Autism Spectrum Disorder in Females and Borderline Personality Disorder: The Diagnostic Challenge.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by pervasive deficits in communication and social interaction and patterns of repetitive, restrictive interests and/or stereotyped behaviors. Female sex/gender is not represented in the current conceptualization of ASD, and there is emerging evidence of a female phenotype. The etiology of ASD and borderline personality disorder (BPD) is not fully understood. Clinical observations suggest that ASD and BPD can overlap in clinical presentation and diagnostic characteristics, especially in female ASD cases. We report two clinical cases of two adolescent girls presenting overlap symptoms between ASD and BPD, raising questions about the female ASD phenotype and the potential misdiagnosis of ASD characteristics with BPD, as well as its impact on diagnosis and management. Diagnostic differentiation is crucial for targeted therapeutic interventions (psychopharmacological and psychosocial). Further studies are needed to enlighten the clinical similarities and diagnostic overlap between ASD females and BPD.

Astaxanthin impact on brain: health potential and market perspective.

Nowadays, there is an emergent interest in new trend-driven biomolecules to improve health and wellbeing, which has become an interesting and promising field, considering their high value and biological potential. Astaxanthin is one of these promising biomolecules, with impressive high market growth, especially in the pharmaceutical and food industries. This biomolecule, obtained from natural sources (i.e., microalgae), has been reported in the literature to have several beneficial health effects due to its biological properties. These benefits seem to be mainly associated with Astaxanthin's high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may act on several brain issues, thus attenuating symptoms. In this sense, several studies have demonstrated the impact of astaxanthin on a wide range of diseases, namely on brain disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson, depression, brain stroke and autism). Therefore, this review highlights its application in mental health and illness. Furthermore, a S.W.O.T. analysis was performed to display an approach from the market/commercial perspective. However, to bring the molecule to the market, there is still a need for more studies to increase deep knowledge regarding the real impact and mechanisms in the human brain.HIGHLIGHTSAstaxanthin has been mainly extracted from the algae Haematococcus pluvialisAstaxanthin, bioactive molecule with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory propertiesAstaxanthin has an important protective effect on brain disordersAstaxanthin is highly marketable, mainly for food and pharmaceutical industries.

Tannic Acid Tailored-Made Microsystems for Wound Infection.

Difficult-to-treat infections make complex wounds a problem of great clinical and socio-economic impact. Moreover, model therapies of wound care are increasing antibiotic resistance and becoming a critical problem, beyond healing. Therefore, phytochemicals are promising alternatives, with both antimicrobial and antioxidant activities to heal, strike infection, and the inherent microbial resistance. Hereupon, chitosan (CS)-based microparticles (as CM) were designed and developed as carriers of tannic acid (TA). These CMTA were designed to improve TA stability, bioavailability, and delivery in situ. The CMTA were prepared by spray dryer technique and were characterized regarding encapsulation efficiency, kinetic release, and morphology. Antimicrobial potential was evaluated against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, as common wound pathogens, and the agar diffusion inhibition growth zones were tested for antimicrobial profile. Biocompatibility tests were performed using human dermal fibroblasts. CMTA had a satisfactory product yield of ca. 32% and high encapsulation efficiency of ca. 99%. Diameters were lower than 10 µm, and the particles showed a spherical morphology. The developed microsystems were also antimicrobial for representative Gram+, Gram-, and yeast as common wound contaminants. CMTA improved cell viability (ca. 73%) and proliferation (ca. 70%) compared to free TA in solution and even compared to the physical mixture of CS and TA in dermal fibroblasts.

Fish By-Products: A Source of Enzymes to Generate Circular Bioactive Hydrolysates.

