Assessing Parental Preferences for Children's Oral Health in Rural Areas: A Study on Maintenance and Treatment Choices.

AIM: This article investigates the oral health preferences of parents residing in rural areas for their children, including dental maintenance and treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 500 parents who sought dental consultation for their children between two and seven years old, excluding those with systemic or neurological disorders. Demographic characteristics, including child and parent age and gender, family structure, and parental education levels, were collected using self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: The study on oral health preferences of rural parents reveals the following key trends: peak dental treatment interest at six years old (104 children), slight gender disparity favoring males (54.8%), prevalent joint family structures (58%), and families with two children (48%). Most mothers marry before age 21 (62.8%), with varied education levels. Toothpaste and toothbrushes are preferred by the majority (65.2%) for oral hygiene. Common treatments include oral prophylaxis (164), pulpectomy/pulpotomy (114), and extractions (86). However, significant gaps exist: 62.8% do not grasp the importance of primary teeth, and 72% lack knowledge about specific treatments and drug-induced tooth problems, urging targeted educational strategies. CONCLUSION: The study's outcome focuses on parental preferences for oral hygiene maintenance and their choices for dental treatment in primary dentition. The results highlight the influence of various factors on parental preferences and underscore the importance of improving parental knowledge for better oral health outcomes in rural populations.

Paving the way to environment-friendly greener anesthesia.

Health-care settings have an important responsibility toward environmental health and safety. The operating room is a major source of environmental pollution within a hospital. Inhalational agents and nitrous oxide are the commonly used gases during general anesthesia for surgeries, especially in the developing world. These greenhouse gases contribute adversely to the environmental health both inside the operating room and in the outside atmosphere. Impact of these anesthetic agents depends on the total consumption, characteristics of individual agents, and gas flows, with higher levels increasing the environmental adverse effects. The inimical impact of nitrous oxide is higher due to its longer atmospheric half-life and potential for destruction of the ozone layer. Anesthesiologist of today has a choice in the selection of anesthetic agents. Prudent decisions will help in mitigating environmental pollution and contributing positively to a greener planet. Therefore, a shift from inhalational to intravenous-based technique will reduce the carbon footprint of anesthetic agents and their impact on global climate. Propofol forms the mainstay of intravenous anesthesia technique and is a proven drug for anesthetic induction and maintenance. Anesthesiologists should appreciate growing concerns about the role of inhalational anesthetics on the environment and join the cause of environmental responsibility. In this narrative review, we revisit the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic considerations, clinical uses, and discuss the merits of propofol-based intravenous anesthesia over inhalational anesthesia in terms of environmental effects. Increased awareness about the environmental impact and adoption of newer, versatile, and user-friendly modalities of intravenous anesthesia administration will pave the way for greener anesthesia practice.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Management of Temporomandibular Joint Pain in Young Adults With Temporomandibular Disorder.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) encompasses a range of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated structures, with TMJ pain being a prevalent symptom. Conventional management strategies have limitations, which require the exploration of innovative interventions. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), known for its regenerative properties, presents a potential therapeutic avenue. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of PRP in reducing the pain associated with mild TMJ in young adults. METHODOLOGY: Participants (n = 128) aged 18 to 35 years with mild TMD were evenly randomized into PRP treatment and placebo control groups. PRP was prepared using a standardized protocol, and intra-articular injections were administered. Placebo injections mimic PRP. Follow-up evaluations were carried out at four and eight weeks after the intervention. RESULTS: The study successfully randomized comparable groups, and the PRP treatment group experienced a significant reduction in TMJ pain (visual analog scale [VAS] score: 6.8 ± 1.2 to 2.1 ± 1.0 at eight weeks, P < 0.001). The PRP treatment also increased the largest opening of the mouth (from 38.2 ± 2.5 to 43.5 ± 3.1, P < 0.001) and the number of lateral movements (12.3 ± 1.5 to 14.9 ± 2.0, P < 0.001), while the placebo group had very few changes. Positive patient-reported outcomes on daily activities were observed, with no serious complications reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence supporting the efficacy of PRP in reducing TMJ pain, improving jaw function, and improving quality of life in young adults with mild TMD. The results underscore the potential of PRP as a minimally invasive intervention for TMJ disorders.

Arylazo sulfones: multifaceted photochemical reagents and beyond.

The photochemical action of arylazo sulfones under visible light irradiation has recently gained considerable attention for the construction of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds in organic synthesis. The inherent dyedauxiliary group (-N2SO2R) embedded in the reagent is responsible for the absorption of visible light even in the absence of a photocatalyst, additive or oxidant, leading to the generation of three different radicals, viz. aryl (carbon-centred), sulfonyl (sulphur-centred) and diazenyl (nitrogen-centred) radicals, under different reaction conditions. Encountering a reagent with such a versatile behaviour is quite rare, which makes arylazo sulfones a highly interesting class of compounds. The mild reaction conditions under which these reagents can operate are an added advantage. Recently, they are also being used as non-ionic photoacid generators (PAGs), electron acceptors, and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and imination reagents in a number of synthetic transformations. They have displayed substantial damaging effect on the structure of DNA in the presence of light which can lead to their use as phototoxic pharmaceuticals for cancer treatment. Moreover, their photochemistry is also being exploited in polymerization reactions (as photoinitiators) and in materials chemistry (surface modification).

A Comparative Study of Isobaric 1% Chloroprocaine With 0.5% Isobaric Bupivacaine for Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy Under Spinal Anaesthesia: A Prospective Randomised Study.

Introduction Day-care surgery has become an immensely popular modality of treatment throughout the globe. Ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) surgery is commonly performed on a day-care basis, and the duration of surgery ranges from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. URSL is routinely done under spinal anaesthesia. Spinal anaesthesia with conventional drugs has its problems like delayed regression and urinary retention, necessitating a longer hospital stay, thereby increasing the time and resources needed. For day-care surgery, short-acting local anaesthetics have a quicker onset with fewer side effects, and drugs that ensure quicker hospital discharge are more often preferred over long-acting anaesthetics. For spinal anaesthesia, we planned to perform a randomised prospective study to compare the effectiveness of 40 mg of preservative-free 1% chloroprocaine over 10 mg of plain 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine. Materials and method After obtaining clearance from the institute's ethical committee and written informed consent from the patients, 64 patients between the ages of 18 and 50 years of either sex belonging to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 1 and 2 scheduled for URSL surgery were included in our study. They were randomised using a computer-generated sealed envelope technique into two groups. Group C received 4 ml of 1% isobaric chloroprocaine, and group B received 2 ml of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine in the intrathecal space. The primary outcome was to compare the in-hospital time among both groups. Our secondary outcomes were the onset time of motor and sensory blocks, the duration of the blocks, time to unaided ambulation and voiding, the need for an overnight stay, and the side effects like postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and urinary retention. The data were analysed using the unpaired t-test and chi-square test and calculated by SPSS 20.0 software version (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Final analyses were done among 60 patients. In-hospital time was significantly lower in group C as compared to group B (p<0.05). The onset time of sensory and motor blockade was significantly lower in group C as compared to group B (p<0.005). The duration of sensory and motor blockade was significantly less in group C as compared to group B (p<0.005). The time for unaided voiding and ambulation was less in group C as compared to group B. The need for an overnight stay was only needed in group B. The incidence of PONV and urinary retention was higher in group B. Conclusion In URSL surgery, the use of intrathecal 1% isobaric chloroprocaine 40 mg resulted in a reduced hospital stay time as compared to the use of intrathecal 10 mg of 0.5% isobaric bupivacaine. Also, it resulted in a significantly faster onset and faster regression of the block, less duration of the blockade, shorter time to ambulation and micturition, and a requirement for an overnight stay when compared with isobaric spinal bupivacaine.

