This study provides new insights into the role of the pancreatic microbiota in the intriguing link between pancreatic cystic lesions and cancer.Mutan is an extracellular sticky polymer having α-1-3 and α-1-6 glycosidic linkages with a large diversity in molecular weights and structures depending on the source. These compounds are reported to be highly thermostable and also have potential physiochemical and biological applications. The main aim of this review is to provide an overview of glucosyltransferases and their role in mutan synthesis. The production strategies and structural properties of bacterial mutans are discussed with a goal to improve production efficiency. The physicochemical features, chemical modifications, potential industrial applications and future prospects are also discussed. According to data, mutan and its derivatives will play a larger role in medicinal sectors and as thermoplastics in the near future.Abbreviations ABTS 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid; BHI Brain heart infusion broth; 13C (HSQC) NMR Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence NMR; CBMs Carbohydrate binding modules; DPPH 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; FTIR Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; GC-MS Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; GPC Gel permeation chromatography; Gtfs Glucosyltransferases; 1H (DQF-COSY) Double-quantum filtered correlation spectroscopy; HPAEC-PAD High-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection; HPLC High performance liquid chromatography; HPSEC-RI High-performance size exclusive chromatography coupled with refractive index; HPSEC-MALLS High-performance size exclusive chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering detection; MALDI-TOF Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight mass spectrometry; Mw Weight-average molecular weight; MWD Molecular weight distribution; NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; TEM Transmission electron microscopy; THB Todd Hewitt Broth; TTY Tryticase tryptose yeast extract broth.
Epilepsy is the most common childhood neurological disorder in Nigeria. Treatment of epilepsy is long-term and sometimes lifelong with anti-seizure medications. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Rapamycin.html There are conflicting reports on the effect of anti-seizure medications on serum folate. There is therefore a need to determine the effect of a commonly used anti-seizure medication's on serum folate levels of children. This would provide an evidence-based consideration for folic acid supplementation in children on anti-seizure medication as has been suggested by some studies.

To determine whether serum folate levels were lower in children taking long-term carbamazepine or sodium valproate, compared to a control group.

Serum folic acid levels were measured from well-nourished children between the ages of 1-17 years on carbamazepine and sodium valproate monotherapy and their age/sex-matched controls, using spectrophotometry.

The mean serum folate levels of patients on carbamazepine (43) and sodium valproate (22) were 0.032 mg/l ± 0.009 and 0.028 mg/l  ±  0.008, respectively. The mean folate levels of the controls were 0.046 mg/l  ±  0.03 (
 = 0 001). No statistically significant difference was observed between the serum folate levels of children on the two anti-seizure medications, that is, carbamazepine and valproate.

The children on treatment with carbamazepine and sodium valproate for more than 6 months had statistically significantly lower serum levels of folic acid compared to the standard reference range and controls. The serum folate levels of children on carbamazepine were not statistically different from those on sodium valproate.
The children on treatment with carbamazepine and sodium valproate for more than 6 months had statistically significantly lower serum levels of folic acid compared to the standard reference range and controls. The serum folate levels of children on carbamazepine were not statistically different from those on sodium valproate.
There are a growing number of organisations working to address the connections between climate change and health. This article introduces the concept of 'theories of change' - the methodology by which organisations or movements hope to bring about social change - and applies it to the current climate change and health movement in England. Through movement mapping, the article describes and offers reflections on the climate change and health ecosystems in England.

Organisations working on climate change and health in England were identified and publicly available information was collated to map movement characteristics, target stakeholders and methodologies deployed, using an inductive, iterative approach.

A total of 98 organisations working on health and climate change (and/or sustainability) were initially identified, of which 70 met the inclusion criteria. Most organisations target two or more stakeholders, with healthcare workers, management structures, and government being most commonly cited. Metho professions' voice and messaging for the wider climate movement. Given the rapid boom of climate change and health organisations in recent years, a mind-set shift that recognises different players as part of a cohesive ecosystem with better coordination and collaboration may reduce unnecessary work, and facilitate more cohesive outcomes.Thermophilic strains of Bacillus can express enzymes of higher thermal stability, which allows carrying out industrial fermentations under higher temperatures. This lowers the contamination potential, accelerates mixing rates and facilitates the recovery of fermentation end products. The present study was thus designed to isolate and characterize thermophilic Bacillus cultures from soil and compost samples. Forty-two thermophilic Bacillus isolates could be identified employing morphological, physiological and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses. The isolates showed a high degree of biological diversity involving 13 Bacillus species and 1 subspecies but were dominated by Bacillus licheniformis. Phylogenetic analysis of B. licheniformis isolates based on the DNA sequencing of gyrA and rpoB genes presented them in two main genetic groups. Isolates of five thermophilic species including B. licheniformis, Bacillus altitudinis, Bacillus paralicheniformis, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thermoamylovorans showed multiple activities to degrade all of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Those multifunctional thermophilic Bacillus isolates can be harnessed in the degradation of plant wastes for the production of biofuels and compost.Cancer is a disease common in every country around the globe with high incidences and deaths. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is often associated with a death sentence which makes the individual exhibit self-denial attributes, mixed negative emotions, depression, and anxiety. This study investigated the gap in supportive care and the role of social workers in the management of metastatic breast cancer patients in Nigeria. This study employed a qualitative method using Key Informant Interviews (KII). A total of 12 healthcare professionals in the area of medical social work, palliative care, and medical oncology were engaged in collecting the required information. The result revealed that social workers play significant roles in every aspect of the cancer care continuum - diagnosis, treatment, reintegration, or palliative care. Social workers help metastatic breast cancer patients in Nigeria, however, there are growing challenges to their roles. Most unskilled professionals often present themselves as social workers who do not meet professional standards or perform the best practice.Aim Phenytoin (PHT) is a common anticonvulsant agent known for inducing severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). HLA-B*1502 as a risk factor of PHT-induced SCARs was reported in numerous studies with inconsistent results. This meta-analysis aimed to establish pooling evidence of this association. Materials & methods Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were estimated using a random-effects model. Results A total of 11 studies on 1389 patients, were included for the analyses. There was a significant association between HLA-B*1502 and PHT-induced SCAR (pooled OR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.25-4.19, p = 0.008). Furthermore, there was a significant association regarding Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (OR = 3.63, 95% CI 2.15-6.13, p less then 0.001) but no association regarding drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptom. Conclusion The results supported the recommendations of HLA-B*1502 screening before treatment with PHT.
To determine the long-term probability of remission without antiepileptic treatment of common epileptic syndromes and of children without a specific syndromic diagnosis.

All children less than 14 years old with 2 or more unprovoked seizures seen at our hospital between June 1, 1994, and March 1, 2011 (n = 680), were included and prospectively followed up until August 15, 2020. Syndromic diagnosis was made retrospectively but blinded to subsequent evolution, employing the data available at 6 months after diagnosis and under predefined operational criteria.

The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the probability of achieving a remission period of at least 5 years, with neither seizures nor antiepileptic treatment at 14 years was 97% for well-defined childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, 82% for uncertain childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, 85% for well-defined Panayiotopoulos syndrome, 88% for uncertain Panayiotopoulos syndrome, 93% for nonfamilial self-limited infantile epilepsy, 100% for familial self-limited infantile epilepsy, 86% for absence epilepsy, 6% for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, 71% for cryptogenic West syndrome, 72% for patients with no associated neurologic deficits and no specific syndromic diagnosis, 65% for symptomatic West syndrome, and 40% for patients with associated neurologic deficits and no specific syndromic diagnosis.

The study results highlight the long-term outcomes of the main epileptic syndromes and also of the patients with no syndromic diagnosis.
The study results highlight the long-term outcomes of the main epileptic syndromes and also of the patients with no syndromic diagnosis.
To investigate the effects of a coffee beverage and two whitening systems on the surface roughness and gloss of glazed Lithium Disilicate Glass-Ceramics (LDGC) for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems.

Sixty-eight LDGC disks (12 × 10 × 2 mm) were prepared from blocks of CAD/CAM systems (IPS e.max CAD ceramic). Baseline measurements for surface roughness (Ra) and gloss (GU) were taken using a 3-D optical profilometer and a glossmeter, respectively; then specimens were randomized into four groups (
 = 17). All specimens were immersed in a coffee solution (24 h × 12 days) then subjected to two whitening systems. G1-negative control (kept moist × 7 days); G2-positive control (brushed with distilled water, 200 g/load, 2 min twice daily × 7 days); G3-whitening toothpaste (Colgate optic white; relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) = 100, 200 g/load, 2 min twice daily × 7 days); and G4-simulated at-home bleaching protocol (Opalescence,15% carbamide peroxide (CP), 6 h/day × 7 days). The study outcomes were measured at baseline and after the treatments.