Fusarium riograndense sp. nov., a new species in the Fusarium solani species complex causing fungal rhinosinusitis.

Invasive fusariosis has a high mortality and is predominantly observed in patients with leukemia. We report the first case of a novel species of Fusarium, Fusarium riograndense sp. nov, isolated from a lesion in the nasal cavity lesion of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The etiological agent was identified by Multilocus Sequencing Typing (MLST), including RPB2, TEF-1α, and ITS-LSU sequences, the gold standard technique to identify new species of Fusarium. MLST and phenotypic data strongly supported its inclusion in the F. solani species complex (FSSC). The new species produced a red pigment in the Sabouraud Dextrose Agar similar to other members of the complex. The macroconiodia developed from phialides on multibranched conidiophores which merge to form effuse sporodochia with a basal foot-cell instead of papilla in basal cell shape. The microconidia were ellipsoidal, 0-1-septated, produced from long monophialides. Chlamydospores were produced singly or in pairs. Amphotericin B (MIC 1µg/mL) was the most active drug, followed by voriconazole (MIC 8µg/mL). The patient was successfully treated with voriconazole. Our findings indicate another lineage within FSSC capable causing of invasive human infection.

Environmental yeast communities in vineyards in the mountains of Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

Yeasts were isolated from three vineyards located in the South Region of Brazil. A cross evaluation was carried out at the oldest vineyard of the study in Pinheiro Preto. Samples of grape berries, grapevine leaves and the soil, along with samples of the winery equipment and effluent, were collected. In the Serra do Marari and Campos Novos vineyards only samples of grape clusters were obtained. The 106 yeast isolates were identified by sequencing the D1/D2 domain of LSU rDNA or ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region in 22 species. The values for the richness indices varied between the vineyards. A comparison of the taxonomic diversity of the yeasts from these regions using the reciprocal Simpson index showed a significant difference between the Serra do Marari and Campos Novos vineyards (5.72 ± 0.36 and 2.92 ± 0.36, respectively, p < 0.0001). The functional diversity was assessed in relation to the use of carbon and nitrogen sources by the yeasts isolated from each location. In general, we observed that the Pinheiro Preto and Campos Novos vineyards differed consistently from the Serra do Marari vineyard according to these indices (FAD2, FDc and Rao, p < 0.0001). The possible spreading of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the winery to the vineyard in Pinheiro Preto was observed.

Correlation and path analysis of biomass sorghum production.

Sorghum biomass is an interesting raw material for bioenergy production due to its versatility, potential of being a renewable energy source, and low-cost of production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability of biomass sorghum genotypes and to estimate genotypic, phenotypic, and environmental correlations, and direct and indirect effects of seven agronomic traits through path analysis. Thirty-four biomass sorghum genotypes and two forage sorghum genotypes were cultivated in a randomized block design with three replicates. The following morpho-agronomic traits were evaluated: flowering date, stem diameter, number of stems, plant height, number of leaves, green mass production, and dry matter production. There were significant differences at the 1% level for all traits. The highest genotypic correlation was found between the traits green mass production and dry matter production. The path analysis demonstrated that green mass production and number of leaves can assist in the selection of dry matter production.

Yeast diversity associated to sediments and water from two Colombian artificial lakes.

In Colombia, knowledge of the yeast and yeast-like fungi community is limited because most studies have focused on species with clinical importance. Sediments and water represent important habitats for the study of yeast diversity, especially for yeast species with industrial, biotechnological, and bioremediation potential. The main purpose of this study was to identify and compare the diversity of yeast species associated with sediment and water samples from two artificial lakes in Universidad del Valle (Cali-Colombia). Yeast samplings were performed from fifteen sediment samples and ten water samples. Grouping of similar isolates was initially based on colony and cell morphology, which was then complemented by micro/mini satellite primed PCR banding pattern analysis by using GTG5 as single primer. A representative isolate for each group established was chosen for D1/D2 domain sequencing and identification. In general, the following yeast species were identified: Candida albicans, Candida diversa, Candida glabrata, Candida pseudolambica, Cryptococcus podzolicus, Cryptococcus rajasthanensis, Cryptococcus laurentii, Williopsis saturnus, Hanseniaspora thailandica, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Torulaspora pretoriensis, Tricosporon jirovecii, Trichosporon laibachii and Yarrowia lypolitica. Two possible new species were also found, belonging to the Issatchenkia sp. and Bullera sp. genera. In conclusion, the lakes at the Universidad del Valle campus have significant differences in yeast diversity and species composition between them.

Yeast diversity associated to sediments and water from two Colombian artificial lakes

In Colombia, knowledge of the yeast and yeast-like fungi community is limited because most studies have focused on species with clinical importance. Sediments and water represent important habitats for the study of yeast diversity, especially for yeast species with industrial, biotechnological, and bioremediation potential. The main purpose of this study was to identify and compare the diversity of yeast species associated with sediment and water samples from two artificial lakes in Universidad del Valle (Cali-Colombia). Yeast samplings were performed from fifteen sediment samples and ten water samples. Grouping of similar isolates was initially based on colony and cell morphology, which was then complemented by micro/mini satellite primed PCR banding pattern analysis by using GTG5 as single primer. A representative isolate for each group established was chosen for D1/D2 domain sequencing and identification. In general, the following yeast species were identified: Candida albicans, Candida diversa, Candida glabrata, Candida pseudolambica, Cryptococcus podzolicus, Cryptococcus rajasthanensis, Cryptococcus laurentii, Williopsis saturnus, Hanseniaspora thailandica, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Torulaspora pretoriensis, Tricosporon jirovecii, Trichosporon laibachii and Yarrowia lypolitica. Two possible new species were also found, belonging to the Issatchenkia sp. and Bullera sp. genera. In conclusion, the lakes at the Universidad del Valle campus have significant differences in yeast diversity and species composition between them.

Yeast diversity associated to sediments and water from two Colombian artificial lakes

In Colombia, knowledge of the yeast and yeast-like fungi community is limited because most studies have focused on species with clinical importance. Sediments and water represent important habitats for the study of yeast diversity, especially for yeast species with industrial, biotechnological, and bioremediation potential. The main purpose of this study was to identify and compare the diversity of yeast species associated with sediment and water samples from two artificial lakes in Universidad del Valle (Cali-Colombia). Yeast samplings were performed from fifteen sediment samples and ten water samples. Grouping of similar isolates was initially based on colony and cell morphology, which was then complemented by micro/mini satellite primed PCR banding pattern analysis by using GTG5 as single primer. A representative isolate for each group established was chosen for D1/D2 domain sequencing and identification. In general, the following yeast species were identified: Candida albicans, Candida diversa, Candida glabrata, Candida pseudolambica, Cryptococcus podzolicus, Cryptococcus rajasthanensis, Cryptococcus laurentii, Williopsis saturnus, Hanseniaspora thailandica, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Torulaspora pretoriensis, Tricosporon jirovecii, Trichosporon laibachii and Yarrowia lypolitica. Two possible new species were also found, belonging to the Issatchenkia sp. and Bullera sp. genera. In conclusion, the lakes at the Universidad del Valle campus have significant differences in yeast diversity and species composition between them.(AU)

Cualidades paramétricas del cuestionario de agresión (AQ) de Buss y Perry en estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de Medellín (Colombia) / Parametric quality of the aggression questionnaire (AQ) of Buss and Perry among university students in Medellín (Colombia)

Objetivo: calcular las condiciones paramétricas del cuestionario de agresión (AQ) de Buss y Perry en población universitaria de la ciudad de Medellín (Antioquia, Colombia), con el fin de disponer de un instrumento válido y confiable para el estudio de las agresiones en nuestro medio. Materiales: el trabajo realizado se inscribe dentro del modelo de investigación cuantitativa de tipo empírico-analítico, ya que se realizó la validación y fiabilidad de la escala AQ de Buss y Perry, que consta en su versión original de 40 ítems, con escala Likert de cinco puntos y cuatro subescalas denominadas agresión física, agresión verbal, ira y hostilidad. La parametrización de la prueba en la ciudad de Medellín se aplicó a 717 estudiantes universitarios y arrojó cinco factores denominados autocontrol de la agresión física, percepción de hostilidad externa, autocontrol de la agresión verbal, desconfianza y no agresión, obtenidos con análisis factorial confirmatorio, después de corrección de asimetría con logaritmo natural de 10, con lo cual adquiere la categoría de prueba paramétrica. La varianza fue de 62,2. La confiabilidad se obtuvo por alfa de Cronbach con coeficiente de correlación intraclase. El alfa general fue de 0,82, y cada uno de los factores tienen un alfa así: factor alfa 1= 0,81, factor alfa 2= 0,86, factor alfa 3= 0,80, factor alfa 4= 0,57, factor alfa 5= 0,41. El diseño es de corte transversal pues solo se realizó una aplicación de la prueba a todos los sujetos de una muestra en un momento único. Para los estudiosos del comportamiento humano en relación con la salud colectiva, disponer de instrumentos de medición con criterios paramétricos de validez y fiabilidad es de fundamental importancia para la investigación de las conductas agresivas, en una población con altos índices de violencia como la colombiana. AUT

Actitudes justificativas del comportamiento agresivo y violento en estudiantes universitarios de la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia, 2001 / Justificatory attitudes of aggressive and violent behavior in university students in Medellín, Colombia, 2001

El presente artículo da cuenta de los resultados de un estudio realizado en la ciudad de Medellín con 500 sujetos, 258 mujeres y 242 hombres, acerca de las actitudes mediante las cuales los estudiantes de dos universidades públicas (Universidad de Antioquia y Universidad Nacional, seccional Medellín) y una privada (Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia) justifican sus comportamientos agresivos y violentos. El trabajo de campo se sustenta en un marco teórico conformado por diferentes enfoques conceptuales sobre la agresividad, la violencia y la agresión, que contextualizan y otorgan significado a los resultados del estudio. Está basado en un diseño descriptivo-comparativo que también pretende comparar los resultados por género y por tipo de universidad. Se analiza cómo la población estudiada acude a diferentes tipos de agresión como la directa, la indirecta, la física o la verbal, en situaciones en que las consideran justificables. Los indicadores que miden la agresión se derivan de la aplicación de una batería de pruebas actual, conformada por el EXPAGG (cuestionario de expresión de la agresividad), DIAS (escala de agresión directa e indirecta), AQ (cuestionario de agresión) y EAS (escala de agresividad situacional y creencias justificativas), todas ellas con el debido proceso de confiabilidad y validez. Se encontró que los hombres acuden más a la agresión física y directa en las universidades estudiadas, mientras que las mujeres utilizan tipos de agresión verbal e indirecta. Los resultados del presente estudio podrán generar estrategias de educación e intervención, así como de prevención de los comportamientos violentos y agresivos en jóvenes

Regulacion de la profesion de enfermeria en Colombia / Nursing professional law regulation in Colombia

Este artículo hace parte de la investigación "Impacto de la reforma del sector salud en la práctica, la regulación y la educación de enfermería en Colombia". El propósito es dar a conocer a los profesionales de enfermería, a los administradores del sector salud y al público en general, los ámbitos y mecanismos de regulación de la profesión de enfermería en el país. En la discusión se plantean observaciones tanto a los sectores aún desprotegidos de dicha regulación, como a las áreas que ameritan un replanteamiento. Finalmente se destacan algunos de los mecanismos informales de reglamentación que la sociedad va estableciendo

[Efficacy and tolerance of a five day course of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of urinary tract infection in women. Multicenter study]. / Eficacia y tolerancia de ciprofloxacina por 5 días en mujeres con infección urinaria. Estudio multicéntrico.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus about the ideal antimicrobial agent and duration of treatment for urinary tract infection in women. AIM: To assess the efficacy of a five days course of ciprofloxacin for the treatment of urinary tract infection in women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with urinary tract infection were treated with ciprofloxacin (Baycip, Bayer) 250 mg bid during 5 days. Patients were evaluated three to four days after treatment start, two to seven days and one month after treatment end. RESULTS: Of 101 eligible women, 96 aged 18 to 65 years old, coming from three major Chilean cities, participated in the study and 80 completed the follow up period. There was a 95% clinical success, 2.5% partial improvement and 2.5% treatment failure. The causal microorganism was erradicated in 90% of cases, in 1.2% treatment failed and in 8.7% a re-infection occurred. Adverse effects attributable to the drug were observed in 12 patients (headache in 3, gastrointestinal disturbances in 8, somnolence in 1 and irritability in 1). CONCLUSIONS: Ciprofloxacin is an useful antimicrobial for the treatment of lower urinary tract infection in women.

[Fluconazole in treatment of urinary candidiasis. Experience with 24 patients]. / Fluconazol en el tratamiento de la candidiasis urinaria. Experiencia en 24 pacientes.

Since fluconazole achieves high urine concentrations, we assessed its usefulness in the treatment of urinary candidiasis. We studied 24 patients (8 male) aged 23 to 97 years old, that presented pyuria with a negative urine culture for bacteria and fungal colony counts in urine of 10(4) CFU/ml or more. Isolated strains were Candida albicans in 20 cases, Candida kefyr in one case, Candida glabrata in one case and Candida spp in two cases. All patients were treated with fluconazole in doses of 50 to 100 mg/day for 2 to 4 weeks. The fungus was eradicated in 21 patients (88%), the infection persisted in two (8.5%) and one had a relapse (4.2%). Two patients had transient elevations of transaminases, one had abdominal pain and one, a purpuric syndrome without thrombocytopenia in whom the drug was discontinued. It is concluded that fluconazole is efficacious and safe in the treatment of urinary candidiasis.

[Primary HIV infection. Clinical and serologic characteristics]. / Infección primaria por el VIH. Características clínicas y serológicas.

An acute clinical picture of variable intensity may occur during the initial primary phase of HIV infection, it may however pass unnoticed. We report 12 seronegative subjects (11 male homosexuals, 1 female heterosexual, aged 18 to 44 years old), that presented an acute clinical picture preceding seroconversion. All had a sudden beginning, resembling an acute mononucleosis in 10 and with an aseptic meningitis in two. Intensity and duration were variable, lasting a mean of 14 (range 5-44) days an remaining asymptomatic thereafter. Most patients presented a discrete leukopenia with lymphopenia at the expense of CD4 lymphocytes, followed by an absolute lymphocytosis in some, with an increase in CD8 lymphocytes. All became positive for HIV; circulating HIV antigen was identified in three and IgM anti-HIV antibodies were detected during the symptomatic period by third generation ELISA in other three. It is concluded that the clinical picture of primary HIV infection has identifiable clinical serological and immunological features and its recognition has diagnostic and preventive implications.