ACS Publications最新文献

In this study, we aimed to develop a protective probiotic coculture to inhibit the growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the simulated chicken gut environment. Bacterial strains were isolated from the digestive mucosa of broilers and screened in vitro against Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028. A biocompatibility coculture test was performed, which identified two biocompatible strains, Ligilactobacillus salivarius UO.C109 and Ligilactobacillus saerimneri UO.C121 with high inhibitory activity against Salmonella. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of the selected isolates exhibited dose-dependent effects, and the inhibitory agents were confirmed to be proteinaceous by enzymatic and thermal treatments. Proteome and genome analyses revealed the presence of known bacteriocins in the CFS of L. salivarius UO.C109, but unknown for L. saerimneri UO.C121. The addition of these selected probiotic candidates altered the bacterial community structure, increased the diversity of the chicken gut microbiota challenged with Salmonella, and significantly reduced the abundances of Enterobacteriaceae, Parasutterlla, Phascolarctobacterium, Enterococcus, and Megamonas. It also modulated microbiome production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with increased levels of acetic and propionic acids after 12 and 24 h of incubation compared to the microbiome challenged with S. Typhimurium. Furthermore, the selected probiotic candidates reduced the adhesion and invasion of Salmonella to Caco-2 cells by 37-39% and 51%, respectively, after 3 h of incubation, compared to the control. These results suggest that the developed coculture probiotic strains has protective activity and could be an effective strategy to control Salmonella infections in poultry.

Probiotics, such as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, are essential to the food industry for their health benefits to the host. The Lcb. rhamnosus strain is susceptible to processing, gastrointestinal, and storage conditions. In this study, Lcb. rhamnosus strains were encapsulated by complex coacervation in a gum arabic/chitosan or gum arabic/trehalose/chitosan and cross-linked with sodium tripolyphosphate. The physicochemical properties (zeta potential, water activity, water content, and hygroscopicity), encapsulation efficiency, and probiotic survival under storage conditions and simulated gastrointestinal fluids were evaluated. The results showed that crosslinking improves the encapsulation efficiency after drying; however, this result was remarkable when trehalose was used as a cryoprotectant. Furthermore, the encapsulation matrix preserved the viability of probiotics during 12 weeks with probiotic counts between 8.7-9.5, 7.5-9.0, and 5.2-7.4 log₁₀ CFU g^-1 at -20, 4, and 20 °C, respectively. After 12 days of digestion in an ex vivo simulator, acetic, butyric, propionic, and lactic acid production changed significantly, compared to free probiotic samples. This work shows that encapsulation by complex coacervation can promote the stability of probiotic bacteria in storage conditions and improve the viability of Lcb. rhamnosus HN001 during consumption so that they can exert their beneficial action in the organism.

The SARS-COV-2 pandemic created an unprecedented crisis and raised concerns about racial discrimination and psychological distress. We assessed trends in COVID-19-related racism and discrimination irrespective of infection status and changes in emotional health and mental well-being outcomes due to experienced racism and discrimination. Using three waves of the Wisconsin COVID-19 Community Impact Survey (2020-2021), we compared demographics of respondents categorized by two mutually exclusive groups: reporting vs. not reporting COVID-19-related racism and discrimination. Using longitudinal logistic-multivariable regressions, we modeled changes in racism and discrimination-induced stress and 4-item patient health questionnaire screening for anxiety and depression (PHQ-4) associated with experiencing racism and discrimination. Prevalence of reported experiencing COVID-19-related racism and discrimination increased among adult Wisconsinites between 2020 and 2021: 6.28% in Wave 1, 11.13% in Wave 2 (Pearson's chi-square Wave 1 vs 2=16.96, p<.001) vs. 10.87% in Wave 3 (chi-square, Wave 1 vs 3=14.99, p<.001). Experiencing COVID-19-related racism and discrimination was associated with a higher likelihood stress (OR=3.15, 95% CI 2.32-4.29) and a higher PHQ-4 score (coeff=0.63, 95% CI 0.32-0.94). Relative to White respondents, racial/ethnic minorities had a higher likelihood of feeling stress: Black OR=7.13, 95% CI 4.68-10.85; Hispanics OR=3.81, 95% CI 2.11-6.89; and other races OR=2.61, 95% CI 1.51-4.53. Estimated associations varied across racial/ethnic groups, age groups, and survey waves. Our study showed that experienced COVID-19-related racism and discrimination increased during the first 2 years of the pandemic and was associated with greater psychological distress among Wisconsinites of all racial/ethnic groups. Public health policies promoting inclusiveness should be implemented to reduce (COVID-19-related) racism and discrimination and its long-term effects on mental health and well-being.

Background and importance: Acquired lesions within the aqueduct of Sylvius are rare and their surgical management is challenging. Open transcranial approaches require dissection and manipulation of surrounding eloquent structures. Use of an endoscope can avoid potential morbidity from traversing and handling eloquent structures during open approaches whilst providing better visualisation of an intraventricular lesion.

Clinical presentation: A 62-year-old female presented with insidious onset short-term memory loss, unsteady gait, urinary incontinence and left-sided dysaesthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed hydrocephalus from an obstructive haemorrhagic lesion consistent with a cavernoma at the central midbrain within the aqueduct of Sylvius. An endoscopic approach was selected to provide optimal visualisation of the lesion. As only a single instrument could be accommodated, rotational movements were employed to tease out the lesion. Gross total resection was achieved. Her symptoms improved immediately postoperatively and she made a complete recovery by 2 months. Post-operative MRI showed resolution of hydrocephalus and no evidence of residual/recurrence of the lesion. Unfortunately, she developed hydrocephalus 3 months post-op and required placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

Conclusions: Endoscopic resection is safe and feasible for selected periaqueductal lesions as it provides direct access while minimising disruption of the surrounding anatomical structures. The limitation of only having a single instrument can be overcome by employing rotational movements.

Intrasellar aneurysms are rare vascular lesions that typically present with symptoms of mass effect upon the pituitary gland and optic apparatus. Most arise from the internal carotid artery, while only a handful of case reports describe intrasellar aneurysms originating from the anterior communicating artery. The appropriate recognition and management of these lesions are critical to prevent irreversible neurological deficits and catastrophic hemorrhage. Here, we highlight a patient with an anterior communicating artery aneurysm projecting into the sella turcica, leading to hyponatremia, pituitary dysfunction, and chiasmal compression.

Increasing nitrate concentration on surface and groundwater due to anthropogenic activities is an environmental concern. In this study, Tg(fli1: EGFP) zebrafish embryos were exposed to nitrate (NO₃^-) and nitrite (NO₂^-), and their cardiovascular development were investigated. Exposure to 10 mg/L NO₃-N and 1 and 10 mg/L NO₂-N decreased heart rate at 48-96-h post-fertilization (hpf), ventricular volume, and red blood cell flow rate at 96 hpf. Similar concentrations increased the number of embryos and larvae with pericardial edema and missing intersegmental and parachordal vessels in the caudal region at 48-96 hpf. Addition of ICI 182,720 (ICI) reversed the effects of nitrate and nitrite, suggesting estrogen receptors (ER) are involved. 10 mg/L NO₃-N and 1 mg/L NO₂-N decreased cardiovascular-related genes, gata4,5,6, hand2, nkx2.5, nkx2.7, tbx2a, tbx2b, and fgf1a. Gene expressions of ovarian aromatase and brain aromatase (cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b, respectively) decreased in the exposed groups, whereas ERs (esr1, esr2a, and esr2b) and nitric oxide synthase 2a (nos2a) increased. The effects on gene expression were also reversed by addition of ICI. Taken together, nitrate and nitrite disrupt cardiovascular system through ER in developing zebrafish, implying that environmental nitrate and nitrite contamination may be harmful to aquatic organisms.

Conventional patient monitoring in healthcare has limitations such as delayed identification of deteriorating conditions, disruptions to patient routines, and discomfort due to extensive wiring for bed-bound patients. To address these, we have recently developed an innovative IoT-based healthcare system for real-time wireless patient monitoring. This system includes a flexible epidermal patch that collects vital signs using low power electronics and transmits the data to IoT nodes in hospital beds. The nodes connect to a smart gateway that aggregates the information and interfaces with the hospital information system (HIS), facilitating the exchange of electronic health records (EHR) and enhancing access to patient vital signs for healthcare professionals. Our study validates the proposed smart bed architecture in a clinical setting, assessing its ability to meet healthcare personnel needs, patient comfort, and data transmission reliability. Technical performance assessment involves analyzing key performance indicators for communication across various interfaces, including the wearable device and the smart box, and the link between the gateway and the HIS. Also, a comparative analysis is conducted on data from our architecture and traditional hospital equipment. Usability evaluation involves questionnaires completed by patients and healthcare professionals. Results demonstrate the robustness of the architecture proposed, exhibiting reliable and efficient information flow, while offering significant improvements in patient monitoring over conventional wired methods, including unrestricted mobility and improved comfort to enhance healthcare delivery.

Introduction: Acute exercise improves cognitive performance. However, it remains unclear what triggers cognitive improvement. Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) facilitates the examination of physiological changes derived from peripheral muscle contraction during exercise. Thus, we compared the effects of EMS and voluntary exercise at low- or moderate-intensity on reaction time (RT) in a cognitive task to understand the contribution of central and peripheral physiological factors to RT improvement.

Methods: Twenty-four young, healthy male participants performed a Go/No-Go task before and after EMS/exercise. In the EMS condition, EMS was applied to the lower limb muscles. In the low-intensity exercise condition, the participants cycled an ergometer while maintaining their heart rate (HR) at the similar level during EMS. In the moderate-intensity exercise condition, exercise intensity corresponded to ratings of perceived exertion of 13/20. The natural log-transformed root mean square of successive differences between adjacent inter-beat (R-R) intervals (LnRMSSD), which predominantly reflects parasympathetic HR modulation, was calculated before and during EMS/exercise.

Results: RT improved following moderate-intensity exercise (p = 0.002, Cohen' d = 0.694), but not following EMS (p = 0.107, Cohen' d = 0.342) and low-intensity exercise (p = 0.076, Cohen' d = 0.380). Repeated measures correlation analysis revealed that RT was correlated with LnRMSSD (Rrm(23) = 0.599, p = 0.002) in the moderate-intensity exercise condition.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the amount of central neural activity and exercise pressor reflex may be crucial for RT improvement. RT improvement following moderate-intensity exercise may, at least partly, be associated with enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity.

Background and aims: Clinical trials support injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) for whom other pharmacological management approaches are not well-suited. However, despite substantial research indicating that person-centered care improves engagement, retention and health outcomes for individuals with OUD, structural requirements (e.g. drug policies) often dictate how iOAT must be delivered, regardless of client preferences. This study aimed to quantify clients' iOAT delivery preferences to improve client engagement and retention.

Design: Cross-sectional preference elicitation survey.

Setting: Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Participants: 124 current and former iOAT clients.

Measurements: Participants completed a demographic questionnaire package and an interviewer-led preference elicitation survey (case 2 best-worst scaling task). Latent class analysis was used to identify distinct preference groups and explore demographic differences between preference groups.

Findings: Most participants (n = 100; 81%) were current iOAT clients. Latent class analysis identified two distinct groups of client preferences: (1) autonomous decision-makers (n = 73; 59%) and (2) shared decision-makers (n = 51; 41%). These groups had different preferences for how medication type and dosage were selected. Both groups prioritized access to take-home medication (i.e. carries), the ability to set their own schedule, receiving iOAT in a space they like and having other services available at iOAT clinics. Compared with shared decision-makers, fewer autonomous decision-makers identified as a cis-male/man and reported flexible preferences.

Conclusions: Injectable opioid agonist treatment (iOAT) clients surveyed in Vancouver, Canada, appear to prefer greater autonomy than they currently have in choosing OAT medication type, dosage and treatment schedule.

Background: Candida auris, an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast, has become a global concern due to its association with nosocomial outbreaks and resistance to antifungal medications. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with several outbreaks reported worldwide, including in Mexico. We describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a multicentric outbreak in private institutions in Mexico.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted across 4 Christus Muguerza Hospital Health Care System facilities in Monterrey, Mexico, where simultaneous outbreaks of C auris occurred. Patients with colonization or infection with C auris between September 2020 and December 2023 were included.

Results: Analysis revealed 37 cases, predominantly male (median age, 55.8years). While most cases were initially colonization, a significant proportion progressed to infection (32.4%). Patients with documented infection had longer intensive care unit and hospital stays, often requiring mechanical ventilation. Antifungal treatment varied, with empirical fluconazole being the first drug in most cases, followed by anidulafungin and caspofungin. Resistance to fluconazole was widespread, but susceptibility to other antifungals varied. The overall mortality rates were high (40.5%), with no significant difference in median survival between colonized and infected patients.

Conclusions: We reported a high rate of infection in previously colonized cases associated with longer hospital lenght stay, and a high susceptibility to echinocandins.