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Breast cancer is a severe global health issue, having a high fatality rate worldwide. Because conventional cancer therapy is linked to tumour spread, drug resistance, and chemotherapy side effects, researchers should look into non-traditional methods. One intriguing strategy to deal with this issue is using nanoparticles and natural compounds like Lactobacillus metabolites as possible cancer treatments. Here, we tested the cytotoxicity of Lactobacillus cell-free supernatant (CFS), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and their combination against two cell lines MDA-MB-231 and Rat Embryonic Fibroblasts (REF) using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and percentage of cell viability was recorded. Results showed a synergistic impact of the combination on MDA-MB-231 cells when the IC50 recorded was 70 µg/ml compared to treatments of CFS and AuNps alone when the IC50 recorded were 187 and 196 µg/ml respectively. On rat embryonic fibroblasts (REF) CFS displayed the most cytotoxic impact with IC50 equal to 115 µg/ml followed by combination treatment (IC50 = 693 µg/ml) and then by AuNPs with recorded IC50 of 895 µg/ml. In summary, we demonstrated that Lactobacillus cell-free supernatant, gold nanoparticles and their combination represent a promising candidate as anticancer agents. The cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell line was enhanced when the supernatant was combined with gold nanoparticles while the supernatant gave the best cytotoxic effect against REF cells. 

Purulent-septic skin infections occupy a leading position in the morbidity structure of newborns in obstetric hospitals, with Staphylococcus aureus identified as the primary etiological agent. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) enables the acquisition of highly detailed genomic data on the spectra of pathogenicity genes, the mobilome, and the resistome of epidemic strains, as well as facilitating intraspecific typing of isolates. Aim of the study: To apply WGS technology to gain new insights into the genetic characteristics of S. aureus strains isolated during a period of epidemic occurrence in an obstetric hospital. This study employed WGS along with a range of bioinformatic tools, including dendrogram construction, calculation of average nucleotide identity (ANI) indices, and genetic mapping. The analysis established that the etiological agent of the epidemic outbreak of pemphigus neonatorum was a population of hospital-associated S. aureus ST121 t435 strains, isolated from both a healthcare worker and affected newborns. Strains of this genotype had not previously been associated with staphyloderma and were characterized by the presence of the eta gene (exfoliative toxin A) and two prophage-associated determinants of Panton-Valentine leukocidin, suggesting a high potential for horizontal gene transfer and dissemination among other S. aureus strains circulating within the hospital environment. Seven strains demonstrated resistance to oxacillin, attributed to modifications in native penicillin-binding proteins – an alternative mechanism to the well-known mec-mediated methicillin resistance pathway. These findings underscore the necessity of incorporating WGS technologies into molecular epidemiological surveillance in obstetric healthcare settings.

The effect of a surgical laser on the physicochemical properties of molecules of two model proteins was studied: human immunoglobulin IgG and bovine serum albumin. After exposure to laser radiation, the optical density of protein solutions changes, the fluorescence intensity decreases, and the refractive index of the solutions does not change significantly. No massive damage or ruptures of the protein polypeptide chain were observed; on the contrary, intense aggregation of protein molecules was recorded. Thus, when exposed to a laser scalpel, partial denaturation and aggregation processes prevail in IgG and bovine serum albumin solutions, and aromatic amino acid residues are damaged to a lesser extent.

Hypoxia is a common pathological condition that contributes to the development of various neurological disorders. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) represents a promising therapeutic target for enhancing resistance to hypoxia and correcting neuronal dysfunction in the post-hypoxic period. In this study, the effects of two classes of HIF-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PHD) inhibitors on the resistance of C57BL/6 mice to hypoxic injury were investigated. The findings demonstrated that the HIF-PHD inhibitors Roxadustat and Adaptaquin exert a neuroprotective effect in hypoxic conditions by increasing the animals' resistance to acute hypobaric hypoxia. Among the tested compounds, Adaptaquin at a dose of 10 mg/kg exhibited the highest efficacy, reducing neuronal damage and edema in the prefrontal cortex during the post-hypoxic period and promoting the recovery of cognitive and motor functions. These results suggest the potential of HIF-PHD inhibitors for the treatment of hypoxic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases.