Antibiotic resistance and virulence factors among Enterococci isolated from chouriço, a traditional Portuguese dry fermented sausage

Enterococci are ubiquitous microorganisms, found as part of the normal intestinal microbiota of many animals. They can be present in food products, for example, the Portuguese dry fermented sausage chouriço. Twenty enterococci were isolated from chouriço in two processing units; after identification and typification by conventional-molecular methods, the isolates were screened for virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Identification allocated all enterococci to the species Enterococcus faecalis, and PCR fingerprinting demonstrated that each isolate was specific to the processing unit and chouriço from which it was recovered. Regarding the screening for virulence factors, 1 strain produced cytolysin and 4 were gelatinase positive, but none produced lipase. The ace gene was detected in 1 enterococci, ebpABC and efaA(fs) in 16 isolates each, esp in 3, fsrB in 5, gelE in 7, and cylA in 1. A multiresistant phenotype was observed in 8 isolates, 6 belonging to factory A. The antibiotic resistance gene ere(B) was detected in 9 enterococci, whereas the genes tet(M), aac(6')-Ie-aph(2''), and vanA were detected in 8 isolates each. As some of the E. faecalis chouriço isolates present a multiresistant profile and harbor virulence and/or resistance genes, to assess further the safety of Portuguese dry sausages, a larger number of products and processing units must by analyzed.

Distribution of aminogenic activity among potential autochthonous starter cultures for dry fermented sausages

Any bacterial strain to be used as starter culture should have suitable characteristics, including a lack of amino acid decarboxylase activity. In this study, the decarboxylase activity of 76 bacterial strains, including lactic acid bacteria and gram-positive, catalase-positive cocci, was investigated. These strains were previously isolated from European traditional fermented sausages to develop autochthonous starter cultures. Of all the strains tested, 48% of the lactic acid bacteria strains and 13% of gram-positive, catalase-positive cocci decarboxylated one or more amino acids. Aminogenic potential was strain dependent, although some species had a higher proportion of aminogenic strains than did others. Thus, all Lactobacillus curvatus strains and 70% of Lactobacillus brevis strains had the capacity to produce tyramine and beta-phenylethylamine. Some strains also produced other aromatic amines, such as tryptamine and the diamines putrescine and cadaverine. All the enterococcal strains tested were decarboxylase positive, producing high amounts of tyramine and considerable amounts of beta-phenylethylamine. None of the staphylococcal strains had tyrosine-decarboxylase activity, but some produced other amines. From the aminogenic point of view, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus sakei, and Staphylococcus xylosus strains would be the most suitable for use as autochthonous starter cultures for traditional fermented sausages.

Color modeling of stratified pictorial layers using the radiative transfer equation solved by the auxiliary function method

The diffuse reflectance spectra and the trichromatic coordinates of diffusing stratified paints are modeled. Each layer contains its own pigments, and their optical properties are first determined from experiments. The radiative transfer equation is then solved by the auxiliary function method for modeling the total light scattered by the stratified systems. The results are in good agreement with experimental spectra and validate the modeling. The calculations are then applied on the same stratified systems to study the influence of the observation angle in a bidirectional configuration and to study the influence of the thickness of the layers in a given configuration. In both cases, the reflectance spectra and the trichromatic coordinates are calculated and compared.

Ionic dependence of the velocity of release of ATP from permeabilized cholinergic synaptic vesicles

Evidence is provided to show that synaptic vesicles have an internal matrix. Suspensions of cholinergic synaptic vesicles isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata fish were permeabilized in solutions containing low concentrations of Na(+) or Ca(2+). The release of ATP from the vesicular matrix was 10 times more effective with Ca(2+) than with Na(+). We ascertained whether these two cations induced a different velocity of release of ATP from the matrix. The release of ATP was monitored with the chemiluminescent reaction of luciferin-luciferase. The light signal generated was the result of the kinetics of ATP release of the enzymatic reaction. To overcome the kinetics of the enzymatic reaction, the light records were deconvoluted. The actual kinetics of ATP release of vesicles containing Na(+) or Ca(2+) were coincident. To validate this result, comparison was made with ATP release from intact nerve terminals which were already deconvoluted. The results show that the real time course of release is longer than that obtained from synaptic vesicles. This was as expected given that the release of neurotransmitters is due to successive molecular steps of synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

