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Administration of LBB modulates the gut microbiota and reduces colon cancer development by decreasing tumor incidence, multiplicity/count, and volume via enhanced TLR2-improved gut mucosa epithelial barrier integrity and suppression of apoptosis and inflammation.

A scorpion peptide reported to exhibit both analgesic and antitumor activity in animal models may present as an alternative therapeutic agent for breast cancer. We aimed to investigate the effect of Buthus martensii Karsch antitumor-analgesic peptide (BmK AGAP) on breast cancer cell stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We treated MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with different concentrations of rBmK AGAP and observed that rBmK AGAP inhibited cancer cell stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion. Analysis by qPCR, ELISA, western blot, immunofluorescence staining, sphere formation, colony assay, transwell migration, and invasion assays demonstrated rBmK AGAP treatment decreased the expressions of Oct4, Sox2, N-cadherin, Snail, and increased the expression of E-cadherin. rBmK AGAP inhibited breast cancer cell stemness, EMT, migration, and invasion by down-regulating PTX3 through NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling Pathway in vitro and in vivo. Xenograft tumor model confirmed inhibition of tumor growth, stem-like features, and EMT by rBmK AGAP. Thus, rBmK AGAP is a potential therapeutic agent against breast cancer and related pain.

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Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are derivatives of 4-aminoquinoline compounds with over 60 years of safe clinical usage. CQ and HCQ are able to inhibit the production of cytokines such as interleukin- (IL-) 1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-22. Also, CQ and HCQ inhibit the production of interferon- (IFN-) α and IFN-γ and/or tumor necrotizing factor- (TNF-) α. Furthermore, CQ blocks the production of prostaglandins (PGs) in the intact cell by inhibiting substrate accessibility of arachidonic acid necessary for the production of PGs. Moreover, CQ affects the stability between T-helper cell (Th) 1 and Th2 cytokine secretion by augmenting IL-10 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Additionally, CQ is capable of blocking lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) triggered stimulation of extracellular signal-modulated extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 in human PBMCs. HCQ at clinical levels effectively blocks CpG-triggered class-switched memory B-cells from differentiating into plasmablasts as well as producing IgG. Also, HCQ inhibits cytokine generation from all the B-cell subsets. IgM memory B-cells exhibits the utmost cytokine production. Nevertheless, CQ triggers the production of reactive oxygen species. A rare, but serious, side effect of CQ or HCQ in nondiabetic patients is hypoglycaemia. Thus, in critically ill patients, CQ and HCQ are most likely to deplete all the energy stores of the body leaving the patient very weak and sicker. We advocate that, during clinical usage of CQ and HCQ in critically ill patients, it is very essential to strengthen the CQ or HCQ with glucose infusion. CQ and HCQ are thus potential inhibitors of the COVID-19 cytokine storm.

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To determine the prevalence, etiology and antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacterial agents of wound infection in rural community dwellers in the Northern region of Ghana. From August 2017 to July 2018, patients who reported with infected wound to four (4) primary health facilities were recruited after obtaining written informed consent. Wound swabs were taken from 93 participants; 59(63.4%) males and 34(36.6%) females. Wounds were aseptically swabbed and cultured. Antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST) were performed on all isolates using agar disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute CLSI 2013 guidelines. A total of 165 bacteria isolates were obtained from 93 wound swabs. The most predominant bacteria species were Staphylococcus aureus 38(23.0%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27(19.7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae 15(9.1%). Many of the isolates were from burns 61(37.0%) and diabetic wounds 33 (20.0%), with few from motor traffic wounds 5(3.0%). Most of the isolates were resistant to third generation cephalosporins. Notably, all (100%) of the Acinetobacter and Providencia species and 75% of Proteus species were resistant to ceftazidime and ceftriaxone. High resistance to ceftazidime and ceftriaxone was also observed in K. pneumoniae (53.3% and 53.3%) and E. coli (60.0% and 50.0%) respectively. Resistance in Streptococcus pyogenes to penicillin and erythromycin was 60% and 70% respectively while 10.5 % of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were methicillin resistant (MSRA). This study revealed a wide range of bacterial agents are associated with wound infection and are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Additionally, the study suggests relatively high antibiotic resistance is associated with community acquired infection of wounds.

Background. Most morbidities and mortalities related to clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures are related to infection and the solution to this is good infection prevention and control (IPC) compliance which is influenced by the right knowledge and positive attitude. Aim. This study aimed to assess infection prevention and control (IPC) knowledge and attitude among healthcare workers at the surgical department of Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Methods. This study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Data entry and analysis were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Graph Pad Prism version 6.05. Tables, frequencies, and percentages were used for descriptive analysis and chi-square analysis for the associations. Results. Of the 156 participants who responded, 22 (14.1%) were doctors, with 107 (68.6%) nurses, 12 (7.7%) certified registered anesthetics (CRA), and 15 (9.6%) orderlies. Approximately, 50.6% of the respondents were knowledgeable with regard to IPC and 55.1% of the respondents had a good attitude towards IPC. Factors associated with knowledge level were educational level p ≤ 0.001 , occupation p ≤ 0.001 , marital status p = 0.030 , and age p = 0.030 . The occupation was the only factor associated with the attitude level p = 0.048 . Conclusion. More than half of the healthcare providers reported good knowledge and attitude towards IPC. Proportionally, more nurses had good IPC knowledge and attitude as compared to other professional groups. Firming up and assimilating universal precaution with routine services by providing training, protocol, rules, and regulation are recommended.