BMC Research Notes最新文献

Diabetes mellitus is among the leading global health concerns, causing over 1.5 million deaths alongside other significant comorbidities and complications. Conventional diagnosis involves estimating fasting, random blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance test. For monitoring purposes, long-term glycaemic control has been achieved through the measurement of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) which is considered reliable and preferred tool. However, its estimation could be affected by haemoglobin types like HbA0, HbA2, and HbF concentrations whose magnitude remains unclear as well as other haematological parameters. As such, the current study determined the association between HbA1c and haemoglobin types and determined correlation between haemoglobin types and haematological parameters among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to healthy non-diabetic participants. In this cross-sectional study, participants [n = 144 (72 per group), ages 23-80 years] were recruited and the desired parameter measured. HbA1c and other Haemoglobin variants were measured using ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) by the Bio-Rad D-10 machine (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc). Haematological parameters were measured using the Celtac G MEK-i machine (Nihon Kohden Europe). SPSS version 27 (IBM Corporation, Chicago, Illinois, United States) was used for the analysis. Chi-square (χ²) analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Binary logistic regression and Pearson correlation were used to determine the differences between proportions, compare laboratory characteristics, associations and correlations respectively. With non-diabetics as the reference group, HbA1c was associated with increased HbA0 [OR = 1.509, 95% CI = 1.020-1.099, p = 0.003] and increased HbA2 [OR = 3.893, 95% CI = 2.161-7.014, p = 0.001]. However, there was no significant association between HbA1c and HbF [OR = 2.062, 95% CI = 0.873-4.875, p = 0.099]. Further, haematocrit (HCT) had a negative correlation with HbAO and a positive correlation with HbAS in participants with controlled diabetes. Mean cell volume (MCV) and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) had a negative correlation with HbF. MCHC (mean cell haemoglobin concentration) had a negative correlation with HbA2 in participant with uncontrolled diabetes. The study concluded that levels of various haemoglobin types should be considered while monitoring glycaemic control through HbA1c. Additionally, MCHC should be considered in individuals with high concentration of HbA2 among T2DM patients while interpretating results for HbA1c.

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) stands as the most prevalent form of hair loss, affecting the hair follicles (HFs). Aging emerges as a prominent contributor in this condition. In this study, our aim is to elucidate the expression patterns of candidate genes-SIRT3, SIRT7, NFATC1, and PDL-1-known to exhibit differential expression levels during HF aging, and to underscore the role of aging in AGA.

Material and methods: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from the vertex and occipital regions of six men affected by AGA. The aim was to assess the expression levels of SIRT3, SIRT7, NFATC1, and PDL-1 genes. RNA extraction was performed followed by cDNA synthesis, and gene expression levels were quantified using real-time PCR. To validate the experimental findings, two different RNA-seq datasets relevant to the study were analyzed using R software.

Results: In the present study, experimental tests revealed that the expression levels of SIRT3 and SIRT7, known to decrease during HF aging, were diminished in AGA-affected samples as well. Conversely, the mean value of NFATC1 and PDL-1 expression level, which are known to increase during HF aging, were found to be elevated in AGA-affected samples. Moreover, bioinformatic analyses provide additional support for the role of SIRT3, SIRT7 and NFATC1in AGA pathogenesis.

Conclusion: While SIRT3 and SIRT7 may play critical roles in AGA development, further research is needed to elucidate the significance of NFATC1 and PDL-1 in this context and to explore their potential as therapeutic targets for AGA treatment.

Background: There is a need to survey the quality of online education and the level of students' academic satisfaction and evaluate their learning experience to improve the quality of online education, especially for graduate students. Therefore, the present study investigated relationship between information literacy and satisfaction with quality of virtual education in Iranian nursing students during the COVID-19.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted on 80 nursing master's students who were enrolled in the study using convenience sampling. This study was conducted using data collection tools including four questionnaires of demographic information, quality of online education, academic satisfaction, and educational information literacy of the learning and study strategies inventory (LASSI).

Results: The mean score of the Iranian nursing students' information literacy was 63.78 ± 9.14, and that of their quality of virtual education was 151.72 ± 22.93. In addition, their mean score of satisfaction with virtual education was found to be 70.29 ± 25.77, respectively. The results showed that there was a direct correlation between information literacy on the one hand and quality of virtual education (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and satisfaction with virtual education (r = 0.73, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, given the direct relationship between information literacy and students' satisfaction with the quality of online education, it is suggested that education planners should take measures to improve the students' information literacy.

Objective: The influence of different faecal collection methods on metagenomic analyses remains under discussion, and there is no general agreement on which collection method is preferable for gut microbiome research. We compared faecal samples collected in tubes without preservatives with those containing 10 mL of 96% ethanol for gut microbiome research when the timeframe from defecation to freezing at - 80 °C was up to 24 h. We aimed to compare the collection methods on faeces from participants with inflammatory and non-inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders and healthy controls to investigate the most suitable method when considering data yield, human fraction of sequencing reads, and ease of use. We also examined the faecal sample homogeneity.

Results: Faeces collected in tubes without preservatives resulted in more sequencing reads compared to faeces collected in tubes with 96% ethanol and were also easier to handle. The human fraction of total reads in faeces collected in ethanol from participants with inflammatory bowel disease was higher than all other samples. DNA extraction and sequencing from two different locations in the same faecal sample gave similar results and showed sample homogeneity.

Objectives: Food products are often contaminated by pathogens and spoilage bacteria. Most of them can form biofilms, a community of cells embedded in protective extracellular matrix layers resistant to harsh conditions, including antibiotics. Therefore, alternative antibiofilm agents are required to overcome biofilm formation. This study aims to determine and quantify the antibiofilm activity of supernatants from plant-associated bacteria against biofilms of foodborne pathogen and food spoilage bacterium, namely Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis.

Results: Plant-associated bacteria (PAB) have shown promising antibiofilm activities against biofilm-forming pathogens in previous studies. Thirteen PAB isolated from Ternate, Indonesia were used in this study. Supernatants of PAB were subjected to antimicrobial activity and quorum quenching detection, both using the well diffusion method. Four supernatants inhibited the growth of B. subtilis, but none affected the growth of B. cereus. Eight supernatants were able to disrupt the quorum sensing system of an indicator bacterium, wild-type Chromobacterium violaceum. Biofilm inhibition and destruction were quantified using 96-well microplates. The highest biofilm inhibition and destruction activities of PAB supernatants against each of B. cereus and B. subtilis biofilms were > 76%, and were later confirmed by light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) was conducted and revealed that the selected PAB supernatants were non-toxic. The 16S rRNA gene of PAB were sequenced and they showed similarities to Bacillus, Priestia, and Chryseobacterium. Compounds in the supernatants were determined by GC-MS which revealed contents of fatty acids, ethyl esters, and diketopiperazines. Therefore, PAB supernatants have potential as antibiofilm agents against biofilm formed by Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis.

Objective: A promising strategy to increase population physical activity is through promotion of dog walking. Informed by multi-process action control and nascent dog-walking theory, we examined the effectiveness of a 3-month technology-based (dog tracker) 2-arm randomised controlled dog-walking intervention to increase dog-owner daily physical activity in the general community in Sydney, Australia.

Results: 37 participants were allocated to the intervention group (mean age = 43.2 [SD 11.9]) and 40 to the control group (mean age = 42.3 [SD 11.9]). Both groups averaged more than 10,500 steps/day at baseline. There was no evidence of within- or between-group physical activity differences across timepoints. The results remained consistent after exclusion of participants who had data collected during COVID-19 lockdowns. Compared with baseline, both groups had significant increases in sedentary time during the post-intervention, and 6 month follow-up. The absence of significant differences between-group physical activity differences may be attributable to the ceiling effect of both groups already being sufficiently active. These results provide useful guidance to future studies intended to assess the efficacy of technology-based dog-walking interventions. Future dog-walking interventions should specifically target physically inactive dog owners.

Trial registration: ACTRN12619001391167 (10/10/2019); Retrospectively registered.

Objectives: The primary metabolite contents of ripe fruits result from complex regulations during their development. For Solanaceae, these regulations have been widely studied in tomato. The fruit metabolite contents of other fruit species, such as pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), constitute a valuable resource for the community to study the regulation of fruit metabolism and identify common or species-dependent regulations. This dataset about major polar metabolites is part of a larger project that integrates other omics data for pepper and eggplant, and other fruit species for metabolomics and other omics.

Data description: We provide quantitative metabolite data of pepper and eggplant fruit along development. We sampled pepper and eggplant fruit cultivated in a tunnel or a greenhouse at 10 or 11 stages from anthesis to ripe fruit. We used proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) metabolomic profiling of polar extracts to quantify the major metabolites and expressed the data in µmol per g fresh weight. Twenty-four metabolites were determined in pepper and 27 in eggplant. Nineteen common metabolites were quantified in both fruit species including three soluble sugars and one sugar-alcohol, five organic acids and nine free amino acids. These data can be combined with similar quantitative data on other species or complemented with other omics data to perform cross-species or cross-omics comparisons.

Eye diseases remain a significant global health concern, with trace elements crucial in maintaining ocular health and preventing ocular disorders. In ocular health, trace elements have been recognized as critical factors influencing the development and progression of multiple eye diseases. In this study, we conducted a thorough literature search through PubMed to acquire data concerning different eye diseases associated with trace elements. These diseases are essential in trace element imbalances or deficiencies in their progression. Our approach included a meticulous compilation of information from various databases, systematically integrated into a carefully curated database. In total, we identified 178 distinct genes that encode proteins linked to fourteen trace elements in this comprehensive list. A web-based database designed to formulate evidence-based hypotheses regarding the impact of trace element deficiency and imbalance on eye diseases was presented using Shiny R. This study underscores the vital role of trace elements in preserving ocular health. The Shiny R application facilitates subsequent investigations, fostering enhanced insights into public health, clinical practices, and eye disease research. The URL of TraceEyeDiseas is https://tredis.shinyapps.io/TraceEyeDisease/ .

Objective: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a significant pathogen causing quality loss in spinach. Although host genetic resistance is the primary method of managing CMV infection in this crop, CMV resistance genes are not widely utilized in spinach breeding programs as the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying resistance are not yet fully understood. CMV infections were therefore studied in different lines of spinach plants, and their progeny, to develop a model of the genetic basis of CMV resistance.

Results: Visual observations and RT-PCR assays revealed that three monoecious lines (03-258, 03-263, and 03-336) were susceptible to CMV, while three traditional resistant cultivars and a near-isogenic line (NIL-M) exhibited resistance. A dioecious line (03-009) consisted of susceptible and resistant plants. Notably, resistant plants did not exhibit the lesions typical of the hypersensitive response. Genetic analysis of progeny from the cross NIL-M × 03-336 indicated that a single dominant allele (designated SRCm1, standing for Spinach Resistance to CMV 1) controlled CMV resistance; analysis of sib-cross progeny populations derived from line 03-009 supported this conclusion. These results offer a valuable model for CMV resistance in spinach and will enhance future breeding programs.

Objective: Dandruff, a condition caused by lipophilic Malassezia fungi, is an excessive shed of dead skin cells from the scalp. Effective preventive and curative measures of the condition depend on knowledge and understanding of the prevalence of the condition, the common etiologic species, and the associated factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, common etiologic species, and associated factors of Malassezia infection in Mekelle City, Ethiopia.

Method: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2019 to June 2020 involving 217 participants who were visiting dermatology clinics to seek treatment for dandruff conditions. Information on the socio-demographic characteristics and hair care behaviors of the participants was obtained. Isolation and identification of Malassezia species from scalp scrapings using cultural and biochemical tests were carried out.

Results: Out of the 217 participants with dandruff, 111 (51.15%) were positive for Malassezia fungi. One hundred forty (140) Malassezia isolates were collected from the 111 positive participants. Further study of the isolates yielded three etiologic species: Malassezia globosa (67.15%), M. furfur (21.70%), and M. restricta (12.15%). Demographic characteristics, namely gender (AOR = 2.605; 95%CI: 1.427 - 4.757) and age (AOR = 2.667; 95%CI: 1.046 - 6.795), as well as hair care behaviors, namely use of hair oil (AOR = 2.964; 95%CI: 1.288 - 6.820), were associated with the presence of Malassezia species. However, the use of anti-dandruff shampoo (AOR = 2.782; 95%CI: 1.301 - 10.993) was negatively associated with the presence of Malassezia species among the participants with dandruff conditions. These findings open opportunities to devise effective prevention, management, and control measures for Malassezia-based dandruff conditions.