Agranulocytosis and Aseptic Meningitis Induced by Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim.

Background: Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim is an antibiotic that can cause rare and potentially life-threatening adverse effects. This case describes an immunocompetent patient who developed acute agranulocytosis complicated with aseptic meningitis after being prescribed sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim.

Case Presentation: A healthy 39-year-old male veteran presented to the emergency department with worsening left testicular pain and increased urinary urgency and frequency.

Evaluating the performance of the Alere PBP2a SA Culture Colony Test with the Vitek 2 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Card System as reference standard in coagulase-negative species.

Background: The Alere PBP2a SA Culture Colony Test is an FDA-cleared immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of penicillin-binding protein2a (PBP2a) in .

Methods: We investigated the performance of the PBP2a SA Culture Colony Test with 78 coagulase-negative (CoNS) isolates from different body sites, with the Vitek 2 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test (AST) as a reference standard.

Results: The CoNS species were 62 ; 6 ; 3 ; 2 ; 2 ; and 1 each of and .

Cannabidiol (CBD) and hemp oil use in veterans using a VA Pain Clinic: a cross-sectional survey study.

Background: Many United States veterans utilize prescription opioids to treat chronic pain symptoms and are subsequently at risk for opioid and alcohol misuse. As more states legalized the use of cannabis for medical use, increasing numbers of people are using cannabis pharmacotherapy for pain. The veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive 1315, July 28, 2023 prohibits any medical staff on recommending, making referral to, and complete forms for a state approved program.

The Prevalence and Trends of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Impairments in the United States from 2008-2018.

Background: Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are neuropsychological-driven tasks that are linked to cognitive dysfunction. Examining population-based IADL deficits may reveal insights for the presence of these impairments in the United States.

Objective: This investigation sought to evaluate the prevalence and trends of IADL impairments in Americans.

Effect of pulsed-xenon ultraviolet light on environmental contamination and risk of health care worker hand contamination.

In this study, we conducted a prospective survey of a convenience sample of high touch objects using adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence surface sample readings, aerobic cultures, and gloved hand methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus imprint cultures to assess inpatient room cleanliness. We demonstrated that thoroughness of cleaning is improved with housekeeping education and feedback and that the addition of automated decontamination with pulsed UV irradiation provides further benefit in decontamination and subsequent risk for health care worker hand contamination.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) screening upon inpatient hospital admission: Is there concordance between nasal swab results and samples taken from skin and soft tissue?

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are associated with increased mortality and healthcare costs. In 2007, a Veterans' Affairs (VA) hospital implemented a MRSA nasal screening program, following a nationwide VA mandate, in an effort to reduce healthcare-associated MRSA infections.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the nasal screening results for MRSA and culture results of wound and tissue sites.

The cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol stimulates cell proliferation via ERβ in prostate cancer cells.

Background: For every six men, one will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa) in their lifetime. Estrogen receptors (ERs) are known to play a role in prostate carcinogenesis. However, it is unclear whether the estrogenic effects are mediated by estrogen receptor α (ERα) or estrogen receptor β (ERβ).

27-Hydroxycholesterol stimulates cell proliferation and resistance to docetaxel-induced apoptosis in prostate epithelial cells.

Although the causes of prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are not known, the role of oxidative stress, aging, and diet are suspected to increase the incidence of prostate complications. The cholesterol oxidation derivative (oxysterol) 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is the most prevalent cholesterol metabolite in the blood. As aging, oxidative stress, and hypercholesterolemia are associated with increased risk of PCa and BPH, and because 27-OHC levels are also increased with aging, hypercholesterolemia, and oxidative stress, determining the role of 27-OHC in the progression of PCas and BPH is warranted.

The cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol regulates p53 activity and increases cell proliferation via MDM2 in breast cancer cells.

Estrogen is synthesized from cholesterol and high cholesterol levels are suggested to be associated with increased risk of estrogen receptor(ER)-positive breast cancer. The cholesterol metabolite 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) was recently identified as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and may therefore impact breast cancer progression. However, the mechanisms by which 27-OHC may contribute to breast cancer are not all known.

Phosphodiesterase 4D inhibitors limit prostate cancer growth potential.

Unlabelled: Phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) has recently been implicated as a proliferation-promoting factor in prostate cancer and is overexpressed in human prostate carcinoma. However, the effects of PDE4D inhibition using pharmacologic inhibitors have not been examined in prostate cancer. These studies examined the effects of selective PDE4D inhibitors, NVP-ABE171 and cilomilast, as anti-prostate cancer therapies in both in vitro and in vivo models.

Methenamine: a forgotten drug for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection in a multidrug resistance era.

