Improved Blue Carba test and Carba NP test for detection and classification of major Class A and B carbapenemases, including dual producers, among Gram-negative bacilli.

Prompt and precise identification of carbapenemase-producing organisms is crucial for guiding clinical antibiotic treatments and limiting transmission. Here, we propose modifying the Blue Carba test (BCT) and Carba NP-direct (CNPd) to identify molecular carbapenemase classes, including dual carbapenemase strains, by adding specific Class A and Class B inhibitors. We tested 171 carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli strains-21 in Class A (KPC, NMC, SME), 58 in Class B (IMP, VIM, NDM, SPM), and 92 with dual carbapenemase production (KPC+NDM, KPC+IMP, KPC+VIM), all previously positive with BCT or CNPd. We also included 13 carbapenemase non-producers. ß-lactamases were previously characterized by PCR. The improved BCT/CNPd methods detect imipenem hydrolysis from an imipenem-cilastatin solution, using pH indicators and Class A (avibactam) and/or Class B (EDTA) inhibitors. Results were interpreted visually based on color changes. CNPd achieved 99.4% sensitivity and 100% specificity in categorizing carbapenemases, while BCT had 91.8% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Performance varied by carbapenemase classes: both tests classified all Class A-producing strains. For Class B, the CNP test identified 57/58 strains (98.3%), whereas the BCT test, 45/58 strains (77.6%), with non-fermenters posing the greatest detection challenge. For Classes A plus B dual producers, both tests performed exceptionally well, with only one indeterminate strain for the BCT. The statistical comparison showed both methods had similar times to a positive result, with differences based on the carbapenemase class or bacterial group involved. This improved assay rapidly distinguishes major Class A or Class B carbapenemase producers among Gram-negative bacilli, including dual-class combinations, in less than 2 hours. IMPORTANCE: Rapid and accurate identification of carbapenemase-producing organisms is of vital importance in guiding appropriate clinical antibiotic treatments and curbing their transmission. The emergence of negative bacilli carrying multiple carbapenemase combinations during and after the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has posed a challenge to the conventional biochemical tests typically used to determine the specific carbapenemase type in the isolated strains. Several initiatives have aimed to enhance colorimetric methods, enabling them to independently identify the presence of Class A or Class B carbapenemases. Notably, no previous efforts have been made to distinguish both classes simultaneously. Additionally, these modifications have struggled to differentiate between carriers of multiple carbapenemases, a common occurrence in many Latin American countries. In this study, we introduced specific Class A and Class B carbapenemase inhibitors into the Blue Carba test (BCT) and Carba NP-direct (CNP) colorimetric assays to identify the type of carbapenemase, even in cases of multiple carbapenemase producers within these classes. These updated assays demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and specificity (≥ 90%) all within a rapid turnaround time of under 2 hours, typically completed in just 45 minutes. These in-house enhancements to the BCT and CNP assays present a rapid, straightforward, and cost-effective approach to determining the primary carbapenemase classes. They could serve as a viable alternative to molecular biology or immuno-chromatography techniques, acting as an initial diagnostic step in the process.

Detección y resolución de Problemas Relacionados con Medicamentos en un servicio de Atención Farmacéutica en Argentina / Detection and resolution of Drug Therapy Problems in a Pharmaceutical Care service in Argentina

Introducción: La Atención Farmacéutica consiste en un proceso asistencial sistemático para detec-tar, resolver y prevenir Problemas Relacionados con Medicamentos. El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir el número y perfil de problemas detecta-dos y resueltos en un conjunto de pacientes adul-tos atendidos en una Unidad de Optimización de la Farmacoterapia en Argentina, durante un segui-miento farmacoterapéutico promedio de un año.Método: Se realizó un estudio cuasi-experimental, abierto y prospectivo en 40 pacientes ambulatorios. Se registraron las características clínicas y medica-mentos, así como su adherencia o no al servicio. Se empleó la clasificación de Problemas Relacionados con Medicamentos de Minnesota, registrando su dimensión, categoría, causa, patología o condición clínica asociada, medicamento asociado, estado de riesgo, estado final y método de resolución.Resultados: Los grupos farmacoterapéuticos mayormente utilizados fueron beta-bloqueantes, estatinas, vitaminas y minerales, analgésicos, inhibidores de la bomba de protones y benzodiace-pinas. Los problemas de indicación, especialmente por necesidad de farmacoterapia adicional, prevale-cieron como los más frecuentes, incluyendo la falta de farmacoterapia preventiva con vacunas. Se lo-gró resolver el 73,6% de los problemas detectados, de los cuales el 60,3% se hizo a través de informes a los médicos tratantes. El resto se pudo abordar mediante la educación al paciente, especialmente los de adherencia.Conclusiones: La Atención Farmacéutica permitió una descripción sistemática del perfil de problemas farmacológicos detectados y resueltos en un con-junto de pacientes adultos mayores ambulatorios, principalmente de sexo femenino, en el contexto de una Unidad de Optimización de la Farmacoterapia montada en un hospital universitario de Argentina. (AU)

Introduction: Pharmaceutical Care is a systematic process to detect, solve, and prevent Drug Relat-ed Problems. The aim of this study is to describe the number and profile of problems detected and solved in a group of adult patients interviewed in a Pharmacotherapy Optimization Unit in Argentina, during an average pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of one year.Method: A quasi-experimental, open-label, pro-spective study was carried out in 40 outpatients. The Clinical characteristics and medications were revealed, as well as their adherence to the service. The Minnesota classification of Drug Therapy Problems was used, recording dimension, category, cause, associated clinical condition, associated medication, risk status, final status, and resolution method.Results: The most widely used pharmacotherapeu-tic groups were beta-blockers, statins, vitamins and minerals, analgesics, proton pump inhibitors, and benzodiazepines. Indication problems, especially due to the need for additional pharmacotherapy, prevailed as the most frequent, including the lack of preventive vaccines. It was possible to solve 73.6% of the detected problems, of which 60.3% was done through reports to the treating physicians. The rest could be addressed through patient education, especially those related to adherence.Conclusions: Pharmaceutical Care allowed a systematic pharmacotherapy work-up of Drug Related Problems detected and solved in a group of elderly outpatients, mainly female, in the context of a Pharmacotherapy Optimization Unit set up in a university hospital in Argentina. (AU)

Socioeconomic status impacts cognitive and socioemotional processes in healthy ageing.

Socioeconomic status (SES) negatively impacts cognitive and executive functioning in older adults, yet its effects on socioemotional abilities have not been studied in this population. Also, evidence on neurocognitive processes associated with ageing primarily comes from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) populations, hindering the generalization of findings to persons from upper-middle- and low-middle-income countries, such as those of Latin America. Here, we compared the performance of low- and high-SES older adults from Argentina in cognitive state, executive functions, social cognition (emotion recognition and theory of mind), and counter-empathic social emotions (envy and Schadenfreude; displeasure at others' fortune and pleasure at others' misfortune, respectively). Subsequently, we developed a path analysis to test the relationship among those variables in a theoretically plausible model and tested the main paths via multiple regression analyses. Relative to the high-SES group, low-SES older adults showed poorer performance on all assessed domains. Convergent evidence from covariance analysis, path analysis, and linear regressions suggested that low-SES impact on socioemotional processes was not primary but mediated by cognitive and executive impairment. These findings offer the first characterization of SES impacts on cognitive and socioemotional processes in a non-WEIRD population and have relevant equity-related implications for brain health.

Trichinella spiralis infection and transplacental passage in human pregnancy.

Infection by Trichinella spp. during pregnancy still arises many questions. Worldwide an important number of trichinellosis outbreaks have occurred over time where pregnant women were or might have been involved. Parasitological and immunoserological parameters, clinical background and transplacental passage of Trichinella spiralis of six pregnant women, from different outbreaks, were studied. Serum samples were collected from patients and their children: at pregnancy, at delivery, newborn and/or infant (≥1 year-old). Total immunoglobulins (Igs) and isotypes against excretion-secretion products from muscle larvae (ESP-ML) and newborn larvae (NBL) of T. spiralis were detected by immunoserological techniques. Sera helminthocytotoxic activity against NBL was evaluated by antibodies dependent cell cytotoxicity assay. Patients presented similar clinical symptoms. Mother's sera showed differences in the presence and titres of Igs, IgE, IgG1 and IgG4 against NBL surface. All of them showed helminthocytotoxic activity against NBL, four in progesterone dependent manner and the other two by antibodies. Igs anti ESP-ML were present in mother's sera, with differences in the isotypes detected. Anti-ESP-ML IgE, IgA and/or IgM in newborn sera were observed. Three out of four infants showed specific Igs; one even at 8 years-old. The distinct immune response between mothers at pregnancy evidenced by sera helminthocytotoxic activity and immunoserological parameters may be associated with a different parasite burden exposition. Specific Igs observed in newborns would be a suggestion of transplacental passage of this Igs and/or their production by the fetus. Specific Igs found in infants sera suggests that newborn larvae transplacental passage is possible.

Psychological and physiological response of students to different types of stress management programs.

PURPOSE: To design, implement, and examine the psychoneuroendocrine responses of three different types of stress management programs. DESIGN: Randomly assigned. A pre/post experimental design comparing variables between three different programs and a control group. The first program included training in deep breathing, relaxation response, meditation, and guided imagery techniques (RRGI). The second program included training in cognitive behavioral techniques (CB). The third program included both RRGI and CB (RRGICB). SETTING: The study was conducted at Buenos Aires University. SUBJECTS: Participants (N  = 52) were undergraduate students. MEASURES: Anxiety, anger, hopelessness, neuroticism, respiration rate, and salivary cortisol levels were assessed. ANALYSIS: Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to investigate differences in pre and post variables. RESULTS: Subjects in the RRGI group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .011), anger (p < .012), neuroticism (p < .01), respiratory rate (p < .002), hopelessness (p < .01), and salivary cortisol (p < .002) after the treatment. Subjects in the CB group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .018), anger (p < .037), and neuroticism (p < .03) after the treatment. Subjects in the RRGICB group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .001), anger (p < .001), neuroticism (p < .008), hopelessness (p < .01), respiratory rate (p < .001), and salivary cortisol (p < .002) after the treatment. Subjects in the control group showed only one variable modification, a significant increase in cortisol levels (p < .004). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of deep breathing, relaxation response, meditation, and guided imagery techniques with CB seems to be effective at helping people to deal with stress.