Insight into the performance and microbial community of anaerobic digestion treating cow manure with a novel iron-functionalized activated biochar.

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the impacts of FeCl3-activated biochar (FA-BC) on anaerobic digestion (AD) treating cow manure. The study focused on improving AD performance and understanding microbial community structure with the addition of FA-BC, while comparing FA-BC with other conductive additives, such as pristine biochar (P-BC), NaOH-activated biochar (NA-BC), and magnetite. Key findings indicated that FA- BC significantly enhanced the AD performance, supported by an increase in CH4 yield of 11-16% and a reduction in the lag phase by 51%. The high surface area and electrical conductivity of FA-BC synergistically facilitated direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), leading to these improvements. On contrast, P-BC and NA-BC were not efficient in enhancing the AD performance due to relatively low electrical conductivity. P-BC also improved the CH4 yield, but less effectively than FA-BC. The effects of NA-BC varied with its dosage, showing inhibition at higher dosages due to excessive surface area. Magnetite, despite its high conductivity, made the limited enhancement in CH4 yield owing to its low surface area. Additionally, the statistical analyses revealed that each additive differently affected specific bacterial and archaeal groups depending on their physical and chemical properties. Thus, these findings suggest that FA-BC would be a highly promising additive for enhan cing AD systems, with potential applications in waste management and renewable energy production.

Gum Arabic polysaccharide embedded L-cysteine capped copper oxide nanocarriers selectively inhibit fluconazole-resistant C. albicans biofilm and remove the toxic dye from wastewater.

Copper oxide nanocarriers have attracted increasing interest in the scientific community, including antimicrobial applications. Candida biofilm developed causes serious clinical problems, leading to drug failure caused by its inherent drug tolerance. Nanocarriers are a good alternative approach to solving this challenge because of their excellent penetration power inside biofilms. Hence, main objectives of this research were to prepare gum arabic-embedded L-cysteine-capped copper oxide nanocarriers (GCCuO NCs) and tested against C. albicans and explore another application. To achieve the main research objectives, GCCuO NCs were synthesized and investigated for antibiofilm potency against C. albicans. Various methods were employed to measure antibiofilm potency such as biofilm assay etc., of NCs. The nano size of GCCuO NCs is advantageous for augmenting penetration power and retention into biofilms. GCCuO NCs at 100 µg/mL exhibited significant antibiofilm activity against the C. albicans DAY185 by switching of yeast-to-hyphae and gene perturbation. The level of CR dye adsorption was 58.96 % using 30 µg/mL of NCs. Based on effective C. albicans biofilm inhibition and CR dye adsorption capacity of NCs, it can be suggested that present research work opens an innovative path to treat biofilm-associated fungal infections, and these NCs can be used for environmental remedies.

Inhibition of growth, biofilm formation, virulence, and surface attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens by cinnamaldehyde derivatives.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil-borne, saprophytic plant pathogen that colonizes plant surfaces and induces tumors in a wide range of dicotyledonous plants by transferring and expressing its T-DNA genes. The limited availabilities and efficacies of current treatments necessitate the exploration of new anti-Agrobacterium agents. We examined the effects of trans-cinnamaldehyde (t-CNMA) and its derivatives on the cell surface hydrophobicity, exopolysaccharide and exo-protease production, swimming motility on agar, and biofilm forming ability of A. tumefaciens. Based on initial biofilm inhibition results and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data, 4-nitro, 4-chloro, and 4-fluoro CNMAs were further tested. 4-Nitro, 4-chloro, and 4-fluoro CNMA at ≥150 µg/ml significantly inhibited biofilm formation by 94-99%. Similarly, biofilm formation on polystyrene or nylon was substantially reduced by 4-nitro and 4-chloro CNMAs as determined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3-D spectrum plots. 4-Nitro and 4-chloro CNMAs induced cell shortening and concentration- and time-dependently reduced cell growth. Virulence factors were significantly and dose-dependently suppressed by 4-nitro and 4-chloro CNMAs (P ≤ 0.05). Gene expressional changes were greater after 4-nitro CNMA than t-CNMA treatment, as determined by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, some genes essential for biofilm formation, motility, and virulence genes significantly downregulated by 4-nitro CNMA. Seed germination of Raphanus sativus was not hindered by 4-nitro or 4-fluoro CNMA at concentrations ≤200 µg/ml, but root surface biofilm formation was severely inhibited. This study is the first to report the anti-Agrobacterium biofilm and anti-virulence effects of 4-nitro, 4-chloro, and 4-fluoro CNMAs and t-CNMA and indicates that they should be considered starting points for the development of anti-Agrobacterium agents.

