The Anti-bacterial effect of Colloidal silver on Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro

Abstract: The treatment of bacterial infections has been successfully achieved when antibiotics were first introduced. A short while after the introduction of antibiotics, bacterial strains became resistant to antibiotic treatment, and bacterial infections were potentially fatal once again. This challenge has led to various pursuits of antibiotic alternative treatment. The antibacterial effect of colloidal silver (18 and 20 ppm) was investigated on Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes in vitro using the microdilution method. Agar disc diffusion method was used as trial run. Zones of inhibition were measured and recorded in the agar disc diffusion method to indicate bacterial inhibition. The Iodonitrotetrazolium chloride dye was added to the 96 well microplate in the microdilution method and colour changes were visually observed. An unchanged clear colour indicated bacterial inhibition. Noticeable colour changes (from a clear colour to purple) indicated bacterial growth. The results from both experimental methods showed that both 18 and 20 ppm colloidal silver had an inhibitory effect against Streptococcus pyogenes, but not against Staphylococcus aureus. This warrants further extensive research on the effect of colloidal silver as an antimicrobial

Relações da geometria hidráulica em nível de margens plenas nos córregos de Marechal Cândido Rondon, região oeste do Paraná

O trabalho apresenta as relações da geometria hidráulica em nível de margens plenas correspondentes a córregos que drenam as áreas urbana e rural do município de Marechal Cândido Rondon, oeste do Paraná. As variáveis da geometria hidráulica medidas em nível de margens plenas (vazão, largura, profundidade e área da seção transversal) foram quantificadas em oito seções transversais escolhidas em seis córregos de segunda ordem (classificação de Strahler). A vazão de margens plenas em cada seção foi estimada utilizando a equação de Manning, tendo como nível de referencia a superfície do fundo de vale. Foram obtidas as relações da área da bacia hidrográfica (variável independente) com as variáveis geométricas do canal e a vazão (variáveis dependentes). Os coeficientes de determinação (R2) das equações variaram de 0,11 até 0,70. As baixas correlações são atribuídas à escolha inadequada da superfície do fundo de vale como nível de margens plenas, a alteração das vazões máximas causada pela urbanização e ao incremento da tensão de cisalhamento do fluxo em alguns córregos em conseqüência da forte declividade média do leito

Semisimple Banach Algebras Generated by Strongly Continuous Representations of Locally Compact Abelian Groups

AbstractWe prove that if T is a strongly based continuous bounded representation of a locally compact abelian group G on a Banach Space X, and if the spectrum of T is countable, then the Banach algebra generated by f̂ (T) = ∫Gf(g) T(g) dg, f ∈ L1(G), is semisimple

Trends in the Number and Type of Tobacco Product Retailers, United States, 2000-2017

Introduction: Tobacco product retailers provide access to tobacco products and exposure to tobacco marketing. Without a national tobacco retailer licensing system in the United States, there are no estimates of national trends in tobacco retailer numbers and store type over time. Methods: We developed a protocol to identify likely tobacco retailers across the United States between 2000 and 2017 using industry codes and retailer names in the annual National Establishment Time Series (NETS) database. We calculated annual counts of tobacco retailers in seven store-type categories and annual numbers of tobacco retailers that opened and closed. Results: We estimate that there were 317 492 tobacco product retailers in 2000; the number grew to 412 536 in 2009 before falling to 356 074 in 2017, for a net 12% increase overall. Gas/convenience stores and grocery stores accounted for more than two thirds of all retailers. On average, new openings accounted for 8.0% of the total retailers, whereas 7.3% of retailers closed or stopped selling tobacco each year, with stronger market volatility following the Great Recession. Since 2011, there was a disproportionate reduction in tobacco-selling pharmacies and an increase in both tobacco-specialty shops and tobacco-selling discount stores. Conclusions: During two decades when smoking declined, tobacco retailer availability increased in the United States. The economic climate, corporate and public policies, and new tobacco products may all contribute to trends in tobacco retailer availability. State and local jurisdictions considering tobacco retailer policies may find retailer trend information useful for forecasting or evaluating potential policy impacts. Implications: This study provides historic data tracking tobacco retailers in the United States between 2000 and 2017, documenting trends that unfolded as the general economic market contracted and grew, with greater regulation of the tobacco retailer environment. These data provide a context for better understanding future changes in the tobacco retailer market. In addition, the protocol established in this study could be applied in any US-based location without tobacco retailer licensing to allow identification of stores and tracking of trends

overall survival results of ceritinib in alki naive patients with alk rearranged nsclc ascend 3

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Extra-pair paternity in a Neotropical rainforest songbird, the White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis (Aves: Turdidae)

ABSTRACT Over the last two decades, several studies have shown that the mating systems of various birds are more complex than previously believed, and paternity tests performed with molecular techniques have proved, for instance, that the commonly observed social monogamy often presents important variations, such as extra-pair paternity. However, data are still largely biased towards temperate species. In our study, at an area of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we found broods containing at least one extra-pair young (EPY) in the socially monogamous White-necked Thrush Turdus albicollis (Vieillot, 1818). Paternity tests using six heterologous microsatellite loci revealed that four of 11 broods (36.4%) presented at least one extra-pair young (EPY). This rate of EPY is within the range found for other studies in the tropics. This is one of the few studies that present detailed paternity analyses of a Neotropical rainforest passerine. Our findings corroborate the early insights that breeding strategies involving cheating can also be widespread among Neotropical socially monogamous songbirds

Cell-based tracers as Trojan horses for image-guided surgery

Surgeons rely almost completely on their own vision and palpation to recognize affected tissues during surgery. Consequently, they are often unable to distinguish between different cells and tissue types. This makes accurate and complete resection cumbersome. Targeted image-guided surgery (IGS) provides a solution by enabling real-time tissue recognition. Most current targeting agents (tracers) consist of antibodies or peptides equipped with a radiolabel for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) labels, or a near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dye. These tracers are preoperatively administered to patients, home in on targeted cells or tissues, and are visualized in the operating room via dedicated imaging systems. Instead of using these ‘passive’ tracers, there are other, more ‘active’ approaches of probe delivery conceivable by using living cells (macrophages/monocytes, neutrophils, T cells, mesenchymal stromal cells), cell(-derived) fragments (platelets, extracellular vesicles (exosomes)), and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) or, alternatively, ‘humanized’ nanoparticles. Compared with current tracers, these active contrast agents might be more efficient for the specific targeting of tumors or other pathological tissues (e.g., atherosclerotic plaques). This review provides an overview of the arsenal of possibilities applicable for the concept of cell-based tracers for IGS

A multimodal molecular imaging approach targeting urokinase plasminogen activator receptor for the diagnosis, resection and surveillance of urothelial cell carcinoma

With a 5-year recurrence rate of 30-78%, urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) rates amongst the highest of all solid malignancies. Consequently, after transurethral resection, patients are subjugated to life-long endoscopic surveillance. A multimodal near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence-based imaging strategy can improve diagnosis, resection and surveillance, hence increasing quality of life.Methods: Expression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) are determined on paraffin-embedded human UCC using immunohistochemistry and on UCC cell lines by flow cytometry. MNPR-101, a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting uPAR is conjugated to IRDye800CW and binding is validated in vitro using surface plasmon resonance and cell-based binding assays. In vivo NIR fluorescence and photoacoustic three-dimensional (3D) imaging are performed with subcutaneously growing human UM-UC-31uc2 cells in BALB/c-nude mice. The translational potential is confirmed in a metastasising UM-UC-31uc2 orthotopic mouse model. InfliximabIRDye800CW and rituximab-IRDye800CW are used as controls.Results: UCCs show prominent uPAR expression at the tumour-stroma interface and EpCAM on epithelial cells. uPAR and EpCAM are expressed by 6/7 and 4/7 UCC cell lines, respectively. In vitro, MNPR-101-IRDye800CW has a picomolar affinity for domain 2-3 of uPAR. In vivo fluorescence imaging with MNPR-101-IRDye800CW, specifically delineates both subcutaneous and orthotopic tumours with tumour-to-background ratios reaching as high as 6.8, differing significantly from controls (p < 0.0001). Photoacoustic 3D in depth imaging confirms the homogenous distribution of MNPR-101-IRDye800CW through the tumour.Conclusions: MNPR-101-IRDye800CW is suitable for multimodal imaging of UCC, awaiting clinical translation. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Surgical oncolog