{"title":"Gut Microbiota Composition in Helicobacter pylori-Positive Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Compositional Analysis","authors":"Toshihiko Kakiuchi, Kentaroh Yamamoto, Ichiro Imamura, Kazutoshi Hashiguchi, Hiroharu Kawakubo, Daisuke Yamaguchi, Yasuhiko Fujioka, Masumi Okuda","doi":"10.1111/apm.70271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.70271","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alterations in the gut microbiota have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but reported microbial profiles remain inconsistent, potentially because of heterogeneity in factors affecting gut microbial composition. Because <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection is associated with alterations in the gut microbiota, we investigated whether ASD was associated with gut microbial composition in a cohort of <i>H. pylori</i>-positive adolescents. This cross-sectional study included seven adolescents with ASD and 80 controls before <i>H. pylori</i> eradication therapy. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with alpha diversity, centered log-ratio-transformed genus-level abundance, and overall community composition based on Aitchison distance evaluated between groups. No significant differences were observed in alpha diversity or overall microbial community composition. At the genus level, 82 genera met the prevalence criterion for individual testing, and no association remained significant after false-discovery-rate correction. The effect estimate for Roseburia was not statistically significant in either unadjusted or adjusted analyses. These findings do not support marked differences in overall gut microbiota composition associated with ASD within this <i>H. pylori</i>-positive cohort; however, the small ASD sample and substantial age imbalance limit the precision and interpretation of the findings.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aditya K. Gupta, Elizabeth M. Teasell, Gregory Pellegrino, Vasiliki Economopoulos, Ditte M. L. Saunte
{"title":"Antifungal Dispensing in Denmark: Patterns Across Primary Care, Secondary Care, and Over-the-Counter Sectors","authors":"Aditya K. Gupta, Elizabeth M. Teasell, Gregory Pellegrino, Vasiliki Economopoulos, Ditte M. L. Saunte","doi":"10.1111/apm.70269","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apm.70269","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fungal infections pose a significant health burden in Denmark. Increasing global antifungal use and emerging antifungal resistance underscore the need for ongoing characterization of national prescribing trends to inform antifungal stewardship. Danish Health Data Bank Medstat site was accessed to assess total antifungal dispensing in Denmark from 1996 to 2025 across primary care, secondary care (hospitals), and over-the-counter sectors for both topical and systemic antifungals. Over the 30-year period, national antifungal dispensing patterns shifted substantially, with increased dispensing of azole/corticosteroid combination products in primary care (mean annual change of 0.065 g or ml per 1000 inhabitants/day), and persistent predominance of miconazole in secondary care and over-the-counter settings. Systemic prescribing was dominated by oral terbinafine in primary care and fluconazole in secondary care. Oral terbinafine dispensing in primary care was highest in 2009, while fluconazole dispensing peaked in 2013 in secondary care. Following peaks between 2009 and 2013, dispensing of several systemic antifungals subsequently declined, suggesting evolving prescribing patterns over time. Continued increases in azole/corticosteroid dispensing raises concerns regarding antifungal stewardship. Shifts in systemic antifungal dispensing for terbinafine and fluconazole may reflect changes in demographics, disease incidence (e.g., cancer), treatment guidelines, and clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sibusiso Luthuli, Nathalie Scarpulla, Lorenzo Bertolino, Lulama Luthuli, Emanuele Durante-Mangoni
{"title":"Iron, Biofilm, and Colorectal Cancer: Mechanistic Insights Into Enterococcus faecalis Pathogenesis","authors":"Sibusiso Luthuli, Nathalie Scarpulla, Lorenzo Bertolino, Lulama Luthuli, Emanuele Durante-Mangoni","doi":"10.1111/apm.70268","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apm.70268","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> is a commensal of the human gastrointestinal microbiota that has emerged as a successful opportunistic pathogen associated with persistent infections, antimicrobial resistance, and biofilm formation. Increasing evidence indicates that iron availability functions as a master environmental signal coordinating <i>E. faecalis</i> pathogenic traits. This review summarizes clinical, molecular, and sequencing-based studies linking iron homeostasis to extracellular DNA (eDNA) dynamics, biofilm architecture, virulence regulation, and immune evasion, and critically evaluates the emerging but still associative evidence connecting <i>E. faecalis</i> to colorectal carcinogenesis. We highlight how iron sensing and uptake systems modulate biofilm stability through eDNA release, metabolic cooperation, and transcriptional control via the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) and other regulatory networks. We further integrate experimental findings that suggest how these mechanisms may promote inflammation-driven tumorigenesis in the colon, although a complete causal pathway has not yet been established. Finally, we discuss translational implications, including iron-targeting and eDNA-disruptive strategies as promising anti-virulence approaches, and identify key knowledge gaps requiring future investigation. This review positions iron metabolism at the center of <i>E. faecalis</i> pathogenicity and underscores its potential as a therapeutic target, while recognizing the need for further mechanistic and clinical validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13632819/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dharshini Karnan Singaravelu, Mariappan Mariappan, Abdullah Hassan, Najla A Alashaikh, Fuad Ameen, Anbazhagan Veerappan
