In vitro anti-biofilm activity of macelignan isolated from Myristica fragrans Houtt. against oral primary colonizer bacteria

In early dental plaque formation, oral primary colonizers such as Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus are initially attached to the pellicle-coated tooth surface to form a biofilm. The study aimed to determine the efficacy of macelignan, isolated from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.), in removing each single oral primary biofilm in vitro on a polystyrene 96-well microtiter plate. Four biofilm growth phases (4, 12, 20 and 24 h) were evaluated in this study after treatment with macelignan at various concentrations (0.2, 2 and 10 microg/mL) and exposure times (5, 10 and 30 min). Anti-biofilm activity of macelignan was measured as the percentage of the remaining biofilm absorbance after macelignan treatment in comparison with the untreated control. At 24 h of biofilm growth, S. mutans, A. viscosus and S. sanguis biofilms were reduced by up to 30%, 30% and 38%, respectively, after treatment with 10 microg/mL macelignan for 5 min. Increasing the treatment time to 30 min resulted in a reduction of more than 50% of each of the single primary biofilms. The results indicate that macelignan is a potent natural anti-biofilm agent against oral primary colonizers.     

Is transmyocardial revascularisation of benefit in addition to coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with diffuse coronary disease?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether the use of transmyocardial revascularisation (TMR) in addition to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is of benefit in patients with ischaemic heart disease with areas of ungraftable myocardium. Altogether 233 papers were found using the reported search, of which 9 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results, and study weaknesses were tabulated. We conclude that while the society of thoracic surgeons now recommend TMR+CABG, and the available studies indicate that mortality is not increased by this additional procedure, it is currently not clear whether TMR reduces symptoms of angina in addition to CABG alone.     

盐酸奥布卡因凝胶在经鼻肠梗阻导管置入术中的应用价值

目的探讨肠梗阻病人行经鼻肠梗阻导管置入术中应用盐酸奥布卡因凝胶的价值。方法将60例拟行经鼻肠梗阻导管置入术的肠梗阻病人按随机数字量表法分为研究组和对照组,每组各30例,研究组病人术前应用盐酸奥布卡因凝胶10 ml(30 mg)进行鼻腔麻醉及导管前端润滑,对照组病人术前于鼻腔及导管前端涂抹石蜡油进行润滑,比较两组病人的一次性置管成功率、置管时间及术后并发症发生率,并采用视觉模拟评分法(visual analogue scale,VAS)进行评分。结果研究组病人的一次性置管成功率为96.7%(29/30),对照组病人的一次性置管成功率为70.0%(21/30),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。与对照组比较,研究组病人置管所用时间明显减少,术中疼痛VAS评分降低,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。两组病人均未出现穿孔、出血等并发症。结论盐酸奥布卡因凝胶在肠梗阻病人行经鼻肠梗阻导管置入术中应用,提高了一次性置管成功率,减少置管所用时间,明显地减轻了病人术中的疼痛不适,未见并发症,效果满意。     

278例人类免疫缺陷病毒感染患者的眼部表现

目的探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染患者眼部表现的特点,为早期诊断、及时治疗提供依据。方法回顾性分析2002年9月至2004年7月中非共和国278例HIV感染患者的临床资料,对眼部病变病程、症状、体征、全身情况及首诊病因进行分析。结果102例（36．7％）HIV感染患者眼部有病变表现,同时伴慢性全身消耗性症状和体征,CD4细胞值降低。其中20例（7．2％）患者将眼部病变作为首诊的病因。眼部病变表现为机会性感染和肉瘤形成,依次为HIV视网膜病变、葡萄膜炎、眼外肌麻痹、眼部带状疱疹及眼睑卡波济肉瘤等。HIV视网膜病变不具特异性,表现为视网膜出血、棉絮状斑、血管闭塞、视网膜坏死、视网膜脱离及视神经萎缩等。结论HIV感染后可出现多种眼部病变,严重视网膜、葡萄膜病变是造成患者失明的重要因素。我国HIV感染患者日益增多,其早期症状和体征应引起眼科医师的高度关注。     

Rate and Predictors of Ineffective HIV Protection in African Men Who Have Sex with Men Taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

AIDS and Behavior - We investigated the rate and predictors of ineffective HIV protection in men who have sex with men (MSM) taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in a prospective cohort study...     

Correlates of affective empathy,perspective taking,and generativity among a sample of adults

Previous research suggests that empathy can be cultivated by social ideals and relationships with people. The current study examines family importance and religious importance as correlates of affective empathy, perspective taking, and generativity among a sample of adults aged 18 to 35 (N = 722). Given the ethnic and racial diversity represented by Millennials and Generation Z, the moderating role of racial group membership is explored as well. Results indicate that family importance is positively associated with affective empathy, perspective taking, and generativity for the overall sample, though the relationship is particularly strong for non-Hispanic whites. Religious importance is significantly related to affective empathy and generativity (not perspective taking), primarily among Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color. Due to the increasing visibility of victimization towards socially vulnerable groups, it is important to understand how attitudes oriented towards helping and empathizing with others are fostered. Implications for further research are discussed.     

A non-invasive model for predicting liver fibrosis in HBeAg-positive patients with normal or slightly elevated alanine aminotransferase

Early and accurate diagnosis of liver fibrosis is necessary for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with normal or slightly increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Liver biopsy and many non-invasive predicting markers have several application restrictions in grass-roots hospitals. We aimed to construct a non-invasive model based on routinely serum markers to predict liver fibrosis for this population.A total of 363 CHB patients with HBeAg-positive, ALT ≤2-fold the upper limit of normal and liver biopsy data were randomly divided into training (n = 266) and validation groups (n = 97). Two non-invasive models were established based on multivariable logistic regression analysis in the training group. Model 2 with a lower Akaike information criterion (AIC) was selected as a better predictive model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate the model and was then independently validated in the validation group.The formula of Model 2 was logit (Model value) = 5.67+0.08 × Age −2.44 × log10 [the quantification of serum HBsAg (qHBsAg)] −0.60 × log10 [the quantification of serum HBeAg (qHBeAg)]+0.02 × ALT+0.03 ×  aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.89 for the training group and 0.86 for the validation group. Using 2 cut-off points of −2.61 and 0.25, 59% of patients could be identified with liver fibrosis and antiviral treatment decisions were made without liver biopsies, and 149 patients were recommended to undergo liver biopsy for accurate diagnosis.In this study, the non-invasive model could predict liver fibrosis and may reduce the need for liver biopsy in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with normal or slightly increased ALT.     

Dendritic cells, pro-inflammatory responses, and antigen presentation in a rodent malaria infection

Summary: An infection of mice with Plasmodium chabaudi is characterized by a rapid and marked inflammatory response with a rapid but regulated production of interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), and interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). Recent studies have shown that dendritic cells (DCs) are activated in vivo in the spleen, are able to process and present malaria antigens during infection, and may provide a source of cytokines that contribute to polarization of the CD4 T‐cell response. P. chabaudi‐infected erythrocytes are phagocytosed by DCs, and peptides of malaria proteins are presented on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II. The complex disulfide‐bonded structure of some malaria proteins can impede their processing in DCs, which may affect the magnitude of the CD4 T‐cell response and influence T‐helper 1 (Th1) or Th2 polarization. DCs exhibit a wide range of responses to parasite‐infected erythrocytes depending on their source, their maturational state, and the Plasmodium species or strain. P. chabaudi‐infected erythrocytes stimulate an increase in the expression of costimulatory molecules and MHC class II on mouse bone marrow‐derived DCs, and they are able to induce the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines such as IL‐12, TNF‐α, and IL‐6, thus enhancing the Th1 response of naïve T cells. IFN‐γ and TNF‐α play a role in both protective immunity and the pathology of the infection, and the inflammatory disease may be regulated by IL‐10 and transforming growth factor‐β. It will therefore be important to elucidate the host and parasite molecules that are involved in activation or suppression of the DCs and to understand the interplay between these opposing forces on the host response in vivo during a malaria infection.     

Specific effects of endurance and sprint training on protein expression of calsequestrin and SERCA in mouse skeletal muscle

Calsequestrin (CSQ) is the main Ca2? binding protein inside the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal and cardiac muscle. The present study demonstrates the specific effects of different training regimens on CSQ isoform 1 (CSQ1, the primary isoform) and SR Ca2?-ATPase (SERCA1, 2) expression in various skeletal muscles of mouse. CSQ1, SERCA1, and SERCA2 protein expression was determined with Western blot in m. soleus (SOL), m. extensor digitorum longus (EDL), m. gastrocnemius (GAS), m. rectus femoris (RF), and m. tibialis anterior (TA) muscles after completing a 6-week endurance or sprint training program. Endurance training induced decrease in CSQ1 concentration in SOL (p < 0.001) and in SERCA1 levels in GAS (p < 0.05), whereas increase in CSQ1 expression was detected in EDL (p < 0.01). After sprint training the concentration of CSQ1 increased in GAS (p < 0.01) and EDL (p < 0.01). Additionally, sprint exercise induced an increase in SERCA1 in GAS (p < 0.001) and a decline in TA (p < 0.05). SERCA2 was up-regulated with sprint training in GAS (p < 0.01). Myosin heavy chain (MHC) based fibre type composition altered differently depending on the muscle and the training regimen.These results indicate that (1) diverse training strategies used affect differently CSQ1 and SERCA1 concentrations in the skeletal muscle, (2) the regulation of CSQ1 and SERCA1 does not necessary follow the fast-slow definition despite the correlation between MHC isoforms, and (3) the changes in CSQ1 concentration occur prior to SERCA1 or SERCA2.