An Overview of Macrolide Resistance in Streptococci: Prevalence, Mobile Elements and Dynamics

Streptococcal infections are usually treated with beta-lactam antibiotics, but, in case of allergic patients or reduced antibiotic susceptibility, macrolides and fluoroquinolones are the main alternatives. This work focuses on studying macrolide resistance rates, genetic associated determinants and antibiotic consumption data in Spain, Europe and also on a global scale. Macrolide resistance (MR) determinants, such as ribosomal methylases (erm(B), erm(TR), erm(T)) or active antibiotic efflux pumps and ribosomal protectors (mef(A/E)-mrs(D)), are differently distributed worldwide and associated with different clonal lineages and mobile genetic elements. MR rates vary together depending on clonal dynamics and on antibiotic consumption applying selective pressure. Among Streptococcus, higher MR rates are found in the viridans group, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus agalactiae, and lower MR rates are described in Streptococcus pyogenes. When considering different geographic areas, higher resistance rates are usually found in East-Asian countries and milder or lower in the US and Europe. Unfortunately, the availability of data varies also between countries; it is scarce in low- and middle- income countries from Africa and South America. Thus, surveillance studies of macrolide resistance rates and the resistance determinants involved should be promoted to complete global knowledge among macrolide resistance dynamics

Avulsão dentária e mantenedor do espaço estético-funcional e corretivo em Odontopediatria

A boy of 8 years old was seen in the dental service at the Policlínico Universitario “Chiqui Gómez Lubián”, in Santa Clara, Villa Clara. Examination revealed avulsion in the right upper central incisor, uncomplicated crown fracture in left upper central incisor and an improper alignment of the teeth. Taking into account patients´ characteristics and requirements, it was fabricated a Hawley´s retainer in order to achieve a better aesthetic outcome, maintain the length of the dental arch and correct the improper alignment of the teeth. The appliance has achieved a satisfactory outcome, which has had a psychological influence on the patient by improving his self-esteem and oral health.Se presentó el caso de un niño de 8 años que acudió al Servicio de Estomatología del Policlínico Universitario “Chiqui Gómez Lubián”, de Santa Clara, provincia Villa Clara. En el mismo se observó avulsión del incisivo central superior derecho, fractura no complicada de la corona en incisivo central superior izquierdo y una marcada vestibuloversión. Se confeccionó un aparato placa Hawley de acuerdo a las características y necesidades del paciente, con el fin de lograr la recuperación estética, mantener la longitud del arco y corregir la vestibuloversión en el mismo. El aparato permitió obtener un resultado satisfactorio, que ha influido psicológicamente en el paciente al elevar su autoestima y salud bucal.Foi apresentado o caso de um menino de 8 anos que veio ao Serviço de Estomatologia do Policlínico Universitario "Chiqui Gómez Lubián", em Santa Clara, província de Villa Clara. Neste, observou-se avulsão do incisivo central superior direito, fratura não complicada da coroa em incisivo central superior esquerdo e vestibuloversão acentuada. Um dispositivo de placa de Hawley foi confeccionado de acordo com as características e necessidades do paciente, a fim de se obter recuperação estética, manter o comprimento do arco e corrigir a vestibuloversão nele. O dispositivo permitiu obter um resultado satisfatório, o que influenciou psicologicamente o paciente, elevando sua autoestima e saúde bucal

Middleware to Operate Smart Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems in Real Time

Climate change, water scarcity and higher energy requirements and electric tariff compromises the continuity of the irrigated agriculture. Precision agriculture (PA) or renewable energy sources which are based on communication and information technologies and a large amount of data are key to ensuring this economic activity and guaranteeing food security at the global level. Several works which are based on the use of PA and renewable energy sources have been developed in order to optimize different variables of irrigated agriculture such as irrigation scheduling. However, the large amount of technologies and sensors that these models need to be implemented are still far from being easily accessible and usable by farmers. In this way, a middleware called Real time Smart Solar Irrigation Manager (RESSIM) has been developed in this work and implemented in MATLABTM with the aim to provide to farmers a user-friendly tool for the daily making decision process of irrigation scheduling using a smart photovoltaic irrigation management module. RESSIM middleware was successfully tested in a real field during a full irrigation season of olive trees using a real smart photovoltaic irrigation system

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype K1 clinical isolates form robust biofilms at the air-liquid interface

