Medical Concern Research Articles

Photoinactivation of Escherichia coli using five photosensitizers and the same number of photons

Bacterial resistance is today a matter of great medical concern, so it is urgent to investigate alternatives to alleviate it. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a method that has been endorsed to inactivate different pathogens, including bacteria, fungi and viruses. PDI is achieved by using a photosensitizer (PS) molecule which generates reactive oxygen species under visible or UV radiation. We use visible light and UV-A radiation to excite four commercial PSs (methylene blue, rose bengal, riboflavin and curcumin), and nanoparticles synthesized in our laboratory. Despite these PSs having been thoroughly studied in the past by other research groups, in order to compare their effects in an appropriate way, we matched the number of photons they absorb. We found that methylene blue leads to the major inactivation of Escherichia coli. Furthermore, we evaluated the production of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals in the photoinactivation process.

The occurrence of cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered livestock in Jahrom, south of Iran

Cystic echincoccosis (CE) is a major medical and veterinary concern in the world, especially in Iran. Domestic intermediate hosts are an important reservoir for the disease spread. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of CE in slaughtered livestock in Jahrom, south of Iran. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 3074 animals (2325 (75.63%) goats, 423 (13.76%) sheep, and 326 (10.60%) cattle) were inspected macroscopically for CE. In this regard, a questionnaire about the age, sex, infected organ, number of cysts, and cyst fertility was accomplished for each animal. Moreover, PCR was applied by using the cytochrome c oxidase I (COX1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) fragments of parasite mitochondrial genomes on some positive samples. Prevalence of CE in sheep, cattle, and goats was 11.34% (48/423), 11.04% (36/326), and 2.79% (65/2325), respectively. In all livestock, CE was more common in females than males. Moreover, the highest infection rate was observed in the age group of more than 72 months. Considering the fertility of cysts, the ratio of the number of fertile cysts to total cysts in sheep and goats were 83.3% (40/48) and 80% (52/65), respectively. All hydatid cysts were infertile in cattle. With regard to the location of the cyst on internal organs, the most were observed in the lungs and liver. Regarding the intensity of infection, 1–5, 6–9 and ≥ 10 cysts were detected in 78.52% (117/149), 6.71% (10/149) and 10.73% (16/149) of infected livestock, respectively. In all livestock, hydatid cyst with a diameter of 1–5 cm was the most frequent with 71.81% (107/149). All 149 cyst samples were subjected to PCR. Among them, a total of 18 samples (six samples of each animal) were prepared for sequencing. G6 was the most dominant. According to the results of present study and the relatively high prevalence of CE in slaughtered livestock in Jahrom, health policy makers, health authorities, and experts should make effective approach in this regard, and implement careful inspections.

Incidence Of Injuries Among Team USA Athletes Competing In Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games

PURPOSE: To describe the incidence of injuries sustained by Team USA athletes during the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on Team USA athlete electronic medical records from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games (July 12 - August 11, 2021). New injuries were defined as any medical concern that was brought to medical attention in accordance with 2020 International Olympic Committee guidelines and classified using the Orchard Sports Injury and Illness Classification System. Details of the athlete (sex) and injury (anatomic location) were examined and incidence rates (IR) with 95% confidence intervals per 1,000 athlete days (AD) were calculated. RESULTS: 158 new injuries were documented among the 626 US athletes (male, n = 341; female, n = 285)) that competed in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, resulting in an IR of 14.1 [95% CI, 11.9, 16.3] per 1,000 AD. Female athletes sustained 60.8% of new injuries (IR, 8.6 [6.9, 10.3] per 1,000 AD) compared to males (IR, 5.5 [4.2, 6.9] per 1,000 AD). Lower limb injuries accounted for 39.9% of all documented injuries (IR, 5.6 [4.2, 7.0] per 1,000 AD); injuries to the knee (n = 22; IR, 2.0 [1.1, 2.8] per 1,000 AD) and ankle/foot (n = 35; IR, 3.1 [2.1, 4.2] per 1,000 AD) made up 90.4% of lower limb injuries. Upper limb injuries (shoulder/arm/elbow, 16.5%, IR, 2.3 [1.4, 3.2] per 1,000 AD; wrist/hand/finger, 8.2%, IR, 1.2 [0.5, 1.8] per 1,000 AD) and spine injuries (lumbar spine, 8.9%, IR, 1.2 [0.6, 1.9] per 1,000 AD; thoracic spine, 3.8%, IR, 0.5 [0.1, 1.0] per 1,000 AD) accounted for 24.7% and 12.7% of all documented injuries, respectively. CONCLUSION: Among Team USA Summer Olympic athletes, lower limb injuries occurred at the highest frequency followed by upper limb and spine injuries. Continued athlete injury surveillance is necessary to prepare for and develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies for future Summer Olympic Games.

