Spread of a single multiresistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone carrying a variant of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type III isolated in a university hospital

The purpose of the study was the molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates cultured from patients treated in seven wards of a university hospital in Lublin, Poland, over a 14-month period. Eleven nosocomial MRSA isolates were analyzed. Phenotypic identification of the isolates as MRSA was confirmed by the detection of the nuc and mecA genes using a multiplex PCR assay. The MRSA isolates were further characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, 16S-23S rRNA spacer length polymorphism analysis, and the simplex and multiplex SCCmec PCR assays. The MRSA isolates were found to be multiresistant: in addition to resistance to beta-lactam agents, they demonstrated resistance to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and gentamicin. The MRSA isolates were genetically identical and shared common pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles and 16S-23S rRNA spacer length polymorphism profiles. The PCR-based method revealed that the profile of the Lublin clone was identical to that of the Brazilian pandemic MRSA isolates. By SCCmec typing, all MRSA isolates harbored the C variant of the SCCmec type III that differed from the typical SCCmec type III pattern by the lack of locus F (414 bp). The results of this study indicate the spread of a single, multiresistant, MRSA clone in various wards of a university hospital over a 14-month period. The SCCmec structure harbored by the Lublin clone has previously been identified among Polish MRSA isolates representing the HoMRSA-Pol1 clone. The data from this study indicate that the Lublin MRSA clone is most probably genetically related to the HoMRSA-Pol1 clone. Moreover, this latter clone belongs to ST239, the same sequence type as the Hungarian and Brazilian pandemic MRSA isolates.

PCI versus CABG versus medical therapy in 2006

The decision to offer patients with myocardial ischemia a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has been largely determined by extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular function, since the early 1970's. Based upon subset analyses, and long-term follow-up, of three moderate-sized trials of stable patients and two small trials of unstable angina (excluding recent myocardial infarction, MI) patients, the notion has persisted that patients with left main narrowing >50% or three-vessel stenoses >70%, or even two-vessel stenoses >70%, where one of the vessels is the proximal left anterior descending, derive a "survival benefit" relative to medical therapy (MED), from CABG (anatomic paradigm). The MED of the original CABG versus MED trials consisted of little more than anti-anginal medications, used on an as-needed basis. In the ensuing 3 decades, multiple large, well done, randomized clinical trials have established a survival benefit for 4 different forms of MED among a broad spectrum of CAD patients. Aspirin; lipid lowering, especially with statins; b-blockers; and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blocking agents; have all been shown to enhance survival, as well as reduce other objective adverse outcomes of CAD. The advances in MED, coupled with the small but significant mortality and morbidities of both CABG and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), are among the reasons to skeptically consider potential "survival benefit" of revascularization. A more common and far more easily justified reason to consider revascularization is to relieve "medically refractory" myocardial ischemia, particularly when the ischemia is accompanied by symptoms. Accordingly, documentation of medically refractory myocardial ischemia provides the answer to the first question of myocardial revascularization, "Is this patient likely to derive clinical benefit from revascularization, at this time?" It is only after this question has been answered that one needs to consider the relative advantages and disadvantages of PCI versus CABG (physiologic paradigm). Two of the relative advantages of PCI, namely speed of reperfusion, and relatively low morbidity, are among the reasons that most randomized trial data, and most clinical application of revascularization to patients with MI (ST-elevation MI [STEMI], and non-STEMI) have been by PCI. In contrast, for stable patients with medically refractory ischemia, anatomic considerations continue to be relevant to the choice between CABG and PCI. Specific advantages of CABG include: its potential to revascularize chronically occluded vessels with collaterals supplying viable myocardium; the fact that conduits protect territories rather than simply treating lesions; and the greater durability of conduits compared to bare-metal stents (drug-eluting stents may change the picture). Based on these principles, physiologic, rather than anatomic, considerations are most useful in determining whether to revascularize, and how urgently to revascularize (STEMI is an emergent indication and high-risk non-STEMI an urgent indication). Coronary anatomy, including both number of vessels and lesion characteristics, continues to help decide between CABG and PCI, and in formulating patient specific strategies.

Incidence of glycopeptide hetero-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus strains in Maltese hospitals

The incidence of hetero-intermediate glycopeptide susceptibility among Staphylococcus aureus isolates in Malta, a country with a high incidence of methicillin resistance, was studied by screening 454 non-repetitive S. aureus isolates on teicoplanin-supplemented agar plates, followed by Etests and genotypic studies. All strains were susceptible to vancomycin, but four (0.88%) exhibited teicoplanin MICs of > 12 mg/L. High methicillin-resistant S.aureus endemicity was not an accurate predictor of the emergence of non-susceptibility to glycopeptides.

HDM2 phosphorylation by MAPKAP kinase 2

p53 stability is regulated by HDM2, a RING domain protein that acts as an E3 ligase to ubiquitinate p53 and target its degradation. Phosphorylation of HDM2 on serine 166 by AKT has been shown to enhance HDM2 activity and promote the degradation of p53. Here, we show that MAPKAP kinase 2 (MK2) can phosphorylate HDM2 on serine 157 and 166 in vitro. Treatment of cells with anisomycin, which activates MK2, also results in phosphorylation of HDM2 on serine 157 and 166 in vivo. Mutation of the MK2 phosphorylation sites in HDM2 to aspartic acid renders HDM2 slightly more active in the degradation of p53, and mouse cells deficient for MK2 show reduced Mdm2 phosphorylation and elevated levels of p53 protein. Together, our results suggest that MK2 may act to dampen the extent and duration of the p53 response.

Phase I study of a novel recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, ART-123

BACKGROUND

Anticoagulants are often given for extended periods of time to patients at high risk for venous thromboembolism, such as after orthopedic surgery. Daily subcutaneous (sc) injections can be inconvenient to the patient. A long-acting anticoagulant requiring less frequent dosing could make treatment more acceptable. Thrombomodulin is a natural anticoagulant that activates protein C, which leads to inactivation of factor (F)Va and FVIIIa and decreased thrombin formation. Recombinant human thrombomodulin is a novel anticoagulant with a long half-life in animal models.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This phase I study examined pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (ART-123) after administration of doses between 0.02 and 0.06 mg kg(-1) body weight intravenously (iv), and between 0.02 and 0.45 mg kg(-1) sc in 55 healthy volunteers. The plasma half-life was 2-3 days after sc injection of various single doses. Plasma ART-123 levels estimated to be needed for prevention of thrombus formation in humans were maintained for at least 6 days after single sc injection of 0.30 and 0.45 mg kg(-1) ART-123. Antithrombotic activity with these doses was demonstrated by achieving prothrombinase inhibition of more than 80% for more than 6 days after administration. No major bleeding occurred. Pharmacodynamic modeling revealed that adequate antithrombotic ART-123 levels can be achieved for 6 days with one dose of 0.45 mg kg(-1) ART-123, and for 12 days with 2 doses of 0.30 mg kg(-1), given 5 days apart.

CONCLUSIONS

Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (ART-123) has a long half-life after sc injection and is well tolerated, making it a suitable agent to be tested in clinical thromboprophylaxis trials.

Interferometry of direct photons in central 208Pb + 208Pb collisions at 158A GeV

Two-particle correlations of direct photons were measured in central 208Pb+208Pb collisions at 158A GeV. The invariant interferometric radii were extracted for 100<K(T)<300 MeV/c and compared to radii extracted from charged pion correlations. The yield of soft direct photons, K(T)<300 MeV/c, was extracted from the correlation strength and compared to theoretical calculations.