bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How Nurses' Interventions Promote Health Literacy in Patients With Non‐Communicable Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Boumendil Karima , Yakubu Nana‐Ayisha , Al Wachami Nadia , Arraji Maryem , Iderdar Younes , Mourajid Yassmine , Bouchachi Fatima Zahra , Chahboune Mohamed 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTBackgroundMore than one‐third of all diseases in the world are non‐communicable diseases (NCDs), and poorer health outcomes are linked to low health literacy (HL), in which nurses have a significant role to play. Various studies have confirmed that there is an association between HL and NCDs. However, less is known about how nurses can intervene in the development of HL in patients with NCDs. This systematic review was carried out to explore, in a comprehensive way, nursing interventions that could promote HL in patients with NCDs.MethodsA systematic review (PROSPERO registration number: CRD370625) was carried out on five databases (PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect and JSTOR). Sequences that provided information for our study topic were retrieved and analysed following PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews.ResultsIn total, 1915 titles and abstracts were screened, 71 articles were assessed in full‐text screening and 25 studies were included in the review. Around 23 different nurse‐led intervention strategies were identified, but only 11 major ones were explored in detail. The majority of them prioritised communication (teach‐back), self‐management programs, counselling and education. In the majority of the trials, a significant positive outcome was discovered. Both nurses and patients needed to devote time and attention to the complex nurse‐led HL interventions.ConclusionNurses' HL interventions have shown promise in promoting HL and other health outcomes in people with NCDs, but they need to be tailored to fit specific patients. Nursing programs should include more than just patient teaching strategies.Relevance to Clinical PracticeNurses' HL efforts hold potential for enhancing HL in NCD patients, provided they are customised to individual needs.
Crops, Culture and Complexity
Authors: Ang James B. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACTThis study shows that traditional farming practices have a persistent effect on shaping cultural traits that influence modern‐day economic complexity. Societies with a legacy of growing more labour‐intensive crops tend to develop interdependence, creating a culture of collectivism. Conversely, societies with a history of farming less labour‐intensive crops tend to develop independent traits, leading to a culture of individualism. The dichotomy in these farming legacies gives rise to the individualism–collectivism cleavage, which may explain variation in the level of economic complexity. Using information on land suitability to construct measures of individualism‐ and collectivism‐enhancing environments, this paper finds that societies with a more individualist orientation tend to develop stronger innovative capabilities. This enables them to produce and export a wide range of sophisticated products, resulting in a high level of economic complexity. However, societies imbued with collectivistic cultures tend to have a less complex economic structure.
Use of immunoglobulin G homeostatic set point and recovery time in plasmapheresis donor safety monitoring: A retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Warner Janet V. , Drinkwater Michael J. , Chu Gerard J. , Kelly Shane , McComish Jeremy S. 
Published: January 2025

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesSerum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and total protein are used to monitor plasmapheresis donor safety. However, there is a lack of information from large donor cohorts to determine the best use of these measurements.Materials and MethodsWe identified 230,144 plasmapheresis donors making their first donation between 1 July 2020 and 31 March 2024. IgG and total protein were measured prior to the first donation and then annually, following our donor safety monitoring protocol. We considered individuals who had not donated for 12 months to estimate intra‐individual biological variability of IgG. We compared four models to predict which donors would develop IgG < 6 g/L.ResultsThe IgG reference interval for the cohort was 7.67–15.6 g/L. IgG declines 5%–11% after the age of 45 years. The intra‐individual biological variability of IgG (5.2%) is small, indicating that there is homeostatic set point for individual IgG. IgG is reduced by plasmapheresis but recovers to recruitment level after 12 weeks. When plasma is donated every 2–3 weeks, mean IgG plateaus 1 g/L below recruitment concentration. IgG at recruitment is the best predictor of which donors will have IgG < 6 g/L after a year of donations. Total protein is a low‐value test in this context.ConclusionPlasmapheresis is safe and sustainable for almost every donor, at the 2‐weekly frequency allowed in Australia. The donors most likely to experience unacceptably low IgG are those with very low recruitment IgG levels. These donors could be recommended 12‐week intervals between donations or other donation types.
Population pharmacokinetics and pulmonary modeling of eravacycline and the determination of microbiological breakpoint and cutoff of PK/PD
Authors: Ji Xi-wei , Mak Wen Yao , Xue Feng , Yang Wen-yu , Kuan Isabelle Hui-San , Xiang Xiao-qiang , Li Yun , Zhu Xiao 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Eravacycline is a broad-spectrum fluorocycline currently approved for complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs). In lung-infection models, it is effective against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) and tetracycline-resistant MRSA. As such, we aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model to evaluate eravacycline’s pulmonary distribution and kinetics. Data were extracted from a Phase I study (
NCT01989949
) which assessed the bronchopulmonary disposition of intravenous eravacycline to construct the population PK model that could adequately describe the drug’s pulmonary kinetics. Eravacycline lung PK was best described by a three-compartment model with allometric scaling, with the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) component parameterized as the ELF distribution ratio (