The prevalence of a new hypervirulent and hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae phenotype (Hmv) is increasing worldwide, mainly linked to serotypes K1 and K2. Since capsular thickness can directly affect the capability to form biofilms, we aimed to evaluate the association between the Hmv phenotype with adhesion and biofilm formation in a collection of clinical K. pneumoniae isolates. We selected 38 Hmv clinical isolates [15 serotype K1; 9 serotype K2; 3 non-K1/K2 (rmpA+); 11 non-K1/K2 (rmpA-)] and 7 non-Hmv clinical isolates. The Hmv phenotype was assessed through the mucoviscosity test. Serum resistance was determined by bacterial viability tests in pooled human serum. Adhesion was evaluated with the Biofilm Ring Test®, and biofilm formation was identified by crystal violet staining (Solid-Liquid, SLI-biofilm) or visual examination (Air-Liquid, ALI-biofilm). This study linked for the first time the formation of robust ALI-biofilm plugs by K. pneumoniae to the capsular serotype K1, a group of hypervirulent strains which are generally highly susceptible to the antimicrobial agents. Among all the studied isolates, the capsular serotype K1 presented lower initial adhesion despite having the adhesins mrkD and fimH but higher ALI-biofilm formation than isolates with other capsular serotypes (K2 or non-K1/K2). This structure might confer increased resistance to a group of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae serotype K1

The Apicomplexa-specific glucosamine-6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase gene family encodes a key enzyme for glycoconjugate synthesis with potential as therapeutic target

Apicomplexa form a phylum of obligate parasitic protozoa of great clinical and veterinary importance. These parasites synthesize glycoconjugates for their survival and infectivity, but the enzymatic steps required to generate the glycosylation precursors are not completely characterized. In particular, glucosamine-phosphate N-acetyltransferase (GNA1) activity, needed to produce the essential UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) donor, has not been identified in any Apicomplexa. We scanned the genomes of Plasmodium falciparum and representatives from six additional main lineages of the phylum for proteins containing the Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) domain. One family of GNAT-domain containing proteins, composed by a P. falciparum sequence and its six apicomplexan orthologs, rescued the growth of a yeast temperature-sensitive GNA1 mutant. Heterologous expression and in vitro assays confirmed the GNA1 enzymatic activity in all lineages. Sequence, phylogenetic and synteny analyses suggest an independent origin of the Apicomplexa-specific GNA1 family, parallel to the evolution of a different GNA1 family in other eukaryotes. The inability to disrupt an otherwise modifiable gene target suggests that the enzyme is essential for P. falciparum growth. The relevance of UDP-GlcNAc for parasite viability, together with the independent evolution and unique sequence features of Apicomplexa GNA1, highlights the potential of this enzyme as a selective therapeutic target against apicomplexans

Immunometabolic Profile Associated with Progressive Damage of the Intestinal Mucosa in Adults Screened for Colorectal Cancer: Association with Diet

Environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle have been shown to influence the development of some intestinal mucosal lesions that may be precursors of colorectal cancer (CRC). The presence of these alterations seems to be associated with misbalanced immunological parameter levels. However, it is still unclear as to which immunological parameters are altered in each phase of CRC development. In this work, we aimed to study the potential relationships of immunological and metabolic parameters with diet in a CRC-related lesion context. Dietary information was obtained using an annual semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) from 93 volunteers classified via colonoscopy examination according to the presence of intestinal polyps or adenocarcinoma. Cytokines, chemokines, and adipokines were determined from serum samples. We observed a reduction in adiponectin according to the damage to the mucosa, accompanied by an increase and decrease in C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) and resistin, respectively, in CRC cases. The presence of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the polyp group was associated with higher tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations. Vegetables were directly correlated with adiponectin and resistin levels, while the opposite occurred with red meat. A bioactive compound, soluble pectin, showed a negative association with TNF-α. Future dietary strategies could be developed to modulate specific immunological parameters in the context of CRC

A descriptive analysis of urinary ESBL-Producing-Escherichia coli in Cerdanya Hospital

Urinary tract infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase Escherichia coli (ESBLEC) are increasing worldwide and are a current concern because treatment options are often limited. This study investigated antimicrobial susceptibility, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), and the biological diversity of urinary ESBL-EC isolates at Cerdanya Hospital, a European cross-border hospital that combines French and Spanish healthcare models. Bacterial identification and susceptibility were determined using the Microscan WalkAway® system and ESBL production was examined by the double-disk synergy method. Isolates were sequenced using the Ion S5¿ next-generation sequencing system, with the whole-genome sequences then assembled using SPADEs software and analyzed using PubMLST, ResFinder, FimTyper, PlasmidFinder, and VirulenceFinder. A phylogenetic analysis was performed by constructing an assembly-based core-SNV alignment, followed by a phylogenetic tree constructed using Parsnp from the Harvest suite. All isolates studied were multidrug-resistant and could be classified into 19 different sequence types characterized by a high genetic diversity. The most prevalent ESBL-enzymes were CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-15. High-risk international clones (ST131, ST10, and ST405) were also identified. The results demonstrated the absence of a single predominant clone of ESBL-MDR-EC at Cerdanya Hospital

HMGB Proteins from Yeast to Human. Gene Regulation, DNA Repair and Beyond

HMGB proteins are characterized for containing one or more HMG-box domains and are well conserved from yeasts to higher eukaryotes. The HMG-box domain is formed by three α-helices with an L-shaped fold. Although HMGB proteins also have cytoplasmic and extracellular functions, they bind to nuclear or mitochondrial DNA in a highly dynamic process that affects chromatin organization. In this review, we mainly focus on HMGB proteins from yeast and their human homologs as functionally involved in DNA repair and transcriptional regulation. Recent research reveals that these proteins participate in epigenetic control of gene expression, aging, disease, or stem-cell biology

Análisis curricular del programa de la asignatura de pedíatria para el cuarto año de medicina. Curricular Análisis on the Syllabus of the Subject of Pediatrics for the 4th. Academic Year of Medicine

La planeación curricular exige de cambios transformadores, capaces de formar el profesional competente, y capaz de laborar acorde a las competencias y desempeños del mercado profesional vigente. Por ello los diseños establecidos en asignaturas, planes y/o programas de estudios deben ir al unísono de todos los cambios que la sociedad imperante genera. Se realiza una revisión del actual diseño curricular del Programa vigente para la Asignatura de Pediatría por un grupo de profesores que componen la cátedra de dicha asignatura, en el Hospital Pediátrico Provincial Docente "Pepe Portilla" de Pinar del Río, Cuba, durante el período del año 2006. El objetivo básico de esta revisión documental es: desarrollar un análisis crítico del actual Programa de la Asignatura de Pediatría, que nos permita formular sus transformaciones. Se parte en la revisión de efectuar un diagnóstico con profesores, alumnos de 4to año y graduados con la aplicación de este programa. Son determinadas a partir del diagnóstico un total de 4 suficiencias y 9 insuficiencias en el diseño curricular que presenta el programa. La revisión llega a las siguientes conclusiones: el actual diseño curricular del Programa vigente para la Asignatura de Pediatría debe ser  reestructurado de manera inmediata, ya que el mismo no responde a las actuales necesidades de aprendizaje del médico que formamos, ni a los retos de transformación actuales, que es el perfeccionamiento continuo de planes y programas de estudio vigentes para la Educación Superior Las transformaciones curriculares deben ser efectuadas  debido a las necesidades imperantes de desarrollo de la sociedad. Se proponen un grupo de transformaciones sobre el diseño de este programa de asignatura de Pediatría que contribuirán al desarrollo de competencias y desempeño acordes a las actuales tendencias. Palabras clave: Planeación curricular, diseño curricular, programa de asignatura de Pediatría, transformaciones curriculares. ABSTRACT The curricular planning requires transforming changes, capable of forming competent professionals, capable of working in accordance with the competition and performance of the current professional market. That is why the designs set in subjects, plans and/or syllabi must be in one accord with all the changes which the present-day society produces. A revision of the current curricular model of the in-force syllabus for the subject of Pediatrics was revised by a group of professors from the Department of the said subject, at "Pepe Portilla" Provincial Teaching Pediatric Hospital in Pinar del Río, during 2006. The basic aim of this documentary revision was to carry out a critical analysis on the current syllabus of the subject of Pediatrics, which allows us to formulate its transformations. The revision was done from a diagnosis with professors, 4th year students and graduates with the application of this syllabus. From the diagnosis 4 adequacies and 9 inadequacies were found in the curricular design that the syllabus presents. After the revision, the following conclusiones were tailored: the current curricular designs of the in-force syllabus for the subject of Pediatrics must be structured immediately, as it does not meet the current needs of learning on doctors' part nor does it respond to the challenges of current transformations, which is the ongoing improvement of in-force plans and syllabus for Higher Education. Curricular transformations should be carried out due to prevailing needs of development in society. Various transformations on the design of this syllabus for the subject of Pediatrics were proposed and will contribute to the development of competition and performance in accordance with the current trends. Key words: CURRICULAR PLANNING, CURRICULAR DESIGN, SYLLABUS FOR THE SUBJECT OF PEDIATRICS, CURRICULAR TRANSFORMATIONS