Detecção de Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxigênicos e não enterotoxigênicos de amostras fecais de crianças em São Paulo, Brasil

Non-enterotoxigenic bacteria of the Bacteroides fragilis group and enterotoxigenic B. fragilis were identified from children with and without aqueous acute diarrhea. In this study, 170 stool samples from 96 children with and 74 without diarrhea were analyzed. Enterotoxin production and the toxin gene detection were detected by cytotoxicity assay on HT-29/C1 cells and by PCR, respectively. B. fragilis species was prevalent in both groups and enterotoxigenic B. fragilis strains were isolated from two children with diarrhea. More studies are important to evaluate the role of each bacteria of the B. fragilis group, including enterotoxigenic strains play in the diarrheal processes in children.Bactérias não enterotoxigênicas do grupo Bacteroides fragilis e B. fragilis enterotoxigênicas foram isoladas e identificadas de crianças com e sem diarréia aguda aquosa. Neste estudo, 170 amostras fecais de 96 e 74 crianças, com e sem diarréia, respectivamente, foram analisadas. A produção de enterotoxina e a detecção do gene que media a produção da toxina foram determinadas por ensaios citotóxicos em células HT-29/C1 e por PCR, respectivamente. A espécie B. fragilis foi prevalente em ambos os grupos, e cepas de B. fragilis enterotoxigênicas foram isoladas de duas crianças com diarréia aquosa aguda. Maiores estudos são necessários para avaliar o papel de cada bactéria desse importante grupo bacteriano, incluindo-se o papel que as cepas enterotoxigênicas, desempenham no processo diarréico em crianças

Prevalência de periodontopatógenos em pacientes com doença periodontal e indivíduos sadios de São Paulo, SP, Brasil

A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. forsythus, P. gingivalis, C. rectus, E. corrodens, P. intermedia, F. nucleatum, and T. denticola were identified from subgingival plaque from 50 periodontal patients and 50 healthy subjects. PCR products from each species showed a specific band and could be used to identify periodontal organisms from clinical specimens. Identical negative or positive results between PCR and culture occurred in 66% (A. actinomycetemcomitans) to 93% (F. nucleatum) of the samples. PCR detection odds ratio values for A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. forsythus, C. rectus, E. corrodens, P. intermedia, and T. denticola were significantly associated with disease having a higher OR values for B. forsythus (2.97, 95% CI 1.88 - 4.70). Cultures showed that A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. forsythus and P. intermedia were associated with periodontitis, however, P. gingivalis, C. rectus, E. corrodens and F. nucleatum were not significantly associated with the disease.Cepas de A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. forsythus, P. gingivalis, C. rectus, E. corrodens, P. intermedia, F. nucleatum e T. denticola foram identificadas da placa subgengival de 50 pacientes com doença periodontal e 50 indivíduos sadios. Os produtos de PCR de cada espécie microbiana mostraram bandas específicas, favorecendo a identificação direta de bactérias periodontais de espécimes clínicos. Resultados negativos ou positivos idênticos entre PCR e a cultura ocorreram de 66% (A. actinomycetemcomitans) a 93% (F. nucleatum) das amostras. A detecção de A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. forsythus, C. rectus, E. corrodens, P. intermedia e T. denticola por PCR foi significativamente associada com a doença, mostrando valores altos de odds ratio (OR) para B. forsythus (2,97, 95% CI 1,88 - 4,70). Através da cultura foi observada a associação de A. actinomycetemcomitans, B. forsythus e P. intermedia com a periodontite, entretanto, P. gingivalis, C. rectus, E. corrodens e F. nucleatum não foram significativamente relacionados à doença

Diversidade genética de Fusobacterium nucleatum orais isolados de pacientes com diferentes condições clínicas

The genetic diversity of 23 oral Fusobacterium nucleatum isolated from 15 periodontal patients, eight from seven healthy subjects, nine from nine AIDS patients and two from two Cebus apella monkeys were analyzed. EcoRI restricted the bacterial DNA and 28 ribotypes grouped from A to J groups were obtained. Isolates formed 24 ribotypes which were contained into A, B, C, D, E and F groups, and three reference strains and two clinical isolates of A. actinomycetemcomitans, and E. coli CDC formed four different ribotypes into the G, H, I and J groups. Moreover, from nine F. nucleatum from AIDS patients, six were ribotyped as group C and three as group D. By using ribotyping we distinguished F. nucleatum recovered from different sources. It is possible that isolates from AIDS patients may contain some phenotypic or genotypic factor did not observed in this study.Neste estudo foi avaliada a diversidade genética de 23 amostras de Fusobacterium nucleatum isoladas da cavidade bucal de 15 pacientes com doença periodontal, de oito cepas isoladas de sete indivíduos sadios, de nove isoladas de nove pacientes com AIDS e de duas isoladas de dois macacos Cebus apella. Pela ação da enzima EcoRI sobre o DNA bacteriano foram reconhecidos 28 ribotipos agrupados de A a J. Os isolados testados formaram 24 ribotipos os quais foram contidos nos grupos A, B, C, D, E e F, e as três cepas de referência e dois isolados clínicos de A. actinomycetemcomitans e E. coli CDC formaram quatro diferentes ribotipos contidos nos grupos G, H, I e J. Em adição, as nove cepas de F. nucleatum isoladas de pacientes com AIDS, seis pertenciam ao grupo C e três ao grupo D. Usando-se a ribotipagem foi possível distinguir F. nucleatum isolados de diferentes origens

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Global disparities in surgeons’ workloads, academic engagement and rest periods: the on-calL shIft fOr geNEral SurgeonS (LIONESS) study

: The workload of general surgeons is multifaceted, encompassing not only surgical procedures but also a myriad of other responsibilities. From April to May 2023, we conducted a CHERRIES-compliant internet-based survey analyzing clinical practice, academic engagement, and post-on-call rest. The questionnaire featured six sections with 35 questions. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression (SPSS® v. 28). The survey received a total of 1.046 responses (65.4%). Over 78.0% of responders came from Europe, 65.1% came from a general surgery unit; 92.8% of European and 87.5% of North American respondents were involved in research, compared to 71.7% in Africa. Europe led in publishing research studies (6.6 ± 8.6 yearly). Teaching involvement was high in North America (100%) and Africa (91.7%). Surgeons reported an average of 6.7 ± 4.9 on-call shifts per month, with European and North American surgeons experiencing 6.5 ± 4.9 and 7.8 ± 4.1 on-calls monthly, respectively. African surgeons had the highest on-call frequency (8.7 ± 6.1). Post-on-call, only 35.1% of respondents received a day off. Europeans were most likely (40%) to have a day off, while African surgeons were least likely (6.7%). On the adjusted multivariable analysis HDI (Human Development Index) (aOR 1.993) hospital capacity > 400 beds (aOR 2.423), working in a specialty surgery unit (aOR 2.087), and making the on-call in-house (aOR 5.446), significantly predicted the likelihood of having a day off after an on-call shift. Our study revealed critical insights into the disparities in workload, access to research, and professional opportunities for surgeons across different continents, underscored by the HDI