Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus epidermidis in prosthetic joint infections : can identification of virulence genes differentiate between infecting and commensal strains?

Background: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a commensal of human skin flora and a frequent causative micro-organism in prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). To date, no single marker has been identified to distinguish infecting strains from commensal S. epidermidis populations. Aim: To find possible genetic markers to distinguish between the two populations. Methods: Fifty S. epidermidis strains from patients with PJIs were analysed, 50 from the skin of healthy individuals (commensal strains) and 17 from the surgical field of patients undergoing primary arthroplasty. In these three groups the antimicrobial susceptibility profile, sequence type, biofilm formation, and virulence factors were studied. Strains from the surgical field have not been compared previously with strains from the other two groups. Findings: S. epidermidis strains from PJI patients were significantly more antibiotic resistant than commensal strains and surgical field strains. A wide variety of sequence types was found in commensal and surgical field strains. The predominant sequence type was ST2 and it was only present in PJI strains (44%). Differences in biofilm production did not differ between populations. Virulence genes sdrF and bhp, the complete ica operon, and the insertion sequence IS256 were significantly predominant in PJI strains. By contrast, embp and hld genes and the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) were more prevalent in commensal strains. Surgical field strains could be a valid control group to discriminate between infecting and commensal strains. Conclusion: A combination of characteristic features can differentiate between infecting and commensal S. epidermidis strains in PJI, whereas a single marker cannot

Sex Hormone Receptor Expression in Craniopharyngiomas and Association with Tumor Aggressiveness Characteristics

Craniopharyngiomas (CPs) are rare tumors of the sellar and suprasellar regions of embryonic origin. The primary treatment for CPs is surgery but it is often unsuccessful. Although CPs are considered benign tumors, they display a relatively high recurrence rate that might compromise quality of life. Previous studies have reported that CPs express sex hormone receptors, including estrogen and progesterone receptors. Here, we systematically analyzed estrogen receptor α (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression by immunohistochemistry in a well-characterized series of patients with CP (n = 41) and analyzed their potential association with tumor aggressiveness features. A substantial proportion of CPs displayed a marked expression of PR. However, most CPs expressed low levels of ERα. No major association between PR and ERα expression and clinical aggressiveness features was observed in CPs. Additionally, in our series, β-catenin accumulation was not related to tumor recurrence. View Full-TextThis work was supported by grants from the ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación co-funded with Fondos FEDER (PI16/00175 to A.S-M. and D.A.C.) and the Sistema Andaluz de Salud (A-0006-2017 and A-0055-2018 to A.S-M, RC-0006-2018 to D.A.C.)

Medical students maintain their humanistic and patient‑centred vocation throughout Medicine Degree in Spain: a study based on narratives

Narrative medicine has great educational potential in the degree of medicine. This study explores for the frst time the use of narrative medicine in relation to longitudinal evolution of medical vocation for the same group of students. In the context of the Degree in Medicine at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), students wrote narratives about what it meant to them to be a doctor at the beginning and end of their studies. The narratives of 338 students of the academic years 2012/13– 2017/18 and 2013/14–2018/19 were analysed and compared. Students mostly pursued a degree in medicine on account of humanistic motivations, which are reinforced throughout their degree. In contrast, up to 10% of students reference to have experienced vocational crises and sufered frustration, with up to 25% of the references pertaining to having made signifcant sacrifces. Students maintain and evolve their humanistic, patient-centred vision throughout their degree studies, despite the difculties they appear to encounter. We suggest that eforts must be made to include more humanistic perspectives in the medical degree to keep this trend, which may improve both the educational experience created in universities and the health care given to patient

Craniopharyngioma in the elderly: a multicenter and nationwide study in Spain

[Abstract] Background: Craniopharyngioma (CP) is a rare tumor in the elderly whose clinical features and prognosis are not well known in this population. Aim: To evaluate the clinicopathological features and therapeutic outcomes of CP diagnosed in the elderly. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter, national study of CP patients diagnosed over the age of 65 years and surgically treated. Results: From a total of 384 adult CP patients, we selected 53 (13.8%) patients (27 women [50.9%], mean age 72.3 ± 5.1 years [range 65–83 years]) diagnosed after the age of 65 years. The most common clinical symptoms were visual field defects (71.2%) followed by headache (45.3%). The maximum tumor diameter was 2.9 ± 1.1 cm. In most patients, the tumor was suprasellar (96.2%) and mixed (solid-cystic) (58.5%). The surgical approach most commonly used was transcranial surgery (52.8%), and more than half of the patients (54.7%) underwent subtotal resection (STR). Adamantinomatous CP and papillary CP were present in 51 and 45.1%, respectively, with mixed forms in the remaining. Surgery was accompanied by an improvement in visual field defects and in headaches; however, pituitary hormonal hypofunction increased, mainly at the expense of an increase in the prevalence of diabetes insipidus (DI) (from 3.9 to 69.2%). Near-total resection (NTR) was associated with a higher prevalence of DI compared with subtotal resection (87.5 vs. 53.6%, p = 0.008). Patients were followed for 46.7 ± 40.8 months. The mortality rate was 39.6% with a median survival time of 88 (95% CI: 57–118) months. DI at last visit was associated with a lower survival. Conclusion: CP diagnosed in the elderly shows a similar distribution by sex and histologic forms than that diagnosed at younger ages. At presentation, visual field alterations and headaches are the main clinical symptoms which improve substantially with surgery. However, surgery, mainly NTR, is accompanied by worsening of pituitary function, especially DI, which seems to be a predictor of mortality in this population

Genomics And Susceptibility Profiles Of Extensively Drug-resistant Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolates From Spain

This study assessed the molecular epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, and susceptibility profiles of a collection of 150 extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates obtained from a 2015 Spanish multicenter study, with a particular focus on resistome analysis in relation to ceftolozane-tazobactam susceptibility. Broth microdilution MICs revealed that nearly all (> 95%) of the isolates were nonsusceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, cefepime, aztreonam, imipenem, meropenem, and ciprofloxacin. Most of them were also resistant to tobramycin (77%), whereas nonsusceptibility rates were lower for ceftolozane-tazobactam (31%), amikacin (7%), and colistin (2%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-multilocus sequence typing (PFGE-MLST) analysis revealed that nearly all of the isolates belonged to previously described high-risk clones. Sequence type 175 (ST175) was detected in all 9 participating hospitals and accounted for 68% (n = 101) of the XDR isolates, distantly followed by ST244 (n = 16), ST253 (n = 12), ST235 (n = 8), and ST111 (n = 2), which were detected only in 1 to 2 hospitals. Through phenotypic and molecular methods, the presence of horizontally acquired carbapenemases was detected in 21% of the isolates, mostly VIM (17%) and GES enzymes (4%). At least two representative isolates from each clone and hospital (n = 44) were fully sequenced on an illumina MiSeq. Classical mutational mechanisms, such as those leading to the overexpression of the beta-lactamase AmpC or efflux pumps, OprD inactivation, and/or quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDR) mutations, were confirmed in most isolates and correlated well with the resistance phenotypes in the absence of horizontally acquired determinants. Ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance was not detected in carbapenemase-negative isolates, in agreement with sequencing data showing the absence of ampC mutations. The unique set of mutations responsible for the XDR phenotype of ST175 clone documented 7 years earlier were found to be conserved, denoting the long-term persistence of this specific XDR lineage in Spanish hospitals. Finally, other potentially relevant mutations were evidenced, including those in penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3), which is involved in beta-lactam (including ceftolozane-tazobactam) resistance, and FusA1, which is linked to aminoglycoside resistance

Innovación, desarrollo tecnológico y gestión : una construcción desde la investigación

Libro que compila investigaciones de carácter aplicadas y descriptivas en materia de innovación y desarrollo tecnológico, gestión organizacional y empresarial orientada a productividad, rentabilidad, competitividad y sostenibilidadBook that compiles researches of applied and descriptive character in the matter of innovation and technological development, organizational and business management oriented to productivity, profitability, competitiveness and sustainabilityCapítulo 1. Material compuesto para la construcción a partir de la celulosa del papel y cartón reciclado / Carlos Arturo Tamayo S; Nicolás Montero Camacho; Fredy Antonio Herrera -- Capítulo 2. Tecnologías de conservación para base de sopa de frijol rojo (phaseolus vulgaris) y vegetales / Yaceris Castro Escorcia; Teresa Altamar Pérez; Enedys Florez Cortés; Ángela Ortiz Ruiz. Capítulo 3. Utilización de harina compuesta de frijol caupi (vigna unguiculata) en masas para alimentos congelados / Marcela Villalba Cadavid; Matilde Rodríguez Muñoz; Beatriz Fernández; Juan Mendoza Combatt -- Capítulo 4. Elaboración de biorrecubrimiento comestible para carne de hamburguesa como alternativa de conservación y condimento natural / Camila Andrea Ubaque Beltrán. CAPÍTULO 5. Identificación de alternativas de industrialización de productos y subproductos agroindustriales en nuevos materiales bio poliméricos / Luz Henao Díaz; Deya Pérez Zúñiga; Herold Arango Gómez. Capítulo 6. SCADA inalámbrico para monitoreo de sistemas de energía solar / Nelson Giovanni Agudelo Cristancho; Juan Carlos Amezquita Tovar; Ángela María Montoya Castro. -- Capítulo 7. Evaluación de la calidad del agua para consumo humano del corregimiento de Jaraquiel, Montería, Córdoba / Carlos Burgos Galeano; Álvaro Aleán Vásquez; Paula Estrada Palencia -- Capítulo 8. Optimización del sistema de abastecimiento de agua en la comunidad de Jaraquel, Montería Colombia / Carlos Burgos Galeano; Pedro Ramos Tejada; Paula Estrada Palencia; Jhon Sánchez Correa. -- Capítulo 9. Ejecución y sostenibilidad de proyectos productivos en la microrregión cafetera del municipio de Ciénaga, Magdalena / Sugey Issa Fontalvo; Eduardo Robles Panetta; Freddy González Castillo. -- Capítulo 10. Aplicación del método cualitativo por puntos para determinar aspirante favorito a cargos directivos en IES / Zamir Martelo Ballesteros; Raúl Martelo Gómez; Luis Tovar Garrido; Natividad Villabona Gómez; David Franco Borré. -- Capítulo 11 Responsabilidad social en comunidades indígenas orientada al diseño de automatización de válvulas del gasoducto Riohacha-Maicao / Gelvis Melo Freile; César Rivera Romero; Jesús García Guiliany. -- Capítulo 12 Fortalecimiento de la gestión económica de las Mipymes a través de la consultoría / Gloria Amparo Acosta Romero; Mónica Andrade Ríos; Karen Roxana Sánchez. -- Capítulo 13. El compromiso como valor en la responsabilidad social universitaria / Maura Quintero Gutiérrez, Dubys Villarreal Torres; Jesús García Guiliany; Annherys Paz Marcano; Marieth Orcasitas Peñaloza. -- Capítulo 14. Educación financiera como alternativa de desarrollo económico y social para el distrito de Riohacha / Henitzo Martínez Pinedo; Darcy Luz Mendoza; Martha Jaramillo Acosta; Edwin Salas Solano. -- Capítulo 15. Tecnologías de información y comunicación en proceso contable y financiero en pymes del sector turístico / Martha Josefina Castrillón Rois; Edilberto Rafael Santos Moreno; Lorena Esther Gómez Bermúdez; Génesis Barros González. -- Capítulo 16. Aplicación de brainstorming y problem trees para determinar factores que inciden en enseñanza del inglés / Jesús Llerena; Raúl J. Martelo; Jhon Cuesta; Javier Pinedo; David Franco.-- Capítulo 17. Incidencia del marketing en las microempresas del sector comercio en Rionegro Antioquia: conceptualización / Santiago Álzate Carmona; María Yamile Mazo Gil; Leidy García Jaramillo. -- Capítulo 18. Turismo en el Cabo de la Vela: un acercamiento entre los imaginarios turísticos de los visitantes y la creencia de Jepirra, territorio sagrado / María Laura Aponte Aarón; Esmerlis Camargo Torres. -- Capítulo 19. Caracterización de la actividad turística en buenaventura y su integración con las comunidades locales / Víctor Cándelo Aragón; Henry Orobio García; Luis Montaño Aguilar. -- Capítulo 20. Plataforma de comercialización electrónica de un centro de abastos / Karen Ávila Suarez; Mauro Reyes Ortiz. -- Capítulo 21. El teletrabajo en la gestión administrativa / Estefanía Sandoval Cruz; René Alexander Guerrero Vergel. -- Capítulo 22. Gestión del conocimiento y alianzas estratégicas en los procesos de innovación tecnológica / Elder Rivero Gutiérrez; Fátima Bolaño Mendoza. -- Capítulo 23. Competitividad e innovación en el aprendiz SENA: perspectivas de formación / Elizabeth Tuberquia Vanegas; René Alexander Guerrero Vergel. -- Capítulo 24. Bomba de riego por goteo solar, una alternativa para aumentar la eficiencia energética en las unidades acuícolas / Sergio Gabriel Brito Brito; Daldo Ricardo Araujo Vidal; Nicolás Annicharico Jiménez. -- Capítulo 25. Herramienta digital de consultas contables y tributarias para unidades productivas creadas en el fondo emprender / Elkin Fuentes Jiménez; Alda Pérez Campuzano; Marieth Orcasitas Peñaloza; Olga Elena Guerra ArmentaPrimera ediciónna347 página

Do prosthetic joint infections cured at the first treatment attempt worsen the functional outcome of patients with joint replacements? A retrospective matched cohort study

Objectives: To assess the effect on the functional ambulatory outcome of postoperative joint infection (PJI) cured at the first treatment attempt versus not developing PJI in patients with hip and knee prostheses. Methods: In a single-hospital retrospectively matched cohort study, each patient with PJI between 2007 and 2016 was matched on age, sex, type of prosthesis and year of implantation with two other patients with uninfected arthroplasties. The definition of a PJI cure included infection eradication, no further surgical procedures, no PJI-related mortality and no suppressive antibiotics. Functional ambulatory status evaluated one year after the last surgery was classified into four simple categories: able to walk without assistance, able to walk with one crutch, able to walk with two crutches, and unable to walk. Patients with total hip arthroplasties (THAs), total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) and partial hip arthroplasties (PHAs) were analysed separately. Results: A total of 109 PJI patients (38 TKA, 41 THA, 30 PHA) and 218 non-PJI patients were included. In a model adjusted for clinically relevant variables, PJI was associated with a higher risk of needing an assistive device for ambulation (vs. walking without aid) among THA (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.10, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.26-7.57; p = 0.014) and TKA patients (OR 5.40, 95% CI 2.12-13.67; p < 0.001), and with requiring two crutches to walk or being unable to walk (vs. walking unaided or with one crutch) among PHA patients (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.01-9.20; p = 0.047). Conclusions: Ambulatory outcome in patients with hip and knee prostheses with postoperative PJI is worse than in patients who do not have PJI

Intraoperative bacterial contamination and activity of different antimicrobial prophylaxis regimens in primary knee and hip replacement

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is important for the prevention of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and must be effective against the microorganisms most likely to contaminate the surgical site. Our aim was to compare different SAP regimens (cefazolin, cefuroxime, or vancomycin, alone or combined with gentamicin) in patients undergoing total knee (TKA) and hip (THA) arthroplasty. In this preclinical exploratory analysis, we analyzed the results of intraoperative sample cultures, the ratio of plasma antibiotic levels to the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for bacteria isolated at the surgical wound and ATCC strains, and serum bactericidal titers (SBT) against the same microorganisms. A total of 132 surgical procedures (68 TKA, 64 THA) in 128 patients were included. Cultures were positive in 57 (43.2%) procedures (mostly for coagulase-negative staphylococci and Cutibacterium spp.); the rate was lower in the group of patients receiving combination SAP (adjusted OR 0.475, CI95% 0.229-0.987). The SAP regimens evaluated achieved plasma levels above the MICs in almost all of intraoperative isolates (93/94, 98.9%) and showed bactericidal activity against all of them (SBT range 1:8-1:1024), although SBTs were higher in patients receiving cefazolin and gentamicin-containing regimens. The potential clinical relevance of these findings in the prevention of PJIs remains to be determined

Intraoperative Bacterial Contamination and Activity of Different Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Regimens in Primary Knee and Hip Replacement

Surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is important for the prevention of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and must be effective against the microorganisms most likely to contaminate the surgical site. Our aim was to compare different SAP regimens (cefazolin, cefuroxime, or vancomycin, alone or combined with gentamicin) in patients undergoing total knee (TKA) and hip (THA) arthroplasty. In this preclinical exploratory analysis, we analyzed the results of intraoperative sample cultures, the ratio of plasma antibiotic levels to the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for bacteria isolated at the surgical wound and ATCC strains, and serum bactericidal titers (SBT) against the same microorganisms. A total of 132 surgical procedures (68 TKA, 64 THA) in 128 patients were included. Cultures were positive in 57 (43.2%) procedures (mostly for coagulase-negative staphylococci and Cutibacterium spp.); the rate was lower in the group of patients receiving combination SAP (adjusted OR 0.475, CI95% 0.229-0.987). The SAP regimens evaluated achieved plasma levels above the MICs in almost all of intraoperative isolates (93/94, 98.9%) and showed bactericidal activity against all of them (SBT range 1:8-1:1024), although SBTs were higher in patients receiving cefazolin and gentamicin-containing regimens. The potential clinical relevance of these findings in the prevention of PJIs remains to be determined

MARCADORES RAPD, HERRAMIENTA PARA LA DISCRIMINACIÓN ESPECÍFICA EN EL GÉNERO Zea

Artículo de Investigació