Antimicrobial activity of Lactobacillus strains of chicken origin against bacterial pathogens

This study was conducted to identify and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of some Lactobacillus isolates of chicken origin. Among 90 isolates 14 Lactobacillus species were distinguished using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 16S-ARDRA. The dominant species was L. salivarius (34.4%), followed by L. johnsonii (23.3%), L. crispatus (13.3%) and L. reuteri (11.1%). All lactobacilli were screened for antimicrobial activity against wild-type strains of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium perfringens. Results from the agar slab method showed that all Lactobacillus isolates were able to produce active compounds on solid media with antagonistic properties against these pathogens. The highest sensitivity to lactobacilli was observed in C. perfringens strains, and the lowest in E. coli. Lactobacillus salivarius exhibited particularly strong antagonism towards all of the indicator bacteria. Strains of L. ingluviei and L. johnsonii and one strain of L. salivarius (10d) selectively inhibited the growth of C. perfringens. No antimicrobial activity of many Lactobacillus isolates was observed when cell-free culture supernatant was used in a well diffusion assay. All Lactobacillus isolates exhibited the ability to produce H2O2 and proved to be hydrophobic (excluding one of L. salivarius). [Int Microbiol 19(1):57-67 (2016)]Keywords: Lactobacillus spp. · avian lactobacilli · antimicrobial activity · gut health · poultry pathogen

The influence of fluid therapy on short- and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing liver resection for malignant indications

Although fluid therapy in hepatic surgery affects the postoperative course and morbidity, there is a paucity of unequivocal guidelines in the literature as to which of three fluid strategies to use: liberal, restrictive or goal-directed. We performed a review of literature regarding fluid management strategies in major abdominal procedures, focusing on hepatic sur­gery. The quantity and quality of fluids infused perioperatively is often dependent on the preference of the physician, institutional experience and practices. A liberal fluid regimen carries the risk of impaired wound healing and prolonged ileus, furthermore in liver surgery it may increase blood loss. Restrictive fluid therapy is the mainstay of the anesthetic management in hepatic resections, keeping the central venous pressure low controls outflow from the liver and results in a decrease in intraoperative blood loss. In recent years, goal-directed fluid therapy ( GDFT), as a component of enhanced recovery pathways after surgery (ERAS) programs, has gained in popularity. It is based on the concept of hemodynamic optimization in order to ensure optimal tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Furthermore, a fluid infusion strategy should be individualized in terms of the unique pathophysiology of the patient (e.g. cirrhosis) and the specific requirements of the surgical technique (laparoscopic procedures). Controversy regarding often contradictory data, leaves the clinician at a loss as to which fluid strategy will best serve the patient. Therefore, it is imperative to design and conduct clinical trials in a homogenous group of patients to define the optimal type and amount of fluid for patients undergoing hepatic surgery

Učinak odabranih makrolida na neka obilježja goveđih leukocita

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of tylosin, tilmicosin and roxithromycin on viability, nitro blue tetrazolium reduction (NBT) assay, chemotaxis, apoptosis and oxidative stress in bovine leukocytes in vitro conditions. The material for the study consisted of blood collected into EDTA tubes from the external jugular vein of Holstein-Friesian cattle aged 1 week to 2.5 years, during routine veterinary examinations. In leukocytes the percent of viability, nitrate ion concentration (NO), metabolic activity (NBT, nitrotetrazolium blue reduction assay), chemotactic activity and apoptosis were determined. The results indicated a slight negative effect of these macrolides on the viability of the leukocytes, and confirmed the ability of macrolides to induce apoptosis in leukocytes in vitro. These results indicate that all of the macrolides investigated exhibit a modulatory effect on the functions of leukocytes isolated from cattle of different ages. The strongest inhibitory effect on the NBT reduction assay and chemotaxis of the leukocytes was exhibited by roxithromycin, which at the same time had the least negative effect on the leukocytes.Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio procijeniti učinak tilozina, tilmikozina i roksitromicina na preživljavanje, test redukcije “nitro-tetrazol-modrog” (NBT), kemotaksiju, apoptozu i oksidacijski stres goveđih leukocita u uvjetima in vitro. Prilikom rutinskog veterinarskog pregleda, u epruvete s EDTA bila je uzeta krv iz jugularne vene goveda holštajnsko-frizijske pasmine u dobi od tjedan dana do 2,5 godine. Određen je postotak preživljavanja leukocita, koncentracija iona nitrata (NO), metabolička aktivnost (test redukcije “nitro-tetrazol-modrog”, NBT), kemotaksijska aktivnost i apoptoza. Rezultati su pokazali blagi negativni učinak spomenutih makrolida na preživljavanje leukocita i potvrdili sposobnost makrolida da potaknu njihovu apoptozu in vitro te naznačuju da svi pretraženi makrolidi imaju modulacijski učinak na funkciju leukocita goveda različite dobi. Najjači inhibicijski učinak na test redukcije NBT i kemotaksiju leukocita pokazao je roksitromicin, koji je istodobno imao najmanje negativan učinak na leukocite

Prison officers' attitudes towards self-harm in prisoners

Prison officers are the agents that have the most contact with prisoners during imprisonment and are essential for control prisoners at risk. Because of that, it is essential to understand their attitudes towards prisoners who self-harm because their attitudes predispose the behavior in situations of self-harm. Thus, our study aimed to explore the attitudes of prison officers regarding prisoners who self-harm. The results revealed that prison officers did not advocate harsh treatment for self-harming prisoners. However, they tend to reveal some difficulties in understanding the causes of self-harm, reproducing the negative myths referred to in the literature. They also tend to neglect the fact that these behaviors may, in some cases, culminate in suicide. These results highlight the need for specific training about this phenomenon, not only in prison officers initial training but also in continuing training, identifying issues of particular importance to address, such as interpersonal skills and behavioral strategies to deal with incarcerated individuals who self-harm. We also advocate for the importance of reinforcing prison officers' role as first-line responders, empowering these agents in their social responsibility towards prisoners well being and the way penal justice is implemented.This work was supported by the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education through national funds and cofinanced by FEDER and COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653) - Psychology Research Centre (UID/PSI/01662), awarded to Ana Rita Cruz. The study was also supported by Grant SFRH/BPD/108602/2015 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology awarded to Andreia de Castro Rodrigues

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Background Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure. Methods We generated a progression score on the basis of principal component analysis of prospectively acquired longitudinal changes in motor, cognitive, and imaging measures in the 218 indivduals in the TRACK-HD cohort of Huntington's disease gene mutation carriers (data collected 2008–11). We generated a parallel progression score using data from 1773 previously genotyped participants from the European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY study of Huntington's disease mutation carriers (data collected 2003–13). We did a genome-wide association analyses in terms of progression for 216 TRACK-HD participants and 1773 REGISTRY participants, then a meta-analysis of these results was undertaken. Findings Longitudinal motor, cognitive, and imaging scores were correlated with each other in TRACK-HD participants, justifying use of a single, cross-domain measure of disease progression in both studies. The TRACK-HD and REGISTRY progression measures were correlated with each other (r=0·674), and with age at onset (TRACK-HD, r=0·315; REGISTRY, r=0·234). The meta-analysis of progression in TRACK-HD and REGISTRY gave a genome-wide significant signal (p=1·12 × 10−10) on chromosome 5 spanning three genes: MSH3, DHFR, and MTRNR2L2. The genes in this locus were associated with progression in TRACK-HD (MSH3 p=2·94 × 10−8 DHFR p=8·37 × 10−7 MTRNR2L2 p=2·15 × 10−9) and to a lesser extent in REGISTRY (MSH3 p=9·36 × 10−4 DHFR p=8·45 × 10−4 MTRNR2L2 p=1·20 × 10−3). The lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TRACK-HD (rs557874766) was genome-wide significant in the meta-analysis (p=1·58 × 10−8), and encodes an aminoacid change (Pro67Ala) in MSH3. In TRACK-HD, each copy of the minor allele at this SNP was associated with a 0·4 units per year (95% CI 0·16–0·66) reduction in the rate of change of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Motor Score, and a reduction of 0·12 units per year (95% CI 0·06–0·18) in the rate of change of UHDRS Total Functional Capacity score. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age of onset. Interpretation The multidomain progression measure in TRACK-HD was associated with a functional variant that was genome-wide significant in our meta-analysis. The association in only 216 participants implies that the progression measure is a sensitive reflection of disease burden, that the effect size at this locus is large, or both. Knockout of Msh3 reduces somatic expansion in Huntington's disease mouse models, suggesting this mechanism as an area for future therapeutic investigation

Serotypes, Antibiotic Susceptibility, Genotypic Virulence Profiles and SpaA Variants of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Strains Isolated from Pigs in Poland

The aim of the study was phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains isolated from diseased pigs in Poland and comparison of the SpaA (Surface protective antigen A) sequence of wild-type strains with the sequence of the R32E11 vaccine strain. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was assessed using the broth microdilution method. Resistance genes, virulence genes, and serotype determinants were detected using PCR. The gyrA and spaA amplicons were sequenced to determine nonsynonymous mutations. The E. rhusiopathiae isolates (n = 14) represented serotypes 1b (42.8%), 2 (21.4%), 5 (14.3%), 6 (7.1%), 8 (7.1%), and N (7.1%). All strains were susceptible to β-lactams, macrolides and florfenicol. One isolate showed resistance to lincosamides and tiamulin, and most strains were resistant to tetracycline and enrofloxacin. High MIC values of gentamicin, kanamycin, neomycin, trimethoprim, trimethoprim/sulfadiazine, and rifampicin were recorded for all isolates. Phenotypic resistance was correlated with the presence of the tetM, int-Tn, lasE, and lnuB genes. Resistance to enrofloxacin was due to a mutation in the gyrA gene. All strains contained the spaA gene and several other genes putatively involved in pathogenesis (nanH.1, nanH.2, intl, sub, hlyA, fbpA, ERH_1356, cpsA, algI, rspA and rspB) Seven variants of the SpaA protein were found in the tested strains, and a relationship between the structure of SpaA and the serotype was noted. E. rhusiopathiae strains occurring in pigs in Poland are diverse in terms of serotype and SpaA variant and differ antigenically from the R32E11 vaccine strain. Beta-lactam antibiotics, macrolides, or phenicols should be the first choice for treatment of swine erysipelas in Poland. However, due to the small number of tested strains, this conclusion should be approached with caution

Expectations of Polish undergraduate medical students for medical humanities classes: a survey-based pilot study

Abstract Background Medical schools teach Medical Humanities (MH) to provide students with knowledge about the human experience related to health, illness, disease, medicine, and healthcare. Due to the previously observed negative opinions about MH courses, we examined the expectations of medical students in Poland toward humanities subjects. Methods We conducted a voluntary, anonymous electronic survey in one medical school (single-center study) and collected data from 166 medical students. The results were analyzed by comparing continuous and categorical variables between groups (gender, year of study, previous participation in MH classes). Results The students expected to learn how to communicate with patients and their families, especially about difficult topics. They also expected the classes to be active, stress-free, and without passing grades. The preferred MH teacher was a physician, although choosing a psychologist or other qualified person as an MH teacher was also popular. Previous participants in MH courses were more likely to expect such a course to be compulsory than those who had yet to attend it. Conclusion Considering the students’ expectations when designing MH classes could increase students’ satisfaction with MH courses

The influence of fluid therapy on short- and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing liver resection for malignant indications

Although fluid therapy in hepatic surgery affects the postoperative course and morbidity, there is a paucity of unequivocal guidelines in the literature as to which of three fluid strategies to use: liberal, restrictive or goal-directed. We performed a review of literature regarding fluid management strategies in major abdominal procedures, focusing on hepatic sur­gery. The quantity and quality of fluids infused perioperatively is often dependent on the preference of the physician, institutional experience and practices. A liberal fluid regimen carries the risk of impaired wound healing and prolonged ileus, furthermore in liver surgery it may increase blood loss. Restrictive fluid therapy is the mainstay of the anesthetic management in hepatic resections, keeping the central venous pressure low controls outflow from the liver and results in a decrease in intraoperative blood loss. In recent years, goal-directed fluid therapy ( GDFT), as a component of enhanced recovery pathways after surgery (ERAS) programs, has gained in popularity. It is based on the concept of hemodynamic optimization in order to ensure optimal tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Furthermore, a fluid infusion strategy should be individualized in terms of the unique pathophysiology of the patient (e.g. cirrhosis) and the specific requirements of the surgical technique (laparoscopic procedures). Controversy regarding often contradictory data, leaves the clinician at a loss as to which fluid strategy will best serve the patient. Therefore, it is imperative to design and conduct clinical trials in a homogenous group of patients to define the optimal type and amount of fluid for patients undergoing hepatic surgery