Rhodococcus equi venous catheter infection: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p><it>Rhodococcus equi </it>is an animal pathogen that was initially isolated from horses and is being increasingly reported as a cause of infection in humans with impaired cellular immunity. However, this pathogen is underestimated as a challenging antagonist and is frequently considered to be a mere contaminant despite the potential for life-threatening infections. Most case reports have occurred in immunocompromised patients who have received organ transplants (for example kidney, heart, bone marrow) or those with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Infections often manifest as pulmonary involvement or soft tissue abscesses. Bacteremia related to <it>R. equi </it>infections of tunneled central venous catheters has rarely been described.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 63-year-old non-transplant recipient, non-HIV infected Caucasian woman with endometrial carcinoma who developed recurrent bloodstream infections and septic shock due to <it>R. equi </it>and ultimately required the removal of her port catheter, a subcutaneous implantable central venous catheter. We also review the medical literature related to human infections with <it>R. equi</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>R. equi </it>should be considered a serious pathogen, not a contaminant, particularly in an immunocompromised patient who presents with a central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection. Counseling patients with central venous catheters who participate in activities involving exposure to domesticated animals is recommended.</p

Response of cell wall composition and RNA-seq transcriptome to methyl-jasmonate in Brachypodium distachyon callus

Main conclusion: Methyl-jasmonate induces large increases in p-coumarate linked to arabinoxylan in Brachypodium and in abundance of GT61 and BAHD family transcripts consistent with a role in synthesis of this linkage. Jasmonic acid (JA) signalling is required for many stress responses in plants, inducing large changes in the transcriptome, including up-regulation of transcripts associated with lignification. However, less is known about the response to JA of grass cell walls and the monocot-specific features of arabinoxylan (AX) synthesis and acylation by ferulic acid (FA) and para-coumaric acid (pCA). Here, we show that methyl-jasmonate (MeJA) induces moderate increases in FA monomer, > 50% increases in FA dimers, and five–sixfold increases in pCA ester-linked to cell walls in Brachypodium callus. Direct measurement of arabinose acylated by pCA (Araf-pCA) indicated that most or all the increase in cell-wall pCA was due to pCA ester-linked to AX. Analysis of the RNA-seq transcriptome of the callus response showed that these cell-wall changes were accompanied by up-regulation of members of the GT61 and BAHD gene families implicated in AX decoration and acylation; two BAHD paralogues were among the most up-regulated cell-wall genes (seven and fivefold) after 24 h exposure to MeJA. Similar responses to JA of orthologous BAHD and GT61 transcripts are present in the RiceXPro public expression data set for rice seedlings, showing that they are not specific to Brachypodium or to callus. The large response of AX-pCA to MeJA may, therefore, indicate an important role for this linkage in response of primary cell walls of grasses to JA signalling

Role of Halogen Bonds in Thyroid Hormone Receptor Selectivity: Pharmacophore-Based 3D-QSSR Studies

Most physiological effects of thyroid hormones are mediated by the two thyroid hormone receptor subtypes, TR alpha and TR beta. Several pharmacological effects mediated by TR beta might be beneficial in important medical conditions such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, and selective TR beta activation may elicit these effects while maintaining an acceptable safety profile, To understand the molecular determinants of affinity and subtype selectivity of TR ligands, we have successfully employed a ligand- and structure-guided pharmacophore-based approach to obtain the molecular alignment of a large series of thyromimetics. Statistically reliable three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) and three-dimensional quantitative structure-selectivity relationship (3D-QSSR) models were obtained using the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) method, and the visual analyses of the contour maps drew attention to a number of possible opportunities for the development of analogs with improved affinity and selectivity. Furthermore, the 3D-QSSR analysis allowed the identification of a novel and previously unmentioned halogen bond, bringing new insights to the mechanism of activity and selectivity of thyromimetics.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)[2008/58316-5]The State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)[1998/14138-2]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)[150430/2009-4

Secondary studies in the academic context: A systematic mapping and survey

Context: Several researchers have reported their experiences in applying secondary studies (Systematic Literature Reviews — SLRs and Systematic Mappings — SMs) in Software Engineering (SE). However, there is still a lack of studies discussing the value of performing secondary studies in an academic context. Goal: The main goal of this study is to provide an overview on the use of secondary studies in an academic context. Method: Two empirical research methods were used. Initially, we conducted a SM to identify the available and relevant studies on the use of secondary studies as a research methodology for conducting SE research projects. Secondly, a survey was performed with 64 SE researchers to identify their perception related to the value of performing secondary studies to support their research projects. Results: Our results show benefits of using secondary studies in the academic context, such as providing an overview of the literature as well as identifying relevant research literature on a research area enabling to find reasons to explain why a research project should be approved for a grant and/or supporting decisions made in a research project. Difficulties faced by SE graduate students with secondary studies are that they tend to be conducted by a team and it demands more effort than a traditional review. Conclusions: Secondary studies are valuable to graduate students. They should consider conducting a secondary study for their research project due to the benefits and contributions provided to develop the overall project. However, the advice of an experienced supervisor is essential to avoid bias. In addition, the acquisition of skills can increase student's motivation to pursue their research projects and prepare them for both academic or industrial careers

Análise não destrutiva de pigmentos fotossintéticos em folhas de gergelim

The study aimed to relate the photosynthetic pigments, which were extracted in a laboratory and the readings were obtained by the portable chlorophyll meter ClorofiLOG 1030, by using mathematical models in sesame leaves. This work was conducted in December 2010, at Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) Cotton, where feaf discs were removed to measure chlorophyll indexes through the portable chlorophyll meter. The same leaf discs were subjected to extraction of photosynthetic pigments, by using 5 mL dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and were kept in a water bath at 70 degrees C for 30 min. Afterwards, an aliquot of 3 mL was removed to be read in a spectrophotometer at wavelengths of 470, 646 and 663 nm. Based on analytical results, mathematical models were adjusted by using the chlorophyll index to predict the levels of chlorophyll a, b, and total, and of carotenoids and their relationships. The study concluded that the portable chlorophyll meter ClorofiLOG 1030 can be used to estimate the concentration of photosynthetic pigments in sesame leaves with high precision, besides saving resources and time

Evaluation of blood elemental levels and apo E allelic profile in high risk and atherosclerotic subjects

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Blood elemental levels and antioxidant markers in humans with atherosclerotic disease

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe