Application of PCR-DGGE for the identification of lactic acid bacteria in acitve dry wine yeasts

In this work a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) protocol was used to identify the Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) contaminants in enological active dry yeasts routinely used in the wine production. The method is based on the PCR amplification of a DNA fragment from the region V1 of 16S rDNA gene followed by a DGGE technique. The main contaminant wasLactobacillus spp. andPediococcus spp

Development of socioemotional competences in adult Chilean population. Gender differences in effective personality

La presente comunicación pretende evaluar si existen diferencias de género en torno al constructo de Personalidad Eficaz en población adulta chilena de entre 30 y 60 años. Este constructo, desarrollado por Martín del Buey y Martín Palacio, está compuesto por cuatro esferas: Fortalezas del Yo (autoconcepto y autoestima); Demandas del Yo (motivación, expectativas y atribuciones causales); Retos del Yo (afrontamiento de problemas y toma de decisiones); y Relaciones del Yo (comunicación, asertividad y empatía). La muestra está formada por 478 adultos chilenos de 30 a 60 años, de los que 125 eran hombres (26.2%) y 353 mujeres (73.8%). Para la evaluación se empleó el Cuestionario Personalidad Eficaz-Adultos (CPE-A), elaborado por Castellanos Cano, Martín Palacio y Dapelo Pellerano (2012), que tiene 30 ítems distribuidos en cuatro subescalas: Autoestima; Autorrealización Laboral; Autoeficacia Resolutiva; y Autorrealización Social. Los resultados obtenidos indican que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en ninguna de las cuatro dimensiones evaluadas. No obstante, los estadísticos descriptivos muestran que la media de los varones es superior en Autoestima y Autoeficacia Resolutiva; mientras que las mujeres obtienen medias más altas en Autorrealización Laboral y Autorrealización Social.This communication aims to assess whether gender differences exist around the construct of Effective Personality in Chilean adult population between 30 and 60. This construct, which is developed by Martín del Buey and Martin Palace, is compounded by four areas: Strengths of Self (self-concept and self-esteem); Demands of Self (motivation, expectations and causal attributions) Challenges of Self (coping with problems and decision making) and Relations of Self (communication, assertiveness and empathy). The sample consists of 478 Chilean adults from 30 to 60 years, out of which 125 were men (26.2%) and 353 women (73.8%). For the evaluation we used Effective Personality Questionnaire-Adult (SPC-A), which was designed by Castellanos Cano, Martín Palacio and Dapelo Pellerano (2012). This questionnaire has 30 items, which are distributed into four subscales: Self Esteem; Occupational Self-Realization; Self-efficacy Antitrust; and Social Self-Realization. The results indicate no statistically significant differences in any of the four dimensions evaluated. However, the descriptive statistics show that the male average is higher as regards Esteem and Self-efficacy Antitrust, while women got a higher average in Labor Self-realization and Social Self-realization.peerReviewe

Gender differences in effective personality in Spanish adult population

The present study examines if there are gender differences in Effective Personality in adult population. We used a sample of 424 adults (54% female and 46% male). Effective Personality Questionnaire-Adult (CPE-A) (Castellanos Cano, Martin Palacio y Dapelo Pellerano, 2012) was used, an instrument consisting of 30 items divided into 4 subscales: Self- Esteem, Job Self-Realization, Resolving capacity and Social self-realization. The analysis of the data indicates that men have a higher average that women in Self-Esteem, Resolving capacity and Social self-realization, while women have a higher average than men in Job Self-Realization. The results show that there were no statistically significant differences in any of the four factors. It can be concluded, with limitations, that the group of men is perceived more favorably in terms of self-steem, social relationships and effectiveness in coping in different situations, but these data do not reach statistical significance. Women are evaluated favorably in terms of work demands. Is necessary to promote the integral development of people irrespective of sex, and not assume capacities and skills because of it.El presente estudio analiza la existencia de diferencias de género en Personalidad Eficaz en población adulta española. Se utiliza para ello una muestra de 424 adultos (54% mujeres y 46% hombres). Se empleó el Cuestionario Personalidad Eficaz- Adultos (CPE-A) (Castellanos Cano, Martin Palacio y Dapelo Pellerano, 2012), un instrumento que consta de 30 ítems distribuidos en 4 subescalas: Autoestima, Autorrealización Laboral, Autoeficacia Resolutiva y Autorrealización Social. El análisis de los datos indica que los hombres tienen una media superior a las mujeres en Autoestima, Autoeficacia resolutiva y Autorrealización social, mientras que las mujeres tienen una media superior a los hombres en Autorrealización laboral. Los resultados muestran que no existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en ninguno de los cuatro factores. Se puede concluir, aunque con limitaciones, que el grupo de los hombres se percibe de de forma más favorable en lo relativo a su autoestima, relaciones sociales y eficacia en el afrontamiento de distintas situaciones, pero estos datos no alcanzan significación estadística. Las mujeres se evalúan de forma favorable en relación a las demandas laborales. Es necesario potenciar el desarrollo integral de las personas independientemente del sexo, y no presuponer capacidades y competencias en razón del mismo.peerReviewe

The spread of multi drug resistant infections is leading to an increase in the empirical antibiotic treatment failure in cirrhosis: a prospective survey

