Antifungal activity of oligochitosans (short chain chitosans) against some Candida species and clinical isolates of Candida albicans: Molecular weight-activity relationship

A series of oligochitosans (short chain chitosans) prepared by acidic hydrolysis of chitosan and characterized by their molecular weight, polydispersity and degree of deacetylation were used to determine their anticandidal activities. This study has demonstrated that oligochitosans show a high fungistatic activity (MIC 8-512 μg/ml) against Candida species and clinical isolates of Candida albicans, which are resistant to a series of classic antibiotics. Flow cytometry analysis showed that oligochitosan possessed a high fungicidal activity as well. For the first time it was shown that even sub-MIC oligochitosan concentration suppressed the formation of C. albicans hyphal structures, cause severe cell wall alterations, and altered internal cell structure. These results indicate that oligochitosan should be considered as a possible alternative/additive to known anti-yeast agents in pharmaceutical compositions. © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved

Synthesis and antifungal activity of sulfides, sulfoxides, and sulfones based on (1S)-(-)-β-pinene

Attachment of 2-mercaptoethanol and thioglycolic acid methyl ester to the double bond of (1S)-(-)-β-pinene yielded pinane sulfides with the cis configuration. Oxidation of sulfides with m-chloroperbenzoic acid yielded the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones. The resulting compounds were screened for antimycotic activity and the dynamics of changes in antifungal properties in sulfides-sulfoxide-sulfone series were studied. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc

Features of antifungal therapy during long-lasting infectious process: a clinical case of fungal keratitis and profile of antifungal sensitivity based on assessing biofilm formation

Among infectious diseases, opportunistic mycoses hold a special place. There has been accumulating a lot of evidence regarding the clinical and epidemiological aspects of infection caused by Fusarium spp., which global incidence rate among microbial keratitis ranges from 2 to 40% depending on the geographical location of the country. Colonizing mucous membranes, fungi can exist not only in the form of plankton, but form biofilms after surface attachment, which leads to elevated resistance to multiple antifungal agents. Here we describe a clinical case of fungal keratitis due to Fusarium solani by determining profile of the antifungal sensitivity for isolated fungal strains, by taking into account their potential for biofilm formation. We used an F. solani culture isolated from the patient as well as F. solani test culture obtained from the Russian National Collection of Microorganisms. While determining the sensitivity of fungal planktonic cultures to antifungal agents from the azole group (fluconazole, voriconazole), amphotericin B and terbinafine, it was revealed that antimycotics amphotericin B and voriconazole exerted a marked antifungal activity against clinical isolate, whereas the plankton F. solani test culture was more sensitive to all groups of antifungal agents. Due to a long-lasting progressive course of the infectious process and the high biofilm-forming ability of the clinical strain F. solani, the activity of antifungal agents on biofilm cells was modeled and examined in vitro. It was shown that regarding to the fungal biofilms, value of the minimally inhibitory concentration exceeded those for planktonic cultures by 100-fold. The mechanisms of action for antifungal agents on vital parameters of fungal cell structures were analyzed by using confocal laser scanning microscopy after staining samples with propidium iodide and acridine orange for 15 min to detect changes between intact and damaged cell surface. It was found that within the biofilm fungal cells preserved viability even after exposure to high concentrations of antifungals. In addition, despite the fungicidal drug activity at substantial concentrations acting on the biofilm cell membrane, the cell nuclei remained viable. Owing to the presence ot the mechanism of resistance in mycelial fungi shown in the study, it is necessary to take into account and investigate characteristics of biofilms in terms of drug sensitivity that will allow to optimize a choice of antimicrobial therapy

Synthesis and antifungal activity of monoterpenoids of the carane series

The antifUngal activity of terpenoids of the carane series was studied; an interaction was found between the structures of these compounds and their antifungal properties. The actions of several terpenoids on the adhesive activity and enzyme systems of the fungus Candida albicans were studied. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc

КЛИНИКО-МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ЭНТЕРОЭНДОКРИННОЙ СИСТЕМЫ У БОЛЬНЫХ ХРОНИЧЕСКИМ ОБСТРУКТИВНЫМ БРОНХИТОМ

Introduction. Comorbidity greatly contributes to progression and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to describe the nature and severity of gastrointestinal paraendocrine disorders in patients with COPD.Methods. This cross-sectional open randomized controlled study included 84 patients with COPD. We measured blood serotonin concentration and performed immunohistochemical investigation of gastrointestinal APUD cells.Results. Our results suggested an effect of gastrointestinal disease on the severity of COPD. Hyperserotoninemia and structural and functional disorders in enteroendocrine system were noted even in patients with mild COPD.Conclusion. The severity of bronchial obstruction could correlate with functional activity of serotonin-producing enteroendocrine cells.В прогрессировании и тяжести течения хронической обструктивной болезни легких (ХОБЛ) придается значение сопутствующей патологии. С целью установления характера и тяжести поражения параэндокринной системы гастроинтестинальной зоны у пациентов с различными стадиями ХОБЛ проведено одномоментное исследование, в которое были включены пациенты (n = 84) с ХОБЛ. Выполнено исследование уровня серотонина крови, иммуногистохимическое исследование апудоцитов гастроинтестинальной зоны. Получены данные о влиянии гастроинтестинальной патологии на тяжесть течения ХОБЛ. Установлено, что тяжесть бронхообструктивного синдрома коррелирует с функциональной активностью серотонинпродуцирующих энтероэндокриноцитов

Big Five Traits as Predictors of a Healthy Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Russian Cross-Sectional Study

The healthy lifestyle of people around the world has changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. The personality risk factors for these processes from around the world remain understudied. This study aimed to examine the associations of the Big Five traits with a healthy lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a cross-sectional study, data from 1215 Russian university students were analyzed. Participants completed the Big Five Inventory-10 and Short Multidimensional Inventory Lifestyle Evaluation. The results showed that personality traits predicted many dimensions of a healthy lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. Diet and nutrition were positively predicted by extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, and it was negatively predicted by neuroticism. Substance abuse was positively predicted by agreeableness and conscientiousness, and it was negatively predicted by extraversion. Physical activity was positively predicted by extraversion and conscientiousness, and it was negatively predicted by neuroticism. Stress management was positively predicted by extraversion and conscientiousness, and it was negatively predicted by neuroticism. Restorative sleep was positively predicted by extraversion and conscientiousness, and it was negatively predicted by neuroticism. Social support for healthy practices was positively predicted by extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Environmental exposures were positively predicted by extraversion, and neuroticism was positively and negatively predicted by conscientiousness. Our findings may be useful for further exploration of personality risk factors for healthy practices in challenging life circumstances. © 2022 by the authors.AAAA-A21-121012090090-9; Russian Foundation for Basic Research, РФФИ: 20-515-55003This study was funded by RFBR (project No. 20-515-55003) and partly by the Government contract of the Institute of Immunology and Physiology (AAAA-A21-121012090090-9)

Working sick and out of sorts: a cross-cultural approach on presenteeism climate, organizational justice and work-family conflict

A climate of presenteeism has important effects on employee well-being and the organization itself. Our study, based on surveys of health sector employees in six different countries (Brazil, Ecuador, Lebanon, Portugal, Russia and Spain) examines whether organizational justice plays a mediating role in the relationship between a presenteeism climate in the organization and work-family conflict (WFC). Our results indicate that the perception of organizational justice and the presenteeism climate do influence WFC. Moreover, higher levels of WFC were found in non-Latin countries. This study contributes to the work attendance and life balance field by providing cross-cultural empirical evidence corroborating the effect of justice and presenteeism climate on the WFC

Surrogacy and HIV: features of a clinical case in comorbid cancer

Introduction. A significant increase in the quality and increase in the life expectancy of HIV patients during treatment with antiretroviral drugs necessitates the implementation of the reproductive function in these patients. The participation of a surrogate mother in the treatment of infertility in HIV-infected potential parents, provided by the Russian legislation, requires additional solutions to a number of clinical and organizational problems. The aim was to substantiate a surrogacy program as a method of choice for the treatment of infertility in patients with HIV-positive status and comorbid cancer and also a multidisciplinary approach to organizingЦель работы: на примере конкретной клинической ситуации с учетом литературных данных обосновать программу суррогатного материнства в качестве метода выбора для лечения бесплодия у пациентов с ВИЧ-позитивным статусом и коморбидным онкологическим заболева нием, а также междисциплинарный подход к организации его проведени