Femoral artery ligature for treatment of infected groin pseudoaneurysm in injected drug abusers.

Drug addiction is a major social and medical concern. Infected groin pseudoaneurysm (IGP) is the result of direct arterial needlestick injury associated with contamination of the arterial wall or peri-arterial area by the injection equipment. Femoral artery (FA) ligation with extensive debridement is an alternative to direct revascularization in an area of sepsis. In case of femoral bifurcation free of infection or in case of isolated FA below the femoral artery of thigh involvement, a simple ligation of the FA is performed. Ligation of each femoral vessel is indicated in case of extension of the infection to the femoral bifurcation. Proximal ligation is performed on the proximal part of the FA. Distal ligation is performed on the proximal part of the deep artery of thigh and the FA below the origin of the deep artery of thigh. Ligation is effective and represents an appropriate method to control hemorrhage and sepsis syndrome in IGP.

Reasons for PrEP Discontinuation After Navigation at Sexual Health Clinics: Interactions Among Systemic Barriers, Behavioral Relevance, and Medication Concerns.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention requires engagement throughout the PrEP care continuum. Using data from a PrEP navigation program, we examine reasons for PrEP discontinuation. Participants were recruited from New York City Health Department Sexual Health Clinics with PrEP navigation programs. Participants completed a survey and up to 3 interviews about PrEP navigation and use. This analysis includes 94 PrEP initiators that were PrEP-naive before their clinic visit, started PrEP during the study, and completed at least 2 interviews. Interview transcripts were reviewed to assess reasons for PrEP discontinuation. Approximately half of PrEP initiators discontinued PrEP during the study period (n = 44; 47%). Most participants (71%) noted systemic issues (insurance or financial problems, clinic or pharmacy logistics, and scheduling barriers) as reasons for discontinuation. One-third cited medication concerns (side effects, potential long-term side effects, and medication beliefs; 32%) and behavioral factors (low relevance of PrEP because of sexual behavior change; 34%) as contributing reasons. Over half (53.5%) highlighted systemic issues alone, while an additional 19% attributed discontinuation to systemic issues in combination with other factors. Of those who discontinued, approximately one-third (30%) restarted PrEP during the follow-up period, citing resolution of systemic issues or behavior change that increased PrEP relevance. PrEP continuation is dependent on interacting factors and often presents complex hurdles for patients to navigate. To promote sustained engagement in PrEP care, financial, clinic, and pharmacy barriers must be addressed and counseling and navigation should acknowledge factors beyond sexual risk that influence PrEP use.

Don't Be a Nit Wit; Know Your Lousy Companions!

Lice have been a burden on humans since antiquity. The species implicated in human infestations, the head louse (Pediculus humanus capitis), body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus), and pubic louse (Pthirus pubis), are very well adapted to the human host and are readily transmissible between and among individuals. In addition to dermal reactions and social stigmas associated with louse infestations, the body lice are of additional medical and public health concern in the spreading of bacterial agents associated with louse-borne relapsing fever, epidemic typhus, and trench fever. In the United States, pthiriasis, caused by P. pubis, is classified as a sexually transmitted infection. In this review, we provide an update on the taxonomy, epidemiology, biology, evolution, clinical importance, treatment and control, diagnosis, and reporting of parasitic human lice.