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, unbound concentration in ELF over central compartment). The estimated ELF distribution ratio was 8.26 (95% confidence interval = 6.8–9.8). Besides allometrically scaled weight, no other significant covariate was found. MIC
90
was 0.5 mg/L (
Escherichia coli
), 2 mg/L (
Klebsiella pneumoniae
), 0.5 mg/L (
Acinetobacter baumannii
), and 0.12 mg/L (
S. aureus
). At the approved cIAI dosage or higher (1 mg/kg or 1.5 mg/kg q12h), a PK/PD cutoff value of 2 mg/L was appropriate for
E. coli
, while a lower value of 1 mg/L was selected for
K. pneumoniae
,
A. baumannii
, and
S. aureus
. For lower doses, the cutoff value was reduced to 0.5 mg/L for
K. pneumoniae
,
A. baumannii
, and
S. aureus
. The study showed eravacycline was widely distributed into the lungs with promising antibacterial efficacy, thus justifying further investigations into its uses for pulmonary infections.
Proinflammatory synergy between protease and superantigen streptococcal pyogenic exotoxins
Authors: Johnson Anders F. , Bushman Summer D. , LaRock Doris L. , Díaz Juan Manuel , McCormick John K. , LaRock Christopher N. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Streptococcal pyogenic exotoxins (Spe proteins) secreted by
Streptococcus pyogenes
(group A
Streptococcus
, GAS) are responsible for scarlet fever and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Most Spes are superantigens that cause excessive inflammation by activating large numbers of T cells. However, Streptococcal pyogenic exotoxin B (SpeB) is an exception, which is pro-inflammatory through its protease activity. Prior work shows that SpeB has the potential to cleave bacterial proteins. If cleavage of superantigens results in their inactivation, this gives the possibility that these two classes of exotoxins work at cross-purposes. We examined SpeB cleavage of the 11 major GAS superantigens and found that lability was not specific to structure, conservation, or, when compared to orthologous superantigens from
Staphylococcus aureus
, species of origin. We further show that rather than strictly antagonizing superantigen activity through degradation, SpeB can synergistically enhance superantigen-induced inflammation. For SpeB-labile superantigens, such as SmeZ, this is limited due to degradation, but for protease-resistant superantigens like SpeA, activity remains synergistic even at high protease concentrations. These findings suggest two modes by which proteases like SpeB may post-translationally regulate superantigens: positively, as a force amplifier that cooperatively increases inflammation, and negatively, through degradation that could act as a rheostat-like mechanism to limit excessive immune activation. Both mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of GAS and other superantigen-producing pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

