Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Assist Reprod Genet 2021 Jun 10. Epub 2021 Jun 10.

IVIRMA Valencia, Plaza de la Policía Local, 3, 46015, Valencia, Spain.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to gather the available research focusing on female genital tract (FGT) microbiome. Research question focuses in decipher which is the role of FGT microbiota in eubiosis, assisted reproduction techniques (ARTs), and gynaecological disorders, and how microbiome could be utilised to improve reproduction outcomes and to treat fertility issues.

Methods: PubMed was searched for articles in English from January 2004 to April 2021 for "genital tract microbiota and reproduction", "endometrial microbiome", "microbiome and reproduction" and "microbiota and infertility". Read More

Ann Plast Surg 2021 Jun;86(6S Suppl 5):S510-S516

Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center; Richmond, VA.

Background: Dog bite injuries cause significant preventable patient morbidity and health care expenditure in children. This study aimed to characterize the patient and healthcare burden related to pediatric dog bite injuries at a level 1 trauma center.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 356 pediatric patients who presented to Virginia Commonwealth University Pediatric Emergency Department between July 2007 and August 2017 after sustaining dog bite injuries. Read More

J Pharm Pract 2021 Jun 8:8971900211021058. Epub 2021 Jun 8.

College of Pharmacy, 2629University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.

Background: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for the treatment of marine-associated wound infections include empiric coverage for species with a combination of a third-generation cephalosporin and doxycycline. These recommendations are based on limited data and it remains unclear if this regimen is also indicated for prophylaxis.

Objective: The purpose of this analysis was to assess the antibiotic regimens used in the emergency department (ED) for prophylaxis of marine-associated injuries relative to the CDC recommendations and evaluate any clinical impact. Read More

Drug Res (Stuttg) 2021 Jun 7. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Universitair Ziekenhuis - Vrije Universiteit Brussel UZ-VUB.

Acute otitis media is a common middle ear infection in children with the predominant symptoms of hearing impairment and pain. If antibiotics are given, they need time to have an effect on the inflammation, so the focus is on pain control. For pain management local anesthetics have the advantage of lesser systemic side effects but are still subject to scrutiny. Read More

BMJ Open 2021 Jun 4;11(6):e042816. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

General Practice / Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Purpose: The main objective of this review was to describe and quantify the association between (FN) and acute sore throat in primary healthcare (PHC).

Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Scopus and PubMed for case-control studies reporting the prevalence of FN in patients attending primary care for an uncomplicated acute sore throat as well as in healthy controls. Only studies published in English were considered. Read More

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin (Engl Ed) 2021 Jun-Jul;39(6):291-299

Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Getafe, Getafe, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

The discovery, commercialization and administration of antibiotics revolutionized the world of medicine in the middle of the last century, generating a significant change in the therapeutic paradigm of the infectious diseases. Nevertheless, this great breakthrough was soon threatened due to the enormous adaptive ability that bacteria have, through which they are able to develop or acquire different mechanisms that allow them to survive the exposure to antibiotics. We are faced with a complex, multifactorial and inevitable but potentially manageable threat. Read More

Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 May 17;10(5). Epub 2021 May 17.

Post-Harvest Technology, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Seven Bungalows, Andheri (W), Mumbai 400061, India.

Bacterial pathogens as causative agents of infection constitute an alarming concern in the public health sector. In particular, bacteria with resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents can confound chemotherapeutic efficacy towards infectious diseases. Multidrug-resistant bacteria harbor various molecular and cellular mechanisms for antimicrobial resistance. Read More

Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 May 22;10(6). Epub 2021 May 22.

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi GPO-00100, Kenya.

The need for easily biodegradable and less toxic chemicals in drug development and pest control continues to fuel the exploration and discovery of new natural molecules. Like certain plants, some insects can also respond rapidly to microbial infections by producing a plethora of immune-induced molecules that include antibacterial and antifungal peptides/polypeptides (AMPs), among other structurally diverse small molecules. The recent recognition that new natural product-derived scaffolds are urgently needed to tackle life-threatening pathogenic infections has been prompted by the health threats posed by multidrug resistance. Read More

J Glob Health 2021 May 22;11:04030. Epub 2021 May 22.

