[Activity of daptomycin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin and cotrimoxazole against coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains with diminished susceptibility to vancomycin]

INTRODUCTION

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS) have become one of the most common nosocomial pathogens and it has a high mortality rate due to the increased of seriously ill patients survival, long states immunosuppression and presence of foreign bodies, such as catheters, prostheses, pacemakers, etc. In addition, there is a significant increase in resistance to antimicrobial drugs, especially beta-lactams, and the increase in the MIC for vancomycin leads to a loss of clinical efficacy. This necessitates the search for new therapeutic alternatives, such as daptomycin. The aim of this paper is to study the activity of daptomycin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin and cotrimoxazole in two groups of clinically significant CNS: a MIC₉₀with vancomycin ≤ 1 mg/L and the other with MIC₉₀ 2 mg/L.

METHODS

We identified and studied MIC₉₀ to ciprofloxacin, clindamycin and cotrimoxazole from 54 strains of clinically significant by the CNS Combo 22 Microscan panels (Dade Behring, Siemens). The MIC₉₀for daptomycin was performed using Etest (AB BioMérieux, Solna, Sweden) on Mueller Hinton plates (BioMérieux, France).

RESULTS

In Group I (vancomycin MIC₉₀ ≤ 1 mg/L) were 19 strains whereas in Group II (vancomycin MIC₉₀ =2 mg/L) were 35 strains. Expressed in mg/L, MIC₉₀ ranges for daptomycin were 0.047-0.5 in Group I and 0.064-0.5 in Group II. for ciprofloxacin were 8 sensitive strains and 11 resistant in Group I and 10 sensitive and 25 resistant in Group II. For clindamycin were 7 sensitive strains and 12 resistant in Group I and 16 sensitive and 19 resistant in Group II. Finally, for cotrimoxazole were 10 sensitive strains and 9 resistant in Group I and 19 sensitive and 16 resistant in Group II.

CONCLUSIONS

The MIC levels to daptomycin were not influenced by the increase in the MIC for vancomycin. There was no statistically significant difference for the sensitivity of ciprofloxacin between the two groups of vancomycin. Regardless of vancomycin, there were a clear relationship between the sensitivity of ciprofloxacin with clindamycin and cotrimoxazole.

[Analysis of clinical-surgical course of neonates with long-gap esophageal atresia during their spontaneous growth]

INTRODUCTION

Esophageal atresia (EA) is one of the most prevalent surgical conditions in the newborn. Sometimes early oesophageal anastomosis can't be done due to the esophageal gap. Long gap (LG) definition is not precise. Although consensus exist about conservation of owns esophagus is the best therapeutic option, literature is not clear about how long and under what circunstances is advisable to wait for the spontaneous esophageal pouches to growth (P. Puri approach). Furthermore at present we don't even know the real repercussion that this waiting can implicate.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical and surgical outcome of newborns with EALG during their stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a third level children's hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all newborn with EA admitted in the NICU from January 2002 to December 2006 in order to analyze sex, gestacional age, weight, type of EA, LG, respiratory and surgical complications, length of stay and mortality.

RESULTS

During the study time period 64 newborns with EAwere admitted, 21 (33%) had EALG (our population). We underwent primary repair with esophageal anastomosis in 8 newborns at 80 +/- 40 days. All of them had gastroesophageal reflux, 50% presented different complications such as anastomotic leak, stricture and mediastinal infections. 13 patients required an esophagostomy at a mean age of 46 +/- 34 days due to a lack of growth of esophageal's pouches and/or serious respiratory complications. There were no deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

There were high percentages of esophagostomized patients. The result of waiting for the primary repair was a high number of children with chronic lung disease and a high rate of serious complications. Esophageal anastomosis were accompanied by long hospital stays and no clear benefits. The early application of dynamic esophageal lengthening should be explored as an alternative strategy for newborns with EALG.

Alloxenic distribution of cystacanths of two Profilicollis species in sympatric crustacean hosts in Chile

The taxonomic status of Profilicollis ( = Falsifilicollis Webster, 1948) species in crustaceans in Chile is examined. Mole crabs, Emerita analoga (Stimpson 1857), living in the splash zone of a sandy beach at Lenga off the coast of central Chile, harbor Polymorphus (Profilicollis) bullocki Mateo, Córdova and Guzmán 1982, while the estuarine crabs, Hemigrapsus crenulatus (Milne-Edwards, 1837), living in an oligohaline inlet at the same site, harbor Profilicollis spp. cystacanths which cannot be distinguished specifically to either Profilicollis antarcticus or P. chasmagnathi Holcman-Spector, Mañé-Garzón and Dei-Cas 1977. We found no morphological data supporting records of P. altmani along the coast of Chile. Therefore, and after examination of both their morphology and the literature, we consider that P. bullocki must be reinstated as a valid species in the genus. There is a widespread distribution of habitats, such as sandy beaches and inlets, as well as a variety of host taxa involved in the life cycle of Profilicollis spp. Consequently, they provide an interesting scenario for testing hypotheses regarding the coevolution and host specificity of these parasites.

Xenobiotic metabolism markers in marine fish with different trophic strategies and their relationship to ecological variables

Nine fish species of commercial interest from six teleost families and two species of elasmobranchs were selected for characterisation of hepatic biomarkers used in early-warning assessment of pollutant exposure. The sampling was carried out in front of the Barcelona coast (NW Mediterranean) during December 2006 at shelf (53 m) and slope (660 m) depths. The enzymes considered included the antioxidant defence catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR), phase I ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and phase II glutathione S-transferase (GST). Protein yield (PY) was used as a general marker of hepatic protein synthesis. Significant interspecies differences were evidenced, although each marker varied independently. Enzymatic activities in teleosts were higher than in elasmobranchs; they were very low in Scyliorhinus canicula (mainly a benthic feeder), but not so low in Galeus melastomus (pelagic feeder). In relation to depth, shallow water, shelf-living species had higher metabolic activities. Trophic variables were significantly related to PY and EROD activity, and were especially high in benthic/suprabenthic feeders. Trophic level (deduced from stable isotopy) and stomach fullness were associated with all hepatic markers, except GR. Swimming capacity was related to all hepatic enzymes. Our findings can be applied, not only from the perspective of conservation ecology regarding pollution, but also in fisheries, due to the economic interest of the species involved.

Fronteras fijas, valor de cambio y cultivos ilícitos en el Pacífico caucano de Colombia

Este artículo se centra en los cambios en las relaciones entre los indígenas eperara-siapidara y las comunidades negras del río Saija en el área rural del municipio de Timbiquí (departamento del Cauca, Colombia), a partir de la acentuación de las diferencias étnicas en el proceso de titulación colectiva. Se arguye que la titulación llevó a algunos desencuentros y al endurecimiento de las fronteras étnicas pero no constituyó por sí misma un conflicto, por lo cual se analizan otros factores asociados con el arribo de los cultivos ilícitos.

[The Langerhans cell histiocytosis with thymic localization as initial and exclusive place]

The Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH), also known as Histiocitosis X it is an illness not very frequent granulomatosus etiology not clarified yet, that it can have different manifestations and localizations, however the thymic localization as initial and exclusive place gives presentation HCL it is quite unusual. The present case is presented a patient that debuted with a clinical unspecific, where the tests give image they put she gives apparent a mass in previous mediastinum and that after the pathologic and immunohistochemical analysis they evidenced a proliferation Langerhans s cells and eosinophils it being positive for CD1a and S-100 confirming the diagnosis of the LCH.

A comparative study between serve mode and speed and its effectiveness in a high-level volleyball tournament

AIM

This study carries out a comparative analysis between serve mode and speed and its effectiveness at the 2004 Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament.

METHODS

A total of 377 serves were analysed, 124 of which belonged to Cuba vs Holland, 63 to Spain vs Cameroon, 100 to Spain vs Cuba, and 91 to Holland vs Cameroon. Serve were recorded using a tripod mounted radar gun.

RESULTS

The analysis has shown the predominance of jump serve (JUMP, 84.9%) compared with float serve with jump (FLOAT JUMP, 5.6%) and float serve (FLOAT, 9.5%). Only 25.3% of the total jump serves analysed was successfully stricken back making the first tempo attack possible. The respective percentages for FLOAT JUMP and FLOAT were 42.9% and 55.6%. Ball speed in JUMP (23.03+/-3.94 m.s(-1)) was markedly higher compared with FLOAT JUMP and FLOAT (12.05+/-3.44 m.s(-1) and 11.47+/-4.22 m.s(-1)). While negative outcomes (66.7%) in FLOAT stand out, a better balance between negative and positive outcomes were found in both JUMP (50%) and FLOAT JUMP (42.9%). However, no relationship was found between serve speed and its effectiveness outcome (R2=0 in the overall sample and R2=0.005, when pooling the five serve effectiveness categories into negative and positive outcomes. In fact, JUMP was mainly performed in the span of velocities between 23.06 and 28.06 m.s(-1) in both error and direct point categories.

CONCLUSION

We found no significant relationship between serve velocity and a better outcome related to effectiveness. In addition, JUMP and FLOAT JUMP present a better balance between negative and positive outcomes compared with FLOAT.

Development of a web-based support system for both homogeneous and heterogeneous air quality control networks: process and product

The Environmental Laboratories Automation Software System or PALMA (Spanish abbreviation) was developed by a multidisciplinary team in order to support the main tasks of heterogeneous air quality control networks. The software process for PALMA development, which can be perfectly applied to similar multidisciplinary projects, was (a) well-defined, (b) arranged between environmental technicians and informatics, (c) based on quality guides, and (d) clearly user-centred. Moreover, it introduces some interesting advantages with regard to the classical step-by-step approaches. PALMA is a web-based system that allows 'off-line' and automated telematic data acquisition from distributed inmission stations belonging not only to homogeneous but also to heterogeneous air quality control networks. It provides graphic and tabular representations for a comprehensive and centralised analysis of acquired data, and considers the daily work that is associated with such networks: validation of the acquired data, alerts with regard to (periodical) tasks (e.g., analysers verification), downloading of files with environmental information (e.g., dust forecasts), etc. The implantation of PALMA has provided qualitative and quantitative improvements in the work performed by the people in charge of the considered control network.

Effects of a mixture of fatty acids from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) wax oil in two models of inflammation: zymosan-induced arthritis and mice tail test of psoriasis

A mixture of fatty acids obtained from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) wax oil (FAM), in which the main constituents are palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids, was evaluated in two models of inflammation: zymosan-induced arthritis and in the tail test for psoriasis, both on mice. In the first model, FAM significantly reduced zymozan-induced increase of beta glucuronidase (DE(50) 90+/-7 mg/kg). Histopathological studies showed inhibition in cellular infiltration and reduction of synovial hyperplasia and synovitis, whereas in the second test, histopathological and ultrastructural studies showed that topical application of FAM induced orthokeratosis with the presence of keratohyalin granules in the previously parakeratotic adult mouse tail, and without effects on epidermal thickness. The ED(50) of FAM in this model was 155+/-10 mg. The results of our studies showed that topical application of FAM exerts an important anti-inflammatory activity in both tests without evidence of irritant effects. The anti-inflamatory effects exerted by FAM may be due to its inhibitory effects on arachidonic acid metabolism. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the anti-inflammatory effect of sugar cane by-products in experimental models of arthritis and psoriasis.

Polymorphisms in gyrA and gyrB genes among Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis type I, II, and III isolates

The analysis of the gyrA and gyrB genes of a panel of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates from types I, II, and III detected type-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms. Based on these results, we developed a PCR and restriction enzyme analysis to discriminate type I and III isolates. The application of this technique would be the unique strategy to characterize these strains when there is not enough bacterial growth to perform pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and IS900 restriction fragment length polymorphism.

First Spanish series of intestinal transplantation in adult recipients

BACKGROUND

short-bowel transplantation has experienced a substantial growth worldwide following improved results from the late 1990's on, and its coverage by Medicare. According to the International Registry (1985-2005), a total of 1,292 intestinal transplants for 1,210 patients in 65 hospitals across 20 countries have been carried out thus far.

OBJECTIVE

to know short-term (6 months) results regarding patient and graft survival from the first Spanish series of intestinal transplants in adult recipients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

we present our experience in the assessment of 20 potential candidates to short-bowel transplantation between June 2004 and October 2005. Of these, 10 patients were rejected and 4 were transplanted, which makes up the sample of our study.

RESULTS

to this date 5 transplants have been carried out in 4 patients (2 retransplants, 2 desmoid tumors, 1 short bowel syndrome after excision as a result of mesenteric ischemia). Upon study completion and after a mean follow-up of 180 days (range 90-190 days) all recipients are alive, and all grafts but one (75%) are fully operational, with complete digestive autonomy. All patients received induction with alemtuzumab except one, who received thymoglobulin; in all induction was initiated with no steroids.

CONCLUSIONS

intestinal transplantation represents a therapeutic option that is applicable in our setting and valid for recipients with an indication who have no other feasible alternative to keep their intestinal failure under control.