Prophylaxis Research Articles

Bacteriocin-Producing Staphylococci and Mammaliicocci Strains for Agro-Food and Public Health Applications with Relevance of Micrococcin P1

Antimicrobial-producing strains and their bacteriocins hold great promise for the control of bacterial diseases, being an attractive alternative to antibiotics. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity of 15 bacteriocin-producing staphylococci and mammaliicocci (BP-S/M) strains and their pre-purified extracts with butanol (BT) against a collection of 27 harmful or zoonotic strains (including Gram-positive/-negative bacteria and molds) with relevance in the public health and agro-food fields. These indicators (excluding Gram-negative strains) were grouped into seven categories based on their potential application areas: dairy livestock mastitis, avian pathogen zoonoses, swine zoonoses, food safety, aquaculture, wine making, and mushroom cultivation. In addition, cross-immunity assays between the BP-S/M strains were carried out to identify potential strain combinations to enhance their activity against pathogens. Finally, the hemolytic and gelatinase activities were tested in the BP-S/M strains. A strong inhibitory capacity of the BP-S/M strains was verified against relevant Gram-positive indicators, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium perfringens, among others, while no activity was detected against Gram-negative ones. Interestingly, several BT extracts inhibited the two mold indicators included in this study as representants of mushroom pathogens. The Micrococcin P1 producer Staphylococcus hominis C5835 (>60% of indicators were intensively inhibited by all the methods) can be proposed as a potential candidate for the control of bacterial diseases in the aforementioned categories alone or in combination with other BP-S/M strains (mainly with Staphylococcus warneri X2969). In this regard, five potential combinations of BP-S/M strains that enhanced their activity against specific pathogens were detected.

Innovative surgical and stress-stimulated rat model of ligamentum flavum hypertrophy

Background and purposeAnimal models of LFH are still in the exploratory stage. This study aimed to establish a reliable, efficient, and economical model of LFH in rats for the study of human ligamentum flavum (LF) pathological mechanisms, drug screening, development, improvement of surgical treatment, disease prevention, and other aspects.Methods and materialsForty rats were divided into an experimental group and a sham group of 20 rats. The experimental group (n = 20) was treated with an innovative operation combined with stress stimulation at the L5-L6 segments, the L5 and L6 spinous processes, transverse processes, and supraspinous ligaments were excised, along with removal of the paraspinal muscles at the L5-L6 level. One week after surgery, the rats were subjected to slow treadmill running daily. In the experimental group (n = 20), the spinous process, transverse process, supraspinous ligament and paraspinous muscle of L5 and L6 were excised. And for a week after the surgery, the rats ran on a treadmill at a slow pace every day. While the sham group (n = 20) was treated with sham operation only. Seven weeks later, MRI, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and western blot (WB) will be performed on the LF of the L5-6 segment in the two groups of rats.ResultsMRI results showed that the LF in the experimental group was significantly thicker than that in the sham group. Masson staining results indicated that LF thickness, collagen fiber area, and collagen volume fraction (CVF) were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the sham group. IHC and WB showed that the expression of TGF-β1, COL1, and IL-1β in the LF of the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the LF of sham group.ConclusionThrough innovative surgical intervention combined with stress stimulation, a relatively reliable, efficient, and convenient rat LFH model was established.

Exploring the Known and Mapping Future Directions in Biopesticides Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Numerous concerns associated with the use of synthetic pesticides have led to important initiatives aimed at ensuring eco-friendly practices in pest and disease control. Third-generation pesticides, biopesticides, have become a key factor in those efforts, capturing the attention of researchers worldwide. To evaluate trends in biopesticide research over the past three decades, a bibliometric analysis was performed on bibliographic data sourced from the Web of Science database. This analysis included metrics such as publication dynamics, types of documents, and assessments of research fields and categories. Co-authorship, citation, and co-occurrence networks were visualized using VOSviewer software to identify collaboration patterns, influential publications, emerging topics, and interdisciplinary connections. A total of 5054 publications on the topic of ‘biopesticide’ were found (1994–2024), nearly half of which were published in the last five years. Out of 136 contributing countries, researchers from the USA, People’s Republic of China, and India produced the most publications, while a total of 19,676 authors contributed to at least one paper throughout the entire examined period. The identification of the most frequently used keywords highlighted significant topics within biopesticide-related publications, from the earliest to the most recent, aiding in our understanding of the developmental trajectory and opportunities for future exploration.

Impact of Mating Methods and Semen Preservation on Reproductive and Growth Performances in Palestinian Assaf Sheep

As global demand for sheep products increases, improving reproductive efficiency and lamb growth performance has become a priority for sheep farmers. Artificial insemination (AI) offers several advantages over natural mating, including improved genetic selection and disease control. This study contributes to understanding the impact of different mating methods and semen preservation techniques on reproductive performance and growth traits in Palestinian Assaf sheep under local breeding conditions. The research included 123 adult Assaf ewes from two farms, which were hormonally synchronized and divided into three groups for different reproductive biotechnologies. Group 1 (G1) comprised 50 ewes inseminated with frozen semen straws, while Group 2 (G2) had 37 ewes inseminated with fresh semen from genetically superior rams. Both G1 and G2 used 0.5 mL straws containing 250 million sperm, with insemination occurring 48 h post sponge removal and eCG hormone injection. Group 3 (G3) consisted of 36 ewes that underwent natural mating at a ratio of 1 ram to 6 ewes. The study revealed that insemination methods significantly affected fertility rates (45.4, 61.1, and 71.9% for G1, G2, and G3, respectively; p < 0.05). Artificial insemination notably enhanced lamb performance indicators (p < 0.05), although it did not significantly influence prolific lambing (p > 0.05). Prolific lambing significantly impacted birth weight, weaning weight, and average daily gain at 60 days across all groups (p < 0.05), but not the average daily gain or final weight at 180 days (p > 0.05). The management system significantly affected birth and weaning weights at 60 days (p < 0.05), but not the final weight at 180 days or prolific lambing (p > 0.05). Lamb sex significantly influenced average daily gains at 60 and 180 days, as well as final weight at 180 days (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that, while artificial insemination with semen from elite rams may reduce fertility rates, it significantly improves lamb performance rates. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that, while natural mating offers higher fertility rates, AI with fresh semen can be a valuable tool for improving lamb growth performance in Palestinian Assaf sheep. These findings provide valuable insights for sheep farmers in the region to optimize reproductive strategies and enhance lamb production

Benefits Of Omega-3 In Peruvian Anchoveta: A Review Of Its Impact On Health

Objectives: The objective of the research was to analyze the current state of knowledge about Omega-3 in the Peruvian anchovy to understand its positive effects on health and promote its adequate consumption. Theoretical framework: The Omega-3 fatty acid present in the Peruvian anchovy is widely known by the scientific community, but its information has not been disseminated enough to know its positive effects in the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Method: The positive effects of Omega-3 fatty acid on health were explored from various perspectives, highlighting its anti-inflammatory action and potential in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Results and discussion: The anchovy, abundant in the Peruvian sea and economic for its availability of catch by the fishing fleet, offers an accessible alternative without compromising the nutritional content, especially relevant in regions with low economy where other sources of Omega-3 are unreachable. It is concluded that anchovy is an accessible source of Omega-3 with considerable nutritional and economic value. Consumption improves public health by preventing chronic and autoimmune diseases. Implications of research: Promote public health policies that include anchovy to maximize its benefits to society, especially in vulnerable populations by ensuring food security and access to low-cost animal protein. Originality/Value: It is essential to promote public health policies that include anchovy in accordance with the ecosystem approach applied to fisheries, food security and sustainable development goals. a rethinking of dietary recommendations is suggested, especially in vulnerable populations in Peru.

Amauroderma rugosum Extract Improves Brain Function in d‐Galactose‐Induced Aging Mouse Models via the Regulatory Effects of Its Polysaccharides on Oxidation, the mTOR‐Dependent Pathway, and Gut Microbiota

ABSTRACTThe pharmacological effects of Amauroderma rugosum (AR), an edible mushroom found mainly in Southeast Asia, are not well studied, particularly its neuroprotective properties. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of AR aqueous extract (ARW) in a d‐galactose‐induced accelerated aging mouse model and senescent SH‐SY5Y neuronal cells. Behavioral tests (open field, Morris water maze, Y‐maze, and rotarod) demonstrated that d‐galactose‐induced aging mice exhibited impaired cognitive function, memory loss, anxiety, and reduced locomotor ability, all of which were alleviated by ARW treatment. Histological analysis showed that ARW reduced neuropathological lesions in the hippocampus. In SH‐SY5Y neuronal cells, ARW and AR polysaccharide extract (ARP) enhanced cell viability and decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in a concentration‐dependent manner. ARW and ARP also reduced cellular senescence and apoptosis in d‐galactose‐treated cells. Western blot analysis indicated that ARW and ARP upregulated the phosphorylation of mTOR and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase 1 and heme‐oxygenase‐1. Additionally, ARW altered the gut microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus reuteri and decreasing harmful bacteria like Clostridium scindens. These findings suggest that AR exerts neuroprotective effects primarily through its polysaccharides by modulating oxidative stress, activating the mTOR‐dependent pathway, and influencing the gut microbiota. Consequently, AR could serve as a potential dietary supplement for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Dietary Interventions and Physical Activity as Crucial Factors in the Prevention and Treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and affects nearly 30% of the adult population and 10% of the pediatric population. It is estimated that this number will double by 2030. MASLD is one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, and liver transplantation, as well as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Due to the ever-increasing number of patients, the long-term asymptomatic course of the disease, serious complications, and lack of preventive programs, as well as insufficient awareness of the disease among patients and doctors themselves, MASLD is a growing interdisciplinary problem and a real challenge for modern medicine. The main cause of MASLD is an inappropriate lifestyle—inadequate nutrition and insufficient physical activity, which lead to various components of metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle changes—appropriate diet, weight reduction, and systematic physical activity—are also the basis for the prevention and treatment of MASLD. Hence, in recent years, so much importance has been attached to lifestyle medicine, to non-pharmacological treatment as prevention of lifestyle diseases. The narrative review presents possible therapeutic options for non-pharmacological management in the prevention and treatment of MASLD. The best documented and available diets used in MASLD were discussed, focusing on the benefits and drawbacks of the Mediterranean, high-protein, ketogenic, and intermittent fasting diets. In addition, the most recent recommendations regarding physical activity are summarized.

Staphylococcus aureus Proteins Implicated in the Reduced Virulence of sarA and sarA/agr Mutants in Osteomyelitis

Using a murine osteomyelitis model, we recently demonstrated that Staphylococcus aureus sarA and sarA/agr mutants generated in the USA300 strain LAC are attenuated to a greater extent than an isogenic agr mutant and that this can be attributed to a significant extent to the increased production of extracellular proteases in both mutants. Based on this, we used a mass-based proteomics approach to compare the proteomes of LAC, its isogenic agr, sarA, and sarA/agr mutants, and isogenic derivatives of all four of these strains unable to produce the extracellular proteases aureolysin, SspA, SspB, ScpA, or SplA-F. This allowed us to identify proteins that were present in reduced amounts in sarA, and sarA/agr mutants owing to the increased production of extracellular proteases. A total of 1039 proteins were detected in conditioned media (CM) from overnight cultures of LAC, and protease-mediated degradation was shown to contribute to the reduced abundance of 224 of these (21.6%) in CM from the sarA and sarA/agr mutants. Among these were specific proteins previously implicated in the pathogenesis and therapeutic recalcitrance of S. aureus osteomyelitis. This demonstrates that the ability of sarA to limit protease production plays a key role in post-translational remodeling of the S. aureus proteome to a degree that can be correlated with reduced virulence in our osteomyelitis model, and that it does so irrespective of the functional status of agr. This also suggests that at least some of these 224 proteins may be viable targets for prophylactic or therapeutic intervention.

