Intra-strain variability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains ST228-MRSA-I and ST5-MRSA-II.

Isolates belonging to two major epidemic strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from clonal complex 5 were characterised using diagnostic microarrays in order to detect and analyse intra-strain variability. Isolates were sampled from hospitals scattered all over Germany. The study included 56 isolates of ST228-MRSA-I, which is also known as the South German Epidemic Strain, and 40 isolates of ST5-MRSA-II (UK-EMRSA-3, Rhine-Hesse Epidemic Strain, New York/Japan Clone), as well as, for comparison, some control strains and overseas isolates of ST5-MRSA-II. Both strains showed a remarkable variability. This affected plasmid-borne resistance genes (tetK, blaZ/R/I, aacA-aphD, qacA), genes from SCCmec elements (aadD, ermA, merA/B/R/T), toxin gene clusters on pathogenicity islands (sec/l, tst1) or, probably, on plasmids, (sed/j/r), the presence or absence of beta-haemolysin-converting phages (sea, sea-N315, sak, chp, scn), deletions of single chromosomal genes (bbp, clfA) or, occasionally, of rather large clusters of neighbouring genes (seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, seu, lukD/E). Both strains could be split into four major clusters each, based on the presence of a mercury resistance operon (merA/B/R/T) and lukD/E in ST228-MRSA-I or of tst1 and enterotoxin genes seD/J/R in ST5-MRSA-II. The use of this variability for typing purposes as well as its phylogenetic significance are discussed.

Little effect of transfer technique instruction and physical fitness training in reducing low back pain among nurses: a cluster randomised intervention study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a transfer technique education programme (TT) alone or in combination with physical fitness training (TTPT) compared with a control group, who followed their usual routine. Eleven clinical hospital wards were cluster randomised to either intervention (six wards) or to control (five wards). The intervention cluster was individually randomised to TT (55 nurses) and TTPT (50 nurses), control (76 nurses). The transfer technique programme was a 4-d course of train-the-trainers to teach transfer technique to their colleagues. The physical training consisted of supervised physical fitness training 1 h twice per week for 8 weeks. Implementing transfer technique alone or in combination with physical fitness training among a hospital nursing staff did not, when compared to a control group, show any statistical differences according to self-reported low back pain (LBP), pain level, disability and sick leave at a 12-month follow-up. However, the individual randomised intervention subgroup (transfer technique/physical training) significantly improved the LBP-disability (p = 0.001). Although weakened by a high withdrawal rate, teaching transfer technique to nurses in a hospital setting needs to be thoroughly considered. Other priorities such as physical training may be taken into consideration. The current study supports the findings of other studies that introducing transfer technique alone has no effect in targeting LBP. However, physical training seems to have an influence in minimising the LBP consequences and may be important in the discussion of how to prevent LBP or the recurrence of LBP among nursing personnel.

Selective activation of T cell kinase p56lck by Herpesvirus saimiri protein tip.

Infection with Herpesvirus saimiri, a T lymphotropic virus of non-human primates, immortalizes human T cells in vitro. The cells show a mature activated phenotype and retain their antigen specificity. We have previously shown that in H. saimiri transformed cells a viral gene product termed tyrosine kinase interacting protein (Tip) associates with the T cell-specific tyrosine kinase p56lck and becomes phosphorylated by the enzyme on tyrosine residues. Here we show that p56lck is activated by recombinant and native Tip in cell-free systems. A dramatic increase of Lck activity was also observed in T cell lines transfected with Tip. p60fyn and p53/56lyn, the other Src-related kinases expressed in H. saimiri transformed T cells, did not phosphorylate Tip, and they were not activated by the protein. The selective activation of p56lck by Tip could contribute to the transformed phenotype of H. saimiri infected cells, and it might explain the T cell selectivity of the transformation event.

[The user perspective studied by users of psychiatric institutions]. / Die Nutzerperspektive untersucht von Nutzern psychiatrischer Einrichtungen.

The perspective of users of psychiatric services has mostly been studied by professional researchers. In this study a group of users investigated subjective quality of life, assessment of psychiatric treatment and needs of other users. A special questionnaire was constructed and used. Psychiatric institutions were assessed as being on average good to satisfactory; satisfaction with different life domains was fairly good; needs for support varied very much.

Health effects of synthetic vitreous fibers.

This article reviews the terminology and manufacturing process for synthetic vitreous fibers. The in vitro and in vivo animal experimental data that correlate fiber toxicity with dose, dimensions, and durability are summarized. Occupational exposure data are presented as well as the potential irritant effects of synthetic vitreous fibers. The ongoing human morbidity and mortality studies are summarized along with current occupational exposure standards. The discussion correlates physical properties related to fiber toxicity and the types of synthetic vitreous fibers.

Analysis of the electron transfer from Pheo- to QA in PS II membrane fragments from spinach by time resolved 325 nm absorption changes in the picosecond domain.

Absorption changes at 325 nm (delta A325) induced by 15 ps laser flashes (lambda = 650 nm) in PS II membrane fragments were measured with picosecond time-resolution. In samples with the reaction centers (RCs) kept in the open state (P I QA) the signals are characterized by a very fast rise (not resolvable by our equipment) followed by only small changes within our time window of 1.6 ns. In the closed state (PI QA-) of the reaction center the signal decays with an average half-life time of about 250 ps. It is shown that under our excitation conditions (E = 2 x 10(14) photons/cm2 per pulse) subtraction of the absorption changes in closed RCs (delta A closed 325) from those in open RCs (delta A open 325) leads to a difference signal which is dominated by the reduction kinetics of QA. From the rise kinetics of this signal and by comparison with data in the literature it is inferred that QA becomes reduced by direct electron transfer from Pheo- with a time constant of about 350 +/- 100 ps.