Antimicrobial peptides for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections.

The problem of drug resistance due to long-term use of antibiotics has been a concern for years. As this problem grows worse, infections caused by multiple bacteria are expanding rapidly and are extremely detrimental to human health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a good alternative to current antimicrobials with potent antimicrobial activity and unique antimicrobial mechanisms, which have advantages over traditional antibiotics in fighting against drug-resistant bacterial infections. Currently, researchers have conducted clinical investigations on AMPs for drug-resistant bacterial infections while integrating new technologies in the development of AMPs, such as changing amino acid structure of AMPs and using different delivery methods for AMPs. This article introduces the basic properties of AMPs, deliberates the mechanism of drug resistance in bacteria and the therapeutic mechanism of AMPs. The current disadvantages and advances of AMPs in combating drug-resistant bacterial infections are also discussed. This article provides important insights into the research and clinical application of new AMPs for drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Preparation and Performance Study of Large Volume Foamed Lightweight Soil for an Intelligent Networked Vehicle Test Site.

The foamed lightweight soil (FLS) with superior performance was prepared to be used as a subgrade filling material in an intelligent networked vehicle test site. The production process of practical engineering FLS is simulated in the laboratory. The performance of the prepared FLS is the same as that of practical engineering. The test results show that the FLS prepared with 30% cement, 30% granulated blast furnace slag, and 40% fly ash as cementing material has a flow factor of 175 mm. It has good fluidity and is easy to pump. Wet density reaches 593 kg/m3 within the range of the control index of 600 ± 30 kg/m3. The compressive strength of 7 d and 28 d reaches 0.82 MPa and 1.90 MPa, respectively, which is higher than the design strength of 0.5 MPa and 1.0 MPa. Compared with FLS made of pure cement as a cementing material, the FLS has a low heat of hydration, good volume stability, no cracks on the surface, excellent sulfate resistance, good economy, and low carbon characteristics. In the meantime, it can reduce 70% CO2 emissions in cement production. The advanced vehicle-mounted mobile intelligent control system is flexible and convenient in actual engineering construction. It can display the wet density of FLS online, which is easy to adjust and control to ensure the quality stability of FLS.

Plant-based dietary patterns in relation to mortality among older adults in China.

A plant-based dietary pattern has been recommended for its potential health and environmental benefits, but its relation to mortality warrants further exploration1. We examined this association among 13,154 adults aged 65 years and older (57.4% female) in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) and unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI) were calculated using dietary data collected by a simplified food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Compared with the lowest quintile, participants in the highest quintile of PDI and hPDI had a decreased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86, 0.98 for PDI; HR = 0.81, 95% CI, 0.76, 0.87 for hPDI), whereas participants with the highest uPDI scores had a 17% (95% CI, 9%, 26%) increased risk. Among plant foods, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, legumes, garlic, nuts and tea were the main protective contributors, whereas preserved vegetables and sugar were associated with a higher risk of mortality. These findings support the beneficial roles of overall and healthful plant-based dietary patterns. The quality, and not only quantity, of plant foods should be emphasized in relevant public health recommendations.