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Topic Review
Area under the Concentration-Time Curve-Guided Dosing of Vancomycin
The area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)-guided dosing tended to more strongly decrease the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) than trough-guided dosing, and a lower risk of treatment failure was demonstrated for higher AUC/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratios (cut-off of 400). Higher AUCs (cut-off of 600 μg·h/mL) significantly increased the risk of AKI. Although Bayesian estimation with two-point measurement was recommended, the trough concentration alone may be used in patients with mild infections in whom vancomycin (VCM) was administered with q12h. To increase the concentration on days 1–2, the routine use of a loading dose is required. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) on day 2 before steady state is reached should be considered to optimize the dose in patients with serious infections and a high risk of AKI. 
  • 901
  • 28 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Klebsiella pneumoniae vs. Non-Klebsiella pneumoniae Pyogenic Liver Abscess
Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a common global public health problem as it contributes to 13% of intra-abdominal abscesses. With advancements in diagnostic microbiology, imaging technology, improved understanding of sepsis and critical care, and minimally invasive image-guided interventions such as percutaneous drainage (PD), clinical outcomes continue to improve; however, PLA-related mortality remains high, in the range of 10–30%. Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is the leading causative organism for PLA, followed by Escherichia coli (EC). Klebsiella pneumoniae pyogenic liver abscess (KPPLA) is associated with DM and gas formation, possibly impacting clinical outcomes.
  • 900
  • 07 Sep 2022
Topic Review
COVID-19 during Gestation
COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 has reached pandemic proportions worldwide, with considerable consequences for both health and the economy. In pregnant women, COVID-19 can alter the metabolic environment, iron metabolism, and oxygen supply of trophoblastic cells, and therefore have a negative influence on pregnant women and mechanisms of fetal development, with implications in the postnatal life. The purpose of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the effects of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy with regard to the oxidative/antioxidant status in mothers’ serum and placenta, together with placental iron metabolism. Results showed no differences in superoxide dismutase activity and placental antioxidant capacity. However, antioxidant capacity decreased in the serum of infected mothers. Catalase activity decreased in the COVID-19 group, while an increase in 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine, hydroperoxides, 15-FT-isoprostanes, and carbonyl groups were recorded in this group. Placental vitamin D, E, and Coenzyme-Q10 also showed to be increased in the COVID-19 group. As for iron-related proteins, an up-regulation of placental DMT1, ferroportin-1, and ferritin expression was recorded in infected women. Due to the potential role of iron metabolism and oxidative stress in placental function and complications, further research is needed to explain the pathogenic mechanism of COVID-19 that may affect pregnancy, so as to assess the short-term and long-term outcomes in mothers’ and infants’ health.
  • 898
  • 28 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Infection
The recent viral pandemic in Wuhan, Hubei, China has led to the identification of a new species of beta-coronaviruses, able to infect humans, the 2019-nCoV, later named SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 causes a clinical syndrome named COVID-19, which presents with a spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild upper respiratory tract infection to severe pneumonia, with acute respiratory distress syndrome and death. All age groups are susceptible to the infection, but children, especially infants, seem to be partially spared, having a more favorable clinical course than other age groups. There is currently no clear evidence showing vertical transmission and intrauterine SARS-CoV-2 infection in fetuses of women developing COVID-19 pneumonia in late pregnancy, and even if transmission is possible, the SARS-CoV2 positivity of the mother does not require delivery by caesarean section, does not contraindicate the management of the infant in rooming-in and allows breastfeeding.
  • 896
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants
The widespread increase in multiple severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants is causing a significant health concern in the United States and worldwide. These variants exhibit increased transmissibility, cause more severe disease, exhibit evasive immune properties, impair neutralization by antibodies from vaccinated individuals or convalescence sera, and reinfection. 
  • 896
  • 23 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Robert Koch
Robert Heinrich Hermann Koch was a pioneering German physician and microbiologist whose groundbreaking work laid the foundations for modern bacteriology. He is most renowned for discovering the causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax, and for formulating the postulates that define pathogenic organisms in infectious diseases.
  • 896
  • 14 Jul 2025
Topic Review
Nucleic Acid Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide and imposed a substantial burden on human health, the environment, and socioeconomic development, which has also accelerated the process of nucleic acid vaccine development and licensure. Nucleic acid vaccines are viral genetic sequence-based vaccines and third-generation vaccines after whole virus vaccines and recombinant subunit vaccines, including DNA vaccines and RNA vaccines.
  • 895
  • 29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Histoplasmosis in Solid Organ Transplantation
Histoplasma capsulatum, the etiological agent for histoplasmosis, is a dimorphic fungus that grows as a mold in the environment and as a yeast in human tissues. It has a broad global distribution with shifting epidemiology. While in immunocompetent individuals infection is usually self-resolving, solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of symptomatic disease with dissemination to extrapulmonary tissue. Diagnosis of histoplasmosis relies on direct observation of the pathogen (histopathology, cytopathology, and culture) or detection of antigens, antibodies, or nucleic acids. All transplant recipients with histoplasmosis warrant therapy, though the agent of choice and duration of therapy depends on the severity of disease.
  • 894
  • 05 Mar 2024
Topic Review
The Engineered Antibiotic Peptide PLG0206
PLG0206, an engineered cationic antibiotic peptide that is 24 residues long, has been designed to address some limitations of other natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and limited activity due to pH and ion concentrations.
  • 892
  • 07 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Application of Proteomics in Giardia duodenalis
Giardia duodenalis remains a neglected tropical disease. A key feature of the sustained transmission of Giardia is the ability to form environmentally resistant cysts. Valuable information from proteomics analyses of G. duodenalis has been discovered in terms of the pathogenesis and virulence of Giardia, which may provide guidance for the development of better means with which to prevent and reduce the impacts of giardiasis.
  • 892
  • 18 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Henoch–Schönlein Purpura
Henoch–Schönlein purpura or IgA vasculitis is the most common type of pediatric vasculitis that may affect adults as well. It is classified as a type of small-vessel vasculitis. It can cause cutaneous and systemic symptoms with a minority of patients developing kidney failure.
  • 892
  • 23 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Local Bacteriotherapy for Preventing Respiratory Infections
Recurrent respiratory infections (RRIs) account for relevant economic and social implications and significantly affect family life. Local Bacteriotherapy (LB) represents an innovative option in preventing RRIs. Local bacteriotherapy consists of administering “good” and safe bacteria (probiotics) by nasal or oral route. 
  • 890
  • 24 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants
Mediterranean wild edible plants (MWEPs) and their antimicrobial properties have been known from ancient times, and nowadays, a growing number of people have rediscovered them as natural remedies for common infections. One of the problems concerning their use is the heterogeneity of the protocols used to extract and analyze the properties of their active principles; such heterogeneity still marks the overall set of scientific studies on MWEPs, not to mention the enormous heterogeneity that characterizes the properties of plants at the outset. We reviewed the current literature on medicinal value of Mediterranean native edible plants trying to emphasize both the weaknesses and the opportunities of these plants. The majority of the reviewed MWEPs can inhibit both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi.
  • 889
  • 24 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-like Proteins in T-Lymphocytes
Ubiquitination is a posttranslational modification that is involved in almost every cellular process. The most prominent function is the targeting of protein substrates for their degradation by the proteasome to maintain cellular protein homeostasis. Moreover, ubiquitination can serve many nonproteolytic functions like the regulation of protein kinase signaling, DNA damage response, intracellular trafficking, and transcription and translation. Ubiquitination is mediated by the transfer of the highly conserved 76 amino -acid protein ubiquitin to a target protein. Since T cells play a central role in the immune system and are indispensable for maintaining the adaptive cell mediated immunity, T cell signaling, and activation have to be tightly controlled. Like phosphorylation, ubiquitination is a reversible and highly dynamic process and critical for normal T cell function. In this regard, modification of T cell signaling proteins by ubiquitin or ubiquitin-related proteins is responsible not only for the initiation of T cell signaling but also for the termination of T cell activity.
  • 889
  • 15 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Development of Nanovaccine against Toxoplasma gondii
Nanoparticles include particles ranging in size from nanometers to micrometers, whose physicochemical characteristics are optimized to make them appropriate delivery vehicles for drugs or immunogens important in the fight and/or prevention of infectious diseases. There has been a rise in the use of nanoparticles in preventive vaccine formulations as immunostimulatory adjuvants, and as vehicles for immunogen delivery to target immune cells. Toxoplasma is important worldwide, and may cause human toxoplasmosis. In immunocompetent hosts, infection is usually asymptomatic, but in immunocompromised patients it can cause serious neurological and ocular consequences, such as encephalitis and retinochoroiditis. Primary infection during pregnancy may cause abortion or congenital toxoplasmosis. There is no effective human vaccine against this disease. Evidence has emerged from several experimental studies testing nanovaccines showing them to be promising tools in the prevention of experimental toxoplasmosis.
  • 886
  • 16 May 2023
Topic Review
Photodynamic Therapy against Fungal Keratitis
Fungal keratitis is a serious clinical infection on the cornea caused by fungi and is one of the leading causes of blindness in Asian countries. The treatment options are currently limited to a few antifungal agents. With the increasing incidence of drug-resistant infections, many patients fail to respond to antibiotics. Riboflavin-mediated corneal crosslinking (similar to photodynamic therapy (PDT)) for corneal ectasia was approved in the US in the early 2000s. Current evidence suggests that PDT could have the potential to inhibit fungal biofilm formation and overcome drug resistance by using riboflavin and rose bengal as photosensitizers. 
  • 885
  • 02 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Post-COVID-19 Syndrome
Post-COVID-19 respiratory manifestations comprise coughing and shortness of breath.
  • 885
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Clinical Outcomes
From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, new SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged that potentially affect transmissibility, severity, and immune evasion in infected individuals. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 variants can potentially have an impact on clinical outcomes.
  • 885
  • 25 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Diagnosis of Paracoccidioidomycosis
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic to Latin America caused by thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides. Enhanced understanding of the phylogenetic species concept and molecular variations has led to changes in this genus’ taxonomic classification. Although the impact of the new species on clinical presentation and treatment remains unclear, they can influence diagnosis when serological methods are employed. Brazil accounts for 80% of PCM cases worldwide, and its incidence is rising in the northern part of the country (Amazon region), owing to new settlements and deforestation, whereas it is decreasing in the south, owing to agriculture mechanization and urbanization. Clusters of the acute/subacute form are also emerging in areas with major human intervention and climate change. Advances in diagnostic methods (molecular and immunological techniques and biomarkers) remain scarce, and even the reference center’s diagnostics are based mainly on direct microscopic examination. 
  • 885
  • 10 Nov 2022
Topic Review
COVID-19 in Seminal Fluid
Major concerns about the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on male fertility have increased, and one of the important questions is the present probability of COVID-19 in the seminal fluid of infected individuals. For the detection of virus co-expression, both angiotensin I-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2 were required in the testis of COVID-19 individuals, raising concerns regarding the virus entrance from the blood–testis barrier and the presence of COVID-19 in testis tissue and seminal fluid.
  • 885
  • 12 Dec 2022
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