High Glucose Induces in HK2 Kidney Cells an IFN-Dependent ZIKV Antiviral Status Fueled by Viperin.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus that rapidly became a major medical concern worldwide. We have recently reported that a high glucose level decreases the rate of Zika virus (ZIKV) replication with an impact on human kidney HK-2 cell survival. However, the mechanisms by which cells cultured in a high glucose medium inhibit ZIKV growth remain unclear. Viperin belongs to interferon-stimulated genes (ISG) and its expression is highly up-regulated upon viral infection, leading to antiviral activity against a variety of viruses, including flaviviruses. As such, viperin has been shown to be a major actor involved in the innate immune response against Zika virus (ZIKV). Our present study aims to further characterize the involvement of viperin in ZIKV growth inhibition under high glucose concentration (HK-2HGC). We show for the first time that endogenous viperin is over-expressed in HK-2 cells cultured under high glucose concentration (HK-2HGC), which is associated with ZIKV growth inhibition. Viperin knockdown in HK-2HGC rescues ZIKV growth. In addition, our results emphasize that up-regulated viperin in HK-2HGC leads to ZIKV growth inhibition through the stimulation of IFN-β production. In summary, our work provides new insights into the ZIKV growth inhibition mechanism observed in HK-2 cells cultured in a high glucose environment.

Scope and Limitations of Current Antibiotic Therapies against Helicobacter pylori: Reviewing Amoxicillin Gastroretentive Formulations.

Even though general improvement of quality of life has happened around the globe, statistics show that gastric cancer is still a very serious medical concern in some regions of the world. A big portion of malignant neoplasms that develop inside the stomach are linked to an infection of Helicobacter pylori; in fact, this pathogen has already been categorized as a group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO). Still, the efficacy of current anti-H. pylori therapeutic approaches is insufficient and follows a worrying decreasing trend, mainly due to an exponential increase in resistance to key antibiotics. This work analyzes the clinical and biological characteristics of this pathogen, especially its link to gastric cancer, and provides a comprehensive review of current formulation trends for H. pylori eradication. Research effort has focused both on the discovery of new combinations of chemicals that function as optimized antibiotic regimens, and on the preparation of gastroretentive drug delivery systems (GRDDSs) to improve overall pharmacokinetics. Regarding the last topic, this review aims to summarize the latest trend in amoxicillin-loaded GRDDS, since this is the antibiotic that has shown the least bacterial resistance worldwide. It is expected that the current work could provide some insight into the importance of innovative options to combat this microorganism. Therefore, this review can inspire new research strategies in the development of efficient formulations for the treatment of this infection and the consequent prevention of gastric cancer.

Malaria Prevalence and Distribution of Plasmodium Species in Southern Region of Ethiopia.

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium species and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, which is the most common medical concern all over the world, including in Ethiopia. The current systematic review's goal was to determine the overall malaria prevalence and Plasmodium species distribution in Ethiopia's southern area. To achieve these objectives, 716 articles were manually searched from online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science. The pooled metalogistic regression was calculated with the STATA 16 software to present the pooled prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Eighteen full-text articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study, out of the 716 studies initially identified. The majority of the articles in the systematic review used a cross-sectional study design, with sample sizes ranging from 160 to 583,668 participants. The study's lowest and highest malaria prevalence was 0.93% and 82.84%, respectively. During the current systematic review, the estimated malaria prevalence was 19.19% (95% CI: 14.67–23.70). There were 263,476 positive individuals in the study, accounting for 148,734, 106,946, and 7,796 cases of P. falciparum, P. vivax, and mixed infections, respectively. The overall prevalence of P. falciparum and P. vivax was 8.97% (95% CI: 6.31, 11.63) and 7.94% (95% CI: 6.56, 9.33), respectively. According to the systematic review, the most predominant Plasmodium species responsible for malaria disease in the study area was P. falciparum. The highest malaria rates were found in this systematic review. In the systematic review, P. falciparum was the most dominant Plasmodium species that was responsible for malaria disease in the study area. This systematic review indicates the highest malaria prevalence in the southern regions of Ethiopia. Therefore, existing malaria prevention and control strategies in the southern region of Ethiopia should be revised.

Taxifolin and Lucidin as Potential E6 Protein Inhibitors: p53 Function Re-Establishment and Apoptosis Induction in Cervical Cancer Cells.

Simple SummaryHuman papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers continue to be a major medical concern, and there exists an urgent need to improve the current therapeutic approaches by combining strategies or proposing new compounds to offer more specific and less invasive treatments. The aim of this work was to discover potential inhibitors of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex formation. We started this work with an initial in silico approach including molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, and these tools allowed us to select potential inhibitors, using E6 protein as a target. In addition, we found that lucidin and taxifolin were able to selectively decrease the viability of HPV-positive cells to re-establish p53 protein levels and to induce apoptosis. These findings represent a promising starting point for the development of anti-HPV drugs.Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in women worldwide, with 99% of cases associated with a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Given that HPV prophylactic vaccines do not exert a therapeutic effect in individuals previously infected, have low coverage of all HPV types, and have poor accessibility in developing countries, it is unlikely that HPV-associated cancers will be eradicated in the coming years. Therefore, there is an emerging need for the development of anti-HPV drugs. Considering HPV E6’s oncogenic role, this protein has been proposed as a relevant target for cancer treatment. In the present work, we employed in silico tools to discover potential E6 inhibitors, as well as biochemical and cellular assays to understand the action of selected compounds in HPV-positive cells (Caski and HeLa) vs. HPV-negative (C33A) and non-carcinogenic (NHEK) cell lines. In fact, by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, we found three phenolic compounds able to dock in the E6AP binding pocket of the E6 protein. In particular, lucidin and taxifolin were able to inhibit E6-mediated p53 degradation, selectively reduce the viability, and induce apoptosis in HPV-positive cells. Altogether, our data can be relevant for discovering promising leads for the development of specific anti-HPV drugs.

543-P: Interruptions in Cardiac Rehabilitation Sessions Are Disproportionately Higher in Patients with Diabetes

Background: The clinical benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) are attendance related; hence, interruptions or cancellations (I/C) of CR sessions limit clinical effectiveness. However, data on the frequency of I/C in CR is sparse. In this study, we aim to characterize the prevalence and clinical factors associated with I/C events among CR participants. Methods: We retrospectively review 251 patients enrolled at our center from 8/2018-9/2021. I/C was defined as at least one event that led to pausing or stopping the exercise session due to a safety or medical concern such as blood pressure, arrhythmia, and/or glycemic control. P-values were determined by t-test, chi-squared, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Fifty percent (125) of patients had at least one I/C event during their participation in CR. A history of diabetes mellitus (DM) , coronary artery disease, or hyperlipidemia were significantly associated with I/C (Table 1) . Furthermore, logistical regression revealed that having DM had the strongest independent correlation with I/C events [hazard ratio, 2.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-4.52; p<0.0001]. Conclusion: Half of CR patients experienced I/C during their participation. DM was identified as the main risk factor of events. Further studies are needed to understand the root cause and to design preventive measures to maximize the potential of CR participation. Disclosure A.A.Khong: None. J.E.Lopez: None. M.Junker: None. S.Giancaterino: None. R.Labiak: None. N.Liu: None. E.Cortez-toledo: None. A.G.Fausto: None. C.Chen: None. D.H.Slack: None.

Lipid Profile Status amongst the Pilots of Kuwait Air Force

Introduction: Dyslipidemia has been established as one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in the general population of Kuwait as well as in armed forces personnel. Objective: To assess the prevalence of dyslipidemia amongst the pilots of Kuwait Air Force. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Medical Directorate, Armed Forces Hospital Kuwait from July 2017 to June 2018. One hundred and twentysix Kuwaiti Air Force pilot were included in this study. Lipid profile [Total Cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] were measured from fasting blood and were categorized based on the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III criteria (NCEP-ATP III). Results: Mean (±SD) age of the 126 participants was 32.5±7.4 years. Among them 56.3% were current smoker. As per BMI (Body Mass Index) criteria 49.2% and 26.2% of the pilots were overweight and obese respectively. Most common lipid abnormality was high LDL-C (46%), followed by high TC (39.7%), low HDL-C 36.5%) and high TG (18.3%). Positive correlation between BMI and TG level and LDL-C level (r=0.273, p=0.001 & r=0.177, p=0.049 respectively) and negative correlation between BMI and HDL-C (r= -0.286, p=0.001) were found. BMI was found to be an independent predictive factor for dyslipidemia. Conclusions: Dyslipidemia and obesity was alarmingly high in the pilots of Kuwait Air Force and should be considered as a matter of medical concern. JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 17, No 2 (December) 2021: 71-75

Seeking patterns of antibiotic resistance in ATLAS, an open, raw MIC database with patient metadata

Antibiotic resistance represents a growing medical concern where raw, clinical datasets are under-exploited as a means to track the scale of the problem. We therefore sought patterns of antibiotic resistance in the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance (ATLAS) database. ATLAS holds 6.5M minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for 3,919 pathogen-antibiotic pairs isolated from 633k patients in 70 countries between 2004 and 2017. We show most pairs form coherent, although not stationary, timeseries whose frequencies of resistance are higher than other databases, although we identified no systematic bias towards including more resistant strains in ATLAS. We sought data anomalies whereby MICs could shift for methodological and not clinical or microbiological reasons and found artefacts in over 100 pathogen-antibiotic pairs. Using an information-optimal clustering methodology to classify pathogens into low and high antibiotic susceptibilities, we used ATLAS to predict changes in resistance. Dynamics of the latter exhibit complex patterns with MIC increases, and some decreases, whereby subpopulations’ MICs can diverge. We also identify pathogens at risk of developing clinical resistance in the near future.

Infertility in Men: Advances towards a Comprehensive and Integrative Strategy for Precision Theranostics.

Male infertility is an increasing and serious medical concern, though the mechanism remains poorly understood. Impaired male reproductive function affects approximately half of infertile couples worldwide. Multiple factors related to the environment, genetics, age, and comorbidities have been associated with impaired sperm function. Present-day clinicians rely primarily on standard semen analysis to diagnose male reproductive potential and develop treatment strategies. To address sperm quality assessment bias and enhance analysis accuracy, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended standardized sperm testing; however, conventional diagnostic and therapeutic options for male infertility, including physical examination and semen standard analysis, remain ineffective in relieving the associated social burden. Instead, assisted reproductive techniques are becoming the primary therapeutic approach. In the post-genomic era, multiomics technologies that deeply interrogate the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and/or the epigenome, even at single-cell level, besides the breakthroughs in robotic surgery, stem cell therapy, and big data, offer promises towards solving semen quality deterioration and male factor infertility. This review highlights the complex etiology of male infertility, especially the roles of lifestyle and environmental factors, and discusses advanced technologies/methodologies used in characterizing its pathophysiology. A comprehensive combination of these innovative approaches in a global and multi-centric setting and fulfilling the suitable ethical consent could ensure optimal reproductive and developmental outcomes. These combinatorial approaches should allow for the development of diagnostic markers, molecular stratification classes, and personalized treatment strategies. Since lifestyle choices and environmental factors influence male fertility, their integration in any comprehensive approach is required for safe, proactive, cost-effective, and noninvasive precision male infertility theranostics that are affordable, accessible, and facilitate couples realizing their procreation dream.

Remote Patient Care Monitoring System for Rural Area

Recent advancement in health care technologies provides a brand new edge to medical services. The health condition of the folks living in remote rural areas of Asian countries is much worse than urban folks. to watch basic medical parameters for identifying the abnormalities within the early stage of chronic diseases want regular interval hospital visits that may be a comparatively costly and long method. Rare availabilities of medical experts or medical centres, the content of the folks, and correct care at the proper time area unit are the prime causes of great medical concern that result in surprising death. This work is an Associate in Nursing attempt to solve basic health issues and take recommendations from registered physicians for the betterment of the targeted community. The connectedness of Associate in Nursing E-Solution that improves provision settings at intervals the agricultural elements of the developing world and discusses a projected patient-centric E-Solution that suits the agricultural setting. the foremost advantage of implementing such an Associate in Nursing E-Solution is that it ensures the provision of the Specialist across a distance at many E-Clinics in the shortest possible time frame.

MO067: Role of ANT2 in the Development of Obesity-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Obesity, a widespread condition with an ever-increasing prevalence, imposes a great medical concern since it serves as a risk factor for a wide range of conditions, including the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Lipid accumulation and impaired fatty acid β-oxidation in the renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs) as well as an overall mitochondrial dysfunction have been shown to induce kidney injury, inflammation and fibrosis, leading to the development of CKD. However, the molecular mechanisms linking mitochondrial dysfunction in RPTCs to obesity-induced CKD are not fully understood and require further examination. Adenine nucleotide translocases (ANTs), which transport ADP and ATP through the mitochondrial inner membrane, play an essential role in energy metabolism of eukaryotic cells. ANT2 (Slc25a5) mediates fatty acid-induced uncoupled respiration, and its complete deletion is embryonic lethal. Here we explore its specific role in RPTCs in the development of obesity-induced CKD. METHOD ANT2 protein levels were measured using western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. RPTC-ANT2-/- animals were generated using the Cre/loxP system. The null mice and their wild-type littermate controls were fed with either a high-fat diet (HFD) or a standard diet (STD) for 24 weeks. Kidney function and lipid content were assessed by biochemical analysis. Histological techniques were used to visualize the morphological changes in the kidney as well as fibrogenesis. Kidney injury and inflammatory markers were measured via qPCR and ELISAs. Mitochondrial function was tested in primary mouse RPTCs extracted from the null and WT animals by measuring oxygen consumption rate via Seahorse as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by DCFDA staining. RESULTS As evident from the double-stained immunofluorescence staining of mouse kidney, high levels of ANT2 were found in RPTCs. Interestingly, its protein expression was downregulated in HFD-fed WT mice. Nullification of ANT2 specifically in RPTCs prevented the obesity-induced kidney dysfunction as reflected by lowered albumin-to-creatinine ratio. This was associated with the improved renal morphology in HFD-fed RPTC-ANT2-/- mice, evident by the reduction in obesity-related increased glomerular and Bowman's space areas and mesangial expansion. Compared with their littermate controls, obese RPTC-ANT2-/- mice showed reduced renal KIM-1 and NGAL protein levels and downregulation in the expression levels of Mcp1 and Lcn2, markers of renal injury and inflammation, respectively. The null mice were also protected from obesity-induced fibrosis, measured by trichrome staining, as well as accumulation of triglycerides and cholesterol in the kidney. In addition, preserved mitochondrial function was found in primary mouse RPTCs lacking ANT2, measured by increased spare respiratory capacity and decreased ROS production. Lastly, downregulated Hif1α gene and protein expression levels were found in RPTCs and kidney tissue lacking ANT2. CONCLUSION Our findings introduce ANT2 in the RPTCs as a key player in the development of obesity-induced CKD. Deletion of RPTC-ANT2 protects the kidney from the deleterious effects of lipotoxicity. Therefore, targeted manipulation of renal mitochondrial metabolism, particularly via inhibiting ANT2, may represent a novel approach for the treatment of obesity-induced CKD.

Prospects for the use of natural color in sausage products

The article deals with the use of natural color to reduce the level of introduction of sodium nitrite. Enzymatic rice is used as a dye. The value of meat products is determined not only by their ability to satisfy a person’s physiological need for nutrients and energy, but also by the attractiveness of organoleptic indicators. The modern consumer is accustomed to a certain color of meat products, associating with it their freshness and good quality. However, according to the totality of accumulated clinical observations, the use of nitrites, which fix the natural rose-red color of meat, is causing increasing medical concern. The article presents the functional and technological properties of model samples of boiled sausages with different content of dye and sodium nitrite. The obtained data on the study of the qualitative indicators of a new type of boiled sausages have shown that the product with the use of fermented rice in the recipe leads to the formation of a more intense color in the prototypes. The article shows the results of the study of the properties of raw minced meat and the quality indicators of the finished product. The results of the research have shown that the introduction of a dye into minced meat and a decrease in the proportion of the introduction of sodium nitrite leads to a decrease in residual sodium nitrite in boiled sausages. The use of a reduced amount of sodium nitrite together with fermented rice makes it possible to obtain a safer product with a low content of residual sodium nitrite – 0.34 mg%, in the control sample it is 3.5 mg%. Microbiological studies have shown that reducing the amount of sodium nitrite in the recipe and the presence of fermented rice does not affect the microbiological parameters of finished sausages. The expediency of using a natural dye in sausage production has been experimentally confirmed in order to reduce the level of sodium nitrite introduction.

Definitive high-dose, proton-based radiation for unresected mobile spine and sacral chordomas

Background/PurposeTreatment of spine and sacral chordoma generally involves surgical resection, usually in conjunction with radiation therapy.In certain locations, resection may result in significant neurological dysfunction, so definitive radiation has been used as an alternative to surgery. The purpose of this study is to report the results of high-dose, proton-based definitive radiotherapy for unresected spinal and sacral chordomas. Materials/MethodsRetrospective review of 67 patients with newly diagnosed, unresected spinal chordomas treated with high-dose definitive, proton-based radiotherapy at our center from 1975 to 2019. ResultsReasons for radiotherapy alone included medical inoperability and/or concern for neurological dysfunction based on spine level or patient choice. Tumor locations included cervical (n = 10), thoracic (n = 1), lumbar (n = 4) spine, and sacrum (n = 52). Median maximal tumor diameter was 7.4 cm (range 1.8–25 cm). Median total dose was 77.4 Gy (RBE) (range 73.8–85.9 Gy RBE). Analysis with median follow-up of 56.2 months (range, 4–171.7 months) showed overall survival of 83.5 % (95%CI: 69.4–91.5%) and 65.9% (95%CI: 47.3–79.3%), disease-free survival of 64% (95%CI: 49.3–75.4) and 44.1% (95%CI: 27.8–59.2%), local control of 81.8% (95%CI: 67.6–90.2%) and 63.6% (95%CI: 44.7–77.5%), and distant control of 77.4% (95%CI: 63.6–86.5%) and 72.5% (95%CI: 55.7–83.8%) at 5 and 8 years respectively. The most common late side effect was insufficiency fracture. ConclusionThese results continue to support the use of high-dose definitive radiotherapy for patients with medically inoperable or otherwise unresected mobile spine or sacrococcygeal chordomas. There is a trend towards better disease-free survival with doses > 78 Gy (RBE).

Biofilm Formation in Bovine Pericardium Biomaterial by Multi-Drug Resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus Nosocomial Blood Isolates

Bovine pericardium a cellular material (BPAM), composed of decellularized collagen fibers, has been used in varied surgical procedures. Biomaterial-associated infections by human pathogens, during clinical procedures, are of significant medical concern. Biofilm formation by human pathogens has been increasingly described as a multifactorial and multistep process associated with infection of implanted medical devices. This study aimed to investigate the ability of biofilm formation on bovine pericardium patches (BPP), and the influence of virulence features of multi-drug resistance– MDR Staphylococcus haemolyticus blood isolates from neonate and adult hospitalized patients. The influence of phenotypic and genotypic virulence features in the ability of biofilm formation on BPP and abiotic surfaces were analyzed. Collagen-binding properties and ability of biofilm formation favored colonization, viability, and persistence in BPAM by S. haemolyticus strains. A higher adhesive activity, autoaggregation microcolonies, and ability of biofilm formation on BPP, independent of slime production were expressed by the invasive strain from neonate patients. The genes atl and fbp were detected for both S. haemolyticus strains with adhesive properties to collagen type I fibers and biofilm formation on BPAM. BPAM-biofilm producer S. haemolyticus strains also expressed the ability of biofilm production in the presence of Oxacillin, Vancomycin, and Linezolid antimicrobial agents, as shown on glass and polystyrene surfaces. Data indicate the involvement of multiple selective activities of virulence mechanism of varied nosocomial pathogens in contamination, persistence, and dissemination from biomaterials, through the bloodstream and tissues during human infections, such as MDR S. haemolyticus strains. Significance and Impact of Study: This work emphasized the possibility of contamination of BPP by human pathogens and the persistent infection following surgery of patients involving exposure to antimicrobial agents, including the ability of biofilm formation by S. haemolyticus on surfaces abiotic and biotic (BPAM).

Advances in pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: From genetics to lipidomics.

As a result of the obesity epidemic, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a global medical concern in childhood with a closely related increased cardiometabolic risk. Knowledge on NAFLD pathophysiology has been largely expanded over the last decades. Besides the well-known key NAFLD genes (including the I148M variant of the PNPLA3 gene, the E167K allele of the TM6SF2, the GCKR gene, the MBOAT7-TMC4 rs641738 variant, and the rs72613567:TA variant in the HSD17B13 gene), an intriguing pathogenic role has also been demonstrated for the gut microbiota. More interestingly, evidence has added new factors involved in the “multiple hits” theory. In particular, omics determinants have been highlighted as potential innovative markers for NAFLD diagnosis and treatment. In fact, different branches of omics including metabolomics, lipidomics (in particular sphingolipids and ceramides), transcriptomics (including micro RNAs), epigenomics (such as DNA methylation), proteomics, and glycomics represent the most attractive pathogenic elements in NAFLD development, by providing insightful perspectives in this field. In this perspective, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of NAFLD pathophysiology in children, from the oldest pathogenic elements (including genetics) to the newest intriguing perspectives (such as omics branches).