Actinotignum schaalii infection: Challenges in diagnosis and treatment.

Actinotignum schaalii affects elderly people and is associated with individuals with urological-related predispositions, but can be found in a variety of locations, such as cutaneous, intraabdominal, genitourinary and surgical infections. Disseminated infections occur less frequently and are by and large related to urinary tract colonisation. This pathogen is often neglected due to growth requirements, especially in urinary tract infections. We present 107 Actinotignum schaalii isolated from genitourinary samples (80.4%), from skin and soft tissue infections (13.1%), from bone and deep tissue infection (4.7%) and from blood cultures (1.9%). The automated system Alfred 60/AST was paramount for the isolation of 77.6% of the UTI. All the isolates tested were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, linezolid, vancomycin, teicoplanin, rifampicin and tetracycline. In conclusion, we present a large series of Actinotignum schaalii infections. This pathogen is hard to isolate, and is resistant to commonly used empirical antimicrobials.

CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN ADOLESCENTS: ROLE OF INSULIN RESISTANCE AND OBESITY.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is a public health problem characterized by early insulin resistance (IR), inflammation, and oxidative stress. The presence of an uninterrupted low-grade inflammatory state impairs metabolic and cardiovascular health. The population is particularly susceptible to develop metabolic disorders related to increased body fat. METHODS: Eighty-three adolescents were recruited and grouped according to HOMA-IR and BMI in either with or without IR and obese or normal-weight respectively. Anthropometric, biochemical, immunological and hormonal variables were determined. Transverse Analytical Study. RESULTS: Obesity, dyslipidemia, IL-6, and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the IR group than in the non-IR group. Obese adolescents showed increased insulin levels, HOMA-IR, inflammatory markers, and triglycerides; while having lower HDL-C, and adiponectin when compared to normal-weight adolescents. As expected, obesity-related anthropometric markers positively correlated with IR and inflammatory markers while negatively correlated with adiponectin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Early IR, subclinical inflammation, dyslipidemia, and hypoadiponectinemia characterize obesity in adolescents. These factors may increase the risk of future coronary heart disease (CHD) and diabetes mellitus development (DM) in early adulthood.

Mapping candidate genes for Drosophila melanogaster resistance to the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi.

Drosophila melanogaster resistance against the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi is under the control of a single gene (Rlb), with two alleles, the resistant one being dominant. Using strains bearing deletions, we previously demonstrated that the 55E2-E6; 55F3 region on chromosome 2R is involved in the resistance phenomenon. In this paper, we first restricted the Rlb containing region by mapping at the molecular level the breakpoints of the Df(2R)Pc66, Df(2R)P34 and Df(2R)Pc4 deficiencies, using both chromosomal in situ hybridization and Southern analyses. The resistance gene was localized in a 100 kb fragment, predicted to contain about 10 different genes. Male recombination genetic experiments were then performed, leading to identification of two possible candidates for the Rlb gene. Potential involvement of one of this genes, edl/mae, is discussed.

Effects of behavior-modifying education in the metabolic profile of the type 2 diabetes mellitus patient.

To demonstrate the advantages of behavior-modifying education in the metabolic profile of the type-2 diabetes mellitus patient. A quasi-experimental study was performed with a control group. The experimental group was made up of 25 type-2 diabetic patients and the control group consisted of 24. The type of education carried out was a behavior modification. Baseline measurements and subsequent monthly measurements of serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides were carried out during 9 months after the intervention. The groups were controlled according to age and sex. The statistical analysis was performed using the Student's and Wilcoxon's test to determine the difference. The experimental group in comparison with the control group in the measurement after the intervention achieved a mean difference in serum glucose of 64.2 mg/dl (p=0.001), in the cholesterol of 31.6 (p=0.008), and in the triglycerides of 50.8 (p=0.006). The behavior-modifying education is a better option than traditional intervention for metabolic control in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Drosophila resistance genes to parasitoids: chromosomal location and linkage analysis.

Insect hosts can survive infection by parasitoids using the encapsulation phenomenon. In Drosophila melanogaster the abilities to encapsulate the wasp species Leptopilina boulardi and Asobara tabida each involve one major gene. Both resistance genes have been precisely localized on the second chromosome, 35 centimorgans apart. This result clearly demonstrates the involvement of at least two separate genetic systems in Drosophila resistance to parasitoid wasps. The resistance genes to L. boulardi and A. tabida are not clustered as opposed to many plant resistance genes to pathogens cloned to date.

Genetic localization of a Drosophila melanogaster resistance gene to a parasitoid wasp and physical mapping of the region.

Drosophila melanogaster larvae usually react against eggs of the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi by surrounding them with a multicellular melanotic capsule. The genetic determinism of this response has been studied previously using susceptible (non-capsule-forming) and resistant (capsule-forming) strains. The results suggest that differences in their encapsulation response involve a single gene, resistance to Leptopilina boulardi (Rlb), with two alleles, the resistant one being dominant. Rlb confers specific protection against Leptopilina boulardi and is thus probably involved in parasitoid recognition. Recent studies have localized this gene on the right arm of the second chromosome and our aim was to precisely determine its genetic and molecular location. Using strains bearing deletions, we demonstrated that resistance to Leptopilina boulardi is conferred by the 55C; 55F3 region and that the 55E2-E6; F3 region is particularly involved. A physical map of the 55C; 56A region was then constructed, based on a set of overlapping cosmid and P1 phage clones. Using single and double digests, cross hybridization of restriction fragments, and location of genetically mapped genes and STSs, a complete, five-enzyme restriction map of this 830-kb region was obtained.

[Oral administration of diphenylhydantoin sodium (DFH-Na or phenytoin) predictably affects the liver and kidney of Sprague Dawley rats]. / La administración oral de difenilhidantoinato sódico (DFH-Na ó Fenitoina) afecta previsiblemente hígado y riñón de ratas Sprague-Dawley.

Phenytoin and its vehicle were orally administered to adult Sprague-Dawley rats during 7, 14 and 30 days at doses of 300 and 450 mg/kg/24 hr., respectively. We found: 1) Increased liver DNA concentration in subgroups of animals treated with 450 mg at 7 (P < 0.02) and 15 days (P < 0.001) Phenytoin serum levels were 19 ug/ml. 2) Increased protein concentration with 300 mg at 7 (P < 0.01) and 15 days (P < 0.001), respectively. 3) Cloudy swelling, vacuolar degeneration, liver sinusoids disappearance and lymphocytic cells infiltrate in subgroups of rats receiving vehicle throughout 6, 14 and 15 days correspondingly. The former lesion was found in all subgroups, except that 450 mg treated animals liver more severely affected. 4) Increased DNA concentration in kidney of subgroups receiving 450 mg/kg throughout 7 (P < 0.05), 15 (P < 0.001) and 30 days (P < 0.001), correspondingly. 5) Increased protein concentration in rats receiving 450 mg during 15 days (P < 0.001) and severely decreased at 30 days period. 6) Cloudy swelling was found in all treated animals subgroups. Seven cellular and tissue lesions were caused by vehicle at 15 and 30 days periods. 450 mg of phenytoin predominantly caused tissue condensation and vacuolar degeneration in kidney cortex. 7) propylene glycol do affect liver and kidney at doses below TD-50. Phenytoin stimulate kidney and liver cell proliferation. Caution should be observed when using parenteral phenytoin.

[Modified procedure for screening anticonvulsants. Re-evaluation of sodium diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital]. / Procedimiento modificado para tamizaje anticonvulsionante. Reevalucación del difenilhidantoinato sódico y el fenobarbital.

A modified antiepileptic screening procedure to test anticonvulsant drugs is shown. Diphenylhydantoin sodium salt (DFH-Na) and phenobarbital (Phb) were tested throughout 8 h, at hourly intervals after a single oral drug intake in rats. Another group was tested at steady stage of DFH-Na during 7 days period. A single dose of DFH-Na was orally administrated to male and female rats (30 mg/kg) and after testing throughout 8 h: 0, 5, 28, 38, 52, 70 and 75% and 10, 18, 50, 35, 62, 50 and 70% protection against MES, was found. Only 20% protection was found in females to METsc test on the 6th and 7th h. However, 80, 60, 60 and 20% males were found protected against METsc test from the 4th to the 8th hour. Maximum blood serum levels were 2 micrograms/ml. Phenobarbital at doses 12 mg/kg in males and females as well showed: 30, 64, 66, 74, 84, 90, 40, 34% and 14, 36, 53, 41, 55, 70, 82 and 82% protection against MES, respectively. On the other hand, 60, 60, 46, 47, 94, 100, 80 and 20% and 80, 80, 46, 70, 60, 40, 80 and 20% of males and females were protected against METsc test, respectively. An average of 8 micrograms/ml and 12 micrograms/ml of Phb serum levels were found since the 1 to the 8th and 5th hours, correspondingly. A 28% protection of both male and female rats to MES test was found following 7 days of treatment with DFH-Na (30 mg/kg) treatment. Also an average of 10% female and males were found protected against METsc test.

[Sodium diphenylhydantoin changes the concentrations of DNA and proteins in the cerebrum, cerebellum and liver]. / El difenilhidantoinato sódico modifica la concentración de ADN y proteínas en cerebro, cerebelo e hígado.

Sodium diphenylhydantoin (DFH-Na) is the drug of choice to control convulsive seizure disorders. Beneficial as well as adverse effects of DFH-Na have been reported to occur since 1938. Thus, the present article deals with the effect that 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 100 mg/kg/day (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 100) might cause on Cerebrum (C), Cerebellum (Cb) and liver (L) DNA [DNA] and Protein [Pr] concentration. Our results showed that: 1) DNA-C-14 (15, 20 and 100) were found decreased when compared to control (p less than 0.001) and [DNA]-C-30 (15, 20 and 100) as well (p less than 0.001). [Pr]-C-7, 14, 30 (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 100) showed no statistically important differences. 2) [DNA]-Cb-14 (15 and 20) were found lower than control (p less than 0.05) and [DNA]-Cb-30 (15 and 20) as well (p less than 0.05). [Pr]-Cb-14,30 (100) was found decreased (p less than 0.05). 3) [DNA]-L-14 (10, 15, 20 and 100) was found decreased when compared to control (p less than 0.001) and [DNA]-L-30 (10, 15, 20 and 100) as well (p less than 0.001). [Pr]-L-7, 14 and 30 (2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 100) were found lower than control (p less than 0.05). A bimodal pattern of [DNA] of C. Cb and L was demonstrated to occur with i.p. injected DFH-Na.