Evaluation of the automated Vitek 2 system for detection of various mechanisms of macrolide and lincosamide resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

We evaluated the performance of the automated Vitek 2 system against disk diffusion for susceptibility testing of Staphylococcus aureus strains showing various resistance mechanisms to macrolides and lincosamides (ML). The Vitek 2 system showed 100% concordance with the D-zone test in detection of the most common resistance mechanisms to ML, including methylase and efflux systems.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

New red blood cell automated parameters for iron deficiency screening in chronic inflammatory disease

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Test de génération de thrombine: importance d'établir les valeurs de référence en fonction de l'âge et des concentrations en facteur tissulaire avant l'implémentation au laboratoire.

The calibrated and automated thrombinography (CAT) developed by H.C. Hemker is a simple and reproducible technique that can be potentially used in coagulation laboratories. This test is able to record the complete thrombin generation in vitro, giving an interesting approach in the evaluation of the haemostatic potential at the individual level. We aimed to implement this test in our laboratory to follow patients with haemorrhagic or thrombotic pathologies. Haemorrhagic and thrombotic disorders are incompletely explored by the coagulation tests used presently in routine labs. These tests don't indeed reflect the real haemostatic phenotype of the patient neither the individual response to haemostatic treatments. Furthermore, they don't have any predictive value for the occurrence of haemorrhage and/or thrombosis. We report here reference values we established in a population of children and adults in pre-analytical conditions easily applicable in coagulation labs. Platelet poor plasma is prepared by a double centrifugation and analyzed immediately or frozen at -80 degrees C for delayed analysis.English AbstractJournal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Effect of insulin-transferrin-selenium and metformin on the in vitrofertilization of pigs

Brief introduction: The in vitro production of pig embryos is important for both commercial purposes and biomedical studies. It has a low efficiency mainly because in vitro maturation (IVM) systems are inefficient. Supplementation of the IVM medium with insulin plus metformin(M) improves pig embryonic development. We demonstrated that insulin-transferrin-selenium (ITS) plus M increases nuclear maturation, decreases oxidative stress, increases glucose consumption and the viability of cumulus cells. Objective: Our aim was to study the IVF efficiency using ITS plus M during IVM. Methods: Porcine COC obtained by follicular aspiration from slaughterhouse ovaries were in vitro matured for 44 h in modifed M199, supplemented with hMG and dAMPc during the first 22 h. Oocytes were randomly distributed in four experimental groups containing: ITS (ITS 1 µ g/mL), M (M 10-4M), ITS + M and C (no supplement). Then matured oocytes were denuded and subjected to IVF (co-incubated 4 h with refrigerated boar semen 1 × 106 sperm/mL in modified M199). The presumptive zygotes were cultured in NCSU at 39 °C with 5% CO2, 7% O2 and 100% humidity. After 20 h from the beginning of the IVF, zygotes were fixed in paraformaldehyde 4% for 30 min, washed and stored in PBS-PVA until use. To assess fertilization parameters, zygotes were stained with Hoëchst and mounted for evaluation: penetration (penetrated/inseminated), masculine pronuclear formation (MPN/penetrated), monospermy (only one sperm head or male pronucleus/penetrated), and efficiency of fertilization (monospermic/inseminated). Data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test (significant P < 0.05). Main Outcomes and Results: The group matured with ITS + M showed a significantly higher efficiency of fertilization compared to control (ITS + M 30%, n = 43 vs C 11%, n = 45). Conclusions: The supplementation of IVM media with ITS + M is a good tool to improve oocyte quality. This is reflected in a higher IVF efficiency.Fil: Luchetti, Carolina Griselda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Histología y Embriologías; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzo, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Histología y Embriologías; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Cruzans, Paula Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Ghersa, Josefina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Histología y Embriologías; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Maza Filippin, Melina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Lombardo, Daniel Marcelo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaInternational Symposium on Reproductive Health: overcoming barriers for research in reproduction (ISRH)Buenos AiresArgentinaCentro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánico

In vivo measure of neonate brain optical properties and hemodynamic parameters by time-domain near-infrared spectroscopy

By exploiting a multichannel portable instrument for time-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (TD-NIRS), we characterized healthy neonates' brains in term of optical properties and hemodynamic parameters. In particular, we assessed the absolute values of the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients at two wavelengths, together with oxy-, deoxy- and total hemoglobin concentrations, and the blood oxygen saturation of the neonates' brains. In this study, 33 healthy full-term neonates were tested, obtaining the following median values: 0.28 and 0.31cm-1 for μa at 690 and 820 nm, respectively; 5.8 and 5.3cm-1 for μs′ at 690 and 820 nm, respectively; 103μM for cO2Hb; 42.6μM for cHHb; 146μM for ctHb; 72% for sO2. In general, the agreement of these values with the sparse existing literature appears not always consistent. These findings demonstrate the first measurements of optical properties of the healthy neonate brain using TD-NIRS and show the need for clarification of optical properties across methods and populations

An Outpatient Clinic as a Potential Site of Transmission for an Outbreak of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 716: A Study Using Whole-genome Sequencing

Background The incidence of nosocomial infections due to carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is increasing worldwide. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can help elucidate the transmission route of nosocomial pathogens. Methods We combined WGS and epidemiological data to analyze an outbreak of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing K. pneumoniae that occurred in 2 Belgian hospitals situated about 50 miles apart. We characterized 74 NDM-producing K. pneumoniae isolates (9 from hospital A, 24 from hospital B, and 41 contemporary isolates from 15 other Belgian hospitals) using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and WGS. Results A K. pneumoniae sequence type 716 clone was identified as being responsible for the outbreak with all 9 strains from hospital A and 20 of 24 from hospital B sharing a unique pulsotype and being clustered together at WGS (compared with 1 of 41 isolates from other Belgian hospitals). We identified the outpatient clinic of hospital B as the probable bridging site between the hospitals after combining epidemiological, phylogenetic, and resistome data. We also identified the patient who probably caused the transmission. In fact, all but 1 strain from hospital A carried a Tn1331-like transposon, whereas none of the hospital B isolates did. The patient from hospital A who did not have the Tn1331-like transposon was treated at the outpatient clinic of hospital B on the same day as the first NDM-producing K. pneumoniae-positive patient from hospital B. Conclusions The results from our WGS-guided investigation highlight the importance of implementing adequate infection control measures in outpatient settings, especially when healthcare delivery moves from acute care facilities to outpatient clinics.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe