Changes in microbial composition and interaction patterns of female urogenital tract and rectum in response to HPV infection.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that changes in the microbial community of the female urogenital tract are associated with Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, research on this association was mostly focused on a single site, and there are currently few joint studies on HPV infection and multiple sites in the female urogenital tract. METHODS: We selected 102 healthy women from Yunnan Province as the research object, collected cervical exfoliation fluid, vaginal, urethral, and rectal swabs for microbial community analysis, and measured bacterial load, and related cytokine content. The link between HPV, microbiota, and inflammation was comprehensively evaluated using bioinformatics methods. FINDINGS: The impact of HPV infection on the microbial composition of different parts varies. We have identified several signature bacterial genera that respond to HPV infection in several detection sites, such as Corynebacterium, Lactobacillus, Campylobacter, and Cutibacterium have been detected in multiple sites, reflecting their potential significance in cross body sites HPV infection responses. There was a solid microbial interaction network between the cervix, vagina, and urethra. The interrelationships between inflammatory factors and different bacterial genera might also affect the immune system's response to HPV infection. INTERPRETATION: It might be an effective strategy to prevent and treat HPV infection by simultaneously understanding the correlation between the microbial changes in multiple parts of the female urogenital tract and rectum and HPV infection, and controlling the microbial network related to HPV infection in different parts.

Patient portal interventions: a scoping review of functionality, automation used, and therapeutic elements of patient portal interventions.

Objectives: We sought to understand the objectives, targeted populations, therapeutic elements, and delivery characteristics of patient portal interventions. Materials and Methods: Following Arksey and O-Malley's methodological framework, we conducted a scoping review of manuscripts published through June 2022 by hand and systematically searching PubMed, PSYCHInfo, Embase, and Web of Science. The search yielded 5403 manuscripts; 248 were selected for full-text review; 81 met the eligibility criteria for examining outcomes of a patient portal intervention. Results: The 81 articles described: trials involving comparison groups (n = 37; 45.7%), quality improvement initiatives (n = 15; 18.5%), pilot studies (n = 7; 8.6%), and single-arm studies (n = 22; 27.2%). Studies were conducted in primary care (n = 33, 40.7%), specialty outpatient (n = 24, 29.6%), or inpatient settings (n = 4, 4.9%)-or they were deployed system wide (n = 9, 11.1%). Interventions targeted specific health conditions (n = 35, 43.2%), promoted preventive services (n = 19, 23.5%), or addressed communication (n = 19, 23.4%); few specifically sought to improve the patient experience (n = 3, 3.7%). About half of the studies (n = 40, 49.4%) relied on human involvement, and about half involved personalized (vs exclusively standardized) elements (n = 42, 51.8%). Interventions commonly collected patient-reported information (n = 36, 44.4%), provided education (n = 35, 43.2%), or deployed preventive service reminders (n = 14, 17.3%). Discussion: This scoping review finds that most patient portal interventions have delivered education or facilitated collection of patient-reported information. Few interventions have involved pragmatic designs or been deployed system wide. Conclusion: The patient portal is an important tool in real-world efforts to more effectively support patients, but interventions to date rely largely on evidence from consented participants rather than pragmatically implemented systems-level initiatives.

Curcumin and Homotaurine Suppress Amyloid-ß25-35 Aggregation in Synthetic Brain Membranes.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) peptides spontaneously aggregate into ß- and cross-ß-sheets in model brain membranes. These nanometer sized can fuse into larger micrometer sized clusters and become extracellular and serve as nuclei for further plaque and fibril growth. Curcumin and homotaurine represent two different types of Aß aggregation inhibitors. While homotaurine is a peptic antiaggregant that binds to amyloid peptides, curcumin is a nonpeptic molecule that can inhibit aggregation by changing membrane properties. By using optical and fluorescent microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV-vis spectroscopy, we study the effect of curcumin and homotaurine on Aß25-35 aggregates in synthetic brain membranes. Both molecules partition spontaneously and uniformly in membranes and do not lead to observable membrane defects or disruption in our experiments. Both curcumin and homotaurine were found to significantly reduce the number of small, nanoscopic Aß aggregates and the corresponding ß- and cross-ß-sheet signals. While a number of research projects focus on potential drug candidates that target Aß peptides directly, membrane-lipid therapy explores membrane-mediated pathways to suppress peptide aggregation. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that membrane active drugs can be as efficient as peptide targeting drugs in inhibiting amyloid aggregation in vitro.