ABSTRACT
The Ib-M6 peptide has antibacterial activity against non-pathogenic Escherichia coli K-12 strain. The first part of this study determines the antibacterial activity of Ib-M6 against fourteen pathogenic strains of E. coli O157:H7. Susceptibility assay showed that Ib-M6 had values of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) lower than streptomycin, used as a reference antibiotic. Moreover, to predict the possible interaction between Ib-M6 and outer membrane components of E. coli, we used molecular docking simulations where FhuA protein and its complex with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS-FhuA) were used as targets of the peptide. FhuA/Ib-M6 complexes had energy values between -39.5 and -40.5 Rosetta Energy Units (REU) and only one hydrogen bond. In contrast, complexes between LPS-FhuA and Ib-M6 displayed energy values between -25.6 and -40.6 REU, and the presence of five possible hydrogen bonds. Hence, the antimicrobial activity of Ib-M6 peptide shown in the experimental assays could be caused by its interaction with the outer membrane of E. coli.
ABSTRACT
Dipyrone (or metamizole) is an analgesic and antipyretic for oral or parenteral administration. Its action mechanism is directly related to the inhibition of the signaling of TRPA1 (Transient Receptor Potential Ankirin 1). The TRPA1 ion channel, located in the plasma membrane of a subpopulation of nociceptors, plays a major role in pain transmission.1-3 However, the clinical use of dipyrone is associated with various adverse effects such as agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, anaphylaxis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, renal failure, upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, induction of acute attacks of porphyria, among others.4-7 One study also reported an increased risk of leukemia in children born to mothers who took dipyrone during pregnancy.
La dipirona (o metamizol) es un analgésico y antipirético para administración oral o parenteral. Su mecanismo de acción está directamente relacionado con la inhibición de la señalización de TRPA1 (Transient Receptor Potential Ankirin 1). El canal de iones TRPA1, localizado en la membrana plasmática de una subpoblación de nocioceptores, tiene una función primordial en la transmisión del dolor.13 Sin embargo, el uso clínico de la dipirona se asocia a diversos efectos adversos como agranulocitosis, anemia aplástica, anafilaxia, necrolisis epidérmica tóxica, insuficiencia renal, sangrado de tracto gastrointestinal superior, inducción de ataques agudos de porfiria, entre otros.47 Un estudio reportó también un incremento en el riesgo de leucemia en niños nacidos de madres que consumieron dipirona durante el embarazo.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Pregnancy , Dipyrone , Pain , Administration, Oral , Risk Factors , Agranulocytosis , Renal Insufficiency , Patient Safety , AnalgesicsABSTRACT
Introducción. La Universidad Nacional de Colombia ocupa el primer puesto a nivel nacional en el ranking de universidades del mundo y su Facultad de Medicina ocupa uno de los primeros puestos en el ranking de escuelas de Medicina colombianas. Para hacer esta clasificación se utilizan indicadores tales como la producción científica; a su vez, dicha producción se evalúa principalmente por el número de artículos publicados en revistas indexadas. Objetivo. Revisar los productos científicos generados por la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Material y métodos. Estudio de cohorte basado en los registros de productos académicos de los profesores de la Facultad de Medicina. Se realizó un análisis exploratorio de los datos obtenidos del módulo Sara durante el periodo 2000-2012. Resultados. Se obtuvo el registro total de 8777 productos; de ellos, el 44.1% (n=3873) son artículos. El departamento con mayor producción científica es Medicina Interna. Hay una producción menor a un artículo por docente por cada año en el periodo de 12 años. Conclusión. El número total de productos por cada departamento es proporcional al número de sus publicaciones académicas. Los departamentos de Medicina Interna, Salud Pública, Fisiología, Cirugía y Patología son los que generan mayor producción científica.
Introduction. The Universidad Nacional de Colombia (National University of Colombia) is ranked, at a national level, in the first place of the World University Rankings 2016 and its School of Medicine is also among the top institutions according to the Schools of Medicine Rankings in Colombia. In order to obtain this classification several indicators such as scientific production are assessed; in turn, such scientific production is quantified based on the number of articles published in indexed journals. Objective. To review the scientific production by the School of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Materials and methods. Cohort study based on the evaluation of the academic production records by the School of Medicine faculty. An exploratory analysis of the data recorded in Sara (data base) module from years 2000 to 2012 was conducted. Results. A total of 8777 scientific products were collected. 44.1% (n=3873) of them were articles. Internal Medicine was the academic department with the highest scientific production. Over a twelve year period there was an average scientific production of one article or less every year per faculty member. Conclusion. The total number of products per department is proportional to the number of their academic publications. Internal Medicine, Public Health, Physiology, Surgery and Pathology are the departments with the highest scientific production.
ABSTRACT
El propósito de la ciencia es hacer descubrimientos y generar conocimiento. Para ello se basa en hipótesis que a través de estudios minuciosos pueden comprobarse como ciertas o como falsas. La escritura científica, por tanto, necesita de elementos esenciales que permitan al lector entender el estudio, evaluar su calidad y aprender algo nuevo. Entre los elementos propios de este tipo de escritura están la descripción del problema, los objetivos del estudio, la hipótesis que se quiere evaluar, la metodología necesaria para lograr los resultados y la discusión de dichos resultados para concluir si la hipótesis es o no aceptada. Estructurar los escritos bajo estos parámetros permite mayor claridad, transparencia y honestidad, que redundarán en una mayor comprensión del escrito por parte de los pares evaluadores y un aporte más fehaciente a la comunidad científica.
Subject(s)
HumansABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Intestinal Escherichia coli pathogens are major causes of diarrhoeal disease in children under five years of age worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of E. coli pathotypes with childhood diarrhoea in Colombia. METHODOLOGY: A case-control study was conducted in 815 samples from children younger than five years of age in Cartagena, Colombia (466 cases and 349 controls). Controls were randomly selected 1:1 to cases, to obtain 349 cases and 349 controls. RESULTS: This study revealed that 27 (7.44%) cases and 12 (3.43%) controls were positives for any of the E. coli pathotypes. The difference observed was statistically significant indicating that E. coli pathotypes were associated with cases of childhood diarrhoea. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was the most common pathotype associated with childhood diarrhoea. Additional E. coli pathotypes were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that after the adjustment by age, sex and socioeconomic stratum, the odds ratio obtained by logistic regression shows an association between infection with ETEC and childhood diarrhoea.
Subject(s)
Diarrhea/epidemiology , Diarrhea/microbiology , Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli Infections/epidemiology , Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology , Case-Control Studies , Child, Preschool , Colombia/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , PrevalenceABSTRACT
The prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in childhood diarrhea and the role of contaminated food products in disease transmission in Colombia are largely unknown. The aim of this study is to identify E. coli pathotypes, including E. coli O157:H7, from 108 stool samples from children with acute diarrhea, 38 meat samples and 38 vegetable samples. Multiplex PCR and Bax Dupont systems were used for E. coli pathotype detection. Eighteen (9.8%) E. coli diarrheagenic pathotypes were detected among all clinical and food product samples tested. Four different pathotypes were identified from clinical samples, including enteroaggregative E. coli, enterotoxigenic E. coli, shiga-toxin producing E. coli, and enteropathogenic E. coli. Food product samples were positive for enteroaggregative and shiga-toxin producing E. coli, suggesting that meat and vegetables may be involved in transmission of these E. coli pathotypes in the community. Most E. coli strains identified belong to the phylogenetic groups A and B1, known to be associated with intestinal rather than extraintestinal E. coli clones. Our data is the first molecular E. coli report that confirms the presence of E. coli pathotypes circulating in Colombia among children with diarrhea and food products for human consumption. Implementation of multiplex PCR technology in Latin America and other countries with limited resources may provide an important epidemiological tool for the surveillance of E. coli pathotypes from clinical isolates as well as from water and food product samples.
