1,721,049 research outputs found
CAndida albicans identification:comparison among nine phenotypic systems and a multiplex PCR
No full textScreening and isolation of microbes from a Mud Community of Ischia Island Thermal Springs: Preliminary analysis of a bioactive compound
Full text linkIntroduction. Balneotherapy centers of Ischia island (Italy) offer treatments for different dermatological diseases (psoriasis, acne, atopic dermatitis) and upper respiratory tract infections. In this study, we integrated morphological and molecular approaches to give a focus on isolation and screening of extremophile bacteria from Ischia thermal mud for potential antimicrobial applications. Methods. Samples were collected during 2019 at four sites. Some bacterial strains ATCC for antibacterial and antibiofilm activity were tested. After morphological characterization, screening for antagonistic isolates was made. The colonies isolated from thermal mud samples were submitted to molecular characterization. Susceptibility testing by dilution spotting was carried out and antibacterial efficacies of most active isolate were evaluated with a Minimal inhibition concentration assay. Biofilm formation, inhibition, eradication were examined. Statistical analyses were carried out utilizing Microsoft® Excel 2016/XLSTAT©-Pro. Results. We isolated a natural compound with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. Conclusions. The results obtained in this study are discussed in the context of how hydrothermal systems are important environmental source of uncharted antimicrobial and antibiofilm compounds. In conclusion, to the most effective of our knowledge, this work presents the primary report on the preliminary investigation of thermophile microbial diversity and their antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities for future biotechnological interest
Adherence to Mediterranean diet in athletes: a narrative review
No full textAthletes’ diet should be adequate both in quality and quantity, to avoid deficiencies and limit fatigue. In recent years, several nutritional recommendations have been published and a multitude of diets based on empirical approaches have been employed in the sport setting. In the last decades, the Mediterranean diet (MD) has been extensively studied for its beneficial effects on health but its adoption in athletes has never been critically analyzed. This review was aimed to assess the current literature about the athletes’ adherence to the MD pattern, also in comparison with the general population. The majority of the studies show that athletes reach a mean level of MD adherence, higher than that of the general population. However, the current evidence is still limited and based on studies using different methods. Further research is needed to better characterize this habit among athletes
Evaluation of the Pathogenic-Mixed Biofilm Formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa/Staphylococcus aureus and Treatment with Limonene on Three Different Materials by a Dynamic Model
No full textBackground: Biofilms have been found growing on implantable medical devices. This can lead to persistent clinical infections. The highly antibiotic-resistant property of biofilms necessitates the search for both potent antimicrobial agents and novel antibiofilm strategies. Natural product-based anti-biofilm agents were found to be as efficient as chemically synthesized counterparts with fewer side effects. In the present study, the effects of limonene as an antibiofilm agent were evaluated on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formed on different surfaces using the CDC model system in continuous flow. The flgK gene and the pilA gene expression in P. aeruginosa, and the icaA gene and eno gene in S. aureus, which could be considered as efficient resistance markers, were studied. Methods: Mono-and dual-species biofilms were grown on polycarbonate, polypropylene, and stainless-steel coupons in a CDC biofilm reactor (Biosurface Technologies, Bozeman, MT, USA). To evaluate the ability of limonene to inhibit and eradicate biofilm, a sub-MIC concentration (10 mL/L) was tested. The gene expression of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus was detected by SYBR Green quantitative Real-Time PCR assay (Meridiana Bioline, Brisbane, Australia). Results: The limonene added during the formation of biofilms at sub-MIC concentrations works very well in inhibiting biofilms on all three materials, reducing their growth by about 2 logs. Of the same order of magnitude is the ability of limonene to eradicate both mono-and polymicrobial mature biofilms on all three materials. Greater efficacy was observed in the polymicrobial biofilm on steel coupons. The expression of some genes related to the virulence of the two microorganisms was differently detected in mono-and polymicrobial biofilm. Conclusions: These data showed that the limonene treatment expressed different levels of biofilm-forming genes, especially when both types of strains alone and together grew on different surfaces. Our findings showed that limonene treatment is also very efficient when biofilm has been grown under shear stress causing significant and irreversible damage to the biofilm structure. The effectiveness of the sanitation procedures can be optimized by applying antimicrobial combinations with natural compounds (e.g., limonene)
Gym Members Show Lower Nutrition Knowledge than Youth Engaged in Competitive Sports
