To evaluate the effect of two combined antimicrobial drugs, one method currently in use is the checkerboard assay in a 96-well microplate, which gives a good in vivo estimation of the drug-drug combination effect. Appropriate and consolidated methods are described in numerous scientific publications which are, however, in turn, laborious and time-spending, specifically for the setting of the 96-well microplate preparation. Each drug of every combination must be prepared and dispensed individually in several steps, often limiting its use in terms of consumed materials and working time. In our method, the strengths of the previous consolidated techniques are kept, although the toughness and the execution time are drastically reduced. No special laboratory apparatuses are needed. All the procedures of our method can be referred to the CLSI or EUCAST guideline. The method provides few main steps, which can be summarised in: • Preparation of the microorganism inoculum and three concentrations of antimicrobial drugs. • Easy dispensing of all reagents into the microplates with a multichannel pipette. • Evaluation of the microorganism optical density (OD) by a microplate reader, and calculation of growth percentage for each of the 77 combinations.

Background/Objectives: The determination of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is a cornerstone of the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus, serving as a reliable biomarker for assessing long-term glycaemic control. While high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is regarded as the gold standard for HbA1c measurement, its widespread adoption is limited by high costs, operational complexity, and resource requirements. Alternative methodologies, including immunoturbidimetric assays, have garnered interest as practical solutions. This study evaluates the analytical performance of an immunoturbidimetric method for HbA1c determination and its comparability with a validated HPLC method. Methods: The evaluation process was conducted in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. The results from 178 human sample leftovers, covering the medical decision range, were compared with those obtained using the HPLC-based Menarini ADAMS A1c HA-8180T system. The analytical performance regarding repeatability and within-laboratory imprecision was also assessed. The probability risk of misinterpreting the analytical results was also calculated. Results: The Passing–Bablok regression indicated a strong correlation between the two methods, with a slope of 1.00 (95% CI: 1.00 to 1.04). The Bland–Altman analysis confirmed minimal systematic differences, showing a mean bias of −0.07% for NGSP and −0.74 mmol/mol for IFCC, both falling within the predefined total allowable error (ATE) limits. Imprecision studies demonstrated excellent repeatability and intermediate precision, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 0.68% to 2.4% across all levels. The risk assessment of diagnostic misinterpretation indicated minimal deviation from an ideal analytical system, in which the measurement uncertainty was regarded as zero. Conclusions: The findings establish the immunoturbidimetric method as a reliable and cost-effective alternative to HPLC for routine HbA1c determination. Its strong analytical performance, combined with operational efficiency, makes it a valuable tool for laboratories, particularly in resource-limited settings, enhancing access to high-quality diabetes monitoring.

Background/Objectives: The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is driven not only by antibiotic selective pressure but also by bacterial adaptive responses that enhance genetic diversification under stress. The SOS response, regulated by the RecA-LexA axis, plays a central role in coordinating DNA repair, mutagenesis, and phenotypic adaptation. Targeting this pathway represents a promising strategy to limit bacterial adaptability without directly affecting viability. This study aimed to evaluate benzoxaborole-based compounds as potential inhibitors of the LexA regulatory pathway. Methods: A drug repurposing approach was employed to investigate the benzoxaborole scaffold and the clinically approved derivatives tavaborole and crisaborole. Biochemical assays were used to assess LexA autocleavage in a RecA-dependent co-protease system. Molecular docking analyses were performed to evaluate compound binding within the LexA catalytic site. Microbiological assays were conducted to examine the effects on antibiotic-induced filamentation and biofilm formation under different growth conditions. Results: Selected benzoxaboroles inhibited LexA autocleavage, with tavaborole showing the strongest inhibitory profile in the biochemical assay. Docking analyses supported these findings, indicating stable binding within the LexA catalytic site near the catalytic serine residue. At the cellular level, tavaborole and benzoxaborole significantly reduced levofloxacin-induced filamentation at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Both compounds also decreased biofilm formation under nutrient-limited conditions, while no significant effects were observed on preformed biofilms. Crisaborole showed limited cellular activity despite measurable biochemical effects. Conclusions: These findings identify benzoxaboroles as modulators of the LexA-dependent SOS response and support the potential repurposing of clinically approved compounds as adjuvants to limit bacterial adaptive responses associated with antimicrobial resistance.