Coexistencia de Pseudomonas Aeruginosa y Candida Albicans en Infecciones Nosocomiales en Cartagena de Indias (Colombia)

Nosocomial infections are a major health problem, whose risk factors include prolonged hospitalization, invasive procedures and broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatments. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans are commonly isolated microorganisms from the respiratory tract of seriously ill patients. It has been shown that these pathogens may have an interaction of great significance where the morphological characteristics and virulence of each organism is significantly expanding mutually modulate risk and severity of urinary and respiratory infections, causing high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the clinical and microbiological characteristics that result from the presence of both P. aeruginosa and C. albicans in critically ill patients in hospitals in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). In all cases, initial bacterial process (in this case caused by P. aeruginosa) was treated according to antimicrobial susceptibility and found to decrease the bacterial agent, led to the growth of C. albicans and the development of a new infection that worsened the clinical condition of these patients. Joint infections P. aeruginosa and C. albicans should always be suspected in a hospitalized patient, especially in intensive care units where they use the tubes, catheters and other invasive study materials, as these organisms are opportunistic in nature and clearly can worsen the prognosis and lead to complications in patients who have been hospitalized for various causes or diseases of low complexity, a longer hospital stay and increasing costs.Las infecciones nosocomiales constituyen un importante problema de salud, cuyos factores de riesgo son hospitalizaciones prolongadas, procedimientos invasivos y tratamientos antimicrobianos de amplio espectro. Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Candida albicans son microorganismos frecuentemente aislados del tracto respiratorio de pacientes gravemente enfermos. Se ha demostrado que estos patógenos pueden tener una interacción de gran significancia en donde las características morfológicas y de virulencia de cada microorganismo se modulan mutuamente aumentando significativamente el riesgo y la severidad de las infecciones urinarias y respiratorias produciendo una alta morbimortalidad. El objetivo de este trabajo fue ilustrar las características microbiológicas y clínicas que son resultado de la presencia conjunta de P.aeruginosa y C. albicans en pacientes gravemente enfermos en hospitales de Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). En todos los casos se destaca un proceso bacteriano inicial, en este caso causado por P. aeruginosa, que fue tratado de acuerdo a la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana encontrada y al disminuir el agente bacteriano responsable se dio lugar al crecimiento de C. albicans y al desarrollo de una nueva infección que empeoró la condición clínica de estos pacientes. Las infecciones conjuntas entre P. aeruginosa y C. albicans siempre se deben sospechar en un paciente hospitalizado, especialmente en unidades de cuidados intensivos y cuando hagan uso de sondas, catéteres y otros materiales para estudios invasivos, pues estos microorganismos son de naturaleza oportunista y claramente pueden empeorar el pronóstico y llevar a complicaciones a pacientes que han sido hospitalizado por causas diferentes o enfermedades de baja complejidad, prolongando el tiempo de hospitalización y aumentando costos

A colorimetric bioassay for quantitation of both basal and insulin-induced glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 adipose cells

Introduction: The quantitation of glucose consumption in animal cell cultures is mainly based on the use of radiolabeled or fluorescent analogues, resulting in expensive and tedious procedures, requiring special equipment and, sometimes, with potential health and environmental risks. Objectives: The objective of this work was to evaluate the application of a blood plasma colorimetric assay to quantify glucose consumption in in vitro cultures of adipose cells. Methods: We worked with 3T3-L1 adipose cells differentiated by 7–8 days, which were exposed to different initial glucose concentrations (5.5, 2.8 and 1.4 mM) for variable times, either in the absence or the presence of 100 nM insulin. Using a commercial colorimetric glucose assay, extracellular glucose was determined, and glucose uptake was calculated as the difference between the initial and final glucose concentration. Results: The colorimetric assay allowed us to quantify glucose uptake in our cell model, observing a linear response over time (r2?0.9303) to the different glucose concentrations, both in the basal and insulin-induced condition. The insulin-stimulated glucose consumption was higher than basal consumption at all glucose concentrations evaluated, but significant differences were observed at 120-, 360- and 480-min in glucose 5.5 mM (p ? 0.01, n = 5), and 240 min in glucose 1.4 mM (p ? 0.01, n = 5). A Vmax of 4.1 and 5.9 nmol/ml/min (basal and insulin-induced, respectively) and a Km of 1.1 mM (same in basal vs insulin-stimulated) were calculated. The bioassay was also useful in a pharmacological context: in glucose 1.4 mM, glucose consumption showed an effect that depended on insulin concentration, with a calculated EC50 of 18.4 ± 1.1 nM. Conclusions: A simple and low-cost bioassay is proposed to quantify glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 adipose cells. Biological Sciences; Cell biology; Cell Culture; Cell Differentiation; Metabolism; Biological Assay; bioassay; In Vitro Techniques; Adipocytes; 3T3-L1 Cells; Glucose consumption; Glucose uptake; Insulin; Insulin action; Insulin response. © 2020 The Author