Streptococcus pyogenes
produces both superantigen and protease virulence factors to subvert host immunity. However, its major protease is highly promiscuous and would potentially limit superantigen activity through its degradation. We profile the sensitivity of the streptococcal superantigens to degradation by the protease SpeB, providing evidence that many are highly resistant. Furthermore, we show that these important toxins can have synergistic proinflammatory activity. This provides insight into diseases like scarlet fever and toxic shock syndrome caused by these toxins and suggests anti-inflammatories that may be therapeutically useful.
LitR and its quorum-sensing regulators modulate biofilm formation by
Vibrio fischeri
Authors: Fung Brittany L. , Visick Karen L. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Quorum sensing controls numerous processes ranging from the production of virulence factors to biofilm formation. Biofilms, communities of bacteria that are attached to one another and/or a surface, are common in nature, and when they form, they can produce a quorum of bacteria. One model system to study biofilms is the bacterium
Vibrio fischeri
, which forms a biofilm that promotes the colonization of its symbiotic host. Many factors promote
V. fischeri
biofilm formation
in vitro
, including the symbiosis polysaccharide (SYP) and cellulose, but the role of quorum sensing is currently understudied. Recently, a quorum-sensing-dependent transcription factor, LitR, was shown to negatively influence
V. fischeri
biofilm formation in the context of a biofilm-overproducing strain. To better understand the importance of LitR, we identified conditions in which the impact of LitR on biofilm formation could be observed in an otherwise wild-type strain and then investigated its role and the roles of upstream quorum regulators in biofilm phenotypes. In static conditions, LitR and its upstream quorum regulators, including autoinducer synthases LuxS and AinS, contributed to control over biofilms that were both SYP and cellulose dependent. In shaking liquid conditions, LitR and AinS contributed to control over biofilms that were primarily cellulose dependent. LitR modestly inhibited cellulose transcription in a manner that depended on the transcription factor VpsR. These findings expand our understanding of LitR and the quorum-sensing pathway in the physiology of
V. fischeri
and illuminate negative control mechanisms that prevent robust biofilm formation by wild-type
V. fischeri
under laboratory conditions.

IMPORTANCE

Quorum sensing is a key regulatory mechanism that controls diverse phenotypes in numerous bacteria, including
Vibrio fischeri
. In many microbes, quorum sensing has been shown to control biofilm formation, yet in
V. fischeri
, the link between quorum sensing and biofilm formation has been understudied. This study fills that knowledge gap by identifying roles for the quorum sensing-controlled transcription factor, LitR, and its upstream quorum-sensing regulators, including the autoinducer synthases AinS and LuxS, in inhibiting biofilm formation under specific conditions. It also determined that LitR inhibits the transcription of genes required for cellulose biosynthesis. This work thus expands our understanding of the complex control over biofilm regulation.
Perturbation of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
peptidoglycan recycling by anti-folates and design of a dual-action inhibitor
Authors: Yaeger Luke N. , Sychantha David , Luong Princeton , Shekarriz Shahrokh , Goncalves Océane , Dobrin Annamaria , Ranieri Michael R. , Lamers Ryan P. , Harvey Hanjeong , diCenzo George C. , Surette Michael , Côté Jean-Phiippe , Magolan Jakob , Burrows Lori L. 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Peptidoglycan (PG) is an important bacterial macromolecule that confers cell shape and structural integrity, and is a key antibiotic target. Its synthesis and turnover are carefully coordinated with other cellular processes and pathways. Despite established connections between the biosynthesis of PG and the outer membrane, or PG and DNA replication, links between PG and folate metabolism remain comparatively unexplored. Folate is an essential cofactor for bacterial growth and is required for the synthesis of many important metabolites. Here we show that inhibition of folate synthesis in the important Gram-negative pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
has downstream effects on PG metabolism and integrity that can manifest as the formation of a subpopulation of round cells that can undergo explosive lysis. Folate inhibitors potentiated β-lactams by perturbation of PG recycling, reducing expression of the AmpC β-lactamase. Supporting this mechanism, folate inhibitors also synergized with fosfomycin, an inhibitor of MurA, the first committed step in PG synthesis that can be bypassed by PG recycling. These insights led to the design of a dual-active inhibitor that overcomes NDM-1 metallo-β lactamase-mediated meropenem resistance and synergizes with the folate inhibitor, trimethoprim. We show that folate and PG metabolism are intimately connected, and targeting this connection can overcome antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