Background The spread of multi-resistant infections represents a continuously growing problem in cirrhosis,particularly in patients in contact with the healthcare environment. Aim Our prospective study aimed to analyze epidemiology, prevalence and risk factors of multiresistant infections, as well as the rate of failure of empirical antibiotic therapy in cirrhotic patients. Methods All consecutive cirrhotic patients hospitalized between 2008 and 2013 with a microbiologically-documented infection (MDI) were enrolled. Infections were classified as Community- Acquired (CA), Hospital-Acquired (HA) and Healthcare-Associated (HCA). Bacteria were classified as Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) if resistant to at least three antimicrobial classes, Extensively-Drug-Resistant (XDR) if only sensitive to one/two classes and Pandrug-Resistant (PDR) if resistant to all classes. Results One-hundred-twenty-four infections (15% CA, 52% HA, 33% HCA) were observed in 111 patients. Urinary tract infections, pneumonia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were the more frequent. Forty-seven percent of infections were caused by Gram-negative bacteria. Fifty-one percent of the isolates were multi-resistant to antibiotic therapy (76% MDR, 21% XDR, 3% PDR): the use of antibiotic prophylaxis (OR = 8.4; 95%CI = 1.03-76; P = 0,05) and current/recent contact with the healthcare-system (OR = 3.7; 95%CI = 1.05-13; P = 0.04) were selected as independent predictors. The failure of the empirical antibiotic therapy was progressively more frequent according to the degree of resistance. The therapy was inappropriate in the majority of HA and HCA infections. Conclusions Multi-resistant infections are increasing in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. A better knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics is important to improve the efficacy of empirical antibiotic therapy. The use of preventive measures aimed at reducing the spread of multi-resistant bacteria is also essential

La importancia de mantenerse activo en la vejez

Activities engagement is one of the three pillars of successful aging, along with health and high cognitive and physical functioning. The importance of participation lies in its influence on other variables such as wellbeing, physical and mental health. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of participation on psychological wellbeing, depression and health and to determine if there are differences according to the type of activity performed. A sample of 139 people aged 55 to 94 from Granada (49 men and 90 women) was used. Participants were asked about their participation in a list of 16 activities classified as formative, physical or craft, they were asked to rate their subjective health and they were applied the Psychological Wellbeing Scales and the abbreviated version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The results indicate gender differences in participation but not in the other variables analyzed. The total participation in activities was related and was predictor of psychological wellbeing, subjective health and depression but differences were observed according to the type of activity performed. Formative activities relate to personal growth, manual activities with environmental mastery and health, and physical activities with positive relations with others, health and depression. These results highlight the importance of achieving an integral participation in different activities if we are to promote the successful aging of the elderly.La participación es uno de los tres pilares del envejecimiento con éxito, junto con la salud y el alto funcionamiento cognitivo y físico. La importancia de la participación radica en su influencia sobre otras variables como el bienestar, la salud física y mental. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el impacto de la participación sobre el bienestar, depresión y salud y determinar si existen diferencias según el tipo de actividad realizada. Para ello se utilizó una muestra de 139 personas de entre 55 y 94 años de la provincia de Granada (49 hombres y 90 mujeres). A los participantes se les preguntó sobre su participación en una lista de 16 actividades clasificadas como formativas, físicas o de manualidades, se les pidió que valoraran su salud subjetiva y se les aplicaron las Escalas de Bienestar Psicológico y la versión abreviada de la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica (GDS). Los resultados indican diferencias de género en la participación pero no en las otras variables analizadas. La participación total en actividades se relacionaba y fue predictor del bienestar psicológico, la salud subjetiva y la depresión pero se observaron diferencias según el tipo de actividad realizada. Las actividades formativas se relacionan con el crecimiento personal, las actividades manuales con el dominio del entorno y la salud y las actividades físicas con las relaciones personales, salud y depresión. Estos resultados resaltan la importancia de lograr una participación integral en diferentes actividades si queremos potenciar el envejecimiento exitoso de las personas mayores

A pectin-honey hydrogel prevents postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions in a rat model.

BACKGROUND: Adhesions are a common postoperative surgical complication. Liquid honey has been used intraperitoneally to reduce the incidence of these adhesions. However, solid barriers are considered more effective than liquids in decreasing postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion formation; therefore, a new pectin-honey hydrogel (PHH) was produced and its effectiveness was evaluated in a rat cecal abrasion model. Standardized cecal/peritoneal abrasion was performed through laparotomy in 48 adult Sprague-Dawley rats to induce peritoneal adhesion formation. Rats were randomly assigned to a control (C) and treatment (T) group. In group T, PHHs were placed between the injured peritoneum and cecum. Animals were euthanized on day 15 after surgery. Adhesions were evaluated macroscopically and adhesion scores were recorded and compared between the two groups. Inflammation, fibrosis, and neovascularization were histologically graded and compared between the groups. RESULTS: In group C, 17 of 24 (70.8%) animals developed adhesions between the cecum and peritoneum, while in group T only 5 of 24 (20.8%) did (p = 0.0012). In group C, one rat had an adhesion score of 3, sixteen had scores of 2, and seven rats had scores of 0. In group T, four rats had adhesion scores of 2, one rat had an adhesion score of 1 and nineteen have score 0 (p = 0.0003). Significantly lower grades of inflammation, fibrosis, and neovascularization were seen in group T (p = 0.006, p = 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: PHH is a novel absorbable barrier that is effective in preventing intra-abdominal adhesions in a cecal abrasion model in rats. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-017-0965-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users