No full textObjective: Adolescents may be vulnerable to misleading nutritional information and adopt unhealthy food habits. In addition, specific features related to physical training, either aimed to improve fitness or to comply with sport demands, may influence food habits of the youth. This cross-sectional study was aimed to compare nutrition knowledge, food habits and adherence to Mediterranean diet in youth engaged in fitness training, competitive sports or inactive. Methods: Three questionnaires, the General and Sport Nutrition Knowledge (GeSNK) questionnaire, a food habit questionnaire and the KIDMED were administered to gym members, athletes engaged in volleyball, long-distance swimming, and gymnastics, and inactive adolescents. Results: The total sample included 211 youth (age 16.8 ± 1.7 years). Gym members, like the inactive youth, had lower general and sport-related nutrition knowledge compared to athletes (p = 0.001). In the whole sample, general nutrition knowledge was positively associated with healthy food habits (p < 0.01) and adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern (p < 0.02). Conclusions: Gym members had a level of nutrition knowledge lower than young athletes and similar to inactive youth. Healthy food habits were related with nutrition knowledge among adolescents. Specific nutritional education programs are needed to address food habits in fitness settings
Physical-technical conditions, coaching and nutrition: An integrated approach to promote cohesion in sports team
Full text linkThe aim was verified that the level of cohesion of a sports group is conditioned by numerous variables, which affect the athletes performance and lead to difficulties in adults relationships. The sample physical-technical and nutritional conditions and the help for the cohesion of a technique such as coaching were evaluated. Coaching can understand as the process in which individuals, mostly athletes, supported for their improvement and development in order to achieve performance high levels. 40 adults, aged between 35 and 45 years old, practicing football at amateur level for eight months, belonging to two different sports groups (blue and red group), have been observed. The results showed about 2.5% increase for blue group in Cooper test and about 1% in Sargent test, while for red group the improvement was approximately 1.5% in Cooper test and about 0.5% in Sargent test. 37 athletes correctly followed the nutrition specialists indications while 3 athletes showed negative responses. The personalized diets success confirmed by the decrease, in terms of kg, of the average percentage of athletes' body weight. All sample highlighted, with the answers to the 14 items of the questionnaire, significant percentage variations in lifestyles and relationships between group members
Climate Change Perception and Sustainable Behaviors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Southern Italy
No full textCandida albicans identification: comparison among nine phenotypic systems and a multiplex PCR.
No full textCandida spp. in oral cancer and oral precancerous lesions
No full textTo assess the presence of Candida spp. in lesions of the oral cavity in a sample of patients with precancer or cancer of the mouth and evaluate the limitations and advantages of microbiological and histological methods, 103 subjects with precancerous or cancerous lesions and not treated were observed between 2007 and 2009. The presence of Candida in the lesions was analyzed by microbiological and histological methods. Cohen's k statistic was used to assess the agreement between culture method and staining techniques. Forty-eight (47%) patients had cancer and 55 (53%) patients had precancerous lesions. Candida spp. were isolated from 31 (30%) patients with cancerous lesions and 33 (32%) with precancerous lesions. C. albicans was the most frequent species isolated in the lesions. The k value showed a fair overall agreement for comparisons between culture method and PAS (0.2825) or GMS (0.3112). This study supports the frequent presence of Candida spp. in cancer and precancerous lesions of the oral cavity. Both microbiological investigations and histological techniques were reliable for detection of Candida spp. It would be desirable for the two techniques to be considered complementary in the detection of yeast infections in these types of lesions
Antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects of Spirulina in disease conditions: a systematic review
No full textThe goal of this review was to critically evaluate the research on the effects of Spirulina (SP) supplementation on pathological conditions in the general population, considering its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties. On a total of 1621 records screened, eighteen studies published between 2001 and 2020 met the inclusion criteria. Despite variability in research methodology and patient conditions, the findings of these studies generally support the benefits of supplementing diet with SP in subjects with both transmittable and non-transmittable diseases. Improvements were found for all the conditions studied, with the only exception of male infertility. However, the number of clinically controlled trials examining the effects of SP on specific health conditions is still very low, and some studies show medium quality. Further research in this field is needed to confirm the possible clinical role of Spirulina supplementation in parallel with medical therapies
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