Better Read that Again: Web Hoaxes & Misinformation

A discussion of various website hoaxes and websites disseminating misinformation. Includes advice on how to spot such sites

Chapter 08 - Heritage Resources

Learn about using materials from Western Washington University Libraries’ Heritage Resources units as a part of the research process.https://cedar.wwu.edu/research_process/1014/thumbnail.jp

Management of osteoporosis in the aging male: Focus on zoledronic acid

Osteoporosis in the aging male remains an important yet under-recognized and undertreated disease. Current US estimates indicate that over 14 million men have osteoporosis or low bone mass, and men suffer approximately 500,000 osteoporotic fractures each year. Men experience fewer osteoporotic fractures than women but have higher mortality after fracture. Bisphosphonates are potent antiresorptive agents that inhibit osteoclast activity, suppress in vivo markers of bone turnover, increase bone mineral density, decrease fractures, and improve survival in men with osteoporosis. Intravenous zoledronic acid may be a preferable alternative to oral bisphosphonate therapy in patients with cognitive dysfunction, the inability to sit upright, or significant gastrointestinal pathology. Zoledronic acid (Reclast) is approved in the US as an annual 5 mg intravenous infusion to treat osteoporosis in men. The zoledronic acid (Zometa) 4 mg intravenous dose has been studied in the prevention of bone loss associated with androgen deprivation therapy

Impact of Environmental Factors on Bacteriocin Promoter Activity in Gut-Derived Lactobacillus salivarius

peer-reviewedBacteriocin production is regarded as a desirable probiotic trait that aids in colonization and persistence in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Strains of Lactobacillus salivarius, a species associated with the GIT, are regarded as promising probiotic candidates and have a number of associated bacteriocins documented to date. These include multiple class IIb bacteriocins (salivaricin T, salivaricin P, and ABP-118) and the class IId bacteriocin bactofencin A, which show activity against medically important pathogens. However, the production of a bacteriocin in laboratory media does not ensure production under stressful environmental conditions, such as those encountered within the GIT. To allow this issue to be addressed, the promoter regions located upstream of the structural genes encoding the L. salivarius bacteriocins mentioned above were fused to a number of reporter proteins (green fluorescent protein [GFP], red fluorescent protein [RFP], and luciferase [Lux]). Of these, only transcriptional fusions to GFP generated signals of sufficient strength to enable the study of promoter activity in L. salivarius. While analysis of the class IIb bacteriocin promoter regions indicated relatively weak GFP expression, assessment of the promoter of the antistaphylococcal bacteriocin bactofencin A revealed a strong promoter that is most active in the absence of the antimicrobial peptide and is positively induced in the presence of mild environmental stresses, including simulated gastric fluid. Taken together, these data provide information on factors that influence bacteriocin production, which will assist in the development of strategies to optimize in vivo and in vitro production of these antimicrobials.This work was funded by a SFI PI award “Obesibiotics” (11/PI/1137) to PD

Does masking matter? Shipping noise and fish vocalizations

Shipping creates large near-field background noises at levels similar to or higher than fish vocalizations and in the same critical bandwidths. This noise has the potential to "mask" biologically important signals and prevent fish from hearing them; any interference with the detection and recognition of sounds may impact fish survival. The Lombard effect, whereby vocalizations are altered to reduce or exclude masking effects, is an adaptation that has been observed in mammals and birds. Research is needed to establish whether the Lombard effect occurs in fish to gain a better understanding of the implications of noise pollution on fish populations

Evaluation of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Antibody Laboratory Use and Anticoagulation Prescribing Patterns

Introduction Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare adverse reaction Calculating a 4T score prior to ordering a heparin-PF4 immunoassay is recommended. For a score \u3c 4, HIT probability is low and an assay is not advised If high suspicion of HIT (4T greater than or equal to 4), an assay should be ordered, all heparin products discontinued, and a non-heparin anticoagulant initiated. Purpose Determine if heparin immunoassay ordering was indicted according to retrospective 4T score Assess anticoagulation prescribing depending on the result of the assay Serve as a pre-group for a planned perverse post-HIT order set implementation analysishttps://digitalcommons.centracare.com/pharmacy_posters/1007/thumbnail.jp

The Lantibiotic Lacticin 3147 Prevents Systemic Spread of Staphylococcus aureus in a Murine Infection Model

The objective of this study was to investigate the in vivo activity of the lantibiotic lacticin 3147 against the luminescent Staphylococcus aureus strain Xen 29 using a murine model. Female BALB/c mice (7 weeks old, 17 g) were divided into groups (n = 5) and infected with the Xen 29 strain via the intraperitoneal route at a dose of 1 × 106 cfu/animal. After 1.5 hr, the animals were treated subcutaneously with doses of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; negative control) or lacticin 3147. Luminescent imaging was carried 3 and 5 hours postinfection. Mice were then sacrificed, and the levels of S. aureus Xen 29 in the liver, spleen, and kidneys were quantified. Notably, photoluminescence and culture-based analysis both revealed that lacticin 3147 successfully controlled the systemic spread of S. aureus in mice thus indicating that lacticin 3147 has potential as a chemotherapeutic agent for in vivo applications