Health Care Facility Characteristics Associated With Providing Telehealth HIV Care Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objectives. To describe provision of HIV telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Medical Monitoring Project Facility Survey for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States initiative, which aims to achieve an at least 90% reduction in new HIV infections by 2030 and highlights telehealth as an important strategy. Methods. During 2021, we surveyed 1023 facilities providing HIV care to a nationally representative sample of US adults with diagnosed HIV, of which 45% responded. We calculated weighted percentages with 95% confidence intervals comparing the characteristics of facilities providing telehealth services. Results. Overall, 83.4% of facilities provided HIV care telehealth services by the facility’s own providers (82.0%) or by outside providers through remote conferencing (27.0%). Gaps in coverage were identified in smaller facilities and in facilities in rural and primary care health professional shortage areas. Conclusions. Although most HIV care facilities provided telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaps were identified, which must be addressed to meet Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States goals and better prepare for future health emergencies. ( Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print January 16, 2025:e1–e5. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307908 )

Evaluating the Adequacy of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection As a Quality Measure: A Cross-Sectional Analysis at a Single Tertiary Care Center

IMPORTANCE: The current definition of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) may overestimate the true incidence of CLABSI as it is often unclear whether the bloodstream infection (BSI) is secondary to the central line or due to another infectious source. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the prevalence and outcomes of central CLABSI at our institution, to identify opportunities for improvement, appropriately direct efforts for infection reduction, and identify gaps in the CLABSI definition and its application as a quality measure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cross-sectional study of patients identified to have a CLABSI in the period 2018–2022 cared for at the value-based purchasing (VBP) units of a 1200-bed tertiary care hospital located in Cleveland, OH. Each CLABSI episode was assessed for relationship with central venous catheter (CVC), suspected secondary source of BSI, mortality associated with the CLABSI hospital encounter, and availability of infectious disease physician or primary physician documentation of infectious source. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: CLABSI episodes were classified as CVC related, CVC unrelated, and CVC relationship unclear. Mortality during the same encounter as the CLABSI event was assessed as an outcome measure. Descriptive statistics were performed. RESULTS: A total of 340 CLABSI episodes occurred in adult patients in VBP units. Majority of the CLABSI, 77.5% (266), occurred in the ICU. Of the CLABSI analyzed, 31.5% (107) were classified as unrelated to the CVC; 25.0% (85) had an unclear source; 43% (148) were classified as CVC related. For CVC-related cases, Staphylococcus and Candida were the predominant organisms. For the CVC unrelated and unclear groups Enterococcus was most prevalent. The mortality rate was lowest among patients classified with a CVC-related BSI. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CLABSI definition to predict a true CVC-related infection was found to be 58.0%. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The definition of CLABSI as a surrogate for catheter-related BSI is inadequate, with a PPV of 58.0% (43.1–67.6%). Efforts should be redirected toward revising the CLABSI definition and possibly reevaluating its criteria. Resources should be assigned to further investigate and systematically prevent BSIs from secondary sources while adhering to existing CLABSI prevention bundles.

Determinants of viral haemorrhagic fever risk in Africa’s tropical moist forests: A scoping review of spatial, socio-economic, and environmental factors

Background Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are identified by international health authorities as priorities for research and development, as they pose a threat to global health and economy. VHFs are zoonotic diseases whose acute forms in humans present a haemorrhagic syndrome and shock, with mortality rates of up to 90%. This work aims at synthetizing existing knowledge on spatial and spatially aggregable determinants that support the emergence and maintenance of VHFs in African countries covered by tropical moist forest, to better identify and map areas at risk. Methodology/principal findings Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, extension for scoping reviews, we searched the PubMed, Embase, CAB Abstracts, and Scopus databases. English and French peer-reviewed documents were retrieved using Boolean logic and keyword search terms. The analysis of 79 articles published between 1993 and 2023 offers a comprehensive overview of the complex interactions among abiotic, biotic, demographic, socio-economic, cultural, and political risk factors in driving the emergence and maintenance of VHFs in African countries covered by tropical moist forests. Human-to-human transmission is mainly driven by socio-economic, political, and demographic factors, whereas zoonotic spillover is determined by almost all groups of factors, especially those of an anthropogenic nature. Conclusions/significance Many questions remain unanswered regarding the epidemiology of VHFs in tropical forests. By elucidating spatially relevant determinants which have already been studied, this review seeks to advance VHFs hotspot predictions, risk mapping for disease surveillance and control systems improvement.

The adaptation process of a safety planning intervention to promote connectedness and reduce distress in Diné adolescents and adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

IntroductionIndigenous connectedness is an impetus for health, well-being, self-confidence, cultural preservation, and communal thriving. When this connectedness is disrupted, the beliefs, values, and ways of life that weave Indigenous communities together is threatened. In the Spring of 2020, the COVID-19 virus crept into Tribal Nations across the United States and exacerbated significant health-related and educational inequities. The first case of COVID-19, or Dikos Ntsaaígíí-19 in the Diné (Navajo) language, arrived in the Southwest in March 2020. The virus quickly spread amongst Diné communities and contributed to immediate school closures. These closures created significant disruption to connectedness on the Navajo Nation.MethodsAs part of the Community Based Participatory Research process, our team worked with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to facilitate a longitudinal cohort study titled “Project SafeSchools” and, most critically, to culturally adapt mental health interventions to be implemented as a part of this study. This paper describes the process our team used to select, adapt, and test Safety Planning and Caring Contacts interventions to reduce elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation amongst Diné adolescents and adults. CBPR was the primary approach used to engage with Navajo Nation communities and the adaptation process was guided by a scoping study of frameworks for adapting public health evidence-based interventions (EBI) and was guided by the cultural adaptation process. Our team met virtually several times in 2021 and 2022 as the parent launched and as the pilot randomized clinical trial called “+Connection is Medicine” started. When Safety Planning and Caring Contacts messaging was selected, the study team, which consisted primarily of Navajo research personnel led by a Navajo community-based principal investigator (PI) and allied PIs with extensive experience in implementation science, infectious disease prevention, and CBPR, were adapted and presented to CAB members. This CAB also included a youth advisory council who participated in the field testing and further adaptation process.ResultsThe use of the CAB allowed for a collaborative workgroup effort to examine the feasibility and acceptability of using safety planning to help reduce suicide risk factors with Navajo adolescents and adults. Most importantly, this CAB collaborative with researchers to further tailor safety plan intervention materials to align with Navajo values related to connectedness to relatives, community, mental health resources, and the land. In addition, the caring contacts messaging was aligned with safety plans to provide culturally sensitive messages that would be shared with randomized participants.DiscussionMental health stigma is highly common in reservation-based communities. In Indigenous communities, mental illness has association with not living well or not living culturally aligned further complicates the likelihood of at-risk community members contacting resources available in their communities. By using an Indigenous approach that restores connectedness, and reminds participants of their belonging, +CiM researchers were able to develop enhanced versions of safety plans to use in their pilot randomized controlled trial.

Phase II Study of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Combination Therapy for Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Previously Treated with Lenvatinib

Background/Objectives: Atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy has been established as a standard of care for first-line treatment; however, its efficacy and safety have not been fully evaluated for patients previously treated with systemic therapy. Methods: In this phase II trial, patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma previously treated with lenvatinib were enrolled to receive a dose of 1,200 mg of atezolizumab and 15 mg/kg of bevacizumab every 3 weeks. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. The secondary endpoints included overall survival, objective response rate, disease control rate, subsequent therapy, and frequency of adverse events. The threshold and expected progression-free survival were 3 and 6.8 months, respectively. Considering a one-sided significance level of 0.05 and a statistical power of 80%, the minimum required sample size was 26 patients. Results: The median progression-free survival from the start of treatment was 9.70 [90% confidence interval, 5.10–14.24] months, and the lower limit of the 90% CI was above the predefined threshold. The objective response and disease control rates were 34.6% and 73.1%, respectively. Sixteen patients (61.5%) received subsequent therapies, and the median overall survival was 17.23 [90% confidence interval, 13.18–27.85] months. Severe adverse events, adverse events leading to treatment delays, and adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in eight (30.8%), fourteen (53.8%), and five (19.2%) patients, respectively, and no treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy is effective and can safely be administered to patients with advanced HCC previously treated with lenvatinib.

Virginia Memory Project: Using the Healthy Brain Initiative Roadmap to design a statewide dementia registry

AbstractINTRODUCTIONThe Virginia Memory Project (VMP) is a statewide epidemiological registry for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. It aims to support dementia research, policy, and care by leveraging the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Roadmap.METHODSTo capture comprehensive data, the VMP integrates self‐enrollment and automatic enrollment using Virginia's All‐Payer Claims Database (APCD). It also adapts Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) modules for self‐reported cognitive and caregiving data, offering connections to research, clinical services, and education.RESULTSVirginia successfully codified the VMP in the 2024 general assembly session.DISCUSSIONThe VMP demonstrates a novel approach to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) surveillance by combining traditional registry functions with community engagement and workforce development. Future efforts will focus on increasing enrollment, especially among underrepresented groups, to enhance data‐driven dementia policy and care in Virginia.Highlights Integrated the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) domains into the newest statewide epidemiological dementia registry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Collected data and identified gaps in the current research related to dementia and Alzheimer's related diseases. Aimed to mitigate barriers to dementia registry enrollment by identifying significant underdiagnosis and underrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority groups. Developed solutions to alleviate the current data and enrollment disparities and to connect individuals to research, physicians, and community groups.

Gut dysbiosis is associated with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundDifficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) refers to a subset of patients who fail to achieve adequate disease control after the use of two or more biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) with different mechanisms of action, while maintaining active inflammatory disease. This presents a therapeutic challenge and highlights the need to explore contributing factors such as the potential role of the gut microbiota. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the gut microbiota and inflammation in patients with D2T RA in comparison to patients with easy-to-treat RA (E2T RA).ObjectiveTo analyze the gut microbiota and inflammation in patients with D2T RA.MethodsWe performed an observational study of a prospective cohort between 2007 and 2011 and analyzed the gut microbiota. In 2022, we identified 2 extreme patient phenotypes: (1) D2T RA, which was defined as failure of ≥2 biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) (with different mechanisms of action) plus signs of active disease; and (2) easy-to-treat RA (E2T RA), i.e., stable disease managed with a single treatment. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing; bioinformatics analysis was performed using QIIME2, and its functionality was inferred through PICRUSt. We recorded data on clinical findings, inflammation, and cytokines. A Cox multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors related to D2T RA.ResultsThe study population comprised 39 patients: 13 (33%) with D2T RA and 26 (66%) with E2T RA. The families Lachnospiraceae and Pasteurellaceae, and their genera Coprococcus and Haemophilus were more abundant in E2T RA patients, while the genus Megasphaera was more abundant in D2T RA patients. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio decreased in D2T RA patients. The metabolic profile of the gut microbiota was characterized by differences in Degradation/Utilization/Assimilation pathway and the Biosynthesis pathway. The factors associated with D2T RA were inflammatory activity according to DAS28-ESR (HR, 2.649; p = 0.013), prednisone (HR, 3.794; p = 0.008), and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (HR, 0.288; p = 0.033).ConclusionThe composition of the gut microbiota of patients with D2T RA differed from that of E2T RA patients, as did the metabolic pathways.

Efficacy of fungicide treatments for the management of grape powdery mildew in Washington, 2024

Grape powdery mildew, caused by Erysiphe necator, is one of the most common diseases affecting wine grape production globally. Symptoms include white, powdery growth over all green surfaces of the plant, including foliage, fruit, shoots and tendrils. When infections are severe, photosynthesis is inhibited, fruit set can be reduced, and remaining berries can split. This report evaluates the efficacy of different fungicide regimes for their ability to control foliar and fruit powdery mildew on Vitis vinifera 'Chardonnay' in Prosser, WA in 2024. Results from this trial can be used to better time, and align, fungicides for improved disease control in wine grapes.

Antifungal susceptibility, clinical findings, and biofilm resistance of Fusarium species causing keratitis: a challenge for disease control

Antifungal susceptibility, clinical findings, and biofilm resistance of Fusarium species causing keratitis: a challenge for disease control

Exploring Public Health Strategies Related to Chronic Diseases: Taking Type 2 Diabetes as an Example

As life becomes better and food becomes more abundant, the number of people with some nutritional and chronic diseases is also rising. In order to enhance people's health status, China, the nation with the highest number of diabetics worldwide, needs to identify the best disease prevention and control procedure within the "prevention-health care-treatment-diagnosis-rehabilitation" cycle of the health management system. Population-based public health should dominate here. In today's era of big data, China has opened a smart health management system that is "combined with science and technology", gradually improving the informatization and intelligence level of chronic disease detection and management, so as to empower the health management cycle. In current studies, not enough attention has been paid to disease prevention and control. Taking type 2 diabetes mellitus as an example, this paper discusses the public health strategies related to chronic diseases based on the analysis of literature research survey data, summarizes the public health policies related to diseases at home and abroad, puts the policy methods and importance of disease prevention and control under the objective data test, analyzes its limitations, and helps to optimize the measures in the future.

HPV vaccination rates and public attitudes towards HPV vaccination in different countries: a review of cross-cultural studies

In order to better prevent HPV infection, HPV vaccine has been promoted worldwide. Most of the current research on HPV vaccine is related to a specific region or involves the comparison of two regions. It is still worth exploring whether the influencing factors of people's attitudes to HPV vaccine are the same in different regions. This review searched the public data of the World Health Organization and analyzed several studies on the attitude or vaccination behavior of HPV vaccine to complete the cross-cultural research. This article found that culture, publicity and education, economic level, religious belief, social psychological status and other factors can affect the public's attitude to HPV vaccine. Positive attitudes lead to positive vaccination behavior. This review provides a reference for future research in the cross-cultural field. However, this paper has not yet compared the importance of the influencing factors, so future research can make this comparison. It is also recommended that health professionals pay attention to the role of men in HPV transmission, disease prevention, and vaccination.

Five-Year Outcomes of a School-Based Personality-Focused Prevention Program on Adolescent Substance Use Disorder: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Rates of substance use disorders (SUDs) remain significantly above national targets for health promotion and disease prevention in Canada and the United States. This study investigated the 5-year SUD outcomes following a selective drug and alcohol prevention program targeting personality risk factors for adolescent substance misuse. The Co-Venture trial is a cluster randomized trial involving 31 high schools in the greater Montreal area that agreed to conduct annual health behavior surveys for 5 years on the entire 7th grade cohort of assenting students enrolled at the school in 2012 or 2013. Half of all schools were randomly assigned to be trained and assisted in the delivery of the personality-targeted PreVenture Program to all eligible 7th grade participants. The intervention consisted of a brief (two-session) group cognitive-behavioral intervention that is delivered in a personality-matched fashion to students who have elevated scores on one of four personality traits linked to early-onset substance misuse: impulsivity, sensation seeking, anxiety sensitivity, or hopelessness. Mixed-effects multilevel Bayesian models were used to estimate the effect of the intervention on the year-by-year change in probability of SUD. When baseline differences were controlled for, a time-by-intervention interaction revealed positive growth in SUD rate for the control group (b=1.380, SE=0.143, odds ratio=3.97) and reduced growth for the intervention group (b=-0.423, SE=0.173, 95% CI=-0.771, -0.084, odds ratio=0.655), indicating a 35% reduction in the annual increase in SUD rate in the intervention condition relative to the control condition. Group differences in SUD rates were reliably nonzero (95% confidence) at the fourth and fifth year of assessment. Secondary analyses revealed no significant intervention effects on growth of anxiety, depression, or total mental health difficulties over the four follow-up periods. This study showed for the first time that personality-targeted interventions might protect against longer-term development of SUD.