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Anthocyanins are extensively studied for their health-related properties, including antibacterial activity against urinary tract infections (UTI). Among common fruits, blueberries, with their remarkable antioxidant capacity, are one of the richest sources. Anthocyanin-rich extracts were obtained from four varieties Snowchaser, Star, Stella Blue and Cristina Blue, grown in the hot climate of Southern Spain. Their total anthocyanins contents (TAC) were determined spectrophotometrically, and the anthocyanin profile by ultra high performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometer (UHPLC-MS/MS). Their antioxidant activity was assessed by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, while antibacterial activity against strains isolated from UTI patients was assessed in vitro, helping to select the varieties with the highest bioactive potential. Star showed the highest TAC and antioxidant activity (1663 ± 159 mg of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (cy-3-O-glu) equivalents/100 g fresh weight (FW), 6345 ± 601 μmol Trolox equivalents (TE)/100 g FW, respectively), followed by Cristina Blue, Stella Blue and Snowchaser. As far as we know, this is the first time that cyanidin-3-rutinoside has been identified in blueberries. The extracts inhibited all the tested strains, MICs ranging from 0.4 mg/mL (for Stella Blue extract against UTI P. aeruginosa) to 9.5 mg/mL (for all extracts against UTI K. pneumoniae ssp. pneumoniae). This is the first study that assessed in vitro the antibacterial activity of blueberries against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia stuartii and Micrococcus spp. strains isolated from UTI.Endometriosis is a gynecological disease characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a prerequisite for tissue implantation. The presence of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), in shed endometrium cells has a significant role in ECM degradation. A case-control study was performed to find other diagnostic markers using menstrual blood. We examined a sample of 68 women who visited the gynecology clinic in Dr Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, 40% of whom were confirmed to have endometriosis, and the rest tested negative by histopathological examination. All endometriotic cases presented MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression with different cell distribution. MMP-9 expression in endometriosis patients was increased compared to the controls (p = 0.002). Expression of MMP-9 in >80% of endometrial cells was associated with a higher risk for endometriosis (OR 4.44 95% CI 1.31 to 15.56) compared to MMP-9 expression in 50%-80% of cells. TIMP-1 cell expression in women with endometriosis was lower than in the control group (p = 0.030). Subjects with TIMP-1 expression in 20%-50% of endometrial cells had a higher risk for endometriosis (OR 4.5, 95%CI 1.21-17.42) compared those with TIMP-1 expression in 50%-80% of cells. These expressions levels can be useful to predict endometriosis.Flows of two immiscible liquids through inclined pipes are often encountered in industrial processes. The interfacial characteristics in inclined pipes are of significance for understanding the mechanism of flow pattern transition and modeling the flow parameters. This paper developed a novel experimental technique to access the interface characteristics of liquid-liquid flows, during which optical and electrical methods were successfully combined by matching the refractive index and conductivity of the flows. A planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) system was set up with a continuous laser and high-speed camera. Organic and aqueous phases were chosen to match refractive indices. The liquid-liquid interface in the middle of the pipe could be clearly visualized by the PLIF system. Meanwhile, two conductance parallel-wire array probes (CPAPs) were designed to reconstruct the liquid-liquid interfaces at upward and downward pipe cross-sections. The performances of the CPAP were validated using the PLIF results and employed to investigate the liquid-liquid interfacial structures. The interfacial shape and its instability were uncovered using the reconstructed interfaces by the CPAPs.Classical application of electroporation is carried out by using fixed protocols that do not clearly assure the complete ablation of the desired tissue. Nowadays, new methods that pursue the control of the treatment by studying the change in impedance during the applied pulses as a function of the electric field are being developed. These types of control seek to carry out the treatment in the fastest way, decreasing undesired effects and treatment time while ensuring the proper tumour ablation. The objective of this research is to determine the state of the treatment by continuously monitoring the impedance by using a novel versatile high-voltage generator and sensor system. To study the impedance dynamics in real time, the use of pulses of reduced voltage, below the threshold of reversible electroporation, is tested to characterise the state-of-the-treatment without interfering with it. With this purpose, a generator that provides both low voltage for sense tissue changes and high voltage for irreversible electroporation (IRE) was developed. In conclusion, the characterisation of the effects of electroporation in vegetal tissue, combined with the real-time monitoring of the state-of-the-treatment, will enable the provision of safer and more effective treatments.Suppression of risk factors including smoking, overdrinking and infections by human papilloma and hepatitis B and C viruses has been recommended for cancer prevention; however, identification of other environmental risk factors has not been enough. Besides the 2003 report that Kawasaki disease may be triggered by pollen exposure, 40 Japanese specific intractable diseases have recently been reported as "pollen diseases," also potentially triggered by pollen exposure．