Phage Therapy in Prostatitis: Recent Prospects

Prostatitis has various etiology including bacterial infection and dysregulated immunity; some of its forms remain a serious therapeutic challenge. Inflammation occurs in all forms of this disorder and is proposed to predispose to the development of prostate cancer (PC). There are reports that phage therapy is effective in chronic bacterial prostatitis. Recent findings suggest that phages not only eliminate bacteria, but also mediate immunomodulating (for example, anti-inflammatory) functions. The immunomodulating effects of phages could be beneficial in treating all forms of prostatitis and play some role in the prevention of the development of PC. As the etiological factors contributing to the majority of prostatitis cases remains largely unknown, and management options are often likewise limited, phage therapy merits further research as an attractive therapeutic option given its immunomodulating effects irrespective of the underlying causative factor(s)

Lytic activity by temperate phages of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in long-term cystic fibrosis chronic lung infections

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common bacterial pathogen infecting the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The transmissible Liverpool epidemic strain (LES) harbours multiple inducible prophages (LESϕ2; LESϕ3; LESϕ4; LESϕ5; and LESϕ6), some of which are known to confer a competitive advantage in an in vivo rat model of chronic lung infection. We used quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) to measure the density and dynamics of all five LES phages in the sputa of 10 LES-infected CF patients over a period of 2 years. In all patients, the densities of free-LES phages were positively correlated with the densities of P. aeruginosa, and total free-phage densities consistently exceeded bacterial host densities 10–100-fold. Further, we observed a negative correlation between the phage-to-bacterium ratio and bacterial density, suggesting a role for lysis by temperate phages in regulation of the bacterial population densities. In 9/10 patients, LESϕ2 and LESϕ4 were the most abundant free phages, which reflects the differential in vitro induction properties of the phages. These data indicate that temperate phages of P. aeruginosa retain lytic activity after prolonged periods of chronic infection in the CF lung, and suggest that temperate phage lysis may contribute to regulation of P. aeruginosa density in vivo

A Criterion for Determining Legal and Ethical Boundaries in Medical Research With Regard to Realizing the Constitutional Principle of Sustainable Development

Celem artykułu jest omówienie i ocena wybranych aksjomatów funkcjonujących w obszarze medycyny i nauk wspomagających jej rozwój oraz wskazanie - o ile to możliwe - aksjomatu o znaczeniu uniwersalnym. Sformułowanie takiego celu jest istotne z punktu konstytucyjnej zasady zrownoważonego rozwoju, której nie można pomijać w naukach medycznych. W niniejszym opracowaniu przyjmujemy hipotezę, iż aksjomat: godność człowieka najwyższą wartością w świecie przyrody powinien stanowić uniwersalne, skuteczne i ponadczasowe kryterium wyznaczania granic prawnych i etycznych w badaniach medycznych. Aksjomat ten jest również podstawowym aksjomatem dla urzeczywistniania zrównoważonego rozwoju.The aim of this article is to discuss and evaluate selected axioms functioning in the field of medicine and sciences and supporting its development and to indicate, as far as possible, an axiom of universal significance. Formulating such an aim is essential with regard to the constitutional principle of sustainable development, which cannot be ignored in medical science. In the present study we accept the hypothesis that the axiom that human dignity is the highest value in the world of nature can and should constitute the universal, effective, and timeless criterion determining legal and ethical boundaries in medical research. This axiom is also the fundamental axiom for realising sustainable development

“Medical Writing” and Ghostwriting as Ethical Challenges in Medical Communication

In the past years, it has become increasingly apparent that ghostwriting may erode the public trust in medical science and scientific publishing. It is estimated that approximately 10% of articles published in reputed journals are ghostwritten, and this rate may be even higher in some medical specialties. Although this practice is rather universally condemned, the propriety of participation of professional writers in producing papers remains an open question. Although some believe this practice should also be banned, others argue that such stringent policy would increase nonpublication and rather encourage disclosure; but should medical writers be included as authors on the final version of manuscripts? These and other questions should be solved to maintain the high scientific and ethical standards of medical communication and public trust in medicine

The Reliability and Validity of Response-Based Measures of Attention Bias

BACKGROUND: Attention bias to threat is a fundamental transdiagnostic component and potential vulnerability factor for internalizing psychopathologies. However, the measurement of attentional bias, such as traditional scores from the dot-probe paradigm, evidence poor reliability and do not measure intra-individual variation in attentional bias. METHODS: The present study examined, in three independent samples, the psychometric properties of a novel attentional bias (AB) scoring method of the dot-probe task based on responses to individual trials. For six AB scores derived using the response-based approach, we assessed the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, familial associations, and external validity (using Social Anxiety Disorder, a disorder strongly associated with attentional bias to threatening faces). RESULTS: Compared to traditional AB scores, response-based scores had generally better internal consistency (range of Cronbach’s alphas: 0.68–0.92 vs. 0.41–0.71), higher test-retest reliabilities (range of Pearson’s correlations: 0.26–0.77 vs. −0.05–0.35), and were more strongly related in family members (range of ICCs: 0.11–0.27 vs. 0–0.05). Furthermore, three response-based scores added incremental validity beyond traditional scores and gender in the external validators of current and lifetime Social Anxiety Disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that response-based AB scores from the dot-probe task have better psychometric properties than traditional scores