Search

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess antibacterial activity of a novel Bacillus velezensis strain NST6, and further identify its active compound against pathogenic Staphylococcus strains for clinical therapeutic applications. Methods and Results: In this study, a novel B. velezensis strain NST6 harbouring strong antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacteria was isolated from a soil sample. The solvent extract of the strain exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria in disc diffusion assay and measurement of minimal inhibitory concentration and bactericidal concentration, of which it showed notable efficacy to Staphylococcus species including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin‐resistant S. aureus. Strong antibacterial effect against pathogenic S. aureus and low toxicity of the bacterial extract were further validated in Caenorhabditis elegans model. Moreover, by antibacterial activity‐guided fractionation using RP‐HPLC and LC‐MS, we defined C15‐bacillomycin D as the anti‐staphylococcal compound produced by the strain. Conclusion: The primary anti‐staphylococcal compound from B. velezensis NST6 was identified as a cyclic lipopeptide, C15‐bacillomycin D, which proved its potential to treat Staphylococcus strains in vitro and in vivo experiments with insignificant level of toxicity. Significance and Impact of the Study: We provide an alternative treatment option to Staphylococcus infections by investigating the specific anti‐staphylococcal activity of C15‐bacillomycin D produced by a B. velezensis strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine the possibility of adding nanopowdered chitosan (NPC) into cholesterol-reduced yogurt to improve the functionality of yogurt and the effects of adding NPC on the physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties of the products during storage. The pH values and mean lactic acid bacteria counts of NPC-added (0.3 to ~0.7%, wt/ vol) and cholesterol-reduced yogurt ranged from 4.19 to 4.41 and from 4.75 × 108 to 9.70 × 108 cfu/mL, respectively, when stored at 4°C for 20 d, thereby indicating a possibility of prolonging the shelf life of yogurt. In color, the a* and b* values for cholesterol-reduced yogurt were not significantly influenced by the addition of NPC (0.1 to ~0.7%, wt/vol); however, the L* values significantly decreased with the addition of the greatest concentration (0.7%, wt/vol) of NPC at 0-d storage. The sensory test revealed that the astringency scores significantly increased at 0-d storage when the greatest concentration (0.7%, wt/vol) of NPC was added into cholesterol-reduced yogurt. Based on the data obtained from the current study, it is concluded that concentrations (0.3 to ~0.5%, vol/vol) of NPC could be used to produce an NPC-added and cholesterol-reduced yogurt without significantly adverse effects on the physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has not been much evidence about rehabilitation results for the infants with hearing problems under age 1 even though the 1-3-6 principle of early diagnosis and intervention was accepted worldwide. In this study, we tried to reveal auditory verbal intervention effects for the infants with hearing problems followed by the principle. A total of 50 babies and their caregivers participated. The average hearing thresholds of the babies were worse than 80 dB HL(B) and they were fitted HAs or CIs except 5 babies with no hearing prosthesis. The average age of the participants at the initial assessment was 7.3 months and the average age at the final assessment was 12.6 months. After the initial assessment, their development was closely followed in the 8 developmental areas of sound responses, listening skills, receptive & expressive language, speech development, oral functions, social interactions, and cognitive communication with auditory verbal approach. Their initial developmental rate was 0.55 and the rate had been accelerated up to 1.8, however, after 6 monthintervention, final development rate was 0.76 which had not reached to the normal rate of 1. There were large individual differences as expected, in average, the area of cognitive communication was the most developed area while the area of speech was the least developed area at the end of the intervention. Auditory verbal approach was suitable for the babies as well as their caregivers and could provide valid and timely information about the effects of prostheses they were wearing and the timing of changing devices for the babies. It would be more informative with longer period of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air can become trapped within the subcutaneous layer of the cervicofacial area, a condition known as subcutaneous emphysema (SE), unexpectedly after routine dental procedures. SE can worsen by extending superiorly to the peri-orbital region and inferiorly to the thorax and abdomen along the fascial planes. Upward progression can result in cavernous sinus thrombosis. Conversely, downward progression can cause a variety of complications such as pneumothorax, mediastinitis, and compression of the venous trunks. The presence of these conditions highlights the significance of prompt identification, precise diagnosis to ascertain the need for immediate intervention, and suitable management to prevent additional unfavorable consequences., (©Operative Dentistry, 2024.)

