Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global health threats. In 2019, AMR was associated with 4.95 million deaths, of which 1.97 million were caused by drug-resistant infections directly. The main subset of AMR is antibiotic resistance, that is, the resistance of bacteria to antibiotic treatment. Traditional and most commonly used antibiotic susceptibility tests are based on the detection of bacterial growth and its inhibition in the presence of an antimicrobial. These tests typically take over 1–2 days to perform, so empirical therapy schemes are often administered before proper testing. Rapid tests for AMR are necessary to optimize the treatment of bacterial infection. Here, we combine the MTT test with Raman spectroscopy to provide a 1.5 h long test for minimal inhibitory concentration determination. Several Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were tested with three types of antibiotics, including ampicillin from penicillin family, kanamycin from aminoglycoside family and levofloxacin from fluoroquinolone family. The test provided the same minimal inhibitory concentrations as traditional Etest confirming its robustness.

In recent years, some new evidence on the role of Malassezia in late-onset sepsis in immunocompromised patients have been published, but there are still very few studies with special focus on newborns.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age, characterized by pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and infertility. Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and endometriosis pathogenesis, mediated through hormonal regulation, immune modulation, and systemic inflammation. Dienogest (DNG) is widely used for endometriosis management, but its effects on gut microbiota remain underexplored. This study investigates the impact of DNG on gut microbial composition in endometriosis patients, aiming to elucidate its therapeutic mechanisms beyond hormonal modulation. DNG therapy led to a significant reduction in the Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio (p = 0.0421), driven by decreased Staphylococcus spp. (p = 0.0244) and increased commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. and Collinsella aerofaciens (p = 0.049). Species richness and alpha diversity indices showed a non-significant upward trend. Notably, C. aerofaciens, a butyrate producer linked to gut barrier integrity, was detected twice as frequently during therapy. The study also observed reductions in facultative anaerobes like Enterococcus spp. and a trend toward higher titers of beneficial Bacteroidota. This study provides the first evidence that DNG therapy modulates gut microbiota in endometriosis patients, favoring a composition associated with anti-inflammatory and barrier-protective effects. The observed shifts—reduced opportunistic pathogens and increased symbionts—suggest a novel mechanism for DNG’s efficacy, potentially involving the microbial regulation of estrogen metabolism and immune responses.

Little is known about age-dependent changes in structure and function of astrocytes and of the impact of these into the cognitive decline in the senescent brain. The prevalent view on age-dependent increase in reactive astrogliosis and astrocytic hypertrophy requires scrutiny and detailed analysis. Using two-photon microscopy in conjunction with 3D reconstruction, Sholl and volume fraction analysis we demonstrate a significant reduction in the number and the length of astrocytic processes, in astrocytic territorial domains and in astrocyte-to-astrocyte coupling in the aged brain. Probing physiology of astrocytes with patch-clamp and Ca ²⁺ imaging revealed deficits in K ⁺ and glutamate clearance, and spatiotemporal reorganization of Ca ²⁺ events in old astrocytes. These changes paralleled impaired synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal CA1 in old mice. Our findings may explain astroglial mechanisms of age-dependent decline in learning and memory.

One month of calorically restricted diet (CR) induced morphological plasticity of astrocytes in the stratum (str.) radiatum of hippocampal CA1 in three-months old mice: the volume fraction of distal perisynaptic astrocytic processes increased whereas the number of gap-junction coupled astrocytes decreased. The uncoupling was not associated with a decrease in the expression of connexin 43. Uncoupling and morphological remodeling affected spontaneous Ca ²⁺ activity in the astrocytic network: Ca ²⁺ events became longer, whereas their spread was reduced. The change in the pattern of astrocytic Ca ²⁺ activity may increase the spatial resolution of the information encoding in the astroglial network. Consistent with expanded synaptic enwrapping by the astroglial processes, the spillover of synaptically released K ⁺ and glutamate was diminished after CR. However, no significant changes in the expression of astrocytic glutamate transporter (GLT-1/EAAT2) were observed, although the level of glutamine synthetase was decreased. Glutamate uptake is known to regulate the synaptic plasticity. Indeed, the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the glutamatergic CA3-CA1 synapses was significantly enhanced after CR. Our findings highlight an astroglial basis for improved learning and memory reported in various species subjected to CR.

Background. The establishment and diversity of the gut microbiota during early childhood are fundamental for immune regulation and metabolic processes, with factors such as prematurity, delivery method, antibiotic treatment, and breastfeeding significantly impacting microbiome development and potential health outcomes. Objectives/Methods. This comparative study examined the gut microbiota composition in children aged 6–8 and 9–12 months, born via spontaneous labor at ≥38 weeks’ gestation, who either did not receive antibacterial therapy or required beta-lactam antibiotics. The composition of the colonic microbiota was analyzed in these fecal samples using a quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results. Significant differences in microbiota composition were observed between groups. Children treated with antibiotics exhibited a statistically significant reduction in alpha diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson), along with decreased colonization of key functionally important microorganisms, including obligate anaerobic bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Clostridium leptum, Bacteroides spp., and metabolically active Bifidobacteria (B. bifidum, B. breve, B. longum). Conclusions. These microbiota alterations may adversely affect child health by diminishing microbial balance and functional potential, especially during this critical period of immune and metabolic development. The decline in anti-inflammatory, short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria elevates the risk for allergic, atopic, dysbiotic, and metabolic conditions. Recognizing these impacts underscores the importance of strategies to supports microbiota restoration after antibiotic use, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions. Further research should focus on microbiota recovery dynamics to facilitate early intervention and optimize pediatric health outcomes. Overall, understanding antibiotic effects on gut microbiota can guide more judicious treatment approaches, reducing long-term health risks.