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Objective This study has two objectives: first, to explore the diagnostic experiences of black/African American (BAA) patients with lung cancer to pinpoint pitfalls, suboptimal experiences and instances of discrimination leading to disparities in outcomes compared with patients of other ethnic backgrounds, especially white patients. The second objective is to identify the underlying causes contributing to health disparities in the diagnosis of lung cancer among BAA patients.Methods We employed a phenomenological research approach, guiding in-depth interviews with patients self-identifying as BAA diagnosed with lung cancer, as well as caregivers, healthcare professionals and community advocates knowledgeable about BAA experiences with lung cancer. We performed thematic analysis to identify experiences at patient, primary care and specialist levels. Contributing factors were identified using the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) health disparity model.Results From March to November 2021, we conducted individual interviews with 19 participants, including 9 patients/caregivers and 10 providers/advocates. Participants reported recurring and increased pain before seeking treatment, treatment for non-cancer illnesses, delays in diagnostic tests and referrals, poor communication and bias when dealing with specialists and primary care providers. Factors contributing to suboptimal experiences included reluctance by insurers to cover costs, provider unwillingness to conduct comprehensive testing, provider bias in recommending treatment, high healthcare costs, and lack of healthcare facilities and qualified staff to provide necessary support. However, some participants reported positive experiences due to their insurance, availability of services and having an empowered support structure.Conclusions BAA patients and caregivers encountered suboptimal experiences during their care. The NIMHD model is a useful framework to organise factors contributing to these experiences that may be leading to health disparities. Additional research is needed to fully capture the extent of these experiences and identify ways to improve BAA patient experiences in the lung cancer diagnosis pathway.

Abstract Background Trichosporon asahii is an opportunistic fungus that causes infections in immunosuppressed patients. It is rarely seen in children and immunocompetent hosts. The mortality rates are still high despite early treatment with proper antifungal drugs. Trichosporon asahii mastoiditis in an immunocompetent child makes this case challenging. Case presentation This report presents a case of Trichosporon asahii mastoiditis which was complicated by transverse sinus thrombosis, in an otherwise healthy 21-month-old girl, and successfully treated with voriconazole. Trichosporon asahii was isolated, in three different occasions, from ear discharge of an immunocompetent healthy child, who presented with prolonged history of fever and received appropriate dosages of multiple types of antimicrobials as an outpatient but without improvement. After 48 h of starting the Voriconzole; post auricular swelling and ear discharge improved significantly. Conclusion A high index of clinical and microbiological suspicion is needed for optimal diagnosis of Trichosporon infection. Trichosporon asahii can also cause infection in immunocompetent individual even without previous history of hospitalization or intervention. We emphasize the importance of early pediatric infectious evaluation and intervention.

The impact of methyl salicylate (MeSA) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in chitosan (CS)/Gum Arabic (GA) mixture on physio-chemical characteristics and antioxidant status during the postharvest ripening of green tomato fruits was studied. CS/GA-MeSA at a 1 mM formulation was the best treatment to retard firmness and titratable acidity (TA) losses. Moreover, this formulation retarded pigmentation progress where it had the lowest significant values of total carotenes (TCs) and lycopene (LYP) contents until the 15th day of the storage period, as well as efficiently faced the rise in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Moreover, peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities of tomatoes treated with CS/GA-SNP at 2 mM were significantly better than that of control in the primary stages of storage. CS/GA-SNP at a 2 mM formulation showed an extremely high significant content of total polyphenol (TP) in the early stage of storage, while CS/GA and CS/GA-MeSA at 1 and 2 mM accumulated higher significant TP contents than uncoated fruits at the late stage of storage. All formulations were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the polymer formulations exhibited strong antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata and Botrytis cinerea as major pathogens of postharvest tomatoes. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations for the mycelia of both fungi treated by CS/GA-MeSA at 2 mM revealed serious ultrastructural damage, including distortion of the cell wall and cell membrane and degradation of cytoplasmic organelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) is produced by Fusarium spp. and is widely found in moldy wheat, corn, and other grains. ZEN has a strong toxicity and causes reproductive and immune disorders and estrogenic syndrome in animals and humans. Biodegradation has been demonstrated as an efficient way to control the hazardous effect of ZEN. A promising way to apply biodegradation in feed is to introduce anaerobic ZEN-degrading microorganisms, which can function during the digestion process in animal intestines. The aim of this study was to isolate anaerobic ZEN-degrading bacteria from anaerobic environments. A strain named F39 was isolated from animal intestinal contents and had a ZEN-degradation rate of 87.35% in 48 h to form trace amount of α- and β-zearalenol. Based on the morphological and physiological properties and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequences, F39 was identified as Clostridium sporogenes. The optimum temperature for the growth of F39 was 37 °C, the optimum pH was 7.0, and the most suitable carbon source was beef extract, while the optimal conditions for the degradation of ZEN were as follows: 35 °C, pH 7.0, and GAM medium. ZEN was degraded by F39 with a high efficiency in the concentration range of 1–15 mg/L. The bioactive factors responsible for ZEN degradation were mainly distributed intracellularly. F39 can degrade most of the ZEN present, but a small amount is broken down into two secondary metabolites, α- and β-zearalenol, and the toxicity of the degradation products is reduced. With an efficiency of 49%, F39 can more effectively degrade ZEN in wheat-based feedstuffs than in other feedstuff, and the degradation efficiency was pH related. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Clostridium sporogenes F39’s ability to maintain the biodegradation potentials.

Changes in the activities of antimicrobial, antitumor, and antioxidant properties of postbiotics (YCG) are related to changes in the composition of phenolic compounds. Antimicrobial activity was found to be highest in postbiotic (YCG-7) against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and E. faecalis with an MIC of 3.1 µg/mL. YCG-7 revealed the most cytotoxicity against LS-174T and PC-3 cell lines with an IC50 of 5.78 and 6.56 µg/mL, respectively. YCG-7 was far more effective for scavenging free radicals in the NO• and DPPH assays with a scavenging activity of 70.73% and 85.6%, respectively. YCG-7’s total phenolic acid content is up to eightfold higher compared with control. Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 retained high viable counts during refrigerated storage, particularly in YCG (>108 cells g−1) revealing a potential prebiotic activity of Cape gooseberry juice. EcN affected the phenolic profile of the YCG. Pyrogallol, p-coumaric acid, ellagic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, salicylic acid, gallic acid, vanillic acid, o-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, catechol, syringic acid, and rutin were the predominant phenolic compounds in YCG-7 or YCG-15. Chlorogenic, rosmarinic, cinnamic acid, naringin, and kaempferol were degraded by EcN in YCG-7 and YCG-15. The YCG had significantly higher sensory scores for appearance, smoothness, sourness, mouthfeel, and overall acceptance. These results provide the basis to target the functional benefits of YCG for further human health applications.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 238,590 U.S. men will develop PCa and 29,720 men will die from the disease in 2013. PCa exhibits the most profound racial disparities of all cancers with African American men having a 70% higher incidence rate and more than two times higher mortality rate than Caucasian men. Published research on PCa disparities focuses on singular outcomes such as incidence, mortality or quality of life. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive summary of the racial disparities found at each stage of the PCa Care Continuum which includes prevention, detection, treatments, and outcomes and survival. It focuses primarily on disparities among Caucasian (white) and African American men.