altering the structure of drugs, and changing or protecting the targets of drugs. Additionally, the formation of biofilms and plasmid-mediated AR by Salmonella, enhancing its resistance to various antibiotics, making it a challenging pathogen in both healthcare and food industry settings. This review focuses exclusively on providing a detailed overview of the mechanisms of AR in Salmonella.

Oxidative Stress, Hematological and Histopathological Alterations Recovery by Methanolic Extract of Celtis Occidentalis L. Leaves in Paracetamol-Induced Hepatic Injury in Rabbit

Background: Paracetamol overdose is a leading cause of hepatotoxicity, resulting in oxidative stress and liver damage. Exploring natural therapeutic agents like Celtis occidentalis for their hepatoprotective effects is essential to mitigate these effects.Objective: To evaluate the hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and nephroprotective effects of methanolic extract of Celtis occidentalis leaves in paracetamol-induced hepatic injury in rabbits.Methods: The study involved 40 male rabbits divided into eight groups, including control, paracetamol (2 g/kg), and various doses of Celtis occidentalis extract (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg) with or without silymarin (50 mg/kg). The extract's antioxidant potential was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays. Hepatic and renal function tests, lipid profiles, and hematological parameters were measured, and histopathological evaluations of liver tissues were conducted.Results: The extract showed significant antioxidant activity, with 87.7% DPPH and 89.8% ABTS scavenging at 1000 µg/mL. It reduced ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin levels significantly (P<0.05). High dose extract normalized lipid profiles and improved hematological parameters compared to paracetamol alone.Conclusion: Celtis occidentalis extract exhibited potent hepatoprotective effects, normalizing liver function and mitigating oxidative stress, suggesting its potential use in human healthcare for liver protection.

Mild cognitive impairment prediction based on multi-stream convolutional neural networks

BackgroundMild cognitive impairment (MCI) is the transition stage between the cognitive decline expected in normal aging and more severe cognitive decline such as dementia. The early diagnosis of MCI plays an important role in human healthcare. Current methods of MCI detection include cognitive tests to screen for executive function impairments, possibly followed by neuroimaging tests. However, these methods are expensive and time-consuming. Several studies have demonstrated that MCI and dementia can be detected by machine learning technologies from different modality data. This study proposes a multi-stream convolutional neural network (MCNN) model to predict MCI from face videos.ResultsThe total effective data are 48 facial videos from 45 participants, including 35 videos from normal cognitive participants and 13 videos from MCI participants. The videos are divided into several segments. Then, the MCNN captures the latent facial spatial features and facial dynamic features of each segment and classifies the segment as MCI or normal. Finally, the aggregation stage produces the final detection results of the input video. We evaluate 27 MCNN model combinations including three ResNet architectures, three optimizers, and three activation functions. The experimental results showed that the ResNet-50 backbone with Swish activation function and Ranger optimizer produces the best results with an F1-score of 89% at the segment level. However, the ResNet-18 backbone with Swish and Ranger achieves the F1-score of 100% at the participant level.ConclusionsThis study presents an efficient new method for predicting MCI from facial videos. Studies have shown that MCI can be detected from facial videos, and facial data can be used as a biomarker for MCI. This approach is very promising for developing accurate models for screening MCI through facial data. It demonstrates that automated, non-invasive, and inexpensive MCI screening methods are feasible and do not require highly subjective paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Evaluation of 27 model combinations also found that ResNet-50 with Swish is more stable for different optimizers. Such results provide directions for hyperparameter tuning to further improve MCI predictions.

Enhancing COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness and Uptake in the Post-PHEIC Era: A Narrative Review of Physician-Level and System-Level Strategies.

Following the World Health Organization's declaration that the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), COVID-19 remains an ongoing threat to human health and healthcare systems. Vaccination plays a crucial role in reducing the disease's incidence, mitigating its severity, and limiting transmission, contributing to long-term public health resilience. However, incomplete vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy exist. This narrative review investigates strategies at the system and physician levels aimed at sustaining awareness and uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in a post-PHEIC era. Through an examination of the existing literature, this review explores the effectiveness of diverse approaches utilized by healthcare systems and individual providers. These approaches address every component of the 5C model of vaccine hesitancy: confidence, complacency, constraints/convenience, calculation, and collective responsibility. Physician-level approaches include appropriate message framing, persuasive communication containing safety and personal/social benefit information, sharing of personal stories, creating a safe space for discussion, harnessing co-administration with annual influenza vaccines, and use of decision aids and visual messages. System-level approaches include messaging, mass media for health communication, on-site vaccine availability, pharmacist delivery, healthcare protocol integration, incentives, and chatbot use.