{"title":"Phytolectin Potentiates Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles Anticandida Activity Through Enhanced ROS Production.","authors":"Dharshini Karnan Singaravelu, Mariappan Mariappan, Abdullah Hassan, Najla A Alashaikh, Fuad Ameen, Anbazhagan Veerappan","doi":"10.1111/apm.70272","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.70272","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fungal infections caused by Candida albicans are challenging to treat with antifungal drugs due to the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains, necessitating the development of innovative therapeutic methods. The present study demonstrates that cationic copper sulfide nanoparticles (cCuS) synthesized using [2-((N-(2-hydroxyethyl)palmitamido)methyl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide] exhibit increased efficacy against C. albicans when delivered using Jacalin, a lectin from jackfruit that binds to cell surface glycans. The requirement of cCuS to kill was reduced twofold when delivered through Jacalin. Membrane integrity assays showed that JcCuS caused only minimal membrane permeabilization, indicating that membrane disruption is not the primary mechanism of action. Instead, JcCuS significantly increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that oxidative stress plays a central role in its antifungal activity. Elevated ROS levels were markedly reduced by the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, confirming ROS-mediated toxicity. Excess ROS also induced apoptosis-associated nuclear condensation and disrupted fungal redox homeostasis by significantly decreasing intracellular reduced glutathione levels. In addition, JcCuS effectively inhibited hyphal growth and filamentation, key virulence factors required for C. albicans pathogenesis. These findings demonstrate that lectin-mediated delivery enhances the efficacy of cCuS nanoparticles by promoting ROS-dependent fungal cell death while preserving membrane integrity, representing a promising strategy for developing targeted antifungal nanotherapeutics.</p>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 10","pages":"e70272"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149219891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Integrated In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of Natural Plasmid-Curing Agents Against Multidrug-Resistant Agrobacterium tumefaciens","authors":"Shahid Attar, Yogesh Phatake, Rajendra Marathe","doi":"10.1111/apm.70260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.70260","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>Agrobacterium tumefaciens</i> threatens healthcare and agriculture. Toxicity and environmental risks limit conventional plasmid-curing agents, prompting natural alternatives. Curcumin, piperine, and quercetin were tested for plasmid-curing against clinically isolated MDR <i>A. tumefaciens</i>. Morphological and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used for identification of the isolate. Antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation were measured pre- and post-treatment. Molecular docking was performed to analyze phytocompound–plasmid maintenance protein interactions. Broad-spectrum resistance and ethidium bromide insensitivity were found in the MDR isolate. Curcumin, piperine, and quercetin induced plasmid curing by restoring antibiotic susceptibility and inhibiting biofilm formation. The observed increases in antibiotic susceptibility following treatment were statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Molecular docking showed strong binding affinities for quercetin and tetracycline, supporting these effects' mechanism. These results show that natural compounds can eliminate MDR <i>A. tumefaciens</i> biofilm formation and plasmid-mediated resistance. Curcumin, piperine, and quercetin disrupt plasmid stability through protein–ligand interactions, offering a promising alternative to traditional curing agents. Curcumin, piperine, and quercetin are eco-friendly, effective plasmid-curing agents that may combat <i>A. tumefaciens</i> multidrug resistance. This integrated in vitro and in silico approach supports phytocompound research and antibiotic-resistant pathogen treatment.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149068421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Missing, the Unidentified, and Representational Obligations to the Dead in the United States of America","authors":"Nicole R. Jackson, Laura J. Tafe","doi":"10.1111/apm.70267","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apm.70267","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Thousands of human remains lie unidentified in Medical Examiners' and Coroners' Offices across the United States of America. Determining identity is the first step in bringing closure to grieving families and communities and, in certain cases, moving towards justice. While many distance themselves from death, forensic specialists, including forensic photographers and artists, dive in, focusing intently on every detail to recapitulate the deceased's story. Forensic sketches serve a dual purpose—identification and remembrance. They have been used for over a century to help identify deceased bodies and connect them to their remaining loved ones. Common external characteristics are combined with accentuated distinguishing features to bring the body back to life in a recognizable form. Preserving human dignity, acting with respect and non-maleficence, and contributing to justice are central in these postmortem proceedings. This comprehensive review explores the gravity of the silent mass disaster of unidentified human remains in the United States of America, the disparities that exist between the missing and the recovered and identified, and sheds light on the early introduction of artificial intelligence into the field of forensic identification.</p>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13597173/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149023700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction to “Detection and Characterization of HIV-1 Group O and HIV-2 in the Central African Republic”","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/apm.70266","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apm.70266","url":null,"abstract":"<p>\u0000 <span>S. Moussa</span>, <span>P. A. Tagnouokam-Ngoupo</span>, <span>F. Tombette</span>, et al., “ <span>Detection and Characterization of HIV-1 Group O and HIV-2 in the Central African Republic</span>,” <i>APMIS</i> <span>132</span> (<span>2024</span>): <span>824</span>–<span>831</span>, https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.13474.