A colorimetric bioassay for quantitation of both basal and insulin-induced glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 adipose cells

Introduction: The quantitation of glucose consumption in animal cell cultures is mainly based on the use of radiolabeled or fluorescent analogues, resulting in expensive and tedious procedures, requiring special equipment and, sometimes, with potential health and environmental risks. Objectives: The objective of this work was to evaluate the application of a blood plasma colorimetric assay to quantify glucose consumption in in vitro cultures of adipose cells. Methods: We worked with 3T3-L1 adipose cells differentiated by 7–8 days, which were exposed to different initial glucose concentrations (5.5, 2.8 and 1.4 mM) for variable times, either in the absence or the presence of 100 nM insulin. Using a commercial colorimetric glucose assay, extracellular glucose was determined, and glucose uptake was calculated as the difference between the initial and final glucose concentration. Results: The colorimetric assay allowed us to quantify glucose uptake in our cell model, observing a linear response over time (r2?0.9303) to the different glucose concentrations, both in the basal and insulin-induced condition. The insulin-stimulated glucose consumption was higher than basal consumption at all glucose concentrations evaluated, but significant differences were observed at 120-, 360- and 480-min in glucose 5.5 mM (p ? 0.01, n = 5), and 240 min in glucose 1.4 mM (p ? 0.01, n = 5). A Vmax of 4.1 and 5.9 nmol/ml/min (basal and insulin-induced, respectively) and a Km of 1.1 mM (same in basal vs insulin-stimulated) were calculated. The bioassay was also useful in a pharmacological context: in glucose 1.4 mM, glucose consumption showed an effect that depended on insulin concentration, with a calculated EC50 of 18.4 ± 1.1 nM. Conclusions: A simple and low-cost bioassay is proposed to quantify glucose consumption in 3T3-L1 adipose cells. Biological Sciences; Cell biology; Cell Culture; Cell Differentiation; Metabolism; Biological Assay; bioassay; In Vitro Techniques; Adipocytes; 3T3-L1 Cells; Glucose consumption; Glucose uptake; Insulin; Insulin action; Insulin response. © 2020 The Author

Marfan syndrome associated to pectus carinatum: a case report from cartagena de indias. Colombia

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is the most common connective tissue inherited disorder,transmitted as an autosomic dominant character. Mutation is located in FBN1 allele,that encodes to Fibrilin-1. Dilation of ascending aorta, aortic dissection, lumbosacraldural ectasia, pectus carinatum and ectopia lentis are the major manifestations. A MFS type 1 with notorious pectus carinatum is reported. A 26 years old male wasreceived to human genetics service, in absence of acute symptoms. Korotkoff soundswere absented in right arm. Dolichostenomelia, arachnodactyly and pectus carinoexcavatumand bilateral lens subluxation were found. Gowers sign and Walker-Murdochsign were positive. MFS was diagnostic according to Ghent’s nosology. Musculoeskeletalalterations and lens ectopia full filled two major criteria. Parents’ history of aorticaneurysm and clinical manifestation suggest a preventive approach to this patient. Alsogenetic counseling is required in order to reduce morbidity and premature mortality inoffspring.RESUMEN: El síndrome de Marfán (MFS) es la enfermedad del tejido conectivo más común deorigen genético, con transmisión hereditaria autosómica dominante. La mutaciónse localiza en el gen FBN1 que codifica para la proteína Fibrilina-1. Las principalesmanifestaciones son: dilatación de la aorta ascendente, disección aórtica, ectasia durallumbosacra, pectus carinatum, ectopia lentis. Se reporta un caso de MFS tipo 1 conimportante pectus carinatum. En el servicio de genética humana del Laboratorio deInvestigaciones de la Universidad de Cartagena se recibió un paciente masculino de26 años asintomático. Los sonidos Korotkoff estaban ausentes en el brazo derecho.Se encontró dolicostenomelia, aracnodactilia, pectus carino-excavatum y subluxaciónbilateral del cristalino. Los signos de Gowers y Walker-Murdoch fueron positivos. El MFSse diagnostica según la nosología de Ghent. Las alteraciones musculoesqueléticas y laectopia lentis cumplen dos de los criterios mayores. La historia familiar de aneurismaaórtico y otras manifestaciones clínicas sugieren una aproximación diagnóstica en estepaciente. Se requiere asesoría genética para prevenir la morbilidad y la mortalidadprematura en los descendientes

