Aetiology of traveller's diarrhoea: evaluation of a multiplex PCR tool to detect different enteropathogens

Traveller's diarrhoea (TD) is the most common illness reported in international travellers. TD is caused by a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and parasites. Multiplex PCR assays can be especially useful for studying the aetiology of TD. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of the commercially available multiplex PCR (xTAG(®) Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP)) for the diagnosis of TD. A total of 185 stool specimens obtained from 174 patients were processed using the GPP assay. This test detected 86 pathogens in 67 stool samples (67/185, 36.2%). Sixteen pathogens out of 86 were also detected by routine testing. The remaining pathogens (n = 70) required further confirmation by alternative techniques. Finally, 60 out of 70 pathogens were confirmed. The second objective of this study was to analyse the aetiology of TD based on the results obtained by the GPP test and routine methods. The primary pathogens causing TD were Shigella (24.2%) followed by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (23.2%), enteroaggregative E. coli (14.7%) and Giardia (13.7%). Significant regional differences were observed for ETEC with 19.4% of TD cases acquired in Africa, 11.3% in Asia and none in South Central (SC) America (p 0.01), Giardia was found in 1.5% of cases among those who had travelled to Africa, 14.1% of those who had travelled to Asia and 3% of those who had travelled to SC America (p 0.01). In conclusion, the GPP test improved the detection of enteropathogens and allowed better assessment of the aetiology of TD.

Lack of detection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in mild and severe respiratory infections in Catalonia, northeastern Spain

Surveillance of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was conducted to explore the possible introduction and circulation of this novel virus in Catalonia, northeastern Spain. Five hundred and sixty-three samples from mild and severe respiratory infections collected between January 2012 and April 2013 were screened using real-time RT-PCR. All samples were negative, suggesting that MERS-CoV is not circulating silently in Catalonia.

The effects of superovulation of donor sows on ovarian response and embryo development after nonsurgical deep-uterine embryo transfer

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of superovulation protocols in improving the efficiency of embryo donors for porcine nonsurgical deep-uterine (NsDU) embryo transfer (ET) programs. After weaning (24 hours), purebred Duroc sows (2-6 parity) were treated with 1000 IU (n = 27) or 1500 IU (n = 27) of eCG. Only sows with clear signs of estrus 4 to 72 hours after eCG administration were treated with 750 IU hCG at the onset of estrus. Nonhormonally treated postweaning estrus sows (n = 36) were used as a control. Sows were inseminated and subjected to laparotomy on Days 5 to 6 (Day 0 = onset of estrus). Three sows (11.1%) treated with the highest dosage of eCG presented with polycystic ovaries without signs of ovulation. The remaining sows from nonsuperovulated and superovulated groups were all pregnant, with no differences in fertilization rates among groups. The number of CLs and viable embryos was higher (P < 0.05) in the superovulated groups compared with the controls and increased (P < 0.05) with increasing doses of eCG. There were no differences among groups in the number of oocytes and/or degenerated embryos. The number of transferable embryos (morulae and unhatched blastocysts) obtained in pregnant sows was higher (P < 0.05) in the superovulated groups than in the control group. In all groups, there was a significant correlation between the number of CLs and the number of viable and transferable embryos, but the number of CLs and the number of oocytes and/or degenerated embryos were not correlated. A total of 46 NsDU ETs were performed in nonhormonally treated recipient sows, with embryos (30 embryos per transfer) recovered from the 1000-IU eCG, 1500-IU eCG, and control groups. In total, pregnancy and farrowing rates were 75.1% and 73.2%, respectively, with a litter size of 9.4 ± 0.6 piglets born, of which 8.8 ± 0.5 were born alive. There were no differences for any of the reproductive parameters evaluated among groups. In conclusion, our results demonstrated the efficiency of eCG superovulation treatments in decreasing the donor-to-recipient ratio. Compared with nonsuperovulated sows, the number of transferable embryos was increased in superovulated sows without affecting their quality and in vivo capacity to develop to term after transfer. The results from this study also demonstrate the effectiveness of the NsDU ET procedure used, making possible the commercial use of ET technology by the pig industry.

Comparison of acquisition of resistant microorganisms and infections in critically-ill patients with and without malignancies

BACKGROUND

Patients with malignancies are often considered at risk of acquiring infections by resistant or potentially resistant microorganisms (RPRMs). However, data supporting this contention is scarce. We have compared critically ill patients with haematological malignancies (HM), solid tumours (ST) and without cancer (NC) in terms of acquisition of RPRMs, infections and mortality.

METHODS

Observational, prospective cohort study of patients admitted to a medical intensive care unit (ICU). Swabbing of nares, pharynx and rectum, and culture of respiratory secretions were obtained within 48 h of admission and thrice weekly thereafter. Clinical samples were obtained as deemed necessary by the attending physician. Clinical variables, severity scores on admission and exposures during ICU stay were also collected. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate ICU mortality.

RESULTS

Out of 969 included patients 127 (13.1%) had HM and 93 (9.6%) had ST. Patients with malignancies were more frequently exposed to central venous catheterization, methylprednisolone, and any antipseudomonal antibiotic whereas they were less commonly exposed to invasive mechanical ventilation. Patients with HM were more often admitted with an infection. There were no differences among groups in terms of RPRMs acquisition during ICU stay or prevalence of ICU-acquired infections due to any microorganism, including RPRMs. Having a HM was an independent predictor of mortality regardless of APACHE II score.

CONCLUSION

Critically ill cancer patients did not show a higher rate of RPRMs acquisition nor ICU-acquired infections. Mortality was higher in the HM group and it was not accurately predicted on admission by APACHE II score.

Antimicrobial resistance in Shigella spp. causing traveller's diarrhoea (1995-2010): a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Shigellosis is a global human health problem causing an important morbidity among travellers returning from tropical areas. This study was aimed to describe the evolution of antimicrobial resistance profile in Shigella spp. isolated between the years 1995-2010 in patients with traveller's diarrhoea (TD) returning from tropical areas.

METHODS

The levels of antimicrobial resistance were tested in a total of 191 Shigella spp. isolated during the period from 1995 to 2010.

RESULTS

A decrease of cases of diarrhoea caused by Shigella has been observed in recent years. A wide spectrum of antibiotic resistance was observed among Shigella spp. These isolates showed high levels of resistance to tetracycline (84%), co-trimoxazole (75.5%), and ampicillin (45.5%). The resistance was low to ciprofloxacin (2.1%), azithromycin (3.9%) and furazolidone (8.4%). According to the period, in the case of ampicillin, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, values of resistance were significantly decreasing from 1995-2000 to 2001-2010, (62.5% vs. 28.4%, 19.8% vs. 6.6%, 23.4 vs. 10.4%, respectively). Meanwhile in nalidixic acid and tetracycline the evolution of resistance has increased over time.

CONCLUSIONS

A decrease in the isolation number of Shigella spp. causing TD has been observed. Differential trends in the evolution of the levels of resistance to the tested antibacterial agents have been observed.

Electrical conductivity of seven binary systems containing 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium alkyl sulfate ionic liquids with water or ethanol at four temperatures

We present experimental measurements of specific electrical (or ionic) conductivity of seven binary systems of 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium alkyl sulfate (EMIM-C(n)S) with water or ethanol. Electrical conductivity was measured at 298.15 K in all ranges of concentrations and selected mixtures also at 288.15, 308.15, and 318.15 K. The alkyl chains of the anions used are ethyl (EMIM-ES), butyl (EMIM-BS), hexyl (EMIM-HS), and, only for mixtures with ethanol, octyl (EMIM-OS). Let us note that the four ionic liquids (ILs) measured are miscible in water and ethanol at those temperatures and atmospheric pressure in all ranges of concentrations, but EMIM-OS jellifies for a given range of concentration with water. We compare the measured data in terms of the alkyl chain length and solvent nature. Data are compared with previously scarce results for these same systems and also for other aqueous and ethanol mixtures with ILs. In addition, we verify that our data fit the universal theoretical expression with no fitting parameters given by the pseudolattice-based Bahe-Varela model, except for IL concentrated mixtures. To fit well all ranges of concentrations, we add to the original equation two phenomenological terms with one fitting parameter each. Finally, we calculate the molar conductivity and fit it successfully with an expression derived from Onsager theory.

SVMT: a MATLAB toolbox for stereo-vision motion tracking of motor reactivity

This article presents a Matlab-based stereo-vision motion tracking system (SVMT) for the detection of human motor reactivity elicited by sensory stimulation. It is a low-cost, non-intrusive system supported by Graphical User Interface (GUI) software, and has been successfully tested and integrated in a broad array of physiological recording devices at the Human Physiology Laboratory in the University of Granada. The SVMT GUI software handles data in Matlab and ASCII formats. Internal functions perform lens distortion correction, camera geometry definition, feature matching, as well as data clustering and filtering to extract 3D motion paths of specific body areas. System validation showed geo-rectification errors below 0.5 mm, while feature matching and motion paths extraction procedures were successfully validated with manual tracking and RMS errors were typically below 2% of the movement range. The application of the system in a psychophysiological experiment designed to elicit a startle motor response by the presentation of intense and unexpected acoustic stimuli, provided reliable data probing dynamical features of motor responses and habituation to repeated stimulus presentations. The stereo-geolocation and motion tracking performance of the SVMT system were successfully validated through comparisons with surface EMG measurements of eyeblink startle, which clearly demonstrate the ability of SVMT to track subtle body movement, such as those induced by the presentation of intense acoustic stimuli. Finally, SVMT provides an efficient solution for the assessment of motor reactivity not only in controlled laboratory settings, but also in more open, ecological environments.

Effect of temperature and cationic chain length on the physical properties of ammonium nitrate-based protic ionic liquids

We report a systematic study of the effect of the cationic chain length and degree of hydrogen bonding on several equilibrium and transport properties of the first members of the alkylammonium nitrate protic ionic liquids (PILs) family (ethylammonium, propylammonium, and butylammonium nitrate) in the temperature range between 10 and 40 °C. These properties were observed by means of several experimental techniques, including density, surface tension, refractometry, viscosimetry, and conductimetry. The dilatation coefficients and compressibilities, as well as the Rao coefficients, were calculated, and an increase of these magnitudes with alkyl chain length was detected. Moreover, the surface entropies and enthalpies of the studied PILs were analyzed, and the temperature dependence of the surface tension was observed to be describable by means of a harmonic oscillator model with surface energies and critical temperatures that are increasing functions of the cationic chain length. Moreover, the refractive indexes were measured and the thermo-optic coefficient and Abbe numbers were calculated, and the contribution of the electrostrictive part seemed to dominate the temperature dependence of the electric polarization. The electric conductivity and the viscosity were measured and the influence of the degree of hydrogen bonding in the supercooled liquid region analyzed. Hysteresis loops were detected in freezing-melting cycles and the effect of the length of the alkyl chain of the cation on the size of the loop analyzed, showing that longer chains lead to a narrowing of the supercooled region. The temperature dependence of the conductivity was studied in the Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman (VFT) framework and the fragility indices, the effective activation energies, and the Vogel temperatures obtained. A high-temperature Arrhenius analysis was also performed, and the activation energies of conductivity and viscosity were calculated, showing that these transport processes are governed by two distinct mechanisms. The exponents of the fractional Walden rule for the different compounds were obtained. Finally, the ionicities and fragilities of the studied PILs were analyzed, proving that all the studied PILs are subionic and fragile liquids, with propylammonium nitrate showing the lowest fragility and the greater ionicity of all the studied compounds.

Update of peptides with antibacterial activity

For many years a battle has been going on between bacteria and humans, with bacteria trying to survive against the antibiotics used by humans. Bacteria are found to be dominant in this battle since they can develop resistance. In fact, in the last decade multi-, extended- and pan-drug resistant bacteria have been isolated. On the other hand, the number of new antibiotics approved by the FDA has dramatically decreased during the last 20 years. Therefore, there is a desperate need for developing new types of antibacterial agents, where antimicrobial peptides may play an important role. This review provides an update of the recently identified antimicrobial peptides. Three valid approaches for developing a future antibacterial agent, as are the mechanisms of action as well as the in vitro and in vivo assays have been described in depth. In comparison to the antibacterial agents available at present, the targets for most of the antimicrobial peptides are not well known. However several proposals having been introduced for many antimicrobial peptides of different mechanisms of action, there still lies some uncertainty about their utility. Hundreds of antimicrobial peptides have been tested in vitro against all types of bacteria, but in this review we will highlight only those which have been tested against the most important Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The last step to get a potential antibiotic includes studies with an in vivo model. Therefore only antimicrobial peptides with good activity are tested that have been described in this review.