\u0000 </p><p>In the published article, an error appears in the last sentence of the Figure S1 caption. Specifically, <b>“HIV-1/N”</b> should read <b>“HIV-1/O.”</b></p><p>The correct Figure S1 caption is reproduced below:</p><p><b>Figure S1.</b> Flow chart showing the analytical analysis of 6092 study samples found positive for HIV by routine serological diagnosis at the Institut Pasteur of Bangui or elsewhere during a 12-year period, first tested using HIV serotyping techniques, by initial indirect screening ELISA of two peptides, using two specific synthetic peptides of HIV-1/M and HIV-1/O, and by indirect secondary ELISA of 10 peptides using 10 specific synthetic peptides of HIV-1 groups M, N, O and P, and HIV-2, with additional sequencing of samples reacting with HIV-1/M, HIV-1/O or HIV-2.</p><p>We apologize for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/apm.70266","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148987810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Petra Strakova, Martina Dokulilova, Marta Heroldova, Andrea Fortova, Josef Suchomel, Ivo Rudolf, Jiri Salat
{"title":"High Prevalence of Brucella microti, Co-Infections With Other Zoonotic Pathogens, and Public Health Risk Related to Overpopulated Common Voles (Microtus arvalis), Czech Republic","authors":"Petra Strakova, Martina Dokulilova, Marta Heroldova, Andrea Fortova, Josef Suchomel, Ivo Rudolf, Jiri Salat","doi":"10.1111/apm.70264","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apm.70264","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The common vole (<i>Microtus arvalis</i>) is one of the most abundant rodent species in Europe and is known for its cyclic population outbreaks, which result in significant crop damage and an increased risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens to humans. In this study, we confirmed that common voles are an important reservoir of multiple zoonotic pathogens in South Moravia, Czech Republic, with a high prevalence of infection and frequent co-infections. Overall, we found 70 (50%), 72 (51.4%), 50 (35.7%) and 35 (25%) positive voles for <i>Leptospira</i> spp., <i>Bartonella</i> spp., <i>Brucella</i> spp. and TULV, respectively. Our results highlight the significant epidemiological role of this species in agricultural ecosystems. Therefore, further studies are needed to monitor vole populations and other small mammal species in this area to better understand pathogen dynamics and assess potential risks to human and animal health.</p>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13575601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148966432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Non-Uniform Standards in Forensic Postmortem Paediatric Microbiology on the Evidentiary Value of Microbiological Findings: A Scoping Review of Postmortem Sampling Sites, Techniques and Interpretation Methods","authors":"Sarah Parsons, Judith Fronczek, Reena Sarkar","doi":"10.1111/apm.70262","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apm.70262","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To map international literature on the extent, nature and standards of evidence on postmortem microbiology (PMM) sampling in paediatric cases. Investigations of sudden unexpected deaths in infancy and childhood warrant high standards due to their public health and legal significance. PMM is an integral component of these investigations. The review aimed to examine paediatric studies; however, only a single study was identified. The review therefore included articles on PMM of all ages and forensic and clinical autopsies. Data sources used were Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and Scopus. Primary studies were selected by title and abstract screening using Covidence. Twenty four primary studies covering 2965 postmortems with an age range of 0–90+ years. There was significant heterogeneity in the selection of sampling sites and interpretation, with no consistent definition for contamination or true infection. There were significant gaps in literature, particularly the lack of paediatric studies, standardised techniques for specimen collection and definition of contamination. An interpretation framework for PMM results was proposed by the authors. These gaps warrant immediate attention as inconsistent interpretation of PMM results can lead to low public confidence in mortality statistics, disease surveillance data and public health policy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13573654/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148962966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mapping Global Research Trends in Post-Mortem Interval Estimation: A Bibliometric Analysis (2015–2025)","authors":"Narendra Kumar, Chandra Shekhar Yadav, Kratika Verma, Kumud Kant Awasthi","doi":"10.1111/apm.70263","DOIUrl":"10.1111/apm.70263","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This bibliometric analysis reveals a substantial increase in global research on postmortem interval (PMI) estimation over the last decade, reflecting growing scientific interest in molecular, omics-based, and data-driven approaches. The bibliometric findings indicate growing research attention toward advanced analytical techniques and interdisciplinary approaches in forensic science. This bibliometric analysis examined Scopus-indexed literature on postmortem interval estimation published between 2015 and 2025. Using VOSviewer, 643 retrieved records were screened, and 497 eligible research articles were analyzed to evaluate publication trends, leading journals, countries, institutions, authors, and keyword co-occurrence and co-citation networks. The analysis revealed a significant and sustained increase in publications over the last two years, reflecting increasing scientific interest in emerging technologies for PMI estimation research. The co-citation analysis identified foundational works that define modern research trends in PMI estimation. Overall, the bibliometric evidence suggests a growing integration of conventional postmortem examination methods with molecular, omics-based, and computational approaches in the scientific literature on PMI estimation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8167,"journal":{"name":"Apmis","volume":"134 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148962934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}