Multilayer Core-Shell Fiber Device for Improved Strain Sensing and Supercapacitor Applications.

1D fiber devices, known for their exceptional flexibility and seamless integration capabilities, often face trade-offs between desired wearable application characteristics and actual performance. In this study, a multilayer device composed of carbon nanotube (CNT), transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes), and cotton fibers, fabricated using a dry spinning method is presented, which significantly enhances both strain sensing and supercapacitor functionality. This core-shell fiber design achieves a record-high sensitivity (GF ≈ 4500) and maintains robust durability under various environmental conditions. Furthermore, the design approach markedly influences capacitance, correlating with the percentage of active material used. Through systematic optimization, the fiber device exhibited a capacitance 26-fold greater than that of a standard neat CNT fiber, emphasizing the crucial role of innovative design and high active material loading in improving device performance.

Synthesis, Antimicrobial, Molecular Docking Against Bacterial and Fungal Proteins and In Silico Studies of Glucopyranoside Derivatives as Potent Antimicrobial Agents.

Carbohydrate derivatives play a crucial role in biochemical and medicinal research. Therefore, the present study was designed to explore the synthesis of methyl α-D-glucopyranoside derivatives (1, MDG), focusing on their efficacy against bacterial and fungal infections. The structure of the synthesized compounds was ascertained using spectral and elemental analyses. Antimicrobial screening revealed strong antifungal properties and exhibited MIC values of 16-32 µg/L and MBC 64-128 µg/L. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that adding nonanoyl and decanoyl groups to ribose moiety enhanced potency against both bacterial and fungal strains. Compounds 6 and 7, presented nonanoyl and decanoyl substituents and demonstrated greater efficacy. In addition, DFT studies identified compound 8 as possessing ideal electronic properties. Molecular docking revealed that compound 8 exhibits exceptional binding affinities to bacterial proteins, conferring potent antibacterial and antifungal activities. In addition, pharmacokinetic optimization via POM analysis highlighted compounds 1 and 2 as promising bioavailable drugs with minimal toxicity. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of the 2-S. aureus complex, revealing the therapeutic potential of compounds 2 and 8. The integration of in vitro and in silico methods, including DFT anchoring dynamics and molecular dynamics simulations, provides a solid framework for the advancement of effective anti-infective drugs.

DNN-BP: a novel framework for cuffless blood pressure measurement from optimal PPG features using deep learning model.

Continuous blood pressure (BP) provides essential information for monitoring one's health condition. However, BP is currently monitored using uncomfortable cuff-based devices, which does not support continuous BP monitoring. This paper aims to introduce a blood pressure monitoring algorithm based on only photoplethysmography (PPG) signals using the deep neural network (DNN). The PPG signals are obtained from 125 unique subjects with 218 records and filtered using signal processing algorithms to reduce the effects of noise, such as baseline wandering, and motion artifacts. The proposed algorithm is based on pulse wave analysis of PPG signals, extracted various domain features from PPG signals, and mapped them to BP values. Four feature selection methods are applied and yielded four feature subsets. Therefore, an ensemble feature selection technique is proposed to obtain the optimal feature set based on major voting scores from four feature subsets. DNN models, along with the ensemble feature selection technique, outperformed in estimating the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared to previously reported approaches that rely only on the PPG signal. The coefficient of determination ( R 2 ) and mean absolute error (MAE) of the proposed algorithm are 0.962 and 2.480 mmHg, respectively, for SBP and 0.955 and 1.499 mmHg, respectively, for DBP. The proposed approach meets the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation standard for SBP and DBP estimations. Additionally, according to the British Hypertension Society standard, the results attained Grade A for both SBP and DBP estimations. It concludes that BP can be estimated more accurately using the optimal feature set and DNN models. The proposed algorithm has the potential ability to facilitate mobile healthcare devices to monitor continuous BP.

Differences in Associated Factors of Underweight and Overweight According to Rural-Urban Residence Strata among Ever-Married Non-Pregnant Women of Reproductive Age in Bangladesh.