WHO, Regional office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: The Strategy of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) was introduced in Central Asia and Europe to address the absence of evidence-based guidelines, the misuse of antibiotics, polypharmacy and over-hospitalization of children. A study carried out in 16 countries analysed the status and strengths of as well as the barriers to IMCI implementation and investigated how different health systems affect the problems IMCI aims to address. Here we present findings in relation to IMCI's effects on the rational use of drugs, particularly the improved rational use of antibiotics in children, the mechanisms through which these were achieved as well as counteracting system factors. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2021 12;12:673239. Epub 2021 May 12.

College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.

The emergence and rapid spread of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria constitute a global threat for public health. Despite ongoing efforts to confront this crisis, the pace of finding new potent antimicrobials is far slower than the evolution of drug resistance. The abuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics not only accelerates the formation of resistance but also imposes a burden on the intestinal microbiota, which acts a critical role in human homeostasis. Read More

Mar Pollut Bull 2021 May 27;169:112541. Epub 2021 May 27.

Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China. Electronic address:

Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) has been considered as an attractive method to produce artificial receptors with the memory of size, shape and functional groups of the templates and has become an emerging technique with the potential in various fields due to recognitive specificity, high efficient selectivity and mechanical stability, which can effectively remove background interference and is suitable for the pre-treatment and analysis of trace level substances in complex matrix samples. Nearly 100 papers about the application of MIT in the detection of marine pollutants were found through Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). On this basis, combined with the application of MIT in other fields, the pre-treatment process of marine environmental samples was summarized and the potential of four types of different molecularly imprinted materials in the pre-treatment and detection of marine organic pollutants (including antibiotics, triazines, organic dyes, hormones and shellfish toxins) samples was evaluated, which provides the innovative configurations and progressive applications for the analysis of marine samples, and also highlights future trends and perspectives in the emerging research field. Read More

Environ Pollut 2021 May 19;285:117402. Epub 2021 May 19.

Biotechnology and Food Engineering Program, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063, China; Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address:

The prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the microbiome is a major public health concern globally. Many habitats in the environment are under threat due to excessive use of antibiotics and evolutionary changes occurring in the resistome. ARB and ARGs from farms, cities and hospitals, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) or as water runoffs, may accumulate in water, soil, and air. Read More

Integr Comp Biol 2021 May 29. Epub 2021 May 29.

Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

This forward-looking perspective describes the university-elementary bilingual partnership program Nuestra Ciencia. This program aims to simultaneously tackle two parallel sets of challenges, the first related to recruitment and retention of Latinx into STEM fields, and the second related to generalized microbiology misconceptions. Latinxs are severely underrepresented in STEM fields, in part because they face systemic barriers and typically arrive at college with a weaker science foundation from their K-12 education and thus are less likely to be drawn to STEM majors. Read More

Plast Surg (Oakv) 2021 May 2;29(2):132-138. Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver British Columbia, Canada.

Background: The use of appropriate preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis decreases the risk of surgical site infections (SSI); however, the breadth of plastic surgery procedures makes it challenging to ensure appropriate use for each unique procedure type. Currently, plastic surgeons lack a cohesive and comprehensive set of evidence-based guidelines (EBG) for surgical prophylaxis. We sought to profile the perioperative antibiotic prescribing patterns for plastic surgeons in British Columbia to investigate if they are congruent with published recommendations. Read More

EPMA J 2021 May 17:1-22. Epub 2021 May 17.

Department of Medical Biology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 03601 Martin, Slovakia.

Cost-efficacy of currently applied treatments is an issue in overall cancer management challenging healthcare and causing tremendous economic burden to societies around the world. Consequently, complex treatment models presenting concepts of predictive diagnostics followed by targeted prevention and treatments tailored to the personal patient profiles earn global appreciation as benefiting the patient, healthcare economy, and the society at large. In this context, application of flavonoids as a spectrum of compounds and their nano-technologically created derivatives is extensively under consideration, due to their multi-faceted anti-cancer effects applicable to the overall cost-effective cancer management, primary, secondary, and even tertiary prevention. Read More

Cureus 2021 Apr 18;13(4):e14541. Epub 2021 Apr 18.

Emergency Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, QAT.

A spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is an uncommon disease, but it is associated with significant morbidity. SEA can be promoted by multiple risk factors. Moreover, the diagnosis of SEA usually requires the presence of a classic triad of back pain, fever, and neurological deficit, hence, the difficulty in making the diagnosis if presented otherwise. Read More

Chem Soc Rev 2021 May 20. Epub 2021 May 20.

Department of Chemistry and Nano Science, Ewha Womans University, 11-1 Daehyon-Dong, Sodaemun-Ku, Seoul 120-750, Korea.