Fish viscera are usually discarded as waste, causing environmental problems, or as low-value by-products. This study describes a self-sufficient and zero waste approach to obtain enzymes and protein hydrolysates from fish by-products. Firstly, recovery steps of viscera enzymatic extract were applied, and the resulting raw extract was stable at a pH range of 8-9 and at temperatures between 40 and 50 °C. The application of the extracted enzymes and alcalase on fish by-products hydrolysis was also determined. The selected conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis were 10% (E/S) for 6 h using viscera enzymatic extract and 3% (E/S) for 2 h using alcalase. Fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) proved to have a notable antioxidant capacity with similar activity, ~11 mg ascorbic acid/g dry extract (ABTS assay) and ~150 mg Trolox/g dry extract (ORAC assay). FPH were also able to inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme, however, alcalase hydrolysates revealed a higher antihypertensive potential, IC50 of 101 µg of protein/mL. In general, FPH obtained by both enzymes systems maintained these bioactivities after the passage throughout a simulated gastrointestinal tract. The hydrolysates also displayed important technological properties, namely oil absorption capacity (~1 g oil/g sample) and emulsifying property (~40%). Therefore, it will be conceivable to use fish by-products based on a circular economy approach to generate added value compounds for animal and human nutrition.

Vulnerabilidade feminina a violência física no período da pandemia de Covid-19 / Women's vulnerability to physical violence during the Covid-19 pandemic / Vulnerabilidad femenina a la violencia física en el período de la pandemia covid-19

Objetivo: analisar os fatores que aumentaram a vulnerabilidade feminina à violência física, no período da quarentena para Covid-19. Método: estudo quantitativo, transversal, descritivo, realizado entre agosto e setembro de 2021. Participaram 154 mulheres. Protocolo aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados: verificou-se que 3,2% tinham ensino fundamental, 80% sofreram violência física, 61,7% tinham ensino superior e 33,7% sofreram violência física. Quanto a renda mensal familiar 6,5% tinham renda menor de R$1.000,00, 80% sofreram violência física, 20,1% tinham renda maior que R$7.000,00, 25,8% sofreram violência física. Quanto ao n.º de filhos, 9,7% tinham mais de 3 filhos, 73,3% sofreram violência física, 18,2% o parceiro fazia uso de drogas ilícitas, 67,9% das mulheres já sofreram violência física. Conclusão: mulheres com baixa escolaridade, baixa renda familiar e maior número de filhos, cujos parceiros (as) fizeram uso de drogas ilícitas apresentaram alta significância estatística e maior vulnerabilidade à violência física durante o período de pandemia para Covid-19.

Objective: to examine factors that increased female vulnerability to physical violence during the quarantine period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: this quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted between August and September 2021, with the participation of 154 women. The project was approved by the research ethics committee. Results: of the 3.2% of these women who had only lower secondary schooling, 80% had suffered physical violence; of the 61.7% with higher education, 33.7% had suffered physical violence. In terms of monthly income. Of the 6.5% with monthly income of less than BRL 1,000.00, 80% had suffered physical violence; of the 20.1% earning over BRL 7,000, 25.8% had suffered physical violence. Of the 9.7% with more than 3 children, 73.3% had suffered physical violence; and of the 18.2% whose partners used illegal substances, 67.9% had suffered physical violence. Conclusion: women with little education, low family income, more children, and partners using illegal substances were found, with high statistical significance, to be more vulnerable to physical violence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Objetivo: analizar los factores que incrementaron la vulnerabilidad femenina a la violencia física durante el período de cuarentena por Covid-19. Método: investigación cuantitativa, transversal, descriptiva, realizada entre agosto y septiembre de 2021. En él participaron 154 mujeres. El protocolo fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética en Investigación. Resultados: se encontró que el 3,2% tenía educación primaria, el 80% había sufrido violencia física, el 61,7% había terminado la universidad y el 33,7% había sufrido violencia física. En cuanto al ingreso familiar mensual, del 6,5% que tenía ingresos inferiores a R$ 1.000,00, el 80% había sufrido violencia física; del 20,1% que tenía ingresos superiores a R$ 7.000,00, el 25,8% había sufrido violencia física. Respecto al número de hijos, el 9,7% tenía más de 3 hijos, el 73,3% sufrió violencia física, la pareja del 18,2% consumía drogas ilícitas, el 67,9% de las mujeres ya había sufrido violencia física. Conclusión: las mujeres con baja escolaridad, bajos ingresos familiares y mayor número de hijos, cuyas parejas consumían drogas ilícitas, presentaron alta significancia estadística y mayor vulnerabilidad a la violencia física durante el período pandémico por Covid-19.

Exploring Silk Sericin for Diabetic Wounds: An In Situ-Forming Hydrogel to Protect against Oxidative Stress and Improve Tissue Healing and Regeneration.

Chronic wounds are one of the most frequent complications that are associated with diabetes mellitus. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a key factor in the delayed healing of a chronic wound. In the present work, we develop a novel in situ-forming silk sericin-based hydrogel (SSH) that is produced by a simple methodology using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) crosslinking as an advanced dressing for wound healing. The antioxidant and angiogenic effects were assessed in vitro and in vivo after in situ application using an excisional wound-healing model in a genetically-induced diabetic db/db mice and though the chick embryo choriollantoic membrane (CAM) assay, respectively. Wounds in diabetic db/db mice that were treated with SSH closed with reduced granulation tissue, decreased wound edge distance, and wound thickness, when compared to Tegaderm, a dressing that is commonly used in the clinic. The hydrogel also promoted a deposition of collagen fibers with smaller diameter which may have had a boost effect in re-epithelialization. SSH treatment slightly induced two important endogenous antioxidant defenses, superoxide dismutase and catalase. A CAM assay made it possible to observe that SSH led to an increase in the number of newly formed vessels without inducing an inflammatory reaction. The present hydrogel may result in a multi-purpose technology with angiogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, while advancing efficient and organized tissue regeneration.

Valorization of porcine by-products: a combined process for protein hydrolysates and hydroxyapatite production.

The meat industry generates large amounts of by-products that are costly to be treated and discarded ecologically; moreover, they could be used to extract high added-value compounds. In this work, we present an innovative combined process which allowed the parallel extraction of both organic and mineral compounds; more specifically protein hydrolysates and single-phase hydroxyapatite were obtained. The protein hydrolysates, extracted through an enzymatic hydrolysis with alcalase, showed a degree of hydrolysis of 53.3 ± 5.1%; moreover, they had a high protein content with peptides with molecular weight lower than 1.2 kDa. Their antioxidant activities, measured with ABTS and ORAC tests, were 21.1 ± 0.5 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g of dry extract and 87.7 ± 6.3 mg Trolox equivalent/g of dry extract, respectively. Single-phase hydroxyapatite, obtained with a simple calcination at 700 °C on the residues of the hydrolysis process, showed a Ca/P ratio close to the stoichiometric one (1.65 vs. 1.67) and presented a nanometric structure. This study reports a simple and feasible process for the valorization of porcine by-products in a large-scale up generating products with potential applications for environment remediation, biomedicine, nutrition and catalysis/bioenergy.

In Situ Forming Silk Sericin-Based Hydrogel: A Novel Wound Healing Biomaterial.

In situ cross-linked hydrogels have the advantage of effectively fulfilling the wound in its shape and depth. Amongst the new generation of natural-based biopolymers being proposed for wound care and skin regeneration, silk sericin is particularly interesting due to its exceptional properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antioxidant behavior, among others. In this study, a new enzyme-mediated cross-linked hydrogel composed of silk sericin is proposed for the first time. The developed hydrogel cross-linking strategy was performed via horseradish peroxidase, under physiological conditions, and presented gelling kinetics under 3 min, as demonstrated by its rheological behavior. The hydrogels presented a high degree of transparency, mainly due to their amorphous conformation. Degradation studies revealed that the hydrogels were stable in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.4) for 17 days, while in the presence of protease XIV (3.5 U/mg) and under acute and chronic physiological pH values, the stability decreased to 7 and 4 days, respectively. During protease degradation, the present sericin hydrogels demonstrated antioxidant activity. In vitro studies using an L929 fibroblast cell line demonstrated that these hydrogels were noncytotoxic, promoting cell adhesion and massive cell colonization after 7 days of culture, demonstrating that cells maintained their viability and proliferation. In addition, the application of sericin-based hydrogel in an in vivo diabetic wound model validated the feasibility of the in situ methodology and demonstrated a local anti-inflammatory effect, promoting the healing process. This study presents a simple, fast, and practical in situ approach to produce a sericin-based hydrogel able to be applied in low exudative chronic wounds. Moreover, the study herein reported fosters the valorization of a textile industrial by-product by its integration in the biomedical field.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of insect Alphitobius diaperinus towards the development of bioactive peptide hydrolysates.

Edible insects are a promising protein source for the future generation, due to their nutritional composition, sustainability and low environmental impact. Recent studies demonstrated their potential as a protein base to obtain bioactive peptides with potential applicability in the food industry. The aim of this study was to hydrolyze and analyze the potential of the edible insect Alphitobius diaperinus protein to develop an improved insect food ingredient with bioactive properties. After evaluating various conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis with Alcalase 2.5L and Corolase PP, the best condition chosen for each enzyme was an enzyme : substrate ratio of 1.5% for 4 hours and a ratio of 3.0% for 6 hours, respectively. Insect protein hydrolysates are demonstrated to have relevant bioactive properties, namely antioxidant (by ABTS and ORAC methods) and antihypertensive activities (through the ability to inhibit the angiotensin converting enzyme, ACE), but no antimicrobial or antidiabetic properties were observed. Antioxidant activity values for hydrolysates obtained with Alcalase 2.5L and Corolase PP were 95.0 ± 0.8 and 95.7 ± 1.0 µmol Trolox equivalent per g insect powder by the ABTS method, 825.6 ± 85.5 and 944.8 ± 68.1 µmol Trolox equivalent per g insect powder by the ORAC method, respectively. Insect hydrolysates were able to inhibit the ACE and IC50 values for insect hydrolysates obtained with Alcalase 2.5L and Corolase PP were 55.5 ± 6.2 and 107.4 ± 9.7 µg of protein per mL, respectively. These insect protein hydrolysates can be used as a supplement/ingredient in the food industry with potential health benefits.

Marked increase in incidence for bloodstream infections due to Escherichia coli, a side effect of previous antibiotic therapy in the elderly.

We conducted a survey including 3334 bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to E. coli diagnosed in 2005-2014 at a stable cohort of hospitals. Marked increases in incidence were observed for community-acquired (CA) BSIs in patients aged >75 years, CA-BSIs of digestive origin in patients aged 60-74 years, healthcare-associated BSIs, and BSIs associated with ESBL (extended-spectrum B-lactamase)-producing E. coli (ESBLEc). Using MLST, we studied the genetic diversity of 412 BSI isolates recovered during the 2014 survey: 7 major sequence type complexes (STCs) were revealed in phylogenetic group B2, 3 in group A/B1 and 2 in group D. Among the 31 ESBLEc isolates, 1/3 belonged to STC 131. We searched for possible associations between clonal groups, clinical determinants and characteristics of BSIs: isolates from groups B2 (except STC 131) and D were susceptible to antibiotics and associated with BSIs of urinary origin in patients <60 years. STC 131 and group A/B1 isolates were multi-drug resistant and associated with CA-BSIs of digestive origin in patients aged 60-74 with a recent history of antibiotic treatment. STC 131 isolates were associated with HCA-BSIs in patients with recent/present hospitalization in a long-stay unit. We provide a unique population-based picture of the epidemiology of E. coli BSI. The aging nature of the population led to an increase in the number of cases caused by the B2 and D isolates generally implicated in BSIs. In addition, the association of a trend toward increasing rates of gut colonization with multi drug-resistant isolates revealed by the rise in the incidence of BSIs of digestive origin caused by STC 131 and A/B1 (STCs 10, 23, and 155) isolates, and a significant increase in the frequency of BSIs in elderly patients with recent antibiotic treatment suggested that antibiotic use may have contributed to the growing incidence of BSI.

Resultados da implementação de um programa de reabilitação em utentes submetidos a artroplastia total do joelho / Results of the implementation of a rehabilitation program in patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty

A artrose do joelho é uma patologia comum em idosos. A dor crónica e incapacidade tornam por vezes necessário o tratamento cirúrgico através da artroplastia. A reabilitação, pré e pós-operatória, poderá contribuir para o aumento da funcionalidade, para a melhoria do estado de saúde dos utentes e para uma melhor adaptação às atividades de vida diária. Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados de um programa de enfermagem de reabilitação efetuado a utentes submetidos a artroplastia total do joelho. Metodologia: Estudo de metodologia quantitativa e tipo quási-experimental não-randomizado, com avaliação antes e após a intervenção. Resultados: A amostra estudada (71,38±5,93 anos) era constituída maioritariamente por homens (52%). Apresentavam marcha independente antes da cirurgia 70% dos utentes. A amplitude do joelho no pós-operatório correlacionou-se com os valores no pré-operatório, tanto para a flexão como extensão. Os pacientes tiveram alta efetuando, em média, 91º de flexão. Observamos significativas melhorias no equilíbrio estático e dinâmico pelo Índice de Tinetti. No Índice de Barthel obtivemos uma média 91,3 pontos aquando da alta clínica. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que o programa de reabilitação realizado durante o internamento hospitalar melhorou a independência funcional dos utentes submetidos a artroplastia total do joelho.

Knee osteoarthritis is a common disease in the elderly. Chronic pain and disability make sometimes required surgical treatment through arthroplasty. Pre and post-total knee arthroplasty rehabilitation may improve functionality and the health status of patients for better adaptation to daily activities. Aim: Evaluate results of a rehabilitation nursing program conducted in patients with osteoarthrosis undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Methodology: Quantitative research was used in a quasi-experimental non-randomized study, with evaluation before and after intervention. Results: The study sample (71.38 ± 5.93 years) consisted of 26 (52%) men subjects. Before surgery walk independently was prevalent in 70% of patients. Postoperatively knee range of motion was correlated with the preoperatively values, for flexion and extension. Patients were discharged making, on average, 91 ° flexion. We observed significant improvements in static and dynamic balance by Tinetti Index. At the time of discharge we obtained an average 91.3 points in the Barthel Index. Conclusion: The results suggest that the rehabilitation program performed during hospitalization improved the functional independence of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

La osteoartritis de la rodilla es una condición común en los ancianos. El dolor crónico y la discapacidad hacen, a menudo, que el tratamiento quirúrgico sea necesario a través de artroplastia. La rehabilitación, en el pre y post-operatorio, puede contribuir al aumento de la funcionalidad para mejorar la salud de los pacientes y de adaptarse mejor a las actividades de la vida diaria. Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados de un programa de enfermería de rehabilitación llevado a cabo en pacientes sometidos a artroplastia total de la rodilla. Metodología: Metodología cuantitativa en estudio cuasi-experimental no aleatorizado, con evaluación antes y después de la intervención. Resultados: La muestra del estudio (71,38 ± 5,93 años) fue constituida principalmente por hombres (52%). Tenían la marcha independiente antes de la cirugía 70% de los pacientes. La amplitud de la rodilla después de cirugía se correlacionó con los valores antes de la cirugía, tanto para la flexión como para la extensión. Los pacientes dados de alta clínica hacían, en promedio, 91° de flexión. Hemos observado mejoras significativas en el equilibrio estático y dinámico mediante el test de Tinetti. En el test de Barthel se obtuvo un promedio de 91.3 puntos. Conclusión: Los resultados sugieren que el programa de rehabilitación llevado a cabo durante la hospitalización mejoró la independencia funcional de los pacientes sometidos a artroplastia total de rodilla.

Selection of potential probiotic Enterococcus faecium isolated from Portuguese fermented food.

Four Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from fermented products were evaluated for potential use as probiotic strains. In addition to efaAfm gene, commonly found in E. faecium food isolates, none of the isolates possessed virulence genes and none had positive reactions for the production of tyramine, histamine, putrescine and cadaverine in the screening medium used. All of these four isolates proved to be resistant to 65 °C. E. faecium 119 did not show antimicrobial activity against any of the target bacteria investigated. E. faecium 85 and 101 inhibited Listeria innocua and E. faecium DSMZ 13590. The strain E. faecium 120 inhibited seven target bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes 7946, L. monocytogenes 7947, L. innocua 2030c, L. innocua NCTC 11286, E. faecium DSMZ 13590, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213) and was chosen as the representative to assess the ability to survive gastrointestinal tract passage simulation, as well as the protective role of two food matrices (skim milk and Alheira) during its passage. For both matrices used, no significant differences (p<0.05) were obtained between the types of digestion - quick and slow passage simulation. In the skim milk matrix the isolate was reduced to values below the detection limit of the enumeration technique by the end of the two digestions, in contrast to the Alheira matrix, for which isolate 120 showed a reduction of only ca. 1 log CFU/ml. The E. faecium strain 120 was shown to be a potential candidate for further investigations as a potential probiotic culture.

