Systematic analysis of YFP traps reveals common mRNA/protein discordance in neural tissues

While post-transcriptional control is thought to be required at the periphery of neurons and glia, its extent is unclear. Here, we investigate systematically the spatial distribution and expression of mRNA at single molecule sensitivity and their corresponding proteins of 200 YFP trap lines across the intact Drosophila nervous system. 97.5% of the genes studied showed discordance between the distribution of mRNA and the proteins they encode in at least one region of the nervous system. These data suggest that post-transcriptional regulation is very common, helping to explain the complexity of the nervous system. We also discovered that 68.5% of these genes have transcripts present at the periphery of neurons, with 9.5% at the glial periphery. Peripheral transcripts include many potential new regulators of neurons, glia, and their interactions. Our approach is applicable to most genes and tissues and includes powerful novel data annotation and visualization tools for post-transcriptional regulation.

Do Prior Driveline Infections Increase the Risk of Infection in Heart Transplant Patients Treated With Rabbit Antithymocyte Globulin Induction Therapy?

BACKGROUND

The use of mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs) has been increasing over the past several years. Driveline infections (DLIs) are one of the most common complications seen in these patients; reportedly, up to 50% of patients with MCSDs can develop this complication. It is believed that the removal of the driveline results in treatment of the localized infection area. MCSD patients are also known to develop circulating antibodies. These circulating antibodies have been associated with poor outcomes after heart transplantation. The use of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) as induction therapy reportedly decreases the development of circulating antibodies; it is now commonly used in sensitized patients undergoing heart transplantation. It is unknown whether ATG induction therapy immediate posttransplant will increase the risk of infection of those MCSD patients with DLIs.

METHODS

Between 2003 and 2013, we evaluated 57 MCSD patients who subsequently underwent heart transplantation and received ATG induction therapy. Patients were divided into those with previous MCSD DLI and those without, and they were assessed for 1-year freedom from infection (specifically, sternal wound infections). One-year survival and freedom from treated rejection, both cellular and antibody mediated, were also assessed.

RESULTS

MCSD patients with DLIs who received ATG induction did not have a lower freedom from any treated infection and from sternal wound infection posttransplant compared with those MCSD patients without DLIs and not treated with ATG induction. There were also no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of 1-year posttransplant survival and freedom from treated rejection.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ATG induction in patients with prior DLIs did not seem to increase the risk for posttransplant infection (eg, sternal wound infection). ATG induction can therefore be safely used in this population.

Working Memory Systems in the Rat

A fundamental feature of memory in humans is the ability to simultaneously work with multiple types of information using independent memory systems. Working memory is conceptualized as two independent memory systems under executive control [1, 2]. Although there is a long history of using the term "working memory" to describe short-term memory in animals, it is not known whether multiple, independent memory systems exist in nonhumans. Here, we used two established short-term memory approaches to test the hypothesis that spatial and olfactory memory operate as independent working memory resources in the rat. In the olfactory memory task, rats chose a novel odor from a gradually incrementing set of old odors [3]. In the spatial memory task, rats searched for a depleting food source at multiple locations [4]. We presented rats with information to hold in memory in one domain (e.g., olfactory) while adding a memory load in the other domain (e.g., spatial). Control conditions equated the retention interval delay without adding a second memory load. In a further experiment, we used proactive interference [5-7] in the spatial domain to compromise spatial memory and evaluated the impact of adding an olfactory memory load. Olfactory and spatial memory are resistant to interference from the addition of a memory load in the other domain. Our data suggest that olfactory and spatial memory draw on independent working memory systems in the rat.

Colistin and tigecycline susceptibility among multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from ventilator-associated pneumonia

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most important pathogens in intensive care units related to morbidity and mortality, especially in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). In this study, 80.5% of isolates were MDR. The antimicrobial susceptibilities for 12 different antibiotics of MDR A. baumannii isolated from VAP were tested. Among the MDR A. baumannii isolates, resistance rates were found to be 95.5%, 72.7%, 80.3%, 71.2% and 68.2% for ciprofloxacin, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem and cefoperazone/sulbactam, respectively. Netilmicin resistance was detected in 30.3% of the isolates. Resistance rates for colistin and tigecycline were 0% and 25.8%, respectively. It is obvious that new alternative drugs are needed for the treatment of MDR A. baumannii-related VAP owing to high resistance to carbapenems, quinolones, aminoglycosides and cefoperazone/sulbactam. Although colistin appears to be a good choice, adverse reactions and unavailability of colistin limit its wide usage in Turkey. Tigecycline, which will shortly be introduced commercially in Turkey, is very effective against MDR A. baumannii isolates and shows promising results to solve the problem, however resistance rates should be monitored closely.

Age and duration of disease as factors affecting clinical findings and sacroiliitis in brucellosis

OBJECTIVE

Brucellosis may be seen in any age group, but it still involves young and middle aged adults more frequently. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between age and the duration of disease on clinical findings of brucellosis in adults in this study.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

One hundred and sixty-three patients with brucellosis, treated in our hospital, between 1997 and 2003, were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Fever was found in 60.7% of the patients, and it was significantly higher when the duration of disease was less than one month (p = 0.03). Fever was significantly lower in the > or = 65 age group (p = 0.01). Sacroiliitis was detected in 44.1% of patients. Sacroiliitis was significantly higher in the 15-35 age group (p = 0.03). There were no differences between age groups and other clinical and laboratory findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Sacroiliac involvement was noted particularly in young adults who manifested lumbar pain and fever, but this might not be a major symptom of brucellosis in the elderly, or in patients showing symptoms for more than a month.

In vitro activity of eight antibiotics against Salmonella and Shigella species

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimetoprimsulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, enoxacin and fleroxacin for Salmonella spp. (n = 72) and Shigella spp. (n = 52) were established. S. typhi isolates were all susceptible to all of the antibiotics tested. In non-typhi salmonellae and Shigella spp., resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and TMP-SMX with various rates were encountered, but all isolates were susceptible to fluoroquinolones.

[Ofloxacin treatment of salmonella infections]

In the present study, 33 adult patients with salmonella infections consisting of 13 typhoid fever, 9 paratyphoid fever, 8 enterocolitis, 2 carriers, 1 acute gastroenteritis have been treated with ofloxacin. The duration of treatment was 10 days for typhoid fever, 7 days for paratyphoid fever, 5 days for enterocolitis, 3 days for acute gastroenteritis and 7 days for asymptomatic carriers. All the patients recovered without any complication and fever declined to normal levels within a mean of 3.0 +/- 1.34 days. Two carriers of S. enteritidis became salmonella free after 7 days of ofloxacin treatment. One of the patients who had severe S. paratyphi B bacteremia remained carrier for about 6 months. None of the patients have relapsed. The antibiotic therapy proposals on salmonella in adults were discussed in the light of our results and the other studies.

Contamination in contact lens care systems

We studied the rate of contamination in the contact lens care systems and conjunctivas of 30 asymptomatic cosmetic soft contact lens wearers. In caring for their lenses, 23 patients used chemical disinfection systems (quaternary ammonium solutions), six patients used hydrogen peroxide, and one used heat. Eighteen patients used unpreserved intravenous saline solution, and only seven patients used commercially prepared preserved saline solutions. Cultures were obtained from lens cases, lens care solutions, and conjunctivas. Contamination was found in 70% of the lens care systems. Fifty-seven percent of the patients had lens case contamination, and 17% had conjunctival contamination. The most frequently isolated bacteria in the lens care systems were Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli. We suggest the development of more effective systems for disinfection.

[In vitro activity of various antibiotics against Shigella strains]

The in-vitro activity of ampicillin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethaxazole (TMP-SMX), cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin and fleroxacin against clinically isolated strains of Shigella spp. (n 42) have been determined in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were established using the microtube dilution technique. In shigella strains relatively high percentage of resistance was found against ampicillin (% 36.5), chloramphenicol (% 34), oxytetracycline (% 35), and TMP-SMX (% 25.6). The antibiotic therapy proposals reviewed according to these results.

[Susceptibility of Vibrio cholerae El-Tor strains to various antibiotics]

In this study, the in-vitro activity of ampicillin, chloramphenicol, oxytetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ceftizoxime, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and fleroxacin against clinically isolated strains of V. cholerae biotype El-Tor have been investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the microtube dilution technique except for TMP-SMX which was tested by agar dilution technique. All of El-Tor strains tested have been found to be susceptible to all the antibiotics used in this study. The antimicrobial therapy proposals on cholera in adults reviewed.