Self-assembling antimicrobial peptides on nanotubular titanium surfaces coated with calcium phosphate for local therapy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.Bacterial infection is a serious medical problem leading to implant failure. The current antibiotic based therapies rise concerns due to bacterial resistance. The family of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) is one of the promising candidates as local therapy agents due to their broad-spectrum activity. Despite AMPs receive increasing attention to treat infection, their effective delivery to the implantation site has been limited. Here, we developed an engineered dual functional peptide which delivers AMP as a biomolecular therapeutic agent onto calcium phosphate deposited nanotubular titanium surfaces. Dual functionality of the peptide was achieved by combining a hydroxyapatite binding peptide-1 (HABP1) with an AMP using a flexible linker. HABP functionality of the peptide provided a self-coating property onto the nano-topographies that are designed to improve osteointegration capability, while AMP offered an antimicrobial protection onto the implant surface. We successfully deposited calcium phosphate minerals on nanotubular titanium oxide surface using pulse electrochemical deposition (PECD) and characterized the minerals by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM. Antimicrobial activity of the engineered peptide was tested against S. mutans (gram- positive) and E. coli (gram-negative) both in solution and on the Ca-P coated nanotubular titanium surface. In solution activity of AMP and dual functional peptide have the same Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) (32 mg/mL) against E.coli. The peptide also resulted in the reduction of the number of bacteria both for E.coli and S.mutans compare to control groups. Antimicrobial features of dual functional peptides are strongly correlated with their structures suggesting tunability in design through linkers regions. The dual-function peptide offers single-step solution for implant surface functionalization that could be applicable to any implant surface having different topographies.NIH AR062249–03NIH R01DE025476–01TUBITAK BIDEP 2218ITU Institute for Graduate Program

Perceptions of the appropriate response to norm violation in 57 societies

An Author Correction to this article: DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22955-x.Norm enforcement may be important for resolving conflicts and promoting cooperation. However, little is known about how preferred responses to norm violations vary across cultures and across domains. In a preregistered study of 57 countries (using convenience samples of 22,863 students and non-students), we measured perceptions of the appropriateness of various responses to a violation of a cooperative norm and to atypical social behaviors. Our findings highlight both cultural universals and cultural variation. We find a universal negative relation between appropriateness ratings of norm violations and appropriateness ratings of responses in the form of confrontation, social ostracism and gossip. Moreover, we find the country variation in the appropriateness of sanctions to be consistent across different norm violations but not across different sanctions. Specifically, in those countries where use of physical confrontation and social ostracism is rated as less appropriate, gossip is rated as more appropriate.Peer reviewe

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Anger and disgust shape judgments of social sanctions across cultures, especially in high individual autonomy societies

When someone violates a social norm, others may think that some sanction would be appropriate. We examine how the experience of emotions like anger and disgust relate to the judged appropriateness of sanctions, in a pre-registered analysis of data from a large-scale study in 56 societies. Across the world, we find that individuals who experience anger and disgust over a norm violation are more likely to endorse confrontation, ostracism and, to a smaller extent, gossip. Moreover, we find that the experience of anger is consistently the strongest predictor of judgments of confrontation, compared to other emotions. Although the link between state-based emotions and judgments may seem universal, its strength varies across countries. Aligned with theoretical predictions, this link is stronger in societies, and among individuals, that place higher value on individual autonomy. Thus, autonomy values may increase the role that emotions play in guiding judgments of social sanctions

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

Efects of melatonin on diclofenac sodium treatedrat kidney: a stereological and histopathological study

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of diclofenac sodium (DS) and melatonin (MEL) on kidney of the prenatally administered rats. Materials and methods: Pregnant rats were divided into the control, physiological saline, DS, and DS + MEL groups. All injections were given beginning from the 5th day after mating to the 15th day of the pregnancy. Physical dissector and Cavalieri principle were used to estimate the numerical density and total number of glomeruli and the volumetric parameters of kidney, respectively. Results: Our stereological results indicated that DS application during the pregnancy lead to decrease in the mean volume, numerical density, and total number of the glomeruli (p 0.05). Light microscopic investigation showed congestion in blood vessels and shrinkage of the Bowman's space in the DS group. Moreover, there was degeneration in nephrons including glomerulosclerosis and tubular defects, and an increase in the connective tissue in the kidneys of the DS-treated group. However, usage of the MEL with the DS caused preventing of these pathological alterations in the kidney. Discussion: We suggested that DS might lead to adverse effects in the kidneys of the rats that are prenatally subjected to this drug. Fortunately, these adverse effects can be prevented by the melatonin supplementation

Red cell distribution width predicts mortality in infective endocarditis

SummaryBackgroundInfective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a recently recognized biomarker of adverse outcome in a number of acute and chronic conditions.AimTo investigate the relationship between RDW and 1-year survival in patients with IE.MethodsClinical records from two tertiary centres were used to analyze data from patients with definite IE. Clinical, echocardiographic and biochemical variables were evaluated along with RDW. One-year survival status after index hospitalization was identified for each patient.ResultsOne hundred consecutive patients (mean age 47.8±16.7years; 61% men) with definite IE were enrolled. According to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal RDW cut-off value for predicting mortality was 15.3% (area under the curve 0.70; P=0.001). Forty-one patients (41%) died within 1year; of these, 88% had RDW results>15.3%. Univariate Cox proportional-hazards analysis showed that RDW>15.3%, heart failure, renal failure, cardiac abscess, severe valvular regurgitation and presence of dehiscence were associated with increased mortality. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards analysis revealed that renal failure (hazard ratio [HR] 3.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35–7.59; P=0.008), heart failure (HR 2.77, 95% CI 1.1–6.97; P=0.03) and RDW>15.3% (HR 3.07, 95% CI 1.06–8.86; P=0.03) were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.ConclusionAccording to our results, mortality is high in patients with IE. RDW is a promising biomarker for predicting 1-year survival rates in these patients

Anger and disgust shape judgments of social sanctions across cultures, especially in high individual autonomy societies

Abstract When someone violates a social norm, others may think that some sanction would be appropriate. We examine how the experience of emotions like anger and disgust relate to the judged appropriateness of sanctions, in a pre-registered analysis of data from a large-scale study in 56 societies. Across the world, we find that individuals who experience anger and disgust over a norm violation are more likely to endorse confrontation, ostracism and, to a smaller extent, gossip. Moreover, we find that the experience of anger is consistently the strongest predictor of judgments of confrontation, compared to other emotions. Although the link between state-based emotions and judgments may seem universal, its strength varies across countries. Aligned with theoretical predictions, this link is stronger in societies, and among individuals, that place higher value on individual autonomy. Thus, autonomy values may increase the role that emotions play in guiding judgments of social sanctions

Author Correction: Perceptions of the appropriate response to norm violation in 57 societies (Nature Communications, (2021), 12, 1, (1481), 10.1038/s41467-021-21602-9)

The original version of this Article contained an error in the author affiliations. Cecilia Reyna was incorrectly associated with ‘Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC). Facultad de Psicología (UNC), Ciudad Universitaria, Bv. de la Reforma esquina, Enfermera Gordillo s/n, Córdoba, Argentina.’ instead of the correct ‘Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas (IIPsi), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CABA, República Argentina.’ This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article