In the era of multidrug resistance, it is critical to utilize antibiotics in an appropriate manner and to identify new treatments or revisit the use of 'forgotten' drugs. Because urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, particularly in an increasing elderly population, the 'forgotten' drug, methenamine, may become important as a preventive therapy for recurrent UTIs. Methenamine, a urinary antibacterial agent, can be used as methenamine hippurate or methenamine mandelate preparations and is United States Food and Drug Administration-approved.

A novel method for somatic transgenesis of the mouse prostate using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system.

Background: In vivo ectopic gene expression is a common approach for prostate research through the use of transgenes in germline transgenic mice. For some other organs, somatic transgenesis with the Sleeping Beauty transposon system has allowed in vivo ectopic gene expression with higher throughput and lower cost than germline transgenic approaches.

Methods: Mouse e16 urogenital sinuses (UGSs) were co-injected with plasmids expressing the Sleeping Beauty transposase and plasmids with control or activated BRAF expressing transposons.

Evidence for contributions of interactions of constituents to the anti-inflammatory activity of Hypericum perforatum.

Hypericum perforatum (Hp) extracts contain many different classes of constituents including flavonoids and biflavonoids, phloroglucinols, naphthodianthrones, caffeic acid derivatives, and unknown and/or unidentified compounds. Many constituents may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of Hp including quercetin and derivatives, hyperforin, pseudohypericin, and amentoflavone. In line with antidepressant data, it appears that the interactions of constituents may be important for the anti-inflammatory activity of Hp.

Identification of JAK-STAT pathways as important for the anti-inflammatory activity of a Hypericum perforatum fraction and bioactive constituents in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages.

Hypericum perforatum extracts have been used to treat diseases, including mild-to-moderate depression and inflammatory conditions. It is particularly important to identify which constituents present in the H. perforatum extracts are responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity since consumers are taking H.

Endogenous levels of Echinacea alkylamides and ketones are important contributors to the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide production in cultured macrophages.

Because of the popularity of Echinacea as a dietary supplement, researchers have been actively investigating which Echinacea constituent or groups of constituents are necessary for immune-modulating bioactivities. Our prior studies indicate that alkylamides may play an important role in the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) production. High-performance liquid chromatography fractionation, employed to elucidate interacting anti-inflammatory constituents from ethanol extracts of Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea tennesseensis, identified fractions containing alkylamides and ketones as key anti-inflammatory contributors using lipopolysaccharide-induced PGE(2) production in RAW264.

Effect of ultraviolet B radiation on activator protein 1 constituent proteins and modulation by dietary energy restriction in SKH-1 mouse skin.

The study examined the timing of modulation of activator protein 1(AP-1):DNA binding and production of AP-1 constituent proteins by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and effect of dietary energy restriction [DER, 40% calorie reduction from fat and carbohydrate compared to control ad libitum (AL) diet] in SKH-1 mouse epidermis. AP-1:DNA binding by electromobility shift assay (EMSA) was increased in a biphasic manner after treatment with a tumor-promoting suberythemal dose (750 mJ/cm(2)) of UVB light (311-313 nm) with peaks at 3 and 18 h postirradiation. DER overall reduced AP-1:DNA binding in mock-treated and UVB-treated skin at 3 and 18 h after UVB treatment.

Pseudohypericin is necessary for the light-activated inhibition of prostaglandin E2 pathways by a 4 component system mimicking an Hypericum perforatum fraction.

Hypericum perforatum (Hp) has been used medicinally to treat a variety of conditions including mild-to-moderate depression. Recently, several anti-inflammatory activities of Hp have been reported. An ethanol extract of Hp was fractionated with the guidance of an anti-inflammatory bioassay (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced prostaglandin E2 production (PGE2)), and four constituents were identified.

Characterizing the metabolic fingerprint and anti-inflammatory activity of Hypericum gentianoides.

In this paper we characterize the metabolic fingerprint and first reported anti-inflammatory activity of Hypericum gentianoides. H. gentianoides has a history of medical use by Native Americans, but it has been studied very little for biological activity.

Inhibition of prostaglandin E(2) production by anti-inflammatory hypericum perforatum extracts and constituents in RAW264.7 Mouse Macrophage Cells.

Hypericum perforatum (Hp) is commonly known for its antiviral, antidepressant, and cytotoxic properties, but traditionally Hp was also used to treat inflammation. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity of different Hp extractions and accessions and constituents present within Hp extracts were characterized. In contrast to the antiviral activity of Hp, the anti-inflammatory activity observed with all Hp extracts was light-independent.

Echinacea species and alkamides inhibit prostaglandin E(2) production in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells.

Inhibition of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells was assessed with an enzyme immunoassay following treatments with Echinacea extracts or synthesized alkamides. Results indicated that ethanol extracts diluted in media to a concentration of 15 microg/mL from E.