Sugammadex reduces postoperative pain after laparoscopic bariatric surgery: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Morbid obese (MO) population is increasing every year worldwide, and laparoscopic bariatric surgery (LBS) has a central role in their treatment. The postoperative period of MO is not free from complications. The introduction of sugammadex has brought huge developments in patient's safety and nowadays LBS is performed with better care and quality. However, the effect of this agent in postoperative pain is still unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A controlled trial enrolling 88 MO submitted to LBS under general anesthesia using muscle relaxation, randomly assigned into 2 groups: one received sugammadex (SUG group) at the end of surgery and the other neostigmine (NEO group). In the postanesthetic care unit (PACU), we evaluated pain using the visual analogue scale in 4 different moments: arrival in the PACU, 30 minutes after arrival, 60 minutes after arrival, and immediately before leaving the PACU. We also recorded the presence of postoperative nausea and vomits (PONV) and the duration of the PACU stay before discharge to the ward. RESULTS: Forty-four patients received sugammadex and 44 received neostigmine. We found lower visual analogue scale pain scores in the SUG group at 30 and 60 minutes after arriving to the PACU (P<0.05). We also had less PONV in the SUG group and these patients were also discharged earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Sugammadex is associated with less pain felt in the PACU. This "opioid-sparing" effect, combined with less PONV and a faster discharge from the PACU, makes sugammadex an indispensable drug in this type of patients and allows fast-track surgery in the MO.

The role of lactobacilli and probiotics in maintaining vaginal health.

BACKGROUND: The vaginal microbiota of healthy women consists typically of a diversity of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms. Lactobacilli are the most prevalent and often numerically dominant microorganisms and are relevant as a barrier to infection. The capacity of lactobacilli to adhere and compete for adhesion sites in the vaginal epithelium and the capacity to produce antimicrobial compounds (hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, bacteriocin-like substances), are important in the impairment of colonization by pathogens. OBJECTIVE: This review summarizes the role of lactic acid bacteria in preventing illness of the host, including bacterial vaginosis, yeast vaginitis, urinary tract infection and sexually transmitted diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of probiotics that colonize the vaginal tract can be important in maintaining a normal urogenital health and also to prevent or treat infections.

Effects of processing and storage on Pediococcus pentosaceus SB83 in vaginal formulations: lyophilized powder and tablets.

Vaginal probiotics have an important role in preventing the colonization of the vagina by pathogens. This study aimed to investigate different formulations with Pediococcus pentosaceus SB83 (lyophilized powder and tablets with and without retarding polymer) in order to verify its stability and antilisterial activity after manufacture and during storage. The bacteriocinogenic activity of P. pentosaceus SB83 against Listeria monocytogenes was evaluated in simulated vaginal fluid. Suspension of Pediococcus pentosaceus SB83 reduced the pathogen only after 2 h and the lyophilized bacteria after 24 h of contact, and, in the tablets, P. pentosaceus SB83 lost the antimicrobial activity. The pH of simulated vaginal fluid decreased for all the tested conditions. As lyophilized powder demonstrated better results concerning antimicrobial activity, this formulation was selected to evaluate the antilisterial activity during the 12 months of storage. During storage at room temperature, lyophilized bacteria totally inhibited the pathogen only until one month of storage. At 4°C, P. pentosaceus SB83 showed antimicrobial activity during all the time of storage investigated. Therefore, the better formulation of P. pentosaceus SB83 is the lyophilized powder stored at 4°C, which may be administered intravaginally as a washing solution.

HLA-B27 and clinical features of acute anterior uveitis in Cuba.

BACKGROUND: There are few data about the epidemiology of acute anterior uveitis (AAU) from Latin America. In Cuba, the genetic admixture of the population could modify the HLA-B27-AAU association. In this study, the authors compared the distribution of the HLA-B27 allele in patients and controls and described some clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical features of patients were collected from their medical records. HLA-B27 genotyping was performed using the polymerase chain reaction. HLA-B27 allele distribution was compared between patients and controls. RESULTS: HLA-B27 allele was present in 55.4% of the patients and 0.87% of the controls. AAU HLA-B27 positivity was associated with males, frequent episodes, and a systemic disease. There is no difference in ocular complications between HLA-B27-positive and -negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study are similar to data described in other countries. HLA-B27 allele distribution in controls is lower than other reports in Caucasian populations.

Biofilm Formation among Clinical and Food Isolates of Listeria monocytogenes.

Objective. A total of 725 Listeria monocytogenes isolates, 607 from various foods and 118 from clinical cases of listeriosis, were investigated concerning their ability to form biofilms, at 4°C during 5 days and at 37°C during 24 h. Methods. Biofilm production was carried out on polystyrene tissue culture plates. Five L. monocytogenes isolates were tested for biofilm formation after being exposed to acidic and osmotic stress conditions. Results. Significant differences (P < 0.01) between clinical and food isolates were observed. At 37°C for 24 h, most food isolates were classified as weak or moderate biofilm formers whereas all the clinical isolates were biofilm producers, although the majority were weak. At 4°C during 5 days, 65 and 59% isolates, from food and clinical cases, respectively, were classified as weak. After both sublethal stresses, at 37°C just one of the five isolates tested was shown to be more sensitive to subsequent acidic exposure. However, at 4°C both stresses did not confer either sensitivity or resistance. Conclusions. Significant differences between isolates origin, temperature, and sublethal acidic stress were observed concerning the ability to form biofilms. Strain, origin, and environmental conditions can determine the level of biofilm production by L. monocytogenes isolates.

Survival and biofilm formation by Group B streptococci in simulated vaginal fluid at different pHs.

The Group B Streptococcus (GBS, Streptococcus agalactiae) is an important cause of neonatal and maternal infection. GBS is a commensal organism of the lower gastrointestinal and vaginal tract. A frequent mode of neonatal infection is vertical transmission from pregnant women to their foetus or neonate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival and biofilm production of 10 GBS strains in simulated vaginal fluid at pH 4.2, 5.5 and 6.5. GBS survived longer at higher pH than at normal vaginal pH. At pH 4.2, with the exception of two isolates that were recovered up to 48 and 72 h, viable GBS numbers declined below the limit of detection by 24 h. At higher pH, GBS survived between 3 and 15 days. All isolates investigated were biofilm producers but biofilm production was greater in tryptone soy broth compared to simulated vaginal fluid. The quantity of biofilm produced increased with the rise in the pH. This study suggests that high vaginal pH may influence both GBS survival and biofilm production and thus could be a risk factor for GBS infection.

Survival and biofilm formation of Listeria monocytogenes in simulated vaginal fluid: influence of pH and strain origin.

Listeria monocytogenes, the agent responsible for listeriosis, can be transmitted from mother to fetus/neonates by vertical transmission, transplacentally or during passage through the birth canal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the survival and biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes (isolated from clinical cases or from food) in simulated vaginal fluid at different pH values (4.2, 5.5 and 6.5). The results demonstrated that this pathogen is inhibited by the normal vaginal pH, but may proliferate when it increases. Clinical strains were significantly more resistant to pH 4.2 than food isolates. Listeria monocytogenes survived and even grew at the higher pHs investigated, suggesting that fetus/neonates from women having increased vaginal pH values during pregnancy may be at a higher risk of listeriosis. All isolates tested were producers of biofilm at different pH values; however, L. monocytogenes produced higher quantities of biofilm in a nutrient-rich medium. No significant differences in biofilm production were detected between food and clinical isolates. As L. monocytogenes are biofilm producers, this increases the probability of occurrence of neonatal infection.