Altered gene expression in Choristoneura fumiferana and Manduca sexta in response to sublethal intoxication by Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxin

In order to understand how lepidopteran insects react physiologically to Bacillus thuringiensis crystal toxin ingestion, transcriptional profiling of Choristoneura fumiferana larvae exposed to sublethal doses of Cry1Ab protoxin were monitored using a C. fumiferana-specific cDNA microarray derived from a protoxin-specific subtractive library. Differential gene expression occurred primarily between 2 and 5 h postingestion. Metabolic enzymes such as lipases and proteases were generally repressed, whereas genes involved in detoxification, immune system regulation or general stress response were upregulated. A similar protoxin-specific transcriptional pattern was also observed with Manduca sexta larvae, using three upregulated genes (serpin, cytochrome P450 and carboxyl/cholinesterase) and one downregulated gene (beta-glucosidase), suggesting that a susceptible larval response to Cry toxin exposure might be universal among lepidopterous insects.

[The risks of combining medicine and herbal remedies]

The risks of using herbal remedies, considered 'natural', should not be disregarded, as some have serious side effects and some interact with and influence conventional medical therapeutics. The effect may be pharmacokinetic by altering absorption or metabolism, and may be pharmacodynamic, by changing the final effect of the drug. St. John's wort, for example, an antidepressant herbal remedy, may pharmacodynamically interact with specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's), causing a serotonin syndrome. St. Johns wort also causes serious pharmacokinetic interactions by activating the cytochrome CYP3A4, dangerously decreasing blood levels of cyclosporin, warfarin, and theophylline, and reducing the efficacy of contraceptive pills and AIDS therapy. The article presents a review of a number of herbal remedies, commonly used in Israel, that have documented drug interactions, providing details of common indications, adverse reactions and drug interactions of each herbal remedy. Physicians should recognize the fact that patients use herbal remedies, purchased directly at pharmacies or health stores, and be aware of the potential interactions of these remedies with conventional drugs.

Systemic lupus erythematosus and inflammatory bowel disease

We hereby summarize a case reported by the authors, as well as all of the previously reported cases, of patients suffering from both systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that have been published in the English literature. In most cases, SLE was diagnosed prior to IBD, and the latter was of the ulcerative colitis subtype. Interestingly, the first disease diagnosed was almost never active at the time the second disease manifested itself. Patients with both diseases tended to have less photosensitivity, less arthritis, and less serositis than patients with SLE alone. There were no cases with neurological disorders or overt nephritis. All of these patients had anti-dsDNA and there was a tendency towards more anemia and thrombocytopenia. These patients had a relatively benign course with no flare-ups of lupus during follow-up and a favorable course of their bowel disease as well.

Multimodal in vivo optical imaging, including confocal microscopy, facilitates presurgical margin mapping for clinically complex lentigo maligna melanoma

Knowledge of the accurate margins of a lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) is crucial in the presurgical evaluation of the patient. Towards this end clinicians have utilized the Wood's lamp and dermoscopy to help delineate the borders of the LMM. However, many LMMs arise on photodamaged skin, making it difficult to determine the border of the LMM and separate it from the background lentiginous skin. We present a case of a patient with a recurrent LMM on the scalp that developed in a background of photodamage with diffuse melanocytic atypia and lentigines, making it virtually impossible to determine the precise margins of the LMM by clinical, Wood's lamp or dermoscopic examination. To avoid subjecting the patient to multiple staged excisions we attempted to determine the margins of the LMM by utilizing in vivo confocal laser scanning reflectance microscopy. Using this, it was apparent that there were increased numbers of atypical/dendritic intraepidermal melanocytes in all layers of the epidermis within the LMM. In contrast, skin not involved with the LMM, as viewed under confocal laser examination, had normal honeycomb architecture and no abnormal melanocytes. The confocally determined border was further confirmed by obtaining multiple punch biopsies that were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin histology and immunohistochemistry. Based on this information, the presurgical margins were marked and the tumour excised accordingly. The excised tissue was examined with multiple-step sections and the margins were determined to be clear. There has been no evidence of tumour recurrence after 1 year. In conclusion, this case illustrates that confocal reflectance microscopy, in conjunction with other in vivo optical instruments, can be utilized to enhance the accuracy for the presurgical margin mapping of LMM.

