Limited evidence for the role of environmental factors in the unusual peak of influenza in Brisbane during the 2018–2019 Australian summer

2021 ◽  
Vol 776 ◽  
pp. 145967
Author(s):  
Jianyun Lu ◽  
Zhicong Yang ◽  
Anjana C. Karawita ◽  
Myrna Bunte ◽  
Keng Yih Chew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Australian Summer

Questions on the role of biofilms for the adaptation of microorganisms to unfavorable environmental factors by the example of P. aeruginosa

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-383
Author(s):  
Vasily N. Afonyushkin ◽  
N. A. Donchenko ◽  
Ju. N. Kozlova ◽  
N. A. Davidova ◽  
V. Yu. Koptev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Barrier Function ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Antagonistic Activity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Main Function ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
The Face

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widely represented species of bacteria possessing of a pathogenic potential. This infectious agent is causing wound infections, fibrotic cystitis, fibrosing pneumonia, bacterial sepsis, etc. The microorganism is highly resistant to antiseptics, disinfectants, immune system responses of the body. The responses of a quorum sense of this kind of bacteria ensure the inclusion of many pathogenicity factors. The analysis of the scientific literature made it possible to formulate four questions concerning the role of biofilms for the adaptation of P. aeruginosa to adverse environmental factors: Is another person appears to be predominantly of a source an etiological agent or the source of P. aeruginosa infection in the environment? Does the formation of biofilms influence on the antibiotic resistance? How the antagonistic activity of microorganisms is realized in biofilm form? What is the main function of biofilms in the functioning of bacteria? A hypothesis has been put forward the effect of biofilms on the increase of antibiotic resistance of bacteria and, in particular, P. aeruginosa to be secondary in charcter. It is more likely a biofilmboth to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and provide topical competition in the face of food scarcity. In connection with the incompatibility of the molecular radii of most antibiotics and pores in biofilm, biofilm is doubtful to be capable of performing a barrier function for protecting against antibiotics. However, with respect to antibodies and immunocompetent cells, the barrier function is beyond doubt. The biofilm is more likely to fulfill the function of storing nutrients and providing topical competition in conditions of scarcity of food resources.

Role of environmental factors in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma

2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (28) ◽  
pp. 1132-1136 ◽  
Author(s):  
István Tornai
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Virus Hepatitis ◽  
B Virus

A krónikus vírushepatitisek jelentik ma a legismertebb okokat a hepatocellularis carcinoma (HCC) kialakulásában. A krónikus B- és C-vírus-hepatitis a májrákok körülbelül 40-50%-át okozza. A nyugati típusú társadalmakban a HCC előfordulása folyamatosan növekvő tendenciát mutat. Az alkohol számít a környezeti tényezők közül a legfontosabbnak, bár az alkoholfogyasztás a legtöbb országban csökken. Ez aláhúzza az egyéb környezeti tényezők fontosságát is. Az elfogyasztott alkoholmennyiséggel egyenes arányban növekszik a cirrhosis és a következményes HCC gyakorisága nőkben és férfiakban egyaránt. A kémiai anyagok közül a legismertebb a Kínában és Afrikában elterjedt aflatoxin, amely a gabonaféléket szennyező mycotoxin. Hasonló területeken endémiás, mint a hepatitis B-vírus, együtt szinergista hatást fejtenek ki. A dohányzás is egyértelműen bizonyított hepatocarcinogen hatással rendelkezik. Ez is jelentősen fokozódik, ha alkoholfogyasztással vagy vírushepatitisszel társul. Társadalmilag talán a legfontosabb az elhízás, a következményes nem alkoholos zsírmáj, illetve steatohepatitis és a 2-es típusú cukorbetegség, amelyek prevalenciája egyre fokozódik. Feltehetően ezek állnak a növekvő HCC-gyakoriság hátterében. Az inzulinrezisztencia és az oxidatív stressz képezik a legfontosabb patogenetikai lépéseket a májsejtkárosodásban. További fontos rizikótényező az orális fogamzásgátlók elterjedt használata. Egyes foglalkozások esetén a tartós szervesoldószer-expozíció is növeli a HCC rizikóját. Védelmet jelenthetnek az antioxidánsok, a szelén, a gyógyszerek közül a statinok és a feketekávé-fogyasztás.

scholarly journals Impact of Environmental Factors on Stilbene Biosynthesis

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Alessio Valletta ◽  
Lorenzo Maria Iozia ◽  
Francesca Leonelli
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathway ◽  
In Planta ◽  
Organ Cultures ◽  
Related Plant ◽  
Valuable Compounds ◽  
Stilbene Compounds ◽  
Stilbene Biosynthesis ◽  
Abiotic Environmental Factors

Stilbenes are a small family of polyphenolic secondary metabolites that can be found in several distantly related plant species. These compounds act as phytoalexins, playing a crucial role in plant defense against phytopathogens, as well as being involved in the adaptation of plants to abiotic environmental factors. Among stilbenes, trans-resveratrol is certainly the most popular and extensively studied for its health properties. In recent years, an increasing number of stilbene compounds were subjected to investigations concerning their bioactivity. This review presents the most updated knowledge of the stilbene biosynthetic pathway, also focusing on the role of several environmental factors in eliciting stilbenes biosynthesis. The effects of ultraviolet radiation, visible light, ultrasonication, mechanical stress, salt stress, drought, temperature, ozone, and biotic stress are reviewed in the context of enhancing stilbene biosynthesis, both in planta and in plant cell and organ cultures. This knowledge may shed some light on stilbene biological roles and represents a useful tool to increase the accumulation of these valuable compounds.

scholarly journals Studying Collaboration Dynamics in Physical Learning Spaces: Considering the Temporal Perspective through Epistemic Network Analysis

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 2898
Author(s):  
Milica Vujovic ◽  
Ishari Amarasinghe ◽  
Davinia Hernández-Leo
Keyword(s):  
Collaborative Learning ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Learning Design ◽  
Learning Spaces ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Temporal Perspective ◽  
Learning Space ◽  
Collaboration Dynamics ◽  
Collaborative Activities

The role of the learning space is especially relevant in the application of active pedagogies, for example those involving collaborative activities. However, there is limited evidence informing learning design on the potential effects of collaborative learning spaces. In particular, there is a lack of studies generating evidence derived from temporal analyses of the influence of learning spaces on the collaborative learning process. The temporal analysis perspective has been shown to be essential in the analysis of collaboration processes, as it reveals the relationships between students’ actions. The aim of this study is to explore the potential of a temporal perspective to broaden understanding of the effects of table shape on collaboration when different group sizes and genders are considered. On-task actions such as explanation, discussion, non-verbal interaction, and interaction with physical artefacts were observed while students were engaged in engineering design tasks. Results suggest that table shape influences student behaviour when taking into account different group sizes and different genders.

scholarly journals The Implications of Pruritogens in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 7227
Author(s):  
Lai-San Wong ◽  
Yu-Ta Yen ◽  
Chih-Hung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Atopic Dermatitis ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Targeted Therapies ◽  
Skin Barrier ◽  
Skin Barrier Function ◽  
Inflammatory Molecules

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prototypic inflammatory disease that presents with intense itching. The pathophysiology of AD is multifactorial, involving environmental factors, genetic susceptibility, skin barrier function, and immune responses. A recent understanding of pruritus transmission provides more information about the role of pruritogens in the pathogenesis of AD. There is evidence that pruritogens are not only responsible for eliciting pruritus, but also interact with immune cells and act as inflammatory mediators, which exacerbate the severity of AD. In this review, we discuss the interaction between pruritogens and inflammatory molecules and summarize the targeted therapies for AD.

scholarly journals Where to go to in chlamydia control? From infection control towards infectious disease control

2021 ◽  
pp. sextrans-2021-054992
Author(s):  
Jan E A M van Bergen ◽  
Bernice Maria Hoenderboom ◽  
Silke David ◽  
Febe Deug ◽  
Janneke C M Heijne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Infection ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Tubal Factor Infertility ◽  
Effectiveness Analysis ◽  
Population Prevalence ◽  
Tubal Factor ◽  
Health Relevance ◽  
Asymptomatic Infections

ObjectivesThe clinical and public health relevance of widespread case finding by testing for asymptomatic chlamydia infections is under debate. We wanted to explore future directions for chlamydia control and generate insights that might guide for evidence-based strategies. In particular, we wanted to know the extent to which we should pursue testing for asymptomatic infections at both genital and extragenital sites.MethodsWe synthesised findings from published literature and from discussions among national and international chlamydia experts during an invitational workshop. We described changing perceptions in chlamydia control to inform the development of recommendations for future avenues for chlamydia control in the Netherlands.ResultsDespite implementing a range of interventions to control chlamydia, there is no practice-based evidence that population prevalence can be reduced by screening programmes or widespread opportunistic testing. There is limited evidence about the beneficial effect of testing on pelvic inflammatory disease prevention. The risk of tubal factor infertility resulting from chlamydia infection is low and evidence on the preventable fraction remains uncertain. Overdiagnosis and overtreatment with antibiotics for self-limiting and non-viable infections have contributed to antimicrobial resistance in other pathogens and may affect oral, anal and genital microbiota. These changing insights could affect the outcome of previous cost–effectiveness analysis.ConclusionThe balance between benefits and harms of widespread testing to detect asymptomatic chlamydia infections is changing. The opinion of our expert group deviates from the existing paradigm of ‘test and treat’ and suggests that future strategies should reduce, rather than expand, the role of widespread testing for asymptomatic chlamydia infections.

scholarly journals Role of interferon gamma release assay in the diagnosis and management of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-associated uveitis: a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000663
Author(s):  
Samra Rahman ◽  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
M A Rehman Siddiqui
Keyword(s):  
Interferon Gamma ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assay ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Ocular Tuberculosis ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assays ◽  
Infectious Uveitis ◽  
Release Assay

Tuberculosis (TB)-associated uveitis is a common cause of infectious uveitis in the developing world. Diagnosis of TB uveitis remains a challenge. The role of interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) is uncertain. Herein we summarise the available literature on the utility of IGRAs in the diagnosis and management of TB uveitis. We searched PubMed database from 1 August 2010 to 31 July 2020 using the following keywords alone and in combination: ‘interferon-gamma release assay’, ‘QuantiFERON’, ‘T-SPOT.TB’, ‘TB uveitis’, ‘serpiginous like choroiditis’, ‘tuberculoma’, ‘TB vasculitis’, ‘TB panuveitis’ and ‘ocular tuberculosis’. Data from 58 relevant studies were collated. The review is focused on currently marketed versions of IGRA tests: QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay, QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus assay (QFT-Plus) and T-SPOT.TB. We found limited evidence regarding the diagnostic utility of IGRA in patients with uveitis. No study was identified evaluating the newer QFT test—the QFT-Plus—in patients with uveitis. Similarly, there is lack of data directly comparing QFT-Plus with T-SPOT.TB specifically for the diagnosis of TB uveitis.

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