Background: This study sought to compare the prevalence of underweight and overweight among ever-married, non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Bangladesh by urban or rural residency status. Methods: This study used Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2017 data. Cross-sectional study design with two-stage stratified sampling method was employed. A sample of ever-married non-pregnant women of reproductive age was selected and multinomial logistic regression was utilised in analysis. Results: It was found that around half of rural women (45.0%, N = 4,934) and more than half of urban women (60.3%, n = 3,913) were overweight. Nearly one in seven rural women (14.0%, n = 1,537) and 1 in 12 urban women (9.0%, n = 564) were reported as underweight. Our analyses revealed that being overweight was substantially connected with age, husband's occupation, economic status, television access, and division for both urban and rural areas. Women from poor households were significantly more likely to be underweight than women from middle- income households for both urban (P < 0.05; OR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.94) and rural (P < 0.05; OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.46) areas. Interestingly, women without television access both in urban (P < 0.001; OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.91) and rural (P < 0.001; OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.68, 0.84) areas had an inverse association with overweight/obesity compared to women with television access. In both areas, women in Sylhet and Mymensingh had higher likelihood of being underweight than Barisal division. Additionally, in both residential zones, women in Sylhet had lower likelihood of being overweight than Barisal division. Conclusion: This study reveals that multiple characteristics are linked to both overweight and underweight among ever-married, non-pregnant women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. Addressing these variables should be a priority in public health efforts to combat the dual challenge of malnutrition in Bangladesh.

Efficient removal of ciprofloxacin from aqueous solution using Zn-C battery derived graphene oxide enhanced by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and π-π interaction.

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) derived from waste Zinc-Carbon (Zn-C) batteries was proposed for the efficient removal of antibiotics from the aqueous solution. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic was selected as a typical contaminants. GO was prepared via an economical and environment-friendly route by using carbon rods from waste Zn-C batteries as the precursor. Characterization techniques were applied to determine the properties of as prepared GO. Effects of pH, contact time, and adsorbent dose on the adsorption were explored, and an optimum condition was established. Adsorption equilibrium was established in just 20 min for maximum removal of CIP (99.0%) at pH 5.7 for the adsorbent dose of 20 mg L-1 and at the initial concentration of CIP 2.0 mg L-1. The rapid and efficient removal of CIP was greatly influenced by the electrostatic attractions, pi-pi interactions and hydrogen bonding on the surface and edge of GO which was also proved by density functional theory (DFT). Langmuir model showed the best fit among the isotherm models and the calculated maximum adsorption capacity (qm) was 419.62 mg g-1 at 30°C. The kinetic studies also revealed that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model. The endothermic and spontaneous nature of adsorption was evaluated in thermodynamic studies.

Trends in peripheral artery disease and critical limb ischemia hospitalizations among cocaine and methamphetamine users in the United States: a nationwide study.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is on the rise worldwide, ranking as the third leading cause of atherosclerosis-related morbidity; much less is known about its trends in hospitalizations among methamphetamine and cocaine users. Objectives: We aim to evaluate the overall trend in the prevalence of hospital admission for PAD with or without the use of stimulant abuse (methamphetamine and cocaine) across the United States. Additionally, we evaluated the PAD-related hospitalizations trend stratified by age, race, sex, and geographic location. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2008 to 2020. The Cochran Armitage trend test was used to compare the trend between groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine adjusted odds for PAD and CLI hospitalizations among methamphetamine and cocaine users. Results: Between 2008 and 2020, PAD-related hospitalizations showed an increasing trend in Hispanics, African Americans, and western states, while a decreasing trend in southern and Midwestern states (p-trend <0.05). Among methamphetamine users, an overall increasing trend was observed in men, women, western, southern, and midwestern states (p-trend <0.05). However, among cocaine users, PAD-related hospitalization increased significantly for White, African American, age group >64 years, southern and western states (p-trend <0.05). Overall, CLI-related hospitalizations showed an encouraging decreasing trend in men and women, age group >64 years, and CLI-related amputations declined for women, White patient population, age group >40, and all regions (p-trend <0.05). However, among methamphetamine users, a significantly increasing trend in CLI-related hospitalization was seen in men, women, White & Hispanic population, age group 26-45, western, southern, and midwestern regions. Conclusions: There was an increasing trend in PAD-related hospitalizations among methamphetamine and cocaine users for both males and females. Although an overall decreasing trend in CLI-related hospitalization was observed for both genders, an up-trend in CLI was seen among methamphetamine users. The upward trends were more prominent for White, Hispanic & African Americans, and southern and western states, highlighting racial and geographic variations over the study period.

Exploring of spectrum beta lactamase producing multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovars in goat meat markets of Bangladesh.

The emergence of Salmonella enterica serovars that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase and exhibit multi-drug resistance (MDR) poses a substantial global threat, contributing to widespread foodborne illnesses and presenting an alarming issue for public health. This study specifically concentrated on the isolation and identification of ESBL-resistant genes (bla TEM, bla SHV, bla CTX-M1, bla CTX-M2, bla CTX-M9, MultiCase ACC, MultiCase MOX, MultiCase DHA, bla OXA) and the antibiogram profiling of Salmonella enterica serovars found in goat meat samples procured from retail outlets in Bangladesh. During the research in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh, researchers gathered a total of 210 samples of goat meat from 13 different Upazilas. Primarily, cultural and biochemical methods were used for isolation of bacteria from the selected samples. Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis, along with three ESBL-resistant genes, were identified through polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). The disk diffusion test was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibilities. Out of 210 samples analysed, Salmonella spp. was detected in 18.10 % (38 out of 210), with S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium found in 9.05 % (19 out of 210) and 5.24 % (11 out of 210) of the samples, respectively. A total of 72.73 % (8/11) of S. Enteritidis and 100 % (19/19) of S. Typhimurium isolates were positive by Multidrug-resistant patterns. The positive outcomes were found of S. Typhimurium tested 63.16 % (12 out of 19) for the bla TEM gene and 21.05 % (4/19) for the bla SHV, gene. The study proposes that the retail goat meat market channel could be a prominent transmission way of ESBL-producing MDR Salmonella enterica serovars, representing a significant public health hazard.

On traveling wave solutions with stability and phase plane analysis for the modified Benjamin-Bona-Mahony equation.

The modified Benjamin-Bona-Mahony (mBBM) model is utilized in the optical illusion field to describe the propagation of long waves in a nonlinear dispersive medium during a visual illusion (Khater 2021). This article investigates the mBBM equation through the utilization of the rational [Formula: see text]-expansion technique to derive new analytical wave solutions. The analytical solutions we have obtained comprise hyperbolic, trigonometric, and rational functions. Some of these exact solutions closely align with previously published results in specific cases, affirming the validity of our other solutions. To provide insights into diverse wave propagation characteristics, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of these solutions using 2D, 3D, and density plots. We also investigated the effects of various parameters on the characteristics of the obtained wave solutions of the model. Moreover, we employed the techniques of linear stability to perform stability analysis of the considered model. Additionally, we have explored the stability of the associated dynamical system through the application of phase plane theory. This study also demonstrates the efficacy and capabilities of the rational [Formula: see text]-expansion approach in analyzing and extracting soliton solutions from nonlinear partial differential equations.

Quantifying abnormal alveolar microstructure in cystic fibrosis lung disease via hyperpolarized 129Xe diffusion MRI.

RATIONALE: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) progresses through recurrent infection and inflammation, causing permanent lung function loss and airway remodeling. CT scans reveal abnormally low-density lung parenchyma in CF, but its microstructural nature remains insufficiently explored due to clinical CT limitations. To this end, diffusion-weighted 129Xe MRI is a non-invasive and validated measure of lung microstructure. In this work, we investigate microstructural changes in people with CF (pwCF) relative to age-matched, healthy subjects using comprehensive imaging and analysis involving pulmonary-function tests (PFTs), and 129Xe MRI. METHODS: 38 healthy subjects (age 6-40; 17.2 ± 9.5 years) and 39 pwCF (age 6-40; 15.6 ± 8.0 years) underwent 129Xe-diffusion MRI and PFTs. The distribution of diffusion measurements (i.e., apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) and morphometric parameters) was assessed via linear binning (LB). The resulting volume percentages of bins were compared between controls and pwCF. Mean ADC and morphometric parameters were also correlated with PFTs. RESULTS: Mean whole-lung ADC correlated significantly with age (P < 0.001) for both controls and CF, and with PFTs (P < 0.05) specifically for pwCF. Although there was no significant difference in mean ADC between controls and pwCF (P = 0.334), age-adjusted LB indicated significant voxel-level diffusion (i.e., ADC and morphometric parameters) differences in pwCF compared to controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 129Xe diffusion MRI revealed microstructural abnormalities in CF lung disease. Smaller microstructural size may reflect compression from overall higher lung density due to interstitial inflammation, fibrosis, or other pathological changes. While elevated microstructural size may indicate emphysema-like remodeling due to chronic inflammation and infection.

Synthesis of Cu and Zr-based coordination polymers with N/O donors and investigation of their photocatalytic activity against dye.