To combat the alarming global increase in superbugs amid the simultaneous scarcity of new drugs, we can create synergistic combinations of currently available antibiotics or chimeric molecules with dual activities, to minimize resistance. Here we show that older anti-folate drugs synergize with specific cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors to kill the priority pathogen,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Anti-folate drugs caused a dose-dependent loss of rod cell shape followed by explosive lysis, and synergized with β-lactams that target D,D-carboxypeptidases required to tailor the cell wall. Anti-folates impaired cell wall recycling and subsequent downstream expression of the chromosomally encoded β-lactamase, AmpC, which normally destroys β-lactam antibiotics. Building on the anti-folate-like scaffold of a metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor, we created a new molecule, MLLB-2201, that potentiates β-lactams and anti-folates and restores meropenem activity against metallo-β-lactamase-expressing
Escherichia coli
. These strategies are useful ways to tackle the ongoing rise in dangerous bacterial pathogens.
The high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway in
Candida auris
Authors: Yaakoub Hajar , Courdavault Vincent , Papon Nicolas 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

The emerging fungal pathogen
Candida auris
is known for its strong skin tropism and resilience against antifungal and disinfection treatment, posing a significant challenge for healthcare units. Although efforts to identify the effectors of its unique pathogenic behavior have been insightful, the role of the high-osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway in this context remains unexplored. The study by Shivarathri and co-workers (R. Shivarathri, M. Chauhan, A. Datta, D. Das et al., mBio 15:e02748-24, 2024,
https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02748-24
) sought to address this gap. This report indeed advances our understanding of the critical role of the HOG pathway in
C. auris
pathogenicity by emphasizing its involvement in skin colonization, biofilm formation, and evasion of phagocyte attack.
Complete genome sequence of a carbon tetrachloride-degrading bacterium,
Pseudomonas
sp. strain Stari2
Authors: Stari Leonardo , Jittayasotorn Thiti , Inoue Chihiro , Chien Mei-Fang 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

This article reports on the complete genome of
Pseudomonas
sp. strain Stari2, which was shown to have the ability to degrade carbon tetrachloride (CCl
4
) in aerobic conditions. A single circular sequence of 6,310,573 bp, a GC content of 60.3%, and 5,680 coding sequences were obtained.
In silico
analysis revealed an average nucleotide identity of 94.06% to its closest species.
Draft genome sequencing of a multidrug-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
strain MBBL2 isolated from mastitic cow milk
Authors: Rahman Md. Morshedur , Siddique Naim , Arafat Kh. Yeashir , Das Ziban Chandra , Islam Tofazzal , Hoque M. Nazmul 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Milk from cows with mastitis is a primary source of bacteria harboring antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including
Klebsiella pneumoniae
. We present the genome sequence of
K. pneumoniae
strain MBBL2 isolated from mastitic cow milk, which contains numerous ARGs and virulence-associated genes potentially pathogenic to humans.
Draft genome sequencing of multidrug-resistant
Escherichia coli
strains isolated from mastitic cow milk
Authors: Rahman Md. Morshedur , Siddique Naim , Arafat Kh. Yeashir , Homa Syeda Fowzia , Das Ziban Chandra , Islam Tofazzal , Hoque M. Nazmul 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli
is an important antibiotic-resistant pathogen in mastitis, with broader public health implications. We report the genomes of two
E. coli
strains, MBBL4 and MBBL5, isolated from mastitic cow milk. The draft genomes, covering 4.6 Mbp each, revealed 57.5% GC content and 100× sequencing depth.
Light Stimulation of Sulfide Oxidation in the Black Sea Anoxic Water Column
Authors: Dubinin A. V. , Rimskaya-Korsakova M. N. , Dubinina E. O. , Demidova T. P. , Semilova L. S. , Berezhnaya E. D. , Zologina E. N. , Ocherednik O. A. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Elemental sulfur is a common product of hydrogen sulfide oxidation in the photic zone of meromictic basins due to the anoxigenic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide by photosynthetic bacteria. The photic zone in the Black Sea is limited to 50–60 m, which is much higher than the upper limit of the hydrogen sulfide zone interface, which is at a depth of 90–100 m in the center of the sea. In peripheral areas of the Black Sea, the depth of the redox interface reaches 150–170 m, where, as expected, photoautotrophic bacteria are rare and in an inactive state. A study of the distribution of elemental sulfur in the Black Sea anoxic zone showed that waters from depths of 180–300 m are light sensitive. This leads to a sharp increase in sulfur concentrations up to 11.3 µmol/kg with background values of 0.15–0.18 µmol/kg under strictly anaerobic conditions. It was found that such a significant increase in elemental sulfur is associated with the activity of photoautotrophic bacteria. The conditions for the existence of photoautotrophic bacteria at depths of 180–300 m in the Black Sea in the absence of light remain unclear.
Structure of Finite Groups Isospectral to the Automorphism Group of the Second Sporadic Janko Group
Authors: Zhurtov A. Kh. , Lytkina D. V. , Mazurov V. D. 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
We prove that every solvable chief factor of a finite group whose set
of element orders coincides with that of the automorphism group of
the second sporadic Janko group is a 2-group of order
$ 2^{4} $
,
$ 2^{6} $
, or
$ 2^{20} $
.
Insights from 1096 clinical cases: pioneering a universal grading system for vernal keratoconjunctivitis management
Authors: Chandrasekar Ambika , Agarwal Shweta , Chauhan Gaurav , Srinivasan Bhaskar , Chavda Varsha Bhambani , Iyer Geetha 
Published: January 2025

AimTo analyse the clinical and demographic profiles of patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) and propose a grading for VKC based on corneal status and symptom periodicity rather than disease activity.MethodsRetrospective observational study from January 2015 to January 2020 in India. VKC grading was based on past/present clinical signs and frequency of symptoms rather than disease activity. The electronic medical records were screened and details of VKC patients diagnosed by cornea specialists were recorded and analysed.Results1096 VKC patients with a mean age of onset of 7.05±5.3 with 8.39% having adult onset were analysed. Symptoms included; itching (50.55%) and decreased vision (15.44%). Mixed VKC (52.04%) was the most common presentation with 49.1% having active disease. Complications included; keratoconus (18.43%), steroid-induced cataract (11.41%), glaucoma (10.95%) and limbal stem cell deficiency (5.29%). Dual-acting antiallergics (69.39%) were most commonly used, followed by topical immunomodulators.The patients were graded as, grade I: mild—presence of mild and seasonal symptoms and/or signs. Grade II: moderate—presence of persistent symptoms/and/or signs without corneal involvement. Grade III: severe—chronic persistent symptoms/and/or intermittent signs with corneal involvement or asymptomatic to mild symptoms with corneal pathognomonic signs. Grade IV: very severe—chronic persistent symptoms and/or corneal pathognomonic signs or active involvement/complication or asymptomatic with complications.ConclusionVKC is a chronic disease that often causes visual complications. The new grading system based on the cornea status and symptom periodicity rather than disease activity might help plan the management better.
Acceptability and feasibility of shared medical appointments to support self-management of anxiety and depression in primary care in England: a qualitative study of service user/patient perspectives
Authors: Hanrahan Megan , Graham Fiona , Tang Mei Yee 
Published: January 2025

ObjectiveShared medical appointments (SMAs) are an innovative care delivery method that provides delivery of clinical care while also supporting self-management. Their usefulness for mental health conditions has only briefly been explored, though early evidence demonstrates their utility for supporting mental health management. Therefore, this study set out to better understand the views that adults with anxiety and depression have towards SMAs as a way of receiving care to support self-management in primary care.Design and methodsA qualitative study using 1:1 semi-structured interviews which were analysed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase reiterative process. We employed a deductive, theory-informed approach to thematically analyse the data.ParticipantsThe final sample consisted of 17 predominantly White ethnic adults with a clinical diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression from five different regions in England. Participants represented a broad age group (22–74 years) and a range of socioeconomic backgrounds.ResultsThree main themes were established: (1) motivation to attend an SMA, (2) barriers and challenges to SMA engagement and (3) implementation preferences. The concept of SMAs was largely acceptable to participants, although participants reported several factors that would influence their decision to attend an SMA. Participants held some reservations but were on the whole receptive to the idea. The main benefits reported were peer support, support for self-management and quicker access to care. Drawbacks reported included risks to patient confidentiality, negative impact on emotional well-being and the unsuitability of the group setting for some patients. Some salient preferences identified included face-to-face/hybrid delivery formatting and mental health specialist involvement.ConclusionsSMAs in primary care to support anxiety and depression self-management would be acceptable to patients, contingent on the mode of delivery of the SMAs. Future acceptability research should explore SMA appropriateness for diverse patient populations of different ethnic backgrounds, to inform their potential wider roll-out in English primary care.