Genetic control of susceptibility to Candida albicans in susceptible A/J and resistant C57BL/6J mice

The importance of host factors in determining susceptibility to systemic Candida albicans infections is evident in both humans and mice. We have used a mouse model to study the genetic basis of susceptibility, using the inbred strains A/J and C57BL/6J, which are susceptible and resistant, respectively, based on different parameters of the response to infection. To identify genes responsible for this differential host response, brain and kidney fungal load were measured in 128 [A/J x C57BL/6J] F(2) mice 48 h after infection with 5 x 10(4) C. albicans blastospores. Segregation analysis in this informative population identified complement component 5 (C5/Hc) as the major gene responsible for this differential susceptibility (LOD of 22.7 for kidney, 19.0 for brain), with a naturally occurring mutation that causes C5 deficiency leading to enhanced susceptibility. C5 was also found to control heart fungal load, survival time, and serum TNF-alpha levels during infection. Investigation of the response to C. albicans challenge in a series of AcB/BcA recombinant congenic strains validated the importance of C5 in determining the host response. However, the strains BcA67 and BcA72 showed discordant phenotypes with respect to their C5 status, suggesting additional complexity in the genetic control of the inter-strain difference in susceptibility observed in A/J and C57BL/6J following systemic infection with C. albicans.

Sweet's syndrome and sarcoidosis

In this review we summarize a number of cases of Sweet's syndrome (SS) associated with sarcoidosis that have been reported in the English literature. In all of the cases, the two disorders were diagnosed simultaneously. Patients with both disorders were younger and had a higher rate of fever than patients with SS alone. In this group of patients, we found a trend toward less skin involvement of the face and trunk, more involvement of the upper limbs, and more atypical skin lesions, particularly papules. The association of the two disorders seems to be more related to a subset of acute sarcoidosis (Lofgren's syndrome). All of the patients in this group had a benign course and self-limiting disease. Thus, SS in association with sarcoidosis could be considered a favorable prognostic factor. Although SS has a high rate of recurrence, no recurrence occurred in this group of patients during follow-up.

Closed system generation of dendritic cells from a single blood volume for clinical application in immunotherapy

Dendritic cells (DC) used for clinical trials should be processed on a large scale conforming to current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) guidelines. The aim of this study was to develop a protocol for clinical grade generation of immature DC in a closed-system. Aphereses were performed with the Cobe Spectra continuous flow cell separator and material was derived from one volume of blood processed. Optimisation of a 3-phase collection autoPBSC technique significantly improved the quality of the initial mononuclear cell (MNC) product. Monocytes were then enriched from MNC by immunomagnetic depletion of CD19+ B cells and CD2+ T cells and partial depletion of NK cells using the Isolex 300I Magnetic cell selector. The quality of the initial mononuclear cell product was found to determine the outcome of monocyte enrichment. Enriched monocytes were cultured in Opticyte gas-permeable containers using CellGro serum-free medium supplemented with GM-CSF and IL-4 to generate immature DC. A seeding concentration of 1 x 10(6) was found optimal in terms of DC phenotype expression, monocyte percentage in culture, and cell viability. The differentiation pattern favours day 7 for harvest of immature DC. DC recovery, viability, as well as phenotype expression after cryopreservation of immature DC was considered in this study. DC were induced to maturation and evaluated in FACS analysis for phenotype expression and proliferation assays. Mature DC were able to generate an allogeneic T-cell response as well as an anti-CMV response as detected by proliferation assays. These data indicate that the described large-scale GMP-compatible system results in the generation of stable DC derived from one volume of blood processed, which are qualitatively and quantitatively sufficient for clinical application in immunotherapeutic protocols.