Various human organs are affected by pollen exposure, leading to systemic vasculitis; autoimmune connective tissue diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases and intractable neuromuscular and bone diseases, suggesting the common effects of pollen exposure on fundamental functions of vital metabolism. In this context, cancer and malignant tumors may be another group of intractable diseases triggered by epigenetic pollen exposure. Thus, this study compared the number of newly registered patients with 24 types of cancer and airborne pollen levels measured from 1975 to 2015. We searched for statistical correlations with Bonferroni correction between the annual number of newly registered patients for all cancers or for each of lung, stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers in the patient-registry year "x", and annual airborne pollen levels measured in the same year as "x", or 1-7 years prior to the year "x". The number of newly registered patients for lung, and pancreatic cancers in the patient-registry year "x" was highly correlated with airborne pollen levels measured 2 years prior to "x". That for breast cancer was correlated with pollen levels measured 2 and 5 years prior to "x". To our knowledge, this is the first rapid communication of the association between pollen levels and cancer incidence.Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a spectrum of several progressive disease manifestations caused by Aspergillus species in patients with underlying structural lung diseases. Blasticidin S manufacturer Duration of symptoms longer than three months distinguishes CPA from acute and subacute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. CPA affects over 3 million individuals worldwide. Its diagnostic approach requires a thorough Clinical, Radiological, Immunological and Mycological (CRIM) assessment. The diagnosis of CPA requires (1) demonstration of one or more cavities with or without a fungal ball present or nodules on chest imaging, (2) direct evidence of Aspergillus infection or an immunological response to Aspergillus species and (3) exclusion of alternative diagnoses, although CPA and mycobacterial disease can be synchronous. Aspergillus antibody is elevated in over 90% of patients and is the cornerstone for CPA diagnosis. Long-term oral antifungal therapy improves quality of life, arrests haemoptysis and prevents disease progression. Itraconazole and voriconazole are alternative first-line agents; voriconazole is preferred for patients with contra-indications to itraconazole and in those with severe disease (including large aspergilloma). In patients co-infected with tuberculosis (TB), it is not possible to treat TB with rifampicin and concurrently administer azoles, because of profound drug interactions. In those with pan-azole resistance or intolerance or progressive disease while on oral triazoles, short-term courses of intravenous liposomal amphotericin B or micafungin is used. Surgery benefits patients with well-circumscribed simple aspergillomas and should be offered earlier in low-resource settings.Phomoxanthone A, a bioactive xanthone dimer isolated from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp., is a mitochondrial toxin weakening cellular respiration and electron transport chain activity by a fast breakup of the mitochondrial assembly. Here, a multi-disciplinary strategy has been developed and applied for identifying phomoxanthone A target(s) to fully address its mechanism of action, based on drug affinity response target stability and targeted limited proteolysis. Both approaches point to the identification of carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 as a major phomoxanthone A target in mitochondria cell lysates, giving also detailed insights into the ligand/target interaction sites by molecular docking and assessing an interesting phomoxanthone A stimulating activity on carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1. Thus, phomoxanthone A can be regarded as an inspiring molecule for the development of new leads in counteracting hyperammonemia states.Pharmacology has developed many drugs to treat infections, but many people, especially in developing countries, cannot afford to purchase them, and still depend on traditional knowledge and local medicinal plants to fight off infections. In addition, numerous microbes have developed resistance to the pharmaceutical drugs developed to fight them, and for many, such as Covid-19, effective drugs remain to be found. Ethnomedicinal knowledge is useful, not only for local people as a source of medicine for primary health care, but also for new pharmacological discoveries. This study aimed to identify the plants that the Karen, the largest hill-tribe ethnic minority in northern and western Thailand, use for treatments of infectious diseases. We present a meta-analysis of data from 16 ethnobotanical studies of 25 Karen villages with the aim of understanding traditional knowledge and treatments and point to potential plants for further pharmacological development. The Karen used 127 plant species from 59 plant families to treat infections and infectious diseases. The Cultural Important Index (CI) showed that the Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, Lauraceae, Apocynaceae, Menispermaceae, and Lamiaceae were the most commonly used families. As for species, Cleidion javanicum, Tinospora crispa, Litsea cubeba, Aesculus assamica, Tadehagi triquetrum, Senna alata, Tithonia diversifolia, Embelia sessiliflora, and Combretum indicum were the most commonly used in treatments of infectious diseases. We suggest that these plant species should be the first to be pharmacologically tested for possible development of medicines, and the remaining species registered should subsequently undergo testing.