Sutureless and glue-free limbal-conjunctival autograft in primary and recurrent pterygium: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and analyze the outcomes of sutureless and glue-free limbal-conjunctival autografting in cases of primary as well as recurrent pterygium. METHODS: This prospective interventional study was carried out between February 2019 and February 2020 at a tertiary care hospital in North India. A.total of 70 patients with pterygium underwent sutureless and glue-free limbal-conjunctival autograft. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 patients with primary pterygium (n = 45), group 2 patients with recurrent pterygium (n = 25). The patients were followed up till 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in group 1 and group 2 was 37.04 ± 8.69 years and 32.52 ± 6.49 years, respectively (P = 0.04). Postoperatively, no recurrence was recorded in group 1. Recurrence was noticed in two patients (8%) of group 2. The BCVA changed from 78.73 ± 9.86 letters to 80.15 ± 7.29 letters (P = 0.45) and from 79.6 ± 6.44 letters to 79.8 ± 5.86 letters (P = 0.45) in group 1 and group 2, respectively. Graft edema was found in seven (15.55%) cases of group 1 and four (16%) cases of group 2. Graft retraction was found in two (4.44%) cases of group 1 and three (12%) cases of group 2. CONCLUSION: Sutureless and a glue-free limbal-conjunctival autograft is a safe and effective treatment option for primary as well as recurrent pterygium.

Petri-plate, bacteria, and laser optical scattering sensor.

Classical microbiology has paved the path forward for the development of modern biotechnology and microbial biosensing platforms. Microbial culturing and isolation using the Petri plate revolutionized the field of microbiology. In 1887, Julius Richard Petri invented possibly the most important tool in microbiology, the Petri plate, which continues to have a profound impact not only on reliably isolating, identifying, and studying microorganisms but also manipulating a microbe to study gene expression, virulence properties, antibiotic resistance, and production of drugs, enzymes, and foods. Before the recent advances in gene sequencing, microbial identification for diagnosis relied upon the hierarchal testing of a pure culture isolate. Direct detection and identification of isolated bacterial colonies on a Petri plate with a sensing device has the potential for revolutionizing further development in microbiology including gene sequencing, pathogenicity study, antibiotic susceptibility testing , and for characterizing industrially beneficial traits. An optical scattering sensor designated BARDOT (bacterial rapid detection using optical scattering technology) that uses a red-diode laser, developed at the beginning of the 21st century at Purdue University, some 220 years after the Petri-plate discovery can identify and study bacteria directly on the plate as a diagnostic tool akin to Raman scattering and hyperspectral imaging systems for application in clinical and food microbiology laboratories.

Validation of the Modified Clear Safety Salmonella for Detection of Salmonella enterica in Selected Poultry and Pet Food Matrixes and on Stainless Steel: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 111802.

BACKGROUND: The Clear Safety Salmonella method was modified to improve sample preparation, PCR reagents, library preparation, flow cell quality control, library loading mix, priming mix, and sequencing kit reagents and steps. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the modified Clear Safety Salmonella method (manual and automated) via independent and method developer validation studies according to current AOAC INTERNATIONAL Validation Guidelines. METHOD: Performance of the modified Clear Safety Salmonella method (manual and automated) was assessed for selectivity (using 105 inclusive and 30 exclusive strains), probability of detection in matrixes, product consistency, stability, and robustness. The modified Clear Safety Salmonella method was compared with the appropriate reference method for Salmonella detection on 4 inch × 4 inch stainless steel environmental surfaces, and in chicken carcass rinse (30 mL), raw ground chicken (375 g), dry pet food (375 g), and ready-to-eat deli turkey breast (375 g). RESULTS: The modified Clear Safety Salmonella method (manual and automated) demonstrated no statistically significant differences between the candidate and reference method probability of detection or between the presumptive and confirmed results for all target food matrixes and the stainless steel surface. Additionally, the modified method (manual and automated) detected all 105 inclusivity organisms and excluded all 30 exclusivity organisms. The product consistency and kit stability studies showed no statistical differences between lots or over the term of the kit's shelf life. In robustness studies, changes in enrichment time, diluted sample volume, and sample volume for PCR did not show any statistical difference in terms of assay performance. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Clear Safety Salmonella method (both manual and automated) is statistically equivalent to or better than the reference methods. HIGHLIGHTS: The Clear Safety Salmonella method utilizes PCR amplification and targeted next-generation sequencing technology to selectively detect Salmonella enterica.

Validation of the Clear Safety Listeria Method for Detection of Listeria Species in Hot Dogs and on Environmental Surface Matrixes: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 091901.

BACKGROUND: The Clear Safety Listeria method utilizes polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and targeted next-generation sequencing technology to detect Listeria species (L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, L. ivanovii, L. marthii, L. grayi, L. welshimeri, and L. seeligeri) in hot dogs and on selected environmental surfaces. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to validate the candidate method according to current AOAC guidelines. METHOD: The candidate method was compared to the reference method for hot dogs and the environmental surfaces. The method was also evaluated for inclusivity and exclusivity using 50 inclusivity strains and 30 exclusivity strains for each reported target. Product consistency and stability was tested and robustness was evaluated with changes in enrichment temperature, volume of sample treatment, and aliquot volume for PCR. RESULTS: The candidate method demonstrated no statistically significant differences using the probability of detection model between candidate and reference methods or between presumptive and confirmed results for all environmental surfaces and hot dogs. Additionally, the candidate method detected all inclusivity organisms and excluded all exclusivity organisms for each reported target. Product lots were shown to be consistent and data supported the kit's shelf life. Finally, the robustness study demonstrated no statistical differences when the volume of sample or the aliquot volume for PCR was altered. Increasing the incubation temperature to 37 ± 1 °C resulted in greater recovery of L. monocytogenes as compared to 35 ± 1 °C and 30 ± 1 °C. CONCLUSIONS: The Clear Safety Listeria method is statistically equivalent to the reference methods for the detection of L. monocytogenes and Listeria spp. in hot dogs and on selected environmental surfaces. HIGHLIGHTS: The Clear Safety Listeria method is an automated, highthroughput NGS-based method capable of detecting Listeria species in the hot dog and environmental samples within 28h.

Color vision in civil aviation.

Color vision deficiency (CVD) is a condition that results in individuals being unable to distinguish differences between certain colors. Occupational color vision standards were introduced in aviation in 1919 by The Aeronautical Commission of the International Civil Air Navigation Authority. Concern has been expressed during the last few years that the current color vision standards in aviation may be too stringent and, at the same time, also variable across the world. The tests employed do not always reflect the tasks pilots encounter in today's aviation environment. This ambiguity leads to the possible exclusion of deserving applicants for selection as aircrew. The compatibility of CVD with aircraft crew is assessed by medical personnel using clinical diagnosis tests on the ground level. These clinical tests were developed specifically to detect the presence, nature, and severity of CVD. No clinical tests yet provide a measure of operational performance in operating an aircraft. Arbitrary pass marks have been assigned to clinical tests such that a failing candidate will either be subject to operational restrictions or excluded completely. The prescribed clinical tests and associated pass marks vary considerably between regulators. While an individual may be subject to no restrictions in one jurisdiction, they may be excluded in another. This article highlights newer diagnostic techniques adopted by different countries for assessing color vision to see for the scope of evidence-based guidelines for minimum color vision requirements for flight crew as well as for civil aviation in India.

Receptor-targeted engineered probiotics mitigate lethal Listeria infection.

Probiotic bacteria reduce the intestinal colonization of pathogens. Yet, their use in preventing fatal infection caused by foodborne Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), is inconsistent. Here, we bioengineered Lactobacillus probiotics (BLP) to express the Listeria adhesion protein (LAP) from a non-pathogenic Listeria (L. innocua) and a pathogenic Listeria (Lm) on the surface of Lactobacillus casei. The BLP strains colonize the intestine, reduce Lm mucosal colonization and systemic dissemination, and protect mice from lethal infection. The BLP competitively excludes Lm by occupying the surface presented LAP receptor, heat shock protein 60 and ameliorates the Lm-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction by blocking the nuclear factor-κB and myosin light chain kinase-mediated redistribution of the major epithelial junctional proteins. Additionally, the BLP increases intestinal immunomodulatory functions by recruiting FOXP3+T cells, CD11c+ dendritic cells and natural killer cells. Engineering a probiotic strain with an adhesion protein from a non-pathogenic bacterium provides a new paradigm to exclude pathogens and amplify their inherent health benefits.

Assessment of risk conferred by coding and regulatory variations of TMPRSS2 and CD26 in susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in human.

At present, more than 200 countries and territories are directly affected by the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Incidence and case fatality rate are significantly higher among elderly individuals (age>60 years), type 2 diabetes and hypertension patients. Cellular receptor ACE2, serine protease TMPRSS2 and exopeptidase CD26 (also known as DPP4) are the three membrane bound proteins potentially implicated in SARS-CoV-2 infection. We hypothesised that common variants from TMPRSS2 and CD26 may play critical role in infection susceptibility of predisposed population or group of individuals. Coding (missense) and regulatory variants from TMPRSS2 and CD26 were studied across 26 global populations. Two missense and five regulatory SNPs were identified to have differential allelic frequency. Significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) signature was observed in different populations. Modelled protein-protein interaction (PPI) predicted strong molecular interaction between these two receptors and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S1 domain). However, two missense SNPs, rs12329760 (TMPRSS2) and rs1129599 (CD26), were not found to be involved physically in the said interaction. Four regulatory variants (rs112657409, rs11910678, rs77675406 and rs713400) from TMPRSS2 were found to influence the expression of TMPRSS2 and pathologically relevant MX1. rs13015258 a 50 UTR variant from CD26 have significant role in regulation of expression of key regulatory genes that could be involved in SARS-CoV-2 internalization. Overexpression of CD26 through epigenetic modification at rs13015258-C allele was found critical and could explain the higher SARS-CoV-2 infected fatality rate among type 2 diabetes.

Experimental Biology 2020 Meeting Abstracts.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are growth factors that belong to the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) superfamily, and till date 15 BMPs have been described. BMPs, first described for their role in bone and cartilage formation, also play a role in renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD). There is evidence to indicate that in rodent models of CKD, administration of recombinant BMP1-3 increases renal fibrosis whereas administration of a BMP1-3-neutralizing antibody or BMP-7 antibody reduces renal fibrosis and preserves renal function. The aim of the present study was to investigate changes in gene expression in the renal cortex obtained from cats with kidney disease or calcium oxalate stone formers (CaOx) at necropsy, to identify BMPs associated with renal dysfunction in cats and potential fibrosis. At time of death the circulating levels of creatinine as well as symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA), both markers of kidney decline in cats, were significantly higher in cats with renal disease (n=11) or stone-forming cats (CaOx, n=12) when compared to controls (n=19). Using RNAseq in kidney tissue, we found a modest, but significant, increase in the expression of BMP-1 in cats with kidney disease (2.48 fold) and stone formers (1.72 fold), compared to controls (both p<0.01). While the increase in BMP-2 in CaOx cats was significant (1.46 fold; p<0.05 vs Con), the increase in cats with kidney disease was not (1.23 fold; NS). BMP2K, a BMP-2 inducible kinase, was significantly increased in both kidney disease (1.43 fold) and CaOX (1.46 fold) (both p<0.05). In contrast, a significant decrease in BMP4 was observed in both groups (<2.2 fold and 1.68 fold in kidney disease and CaOx, respectively; both p<0.001 vs Con). A decrease was also seen in CRIM 1, a protein associated with podocyte filtration function and whose reduction is associated with fibrosis, in both groups. BMP-7, whose potential therapeutic role in treating CKD and reversing fibrosis has been documented, was modestly decreased in both groups (both less than 1.5 fold) compared to controls. Given that there was an increase in all three forms of TGFß (TGFß1, TGFß2, and TGFß3), a potent initiator of renal fibrosis, in both groups, and a decline in BMP-7, an endogenous inhibitor of TGFß signaling in fibrosis, compared to controls, our results profile the BMPs potentially associated with renal fibrosis in cats that may contribute to kidney dysfunction. In summary, a nutritional therapy to slow the progression of kidney dysfunction may benefit from the inclusion of dietary ingredients that attenuate renal fibrosis in cats. SUPPORT OR FUNDING INFORMATION: This study was funded by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Retrospective Study of Pediatric Oral Lesions in Rural Areas in District Etawah, Uttar Pradesh.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was retrospective comparative evaluation of past 3 years' pediatric oral lesions diagnosed from the Department of Dentistry, UPUMS, Saifai, Etawah, and classification and identification of pediatric oral lesions on the basis of demographic features and histopathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present retrospective comparative evaluation was done with the help of the last 3 years' histopathological reports obtained from the Department of Dentistry, U.P. University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah. Pediatric patients of age 0-17 years divided in three groups included in the study. RESULTS: In our department, out of total 450 histopathological reports, 56 reports were of pediatric cases in which males were 38 and females were 18. Pediatric patients were further divided into three categories: primary dentition period (0-5 years), mixed dentition period (6-12 years), and permanent dentition period (13-17 years). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study is an effort for classifying and identifying pediatric oral lesions on the basis of demographic features and histopathological features. The majority of the oral lesions detected were benign in nature. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Mishra R, Singh AK. Retrospective Study of Pediatric Oral Lesions in Rural Areas in District Etawah, Uttar Pradesh. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(5):468-470.

Animal-Use Antibiotics Induce Cross-Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens to Human Therapeutic Antibiotics.

Exposure of bacteria to a sub-lethal dosage of antibiotic is one the major causes for the onset of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, we aimed to assess the emergence of antibiotic cross-resistance in bacteria after exposure to a sub-lethal dose of veterinary feed directive (VFD) antibiotics, tilmicosin, and florfenicol. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of tilmicosin and florfenicol against Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes were determined. Next, the pathogens were exposed to a sub-inhibitory concentration of tilmicosin (0.5, 5, 20 µg/ml) and florfenicol (1, 20 µg/ml) for 24 h and 48 h, and acquired cross-resistance to human therapeutic antibiotics was measured by determining the increase in MIC values. MICs of ampicillin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, and meropenem against Salmonella and Klebsiella were in the range of 20-1000 µg/ml, 5-62.5 µg/ml, 5-125 µg/ml, and 0.05-0.1 µg/ml, respectively, whereas MICs against Staphylococcus and Listeria were 2.5-10 µg/ml, 2.5 µg/ml, 62.5-500 µg/ml, and 0.1-0.2 µg/ml, respectively. Pre-exposure of these bacteria to a sub-inhibitory concentration of tilmicosin and florfenicol, increased cross-resistance against ampicillin, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid from 1.25- to 40-fold compared to the antibiotic unexposed bacteria with the exception of meropenem, which did not show increased resistance. This study could serve as a foundation to understand the mechanisms of acquired cross-resistance to traditional therapeutic antibiotics, and to develop strategies to alleviate such problem by using alternative antimicrobials.

Tunicamycin Mediated Inhibition of Wall Teichoic Acid Affects Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes Cell Morphology, Biofilm Formation and Virulence.

The emergence of bacterial resistance to therapeutic antibiotics limits options for treatment of common microbial diseases. Subinhibitory antibiotics dosing, often aid in the emergence of resistance, but its impact on pathogen's physiology and pathogenesis is not well understood. Here we investigated the effect of tunicamycin, a cell wall teichoic acid (WTA) biosynthesis inhibiting antibiotic at the subinhibitory dosage on Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes physiology, antibiotic cross-resistance, biofilm-formation, and virulence. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tunicamycin to S. aureus and L. monocytogenes was 20-40 µg/ml and 2.5-5 µg/ml, respectively, and the subinhibitory concentration was 2.5-5 µg/ml and 0.31-0.62 µg/ml, respectively. Tunicamycin pre-exposure reduced cellular WTA levels by 18-20% and affected bacterial cell wall ultrastructure, cell membrane permeability, morphology, laser-induced colony scatter signature, and bacterial ability to form biofilms. It also induced a moderate level of cross-resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, erythromycin, and meropenem for S. aureus, and ampicillin, erythromycin, vancomycin, and meropenem for L. monocytogenes. Pre-treatment of bacterial cells with subinhibitory concentrations of tunicamycin also significantly reduced bacterial adhesion to and invasion into an enterocyte-like Caco-2 cell line, which is supported by reduced expression of key virulence factors, Internalin B (InlB) and Listeria adhesion protein (LAP) in L. monocytogenes, and a S. aureus surface protein A (SasA) in S. aureus. Tunicamycin-treated bacteria or the bacterial WTA preparation suppressed NF-κB and inflammatory cytokine production (TNFα, and IL-6) from murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) indicating the reduced WTA level possibly attenuates an inflammatory response. These results suggest that at the subinhibitory dosage, tunicamycin-mediated inhibition of WTA biosynthesis interferes with cell wall structure, pathogens infectivity and inflammatory response, and ability to form biofilms but promotes the development of antibiotic cross-resistance.

Rapid detection and differentiation of Staphylococcus colonies using an optical scattering technology.

Staphylococcus species are a major pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections and foodborne illnesses. We applied a laser-based BARDOT (bacterial rapid detection using optical scattering technology) for rapid colony screening and detection of Staphylococcus on an agar plate and differentiate these from non-Staphylococcus spp. Among the six growth media tested, phenol red mannitol agar (PRMA) was found most suitable for building the Staphylococcus species scatter image libraries. Scatter image library for Staphylococcus species gave a high positive predictive value (PPV 87.5-100%) when tested against known laboratory strains of Staphylococcus spp., while the PPV against non-Staphylococcus spp. was 0-38%. A total of nine naturally contaminated bovine raw milk and ready-to-eat chicken salad samples were tested, and BARDOT detected Staphylococcus including Staphylococcus aureus with 80-100% PPV. Forty-five BARDOT-identified bacterial isolates from naturally contaminated foods were further confirmed by tuf and nuc gene-specific PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequence. This label-free, non-invasive on-plate colony screening technology can be adopted by the food industries, biotechnology companies, and public health laboratories for Staphylococcus species detection including S. aureus from various samples for food safety and public health management. Graphical abstract.

Coordination strategy-induced selective C-H amination of 8-aminoquinolines.

In this study, we broke through the directing function of the amide group. The coordination interaction between metal and directing-group enhanced the reactivity of the substrate. Using this strategy, we realized the selective amination of 8-aminoquinolines at the C5 position via employing azoles as the source of amine. Various kinds of 8-aminoquinolines and different substituted azoles were compatible to afford the corresponding C-N coupling products.

Recent Advances in Radical C-H Activation/Radical Cross-Coupling.

Research and industrial interest in radical C-H activation/radical cross-coupling chemistry has continuously grown over the past few decades. These reactions offer fascinating and unconventional approaches toward connecting molecular fragments with high atom- and step-economy that are often complementary to traditional methods. Success in this area of research was made possible through the development of photocatalysis and first-row transition metal catalysis along with the use of peroxides as radical initiators. This Review provides a brief and concise overview of the current status and latest methodologies using radicals or radical cations as key intermediates produced via radical C-H activation. This Review includes radical addition, radical cascade cyclization, radical/radical cross-coupling, coupling of radicals with M-R groups, and coupling of radical cations with nucleophiles (Nu).

Erratum: Kim, K.-P.; Singh, A.K.; Bai, X.; Leprun, L.; Bhunia, A.K. Novel PCR Assays Complement Laser Biosensor-Based Method and Facilitate Listeria Species Detection from Food. Sensors 2015, 15, 22672-22691.

The authors wish to correct the oligonucleotide sequence of primer E-LAP-F1 and LIS-R1 in Table 1in their paper published in Sensors [1], doi:10.3390/s150922672, http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/9/22672. The following table should be used.[...].