Microbiological Impact of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy in Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment.

Periodontitis is one of the most common inflammatory diseases and it is linked to the presence of a dysbiotic subgingival microbiome. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) on the subgingival microbiome. Herein, based on an extensive evaluation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the effects of aPDT as a supplement to non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) were found to be the main focus of these works.

Bioenergetics evolution: the link between Earth's and Life's history.

The history of life intrigues both researchers and society, as it is human nature to question our origins. Our understanding of microbial evolution comes mainly from genomic data and geological evidence. Recent advances in sequencing technologies are revealing vast insights into microbial diversity, especially among uncultured lineages.

A Comprehensive Understanding of Postural Tone Biomechanics: Intrinsic Stiffness, Functional Stiffness, Antagonist Coactivation, and COP Dynamics in Post-Stroke Adults.

Objective: To analyse the relationship between traditional stiffness and muscle antagonist coactivation in both stroke and healthy participants, using linear and non-linear measures of coactivation and COP during standing, stand-to-sit, and gait initiation.

Methods: Participants were evaluated through a cross-sectional design. Electromyography, isokinetic dynamometer, and force plate were used to calculate coactivation, intrinsic and functional stiffness, and COP displacement, with both linear and non-linear metrics.

Portal Vein Thrombosis: Thrombectomy as a Treatment Option.

Purpose: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) remains a significant clinical challenge with limited treatment options, particularly in patients at high risk of hemorrhage or intestinal infarction. In such cases, mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), either as alternative treatments or in combination with systemic anticoagulation, may provide a more suitable approach.

Case Report: Here, we present 3 cases of symptomatic acute/subacute PVT with concurrent mesenteric vein thrombosis, in which patients underwent MT and CDT.

A novel type of hemoglobin confers host-derived nitric oxide resistance to the opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen responsible for various infections, such as those of the bloodstream and lungs, which often resist antibiotic therapy. In the course of an infection, the human innate immune system's phagocytic cells are activated producing nitric oxide (NO) that cause bacterial injury. While the antimicrobial effects of nitrosative stress and the bacterial resistance mechanisms are well-characterized for several pathogens, the adaptations of Acinetobacter spp.

Effectiveness of Global Postural Reeducation in Postural Changes and Postural Stability in Young Adults.

Background: Postural changes are considered a public health issue and have gathered significant interest in both research and clinical practice.

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) in improving postural changes and postural stability in healthy young adults. Additionally, this study aims to identify the main postural changes in the sample population.

Evidence for corrin biosynthesis in the last universal common ancestor.

Corrinoids are cobalt-containing tetrapyrroles. They include adenosylcobalamin (vitamin B) and cobamides that function as cofactors and coenzymes for methyl transfer, radical-dependent and redox reactions. Though cobamides are the most complex cofactors in nature, they are essential in the acetyl-CoA pathway, thought to be the most ancient CO-fixation pathway, where they perform a pterin-to-cobalt-to-nickel methyl transfer reaction catalyzed by the corrinoid iron-sulphur protein (CoFeS).

Development of MAPT S305 mutation human iPSC lines exhibiting elevated 4R tau expression and functional alterations in neurons and astrocytes.

Due to the importance of 4R tau (with four microtubule-binding-repeat domains) in the pathogenicity of primary tauopathies, it has been challenging to model these diseases in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons, which express very low levels of 4R tau. To address this, we have developed a panel of isogenic iPSC lines carrying MAPT splice-site mutations, S305S, S305I, or S305N, derived from four different donors. All mutations significantly increase 4R tau expression in iPSC neurons and astrocytes.

Characterisation of autophagy induction by the thiopurine drugs azathioprine, mercaptopurine and thioguanine in THP-1 macrophages.

Activating autophagy may be therapeutically beneficial, and we have previously shown that azathioprine (AZA), an immunomodulatory drug, induces autophagy. Here, we evaluated the induction of autophagy by the thiopurines AZA, mercaptopurine (6-MP) and thioguanine (6-TG) in THP-1 macrophages and investigated the mechanism of action in the context of this cellular process. The cytotoxicity of thiopurines was evaluated using an LDH assay.

Embedded Bioprinting of Tumor-Scale Pancreatic Cancer-Stroma 3D Models for Preclinical Drug Screening.

The establishment of organotypic preclinical models that accurately resemble the native tumor microenvironment at an anatomic human scale is highly desirable to level up platforms potential for screening candidate therapies. The bioengineering of anatomic-scaled three-dimensional (3D) models that emulate native tumor scale while recapitulating their cellular and matrix components remains, however, to be fully realized. In this focus, herein, we leveraged embedded 3D bioprinting for biofabricating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) models combining gelatin-methacryloyl and hyaluronic acid methacrylate extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimetic biomaterials with human pancreatic cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts to generate models capable of emulating native tumor size (∼6 mm) and stromal elements.

Are there differences in the kinetic parameters of the vertical jump performed by beach volleyball players on different types of sand?

Beach volleyball (BV) is an intermittent sport characterised by short-duration and highly demanding activities with low intensity periods. Establishing if players' jump ability is influenced by sand granulometry is a useful information for sport scientists, coaches and players. This study aimed to assess the possible differences in the kinetics parameters of the vertical jump on different types of sand performed by BV players.

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus positively modulates Castanea sativa Miller (var. Marsol) responses to heat and drought co-exposure.

Castanea sativa Miller, a high-valuable crop for Mediterranean countries, is facing frequent and prolonged periods of heat and drought, severely affecting chestnut production. Aiming to tackle this problem, this study unraveled the influence of mycorrhizal association with the fungi Paxillus involutus (Batsch) on young chestnut plants' responses to combined heat (42 °C; 4 h/day) and drought (no irrigation until soil moisture reached 25%) over 21 days of stress exposure. Heat stress had no harmful effects on growth, photosynthesis, nor induced oxidative stress in either mycorrhizal (MR) or non-mycorrhizal (NMR) chestnut plants.

Enhancing tomato plants' tolerance to combined heat and salt stress - The role of arbuscular mycorrhizae and biochar.

The Mediterranean basin is highly susceptible to climate change, with soil salinization and the increase in average temperatures being two of the main factors affecting crop productivity in this region. Following our previous studies on describing the detrimental effects of heat and salt stress co-exposure on tomato plants, this study aimed to understand if substrate supplementation with a combination of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and biochar could mitigate the negative consequences of these stresses. Upon 21 days of exposure, stressed tomato plants grown under supplemented substrates showed increased tolerance to heat (42 °C for 4 h/day), salt (100 mM NaCl), and their combination, presenting increased biomass and flowering rate.

Musculoskeletal embolization - endovascular treatment of adhesive capsulitis.

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, is a painful and restrictive condition that significantly impairs the quality of life for affected individuals. We present the successful endovascular treatment of adhesive capsulitis in the first-ever case performed in Portugal. A 6-month follow-up with objective results is presented, using the visual analog scale for pain and the Quick Dash questionnaire.

Fusion/fission protein family identification in Archaea.

The majority of newly discovered archaeal lineages remain without a cultivated representative, but scarce experimental data from the cultivated organisms show that they harbor distinct functional repertoires. To unveil the ecological as well as evolutionary impact of from metagenomics, new computational methods need to be developed, followed by in-depth analysis. Among them is the genome-wide protein fusion screening performed here.

Beach wrack: Discussing ecological roles, risks, and sustainable bioenergy and agricultural applications.

The equilibrium of the marine ecosystem is currently threatened by several constraints, among which climate change and anthropogenic activities stand out. Indeed, these factors favour the growth of macroalgae, which sometimes end up stranded on the beaches at the end of their life cycle, forming what is known as beach wrack. Despite its undeniable important ecological role on beaches, as it is an important source of organic matter (OM), and provides food and habitat for several invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, and shorebirds, the overaccumulation of beach wrack is often associated with the release of greenhouse gases, negatively impacting tourist activities, and generating economic expenses for its removal.

