Bacterial resistance has become a global concern for public health agencies. Various resistance mechanisms found in Staphylococcus aureus strains grant this bacterium resistance to a wide range of antibiotics, contributing to the rise in human mortality worldwide. Resistance mediated by efflux pumps is one of the most prevalent mechanisms in multi-resistant bacteria, which has aroused the interest of several researchers in the search for possible efflux pump inhibitors. In view of the aforementioned considerations, it is important that new strategies, such as the synthesis of chalcones, be made available as a viable strategy in antimicrobial therapy. In this study, the synthesized chalcone (2E)-1-(3'-aminophenyl)-3-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one was tested for its antibacterial activity, focusing on antibiotic modification and the inhibition of the MepA efflux pump present in S. aureus strain K2068. The broth microdilution method, using microdilution plates, was employed in microbiological tests to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of the chalcone, antibiotics, and ethidium bromide. The results show that while the chalcone did not exhibit direct antibacterial activity, it synergistically enhanced the effects of ciprofloxacin and ethidium bromide, as evidenced by the reduction in MICs. In addition, computer simulations of molecular docking demonstrate that the tested chalcone acts on the same binding site as the efflux pump inhibitor chlorpromazine, interacting with essentially the same residues. These data suggest that the chalcone may act as a MepA inhibitor.

• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents * pharmacology   chemistry   chemical synthesis   MeSH
• Bacterial Proteins * metabolism   genetics   chemistry   antagonists & inhibitors   MeSH
• Chalcone * pharmacology   chemistry   MeSH
• Chalcones * pharmacology   chemistry   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Membrane Transport Proteins * metabolism   genetics   chemistry   MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins * metabolism   genetics   chemistry   MeSH
• Molecular Docking Simulation MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus * drug effects   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the lasting effects of stress experienced by pregnant women during World War II (WWII) on body and head measurements of their adult daughters. METHODS: The research sample consists of 336 female university students born in Poland between 1925 and 1951. The data include body measurements and socioeconomic information (parental occupation and number of siblings) acquired from questionnaires collected between the 1950s and 1970s. Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test and Analysis of Variance were used to analyze differences in body measurements between groups of women born before and during the war, as well as the possible influences of socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: The mean measurements of body height, symphysion height, and waist circumference were lower in women conceived and born during the war compared to those born in the pre-war period. In contrast, the mean measurements of biacromial (shoulder) width, trunk length, and three head dimensions were higher in women conceived and born during the war. Additionally, the number of siblings appeared to be a significant factor that may have influenced the body measurements of women in both groups. For instance, a higher number of living siblings, particularly sisters, was associated with reduced body dimensions, such as body height and waist circumference, while a greater number of deceased siblings was linked to an increase in certain body dimensions. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that war-related prenatal conditions may have influenced the postnatal growth and development of women conceived and born during the war. Notably, the direction of these changes varied, which indicates that the growth response to the war-related conditions was a complex adaptation, reflecting both positive and negative changes in different body parts, rather than a uniform pattern of growth suppression.

• MeSH
• World War II * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Stress, Psychological MeSH
• Socioeconomic Factors MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Poland MeSH

BACKGROUND: Increased lung cancer risks for low socioeconomic status (SES) groups are only partially attributable to smoking habits. Little effort has been made to investigate the persistent risks related to low SES by quantification of potential biases. METHODS: Based on 12 case-control studies, including 18 centers of the international SYNERGY project (16,550 cases, 20,147 controls), we estimated controlled direct effects (CDE) of SES on lung cancer via multiple logistic regression, adjusted for age, study center, and smoking habits and stratified by sex. We conducted mediation analysis by inverse odds ratio weighting to estimate natural direct effects and natural indirect effects via smoking habits. We considered misclassification of smoking status, selection bias, and unmeasured mediator-outcome confounding by genetic risk, both separately and by multiple quantitative bias analyses, using bootstrap to create 95% simulation intervals (SI). RESULTS: Mediation analysis of lung cancer risks for SES estimated mean proportions of 43% in men and 33% in women attributable to smoking. Bias analyses decreased the direct effects of SES on lung cancer, with selection bias showing the strongest reduction in lung cancer risk in the multiple bias analysis. Lung cancer risks remained increased for lower SES groups, with higher risks in men (fourth vs. first [highest] SES quartile: CDE, 1.50 [SI, 1.32, 1.69]) than women (CDE: 1.20 [SI: 1.01, 1.45]). Natural direct effects were similar to CDE, particularly in men. CONCLUSIONS: Bias adjustment lowered direct lung cancer risk estimates of lower SES groups. However, risks for low SES remained elevated, likely attributable to occupational hazards or other environmental exposures.

• MeSH
• Mediation Analysis * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Smoking * epidemiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Logistic Models MeSH
• Lung Neoplasms * epidemiology   MeSH
• Odds Ratio MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Social Class * MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Bias * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: Despite secondary prevention with aspirin, patients with stable cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain at elevated long-term risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. The Cardiovascular Outcomes in People Using Anticoagulant Strategies (COMPASS) double-blind, randomized clinical trial demonstrated that aspirin plus low-dose rivaroxaban (COMPASS regime) significantly decreased the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events by 24% compared with aspirin alone. However, the mechanisms underlying these potential synergistic/nonantithrombotic effects remain elusive. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial messengers regulating a myriad of biological/pathological processes and are highly implicated in CVD. OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that circulating EV profiles reflect the cardioprotective properties of the COMPASS regime. METHODS: A cohort of stable CVD patients (N = 40) who participated in the COMPASS trial and were previously randomized to receive aspirin were prospectively recruited and assigned a revised regimen of open-label aspirin plus rivaroxaban. Blood samples were obtained at baseline (aspirin only) and 6-month follow-up. Plasma EV concentration, size, and origin were analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis and flow cytometry. EVs were enriched by ultracentrifugation for proteomic analysis. RESULTS: The COMPASS regime fundamentally altered small (<200 nm) and large (200-1000 nm) EV concentration and size compared with aspirin alone. Crucially, levels of platelet-derived and myeloperoxidase-positive EVs became significantly decreased at follow-up. Comparative proteomic characterization further revealed a significant decrease in highly proinflammatory protein expression at follow-up. CONCLUSION: The observed changes in EV subpopulations, together with the differential protein expression profiles, suggest amelioration of an underlying proinflammatory and prothrombotic state upon dual therapy, which may be of clinical relevance toward understanding the fundamental mechanism underlying the reported superior cardiovascular outcomes associated with this antithrombotic regimen.

• MeSH
• Aspirin * administration & dosage   therapeutic use   adverse effects   MeSH
• Double-Blind Method MeSH
• Extracellular Vesicles * metabolism   drug effects   MeSH
• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors * administration & dosage   adverse effects   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Factor Xa Inhibitors * administration & dosage   adverse effects   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Cardiovascular Diseases * blood   prevention & control   drug therapy   MeSH
• Drug Therapy, Combination * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Inflammation Mediators blood   MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Proteomics methods   MeSH
• Rivaroxaban * administration & dosage   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Thrombosis blood   prevention & control   drug therapy   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Inflammation blood   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH

The article focuses on the evaluation of therapeutic and therapeutic-formative approaches from the perspective of patients in the psychiatric departments (of the Military Hospital Olomouc and the Psychiatric Hospital Kroměříž). The research examines the effectiveness and emotional dimension of these approaches in the treatment process, specifically among patients with substance addiction (drug, alcohol, or combined). The study aims to understand how patients subjectively evaluate selected therapeutic interventions, including drama therapy, medication, psychotherapy group, self-directed therapeutic community, and daily regimen. The primary objective of the research is to assess the significance and effectiveness of drama therapy intervention in comparison to selected therapeutic interventions and modalities. To achieve this, the semantic differential method was employed as the key data collection tool. Data analysis and evaluation of results were conducted using statistical analysis (ANOVA)

The abnormalities in blood coagulation in patients with diabetes can lead to a prothrombotic state and requirement for the administration of direct anticoagulants. However, no comparative studies have been conducted on the effects of different direct anticoagulants. A head-to-head investigation of the impact of anticoagulants in 50 patients of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DMT1) was performed, and the data were compared to 50 generally healthy individuals. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were measured in plasma treated with vehicle, heparin, or four direct anticoagulants at 1 μM. In addition to common biochemical parameters, novel inflammatory markers (neopterin, kynurenine/tryptophan ratio) and major vitamin K forms were measured. Heparin and dabigatran treatments resulted in prolonged coagulation in DMT1 patients compared to healthy individuals in both tests (both p < 0.001). The same phenomenon was observed for rivaroxaban and apixaban-treated samples in PT (p < 0.001). Interestingly, healthy volunteers had higher total vitamin K levels than DMT1. Further analysis suggested that observed coagulation differences were not caused by differences in glycemia but were rather associated with an unexpected, better lipid profile of our DMT1 group. There were also correlations between prolongation of coagulation brought about by the most active anticoagulants and inflammatory markers, and hence inflammatory state probably also contributed to the differences, as well as the mentioned differences in vitamin K levels. Conclusively, this paper suggests the suitability for controlling the effects of direct anticoagulants in DMT1 patients.

• MeSH
• Anticoagulants * pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Dabigatran pharmacology   MeSH
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 * blood   drug therapy   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Blood Coagulation drug effects   MeSH
• Heparin pharmacology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Partial Thromboplastin Time MeSH
• Prothrombin Time MeSH
• Rivaroxaban pharmacology   MeSH
• Case-Control Studies MeSH
• Vitamin K * blood   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Capillary and microchip electrophoresis plays an important role in the analysis of the chemical composition of plants and nutrient soils, which finds applications in plant physiology, agrochemistry, medicine, toxicology and food science. Electrophoretic methods are used to determine minerals such as nutrients, heavy metal ions, primary and secondary metabolites, herbicides, phytohormones, peptides, proteins and extracellular vesicles. Progress is particularly evident in the following topics: i) development of mobile electrophoretic analysers for field-based monitoring of soil mineral supply, ii) direct analysis of xylem sap without sample treatment, iii) coupling of capillary and microchip electrophoresis with mass spectrometry for comprehensive metabolome and proteome characterization, iv) determination of secondary metabolites as biologically active compounds with a range of therapeutic and toxicological effects, v) monitoring of herbicides and their degradation dynamics, vi) research on plant exudates, extracellular vesicles and specific protein interactions.

• MeSH
• Electrophoresis, Capillary methods   MeSH
• Herbicides analysis   MeSH
• Mass Spectrometry MeSH
• Plants * chemistry   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

BACKGROUND: Randomized clinical trials demonstrated similar efficacy and improved safety of direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Long-term data in routine clinical practice are needed. HYPOTHESIS: Patients with AF receiving edoxaban at baseline continue to have low annualized effectiveness and safety event rates in the second year of follow-up, with regional variations observed. METHODS: The Global ETNA-AF program is a prospective, noninterventional study of patients with AF receiving edoxaban. Patient characteristics and annualized clinical event rates were assessed overall and by region across the 2-year follow-up. Annualized event rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events were assessed within the first year and conditionally in patients who were event-free up to 12 months in the second year. RESULTS: This analysis comprised 26 805 patients from Europe (n = 13 164), Japan (n = 10 342), and non-Japanese Asian regions (n = 3299). Patients from Europe had the highest burden of comorbidities. The annualized event rates for major bleeding, any stroke, all-cause death, and cardiovascular death varied by region. The global annualized event rates in the first and second year were 1.31%/year and 0.86%/year for major bleeding, 1.06%/year and 0.65%/year for any stroke, 0.84%/year and 0.73%/year for cardiovascular death, and 3.05%/year and 3.18%/year for all-cause death. CONCLUSION: Annualized event rates for any stroke and major bleeding remained low through 2-year follow-up for patients with AF receiving edoxaban at baseline. Differences in annualized event rates for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality between Europe, Japan, and non-Japanese Asian regions may reflect variations in baseline characteristics. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Europe, NCT02944019; Japan, UMIN000017011; Korea/Taiwan, NCT02951039; Hong Kong, NCT03247582; and Thailand, NCT03247569.

• MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Stroke prevention & control   epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Atrial Fibrillation * drug therapy   complications   MeSH
• Incidence MeSH
• Factor Xa Inhibitors * therapeutic use   adverse effects   MeSH
• Hemorrhage * chemically induced   epidemiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Follow-Up Studies MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Pyridines * therapeutic use   adverse effects   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Thiazoles * therapeutic use   adverse effects   MeSH
• Thromboembolism prevention & control   epidemiology   etiology   MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH

The neurotoxicity of phosphorylated tau protein (P-tau) and mitochondrial dysfunction play a significant role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In vitro studies of the effects of P-tau oligomers on mitochondrial bioenergetics and reactive oxygen species production will allow us to evaluate the direct influence of P-tau on mitochondrial function. We measured the in vitro effect of P-tau oligomers on oxygen consumption and hydrogen peroxide production in isolated brain mitochondria. An appropriate combination of specific substrates and inhibitors of the phosphorylation pathway enabled the measurement and functional analysis of the effect of P-tau on mitochondrial respiration in defined coupling control states achieved in complex I-, II-, and I&II-linked electron transfer pathways. At submicromolar P-tau concentrations, we found no significant effect of P-tau on either mitochondrial respiration or hydrogen peroxide production in different respiratory states. The titration of P-tau showed a nonsignificant dose-dependent decrease in hydrogen peroxide production for complex I- and I&II-linked pathways. An insignificant in vitro effect of P-tau oligomers on both mitochondrial respiration and hydrogen peroxide production indicates that P-tau-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in AD is not due to direct effects of P-tau on the efficiency of the electron transport chain and on the production of reactive oxygen species.

• MeSH
• Cell Respiration MeSH
• Phosphorylation MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mitochondria * metabolism   MeSH
• Brain metabolism   MeSH
• Hydrogen Peroxide * metabolism   MeSH
• tau Proteins * metabolism   MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism   MeSH
• Oxygen Consumption MeSH
• Electron Transport MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The precise and unambiguous detection and quantification of internal RNA modifications represents a critical step for understanding their physiological functions. The methods of direct RNA sequencing are quickly developing allowing for the precise location of internal RNA marks. This detection is, however, not quantitative and still presents detection limits. One of the biggest remaining challenges in the field is still the detection and quantification of m6A, m6Am, inosine, and m1A modifications of adenosine. The second intriguing and timely question remaining to be addressed is the extent to which individual marks are coregulated or potentially can affect each other. Here, we present a methodological approach to detect and quantify several key mRNA modifications in human total RNA and in mRNA, which is difficult to purify away from contaminating tRNA. We show that the adenosine demethylase FTO primarily targets m6Am marks in noncoding RNAs in HEK293T cells. Surprisingly, we observe little effect of FTO or ALKBH5 depletion on the m6A mRNA levels. Interestingly, the upregulation of ALKBH5 is accompanied by an increase in inosine level in overall mRNA.

• MeSH
• Adenosine * analogs & derivatives   metabolism   genetics   analysis   MeSH
• AlkB Homolog 5, RNA Demethylase * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Chromatography, Liquid methods   MeSH
• Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• HEK293 Cells MeSH
• Inosine * metabolism   genetics   MeSH
• Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• RNA, Messenger * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional MeSH
• Tandem Mass Spectrometry * methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH