Prevalence and risk factors for Giardia duodenalis infection among children: A case study in Portugal

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Giardia duodenalis </it>is a widespread parasite of mammalian species, including humans. The prevalence of this parasite in children residing in Portugal is currently unknown. This study intended to estimate <it>G. duodenalis </it>infection prevalence and identify possible associated risk factors in a healthy paediatric population living in the District of the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between February 2002 and October 2008, 844 children were randomly selected at healthcare centres while attending the national vaccination program. A stool sample and a questionnaire with socio-demographic data were collected from each child. <it>Giardia </it>infection was diagnosed by direct examination of stools and antigen detection by ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The population studied revealed a gender distribution of 52.8% male and 47.2% female. Age distribution was 47.4% between 0-5 years and 52.6% between 6-15 years.</p> <p>The prevalence of <it>Giardia </it>infection was 1.9% (16/844) when estimated by direct examination and increased to 6.8% (57/844) when ELISA results were added. The prevalence was higher among children aged 0-5 years (7.8%), than among older children (5.8%), and was similar among genders (6.9% in boys and 6.5% in girls). The following population-variables were shown to be associated risk factors for <it>G. duodenalis </it>infection: mother's educational level (odds ratio (OR)= 4.49; confidence interval (CI): 1.20-16.84), father's educational level (OR = 12.26; CI: 4.08-36.82), presence of <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>infection (OR = 1.82; CI: 1.05-3.15), living in houses with own drainage system (OR = 0.10; CI: 0.02-0.64) and reported household pet contact, especially with dogs (OR = 0.53; CI: 0.31-0.93).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of giardiasis in asymptomatic children residing in the region of Lisbon is high. Several risk factors were associated with <it>Giardia </it>prevalence and highlight the importance of parents' education and sanitation conditions in the children's well being. The association between <it>G. duodenalis </it>and <it>H. pylori </it>seems an important issue deserving further investigation in order to promote prevention or treatment strategies.</p

Sex and Gender Differences in Ischemic Heart Disease: Endocrine Vascular Disease Approach (EVA) Study Design

Improvements in ischemic heart disease (IHD) management have been unbalanced between sexes, with coronary microvascular dysfunction considered the likely underlying reason. The Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) is an observational study (Clinicaltrial.gov NCT02737982) aiming to assess sex and gender interactions between coronary circulation, sexual hormones, and platelet function. Consecutive patients with IHD undergoing coronary angiography will be recruited: (1) to assess sex and gender differences in angiographic reperfusion indexes; (2) to evaluate the effects of estrogen/androgen on sex-related differences in myocardial ischemia; (3) to investigate the platelet biology differences between men and women with IHD; (4) to verify sex- and gender-driven interplay between response to percutaneous coronary intervention, platelets, sex hormones, and myocardial damage at baseline and its impact on 12-month outcomes. The integration of sex and gender in this translational project on IHD will contribute to the identification of new targets for further innovative clinical interventions

PFGE: Importance in Food Quality

In late 19 century, great interest has arisen for food quality. This is referred as absence of pathogens in food (safety for consumers) and as nutritional quality of food (organoleptic characteristics). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is, among the molecular techniques developed in the last years, one of the most reliable, discriminative and reproducible technique. It can be used in clinical field for the identification of pathogens and the origin of outbreaks, and in food microbiology for the identification of pathogens (food borne disease surveillance) or of microorganisms responsible for the organoleptic characteristics of food. The present article shows some useful patents related to PFGE and importance in food quality

Cloning, molecular characterization and expression analysis of small heat shock genes isolated from wine Lactobacillus plantarum

Aim: Understanding the molecular response to stress tolerance of wine Lactobacillus plantarum. Methods and Results: Two genes codifying for heat shock proteins were cloned from wine L. plantarum. The coding regions of the two heat shock genes are 420 and 444 nucleotides long, and started with an ATG codon suggesting that they were translated. The protein sequences deduced from the isolated genes have a molecular mass of 18Æ483 and 19Æ282 kDa, respectively, and were therefore named hsp18Æ5 and hsp19Æ3. The expression of small heat shock genes was analysed by RT-PCR analysis. Moreover, the 5¢ and 3¢ noncoding regions were cloned and sequenced. Conclusions: The expression of the heat shock genes was strongly induced by heat, cold and ethanol stress. Analysis of the 5¢ and 3¢ flanking regions of hsp18Æ5 and hsp19Æ3 genes, revealed the presence of an inverted repeat sequence (TTAGCACTC-N9-GAGTGCTAA) homologue to the CIRCE elements found to the upstream regulatory region of heat shock operons, and an inverted sequence that could form a stem and loop structure that it is likely to function as a transcriptional terminator. Based on their structures, the genes were classified as belonging to Class I of heat shock genes according to the B. subtilis nomenclature of heat response genes. Significance and Impact of the Study: Small heat shock genes isolated from wine L. plantarum might have a role in preventing damage by cold stress

Le misure di sostegno pubblico agli istituti di credito

Il contributo analizza l'applicabilità della normativa comunitaria in materia di aiuti di Stato (e in particolare delle deroghe da essa previste) alle misure di sostegno alle banche. L'articolo prosegue poi con l'individuazione degli strumenti utilizzabili, come ad esempio la sottoscrizione di strumenti finanziari speciali quali i Tremonti-Bond. Infine il contributo affronta il tema del monitoraggio e della tutela giurisdizionale

Survival of Staphylococcus aureus in bottled natural mineral water

Two strains of Staphylococcus aureus was inoculated at final concentrations of 103 or 108 cfu ml-1in natural mineral waters (NMWs) and sterile natural mineral waters (SNMWs) with different levels of total dissolved solids (TDS at 180 °C: 1500 mg l-1) and sterile distilled deionized water (SDDW). The samples were stored at room temperature and examined every day until no recovery of S. aureus was obtained. This study has indicated that, at initial concentration of 103 cfu ml-1, S. aureus can survive for upto 4 days in commercially bottled NMWs with TDS 1500 mg l-1. At the initial concentration of 108 cfu ml-1, S. aureus could still be recovered from the water types with TDS 1500mg l-1. There were differences in the survival of pathogens among the mineral water samples with different levels of organic solids at different inoculums. Finally, the autochthonous flora has a negative effect on the fate of S. aureus in samples of water examined