Search Results (17,518)

Background: Ganoderma lucidum triterpenes are bioactive compounds with recognized anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties. This systematic review synthesizes evidence regarding the anti-inflammatory activity of these triterpenes based on studies from the last two decades. Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Medline, and Embase (2003–2025) for original in vitro and in vivo (non-clinical) studies evaluating G. lucidum triterpene extracts or isolated compounds. Clinical trials, reviews, and multi-species extracts were excluded. The review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024510982), and animal study quality was assessed using the SYRCLE Risk of Bias tool. Findings: From over 3000 records, 23 articles were included. Studies utilized diverse models, including macrophages, human PBMCs, and various animal strains (mice, rats, chickens). All studies reported significant anti-inflammatory effects via reduction in pro-inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), primarily through downregulation of MAPK and TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathways. Meta-analysis of in vitro data confirmed significant reductions in NO levels (−3.29 [95% CI: −5.21, −1.37]; p = 0.0008), IL-6 (−3.51 [−4.73, −2.29]; p < 0.00001), and TNF-α (−2.20 [−2.93, −1.48]; p < 0.00001). Similar anti-inflammatory profiles were observed in vivo across hepatic and splenic tissues. Interpretation: Evidence consistently demonstrates the potent anti-inflammatory activity of G. lucidum triterpenes, highlighting their potential as therapeutic candidates for inflammatory diseases. However, the structural complexity and isomer diversity of these compounds remain significant barriers to pharmacological standardization. Future research must prioritize clinical translation by investigating compound synergism, bioavailability, and long-term toxicity profiles, which were notably absent in current non-clinical literature. Full article

Background/Objectives: An attenuated strain of Micropterus salmoides rhabdovirus (MSRV) 0509 with good immunogenicity has been isolated, showing potential as a candidate for live vaccine development. Methods: To improve the shelf life of attenuated strain of MSRV0509, the virus was formulated using three distinct single-protectant formulations and twelve thermostable protective agent formulations (designated T1–T12). Following lyophilization, the thermostability of each formulation was evaluated. Results: Results indicated that formulations T1, T9, and T10 maintained stable viral titers after storage at 25 °C and 37 °C. Moreover, these formulations retained high viral viability after 12 months at 4 °C, with a titer reduction of less than 0.5 log₁₀. Immunological analyses revealed that the freeze-dried MSRV vaccine elicited both humoral and immune factors responses in largemouth bass. Immersion immunization provided effective protection, yielding a survival rate exceeding 80%. Freeze-dried vaccines maintained their immunogenicity (i.e., the ability to induce antibodies) following 12 months of storage at 4 °C. Additionally, expression of IFN-γ and IL-12 was significantly upregulated in fish post-vaccination. Conclusions: In conclusion, the lyophilized MSRV vaccine developed in this study not only exhibits improved thermostability and extended shelf life, but also effectively preserves its immunogenic properties, supporting its potential for practical aquaculture applications. Full article

Phytoremediation is a cost-effective and sustainable method for the remediation of minewaste contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic (As). However, mine waste soil is often nutrient-limited, especially in nitrogen (N), impairing plant growth and phytoremediation. This study aimed to assess how planting density together with soil amendments, biochar, and an isolated indigenous nitrogen-fixing bacterium (NFB) (Bacillus subtilis) affect the efficacy of phytoremediation by Juncus pauciflorus of an As-contaminated mine waste soil from Bendigo, Victoria. Three plant densities, including 9, 26, and 44 plants/m², were grown in As-contaminated mine waste soil amended with biochar (10% w/w) and B. subtilis (8.1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) and incubated for 100 days. Plant biomass, plant As uptake, soil As concentration, bacterial abundance (total and NFB using 16S and nifH gene copy numbers, respectively), and total soil N were assessed. Juncus pauciflorus at a higher density (44 plants/m²) promoted the greatest biomass and total As uptake, 70.22 g/m² and 209.53 mg/m², respectively. Plant density significantly influenced the root–shoot partitioning of As. Higher densities increased shoot uptake (BAF_soil→shoot), and TF_root→shoot values remained >1 across all treatments, confirming the active translocation of As to the shoots, suggesting both phytostabilisation and phytoextraction potential by J. pauciflorus. Planting density significantly reduced soil As, ranging from 8000 mg/kg to 9500 mg/kg, compared to the initial concentration (13,032 mg/kg). The abundance of 16S and nifH genes was stable among treatments, ranging from 7 log₁₀ copies/g to 12 log₁₀ copies/g. TN content in soils amended with 44 plants/m² contained the highest TN content at day 33, approximately 7000 mg/kg. This study is the first to report that higher planting density of J. pauciflorus amended with biochar and NFB provides the strongest phytoremediation performance in highly As-contaminated mine soil by enhancing As uptake and accumulation in aboveground biomass. Most importantly, the results show that plant density also regulates the plant’s remediation strategy, shifting J. pauciflorus between phytostabilisation at dense planting and greater phytoextraction at lower density. These findings support the use of native plants in combination with biochar and microbial amendment as a sustainable strategy for remediating As-contaminated mine waste. Full article

Transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) communities face persistent health inequities that are reproduced through everyday administrative and clinical encounters across care systems. A feedback-focused lens can clarify how those inequities are generated and sustained. Objective: To identify and validate feedback loops that create policy exposure and institutional gatekeeping in TGE healthcare and to surface leverage points to stabilize their continuity of care. Methods: Two facilitated, Zoom-based Group Model Building (GMB) sessions were conducted in March 2021 with eight TGE participants (mean age 38 years; range 22–63; transfeminine and transmasculine identities; multiracial, White, and SWANA racial identities) recruited through a Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community center, followed by a participant member-checking session to validate loop structure, causal direction, and interpretive accuracy. Analysis focused explicitly on identifying reinforcing and balancing feedback structures, rather than isolated barriers, to explain how policy exposure and institutional gatekeeping are generated over time. Results: Participants co-constructed a nine-variable Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) with six feedback structures, four reinforcing and two balancing that interact dynamically to amplify or dampen policy exposure, institutional gatekeeping, and continuity of care, which were organized across structural, institutional/clinical, and individual/community tiers. Reinforcing dynamics linked structural stigma, exclusion from formal employment, institutionalized provider bias, and enacted stigma to degraded care experience, increased trauma and distrust, and disrupted continuity, manifesting as policy exposure (e.g., coverage volatility, denials) and gatekeeping (e.g., discretionary documentation, referral hurdles). Community-based supports and peer/elder navigation functioned as balancing loops that reduced trauma, improved continuity and encounters, and, over time, dampened provider bias. A salient theme was the visibility/invisibility paradox: symbolic inclusion without workflow redesign can inadvertently increase exposure and reinforce harmful loops. Full article

Pathogens that have developed resistance to antibiotics pose a threat to public health. The primary goal in preventing foodborne infections is to inhibit the growth of and, subsequently, eliminate antibiotic-resistant pathogens at every stage from production to consumption. Escherichia coli, which has acquired resistance to most known antibiotics, is frequently found in chicken meat. In many countries, due to unregulated antibiotic use in poultry farming, poor hygiene in slaughterhouses, or cross-contamination, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli has been identified as the causative agent in poultry-associated food poisoning. The need for more effective antimicrobial agents against this pathogen, which is resistant to existing antibiotics, has led to increased attention being paid to postbiotics produced by lactic acid bacteria, particularly bacteriocins. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effects of postbiotics obtained from kefir-derived Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis against ESBL-positive E. coli. To achieve this, E. coli strains were isolated from raw chicken meat samples collected from the market using culture-based methods, and their antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined using the disk diffusion method. The ESBL positivity of the isolates was assessed using the double-disk synergy test. The antimicrobial activities of the postbiotics against the identified ESBL-positive E. coli strains were tested using the macro-dilution method to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. ESBL-positive E. coli was detected in 48% of raw chicken meat samples. The antimicrobial effects of postbiotics were examined by disk diffusion, and postbiotics produced by 18 Lb. plantarum strains and 20 Lc. lactis strains showed strong antimicrobial activity. Significant differences in the antimicrobial effects of postbiotics were observed between the two species. Lb. plantarum postbiotics exhibited both bacteriostatic (concentration 60%) and bactericidal (concentration 80%) effects on ESBL-positive E. coli strains, whereas Lc. lactis postbiotics showed only bacteriostatic effects (80% concentration). Postbiotics derived from probiotic bacteria offer promising effects against multidrug-resistant E. coli due to their heat resistance, activity across different pH values, strong antimicrobial effects, affordability, and ease of production. Full article

Background: The current rise in multidrug-resistant pathogens highlights the urgent need for the discovery of novel antibacterial agents with potential clinical applications. A considerable proportion of these developed resistances may be attributable to the intrinsic response of bacteria to antibiotic-induced stress conditions in the environment. Consequently, the identification and characterization of genetic alterations in physiological processes in response to antibiotics represent promising strategies for the discovery and characterization of naturally produced novel antibacterial agents. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of an antimicrobial active isolate Actinomadura coerulea derived from a meerkat fecal sample. Methods: The production of secondary metabolites that potentially compromise bacterial cell wall integrity was confirmed by the induction of promoter activity in whole-cell biosensors in which an antibiotic-inducible promoter was fused to the luciferase cassette. During plate-based biosensor assays, we identified naturally resistant Bacillus subtilis colonies growing in the zone of inhibition around A. coerulea colonies. After these successive rounds of selection, highly resistant spontaneous B. subtilis mutants had evolved that were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Results: Non-silent mutations were identified in pssA, which encodes a phosphatidylserine synthase; mdtR, as a gene for the repressor of multidrug resistance proteins, and yhbD, whose function is still unknown. A new cinnamycin-like molecule, coerumycin, was discovered based on the physiological role of PssA and comprehensive genomic analysis of A. coerulea. Additional experiments with cell extracts containing coerumycin as well as the cinnamycin-like compound duramycin confirmed that the interaction between coerumycin and the bacterial cell envelope is inhibited by a loss-of-function mutation in pssA. Conclusion: Our approach demonstrates that combining the exploration of niche habitats for actinomycetes with whole-cell biosensor screening and characterization of natural resistance development provides a promising strategy for identifying novel antibiotics. Full article

Background/Objectives: The genus Tristerix comprises at least ten species, found from southern Chile to Colombia in South America. In Chile, several species of these hemiparasitic plants are known as quitral or quintral. Quitral, mainly T. corymbosus (syn. T. tetrandus), is used in alternative medicine for its anti-inflammatory, digestive, hemostatic, hypocholesterolemic, and wound-healing properties. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of T. corymbosus. Methods: A hydroalcoholic extract of T. corymbosus was prepared from leaves and small branches. The addition of methanol, on the extract, produced precipitation allowing us to isolate a methanol-soluble fraction, a brown powder obtained after filtration, and a tar-like residue remaining in the flask. These fractions were resuspended and tested for antimicrobial activity. Results: All fractions showed activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, but not E. coli. The brown powder exhibits the strongest potency against Gram-positive bacteria, some Gram-negative and C. albicans. HPLC-MS analysis revealed presence of lipidic compounds with surfactant properties. Conclusions: The abundant lipidic molecules present in the analyzed fraction likely account for the antimicrobial effects through affecting membrane structure of microorganisms supporting the traditional wound-healing uses of T. corymbosus in ancestral medicine. Full article

The built-in V-shaped permanent magnet motor can effectively utilize reluctance torque to improve torque density, but there is also a problem of large torque ripple causing high vibration noise. This article proposes a rotor structure with four magnetic isolation holes to reduce torque ripple in V-shaped built-in permanent magnet motors. Firstly, a finite element analysis model of the built-in V-shaped permanent magnet motor is established. The influence of slot width, rotor rib width, and magnetic bridge parameters on the torque of the permanent magnet motor was studied through parameterized scanning, and an optimization scheme was selected. Then, the position and size of the magnetic hole were optimized through an adaptive single-objective algorithm. Compared with the ordinary built-in V-shaped structure, the torque ripple of the built-in V-shaped permanent magnet motor with four magnetic isolation holes is reduced from 17.7% to 6.7%. The proposed internal V-shaped rotor structure with magnetic isolation holes and the optimization method can effectively reduce torque ripple, thus effectively solving the problem of vibration noise caused by torque ripple. Full article

This study presents a standardized method for multimodal monitoring of exercise execution in isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environments, addressing the need for reproducible assessment of neuromuscular and cardiovascular responses under space- and equipment-limited conditions. The method integrates wearable surface electromyography (sEMG), inertial measurement units (IMU), and electrocardiography (ECG) to capture muscle activation, movement, and cardiac dynamics during space-efficient exercise. Ten exercises suitable for confined habitats were implemented during analog missions conducted in the DeepLabH03 facility, with feasibility evaluated in a seven-day campaign involving three adult participants. Signals were synchronized using video-verified repetition boundaries, sEMG was normalized to maximum voluntary contraction, and sEMG amplitude- and frequency-domain features were extracted alongside heart rate variability indices. The protocol enabled stable real-time data acquisition, reliable repetition-level segmentation, and consistent detection of muscle-specific activation patterns across exercises. While amplitude-based sEMG indices showed no uniform main effect of exercise, robust exercise-by-muscle interactions were observed, and sEMG mean frequency demonstrated sensitivity to differences in movement strategy. Cardiac measures showed limited condition-specific modulation, consistent with short exercise bouts and small sample size. As a proof-of-concept feasibility study, the proposed protocol provides a practical and reproducible framework for multimodal physiological monitoring of exercise in ICE analogs and other constrained environments, supporting future studies on exercise quality, training load, and adaptive feedback systems. The protocol is designed to support near-real-time monitoring and forms a technical basis for future exercise-quality feedback in confined habitats. Full article

Candida spp. are important opportunistic human fungal pathogens. This study aimed to identify and characterize Candida spp. obtained from patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), focusing on virulence attributes and susceptibility to antifungal agents. A total of 131 isolates from oral and tracheobronchial secretions of adult ICU patients were evaluated. Phenotypic identification was performed using chromogenic culture media for Candida, followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, with representative isolates confirmed by ITS sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility to fluconazole, ketoconazole, and amphotericin B was determined only by the agar disk diffusion method, and virulence was assessed through esterase, DNase, protease, and hemolytic activity assays. C. albicans was the prevalent species, followed by C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. dubliniensis, C. lusitaniae, and C. guilliermondii. Antifungal resistance rates reached 51.1% for fluconazole, 42.7% for ketoconazole, and 19.1% for amphotericin B, as determined by disk diffusion method. Overall, 64.9% of the isolates exhibited esterase activity, 18.3% DNase, 45.8% protease, and 67.2% exhibited hemolytic activity. Oral isolates were more frequent than tracheal isolates and demonstrated a higher prevalence of antifungal resistance and virulence traits. These findings underscore the epidemiological importance of characterizing Candida species in hospitals to better understand the yeast profile and to support adequate clinical management. Full article

Background: Early childhood growth trajectories can influence the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Improvements in environmental sanitation may affect child development in low-resource settings. Objective: to examine the associations among socioeconomic factors with nutrition indicators, and trajectories of anthropometric indicators across three epidemiological cohorts that reflect different phases of environmental sanitation implementation. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted in Salvador, Brazil, from 1997 to 2013. A total of 1429 children were recruited across three epidemiological cohorts, corresponding to the phases of a sanitation program: pre-intervention (n = 299), intervention (n = 1007), and post-intervention (n = 123). Height-for-age (HAZ) and BMI-for-age (BAZ) z-scores were assessed at four time points. Multilevel linear models were used to adjust for socioeconomic factors. Results: A total of 992 children (68.7%) completed follow-up. Post-intervention children showed improved HAZ trajectories, with sex-specific patterns that varied across cohorts. Birth weight is positively associated with HAZ across all cohorts (0.34–0.49 kg increase per z-score). Household overcrowding (>2 persons/room) is consistently associated with lower HAZ (−0.34 to −0.63 z-score reduction). Children who were never exclusively breastfed in the post-intervention phase had a higher BAZ (0.76 z-score increase). Caesarean delivery is associated with higher BAZ in the pre-intervention (0.23) and intervention (0.27) cohorts. Conclusions: Children born in later time periods showed better growth trajectories, which may reflect the combined effects of sanitation improvements, economic development, and other societal changes in Brazil during this period. Further research using experimental or quasi-experimental designs is needed to isolate the specific contribution of sanitation to child growth. Full article

Background: Parasitic skin-related conditions represent a frequent and evolving challenge in human dermatology, as they often mimic other dermatoses, and are increasingly complicated by therapeutic resistance. With this study, we aimed to provide a practical, clinician-oriented overview of our experience, contextualising it within the current literature. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-centre observational study, reporting a case series of 88 patients diagnosed with parasitic or arthropod-related skin infestations at the San Raffaele Hospital Dermatology Unit (Milan) between 2019 and 2024, and integrated a concise narrative review of contemporary evidence on diagnosis, non-invasive imaging and management. For each case, we documented clinical presentation, dermoscopic or reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) findings, and treatment response. Non-invasive tools (dermoscopy, videodermoscopy, RCM) were used when appropriate. Results: The spectrum of conditions included flea bites, bed bug bites, cutaneous larva migrans, subcutaneous dirofilariasis, Dermanyssus gallinae dermatitis, pediculosis, tick bites (including Lyme disease), myiasis, scabies, and cutaneous leishmaniasis. One case of eosinophilic dermatosis of haematologic malignancy was also considered due to its possible association with arthropod bites. Non-invasive imaging was critical in confirming suspected infestations, particularly in ambiguous cases or when invasive testing was not feasible. Several cases highlighted suspected therapeutic resistance: a paediatric pediculosis and three adult scabies cases required systemic therapy after standard regimens failed, raising concerns over putative resistance to permethrin and pyrethroids. In dirofilariasis, the persistence of filarial elements visualised by RCM justified the extension of antiparasitic therapy despite prior surgical removal. Conclusions: Our findings underline that accurate diagnosis, early intervention, and tailored treatment remain essential for the effective management of cutaneous infestations. The observed vast spectrum of isolated parasites reflects broader health and ecological dynamics, including zoonotic transmission, international mobility, and changing environmental conditions. At the same time, diagnostic delays, inappropriate treatments, and neglected parasitic diseases continue to pose significant risks. To address these challenges, clinicians should remain alert to atypical presentations, and consider a multidisciplinary approach including the consultation with parasitologists and veterinarians, as well as the incorporation of high-resolution imaging and alternative therapeutic strategies into their routine practice. Full article

The species Inula helenium belongs to the genus Inula (Asteraceae) and exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in respiratory and skin diseases. Its bioactivity is attributed to its eudesmanolide components, mainly to alantolactone and isoalantolactone. These components were isolated in high purity from the plant’s dried roots, either via multiple column chromatography separations or via repeated recrystallization. Two more eudesmanolides structurally similar to their parent compounds were isolated, namely 11,13-dihydro-alantolactone and 11,13-dihydro-isoalantolactone. The secondary metabolites and their derivatives were characterized in detail, for the first time, via NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, and HRMS. Synthetic modification of the natural component structure was considered necessary for structure–activity relationship studies and biological tests. Thus, each compound was converted to its nitrile and then to the corresponding acid, or to its azide derivative and then corresponding amine. Antioxidant studies were conducted on the parent compounds, their derivatives, and the methanolic and hexane plant extracts using the DPPH radical method. The study revealed a strong antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract. Acaricidal studies of both natural products and synthetic analogs against Varroa destructor and the comparison of their activity with the parent natural product costic acid, as well as one of its synthetic congeners, indicated that the “from nature to synthesis and vice versa” approach led to active compounds as well as to meaningful conclusions regarding the “pharmacophore” groups in the structural framework of the acaricides. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rise in antimicrobial resistance is one of the major challenges to global health systems, which necessitates the development of new antibacterial compounds. The bioactive compounds of brown seaweed Sargassum duplicatum have demonstrated potential antibacterial activity. This study applied metabolomic profiling and molecular networking in combination with antibacterial screening assays to assess the antimicrobial properties of S. duplicatum extracts against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Methods: Two extraction methods, i.e., maceration and microwave extraction, were used. Therewith, untargeted metabolomic profiling was performed using Liquid Chromatography–High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Molecular networks (MNs) were established and compound dereplication was conducted using the spectral database of the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking platform (GNPS). Additionally, antimicrobial assays were conducted against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, i.e., methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus ATCC 33592 (MRSA) and β-lactamase, producing Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 (TEM-1 positive strain). Result: Dereplication resulted in the prediction of six compounds with reported antimicrobial properties, i.e., 13-docosenamide, 9-octadecenamide, pheophorbide A, ouabain, sarmentoside B and AC1L1X1Z. Antibacterial screening of the extracts revealed that the ethyl acetate maceration extracts exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity, with inhibition values between 85 and 98% against S. aureus ATCC 33592. Conclusions: This metabolomics study requires further research to isolate, purify, confirm, and validate the dereplicated compounds that may have potential antibacterial activity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Meaningful social connections are critical for well-being in later life, yet older adults living with HIV frequently experience social isolation and loneliness, compounded by stigma, mental health conditions, and systemic inequities. This study aimed to explore how older adults living with HIV and a concurrent mental health diagnosis experience social isolation and cultivate meaningful relationships, situating these experiences within Social Convoy Theory. Methods: Using a Heideggerian phenomenological approach, we conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 33 adults aged 50 and older in Ontario, Canada, who self-identified as living with HIV and a diagnosed mental health condition. Participants were recruited through community-engaged strategies and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed iteratively, combining descriptive and interpretive coding to identify patterns in social isolation, relational meaning, and the influence of intersecting social, structural, and health determinants. Results: Participants described social isolation as both a physical and existential experience, influenced by stigma, mental health challenges, and contextual factors such as urban versus rural settings. Meaningful relationships were characterized by authenticity, trust, emotional safety, and reciprocity, often formed within peer networks sharing similar lived experiences. Community engagement and virtual platforms facilitated connection, while rural or suburban environments often intensified isolation. Relationships providing validation, agency, and continuity of experience were particularly impactful on participants’ well-being. Conclusions: Social isolation among older adults living with HIV and mental health conditions extends beyond objective network measures to include emotional and identity-related dimensions. Interventions should prioritize affirming, context-sensitive spaces that support disclosure, trust, and reciprocal relationships, recognizing the nuanced needs of this population for both social and existential connectedness. Full article