Advances in screening hyperthermic nanomedicines in 3D tumor models.

Hyperthermic nanomedicines are particularly relevant for tackling human cancer, providing a valuable alternative to conventional therapeutics. The early-stage preclinical performance evaluation of such anti-cancer treatments is conventionally performed in flat 2D cell cultures that do not mimic the volumetric heat transfer occurring in human tumors. Recently, improvements in bioengineered 3D models have unlocked the opportunity to recapitulate major tumor microenvironment hallmarks and generate highly informative readouts that can contribute to accelerating the discovery and validation of efficient hyperthermic treatments.

Prevalence of Postural Changes and Musculoskeletal Disorders in Young Adults.

Background: Postural changes are considered a public health problem, especially those that affect the spine, as they may predispose to degenerative conditions of the spine in adulthood. Musculoskeletal disorders are the main cause of chronic pain, illness, reduced educational performance, productivity, and quality of life, and are responsible for increased absenteeism, which could compromise the future career of students. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of postural changes and the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders in different anatomical regions in the 12 months prior and 7 days prior to the application of the questionnaire and the number of affected anatomical regions.

Acute Recovery after a Fatigue Protocol Using a Recovery Sports Legging: An Experimental Study.

Enhancing recovery is a fundamental component of high-performance sports training since it enables practitioners to potentiate physical performance and minimise the risk of injuries. Using a new sports legging embedded with an intelligent system for electrostimulation, localised heating and compression (completely embodied into the textile structures), we aimed to analyse acute recovery following a fatigue protocol. Surface electromyography- and torque-related variables were recorded on eight recreational athletes.

Microwave ablation of solitary T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma: A case report.

Background: The gold standard treatment for papillary thyroid carcinoma is total thyroidectomy and indications for microwave thermal ablation for primary thyroid cancers have not yet been clearly established However, some patients refuse surgery and others have no indication for it, for example patients under palliative care as in this case, or cannot undergo surgery, based on their comorbidities. These indications are described in the most recent Korean, North American and European guidelines. Laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and microwave ablation are similarly safe and effective, so the choice should be based on the specific competences and resources of the pertaining centers.

Stepwise pathway for early evolutionary assembly of dissimilatory sulfite and sulfate reduction.

Microbial dissimilatory sulfur metabolism utilizing dissimilatory sulfite reductases (Dsr) influenced the biochemical sulfur cycle during Earth's history and the Dsr pathway is thought to be an ancient metabolic process. Here we performed comparative genomics, phylogenetic, and synteny analyses of several Dsr proteins involved in or associated with the Dsr pathway across over 195,000 prokaryotic metagenomes. The results point to an archaeal origin of the minimal DsrABCMK(N) protein set, having as primordial function sulfite reduction.

In , a new type of chaperone receives heme from ferrochelatase.

Intracellular heme formation and trafficking are fundamental processes in living organisms. Bacteria and archaea utilize three biogenesis pathways to produce iron protoporphyrin IX (heme ) that diverge after the formation of the common intermediate uroporphyrinogen III (uro'gen III). In this study, we identify and provide a detailed characterization of the enzymes involved in the transformation of uro'gen III into heme in , demonstrating that this bacterium utilizes the protoporphyrin-dependent (PPD) pathway.

Reviving the interest in the versatile drug nystatin: A multitude of strategies to increase its potential as an effective and safe antifungal agent.

Nystatin is an antifungal molecule with a remarkable yet squandered versatility. In this review, its mechanism of action is explored, along with its extensive action spectrum and toxicity. A multitude of methodologies to tackle the drug's physical and chemical hurdles are outlined along with some proven-effective strategies to increase its activity and/or decrease its toxicity.