Preventing Infectious Complications Following Prostate Biopsy: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Alternative Approaches to Transrectal Biopsy with Empirical Antibiotic Prophylaxis Therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate biopsy, conducted frequently through the transrectal route, is associated with significant risks of infectious complications. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of various strategies to reduce these complications, using a network meta-analysis approach. METHODS: Our study included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane database as of March 1, 2024. We included studies that involved adults undergoing transrectal or transperineal prostate biopsy with either standard empirical antibiotic prophylaxis or alternative interventions. The primary outcomes were assessment of sepsis, fever, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and readmissions. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024532225). KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Our search yielded 28 RCTs eligible for analysis, encompassing a total of 10 179 participants. Rectal cleansing had the highest rankogram score to reduce infectious complications such as sepsis (odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval [0.28-0.58]; rankogram, p score = 0.917), followed by transperineal biopsy (p score = 0.496). The overall analysis also highlighted a lower incidence of UTIs and readmissions with this method. Heterogeneity among studies was minimal (I2 < 50% for all outcomes). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Rectal cleansing might be the most effective strategy to reduce infectious complications following transrectal prostate biopsy and could be more effective than rectal culture-based antibiotic prophylaxis and transperineal biopsy. Given the indirect nature of our comparisons, further RCTs are needed to determine the safest approach for prostate biopsy, particularly between transperineal biopsy and transrectal biopsy with rectal cleansing or rectal culture-based antibiotic prophylaxis. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this review, we analyzed different techniques to reduce infectious complications after a prostate biopsy. We found that rectal cleansing prior to performing a transrectal prostate biopsy reduced infectious complications and might be the most effective strategy. We conclude that either transperineal or transrectal prostate biopsies are acceptable approaches, albeit with rectal cleansing or rectal culture-based antibiotic prophylaxis, respectively.

Modified t-butyl in tetradentate platinum (II) complexes enables exceptional lifetime for blue-phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes.

In blue phosphorescent dopants, the tetradentate platinum(II) complex is a promising material showing high efficiency and stability in devices. However, metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MMLCT) formation leads to low photo-luminescence quantum yields (PLQYs), wide spectra, and intermolecular interaction. To suppress MMLCT, PtON-tb-TTB and PtON-tb-DTB are designed using theoretical simulation by modifying t-butyl in PtON-TBBI. Both materials effectively suppress MMLCT and exhibit high PLQYs of 99% and 78% in 5 wt% doped film, respectively. The PtON-tb-TTB and PtON-tb-DTB devices have maximum external quantum efficiencies of 26.3% and 20.9%, respectively. Additionally, the PtON-tb-DTB device has an extended lifetime of 169.3 h with an initial luminescence of 1200 nit, which is 8.5 times greater than the PtON-TBBI device. Extended lifetime because of suppressed MMLCT and smaller displacement between the lowest triplet and triplet metal-centered states compared to other dopants. The study provides an effective approach to designing platinum(II) complexes for long device lifetimes.

Whole Genome Sequencing and Comparative Genomics of Indian Isolates of Wheat Spot Blotch Pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana Reveals Expansion of Pathogenicity Gene Clusters.

Spot blotch is a highly destructive disease in wheat caused by the fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana (teleomorph, Cochliobolus sativus). It is prevalent in warm and humid areas, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the USA. In the present study, twelve isolates of B. sorokiniana were collected from wheat fields in three different geographical locations in India. The pathogenicity of seven sporulating isolates was assessed on 'DDK 1025', a spot blotch-susceptible wheat variety under greenhouse conditions. The isolate 'D2' illustrated the highest virulence, followed by 'SI' and 'BS52'. These three isolates were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq1000 platform. The estimated genome sizes of the isolates BS52, D2, and SI were 35.19 MB, 39.32 MB, and 32.76 MB, with GC contents of 48.48%, 50.43%, and 49.42%, respectively. The numbers of pathogenicity genes identified in BS52, D2, and SI isolates were 2015, 2476, and 2018, respectively. Notably, the isolate D2 exhibited a relatively larger genome with expanded arsenals of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs), CAZymes, secretome, and pathogenicity genes, which could have contributed to its higher virulence among the tested isolates. This study provides the first comparative genome analysis of the Indian isolates of B. sorokiniana using whole genome sequencing.

Novel blue-green emitting NLOphoric triphenylamine-imidazole based donor-π-acceptor compound: Solvatochromism, DFT, TD-DFT and non-linear optical studies.

Novel Donor (D)-π-Acceptor (A) NLOphoric triphenylamine-imidazole based dye 9 was designed, synthesized, and confirmed by Mass, 13C NMR, and 1H NMR analysis. Photophysical properties of 9 were studied in solvents of different polarities and compared with analogues compounds 7 and 8. Phenonthroline acceptor based dye 9 shows highly bathochromic shifted absorption and emission compared to dyes 7 and 8. Positive solvatochromism was noticed in 7, 8, and 9 which was supported by the linear (i.e. Lippert-Mataga and Mac-Rae polarity functions) and multi-linear (i.e. Kamlet-Taft and Catalan parameters) analysis. Moreover, solvent polarizability (dSP) and solvent dipolarity (CSdP) are the major factors responsible for red shift in absorption as well as in emission spectra. Charge transfer descriptors as well as the polarity graphs are in good relation with Generalized Mulliken-Hush (GMH) parameters. NLO properties of 7, 8, and 9 were studied by using solvatochromic and computational methods. The static first hyperpolarizability (ß0) and relevant microscopic parameters (µ,α0,α,ß,γ) were determined using DFT with B3LYP, BHHLYP, and CAM-B3LYP functionals. Third-order NLO properties of nitrogen containing phenanthroline based compound 9 were observed to be several times higher than those of the compounds 7 and 8, justify the design approach.