The dynamics of boron when amending agricultural soil of the Mediterranean basin with biosolids: trials in leaching columns

There is mainly a lack of boron (B) in soils with low amounts of organic matter and in acidic and sandy soils. This is especially true in irrigated land or humid regions, where leaching can occur. The results from studying the amount of available B will reveal the status of B in the soil of a specific plot of land. The experimentation was performed as a controlled study using leaching columns. A container was placed at the end of the columns to collect the infiltrated water. Three treatments were performed by applying different amounts of biosolids (T40: 40,000 kg ha-1, T80: 80,000 kg ha-1, T120: 120,000 kg ha-1), as well as a blank test or control treatment (T0). We conclude that the mobility of B in soil was generally low despite the addition of organic matter and humidity to the soil. This is an indication that there is no clear risk of aquifers being contaminated with B or plants being impacted by toxicity due to this micronutrient.

Bioavailability, mobility and leaching of phosphorus in a Mediterranean agricultural soil (ne Spain) amended with different doses of biosolids

The precipitation of sparingly soluble calcium phosphate in calcareous soils decreases the bioavailability of macronutrients, which makes their addition by way of fertilisers necessary. Sludge resulting from treating urban wastewater does not only provide significant amounts of phosphorus, but also helps lower the pH, thus increasing its bioavailability. The loss of part of soil nutrients due to irrigation or rain can contaminate groundwater. In order to assess the movement of phosphorus, a experiment was conducted on percolation columns, to which different doses of wastes were applied. The pH decreased by as much as 0.89 units, as well as the assimilable and soluble P, in intervals of 20 cm of depth, obtaining maximum values of 254 mg P kg^-1 and 1455 μg P kg^-1 respectively, and the P present in the leached water collected, which did not surpass 95 μg PL^-1. The intent was to learn which was the majoritarian inorganic formed crystalline phase that immobilised the movement of phosphorus through the percolation column. The results obtained by the diffraction of X-rays are not conclusive, although they point to the formation of octacalcium phosphate. The diffractograms of the studied samples have similar diffraction lines to those of apatites.

[Simulation of an outbreak of Acinetobacter baumannii in hospitals]

OBJECTIVE

Acinetobacter baumannii infections have increased over time becoming a significant issue. Consequently, those applications that allow to predict the evolution of an outbreak and the relevance of the different control methods, are very important. The design of mathematical models plays a central role in this topic.

METHODS

Development of a deterministic mathematical model based on ordinary differential equations whose variables and parameters are defined upon the basis of knowledge of the epidemiology and characteristics of A. baumannii. This model is analyzed from a qualitative point of view and, also, its computational implementation is derived.

RESULTS

Several simulations were obtained developed from different initial conditions. The qualitative analysis of these simulations provides formal evidence of most effective control measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of the computational model is an extremely useful tool in terms of managing A. baumannii outbreaks. There is mathematical proof of the fact that the observance of efficient hygiene and screening rules reduces the number of infected patients.

The clinical microbiologist before the taxonomic changes in the genus Clostridium

The various species included in the genus Clostridium are very heterogeneous, both from a phenotypic and a phylogenetic point of view. The advances in polyphasic taxonomy, particularly in phylogeny, are allowing to resolve this dysfunction reclassifying several species in other genres, although there is still work to be done. Changes in generic denominations are quite normal in taxonomy, but can turn into a problem when they affect species with strong clinical impact and that have been recognised for a long time, as in the case of some traditional Clostridium species. After knowing these changes clinical microbiologists, in whose work taxonomy is an essential tool, should evaluate what matters most, if the communication with other health professionals or the phylogeny, and think about the possibility of combining both things. This paper reviews some of the taxonomic changes that have took place in well-known Clostridium species that can be clinically interesting and evaluates, as far as possible, their significance in the scientific and medical communication.

[Changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection during 2005-2014 in Salamanca, Spain]

OBJECTIVE

To know the most relevant epidemiological features of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) between 2005- 2014 in the province of Salamanca (Spain).

METHODS

Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out through review of the clinical microbiologic records at Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca. Detection was performed according to standard methodology.

RESULTS

2.6% of stool samples analyzed for detection of C. difficile toxins (9,103) were positive. The average prevalence was 6.8 cases per 100,000 people per year. The mean age was 65 ± 21.4 years and the median 70 years. 59% of cases occurred in patients over 64 years, with an average prevalence of 16.5 (4 times higher than the 15-64 group). Most cases (86.4%) occurred in hospitalized patients, and the group of over 64 had the highest percentage of hospital CDI, with 55%.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant increase in the number of requests and in the prevalence of CDI over the decade studied is observed, and prevalence rates were significantly lower than those of other studies. The percentage of CDI increased significantly in both inpatient and community. Age and hospitaliza-tion were risk factors for developing CDI. After the introduc-ion of a molecular detection technique in 2014, the prevalence increased, being 2.5 times higher than 2013.

Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training in treating urinary incontinence in women: A current review

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the content of various published studies related to physical exercise and its effects on urinary incontinence and to determine the effectiveness of pelvic floor training programmes.

METHOD

We conducted a search in the databases of PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Plus Library, The Cochrane Library, WOS and SPORTDiscus and a manual search in the Google Scholar metasearcher using the search descriptors for documents published in the last 10 years in Spanish or English. The documents needed to have an abstract or complete text on the treatment of urinary incontinence in female athletes and in women in general.

RESULTS

We selected 3 full-text articles on treating urinary incontinence in female athletes and 6 full-text articles and 1 abstract on treating urinary incontinence in women in general. The 9 studies included in the review achieved positive results, i.e., there was improvement in the disease in all of the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical exercise, specifically pelvic floor muscle training programmes, has positive effects on urinary incontinence. This type of training has been shown to be an effective programme for treating urinary incontinence, especially stress urinary incontinence.

[Matematical modeling of antibiotic resistance: perspectives from a meta-analysys]

The antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest challenges of the international health community. The study of antibiotic resistance must be a multidisciplinary task and, in this sense, the main goal of this work is to analyze the role that Mathematical Modeling can play in this scenario. A qualitative and cuantitative analysis of the works published in the scientific literature is done by means of a search in the most important databases: MEDLINE, SCOPUS and ISI Web of Science. Consequently, there are few papers related to our topic but the existing works have been published in high-quality and impact international journals. Moreover, we can state that mathematical models are a very important and useful tool to analyze and study both the treatments protocols for resistance prevention and the assesment of control strategies in hospital environtment, or the prediction of the evolution of diseases due to resistant strains.

Antiviral, antifungal and antiprotozoal agents in the cinema

Among the antimicrobial agents, antibacterials are the most frequently mentioned in cinematographic plots. Nevertheless, it is not uncommon to come across other antiviral agents, especially antiretrovirals and antiprotozoals. We analyzed the presence of antiviral and antifungal agents in different commercial films, both when they were merely mentioned in passing and when they played a major role in the film. This review essentially aims to address the historical portrayal of these agents in film and to list their appearances. The fictional treatments that appear in some films are not addressed.

Study of the efficacy of Coated VICRYL Plus® Antibacterial suture (coated Polyglactin 910 suture with Triclosan) in two animal models of general surgery

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy in vitro and in vivo of a new antibacterial suture (PGAB) compared with a traditional braided suture (PG). Our primary goals were to study microbiological effectiveness and impact on wound healing of PGAB vs PG. Secondary goal was to analyze influence on inflammatory response.

METHODS

In vitro study: clinical samples of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. hominis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus auricularis, Enterococcus faecalis, Corynebacterium spp. and Escherichia coli were studied. We also implanted a flat mesh in 10 minipigs, four incisions each (two PG and two PGAB) two contaminated with S. epidermidis and two not contaminated. Finally, we performed four colic anastomosis in each of 10 minipigs, two contaminated with E. coli and two not contaminated (two PG and two PGAB). We studied the inflammatory and wound healing processes in both models.

RESULTS

We observed a bactericidal efficacy of PGAB against grampositive, and bacteriostatic effect against E. coli. Mesh study: recovered CFU were lower in the group PGAB vs PG. In the group PGAB, inflammatory mediators' concentrations were lower. In the group PGAB, concentrations of wound healing mediators were normal. Colic anastomosis: recovered CFU were lower in the group PGAB vs the group PG. In the group PGAB we observed a reduction of inflammatory mediators. In the group PGAB we observed normalized concentrations of wound healing mediators.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates microbiological efficacy of PGAB, that normalizes wound healing process, and an anti-inflammatory effect.

In vitro activities of six new fluoroquinolones against Brucella melitensis

We have tested the in vitro activities of eight fluoroquinolones against 160 Brucella melitensis strains. The most active was sitafloxacin (MIC at which 90% of the isolates are inhibited [MIC90], 0.12 microg/ml). In decreasing order, the activities (MIC90s) of the rest of the tested fluoroquinolones were as follows: levofloxacin, 0.5 microg/ml; ciprofloxacin, trovafloxacin, and moxifloxacin, 1 microg/ml; and ofloxacin, grepafloxacin, and gatifloxacin, 2 microg/ml.

Rapid diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis by polymerase chain reaction

We have investigated the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the rapid diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. The study was composed of 21 patients with pleural tuberculosis, confirmed by culture or pleural biopsy, and 86 control subjects. The PCR assay was based on detecting a 123-bp DNA segment belonging to the insertion sequence IS6110, specific of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. In 21 patients diagnosed with pleural tuberculosis, Ziehl-Neelsen staining was positive in three (14%) (95% CI, 7 to 21%) and pleural fluid culture in 11 (52%) (95% CI, 43 to 61%). Pleural biopsy revealed granulomas with caseous necrosis in 72%, and the culture was positive in 67% of the patients. Adenosine deaminase activity determination was positive (> 45 IU/L) in 86% (95% CI, 79 to 93%). The sensitivity and specificity for PCR was 81% (95% CI, 74 to 88%) and 100% (95% CI, 95 to 100%), respectively. All culture-positive specimens were PCR positive. We conclude that PCR is a rapid, sensitive, and specific method for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. However, further prospective studies are required to properly evaluate the yield of the technique.

In vitro activity of BAY y 3118, and nine other antimicrobial agents against anaerobic bacteria

The antibacterial activity of BAY y 3118, a new chlorofluoroquinolone, was determined against 257 strains of anaerobic bacteria and compared with the activities of ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, imipenem, cefoxitin, clindamycin, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, and ornidazole. Overall, BAY y 3118 was the most active agent tested against the Bacteroides fragilis group. Its activity (MIC90, 0.5 mg/L) was 16-fold lower than that of sparfloxacin (MIC90, 8 mg/L), and more than 100-fold lower than that of ofloxacin (MIC90, 64 mg/L) and ciprofloxacin (MIC90, 128 mg/L) against the group. No strains belonging to this group were resistant to metronidazole (MICs range, 0.12-2 mg/L) and ornidazole (MICs range, 0.12-4 mg/L). BAY y 3118 was more active than those quinolones against Prevotella and Porphyromonas spp., Fusobacterium spp., Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile (MIC90, 0.12, 0.06, 0.12 and 0.25 mg/L, respectively). The activity of BAY y 3118 against Peptostreptococcus spp. (MIC90, 1 mg/L) was slightly lower than that of the other Gram-positive bacteria tested. In general, BAY y 3118 was more active than cefoxitin, and it was superior to antianaerobic chemical agents like metronidazole, ornidazole and clindamycin. Pharmacokinetic and clinical trials are required to define the role of BAY y 3118 in the treatment of anaerobic infections.

Multicenter Spanish study of ciprofloxacin susceptibility in gram-negative bacteria. The Spanish Study Group on Quinolone Resistance

The susceptibility of 2,426 gram-negative bacteria obtained from 18 Spanish hospitals to ciprofloxacin was evaluated. Among different medical centers, susceptibility to ciprofloxacin ranged from 83 to 100% for Enterobacteriaceae, from 35 to 100% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, from 0 to 100% for Xanthomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter spp. and other gram-negative non-fermenting bacilli, and from 33 to 100% for Campylobacter spp. All clinical isolates of Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were susceptible to ciprofloxacin.

Activity of BAY y 3118, a novel 4-quinolone, against Brucella melitensis

We have tested the in-vitro activities of BAY y 3118, a new chlorofluoroquinolone, ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, streptomycin, tetracycline and rifampin against 59 strains of Brucella melitensis. BAY y 3118 (MIC90 0.12 mg/L) was twice as active as sparfloxacin and tetracycline (MIC90 0.25 mg/L). The activity of ciprofloxacin, rifampin and streptomycin (MIC90 0.5, 2, and 8 mg/L, respectively) was, respectively, four-, sixteen-, and more than sixty-fold lower than that of BAY y 3118.

[Resistance in Haemophilus influenzae in Spain. 2d study (1990)]

AIM

To study the resistance to strains of H. influenzae simultaneously isolated during 1990 in 10 Spanish cities with this being the second multicentric study carried out in Spain.

METHODS

Three hundred eight strains of H. influenzae were consecutively isolated with less than 50% being from the respiratory tract. The sensitivity by microdilution in supplement Isosensitest was studied.

RESULTS

Thirty-five percent of the strains were producers of beta-lactamase which predominate among those isolated in systemic infections and specially among those from Madrid (58.78%) and Barcelona (61.8%). The strains producing beta-lactamase were more resistant to all the antimicrobials than the non producers. Five point two percent of the strains were resistant to ampicillin by non enzymatic mechanisms. Resistance to chloramphenicol is frequent (28.6%) especially among strains producing beta-lactamase, strains of ocular origin and ORL (46%) and systemic infections (74.3%). The distribution is irregular, being more frequent in Seville (66.7%) and not detectable in Barcelona. Resistance to tetracycline is also usually linked to the production of beta-lactamase and not necessarily to that of chloramphenicol. Resistance to cotrimoxazole is the most frequent (67.5%) specially in Valladolid (87.5%). Resistance to cefaclor is of 60.7% being the most frequent among those isolated from ocular processes and ORL. Only 28 strains (9.1%) were sensitive to all the antimicrobials tested. Thirty-nine percent were multiresistant.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors found a slight increase in the high resistance detected in 1986. This increase was not uniform in all of Spain being significant in Madrid with producers of beta-lactamase, in Seville to chloramphenicol, to tetracycline in Bilbao and cotrimoxazole in Valencia.

[In vitro activity of 16 antimicrobial agents against Helicobacter (Campylobacter) pylori]

Campylobacter pylori has been associated with the etiology of gastritis and duodenal ulcer. It has been shown that several drugs, among them a variety of antimicrobials, eliminate C. pylori from gastric mucosa at least for a time, resulting in an improvement of the patients' symptoms. The activity of 16 antimicrobials (ampicillin, cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, imipenem, aztreonam, tigemonam, erythromycin, vancomycin, nalidixic acid, colistin , norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, difloxacin, ofloxacin and perfloxacin) was tested against 30 clinical isolates of C. pylori. The antimicrobials showing the highest activity were ampicillin, imipenem and ciprofloxacin, followed by cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, aztreonam, tigemonam, erythromycin and difloxacin. Nalidixic acid, colistin and vancomycin were virtually ineffective against C. pylori.