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess antibacterial activity of a novel Bacillus velezensis strain NST6, and further identify its active compound against pathogenic Staphylococcus strains for clinical therapeutic applications., Methods and Results: In this study, a novel B. velezensis strain NST6 harbouring strong antimicrobial activity against human pathogenic bacteria was isolated from a soil sample. The solvent extract of the strain exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in disc diffusion assay and measurement of minimal inhibitory concentration and bactericidal concentration, of which it showed notable efficacy to Staphylococcus species including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Strong antibacterial effect against pathogenic S. aureus and low toxicity of the bacterial extract were further validated in Caenorhabditis elegans model. Moreover, by antibacterial activity-guided fractionation using RP-HPLC and LC-MS, we defined C 15 -bacillomycin D as the anti-staphylococcal compound produced by the strain., Conclusion: The primary anti-staphylococcal compound from B. velezensis NST6 was identified as a cyclic lipopeptide, C 15 -bacillomycin D, which proved its potential to treat Staphylococcus strains in vitro and in vivo experiments with insignificant level of toxicity., Significance and Impact of the Study: We provide an alternative treatment option to Staphylococcus infections by investigating the specific anti-staphylococcal activity of C 15 -bacillomycin D produced by a B. velezensis strain., (© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Histamine and arachidonic acid (AA) release was measured using the P2-purinoceptor antagonists, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and cyclooxygenase (COX)/lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors to determine whether or not ATP-induced histamine release is associated with arachidonic acid (AA) release in rat peritoneal mast cells. ATP increased histamine release in a dose dependent manner, whereas adenosine did not. PPADS (a selective P2X-purinoceptor antagonist) and suramin (a nonselective P2X,2Y-purinoceptor antagonist) inhibited ATP-induced histamine release in a dose dependent manner. However, RB-2 (a P2Y-purinoceptor antagonist) did not block ATP-induced histamine release. Manoalide and oleyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (OPC), secretory PLA2 inhibitors, also inhibited ATP-induced histamine release dose-dependently. Both COX inhibitors (ibuprofen and indomethacin) and LOX inhibitors (baicalein and caffeic acid) inhibited ATP-induced histamine in a dose dependent manner. ATP significantly increased [3H]AA release by 54%. PPADS and suramin significantly inhibited ATP-induced [3H]AA release by 81% and 39%, respectively. ATP-induced histamine release was significantly inhibited by a variety of protein kinase inhibitors, such as bisindolmaleimide, genistein, methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamate, W-7 and trifluoperazine. Overall, the results suggest that ATP-induced histamine release is in part related to the PLA2-mediated AA metabolism and P2X-purinoceptors.

With the successful Korean national family planning program and rapid socioeconomic advancement since 1962, the contraceptive prevalence rate has risen from 9% in 1964 to 79% in 1991, with the corresponding total fertility rate (TFR) going from 6.0 in 1960 to 1.6 in 1988, which is considerably below the replacement fertility rate. The main purpose of this study is, therefore, to identify the structural and causal factors that contributed to the fall in fertility over the last 3 decades, in an effort to formulate future population policy directions and strategies. The 2 methods used for the study were: the standardization approach to examine the structural factors on fertility decline, and the bongaarts model to measure the effects of the proximate variables in the fertility decline. The study indicated that the fall in the crude birth rate and the general fertility rate for the periods of 1960-70 and 1980-90 were largely influenced by the decline in marital fertility which was triggered by the national family planning program initiated in 1962. The analysis based on the bongaarts model revealed that the 3 principal factors which exercised a strong influence on the fertility decline were the rise in age at marriage, the increase in induced abortion, and the increase in contraceptive use, but the influence of induced abortion has been decreasing in recent years. In general, the study results suggest that the main concerns of the national family planning program should be shifted from the past quantitative approach with emphasis on fertility reduction to a qualitative approach which stresses maternal and child health and other public health programs.