The coordination polymers (CPs) of Cu and Zr were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The orotic acid potassium salt (H3KL) was used as a linker, which coordinates via O-O. Whereas, 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridine (4,4'-TMDP) was used as a bifunctional monomer, which coordinates via N-N. The synthesized CPs were characterized by FTIR, P-XRD, TGA, DSC and SEM. The photocatalytic activity was investigated against methylene blue (MB) under sunlight irradiation. Both Cu-CP and Zr-CP exhibited potential activity for the degradation of MB, which was 72 % for Cu-CP and 93 % for Zr-CP. The band gap of the CPs was also investigated, and the observed value was 2.2 eV. The band gap indicates that these compounds could bring breakthroughs as photocatalysts instead of semiconductors. These kinds of CPs could be used for multiple purposes in industry and in a green environment.

Unhealthy Food and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Bangladeshi Elderly People and Their Sociodemographic Determinants: Findings From a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Savory crispy or fried snack (SCFS), sugary snack (SS), and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption are associated with a higher prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases. So, we estimated the consumption of SCFS, SS, and SSB among elderly males and females in Bangladesh. We also reported the factors associated with their consumption using data from a nationwide cross-sectional study. METHODS: We interviewed 2,482 (51.52%) elderly males and 2,335 (48.47%) elderly females for the recall for the past seven days on the intake of SCFS, SS, and SSB from 82 randomly selected clusters from rural, non-slum urban, and slum areas in Bangladesh. Sociodemographic and anthropometry data were also collected. RESULTS: Consumption of SCFS, SS, and SSB for ≥1 time per week was reported by 884 (31.5%), 1,696 (66.1%), and 1,911 (69.3%) of the elderly males and 516 (20.1%), 1,367 (53.9%), and 1,171 (34.1%) of the elderly females, respectively. Both elderly males and females from slum and non-slum urban areas consumed more SSB than their rural counterparts. Higher level of television viewing was associated with increased frequency of intake of SCFS, SS, and SSB among elderly males and SSB intake among elderly females. Nutritional status was not associated with the consumption of these foods and drinks among the elderly; however, overweight males consumed SSB less frequently. CONCLUSION: In Bangladesh, elderly males and females frequently consume unhealthy snacks and drinks. Considering their detrimental effect on health, it is necessary to reduce their consumption through policy and program measures and promote healthier foods and beverages.

Experience and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among university students: a cross-sectional survey study.

Introduction: Many people expressed concern over coronavirus vaccinations' reliability and side effects. This research aimed to assess university students' perceptions and experiences regarding the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines in Bangladesh. Method: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey to collect responses from university students vaccinated with any vaccines administered in Bangladesh between November 2021 to April 2022. Bangladeshi university students over the age of 18 and having an internet connection was included in the study. A binary logistic regression analysis along with Pearson's Chi-square test were used to identify COVID-19 vaccine-related side effects predictors after receiving the first dose. Results: A total of 1,176 participants responded voluntarily to the online study, and most were vaccinated. More than half of the participants received the Sinopharm vaccine (56.5%), while others received Covishield (8.9%), Moderna (7.3%), and Pfizer (5.8%) vaccine. Around 32% of the participants reported side effects after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, including pain and edema (78.4%), body temperature (20.3%), and headache (14.5%), while a few experienced allergy, anxiety, and uneasy feelings. About 17% of the participants reported experiencing side effects after the second dose of the vaccine, including pain and edema (7.5%), body temperature (8.8%), and headache (7.3%). Most side effects were significantly associated with the Moderna vaccine (p < 0.001). Female students and those previously infected with COVID-19 were significantly associated with the side effects after taking the first dose of the vaccine. Conclusion: We found that side effects are mild and did not pose a significant challenge to Bangladesh's effort in managing and reducing the risk associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coding complete genomic sequence of a feline panleukopenia virus detected from a domestic cat (Felis catus) in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

The coding complete genome sequence of the feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV), detected from an indigenous cat in Bangladesh, has been determined. The genome spans 4,842 bp and contains four protein-coding genes. The genome will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the genetic traits and evolutionary trends of FPLV.

Effect of N-acetyl cysteine in children with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease-A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and its sequelae of more severe forms such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is rapidly increasing in children with the rise in obesity. Successful and sustainable treatments for MASLD are lacking in children. We determined the therapeutic effect of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance (IR), liver enzymes, liver fat fraction (LFF) and (LS) in children with obesity and biopsy-confirmed MASLD. METHODS: Thirteen children (n = 13; age: 13.6 ± 2.8 years; NAS score >2) underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of NAC (either 600 or 1200 mg NAC/day) or placebo for 16 weeks. Measurements included LFF (magnetic resonance imaging), LS (ultrasound elastography), and body composition. Erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), liver enzymes, insulin, glucose, adiponectin, high-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were also measured. HOMA-IR was calculated. RESULTS: Sixteen-week NAC treatment improved (baseline adjusted between-group p < .05 for all) markers of inflammation (IL-6 and hs-CRP), oxidative stress (GSH), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and reduced liver enzymes, LFF and LS. Body weight and body composition did not show beneficial changes. CONCLUSIONS: Sixteen-week NAC treatment was well tolerated in children with obesity and MASLD and led to improvements in oxidative stress, inflammation and IR and liver outcomes. The results from this pilot study support further investigation of NAC as a therapeutic agent in children with MASLD.

The Application of High-Intensity Ultrasound on Wet-Dry Combined Aged Pork Loin Induces Physicochemical and Oxidative Alterations.

This research investigated the synergic outcome of high intensity ultrasound (HIU) treatment and wet-dry combined aging (WDCA) on physiochemical characteristics and lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage to ameliorate pork meat's quality and shelf life. The CIE b* values, cooking loss (CL %), and pH of the HIU treated samples were higher than those of the control over the aging period. They were significantly (p<0.05) modified by the aging period and ultrasound (US) treatment. However, the released water (RW %) and moisture were not significantly influenced by US treatment (p>0.05). The Warner-Bratzler shear force of HIU-treated samples was lower over control values except in 7-14 d, and it showed a significant difference between control and US treatment according to the significance of HIU (p<0.05). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substance of HIU-treated samples was significantly higher (p<0.05) than control values over the aging period. These results suggested that HIU treatment and WDCA showed a synergistic effect of maximizing the tenderness, but lipid oxidation was higher than before ultrasonic treatment. In agreement with this, the most favorable approach would involve implementing wet aging for a period of two weeks followed by dry aging for a period not exceeding one week after the application of HIU.

Effects of gender and slaughter age on physicochemical and quality traits of Korean Hanwoo striploin.

Hanwoo beef is in high demand because of its unique flavor, freshness, and high-fat content. However, the longer rearing period required to enhance marbling in Hanwoo cattle has adverse environmental consequences, such as greenhouse gas emissions and overall rearing costs. To address consumer preferences for leaner and healthier meat, the Korean meat industry has recently introduced Hanwoo heifer meat as an alternative source, but its quality traits are still unclear. Nevertheless, there is a limited body of research exploring the impact of Hanwoo gender (steer, heifer, and cow) and their corresponding slaughter ages on meat quality traits. This study looked into how gender affected the physicochemical and qualitative features of Hanwoo striploin at their respective slaughter ages. Results revealed that cow striploin has higher levels of moisture (66.81%) and protein (20.76%), whereas it contains lower levels of fat (10.66%) and cholesterol (34.66 mg/100 g). Regarding the physicochemical properties, cow striploin exhibited significantly lower shear force, color indexes, and soluble collagen (p < 0.05). However, chondroitin (1.19%) and muscle fiber area (1,545.23 µm2) were significantly higher in steer striploin than in heifer and cow (p < 0.05). Cow striploin exhibited significantly higher levels of oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) while having lower levels of eicosadienoic acid and atherogenic index compared to the other two groups. Cows and heifers had higher concentrations of amino acid metabolites than striploin from steers. Furthermore, bioactive metabolites such as carnitine and carnosine content were found higher in cow and heifer respectively. Overall, Hanwoo cattle gender influences the qualitative attributes of striploin; nevertheless, compared to steer and heifer striploin, cow striploin is a relatively good source of protein, fatty acid content, and metabolites conducive to a healthy diet.

Achyranthes japonica extract as phytogenic feed additive enhanced nutrient digestibility and growth performance in broiler.

Achyranthes japonica extract (AJE) is derived from a medicinal plant Achyranthes japonica, known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. AJE contains multiple bioactive compounds, including saponins, triterpenoids, phytoecdysteroids, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and inokosterone. The aim of this investigation was to examine the impact of AJE as a phytogenic feed additive on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta microbial count, noxious gas emissions, breast meat quality in broilers. About three hundred and sixty, day-old broilers (Ross 308) were assigned into four treatments (five replication cages/treatment, and 18 birds/cage). Dietary treatments: CON, basal diet; 0.02% AJE, basal diet with 0.02%; 0.04% AJE, basal diet with 0.04% AJE, and 0.06% AJE, basal diet with 0.06% of AJE. Body weight gain increased linearly (p < 0.05) through the inclusion of AJE during days 7 to 21, 21 to 35, as well as the entire experimental period. Besides, feed intake increased (p < 0.05) linearly during days 21 to 35 and the entire experiment with the increased AJE doses in broiler diet. Dry matter digestibility was increased (p < 0.05) linearly along with increasing amounts of AJE. With increasing AJE supplementation, nitrogen and energy utilization tended to improve (p < 0.10). In summary, the addition of AJE in the corn-soybean meal diet led to higher body weight gain and increased feed intake as well as enhanced nutrient digestibility, among them the highest improvement was found in 0.06%-AJE indicating the acceptance of AJE as a phytogenic feed additive.

Intrinsic antimicrobial resistance: Molecular biomaterials to combat microbial biofilms and bacterial persisters.

The escalating rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) coupled with a declining arsenal of new antibiotics is imposing serious threats to global public health. A pervasive aspect of many acquired AMR infections is that the pathogenic microorganisms exist as biofilms, which are equipped with superior survival strategies. In addition, persistent and recalcitrant infections are seeded with bacterial persister cells at infection sites. Together, conventional antibiotic therapeutics often fail in the complete treatment of infections associated with bacterial persisters and biofilms. Novel therapeutics have been attempted to tackle AMR, biofilms, and persister-associated complex infections. This review focuses on the progress in designing molecular biomaterials and therapeutics to address acquired and intrinsic AMR, and the fundamental microbiology behind biofilms and persisters. Starting with a brief introduction of AMR basics and approaches to tackling acquired AMR, the emphasis is placed on various biomaterial approaches to combating intrinsic AMR, including (1) semi-synthetic antibiotics; (2) macromolecular or polymeric biomaterials mimicking antimicrobial peptides; (3) adjuvant effects in synergy; (4) nano-therapeutics; (5) nitric oxide-releasing antimicrobials; (6) antimicrobial hydrogels; (7) antimicrobial coatings. Particularly, the structure-activity relationship is elucidated in each category of these biomaterials. Finally, illuminating perspectives are provided for the future design of molecular biomaterials to bypass AMR and cure chronic multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections.

Estimation of the Likelihood Ratio of Different Symptoms for Six Homeopathic Medicines: Prognostic Factor Research.

BACKGROUND: Arsenicum album, Causticum, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla nigricans, Rhus toxicodendron and Sulphur are frequently prescribed homeopathic medicines; however, their symptoms, as mentioned in different homeopathic literature works, have rarely been investigated systematically. Likelihood ratio (LR), based on Bayesian statistics, may reflect a better estimation of the strengths of symptoms than the existing entries in the homeopathic literature. METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal, analytical patient outcome study was conducted in the outpatient departments of D. N. De Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, on 1,954 patients over 21 months. The outcomes were recorded at each follow-up using the Outcome Related to Impact on Daily Living (ORIDL) +4 to -4 scale. The average period of treatment for each participant was 3 months. The LRs of four symptoms for each of the six selected medicines were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred and two different remedies were prescribed. The prevalence, LR + , and LR - , with respective 95% confidence intervals, of different symptoms were reported. The study found that the following symptoms had particularly high LR+ scores: "intense sympathy for the suffering of others" (Causticum, LR+ = 12.0); "dyspepsia from business anxiety" (Nux vomica, LR+ = 27.4); "burning pain relieved by heat" (Arsenicum album, LR+ = 29.6); "envy" (Pulsatilla nigricans, LR+ = 13.2); "desire for milk" (Rhus toxicodendron, LR+ = 7.5); "very selfish, no regard for others" (Sulphur, LR+ = 20.6). The findings corroborated well with the presentation of the symptoms in different homeopathic materia medica and repertories. ORIDL scores of +2 or greater were identified most prominently for Pulsatilla nigricans (n = 138) and Sulphur (n = 119). CONCLUSION: There was adequate evidence to attribute all the assessed symptoms to the medicines investigated. Further studies with a larger population are warranted to tackle the possible confirmation bias.