Antimicrobial Profile of Oral Biofilms: Insights and Implications

Oral biofilms, comprising diverse microbial communities residing on oral surfaces, play a pivotal role in oral health and disease. Understanding the antimicrobial profile of these biofilms is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat oral infections and maintain oral hygiene. Here we report the antimicrobial profile of Micrococcus lutens, a bacteria found as part of the mouth microflora. We tested using a comprehensive microtiter inhibition assay the antibacterial profile using a total of 12 antibacterial agents. Prelimary results indicate that bacteria are susceptible to four agents in a free-living form; however, biofilms (or bacterial communities) are resistant to all of the agents tested. Future studies include the analysis of synergistic interactions between conventional antibiotics and adjunctive therapies provide enhanced efficacy in biofilm eradication

Food Insecurity Among College Students: Implication for Wellbeing and Academic Success

Introduction: Food insecurity is associated with many negative effects such as increased stress and reduced well-being. Food insecurity among college students is a growing area of research as students often leave school due to financial concerns, mental health struggles, and illness. This study was conducted to assess student food insecurity in the hopes of learning how to better assist students\u27 wellbeing and success. Methods: Using both standardized assessments and researcher-developed questions, an online survey was created to examine food insecurity, sleep, mental and physical health, ability to focus on academics, and awareness and usage of food resources. Participants were recruited from Winona State University (N = 155). Results: Of participants surveyed, 21% reported low to very low food security. Among the participants that responded to food resource usage, only 4% reported using any food resources. Correlational analyses found that food insecurity was associated with greater symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Additional correlational analyses found relationships between food insecurity and poor sleep quality, reduced ability to focus on classes, and lower physical health. Discussion: Findings highlight potential consequences of food insecurity, including concerns for students\u27 wellbeing and academic success. Negative impacts of food insecurity may extend to students\u27 completion, graduation, and retention rates. Therefore, compelling evidence supports the necessity of additional intervention at the university, state, and federal levels

Charge Characteristics of Agouti-Related Protein Implicate Potent Involvement of Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Metabolic Function.

The endogenous melanocortin peptide agouti-related protein (AgRP) plays a well-known role in foraging, but its contribution to metabolic regulation is less understood. Mature AgRP(83-132) has distinct residues for melanocortin receptor binding and heparan sulfate interactions. Here, we show that AgRP increases ad libitum feeding and operant responding for food in mice, decreases oxygen consumption, and lowers body temperature and activity, indicating lower energy expenditure. AgRP increased the respiratory exchange ratio, indicating a reduction of fat oxidation and a shift toward carbohydrates as the primary fuel source. The duration and intensity of AgRP's effects depended on the density of its positively charged amino acids, suggesting that its orexigenic and metabolic effects depend on its affinity for heparan sulfate. These findings may have major clinical implications by unveiling the critical involvement of interactions between AgRP and heparan sulfate to the central regulation of energy expenditure, fat utilization, and possibly their contribution to metabolic disease

Reducing in-stent restenosis therapeutic manipulation of miRNA in vascular remodeling and inflammation

Background: Drug-eluting stents reduce the incidence of in-stent restenosis, but they result in delayed arterial healing and are associated with a chronic inflammatory response and hypersensitivity reactions. Identifying novel interventions to enhance wound healing and reduce the inflammatory response may improve long-term clinical outcomes. Micro–ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) are noncoding small ribonucleic acids that play a prominent role in the initiation and resolution of inflammation after vascular injury.<p></p> Objectives: This study sought to identify miRNA regulation and function after implantation of bare-metal and drug-eluting stents.<p></p> Methods: Pig, mouse, and in vitro models were used to investigate the role of miRNA in in-stent restenosis.<p></p> Results: We documented a subset of inflammatory miRNAs activated after stenting in pigs, including the miR-21 stem loop miRNAs. Genetic ablation of the miR-21 stem loop attenuated neointimal formation in mice post-stenting. This occurred via enhanced levels of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages coupled with an impaired sensitivity of smooth muscle cells to respond to vascular activation.<p></p> Conclusions: MiR-21 plays a prominent role in promoting vascular inflammation and remodeling after stent injury. MiRNA-mediated modulation of the inflammatory response post-stenting may have therapeutic potential to accelerate wound healing and enhance the clinical efficacy of stenting

Metformin Compared with Insulin in the Treatment of Pregnant Women with Overt Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and tolerability of metformin to insulin for glycemic control among women with preexisting type 2 and early A2 gestational diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: Women with preexisting type 2 diabetes and those diagnosed with gestational diabetes who required medical management prior to 20 weeks were randomly assigned to metformin or insulin. Glycemic control, defined as >50% capillary blood glucose within target range, was compared between groups. Other outcomes included patient tolerance, neonatal and obstetric complications, maternal weight gain, neonatal cord blood C-peptide, and patient satisfaction with therapy. RESULTS: Twenty-eight women completed the study, with 14 in each group. Of the 15 women assigned to metformin, 100% continued to receive metformin until delivery, although 43% required supplemental insulin to achieve glycemic control. Glucose measures did not differ between the groups, and the proportion who met fasting and postprandial glycemic target values did not differ between the groups. Women treated with metformin had significantly fewer subjective episodes of hypoglycemia compared with those using insulin (0% versus 36%; p = 0.04) as well as reported glucose values < 60 mg/dL (7.1% versus 50%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Metformin should be considered for treatment of overt diabetes and early A2 gestational diabetes in pregnancy

Winter and Spring Water Quality of the Big Creek Watershed, Craighead County, Arkansas: Nutrients, Habitat, and Macroinvertebrates

The objective of this study was to assess the water quality of the Big Creek watershed during the winter and spring of 2002 by analyzing water physical, chemical variables, aquatic macro-invertebrates, and habitat. The Big Creek watershed, arising on Crowley\u27s Ridge in northeast Arkansas, is a small deltaic watershed and is an area of intense cultivation. Four stations, Big Creek Upper (BCU), Mud Creek (MC),Lost Creek (LC), and Big Creek Lower (BCL) were established for this study from Big Creek, Mud Creek and Lost Creek. Water samples were collected on a weekly basis for 10 weeks from January 2002 through March 2002. We analyzed these streams for temperature, pH, D.O., conductivity, TSS, chlorophyll- a, DOC, total N and P, total dissolved N and P, nitrate, ammonium, and soluble reactive phosphorus. During this time period, we also sampled aquatic macroinvertebrates and assessed stream habitat according to USEPA rapid bioassessment protocols. Overall, nutrients and TSS were high, pH fluctuated from 5.8 to 7.8, and D.O. was moderate to high, ranging from 6.75 to 13.24 mg/L. Generally, physical and chemical water variables were correlated with changes in stream discharge. For a 20-jab dip-net sample, macroinvertebrate species richness ranged from 9 to 23 taxa, while abundance ranged from 38 to 209 individuals per station. Physical habitat index scores ranged from 75 to 104 (maximum of 200) indicating marginal physical habitat. We report that this watershed has high concentrations of nutrients and suspended solids during the winter and spring wet season and that the macroinvertebrate communities are influenced by stream conditions, including marginal physical habitat

Using the behaviour change wheel and person-based approach to develop a digital self-management intervention for patients with adrenal insufficiency: the Support AI study protocol

Introduction: Most patients with Adrenal insufficiency (AI) require lifelong glucocorticoid replacement. They need to increase glucocorticoids during physical illness or major stressful situations and require parenteral hydrocortisone in the event of an adrenal crisis. Patients with AI have impaired quality of life and high mortality; approximately 1 in 6-12 patients are hospitalised at least once/year from a potentially preventable adrenal crisis. Adoption of self-management behaviours are crucial; these include adherence to medication, following “sick day rules” and associated behaviours that aid prevention and treatment of adrenal crisis such as symptom monitoring, having extra tablets, carrying a medical-alert ID and injection kit, and self-injecting when necessary. Current patient education is ineffective at supporting self-management behaviour change or reducing adrenal crisis-related hospitalisations. This research study aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the barriers and enablers to self-management for patients with AI and to develop an evidence-based digital self-management behaviour change intervention. / Methods: The study is conducted in accordance with the MRC Framework for developing complex interventions. Underpinned by the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and the Person-Based Approach, this research will be conducted in two phases: Phase 1 will involve a sequential qualitative/quantitative mixed-methods study involving focus group interviews followed by a cross-sectional survey with patients with AI recruited from patient advocacy groups and endocrine clinics in the UK. Phase 2 will develop the Support AI, a website-based digital behaviour change intervention (DBCI) informed by Phase 1 findings to support self-management for patients with AI. The most appropriate behaviour change techniques (BCTs) will be selected utilising a nominal group technique with an Expert Panel of 10-15 key stakeholders. The design of the Support AI website will be guided by the Person-Based Approach using an Agile iterative “think-aloud” technique with 12-15 participants over 3 usability testing iterations. / Conclusion: A theory- and evidence-based digital behaviour change intervention will be developed which will be tested in a feasibility randomised trial following completion of this study. The projected benefit includes cost-effective health care service (reduced hospitalisations and demand for specialist services) and improved health outcomes and quality of life for patients with AI

The clustering of Galaxies in the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey : including covariance matrix errors

JP acknowledges support from the UK Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) through the consolidated grant ST/K0090X/1 and from the European Research Council through the ‘Starting Independent Research’ grant 202686, MDEPUGS. AGS acknowledges support from the Trans-regional Collaborative Research Centre TR33 ‘The Dark Universe’ of the German Research Foundation (DFG).We present improved methodology for including covariance matrices in the error budget of Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) galaxy clustering measurements, revisiting Data Release 9 (DR9) analyses, and describing a method that is used in DR10/11 analyses presented in companion papers. The precise analysis method adopted is becoming increasingly important, due to the precision that BOSS can now reach: even using as many as 600 mock catalogues to estimate covariance of two-point clustering measurements can still lead to an increase in the errors of ∼20 per cent, depending on how the cosmological parameters of interest are measured. In this paper, we extend previous work on this contribution to the error budget, deriving formulae for errors measured by integrating over the likelihood, and to the distribution of recovered best-fitting parameters fitting the simulations also used to estimate the covariance matrix. Both are situations that previous analyses of BOSS have considered. We apply the formulae derived to baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) and redshift-space distortion (RSD) measurements from BOSS in our companion papers. To further aid these analyses, we consider the optimum number of bins to use for two-point measurements using the monopole power spectrum or correlation function for BAO, and the monopole and quadrupole moments of the correlation function for anisotropic-BAO and RSD measurements.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe