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Sweetening Inhaled Antibiotic Treatment for Eradication of Chronic Respiratory Biofilm Infection

Loo CY, Lee WH, Lauretani G, Scalia S, Cipolla D, Traini D, et al.

Pharm Res, 2018 Feb 07;35(3):50.
PMID: 29417313 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-018-2350-4

PURPOSE: The failure of chronic therapy with antibiotics to clear persistent respiratory infection is the key morbidity and mortality factor for patients with chronic lung diseases, primarily due to the presence of biofilm in the lungs. It is hypothesised that carbon sources, such as mannitol, could stimulate the metabolic activity of persister cells within biofilms and restore their susceptibility to antibiotics. The aims of the current study are to: (1) establish a representative in vitro model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm lung infection, and (2) investigate the effects of nebulised mannitol on antibiotic efficacy, focusing on ciprofloxacin, in the eradication of biofilm.
METHOD: Air interface biofilm was cultured onto Snapwell inserts incorporated into a modified pharmacopeia deposition apparatus, the Anderson Cascade Impactor (ACI). Three different formulations including mannitol only, ciprofloxacin only and combined ciprofloxacin and mannitol were nebulised onto the P. aeruginosa biofilm using the modified ACI. Antibacterial effectiveness was evaluated using colony-forming units counts, biofilm penetration and scanning electron microscopy.
RESULTS: Nebulised mannitol promotes the dispersion of bacteria from the biofilm and demonstrated a synergistic enhancement of the antibacterial efficacy of ciprofloxacin compared to delivery of antibiotic alone.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of ciprofloxacin and mannitol may provide an important new strategy to improve antibiotic therapy for the treatment of chronic lung infections. Furthermore, the development of a representative lung model of bacterial biofilm could potentially be used as a platform for future new antimicrobial pre-clinical screening.
Ozone-climate interactions and effects on solar ultraviolet radiation

Bais AF, Bernhard G, McKenzie RL, Aucamp PJ, Young PJ, Ilyas M, et al.

Photochem Photobiol Sci, 2019 Mar 01;18(3):602-640.
PMID: 30810565 DOI: 10.1039/c8pp90059k

This report assesses the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and anticipated ozone recovery on the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth's surface. Interactions between changes in ozone and changes in climate, as well as their effects on UV radiation, are also considered. These evaluations focus mainly on new knowledge gained from research conducted during the last four years. Furthermore, drivers of changes in UV radiation other than ozone are discussed and their relative importance is assessed. The most important of these factors, namely clouds, aerosols and surface reflectivity, are related to changes in climate, and some of their effects on short- and long-term variations of UV radiation have already been identified from measurements. Finally, projected future developments in stratospheric ozone, climate, and other factors affecting UV radiation have been used to estimate changes in solar UV radiation from the present to the end of the 21st century. New instruments and methods have been assessed with respect to their ability to provide useful and accurate information for monitoring solar UV radiation at the Earth's surface and for determining relevant exposures of humans. Evidence since the last assessment reconfirms that systematic and accurate long-term measurements of UV radiation and stratospheric ozone are essential for assessing the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments and adjustments. Finally, we have assessed aspects of UV radiation related to biological effects and human health, as well as implications for UV radiation from possible solar radiation management (geoengineering) methods to mitigate climate change.
Fulltext The impact of local surface changes in Borneo on atmospheric composition at wider spatial scales: coastal processes, land-use change and air quality

Pyle JA, Warwick NJ, Harris NR, Abas MR, Archibald AT, Ashfold MJ, et al.

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2011 Nov 27;366(1582):3210-24.
PMID: 22006963 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0060

We present results from the OP3 campaign in Sabah during 2008 that allow us to study the impact of local emission changes over Borneo on atmospheric composition at the regional and wider scale. OP3 constituent data provide an important constraint on model performance. Treatment of boundary layer processes is highlighted as an important area of model uncertainty. Model studies of land-use change confirm earlier work, indicating that further changes to intensive oil palm agriculture in South East Asia, and the tropics in general, could have important impacts on air quality, with the biggest factor being the concomitant changes in NO(x) emissions. With the model scenarios used here, local increases in ozone of around 50 per cent could occur. We also report measurements of short-lived brominated compounds around Sabah suggesting that oceanic (and, especially, coastal) emission sources dominate locally. The concentration of bromine in short-lived halocarbons measured at the surface during OP3 amounted to about 7 ppt, setting an upper limit on the amount of these species that can reach the lower stratosphere.
Fulltext Business not as usual: how multisectoral collaboration can promote transformative change for health and sustainable development

Kuruvilla S, Hinton R, Boerma T, Bunney R, Casamitjana N, Cortez R, et al.

BMJ, 2018 Dec 07;363:k4771.
PMID: 30530519 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.k4771

Shyama Kuruvilla and colleagues present findings across 12 country case studies of multisectoral collaboration, showing how diverse sectors intentionally shape new ways of collaborating and learning, using “business not as usual” strategies to transform situations and achieve shared goals