Molecular epidemiology of CTX-M-producing escherichia coli isolates at a tertiary medical center in western pennsylvania

A combination of phenotypic and genotypic methods was used to investigate 70 unique Escherichia coli clinical isolates identified as producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) at a medical center in Pittsburgh, PA, between 2007 and 2008. Fifty-seven isolates (81%) produced CTX-M-type ESBLs, among which CTX-M-15 was predominant (n = 46). Isolates producing CTX-M-2, -9, -14, and -65 were also identified. One CTX-M-producing isolate coproduced CMY-2 cephalosporinase. Ten isolates (14%) produced SHV-type ESBLs, either SHV-5 or SHV-7. Two isolates produced only CMY-2 or -32. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of two major clusters of CTX-M-15-producing E. coli isolates, one in phylotype B2 (n = 15) and the other in phylotype A (n = 19). Of four phylotype B2 isolates that were able to transfer the bla(CTX-M-15)-carrying plasmids, three showed fingerprints related (>60%) to those of plasmids from phylotype A isolates. In phylotype B2, all CTX-M-15-producing isolates, as well as three isolates producing CTX-M-14, two producing SHV-5, and one producing SHV-7, belonged to the international epidemic clone defined by serotype O25:H4 and sequence type 131. The plasmids from eight of nine CTX-M-15-producing E. coli isolates of phylotype A that were examined were highly related to each other and were also found in two isolates belonging to phylotype D, suggesting horizontal transfer of this bla(CTX-M-15)-carrying plasmid between phylotypes. Our findings underscore the need to further investigate the epidemiology and virulence of CTX-M-producing E. coli in the United States

Effects of typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs on gene expression profiles in the liver of schizophrenia subjects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although much progress has been made on antipsychotic drug development, precise mechanisms behind the action of typical and atypical antipsychotics are poorly understood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed genome-wide expression profiling to study effects of typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics in the postmortem liver of schizophrenia patients using microarrays (Affymetrix U133 plus2.0). We classified the subjects into typical antipsychotics (n = 24) or atypical antipsychotics (n = 26) based on their medication history, and compared gene expression profiles with unaffected controls (n = 34). We further analyzed individual antipsychotic effects on gene expression by sub-classifying the subjects into four major antipsychotic groups including haloperidol, phenothiazines, olanzapine and risperidone.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Typical antipsychotics affected genes associated with nuclear protein, stress responses and phosphorylation, whereas atypical antipsychotics affected genes associated with golgi/endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasm transport. Comparison between typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics further identified genes associated with lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Analyses on individual antipsychotics revealed a set of genes (151 transcripts, FDR adjusted p < 0.05) that are differentially regulated by four antipsychotics, particularly by phenothiazines, in the liver of schizophrenia patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Typical antipsychotics and atypical antipsychotics affect different genes and biological function in the liver. Typical antipsychotic phenothiazines exert robust effects on gene expression in the liver that may lead to liver toxicity. The genes found in the current study may benefit antipsychotic drug development with better therapeutic and side effect profiles.</p

Longitudinal Analysis of the Temporal Evolution of Acinetobacter baumannii Strains in Ohio, USA, by Using Rapid Automated Typing Methods

Genotyping methods are essential to understand the transmission dynamics of Acinetobacter baumannii. We examined the representative genotypes of A. baumannii at different time periods in select locations in Ohio, using two rapid automated typing methods: PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS), a form of multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and repetitive-sequence-based-PCR (rep-PCR). Our analysis included 122 isolates from 4 referral hospital systems, in 2 urban areas of Ohio. These isolates were associated with outbreaks at 3 different time periods (1996, 2000 and 2005–2007). Type assignments of PCR/ESI-MS and rep-PCR were compared to each other and to worldwide (WW) clone types. The discriminatory power of each method was determined using the Simpson's index of diversity (DI). We observed that PCR/ESI-MS sequence type (ST) 14, corresponding to WW clone 3, predominated in 1996, whereas ST 12 and 14 co-existed in the intermediate period (2000) and ST 10 and 12, belonging to WW clone 2, predominated more recently in 2007. The shift from WW clone 3 to WW clone 2 was accompanied by an increase in carbapenem resistance. The DI was approximately 0.74 for PCR/ESI-MS, 0.88 for rep-PCR and 0.90 for the combination of both typing methods. We conclude that combining rapid automated typing methods such as PCR/ESI-MS and rep-PCR serves to optimally characterize the regional molecular epidemiology of A. baumannii. Our data also sheds light on the changing sequence types in an 11 year period in Northeast Ohio

Foto-obrazy architektury: Fotografia jako medium referujące i projektujące architekturę

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed paperNiniejszy zbiór prac teoretycznych, fotoesejów i kronika studenckich konkursów fotograficznych organizowanych od 2008 roku na Wydziale Architektury i Sztuk Pięknych Krakowskiej Akademii im. Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego, ma być zapisem refleksji związanych ze specyficzną, jak dotąd mało zbadaną a wszechobecną częścią teorii architektury, jaką jest fotografia. Jej szczególna odmiana ściśle związana ze sztuką budowania jest określana mianem fotografii architektonicznej, jednakże niniejsza monografia nie została tą definicją ograniczona.This book contains a selection of theoretical works and photo essays as well as a chronicle of photo competitions organised in the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts at Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University since 2008, which is meant as the record of thoughts related to the specific, omnipresent though little examined so far, realm of the theory of architecture, i.e. photography. Its specific variant closely related to the building practice is called architectural photography. This monograph, however, is not restricted by means of the said definition and attempts at a slightly broader description of the phenomenon, reaching beyond its boundaries.Monografia powstała w ramach projektu badawczego nr WAiSP/DS/4/201

The Beaker phenomenon and the genomic transformation of northwest Europe

From around 2750 to 2500 bc, Bell Beaker pottery became widespread across western and central Europe, before it disappeared between 2200 and 1800 bc. The forces that propelled its expansion are a matter of long-standing debate, and there is support for both cultural diffusion and migration having a role in this process. Here we present genome-wide data from 400 Neolithic, Copper Age and Bronze Age Europeans, including 226 individuals associated with Beaker-complex artefacts. We detected limited genetic affinity between Beaker-complex-associated individuals from Iberia and central Europe, and thus exclude migration as an important mechanism of spread between these two regions. However, migration had a key role in the further dissemination of the Beaker complex. We document this phenomenon most clearly in Britain, where the spread of the Beaker complex introduced high levels of steppe-related ancestry and was associated with the replacement of approximately 90% of Britain’s gene pool within a few hundred years, continuing the east-to-west expansion that had brought steppe-related ancestry into central and northern Europe over the previous centuries

Wpływ kinetyny na zawartość barwników chlorofilowych i kumulację wybranych metali w liściach Zea mays L.

In this work the relationship between the accumulation of some metals, the content of chlorophyll a and b in leaves of Zea mays L. plants, growth of seedlings and concentration of kinetin in medium has been studied. The experiments were carried out with 7-day old maize plants grown on the Hoagland's medium. The seedlings were exposed to the solution containing kinetin in different concentration (10-9 ÷ 10-5 mol · dm-3). The accumulation of metals in maize leaves was measured by emission spectroscopy using the spectrometer with excitation by argon inductively coupled plasma technique (ICP-OES). The amount of chlorophyll pigment was determined by the spectrophotometer UV-Vis. The study shows that kinetin changes the uptake and accumulation of metal ions in leaves of maize plants, changes the growth of seedlings, has influence on the seeds germinations and productivity of fresh and dry mass, and decreases the chlorophyll pigments content in leaves of Zea mays L.Cytokininy, w tym kinetyna, są fitohormonami, których głównym zadaniem jest kontrola wzrostu, rozwoju komórek i ich dyferencjacji oraz biogenezy chloroplastów. Biorą one udział także w formowaniu się organów i ich regeneracji oraz w procesach deetiolacji i wielu innych. Wśród nich znajduje się również szlak syntezy chlorofilu podczas zielenienia etiolowanych roślin. Cytokininy należą do związków stymulujących ten proces, co odbywa się kilkoma drogami, między innymi mają swój wpływ na aktywność enzymów biorących udział w syntezie zielonego barwnika. Celem niniejszej pracy było zbadanie oddziaływania naturalnego hormonu roślinnego kinetyny na syntezę barwników chlorofilowych (chlorofilu a i b) w liściach siewek kukurydzy (Zea mays L.) oraz na zawartość wybranych makroi mikroelementów. Doświadczenia przeprowadzono na 7-dniowych siewkach kukurydzy hodowanych w ciemni i na świetle w temperaturze 27°C, na pożywce Hoaglanda; pH pożywki wynosiło 6,5. Natężenie światła w trakcie hodowli roślin było około 450 µ mol · s-1. Do badań użyto kinetyny w stężeniach 10-9 ÷ 10-5 mol · dm-3. Barwniki chlorofilowe oznaczano metodą spektrofotometryczną, natomiast stężenie badanych metali w tkance liści mierzono, posługując się techniką optycznej spektrometrii emisyjnej ze wzbudzeniem w plazmie sprzężonej indukcyjnie (ICP-OES). Uzyskane w pracy wyniki wskazują na obniżenie zawartości chlorofilu a (6 ÷ 17%) oraz stosunku chlorofilu a/b (5 ÷ 25%) w zakresie badanych stężeń kinetyny. Z kolei zawartość chlorofilu b dla stężeń kinetyny w pożywce w zakresie 10-7 ÷ 10-5 mol.dm-3 była zbliżona do wyników uzyskanych dla roślin kontrolnych i wyższa dla stężeń 10-9 ÷ 10-8 mol · dm-3 (10 ÷ 15%). Podobne wartości uzyskano dla sumarycznej zawartości chlorofilu a+b. Z kolei kinetyna zmniejsza kumulację niektórych metali w tkance liściowej siewek kukurydzy. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują również na oddziaływanie kinetyny na proces kiełkowania nasion, produkcję masy roślinnej, zawartość wody oraz wzrost siewek