Methicillin-sensitive and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs: (co-) colonization dynamics and clonal diversity

Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) are colonizers of skin and mucosa. In humans, MSSA and MRSA compete for colonization space in the anterior nares and one clone can be found rather than differing types of MSSA and MRSA. We investigated the colonization dynamics and clonality of both, MSSA and MRSA in pigs over a longer time period. Eighteen sows were nasally sampled three times every ten weeks. Additionally, environmental samples were taken. Samples were investigated for MSSA and MRSA, respectively. Spa-typing was done with up to five MRSA and MSSA isolates found per sample and time point; selected isolates were further investigated by microarray. 38.9 % of sows were infrequently MSSA/MRSA co-colonized and 16.7 % were permanent carriers of MSSA. The majority of sows showed a changing colonization status. CC398 and CC9 associated spa-types were exclusively found among MRSA and MSSA, respectively. In 44.4 % of sows at least two different types of MSSA were present at the same time and sample. Strains of the same clonal lineage showed a high genetic identity despite their origin. MSSA of different spa-types but 100 % identical microarray profiles were found in sows and their environment. Our results show that pigs may be colonized with MSSA and MRSA at the same time, i.e. that MSSA/MRSA do not exclude each other in the anterior nares of pigs. Highly identic clones are present in sows and their environment, but pigs can be colonized with different clones at the same time

An Unusual Case of Dual Left Anterior Descending Artery with Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiographic Correlation

Dual left anterior descending artery (LAD) is a rare coronary anomaly that is important to recognize at coronary imaging as it may influence reperfusion strategies. Four types of dual LAD are described by the traditional literature. We present a novel case of dual LAD with coronary computed tomographic angiographic correlation that does not fit into this classification system. Rather, our case supports the recently proposed notion of adding a fifth variant to the traditional dual LAD classification system

Enhanced orbital electron-capture nuclear decay rate in compact medium

The eigenstate energies of an atom increase under spatial confinement and this effect should also increase the electron density of the orbital electrons at the nucleus thus increasing the decay rate of an electron-capturing radioactive nucleus. We have observed that the orbital electron capture rates of 109In and 110Sn increased by (1.00+-0.17)% and (0.48+-0.25)% respectively when implanted in the small Au lattice versus large Pb lattice. These results have been understood because of the higher compression experienced by the large radioactive atoms due to the spatial confinement in the smaller Au lattice.Comment: 30 pages, 3 Figures, 2 Table