Evaluación de la susceptibilidad a organofosforados en poblaciones de Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) del departamento de La Guajira, Colombia

Introduction: Dengue is a public health problem in the department of La Guajira; control has focused on the vector using insecticides, including organophosphates. Objective: The state of susceptibility to organophosphates was evaluated in fifteen populations of Aedes aegypti (L) in the department of La Guajira, Colombia. Materials and methods: Bioassays for temephos, malathion, and pirimiphos-methyl were carried out in third instar larvae and adult mosquitoes of Ae. aegypti in the municipalities of Albania, Barrancas, Dibulla, Distraction, El Molino, Fonseca, Hatonuevo, La Jagua del Pilar, Maicao, Manaure, Riohacha, San Juan del Cesar, Uribia, Urumita, Villanueva, following the methodology of the World Organization for Health (WHO) and the bottle technique using the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), respectively. Susceptibility was determined through the resistance ratio to LC50 and LC95 (RRCL50, RRCL95) for temephos and at a diagnostic dose (DD) and diagnostic time (DT) for temephos malathion and pirimiphos-methyl in the field populations evaluated, using the Rockefeller susceptible strain as a control. Results: All populations of Ae. aegypti from the department of La Guajira were found to be susceptible to temephos (RRCL50˂5.0; RRCL95˂5.0; 98% – 100% mortality); pirimiphos-methyl (99%-100% mortality), and malathion (100% mortality). Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, the use of temephos, malathion, and pirimiphos-methyl is feasible for the control of Ae. aegypti in the evaluated populations.Introducción: El dengue es un problema de salud pública para el departamento de La Guajira; el control se ha enfocado en el vector con el uso de insecticidas, entre ellos los organofosforados. Objetivo: Evaluar el estado de la susceptibilidad a organofosforados en quince poblaciones de Aedes aegypti (L) en el departamento de La Guajira, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Se realizaron bioensayos para temefos, malatión y pirimifos-metil en larvas de tercer estadio y mosquitos adultos de Ae. aegypti en los municipios de Albania, Barrancas, Dibulla, Distracción, el Molino, Fonseca, Hatonuevo, La Jagua del Pilar, Maicao, Manaure, Riohacha, San Juan del Cesar, Uribia, Urumita y Villanueva, siguiendo la metodología de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y la técnica de botellas usando la guía de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de enfermedades (CDC), respectivamente. Se determinó susceptibilidad a través de razón de la resistencia a CL50 y CL95 (RRCL50, RRCL95) para temefos y a dosis (DD) y tiempo diagnóstico (TD) para temefos, malatión y pirimifos-metil en las poblaciones de campo evaluadas, usando como control la cepa susceptible Rockefeller. Resultados: Las 15 poblaciones del departamento de La Guajira se encontraron susceptibles a temefos (RRCL50˂5,0; RRCL95˂5,0; 98% – 100% de mortalidad); pirimifos-metil (99%-100% de mortalidad) y malatión (100% de mortalidad). Conclusión: Con base a los resultados obtenidos, es factible el uso de temefos, malatión y pirimifos-metil para el control de Ae. aegypti en las poblaciones evaluadas

Spatial Distribution of Pyrethroid Resistance and kdr Mutations in <i>Aedes aegypti</i> from La Guajira, Colombia

Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are of great concern to the public health of Colombia. One of the main control strategies for these diseases is the application of insecticides directed at the Aedes aegypti vector. However, insecticide resistance has been increasingly recorded in the country, making control measures difficult. Here, we evaluated the resistance profiles for pyrethroids in populations of Ae. aegypti from La Guajira, Colombia. The frequency (diagnostic dose, DD) and intensity (2×, 5×, and 10× DD) of resistance to permethrin, deltamethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin were determined in 15 populations of Ae. aegypti from La Guajira, Colombia, using the bottle bioassay. The kdr mutations V1016I, F1534C, and V410L, were identified, and their allele and genotype frequencies were calculated. Finally, the mortality values for the analyzed pyrethroids were interpolated following the IDW method for predicting pyrethroid resistance. The populations of Ae. aegypti showed a high frequency of resistance to permethrin with a low to moderate intensity, which was associated with the triple-resistant haplotype LL410/II1016/CC1534. They remain susceptible to deltamethrin and, in some populations, expressed the risk of developing resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin