Resistance to erythromycin of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from animals and humans

The sensititivity of thermophilic Campylobacter strains isolated from caecum of broiler chickens as well as caecum and colon of pigs and human stools, were tested against erythromycin. In 16 strains isolated in broiler chickens, resistance rate was found to be 12.50%. Three of 10 strains of Campylobacter jejuni and one of 6 strains of Campylobacter coli isolated from broiler chickens were resistant to erythromycin. In 15 strains of thermophilic Campylobacters isolated from pigs, resistance rate to erythromycin was 40.00%. Resistance was exhibited more often in C. coli (50.00%) as compared to C. jejuni (20.00%). In 24 strains isolated from humans, resistance was demonstrated at the rate of 12.50%. Out of 17 strains of C. jejuni isolated from humans, resistance was exhibited in 17.65% strains. None of 7 strains of C. coli isolated from humans exhibited resistance to erythromycin. Thermophilic campylobacters, especially C. coli isolated from pigs were more resistant to erythromycin than strains isolated from humans and broiler chickens. Therefore, a great attention should be directed to the macrolides monitoring in swine farming in order to prevent resistance in animals and its subsequent spread to human

Elevated Pontine and Putamenal GABA Levels in Mild-Moderate Parkinson Disease Detected by 7 Tesla Proton MRS

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is characterized by the degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. However, postmortem evidence indicates that the pathology of lower brainstem regions, such as the pons and medulla, precedes nigral involvement. Consistently, pontomedullary damage was implicated by structural and PET imaging in early PD. Neurochemical correlates of this early pathological involvement in PD are unknown. Methodology/Principal Finding: To map biochemical alterations in the brains of individuals with mild-moderate PD we quantified neurochemical profiles of the pons, putamen and substantia nigra by 7 tesla (T) proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thirteen individuals with idiopathic PD (Hoehn & Yahr stage 2) and 12 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers participated in the study. c-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations in the pons and putamen were significantly higher in patients (N = 11, off medications) than controls (N = 11, p,0.001 for pons and p,0.05 for putamen). The GABA elevation was more pronounced in the pons (64%) than in the putamen (32%). No other neurochemical differences were observed between patients and controls. Conclusion/Significance: The GABA elevation in the putamen is consistent with prior postmortem findings in patients with PD, as well as with in vivo observations in a rodent model of PD, while the GABA finding in the pons is novel. The more significant GABA elevation in the pons relative to the putamen is consistent with earlier pathological involvement of th

Loss of thalamic serotonin transporters in early drug-naïve Parkinson’s disease patients is associated with tremor: an [123I]β-CIT SPECT study

In vitro studies revealed serotonin transporter (5-HTT) decline in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Yet, few studies investigated thalamic 5-HTT in vivo and its effect on PD heterogeneity. We analyzed thalamic [123I]β-CIT binding (mainly reflecting 5-HTT binding) in 32 drug-naïve PD patients and 13 controls with SPECT. Twenty-six patients were examined twice (17 months apart). Based on UPDRS scores, we identified subgroups of patients with moderate/severe tremor (PDT) and without tremor (PDWT) at the time of clinical diagnosis. Additionally, depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at baseline. Mean thalamic specific to non-specific [123I]β-CIT binding ratio was lower in patients when compared to controls, and further decreased during follow-up. At baseline, average thalamic ratio was significantly lower in the PDT than in the PDWT subgroup. No correlation was found between BDI scores and thalamic binding ratios. Our findings show decline of [123I]β-CIT binding to thalamic 5-HTT in PD and its possible contribution to tremor onset

A logic with conditional probability operators

We present a sound and strongly complete axiomatization of a reasoning about linear combinations of conditional probabilities, including comparative statements. The developed logic is decidable, with a PSPACE containment for the decision procedure

Competitiveness of power systems with nuclear power plants and with high participation of intermittent renewable energy sources

In the paper are presented and discussed the results of a more complex research of technology portfolio's competitiveness in power systems with high penetration of intermittent renewable energy sources (i-RES). Possible technology portfolios compositions are analyzed. The portfolios comprise very high participation of i-RES, as well as a certain participation of energy storage technologies, but also and other energy technologies like nuclear and fossil fueled power plants. Within the research are developed new competitiveness indicators i.e., dispatchability indicator and the technology portfolio’s assured capacity. The latter is defined on the basis of recently published Ulrich’s and Schiffer’s paper. Obtained results point out that inclusion of pumped-hydro storage plants improves portfolio’s dispatchability. However, within the researched interval up to PHS installed capacities relative to i-RES capacities of 0.3. Numerical values of the dispatchability indicators are still below their values for the portfolio without i-RES. Increased participation of nuclear power plants contribute to the improvement of numerical values of the dispatchability indicators. The sensitivity analysis for the case of two times smaller cost of pumped hydro storage capacities is also performed. Hypothetical change of power system’s technology structure in sense of substitution hard coal and lignite fired power plants with wind generators or with nuclear power plants is also analyzed. The analysis points out that the substitution with nuclear power plants enables much better results regarding power system’s ability to change the power on demand than substitution with wind generators, particularly in the countries with high participation of hard coal and/or lignite in electricity generation