Antibiofilm and Antimicrobial Activities of Chloroindoles Against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a nosocomial pathogen associated with urinary tract infections and expresses several virulence factors that cause recurring infections and cystitis of the bladder, which can lead to pyelonephritis. UPEC uses different types of extracellular appendages like fimbriae and pili that aid colonization and adherence to bladder epithelium and can form persistent biofilm-like bacterial communities that aid its survival after the deployment of host immune responses. We investigated the antibiofilm, antimicrobial, and antivirulence properties of three indole derivatives namely, 4-chloroindole, 5-chloroindole, and 5-chloro 2-methyl indole. All the three chloroindoles had MICs of 75 µg/ml and inhibited biofilm formation by an average of 67% at 20 µg/ml. In addition, they inhibited swarming and swimming motilities, which are essential for dissemination from bacterial communities and colonization, reduced cell surface hydrophobicity, and inhibited indole production and curli formation. Gene expression analysis showed all three chloroindoles significantly downregulated the expressions of virulence genes associated with adhesion, stress regulation, and toxin production. A 3D-QSAR analysis revealed substitutions at the fourth and fifth positions of the indole moiety favored antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, these chloroindoles potently inhibited biofilm formation in other nosocomial pathogens and polymicrobial consortia.

Inhibition of Agrobacterium tumefaciens Growth and Biofilm Formation by Tannic Acid.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens underlies the pathogenesis of crown gall disease and is characterized by tumor-like gall formation on the stems and roots of a wide variety of economically important plant species. The bacterium initiates infection by colonizing and forming biofilms on plant surfaces, and thus, novel compounds are required to prevent its growth and biofilm formation. In this study, we investigated the ability of tannic acid, which is ubiquitously present in woody plants, to specifically inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of A. tumefaciens. Tannic acid showed antibacterial activity and significantly reduced the biofilm formation on polystyrene and on the roots of Raphanus sativus as determined by 3D bright-field and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Furthermore, tannic acid dose-dependently reduced the virulence features of A. tumefaciens, which are swimming motility, exopolysaccharide production, protease production, and cell surface hydrophobicity. Transcriptional analysis of cells (Abs600 nm = 1.0) incubated with tannic acid for 24 h at 30 °C showed tannic acid most significantly downregulated the exoR gene, which is required for adhesion to surfaces. Tannic acid at 100 or 200 µg/mL limited the iron supply to A. tumefaciens and similarly reduced the biofilm formation to that performed by 0.1 mM EDTA. Notably, tannic acid did not significantly affect R. sativus germination even at 400 µg/mL. The findings of this study suggest that tannic acid has the potential to prevent growth and biofilm formation by A. tumefaciens and thus infections resulting from A. tumefaciens colonization.

Antiviral activities of 4H-chromen-4-one scaffold-containing flavonoids against SARS-CoV-2 using computational and in vitro approaches.

The widespread outbreak of the novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the main health challenge worldwide. This pandemic has attracted the attention of the research communities in various fields, prompting efforts to discover rapid drug molecules for the treatment of the life-threatening COVID-19 disease. This study is aimed at investigating 4H-chromen-4-one scaffold-containing flavonoids that combat the SARS-CoV-2 virus using computational and in vitro approaches. Virtual screening studies of the molecule's library for 4H-chromen-4-one scaffold were performed with the recently reported coronavirus main protease (Mpro, also called 3CLpro) because it plays an essential role in the maturation and processing of the viral polyprotein. Based on the virtual screening, the top hit molecules such as isoginkgetin and afzelin molecules were selected for further estimating in vitro antiviral efficacies against SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells. Additionally, these molecules were also docked with RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp) to reveal the ligands-protein molecular interaction. In the in vitro study, isoginkgetin showed remarkable inhibition potency against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with an IC50 value of 22.81 µM, compared to remdesivir, chloroquine, and lopinavir with IC50 values of 7.18, 11.63, and 11.49 µM, respectively. Furthermore, the complex stability of isoginkgetin with an active binding pocket of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and RdRp supports its inhibitory potency against the SARS-CoV-2. Thus, isoginkgetin is a potent leading drug candidate and needs to be used in in vivo trials for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

The Anticancer Agent 3,3'-Diindolylmethane Inhibits Multispecies Biofilm Formation by Acne-Causing Bacteria and Candida albicans.

The Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium Cutibacterium acnes is a major inhabitant of human skin and has been implicated in acne vulgaris formation and in the formation of multispecies biofilms with other skin-inhabiting organisms like Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Indoles are widespread in nature (even in human skin) and function as important signaling molecules in diverse prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In the present study, we investigated the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of 20 indoles against C. acnes. Of the indoles tested, indole-3-carbinol at 0.1 mM significantly inhibited biofilm formation by C. acnes without affecting planktonic cell growth, and the anticancer drug 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) at 0.1 mM (32 µg/mL) also significantly inhibited planktonic cell growth and biofilm formation by C. acnes, whereas the other indoles and indole itself were less effective. Also, DIM at 0.1 mM successfully inhibited multispecies biofilm formation by C. acnes, S. aureus, and C. albicans. Transcriptional analyses showed that DIM inhibited the expressions of several biofilm-related genes in C. acnes, and at 0.05 mM, DIM inhibited hyphal formation and cell aggregation by C. albicans. These results suggest that DIM and other indoles inhibit biofilm formation by C. acnes and have potential use for treating C. acnes associated diseases. IMPORTANCE Since indoles are widespread in nature (even in human skin), we hypothesized that indole and its derivatives might control biofilm formation of acne-causing bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal Candida albicans. The present study reports for the first time the antibiofilm and antimicrobial activities of several indoles on C. acnes. Of the indoles tested, two anticancer agents, indole-3-carbinol and 3,3'-diindolylmethane found in cruciferous vegetables, significantly inhibited biofilm formation by C. acnes. Furthermore, the most active 3,3'-diindolylmethane successfully inhibited multispecies biofilm formation by C. acnes, S. aureus, and C. albicans. Transcriptional analyses showed that 3,3'-diindolylmethane inhibited the expressions of several biofilm-related genes including lipase, hyaluronate lyase, and virulence-related genes in C. acnes, and 3,3'-diindolylmethane inhibited hyphal formation and cell aggregation by C. albicans. Our findings show that 3,3'-diindolylmethane offers a potential means of controlling acne vulgaris and multispecies biofilm-associated infections due to its antibiofilm and antibiotic properties.

Inhibition of polymicrobial biofilm formation by saw palmetto oil, lauric acid and myristic acid.

Biofilms are communities of bacteria, fungi or yeasts that form on diverse biotic or abiotic surfaces, and play important roles in pathogenesis and drug resistance. A generic saw palmetto oil inhibited biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and fungal Candida albicans without affecting their planktonic cell growth. Two main components of the oil, lauric acid and myristic acid, are responsible for this antibiofilm activity. Their antibiofilm activities were observed in dual-species biofilms as well as three-species biofilms of S. aureus, E. coli O157:H7 and C. albicans. Transcriptomic analysis showed that lauric acid and myristic acid repressed the expressions of haemolysin genes (hla and hld) in S. aureus, several biofilm-related genes (csgAB, fimH and flhD) in E. coli and hypha cell wall gene HWP1 in C. albicans, which supported biofilm inhibition. Also, saw palmetto oil, lauric acid and myristic acid reduced virulence of three microbes in a nematode infection model and exhibited minimal cytotoxicity. Furthermore, combinatorial treatment of fatty acids and antibiotics showed synergistic antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus and E. coli O157:H7. These results demonstrate that saw palmetto oil and its main fatty acids might be useful for controlling bacterial infections as well as multispecies biofilms.

High Solubilization and Controlled Release of Paclitaxel Using Thermosponge Nanoparticles for Effective Cancer Therapy.

Cancer, which is a leading cause of death, contributes significantly to reducing life expectancy worldwide. Even though paclitaxel (PTX) is known as one of the main anticancer drugs, it has several limitations, including low solubility in aqueous solutions, a limited dosage range, an insufficient release amount, and patient resistance. To overcome these limitations, we suggest the development of PTX-loaded thermosponge nanoparticles (PTX@TNP), which result in improved anticancer effects, via a simple nanoprecipitation method, which allows the preparation of PTX@TNPs with hydrophobic interactions without any chemical conjugation. Further, to improve the drug content and yield of the prepared complex, the co-organic solvent ratio was optimized. Thus, it was observed that the drug release rate increased as the drug capacity of PTX@TNPs increased. Furthermore, increasing PTX loading led to considerable anticancer activity against multidrug resistance (MDR)-related colorectal cancer cells (HCT 15), implying a synergistic anticancer effect. These results suggest that the solubilization of high drug amounts and the controlled release of poorly water-soluble PTX using TNPs could significantly improve its anticancer therapy, particularly in the treatment of MDR-p-glycoprotein-overexpressing cancers.

Diverse roles of microbial indole compounds in eukaryotic systems.

Indole and its derivatives are widespread across different life forms, functioning as signalling molecules in prokaryotes and with more diverse roles in eukaryotes. A majority of indoles found in the environment are attributed to bacterial enzymes converting tryptophan into indole and its derivatives. The involvement of indoles among lower organisms as an interspecies and intraspecies signal is well known, with many reports showing that inter-kingdom interactions involving microbial indole compounds are equally important as they influence defence systems and even the behaviour of higher organisms. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the functional properties of indole and indole derivatives in diverse eukaryotes. Furthermore, we discuss current perspectives on the role of microbial indoles in human diseases such as diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and cancers. Deciphering the function of indoles as biomarkers of metabolic state will facilitate the formulation of diet-based treatments and open unique therapeutic opportunities.

Recent findings and future directions of grafted gum karaya polysaccharides and their various applications: A review.

Gum karaya is a polysaccharide that has several industrial applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and environmental fields owing to its hydrophilic, anionic, and biocompatible nature. Gum karaya and its modified forms have been assessed for drug delivery, wastewater treatment, and food industry applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various synthetic methods of modification of gum karaya, such as grafting initiated through free radical, microwave-assisted grafting, radiation-assisted, and enzyme-assisted modification methods. In addition, the review outlines collective industrial applications of modified gum karaya in drug delivery systems, removal of heavy atoms, dyes, food, and other biological activities, and suggests possible prospects for gum karaya modification and their remarkable industrial applications.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Quantitative Multicontrast 5-Minute Knee MRI Using Prospective Artificial Intelligence Image Quality Enhancement.

BACKGROUND. Potential approaches for abbreviated knee MRI, including prospective acceleration with deep learning, have achieved limited clinical implementation. OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interreader agreement between conventional knee MRI and a 5-minute 3D quantitative double-echo steady-state (qDESS) sequence with automatic T2 mapping and deep learning super-resolutionaugmentation and to compare the diagnostic performance of the two methods regarding findings from arthroscopic surgery. METHODS. Fifty-one patients with knee pain underwent knee MRI that included an additional 3D qDESS sequence with automatic T2 mapping. Fourier interpolation was followed by prospective deep learning super resolution to enhance qDESS slice resolution twofold. A musculoskeletal radiologist and a radiology resident performed independent retrospective evaluations of articular cartilage, menisci, ligaments, bones, extensor mechanism, and synovium using conventional MRI. Following a 2-month washout period, readers reviewed qDESS images alone followed by qDESS with the automatic T2 maps. Interreader agreement between conventional MRI and qDESS was computed using percentage agreement and Cohen kappa. The sensitivity and specificity of conventional MRI, qDESS alone, and qDESS plus T2 mapping were compared with arthroscopic findings using exact McNemar tests. RESULTS. Conventional MRI and qDESS showed 92% agreement in evaluating all tissues. Kappa was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.76-0.81) across all imaging findings. In 43 patients who underwent arthroscopy, sensitivity and specificity were not significantly different (p = .23 to > .99) between conventional MRI (sensitivity, 58-93%; specificity, 27-87%) and qDESS alone (sensitivity, 54-90%; specificity, 23-91%) for cartilage, menisci, ligaments, and synovium. For grade 1 cartilage lesions, sensitivity and specificity were 33% and 56%, respectively, for conventional MRI; 23% and 53% for qDESS (p = .81); and 46% and 39% for qDESS with T2 mapping (p = .80). For grade 2A lesions, values were 27% and 53% for conventional MRI, 26% and 52% for qDESS (p = .02), and 58% and 40% for qDESS with T2 mapping (p < .001). CONCLUSION. The qDESS method prospectively augmented with deep learning showed strong interreader agreement with conventional knee MRI and near-equivalent diagnostic performance regarding arthroscopy. The ability of qDESS to automatically generate T2 maps increases sensitivity for cartilage abnormalities. CLINICAL IMPACT. Using prospective artificial intelligence to enhance qDESS image quality may facilitate an abbreviated knee MRI protocol while generating quantitative T2 maps.

Selection and identification of a novel bone-targeting peptide for biomedical imaging of bone.

The global burden of bone-related diseases is increasing in the aging society; thus, improved bone targeted imaging for their early identification and treatment are needed. In this study, we screened novel peptide ligands for hydroxyapatite, a major inorganic component of teeth and bones, and identified a peptide enabling in vivo bone targeting and real-time fluorescence bone detection. To isolate peptides highly specific for hydroxyapatite, we used negative and positive selection from a randomized 8-mer peptide phage library and identified hydroxyapatite-specific peptides (HA-pep2, HA-pep3, and HA-pep7). Among these three peptides, HA-pep3 showed the highest binding capacity and superior dissociation constant towards hydroxyapatite surfaces over time (~ 88.3% retained on hydroxyapatite after two weeks). Furthermore, HA-pep3 was highly specific for hydroxyapatite compared to other calcium salt-based materials. Using this superior specificity, HA-pep3 showed higher accumulation in skull, spine, and joints in comparison with scrambled control peptide during real-time whole-body imaging. Ex vivo analysis of the major organs and bone from mice demonstrated that the fluorescence intensity in bone was about 3.32 folds higher in the case of HA-pep3 than the one exhibited by the scrambled control peptide. Our study identified a novel approach for targeting ligands for bone specific imaging and can be useful for drug delivery applications.

Inhibition of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms by centipede oil and linoleic acid.

Microbial biofilms are associated with persistent infections because of their high tolerance to antimicrobial agents and host defenses. The effects of centipede oil from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans and its main components were investigated to identify non-toxic biofilm inhibitors. Centipede oil and linoleic acid at 20 µg ml-1 markedly inhibited biofilm formation by two fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans strains and three Staphylococcus aureus strains without affecting their planktonic cell growth. Also, both centipede oil and linoleic acid inhibited hyphal growth and cell aggregation by C. albicans. In addition, centipede oil and linoleic acid showed anti-biofilm activities against mixed C. albicans and S. aureus biofilms. Transcriptomic analysis showed that centipede oil and linoleic acid downregulated the expressions of several hypha/biofilm-related genes in C. albicans and α-hemolysin in S. aureus. Furthermore, both compounds effectively reduced C. albicans virulence in a nematode infection model with minimal toxicity.

Life-threatening bleeding with intussusception due to gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Massive intraluminal bleeding requires urgent intervention and management. However, the source of bleeding on the small intestine is difficult to determine. Intestinal tumor with intussusception is a rare and normally not an urgent condition. Herein, we present a rare case of intestinal intussusception with massive bleeding due to jejunal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) that required emergency surgical treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain and acute hematochezia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy could not determine the source of the bleeding site. Abdominal pelvic computed tomography (AP-CT) revealed GIST with intussusception, strongly suggestive of distal jejunal bleeding. Unresponsive transfusion with low blood pressure and continuous hematochezia led to emergency laparotomy. GIST, which was the leading point for intussusception, was located in the jejunum and showed mucosal ulceration of approximately 3.5 cm in diameter. Following resection and functional anastomosis, histology revealed a GIST with low mitotic count (< 5 per 50HPF). Moreover, immunochemical analysis revealed positivity for c-kit (CD117) and DOG-1. There were no complications 2 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Intussusception associated with GIST is a rare finding that can be life-threatening if it occurs with an ulcer. This case showed that the early detection of bleeding and emergency surgery could prevent severe complications.

Herring Oil and Omega Fatty Acids Inhibit Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and Virulence.

Staphylococcus aureus is notorious for its ability to become resistant to antibiotics and biofilms play a critical role in antibiotic tolerance. S. aureus is also capable of secreting several exotoxins associated with the pathogenesis of sepsis and pneumonia. Thus, the objectives of the study were to examine S. aureus biofilm formation in vitro, and the effects of herring oil and its main components, omega fatty acids [cis-4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)], on virulence factor production and transcriptional changes in S. aureus. Herring oil decreased biofilm formation by two S. aureus strains. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several polyunsaturated fatty acids in herring oil, and of these, two omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA, significantly inhibited S. aureus biofilm formation. In addition, herring oil, DHA, and EPA at 20 µg/ml significantly decreased the hemolytic effect of S. aureus on human red blood cells, and when pre-treated to S. aureus, the bacterium was more easily killed by human whole blood. Transcriptional analysis showed that herring oil, DHA, and EPA repressed the expression of the α-hemolysin hla gene. Furthermore, in a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model, all three prolonged nematode survival in the presence of S. aureus. These findings suggest that herring oil, DHA, and EPA are potentially useful for controlling persistent S. aureus infection.

Super-resolution musculoskeletal MRI using deep learning.

PURPOSE: To develop a super-resolution technique using convolutional neural networks for generating thin-slice knee MR images from thicker input slices, and compare this method with alternative through-plane interpolation methods. METHODS: We implemented a 3D convolutional neural network entitled DeepResolve to learn residual-based transformations between high-resolution thin-slice images and lower-resolution thick-slice images at the same center locations. DeepResolve was trained using 124 double echo in steady-state (DESS) data sets with 0.7-mm slice thickness and tested on 17 patients. Ground-truth images were compared with DeepResolve, clinically used tricubic interpolation, and Fourier interpolation methods, along with state-of-the-art single-image sparse-coding super-resolution. Comparisons were performed using structural similarity, peak SNR, and RMS error image quality metrics for a multitude of thin-slice downsampling factors. Two musculoskeletal radiologists ranked the 3 data sets and reviewed the diagnostic quality of the DeepResolve, tricubic interpolation, and ground-truth images for sharpness, contrast, artifacts, SNR, and overall diagnostic quality. Mann-Whitney U tests evaluated differences among the quantitative image metrics, reader scores, and rankings. Cohen's Kappa (κ) evaluated interreader reliability. RESULTS: DeepResolve had significantly better structural similarity, peak SNR, and RMS error than tricubic interpolation, Fourier interpolation, and sparse-coding super-resolution for all downsampling factors (p < .05, except 4 × and 8 × sparse-coding super-resolution downsampling factors). In the reader study, DeepResolve significantly outperformed (p < .01) tricubic interpolation in all image quality categories and overall image ranking. Both readers had substantial scoring agreement (κ = 0.73). CONCLUSION: DeepResolve was capable of resolving high-resolution thin-slice knee MRI from lower-resolution thicker slices, achieving superior quantitative and qualitative diagnostic performance to both conventionally used and state-of-the-art methods.

Direct one-pot synthesis of cinnamaldehyde immobilized on gold nanoparticles and their antibiofilm properties.

The objective of the present study was to develop a one-pot strategy to synthesis gold nanoparticle complexes using cinnamaldehyde, a potent antibiofilm agent which in its free form, exhibits high volatility and unstable nature. Hence, we developed cinnamaldehyde gold nanoparticles (CGNPs) in a single step to overcome the limitations of free cinnamaldehyde. Furthermore, reduction abilities of cinnamaldehyde under different experimental conditions, that is, varying precursor concentrations of cinnamaldehyde and gold, metal salts, pH, temperature, and light sources, were investigated. UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic light-scattering measurements revealed that heat influenced the nanoparticle formation in the presence of cinnamaldehyde, and as produced cinnamaldehyde immobilized on gold nanoparticles were spherical, monodispersed, and stable by surface charge. CGNPs containing 0.01% cinnamaldehyde by weight exhibited effective biofilm inhibition of up to >80% against Gram positive bacteria (methicillin-sensitive and -resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, MSSA and MRSA, respectively) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a fungus Candida albicans. In addition, CGNPs attenuated the virulence of C. albicans by inhibiting hyphae formation. Based on observations of their antibiofilm effects and confocal microscopy findings, CGNPs caused biofilm damage by direct contact. Thus, cinnamaldehyde appears to be a promising reduction material for the eco-friendly, one-pot synthesis of CGNPs with excellent antibiofilm activity.

Antibiofilm and Antihyphal Activities of Cedar Leaf Essential Oil, Camphor, and Fenchone Derivatives against Candida albicans.

Candida albicans can form biofilms composed of yeast, hyphal, and pseudohyphal elements, and C. albicans cells in the hyphal stage could be a virulence factor. The present study describes the chemical composition, antibiofilm, and antihyphal activities of cedar leaf essential oil (CLEO), which was found to possess remarkable antibiofilm activity against C. albicans but not to affect its planktonic cell growth. Nineteen components were identified in CLEO by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and phenolics were the main constituents. Of these, camphor, fenchone, fenchyl alcohol, α-thujone, and borneol significantly reduced C. albicans biofilm formation. Notably, treatments with CLEO, camphor, or fenchyl alcohol at 0.01% clearly inhibited hyphal formation, and this inhibition appeared to be largely responsible for their antibiofilm effects. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that camphor and fenchyl alcohol downregulated some hypha-specific and biofilm related genes (ECE1, ECE2, RBT1, and EED1). Furthermore, camphor and fenchyl alcohol reduced C. albicans virulence in a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model. These results demonstrate CLEO, camphor, and fenchyl alcohol might be useful for controlling C. albicans infections.

A Knockin Reporter Allows Purification and Characterization of mDA Neurons from Heterogeneous Populations.

Generation of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons from human pluripotent stem cells provides a platform for inquiry into basic and translational studies of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, heterogeneity in differentiation in vitro makes it difficult to identify mDA neurons in culture or in vivo following transplantation. Here, we report the generation of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line with a tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-RFP (red fluorescent protein) reporter. We validated that RFP faithfully mimicked TH expression during differentiation. Use of this TH-RFP reporter cell line enabled purification of mDA-like neurons from heterogeneous cultures with subsequent characterization of neuron transcriptional and epigenetic programs (global binding profiles of H3K27ac, H3K4me1, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine [5hmC]) at four different stages of development. We anticipate that the tools and data described here will contribute to the development of mDA neurons for applications in disease modeling and/or drug screening and cell replacement therapies for PD.