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  • Article
    Elmahdi FM, Aljohani RS, Alharbi NA, Yousef SE, Alharbi NM, Afasha RB, Aljohani RB, Alhejaili YK, Almuzaini NO.
    Cureus. 2023 Jun;15(6):e40421.
    Objective This study aims to determine how electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use contributes to the spread of the human papillomavirus (HPV) and to assess the potential cellular proliferative activity it may produce. Methodology In Madinah, a case-control study was conducted between October 2022 and March 2023. Two oral cytologic smear samples were collected from each of the 500 volunteers; 250 consumers of electronic cigarettes and 250 non-smokers each provided two samples. To detect cytological changes and HPV infection, these samples were stained using Papanicolaou and immunocytochemical techniques. Results Twelve (4.8%) of the electronic cigarettes exhibited cytological atypia, while only one (0.4%) of the nonsmokers' group did. Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) was detected in eight (3.2%) of the e-cigarette users, but it was only found in two (0.8%) of the nonsmokers (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion Electronic cigarette smoking increases the likelihood of contracting HPV and developing cytological atypia, both of which, if left untreated, can contribute to the development of precancerous and cancerous lesions in the mouth.
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  • Article
    Li M, Wang Z, Li H, Yang J, Rao K, Wang T, Wang S, Liu J.
    Sci Rep. 2017 01 12;7:40421.
    A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of local anesthesia in alleviating pain during prostate biopsy. We searched relevant articles in PubMed and Embase. The included studies should be randomized controlled trials (RCT) using local anesthesia to alleviate pain during biopsy, which was recorded by a pain scale. Analgesic efficacy of different local anesthesia techniques were analyzed, including intrarectal local anesthesia (IRLA), periprostatic nerve block (PNB), pelvic plexus block (PPB) and intraprostatic local anesthesia (IPLA). We included 46 RCTs. PNB significantly reduced pain score compared with placebo (-1.27 [95% confidence interval [95% CI] -1.72, -0.82]) or no injection (-1.01 [95% CI -1.2, -0.82]). IRLA with prilocaine-lidocaine cream could also reduced pain (-0.45 [95% CI -0.76, -0.15]), while the IRLA with lidocaine gel was not effective (-0.1 [95% CI -0.24, 0.04]). PNB lateral to the neurovascular bundle had better analgesic effect than at prostate apex (P = 0.02). Combination use of PPB and IRLA considerably alleviated pain of patients compared with the combination of PNB and IRLA (-1.32 [95% CI -1.59, -1.06]). In conclusion, local anesthesia could alleviate patients' pain during the prostate biopsy. PNB was not so effective as PPB.
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  • Article
    Corre MH, Mercier A, Bouteiller M, Khalil A, Ginevra C, Depayras S, Dupont C, Rouxel M, Gallique M, Grac L, Jarraud S, Giron D, Merieau A, Berjeaud JM, Verdon J.
    Microbiol Spectr. 2021 09 03;9(1):e0040421.
    Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, is mostly found in man-made water systems and is one of the most closely monitored waterborne pathogens. With the aim of finding natural ways to control waterborne pathogens and thus further reduce the impact of disinfection by-products on human health, some studies have demonstrated the ability of bacteria to kill Legionella through the production of secondary metabolites or antimicrobial compounds. Here, we describe an unexpected growth inhibition of L. pneumophila when exposed to a physically separated strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, designated as MFE01. Most of the members of the Legionellaceae family are sensitive to the volatile substances emitted by MFE01, unlike other bacteria tested. Using headspace solid-phase microextraction GC-MS strategy, a volatilome comparison revealed that emission of 1-undecene, 2-undecanone, and 2-tridecanone were mainly reduced in a Tn5-transposon mutant unable to inhibit at distance the growth of L. pneumophila strain Lens. We showed that 1-undecene was mainly responsible for the inhibition at distance in vitro, and led to cell lysis in small amounts, as determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Collectively, our results provide new insights into the mode of action of bacterial volatiles and highlight them as potent anti-Legionella agents to focus research on novel strategies to fight legionellosis. IMPORTANCE Microbial volatile compounds are molecules whose activities are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers. Indeed, they can act as key compounds in long-distance intrakingdom and interkingdom communication, but also as antimicrobials in competition and predation. In fact, most studies to date have focused on their antifungal activities and only a few have reported on their antibacterial properties. Here, we describe that 1-undecene, naturally produced by P. fluorescens, is a volatile with potent activity against bacteria of the genus Legionella. In small amounts, it is capable of inducing cell lysis even when the producing strain is physically separated from the target. This is the first time that such activity is described. This molecule could therefore constitute an efficient compound to counter bacterial pathogens whose treatment may fail, particularly in pulmonary diseases. Indeed, inhalation of these volatiles should be considered as a possible route of therapy in addition to antibiotic treatment.
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  • Article
    Vidal SJ, Collier AY, Yu J, McMahan K, Tostanoski LH, Ventura JD, Aid M, Peter L, Jacob-Dolan C, Anioke T, Chang A, Wan H, Aguayo R, Ngo D, Gerszten RE, Seaman MS, Barouch DH.
    J Virol. 2021 06 24;95(14):e0040421.
    Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern that overcome natural and vaccine-induced immunity threaten to exacerbate the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing evidence suggests that neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses are a primary mechanism of protection against infection. However, little is known about the extent and mechanisms by which natural immunity acquired during the early COVID-19 pandemic confers cross-neutralization of emerging variants. In this study, we investigated cross-neutralization of the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variants in a well-characterized cohort of early pandemic convalescent subjects. We observed modestly decreased cross-neutralization of B.1.1.7 but a substantial 4.8-fold reduction in cross-neutralization of B.1.351. Correlates of cross-neutralization included receptor binding domain (RBD) and N-terminal domain (NTD) binding antibodies, homologous NAb titers, and membrane-directed T cell responses. These data shed light on the cross-neutralization of emerging variants by early pandemic convalescent immune responses. IMPORTANCE Widespread immunity to SARS-CoV-2 will be necessary to end the COVID-19 pandemic. NAb responses are a critical component of immunity that can be stimulated by natural infection as well as vaccines. However, SARS-CoV-2 variants are emerging that contain mutations in the spike gene that promote evasion from NAb responses. These variants may therefore delay control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We studied whether NAb responses from early COVID-19 convalescent patients are effective against the two SARS-CoV-2 variants, B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. We observed that the B.1.351 variant demonstrates significantly reduced susceptibility to early pandemic NAb responses. We additionally characterized virological, immunological, and clinical features that correlate with cross-neutralization. These studies increase our understanding of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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  • Article
    Mpyet C, Lass BD, Yahaya HB, Solomon AW.
    PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e40421.
    BACKGROUND: In northern Nigeria, trachoma is an important public health problem, but there are currently few population-based data on prevalence of disease and no formal trachoma control programs.
    METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In Kano state, Nigeria, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey using multistage cluster random sampling, combining examination for clinical signs of trachoma and application of questionnaires assessing potential household-level risk factors. A total of 4491 people were examined in 40 clusters, of whom 1572 were aged 1-9 years, and 2407 (53.6%) were female. In 1-9 year-olds, the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) was 17.5% (95% CI: 15.7-19.5%). In a multivariate model, independent risk factors for active trachoma were the presence of flies on the face (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.30-3.02); a dirty face (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.85-3.25) and presence of animal dung within the compound of residence (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.62-7.41). The prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis in persons aged ≥15 years was 10.9% (95% CI: 9.7-12.2%). Trichiasis was significantly more common in adult females than in adult males.
    CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: There is an urgent need for a trachoma control program in Kano state, with emphasis given to provision of good quality trichiasis surgery. Particular effort will need to be made to identify women with trichiasis and engage them with appropriate services while also taking steps to secure azithromycin for mass treatment and ensuring personal and environmental hygiene.
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  • Article
    Kim HJ, Lee JW, Choi G, Huh J, Han DH.
    JMIR Serious Games. 2023 Jan 05;11:e40421.
    BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) has been suggested to be effective at enhancing physical exercises because of its immersive characteristics. However, few studies have quantitatively assessed the range of motion and brain activity during VR exercises.
    OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that 3D immersive VR could stimulate body movement and brain activity more effectively than standard exercises and that the increased range of motions during 3D immersive VR exercises would be associated with orbitofrontal activation.
    METHODS: A randomized crossover trial was conducted to compare exercises with and without VR. A total of 24 healthy males performed the same motions when exercising with and without 3D immersive VR, and the recorded videos were used for motion analysis. Hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex were assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.
    RESULTS: There were significant differences in the total angle (z=-2.31; P=.02), length (z=-2.78; P=.005), calorie consumption (z=-3.04; P=.002), and change in accumulated oxygenated hemoglobin within the right orbitofrontal cortex (F1,94=9.36; P=.003) between the VR and offline trials. Hemodynamic changes in the right orbitofrontal cortex were positively correlated with the total angle (r=0.45; P=.001) and length (r=0.38; P=.007) in the VR exercise; however, there was no significant correlation in the offline trial.
    CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that 3D immersive VR exercise effectively increases the range of motion in healthy individuals in relation to orbitofrontal activation.
    TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service KCT0008021; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/23671.
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  • Article
    Kalantar KL, Langelier CR.
    mSystems. 2021 Aug 31;6(4):e0040421.
    A dynamic relationship involving pathogen, host immune response, and microbiome characterizes the biological framework of many infectious and inflammatory diseases. Combined host/microbe metagenomics (mNGS) enables simultaneous assessment of all three features, enabling the study and diagnosis of diverse infectious and inflammatory processes ranging from pneumonia to sepsis to inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Host/microbe mNGS holds promise for new mechanistic insights, diagnostic approaches, and precision medicine interventions.
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  • Article
    Knutson CM, Pieper MN, Barney BM.
    J Bacteriol. 2021 11 19;203(24):e0040421.
    Azotobacter vinelandii is a nitrogen-fixing free-living soil microbe that has been studied for decades in relation to biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). It is highly amenable to genetic manipulation, helping to unravel the intricate importance of different proteins involved in the process of BNF, including the biosynthesis of cofactors that are essential to assembling the complex metal cofactors that catalyze the difficult reaction of nitrogen fixation. Additionally, A. vinelandii accomplishes this feat while growing as an obligate aerobe, differentiating it from many of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that are associated with plant roots. The ability to function in the presence of oxygen makes A. vinelandii suitable for application in various potential biotechnological schemes. In this study, we employed transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) to measure the fitness defects associated with disruptions of various genes under nitrogen-fixing dependent growth, versus growth with extraneously provided urea as a nitrogen source. The results allowed us to probe the importance of more than 3,800 genes, revealing that many genes previously believed to be important, can be successfully disrupted without impacting cellular fitness. IMPORTANCE These results provide insights into the functional redundancy in A. vinelandii, while also providing a direct measure of fitness for specific genes associated with the process of BNF. These results will serve as a valuable reference tool in future studies to uncover the mechanisms that govern this process.
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  • Article
    Ciou JM, Zhu HF, Chang CW, Chen JY, Lin YF.
    RSC Adv. 2020 Nov 02;10(66):40421-40427.
    A dynamic covalent system of the picolyl heterocyclic amino aminals has been studied. The aminals are characterized as a metastable species and easily switch to other forms via external stimuli. The solvent, temperature, acid-base and substituent effects have been examined to evaluate the dynamic covalent system. The results reveal that a more polar solvent, a lower temperature, basic conditions and an electron-withdrawing moiety contribute to the stabilities of aminals. The existence of the n → π* interaction between acetonitrile and the C[double bond, length as m-dash]N moiety makes the N-pyrimidyl imine (4c and 4d) yield higher in CD3CN. In a similar fashion, all aminals tend to convert to the corresponding hemiaminal ethers in a methanol environment. According to these findings, we successfully synthesized the following species: (a) N-2-picolylpyrimidin-2-amine 6c obtained by reduction using acetonitrile as the specific solvent; (b) a picolyl aromatic amino aminal 3e prepared from 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde and the electron withdrawing 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline.
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  • Article
    Alker AT, Gode BS, Aspiras AE, Jones JE, Michael SR, Aguilar D, Cain AD, Candib AM, Cizmic JM, ... Show More Clark EA, Cozzo AC, Figueroa LE, Garcia PA, Heaney CM, Levy AT, Macknight L, McCarthy AS, McNamara JP, Nguyen KA, Rollin KN, Salcedo GY, Showalter JA, Sue AD, Zamro TR, Dunbar TL, Malter KE, Shikuma NJ.
    Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 Aug 12;10(32):e0040421.
    Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 10 marine Pseudoalteromonas bacteria that were isolated, assembled, and annotated by undergraduate students participating in a marine microbial genomics course. Genomic comparisons suggest that 7 of the 10 strains are novel isolates, providing a resource for future marine microbiology investigations.
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  • Article
    Fältström E, Anderberg S.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020 Nov;27(32):40421-40433.
    Microplastics (plastic particles < 5 mm) is a pollution of growing concern. Microplastic pollution is a complex issue that requires systematic attempts to provide an overview and avoid management solutions that have marginal effects or only move the pollution problem. Substance flow analysis (SFA) has been proposed as a useful tool to receive such an overview and has been put forward as valuable for substance management. However, as the research on microplastics has only emerged recently, detailed and reliable SFAs are difficult to perform. In this study, we use three SFA studies for three pollutants (cadmium, copper and pharmaceuticals) to compare flows and strategies to control the flows. This in order to seek guidance for microplastic management and evaluate potential strategies for controlling microplastics. The analysis shows that there has been rigorous control on different levels to abate pollution from cadmium, copper and pharmaceuticals, but where in the system the major control measures have been carried out differ. For microplastics, there are many potential solutions, both in terms of preventive actions and treatment depending on the type of source. When forming management plans for microplastics, the responsibility for each measure and the impact on the whole urban system should be taken into consideration as well as which receiving compartments are particularly valuable and should be avoided.
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  • Book
    editors James R. Knickman, Brian Elbel ; founding editor Steven Jonas.
    Summary: "This is the 13th edition of Jonas & Kovner's Health Care Delivery in the United States, which, although its title has evolved in the last 44 years, has stayed true to its original purpose: helping instructors and students better understand the complicated, expensive, and ever-changing U.S. health care delivery system, public health system, and health policy. It is a privilege to be able to work with instructors around the world to introduce the leaders of tomorrow to the health field"-- Provided by publisher.
    Digital Access 2024
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