Prevalence, associated risk factors, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of non-typhoidal Salmonella in large scale swine production in Córdoba, Argentina.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is considered a major public health concern. The growing relevance of pigs as reservoir of Salmonella spp. has prompted several countries to set up surveillance and control programs to fight Salmonella infection in swine and reduce public health risk. In the last decade, pork production in Córdoba increased significantly to become one of the most important pig production provinces in Argentina. The aim of this study was to estimate Salmonella spp. prevalence and associated risk factors in large scale-farms in this province. Mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of 580 pigs from 20 finishing large-scale farms were collected between 2014 and 2015 to estimate Salmonella infection. A prevalence of 41.5% (95%CI: 37.6-45.6%) was observed. Two major risk factors were significantly associated with Salmonella infection, both related to the pre-slaughter period (distance from the farm to the slaughterhouse and lairage time), highlighting the need to pay special attention to pre-slaughter practices in the province. Shortening transport times and complying with national regulations for lairage time at slaughter may help to reduce the prevalence of infection. Sixteen different serovars were identified, being S. Anatum and S. Typhimurium the most prevalent ones. Moreover, two isolate of the monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium (I 4,5,12:i:-) resistant to enrofloxacin and which also displayed multidrug resistance was isolated for first time from pigs in Córdoba. The moderate to high levels of antimicrobial resistance detected for antibiotics commonly used in the pig sector suggested the need for implementing a plan to limit their use in the province.

(Chitosan-g-glycidyl methacrylate)-xanthan hydrogel implant in Wistar rats for spinal cord regeneration.

This work reports the results of in vivo assays of an implant composed of the hydrogel Chitosan-g-Glycidyl Methacrylate-Xanthan [(CTS-g-GMA)-X] in Wistar rats. Degradation kinetics of hydrogels was assessed by lysozyme assays. Wistar rats were subjected to laminectomy by cutting the spinal cord with a scalpel. After the surgical procedure, hydrogels were implanted in the injured zone (level T8). Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) obtained by electric stimulation onto periphery nerves were registered in the corresponding central nervous system (CNS) areas. Rats implanted with the biomaterials showed a successful recovery compared with the non-implanted rats after 30days. Lysozyme, derived from egg whites, was used for in vitro assays. This study serves as the basis for testing the biodegradability of the hydrogels (CTS-g-GMA)-X that is promoted by enzymatic hydrolysis. Hydrogels' hydrolysis was studied via lysozyme kinetics at two pH values, 5 and 7, under mechanical agitation at 37°C. Results show that our materials' hydrolysis is slower than pure CTS possibly due to the steric hindrance imposed by the GMA grafting of functionalization. This hydrolysis helps degrade the biomaterial and at the same time it provides support for spinal cord recovery. Combination of these results may prove useful in the use of these hydrogels as scaffolds for cells proliferation and their application as implants in living organisms.

Synthesis and characterization of a hybrid (chitosan-g-glycidyl methacrylate)-xanthan hydrogel.

This work reports the synthesis and characterization of a new material obtained by mixing the hybrid natural-synthetic chitosan-g-glycidyl methacrylate (CTS-g-GMA) biopolymer and xanthan gum (X). All materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis (DSC and TGA) and the results were contrasted with those of the precursor materials. The swelling index of the hydrogels decreases when the GMA mass percentage increases. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the hybrid hydrogels are amorphous in contrast to chitosan (CTS), which is semi-crystalline. FTIR analysis confirms the existence of physical interactions among constituents. Rheological properties, η, G', and G", were determined as a function of flow allowing one to conclude that (CTS-g-GMA)-X behaves as physical hydrogel. Additionally, we report viability of fibroblasts when cultured onto the synthesized hydrogels. This study shows that these hydrogels support cell viability and have potential for use in biomedical engineering applications.

Hybrid natural-synthetic chitosan resin: thermal and mechanical behavior.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is one of the most commonly plastics used as dental-base material, due to its good biological compatibility and mechanical properties. Chitosan has wide application in chemical, biochemical and biomedical fields of research. In this work, chitosan (CTS) was functionalized with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), to ease a further reaction with MMA. The resulting co-polymer was finally blended with PMMA and poly(butyl acrylate) PBA which works as a damper, the polymers were cured by UV to obtain the final resin. Characterization of UV-cured resins was carried out by thermal measurements, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy (AFM), micro and nanoindentation, water absorption and elution in water. As a result a higher thermal stability of the final resin compared with the precursor co-polymer ((CTS-GMA)-g-PMMA) was obtained. The resin presented roughness in the nanometer scale and nanoparticles embedded in the acrylic matrix producing a tough material. However, XRD measurements show that all materials are in an amorphous state. Values of hardness and elastic modulus results were very near to those of the dentine. The results of elution in water of the tested resin samples show them as clinically acceptable as a dental base material.

Molecular simulation and experimental study of substituted polyacetylenes: fractional free volume, cavity size distributions and diffusion coefficients.

Glassy, disubstituted acetylene-based polymers exhibit extremely high gas permeabilities and high vapor/gas selectivities, which is quite unusual for conventional glassy polymers such as polysulfone. Diffusion coefficients of poly[1-phenyl-2-[p-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene] (PTMSDPA) and poly[diphenylacetylene] (PDPA) were obtained using both molecular simulation and experimental techniques. PTMSDPA, a disubstituted glassy acetylene-based polymer, exhibits higher diffusivity than its desilylated analogue, PDPA. Simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data. Cavity size (free volume) distributions of both polymers are also obtained using an energetic-based algorithm (in't Veld et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 2000, 104, 12028) developed recently. Larger cavities in PTMSDPA contribute to its higher diffusivity, and higher permeability.