Food fermentation, antibiotics, and pollutant degradation are closely related to bacteria. Bacteria play an irreplaceable role in life. However, some bacteria seriously threaten human health and cause large-scale infectious diseases. Read More

Expert Opin Drug Saf 2021 May 17. Epub 2021 May 17.

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India-576104.

Introduction: : Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multi-layered problem with a calamitous impact on humans, livestock, the environment, and the biosphere. Initiatives and action plan to preclude AMR remain poorly implemented in India.

Area Covered: : This review highlights essential factors contributing to AMR, epidemiology of the resistant bacteria, current treatment options, economic impact, and regulatory efforts initiated by the Indian government to tackle AMR. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021 27;11:660048. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Department of Biotechnology, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, Haringhata, India.

Biofilm is a syntrophic association of sessile groups of microbial cells that adhere to biotic and abiotic surfaces with the help of pili and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). EPSs also prevent penetration of antimicrobials/antibiotics into the sessile groups of cells. Hence, methods and agents to avoid or remove biofilms are urgently needed. Read More

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

University of Manitoba, Chemistry, 144 Dysart Road, R3T2N2, Winnipeg, CANADA.

Antibiotic resistance is a significant challenge encountered by healthcare systems on a global scale. Knowledge about membrane transport of antibiotics and other Antibiotic resistance is a significant challenge encountered by healthcare systems on a global scale. Knowledge about membrane transport of antibiotics and other pharmacologically relevant molecules in bacteria is crucial towards understanding and overcoming antibiotic resistance, as drug resistance often depends on drug transport. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2021 23;12:642822. Epub 2021 Apr 23.

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Approximately 15% of severe cases require an intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mechanical ventilation due to development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Tetracyclines (TCs) are a group of bacteriostatic antibiotics, like tetracycline, minocycline, and doxycycline, effective against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Read More

Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria at Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.

Soil is an essential part of our ecosystem and plays a crucial role as a nutrient source, provides habitat for plants and other organisms. Overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). ARB and ARGs are recognized as emerging environmental contaminants causing soil pollution and serious risks to public health. Read More

Trop Med Int Health 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the prevalence, reasons, sources and factors associated with self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) within Africa.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis. An electronic search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases was performed for observational studies conducted between January 2005 and February 2020. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2021 14;8:642313. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Macrolides (e.g., erythromycin, fidaxomicin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin) are a class of bacteriostatic antibiotics commonly employed in medicine against various gram-positive and atypical bacterial species mostly related to respiratory tract infections, besides they possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Read More

Indian J Orthop 2021 Apr 1;55(2):342-351. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

Department of Orthopaedics, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, 110002 India.

Aim: Infection after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, though rare, is a potentially devastating complication and the evidence-based recommendation on the various topics in its management is limited. The purpose of this study was to develop recommendations for the prevention and management of infections in ACL reconstruction surgery by performing a structured expert consensus survey using Delphi methodology.

Materials And Methods: 22 topics of relevance in the prevention and management of infection following ACL reconstruction were chosen from an extensive literature review. Read More

Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Apr 16;10(4). Epub 2021 Apr 16.

Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dar es Salaam 14111, Tanzania.

All infections are potentially curable as long as the etiological agents are susceptible to antimicrobials. The increased rate at which antimicrobials are becoming ineffective is a global health risk of increasing concern that threatens withdrawal of beneficial antimicrobials for disease control. The increased demand for food of animal origin, in particular eggs, meat and milk has led to intensification and commercial production systems where excessive use and misuse of antimicrobials may prevail. Read More

Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Apr 17;10(4). Epub 2021 Apr 17.

School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Seberang Perai Selatan 14300, Malaysia.

The interest of consumers in using products containing phytochemicals derived from plants is growing day by day due to the shift of consumers' preferences from convenience to environmental sustainability. One plant utilized in many products is , a herb commonly used in folk medicine, health supplements, and beauty products. Extraction of bioactive compounds from was performed using conventional methods and modern methods (e. Read More

Microbiol Immunol 2021 Jun 19;65(6):229-237. Epub 2021 May 19.

Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Hospital, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.

In the recent years, issues related to drug-resistant bacteria have evolved worldwide, and various countermeasures have been taken to control their spread. Among a wide variety of drug-resistant bacterial species, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb), are those for which countermeasures are particularly important. Carbapenems are the last resort antibiotics for any bacterial infection; therefore, infectious diseases caused by these drug-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat. Read More